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Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(MARK ONE)

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended September 25, 2010

 

OR

 

o         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 0-7597

 

Courier Corporation

 

A Massachusetts corporation

 

I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 04-2502514

 

15 Wellman Avenue, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01863

Telephone No. 978-251-6000

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock, $1 par value; Preferred Stock Purchase Rights

 

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter (March 27, 2010).

Common Stock, $1 par value - $140,625,345

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of November 22, 2010.

Common Stock, $1 par value –12,057,103

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o   No x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes o   No x

 

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 o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o   No o

 

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 the registrants 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.  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  (See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.)

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o   No x

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s proxy statement dated December 3, 2010 for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on January 18, 2011 are incorporated herein by reference to Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Form 10-K

 

 

 

 

Item No.

 

Name of Item

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

Part I

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Business

 

1

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

6

Item 1B.

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

 

12

Item 2.

 

Properties

 

12

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

13

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

Part II

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

 

Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

13

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial Data

 

15

Item 7.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

15

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

 

15

Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

15

Item 9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

15

Item 9A.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

15

Item 9B.

 

Other Information

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

Part III

 

 

 

 

Item 10.

 

Directors and Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

19

Item 11.

 

Executive Compensation

 

20

Item 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

20

Item 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

 

21

Item 14.

 

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

Part IV

 

 

 

 

Item 15.

 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

22

 

 

Signatures

 

27

 


 


Table of Contents

 

PART I

 

Item 1.  Business.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Courier Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, (“Courier,” the “Company,” “We,” “Our,” or “Us”) is among America’s leading book manufacturers and specialty publishers. Courier Corporation, founded in 1824, was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts on June 30, 1972.  The Company has two business segments: book manufacturing and specialty publishing.

 

The book manufacturing segment focuses on streamlining the process of bringing books from the point of creation to the point of use.  Based on sales, Courier is the third largest book manufacturer in the United States, offering services from prepress and production through storage and distribution, as well as state-of-the-art digital print capabilities. Courier’s principal book manufacturing markets are religious, educational and specialty trade books with products including Bibles, educational textbooks and consumer books. On October 17, 2005, the Company acquired Moore-Langen Printing Company, Inc. (“Moore Langen”), an Indiana-based printer specializing in manufacturing book covers, which is included in this segment.  On January 15, 2010, the Company acquired the assets of Highcrest Media LLC (“Highcrest Media”), a Massachusetts-based provider of solutions that streamline the production of customized textbooks for use in colleges, universities and businesses.  Highcrest Media is also included in the book manufacturing segment. Revenues from this segment accounted for approximately 87% of Courier’s consolidated revenues in fiscal 2010.

 

The specialty publishing segment consists of Dover Publications, Inc. (“Dover”), Research & Education Association, Inc. (“REA”), which was acquired on January 6, 2004, and Federal Marketing Corporation, d/b/a Creative Homeowner (“Creative Homeowner”), which was acquired on April 28, 2006.  Dover publishes over 9,000 titles in more than 30 specialty categories including children’s books, literature, art, music, crafts, mathematics, science, religion and architecture.  REA publishes test preparation and study guide books for high school, college and graduate students, and professionals.  Creative Homeowner is a New Jersey-based publisher of books on home design, decorating, landscaping and gardening, and sells home plans. Revenues in this segment were approximately 18% of consolidated sales in fiscal 2010.

 

The combination of Dover’s, REA’s, and Creative Homeowner’s publishing, sales and distribution skills with Courier’s book manufacturing, digital content conversion, and e-commerce skills are providing a comprehensive end-to-end publishing solution for Courier.

 

Sales by segment (in thousands)

 

2010

 

%

 

2009

 

%

 

2008

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Manufacturing

 

$

222,777

 

87

%

$

212,228

 

85

%

$

229,792

 

82

%

Specialty Publishing

 

46,030

 

18

%

46,769

 

19

%

61,767

 

22

%

Intersegment sales

 

(11,667

)

(5

)%

(10,181

)

(4

)%

(11,235

)

(4

)%

Total

 

$

257,140

 

100

%

$

248,816

 

100

%

$

280,324

 

100

%

 

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Table of Contents

 

Additional segment information, including the amounts of operating income and total assets, for each of the last three fiscal years, is contained in Note J in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages F-21 to F-23 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

 

BOOK MANUFACTURING SEGMENT

 

Courier’s book manufacturing segment produces hard and softcover books, as well as related services involved in managing the process of creating and distributing these products for publishers, religious organizations and other information providers.  Courier provides book manufacturing and related services from six facilities in Westford, Stoughton and North Chelmsford, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Kendallville and Terre Haute, Indiana.

 

The acquisition of Highcrest Media complements the Company’s investment during fiscal 2010 in digital printing technology. The $3 million cash acquisition, which has additional future “earn out” potential payments of up to $1.2 million, was accounted for as a purchase, and accordingly, Highcrest Media’s financial results are included in the book manufacturing segment in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.

 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company closed its Book-mart Press manufacturing facility in order to reduce redundant capacity and to lower costs.  The Book-mart Press facility, located in North Bergen, New Jersey, was dedicated to short-run, single-color production. The Company consolidated the Book-mart Press operations into its other manufacturing facilities.

 

Courier’s book manufacturing operations utilize both offset and digital print technologies, combined with various binding capabilities, to produce both soft and hard cover books.  Each of Courier’s six facilities have certain specialties adapted to the needs of the market niches Courier serves, such as short-run book manufacturing, printing on lightweight paper, book cover production, four-color book manufacturing, and beginning in 2010, digital printing.  These services are primarily sold to publishers of educational, religious and consumer books.  Since 2004, the Company has expanded its four-color book manufacturing capabilities with the addition of three new four-color manroland presses at its Kendallville, Indiana facility and in April 2010, the Company ordered a fourth manroland press expected to be in service in December 2010.  During 2010, the Company installed a state-of-the-art digital printing operation at its North Chelmsford, Massachusetts facility through a relationship with HP and installed a second digital press in October 2010.  These digital print capabilities, combined with Highcrest Media, comprise the Company’s newest market offering, Courier Digital Solutions (“CDS”).

 

During fiscal 2009, the Company was awarded Chain-of-Custody certification by two leading environmental organizations, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification (PEFC). This new dual certification complements Courier’s existing certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and marks the Company as “triple-certified” for its systematic adherence to environmentally responsible practices in the use of paper and other forest products throughout its manufacturing locations.

 

Courier’s book manufacturing sales force of 18 people is responsible for all of the Company’s sales to over 500 book-manufacturing customers.  Courier’s salespeople operate out of sales offices located in New York, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Terre Haute, Indiana; North Chelmsford and Westford,

 

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Massachusetts.

 

Sales to Pearson plc aggregated approximately 25% of consolidated sales in 2010, 22% in 2009 and 17% in 2008. Sales to The Gideons International aggregated approximately 22% of consolidated sales in each of fiscal years 2010, 2009 and 2008.  With the acquisition of Harcourt by Houghton Mifflin Company in December 2007, sales to the combined entity, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, aggregated approximately 11% in 2008 but were less than 10% in both 2010 and 2009. A significant reduction in order volumes or price levels from any of these customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company.  No other customer accounted for more than 10% of consolidated sales.  The Company distributes products around the world; export sales, as a percentage of consolidated sales, were approximately 19% in both 2010 and 2009, and 18% in 2008.  Approximately 90% of the export sales were in the book manufacturing segment in each of these years.

 

All phases of Courier’s business are highly competitive.  The printing industry, exclusive of newspapers, includes over 33,000 companies.  While most of these companies are relatively small, several of the Company’s competitors are considerably larger or are affiliated with companies that are considerably larger and have greater financial resources than Courier.  In recent years, consolidation of both customers and competitors within the Company’s markets has increased pricing pressures.  The major competitive factors in Courier’s book manufacturing business in addition to price are product quality, speed of delivery, customer service, availability of appropriate printing capacity and paper, related services and technology support.

 

SPECIALTY PUBLISHING SEGMENT

 

Dover, acquired by the Company in September 2000, is a publisher of books in over 50 specialty categories, including fine and commercial arts, children’s books, crafts, music scores, graphic design, mathematics, physics and other areas of science, puzzles, games, social science, stationery items, and classics of literature for both juvenile and adult markets, including the Dover Thrift Editionsä.  In 2005, Dover began developing proprietary packaged products under its Dover Fun Kitsä line.  In 2008, Dover introduced a new crafts line, Dover DesignWorksä, and a new premium series of hardcover reproductions, Dover Calla Editionsä. Towards the end of 2009, Dover launched the first 15 titles in a new series of Sesame Street Activity Books.

 

Dover sells its products through most American bookstore chains, independent booksellers, children’s stores, craft stores and gift shops, as well as a diverse range of distributors around the world.  Dover has also sold its books directly to consumers for over 50 years through its specialty catalogs and over the Internet at www.doverpublications.com.  Dover mails its proprietary catalogs to nearly 450,000 consumers and annually sends over 150 million emails to electing customers.  Dover also maintains www.DoverDirect.com, which is a business-to-business site for its retailers and distributors.

 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2009, due to a decline in sales and profits at Dover resulting from the continued downturn in the economic environment and in consumer spending, the Company recorded a non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge of $15.6 million, which represented 100% of Dover’s goodwill.

 

REA, acquired by the Company in January 2004, publishes more than 900 test preparation and study guide titles.  Product lines include Problem Solvers®, Essentials®, Super Reviews® and Test Preparation books.  REA sells its products around the world through major bookseller chains, college bookstores, and teachers’ supply stores, as well as directly to teachers and other consumers through catalogs and over the Internet at www.REA.com.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Creative Homeowner, acquired by the Company in April 2006, is a publisher of books, home plans, and related products for the home and garden retail book market.  The Company purchased 100% of the stock of Creative Homeowner in a $37 million cash transaction.  The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and accordingly, Creative Homeowner’s financial results were included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.  Creative Homeowner’s 130 titles include books on home decoration, design and improvement, as well as gardening and landscaping.  Its products are sold primarily through home and garden centers, as well as bookstores and direct to consumers over the Internet at www.creativehomeowner.com.  From its line of home plan books, Creative Homeowner offers over 10,000 home plans from which consumers can order blueprints directly over the Internet at www.ultimatehomeplans.com.

 

In the third quarter of fiscal 2008, Creative Homeowner experienced a precipitous decline in sales and profits, due in large part to the downturn in the housing market and reduction in store traffic at home improvement centers and other large retail chain stores.  As a result, the Company recorded a non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge of $23.6 million in fiscal 2008.  In addition to other remedial measures, the Company decided to cease Creative Homeowner’s book distribution operation that served a single customer, allowing it to concentrate on its principal publishing operations.  This transition was completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2009.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company continued to integrate functions across this segment and consolidated Creative Homeowner’s warehousing with the other publishing businesses in order to reduce costs.  Despite these cost cutting measures, the prolonged weakness in the housing market led to a further decline in sales and operating results in the fourth quarter.  As a result, the Company impaired the remaining goodwill and other intangible assets of Creative Homeowner, as well as $0.5 million of prepublication costs, resulting in a non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge of $4.7 million.

 

As part of Courier’s company-wide green initiative, Dover, REA and Creative Homeowner launched in 2008 a new trade mark, Green Editionä, owned by Courier.  In order to be eligible to bear the mark, books must not only be manufactured from recycled paper but also be manufactured in the United States with its stringent environmental standards.  Books that carry this mark have a smaller environmental impact than most books.  The mark is currently being licensed on a royalty-free basis to other publishing customers who have also expressed a desire to use it.  Over 900 Green Editionä titles were produced during fiscal 2010.

 

The U.S. publishing market is comprised of approximately 75,000 publishers.  Many of these publishers are very small, but a few are much larger than Dover, REA, or Creative Homeowner, or are part of organizations that are much larger.  In addition, newer sources of competition have emerged with large retailers launching or expanding publishing operations and new web-based publishing businesses starting up, including publishing of electronic books.  Dover distinguishes its products by offering an extremely wide variety of high quality books at modest prices.  REA offers high quality study guides, test preparation books and software products in almost every academic area including many specialized areas such as teacher certification, adult education, and professional licensing.  Creative Homeowner provides books on home improvement and landscaping that include high-quality photographs, illustrations and written content.

 

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

 

Courier purchases its principal raw materials, primarily paper, but also plate materials, ink, adhesives, cover stock, casebinding materials and cartons, from numerous suppliers, and is not dependent upon any one source for its requirements.  Many of Courier’s book manufacturing customers purchase their own paper and furnish it at no charge to Courier for book production.  Dover, REA and Creative Homeowner purchase a significant portion of their books from Courier’s book manufacturing operations. There were no significant changes in paper prices in the last three years.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

 

The Company’s operations are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations relating to, among other things: air emissions; waste generation, handling, management and disposal; wastewater treatment and discharge; and remediation of soil and groundwater contamination.  The Company periodically makes capital expenditures so that its operations comply, in all material respects, with applicable environmental laws and regulations.  No significant expenditures for this purpose were made in 2010 or are anticipated in 2011.  In 2007, the Company adopted an “Environmental, Health and Safety Policy” which is available on the Company’s website at www.courier.com. The Company does not believe that its compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or liquidity.

 

EMPLOYEES

 

The Company employed 1,662 persons at September 25, 2010 compared to 1,603 a year ago.  The Company’s relations with its employees are satisfactory.

 

OTHER

 

Courier’s overall business is not significantly seasonal in nature, although demand is normally highest in the Company’s fourth quarter.  Educational publishers in the book manufacturing segment and Dover’s business all contribute to this higher fourth quarter demand. There is no portion of Courier’s business subject to cancellation of government contracts or renegotiation of profits.

 

Courier does not hold any material patents, licenses, franchises or concessions upon which our operations are dependent, but does have trademarks, service marks, and Universal Resource Locators (URL’s) on the Internet in connection with each of its business segments.  Through its acquisition of Highcrest Media, the Company owns certain customization software it licenses to customers in the publishing and financial services industries.  Substantially all of REA’s and Creative Homeowner’s publications and a majority of Dover’s publications are protected by copyright, either in its own name, in the name of the author of the work, or in the name of a predecessor publisher from whom rights were acquired.  Many of Dover’s publications include books that are in the public domain.

 

The Company makes available free of charge (as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission) copies of its Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as all other reports required to be filed by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, via the Internet at www.courier.com or upon written request to Peter M. Folger, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Courier Corporation, 15 Wellman Avenue, North Chelmsford, MA 01863.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

 

The Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial condition and cash flows can be adversely affected by various risks.  Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our control.  These risks include, but are not limited to, the principal factors listed below and the other matters set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  You should carefully consider all of these factors.  For other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statement contained in this report, see Forward-Looking Information in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Industry competition and consolidation may increase pricing pressures and adversely impact our margins or result in a loss of customers.

 

The book industry is extremely competitive.  In the book manufacturing segment, consolidation over the past few years of both customers and competitors within the markets the Company competes has caused downward pricing pressures.  In addition, excess capacity and competition from printing companies in lower cost countries may increase competitive pricing pressures.  Furthermore, some of our competitors have greater sales, assets and financial resources than us, particularly those in foreign countries, who may derive significant advantages from local governmental regulation, including tax holidays and other subsidies.  All or any of these competitive pressures could affect prices or customers’ demand for our products, impacting our profit margins and/or resulting in a loss of customers and market share.

 

A reduction in orders or pricing from, or the loss of, our significant customers may adversely impact our operating results.

