UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004
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 1-10307
IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Texas | 74-0704500 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
One Imperial Square, P.O. Box 9, Sugar Land, Texas 77487
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
(281) 491-9181
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes x No ¨
As of August 2, 2004 there were 10,373,700 shares of common stock, without par value, of the registrant outstanding.
Index
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements regarding future market prices and margins, future operating results, sugarbeet acreage, operating efficiencies, future government and legislative action, future cost savings, future pension costs, our liquidity and ability to finance our operations, and other statements that are not historical facts contained in this report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements. We identify forward-looking statements in this report by using the following words and similar expressions:
expect |
project |
estimate | ||
believe |
anticipate |
likely | ||
plan |
intend |
could | ||
should |
may |
predict | ||
budget |
Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, market factors, energy costs, the effect of weather and economic conditions, farm and trade policy, our ability to realize planned cost savings, the available supply of sugar, available quantity and quality of sugarbeets, actual or threatened acts of terrorism or armed hostilities, legislative, administrative and judicial actions and other factors detailed elsewhere in this report and in our other filings with the SEC. Many of such factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Management cautions against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or future earnings levels. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. All forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this section and elsewhere in this report.
2
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
June 30, 2004 |
September 30, 2003 |
|||||||
(In Thousands of Dollars) | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current Assets: |
||||||||
Cash and Temporary Investments |
$ | 12,378 | $ | 6,246 | ||||
Marketable Securities |
1,733 | 2,280 | ||||||
Accounts Receivable, Net |
61,688 | 66,074 | ||||||
Inventories: |
||||||||
Finished Products |
75,921 | 89,558 | ||||||
Raw and In-Process Materials |
65,995 | 70,125 | ||||||
Supplies |
10,585 | 9,398 | ||||||
Total Inventory |
152,501 | 169,081 | ||||||
Deferred Costs and Prepaid Expenses |
9,656 | 9,813 | ||||||
Assets Held for Sale |
1,640 | 3,783 | ||||||
Total Current Assets |
239,596 | 257,277 | ||||||
Other Investments |
2,118 | 10,455 | ||||||
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net |
136,231 | 134,931 | ||||||
Other Assets |
5,011 | 15,503 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 382,956 | $ | 418,166 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY | ||||||||
Current Liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts Payable, Trade |
$ | 65,178 | $ | 86,671 | ||||
Short-Term Borrowings |
| 3,097 | ||||||
Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt |
2,049 | 26,525 | ||||||
Other Current Liabilities |
40,439 | 40,516 | ||||||
Total Current Liabilities |
107,666 | 156,809 | ||||||
Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Maturities |
7,286 | 10,975 | ||||||
Deferred Income Taxes, Net |
| | ||||||
Deferred Employee Benefits and Other Liabilities |
130,077 | 128,969 | ||||||
Commitments and Contingencies |
||||||||
Shareholders Equity: |
||||||||
Preferred Stock, Without Par Value, Issuable in Series; 5,000,000 Shares Authorized, None Issued |
| | ||||||
Common Stock, Without Par Value; 50,000,000 Shares Authorized; 10,373,700 and 10,047,500 Shares Issued and Outstanding at June 30, 2004 and September 30, 2003 |
103,048 | 96,414 | ||||||
Retained Earnings |
96,084 | 86,610 | ||||||
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss |
(61,205 | ) | (61,611 | ) | ||||
Total Shareholders Equity |
137,927 | 121,413 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 382,956 | $ | 418,166 | ||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
3
IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||||||||
(In Thousands of Dollars, Except per Share Amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
Net Sales |
$ | 229,574 | $ | 275,815 | $ | 695,187 | $ | 816,720 | ||||||||
Cost of Sales |
207,966 | 254,756 | 635,626 | 761,322 | ||||||||||||
Selling, General and Administrative Expense |
10,517 | 11,804 | 31,715 | 40,033 | ||||||||||||
Discount on Receivables Sold to Securitization Affiliate |
| | | 1,930 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and Amortization |
3,608 | 5,006 | 10,346 | 13,653 | ||||||||||||
Loss (Gain) on Asset Sales, Impairment and Other Costs |
118 | (324 | ) | 155 | 721 | |||||||||||
Total |
222,209 | 271,242 | 677,842 | 817,659 | ||||||||||||
Operating Income (Loss) |
7,365 | 4,573 | 17,345 | (939 | ) | |||||||||||
Interest Expense, Net |
(977 | ) | (1,242 | ) | (3,923 | ) | (3,273 | ) | ||||||||
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swaps |
| (96 | ) | 138 | (706 | ) | ||||||||||
Costs Associated with Debt Repaid |
| | | (4,617 | ) | |||||||||||
Other Income, Net |
268 | 317 | 1,016 | 1,532 | ||||||||||||
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes |
6,656 | 3,552 | 14,576 | (8,003 | ) | |||||||||||
Provision for Income Taxes |
2,332 | | 5,102 | | ||||||||||||
