ENNIS, INC. - Quarter Report: 2017 August (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the Quarterly Period Ended August 31, 2017

OR

For the Transition Period from                  to                 

Commission File Number 1-5807

ENNIS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(972) 775-9801

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Date 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  ☒    No  ☐

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

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

As of September 29, 2017, there were 25,417,035 shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding.

ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except for par value and share amounts)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Dollars in thousands)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

1. Significant Accounting Policies and General Matters

Basis of Presentation

These unaudited consolidated financial statements of Ennis, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company,” “Registrant,” “Ennis,” or “we,” “us,” or “our”) for the period ended August 31, 2017 have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial reporting.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2017, from which the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at February 28, 2017 was derived.  All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the interim financial information have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. In preparing the financial statements, the Company is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the disclosure and reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company evaluates these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis, including those related to bad debts, inventory valuations, property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, pension plan, accrued liabilities, and income taxes. The Company bases estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year.

On May 25, 2016, the Company sold Alstyle Apparel, LLC and its subsidiaries, which constituted the Company’s apparel segment (the “Apparel Segment”), to Gildan Activewear Inc.  As a result of this action, the current year and prior year disclosures reflect these operations as discontinued operations and prior year financial information has been restated to reflect this accounting treatment.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”), which simplifies how an entity is required to measure goodwill impairment.  The amendments in ASU 2017-04 require that goodwill impairment will be measured using the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the reporting unit and the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.  The amendments in ASU 2017-04 should be applied on a prospective basis and are effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019.  The Company adopted ASU 2017-04 on June 1, 2017, which had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements at the time of adoption.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2016-09”), which makes several modifications to the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the requirement to recognize the income tax effects of awards that vest or settle as income tax expense.  The amendments in ASU 2016-09 also clarify the presentation of certain components of share-based awards in the statement of cash flows.  ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 in fiscal year 2018 beginning in March of 2017.  The adoption of ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which requires lessees to put most leases on the balance sheet but recognize expense on the income statement in a manner similar to current accounting.  For lessors, ASU 2016-02 also modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases.  The standard requires a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements and is effective in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019.  Early adoption of ASU 2016-02 is permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”), which institutes a number of modifications to the reporting of financial assets and liabilities. These modifications include: (i) measurement of non-equity method assets and liabilities at fair value, with changes to fair value recognized through net income, (ii) performance of qualitative impairment assessments of equity investments without readily determinable fair values at each reporting period, (iii) elimination of the requirement to disclose methods and significant assumptions used in calculating the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost, (iv) measurement of

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost using the exit price notion consistent with Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, (v) separate presentation in other comprehensive income of the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk, (vi) separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset, and (vii) evaluation of the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. This ASU is effective for financial statements issued with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2016-01 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  ASU 2014-09 supersedes most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP.  In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date (“ASU 2015-14”), which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to March 1, 2018 for the Company.  Early adoption of ASU 2014-09 became permitted in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017.  The Company expects to adopt ASU 2014-09 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019.  The guidance permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method.  We have not yet selected a transition method, and we continue to evaluate the effect that the updated standard will have on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; however, we do not expect adoption of the guidance to have a material impact on our financial results. We primarily earn our revenue by made to order business forms, as required by our customers primarily through purchase orders. We generally do not have significant customer contracts and do not provide post-delivery services. As such, adoption of the new guidance is not expected to result in a significant change in the amount of revenue recognized or the timing of when such revenue is recognized.

2. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Receivables

Accounts receivable are reduced by an allowance for an estimate of amounts that are uncollectible. Substantially all of the Company’s receivables are due from customers in the United States.  The Company extends credit to its customers based upon its evaluation of the following factors: (i) the customer’s financial condition, (ii) the amount of credit the customer requests, and (iii) the customer’s actual payment history (which includes disputed invoice resolution).  The Company does not typically require its customers to post a deposit or supply collateral.  The Company’s allowance for doubtful receivables is based on an analysis that estimates the amount of its total customer receivable balance that is not collectible.  This analysis includes assessing a default probability to customers’ receivable balances, which is influenced by several factors including (i) current market conditions, (ii) periodic review of customer creditworthiness, and (iii) review of customer receivable aging and payment trends.