 

We derived approximately 47% and 44% of our fiscal 2010 and 2009 revenues, respectively, from two major customers.  We expect similar concentrations in fiscal 2011.  We do business with these customers on a purchase order basis and they are not bound to purchase at particular volume or pricing levels.  As a result, either of these customers could determine to reduce their order volume with us or demand reduced pricing.  A significant reduction in order volumes or price levels with, or the loss of, either of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

The substitution of electronic delivery for printed materials may adversely affect our business.

 

Electronic delivery of documents and data, including the online distribution and hosting of media content, offers alternatives to traditional delivery of printed documents.  Widespread consumer acceptance of electronic delivery of books is uncertain, as is the extent to which consumers are willing to replace print materials with online hosted media content.  To the extent that our customers’ acceptance of these electronic alternatives should continue to grow, demand for our printed products may be adversely affected.

 

Declines in general economic conditions may adversely impact our business.

 

Economic conditions have the potential to impact our financial results significantly.  Within the book manufacturing and specialty publishing segments,  we may be adversely affected by the current worldwide economic downturn, including as a result of changes in government, business and consumer spending.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

Examples of how our financial results may be impacted include:

 

·                  Fluctuations in federal or state government spending on education, including a reduction in tax revenues due to the current economic environment, could lead to a corresponding decrease in the demand for educational materials, which are produced in our book manufacturing segment and comprise a portion of our publishing products.

 

·                  Consumer demand for books can be impacted by reductions in disposable income when costs such as electricity and gasoline reduce discretionary spending.

 

·                  Tightness in credit markets may result in customers delaying orders to reduce inventory levels and may impact their ability to pay their debts as they become due and may disrupt supplies from vendors.

 

·                  Changes in the housing market may impact the sale of Creative Homeowner’s products.

 

·                  Reduced fundraising by religious customers may decrease their order levels.

 

·                  A slowdown in book purchases may result in retailers returning an unusually large number of books to publishers who, in turn reduce their reorders.

 

A failure to keep pace with rapid industrial and technological change may have an adverse impact on our business.

 

The printing industry is in a period of rapid technological evolution.  Our future financial performance will depend, in part, upon the ability to anticipate and adapt to rapid industrial and technological changes occurring in the industry and upon the ability to offer, on a timely basis, services that meet evolving industry standards.  If we are unable to adapt to such technological changes, we may lose customers and may not be able to maintain our competitive position.  In addition, we may encounter difficulties in the implementation and start-up of new equipment and technology.

 

We are unable to predict which of the many possible future product and service offerings will be important to establish and maintain a competitive position or what expenditures will be required to develop and provide these products and services.  We cannot assure investors that one or more of these factors will not vary unpredictably, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, we cannot assure investors, even if these factors turn out as we anticipate, that we will be able to implement our strategy or that the strategy will be successful in this rapidly evolving market.

 

Our operating results are unpredictable and fluctuate significantly, which may adversely affect our stock price.

 

Our quarterly and annual operating results have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future due to a variety of factors, some of which are outside of our control. Factors that may affect our future operating results include:

 

·                  the timing and size of the orders for our books;

 

·                  the availability of markets for sales or distribution by our major customers;

 

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·                  the lengthy and unpredictable sales cycles associated with sales of textbooks to the elementary and high school market;

 

·                  our customers’ willingness and success in shifting orders from the peak textbook season to the off-peak season to even out our manufacturing load over the year;

 

·                  fluctuations in the currency market may make manufacturing in the United States more or less attractive and make equipment more or less expensive for us to purchase;

 

·                  issues that might arise from the integration of acquired businesses, including their inability to achieve expected results; and

 

·                  tightness in credit markets affecting the availability of capital for ourselves, our vendors, and/or our customers.

 

As a result of these and other factors, period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are not necessarily meaningful or indicative of future performance. In addition, the factors noted above may make it difficult for us to forecast and provide in a timely manner public guidance (including updates to prior guidance) related to our projected financial performance. Furthermore, it is possible that in future quarters our operating results could fall below the expectations of securities analysts or investors. If this occurs, the trading price of our common stock could decline.

 

Our financial results could be negatively impacted by impairments of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets.

 

We perform an annual assessment for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, as well as other long-lived assets, at the end of our fiscal year or whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value.  A downward revision in the fair value of one of our acquired businesses could result in non-cash impairment charges.  Any impairment charge could have a significant negative effect on our reported results of operations.  For example, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, due to the reduction in revenue and operating results at Creative Homeowner, the Company impaired their remaining goodwill and other intangible assets, as well as $0.5 million of prepublication costs, resulting in a non-cash impairment charge of $4.7 million. Also, in the second quarter of fiscal 2009, due to a decline in sales and profits at Dover resulting from the continued downturn in the economic environment and in consumer spending, a non-cash impairment charge of $15.6 million was recorded, which represented 100% of Dover’s goodwill.

 

Fluctuations in the cost and availability of paper and other raw materials may cause disruption and impact margins.

 

Purchases of paper and other raw materials represent a large portion of our costs.  In our book manufacturing segment, paper is normally supplied by our customers at their expense or price increases are passed through to our customers.  In our specialty publishing segment, cost increases have generally been passed on to customers through higher prices or we have substituted a less expensive grade of paper.  However, if we are unable to continue to pass on these increases or substitute a less expensive grade of paper, our margins and profits could be adversely affected.

 

Availability of paper is important to both our book manufacturing and specialty publishing segments.  Although we generally have not experienced difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of paper, unexpected changes in the paper markets could result in a shortage of supply.  If this were to occur in the future, it could cause disruption to the business or increase paper costs, adversely impacting either or both net sales or profits.

 

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Fluctuations in the costs and availability of other raw materials could adversely affect operating costs or customer demand and thereby negatively impact our operating results, financial condition or cash flows.

 

In addition, fluctuations in the markets for paper and raw materials may adversely affect the market for our waste byproducts, including recycled paper, used plates and used film, and therefore adversely affect our income from such sales.

 

Energy costs and availability may negatively impact our financial results.

 

Energy costs are incurred directly to run production equipment and facilities and indirectly through expenses such as freight and raw materials such as ink.  In a competitive market environment, increases to these direct and indirect energy related costs might not be able to be passed through to customers through price increases or mitigated through other means.  In such instances, increased energy costs could adversely impact operating costs or customer demand.  In addition, interruption in the availability of energy could disrupt operations, adversely impacting operating results.

 

Inadequate intellectual property protection for our publications could negatively impact our financial results.

 

Certain of our publications are protected by copyright, primarily held in the Company’s name.  Such copyrights protect our exclusive right to publish the work in the United States and in many other countries for specified periods.  Our ability to continue to achieve anticipated results depends in part on our ability to defend our intellectual property against infringement.  Our operating results may be adversely affected by inadequate legal and technological protections for intellectual property and proprietary rights in some jurisdictions and markets.  In addition, some of our publications are of works in the public domain, for which there is nearly no intellectual property protection.  Our operating results may be adversely affected by the increased availability of such works elsewhere, including on the Internet, either for free or for a lower price.

 

A failure to maintain or improve our operating efficiencies could adversely impact our profitability.

 

Because the markets in which we operate are highly competitive, we must continue to improve our operating efficiency in order to maintain or improve our profitability.  Although we have been able to expand our capacity, improve our productivity and reduce costs in the past, there is no assurance that we will be able to do so in the future.  In addition, reducing operating costs in the future may require significant initial costs to reduce headcount, close or consolidate operations, or upgrade equipment and technology.

 

Changes in postal rates and postal regulations may adversely impact our business.

 

Postal costs are a significant component of our direct marketing cost structure and postal rate changes can influence the number of catalogs that we may mail.  In addition, increased postal rates can impact the cost of delivering our products to customers.  The occurrence of either of these events could adversely affect consumer demand and our results of operations.

 

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Our facilities are subject to stringent environmental laws and regulations, which may subject us to liability or increase our costs.

 

We use various materials in our operations that contain substances considered hazardous or toxic under environmental laws.  In addition, our operations are subject to federal, state, and local environmental laws relating to, among other things, air emissions, waste generation, handling, management and disposal, waste water treatment and discharge and remediation of soil and groundwater contamination.  Permits are required for the operation of certain of our businesses and these permits are subject to renewal, modification and in some circumstances, revocation.  Under certain environmental laws, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended (“CERCLA,” commonly referred to as “Superfund”), and similar state laws and regulations, we may be liable for costs and damages relating to soil and groundwater contamination at off-site disposal locations or at our facilities.  Future changes to environmental laws and regulations may give rise to additional costs or liabilities that could have a material adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations.

 

A failure to successfully integrate acquired businesses may have a material adverse effect on our business or operations.

 

Over the past several years, we have completed four acquisitions, including Moore Langen and Creative Homeowner in fiscal year 2006, REA in fiscal 2004 and Highcrest Media in fiscal 2010, and may continue to make acquisitions in the future.  We believe that these acquisitions provide strategic growth opportunities for us.  Achieving the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions will depend in part upon our ability to integrate these businesses in an efficient and effective manner.  The challenges involved in successfully integrating acquisitions include:

 

·                  we may find that the acquired company or assets do not further our business strategy, or that we overpaid for the company or assets, or that economic conditions have changed, all of which may result in a future impairment charge;

 

·                  we may have difficulty integrating the operations and personnel of the acquired business and may have difficulty retaining the customers and/or the key personnel of the acquired business;

 

·                  we may have difficulty incorporating and integrating acquired technologies into our business;

 

·                  our ongoing business and management’s attention may be disrupted or diverted by transition or integration issues and the complexity of managing diverse locations;

 

·                  we may have difficulty maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies across locations;

 

·                  an acquisition may result in litigation from terminated employees of the acquired business or third parties; and

 

·                  we may experience significant problems or liabilities associated with technology and legal contingencies of the acquired business.

 

These factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition or cash flows, particularly in the case of a larger acquisition or multiple acquisitions in a short period of time.  From time to time, we may enter into negotiations for acquisitions that are not ultimately

 

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consummated.  Such negotiations could result in significant diversion of management’s time from our business as well as significant out-of-pocket costs. Tightness in credit markets may also affect our ability to consummate such acquisitions.

 

The consideration that we pay in connection with an acquisition could affect our financial results.  If we were to proceed with one or more significant acquisitions in which the consideration included cash, we could be required to use a substantial portion of our available cash and credit facilities to consummate such acquisitions.  To the extent we issue shares of stock or other rights to purchase stock, including options or other rights, our existing stockholders may experience dilution in their share ownership in our company and their earnings per share may decrease.  In addition, acquisitions may result in the incurrence of debt, large one-time write-offs and restructuring charges.  They may also result in goodwill and other intangible assets that are subject to impairment tests, which could result in future impairment charges.  Any of these factors may materially and adversely affect our business and operations.

 

A failure to hire and train key executives and other qualified employees could adversely affect our business.

 

Our success depends, in part, on our ability to continue to retain our executive officers and key management personnel.  Our business strategy also depends on our ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain employees who have relevant experience in the printing and publishing industries.  There can be no assurance that we can continue to attract and retain the necessary talented employees, including executive officers and other key members of management and, if we fail to do so, it could adversely affect our business.

 

A lack of skilled employees to manufacture our products may adversely affect our business.

 

If we experience problems hiring and retaining skilled employees, our business may be negatively affected.  The timely manufacture and delivery of our products requires an adequate supply of skilled employees, and the operating costs of our manufacturing facilities can be adversely affected by high turnover in skilled positions.  Accordingly, our ability to increase sales, productivity and net earnings could be impacted by our ability to employ the skilled employees necessary to meet our requirements.  Although our book manufacturing locations are geographically dispersed, individual locations may encounter strong competition with other manufacturers for skilled employees.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain an adequate skilled labor force necessary to efficiently operate our facilities.  In addition, unions represent certain groups of employees at two of our locations, and periodically, contracts with those unions come up for renewal.  The outcome of those negotiations could have an adverse affect on our operations at those locations.  Also, changes in federal and/or state laws may facilitate the organization of unions at locations that do not currently have unions, which could have an adverse affect on our operations.

 

We are subject to various laws and regulations that may require significant expenditures.

 

We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting our business, including those promulgated under the Consumer Product Safety Act, the rules and regulations of the Consumer Products Safety Commission as well as laws and regulations relating to personal information.  We may be required to make significant expenditures to comply with such governmental laws and regulations and any amendments thereto. Complying with existing or future laws or regulations may materially limit our business and increase our costs.  Failure to comply with such laws may expose us to potential liability and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

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Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

None.

 

Item 2.  Properties.

 

REAL PROPERTIES

 

The following schedule lists the facilities owned or leased by Courier at September 25, 2010. Courier considers its plants and other facilities to be well maintained and suitable for the purposes intended.

 

 

 

Owned/

 

Square

 

Principal Activity and Location (Year Constructed)

 

Leased

 

Feet

 

Corporate headquarters and book manufacturing

 

 

 

 

 

North Chelmsford, MA (1973, 1996)

 

Owned

 

69,000

(1)

Book manufacturing and warehousing

 

 

 

 

 

Westford plant, Westford, MA

 

 

 

 

 

(1922, 1959, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1980, 1990)

 

Owned

 

303,000

 

Kendallville plant, Kendallville, IN

 

 

 

 

 

(1978, 2004, 2006, 2007)

 

Owned

 

273,000

 

Kendallville warehouse, Kendallville, IN (2009)

 

Owned

 

150,000

 

National plant, Philadelphia, PA (1974, 1997)

 

Owned

 

229,000

 

Stoughton plant, Stoughton, MA (1980)

 

Leased

 

169,000

 

Moore Langen plant, Terre Haute, IN (1969, 1987)

 

Owned

 

43,000

 

Dover offices and warehouses

 

 

 

 

 

Mineola, New York (1948-1983)

 

Leased

 

106,000

 

Westford, MA (1922, 1963, 1966)

 

Owned

 

90,000

 

REA offices and warehouse

 

 

 

 

 

Piscataway, New Jersey (1987)

 

Leased

 

39,000

 

Creative Homeowner offices and warehouse

 

 

 

 

 

Upper Saddle River, New Jersey (1987)

 

Leased

 

42,000

 

 


(1)                                  Houses corporate headquarters and Courier Digital Solutions, as well as sales and marketing offices supporting both the book manufacturing and specialty publishing segments.

 

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EQUIPMENT

 

The Company’s products are manufactured on equipment that in most cases is owned by the Company, although it leases certain computers, image setters and other electronic prepress equipment, which are subject to more rapid obsolescence.  Capital expenditures amounted to approximately $28.4 million in 2010, $10.1 million in 2009, and $12.9 million in 2008. In April 2010, the Company ordered a fourth manroland press to expand four-color capacity in its Kendallville, Indiana facility. Spending in fiscal 2010 on this $17 million project was approximately $13 million.  Capital expenditures relating to the new digital print operation were approximately $12 million in fiscal 2010, including progress payments on the second HP press.  Both presses are scheduled to be installed early in fiscal 2011.  Taking into account remaining spending on these two presses, capital expenditures for fiscal 2011 are expected to be between $16 and $18 million.  Courier considers its equipment to be in good operating condition and adequate for its present needs.

 

ENCUMBRANCES AND RENTAL OBLIGATIONS

 

For a description of encumbrances on certain properties and equipment, see Note D of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages F-13 and F-14 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Information concerning leased properties and equipment is disclosed in Note E of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which appears on page F-14 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings.

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims.  The Company believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its financial statements.

 

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

 

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended September 25, 2010.

 

PART II

 

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

 

PEER PERFORMANCE TABLE

 

The graph below compares the Company’s cumulative total stockholder return on its Common Stock with the cumulative total return on the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index (the “S&P 500 Index”) and a peer group of companies selected by the Corporation for purposes of the comparison and described more fully below (the “Peer Group”).  This graph assumes the investment of $100 on October 1, 2005 in each of Courier Common Stock, the S&P 500 Index, and the Peer

 

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Group Common Stock, and reinvestment of quarterly dividends at the monthly closing stock prices.  The returns of each company have been weighted annually for their respective stock market capitalizations in computing the S&P 500 and Peer Group indices.

