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Oil-Dri Corp of America - Annual Report: 2011 (Form 10-K)

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-K
 
x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011
 
OR
 
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Transition Period from _____ to _____

___________________________

 
Commission File Number 001-12622

OIL-DRI CORPORATION OF AMERICA
 
Delaware
36-2048898
(State or other jurisdiction of
(IRS. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
 

410 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60611-4213

(312) 321-1515
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of Each Class
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
None
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act:
 
Yes o No ý
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act:
 
Yes o No ý
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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 ý 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 registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. 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
ý
 
 
 
 
 
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 ý
 
The aggregate market value of Oil-Dri’s Common Stock owned by non-affiliates as of January 31, 2011 was $94,874,000.
 
Number of shares of each class of Oil-Dri’s capital stock outstanding as of September 30, 2011:
 
          Common Stock – 5,110,925 shares

          Class B Stock – 2,048,118 shares

          Class A Common Stock – 0 shares
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
The following documents are incorporated by reference: Oil-Dri’s Proxy Statement for its 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Proxy Statement”), which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) not later than November 28, 2011 (120 days after the end of Oil-Dri’s fiscal year ended July 31, 2011), is incorporated into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as indicated herein.



 

 



CONTENTS
Item
 
 
 
Page
 
1
      
      
 
 
 
 
 
1A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9B.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14
 
 

 

3

 
CONTENTS (CONTINUED)
Item
 
 
 
Page
 
15
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
Certain statements in this report, including, but not limited to, those under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and those statements elsewhere in this report and other documents we file with the SEC contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future performance, our business, our beliefs and our management’s assumptions. In addition, we, or others on our behalf, may make forward-looking statements in press releases or written statements, or in our communications and discussions with investors and analysts in the normal course of business through meetings, webcasts, phone calls and conference calls. Words such as “expect,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “continue,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “may,” “assume,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
 
Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, those described in Item 1A “Risk Factors” below and other reports filed with the SEC. Should one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, intended, expected, believed, estimated, projected or planned. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by law, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements after the distribution of this report, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
 
TRADEMARK NOTICE
 
Agsorb, Calibrin, Cat’s Pride, ConditionAde, Flo-Fre, Jonny Cat, KatKit, Oil-Dri, Pel-Unite, Perform, Poultry Guard, Pro Mound, Pure-Flo, Rapid Dry, Select, Terra-Green, and Ultra-Clear are all registered trademarks of Oil-Dri Corporation of America or of its subsidiaries. Pro’s Choice, Saular, Verge, Fresh & Light and Resorb are trademarks of Oil-Dri Corporation of America. Fresh Step is a registered trademark of The Clorox Company.


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PART I

ITEM 1 – BUSINESS
 
In 1969, Oil-Dri Corporation of America was incorporated in Delaware as the successor to an Illinois corporation incorporated in 1946; the Illinois corporation was the successor to a partnership that commenced business in 1941. Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references to “Oil-Dri,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Oil-Dri Corporation of America and its subsidiaries.
 
GENERAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS
 
During fiscal 2011, our commitment to provide valuable products to our customers was rewarded with higher sales. Our efforts to add value to our products focused on new product development and promotion and on existing product improvements. The Retail and Wholesale Products Group saw increased sales of established branded cat litters and the development and introduction of our new Cat's Pride Fresh & Light cat litter product in the fourth quarter. Our Business to Business Products Group also experienced increased sales of our fluid purification and traditional agricultural products and of Verge, our engineered granule product that we introduced late in fiscal 2010. We were challenged by higher costs related to commodities, depreciation and labor which, combined with increased spending for product market research and promotion development, resulted in lower operating margins and overall results. We issued new debt, continued to invest in our capital assets and maintained a strong consolidated balance sheet during fiscal 2011. For more information on recent business developments, see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” below.
 
PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS
 
We are a leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing sorbent products. Our sorbent products are principally produced from clay minerals, primarily consisting of montmorillonite and attapulgite and, to a lesser extent, other clay-like sorbent materials, such as Antelope shale, which we refer to collectively as our "clay" or our "minerals". Our sorbent technologies include absorbent and adsorbent products. Absorbents, like sponges, draw liquids up into their many pores. Examples of our absorbent clay products are Cat’s Pride and Jonny Cat branded premium cat litter, as well as other private label cat litters. We also produce Oil-Dri branded floor absorbents, Agsorb and Verge agricultural chemical carriers and ConditionAde, Calibrin and Pel-Unite animal feed binders. Adsorbent products attract impurities in liquids, such as metals and surfactants, and form low-level chemical bonds. Examples of our adsorbent products are Oil-Dri synthetic sorbents, which are used for industrial cleanup, and Pure-Flo, Perform and Select bleaching clay products, which act as a filtration media for edible oils, fats and tallows. Also, our Ultra-Clear product serves as a clarification aid for petroleum-based oils and by-products. Both our absorbent and adsorbent products are described in more detail below.
 
Cat Litter Products
 
We produce two types of cat litter products, traditional coarse and scoopable, both of which have absorbent and odor controlling characteristics. Scoopable litters have the additional characteristic of clumping when exposed to moisture, allowing the consumer to selectively dispose of the used portion of the litter. Our coarse and scoopable products are sold under our Cat’s Pride and Jonny Cat brand names. We also package and market Cat’s Pride Kat Kit and Jonny Cat cat litter in a disposable tray, as well as Cat's Pride and Jonny Cat litter pan liners. We manufacture Fresh Step brand coarse cat litter for The Clorox Company (“Clorox”). We also produce private label cat litters for other customers that are sold through independent food brokers and our sales force to major retail outlets.
 
We have two long-term supply arrangements (only one of which is material) under which we manufacture branded traditional litters for other marketers. Under these co-manufacturing relationships, the marketer controls all aspects of sales, marketing, and distribution, as well as the odor control formula, and we are responsible for manufacturing. Our material agreement is with Clorox, under which we have the exclusive right to supply Clorox’s requirements for Fresh Step coarse cat litter up to certain levels.
 
