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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-K

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year

   

ended February 28, 2003

 

Commission file no. 0-10823

 

BCT INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

                                         DELAWARE                                         

 

                        22-2358849                     

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation of organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

3000 NE 30th Place, Fifth Floor, Fort Lauderdale, Florida  33306

(Address of principal executive offices)                                 (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:         (954) 563-1224

 

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

NONE

 

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

 

COMMON STOCK, par value $.04 per share

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [    ] .

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes [    ] No [X]

 

The aggregate market value of Registrant’s voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, at May 27, 2003 was approximately $2,136,000.

 

The number of shares outstanding of Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $.04 per share, at May 27, 2003 was 5,121,471.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

NONE

 

This document consists of 44 pages.

The Index to exhibits begins on page 19.


 

Item 1.    Business

 

(a)    General

 

BCT International, Inc. (the “Company”) is a holding company with one direct wholly-owned subsidiary: Business Cards Tomorrow, Inc., a Florida corporation (“BCT”). BCT operates the Business Cards Tomorrow franchise system. Since its founding in 1975, the system has grown to include 82 “Business Cards Tomorrow Franchises” (the “Franchises”) specializing in thermography products, labels, rubber stamps and business announcements for resale by retail printing providers in 36 states and Canada.

 

The Company adopted a plan effective February 28, 1999 for the disposition of all Company owned Franchises. Under the plan, the Company intended to sell the three Company owned Franchises in fiscal 2000. All but the franchise located in Merrimack, New Hampshire were sold in fiscal 2000. In October 2000, the Company sold the Merrimack, New Hampshire franchise in exchange for a $150,000 promissory note. In January 2001, as a result of the purchaser’s default on its obligations to the Company, the Company took back the franchise, ceased operations of the franchise and liquidated the assets.

 

In fiscal 2003, the Company began operating a Company owned franchise in San Carlos, California. This franchise replaced a franchise in San Francisco, whose franchise agreement was terminated. In addition, the Company exercised its option to acquire an additional 37.15% interest in TBDS, Inc., the BCT franchise in Tampa, Florida. After exercising its option, the Company owns 56.15% of TBDS, Inc. and has taken over operation of the franchise.

 

BCT’s operations also include the Pelican Paper Products Division (“PPP”) which supplies paper products, press supplies and press parts to the BCT Franchises. The Company operates in three operating segments of a single industry. The segments include 1) operations as a franchisor of printing franchises, 2) sale of paper products and supplies to the BCT Franchises, and 3) other operations.

 

On May 28, 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to be acquired by Phoenix Group of Florida, Inc. (“Phoenix”) which is owned by William A. Wilkerson, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Phoenix, together with its affiliates, including Mr. Wilkerson (the “Acquisition Group”), owns approximately 52.5% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock. Under the merger agreement each stockholder, other than the members of the Acquisition Group, will receive in cash $2.00 per share of common stock owned.

 

The Company entered into the merger agreement Following Board of Directors approval based in part upon the unanimous recommendation of a special committee comprised of non-management directors of the Company. The special committee has received an opinion from Capitalink, L.C. that the price of $2.00 per share is fair from a financial point of view to the stockholders other than the Acquisition Group.

 

Notwithstanding its recommendation and consistent with the terms of the merger agreement, if the special committee concludes that the failure to provide information to, or engage in discussions with any other parties interested in a possible acquisition of the Company, would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders, the special committee may provide information to, and engage in discussions and negotiations with such interested parties. Under specified circumstances, the Company has the right to terminate the merger agreement and to enter into an agreement with a party proposing a competing transaction.

 

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including stockholder approval. In addition, the merger agreement requires approval by the holders of a majority of the Company’s shares held by persons other than members of the Acquisition Group. The merger agreement does not include a financing contingency. See Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.


(b)    Narrative description of the business

 

Business Cards Tomorrow, Inc.

 

General

 

The Franchises typically operate through the placement of business card, stationery, rubber stamp and labels catalogs with commercial and retail “quick” printers, office superstores, forms brokers, office supply companies and stationers in the Franchises’ trade areas (collectively, the “Dealers”). The Dealers secure orders from their customers for thermographed printed products and other printed matter which are normally picked up daily by the Franchises’ route drivers, who also deliver products previously ordered. Thermography is a specialized printing process that gives a raised printing effect similar to engraving and requires specialized equipment and operating techniques which commercial printers, quick printers, office superstores and other retail dealers choose not to invest in. The Franchises specialize in the “fast turnaround” of their products, delivering many items, such as business cards, in one business day, with most products being delivered within two days of the date of order. Increasingly, the Franchises receive orders by fax and electronic communications via the Internet using Orderprinting.com, an Internet-based ordering system.