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations |
4,324 | 3,552 | 9,474 | (8,003 | ) | |||||||||||
Income from Discontinued Operations |
| | | 74,690 | ||||||||||||
Net Income |
$ | 4,324 | $ | 3,552 | $ | 9,474 | $ | 66,687 | ||||||||
Basic Earnings (Loss) per Share of Common Stock: |
||||||||||||||||
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations |
$ | 0.42 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.93 | $ | (0.80 | ) | |||||||
Income from Discontinued Operations |
| | | 7.47 | ||||||||||||
Net Income |
$ | 0.42 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.93 | $ | 6.67 | ||||||||
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share of Common Stock: |
||||||||||||||||
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations |
$ | 0.40 | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.88 | $ | (0.80 | ) | |||||||
Income from Discontinued Operations |
| | | 7.47 | ||||||||||||
Net Income |
$ | 0.40 | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.88 | $ | 6.67 | ||||||||
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding |
10,345,777 | 10,012,709 | 10,188,296 | 10,004,236 | ||||||||||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
4
IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||
(In Thousands of Dollars) | ||||||||
Operating Activities: |
||||||||
Net Income |
$ | 9,474 | $ | 66,687 | ||||
Adjustments for Non-Cash and Non-Operating Items: |
||||||||
Reclassification Adjustment from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to Net Income |
1,905 | (4,520 | ) | |||||
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swaps |
(138 | ) | 706 | |||||
Cash Settlements on Derivative Instruments |
(1,484 | ) | 1,853 | |||||
Depreciation and Amortization |
10,346 | 13,653 | ||||||
Loss (Gain) on Sale of Assets |
155 | (1,969 | ) | |||||
Inventory Impairment |
| 2,393 | ||||||
Write Off of Deferred Debt Costs |
| 2,420 | ||||||
Gain on Sale of Discontinued Operations |
| (69,824 | ) | |||||
Income from Discontinued Operations |
| (4,866 | ) | |||||
Deferred Income Taxes |
5,102 | | ||||||
Other |
2,256 | 835 | ||||||
Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts Receivables |
11,083 | 1,523 | ||||||
Inventories |
16,580 | (6,367 | ) | |||||
Deferred Costs and Prepaid Expenses |
296 | (1,894 | ) | |||||
Accounts Payable, Trade |
(21,493 | ) | 6,744 | |||||
Other Current Liabilities |
(1,844 | ) | 4,356 | |||||
Net Cash Provided by Continuing Operations |
32,238 | 11,730 | ||||||
Net Cash Provided by Discontinued Operations |
| 5,693 | ||||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities |
32,238 | 17,423 | ||||||
Investing Activities: |
||||||||
Capital Expenditures - Continuing Operations |
(12,236 | ) | (8,742 | ) | ||||
Capital Expenditures - Discontinued Operations |
| (155 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from Sale of Assets |
2,453 | 7,042 | ||||||
Proceeds from Maturity of Securities |
1,901 | 2,181 | ||||||
Investment in Marketable Securities |
(1,395 | ) | (1,943 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from Sale of Discontinued Operations |
| 139,941 | ||||||
Proceeds from Collection of Notes Receivable |
13,081 | | ||||||
Other |
(180 | ) | (3,255 | ) | ||||
Investing Cash Flow |
3,624 | 135,069 | ||||||
Financing Activities: |
||||||||
Short-Term Borrowings, Net |
(3,097 | ) | (2,107 | ) | ||||
Revolving Credit Repayment, Net |
| (25,040 | ) | |||||
Long-Term Debt Borrowings |
| 28,016 | ||||||
Repayment of Long-Term Debt |
(28,165 | ) | (117,423 | ) | ||||
Repurchase Accounts Receivable |
| (37,268 | ) | |||||
Issuance of Common Stock |
1,532 | 158 | ||||||
Financing Cash Flow |
(29,730 | ) | (153,664 | ) | ||||
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Temporary Investments |
6,132 | (1,172 | ) | |||||
Cash and Temporary Investments, Beginning of Period |
6,246 | 5,885 | ||||||
Cash and Temporary Investments, End of Period |
$ | 12,378 | $ | 4,713 | ||||
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
5
IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2004
(Unaudited)
Shares of Common Stock |
Common Stock |
Retained Earnings |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Total |
||||||||||||
(In Thousands of Dollars) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance September 30, 2003 |
10,047,500 | $ | 96,414 | $ | 86,610 | $ | (61,611 | ) | $ | 121,413 | ||||||
Comprehensive Income: |
||||||||||||||||
Net Income |
| | 9,474 | | 9,474 | |||||||||||
Change in Derivative Fair Value (1) |
| | | (1,484 | ) | (1,484 | ) | |||||||||
Change in Unrealized Securities Gains (1) |
| | | (15 | ) | (15 | ) | |||||||||
Recognition of Deferred Losses in Net Income (1) |
| | | 1,905 | 1,905 | |||||||||||
Total Comprehensive Income |
| | | | 9,880 | |||||||||||
Tax Benefit from Realization of Deferred Tax Assets |
| 5,102 | | | 5,102 | |||||||||||
Stock Options Exercised |
326,200 | 1,532 | | | 1,532 | |||||||||||
Balance June 30, 2004 |
10,373,700 | $ | 103,048 | $ | 96,084 | $ | (61,205 | ) | $ | 137,927 | ||||||
(1) | Tax effect of these items was zero. |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
6
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2004 AND 2003
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, that are necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. These financial statements include the accounts of Imperial Sugar Company and its majority owned subsidiaries (the Company). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain information and footnote disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003.