Industrial and Automotive Sorbent Products
 
We manufacture products from clay, polypropylene and recycled cotton materials that absorb oil, grease, water and other types of spills. These products are used in industrial, home and automotive environments. Our clay-based sorbent products, such as Oil-Dri branded floor absorbent, are used for floor maintenance in industrial applications to provide a non-slip and nonflammable

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surface for workers. These floor absorbents are used in automotive repair facilities and car dealerships to absorb oil and grease. They are also used in home applications in garages and driveways. Our Oil-Dri branded polypropylene-based and cotton-based products are sold in various forms, such as pads, rolls, socks, booms and spill kits. These products are used to absorb oil, grease, water and most chemical spills.

Industrial and automotive sorbent products are sold through a distribution network that includes industrial, auto parts, safety, sanitary supply, chemical and paper distributors. These products are also sold through environmental service companies, mass merchandisers and catalogs.
 
Bleaching Clay and Clarification Aid Products
 
We produce an array of bleaching, purification and filtration applications used by edible oil and jet fuel processors around the world. Bleaching clays are used by edible oil processors to adsorb soluble contaminants that create oxidation problems. Our Pure-Flo and Perform bleaching clays remove impurities, such as trace metals, chlorophyll and color bodies, in various types of edible oils. Perform products provide increased activity for hard-to-bleach oils. Our Select adsorbents are used to remove contaminants in vegetable oil processing and can be used to prepare oil prior to the creation of biodiesel fuel. Our Ultra-Clear clarification aid is used as a filtration and purification medium for jet fuel and other petroleum-based products.
 
These products are marketed in the United States and in international markets. The products are supported by our team of technical sales employees as well as by agent representatives and the services of our research and development group.
 
Agricultural and Horticultural Products
 
We produce a wide range of granular and powdered mineral absorbent products that are used as carriers for crop protection chemicals, agricultural drying agents, bulk processing aids, growing media components and seed enhancement media. Our brands include: Agsorb, an agricultural chemical carrier and drying agent; Verge, an engineered granule agricultural chemical carrier; Flo-Fre, a highly absorbent microgranule flowability aid; and Terra-Green, a growing media supplement.
 
Agsorb and Verge carriers are used as an alternative to agricultural sprays. The clay granules absorb crop protection chemicals and are then delivered directly into, or on top of, the ground providing a more precise application than chemical sprays. Verge carriers are spherical, uniform-sized granules with very low dust. Agsorb drying agent is blended into fertilizer-pesticide blends applied by farmers to absorb moisture and improve flowability. Agsorb also acts as a flowability aid for fertilizers and chemicals used in the lawn and garden market. Flo-Fre microgranules are used by grain processors and other large handlers of bulk products to soak up excess moisture preventing caking. We employ technical sales people to market agricultural products in the United States.
  
Animal Health and Nutrition Products
 
We produce several products used in the livestock feed industry. Calibrin and ConditionAde branded enterosorbent products are used in animal feed to absorb naturally-occurring mycotoxins in the feed and thereby improve animal health and productivity. Pel-Unite and Pel-Unite Plus are specialized animal feed binders used in the manufacture of pelleted feeds. These products are sold through a network of feed products distributors in the United States and primarily through exclusive distribution agreements with animal health and nutrition products distributors in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Sports Products

Pro’s Choice sports field products are used on baseball, football and soccer fields. Pro’s Choice soil conditioners are used in field construction or as top dressing to absorb moisture, suppress dust and improve field performance. Pro Mound packing clay is used to construct pitcher’s mounds and batter’s boxes. Rapid Dry drying agent is used to dry up puddles and slick spots after rain. Sports field products are used at all levels of play, including professional, college and high school and on municipal fields. These products are sold through a network of distributors specializing in sports turf products.

BUSINESS SEGMENTS
 
We have two reportable operating segments for financial reporting derived from the different characteristics of our two major customer groups: Retail and Wholesale Products Group and Business to Business Products Group. The Retail and Wholesale Products Group customers include mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs, drugstore chains, pet specialty retail outlets, dollar stores, retail grocery stores, distributors of industrial cleanup and automotive products, environmental service companies and sports field product users. The Business to Business Products Group customers include processors and refiners of edible oils, petroleum-

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based oils and biodiesel fuel, manufacturers of animal feed and agricultural chemicals and marketers of consumer products.
  
Beginning in fiscal 2011, our sports field products were included in the Retail and Wholesale Products Group to reflect a change in management organization intended to better serve our customers. Certain financial information on both segments is contained in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated herein by reference. Prior year segment information has been restated to reflect this change.
 
We do not manage our business, allocate resources or generate revenue data by product line. Any of our products may be sold in one or both of our operating segments. Information concerning total revenue of classes of similar products accounting for more than 10% of consolidated revenues in any of the last three fiscal years is not separately provided because it would be impracticable to do so.
 
FOREIGN OPERATIONS

Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Oil-Dri Canada ULC, is a manufacturer and marketer of branded and private label cat litter in the Canadian market place. Among its leading brands are Saular, Cat’s Pride and Jonny Cat. Our Canadian business also sells industrial granule floor absorbents, synthetic polypropylene sorbent materials and agricultural chemical carriers.
 
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Oil-Dri (U.K.) Limited, is a manufacturer and marketer of industrial floor absorbents and cat litter. These products are marketed in the United Kingdom and Western Europe. Oil-Dri (U.K.) Limited also sells synthetic polypropylene sorbent materials, filtration units and plastic containment products.
 
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Oil-Dri SARL, is a Swiss company that performs various management, customer service and administrative functions for international business of our domestic operations.
 
Our foreign operations are subject to the normal risks of doing business overseas, such as currency devaluations and fluctuations, restrictions on the transfer of funds and import/export duties. We were not materially impacted by these foreign currency fluctuations in any of our last three fiscal years. Certain financial information about our foreign and domestic operations is contained in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
CUSTOMERS
 
Sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (“Walmart”) and its affiliates accounted for approximately 21%, 20% and 26% of our total net sales for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Walmart is a customer in our Retail and Wholesale Products Group segment. During fiscal 2011, Walmart reinstated our branded scoopable litter following the reduction in the number of cat litter brands carried, including ours, during the first quarter of fiscal 2010. There are no customers in the Business to Business Products Group with sales equal to or greater than 10% of our total sales; however, sales to Clorox (a customer in our Business to Business Products Group) and its affiliates accounted for approximately 8%, 9% and 8% of total net sales for fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The degree of margin contribution of our significant customers in the Business to Business Products Group varies, with certain customers having a greater effect on our operating results. The loss of any customer other than those described in this paragraph would not be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business.