 

In January 1999, the Company introduced Orderprinting.com which is targeted toward the print broker market. Orderprinting.com consists of a custom web-based ordering system which allows end users to log-in to a personalized Internet site which has the end user company’s business card and business stationery product layouts. The end user selects the product and layout desired and enters the required employee and location information, previews the finished stationery product on-line and approves the order for processing. The order is transmitted electronically to the BCT Franchise that will process the order. In addition, the print broker associated with the end user is notified of the order via e-mail.

 

BCT supplies business stationery and rubber stamp and label catalogs to its Franchises and also sells them paper products featured in the catalogs through PPP. The catalogs are printed at the Company’s catalog printing facility which is located in the Company’s warehouse and paper conversion facility in Menasha, Wisconsin.

 

Page 1


 

PPP is a primary supplier of paper products for the BCT Franchises. PPP purchases raw paper directly from paper mills and paper brokers and utilizes the services of converters to convert the raw material to finished paper products. In addition, certain conversion functions are performed “in house”. PPP also performs converting and handling services for third parties. PPP utilizes three public storage facilities located strategically throughout the United States to house and ship out paper products to the Franchises.

 

BCT derives revenues from six principal sources: (i) royalties, which are based on a percentage of sales from the BCT Franchises; (ii) resale fees from the resale of operating Franchises; (iii) sales of paper products to franchisees; (iv) catalog and miscellaneous equipment and parts sales classified as printing sales; (v) interest income from financing franchise acquisitions (primarily resales) and receivables; and (vi) software licensing fees related to Orderprinting.com.

 

As of May 27, 2003, 82 BCT Franchises are in operation in 36 states and Canada (eight Franchises). In addition, one Company-owned BCT Satellite is in operation in Fort Myers, Florida. In August 2001, the Company reached agreement with the Franchise located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Under the agreement, both parties released the other party from any further obligation under the then existing Franchise Agreement The current number of Franchises compares with 82 and 84 Franchises in operation on May 22, 2002 and May 25, 2001, respectively. The decrease in the number of franchises in fiscal 2002 is the result of the closing of one Franchise location and the agreement with the Buenos Aires Franchise described above. Total BCT system sales reached approximately $104,000,000, $101,000,000 and $107,000,000 for the fiscal years ended February 28, 2003, 2002 and 2001, an average of $1,268,000, $1,237,000 and $1,244,000, respectively, per Franchise.

 

BCT receives either a 5% or 6% royalty fee based on gross franchisee sales for original 15—25 year contracts. The royalty fee is dependent on the initial franchise agreement date. Generally, agreements dated through mid-1986 carry 5% royalties. Thereafter, the 6% royalty applies. Certain Franchises were granted a sliding scale of decreasing royalty rates based upon meeting specified quarterly sales plateaus in connection with the renewal of their franchise agreement. No franchise agreements are up for renewal in fiscal 2004. For fiscal years ended 2003, 2002, and 2001, continuing franchise royalties comprised approximately 27%, 28% and 27% of total revenue, respectively. PPP sales to the franchisees for fiscal years ended 2003, 2002, and 2001 were approximately 63%, 67%, and 69%, of total revenue, respectively.

 

Raw Materials

 

The primary raw materials of the BCT Franchises are paper products which are readily available from numerous industry suppliers. It is common practice within the paper industry to place minimum order levels when ordering specific materials. In addition, the need to maintain a complete stock of raw materials for all items listed in BCT’s catalogs requires significant continuing inventory investment. While BCT, through PPP, sells paper products to its Franchises, the Franchises are under no obligation to purchase these products from BCT and all such products are available from other suppliers.

 

The paper industry does suffer periodic shortages of specific paper products as well as price fluctuations caused by supply and demand changes, but these shortages and price fluctuations typically affect all similar types of printers in an industry such as “trade” thermographers and can generally be mitigated through the use of alternate supply sources in the industry and substitution with similar products. Any increases in the cost of paper from the mills is generally passed on to the Franchises. It is not considered by BCT as very likely that any of its Franchises would be out of operation for any significant period of time due to an unavailability of raw materials resulting from major supply or price changes in the paper industry.

 

Franchises

 

BCT’s franchise agreements with individual Franchises are typically for a 15-to-25 year period and are renewable for additional 10-year periods. The right to renew is contingent upon the Franchise not being in default under any material term of the franchise agreement. BCT may terminate a franchise agreement under certain circumstances where the Franchisee is in material default under the franchise agreement and has not cured such default(s) after notice from BCT. BCT’s existing franchise agreements with individual Franchises have an average remaining term of approximately 15 years. No Franchises come up for renewal in fiscal 2004, and in the subsequent 10 years, 16 Franchises come up for renewal.