Cost of Sales
Payments to growers for sugarbeets are based in part upon the Companys average net selling price for sugar sold (as defined in the participating contracts with growers) during the grower contract years, ending the last day of either February or June. The contracts provide for a variable purchase price which effectively results in the sharing of the net selling price (gross sales price less certain marketing costs, including packaging costs, brokerage, freight expense and amortization of costs for certain facilities used in connection with marketing) with growers. Sugarbeet purchases are recorded upon receipt, and a liability is established for estimated additional amounts to be paid to growers based on the average net return realized to date for sugar sold in each of the contract years through the end of the fiscal period. The final cost of sugarbeets cannot be determined until the end of the contract year for each growing area. Manufacturing costs incurred prior to production are deferred and allocated to production costs based on estimated production for each sugar manufacturing campaign. Additionally, the Companys sugar inventories, which are accounted for on a LIFO basis, are periodically reduced at interim dates to levels below that of the beginning of the fiscal year. When such interim LIFO liquidations are expected to be restored prior to fiscal year-end, the estimated replacement cost of the liquidated layers is utilized as the basis of the cost of sugar sold from beginning of the year inventory. Accordingly, the cost of sugar utilized in the determination of cost of sales for interim periods includes estimates which may require adjustment in future fiscal periods.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires estimates and assumptions, including those described above, that affect the reported amounts as well as certain disclosures. The Companys financial statements include amounts that are based on managements best estimates and judgments. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reportable Segments
The Company operates its business as one domestic segment - the production and sale of refined sugar and related products. The Company sold the majority of its foodservice division in December 2002, as discussed in Note 6 and has reported the results of that business as discontinued operations.
Accounting Pronouncements
In 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board revised Financial Accounting Standard No. 132, Employers Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (SFAS 132). The revised statement
7
requires additional disclosures to those in the original Statement 132 about the assets, obligations, cash flows, and net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit pension plans and other defined benefit postretirement plans and provides for later effective dates for certain provisions in the statement. The Company has adopted this revised statement effective October 1, 2003, and has provided the additional interim disclosures required by SFAS 132 in Note 8 to the financial statements.
Earnings Per Share
As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation as amended by SFAS 148, the Company measures compensation cost using the intrinsic value method prescribed in by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. The Companys reported net income and net income per share would have been different had compensation cost for the Companys stock-based compensation plans been determined using the fair value method of accounting as shown in the pro forma amounts below (in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts):
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||||||||
Net income, as reported |
$ | 4,324 | $ | 3,552 | $ | 9,474 | $ | 66,687 | ||||||||
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method |
(98 | ) | (101 | ) | (293 | ) | (314 | ) | ||||||||
Pro forma net income |
$ | 4,226 | $ | 3,451 | $ | 9,181 | $ | 66,373 | ||||||||
Net income per share, Basic: |
||||||||||||||||
As reported |
$ | 0.42 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.93 | $ | 6.67 | ||||||||
Pro forma |
$ | 0.41 | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 6.63 | ||||||||
Net income per share, Diluted: |
||||||||||||||||
As reported |
$ | 0.40 | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.88 | $ | 6.67 | ||||||||
Pro forma |
$ | 0.39 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 0.85 | $ | 6.63 |
For purpose of estimating the fair value of options on their date of grant, the Black-Scholes option-pricing model was used with the following assumptions:
Expected stock price volatility |
3.5 -6.5% | |
Risk-free interest rate |
2.5 -4.2% | |
Expected life of options |
5.0 years |
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the prior year presentation have been reclassified to be consistent with fiscal 2004.
8
2. LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt was as follows (in thousands of dollars):
June 30, 2004 |
September 30, 2003 | |||||
Senior bank debt: |
||||||
Revolving credit facility |
$ | | $ | | ||
Term loan |
| 24,667 | ||||
Industrial revenue bonds |
1,500 | 3,680 | ||||
Non-interest bearing notes |
7,835 | 9,153 | ||||
Total long-term debt |
9,335 | 37,500 | ||||
Less current maturities |
2,049 | 26,525 | ||||
Long-term debt, net |
$ | 7,286 | $ | 10,975 | ||
The senior bank debt is secured by substantially all of the Companys assets and all subsidiaries of the Company are borrowers or guarantors under the facility. The agreement contains a financial covenant which requires maintenance of a minimum EBITDA level defined in the agreement. The Company is in compliance with this covenant as of June 30, 2004.
In the nine months ended June 30, 2004, the Company repaid in full the Term Loan portion of the Senior Debt. In addition, on February 26, 2004, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Credit Agreement which, among other things, eliminated the minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and provided additional capital structure flexibility.
The revolving credit facility matures December 31, 2005. Although the maturity date is December 31, 2005, the Company classifies any outstanding borrowings under the senior bank facility as current, pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 95-22, as the agreement contains a subjective acceleration clause if, in the opinion of the lender, there is a material adverse effect, and provides the lenders direct access to our cash receipts.
3. GAIN (LOSS) ON ASSET SALES, IMPAIRMENT AND OTHER COSTS
The Company had gains (losses) on asset sales, impairment and other costs, as follows (in thousands of dollars):
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
||||||||||||
Gain (Loss) on Asset Sales: |
|||||||||||||||
Surplus Real Estate and Equipment |
$ | (118 | ) | $ | 324 | $ | (155 | ) | $ | 1,969 | |||||
Impairment and Other Charges: |
|||||||||||||||
Impairment of Supplies Inventory - Sugar Land |
| | (2,393 | ) | |||||||||||
Sugar Land Severance |
| | (869 | ) | |||||||||||
Lease Obligations and Other |
| | | 572 | |||||||||||
Total Gains (Losses) on Asset Sales, Impairment, and Other Costs |
$ | (118 | ) | $ | 324 | $ | (155 | ) | $ | (721 | ) | ||||
9
Changes in the accrued balance for future cash expenditures in conjunction with closing production facilities are summarized below (in thousands of dollars):
Accrued |
Nine Months Ended June 30, 2004 |
Accrued | ||||||||
Amounts Paid |
||||||||||
Accrual for Cash Charges: |
||||||||||
Severance |
$ | 90 | $ | (36 | ) | $ | 54 | |||
Environmental Costs |
1,439 | (139 | ) | 1,300 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 1,529 | $ | (175 | ) | $ | 1,354 | |||
4. CONTINGENCIES
The Company is party to litigation and claims which are normal in the course of its operations; while the results of such litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes the final outcome of such matters will not have a materially adverse effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.