COMPETITION
 
Price, service, marketing, technical support, product quality and delivery are the principal methods of competition in our markets and competition has historically been very vigorous. Some of our competitors are large companies whose financial resources are substantially greater than ours.
 
In our Retail and Wholesale Products Group, we have six principal competitors, including one which is also a customer of ours. The cat litter market has been stable in recent years. Scoopable products have a majority of the cat litter market share followed by traditional coarse products. The overwhelming majority of all cat litter is mineral based; however, cat litters based on alternative strata such as paper, various agricultural waste products and silica gels have earned niche positions. The consumer trend away from regional grocery stores towards large national retailers, such as supercenter-type stores, dollar stores and pet specialty stores, has presented competitive challenges as well as opportunities. These stores enjoy substantial negotiating leverage over their suppliers, including us; however, our operations support nation-wide distribution, which gives us a potential advantage over smaller and regional manufacturers in selling to these stores.

In the Business to Business Products Group, we have 15 principal competitors. The agricultural chemical carrier portion of this segment has experienced competition from new technologies in the agricultural and horticultural markets. The bleaching

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clay and fluids clarification aid portion of this Group operates in a highly cost competitive global marketplace. Product performance is also a primary competitive factor for these products. The animal health portion of this Group also operates in a global marketplace with price and performance competition from multi-national and local competitors.
 
PATENTS
 
We have obtained or applied for patents for certain of our processes and products sold to customers in both the Retail and Wholesale Products Group and the Business to Business Products Group. These patents expire at various times, beginning in February 2013. We expect no material impact on our business from the expiration of patents in the next year.
 
BACKLOG; SEASONALITY
 
At July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, our backlog of orders was approximately $5,145,000, $6,368,000, and $6,015,000, respectively. The value of backlog orders is determined by the number of tons on backlog order and the net selling prices. All backlog orders are expected to be filled within the next 12 months. We consider our business, taken as a whole, to be only moderately seasonal; however, business activities of certain customers (such as agricultural chemical manufacturers) are subject to such seasonal factors as crop acreage planted and product formulation cycles.
 
EFFECTS OF INFLATION
 
Inflation generally affects us by increasing the cost of employee wages and benefits, transportation, processing equipment, purchased raw materials and packaging, energy and borrowings under our credit facility. See Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” below.

RESERVES
 
We mine our clay on leased or owned land near our manufacturing facilities in Mississippi, Georgia, Illinois and California; we also have reserves in Nevada, Oregon and Tennessee. We estimate our proven mineral reserves are approximately 151,080,000 tons in aggregate and our probable reserves are approximately 146,835,000 tons in aggregate, for a total of 297,915,000 tons of mineral reserves. Based on our rate of consumption during fiscal year 2011, and without regard to any of our reserves in Nevada, Oregon and Tennessee, we consider our proven reserves adequate to supply our needs for over 40 years. Although we consider these reserves to be extremely valuable to our business, only a small portion of the reserves, those which were acquired in acquisitions, is reflected at cost on our balance sheet.
 
It is our policy to attempt to add to reserves in most years, but not necessarily in every year, an amount at least equal to the amount of reserves consumed in that year. We have a program of exploration for additional reserves and, although reserves have been acquired, we cannot assure that additional reserves will continue to become available. Our use of these reserves, and our ability to explore for additional reserves, are subject to compliance with existing and future federal and state statutes and regulations regarding mining and environmental compliance. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011, we utilized these reserves to produce a majority of the sorbent products that we sold.
 
Proven reserves are those reserves for which (a) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed from results of detailed sampling, and (b) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well established. Probable reserves are computed from information similar to that used for proven reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling, and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation. We employ geologists and mineral specialists who estimate and evaluate existing and potential reserves in terms of quality, quantity and availability.
 
MINING OPERATIONS
 
We have conducted mining operations in Ripley, Mississippi since 1963, in Ochlocknee, Georgia since 1968, in Blue Mountain, Mississippi since 1989, in Mounds, Illinois since 1998 and in Taft, California since 2002. Our clay is surface mined on a year-round basis, generally using large earth moving scrapers, bulldozers, excavators or off-road trucks to remove overburden (non-usable material), and then loaded into dump trucks with backhoes or front end loaders for movement to the processing facilities. The mining and hauling of our clay is performed by us and by independent contractors. Our current operating mines range in distance from immediately adjacent to approximately 13 miles from the related processing plants. Processing facilities

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are generally accessed from the mining areas by private roads and in some instances by public highways. Each of our processing facilities maintains inventories of unprocessed clay of approximately one week of production requirements. See Item 2 “Properties” below for additional information regarding our mining properties and operations.
 
The following schedule summarizes the net book value of land and other plant and equipment for each of our manufacturing facilities:
 
 
Land
 
Plant and
Equipment
 
 
(in thousands)
Ochlocknee, Georgia
 
$
8,497

 
$
15,703

Ripley, Mississippi
 
$
1,773

 
$
12,263

Mounds, Illinois
 
$
1,545

 
$
4,110

Blue Mountain, Mississippi
 
$
878

 
$
11,211

Taft, California
 
$
1,391

 
$
3,576

 
EMPLOYEES
 
As of July 31, 2011, we employed 815 persons, 54 of whom were employed by our foreign subsidiaries. Our corporate offices, research and development center and manufacturing facilities are adequately staffed and no material labor shortages are anticipated. Approximately 48 of our employees in the U.S. and approximately 26 of our employees in Canada are represented by labor unions, with whom we have entered into separate collective bargaining agreements. We consider our employee relations to be satisfactory.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

Our mining and manufacturing operations and facilities in Georgia, Mississippi, California and Illinois are required to comply with state surface mining and wetland statutes. These domestic locations and our Canadian operations are subject to various federal, state and local statutes, regulations and ordinances which govern the discharge of materials, water and waste into the environment or otherwise regulate our operations. In recent years, environmental regulation has grown increasingly stringent, a trend that we expect will continue. We endeavor to be in compliance at all times and in all material respects with all applicable environmental controls and regulations. As a result, expenditures relating to environmental compliance have increased over the years; however, these expenditures have not been material. As part of our ongoing environmental compliance activities, we incur expenses in connection with reclaiming exhausted mining sites. Historically, reclamation expenses have not had a material effect on our cost of sales.
 