 

In April 2003, the Company opened a Satellite to its Company-owned Tampa, Florida franchise in Ft. Myers, Florida. The Satellite consists of a storefront location which performs the customer service, typesetting and delivery function of a BCT without the production capabilities. Production for Ft. Myers is done in Tampa. The Company is exploring this concept as a means to better penetrate

 

Page 2


 

smaller franchise territories and as an alternative to a full production plant start-up. Production for other Satellite locations would be done by either a Company-owned Franchise or if a Satellite territory is purchased by an existing BCT Franchise, that Franchise would perform production.

 

Competition

 

The Company and its franchisees compete with other franchisors, franchisees and independent operators in the graphic arts industry. While the Company believes that its BCT franchise system is the leading supplier of thermographed business cards to printers throughout the United States, there can be no assurance that competitors will not imitate or improve upon the Company’s business strategy. BCT’s major national competitors are Regency Thermographers, Carlson Craft, and American Wholesale Thermographers, Inc.; however, BCT’s franchisees also compete with numerous local and regional operations. BCT’s franchisees compete primarily on the basis of turnaround time, quality and close customer contact and, more recently with Orderprinting.com Internet technology.

 

Trade and Service Marks

 

The Company has received federal registration of the names “Business Cards Tomorrow”, “BCT International, Inc.”, “Orderprinting.com” and the BCT commercial logo, as well as the names and commercial marks for “Typesetting Express”, “Engraving Tomorrow”, “Thrift-T-Cards”, “Thermo-Rite” and “Rubber Stamps Tomorrow”.

 

Research and Development

 

The Company performs ongoing research and development, seeking improvements in the operating procedures and products of its Franchises and development of proprietary software. These activities are primarily done at the Company’s corporate headquarters. Also, the Company often requests individual franchisees to perform tests of various equipment, materials or techniques in an actual production environment. The Company has invested significant amounts in the research and development of Orderprinting.com, an Internet-based order entry and distribution system. Additional investment will be required to enhance the system and to provide for the increasing volume of orders being processed in this manner.

 

Government Regulation

 

The Federal Trade Commission has adopted rules relating to the sales of franchises and disclosure requirements to potential franchise purchasers. Additionally, various states have adopted laws regulating franchise sales and operations. As a franchisor, the Company is required to comply with these federal and state regulations and believes that it is not operating in violation of any of these regulations.

 

Employees

 

As of May 27, 2003, the Company has 42 employees, all of whom are located at either (i) the Company’s corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, or (ii) the Company’s paper distribution warehouse and paper converting facility in Menasha, Wisconsin.

 

Financial Information Relating to Foreign and Domestic Operations

 

    

February 28, 2003


  

February 28, 2002


  

February 28, 2001


Revenue:

                    

Foreign operations

  

$

659,000

  

$

576,000

  

$

811,000

Domestic operations

  

$

19,156,000

  

$

17,431,000

  

$

18,618,000

Operating Profit:

                    

Foreign operations

  

$

56,000

  

$

26,000

  

$

454,000

Domestic operations (1)

  

$

1,220,000

  

$

787,000

  

$

1,092,000

Identifiable Assets:

                    

Foreign operations

  

$

285,000

  

$

299,000

  

$

309,000

Domestic operations

  

$

17,530,000

  

$

16,779,000

  

$

15,881,000

 

(1)  Amounts do not include losses from discontinued operations amounting to $31,000 for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2001.

 

 

Page 3


 

Item 2.    Properties

 

The Company’s corporate headquarters are located at 3000 NE 30th Place, Fifth Floor, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and occupy approximately 7,500 square feet. The lease on this facility continues to October 2007 at a monthly rental of approximately $13,000.

 

The Company’s primary paper warehouse is located at 772 Specialists Avenue, Menasha, Wisconsin utilizing approximately 49,000 square feet. This facility also accommodates the Company’s printing and paper converting operations and is leased at a monthly rental of approximately $12,000 through January 2005.

 

The Company leases office/warehouse space located at 6201 Johns Road, Suite 3, for the Company-owned Franchise in Tampa, Florida, utilizing 7,200 square feet at a monthly rental of $4,900 through August 2007.

 

The Company leases office/warehouse space located at 837 Industrial, Unit A, for the Company-owned Franchise in San Carlos, California, utilizing 5,165 square feet at a monthly rental of $4,700 through July 14, 2004.