The Company writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance in the period the payment is received. Credit losses from continuing operations have consistently been within management’s expectations.

The following table presents the activity in the Company’s allowance for doubtful receivables (in thousands):

3. Inventories

The Company uses the lower of last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) cost or market to value certain of its business forms inventories and the lower of first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) cost or market to value its remaining forms inventories.  The Company regularly reviews inventories on hand, using specific aging categories, and writes down the carrying value of its inventories for excess and potentially obsolete inventories based on historical usage and estimated future usage.  In assessing the ultimate realization of its inventories, the Company is required to make judgments as to future demand requirements.  As actual future demand or market conditions may vary from those projected by the Company, adjustments to inventories may be required.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

The following table summarizes the components of inventories at the different stages of production as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

4. Acquisitions

On July 7, 2017, the Company acquired the assets of a tag operation located in Ohio, for $1.4 million in cash plus the assumption of certain accrued liabilities.  Management considers this acquisition immaterial.

On January 27, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of Independent Printing Company, Inc. and its related entities (collectively “Independent”) for $17.7 million in cash consideration, in a stock purchase transaction.  Independent has 4 locations in Wisconsin, with its main facility located in DePere, Wisconsin. The business produces presentation folders, checks, wide format and commercial printing. Independent, which generated approximately $37.0 million in unaudited sales during calendar year 2016, will continue to operate under its respective brand names.  Independent sells mainly through distributors and resellers. The Company will now have 4 folder facilities in Michigan, Kansas, California and Wisconsin, as well as wide format capabilities in Colorado and Wisconsin.

The following is a summary of the final purchase price allocations for Independent (in thousands):

The results of operations for Independent are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.  The following table represents certain operating information on a pro forma basis as though all Independent operations had been acquired as of March 1, 2016, after the estimated impact of adjustments such as amortization of intangible assets, interest expense, interest income, and related tax effects (in thousands, except per share amounts):

The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of what would have occurred if the acquisitions had been in effect for the periods presented.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

5. Discontinued Operations

On May 25, 2016 the Company sold its Apparel Segment to Gildan Activewear Inc. for an all-cash purchase price of $110.0 million, subject to a working capital adjustment, customary indemnification arrangements, and the other terms of the Unit Purchase Agreement dated May 4, 2016.

The operating results of these discontinued operations only reflect revenues and expenses that are directly attributable to the Apparel Segment and that have been eliminated from continuing operations.  The following tables show the key components on the sale and discontinued operations related to the Apparel Segment that was completed on May 25, 2016 (in thousands):

6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Beginning March 1, 2017, given the general declining trend line of print sales, and its expected continuance into the foreseeable future, the Company elected to treat the recorded value of trademarks/trade names as no longer being an indefinite-lived asset. As such, as of March 1, 2017, the Company began amortizing the carrying value of these assets over their estimated remaining useful life, approximately 17 - 19 years.  The amortization expense associated with this election is expected to impact the Company’s selling, general and administrative expense line by approximately $830,000 during fiscal year 2018.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the Company’s intangible assets at each balance sheet date are as follows (in thousands):

Aggregate amortization expense for the six months ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016 was $3.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively.

The Company’s estimated amortization expense for the next five fiscal years ending in February of the stated fiscal year is as follows (in thousands):

Changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill as of the dates indicated are as follows (in thousands):

During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2017, $6.1 million was added to goodwill related to the acquisition of Independent.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

7. Other Accrued Expenses

The following table summarizes the components of other accrued expenses as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

8. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

The Company has entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which has been amended from time to time, pursuant to which a credit facility has been extended to the Company (the “Credit Facility”) until August 11, 2020 that provides the Company and its subsidiaries with up to $100.0 million in revolving credit, as well as a $20.0 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit and a $15.0 million sublimit for swing-line loans.  Under the Credit Facility, the Company or any of its subsidiaries also can request up to three increases in the aggregate commitments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million.  Under the Credit Facility: (i) the Company’s net leverage ratio may not exceed 3.00:1.00, (ii) the Company’s fixed charge coverage ratio may not be less than 1.25:1.00, and (iii) the Company may make dividends or distributions to shareholders so long as (a) no event of default has occurred and is continuing and (b) the Company’s net leverage ratio both before and after giving effect to any such dividend or distribution is equal to or less than 2.50:1.00.  As of August 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all terms and conditions of the Credit Facility.

The Credit Facility bears interest at the LIBOR rate plus a spread ranging from 1.0% to 2.0%, which rate was 2.3% (3 month LIBOR + 1.0%) at August 31, 2017 and 1.86% (2 month LIBOR + 1.0%) at February 28, 2017.  The rate is determined by our fixed charge coverage ratio of total funded debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”).  As of August 31, 2017, we had $30.0 million of borrowings under the revolving credit line and $1.2 million outstanding under standby letters of credit arrangements, leaving approximately $68.8 million available in borrowing capacity.  The Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of our assets (other than real property), as well as all capital securities of each of our subsidiaries.

9. Shareholders’ Equity

The Board has authorized the repurchase of up to an aggregate of $40.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock through a stock repurchase program.  Under the repurchase program, share purchases may be made from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions depending on market conditions, share price, trading volume and other factors.  Such purchases, if any, will be made in accordance with applicable insider trading and other securities laws and regulations.  These repurchases may be commenced or suspended at any time or from time to time without prior notice.

During the six months ended August 31, 2017 the Company, under the program, repurchased 191,033 shares of common stock at an average price of $17.33 per share.  Since the program’s inception in October 2008, there have been 1,442,236 common shares repurchased at an average price of $14.99 per share. As of August 31, 2017 there was $18.4 million available to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock under the program.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

10. Stock Option Plan and Stock Based Compensation

The Company grants stock options and restricted stock to key executives and managerial employees and non-employee directors.  At August 31, 2017, the Company had one stock option plan, the 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan of Ennis, Inc., as amended and restated as of June 30, 2011, formerly the 1998 Option and Restricted Stock Plan amended and restated as of May 14, 2008 (the “Plan”). The Company has 529,408 shares of unissued common stock reserved under the Plan for issuance as of August 31, 2017.  The exercise price of each stock option granted under the Plan equals a referenced price of the Company’s common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant, and an option’s maximum term is ten years. Stock options and restricted stock may be granted at different times during the year and vest ratably over various periods, from grant date up to five years. The Company uses treasury stock to satisfy option exercises and restricted stock awards.

The Company recognizes compensation expense for stock options and restricted stock grants on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.  For the three months ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016, the Company included compensation expense related to share-based compensation of $0.4 million ($0.2 million net of tax), and $0.4 million ($0.2 million net of tax), respectively, in selling, general, and administrative expenses.  For the six months ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016, the Company included compensation expense related to share-based compensation of $0.7 million ($0.4 million net of tax), and $0.7 million ($0.4 million net of tax), respectively, in selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Stock Options

The Company had the following stock option activity for the six months ended August 31, 2017:

No stock options were granted during the six months ended August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2016.

A summary of the stock options exercised and tax benefits realized from stock based compensation is presented below (in thousands):

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

A summary of the Company’s unvested stock options at August 31, 2017 and the changes during the six months ended August 31, 2017 are presented below:

As of August 31, 2017, there was approximately $1,400 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options granted under the Plan.  The weighted average remaining requisite service period of the unvested stock options was 0.6 years.

Restricted Stock

The Company had the following restricted stock grant activity for the six months ended August 31, 2017:

As of August 31, 2017, the total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock granted under the Plan was approximately $2.1 million.  The weighted average remaining requisite service period of the unvested restricted stock awards was 1.9 years.

11. Pension Plan

The Company and certain subsidiaries have a noncontributory defined benefit retirement plan (the “Pension Plan”), covering approximately 20% of aggregate employees.  Benefits are based on years of service and the employee’s average compensation for the highest five compensation years preceding retirement or termination.

Pension expense is composed of the following components included in cost of goods sold and selling, general, and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of earnings (in thousands):

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

The Company is required to make contributions to the Pension Plan.  These contributions are required under the minimum funding requirements of ERISA.  Due to the enactment of the Highway and Transportation Funding Act (HATFA) in August 2014, plan sponsors can calculate the discount rate used to measure the Pension Plan liability using a 25-year average of interest rates plus or minus a corridor.  The Company’s minimum required contribution to the Pension Plan is zero for the Pension Plan year ending February 28, 2018.  However, the Company expects to make a cash contribution to the Pension Plan of between $2.0 million and $3.0 million during fiscal year 2018.  The Company contributed $3.0 million to the Pension Plan during fiscal year 2017.