In conjunction with the closure of the Sugar Land, Texas refinery in December 2002, the refinerys union filed three similar grievances alleging the Company owed unspecified severance benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. The Company contested the grievances and an arbitrators decision on the first grievance, announced in December 2003, agreed with the Companys position and denied the grievance. The Company believes that the two remaining severance grievances are without merit and that the risk of loss in this matter is remote.
In May 2003, sugarbeet growers from the Torrington, Wyoming area filed a complaint for unspecified damages alleging breach of contract, anticipatory repudiation and breach of an implied covenant of fair dealing in connection with the Companys sale of a beet processing facility to a third party in 2002. In September 2003, the Wyoming Federal District Court granted the Companys motion to dismiss all counts of the plaintiffs complaint and overruled the growers motion for a rehearing. The growers filed an appeal of the courts decision and the appeals court affirmed the trial courts ruling in the Companys favor. The Company believes these claims are without merit and that the risk of loss is remote.
In connection with the sales of the Diamond Crystal Brands (DCB) foodservice business and the beet factories described above, the Company made customary representations and warranties, and undertook indemnification obligations with regard to certain of these representations and warranties. These indemnification obligations are subject to certain deductibles, caps and expiration dates and, in some cases, may be deducted from the related escrow balance. To date, no significant indemnity claims have been asserted and the Company does not believe any future claim, if asserted, would be material to the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In February 2002, the Company sold its Michigan Sugar subsidiary for cash and notes. Additionally, the buyer assumed $18.5 million of industrial revenue bonds, with final maturity in 2025, issued by Michigan Sugar. The Company remains contingently liable for repayment of the bonds under a guaranty arrangement and does not believe that a liability is probable. The Company obligation under the guaranty was cross collateralized with a seller note receivable that provided the Company with a claim to substantially all Michigan Sugars production assets should the Company have to perform under the guaranty. In December 2003, the Company received $13.3 million in principal and interest from Michigan Sugar in full satisfaction of the seller note and released the collateral. The Companys obligation pursuant to the guarantee is now unsecured. The Company accounted for this release of collateral as a modification of the guarantee and recorded a non-current liability for its fair value in the first quarter of fiscal 2004, pursuant to Financial Interpretation No. 45. The loss on recording the fair value of the guarantee was substantially offset by the gain from the early repayment of the seller note.
10
5. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following table presents information necessary to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts):
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | 4,324 | $ | 3,552 | $ | 9,474 | $ | (8,003 | ) | ||||
Effect of assumed conversions |
| | | | |||||||||
Adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations |
4,324 | 3,552 | 9,474 | (8,003 | ) | ||||||||
Average shares outstanding |
10,345,777 | 10,012,709 | 10,188,296 | 10,004,236 | |||||||||
Effect of incremental shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock options under the treasury stock method (1) |
597,941 | 532,416 | 597,174 | | |||||||||
Adjusted average shares |
10,943,718 | 10,545,125 | 10,785,470 | 10,004,236 | |||||||||
Basic EPS from continuing operations |
$ | 0.42 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.93 | $ | (0.80 | ) | ||||
Diluted EPS from continuing operations |
$ | 0.40 | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.88 | $ | (0.80 | ) | ||||
Income from discontinued operations |
| | | 74,690 | |||||||||
Effect of assumed conversions |
| | | | |||||||||
Adjusted income from discontinued operations |
| | | 74,690 | |||||||||
Average shares outstanding |
10,345,777 | 10,012,709 | 10,188,296 | 10,004,236 | |||||||||
Effect of incremental shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock options under the treasury stock method (1) |
597,941 | 532,416 | 597,174 | | |||||||||
Adjusted average shares |
10,943,718 | 10,545,125 | 10,785,470 | 10,004,236 | |||||||||
Basic EPS from discontinued operations |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 7.47 | |||||
Diluted EPS from discontinued operations |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 7.47 | |||||
Basic net income |
4,324 | 3,552 | 9,474 | 66,687 | |||||||||
Effect of assumed conversions |
| | | | |||||||||
Adjusted net income |
4,324 | 3,552 | 9,474 | 66,687 | |||||||||
Average shares outstanding |
10,345,777 | 10,012,709 | 10,188,296 | 10,004,236 | |||||||||
Effect of incremental shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock options under the treasury stock method (1) |
597,941 | 532,416 | 597,174 | | |||||||||
Adjusted average shares |
10,943,718 | 10,545,125 | 10,785,470 | 10,004,236 | |||||||||
Basic EPS from net income |
$ | 0.42 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.93 | $ | 6.67 | |||||
Diluted EPS from net income |
$ | 0.40 | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.88 | $ | 6.67 | |||||
(1) | There were 44,000 securities excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004 and 24,000 excluded for the three months ended June 30, 2003 as they were anti-dilutive. |
11
During the nine months ended June 30, 2004, the Company granted options to purchase 67,000 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $13.17 per share. The options vest over a three-year period and expire ten years after the date of grant. Options to purchase 326,200 shares of common stock with an average price of $4.70, were exercised during the nine months ended June 30, 2004, including options for 128,500 shares held by former employees.
6. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
The financial statements reflect the operating results of DCB and the operating results of beet processing facilities in Sidney, Montana, Torrington, Wyoming and Hereford, Texas, each of which was sold during fiscal 2003, as discontinued operations. No provision for income taxes on discontinued operations was recorded because of differences in the book and tax basis of the stock of DCB that was sold in December 2002.
In conjunction with the sale of Sidney, Torrington, and Hereford, $0.9 million was placed in escrow for a period of time after the sale. In January 2004, this escrow was released and the proceeds were used to repay debt.
Summary operating results of discontinued operations are as follows (in thousands of dollars):
Nine Months Ended June 30, 2003 |
||||
Net Sales |
$ | 54,342 | ||
Cost and Expenses |
(48,981 | ) | ||
Depreciation |
(794 | ) | ||
Loss on Sale of Assets |
(4 | ) | ||
Operating Income from Discontinued Operations |
4,563 | |||
Other Income |
303 | |||
Provision for Income Taxes |
| |||
Income from Discontinued Operations Before Gain |
4,866 | |||
Gain on Disposal |
69,824 | |||
Income from Discontinued Operations |
$ | 74,690 | ||
7. DERIVATIVES
The Company recognized gains of approximately $0.9 million in the nine months ended June 30, 2004, on natural gas hedge positions which no longer qualified for deferral accounting as highly effective under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133. As a result, hedge gains of $0.6 million were not available to offset higher physical gas costs in the third quarter and $0.3 million will not be available in the fourth quarter. Similarly, in the nine months ended June 30, 2003, the Company recognized $0.9 million of gains on derivatives which no longer qualified for deferral accounting.
In the past, the Company had material amounts of debt with interest rates that floated with market rates, exposing the Company to interest rate risk. The Companys policy was to reduce interest rate risk on its variable rate debt by entering into interest rate swap agreements for a portion of such floating rate debt. The Company had an interest rate swap agreement with a major financial institution under which the Company paid a fixed rate of 2.465% and received a floating interest payment based on 3 month LIBOR.
Since the Company had the ability to change the interest rate index of the debt, the interest rate swap agreements were not designated as hedging instruments under SFAS 133. Therefore, changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps were recognized in earnings. In conjunction with the repayment of the Term Debt, the swap was terminated in March 2004.
12
8. PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
The components of net periodic benefit costs for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 were (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||||||||
Pension Plans |
||||||||||||||||
Service Cost |
$ | 325 | $ | (74 | ) | $ | 975 | $ | 2,331 | |||||||
Interest Cost |
3,579 | (103 | ) | 10,738 | 8,110 | |||||||||||
Expected Return on Plan Assets |
(3,710 | ) | 241 | (11,130 | ) | (8,786 | ) | |||||||||
Amortization of Prior Service Cost |
26 | 3 | 77 | 9 | ||||||||||||
Recognized Actuarial Loss |
115 | 1 | 343 | 4 | ||||||||||||
Total Net Periodic Benefit Costs |
$ | 335 | $ | 68 | $ | 1,003 | $ | 1,668 | ||||||||
Postretirement Benefits Other than Pension Plans |
||||||||||||||||
Service Cost |
$ | 7 | $ | 29 | $ | 14 | $ | 87 | ||||||||
Interest Cost |
314 | 416 | 706 | 1,249 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of Prior Service Cost |
(299 | ) | | (549 | ) | | ||||||||||
Recognized Actuarial Loss |
107 | 5 | 215 | 14 | ||||||||||||
Total Net Periodic Benefit Costs |
$ | 129 | $ | 450 | $ | 386 | $ | 1,350 | ||||||||
Pension plan contributions, which are based on regulatory requirements, totaled $1.0 million and $1.3 million during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004; contributions during the remainder of fiscal 2004 are expected to be approximately $5.4 million.
Plan assets of the Company sponsored defined benefit pension plans at June 30, 2003 (the most recent actuarial valuation date), were invested in marketable large cap equity investments. During fiscal 2004, the Company re-allocated plan assets to a target allocation of marketable securities in the following:
High Grade Debt |
20 | % | |
Large Cap Equity |
35 | % | |
Mid Cap Equity |
20 | % | |
Small Cap Equity |
20 | % | |
Hedge Fund |
5 | % |
The Company expects to re-allocate an additional 15% of plan assets from equities to fixed income funds (10%) and real estate funds (5%) by the end of the fiscal year.
The assumed rate of return is based on the results of historical statistical return studies conducted by the Companys advisors. As a result of the re-allocation discussed above, the Company reduced its assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets from 9% to 8% for fiscal 2004.
13
Item 2. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This discussion should be read in conjunction with information contained in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003.
Overview
We operate in a single domestic business segment, which produces and sells refined sugar and related products. Revenues, volumes, costs and expenses of discontinued operations have been segregated from continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and in the following discussion and analysis of results of operations.
Our results of operations substantially depend on market factors, including the demand for and price of refined sugar, the price of raw cane sugar, the quantity and quality of sugarbeets available to us and the availability and price of energy and other resources. These market factors are influenced by a variety of external forces that we are unable to predict, including the number of domestic acres contracted to grow sugar cane and sugarbeets, prices of competing crops, domestic health and eating trends, competing sweeteners, weather conditions and United States farm and trade policy. The domestic sugar industry is subject to substantial influence by legislative and regulatory actions. The current farm bill limits the importation of raw cane sugar and the marketing of refined beet and raw cane sugar, potentially affecting refined sugar sales prices and volumes as well as the supply and cost of raw material available to our cane refineries.
Weather conditions during the growing, harvesting and processing seasons, the availability of acreage to contract for sugarbeets, as well as the effects of crop diseases and insects, may materially affect the quality and quantity of sugarbeets available for purchase as well as the costs of raw materials and processing.
Results of Operations
Three and Nine Months Ended June 30, 2004
Our results of operations primarily depend on our success in achieving appropriate spreads of sugar sales prices over raw material costs and our ability to control our manufacturing, distribution and administrative costs. Sugar sales comprise approximately 95% of our net revenues.
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 | |||||||||
(in Millions of Dollars) | ||||||||||||
Net Revenues: |
||||||||||||
Sugar Sales |
$ | 215 | $ | 265 | $ | 660 | $ | 787 | ||||
By-product Sales |
11 | 9 | 25 | 21 | ||||||||
Beet Seed Sales and Other Revenue |
4 | 2 | 10 | 9 | ||||||||
Net Revenues |
$ | 230 | $ | 276 | $ | 695 | $ | 817 | ||||
14
Sugar sales volumes and prices were:
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 | |||||||||||||||||
Volume |
Price |
Volume |
Price |
Volume |
Price |
Volume |
Price | |||||||||||||
(000 cwt) | (per cwt) | (000 cwt) | (per cwt) | (000 cwt) | (per cwt) | (000 cwt) | (per cwt) | |||||||||||||
Sugar Sales: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Industrial |
4,548 | $ | 25.04 | 5,713 | $ | 26.65 | 13,486 | $ | 25.74 | 16,325 | $ | 26.29 | ||||||||
Consumer |
2,285 | 31.73 | 2,528 | 31.84 | 7,125 | 32.29 | 8,007 | 31.86 | ||||||||||||
Foodservice |
905 | 31.29 | 1,047 | 31.06 | 2,623 | 31.80 | 3,317 | 30.95 | ||||||||||||
Sugar Sales |
7,739 | $ | 27.75 | 9,288 | $ | 28.56 | 23,234 | $ | 28.43 | 27,649 | $ | 28.46 | ||||||||
Net revenues decreased 16.8% and 14.9% for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2004 compared to those same periods ended June 30, 2003, primarily as a result of overall decreased sales volumes and decreased industrial pricing. Sugar sales volume decreases of 16.7% and 16.0% for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2004 compared to those same periods in 2003 are primarily due to softness in an oversupplied market leading to increased competitive pressures, especially in the southeast consumer branded and industrial markets. Additionally, we rationalized our sales after the closure of the Sugar Land refinery in fiscal 2003. Somewhat lower domestic sugar consumption, caused by dietary trends, also contributed to lower sales volume. Decreases in industrial sugar sales significantly affect our business as they represent approximately 60% of our sugar sales. Industrial sales prices were down 6.0% and 2.1% for the three and nine month periods because of a shift in product mix, including a higher mix of world sugar sales, as well as lower domestic sales prices. Also, large domestic sugarbeet crops, along with lower domestic sugar consumption has resulted in a surplus of sugar in the market, putting downward pressure on current industrial prices, which we expect to continue.
Gross margin as a percentage of sales increased to 9.4% from 7.6% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 versus 2003. The year-to-date periods for fiscal 2004 versus 2003 reflected a similar increase, with the gross margin improving to 8.6% from 6.8%. The increase in margin for these periods was primarily a result of lower raw materials costs and efficiencies gained in our cane refining operations as a result of the Sugar Land refinery closure. Raw cane sugar costs were $21.05 versus $21.88 per cwt for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 compared to 2003 and $21.20 versus $21.57 for the year-to-date periods. More efficient factory operations resulted in lower employee and materials costs at the beet factories during the current quarter while beet seed and by-product sales improved margins over prior years quarter as well. Additionally, the nine month period benefited from the recognition of a $0.6 million sales tax credit under an economic incentive agreement negotiated last year. These cost savings were offset by increases in natural gas costs. Sugar manufacturing is an energy intensive process and we purchase 4 to 5 million mmbtu of natural gas annually. Our average cost of natural gas, after applying gains and losses from hedging activity for the relevant gas delivery periods, increased to $5.27 per mmbtu from $3.57 per mmbtu in the quarter and to $5.30 from $3.67 in the year-to-date period. In an effort to mitigate energy costs from continued increases, we have maximized our use of coal and fuel oil and have purchased natural gas futures for approximately 86% of our expected natural gas needs for the fourth quarter of the fiscal 2004 at an average cost of $4.83 per mmbtu and approximately 14% of the first quarter of fiscal 2005 gas needs at $4.81 per mmbtu.