 

The Company leases 1,200 square feet in a retail strip center located at 1939 Park Meadows Drive, #5(E), Ft. Myers, Florida 33907, for the Company-owned Satellite location at a monthly rental of $1,050 through March 2006.

 

Management believes that existing warehouse facilities are adequate for the foreseeable future.

 

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

 

No material matters.

 

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

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of securities holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise, during the fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2003.

 

Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Security Holder Matters

 

The Company’s Common Stock was traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol “BCTI” until September 9, 2001 when it was de-listed for failure to meet minimum requirements for the market value of its public float. Since September 9, 2001 the Company’s Common Stock has traded on the OTC Bulletin Board.

 

The following table sets forth, for the quarters indicated, the high and low closing price for the Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ National Market through September 9, 2001, and on the OTC Bulletin Board thereafter.

 

   

Fiscal Quarters


    

High


           

Low


2002

 

First Quarter

    

$1.62

           

$0.93

   

Second Quarter

    

$1.30

           

$0.71

   

Third Quarter

    

$1.09

           

$0.50

   

Fourth Quarter

    

$1.11

           

$1.02

2003

 

First Quarter

    

$1.11

           

$0.46

   

Second Quarter

    

$0.93

           

$0.71

   

Third Quarter

    

$0.90

           

$0.67

   

Fourth Quarter

    

$1.07

           

$0.70

2004

 

First Quarter (through May 27, 2003)

    

$1.05

           

$0.91

 

On May 27, 2003, the closing price per share of Common Stock, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board was $0.92.

 

There is currently no established public trading market for any securities of the Company other than the Common Stock.

 

The approximate number of holders of record of the Company’s Common Stock as of May 27, 2003 was 800.

 

During the fiscal years ended February 28, 2003, 2002, and 2001 no cash dividends were declared on the outstanding Common Stock. The Company has no plans to pay any dividends on the Common Stock.

 

Page 4


 

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data (000’s omitted, except per share data)

 

OPERATIONS

                                        

for the fiscal year ended:

  

Feb. 28, 2003


  

Feb. 28, 2002


  

Feb. 28, 2001


    

Feb. 29, 2000


    

Feb. 28, 1999


 

REVENUES:

                                        

Royalties and franchise fees

  

$

5,221

  

$

5,117

  

$

5,267

 

  

$

5,394

 

  

$

5,356

 

Paper and printing sales

  

 

12,019

  

 

12,068

  

 

13,424

 

  

 

13,881

 

  

 

12,817

 

Sales of franchises

  

 

4

  

 

99

  

 

46

 

  

 

27

 

  

 

87

 

Company-owned franchise revenues

  

 

1,802

  

 

—  

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

Interest and other income

  

 

769

  

 

723

  

 

692

 

  

 

347

 

  

 

346

 

    

  

  


  


  


    

 

19,815

  

 

18,007

  

 

19,429

 

  

 

19,649

 

  

 

18,606

 

    

  

  


  


  


EXPENSES:

                                        

Cost of paper and printing sales

  

 

10,410

  

 

10,592

  

 

11,605

 

  

 

11,574

 

  

 

10,939

 

Cost of Company-owned franchise revenues

  

 

448

  

 

—  

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

Selling, general and administrative

  

 

7,403

  

 

6,376

  

 

6,455

 

  

 

6,619

 

  

 

4,290

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

278

  

 

226

  

 

232

 

  

 

189

 

  

 

186

 

    

  

  


  


  


    

 

18,539

  

 

17,194

  

 

18,292

 

  

 

18,382

 

  

 

15,415

 

    

  

  


  


  


Income from continued operations before legal settlement and income taxes

  

 

1,276

  

 

813

  

 

1,137

 

  

 

1,267

 

  

 

3,191

 

Legal settlement

  

 

—  

  

 

—  

  

 

—  

 

  

 

941

 

  

 

—  

 

    

  

  


  


  


Income from continued operations before income taxes

  

 

1,276

  

 

813

  

 

1,137

 

  

 

2,208

 

  

 

3,191

 

Income tax provision

  

 

491

  

 

321

  

 

442

 

  

 

837

 

  

 

690

 

    

  

  


  


  


Income from continued operations

  

 

785

  

 

492

  

 

695

 

  

 

1,371

 

  

 

2,501

 

Discontinued operations (2):

                                        

Loss from Company owned Franchises operated under a plan of disposition, net of income tax benefit

  

 

—  

  

 

—  

  

 

(31

)

  

 

(357

)

  

 

(327

)

    

  

  


  


  


Net income

  

$

785

  

$

492

  

$

664

 

  

$

1,014

 

  

$

2,174

 

    

  

  


  


  


Earnings (loss) per common share: