Back to GetFilings.com



Proceed to Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

     ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005

OR

     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______________________ to ________________________

Commission File Number 1-2661

CSS INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter);

         
     Delaware               13-1920657       
(State or other jurisdiction of
    (I.R.S. Employer  
incorporation or organization)
    Identification No.)  
         
1845 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA               19103       
(Address of principal executive offices)
    (Zip code)  
         
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
         (215) 569-9900       
         
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  
         
Title of each Class          Name of each exchange on which registered  
Common Stock, $.10 par value
    New York Stock Exchange  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

               None               

(Title of class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

     Yes  X            No          

      (Page 1 of Cover Page)


Back to Contents

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

     Yes  X            No          

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant is $277,843,551. Such aggregate market value was computed by reference to the closing price of the common stock of the registrant on the New York Stock Exchange on September 30, 2004, being the last trading day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Such calculation excludes the shares of common stock beneficially owned at such date by certain directors and officers of the registrant, by the Farber Foundation and by the Farber Family Foundation, as described under the section entitled “CSS SECURITY OWNERSHIP” in the Proxy Statement to be filed by the registrant for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In making such calculation, registrant does not determine the affiliate or non-affiliate status of any holders of the shares of common stock for any other purpose.

At May 25, 2005, there were outstanding 10,432,047 shares of Common Stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III (under Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14).

      (Page 2 of Cover Page)


CSS INDUSTRIES, INC.
FORM 10-K
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2005
INDEX

            Page  
           
 
PART I  
     
             
    Business     3  
    Properties     5  
    Legal Proceedings     6  
    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders     6  
     
             
PART II  
     
             
    Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     7  
    Selected Financial Data     9  
    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     10  
    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     16  
    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data     18  
    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure     48  
    Controls and Procedures     48  
    Other Information     49  
     
             
PART III  
     
             
    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant     50  
    Executive Compensation     50  
    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management     50  
    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions     50  
    Principal Accountant Fees and Services     50  
     
             
PART IV  
     
             
    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules     51  
Signatures     56  

1


Back to Contents

     

[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


Back to Contents

 

Part I
 
Item 1. Business.
 
General

CSS Industries, Inc. (“CSS” or the “Company”) is a consumer products company primarily engaged in the design, manufacture, procurement and sale to mass market retailers of seasonal and social expression products, including gift wrap, gift bags, boxed greeting cards, gift tags, tissue paper, paper and vinyl decorations, classroom exchange Valentines, decorative ribbons and bows, Halloween masks, costumes, make-up and novelties, Easter egg dyes and novelties, and craft and educational products. CSS provides its retail customers the opportunity to use a single vendor for much of their seasonal product requirements. CSS’ product breadth, product innovation, creative design, manufacturing and packaging flexibility, product sourcing expertise, product quality, category knowledge and customer service are key to sustaining the Company’s market leadership position. A substantial portion of CSS’ products are manufactured, packaged and warehoused in seventeen North American facilities, with the remainder purchased primarily from manufacturers in the Far East and Mexico. The Company’s products are sold to its customers by national and regional account managers and by a network of independent manufacturers’ representatives. The Company’s operating subsidiaries include Paper Magic Group, Inc. (“Paper Magic”), Berwick Offray LLC (“Berwick”), and Cleo Inc (“Cleo”).

In recent years, CSS has completed several acquisitions of companies that have been complementary to its existing businesses. During March 2002, Berwick completed the acquisition of substantially all of the business and assets of the portion of C. M. Offray & Son, Inc. (“Offray”) which manufactures and sells decorative ribbon products, floral accessories and narrow fabrics for apparel, craft and packaging applications. During October 2002, Cleo acquired all of the capital stock of Crystal Creative Products, Inc. (“Crystal”) which is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of consumer convenience gift wrap and tissue products.

The Company has experienced growth through a combination of acquisitions and the improvement of existing operations. The Company’s goal is to continue to expand by developing new or complementary products, by entering new markets, by acquiring companies that are complementary with its existing operating businesses and by acquiring other businesses with leading market positions.

The Company’s Internet address is www.cssindustries.com. On its website, the following filings are posted as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission: its annual report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, its current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All such filings on the Company’s website are available free of charge. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Human Resources Committee and the Audit Committee each have a charter that sets forth the committee’s role and responsibilities. All of these charters are available on the Company’s website. The Board has also adopted its Corporate Governance Principles, its Employees Code of Ethics and Internal Disclosure Procedures and its Directors Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, copies of which are also available on the Company’s website. This information is available in print to any stockholder who requests it.

Principal Products CSS designs, manufactures and distributes a broad range of seasonal consumer products primarily through the mass market distribution channel. Christmas products include gift wrap, gift bags, boxed greeting cards, gift tags, decorative tissue paper, paper and vinyl decorations, decorative ribbons and bows and décor. CSS’ Valentine product offerings include classroom exchange Valentine cards and other related Valentine products, while its Easter product offerings include Dudley’s1 brand of Easter egg dyes and related Easter seasonal products. For Halloween, CSS offers a full line of Halloween merchandise including make-up, costumes, masks and novelties. In addition to seasonal products, CSS also designs and markets all occasion boxed greeting cards, decorative ribbons and bows and craft items to its mass market, craft retail and wholesale distribution customers, and teachers’ aids and other learning oriented products to the education market through the mass market, school supply distributors and direct-to-retail teachers’ stores.

CSS manufactures and warehouses its products in seventeen facilities located in Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Ohio and Kentucky. Boxed greeting cards, gift tags, paper and vinyl decorations and classroom exchange Valentine products are domestically produced and warehoused in four

3


Back to Contents

facilities in central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Some of these products are also imported from Asian manufacturers. Manufacturing processes include a wide range of finishing, assembly and packaging operations. Halloween make-up and Easter egg dye products are manufactured to specific proprietary formulae by contract manufacturers who meet regulatory requirements for the formularization and packaging of such products. These products share a distribution facility in northeastern Pennsylvania with Christmas products of the Company. Ribbons and bows are manufactured and warehoused in nine facilities located in northeastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas. The manufacturing process is vertically integrated. Non-woven ribbon and bow products are primarily made from polypropylene resin, a petroleum-based product, which is mixed with color pigment, melted and pressed through an extruder. Large rolls of extruded film go through various combinations of manufacturing processes before being made into bows or packaged on ribbon spools or reels as required by various markets and customers. Woven fabric ribbons are manufactured domestically and sourced from Mexico, the Far East and Latin America. Domestic woven products are either narrow woven or converted from bulk rolls of wide width textiles. Manufacturing of gift wrap, including web printing, finishing, rewinding and packaging is performed in one facility in Memphis, Tennessee. Finished gift wrap products are warehoused and shipped from both the production facility and a separate facility in Memphis. Tissue products are either sourced from international sources or converted from raw stock into packaged goods at our Maysville, Kentucky facility. Tissue and gift bag products are primarily distributed from a facility in Hamilton, Ohio. Other products, designed to the specifications of CSS, are imported primarily from Pacific Rim manufacturers.

Sales and Marketing Most of CSS’ products are sold in the United States and Canada by national and regional account sales managers, inside sales representatives, product specialists and by a network of independent manufacturers’ representatives. CSS maintains permanent showrooms in New York City, Memphis, Dallas, Atlanta and Hong Kong where major retail buyers will typically visit for a presentation and review of the new lines. Products are also displayed and presented in showrooms maintained by various independent manufacturers’ representatives in major cities in the United States and Canada. Relationships are developed with key retail customers by CSS sales personnel and independent manufacturers’ representatives. Customers are generally mass merchandise retailers, warehouse clubs, drug and food chains, independent card shops and retail teachers’ stores. Net sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Target Corporation accounted for approximately 26% and 11%, respectively, during fiscal 2005. No other customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s net sales. CSS’ revenues are primarily seasonal with approximately 60% of sales related to the Christmas season and the remaining sales relating to the Halloween, Easter and Valentine’s Day seasons and everyday product sales. Seasonal products are generally designed and marketed beginning up to eighteen to twenty months before the holiday event and manufactured during an eight to ten month production cycle. With such long lead time requirements, timely communication with outsourcing factories, retail customers and independent manufacturers’ representatives is critical to the timely production of seasonal products. Because the products themselves are primarily seasonal, sales terms do not generally require payment until just before or just after the holiday, in accordance with industry practice. In general, CSS products are not sold under guaranteed or return privilege terms. All-occasion ribbon and bow products are also sold through inside sales representatives or independent manufacturers representatives to wholesale distributors and independent small retailers who serve the floral, craft and retail packaging trades. The Company also sells custom products to private label customers, to other social expression companies, and to converters of the Company’s ribbon products. Custom products are sold by both independent manufacturers’ representatives and CSS sales managers.

Due to the ever increasing competitive retail environment, CSS plays a crucial role in helping the retailer develop programs to meet revenue objectives while appealing to consumers’ tastes. These objectives are met through the development and manufacture of custom configured and designed products and programs. CSS’ years of experience in program development and product quality are key competitive advantages in helping retailers meet their objectives.

Competition CSS’ principal competitor in Christmas products is Plus Mark, Inc. (a subsidiary of American Greetings Corporation). Image Arts Inc., a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., is also a competitor in the boxed greeting card business. CSS competes, to a limited extent, with other product offerings of Hallmark Cards, Inc. and American Greetings Corporation. These competitors are larger and have greater resources than the Company. In addition, CSS also competes with various domestic and foreign companies in each of its other product offerings.

 

4


Back to Contents

CSS believes its products are competitively positioned in their primary markets. Since competition is based primarily on price, timely delivery, creative design and the ability to serve major retail customers with single, combined product shipments for each holiday event, CSS’ product driven focus combined with consistent service levels allows it to compete effectively in its core markets.

Employees

At May 25, 2005, approximately 2,800 persons were employed by CSS (increasing to approximately 3,800 as seasonal employees are added).

With the exception of the bargaining units at the gift wrap facilities in Memphis, Tennessee and the ribbon manufacturing facilities in Hagerstown, Maryland, which totaled approximately 900 employees as of May 25, 2005, CSS employees are not represented by labor unions. Because of the seasonal nature of certain of its businesses, the number of production employees fluctuates during the year.

The Company believes that relationships with its employees are generally good. However, the term of the collective bargaining agreement between the Company’s Cleo subsidiary and the labor union representing approximately 650 non- supervisory production and maintenance employees at the gift wrap plant and warehouses in Memphis, Tennessee expired on January 16, 2005. Cleo has continued to follow the terms of the expired collective bargaining agreement, and Cleo and the labor union have engaged in negotiations concerning the provisions of a new agreement. However, as of May 26, 2005, Cleo and the labor union have not reached an agreement on a new contract, and there presently are no ongoing or scheduled negotiations between Cleo and the labor union.

Item 2.  Properties.

The following table sets forth the location and approximate square footage of the Company’s major manufacturing and distribution facilities:

        Approximate Square Feet  
       
 
Location
  Use   Owned   Leased  

 
 
 
 
Elysburg, PA
   
Manufacturing and distribution
    253,000      
Elysburg, PA
   
Manufacturing
    68,000      
Danville, PA
   
Distribution
    133,000      
Troy, PA
   
Distribution
    223,000      
Berwick, PA
   
Manufacturing and distribution
    213,000      
Berwick, PA
   
Manufacturing and distribution
    220,000      
Berwick, PA
   
Distribution
    226,000      
Berwick, PA
   
Distribution
        547,000  
Berwick, PA
   
Distribution
        36,000  
Memphis, TN
   
Manufacturing and distribution
        1,006,000  
Memphis, TN
   
Distribution
        404,000  
Hagerstown, MD
   
Manufacturing and distribution
    284,000      
Hagerstown, MD
   
Manufacturing and distribution
    97,000      
Hartwell, SC
   
Manufacturing
    229,000      
El Paso, TX
   
Distribution
        100,000  
Maysville, KY
   
Manufacturing
    113,000      
Hamilton, OH
   
Distribution
        240,000  
   

 

 

 
Total
          2,059,000     2,333,000  
         
 
 

The Company also utilizes owned and leased space aggregating 149,000 square feet for various marketing and administrative purposes. The headquarters and principal executive office of the Company are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Company is the lessee of approximately 14,000 square feet of space (which was related to former operations), portions of which have been subleased by the Company, as sublessor, to various sublessees. The

5


Back to Contents

Company also owns two distribution facilities (approximately 162,000 square feet) which have been subleased by the Company and a manufacturing facility (approximately 120,000 square feet) which was sold subsequent to year end.

 
Item 3.  Legal Proceedings.

On February 17, 2004, a group of six domestic producers of tissue paper and a labor union jointly filed an antidumping duty petition with the International Trade Administration of the U. S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce Department”) and the U. S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”), in which the petitioners sought the imposition of duties on certain tissue paper products imported from China. The Company, as an importer from China of certain products that were the subject of these investigations, contested the imposition of these duties in proceedings before the ITC and the Commerce Department.

In February 2005, the Commerce Department issued its final determination in which it found that certain tissue paper products are being sold into the United States from China at less than fair value. In March 2005, the ITC issued its final determination in which it found that an industry in the United States is materially injured by reason of imports from China of certain tissue paper products. As a result of these determinations, certain tissue paper products imported from China are now subject to the imposition of tissue duties. The Company has filed an appeal of the ITC’s final determination, and this appeal is being litigated before the United States Court of International Trade.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, the Company imported from China a portion of its requirements for gift tissue products. Given that certain of the gift tissue products that the Company imported from China during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 are subject to the imposition of duties, the Company has recognized an expense of approximately $2,300,000, reflecting the Company’s estimated liability for tissue duties relating to these imports. This reserve is based on the deposit rates, as established by the Commerce Department, that were in effect with respect to the time that the subject tissue paper products were imported by the Company. Prior to the ITC’s final determination, the Company expensed approximately $3,100,000 for the possible imposition of tissue duties, including approximately $800,000 pertaining to products imported by the Company prior to September 21, 2004. This expense was adjusted to $2,300,000 during the fourth quarter based upon the ITC’s final determination, which had the effect of eliminating the possible imposition of tissue duties with respect to tissue products imported prior to September 21, 2004.

The amount of the Company’s actual liability for tissue duties pertaining to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, which liability is capped at the deposit rates in effect with respect to the period of time that the products were imported by the Company, will be determined at the time of “liquidation” of the applicable entries by United States Customs & Border Protection. With respect to the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006, the Company does not intend to import from China any tissue paper products that are subject to the imposition of tissue duties pursuant to the aforementioned final determinations of the Commerce Department and the ITC.

CSS and its subsidiaries are also involved in ordinary, routine legal proceedings that are not considered by management to be material. In the opinion of Company counsel and management, the ultimate liabilities resulting from such lawsuits and claims will not materially affect the consolidated financial position of the Company or its results of operations.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Not applicable.

6


Back to Contents

 

Part II
 
Item 5.  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

The common stock of the Company is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices per share of that stock for each of the quarters during fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004.

            Dividends  
Fiscal 2005
  High   Low   Declared  

 

 

 

 
First Quarter
  $ 36.96   $ 32.93   $ .10  
Second Quarter
    35.30     29.02     .10  
Third Quarter
    32.60     29.77     .10  
Fourth Quarter
    36.55     30.81     .10  

 

Fiscal 2004
                   

       
First Quarter
  $ 26.66 (1) $ 22.60 (1) $ .067 (1)
Second Quarter
    26.94     24.09     .080  
Third Quarter
    31.55     26.12     .080  
Fourth Quarter
    33.50     29.73     .080  

 

(1)
Amounts have been restated to reflect a three-for-two stock split on July 10, 2003.

At May 25, 2005, there were approximately 2,200 holders of the Company’s common stock and there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

The ability of the Company to pay any cash dividends on its common stock is dependent on the Company’s earnings and cash requirements and is further limited by maintaining compliance with financial covenants contained in the Company’s credit facilities. The Company anticipates that quarterly cash dividends will continue to be paid in the future.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

A total of 1,774,160 shares were repurchased at an average price of $34.98 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005. As of March 31, 2005, there remained an outstanding authorization to repurchase 475,324 shares of outstanding CSS common stock as represented in the table below.

      Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
     Average Price
Paid per Share
   Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly Announced
Program (1) (2) (3)
  Maximum
Number of Shares

that May Yet Be

Purchased Under

the Program
 
           
           
           
           
   

 

 

 

 
January 1 through January 31, 2005
      $         509,724  
February 1 through February 28, 2005
                2,009,724 (4)
March 1 through March 31, 2005
    1,774,160     34.98     1,774,160     475,324  
   

 

 

 

 
Total Fourth Quarter
    1,774,160   $ 34.98     1,774,160     475,324  
   

 

 

 

 

 

(1)
The Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized on February 18, 1998 the repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Repurchase Program”). Thereafter, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had increased the number of shares authorized to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the Repurchase Program as follows: November 9, 1998 (500,000 additional shares); May 4, 1999 (500,000 additional shares); September 28, 1999 (500,000 additional shares); September 26, 2000 (500,000 additional shares); and February 27, 2003 (400,000 additional shares). As a result of the Company’s three-for-two stock split distributed on July 10, 2003, the number of shares authorized for repurchase pursuant to the Repurchase Program was automatically increased to 5,100,000 shares. The aggregate number of shares repurchased by the Company pursuant to the Repurchase Program as of March 31, 2005 was 4,624,676 on a split-adjusted basis. An expiration date has not been established for the Repurchase Program.

 

7


Back to Contents

(2)
Of the 1,774,160 shares purchased during the fourth fiscal quarter, 34,400 were purchased on the open market pursuant to the aforementioned Repurchase Program and 1,739,760 were purchased pursuant to the issuer tender offer described in Note (3) below. All open market share repurchases were effected in accordance with the safe harbor provisions of Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act.
   
(3)
On January 31, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved the initiation of a modified Dutch auction tender offer by the Company to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of its outstanding common stock at a price of not less than $30.00 per share nor in excess of $35.00 per share. The tender offer commenced on February 3, 2005 and expired on March 4, 2005. As a result of the tender offer, the Company purchased 1,739,760 shares of its Common Stock at a purchase price of $35.00 per share, or a total of $60,892,000. The 1,739,760 shares purchased were comprised of the 1,500,000 shares the Company offered to purchase and 239,760 shares purchased pursuant to the Company’s right to purchase up to an additional 2% of the shares outstanding immediately prior to the commencement of the tender offer. Due to over-subscription, the final proration factor for shares tendered at or below $35.00 per share was 86.58%.
   
(4)
Includes 1,500,000 shares the Company offered to purchase pursuant to the issuer tender offer described in Note (3) above.

8


Back to Contents

 

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

                    Three Month        
    Years Ended   Periods Ended   Year Ended  
    March 31,   March 31,   December 31,  
   
 
 
 
    2005   2004   2003   2002   2001   2000   2000  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
                        (Unaudited)        
Statement of Operations Data:
                                           
Net sales
  $ 536,362   $ 539,349   $ 532,815   $ 424,309   $ 26,987   $ 24,589   $ 421,084  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    47,118     46,297     40,010     33,455     (9,194 )   (9,604 )   28,406  
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    30,692     29,850     25,846     21,501     (6,080 )   (6,147 )   18,231  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
            (8,813 )                
Net income (loss)
    30,692     29,850     17,033     21,501     (6,080 )   (6,147 )   18,231  
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
                                           
Before cumulative effect of accounting      change
  $ 2.58   $ 2.54   $ 2.19   $ 1.63   $ (.46 ) $ (.44 ) $ 1.35  
Cumulative effect of accounting change
            (.74 )                
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Basic net income (loss) per common share
  $ 2.58   $ 2.54   $ 1.45   $ 1.63   $ (.46 ) $ (.44 ) $ 1.35  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
                                           
Before cumulative effect of accounting      change
  $ 2.45   $ 2.42   $ 2.09   $ 1.60   $ (.46 ) $ (.44 ) $ 1.35  
Cumulative effect of accounting change
            (.71 )                
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Diluted net income (loss) per common share
  $ 2.45   $ 2.42   $ 1.38   $ 1.60   $ (.46 ) $ (.44 ) $ 1.35  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Balance Sheet Data:
                                           
                                             
Working capital
  $ 151,878   $ 187,813   $ 155,112   $ 125,398   $ 124,171   $ 120,402   $ 133,397  
Total assets
    333,906     370,397     349,563     309,503     275,316     257,763     366,597  
Short-term debt
    10,442     335     109     200     312     424     62,961  
Long-term debt
    40,000     50,251     50,063     165     193     434     252  
Stockholders’ equity
    216,489     249,152     220,863     234,845     220,945     209,575     227,091  
     
                                           
Cash dividends declared per common share
  $ .40   $ .307   $ .067   $   $   $   $  

9


Back to Contents

 

Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
Strategic Overview

The Company’s business is roughly 75% seasonal (Christmas, Valentines, Easter and Halloween products), with the remainder being everyday product sales. Seasonal products are sold primarily to mass market retailers and the Company typically has relatively high market shares in many of these categories. Most of these markets have shown little or no growth in recent years and there continues to be significant cost pressure in this area as our competitors source certain products overseas and our customers increase direct sourcing from overseas factories. Increasing customer concentration and bargaining power also contribute to price pressure.

The Company is responding to these pressures in a number of ways. First, we have increased our investment in product and packaging design and product knowledge to assure we can continue to provide unique added value to our customers. Secondly, we substantially expanded an office and showroom in the Far East in fiscal 2004 to better meet our customers’ buying needs and to be able to provide alternatively sourced products at competitive prices. Lastly, we increased our focus on efficiency and productivity in our North American production and distribution facilities to maintain our competitiveness domestically.

Our everyday product lines, principally craft, floral and packaging products, have high inherent growth potential due to higher market growth rates, particularly in craft, and to our relatively low current market shares. We have established project teams to pursue top line sales growth in these and other areas.

The Company has experienced cost increases in certain key materials. These increases will impact fiscal 2006 and will require that management either obtain price increases from its customers or find other means of reducing material costs in the products it sells.

Historically, significant growth at CSS has come through carefully chosen and executed acquisitions. Management anticipates that it will continue this pursuit in the future, as well.

Business Acquisitions and Divestitures

On October 18, 2002, a subsidiary of the Company acquired all of the capital stock of Crystal for approximately $22,891,000, including transaction costs, and assumed and repaid $18,828,000 of outstanding debt (primarily seasonal working capital debt). During fiscal 2004, the Company received cash of approximately $2,155,000 in satisfaction of a post closing adjustment to the purchase price. Crystal, which was then headquartered in Middletown, Ohio, is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of consumer convenience gift wrap products and competed in the seasonal end of the gift bag and tissue markets with the Company’s existing product lines. At the time of acquisition, its product lines included gift tissue, gift bags, and related packaging products for the consumer market, as well as specialty tissues for in-store packaging of retailers and for industrial applications. A portion of the purchase price is being held in escrow for certain indemnification obligations. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and the excess of cost over the fair market value of the net tangible assets acquired of $9,877,000 was recorded as intangible assets, including goodwill, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

On March 15, 2002, a subsidiary of the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the business and assets of the portion of Offray which manufactured and sold decorative ribbon products, floral accessories and narrow fabrics for apparel, craft and packaging applications for $44,865,000 in cash, including transaction costs. A portion of the purchase price is being held in escrow to cover indemnification obligations. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and the cost approximated the fair market value of the net assets acquired.

Litigation

On February 17, 2004, a group of six domestic producers of tissue paper and a labor union jointly filed an antidumping duty petition with the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce Department”) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”), in which the petitioners sought the imposition of duties on certain tissue paper products imported from China. The Company, as an importer from China of certain products that were the subject of these investigations, contested the imposition of these duties in proceedings before the ITC and the Commerce Department.

 

10


Back to Contents

In February 2005, the Commerce Department issued its final determination in which it found that certain tissue paper products are being sold into the United States from China at less than fair value. In March 2005, the ITC issued its final determination in which it found that an industry in the United States is materially injured by reason of imports from China of certain tissue paper products. As a result of these determinations, certain tissue paper products imported from China are now subject to the imposition of tissue duties. The Company has filed an appeal of the ITC’s final determination, and this appeal is being litigated before the United States Court of International Trade.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, the Company imported from China a portion of its requirements for gift tissue products. Given that certain of the gift tissue products that the Company imported from China during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 are subject to the imposition of duties, the Company has recognized an expense of approximately $2,300,000, reflecting the Company’s estimated liability for tissue duties relating to these imports. This reserve is based on the deposit rates, as established by the Commerce Department, that were in effect with respect to the time that the subject tissue paper products were imported by the Company. Prior to the ITC’s final determination, the Company expensed approximately $3,100,000 for the possible imposition of tissue duties, including approximately $800,000 pertaining to products imported by the Company prior to September 21, 2004. This expense was adjusted to $2,300,000 in the fourth quarter based upon the ITC’s final determination, which had the effect of eliminating the possible imposition of tissue duties with respect to tissue products imported prior to September 21, 2004.

The amount of the Company’s actual liability for tissue duties pertaining to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, which liability is capped at the deposit rates in effect with respect to the period of time that the products were imported by the Company, will be determined at the time of “liquidation” of the applicable entries by United States Customs & Border Protection. With respect to the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006, the Company does not intend to import from China any tissue paper products that are subject to the imposition of tissue duties pursuant to the aforementioned final determinations of the Commerce Department and the ITC.

CSS and its subsidiaries are also involved in ordinary, routine legal proceedings that are not considered by management to be material. In the opinion of Company counsel and management, the ultimate liabilities resulting from such lawsuits and claims will not materially affect the consolidated financial position of the Company or its results of operations.

Seasonality

The seasonal nature of CSS’ business results in low sales and operating losses in the first and fourth quarters and high shipment levels and operating profits in the second and third quarters of the Company’s fiscal year, thereby causing significant fluctuations in the quarterly results of operations of the Company.

Because of the seasonality and the general industry practice of deferred payment terms, a material portion of the Company’s trade receivables are collected in December and January, thus enabling the Company to repay the short-term debt borrowed to fund the inventory and accounts receivable build-up during the year.

Stock Split

On May 27, 2003 the Board of Directors authorized a three-for-two common stock split, effected by a distribution on July 10, 2003 of one share for each two shares held of record at the close of business on June 30, 2003. The capital stock accounts, share data and earnings per share data are presented as if the stock split occurred prior to the earliest year included in the consolidated financial statements.

Results of Operations
 
Fiscal 2005 Compared to Fiscal 2004

Consolidated sales for fiscal 2005 decreased 1% to $536,362,000 from $539,349,000 in fiscal 2004. The decline in sales was the result of the absence of sales related to a product line which was sold in July 2003 and lower sales of seasonal tissue and ribbons and bows. This sales decline was partially offset by increased sales of Christmas and everyday boxed greeting cards.

 

11


Back to Contents

Cost of sales, as a percentage of sales, increased to 74% in 2005 from 73% in 2004. The increase in cost of sales, as a percentage of sales, was due primarily to the establishment of a reserve of $2,300,000 for duties that have been imposed on imported tissue products along with higher freight costs and higher costs of paper based and polypropylene based raw materials. The Company is appealing the imposition of the tissue duties, as more fully described in the Litigation section of this MD&A.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses, as a percentage of sales, decreased to 17% in 2005 from 18% in 2004. The decrease in SG&A expenses was primarily due to lower bonuses and net integration savings related to various restructuring activities (see Notes 3 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere herein). These savings were partially offset by incremental costs incurred during the first full year of operating the Hong Kong sourcing office of $1,167,000 and direct compliance costs associated with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of $1,543,000.

Interest expense decreased to $2,374,000 in 2005 from $3,402,000 in 2004 primarily due to lower average borrowing levels during the year as a result of cash generated from operations, partially offset by the impact of higher interest rates.

Income before income taxes was $47,118,000, or 9% of sales, in fiscal 2005 and $46,297,000, or 9% of sales, in fiscal 2004.

Income taxes, as a percentage of income before taxes, were 35% in 2005 and 36% in 2004. The decreased rate was primarily due to the reversal of a tax contingency reserve following Internal Revenue Service approval of a tax accounting method change, offset somewhat by higher effective state income tax rates.

Net income for the year ended March 31, 2005 increased 3% to $30,692,000 from $29,850,000 in 2004.

Fiscal 2004 Compared to Fiscal 2003

Consolidated sales for fiscal 2004 increased 1% to $539,349,000 from $532,815,000 in fiscal 2003. This increase was primarily a result of the inclusion of a full year of sales of Crystal, acquired on October 18, 2002. Excluding Crystal, sales declined 3% as improved sales of everyday products were offset by reduced sales of seasonal products caused primarily by the sluggish retail environment.

Cost of sales, as a percentage of sales, decreased to 73% in 2004 from 74% in 2003 primarily as a result of improved efficiencies and shipping performance in our Halloween business.

Selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 18% in 2004 and 2003, as reduced bad debt expense and acquisition integration savings were partially offset by increased salary and other operating costs.

Interest expense decreased to $3,402,000 in 2004 from $3,661,000 in 2003 primarily due to lower borrowing levels, partially offset by the impact of increased levels of fixed rate debt as a result of the issuance of $50,000,000 of seven year fixed rate Senior Notes in December 2002 (see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere herein).

Income before income taxes was $46,297,000, or 9% of sales, in fiscal 2004 and $40,010,000, or 8% of sales, in fiscal 2003.

Income taxes, as a percentage of income before taxes, were 36% in 2004 and 35% in 2003. The increased rate was primarily due to increased state taxes, partially offset by tax benefits associated with export sales.

Income before cumulative change in accounting principle for the year ended March 31, 2004 increased 15% to $29,850,000 from $25,846,000 in 2003. Income before cumulative change in accounting principle per diluted share increased 16% to $2.42 per share from $2.09 per share in 2003. The Company adopted SFAS No. 142 effective April 1, 2002, which resulted in a non-cash write-off of goodwill and negative goodwill in the amount of $8,813,000, net of taxes, or $.71 per diluted share.

 

12


Back to Contents

Inflation

The financial statements are presented on a historical cost basis and do not fully reflect the impact of prior years’ inflation. The U.S. inflation rate has been modest the past several years and the Company conducts the majority of its business using the U.S. dollar. The ability to pass on inflationary costs is uncertain due to general economic conditions and competitive situations. The Company attempts to alleviate inflationary material and labor pressures by increasing selling prices to help offset rising costs (subject to competitive conditions), increasing productivity, improving design and manufacturing techniques and improving product sourcing.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At March 31, 2005, the Company had working capital of $151,878,000 and stockholders’ equity of $216,489,000. The decrease in accounts receivable, net of reserves, from $40,460,000 at March 31, 2004 to $37,273,000 at March 31, 2005 was primarily a result of improved collections in the current year. Inventories increased from $94,459,000 to $101,867,000 primarily due to the build up of domestic tissue inventories prior to identification of alternative foreign sources. Capital expenditures decreased to $8,477,000 in fiscal 2005 from $13,253,000 in fiscal 2004.

The Company relies primarily on cash generated from its operations and seasonal borrowings to meet its liquidity requirements. Most CSS revenues are seasonal with approximately 60% of sales being Christmas related. As payment for sales of Christmas related products is usually not received until after the holiday selling season in accordance with general industry practice, short-term borrowing needs increase throughout the second and third quarters, peaking prior to Christmas and dropping thereafter. Seasonal financing requirements were met under a $50,000,000 revolving credit facility with five banks and an accounts receivable securitization facility with an issuer of receivables-backed commercial paper. This facility has a seasonally-adjusted funding limit of $100,000,000 during peak seasonal periods and $25,000,000 during off-peak seasonal periods. In addition, the Company has outstanding $50,000,000 of 4.48% senior notes due ratably in annual installments over five years beginning in December 2005. These financing facilities are available to fund the Company’s seasonal borrowing needs and to provide the Company with sources of capital for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions as permitted under the unsecured revolving credit facility. At March 31, 2005, there were no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility and there were long-term borrowings of $50,000,000 related to the senior notes. For information concerning these credit facilities, see Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company’s Board of Directors previously authorized a buyback of the Company’s common stock pursuant to prices and other terms and conditions that the Company’s officers may deem appropriate. Any such buy back is subject to compliance with regulatory requirements and relevant covenants of the Company’s credit facilities. As of March 31, 2005, the Company has 475,324 shares remaining available for repurchase under the Board’s authorization. The Company repurchased 241,800 shares for $7,977,000 (excluding the shares purchased pursuant to the tender offer discussed below) and 184,300 shares for $5,687,000 in fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, respectively.

On January 31, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved the initiation of a modified Dutch auction tender offer by the Company to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of its outstanding common stock at a price of not less than $30.00 per share nor in excess of $35.00 per share. The tender offer commenced on February 3, 2005 and expired on March 4, 2005. As a result of the tender offer, the Company purchased 1,739,760 shares of its Common Stock at a purchase price of $35.00 per share, or a total of $60,892,000, and paid related transaction costs of $135,000. The 1,739,760 shares purchased were comprised of the 1,500,000 shares the Company offered to purchase and 239,760 shares purchased pursuant to the Company’s right to purchase up to an additional 2% of the shares outstanding immediately prior to the commencement of the tender offer. Due to over-subscription, the final proration factor for shares tendered at or below $35.00 per share was 86.58%.

On June 24, 2002, the Company purchased an aggregate of 1,100,000 shares of its common stock from its Chairman, members of his family and a trust for members of his family. The terms of the purchase were negotiated on behalf of the Company by a Special Committee of the Board of Directors consisting of three independent directors. The Special Committee retained an independent investment bank which rendered a fairness opinion. The Special Committee unanimously recommended that the Company’s Board of Directors authorize the purchase, and the Board of Directors, other than its Chairman who was not present at the meeting, unanimously authorized the purchase. The total amount of this transaction was $36,510,000.

 

13


Back to Contents

Based on its current operating plan, the Company believes its sources of available capital are adequate to meet its ongoing cash needs for at least the next 12 months.

As of March 31, 2005, the Company’s contractual obligations and commitments are as follows (in thousands):

    Less than 1   1-3   4-5   After 5        
Contractual Obligations
  Year   Years   Years   Years   Total  

 

 

 

 

 

 
Short-term debt
  $   $   $   $   $  
Capital lease obligations
    224                 224  
Operating leases
    7,489     11,242     8,169     2,943     29,843  
Long-term debt
    10,000     20,000     20,000         50,000  
Other long-term obligations
    218     655     140     2,812     3,825  
   

 

 

 

 

 
    $ 17,931   $ 31,897   $ 28,309   $ 5,755   $ 83,892  
   

 

 

 

 

 

Other long-term obligations consist primarily of medical postretirement liabilities and deferred compensation arrangements. Future timing of payments for other long-term obligations represent management’s best estimate.

As of March 31, 2005, the Company’s other commitments are as follows (in thousands):

    Less than 1   1-3   4-5   After 5        
    Year   Years   Years   Years   Total  
   

 

 

 

 

 
Letters of credit
  $ 8,083   $      —   $      —   $      —   $ 8,083  

The Company has letters of credit that guarantee funding of workers compensation claims as well as obligations to certain vendors. The Company has no financial guarantees or other arrangements with any third parties or related parties other than its subsidiaries.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into arrangements with vendors to purchase merchandise in advance of expected delivery. These purchase orders do not contain any significant termination payments or other penalties if canceled.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on- going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to accounts receivable reserves, inventory reserves, intangible assets, income taxes, restructuring accruals, contingency accruals and litigation accruals. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Financial Reporting Release No. 60 requires all companies to include a discussion of critical accounting policies or methods used in the preparation of financial statements. Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included elsewhere in this Form 10-K, includes a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements. The following is a brief discussion of the critical accounting policies and methods used by the Company.

Revenue

Revenue is recognized from product sales when goods are shipped and title and risk of loss transfer to the customer. The Company records estimated reductions to revenue for customer programs, which may include special pricing agreements for specific customers, volume incentives and other promotions. The Company also records estimated reductions to revenue, based primarily on historical experience, for customer returns and

14


Back to Contents

chargebacks that may arise as a result of shipping errors, product damaged in transit or for other reasons that can only become known subsequent to recognizing the revenue. If the amount of actual customer returns and chargebacks were to increase or decrease significantly from the estimated amount, revisions to the estimated allowance would be required.

 
Accounts Receivable

The Company offers seasonal dating programs related to certain seasonal product offerings pursuant to which customers that qualify for such programs are offered extended payment terms. Customers generally do not have the right to return product except for rights to return that the Company believes are typical of our industry for reasons such as damaged goods, shipping errors or similar occurrences. With few exceptions, the Company is not required to repurchase products from its customers, nor does the Company have any regular practice of doing so. In addition, the Company mitigates its exposure to bad debts by evaluating the creditworthiness of its major customers and purchasing credit insurance when appropriate. Bad debt and returns and allowances reserves are recorded as an offset to accounts receivable while reserves for customer programs are recorded as accrued liabilities. The Company evaluates accounts receivable related reserves and accruals monthly by specifically reviewing customer accounts and by reference to historical experience.

Inventory Valuation

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is primarily determined by the first-in, first-out method although certain inventories are valued based on the last-in, first-out method. The Company writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of the inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand, market conditions, customer planograms and sales forecasts.

Product Development Costs

Product development costs consist of purchases of outside artwork, printing plates, cylinders, catalogs and samples. The Company classifies these costs as a prepaid expense. Product development costs may be incurred up to 18 to 20 months before the holiday event and are amortized monthly over the selling season, generally within two to four months of the respective holiday event. Product development expense is recorded in selling, general and administrative expense.

Goodwill

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill is no longer subject to amortization; however, goodwill is subject to an assessment for impairment using a two-step fair value-based test, the first step of which must be performed at least annually, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The first step compares the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. For each of the reporting units, the estimated fair value is determined utilizing a multiple of earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step is performed. The second step compares the carrying amount of the goodwill to the implied fair value of the goodwill. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is reported as a reduction to goodwill and a charge to operating expense, except at the transition date, when the loss was reflected as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.

Accounting for Income Taxes

As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our actual current tax expense (state, federal and foreign), including the impact of permanent and temporary differences resulting from differing bases and treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes, such as the carrying value of intangibles, deductibility of expenses, depreciation of property, plant and equipment, and valuation of inventories. Temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included

15


Back to Contents

within our consolidated balance sheets. We must then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income. Actual results could differ from this assessment if sufficient taxable income is not generated in future periods. To the extent we determine the need to establish a valuation allowance or increase such allowance in a period, we must include an expense within the tax provision in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 
Labor Relations

The term of the collective bargaining agreement between the Company’s Cleo subsidiary and the labor union representing approximately 650 non-supervisory production and maintenance employees at the gift wrap plant and warehouses in Memphis, Tennessee expired on January 16, 2005. Cleo has continued to follow the terms of the expired collective bargaining agreement, and Cleo and the labor union have engaged in negotiations concerning the provisions of a new agreement. However, as of May 26, 2005, Cleo and the labor union have not reached an agreement on a new contract, and there presently are no ongoing or scheduled negotiations between Cleo and the labor union.

Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections.” In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.” In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure.” In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.” In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” In December 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 132R, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.” In May 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 106-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs.” In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets” and SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” See the notes to the consolidated financial statements for information concerning the Company’s implementation and impact of these standards.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include certain information related to the Company’s capital resources and the costs related to operational decisions, as well as information contained elsewhere in this report where statements are preceded by, followed by, or include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates” or similar expressions. For such statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual events or results may differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including without limitation, general market conditions, increased competition, and factors discussed elsewhere in this report and the documents incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Market Risk

The Company’s activities expose it to a variety of market risks, including the effects of changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. These financial exposures are actively monitored and, where considered appropriate, managed by the Company.

 

16


Back to Contents

Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s primary market risk exposure with regard to financial instruments is to changes in interest rates. Pursuant to the Company’s variable rate lines of credit, a change in either the lender’s base rate or LIBOR would affect the rate at which the Company could borrow funds thereunder. Based on average borrowings under these credit facilities of $16,088,000 for the year ended March 31, 2005, a 1% increase or decrease in floating interest rates would have increased or decreased interest expense by approximately $161,000.

Foreign Currency Risk

Approximately 5% of the Company’s sales in fiscal 2005 were denominated in a foreign currency. The Company considers its risk exposure with regard to foreign currency fluctuations minimal as it enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the majority of firmly committed transactions and related receivables that are denominated in a foreign currency. The Company has designated its foreign currency forward contracts as fair value hedges. The gains or losses on the fair value hedges are recognized in earnings and generally offset the transaction gains or losses in the foreign denominated assets that they are intended to hedge.

17


Back to Contents

 

CSS INDUSTRIES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Item 8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

INDEX

 

    Page  
   

 
     
       
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
    19  
         
     
       
Consolidated Balance Sheets – March 31, 2005 and 2004
    20-21  
     
       
         
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income – for the years ended
March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
    22  
     
       
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – for the years ended
March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
    23  
     
       
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity – for the years ended
March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
    24-25  
     
       
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
    26-47  
     
       
Financial Statement Schedules:
       
     
       
Schedule II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
    55  

18


Back to Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
              CSS Industries, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CSS Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2005. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited the Valuation and Qualifying Accounts financial statement schedule. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of CSS Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2005 and 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, 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.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of CSS Industries, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated May 26, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of, and the effective operation of, internal control over financial reporting.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective April 1, 2002, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” as required for goodwill and intangible assets arising from business combinations.