 

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

Courier Corporation, S&P 500 Index, Peer Group

 

 

The Peer Group includes the following seven companies:  Borders Group, Inc., Bowne & Company, Inc., Consolidated Graphics, Ennis Business Forms, Inc., Scholastic Corporation, The Standard Register Company, and John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

 

Other information required by this Item is contained in the section captioned “Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)” appearing on page F-42 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Item 6.  Selected Financial Data.

 

The information required by this Item is contained in the section captioned “Five-Year Financial Summary” appearing on page F-27 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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

 

The information required by this Item is contained in the section captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” on pages F-28 through F-41 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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

 

The Company does not hold any derivative financial instruments, derivative commodity instruments or other financial instruments except as noted in Note A of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which appear on pages F-8 through F-11 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The Company engages neither in speculative nor derivative trading activities. The Company is exposed to market risk for changes in interest rates on invested funds as well as borrowed funds.  The Company’s revolving bank credit facility bears interest at a floating rate, with further information contained in Note D on pages F-13 and F-14 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The Company believes it is remote that this could have a material impact on results of operations.

 

Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The information required by this Item is contained on pages F-1 through F-26 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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

 

None.

 

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures

 

(a)                                 Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). Disclosure controls are procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclosure controls are also designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and

 

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communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

 

(b)                                 Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

(c)                                 Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements

 

Management of the Company is responsible for the preparation, integrity and objectivity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and other financial information contained in its Annual Report to Stockholders.  Those consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  In preparing those consolidated financial statements, the Company’s management was required to make certain estimates and judgments, which are based upon currently available information and management’s view of current conditions and circumstances.

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (“Audit Committee”), which consists solely of independent directors, oversees the Company’s process of reporting financial information and the audit of its consolidated financial statements.  The Audit Committee stays informed of the financial condition of the Company and regularly reviews management’s financial policies and procedures, the independence of the independent auditors, the Company’s internal control and the objectivity of its financial reporting. The independent registered public accounting firm has free access to the Audit Committee and to meet with the Audit Committee periodically, both with and without management present.

 

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission the required certifications related to its consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended September 25, 2010.  These certifications are exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 2010.

 

(d)                                 Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management has responsibility for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.  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 reporting purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Management has assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 25, 2010.

 

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In making its assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, the Company’s management has utilized the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework.  Management concluded that based on its assessment, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 25, 2010.   Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm that audited our financial statements included in this Annual Report, has issued its attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 25, 2010, which appears below.

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Courier Corporation

North Chelmsford, Massachusetts

 

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Courier Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 25, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’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, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on 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, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing 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 by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel 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 the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.  Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the

 

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internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the 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, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 25, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended September 25, 2010 of the Company and our report dated November 24, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule.

 

/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2010

 

(e)                                  Limitations on Design and Effectiveness of Controls

 

The Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, believes that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting are effective at the reasonable assurance level. However, the Company’s management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. In addition, the design of a control system must take into consideration resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected in a timely manner. These inherent limitations include the fact that controls can be circumvented by individual acts, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.  Finally, over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

Item 9B.  Other Information

 

None.

 

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PART III

 

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

Courier’s executive officers, together with their ages and all positions and offices with the Company presently held by each person named, are as follows:

 

James F. Conway III

58

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Robert P. Story, Jr.

59

Director, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer

 

 

 

Peter M. Folger

57

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Rajeev Balakrishna

40

Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Clerk

 

 

 

Eric J. Zimmerman

45

Vice President, Publishing

 

The terms of office of all of the above executive officers continue until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of stockholders and the election or appointment and qualification of their successors, unless any officer sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified.

 

Mr. Conway III was elected Chairman of the Board in September 1994 after serving as acting Chairman since December 1992.  He has been Chief Executive Officer since December 1992 and President since July 1988.

 

Mr. Story became Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in November 2006.  He had previously been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 1989.  He joined Courier in November 1986 as Vice President and Treasurer.  He was elected a Director of the Company in February 1995.

 

Mr. Folger became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in November 2006.  He had previously been Controller since 1982 and Vice President since November 1992.

 

Mr. Balakrishna became Vice President and General Counsel in February 2007 and became Secretary and Clerk in January 2008.  Prior to that, since 1996, he was an attorney at the law firms of Proskauer Rose LLP and Goodwin Procter LLP and in house Counsel at John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.

 

Mr. Zimmerman became Vice President, Publishing and an executive officer of Courier Corporation in October 2004.  He joined Courier in December 1994 as General Manager of its former Copyright Management Services operation and became Vice President of e-Commerce for Courier in September 2000.

 

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The Company has adopted a code of ethics entitled “Courier Corporation Business Conduct Guidelines,” which is applicable to all of the Company’s directors, officers, and employees.  These Business Conduct Guidelines are available on the Company’s Internet website, located at www.courier.com.

 

All other information called for by Item 10 is contained in the definitive Proxy Statement, under the captions “Item 1: Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011.  Such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 11.  Executive Compensation.

 

Information called for by Item 11 is contained in the definitive Proxy Statement, under the caption “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011.  Such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

The following table provides information as of September 25, 2010 regarding shares of common stock of the Company that may be issued under its existing compensation plans, including the Courier Corporation Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1993 Plan”), the Courier Corporation 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the Courier Corporation 2010 Stock Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “2010 Plan”), and the Courier Corporation 2005 Stock Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “2005 Plan”), which was replaced by the 2010 Plan.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan category

 

Number of securities to be issued
upon exercise of outstanding
options, warrants and rights (1)

 

Weighted-average exercise price
of outstanding options, warrants
and rights

 

Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans (excluding
securities reflected in column (a))(2)(3)

 

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

725,303

 

$

22.64

 

601,749

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

725,303

 

$

22.64

 

601,749

 

 

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(1)          Does not include any restricted stock as such shares are already reflected in the Company’s outstanding shares.

(2)          272,503 shares of these 601,749 shares were reserved for future issuance under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

(3)          Includes up to 329,246 securities that may be issued in the form of restricted stock.

 

All other information called for by Item 12 is contained in the definitive Proxy Statement, under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011.  Such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence.

 

Information called for by Item 13 is contained in the definitive Proxy Statement, under the captions “Director Independence” and “Related Party Transactions,” to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011.  Such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14.  Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 

Information called for by Item 14 is contained in the definitive Proxy Statement, under the caption “Item 2: Ratification and Approval of Selection of Independent Auditors,” to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011.  Such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a)                                  Documents filed as part of this report

 

1.                                      Financial statements

 

 

 

 

Page(s)

 

 

 

 

·

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

F-1

·

Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three years in the period ended September 25, 2010

 

F-2

·

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009

 

F-3 to F-4

·

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 25, 2010

 

F-5 to F-6

·

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for each of the three years in the period ended September 25, 2010

 

F-7

·

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

F-8 to F-26

 

2.             Financial statement schedule

 

 

Schedule II - Consolidated Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

S-1

 

3.             Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

3A-1

 

Articles of Organization of Courier Corporation, as of June 29, 1972 (filed as Exhibit 3A-1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 1981, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3A-2

 

Articles of Amendment of Courier Corporation (changing stockholder vote required for merger or consolidation), as of January 20, 1977 (filed as Exhibit 3A-2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 1981, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

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3A-3

 

Articles of Amendment of Courier Corporation (providing for staggered election of directors), as of January 20, 1977 (filed as Exhibit 3A-3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 1981, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3A-4

 

Articles of Amendment of Courier Corporation (authorizing class of Preferred Stock), as of February 15, 1978 (filed as Exhibit 3A-4 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 1981, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3A-5

 

Articles of Amendment of Courier Corporation (increasing number of shares of authorized Common Stock), as of January 16, 1986 (described in item #2 of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on January 16, 1986, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3A-6

 

Articles of Amendment of Courier Corporation (providing for fair pricing procedures for stock to be sold in certain business combinations), as of January 16, 1986 (filed as Exhibit A to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on January 16, 1986, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3A-7

 

Articles of Amendment of Courier Corporation (limiting personal liability of directors to the Corporation or to any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty), as of January 28, 1988 (filed as Exhibit 3A-7 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 1988, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3A-8

 

Articles of Amendment of Courier Corporation (establishing Series A Preferred Stock), as of November 8, 1988 (filed as Exhibit 3A-8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 1988, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3A-9

 

Articles of Amendment of Courier Corporation (increasing number of shares of authorized Common Stock), as of January 17, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 30, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3A-10

 

Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Organization of Courier Corporation for Amended and Restated Resolutions of Directors (establishing Series B Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock), as of March 19, 2009, (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 19, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3B-1

 

By-Laws of Courier Corporation, amended and restated as of March 24, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 24, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3B-2

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Bylaws dated as of August 6, 2008 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 7, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

23



Table of Contents

 

10.1+*

 

Amendment No. 2, effective September 17, 2010, to the Courier Executive Compensation Program, as amended and restated on December 5, 2005.

 

 

 

10A+

 

Letter Agreement, dated February 8, 1990, of Courier Corporation relating to supplemental retirement benefit and consulting agreement with James F. Conway, Jr. (filed as Exhibit 10B to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 1990, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10B-1+

 

The Courier Executive Compensation Program, as amended and restated on December 5, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on December 7, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10B-2+

 

Amendment No. 1, effective September 18, 2007, to the Courier Executive Compensation Program, as amended and restated on December 5, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10C-1+

 

Courier Corporation Senior Executive Severance Program, as amended and restated on December 5, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on December 7, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10C-2+

 

Amendment, effective March 14, 2007, to the Courier Corporation Senior Executive Severance Program, as amended and restated on December 5, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10D

 

Rights Agreement between Courier Corporation and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent, dated March 18, 2009 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 18, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10E-1+

 

Courier Corporation 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (filed as Exhibit A to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on January 21, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10E-2+

 

Amendment, effective March 1, 2005, to the Courier Corporation 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10E-3+

 

Amendment No. 1, effective September 23, 2009, to the Courier Corporation 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (filed as Exhibit A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement, as filed on December 4, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10F-1+

 

Agreement, as of March 3, 1993, of Courier Corporation relating to employment contract and supplemental retirement benefit with George Q. Nichols (filed as Exhibit 10J to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 1993, and incorporated

 

24



Table of Contents

 

 

 

herein by reference).

 

 

 

10F-2+

 

Amendment, as of April 16, 1997, to supplemental retirement benefit agreement with George Q. Nichols (filed as Exhibit 10J-2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10F-3+

 

Amendment, as of November 9, 2000, to supplemental retirement benefit agreement with George Q. Nichols (filed as Exhibit 10I-3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10G

 

Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated May 23, 2008, between Courier Corporation, RBS Citizens, KeyBank, Wells Fargo Bank, and J P Morgan Chase Bank providing for a $100 million revolving credit facility (filed as Exhibit 10 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on May 29, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10H-1+

 

Courier Corporation Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (filed January 19, 2005 as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-122136 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10H-2+

 

Amendment, effective July 15, 2009, to the Courier Corporation Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 27, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10H-3+

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for the Courier Corporation 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10H-4+

 

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for the Courier Corporation 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10H-5+

 

Form of Stock Grant Agreement for the Courier Corporation 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10I-1+

 

Courier Corporation 2005 Stock Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors (filed January 19, 2005 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-122137 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10I-2+

 

Amendment, effective July 15, 2009, to the Courier Corporation 2005 Stock Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 27, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10I-3+

 

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for the Courier Corporation 2005 Stock Equity Plan for Non-employee Directors (filed as Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, and incorporated herein by

 

25



Table of Contents

 

 

 

reference).

 

 

 

10I-4+

 

Form of Stock Unit Agreement for the Courier Corporation 2005 Stock Equity Plan for Non-employee Directors (filed as Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10J+

 

Courier Corporation 2010 Stock Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors, effective September 23, 2009 (filed as Exhibit B to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement, as filed on December 4, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10K-1+

 

Courier Corporation Deferred Compensation Program as Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2009 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10K-2+

 

First Amendment to Terms and Conditions of Courier Corporation Deferred Compensation Program as Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2009, effective January 1, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

21*

 

Schedule of Subsidiaries.

 

 

 

23*

 

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

 

 

 

31.1*

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 10A, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

31.2*

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 10A, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.1*

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer 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 Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 


* Exhibit is furnished herewith.

+ Designates a Company compensation plan or arrangement.

 

26



Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on November 24, 2010.

 

 

COURIER CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

s/James F. Conway III

 

 

 

James F. Conway III

 

 

 

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

s/Peter M. Folger

 

 

 

Peter M. Folger

 

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

s/Kathleen M. Leon

 

 

 

Kathleen M. Leon

 

 

 

Vice President and Controller

 

 

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 in the capacities indicated, on November 24, 2010.

 

s/James F. Conway III

 

s/Edward J. Hoff

 

s/Robert P. Story, Jr.

James F. Conway III

 

Edward J. Hoff

 

Robert P. Story, Jr.

Chairman, President and

 

Director

 

Director

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s/Paul Braverman

 

s/Peter K. Markell

 

s/ W. Nicholas Thorndike

Paul Braverman

 

Peter K. Markell

 

W. Nicholas Thorndike

Director

 

Director

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

s/Kathleen Foley Curley

 

s/Ronald L. Skates

 

s/ Susan L. Wagner

Kathleen Foley Curley

 

Ronald L. Skates

 

Susan L. Wagner

Director

 

Director

 

Director

 

27


 


Table of Contents

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Courier Corporation

North Chelmsford, Massachusetts

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Courier Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 25, 2010.  Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (a)2.  These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the 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, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Courier Corporation and subsidiaries as of September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 25, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 25, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated November 24, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2010

 

F-1



Table of Contents

 

COURIER CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

 

 

 

For the Years Ended

 

 

 

September 25,

 

September 26,

 

September 27,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales (Note A)

 

$

257,140

 

$

248,816

 

$

280,324

 

Cost of sales (Note H)

 

193,129

 

191,085

 

202,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

64,011

 

57,731

 

77,879

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expenses (Note H)

 

47,017

 

46,385

 

53,034

 

Impairment charges (Note G)

 

4,734

 

15,607

 

23,643

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

12,260

 

(4,261

)

1,202

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net (Notes A and D)

 

611

 

676

 

1,133

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax income (loss)

 

11,649

 

(4,937

)

69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax provision (benefit) (Note B)

 

4,535

 

(1,796

)

439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

7,114

 

$

(3,141

)

$

(370

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share (Notes A and I):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.60

 

$

(0.27

)

$

(0.03

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted

 

$

0.60

 

$

(0.27

)

$

(0.03

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared per share

 

$

0.84

 

$

0.84

 

$

0.80

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

F-2



Table of Contents

 

COURIER CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 25,

 

September 26,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents (Note A)

 

$

107

 

$

492

 

Investments (Note A)

 

1,090

 

1,017

 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for uncollectible accounts of $968 in 2010 and $1,600 in 2009 (Note A)

 

35,123

 

34,176

 

Inventories (Note C)

 

39,933

 

38,026

 

Deferred income taxes (Note B)

 

4,109

 

4,462

 

Other current assets

 

2,388

 

1,404

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total current assets

 

82,750

 

79,577

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment (Note A):

 

 

 

 

 

Land

 

1,934

 

1,934

 

Buildings and improvements

 

41,884

 

41,137

 

Machinery and equipment

 

205,158

 

201,910

 

Furniture and fixtures

 

1,720

 

2,090

 

Construction in progress

 

18,841

 

3,466

 

 

 

269,537

 

250,537

 

Less — Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(166,528

)

(160,783

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

103,009

 

89,754

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill (Notes G, J and K)

 

24,697

 

24,980

 

Other intangibles, net (Notes G, J and K)

 

2,712

 

3,720

 

Prepublication costs, net (Note A)

 

7,734

 

9,194

 

Other assets

 

1,292

 

1,212

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

222,194

 

$

208,437

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

F-3



Table of Contents

 

COURIER CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

September 25,

 

September 26,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of long-term debt (Note D)

 

$

1,794

 

$

96

 

Accounts payable (Note A)

 

14,399

 

10,974

 

Accrued payroll

 

8,792

 

5,950

 

Accrued taxes (Note B)

 

617

 

3,032

 

Other current liabilities (Note L)

 

6,566

 

7,098

 

Total current liabilities

 

32,168

 

27,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (Notes A and D)

 

21,904

 

13,514

 

Deferred income taxes (Note B)

 

1,385

 

177

 

Other liabilities (Notes B and L)

 

3,788

 

3,006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

59,245

 

43,847

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note E)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity (Notes A, F and L):

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $1 par value - authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued

 

 

 

Common stock, $1 par value - authorized 18,000,000 shares; issued 12,057,000 shares in 2010 and 11,956,000 in 2009

 

12,057

 

11,956

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

17,762

 

16,479

 

Retained earnings

 

133,828

 

136,782

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(698

)

(627

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

162,949

 

164,590

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

222,194

 

$

208,437

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4



Table of Contents

 

COURIER CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Years Ended

 

 

 

September 25,

 

September 26,

 

September 27,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

7,114

 

$

(3,141

)

$

(370

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,681

 

21,401

 

21,373

 

Impairment charges (Note G)

 

4,734

 

15,607

 

23,643

 

Stock-based compensation (Note F)

 

1,287

 

1,424

 

1,313

 

Deferred income taxes (Note B)

 

1,561

 

(4,966

)

(5,970

)

Gain on disposition of assets

 

(183

)

 

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(568

)

11,450

 

2,047

 

Inventory

 

(1,866

)

(860

)

1,017

 

Accounts payable

 

3,136

 

(5,992

)

(3,145

)

Accrued taxes

 

(2,415

)

(528

)

1,431

 

Other elements of working capital

 

986

 

615

 

(1,482

)

Other long-term, net

 

(274

)

(174

)

(1,118

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided from operating activities

 

34,193

 

34,836

 

38,739

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(28,426

)

(10,084

)

(12,865

)

Acquisition of business (Note K)

 

(3,000

)

 

 

Prepublication costs (Note A)

 

(4,162

)

(4,782

)

(5,000

)

Proceeds from disposition of assets

 

590

 

 

 

Short-term investments

 

(73

)

(197

)

(820

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash used for investment activities

 

(35,071

)

(15,063

)

(18,685

)

 

F-5



Table of Contents

 

COURIER CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Years Ended

 

 

 

September 25,

 

September 26,

 

September 27,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (repayments) borrowings

 

10,088

 

(10,129

)

6,273

 

Cash dividends

 

(10,068

)

(9,997

)

(9,881

)

Proceeds from stock plans

 

473

 

667

 

1,749

 

Share repurchases (Note M)

 

 

 

(19,592

)

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided from (used for) financing activities

 

493

 

(19,459

)

(21,425

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(385

)

314

 

(1,371

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

 

492

 

178

 

1,549

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

 

$

107

 

$

492

 

$

178

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

469

 

$

641

 

$

1,246

 

Income taxes paid (net of refunds)

 

$

6,972

 

$

3,799

 

$

4,926

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment costs included in accounts payable

 

$

 

$

390

 

$

3,246

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6



Table of Contents

 

COURIER CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF

CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

Stockholders’

 

Common

 

Additional

 

Retained

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

Equity

 

Stock

 

Paid-In Capital

 

Earnings

 

Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, September 29, 2007

 

$

203,003

 

$

12,612

 

$

12,977

 

$

177,919

 

$

(505

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

(370

)

 

 

(370

)

 

Cash dividends

 

(9,881

)

 

 

(9,881

)

 

Change in pension obligation, net of tax (Note L)

 

143

 

 

 

 

143

 

Stock-based compensation (Note F)

 

1,313

 

6

 

1,307

 

 

 

Share repurchases (Note M)

 

(19,592

)

(856

)

(988

)

(17,748

)

 

Other stock plan activity

 

1,608

 

116

 

1,492

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, September 27, 2008

 

176,224

 

11,878

 

14,788

 

149,920

 

(362

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

(3,141

)

 

 

(3,141

)

 

Cash dividends

 

(9,997

)

 

 

(9,997

)

 

Change in pension obligation, net of tax (Note L)

 

(265

)

 

 

 

(265

)

Stock-based compensation (Note F)

 

1,424

 

11

 

1,413

 

 

 

Other stock plan activity

 

345

 

67

 

278

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, September 26, 2009

 

164,590

 

11,956

 

16,479

 

136,782

 

(627

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

7,114

 

 

 

7,114

 

 

Cash dividends

 

(10,068

)

 

 

(10,068

)

 

Change in pension obligation, net of tax (Note L)

 

(71

)

 

 

 

(71

)

Stock-based compensation (Note F)

 

1,287

 

12

 

1,275

 

 

 

Other stock plan activity

 

97

 

89

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, September 25, 2010

 

$

162,949

 

$

12,057

 

$

17,762

 

$

133,828

 

$

(698

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

A.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Business:  Courier Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Courier” or the “Company”) print, publish and sell books.  Courier has two business segments: book manufacturing and specialty book publishing.  In January 2010, the Company acquired Highcrest Media LLC (“Highcrest Media”), a Massachusetts-based provider of solutions that streamline the production of customized textbooks and other materials for use in colleges, universities and businesses (see Note K).  Highcrest Media is included in the book manufacturing segment.

 

Principles of Consolidation and Presentation: The consolidated financial statements, prepared on a fiscal year basis, include the accounts of Courier Corporation and its subsidiaries after elimination of all intercompany transactions.  Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“generally accepted accounting principles”).

 

Fair Value Measurements: Certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, while other assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, generally as a result of impairment charges (see Note G). Fair value is determined based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include long-lived assets and goodwill and other intangible assets. The three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies, is:

 

Level 1Valuations based on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.

 

Level 2Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

 

Level 3Valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting the Company’s own assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants.

 

Financial Instruments: Financial instruments consist primarily of cash, investments in mutual funds (Level 1), accounts receivable, accounts payable, debt obligations, and contingent consideration (Level 3 — see Note K).  At September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments approximated their carrying values.  The Company classifies as cash and cash equivalents amounts on deposit in banks and instruments with maturities of three months or less at time of purchase. The fair value of the Company’s revolving credit facility approximates its carrying value due to the variable interest rate and the Company’s current rate standing (see Note D).

 

Investments consist of mutual fund investments for which underlying funds primarily invest in equity securities.  Such short-term instruments are held for trading purposes.  These investments are classified as trading securities and are recorded at fair value utilizing quoted prices in active markets at year end.  Earnings from investments were $72,000 in 2010 and $21,000 in 2009; a loss of $19,000 was incurred on these instruments in

 

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Table of Contents

 

2008.  Such amounts are included in the caption “Interest expense, net” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost, including interest on funds borrowed to finance the acquisition or construction of major capital additions.  Interest capitalized was $55,000 in 2010 and $123,000 in 2008; no such interest was capitalized in 2009.  The Company provides for depreciation of property, plant and equipment on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from 10 to 40 years on buildings and improvements and from 3 to 11 years on equipment and furnishings.

 

Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of their useful life or the term of the lease.  Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged against income as incurred; betterments that increase the value or materially extend the life of the related assets are capitalized.  When assets are sold or retired, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in income.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangibles: The Company evaluates possible impairment annually at the end of its fiscal year or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. These tests are performed at the reporting unit level, which is the operating segment or one level below the operating segment. The goodwill impairment test is a two-step test.  In the first step, the Company compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value.  If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of its net assets, then goodwill is not impaired and the Company is not required to perform further testing.  If the carrying value of the net assets of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, then a second step is performed in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill and compare it to the carrying value of its goodwill (see Note G).

 

Prepublication Costs: Prepublication costs, associated with creating new titles in the specialty publishing segment, are amortized to cost of sales using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of three to five years. In fiscal year 2010, a $475,000 impairment charge was recorded for Creative Homeowner’s underperforming titles (see Note G).

 

Long-Lived Assets: Management periodically reviews long-lived assets for impairment. Other than the assets of Federal Marketing Corporation, d/b/a Creative Homeowner (“Creative Homeowner”) discussed above in the caption “Prepublication Costs” and in Note G, “Goodwill and Other Intangibles,” the Company did not record an impairment of any long-term asset during fiscal 2010.

 

Income Taxes: Deferred income tax liabilities and assets are determined based upon the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and are measured by applying enacted tax rates and laws for the taxable years in which these differences are expected to reverse.

 

Revenue Recognition: Revenue is recognized upon shipment of goods to customers or upon the transfer of ownership for those customers for whom the Company provides manufacturing and distribution services.  Revenue for distribution services is recognized as services are provided.  Shipping and handling fees billed to customers are classified as revenue.  In the specialty publishing segment, revenue is recognized net of an allowance for sales returns.  The process which the Company uses to determine its net sales, including the related reserve allowance for returns, is

 

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Table of Contents

 

based upon applying an estimated return rate to current year sales.  This estimated return rate is based on actual historical return experience.

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss): Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income as well as changes in pension plan assets and obligations (see Note L). Total comprehensive income (loss) was $7,043,000 in fiscal 2010, ($3,406,000) in 2009, and ($227,000) in 2008.

 

Use of Estimates: The process of preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and assumptions that affect the reported amounts at the date of the financial statements.  Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

Subsequent Events: The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure.

 

Net Income per Share: Basic net income per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding each period.  Diluted net income per share also includes potentially dilutive items such as stock options (Note I).  Shares used to calculate basic and diluted amounts per share for fiscal years 2009 and 2008 are the same due to the Company incurring a loss in those periods.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements: At the beginning of fiscal 2010, the Company adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) authoritative literature on business combinations, which expands the definition of a business combination and changes the manner in which the Company accounts for business combinations. Significant changes include the capitalization of IPR&D as an indefinite-lived asset, the recognition of certain acquired contingent assets and liabilities at fair value, the expensing of acquisition-related restructuring actions and transaction costs, and the recognition of contingent purchase price consideration at fair value on the acquisition date. In addition, post-acquisition changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties will be recognized as income tax expense or benefit. The accounting treatment for taxes will be applicable to acquisitions that close both prior and subsequent to the adoption of this guidance. The Company has applied this standard to the acquisition of Highcrest Media, described in Note K. As a result of adopting this guidance, the Company expensed approximately $200,000 of transaction and relocation costs related to the acquisition and recorded contingent consideration of $1.2 million in the initial purchase price at its estimated fair value of $850,000.

 

In April 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance for determining the useful life of intangible assets. The guidance amends the factors that should be considered in determining the useful life of a recognized intangible asset. Adoption of this guidance in the first quarter of 2010 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued enhanced disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets. The additional disclosures are intended to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of (a) how investment allocation decisions are made, (b) the major categories of plan assets, (c) the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets, (d) the effect of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs on changes in plan assets for the period and (e) significant concentrations of risk within plan assets. As required, the Company complied with these disclosure requirements beginning in fiscal 2010.

 

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Table of Contents

 

B.  Income Taxes

 

The income tax provision (benefit) differs from that computed using the statutory federal income tax rates for the following reasons:

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal taxes at statutory rate

 

$

3,960

 

$

(1,679

)

$

24

 

State taxes, net of federal tax benefit

 

750

 

56

 

800

 

Federal manufacturer’s deduction

 

(164

)

(136

)

(374

)

Other

 

(11

)

(37

)

(11

)

Total

 

$

4,535

 

$

(1,796

)

$

439

 

 

Tax benefits in fiscal years 2010, 2009 and 2008 related to impairment charges for Creative Homeowner and Dover intangible assets were recognized at approximately 35% (see Note G).  No state tax benefit was recognized on the impairment charges as the Company provided a valuation allowance on the related deferred state tax assets.

 

The provision for income taxes consisted of the following:

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Current:

Federal

 

$

2,057

 

$

2,205

 

$

5,121

 

 

State

 

917

 

965

 

1,288

 

 

 

2,974

 

3,170

 

6,409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred:

Federal

 

1,257

 

(4,181

)

(6,109

)

 

State

 

304

 

(785

)

139

 

 

 

1,561

 

(4,966

)

(5,970

)

Total

 

$

4,535

 

$

(1,796

)

$

439

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following is a summary of the significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009:

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Current deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Vacation accrual not currently deductible

 

$

810

 

$

700

 

Other accruals not currently deductible

 

745

 

781

 

Non-deductible reserves

 

2,438

 

2,756

 

Other

 

224

 

225

 

Total current deferred tax assets

 

4,217

 

4,462

 

Valuation allowances

 

(108

)

 

Total current deferred tax assets, net

 

4,109

 

4,462

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current deferred tax assets (liabilities):

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation arrangements

 

2,016

 

2,175

 

Goodwill and other intangibles

 

7,993

 

7,708

 

Accelerated depreciation

 

(10,882

)

(9,447

)

State NOL carryforwards

 

3,580

 

1,943

 

Pension obligation (Note L)

 

306

 

384

 

Other

 

338

 

222

 

Total non-current deferred tax assets

 

3,351

 

2,985

 

Valuation allowances

 

(4,736

)

(3,162

)

Total non-current deferred tax assets (liabilities), net

 

(1,385

)

(177

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

$

2,724

 

$

4,285

 

 

The Company fully provided valuation allowances for net operating loss carryforwards in states where the Company does not expect to realize the benefit.  Also, valuation allowances of approximately $1.3 million were provided for deferred state tax assets related to Creative Homeowner’s impairment charge, as management believes that its realization is not likely (see Note G).  The Company increased its valuation allowance by $1.7 million in 2010, $960,000 in 2009 and $2.0 million in 2008.

 

During fiscal years 2010 and 2009, certain federal and state statutes of limitations expired. As such, the unrecognized tax benefits and accrued interest were reduced by approximately $22,000 in 2010 and by approximately $43,000 in both fiscal years 2009 and 2008.  There is no such liability balance remaining at the end of fiscal 2010 and the Company does not anticipate any significant changes in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits over the next twelve months. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

The Company files federal and state income tax returns in various jurisdictions of the United States. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to fiscal 2007.  Substantially all U.S. federal tax years prior to fiscal 2006 have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service and closed.

 

C.  Inventories

 

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for approximately 54% and 53% of the Company’s inventories at September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, respectively.  Other inventories, primarily in the specialty publishing segment, are determined on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis.

 

Inventories consisted of the following at September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009:

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raw materials

 

$

5,557

 

$

4,384

 

Work in process

 

9,371

 

8,286

 

Finished goods

 

25,005

 

25,356

 

Total

 

$

39,933

 

$

38,026

 

 

On a FIFO basis, reported year-end inventories would have been higher by $5.5 million in both fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009.

 

D.  Long-Term Debt

 

The Company has a $100 million long-term revolving credit facility in place under which the Company can borrow at a rate not to exceed LIBOR plus 1.5%.  The Company’s interest rate at September 25, 2010 was 0.8%.  At September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, the Company had $17.1 million and $13.5 million, respectively, in borrowings under its long-term revolving credit facility, which matures in March 2013.

 

On March 26, 2010, the Company entered into a four-year term loan providing up to $8 million to finance new digital print operation assets and provides a lien on the assets acquired with the proceeds.  At September 25, 2010, $6.6 million of debt was outstanding under this arrangement, with $2.7 million at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.9% and $3.9 million at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.6%.  Current maturities for this loan were $1.7 million at September 25, 2010.

 

The Company also has an industrial bond arrangement, which bears interest at 3% and provides for a lien on the assets acquired with the proceeds.  At September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, $56,000 and $154,000, respectively, was outstanding under this arrangement, including current maturities of $56,000 and $96,000, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

 

At September 25, 2010, scheduled aggregate principal payments under these obligations were $1,794,000 in 2011, $1,804,000 in 2012, $18,954,000 in 2013 and $1,146,000 in 2014.

 

The revolving credit facility and four-year term loan contain restrictive covenants including provisions relating to the maintenance of working capital, the incurrence of additional indebtedness and a quarterly test of EBITDA to debt service. The revolving credit facility also provides for a commitment fee not to exceed 3/8% per annum on the unused portion.  These fees are included in the caption “Interest expense, net” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.  The revolving credit facility is available to the Company for both its long-term and short-term financing needs.

 

E.  Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company is committed under various operating leases to make annual rental payments for certain buildings and equipment. Amounts charged to operations under such leases approximated $1,827,000 in 2010, $2,568,000 in 2009, and $3,343,000 in 2008.  As of September 25, 2010, minimum annual rental commitments under the Company’s long-term operating leases were approximately $1,566,000 in 2011, $1,321,000 in 2012, $1,272,000 in 2013, $1,192,000 in 2014, $905,000 in 2015 and $3,713,000 in the aggregate thereafter.  At September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, the Company had letters of credit outstanding of $2,180,000 and $2,230,000, respectively.  The Company was committed to purchase $3.2 million of equipment at September 25, 2010.

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims.  The Company believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

F.  Stock Arrangements

 

The Company records stock-based compensation expense for the cost of stock options and stock grants as well as shares issued under the Company’s 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the “ESPP”). The fair value of each option awarded is calculated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.  Stock-based compensation recognized in selling and administrative expenses in the accompanying financial statements, and the related tax benefit, were as follows:

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

$

 1,287

 

$

 1,424

 

$

 1,313

 

Related tax benefit

 

(457

)

(464

)

(405

)

Stock-based compensation, net of tax

 

$

 830

 

$

 960

 

$

 908

 

 

Unrecognized stock-based compensation cost at September 25, 2010 was $2.4 million to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Stock Incentive Plan: The Company’s Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Incentive Plan provides for the granting of stock options and stock grants up to a total of 2,064,375 shares.  Under the plan provisions, both non-qualified and incentive stock options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock may be granted to key employees.  The option price per share may not be less than the fair market value of stock at the time the option is granted and incentive stock options must expire not later than ten years from the date of grant.  The Company annually issues a combination of stock options and stock grants to its key employees.  Stock options and stock grants generally vest over three years.

 

The following is a summary of all option activity for this plan:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

Aggregate

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise

 

Remaining

 

Intrinsic Value

 

 

 

Shares

 

Price

 

Term (Years)

 

(in 000’s)

 

Outstanding at September 29, 2007

 

387,511

 

$

25.53

 

 

 

 

 

Issued

 

106,465

 

21.17

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(46,674

)

11.07

 

 

 

 

 

Cancelled

 

(6,048

)

36.57

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(11,788

)

25.86

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 27, 2008

 

429,466

 

$

25.86

 

 

 

 

 

Issued

 

114,682

 

15.51

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(73,111

)

16.91

 

 

 

 

 

Cancelled

 

(334

)

37.29

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(6,817

)

23.34

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 26, 2009

 

463,886

 

$

24.74

 

 

 

 

 

Issued

 

152,085

 

14.35

 

 

 

 

 

Cancelled

 

(5,413

)

19.34

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(92,121

)

23.67

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 25, 2010

 

518,437

 

21.94

 

3.4

 

$

49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at September 25, 2010

 

257,389

 

$

28.38

 

2.3

 

 

Available for future grants

 

108,010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were 66,161 non-vested stock grants outstanding at the beginning of fiscal 2010 with a weighted-average fair value of $23.83 per share.  During 2010, 38,287 stock grants were awarded with a weighted-average fair value of $14.35 per share.  There were 18,803 stock grants that vested in 2010 with a weighted-average fair value of $35.78 per share.  Also, 2,371 non-vested stock grants, with a weighted-average fair value of $23.86, were forfeited during 2010. At September 25, 2010, there were 83,274 non-vested stock grants outstanding with a weighted-average fair value of $16.78.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Directors’ Stock Equity Plans: In January 2010, stockholders approved the Courier Corporation 2010 Stock Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “2010 Plan”). Under the plan provisions, stock grants as well as non-qualified stock options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock may be granted to non-employee directors up to a total of 300,000 shares.  The 2010 Plan replaces the previous non-employee directors’ plan, which had been adopted in 2005 (the “2005 Plan”).  No further options will be granted under the 2005 Plan.  Under the 2010 Plan, the option price per share is the fair market value of stock at the time the option is granted and options have a term of five years.  Stock options and stock grants generally vest over three years.

 

The following is a summary of all option activity for these plans:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

Aggregate

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise

 

Remaining

 

Intrinsic Value

 

 

 

Shares

 

Price

 

Term (Years)

 

(in 000’s)

 

Outstanding at September 29, 2007

 

167,097

 

$

 31.36

 

 

 

 

 

Issued

 

42,000

 

26.86

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(30,750

)

21.26

 

 

 

 

 

Cancelled

 

(14,727

)

36.69

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 27, 2008

 

163,620

 

$

 31.63

 

 

 

 

 

Issued

 

45,567

 

15.17

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(22,500

)

20.97

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 26, 2009

 

186,687

 

$

 28.89

 

 

 

 

 

Issued

 

53,179

 

13.71

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(33,000

)

32.65

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 25, 2010

 

206,866

 

24.39

 

2.6

 

$

51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at September 25, 2010

 

153,687

 

$

 28.08

 

2.0

 

 

Available for future grants

 

221,236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under the 2010 Plan, 13,181 stock grants were awarded with a weighted-average fair value of $13.71 per share, which were outstanding at September 25, 2010.

 

Directors may also elect to receive their annual retainer and committee chair fees as shares of stock in lieu of cash.  Such shares issued in 2010, 2009 and 2008 were 12,404 shares, 10,542 shares, and 5,399 shares at a fair market value of $13.71, $15.17 and $26.86, respectively.

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan: The ESPP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of Company common stock at not less than 85% of fair market value at the end of the grant period.  On January 20, 2010, stockholders approved an amendment to the ESPP increasing the shares authorized under the plan by 300,000 to an aggregate of 637,500 shares of Company common stock available for issuance under the plan.  During 2010, 2009, and 2008, 39,273 shares, 40,560 shares, and 28,774 shares, respectively, were issued under the plan at an average price of $12.05 per

 

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Table of Contents

 

share, $12.49 per share, and $20.44 per share, respectively.  Since inception, 364,997 shares have been issued.  At September 25, 2010, an additional 272,503 shares were reserved for future issuances.

 

Stockholders’ Rights Plan: On March 18, 2009, the Board of Directors renewed its ten-year stockholders’ rights plan.  Under the plan, the Company’s stockholders of record at March 19, 2009 received a right to purchase a unit (“Unit”) comprised of one one-thousandth of a share of preferred stock for each share of common stock held on that date at a price of $100, subject to adjustment.  Until such rights become exercisable, one such right will also attach to subsequently issued shares of common stock.  The rights become exercisable if a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company’s common stock or after commencement of a tender or exchange offer which would result in a person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of the Company’s common stock.  When exercisable, under certain conditions, each right entitles the holder thereof to purchase Units or shares of common stock of the acquirer, in each case having a market value at that time of twice the right’s exercise price.  The Board of Directors will be entitled to redeem the rights at one cent per right, under certain circumstances.  The rights expire in 2019.

 

Stock-Based Compensation: The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

 

The following key assumptions were used to value options issued:

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

1.4%–2.8%

 

2.0%–2.5%

 

3.0%–3.1%

 

Expected volatility

 

46%–49%

 

38%–46%

 

27%–31%

 

Expected dividend yield

 

5.8%–6.1%

 

5.4%–5.7%

 

2.6%–3.8%

 

Estimated life for grants under:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Incentive Plan

 

5 years

 

5 years

 

5 years

 

Directors’ Stock Equity Plans

 

5 years

 

5 years

 

5 years

 

ESPP

 

0.5 years

 

0.5 years

 

0.5 years

 

 

The following is a summary of the weighted average fair value per share of options granted during each of the past three fiscal years, based on the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

 

 

 

Stock Incentive Plan

 

Directors’ Stock Equity Plans

 

On grant date:

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Exercise price equal to stock price

 

$

3.73

 

$

4.13

 

$

4.52

 

$

3.46

 

$

3.25

 

$

5.77

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

G.  Goodwill and Other Intangibles

 

The Company evaluates possible impairment annually at the end of its fiscal year or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. These tests are performed at the reporting unit level, which is the operating segment or one level below the operating segment. The goodwill impairment test is a two-step test.  After performing the step-one test, the Company determined that the fair value of Creative Homeowner at the end of fiscal 2010 was below its carrying value and as such the second step was required.  In arriving at this conclusion, the Company used a valuation methodology based on a discounted cash flow and a capitalization of cash flow approach (Level 3 in the hierarchy).  Key assumptions and estimates included revenue and operating income forecasts and the assessed growth rate after the forecast period. The second step of the impairment test for Creative Homeowner included estimating the fair value of the tangible and identified intangible assets and liabilities of the impaired reporting unit.  The implied goodwill is the residual of the total fair value of the reporting unit less the accumulated fair value of identified tangible and intangible assets and liabilities.  Based on the results of these valuations, the Company recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $1.8 million for Creative Homeowner’s goodwill in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

 

Trade names with indefinite lives are also not subject to amortization and are reviewed at least annually for potential impairment at the end of the fiscal year or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable.  As a result of the impairment analysis performed for Creative Homeowner, the Company determined that the carrying value of Creative Homeowner’s trade name exceeded its estimated fair value (Level 3 in the hierarchy).  Accordingly, the Company recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $550,000 for Creative Homeowner’s trade name.

 

“Other intangibles” also includes customer lists.  As a result of the impairment analysis performed for Creative Homeowner, the Company determined that the carrying value of Creative Homeowner’s customer list exceeded its estimated fair value (Level 3 in the hierarchy). Accordingly, the Company recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $1.9 million for Creative Homeowner’s customer list.

 

For fiscal 2010, the pre-tax impairment charge recorded for Creative Homeowner’s goodwill, trade name, and customer list intangible assets was $4.3 million. In the third quarter of fiscal 2008, impairment testing was also performed on the goodwill and other intangible assets of Creative Homeowner, resulting in pre-tax impairment charges of $15.3 million to goodwill, $0.8 million to trade name, and $7.5 million to customer lists. The total of these pre-tax impairment charges in fiscal 2008 for Creative Homeowner’s goodwill and other intangible assets was $23.6 million.  In the second quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company recorded a $15.6 million pre-tax impairment charge related to Dover Publications, Inc. (“Dover”), representing 100% of Dover’s goodwill.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company acquired Highcrest Media (see Note K). The acquisition of Highcrest Media was recorded by allocating the fair value of consideration of the acquisition to the identified assets acquired, including intangible assets and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair value at the acquisition date.  The excess of the fair value of consideration of the acquisition over the net amounts assigned to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recorded as goodwill of $1.5 million.  In addition, the Company recorded intangibles related to customer lists and technology totaling $1.9 million.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following table reflects the components of “Goodwill” at September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008:

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

Book
Manufacturing

 

Specialty
Publishing

 

Total

 

Goodwill

 

$

14,771

 

$

40,428

 

$

55,199

 

Accumulated impairment charges

 

 

(15,287

)

(15,287

)

Balance at September 27, 2008

 

14,771

 

25,141

 

39,912

 

Acquisition adjustment

 

 

675

 

675

 

Impairment charge (Level 3)

 

 

(15,607

)

(15,607

)

Balance at September 26, 2009

 

14,771

 

10,209

 

24,980

 

Acquisition of Highcrest Media (Note K)

 

1,517

 

 

1,517

 

Impairment charge (Level 3)

 

 

(1,800

)

(1,800

)

Balance at September 25, 2010

 

$

16,288

 

$

8,409

 

$

24,697

 

 

In 2009, an adjustment was made regarding the purchase accounting for the 2006 acquisition of Creative Homeowner relating to the calculation of deferred tax assets on certain reserves.  The $675,000 adjustment above resulted in an increase in goodwill, with an offsetting reduction in deferred tax assets.

 

The following table reflects the components of “Other intangibles” at September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008:

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

Book Manufacturing

 

Specialty Publishing

 

 

 

 

 

Trade
Name

 

Customer
Lists

 

Technology
& Other

 

Trade
Name

 

Customer
Lists

 

Total

 

Balance at September 27, 2008

 

$

931

 

$

170

 

$

 

$

550

 

$

2,269

 

$

3,920

 

Amortization expense

 

 

(20

)

 

 

(180

)

(200

)

Balance at September 26, 2009

 

931

 

150

 

 

550

 

2,089

 

3,720

 

Acquisition of Highcrest Media (Note K)

 

 

700

 

1,230

 

 

 

1,930

 

Amortization expense

 

 

(124

)

(175

)

 

(180

)

(479

)

Impairment charge (Level 3)

 

 

 

 

(550

)

(1,909

)

(2,459

)

Balance at September 25, 2010

 

$

931

 

$

726

 

$

1,055

 

$

 

$

 

$

2,712

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

“Other intangibles” at September 25, 2010 included customer lists related to Moore-Langen Printing Company, Inc. (“Moore Langen”), which are being amortized over a 10-year period, as well as customer lists, technology and other intangibles related to the acquisition of Highcrest Media, which are being amortized over a 5-year period. Amortization expense was $479,000 in fiscal 2010, including approximately $200,000 related to Creative Homeowner’s customer lists, compared with amortization expense of $200,000 and $629,000 in fiscal years 2009 and 2008, respectively. Annual amortization expense over the next four years will be approximately $400,000; decreasing to $135,000 in the fifth year. At September 25, 2010, “other intangibles” were net of accumulated amortization of $0.4 million for the book manufacturing segment.

 

H. Restructuring Costs

 

Restructuring costs of $4.8 million in fiscal 2009 included costs associated with winding down Creative Homeowner’s distribution services and closing and consolidating the Book-mart Press manufacturing facility during the second quarter of fiscal 2009, as well as employee severance expenses related to additional cost saving actions taken in both of the Company’s segments.

 

The following table details fiscal 2009 restructuring costs by segment and classification in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

Book
Manufacturing

 

Specialty
Publishing

 

Total
Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in cost of sales

 

$

3,807

 

$

107

 

$

3,914

 

Included in selling and administrative expenses

 

491

 

377

 

868

 

Total restructuring costs

 

$

4,298

 

$

484

 

$

4,782

 

 

The following table depicts the accrual balances for these restructuring costs that remained as of September 26, 2009 and September 25, 2010, which related to closing and consolidating the Book-mart Press manufacturing facility.

 

 

 

(000’s Omitted)

 

 

 

Accrual at

 

 

 

 

 

Accrual at

 

 

 

September 26,

 

Charges

 

Cash

 

September 25,

 

 

 

2009

 

(Reversals)

 

Paid

 

2010

 

Employee severance and benefit costs

 

$

495

 

$

(171

)

$

(306

)

$

18

 

Lease termination, facility closure and other costs

 

546

 

(82

)

(464

)

 

Total

 

$

1,041

 

$

(253

)

$

(770

)

$

18

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

I.  Net Income per Share

 

Following is a reconciliation of the outstanding shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share.  Potentially dilutive shares, calculated using the treasury stock method, consist of shares issued under the Company’s stock option plans.  In fiscal years 2009 and 2008, approximately 16,000 and 72,000 potentially dilutive shares, respectively, were excluded due to the Company incurring a loss in those periods.

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Weighted average shares for basic

 

11,916

 

11,850

 

12,294

 

Effect of potentially dilutive shares

 

19

 

 

 

Weighted average shares for dilutive

 

11,935

 

11,850

 

12,294

 

 

J.  Business Segments

 

The Company has two business segments: book manufacturing and specialty publishing. The book manufacturing segment offers a full range of services from production through storage and distribution for religious, educational and specialty trade book publishers. In January 2010, the Company acquired Highcrest Media, which has been included in the book manufacturing segment (see Note K).  The specialty publishing segment consists of Dover, Creative Homeowner and Research & Education Association, Inc. (“REA”).

 

Segment performance is evaluated based on several factors, of which the primary financial measure is operating income.  Operating income is defined as gross profit (sales less cost of sales) less selling and administrative expenses, and includes severance and other restructuring costs but excludes stock-based compensation.  As such, segment performance is evaluated exclusive of interest, income taxes, stock-based compensation, intersegment profit, and impairment charges.  The elimination of intersegment sales and related profit represents sales from the book manufacturing segment to the specialty publishing segment.

 

Stock-based compensation, as well as the elimination of intersegment sales and related profit, are reflected as “unallocated” in the following table.  Impairment charges (discussed more fully in Note G) are also included in “unallocated” in the following table.  Corporate expenses that are allocated to the segments include various support functions such as information technology services, finance, legal, human resources and engineering, and include depreciation and amortization expense related to corporate assets.  The corresponding corporate asset balances are not allocated to the segments.  Unallocated corporate assets consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and fixed assets used by the corporate support functions.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Dollar amounts in the following table are presented in thousands.

 

 

 

Total
Company

 

Book
Manufacturing

 

Specialty
Publishing

 

Unallocated

 

Fiscal 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

257,140

 

$

222,777

 

$

46,030

 

$

(11,667

)

Operating income (loss)

 

12,260

 

19,070

 

(714

)

(6,096

)

Total assets

 

222,194

 

167,878

 

44,437

 

9,879

 

Goodwill, net

 

24,697

 

16,288

 

8,409

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,681

 

14,172

 

5,743

 

766

 

Capital expenditures and prepublication costs

 

32,588

 

27,360

 

4,331

 

897

 

Interest expense, net

 

611

 

 

 

611

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

248,816

 

$

212,228

 

$

46,769

 

$

(10,181

)

Operating income (loss)

 

(4,261

)

14,667

 

(2,189

)

(16,739

)

Total assets

 

208,437

 

145,730

 

51,151

 

11,556

 

Goodwill, net

 

24,980

 

14,771

 

10,209

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

21,401

 

14,592

 

5,994

 

815

 

Capital expenditures and prepublication costs

 

14,866

 

7,255

 

4,946

 

2,665

 

Interest expense, net

 

676

 

 

 

676

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

280,324

 

$

229,792

 

$

61,767

 

$

(11,235

)

Operating income (loss)

 

1,202

 

26,173

 

(106

)

(24,865

)

Total assets

 

240,498

 

157,891

 

73,244

 

9,363

 

Goodwill, net

 

39,912

 

14,771

 

25,141

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

21,373

 

13,666

 

6,945

 

762

 

Capital expenditures and prepublication costs

 

17,865

 

12,139

 

5,308

 

418

 

Interest expense, net

 

1,133

 

 

 

1,133

 

 

Export sales as a percentage of consolidated sales were approximately 19% in both 2010 and 2009 and 18% in 2008.  Approximately 90% of export sales were in the book manufacturing segment in fiscal years 2010, 2009, and 2008.  Sales to the Company’s largest customer amounted to approximately 25% of consolidated sales in 2010, 22% in 2009 and 17% in 2008. In addition, sales to another customer amounted to approximately 22% of consolidated sales in each of fiscal years 2010, 2009, and 2008.  Sales to a third customer amounted to approximately 11% of consolidated

 

F-22



Table of Contents

 

sales in 2008, but were less than 10% in both 2010 and 2009.  These three customers are in the book manufacturing segment and no other customer accounted for more than 10% of consolidated sales.  Customers are granted credit on an unsecured basis.  Receivables for the customers that account for more than 10% of consolidated sales, as a percentage of consolidated accounts receivable, were 32% and 24% at September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, respectively.

 

K.  Business Acquisition

 

On January 15, 2010, the Company acquired the assets of Highcrest Media, a Massachusetts-based provider of solutions that streamline the production of customized textbooks and other materials for use in colleges, universities and businesses.  The acquisition also complements the Company’s investment during fiscal 2010 in digital printing technology. The $3 million cash acquisition, which has additional future “earn out” potential payments of up to $1.2 million, was accounted for as a purchase, and accordingly, Highcrest Media’s financial results are included in the book manufacturing segment in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.

 

The acquisition of Highcrest Media was recorded by allocating the fair value of consideration of the acquisition to the identified assets acquired, including intangible assets and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair value at the acquisition date.  The excess of the fair value of consideration of the acquisition over the net amounts assigned to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recorded as goodwill. Goodwill and other intangibles are tax deductible. The Company also assumed operating leases for some of Highcrest Media’s equipment.

 

The purchase price allocation was as follows:

 

 

 

(000’s Omitted)

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

$

379

 

Inventories

 

41

 

Machinery, equipment and other long-term assets

 

272

 

Amortizable intangibles

 

1,930

 

Goodwill

 

1,517

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(289

)

Fair value of contingent “earn out” consideration

 

(850

)

Net cash paid

 

$

3,000

 

 

The future earn out potential payments were valued at acquisition at $850,000 using a probability weighted discounted cash flow model (Level 3 in the hierarchy) and may be paid out over three years based on achieving certain revenue targets. A fair value assessment of the contingent earn out consideration payable was performed at year end resulting in recognition of $70,000 of expense in fiscal 2010 and a liability of $920,000 at September 25, 2010.

 

F-23



Table of Contents

 

L.  Retirement Plans

 

The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries maintain various defined contribution retirement plans covering substantially all of its employees.  Dover, acquired in September 2000, also provides retirement benefits through a defined benefit plan as described below.

 

Retirement costs of multi-employer union plans consist of contributions determined in accordance with the respective collective bargaining agreements.  Retirement benefits for non-union employees are provided through the Courier Profit Sharing and Savings Plan (“PSSP”), which includes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”).  Retirement costs included in the accompanying financial statements amounted to approximately $3,224,000 in 2010, $3,346,000 in 2009, and $3,468,000 in 2008. At September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, the Company had $1.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively, accrued for the PSSP, which is included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet under the caption “Other current liabilities.”

 

The PSSP is qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The plan allows eligible employees to contribute up to 100% of their compensation, subject to IRS limitations, with the Company matching 100% of the first 2% of pay plus 25% of the next 4% of pay contributed by the employee. The Company also makes contributions to the plan annually based on profits each year for the benefit of all eligible non-union employees.

 

Shares of Company common stock may be allocated to participants’ ESOP accounts annually based on their compensation as defined in the plan.  During the last three years, no such shares were allocated to eligible participants.  At September 25, 2010, the ESOP held 354,900 shares on behalf of the participants.

 

Dover has a noncontributory, defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all of its employees. As of December 31, 2001, Dover employees became eligible to participate in the PSSP.  As such, plan benefits under the Dover defined benefit plan (the “Dover plan”) were frozen as of that date.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued authoritative literature regarding accounting for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, which requires that employers recognize the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans as a net asset or liability on the balance sheet and recognize as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, the gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. Additional financial statement disclosures are also required. The Company adopted these recognition and disclosure provisions at the end of fiscal 2007, and accordingly, recognized an after-tax reduction of $0.5 million in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders’ equity. In addition, companies are required to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of their fiscal year end. The Company previously used this date as the measurement date so there was no impact on the consolidated financials as it relates to this portion of the adopted guidance.

 

F-24



Table of Contents

 

The following tables provide information regarding the Dover plan:

 

Other changes in plan assets and obligations

 

(000’s omitted)

 

recognized in other comprehensive income (loss):

 

2010

 

2009

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of year

 

$

(627

)

$

(362

)

Net (loss) gain incurred in year, net of tax

 

(123

)

(282

)

Amortization of actuarial net losses, net of tax

 

52

 

17

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of year

 

$

(698

)

$

(627

)

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

Change in projected benefit obligation:

 

2010

 

2009

 

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

 

$

2,782

 

$

2,564

 

Administrative cost

 

7

 

7

 

Interest cost

 

144

 

167

 

Actuarial loss

 

344

 

398

 

Benefits paid

 

(350

)

(354

)

Benefit obligation at end of year

 

$

2,927

 

$

2,782

 

 

Change in plan assets:

 

2010

 

2009

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

$

2,440

 

$

2,675

 

Actual return on plan assets

 

303

 

119

 

Benefits paid

 

(350

)

(354

)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

$

2,393

 

$

2,440

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded status at end of year

 

$

(534

)

$

(342

)

 

Components of net periodic benefit cost:

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Administrative cost

 

$

7

 

$

7

 

$

7

 

Interest cost

 

144

 

167

 

169

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(157

)

(174

)

(192

)

Amortization of unrecognized net loss

 

84

 

27

 

37

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

78

 

$

27

 

$

21

 

 

F-25



Table of Contents

 

Actuarial assumptions used to
determine costs and benefit obligations:

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Discount rate

 

4.5

%

7.0

%

6.0

%

Compensation increases

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

6.0

%

7.0

%

7.0

%

 

The discount rate and expected return on plan assets used to determine costs and benefit obligations were based upon actuary recommendations. Accrued pension cost of $534,000 at September 25, 2010 and $342,000 at September 26, 2009 was included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet under the caption “Other liabilities.”

 

The Company’s strategy is to achieve a long-term rate of return sufficient to satisfy plan liabilities while minimizing plan expenses and mitigating downside risks. Assets are currently allocated 100% to Guaranteed Insurance Contracts, however the Company reviews this weighting from time to time in order to achieve overall objectives in light of current circumstances.  The fair value of the insurance contracts was based on negotiated value and the underlying investments, and considers the credit worthiness of the issuer of such contracts (Level 3 in the hierarchy). Insurance contracts held by the Dover plan are issued by a well-known, highly rated insurance company. The underlying investments are government, asset-backed and fixed income securities.

 

M. Share Repurchase Plan

 

On November 8, 2007, the Company announced the approval by its Board of Directors for the repurchase of up to $10 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock from time to time at management’s discretion either through the open market or privately negotiated transactions (the “Share Repurchase Plan”). During fiscal 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company expanded the Company’s Share Repurchase Plan up to a total amount authorized under the plan of $20 million. Since the inception of the Share Repurchase Plan through September 27, 2008, the Company repurchased approximately 856,000 shares of common stock for approximately $19.6 million. No shares were repurchased in fiscal 2010 or 2009.

 

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Table of Contents

 

COURIER CORPORATION

FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL SUMMARY

(Dollars in millions except per share data)

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

257.1

 

$

248.8

 

$

280.3

 

$

294.6

 

$

269.1

 

Gross profit

 

64.0

 

57.7

 

77.9

 

96.4

 

88.5

 

Net income (loss)

 

7.1

 

(3.1

)

(0.4

)

25.7

 

28.4

 

Net income (loss) per diluted share

 

0.60

 

(0.27

)

(0.03

)

2.03

 

2.25

 

Dividends declared per share

 

0.84

 

0.84

 

0.80

 

0.72

 

0.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

222.2

 

208.4

 

240.5

 

269.8

 

247.2

 

Long-term debt

 

21.9

 

13.5

 

23.6

 

17.4

 

17.2

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

162.9

 

164.6

 

176.2

 

203.0

 

182.3

 

Working capital

 

50.6

 

52.4

 

56.8

 

56.0

 

46.2

 

Current ratio

 

2.6

 

2.9

 

2.7

 

2.5

 

2.3

 

Capital expenditures and prepublication costs

 

32.6

 

14.9

 

17.9

 

31.8

 

33.7

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

20.7

 

21.4

 

21.4

 

18.9

 

14.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional items

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt as a percentage of capitalization

 

11.8

%

7.6

%

11.8

%

7.9

%

8.6

%

Stockholders’ equity per share

 

13.51

 

13.77

 

14.84

 

16.10

 

14.65

 

Shares outstanding (in 000’s)

 

12,057

 

11,956

 

11,878

 

12,612

 

12,445

 

Number of employees

 

1,662

 

1,603

 

1,825

 

1,830

 

1,724

 

 

Fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008 results include non-cash impairment charges of $4.7, $15.6 and $23.6 million, respectively (Note G). On an after-tax basis, the impairment charges were $3.0 million, or $.25 per diluted share, in fiscal 2010, $10.2 million, or $.86 per diluted share, in fiscal 2009 and $15.4 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, in fiscal 2008.  Fiscal 2006 results include $3.8 million, or $.30 per diluted share for the reversal of an income tax reserve.

 

Net income (loss) per diluted share is based on weighted average shares outstanding; stockholders’ equity per share is based on shares outstanding at year end.

 


* Fiscal 2006 was a 53-week period.

 

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Table of Contents

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 

Statements contained herein include forward-looking statements. Statements that describe future expectations, plans or strategies are considered “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and releases issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate” and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements.  Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated.  Some of the factors that could affect actual results are discussed in Item 1A of this Form 10-K and include, among others, changes in customers’ demand for the Company’s products, including seasonal changes in customer orders and shifting orders to lower cost regions, changes in market growth rates, changes in raw material costs and availability, pricing actions by competitors and other competitive pressures in the markets in which the Company competes, consolidation among customers and competitors, changes in the Company’s labor relations, success in the execution of acquisitions and the performance and integration of acquired businesses including carrying value of intangible assets, restructuring and impairment charges required under generally accepted accounting principles, changes in operating expenses including medical and energy costs, changes in technology including migration from paper-based books to digital, difficulties in the start up of new equipment or information technology systems, changes in copyright laws, changes in consumer product safety regulations, changes in environmental regulations, changes in tax regulations, changes in the Company’s effective income tax rate and general changes in economic conditions, including currency fluctuations, changes in interest rates, changes in consumer confidence, changes in the housing market, and tightness in the credit markets.  Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate.  The forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Courier Corporation, founded in 1824, is one of America’s leading book manufacturers and specialty publishers.  The Company has two business segments: book manufacturing and specialty publishing.  The book manufacturing segment streamlines the process of bringing books from the point of creation to the point of use.  Based on sales, Courier is the third largest book manufacturer in the United States, offering services from prepress and production through storage and distribution, as well as state-of-the-art digital print capabilities.  The specialty publishing segment consists of Dover Publications, Inc. (“Dover”), Research & Education Association, Inc. (“REA”), and Federal Marketing Corporation, d/b/a Creative Homeowner (“Creative Homeowner”).  Dover publishes over 9,000 titles in more than 30 specialty categories including children’s books, literature, art, music, crafts, mathematics, science, religion and architecture.  REA publishes test preparation and study-guide books and software for high school, college and graduate students, and professionals.  Creative Homeowner publishes books on home design, decorating, landscaping and gardening, and sells home plans.

 

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OUTLOOK

 

This past year remained challenging for the book industry as the economy slowly continued to emerge from recession.  The Company benefited from its balanced portfolio of markets and complementary businesses as well as the significant cost cutting measures taken in fiscal 2009 across the business, resulting in a return to profitability.  Higher sales were achieved in all three of the major markets of the book manufacturing segment and in two of the three publishing companies in the specialty publishing segment.  Nonetheless, the persistent weakness in the nation’s housing market continued to negatively impact sales and operating results at Creative Homeowner, which led to a non-cash impairment charge in fiscal 2010, following a similar charge in fiscal 2008.

 

In the specialty publishing segment, Management believes that the retail environment will continue to be sluggish, especially for home improvement books.  The Company has tightened the editorial focus, streamlined processes and eliminated redundant functions across the segment.  Management believes that all three publishing companies are well positioned to take advantage of any improvement in the economy and in the case of Creative Homeowner, the housing market.  In addition, our publishing companies will benefit from the Company’s investment in digital printing, enabling them to reduce inventory, publish more niche products and draw from an extensive backlist.

 

In the book manufacturing segment, the competitive environment remained intense, resulting in some margin erosion.  But, in response to capacity constraints experienced during fiscal 2010, the Company continued to invest in its business to maintain and build its competitive position in the industry as a leader in four-color book manufacturing.  The Company ordered a fourth high-speed, manroland offset press scheduled for installation in December 2010 in its four-color plant in Kendallville, Indiana.  The Company also introduced digital book manufacturing capabilities under the trade name Courier Digital Solutions (“CDS”) in its North Chelmsford, Massachusetts location.  A new HP inkjet press and book finishing system were installed in June 2010 and were ramped up to a three-shift operation during the fourth quarter.  In October, the Company completed the installation of a second four-color digital press and book finishing system utilizing HP inkjet technology.  In addition, following the acquisition of Highcrest Media in January 2010, the Company folded the assets of Highcrest Media into CDS to further capitalize on the high-growth market for customized college textbooks as well as a range of other short-run printing opportunities.  These investments and acquired capabilities are expected to be increasingly valuable to customers as well as to the Company’s specialty publishing segment.

 

The Company is well positioned compared to its peers due to its relatively low level of debt and significant liquidity. In addition, the Company enjoys strong relationships with its major customers in the religious, education and specialty trade markets, some of which cross many decades.  Coupled with its industry leading customer service and technology, the Company believes that it will be able to leverage these relationships into volume growth.  In that regard, in October 2010, the Company was able to extend its relationship with a leading global missionary organization through a multi-year agreement providing incentives for additional growth.  Through its targeted capital expenditures, acquisition of Highcrest Media and cost cutting measures, the Company is confident it will be able to weather the challenges ahead and take advantage of opportunities to further its long-term objectives.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010 vs.

 

2009 vs.

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

257,140

 

$

248,816

 

$

280,324

 

3.3

%

-11.2

%

Gross profit

 

64,011

 

57,731

 

77,879

 

10.9

%

-25.9

%

As a percentage of sales

 

24.9

%

23.2

%

27.8

%

 

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expenses

 

47,017

 

46,385

 

53,034

 

1.4

%

-12.5

%

Impairment charges

 

4,734

 

15,607

 

23,643

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

12,260

 

(4,261

)

1,202

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

611

 

676

 

1,133

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax income (loss)

 

11,649

 

(4,937

)

69

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax provision (benefit)

 

4,535

 

(1,796

)

439

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

7,114

 

$

(3,141

)

$

(370

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per diluted share

 

$

0.60

 

$

(0.27

)

$

(0.03

)

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues for fiscal 2010 were $257 million, an increase of 3% over fiscal 2009.  In the book manufacturing segment, revenues grew 5% to $223 million compared to the prior year, with sales growth in all three of its principal markets largely due to increased demand for four-color books.  Revenues in the specialty publishing segment were $46 million, down 2% from fiscal 2009, with sales growth at REA and Dover offset by a decline in sales at Creative Homeowner.  The winding down of Creative Homeowner’s book distribution services in January 2009 also contributed $1.2 million to its sales decline compared to fiscal 2010.  Net income for fiscal 2010 was $7.1 million, which included a pre-tax impairment charge related to Creative Homeowner of $4.7 million, or $.25 per diluted share.

 

In fiscal 2009, revenues were $249 million, down 11% from fiscal 2008, with both of the Company’s segments affected by the weak economy.  Book manufacturing segment revenues decreased 8% to $212 million compared to fiscal 2008 with modest growth in four-color books offset by reduced demand for one- and two-color books. In the specialty publishing segment, revenues were $47 million, down 24% from fiscal 2008, which reflected reduced consumer spending as well as the winding down of Creative Homeowner’s book distribution services early in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. The Company’s net loss in fiscal 2009 was $3.1 million, or $.27 per diluted share.  These results included restructuring costs related to cost saving initiatives in both of the Company’s segments of $4.8 million.  In addition, the Company recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $15.6 million at the end of the second quarter related to Dover’s goodwill. Total restructuring and impairment charges for fiscal 2009 were $20.4 million, or $1.13 per diluted share.

 

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Business Acquisition

On January 15, 2010, the Company acquired the assets of Highcrest Media LLC (“Highcrest Media”), a Massachusetts-based provider of solutions that streamline the production of customized textbooks for use in colleges, universities and businesses.  The acquisition also complements the Company’s investment during fiscal 2010 in digital printing technology. The $3 million cash acquisition, which has additional future “earn out” potential payments of up to $1.2 million, was accounted for as a purchase, and accordingly, Highcrest Media’s financial results are included in the book manufacturing segment in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Also, during 2010, the Company installed a state-of-the-art digital printing operation at its North Chelmsford, Massachusetts facility through a relationship with HP and installed a second digital press in October 2010.  These digital print capabilities, combined with Highcrest Media, comprise the Company’s newest market offering, Courier Digital Solutions (“CDS”).

 

Restructuring Costs

Restructuring costs of $4.8 million in fiscal 2009 included costs associated with winding down Creative Homeowner’s distribution services and closing and consolidating the Book-mart Press manufacturing facility during the second quarter of fiscal 2009, as well as employee severance expenses related to additional cost saving actions taken in both of the Company’s segments.

 

The following table details fiscal 2009 restructuring costs by segment and by classification in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

Book
Manufacturing
Segment

 

Specialty
Publishing
Segment

 

Total
Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in cost of sales

 

$

3,807

 

$

107

 

$

3,914

 

Included in selling and administrative expenses

 

491

 

377

 

868

 

Total restructuring costs

 

$

4,298

 

$

484

 

$

4,782

 

 

The following table depicts the accrual balances for these restructuring costs that remained as of September 26, 2009 and September 25, 2010, which are included in “Other current liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and related to closing and consolidating the Book-mart Press manufacturing facility.

 

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(000’s Omitted)

 

 

 

Accrual at

 

 

 

 

 

Accrual at

 

 

 

September 26,

 

Charges

 

Cash

 

September 25,

 

 

 

2009

 

(Reversals)

 

Paid

 

2010

 

Employee severance and benefit costs

 

$

495

 

$

(171

)

$

(306

)

$

18

 

Lease termination, facility closure and other costs

 

546

 

(82

)

(464

)

 

Total

 

$

1,041

 

$

(253

)

$

(770

)

$

18

 

 

Impairment Charges

The Company evaluates possible impairment of goodwill and other intangibles at the reporting unit level, which is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment, on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable.  As a result of the decline in sales and operating results at Creative Homeowner in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company concluded that the carrying value of its goodwill and other intangible assets exceeded their estimated fair market value. As such, the Company recorded a $4.7 million non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge for Creative Homeowner’s goodwill, trade name, and customer list intangible assets and including approximately $0.5 million related to prepublication costs. On an after-tax basis, the total impairment charge was $3.0 million, or $.25 per diluted share.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2009, Dover experienced a decline in sales and profits resulting from the continued downturn in the economic environment and in consumer spending.  As a result, the Company performed an assessment of Dover’s goodwill and concluded that the carrying value of Dover’s goodwill exceeded its estimated fair value.  The Company recorded a non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge of $15.6 million, representing 100% of Dover’s goodwill, at the end of the second quarter. On an after-tax basis, the impairment charge was $10.2 million, or $.86 per diluted share.

 

In the third quarter of fiscal 2008, Creative Homeowner experienced a precipitous decline in sales and profits due in large part to the downturn in the housing market and reduction in store traffic at home improvement centers and other large retail chain stores.  As a result, the Company performed an assessment of goodwill and other intangible assets and concluded that the carrying value of Creative Homeowner’s goodwill and other intangible assets exceeded their fair value. The pre-tax impairment charge related to the goodwill, trade name, and customer list intangible assets of Creative Homeowner totaled $23.6 million.  On an after-tax basis, the impairment charge was $15.4 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, in fiscal 2008.

 

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Book Manufacturing Segment

 

SEGMENT HIGHLIGHTS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010 vs.

 

2009 vs.

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

222,777

 

$

212,228

 

$

229,792

 

5.0

%

-7.6

%

Gross profit

 

46,757

 

40,532

 

55,042

 

15.4

%

-26.4

%

As a percentage of sales

 

21.0

%

19.1

%

24.0

%

 

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expenses

 

27,687

 

25,865

 

28,869

 

7.0

%

-10.4

%

Operating income

 

$

19,070

 

$

14,667

 

$

26,173

 

30.0

%

-44.0

%

 

Revenues

Within this segment, the Company focuses on three key publishing markets: education, religious and specialty trade. Sales to the education market were up 6% to $92.4 million compared with fiscal 2009, primarily due to sales of four-color textbooks to colleges and universities as well as sales through CDS, which combines the new digital inkjet printing operation with Highcrest Media. Sales to the specialty trade market were up 6% to $59.5 million compared with last year, with growth in new accounts and sales of four-color books.  Sales to the religious market increased 6% to $63.4 million bouncing back from a down year in fiscal 2009.

 

For fiscal 2009, sales to the education market were down 9% to $87.6 million compared to 2008.  Higher-education sales were up for the year, particularly growth in sales of four-color college textbooks, while sales of elementary and high school textbooks were down, largely due to continued pressure on state and local school budgets. Sales to the specialty trade market were up 1% to $56.2 million compared to the prior year from growth in sales of four-color specialty trade books and sales to new customers.  Sales to the religious market were down 9% to $59.6 million for the year compared to fiscal 2008, reflecting a difficult fundraising environment for religious organizations.

 

Cost of Sales /Gross Profit

Cost of sales in the book manufacturing segment increased 3% to $176.0 million compared with fiscal 2009, which included $3.8 million of restructuring costs, reflecting the increase in sales volume.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company completed the integration of Highcrest Media and at the beginning of the fourth quarter, completed the installation and ramp up of the first new digital inkjet press. Related integration and start-up costs were approximately $0.7 million in the second half of fiscal 2010.  Gross profit increased 15% to $46.8 million compared with the prior year and, as a percentage of sales, improved to 21.0% from 19.1%.  The improvement in gross profit reflects the growth in sales, improved capacity utilization, the benefit of last year’s cost reduction measures, and increased revenue from recycling programs, as well as last year’s restructuring costs.  These improvements were offset in part by continued industry-wide pricing pressures and the impact of start-up costs for the digital print operation and integration of Highcrest Media.

 

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In fiscal 2009, a continuing decline in demand for one- and two-color books resulted in reduced capacity utilization at some of the Company’s manufacturing plants.  In response, faced with the weak economy and the need to reduce redundant capacity and lower costs, the Company closed its Book-mart Press manufacturing facility in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and reduced one-color capacity in other manufacturing facilities.  Cost of sales in this segment decreased 2% to $171.7 million in fiscal 2009 compared to the prior year, but increased as a percentage of sales, reflecting the impact of $3.8 million of restructuring costs and lower capacity utilization.  Gross profit in the book manufacturing segment decreased to $40.5 million, or 19.1% of sales, compared to $55.0 million, or 24.0% of sales, in fiscal 2008.  In addition to the impact of both lower sales and restructuring costs, the decline in gross profit in fiscal 2009 also reflected industry-wide competitive pricing pressures and reduced revenues from recycling programs.

 

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses in the book manufacturing segment increased 7% to $27.7 million compared with fiscal 2009, which included approximately $0.5 million of severance-related restructuring costs.  Cost savings from staff reductions were offset by an increase in variable compensation based on increased sales and earnings levels in fiscal 2010.

 

In fiscal 2009, selling and administrative expenses in this segment decreased 10% to $25.9 million, and, as a percentage of sales, decreased to 12.2% from 12.6% compared to fiscal 2008.  These decreases resulted from reduced variable compensation and reductions in staffing and other cost saving initiatives implemented in 2009 and were achieved despite restructuring costs of approximately $0.5 million in fiscal 2009.

 

Operating Income

Operating income in the Company’s book manufacturing segment in fiscal 2010 grew by 30% to $19.1 million compared with fiscal 2009, which included $4.3 million of restructuring costs. In fiscal 2010, operating income improved due to the growth in sales and the benefit of last year’s cost reduction measures, which were offset by increased pricing pressures.

 

In fiscal 2009, operating income in this segment was $14.7 million, a decrease of 44% from fiscal 2008.  This decrease was due to lower sales and capacity utilization, as well as $4.3 million of restructuring costs in fiscal 2009.

 

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Specialty Publishing Segment

 

SEGMENT HIGHLIGHTS

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010 vs.

 

2009 vs.

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

46,030

 

$

46,769

 

$

61,767

 

-1.6

%

-24.3

%

Gross profit

 

17,332

 

16,907

 

22,746

 

2.5

%

-25.7

%

As a percentage of sales

 

37.7

%

36.2

%

36.8

%

 

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expenses

 

18,046

 

19,096

 

22,852

 

-5.5

%

-16.4

%

Operating loss

 

$

(714

)

$

(2,189

)

$

(106

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

The Company’s specialty publishing segment is comprised of Dover, REA, and Creative Homeowner.  Revenues for fiscal 2010 were $46.0 million, down 1.6% from fiscal 2009.  Sales at Creative Homeowner were down 27% to $7.7 million compared with last year, reflecting the persistent weakness in the nation’s housing sector. Approximately $1.2 million of the sales decline was attributable to the winding down of Creative Homeowner’s book distribution services at the end of last year’s first quarter.  Dover’s sales increased 4% to $31.0 million compared with fiscal 2009, with growth in direct-to-consumer, online and international sales, which were offset in part by lower bookstore sales. Sales at REA grew 16% to $7.4 million in fiscal 2010 compared with 2009, resulting from a strong list of new titles released early in the year.

 

Sales in fiscal 2009 were $46.8 million, down 24% from the prior year.  Sales at Creative Homeowner decreased 49% in fiscal 2009 to $10.5 million compared to last year, reflecting the impact of ceasing its distribution service as well as the persistent weakness in the nation’s housing sector.  In November 2008, the Company announced that Creative Homeowner would cease its book distribution service, which was accomplished at the beginning of January 2009, allowing Creative Homeowner to focus on its core publishing business. Revenues for Dover decreased 11% to $29.9 million compared to fiscal 2008, while REA’s revenues were down 16%.  Both Dover and REA sales in fiscal 2009 were impacted by the weak economy and drop in consumer spending as well as reductions in inventory by the major book retailers.

 

Cost of Sales/Gross Profit

Cost of sales in the specialty publishing segment decreased 4% to $28.7 million compared to fiscal 2009, primarily due to the cost reductions initiated in fiscal 2009.  Cost of sales last year included $107,000 of severance-related restructuring costs.  During fiscal 2010, the Company continued to integrate functions across this segment and consolidated Creative Homeowner’s warehousing with the other publishing operations in order to reduce costs.  Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 37.7% from 36.2% in the prior year, primarily as a result of cost reduction measures undertaken.