In addition to the environmental requirements relating to mining and manufacturing operations and facilities, there is increasing federal and state regulation with respect to the content, labeling, use, and disposal after use, of various products that we sell. We endeavor to be in compliance at all times and in all material respects with those regulations and to assist our customers in that compliance.
 
We cannot assure that, despite all commercially reasonable efforts, we will always be in compliance in all material respects with all applicable environmental regulation or with requirements regarding the content, labeling, use, and disposal after use, of our products; nor can we assure that from time to time enforcement of such requirements will not have a material adverse effect on our business. See Item 1A “Risk Factors” below for a discussion of these and other risks to our business.

ENERGY
 
We use natural gas, recycled oil and coal as permitted for energy sources in the processing of our clay products. Consistent with prior years, we have switched among the various energy sources during certain months due to seasonal availability and cost. See Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” below with respect to our use of forward contracts.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
At our research and development facility in Vernon Hills, Illinois, we develop new products and applications and improve existing products. The facility’s staff (and various consultants they engage from time to time) consists of geologists, mineralogists and chemists. In the past several years, our research efforts have resulted in a number of new sorbent products and processes. The facility produces prototype samples and tests new products for customer trial and evaluation.

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We spent approximately $1,933,000, $1,826,000, and $2,099,000 during the fiscal years ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, for research and development. None of this research and development was customer sponsored, and all research and development costs are expensed in the period in which incurred. See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
This Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to all of the foregoing reports, are made available free of charge on or through the “Investor Information” section of our website (www.oildri.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.
 
Information relating to corporate governance at Oil-Dri, including its Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, information concerning executive officers, directors and Board committees (including committee charters), and transactions in Oil-Dri securities by directors and officers, is available free of charge on or through the “Investor Information” section of our website at www.oildri.com. We are not including the information on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


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ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS
 
We seek to identify, manage and mitigate risks to our business, but risk and uncertainty cannot be eliminated or necessarily predicted. You should consider the following factors carefully, in addition to other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, before deciding to purchase our securities.
 
Risks Related to our Business
 
Our future growth and financial performance depend in large part on successful new product introductions.
 
A significant portion of our net sales comes from the sale of mature products, such as coarse cat litter, floor absorbent and agricultural chemical carriers, which have had little or no volume growth (in fact, several have had volume declines) in recent fiscal years. Our future growth and financial performance will require that we successfully introduce new products or extend existing product offerings to meet emerging customer needs, technological trends and product market opportunities. We cannot be certain that we will achieve these goals. The development and introduction of new products generally require substantial and effective research, development and marketing expenditures, some or all of which may be unrecoverable if the new products do not gain market acceptance. New product development itself is inherently risky, as research failures, competitive barriers arising out of the intellectual property rights of others, launch and production difficulties, customer rejection and unexpectedly short product life cycles may occur even after substantial effort and expense on our part. Even in the case of a successful launch of a new product, the ultimate benefit we realize may be uncertain if the new product “cannibalizes” sales of our existing products beyond expected levels.
 
We face intense competition in our markets.
 
Our markets are highly competitive and we expect that both direct and indirect competition will increase in the future. Our overall competitive position depends on a number of factors including price, customer service and technical support, product quality and delivery. Some of our competitors, particularly in the sale of cat litter (the largest product in our Retail and Wholesale Products Group), are much larger and have substantially greater financial resources. The competition in the future may, in some cases, result in price reductions, reduced margins or loss of market share, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. If we fail to compete successfully based on these or other factors, our business, financial condition and future financial results could be materially and adversely affected.
 
Our periodic results may be volatile.
 
Our operating results have varied on a quarterly basis during our operating history and are likely to fluctuate significantly in the future. Our expense levels are based, in part, on our expectations regarding future net sales, and many of our expenses are fixed, particularly in the short term. We may be unable to adjust spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall. Any significant shortfall of net sales in relation to our expectations could negatively affect our quarterly operating results. Our operating results may be below the expectations of our investors as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are outside our control. Factors that may affect our quarterly operating results include:

•
fluctuating demand for our products and services;
•
size and timing of sales of our products and services;
•
the mix of products with varying profitability sold in a given quarter;
•
changes in our operating costs including raw materials, energy, transportation, packaging, overburden removal, trade spending and marketing, wages and other employee-related expenses such as health care costs, and other costs;
•
our ability to anticipate and adapt to rapidly changing conditions;
•
introduction of new products and services by us or our competitors;
•
our ability to successfully implement price increases and surcharges, as well as other changes in our pricing policies or those of our competitors;
•
variations in purchasing patterns by our customers;
•
the ability of major customers and other debtors to meet their obligations to us as they come due;
•
our ability to successfully manage regulatory, intellectual property, tax and legal matters;
•
the incurrence of restructuring, impairment or other charges; and
•
general economic conditions and specific economic conditions in our industry and the industries of our customers.

Accordingly, we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results are not necessarily meaningful. Investors should not rely on the results of one quarter as an indication of our future performance.

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Acquisitions involve a number of risks, any of which could cause us not to realize the anticipated benefits.
 
We intend from time to time to strategically explore potential opportunities to expand our operations and reserves through acquisitions. Identification of good acquisition candidates is difficult and highly competitive. If we are unable to identify attractive acquisition candidates, complete acquisitions, and successfully integrate the companies, businesses or properties that we acquire, our profitability may decline and we could experience a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or operating results. Acquisitions involve a number of inherent risks, including:

•
uncertainties in assessing the value, strengths, and potential profitability of acquisition candidates, and in identifying the extent of all weaknesses, risks, contingent and other liabilities (including environmental or mining safety liabilities), of those candidates;
•
the potential loss of key customers, management and employees of an acquired business;
•
the ability to achieve identified operating and financial synergies anticipated to result from an acquisition;
•
problems that could arise from the integration of the acquired business; and
•
unanticipated changes in business, industry or general economic conditions that affect the assumptions underlying our rationale for pursuing the acquisition.

Any one or more of these factors could cause us not to realize the benefits we anticipate to result from an acquisition. Moreover, any acquisition opportunities we pursue could materially affect our liquidity and capital resources and may require us to incur indebtedness, seek equity capital or both. In addition, future acquisitions could result in our assuming more long-term liabilities relative to the value of the acquired assets than we have assumed in our previous acquisitions.
 
We depend on a limited number of customers for a large portion of our net sales.
 
A limited number of customers account for a large percentage of our net sales, as described in Item 1 "Business" above. The loss of or a substantial decrease in the volume of purchases by Walmart, Clorox or any of our other top customers would harm our sales and profitability. In addition, an adverse change in the terms of our dealings with, or in the financial wherewithal or viability of, one or more of our significant customers could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We expect that a significant portion of our net sales will continue to be derived from a small number of customers and that the percentage of net sales represented by these customers may increase. As a result, changes in the strategies of our largest customers may reduce our net sales. These strategic changes may include a reduction in the number of brands they carry or a shift of shelf space to private label products or increased use of global or centralized procurement initiatives. In addition, our business is based primarily upon individual sales orders placed by customers rather than contracts with a fixed duration. Accordingly, most of our customers could reduce their purchasing levels or cease buying products from us on relatively short notice. While we do have long-term contracts with certain of our customers, including Clorox, even these agreements are subject to termination in certain circumstances. In addition, the degree of profit margin contribution of our significant customers varies. If a significant customer with a more favorable profit margin was to terminate its relationship with us or shift its mix of product purchases to lower-margin products, it would have a disproportionate adverse impact on our results of operations. If we lose a significant customer or if sales of our products to a significant customer materially decrease, it may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Price or trade concessions, or the failure to make them to retain customers, could adversely affect our sales and profitability.
 
The products we sell are subject to significant price competition. From time to time, we may need to reduce the prices for some of our products to respond to competitive and customer pressures and to maintain market share. These pressures are often exacerbated during an economic downturn. Any reduction in prices to respond to these pressures would reduce our profit margins. In addition, if our sales volumes fail to grow sufficiently to offset any reduction in margins, our results of operations would suffer. Because of the competitive environment facing many of our customers, particularly our high-volume mass merchandiser customers, these customers have increasingly sought to obtain price reductions, specialized packaging or other concessions from product suppliers. These business demands may relate to inventory practices, logistics or other aspects of the customer-supplier relationship. To the extent we provide these concessions, our profit margins are reduced. Further, if we are unable to maintain terms that are acceptable to our customers, these customers could reduce purchases of our products and increase purchases of products from our competitors, which would harm our sales and profitability.
 

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Increases in energy and other commodity prices would increase our operating costs, and we may be unable to pass all these increases on to our customers in the form of higher prices.
 
If our energy costs increase disproportionately to our net sales, our earnings could be significantly reduced. Because we use energy, including natural gas, recycled oil, coal, electricity, diesel fuel and gasoline, to manufacture and transport our products, our operating costs increase if our energy costs rise. Increases in our operating costs may reduce our profitability if we are unable to pass all the increases on to our customers through price increases or surcharges. Sustained price increases or surcharges in turn may lead to declines in volume, and while we seek to project tradeoffs between price increases and surcharges, on the one hand, and volume, on the other, there can be no assurance that our projections will prove to be accurate.
 
Typically, our most significant energy requirements are for natural gas and recycled oil. We are subject to volatility in the price and availability of natural gas and recycled oil, as well as other sources of energy. In the past, we have endeavored to reallocate a portion of our energy needs among these different sources due to seasonal supply limitations and the higher cost of one particular fuel relative to other fuels; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to effectively reallocate among different fuels in the future. From time to time, we may use forward purchase contracts or financial instruments to hedge the volatility of a portion of our natural gas and recycled oil costs. The success or failure of any such hedging transactions depends on a number of factors including, but not limited to, our ability to anticipate and manage volatility in energy prices, the general demand for natural gas and recycled oil by the manufacturing sector, seasonality and the weather patterns throughout the United States and the world.
 
The prices of other commodities such as paper, plastic resins, synthetic rubber, raw materials and steel significantly influence the costs of packaging, replacement parts and equipment we use in the manufacture of our products and the maintenance of our facilities. As a result, increases in the prices of these commodities generally increase the costs of the related materials we use. These increased materials costs present the same types of risks as described above with respect to increased energy costs.

Our business could be negatively affected by supply disruptions.

Supply disruptions could adversely affect our ability to manufacture or package our products. Some of our products require raw materials that are provided by a limited number of suppliers, or are demanded by other industries or are simply not available at times.
 
Reductions in inventory by our customers could adversely affect our sales and increase our inventory risk.
 
From time to time, customers in both our Retail and Wholesale Products Group and our Business to Business Products Group have reduced inventory levels as part of managing their working capital requirements. Any reduction in inventory levels by our customers would harm our operating results for the financial periods affected by the reductions. In particular, continued consolidation within the retail industry could potentially reduce inventory levels maintained by our retail customers, which could adversely affect our results of operations for the financial periods affected by the reductions. Similarly, inventory reductions by our agricultural chemical carrier customers or our contract cat litter manufacturing customers could also adversely affect our results of operations for the financial periods in which the reductions occur.
 
The value of our inventory may decline as a result of surplus inventory, price reductions or obsolescence. We must identify the right product mix and maintain sufficient inventory on hand to meet customer orders. Failure to do so could adversely affect our revenue and operating results. If circumstances change (for example, an unexpected shift in market demand, pricing or customer defaults) there could be a material impact on the net realizable value of our inventory. We maintain an inventory valuation reserve account against diminution in the value or salability of our inventory; however, there is no guaranty that these arrangements will be sufficient to avoid write-offs in excess of our reserves.
 
Environmental, health and safety matters create potential compliance and other liability risks.
 
We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local and foreign regulatory requirements relating to the environment and to health and safety matters. For example, our mining operations are subject to extensive governmental regulation on matters such as permitting and licensing requirements, workplace safety, plant and wildlife protection, wetlands protection, reclamation and restoration of mining properties after mining is completed, the discharge of materials into the environment, and the effects that mining has on groundwater quality and availability. We believe we have obtained all material permits and licenses required to conduct our present operations. We will, however, need additional permits and renewals of permits in the future.
 
The expense, liabilities and requirements associated with environmental, health and safety regulations are costly and

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time-consuming and may delay commencement or continuation of exploration, mining or manufacturing operations. We have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant capital and operating expenditures and other costs in complying with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. In recent years, regulation of environmental, health and safety matters has grown increasingly stringent, a trend that we expect will continue. Substantial penalties may be imposed if we violate certain of these laws and regulations even if the violation was inadvertent or unintentional. Failure to maintain or achieve compliance with these laws and regulations or with the permits required for our operations could result in substantial operating costs and capital expenditures, in addition to fines and administrative, civil or criminal sanctions, third-party claims for property damage or personal injury, cleanup and site restoration costs and liens, the issuance of injunctions to limit or cease operations, the suspension or revocation of permits and other enforcement measures that could have the effect of limiting our operations. Under the “joint and several” liability principle of certain environmental laws, we may be held liable for all remediation costs at a particular site and the amount of that liability could be material. In addition, future environmental laws and regulations could restrict our ability to expand our facilities or extract our existing reserves or could require us to acquire costly equipment or to incur other significant expenses in connection with our business. There can be no assurance that future events, including changes in any environmental requirements and the costs associated with complying with such requirements, will not have a material adverse effect on us.
 
Government regulation imposes significant costs on us, and future regulatory changes (or related customer responses to regulatory changes) could increase those costs or limit our ability to produce and sell our products.
 
In addition to the regulatory matters described above, our operations are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the manufacture, packaging, labeling, content, storage, distribution and advertising of our products and the conduct of our business operations. For example, in the United States, many of our products are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency and our product claims and advertising are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. Most states have agencies that regulate in parallel to these federal agencies. In addition, our international sales and operations are subject to regulation in each of the foreign jurisdictions in which we manufacture, distribute or sell our products. There is increasing federal and state regulation with respect to the content, labeling, use, and disposal after use, of various products we sell. Throughout the world, but particularly in the European Union, there is also increasing government scrutiny and regulation of the food chain and products entering or affecting the food chain.
 
If we are found to be out of compliance with applicable laws and regulations in these or other areas, we could be subject to loss of customers and to civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, recalls or asset seizures, as well as potential criminal sanctions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Loss of or failure to obtain necessary permits and registrations could delay or prevent us from meeting product demand, introducing new products, building new facilities or acquiring new businesses and could adversely affect operating results. If these laws or regulations are changed or interpreted differently in the future, it may become more difficult or expensive for us to comply. In addition, investigations or evaluations of our products by government agencies may require us to adopt additional labeling, safety measures or other precautions, or may effectively limit or eliminate our ability to market and sell these products. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that current or future governmental regulation will not have a material adverse effect on our business or that we will be able to obtain or renew required governmental permits and registrations in the future.
 
We are also experiencing increasing customer scrutiny of the content and manufacturing of our products, particularly our products entering or affecting the food chain, in parallel with the increasing government regulation discussed above. Our customers may impose product specifications or other requirements that are different from, and more onerous than, applicable laws and regulations. As a result, the failure of our products to meet these additional requirements may result in loss of customers and decreased sales of our products even in the absence of any actual failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations. There can be no assurance that future customer requirements concerning the content or manufacturing of our products will not have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
We depend on our mining operations for a majority of our supply of sorbent minerals.
 
Most of our principal raw materials are sorbent minerals mined by us or independent contractors on land that we own or lease. While our mining operations are conducted in surface mines which do not present many of the risks associated with deep underground mining, our mining operations are nevertheless subject to many conditions beyond our control. Our mining operations are affected by weather and natural disasters, such as heavy rains and flooding, equipment failures and other unexpected maintenance problems, variations in the amount of rock and soil overlying our reserves, variations in geological conditions, fires and other accidents, fluctuations in the price or availability of supplies and other matters. Any of these risks could result in significant damage to our mining properties or processing facilities, personal injury to our employees, environmental damage, delays in mining or processing, losses or possible legal liability. We cannot predict whether or the extent to which we will suffer the impact of these and other conditions in the future.
 

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We may not be successful in acquiring adequate additional reserves in the future.
 
We have an ongoing program of exploration for additional reserves on existing properties as well as through the potential acquisition of new owned or leased properties; however, there can be no assurance that our attempts to acquire additional reserves in the future will be successful. Our ability to acquire additional reserves in the future could be limited by competition from other companies for attractive properties, the lack of suitable properties that can be acquired on terms acceptable to us or restrictions under our existing or future debt facilities. We may not be able to negotiate new leases or obtain mining contracts for properties containing additional reserves or renew our leasehold interests in properties on which operations are not commenced during the term of the lease. Also, requirements for environmental compliance may restrict exploration or use of lands that might otherwise be utilized as a source of reserves.

We face risks as a result of our international sales and business operations.
 
We derived approximately 19% of our net sales from sales outside of the United States in the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011. Our ability to sell our products and conduct our operations outside of the United States is subject to a number of risks. Local economic, political and labor conditions in each country could adversely affect demand for our products or disrupt our operations in these markets, particularly when local political and economic conditions are unstable. In addition, international sales and operations are subject to currency exchange fluctuations, fund transfer restrictions and import/export duties, and international operations are subject to foreign regulatory requirements and issues, including with respect to environmental matters. Any of these matters could result in sudden, and potentially prolonged, changes in demand for our products. Also, we may have difficulty enforcing agreements and collecting accounts receivable through a foreign country’s legal system.
 
We may face product liability claims that are costly, create adverse publicity and may add further governmental regulation.
 
If any of the products that we sell cause harm to any of our customers or to consumers, we could be exposed to product liability lawsuits or governmental actions. If we are found liable under product liability claims, we could be required to pay substantial monetary damages or change our product formulations in response to governmental action. Further, even if we successfully defend ourselves against this type of claim, we could be forced to spend a substantial amount of money in litigation expenses, our management could be required to spend valuable time in the defense against these claims and our reputation could suffer, any of which could harm our business.
 
Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and stock price.
 
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related SEC rules require that we perform an annual management assessment of the design and effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and obtain an opinion from our independent registered public accounting firm on our internal control over financial reporting. Our assessment concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of July 31, 2011 and we obtained from our independent registered public accounting firm an unqualified opinion on our internal control over financial reporting; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time in future periods. Accordingly, we cannot assure that we will be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Moreover, effective internal control is necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and is important to help prevent financial fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our business and operating results could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, and the trading price of our Common Stock could drop significantly.
 
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
 
Our principal stockholders have the ability to control matters requiring a stockholder vote and could delay, deter or prevent a change in control of our company.
 
Under our Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and the holders of our Class B Stock are entitled to 10 votes per share; the two classes generally vote together without regard to class (except that any amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation changing the number of authorized shares or adversely affecting the rights of Common Stock or Class B Stock requires the separate approval of the class so affected as well as the approval of both classes voting together). As a result, the holders of our Class B Stock exert control over us and thus limit the ability of other stockholders to influence corporate matters. Beneficial ownership of Common Stock and Class B Stock by the Jaffee Investment Partnership, L.P., and its affiliates (including Richard M. Jaffee, our Chairman, and Daniel S. Jaffee, his son and our President and Chief Executive Officer) provides them with the ability to control the election of our Board of Directors and the outcome of most matters

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requiring the approval of our stockholders, including the amendment of certain provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, the approval of any equity-based employee compensation plans and the approval of fundamental corporate transactions, including mergers and substantial asset sales. Through their concentration of voting power, our principal stockholders may be able to delay, deter or prevent a change in control of our company or other business combinations that might otherwise be beneficial to our other stockholders.

We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules and, as a result, qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
 
We are a “controlled company” under the New York Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Standards. As a controlled company, we may rely on exemptions from certain NYSE corporate governance requirements that otherwise would be applicable, including the requirements:

•
that a majority of the board of directors consists of independent directors;
•
that we have a nominating and governance committee composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities;
•
that we have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and
•
that we conduct an annual performance evaluation of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees.

We have previously relied on these exemptions, and we intend to continue to rely on them in the future. As a result, you may not have the same benefits and information available to stockholders of NYSE-listed companies that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements.
 
The market price for our Common Stock may be volatile.
 
In recent periods, there has been volatility in the market price for our Common Stock. Furthermore, the market price of our Common Stock could fluctuate substantially in the future in response to a number of factors, including the following:

•
fluctuations in our quarterly operating results or the operating results of our competitors;
•
changes in general conditions in the economy, the financial markets, or our industry;
•
announcements of significant acquisitions, strategic alliances or joint ventures by us, our customers or our competitors;
•
introduction of new products or services;
•
increases in the price of energy sources and other raw materials; and
•
other developments affecting us, our industry, customers or competitors.

In addition, in recent years the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant effect on the market prices of securities issued by many companies for reasons unrelated to their operating performance. These broad market fluctuations may materially adversely affect our Common Stock price, regardless of our operating results. Given its relatively small public float and average daily trading volume, our Common Stock may be relatively more susceptible to volatility arising from any of these factors. There can be no assurance that the price of our Common Stock will increase in the future or be maintained at its recent levels.
 
Future sales of our Common Stock could depress its market price.
 
Future sales of shares of our Common Stock could adversely affect its prevailing market price. If our officers, directors or significant stockholders sell a large number of shares, or if we issue a large number of shares, the market price of our Common Stock could significantly decline. Moreover, the perception in the public market that stockholders might sell shares of Common Stock could depress the market for our Common Stock. Our Common Stock’s relatively small public float and average daily trading volume may make it relatively more susceptible to these risks.

ITEM 1B – UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
None.

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ITEM 2 – PROPERTIES
 
Real Property Holdings and Mineral Reserves
 
 
Land
Owned
 
Land
Leased
 
Land
Unpatented
Claims
 
Total
 
Estimated
Proven
Reserves
 
Estimated
Probable
Reserves
 
Total
 
 
(acres)
 
(000's of tons)
California
 
795

 
—

 
1,030

 
1,825

 
4,814

 
11,226

 
16,040

Georgia
 
3,707

 
1,840

 
—

 
5,547

 
34,351

 
28,935

 
63,286

Illinois
 
82

 
598

 
—

 
680

 
4,907

 
6,150

 
11,057

Mississippi
 
2,156

 
999

 
—

 
3,155

 
80,692

 
94,523

 
175,215

Nevada
 
535

 
—

 
—

 
535

 
23,316

 
2,976

 
26,292

Oregon
 
340

 
—

 
—

 
340

 
—

 
25

 
25

Tennessee
 
178

 
—

 
—

 
178

 
3,000

 
3,000

 
6,000

 
 
7,793

 
3,437

 
1,030

 
12,260

 
151,080

 
146,835

 
297,915

    
The Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Nevada, California and Illinois properties are primarily mineral in nature, except our research and development facility which is included in the Illinois owned land. We mine sorbent minerals primarily consisting of montmorillonite and attapulgite and, to a lesser extent, other clay-like sorbent materials, such as Antelope shale. We employ geologists and mineral specialists who prepared the estimated reserves of these minerals in the table above. See also Item 1 “Business” above for further information about our reserves. The locations in the table above collectively produced approximately 844,000 tons in fiscal 2011, 863,000 tons in fiscal 2010 and 943,000 tons in fiscal 2009. Parcels of such land are also sites of manufacturing facilities operated by us. We own approximately one acre of land in Laval, Quebec, Canada, which is the site of the processing and packaging facility for our Canadian subsidiary.
 