12. Earnings (loss) per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share have been computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the applicable period.  Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if stock options or other contracts to issue common shares were exercised or converted into common stock.

For the three and six months ended August 31, 2017, 42,500 and 95,692 shares, respectively, related to stock options were not included in the diluted earnings per share computation because the exercise price exceeded the average fair market value of the Company’s stock.  For the three months ended August 31, 2016, 42,500 shares related to stock options were not included in the diluted earnings per share computation because the exercise price exceeded the average fair market value of the Company’s stock.  For the six months ended August 31, 2016, all options were included in the diluted earnings (loss) per share computation because their average fair market value exceeded the exercise price of the Company’s stock.  The following table sets forth the computation for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share for the periods indicated:

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

13. Concentrations of Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk principally consist of cash and trade receivables. Cash is placed with high-credit quality financial institutions. The Company believes its credit risk with respect to trade receivables is limited due to industry and geographic diversification. As disclosed on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, the Company maintains an allowance for doubtful receivables to cover the Company’s estimate of credit losses associated with accounts receivable.

The Company, for quality and pricing reasons, purchases its paper products from a limited number of suppliers.  While other sources may be available to the Company to purchase these products, they may not be available at the cost or at the quality the Company has come to expect.

For the purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the Company considers cash to include cash on hand and in bank accounts.  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures accounts up to $250,000.  At August 31, 2017, cash balances included $84.1 million that was not federally insured because it represented amounts in individual accounts above the federally insured limit for each such account.  This at-risk amount is subject to fluctuation on a daily basis.  While management does not believe there is significant risk with respect to such deposits, we cannot be assured that we will not experience losses on our deposits.

14. Subsequent Events

On September 22, 2017, the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of 20 cents per share, which will be paid on November 10, 2017 to the shareholders of record on October 13, 2017.  

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

Overview

Ennis, Inc. (formerly Ennis Business Forms, Inc.) (“we” or the “Company”) was organized under the laws of Texas in 1909. The Company and its subsidiaries print and manufacture a broad line of business forms and other business products.  We distribute business products and forms throughout the United States primarily through independent dealers.  This distributor channel encompasses independent print distributors, commercial printers, direct mail, fulfillment companies, payroll and accounts payable software companies, and advertising agencies, among others.  We also sell products to many of our competitors to satisfy their customers’ needs.

On January 27, 2017, we completed the acquisition of Independent Printing Company, Inc. and its related entities (collectively “Independent”) for $17.7 million in cash consideration, in a stock purchase transaction.  Independent has 4 locations in Wisconsin, with its main facility located in DePere, Wisconsin. The business produces presentation folders, checks, wide format and commercial printing. Independent, which generated approximately $37.0 million in unaudited sales during calendar year 2016, will continue to operate under its brand names.  Independent sells mainly through distributors and resellers. With this acquisition, we now have 4 folder facilities located in Michigan, Kansas, California and Wisconsin, as well as wide format capabilities in Colorado and Wisconsin.

On May 25, 2016 the Company sold its apparel operations conducted by Alstyle Apparel, LLC and its subsidiaries (the “Apparel Segment”) to Gildan Activewear Inc. for an all-cash purchase price of $110.0 million, subject to a working capital adjustment, customary indemnification arrangements, and the other terms of the Unit Purchase Agreement dated May 4, 2016.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016, we moved our folder operations from Omaha, Nebraska to Columbus, Kansas, due to the landlord’s desire to sell the facility.  The move and inefficiencies associated with starting-up and training new employees had a negative impact on revenues and operational margins over the first half of fiscal year 2017.  However, during the second half of fiscal year 2017 we saw a turnaround and the operations were marginally profitable.  We expect these operations to be even more profitable during this fiscal year.  In addition, our medical claims during fiscal year 2017 exceeded historical levels, which resulted in us incurring an additional $4.3 million in increased medical charges that had a negative impact on our earnings.  To mitigate further medical charges, we implemented a new cost reimbursement program, as well as other changes to our health plan, as of the start of the calendar year 2017.  Initial indications through the first half of fiscal year 2018 have been positive.  While we are still in the early stages of this program and actual cost savings may vary from anticipated levels, we continue to believe that our future medical claims expenses will trend more in line with historical levels.

Business Overview

Our management believes we are the largest provider of business forms, pressure-seal forms, labels, tags, envelopes, and presentation folders to independent distributors in the United States.

We are in the business of manufacturing, designing, and selling business forms and other printed business products primarily to distributors located in the United States. We operate 59 manufacturing plants throughout the United States in 21 strategically located states.  Approximately 95% of the business products manufactured are custom and semi-custom products, constructed in a wide variety of sizes, colors, number of parts, and quantities on an individual job basis, depending upon the customers’ specifications.

The products sold include snap sets, continuous forms, laser cut sheets, tags, labels, envelopes, integrated products, jumbo rolls and pressure sensitive products in short, medium and long runs under the following labels: Ennis®, Royal Business Forms®, Block Graphics®, Specialized Printed Forms®, 360º Custom Labels^SM, ColorWorx®, Enfusion®, Uncompromised Check Solutions®, VersaSeal®, Ad Concepts^SM, FormSource Limited^SM, Star Award Ribbon Company®, Witt Printing®, B&D Litho®, Genforms®, PrintGraphics^SM, Calibrated Forms®, PrintXcel^SM, Printegra®, Curtis Business Forms^SM, Falcon Business Forms^SM, Forms Manufacturers^SM, Mutual Graphics^SM, TRI-C Business Forms^SM, Major Business Systems^SM, and Hoosier Data Forms®. We also sell the Adams McClure® brand (which provides Point of Purchase advertising for large franchise and fast food chains, as well as kitting and fulfillment); the Admore® and Folder Express® brands (which provide presentation folders and document folders); Ennis Tag & Label^SM (which provides custom printed, high performance labels and custom and stock tags); Atlas Tag & Label®, Kay Toledo Tag^SM, and Special Service Partners^SM (SSP) (which provides custom and stock tags and labels); Trade Envelopes®, Block Graphics®, Wisco®, and National Imprint Corporation® (which provide custom and imprinted envelopes) and Northstar® and General Financial Supply® (which provide financial and security documents).

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

We sell predominantly through private printers and independent distributors, as well as to many of our competitors. Northstar also sells direct to a small number of customers, generally large banking organizations (where a distributor is not acceptable or available to the end-user).  Adams McClure also sells direct to a small number of customers, where sales are generally through advertising agencies.

The printing industry generally sells its products either through sales made predominantly to end users, a market dominated by a few large manufacturers, such as R.R. Donnelley and Sons, Staples, Inc., Standard Register Co. (a subsidiary of Taylor Corporation), and Cenveo, Inc., or, like the Company, through a variety of independent distributors and distributor groups. While it is not possible, because of the lack of adequate public statistical information, to determine the Company’s share of the total business products market, management believes the Company is the largest producer of business forms, pressure-seal forms, labels, tags, envelopes, and presentation folders in the United States distributing primarily through independent dealers.

There are a number of competitors that operate in this segment, ranging in size from single employee-owned operations to multi-plant organizations. We believe our strategic locations and buying power permit us to compete on a favorable basis within the distributor market on competitive factors, such as service, quality, and price.

Distribution of business forms and other business products throughout the United States is primarily done through independent dealers, including business forms distributors, resellers, direct mail, commercial printers, payroll and accounts payable software companies, and advertising agencies.

Raw materials principally consist of a wide variety of weights, widths, colors, sizes, and qualities of paper for business products purchased from generally one major supplier at favorable prices based on the volume of business.

Business products usage in the printing industry is generally not seasonal. General economic conditions and contraction of the traditional business forms industry are the predominant factors in quarterly volume fluctuations.