 

In fiscal 2009, cost of sales in this segment decreased 23% to $29.9 million reflecting lower sales volume compared to the prior year as well as

 

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restructuring costs in 2009 related to employee severance of $107,000.  Gross profit as a percentage of sales for the segment was 36.2% compared to 36.8% in fiscal 2008 as the impact of lower sales volume was offset by cost savings initiatives, including cessation of Creative Homeowner’s distribution activities in January 2009.

 

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses in the specialty publishing segment decreased 5% to $18.0 million compared to fiscal 2009, primarily due to the cost reductions initiated in fiscal 2009.

 

In fiscal 2009, selling and administrative expenses in this segment decreased 16% to $19.1 million in fiscal 2009 compared to the prior year.  The decline reflects reduced costs related to Creative Homeowner’s former distribution services as well as cost savings initiatives throughout the segment.  These savings were offset in part by severance costs of $377,000 related to centralizing back office and order fulfillment operations in the segment in order to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

 

Operating Loss

The operating loss for the specialty publishing segment was $0.7 million, compared with a loss of $2.2 million in fiscal 2009, which included approximately $500,000 of severance and other restructuring costs. This improvement reflects the benefit of the cost reductions, particularly at Creative Homeowner, combined with sales growth at REA and Dover.  Operating income at Dover and REA, which had increased by approximately $1.1 million, was more than offset by Creative Homeowner’s operating loss of $2.6 million.

 

For fiscal 2009, the operating loss for this segment was $2.2 million, compared to $106,000 in the prior year, with modest profitability at Dover and REA offset by a loss at Creative Homeowner of $3.0 million. Restructuring charges included in the segment’s operating loss were $0.5 million in 2009, primarily related to Creative Homeowner.  The operating loss in fiscal 2009 also reflects the drop in sales.

 

Total Consolidated Company

 

Interest expense, net of interest income, decreased to $611,000 in fiscal 2010 from $676,000 in fiscal 2009 due to lower interest rates and lower average borrowings.  In fiscal 2009, interest expense, net of interest income, decreased to $676,000 in fiscal 2009 from $1.1 million in fiscal 2008 primarily due to lower interest rates.  The Company entered into a four-year term loan in March 2010 providing up to $8 million to finance new digital print operation assets.  The following table summarizes the Company’s average borrowings and average annual interest rate under these arrangements for the past three fiscal years.

 

 

 

(Dollars in millions)

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average debt

 

$

16.5

 

$

24.2

 

$

24.8

 

Average annual interest rate

 

0.9

%

1.5

%

4.0

%

 

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Interest expense also includes commitment fees and other costs associated with maintaining this credit facility.  Interest capitalized in fiscal 2010 was $55,000, primarily related to the digital print operation.  Interest capitalized in fiscal 2008 was $123,000, related primarily to a new press at the Philadelphia facility.  No interest was capitalized in fiscal 2009.

 

The tax benefits in fiscal years 2010, 2009 and 2008 related to the impairment charges incurred in each year were recognized at approximately 35% as the Company provided valuation allowances on the related deferred state tax assets.  Excluding the impact of the impairment charges, the effective tax rate for fiscal 2010 was 37.8% compared to 33.9% in fiscal 2009, primarily due to a higher effective state tax rate.  Excluding the impact of the impairment charges, the effective tax rate for fiscal 2009 was 33.9% compared to 36.8% in fiscal 2008. The reduction in 2009 included a decrease in the federal statutory rate due to the lower earnings level, as well as a reduction in state taxes associated, in part, with the impact of changes in state tax legislation on deferred tax assets.

 

On November 8, 2007, the Company announced the approval by its Board of Directors for the repurchase of up to $10 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock from time to time at management’s discretion either through the open market or privately negotiated transactions. During fiscal 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company expanded the Company’s Share Repurchase Plan up to a total amount authorized under the plan of $20 million. Since the inception of the share repurchase program through September 27, 2008, the Company repurchased approximately 856,000 shares of common stock for approximately $19.6 million. No shares were repurchased in fiscal years 2009 or 2010.

 

For purposes of computing net income per diluted share, weighted average shares outstanding for fiscal 2010 increased by approximately 85,000, primarily due to shares issued under the Company’s stock plans. Weighted average shares outstanding for fiscal 2009 decreased by approximately 444,000 compared to the prior year, primarily because of the repurchase of approximately 856,000 shares during fiscal 2008.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Operating activities in fiscal 2010 provided $34.2 million of cash compared to $34.8 million in fiscal 2009.  Net income of $7.1 million included the non-cash, after-tax impairment charge of $3.0 million.  In addition, stock-based compensation was $1.3 million, depreciation was $15.0 million, amortization of prepublication costs was $5.2 million, and amortization of other intangible assets was $0.5 million. Working capital used $0.7 million of cash in fiscal 2010.

 

Investment activities in fiscal 2010 used $35.1 million of cash, including $3.0 million for the acquisition of Highcrest Media. Capital expenditures were $28.4 million, compared with $10.1 million in fiscal 2009.  In April 2010, the Company ordered a fourth manroland press to expand four-color capacity in its Kendallville, Indiana facility. Spending in fiscal 2010 on this $17 million project was approximately $13 million.  Capital expenditures relating to the new digital print operation were approximately $12 million in fiscal 2010, including progress payments on a second HP press.  Both new presses are scheduled to be installed in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.  Taking into account remaining spending on these two press projects of approximately $8 million, capital expenditures for fiscal 2011 are expected to be between $16 and $18 million.  In fiscal 2010, proceeds of approximately $0.6 million were received on the disposition of assets, including equipment from the Book-mart Press manufacturing facility.

 

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Prepublication costs in the specialty publishing segment in 2010 were $4.2 million compared to $4.8 million in the prior year. These costs are expected to be approximately $4 million in 2011.

 

Financing activities in fiscal 2010 provided $0.5 million of cash.  Cash dividends used $10.1 million and long-term debt increased by $10.1 million.  At September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, the Company had $17.1 million and $13.5 million, respectively, in borrowings under its $100 million long-term revolving credit facility, which bears interest at a floating rate not to exceed LIBOR plus 1.5%.  The interest rate under this facility was 0.8% at September 25, 2010.  On March 26, 2010, the Company entered into a four-year term loan providing up to $8 million to finance new digital print operation assets and provides a lien on the assets acquired with the proceeds.  At September 25, 2010, $6.6 million of debt was outstanding under this arrangement, with $2.7 million at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.9% and $3.9 million at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.6%.  The revolving credit facility, which matures in 2013, and the four-year term loan contain restrictive covenants including provisions relating to the maintenance of working capital, the incurrence of additional indebtedness and a quarterly test of EBITDA to debt service.  The Company was in compliance with all such covenants at September 25, 2010.  The revolving credit facility also provides for a commitment fee not to exceed 3/8% per annum on the unused portion.  The Company believes that its cash on hand, cash from operations and the available credit facility will be sufficient to meet its cash requirements through fiscal 2011.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations and commitments at September 25, 2010 to make future payments as well as its existing commercial commitments.  The amounts in the table do not include interest expense.  Purchase obligations represent commitments for capital expenditures.

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

 

 

Payments due by period

 

 

 

 

 

Less than

 

1 to 3

 

3 to 5

 

More than

 

Contractual Payments:

 

Total

 

1 Year

 

Years

 

Years

 

5 Years

 

Long-Term Debt

 

$

23,698

 

$

1,794

 

$

20,758

 

$

1,146

 

$

 

Operating Leases

 

9,969

 

1,566

 

2,593

 

2,097

 

3,713

 

Purchase Obligations

 

3,235

 

3,235

 

 

 

 

Other Long-Term Liabilities

 

3,788

 

 

1,710

 

311

 

1,767

 

Total

 

$

40,690

 

$

6,595

 

$

25,061

 

$

3,554

 

$

5,480

 

 

Long-term debt includes $17.1 million under the Company’s long-term revolving credit facility, which has a maturity date of March 2013.

 

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NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

At the beginning of fiscal 2010, the Company adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) authoritative literature on business combinations, which expands the definition of a business combination and changes the manner in which the Company accounts for business combinations. Significant changes include the capitalization of IPR&D as an indefinite-lived asset, the recognition of certain acquired contingent assets and liabilities at fair value, the expensing of acquisition-related restructuring actions and transaction costs, and the recognition of contingent purchase price consideration at fair value on the acquisition date. In addition, post-acquisition changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties will be recognized as income tax expense or benefit. The accounting treatment for taxes will be applicable to acquisitions that close both prior and subsequent to the adoption of this guidance. The Company has applied this standard to the acquisition of Highcrest Media, described in Note K. As a result of adopting this guidance, the Company expensed approximately $200,000 of transaction and relocation costs related to the acquisition and recorded contingent consideration of $1.2 million in the initial purchase price at its estimated fair value of $850,000.

 

In April 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance for determining the useful life of intangible assets. The guidance amends the factors that should be considered in determining the useful life of a recognized intangible asset. Adoption of this guidance in the first quarter of 2010 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued enhanced disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets. The additional disclosures are intended to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of (a) how investment allocation decisions are made, (b) the major categories of plan assets, (c) the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets, (d) the effect of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs on changes in plan assets for the period and (e) significant concentrations of risk within plan assets. As required, the Company complied with these disclosure requirements beginning in fiscal 2010.

 

RISKS

 

Our businesses operate in markets that are highly competitive, and the Company faces competition on the basis of price, product quality, speed of delivery, customer service, availability of appropriate printing capacity and paper, related services and technology support.  Some of our competitors have greater sales, assets and financial resources than our Company and others, particularly those in foreign countries, may derive significant advantages from local governmental regulation, including tax holidays and other subsidies. These competitive pressures could affect prices or customers’ demand for our products, impacting both revenue and profit margins and/or resulting in a loss of customers and market share. The Company derived approximately 47% and 44% of its fiscal 2010 and 2009 revenues, respectively, from two major customers.  A significant reduction in order volumes or price levels from either of these customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

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Table of Contents

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in these financial statements and accompanying notes.   On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to collectibility of accounts receivable, recovery of inventories, impairment of goodwill and other intangibles, prepublication costs and income taxes.  Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented.  Actual results may differ from these estimates.  The significant accounting policies which management believes are most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating the Company’s reported financial results include the following:

 

Accounts Receivable.  Management performs ongoing credit evaluations of the Company’s customers and adjusts credit limits based upon payment history and the customer’s current credit worthiness.  Collections and payments from customers are continuously monitored.  A provision for estimated credit losses is determined based upon historical experience and any specific customer collection risks that have been identified.  If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

 

Inventories.   Management records reductions in the cost basis of inventory for excess and obsolete inventory based primarily upon historical and forecasted product demand.  If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory charges may be required.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangibles.   Other intangibles include customer lists, which are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from five to ten years. The Company evaluates possible impairment of goodwill and other intangibles at the reporting unit level, which is the operating segment or one level below the operating segment, on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable.  The Company completed the annual impairment test at September 25, 2010, which resulted in no change to the nature or carrying amounts of its intangible assets in its book manufacturing segment.  However, the Company determined that the fair value of Creative Homeowner at the end of fiscal 2010 was below its carrying value and a pre-tax impairment charge of $4.7 million was recorded, which represented 100% of Creative Homeowner’s goodwill and other intangible assets as well as $0.5 million of prepublication costs.  In the second quarter of fiscal 2009, due to a decline in sales and profits at Dover, resulting from the continued downturn in the economic environment and in consumer spending, the Company performed an interim test of Dover’s goodwill.  As a result of the impairment test, the Company concluded that the carrying value of Dover’s goodwill exceeded its estimated fair value and recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $15.6 million, representing 100% of Dover’s goodwill.  In the third quarter of fiscal 2008, the Company performed an interim impairment test for Creative Homeowner due to a precipitous decline in sales and profits at Creative Homeowner in the quarter.  As a result of the impairment tests, the Company concluded that the carrying value of Creative Homeowner’s goodwill and other intangible assets exceeded their estimated fair value. The total pre-tax impairment charge recorded in fiscal 2008 related to the goodwill, trade name, and customer list intangible assets of Creative

 

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Table of Contents

 

Homeowner was $23.6 million.  Changes in market conditions or poor operating results could result in a decline in value of the Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets thereby potentially requiring an additional impairment charge in the future.

 

Prepublication Costs.   The Company capitalizes prepublication costs, which include the costs of acquiring rights to publish a work and costs associated with bringing a manuscript to publication such as artwork and editorial efforts. Prepublication costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from three to five years.  Management regularly evaluates the sales and profitability of the products based upon historical and forecasted demand.  Based upon this evaluation, adjustments may be required to amortization expense.  In fiscal 2010, an impairment charge was recorded for $0.5 million for underperforming titles at Creative Homeowner.

 

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Table of Contents

 

COURIER CORPORATION

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

 

Fiscal 2010

 

First

 

Second

 

Third

 

Fourth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Results:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

63,104

 

$

58,879

 

$

64,919

 

$

70,238

 

Gross profit

 

17,296

 

14,300

 

13,883

 

18,532

 

Impairment charge

 

 

 

 

(4,734

)

Net income

 

2,784

 

1,435

 

1,770

 

1,125

 

Net income per diluted share

 

0.23

 

0.12

 

0.15

 

0.09

 

Dividends declared per share

 

0.21

 

0.21

 

0.21

 

0.21

 

Stock price per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highest

 

15.47

 

17.51

 

18.41

 

16.69

 

Lowest

 

12.42

 

13.01

 

12.74

 

11.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2009

 

First

 

Second

 

Third

 

Fourth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Results:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

59,647

 

$

59,360

 

$

61,390

 

$

68,419

 

Gross profit

 

14,428

 

10,623

 

14,077

 

18,603

 

Impairment charge

 

 

(15,607

)

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

703

 

(11,173

)

1,612

 

5,717

 

Net income (loss) per diluted share

 

0.06

 

(0.94

)

0.14

 

0.48

 

Dividends declared per share

 

0.21

 

0.21

 

0.21

 

0.21

 

Stock price per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highest

 

20.37

 

17.90

 

17.40

 

17.43

 

Lowest

 

13.16

 

9.45

 

13.58

 

14.50

 

 

Diluted share amounts are based on weighted average shares outstanding.

 

Common shares of the Company are traded over-the-counter on the Nasdaq Global Select Market — symbol “CRRC.”

 

There were 1,022 stockholders of record as of September 25, 2010.

 

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Table of Contents

 

COURIER CORPORATION

 

SCHEDULE II

 

CONSOLIDATED VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

 

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE AT

 

CHARGED TO

 

 

 

BALANCE

 

 

 

BEGINNING

 

REVENUES AND

 

 

 

AT END

 

 

 

OF PERIOD

 

EXPENSES

 

DEDUCTIONS

 

OF PERIOD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for uncollectible accounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended September 25, 2010

 

$

1,600,000

 

$

(32,000

)

$

600,000

 

$

968,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended September 26, 2009

 

$

1,611,000

 

$

328,000

 

$

339,000

 

$

1,600,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended September 27, 2008

 

$

1,531,000

 

$

385,000

 

$

305,000

 

$

1,611,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Returns allowance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended September 25, 2010

 

$

1,945,000

 

$

3,691,000

 

$

3,528,000

 

$

2,108,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended September 26, 2009

 

$

2,605,000

 

$

4,379,000

 

$

5,039,000

 

$

1,945,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended September 27, 2008

 

$

1,684,000

 

$

6,596,000

 

$

5,675,000

 

$

2,605,000

 

 

S-1