     

      KPMG LLP  

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 26, 2005

19


Back to Contents

CSS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

    March 31,  
   
 
ASSETS
  2005   2004  
   

 

 
CURRENT ASSETS
             
     
             
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 57,333   $ 93,191  
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $5,428 and $6,822
    37,273     40,460  
Inventories
    101,867     94,459  
Deferred income taxes
    8,199     7,937  
Other current assets
    13,945     12,987  
   

 

 
Total current assets
    218,617     249,034  
   

 

 
     
             
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
             
     
             
Land
    3,052     3,416  
Buildings, leasehold interests and improvements
    55,296     55,117  
Machinery, equipment and other
    116,652     111,613  
   

 

 
      175,000     170,146  
Less – Accumulated depreciation
    (99,598 )   (88,953 )
   

 

 
Net property, plant and equipment
    75,402     81,193  
   

 

 
     
             
OTHER ASSETS
             
     
             
Goodwill
    30,952     30,952  
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $431 and $280
    4,516     4,667  
Other
    4,419     4,551  
   

 

 
Total other assets
    39,887     40,170  
   

 

 
    $ 333,906   $ 370,397  
   

 

 

20


Back to Contents

 

    March 31,  
   
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  2005   2004  
   

 

 
     
             
CURRENT LIABILITIES
             
     
             
Note payable
  $   $  
Current portion of long-term debt
    10,442     335  
Accounts payable
    15,337     16,883  
Accrued income taxes
    2,767     2,533  
Accrued payroll and other compensation
    12,858     15,596  
Accrued customer programs
    13,628     12,385  
Accrued other expenses
    11,707     13,489  
   

 

 
Total current liabilities
    66,739     61,221  
   

 

 
     
             
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF CURRENT PORTION
    40,000     50,251  
   

 

 
     
             
OTHER LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
    3,607     3,631  
   

 

 
     
             
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
    7,071     6,142  
   

 

 
     
             
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Notes 10 and 12)
             
     
             
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
             
     
             
Preferred stock, Class 2, $.01 par, 1,000,000 shares authorized
         
Common stock, $.10 par, 20,000,000 shares authorized,
             
14,703,084 shares issued at March 31, 2005 and 2004
    1,470     1,470  
Additional paid-in capital
    34,214     31,619  
Retained earnings
    303,022     282,351  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
    (2 )    
Common stock in treasury, 4,321,380 and 2,872,749 shares, at cost
    (122,215 )   (66,288 )
   

 

 
Total stockholders’ equity
    216,489     249,152  
   

 

 
    $ 333,906   $ 370,397  
   

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

21


Back to Contents

CSS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

    For the Years Ended  
    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004   2003  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
NET SALES
  $ 536,362   $ 539,349   $ 532,815  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
COSTS AND EXPENSES
                   
Cost of sales
    397,538     395,878     394,826  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    89,997     94,198     95,003  
Interest expense, net of interest income of $530, $317 and $170
    2,374     3,402     3,661  
Rental and other income, net
    (665 )   (426 )   (685 )
   

 

 

 
      489,244     493,052     492,805  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    47,118     46,297     40,010  
     
                   
INCOME TAX PROVISION
    16,426     16,447     14,164  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN
                   
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
    30,692     29,850     25,846  
     
                   
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING
                   
PRINCIPLE, NET OF TAX OF $2,843
            (8,813 )
   

 

 

 
     
                   
NET INCOME
  $ 30,692   $ 29,850   $ 17,033  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
BASIC NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
                   
Before cumulative effect of accounting change
  $ 2.58   $ 2.54   $ 2.19  
Cumulative effect of accounting change
            (.74 )
   

 

 

 
Basic net income per common share
  $ 2.58   $ 2.54   $ 1.45  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
DILUTED NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
                   
Before cumulative effect of accounting change
  $ 2.45   $ 2.42   $ 2.09  
Cumulative effect of accounting change
            (.71 )
   

 

 

 
Diluted net income per common share
  $ 2.45   $ 2.42   $ 1.38  
   

 

 

 
     
                   

 
     
                   
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
                   
Net income
  $ 30,692   $ 29,850   $ 17,033  
Change in fair value of interest rate swap agreements, net
        276     (14 )
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (2 )   13     (2 )
   

 

 

 
Comprehensive income
  $ 30,690   $ 30,139   $ 17,017  
   

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

22


Back to Contents

CSS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

    For the Years Ended  
    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004   2003  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
Cash flows from operating activities:
                   
Net income
  $ 30,692   $ 29,850   $ 17,033  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
                   
provided by operating activities:
                   
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
            8,813  
Depreciation and amortization
    14,294     14,113     13,894  
Provision for doubtful accounts
    643     768     1,521  
Deferred tax provision
    667     575     1,490  
(Gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets
    (138 )   1,023     (7 )
Compensation expense related to stock options
    165          
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
                   
Decrease in accounts receivable
    2,544     5,592     14,640  
(Increase) decrease in inventories
    (7,409 )   8,913     10,442  
(Increase) decrease in other assets
    (959 )   (606 )   7,424  
(Decrease) in accounts payable
    (1,546 )   (7,516 )   (4,903 )
Increase in accrued income taxes
    2,664     2,239     792  
(Decrease) in accrued expenses
    (3,301 )   (3,791 )   (1,793 )
   

 

 

 
Total adjustments
    7,624     21,310     52,313  
   

 

 

 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    38,316     51,160     69,346  
   

 

 

 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                   
Purchases of businesses, net of cash received of $1 in 2003
            (22,890 )
Purchase price adjustment for a business previously acquired
        2,155      
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (8,477 )   (13,253 )   (12,414 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    397     3,729     30  
   

 

 

 
Net cash used for investing activities
    (8,080 )   (7,369 )   (35,274 )
   

 

 

 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                   
Payments on long-term obligations
    (144 )   (256 )   (1,005 )
Borrowings on long-term obligations
        670      
Borrowings on notes payable
    143,465     188,795     458,215  
Payments on notes payable
    (143,465 )   (188,795 )   (458,215 )
Repayment of acquisition debt
            (18,828 )
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt
            50,000  
Payment of private placement transaction costs
            (294 )
Dividends paid
    (4,789 )   (3,616 )   (771 )
Purchase of treasury stock
    (69,004 )   (5,687 )   (36,510 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    7,845     6,295     5,313  
   

 

 

 
Net cash used for financing activities
    (66,092 )   (2,594 )   (2,095 )
   

 

 

 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (2 )   13     (2 )
   

 

 

 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (35,858 )   41,210     31,975  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    93,191     51,981     20,006  
   

 

 

 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 57,333   $ 93,191   $ 51,981  
   

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

23


Back to Contents

CSS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

     
                         
     
                         
    Preferred Stock   Common Stock  
   
 
 
    Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount  
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
BALANCE, APRIL 1, 2002
        —   $     —     14,703,084   $ 1,470  
                           
Tax benefit associated with exercise of stock options
                 
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options
                 
Increase in treasury shares
                 
Change in fair value of interest rate swap agreements, net
                 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                 
Cash dividends ($.067 per common share)
                 
Net income
                 
   

 

 

 

 
BALANCE, MARCH 31, 2003
            14,703,084     1,470  
                           
Tax benefit associated with exercise of stock options
                 
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options
                 
Increase in treasury shares
                 
Change in fair value of interest rate swap agreements, net
                 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                 
Cash dividends ($.307 per common share)
                 
Net income
                 
   

 

 

 

 
BALANCE, MARCH 31, 2004
            14,703,084     1,470  
                           
Tax benefit associated with exercise of stock options
                 
Compensation expense related to stock options
                 
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options
                 
Increase in treasury shares
                 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                 
Cash dividends ($.40 per common share)
                 
Net income
                 
   

 

 

 

 
BALANCE, MARCH 31, 2005
      $     14,703,084   $ 1,470  
   

 

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

24


Back to Contents

 

 

                                 
            Accumulated   Common Stock        
    Additional       Other   in Treasury        
    Paid-in   Retained    Comprehensive  
       
    Capital   Earnings   Loss   Shares   Amount   Total  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 
     
                                     
    $ 29,039   $ 240,964   $ (273 )   (2,215,099 ) $ (36,355 ) $ 234,845  
     
                                     
      969                     969  
     
                                     
      453             238,066     4,860     5,313  
                  (1,100,000 )   (36,510 )   (36,510 )
     
                                     
              (14 )           (14 )
              (2 )           (2 )
          (771 )               (771 )
          17,033                 17,033  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 
      30,461     257,226     (289 )   (3,077,033 )   (68,005 )   220,863  
     
                                     
      1,158                     1,158  
     
                                     
          (1,109 )       388,584     7,404     6,295  
                  (184,300 )   (5,687 )   (5,687 )
     
                                     
              276             276  
              13             13  
          (3,616 )               (3,616 )
          29,850                 29,850  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 
      31,619     282,351         (2,872,749 )   (66,288 )   249,152  
     
                                     
      2,430                     2,430  
      165                     165  
     
                                     
          (5,232 )       532,929     13,077     7,845  
                  (1,981,560 )   (69,004 )   (69,004 )
              (2 )           (2 )
          (4,789 )               (4,789 )
          30,692                 30,692  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 
    $ 34,214   $ 303,022   $ (2 )   (4,321,380 ) $ (122,215 ) $ 216,489  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

25


Back to Contents

 

CSS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2005
   
(1)
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CSS Industries, Inc. (“CSS” or the “Company”) and all of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

Translation adjustments are charged or credited to a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are not material and are included in rental and other income, net in the consolidated statements of operations.

Nature of Business

CSS is a consumer products company primarily engaged in the design, manufacture and sale to mass market retailers of seasonal and social expression products, including gift wrap, gift bags, boxed greeting cards, gift tags, tissue paper, paper and vinyl decorations, home décor, classroom exchange Valentines, decorative ribbons and bows, Halloween masks, costumes, make-up and novelties, Easter egg dyes and novelties, and craft and educational products. CSS provides its retail customers the opportunity to use a single vendor for much of their seasonal product requirements. CSS’ product breadth, product innovation, creative design, manufacturing and packaging flexibility, product quality and customer service are key to sustaining the Company’s market leadership position. A substantial portion of CSS’ products are manufactured, packaged and warehoused in seventeen North American facilities, with the remainder purchased primarily from manufacturers in the Far East and Mexico. The Company’s products are sold to its retail customers by national and regional account managers and product specialists and by a network of independent manufacturers’ representatives.

The Company’s operating subsidiaries include Paper Magic Group, Inc. (“Paper Magic”), Berwick Offray LLC (“Berwick”), and Cleo Inc (“Cleo”). Approximately 900 of its 2,800 employees (increasing to approximately 3,800 as seasonal employees are added) are represented by labor unions. The term of the collective bargaining agreement between the Company’s Cleo subsidiary and the labor union representing approximately 650 non-supervisory production and maintenance employees at the gift wrap plant and warehouses in Memphis, Tennessee expired on January 16, 2005. Cleo has continued to follow the terms of the expired collective bargaining agreement, and Cleo and the labor union have engaged in negotiations concerning the provisions of a new agreement. However, as of May 26, 2005, Cleo and the labor union have not reached an agreement on a new contract, and there presently are no ongoing or scheduled negotiations between Cleo and the labor union.

Reclassification

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year classification.

Stock Split

On May 27, 2003 the Board of Directors authorized a three-for-two split of the Company’s common stock, effected by a distribution on July 10, 2003 of one share for each two shares held of record at the close of business on June 30, 2003. The capital stock accounts, share data and per share data are presented as if the stock split occurred prior to the earliest year included in these consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and 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. Judgments and assessments of uncertainties are required in applying the Company’s accounting policies in many areas. Such estimates pertain to

26


Back to Contents

the valuation of inventory and accounts receivable, the assessment of the recoverability of goodwill and other intangible assets, income tax accounting and resolution of litigation and other proceedings. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Inventories

The Company records inventory at the date of taking title which generally occurs upon receipt or prior to receipt with regard to in-transit inventory. The Company adjusts unsalable and slow-moving inventory to its net realizable value. Substantially all of the Company’s inventories are stated at the lower of first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost or market. The remaining portion of the inventory is valued at the lower of last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost or market which was $1,332,000 and $1,639,000 at March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Had all inventories been valued at the lower of FIFO cost or market, inventories would have been greater by $818,000 and $1,229,000 at March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Inventories consisted of the following:

 

    March 31,  
   
 
(in thousands)
  2005   2004  
   

 

 
Raw material
  $ 27,089   $ 17,878  
Work-in-process
    29,357     27,363  
Finished goods
    45,421     49,218  
   

 

 
    $ 101,867   $ 94,459  
   

 

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided generally on the straight-line method and is based on estimated useful lives or terms of leases as follows:

Buildings, leasehold interests and improvements
    Lease term to 45 years  
Machinery, equipment and other
    3 to 12 years  

When property is retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization are eliminated from the consolidated balance sheet. Any gain or loss from the disposition of property, plant and equipment is included in other income. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred while improvements are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Depreciation expense was $14,009,000, $13,463,000, and $13,768,000 for the years ended March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Long-Lived Assets

Effective April 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” SFAS No. 144 provides for a single accounting approach for measuring impairment of long-lived assets, including definite lived intangible assets, businesses accounted for as a discontinued operation, assets to be sold and assets to be disposed of other than by sale. The initial adoption of SFAS No. 144 did not have an impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Under SFAS No. 144, long-lived assets, except for goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to future net cash flows estimated by the Company to be generated by such assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are recorded at the lower of carrying value or estimated net realizable value.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

When a company is acquired, the difference between the fair value of its net assets, including intangibles, and the purchase price is goodwill. Goodwill is recorded as an asset on the consolidated balance sheet.

 

27


Back to Contents

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” SFAS No. 142 addresses financial accounting and reporting for acquired goodwill and other intangible assets. SFAS No. 142 provides that goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are no longer amortized on a recurring basis but instead are subject to impairment testing at least annually. The Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on April 1, 2002. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 142, an $8,813,000 charge, net of tax, was recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2003 to record the impairment of certain goodwill, primarily related to the Company’s Paper Magic – Fall, Spring and Everyday reporting unit, as well as the reversal of negative goodwill related to Cleo, and was classified as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, 2004 and 2003, the Company also performed the required annual impairment test of the carrying amount of goodwill and determined that no goodwill impairment existed. Other intangible assets with definite useful lives are required to continue to be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives.

In addition to goodwill, at March 31, 2005 the Company had $4,290,000 of other intangible assets relating to trade names that are not subject to amortization and $226,000 of other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $431,000, relating primarily to a covenant not to compete, that are being amortized over periods of three to five years (see Note 2).

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses certain derivative financial instruments as part of its risk management strategy to reduce interest rate and currency risk. Derivatives are not used for trading or speculative activities.

The Company recognizes all derivatives on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value. On the date the derivative instrument is entered into, the Company generally designates the derivative as either (1) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (“fair value hedge”), or (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow hedge”). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as, and meets all the required criteria for, a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in current period earnings. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as, and meets all the required criteria for, a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified into earnings as the underlying hedged item affects earnings. The portion of the change in fair value of a derivative associated with hedge ineffectiveness or the component of a derivative instrument excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness is recorded currently in earnings. Also, changes in the entire fair value of a derivative that is not designated as a hedge are recorded immediately in earnings. The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes relating all derivatives that are designated as fair value or cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions.