Selling, general and administrative expense decreased $1.3 million or 10.9% in the quarter and $8.3 million or 20.8% for the year-to-date period ended June 30, 2004, compared to the same periods for 2003. The decreases in the current year are related to a number of factors, including cost savings initiatives started by the Company last year which contributed to a decrease in compensation costs including salary and benefits, as well as a net decrease in pension/401k costs as a result of the pension freeze in the prior year. The Company also experienced decreased medical costs and bad debt expense, partially offset by increases in marketing and advertising costs. Additionally, professional service fees related to initiatives in the prior year to rationalize our business and restructure our capital requirements were $2.7 million higher in the fiscal 2003 period.
In connection with the decision to discontinue packaging and distribution in Sugar Land in 2003, we reduced the estimated remaining useful lives of certain facilities and equipment and recorded an additional $4 million of depreciation and amortization during the nine months ended June 30, 2003. There was no such charge in the same period ended June 30, 2004.
15
As a result of the items discussed above, operating income improved from $4.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 to $7.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2004. Operating income for the year-to-date period improved from a loss of $0.9 million in fiscal 2003 to income of $17.3 million in fiscal 2004. Operating income includes charges (credits) which affect comparability between periods as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
|||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||||||
(In Millions of Dollars) | ||||||||||||||
Charges (Credits) Included in Operating Income: |
||||||||||||||
(Gain)/Loss on Asset Sales, Impairment and Other Costs: |
||||||||||||||
(Gain)/Loss on Asset Sales |
$ | 0.1 | $ | (0.3 | ) | $ | 0.2 | $ | (1.9 | ) | ||||
Impairment and Other Costs |
| | | 2.7 | ||||||||||
Discount on Receivables Sold (1) |
| | | 1.9 | ||||||||||
Selling, General and Administrative Expense: |
||||||||||||||
Severance Costs - Headquarters |
0.1 | | 0.7 | 0.8 | ||||||||||
Professional Fees and Expenses for Restructuring |
0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 3.0 | ||||||||||
Additional Depreciation |
| 2.0 | | 4.0 |
(1) | Discounts on receivables sold were incurred in connection with the Companys accounts receivable securitization facility, which was terminated in December 2002 in connection with the refinancing of the senior bank debt. |
The Companys lower borrowing level in fiscal 2004 was the primary reason for the decrease in interest expense for the third quarter and offset the increases in the nine month period described below. Interest expense for the nine months increased during fiscal 2004 primarily due to a refund of approximately $2.1 million in the first quarter of the prior year from refinancing of the bank debt which was recorded as a reduction to interest expense; there was no such credit in the current year. Additionally, in the current year, the Company recorded an additional $0.7 million of interest expense related to a change in estimate of the remaining term of deferred debt costs due to the early payoff of the term debt. Finally, in fiscal 2004, the Company recorded decreased interest income (which is reported net in interest expense) of $0.5 million and $1.2 million for the respective quarter and year-to-date periods ended June 30, 2004 compared to 2003 due to Michigan Sugars early payoff of the seller note created in conjunction with the sale of Michigan Sugar.
The decrease in other income for the year-to-date period ended June 30, 2004 compared to 2003 relates to a credit related to the securitization facility, as well as the sale of surplus operating supplies in the first quarter of 2003.
We are not currently paying federal income taxes on our earnings as a result of net operating loss carryforwards from prior periods. However, we expect to begin paying cash taxes in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004. No provision for income taxes was recorded in the fiscal 2003 three or nine month periods because the Company had a year-to-date loss after consideration of differences in the book and tax basis of the stock of DCB that was sold in December 2002.
In connection with the sales of DCB and the beet factories described above, the Company made customary representations and warranties, and undertook indemnification obligations with regard to certain of these representations and warranties. These indemnification obligations are subject to certain deductibles, caps and expiration dates and, in some cases, may be deducted from the related escrow balance. To date, no significant indemnity claims have been asserted and the Company does not believe any future claim, if asserted, would be material to the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
16
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We fund our liquidity and capital requirements from cash generated from operations, supplemented as necessary with a $140 million (subject to a borrowing base calculation) three-year revolving credit facility, including a $50 million sub-limit for letters of credit. At June 30, 2004 we had no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility and had borrowing capacity of $76.6 million, after deducting outstanding letters of credit totaling $23.4 million. The Company also had $12.4 million of cash and temporary investments at June 30, 2004.
The facility is secured by substantially all of our assets and each of our subsidiaries is either a borrower or a guarantor under the facility. The agreement contains covenants limiting our ability to, among other things:
| incur other indebtedness |
| incur other liens |
| undergo any fundamental changes |
| declare or pay dividends |
| engage in transactions with affiliates |
| enter into sale and leaseback transactions |
| change our fiscal periods |
| enter into mergers or consolidations |
| sell assets |
| prepay other debt |
In addition, the agreement requires that we comply with a quarterly covenant which establishes a minimum level of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as defined (EBITDA) of $27 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2004, increasing to $29 million for the year ending September 30, 2004 and $37 million for the year ending September 30, 2005.
The facility also includes customary events of default, including a change of control. Borrowings will generally be available subject to a borrowing base and to the accuracy of all representations and warranties, including the absence of a material adverse change and the absence of any default or event of default. Although the facility has a final maturity date of December 31, 2005, we would classify any debt under the credit facility as current, pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 95-22, as the agreement contains a subjective acceleration clause if in the opinion of the lenders there is a material adverse effect, and provides the lenders direct access to our cash receipts. We are in compliance with all requirements of the agreement at June 30, 2004.
In March 2004, the Company repaid the Term Debt under the facility in full. In addition, on February 26, 2004, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Credit Agreement which, among other things, eliminated the minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and provided additional flexibility to our capital structure.