Business Challenges

We are engaged in an industry undergoing significant changes, including consolidation of some of our traditional channels, product obsolescence, and expansion of commodity materials to our competition, as well as cheaper material imports due to the strong dollar.  Technology advances have made electronic distribution of documents, internet hosting, digital printing and print-on-demand valid, cost-effective alternatives to traditional custom-printed documents and customer communications.  Improved equipment has become more accessible to our competitors due to the continued low interest rate environment.  We face highly competitive conditions throughout the supply chain in an already over-supplied, price-competitive print industry.  The challenges of our business include the following:

Transformation of our portfolio of products – While traditional business documents are essential in order to conduct business, many are being replaced through the use of cheaper paper grades or imported paper, or devalued with advances in digital technologies, causing steady declines in demand for a portion of our current product line.  Transforming our product offerings in order to continue to provide innovative, valuable solutions through lower labor and fixed charges to our customers on a proactive basis will require us to make investments in new and existing technology and to develop key strategic business relationships, such as print-on-demand services and product offerings that assist customers in their transition to digital business environments.  In addition, we will continue to look for new market opportunities and niches through acquisitions, such as the addition of our envelope offerings, tag offerings, folder offerings, healthcare wristbands, secure document solutions, innovative in-mold label offerings and long-run integrated products with high color web printing, which provide us with an opportunity for growth and differentiate us from our competition.

Excess production capacity and price competition within our industry – Due to the number of paper mills worldwide, some paper pricing has been and is expected to remain fairly weak. The strong dollar has attracted cheaper material into the United States notwithstanding the trade tariffs imposed, which has impaired the price advantage larger suppliers have held over smaller competitors.  We will continue to focus our efforts on effectively managing and controlling our product costs to minimize these effects on our operational results, primarily through the use of forecasting, production and costing models, as well as working closely with our domestic suppliers to reduce our procurement costs.  We will continue to look for ways to reduce as well as leverage our fixed costs.  As always, some of these negative factors are cyclical and we will continue to focus on maintaining our margins when the inevitable currency swings go the other way.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

Continued consolidation of our customers – Our customers, who are distributors, are consolidating or are being acquired by competitors.  As such, they demand better pricing and services, or they are required to relocate their business to their new parent company’s manufacturing facilities.  While we continue to maintain a majority of this business, it is possible that these consolidations and acquisitions will impact our margins and our sales.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Statements

You should read this discussion and analysis in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this Report. All of the statements in this Report, other than historical facts, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the statements made in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” particularly under the caption “Overview.”  As a general matter, forward-looking statements are those focused upon anticipated events or trends, expectations, and beliefs relating to matters that are not historical in nature.  The words “could,” “should,” “feel,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “preliminary,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “intent,” “plan,” “will,” “foresee,” “project,” “ forecast,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for these forward-looking statements.  In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, the Company notes that forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to its operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company.  These known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed in, anticipated by or implied by such forward-looking statements.

These statements reflect the current views and assumptions of management with respect to future events.  Ennis does not undertake, and hereby disclaims, any duty to update these forward-looking statements, even though its situation and circumstances may change in the future.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.  The inclusion of any statement in this report does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.

We believe these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions.  All such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied by these statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, including but not limited to, general economic, business and labor conditions and the potential impact on our operations; our ability to implement our strategic initiatives and control our operational costs; dependence on a limited number of key suppliers; our ability to recover the rising cost of raw materials and other costs (i.e., energy, freight, labor, benefit costs, etc.) in markets that are highly price competitive and volatile;  our ability to timely or adequately respond to technological changes in the industry; the impact of the Internet and other electronic media on the demand for forms and printed materials; the impact of foreign competition; changes in economic conditions; customer credit risk; competitors’ pricing strategies; a decline in business volume and profitability could result in an impairment in our reported goodwill negatively impacting our operational results; our ability to retain key management personnel; our ability to identify, manage or integrate acquisitions; and changes in government regulations.  In addition to the factors indicated above, you should carefully consider the risks described in and incorporated by reference herein and in the risk factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2017 before making an investment in our common stock.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the disclosures and reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis, including those related to allowance for doubtful receivables, inventory valuations, property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, pension plan obligations, accrued liabilities and income taxes. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe our accounting policies related to the aforementioned items are the most critical due to their effect on our more significant estimates and judgments used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements.  For additional information, reference is made to the Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2017.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017

Results of Operations

The discussion that follows provides information which we believe is relevant to an understanding of our results of operations and financial condition.  The discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, which are incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise indicated, this financial overview is for the continuing operations of the Company, which are comprised of the production and sales of business forms and other business products, and exclude the discontinued operations of the Apparel Segment.  The operating results of the Company for the three and six months ended August 31, 2017 and the comparative periods for 2016 are set forth in the unaudited consolidated financial information included in the tables below.

Consolidated Summary