The Company also formally assesses, both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether each derivative is highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged item. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge or if a derivative ceases to be a highly effective hedge, the Company will discontinue hedge accounting prospectively.

The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts in order to reduce the impact of certain foreign currency fluctuations. Firmly committed transactions and the related receivables and payables may be hedged with forward exchange contracts. Gains and losses arising from foreign currency forward contracts are recognized in income or expense as offsets of gains and losses resulting from the underlying hedged transactions. There were no open forward exchange contracts as of March 31, 2005. The notional amount of open forward exchange contracts as of March 31, 2004 was $357,000 and the related loss was not material.

During 2001, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements, with maturities through January 2004, to manage its exposure to interest rate movements by effectively converting a portion of its anticipated working capital debt from variable to fixed rates. There were no outstanding interest rate swap contracts as of March 31, 2005 and 2004. The average annual notional amounts of interest rate swap contracts subject to fixed rates were $10,946,000 for fiscal year 2004. These agreements involved the exchange of variable rate payments for fixed rate payments without the effect of leverage and without the exchange of the underlying face amount. Fixed interest

28


Back to Contents

rate payments were at a weighted average rate of 5.09% in fiscal 2004. Interest rate differentials paid under these agreements were recognized as adjustments to interest expense and amounted to $443,000 for the year ended March 31, 2004.

Income Taxes

The Company follows the liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and the tax effects of net operating loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets or liabilities at the end of each period are determined using the tax rate expected to be in effect when taxes are actually paid or recovered.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from product sales when the goods are shipped and title and risk of loss passes to the customer. Provisions for returns, allowances, rebates to customers and other adjustments are provided in the same period that the related sales are recorded.

Product Development Costs

Product development costs consist of purchases of outside artwork, printing plates, cylinders, catalogs and samples. Product development costs begin to be incurred approximately 18 to 20 months before the holiday event and are amortized monthly over the selling season, generally within two to four months of the respective holiday event. Product development expense is recorded in selling, general and administrative expense.

Product development costs capitalized as of March 31, 2005 and 2004 were $4,750,000 and $4,490,000, respectively, and are included in other current assets in the consolidated financial statements. Product development expense of $6,309,000, $7,668,000 and $6,424,000 was recognized in the years ended March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are reported in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations.

29


Back to Contents

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company applies Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations in accounting for its stock option plans. Accordingly, compensation expense is generally not recognized for its stock-based compensation plans. Had compensation expense for the Company’s stock option plans been determined based upon the fair value at the grant date for awards under these plans consistent with the methodology prescribed under SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” the Company’s net income and net income per share would have been reduced as follows:

 

    For the Years Ended  
    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004   2003  
   

 

 

 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
                   
     
                   
Net income, as reported
  $ 30,692   $ 29,850   $ 17,033  
Add: Total stock-based employee compensation
                   
expense included in the determination of net
                   
income, as reported
    165          
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation
                   
expense determined under fair value based
                   
method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    (2,505 )   (2,782 )   (3,216 )
   

 

 

 
Pro forma net income
  $ 28,352   $ 27,068   $ 13,817  
   

 

 

 
Net income per share:
                   
Basic – as reported
  $ 2.58   $ 2.54   $ 1.45  
Basic – pro forma
  $ 2.39   $ 2.30   $ 1.17  
     
                   
Diluted – as reported
  $ 2.45   $ 2.42   $ 1.38  
Diluted – pro forma
  $ 2.30   $ 2.21   $ 1.12  

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following average assumptions:

 

    For the Years Ended  
    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004   2003  
   

 

 

 
Expected dividend yield at time of grant
    1.23%     1.14%     0%  
Expected stock price volatility
    21%     38%     45%  
Risk-free interest rate
    3.76%     4.92%     5.22%  
Expected life of option
    6.3 years     9.0 years     9.6 years  

30


Back to Contents

Net Income Per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic net income per common share and diluted net income per common share for the years ended March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 

    For the Years Ended  
    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004   2003  
   

 

 

 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
                   
     
                   
Numerator:
                   
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change
  $ 30,692   $ 29,850   $ 25,846  
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
            (8,813 )
   

 

 

 
Net income
  $ 30,692   $ 29,850   $ 17,033  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
Denominator:
                   
Weighted average shares outstanding for
basic income per common share
    11,886     11,755     11,784  
Effect of dilutive stock options
    658     591     554  
   

 

 

 
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding
for diluted income per common share
    12,544     12,346     12,338  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
Basic net income per common share:
                   
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change
  $ 2.58   $ 2.54   $ 2.19  
Cumulative effect of accounting change
            (.74 )
   

 

 

 
Net income per common share
  $ 2.58   $ 2.54   $ 1.45  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
Diluted net income per common share:
                   
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change
  $ 2.45   $ 2.42   $ 2.09  
Cumulative effect of accounting change
            (.71 )
   

 

 

 
Net income per common share
  $ 2.45   $ 2.42   $ 1.38  
   

 

 

 

Options on 23,000 shares, 50,000 shares and 77,000 shares of common stock were not included in computing diluted income per common share for the years ended March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, because their effects were antidilutive.

Statements of Cash Flows

For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all holdings of highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity at time of purchase of less than three months to be cash equivalents.

31


Back to Contents

Supplemental Schedule of Cash Flow Information

(in thousands)

 

    For the Years Ended  
    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004   2003  
   

 

 

 
Cash paid during the year for:
                   
Interest
  $ 2,933   $ 3,811   $ 3,352  
   

 

 

 
Income taxes
  $ 13,096   $ 12,746   $ 13,351  
   

 

 

 
     
                   
Details of acquisitions:
                   
Fair value of assets acquired
  $   $   $ 56,257  
Liabilities assumed
            33,366  
   

 

 

 
Cash paid
            22,891  
Less cash acquired
            1  
   

 

 

 
Net cash paid for acquisitions
  $   $   $ 22,890  
   

 

 

 
   
(2)
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS:

Effective July 1, 2001 and April 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” and SFAS No. 142, respectively. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 142, amortization of existing goodwill ceased. Goodwill is now subject to fair-value based impairment tests performed, at a minimum, on an annual basis. In addition, a transitional goodwill impairment test was required as of the adoption date. These impairment tests are conducted on each business of the Company where goodwill is recorded, and may require two steps. The initial step is designed to identify potential goodwill impairment by comparing an estimate of the fair value for each applicable business to its respective carrying value. For those businesses where the carrying value exceeds fair value, a second step is performed to measure the amount of goodwill impairment, if any.

The Company had $39,715,000 in positive goodwill and $2,393,000 in negative goodwill recorded on its consolidated balance sheet at the beginning of fiscal 2003. The negative goodwill related entirely to the acquisition of Cleo. Cleo was purchased on November 15, 1995 at a discount to fair value and after all long-term assets were reduced to $0 in purchase accounting, the remaining discount was recorded as negative goodwill and was being amortized over ten years. The $2,393,000 of remaining negative goodwill within the Cleo reporting unit was required to be reversed upon adoption of SFAS No. 142. The Company completed the required transitional goodwill impairment test in the first quarter of fiscal 2003, and determined that $14,049,000 of goodwill recorded within the Company’s Paper Magic – Fall, Spring and Everyday reporting unit was impaired under the fair value impairment test approach required by SFAS No. 142.

The fair values of the reporting units were estimated using the expected present value of associated future cash flows and market values of comparable businesses where available. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 142, an $8,813,000 charge, net of tax, was recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2003 to record this impairment as well as the reversal of negative goodwill and was classified as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, 2004 and 2003, the Company performed the required annual impairment test of the carrying amount of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets and determined that no goodwill impairment existed.

32


Back to Contents

The carrying amount of goodwill was $30,952,000 for the year ended March 31, 2005. In addition to goodwill, the Company has $4,290,000 of other intangible assets relating to trade names that are not subject to amortization and $226,000 of other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $431,000, relating primarily to a covenant not to compete, that are being amortized over periods of three to five years. Accumulated amortization at March 31, 2005 and 2004 was $431,000 and $280,000 respectively, and amortization expense was $151,000 for fiscal 2005 and 2004 and was $126,000 for fiscal 2003. The estimated amortization expense for the next five fiscal years is as follows:

 

Fiscal 2006
  $ 94,000  
Fiscal 2007
    94,000  
Fiscal 2008
    38,000  
Fiscal 2009
     
Fiscal 2010
     
   

 
    $ 226,000  
   

 
   
(3)
BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES:

Crystal Creative Products, Inc.

On October 18, 2002, a subsidiary of the Company acquired all of the capital stock of Crystal Creative Products, Inc. (“Crystal”) for $22,891,000, including transaction costs, and assumed and repaid $18,828,000 of outstanding debt (primarily seasonal working capital debt). A portion of the purchase price is being held in escrow for certain indemnification obligations. During fiscal 2004, the Company received cash of approximately $2,155,000 in satisfaction of a post closing adjustment to the purchase price. Crystal, which was then headquartered in Middletown, Ohio, is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of consumer convenience gift wrap products and competed in the seasonal end of the gift bag and tissue markets with the Company’s existing product lines. At the time of acquisition, its product lines included gift tissue, gift bags, and related packaging products for the consumer market, as well as specialty tissues for in-store packaging of retailers and for industrial applications. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and the excess of cost over the fair market value of the net tangible assets acquired of $9,877,000 was recorded as intangible assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Of the $9,877,000 of acquired intangible assets, $4,290,000 was assigned to trade names that are not subject to amortization, $5,287,000 was assigned to goodwill ($3,553,000 is expected to be deductible for tax purposes) and $300,000 was assigned to a covenant not to compete which has a useful life of five years.

In July 2003, the Company finalized a restructuring plan related to the Crystal acquisition, under which the Company restructured its business to integrate the acquired entity with its current businesses. In connection with this plan, the Company sold assets related to a non-core portion of the Crystal business for $3,525,000 in July 2003, and closed Crystal’s primary manufacturing facility in Maysville, Kentucky. A separate administration building in Middletown, Ohio also closed in March 2004. The Company recorded a restructuring reserve of $1,672,000 as part of purchase accounting, including severance related to approximately 150 employees. Uncommitted restructuring accruals of $300,000 related to the closing of the Maysville facility were reversed against goodwill in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004. Payments of $367,000 (including $143,000 for severance costs) were made in the year ended March 31, 2005. During the first quarter of fiscal 2005, the Company reopened the Maysville facility in response to the filing of an anti-dumping petition related to tissue products manufactured in China.

Selected information relating to the Crystal restructuring follows (in thousands):

 

        Contractual        
        Obligations and        
    Severance   Facility Exit Costs   Total  
   

 

 

 
Initial accrual – July 2003
  $ 626   $ 1,046   $ 1,672  
Cash paid – fiscal 2004
    (483 )   (522 )   (1,005 )
Non cash reduction – fiscal 2004
        (300 )   (300 )
   

 

 

 
Restructuring reserve as of March 31, 2004
    143     224     367  
Cash paid – fiscal 2005
    (143 )   (224 )   (367 )
   

 

 

 
Restructuring reserve as of March 31, 2005
  $   $   $  
   

 

 

 

 

33


Back to Contents

C. M. Offray & Son, Inc.

On March 15, 2002, a subsidiary of the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the business and assets of the portion of C. M. Offray & Son, Inc. (“Offray”) which manufactured and sold decorative ribbon products, floral accessories and narrow fabrics for apparel, craft and packaging applications for $44,865,000 in cash, including transaction costs. A portion of the purchase price is being held in escrow to cover indemnification obligations. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and the cost approximated the fair market value of the net assets acquired. Therefore, no goodwill was recorded in this transaction.

In conjunction with the acquisition of Offray, the Company’s management approved a restructuring plan. As part of this plan, the Company accrued $2,385,000 for severance and costs related to the closure of certain facilities. As of March 31, 2005, the Company had closed Offray’s distribution facility in Quebec, Canada and its warehouse in Antietam, Maryland and has communicated termination of employment to approximately 125 employees. During the year ended March 31, 2004, there was a reduction in the restructuring accrual of $137,000 related to relocation costs that were less than originally estimated as certain employees under the plan did not relocate as expected. There was a corresponding reduction in property, plant and equipment for this amount. Payments of $325,000, mainly for severance, were made in the year ended March 31, 2005. These payments represent the final restructuring payments. During the year ended March 31, 2005, there was a reduction in the restructuring accrual of $77,000 related to severance costs that were less than originally estimated as certain employees under the plan did not receive the expected amount of severance. There was a corresponding reduction in property, plant and equipment for this amount.

Selected information relating to the Offray restructuring follows (in thousands):

        Contractual        
        Obligations and        
    Severance   Facility Exit Costs   Total  
   

 

 

 
Restructuring reserve as of March 31, 2003
  $ 713   $ 402   $ 1,115  
Cash paid – fiscal 2004
    (403 )   (173 )   (576 )
Non cash reductions – fiscal 2004
        (137 )   (137 )
   

 

 

 
Restructuring reserve as of March 31, 2004
    310     92     402  
Cash paid – fiscal 2005
    (233 )   (92 )   (325 )
Non cash reductions – fiscal 2005
    (77 )       (77 )
   

 

 

 
Restructuring reserve as of March 31, 2005
  $   $   $  
   

 

 

 
   
(4)
BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING:

On May 5, 2004, a subsidiary of the Company announced a restructuring of its business and established a restructuring reserve related to its administrative office located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This restructuring was established in order to gain efficiencies within the business unit. As part of this restructuring plan, the Company accrued $377,000 for termination costs and costs related to the restructuring of the administrative office expected to be completed in December 2004. As of March 31, 2005, the Company has communicated termination of employment to 33 employees. Payments of $343,000, $161,000 and $398,000 for termination costs, contractual obligations and other costs, respectively, were made in the year ended March 31, 2005. During the year ended March 31, 2005, the Company increased the restructuring reserve related to the ratable recognition of retention bonuses for employees providing service until their termination date in the amount of $255,000. Additionally, during the year ended March 31, 2005, there was an increase in the restructuring reserve related to unutilized office space in the amount of $177,000. These amounts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. As of March 31, 2005, the remaining liability of $305,000 was classified as a current liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and will be paid during fiscal 2006. The Company incurred a total of $1,207,000, including $426,000 for termination costs, $383,000 for contractual obligations and facility exit costs and $398,000 for other restructuring expenses during fiscal 2005.

34


Back to Contents

Selected information relating to the Minneapolis restructuring follows (in thousands):

 

    Termination
Costs
  Contractual
Obligations and
Facility Exit Costs
  Other
Costs
  Total  
   

 

 

 

 
Initial accrual – May 2004
  $ 171   $ 206   $   $ 377  
Additional charges to expense – fiscal 2005
    255     177     398     830  
Cash paid – fiscal 2005
    (343 )   (161 )   (398 )   (902 )
   

 

 

 

 
Restructuring reserve as of March 31, 2005
  $ 83   $ 222   $   $ 305  
   

 

 

 

 

On November 1, 2004, a subsidiary of the Company announced the anticipated closure of its plant located in Anniston, Alabama. As of March 31, 2005, the Company has communicated termination of employment to 89 employees. Manufacturing operations were moved to other locations of the Company and this project was substantially completed by March 31, 2005. As part of this restructuring plan, the Company accrued $206,000 for severance costs. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, the Company increased the restructuring reserve related to medical benefits for employees providing service until their termination date in the amount of $23,000. Additionally, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, there was an increase in the restructuring reserve related to facility exit costs in the amount of $1,101,000 of which $669,000 was paid as of March 31, 2005 and of which $367,000 related to the write-down of a building. These amounts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. As of March 31, 2005, the remaining liability of $294,000 was classified as a current liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and will be paid during fiscal 2006.

Selected information relating to the Anniston restructuring follows (in thousands):

 

    Termination
Costs
  Facility
Exit Costs
  Total  
   

 

 

 
Initial accrual – November 2004
  $ 206   $   $ 206  
Additional charges to expense – fiscal 2005
    23     1,101     1,124  
Cash paid – fiscal 2005
        (669 )   (669 )
Building write-down – fiscal 2005
        (367 )   (367 )
   

 

 

 
Restructuring reserve as of March 31, 2005
  $ 229   $ 65   $ 294  
   

 

 

 
   
(5)
TREASURY STOCK TRANSACTIONS:

The Company’s Board of Directors previously authorized a buyback of the Company’s common stock at prices and pursuant to other terms and conditions that the Company’s officers may deem appropriate. Any such buy back is subject to compliance with regulatory requirements and relevant covenants of the Company’s credit facilities. As of March 31, 2005, the Company has 475,324 shares remaining available for repurchase under the Board’s authorization. The Company repurchased 241,800 shares for $7,977,000 (excluding the shares purchased pursuant to the tender offer discussed below) and 184,300 shares for $5,687,000 in fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, respectively.

On January 31, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved the initiation of a modified Dutch auction tender offer by the Company to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of its outstanding common stock at a price of not less than $30.00 per share nor in excess of $35.00 per share. The tender offer commenced on February 3, 2005 and expired on March 4, 2005. As a result of the tender offer, the Company purchased 1,739,760 shares of its Common Stock at a purchase price of $35.00 per share, or a total of $60,892,000, and paid related transaction costs of $135,000. The 1,739,760 shares purchased were comprised of the 1,500,000 shares the Company offered to purchase and 239,760 shares purchased pursuant to the Company’s right to purchase up to an additional 2% of the shares outstanding immediately prior to the commencement of the tender offer. Due to over-subscription, the final proration factor for shares tendered at or below $35.00 per share was 86.58%. All shares purchased in the tender offer received the same price.

On June 24, 2002, the Company purchased an aggregate of 1,100,000 shares of its common stock from its Chairman, members of his family and a trust for members of his family. The terms of the purchase were negotiated on behalf of the Company by a Special Committee of the Board of Directors consisting of three independent

35


Back to Contents

directors. The Special Committee retained an independent investment bank which rendered a fairness opinion. The Special Committee unanimously recommended that the Company’s Board of Directors authorize the purchase, and the Board of Directors, other than its Chairman who was not present at the meeting, unanimously authorized the purchase. The total amount of this transaction was $36,510,000.

   
(6)
STOCK OPTION PLANS:

Under the terms of the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan (“2004 Plan”), the Human Resources Committee (“Committee”) of the Board of Directors may grant incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock grants, stock appreciation rights, stock bonuses and other awards to officers and other employees. Grants under the 2004 Plan may be made through February 2014 and are exercisable at the discretion of the Committee but in no event greater than ten years from the date of grant. Options may be exercised at the rate of 25% per year commencing one year after the date of grant. At March 31, 2005, options to acquire 1,965,000 shares were available for grant under the 2004 Plan.

Under the terms of the CSS Industries, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (“2000 Plan”), non-qualified stock options to purchase up to 300,000 shares of common stock are available for grant to non-employee directors at exercise prices of not less than fair market value on the date of grant. Options to purchase 6,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are to be granted automatically to each non-employee director on the last day that the Company’s common stock is traded in November from 2001 to 2005. Each option will expire ten years after the date the option is granted and options may be exercised at the rate of 25% per year commencing one year after the date of grant. At March 31, 2005, options to acquire 201,000 shares were available for grant under the 2000 Plan.

Under the terms of the 1994 Equity Compensation Plan (“1994 Plan”), the Committee had the ability to grant incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock grants, stock appreciation rights or combinations thereof to officers and other employees through November 2004. Each option granted under the 1994 Plan will expire no later than ten years after the grant date and options may be exercised at the rate of 25% per year commencing one year after the date of grant. Since the period of time during which options may be granted under the 1994 Plan expired on November 4, 2004, there are no options available for grant under the 1994 Plan as of March 31, 2005.

Transactions from April 1, 2002 through March 31, 2005 under the above plans were as follows:

    Number
of Shares
  Option Price
per Share
  Weighted
Average
Price
  Weighted
Average Life
Remaining
 
   

 

 

 

 
Options outstanding at April 1, 2002
    2,720,301     $11.42 – 22.09     $16.07     7.2 years  
Granted
    169,500     21.67 – 24.40     22.90        
Exercised
    (377,391 )   11.42 – 22.00     15.43        
Canceled
    (117,339 )   12.71 – 21.70     15.96        
   
 
 
       
Options outstanding at March 31, 2003
    2,395,071     12.71 – 24.40     16.67     6.6 years  
Granted
    354,462     23.58 – 31.25     24.92        
Exercised
    (469,369 )   12.88 – 22.75     15.72        
Canceled
    (177,178 )   12.88 – 26.00     20.76        
   
 
 
       
Options outstanding at March 31, 2004
    2,102,986     12.71 – 31.25     17.92     6.4 years  
Granted
    361,000     29.70 – 35.00     33.63        
Exercised
    (580,920 )   13.09 – 23.83     16.30        
Canceled
    (36,050 )   14.33 – 34.12     25.80        
   
 
 
       
Options outstanding at March 31, 2005
    1,847,016     $12.71 – 35.00     $21.35     5.5 years  
   
 
 
       
Options exercisable at March 31, 2005
    1,129,068     $12.71 – 31.25     $17.13        
   
 
 
       

The weighted average fair value of options granted during fiscal 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $11.78, $11.80 and $9.24 per share, respectively.

36


Back to Contents

The following table summarizes information concerning currently outstanding and exercisable options:

 

    Options Outstanding
  Options Exercisable
 
    Range of Exercise Prices   Number Outstanding   Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life   Weighted Average Exercise Price   Number Exercisable   Weighted Average Exercise Price  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 
      $10.50 – $14.00     67,103     3.8   $ 13.11     67,103   $ 13.11  
      $14.01 – $17.50     715,933     5.4   $ 15.55     630,044   $ 15.40  
      $17.51 – $21.00     309,059     4.1   $ 18.74     300,059   $ 18.73  
      $21.01 – $24.50     327,746     7.5   $ 23.41     111,088   $ 23.02  
      $24.51 – $28.00     27,475     7.9   $ 25.66     8,274   $ 25.83  
      $28.01 – $31.50     70,000     7.5   $ 30.21     12,500   $ 29.91  
      $31.51 – $35.00     329,700     4.6   $ 33.78          
         

 

 

 

 

 
            1,847,016     5.5   $ 21.35     1,129,068   $ 17.13  
         

 

 

 

 

 
   
(7)
RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS:

Profit Sharing Plans

The Company maintains defined contribution profit sharing and 401(k) plans covering substantially all of its employees as of March 31, 2005. Annual contributions under the plans are determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or each subsidiary, as appropriate. Consolidated expense related to the plans for the years ended March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $2,475,000, $2,894,000 and $2,635,000, respectively.

Pension Plan

The Company’s Cleo subsidiary administers a defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all salaried employees of Crystal at the time of Cleo’s acquisition of Crystal in October 2002. The plan was frozen on November 2, 2002 and terminated September 30, 2003. After the plan was frozen, benefits were provided to eligible employees by participation in an existing defined contribution profit sharing and 401(k) plan.

Postretirement Medical Plan

The Company’s Cleo subsidiary administers a postretirement medical plan covering certain persons who were employees or former employees of Crystal at the time of Cleo’s acquisition of Crystal in October 2002. The plan was frozen to new participants prior to Crystal’s acquisition by the Company.

The Company uses a March 31 measurement date for all pension and postretirement medical plans.

37


Back to Contents

The following provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations and plan assets (in thousands):

    March 31,  
   
 
    Pension Benefits   Other Benefits  
   
 
 
    2005   2004   2005   2004  
   

 

 

 

 
Change in plan assets:
                         
     
                         
Fair value of plan assets at beginning
of year
  $ 4,495   $ 4,788   $   $  
Actual return on plan assets
    133     730          
Benefits paid from plan assets
    (315 )   (1,023 )        
   

 

 

 

 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
    4,313     4,495          
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
Change in benefit obligation:
                         
     
                         
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
    1,268     2,304     966     1,452  
Interest cost
    63     111     50     86  
Actuarial loss (gain) and other
adjustments
    70     (124 )   (131 )   80  
Benefits paid
    (315 )   (1,023 )   (47 )   (43 )
Gain due to terminations
                (609 )
   

 

 

 

 
Benefit obligation at end of year
    1,086     1,268     838     966  
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
Funded status
    3,227     3,227     (838 )   (966 )
Unrecognized net gain
            59     72  
   

 

 

 

 
Prepaid benefit cost/(accrued obligation) recognized in the consolidated balance sheet
  $ 3,227   $ 3,227   $ (897 ) $ (894 )
   

 

 

 

 

The following table summarizes the assumptions of the defined benefit pension plan and the postretirement medical plan:

    For the Years Ended March 31,  
   
 
    Pension Benefits   Other Benefits  
   
 
 
    2005   2004   2005   2004  
   

 

 

 

 
Weighted-average assumptions used to
determine net periodic benefit costs:
                         
Discount rate
    5.0 %   4.8 %   6.0 %   6.0 %
Expected return on plan assets
    3.3 %   7.0 %        
     
                         
Weighted average assumptions used to
determine benefit obligation:
                         
Discount rate
    5.0 %   5.0 %   6.0 %   6.0 %
     
                         
Assumed health care cost trend rates:
                         
Initial rate assumed for next year
                18.0 %   20.0 %
Ultimate rate
                6.0 %   6.0 %
Years to ultimate rate
                12        14     

The expected return on plan assets rate was developed considering historical returns and the future expectations for returns for each asset class, weighted by the target asset allocations.

 

38


Back to Contents

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the postretirement medical plan. A one percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects (in thousands):

    1 Percentage
Point Increase
  1 Percentage
Point Decrease
 
   

 

 
Effect on total of service and interest cost
  $ 5   $ (5 )
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation
    90     (79 )

Net periodic pension and postretirement medical costs (benefits) include the following components (in thousands):

    For the Years Ended March 31,  
   
 
    Pension Benefits   Other Benefits  
   
 
 
    2005   2004   2005   2004  
   

 

 

 

 
Interest cost
  $ 63   $ 111   $ 50   $ 86  
Expected return on plan assets
    (148 )   (335 )        
Amortization of gain due to terminations
                (609 )
Recognition of net (gain) or loss
    85     (543 )        
   

 

 

 

 
Benefit cost (credit)
  $   $ (767 ) $ 50   $ (523 )
   

 

 

 

 

The pension plan’s weighted average asset allocations at March 31, 2005 and 2004, by asset category are as follows:

    % of Total at March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004  
   

 

 
Annuities
    100 %   100 %

The Company intends to maintain the current asset allocations in the future.

The goal of the Company’s investment policy is to have sufficient assets to fund pension obligations when they become due and achieve the required return within acceptable levels of risk.

In May 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. 106-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the Act).” FSP No. 106-2 provides guidance on the accounting for the effects of the Act for employers that sponsor postretirement health care plans that provide prescription drug benefits. The impact of the Act on the Company’s postretirement plan resulted in a decrease in the plan’s accrued benefit obligation of $116,000 and net periodic benefit cost of $7,000 for fiscal 2005.

(8)
INCOME TAXES:

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense was as follows:

    For the Years Ended  
    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004   2003  
   

 

 

 
United States
  $ 31,866   $ 32,990   $ 31,166  
Foreign
    15,252     13,307     8,844  
   

 

 

 
    $ 47,118   $ 46,297   $ 40,010  
   

 

 

 

39


Back to Contents

The following table summarizes the provision for U.S. federal, state and foreign taxes on income:

 

    For the Years Ended
March 31,
 
   
 
    2005   2004   2003  
   

 

 

 
(in thousands)
                   
     
                   
Current:
                   
Federal
  $ 12,550   $ 12,803   $ 13,922  
State
    535     847     146  
Foreign
    2,674     2,222     1,449  
   

 

 

 
      15,759     15,872     15,517  
   

 

 

 
Deferred:
                   
Federal
    298     795     (1,284 )
State
    369     (220 )   (69 )
   

 

 

 
      667     575     (1,353 )
   

 

 

 
    $ 16,426   $ 16,447   $ 14,164  
   

 

 

 

The differences between the statutory and effective federal income tax rates on income before income taxes were as follows:

 

    For the Years Ended  
    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004   2003  
   

 

 

 
                     
U.S. federal statutory rate
    35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %
State income taxes, less federal benefit
    1.2     .9     .5  
Other
    (1.3 )   (.4 )   (.1 )
   

 

 

 
      34.9 %   35.5 %   35.4 %
   

 

 

 

Income tax benefits related to the exercise of stock options reduced current taxes payable and increased additional paid-in capital by $2,430,000 in fiscal 2005, $1,158,000 in fiscal 2004, and $969,000 in fiscal 2003.

40


Back to Contents

Deferred taxes are recorded based upon differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and available net operating loss and credit carryforwards. The following temporary differences gave rise to net deferred income tax assets (liabilities) as of March 31, 2005 and 2004:

 

    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004  
   

 

 
(in thousands)
             
     
             
Deferred income tax assets:
             
Accounts receivable
  $ 512   $ 1,069  
Inventories
    4,292     2,518  
Accrued expenses
    5,010     5,296  
State net operating loss and credit carryforwards
    9,071     8,725  
Other
    1,063     2,368  
   

 

 
      19,948     19,976  
Valuation allowance
    (8,771 )   (8,425 )
   

 

 
      11,177     11,551  
   

 

 
Deferred income tax liabilities:
             
Property, plant and equipment
    6,139     5,969  
Unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries
    1,428     1,643  
Other
    2,482     2,144  
   

 

 
      10,049     9,756  
   

 

 
Net deferred income tax asset
  $ 1,128   $ 1,795  
   

 

 

At March 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company had potential state income tax benefits of $9,071,000 and $8,725,000, respectively, from net operating loss and credit carryforwards that expire in various years through 2016. At March 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company provided valuation allowances of $8,771,000 and $8,425,000, respectively. The increase in the valuation allowance fo $346,000 and $515,000 in fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively, was due to the increase in state net operating loss and credit carryforwards, and reflects management’s assessment of the portion of the deferred tax asset that more likely than not will not be realized through future taxable earnings or implementation of tax planning strategies.

On October 22, 2004 the U.S. Government passed The American Jobs Creation Act (the “Act”). The Act provides for certain tax benefits including but not limited to those associated with the reinvestment of foreign earnings in the United States. The Company is currently evaluating the Act and may or may not benefit from such provisions. For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 the Company could elect under the Act, to apply an 85% dividends-received deduction against certain dividends received from controlled foreign corporations, in which we are a U.S. shareholder. At such time the Company has completed its evaluation it will provide for additional tax expense or benefit, if any, in that period.

(9)
LONG-TERM DEBT AND CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS:

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004  
   

 

 
(in thousands)
             
     
             
4.48% Senior Notes due December 13, 2009
  $ 50,000   $ 50,000  
Other
    442     586  
   

 

 
      50,442     50,586  
Less — current portion
    (10,442 )   (335 )
   

 

 
    $ 40,000   $ 50,251  
   

 

 

 

41


Back to Contents

On December 13, 2002, the Company issued $50,000,000 of 4.48% Senior Notes due December 13, 2009 (the “Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes are to be paid ratably over five years, beginning at the end of the third year of the seven year term of the agreement. The note purchase agreement contains various financial covenants, the most restrictive of which pertain to net worth, the ratio of operating cash flow to fixed charges and the ratio of debt to capitalization. The Company is in compliance with all covenants as of March 31, 2005.

On April 23, 2004, the Company’s expiring $100,000,000 revolving credit facility was replaced with a $50,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility with five banks. This facility expires on April 23, 2009. The loan agreement contains provisions to increase or reduce the interest pricing spread based on the achievement of certain benchmarks related to the ratio of earnings to interest expense. At the Company’s option, interest on the facility currently accrues at (1) the greater of the prime rate minus 0.5% or the Federal Funds Rate, or (2) LIBOR plus .75%. The revolving credit facility provides for commitment fees of 0.225% per annum on the daily average of the unused commitment. The loan agreement also contains various financial covenants, the most restrictive of which pertain to net worth, the ratio of operating cash flow to fixed charges, the ratio of debt to capitalization and limitations on capital expenditures. The Company is in compliance with all financial debt covenants as of March 31, 2005.

On April 23, 2004, the Company entered into an extension of its $100,000,000 accounts receivable securitization facility during which time it renewed the facility for a five-year period, expiring on July 25, 2009, although it may terminate prior to such date in the event of termination of the commitments of the facility’s back-up purchasers. The agreement permits the sale (and repurchase) of an undivided interest in an accounts receivable pool and the facility limit now has a seasonally- adjusted funding limit of $100,000,000 during peak seasonal periods and $25,000,000 during off-peak seasonal periods. Under this arrangement, the Company sells, on an ongoing basis and without recourse, its trade accounts receivable to a wholly- owned special purpose subsidiary (the “SPS”), which in turn has the option to sell, on an ongoing basis and without recourse, to the commercial paper issuer an undivided percentage interest in the pool of accounts receivable. Under the agreement, new trade receivables are automatically sold to the SPS and became a part of the receivables pool. Interest on amounts financed under this facility are based on a variable commercial paper rate plus 0.375% and provides for commitment fees of 0.225% per annum or the daily average of the unused commitment. This arrangement is accounted for as a financing transaction.

The weighted average interest rate under the revolving credit facilities for the years ended March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, was 3.89%, 3.02% and 5.94%, respectively. The average and peak borrowings were $16,088,000 and $64,220,000 for the year ended March 31, 2005 and $30,358,000 and $94,590,000 for the year ended March 31, 2004. Additionally, outstanding letters of credit totaled $8,083,000 and $4,368,000 at March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company has letters of credit that guarantee funding of workers compensation claims as well as obligations to certain vendors.

Long-term debt matures as follows:

(in thousands)
       
2006
  $ 10,442  
2007
    10,000  
2008
    10,000  
2009
    10,000  
2010
    10,000  
   

 
Total
  $ 50,442  
   

 

42


Back to Contents

(10)
OPERATING LEASES:

The Company maintains various lease arrangements for property and equipment. The future minimum rental payments associated with all noncancelable lease obligations are as follows:

(in thousands)
       
2006
  $ 7,489  
2007
    5,892  
2008
    5,350  
2009
    4,379  
2010
    3,790  
Thereafter
    2,943  
   

 
Total
  $ 29,843  
   

 

Rent expense was $9,723,000, $10,324,000 and $8,963,000 in the years ended March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

(11)
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

The estimated fair value of financial instruments has been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate methodologies. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange. Certain of these financial instruments are with major financial institutions and expose the Company to market and credit risks and may at times be concentrated with certain counterparties or groups of counterparties. The creditworthiness of counterparties is continually reviewed, and full performance is anticipated.

The methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments are set forth below:

 
Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable – The carrying amounts of these items are a reasonable estimate of their fair values at March 31, 2005 and 2004.
     
 
Short-term borrowings – Borrowings under the revolving credit facility have variable rates that reflect currently available terms and conditions for similar debt. The carrying amount of this debt is a reasonable estimate of its fair value.
     
 
Other long-term obligations – The carrying amounts of these items are a reasonable estimate of their fair value.
     
 
Foreign currency contracts – The fair value is based on quotes obtained from financial institutions. There were no foreign currency contracts outstanding as of March 31, 2005 and the fair value of foreign currency contracts was immaterial as of March 31, 2004.
     
 
Long-term debt – The fair value of long-term debt instruments is estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis. As of March 31, 2005, the carrying amount of long-term debt was $50,442,000 and the estimated fair value was estimated to be $49,748,000. As of March 31, 2004, the carrying amount of long-term debt was $50,586,000 and the estimated fair value was estimated to be $50,975,000.
   
(12)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

On February 17, 2004, a group of six domestic producers of tissue paper and a labor union jointly filed an antidumping duty petition with the International Trade Administration of the U. S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce Department”) and the U. S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”), in which the petitioners sought the imposition of duties on certain tissue paper products imported from China. The Company, as an importer from China of certain products that were the subject of these investigations, contested the imposition of these duties in proceedings before the ITC and the Commerce Department.

In February 2005, the Commerce Department issued its final determination in which it found that certain tissue paper products are being sold into the United States from China at less than fair value. In March 2005, the ITC

43


Back to Contents

issued its final determination in which it found that an industry in the United States is materially injured by reason of imports from China of certain tissue paper products. As a result of these determinations, certain tissue paper products imported from China are now subject to the imposition of tissue duties. The Company has filed an appeal of the ITC’s final determination, and this appeal is being litigated before the United States Court of International Trade.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, the Company imported from China a portion of its requirements for gift tissue products. Given that certain of the gift tissue products that the Company imported from China during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 are subject to the imposition of tissue duties, the Company has recognized an expense of approximately $2,300,000, reflecting the Company’s estimated liability for tissue duties relating to these imports. This reserve is based on the deposit rates, as established by the Commerce Department, that were in effect with respect to the time that the subject tissue paper products were imported by the Company. Prior to the ITC’s final determination, the Company expensed approximately $3,100,000 for the possible imposition of tissue duties, including approximately $800,000 pertaining to products imported by the Company prior to September 21, 2004. This expense was adjusted to $2,300,000 in the fourth quarter based upon the ITC’s final determination, which had the effect of eliminating the possible imposition of tissue duties with respect to tissue products imported prior to September 21, 2004.

The amount of the Company’s actual liability for tissue duties pertaining to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, which liability is capped at the deposit rates in effect with respect to the period of time that the products were imported by the Company, will be determined at the time of “liquidation” of the applicable entries by United States Customs & Border Protection. With respect to the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006, the Company does not intend to import from China any tissue paper products that are subject to the imposition of tissue duties pursuant to the aforementioned final determinations of the Commerce Department and the ITC.

CSS and its subsidiaries are also involved in ordinary, routine legal proceedings that are not considered by management to be material. In the opinion of Company counsel and management, the ultimate liabilities resulting from such lawsuits and claims will not materially affect the consolidated financial position of the Company or its results of operations or cash flows.

(13)
SEGMENT DISCLOSURE:

The Company operates in a single reporting segment, the manufacture, distribution and sale of non-durable seasonal consumer goods, primarily to mass market retailers. CSS conducts substantially all of its business in the United States.

The Company’s detail of revenues from its various products is as follows:

    For the Years Ended  
    March 31,  
   
 
    2005   2004   2003  
   

 

 

 
(in thousands)
                   
     
                   
Christmas
  $ 329,540   $ 325,597   $ 316,464  
Everyday
    145,486     148,017     139,197  
Other seasonal
    61,336     65,735     77,154  
   

 

 

 
Total
  $ 536,362   $ 539,349   $ 532,815  
   

 

 

 

One customer accounted for sales of $138,232,000, or 25.8% of total sales in fiscal 2005, $114,469,000, or 21.2% of total sales in fiscal 2004 and $107,915,000, or 20.3% in fiscal 2003. One other customer accounted for sales of $57,593,000 or 10.7% of total sales in fiscal 2005, $66,815,000, or 12.4% of total sales in fiscal 2004, and $55,132,000, or 10.4% in fiscal 2003.

(14)
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:

SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” was issued in June 2001. SFAS No. 143 addresses accounting and reporting for legal obligations and related costs associated with the retirement of long-lived assets. The statement requires that the fair value of the liability for an asset retirement obligation be

44


Back to Contents

recognized in the period incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The estimated retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. SFAS No. 143 was adopted by the Company at the beginning of fiscal year 2004 with no impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections.” This statement, among other things, rescinds SFAS No. 4, “Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt,” and SFAS No. 64, “Extinguishments of Debt Made to Satisfy Sinking-Fund Requirements.” SFAS No. 145 requires gains and losses from debt extinguishments that are used as part of the Company’s risk management strategy to be classified as part of income from operations rather than as extraordinary items, net of tax. SFAS No. 145 was adopted by the Company at the beginning of fiscal year 2004 with no impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.” SFAS No. 146 addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).” SFAS No. 146 requires that a liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred rather than when a company commits to such an activity and also establishes fair value as the objective for initial measurement of the liability. The Company was required to adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 146 effective for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002.

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure,” which amends SFAS No. 123. SFAS No. 148 provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. SFAS No. 148 also amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 and APB Opinion No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting,” to require disclosure in the summary of significant accounting policies of the effects of an entity’s accounting policy with respect to stock-based employee compensation on reported net income and earnings per share in annual and interim financial statements. While SFAS No. 148 does not amend SFAS No. 123 to require companies to account for employee stock options using the fair value method, the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 are applicable to all companies with stock-based employee compensation, regardless of whether they account for that compensation using the fair value method of SFAS No. 123 or the intrinsic value method of APB Opinion No. 25. As allowed by SFAS No. 123, the Company has elected to continue to utilize the accounting method prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25 and has adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 148 as of March 31, 2003.

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” Interpretation No. 45 requires a guarantor to include disclosure of certain obligations, and if applicable, at the inception of the guarantee, recognize a liability for the fair value of other certain obligations undertaken in issuing a guarantee. Interpretation No. 45 was adopted by the Company as of January 1, 2003 and did not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” which requires all Variable Interest Entities (“VIE”) to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the entity that holds the majority of the beneficial interests in the VIE. In December 2003, the FASB revised FIN 46 (“FIN 46R”), delaying the effective dates for certain entities created before February 1, 2003, and making other amendments to clarify application of the guidance. FIN 46R requires certain disclosures of an entity’s relationship with VIEs. FIN 46R was effective for companies with interests in VIEs or potential VIEs (commonly referred to as special-purpose entities, or SPEs) for periods ending after December 15, 2003. FIN 46R was effective for companies with all other types of entities (i.e. non-SPEs) for periods ending after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46R had no impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 clarifies under what circumstances a contract with an initial net investment meets the characteristics of a derivative and when a derivative contains a financing component. This statement is

45


Back to Contents

effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003. The adoption of SFAS No. 149 had no impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity,” which requires certain financial instruments that were previously presented as equity or as temporary equity to be presented as liabilities. Such instruments include mandatory redeemable preferred and common stock, and certain options and warrants. SFAS No. 150 was effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and was applied to the Company’s existing financial instruments effective July 1, 2003, the beginning of the first fiscal period after June 15, 2003. The Company adopted SFAS No. 150 for new or modified financial instruments on June 1, 2003. The adoption of SFAS No. 150 had no impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In December 2003, the FASB revised SFAS No. 132, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and other Postretirement Benefits,” establishing additional annual disclosures about plan assets, investment strategy, measurement date, plan obligations and cash flows. In addition, the revised standard established interim disclosure requirements related to the net periodic benefit cost recognized and contributions paid or expected to be paid during the current fiscal year. The new annual disclosures are effective for financial statements with fiscal years ending after December 15, 2003 and the interim-period disclosures are effective for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2003. The Company adopted the disclosures beginning with its fiscal year ending March 31, 2004.

In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs,” which amends the guidance in Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs and spoilage. This statement now requires that these costs be expensed as current period charges. In addition, this statement requires that the allocation of fixed production overhead to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The provisions of this statement are effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company has not yet completed its assessment of the impact of SFAS No. 151 on its financial position or results of operations.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets,” which eliminates the APB Opinion No. 29, “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions,” exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance. Commercial substance exists if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. The provisions of this statement are effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment,” a revision to SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” This statement supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” SFAS No. 123R establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services. This statement requires that the cost of share based payment transactions be recorded as an expense at their fair value determined by applying a fair value measurement method. The Company had expected to adopt this standard as required in the second quarter of fiscal 2006 (quarter ended September 2005), however the Securities and Exchange Commission in April 2005 issued a rule that allows companies to delay adoption, and as a result, the Company expects to adopt this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 (quarter ending June 2006). The statement applies to all awards granted after the effective date and to awards modified, repurchased, or canceled after that date. As the amount of expense to be recognized in future periods will depend on the levels of future grants, the effect of adoption of this statement cannot be predicted with certainty. However, had the Company adopted this statement in prior periods, the effect of adoption on net income and earnings per share would have approximated the amounts shown in the pro forma information included in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

46


Back to Contents

(15)
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED):

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2005
  Quarters  

     
   
 
    First   Second   Third   Fourth  
   

 

 

 

 
Net sales
  $ 49,555   $ 181,711   $ 247,169   $ 57,927  
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
Gross profit
    13,494     49,158     62,513     13,659  
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
Net (loss) income
  $ (4,407 ) $ 15,613   $ 23,971   $ (4,485 )
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
Net (loss) income per common share:
                         
Basic
  $ (.37 ) $ 1.31   $ 2.01   $ (.38 )
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
Diluted
  $ (.37 ) $ 1.24   $ 1.91   $ (.38 )
   

 

 

 

 

 

2004
  Quarters  

     
   
 
    First   Second   Third   Fourth  
   

 

 

 

 
Net sales
  $ 58,290   $ 179,162   $ 247,394   $ 54,503  
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
Gross profit
    15,129     48,048     70,951     9,343  
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
Net (loss) income
  $ (4,039 ) $ 14,216   $ 27,397   $ (7,724 )
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
Net (loss) income per common share:
                         
Basic
  $ (.35 ) $ 1.21   $ 2.31   $ (.65 )
   

 

 

 

 
     
                         
Diluted
  $ (.35 ) $ 1.15   $ 2.18   $ (.65 )
   

 

 

 

 

The seasonal nature of CSS’ business has historically resulted in comparatively lower sales and operating losses in the first and fourth quarters and comparatively higher shipment levels and operating profits in the second and third quarters of the Company’s fiscal year, thereby causing significant fluctuations in the quarterly results of operations of the Company.

47


Back to Contents

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Based upon that evaluation, the President and Chief Executive Officer and Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and procedures.

(b) Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, the Company assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2005 based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on the Company’s assessment, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of March 31, 2005 based on those criteria.

KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included in this report has issued an attestation report on our management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2005.

(c) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) as promulgated by the Securities Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act) during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(d) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
CSS Industries, Inc.:

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, that CSS Industries, Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). CSS Industries, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing

48


Back to Contents

such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, management’s assessment that CSS Industries, Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Also, in our opinion, CSS Industries, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of CSS Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2005, and the related financial statement schedule, and our report dated May 26, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule.

KPMG LLP                              

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 26, 2005

Item 9B. Other Information.

None

49


Back to Contents

 

Part III
 
Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

See “ELECTION OF DIRECTORS”, “OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS” and “CORPORATE GOVERNANCE” in the Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which will be incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation.

See “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” in the Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which will be incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

See “CSS SECURITY OWNERSHIP” and “DISCLOSURE WITH RESPECT TO CSS’ EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS” in the Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which will be incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

See “CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS” in the Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which will be incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

See “OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM, THEIR FEES AND THEIR ATTENDANCE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING” in the Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which will be incorporated herein by reference.

50


Back to Contents

Part IV
 
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
     
  (a)
Following is a list of documents filed as part of this report:
     
  1.
Financial Statements
     
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
     
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets — March 31, 2005 and 2004
     
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income — for the years ended March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
     
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — for the years ended March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
     
   
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity — for the years ended March 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
     
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
     
  2.
Financial Statement Schedules
     
   
Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
     
  3.
Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K, Including Those Incorporated by Reference.
     
   
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this annual report on Form 10-K. Where so indicated by footnote, exhibits which were previously filed are incorporated by reference. For exhibits incorporated by reference, the location of the exhibit in the previous filing is indicated in parentheses.
   
 
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
       
          3.1  
Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed December 5, 1990. (1) (Exhibit 3.1)
         
          3.2  
Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed May 8, 1992. (2) (Exhibit 3.2)
       
          3.3  
Certificate eliminating Class 2, Series A, $1.35 Preferred stock filed September 27, 1991. (3) (Exhibit 3.2)
         
          3.4  
Certificate eliminating Class 1, Series B, Convertible Preferred Stock filed January 28, 1993. (2) (Exhibit 3.5)
         
          3.5  
By-laws of the Company, as amended to date (as last amended January 15, 2004). (13) (Exhibit 3.5)
         
          3.6  
Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed August 4, 2004. (14) (Exhibit 3.1)
         
          3.7  
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended to date (as last amended August 4, 2004). (14) (Exhibit 3.2)
   
 
Material Contracts
       
        10.1  
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated February 8, 2002, among Berwick Industries LLC, Daylight Acquisition Corp., Lion Ribbon Company, Inc., C. M. Offray & Son, Inc., CVO Corporation (Delaware), C.M. Offray & Son (Hong Kong) Limited, Claude V. Offray, Jr., Claude V. Offray III, and Denise A. Offray. (9) (Exhibit 2.1)
         
        10.2  
Amendment No. 1 to Asset Purchase Agreement dated March 15, 2002. (9) (Exhibit 2.2)
         
        10.3  
Receivables Purchase Agreement among CSS Funding LLC, CSS Industries, Inc., Market Street Funding Corporation and PNC Bank, National Association, dated as of April 30, 2001. (10) (Exhibit 10.9)

 

51


Back to Contents

        10.4  
Purchase and Sale Agreement between Various Entities Listed on Schedule I, as the Originators, CSS Industries, Inc. and CSS Funding LLC, dated as of April 30, 2001. (10) (Exhibit 10.10)
         
        10.5  
First Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of August 24, 2001. (10) (Exhibit 10.12)
         
        10.6  
First Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of August 24, 2001. (10) (Exhibit 10.13)
         
        10.7  
CSS Industries, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors. (10) (Exhibit 10.14)
         
        10.8  
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated October 18, 2002, among Cleo Inc and the individuals and trusts constituting all of the shareholders of Crystal Creative Products, Inc. (11) (Exhibit 2.1)
         
        10.9  
$50,000,000 4.48% Senior Notes due December 13, 2009 Note Purchase Agreement dated December 12, 2002. (12) (Exhibit 10.17)
         
      10.10  
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated April 23, 2004. (14) (Exhibit 10.1)
         
      10.11  
Second Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of July 29, 2003. (14) (Exhibit 10.2)
         
      10.12  
Third Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement dated June 1, 2004. (14) (Exhibit 10.3)
         
      10.13  
Second Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of July 29, 2003. (14) (Exhibit 10.4)
         
      10.14  
Third Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of April 26, 2004. (14) (Exhibit 10.5)
         
      10.15  
Fourth Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated June 1, 2004. (14) (Exhibit 10.6)
         
      10.16  
First Amendment to Note Purchase Agreements dated October 27, 2004. (14) (Exhibit 10.8)
         
    *10.17  
Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated January 27, 2005.
   
 
Management Contracts, Compensatory Plans or Arrangements
       
      10.18  
CSS Industries, Inc. Non-Qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreements, dated March 3, 1993, with certain executive officers of the Company. (2) (Exhibit 10.15)
         
      10.19  
CSS Industries, Inc. Non-Qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Guidelines, dated January 25, 1994. (4) (Exhibit 10.14)
         
      10.20  
CSS Industries, Inc. Annual Incentive Compensation Arrangement, Administrative Guidelines, dated March 15, 1993 (as amended January 1, 2000). (8) (Exhibit 10.11)
         
      10.21  
The Paper Magic Group, Inc. Management Incentive Bonus Program, Administrative Guidelines, dated March 15, 1993. (2) (Exhibit 10.28)
         
      10.22  
1994 Amendment to The Paper Magic Group, Inc. Management Incentive Bonus Program, Administrative Guidelines, dated March 2, 1994. (4) (Exhibit 10.26)
         
      10.23  
Berwick Industries, Inc. Incentive Bonus Plan, dated January 1, 1994. (4) (Exhibit 10.27)
         
      10.24  
Cleo Inc Management Incentive Plan, dated March 7, 1996. (5) (Exhibit 10.23)
         
      10.25  
Berwick Industries, Inc. Non-Qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated November 18, 1996. (6) (Exhibit 10.26)
         
      10.26  
The Paper Magic Group, Inc. Non-Qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated December 5, 1996. (6) (Exhibit 10.27)
         
      10.27  
Cleo Inc Non-Qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated November 26, 1996. (7) (Exhibit 10.18)

 

52


Back to Contents

      10.28  
CSS Industries, Inc. 1994 Equity Compensation Plan (as last amended August 7, 2002). (13) (Exhibit 10.29)
         
      10.29  
CSS Industries, Inc. 2004 Equity Compensation Plan. (14) (Exhibit 10.7)
         
      10.30  
Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2004 between CSS Industries, Inc. and Richard L. Morris. (15) (Exhibit 10.1)
   
 
Other
         
    *21.      
List of Significant Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
         
    *23.      
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
         
    *31.1  
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of CSS Industries, Inc. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002.
         
    *31.2  
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of CSS Industries, Inc. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002.
         
    *32.1  
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of CSS Industries, Inc. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002.
         
    *32.2  
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of CSS Industries, Inc. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002.

 


 
*
Filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

53


Back to Contents

Footnotes to List of Exhibits

  (1)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1990 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (2)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (3)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1991 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (4)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (5)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (6)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (7)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (8)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (9)
Filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K (No. 1-2661) dated March 15, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (10)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (11)
Filed as an exhibit to Form 8-K (No. 1-2661) dated October 18, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (12)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (13)
Filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 1-2661) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (14)
Filed as an exhibit to Form 10-Q (No. 1-2661) dated November 8, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.
     
  (15)
Filed as an exhibit to Form 10-Q (No. 1-2661) dated January 26, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of omitted Schedules and Exhibits, if any, with respect to Exhibits listed above upon request.

Stockholders who have been furnished a copy of this Report may obtain copies of any Exhibit listed above on payment of $.50 per page for reproduction and mailing charges by writing to the Secretary, CSS Industries, Inc., 1845 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.

54


Back to Contents

 

CSS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE II
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
 
(In thousands)

 

Column A
  Column B   Column C   Column D   Column E  
        Additions              
       
             
    Balance   Charged                    
    at   to Costs   Charged       Balance  
    Beginning   and   to Other       at End of  
    of Period   Expenses   Accounts   Deductions   Period  
   

 

 

 

 

 
Year ended March 31, 2005
                               
Doubtful accounts receivable-customers
  $ 1,335   $ 643   $   $ 1,044 (c) $ 934  
Accrued restructuring expenses
    769     2,537         2,707 (d)   599  
     
                               
Year ended March 31, 2004
                               
Doubtful accounts receivable-customers
  $ 1,812   $ 768   $   $ 1,245 (c) $ 1,335  
Accrued restructuring expenses
    1,115         1,672 (b)   2,018 (d)   769  
     
                               
Year ended March 31, 2003
                               
Doubtful accounts receivable-customers
  $ 1,549   $ 1,521   $ 237 (a) $ 1,495 (c) $ 1,812  
Accrued restructuring expenses
    4,541             3,426 (d)   1,115  
     
Notes: (a)
Balance at acquisition of Crystal.
     
          
(b)
Represents finalization of the Crystal plan for restructuring.
     
          
(c)
Includes amounts written off as uncollectible, net of recoveries.
     
          
(d)
Includes payments and non cash reductions further described in Note 3 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

55


Back to Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on behalf of the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

     

 

                  CSS INDUSTRIES, INC.  
               
 
                  Registrant  
     
                   
Dated: May 26, 2005
          By     /s/ David J. M. Erskine  
               
 
                  David J. M. Erskine, President and Chief Executive Officer     
(principal executive officer)
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Dated: May 26, 2005
                /s/ David J. M. Erskine  
               
 
                  David J. M. Erskine, President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer and a director)
 
     
                   
Dated: May 26, 2005
                /s/ Clifford E. Pietrafitta  
               
 
                  Clifford E. Pietrafitta, Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer  
                  (principal financial and accounting officer)  
     
                   
Dated: May 26, 2005
                /s/ Jack Farber  
               
 
                  Jack Farber, Director  
     
                   
Dated: May 26, 2005
                /s/ Scott A. Beaumont  
               
 
                  Scott A. Beaumont, Director  
     
                   
Dated: May 26, 2005
                /s/ James H. Bromley  
               
 
                  James H. Bromley, Director  
     
                   
Dated: May 26, 2005
                /s/ Stephen V. Dubin  
               
 
                  Stephen V. Dubin, Director  
     
                   
Dated: May 26, 2005
                /s/ Leonard E. Grossman  
               
 
                  Leonard E. Grossman, Director  
     
                   
Dated: May 26, 2005
                /s/ James E. Ksansnak  
               
 
                  James E. Ksansnak, Director  
     
                   
Dated: May 26, 2005
                /s/ Rebecca C. Matthias  
               
 
                  Rebecca C. Matthias, Director  
     
                   
Dated: May 26, 2005
                /s/ Michael L. Sanyour  
               
 
                  Michael L. Sanyour, Director  

56