Our capital expenditures for the nine months ended June 30, 2004 were $12.2 million, primarily for technology and productivity improvements. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2004 are expected to be approximately $18 million, including $4 million of technology investments (primarily an Enterprise Resource Planning system), with $4 million of expenditures related to normal replacement of factory equipment and $10 million related to productivity and packaging improvements.
Our sugar production operations require seasonal working capital. Our seasonal requirements are expected to peak during our fourth fiscal quarter when inventory levels are high, and a substantial portion of the payments to raw material suppliers have been made. Management believes that the credit facility and cash flow from operations will provide sufficient capital to meet anticipated working capital and operational needs for at least the next twelve months.
17
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimate methodologies since the filing of our Form 10-K September 30, 2003.
Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
We use raw sugar futures and options in our raw sugar purchasing programs and natural gas futures and options to hedge natural gas purchases used in our manufacturing operations. Our ability to effectively hedge raw sugar purchases is somewhat limited by the illiquidity in the domestic raw sugar futures market. Gains and losses on raw sugar futures and options are matched to inventory purchases and charged or credited to cost of sales as such inventory is sold. Gains and losses on natural gas futures are matched to the natural gas purchases and charged to cost of sales in the period of the purchase.
The information in the table below presents our domestic and world raw sugar futures positions outstanding as of June 30, 2004.
Expected Maturity Fiscal 2004 |
Expected Maturity Fiscal 2005 | |||||
Domestic Futures Contracts (long positions): |
||||||
Contract Volumes (cwt.) |
978,800 | 468,160 | ||||
Weighted Average Contract Price (per cwt.) |
$ | 20.58 | $ | 20.89 | ||
Contract Amount |
$ | 20,149,000 | $ | 9,781,000 | ||
Weighted Average Fair Value (per cwt.) |
$ | 19.96 | $ | 20.85 | ||
Fair Value |
$ | 19,538,000 | $ | 9,762,000 |
Expected Fiscal 2005 | |||
Domestic Futures Contracts (short positions): |
|||
Contract Volumes (cwt.) |
136,640 | ||
Weighted Average Contract Price (per cwt.) |
$ | 20.78 | |
Contract Amount |
$ | 2,840,000 | |
Weighted Average Fair Value (per cwt.) |
$ | 20.81 | |
Fair Value |
$ | 2,843,000 | |
World Futures Contracts (net long positions): |
|||
Contract Volumes (cwt.) |
579,040 | ||
Weighted Average Contract Price (per cwt.) |
$ | 7.23 | |
Contract Amount |
$ | 4,189,000 | |
Weighted Average Fair Value (per cwt.) |
$ | 7.82 | |
Fair Value |
$ | 4,526,000 | |
World Trading Positions (short positions): |
|||
Contract Volumes (cwt.) |
157,920 | ||
Weighted Average Contract Price (per cwt.) |
$ | 7.73 | |
Contract Amount |
$ | 1,220,000 | |
Weighted Average Fair Value (per cwt.) |
$ | 7.69 | |
Fair Value |
$ | 1,214,000 |
18
The above information does not include either our physical inventory or our fixed price purchase commitments for raw sugar.
The information in the table below presents our natural gas futures positions outstanding as of June 30, 2004.
Expected Maturity Fiscal 2004 |
Expected Maturity Fiscal 2005 | |||||
Futures Contracts (net long positions): |
||||||
Contract Volumes (mmbtu) |
780,000 | 50,000 | ||||
Weighted Average Contract Price (per mmbtu) |
$ | 4.83 | $ | 4.81 | ||
Contract Amount |
$ | 3,768,000 | $ | 241,000 | ||
Weighted Average Fair Value (per mmbtu) |
$ | 6.16 | $ | 6.22 | ||
Fair Value |
$ | 4,807,000 | $ | 311,000 |
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
In accordance with Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2004 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and forms.
There has been no change in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2004 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
19
In conjunction with the closure of the Sugar Land, Texas refinery in December 2002, the refinerys union filed three similar grievances alleging the Company owed unspecified severance benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. The Company contested the grievances and an arbitrators decision on the first grievance, announced in December 2003, agreed with the Companys position and denied the grievance. The Company believes that the two remaining severance grievances are without merit and that the risk of loss in this matter is remote.
In May 2003, sugarbeet growers from the Torrington, Wyoming area filed a complaint for unspecified damages alleging breach of contract, anticipatory repudiation and breach of an implied covenant of fair dealing in connection with the Companys sale of a beet processing facility to a third party in 2002. In September 2003, the Wyoming Federal District Court granted the Companys motion to dismiss all counts of the plaintiffs complaint and overruled the growers motion for a rehearing. The growers filed an appeal of the courts decision and the appeals court affirmed the trial courts ruling in the Companys favor. The Company believes these claims are without merit and that the risk of loss is remote.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) | Exhibits |
31.1 | Chief Executive Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
31.2 | Chief Financial Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
32.1 | Chief Executive Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. |
32.2 | Chief Financial Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. |
(b) | Reports on Form 8-K |
None.
20
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY | ||||
(Registrant) | ||||
Dated: August 2, 2004 |
By: | /s/ Darrell D. Swank | ||
Darrell D. Swank | ||||
Senior Vice President and | ||||
Chief Financial Officer |
21
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No. |
Document | |
31.1 | Chief Executive Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | |
31.2 | Chief Financial Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | |
32.1 | Chief Executive Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. | |
32.2 | Chief Financial Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. |
22