MINING PROPERTIES
 
Our mining operations are conducted on leased or owned land. The Georgia, Illinois and Mississippi mining leases generally require that we pay a minimum monthly rental to continue the lease term. The rental payments are generally applied against a stated royalty related to the number of unprocessed, or in some cases processed, tons of mineral extracted from the leased property. Many of our mining leases have no stated expiration dates. Some of our leases, however, do have expiration dates ranging from 2014 to 2097. We would not experience a material adverse effect from the expiration or termination of any of these leases. We have a variety of access arrangements, some of which are styled as leases, for manufacturing at facilities that are not contiguous with the related mines. We would not experience a material adverse effect from the expiration or termination of any of these arrangements. See also Item 1 “Business” above for further information on our reserves.
 
Certain of our land holdings in California are represented by unpatented mining claims we lease from the Bureau of Land Management. These leases generally give us the contractual right to conduct mining or processing activities on the land covered by the claims. The validity of title to unpatented claims, however, is dependent upon numerous factual matters. We believe the unpatented claims we lease are in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local mining laws, rules and regulations. Future amendments to existing federal mining laws, however, could have a prospective effect on mining operations on federal lands and include, among other changes, the imposition of royalty fees on the mining of unpatented claims, the elimination or restructuring of the patent system and an increase in fees for the maintenance of unpatented claims. To the extent that future proposals may result in the imposition of royalty fees on unpatented lands, the mining of our unpatented claims may become economically unfavorable. We cannot predict the form that any such amendments might take or whether or when such amendments might be adopted. In addition, the construction and operation of processing facilities on these sites would require the approval of federal, state and local regulatory authorities. See Item 1A “Risk Factors” above for a discussion of other risks to our business related to our mining properties.

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MINING AND MANUFACTURING METHODS
 
Mining and Hauling
 
We mine clay in open-pit mines in Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois and California. The mining and hauling operations are similar throughout the Oil-Dri locations, with the exception of California. The land to be mined is first stripped. The stripping process involves removing the overburden and preparing the site to allow the excavators to reach the desired clay. When stripping is completed, the excavators dig out and load the clay onto dump trucks. The trucks haul the clay directly to our processing plants where it is dumped in a clay yard and segregated by clay type if necessary. Generally, the mine sites are in close proximity to the processing plants; however, the maximum distance the clay is currently hauled to a plant is approximately 13 miles.
 
At our California mines the clay is excavated and hauled to a hopper. An initial crushing and screening operation is performed at the mine site before the trucks are loaded for delivery to the processing plant.
 
Processing
 
The processing of our clay varies depending on the level of moisture desired in the clay after the drying process. The moisture level is referred to as regular volatile moisture (“RVM”) or low volatile moisture (“LVM”).
 
RVM Clay: A front end loader is used to load the clay from the clay yard into the primary crusher. The primary crusher reduces the clay chunks to 2.0 inches in diameter or smaller. From the crusher, the clay is transported via a belt conveyor into the clay shed. A clay shed loader feeds the clay into a disintegrator which reduces the clay to particles 0.5 inches in diameter or smaller. The clay then feeds directly into the RVM kiln. The RVM kiln reduces the clay’s moisture content. From the RVM kiln, the clay moves through a series of mills and screens which further size and separate the clay into the desired particle sizes. The sized clay is then conveyed into storage tanks. The RVM processed clay can then be packaged or processed into LVM material.
 
LVM Clay: RVM clay is fed from storage tanks into the LVM kiln where the moisture content is further reduced. The clay then proceeds into a rotary cooler, then on to a screening circuit which separates the clay into the desired particle sizes.

In addition, certain fluid purification and animal health products are further processed into a powder form. We also use a proprietary process for our engineered granules to create spherical, uniform-sized granules.
 
Packaging
 
Once the clay has been dried to the desired level and sized the clay will be packaged. Our products have package sizes ranging from bags and jugs of cat litter to railcars of agricultural products. We also package some of our products into bulk (approximately one ton) bags or into bulk trucks. The size and delivery configuration of the finished product is determined by customer requirements.

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FACILITIES
 
We operate manufacturing facilities on property owned or leased by us as shown on the map below:
 
Oil-Dri Corporation of America Plant Site Locations

 
 
 
     
Facilities
Location
 
Owned/Leased
 
Function
Alpharetta, Georgia
 
Leased
 
Non-clay processing and packaging
Bentonville, Arkansas
 
Leased
 
Sales office
Blue Mountain, Mississippi
 
Both
 
Clay mining, manufacturing and packaging
Chicago, Illinois
 
Leased
 
Principal executive office
Coppet, Switzerland
 
Leased
 
Customer service office
Laval, Quebec, Canada
 
Owned
 
Non-clay production and clay and non-clay packaging
Mounds, Illinois
 
Owned
 
Clay mining, manufacturing and packaging
Ochlocknee, Georgia
 
Owned
 
Clay mining, manufacturing and packaging
Ripley, Mississippi
 
Owned
 
Clay mining, manufacturing and packaging
Taft, California
 
Owned
 
Clay mining, manufacturing and packaging
Vernon Hills, Illinois
 
Owned
 
Research and development
Wisbech, United Kingdom
 
Leased
 
Non-clay production and clay and non-clay packaging

We have no mortgages on the real property we own. The leases for the Alpharetta, Georgia facility and the Bentonville, Arkansas office expire in 2013. The lease for the Chicago, Illinois corporate office space expires in 2018. The lease for the Wisbech, United Kingdom facility expires in 2032. The lease for the Coppet, Switzerland office is on a year-to-year basis. We consider that our properties are generally in good condition, are well maintained and are suitable and adequate to carry on our business.

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ITEM 3 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
We are party to various legal actions from time to time that are ordinary in nature and incidental to the operation of our business. While it is not possible at this time to determine with certainty the ultimate outcome of these or other lawsuits, we believe that none of the pending proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition.

ITEM 4 – [RESERVED]


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PART II

ITEM 5 – MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
Our Common Stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol ODC. There is no established trading market for our Class B Stock. There are no shares of Class A Common Stock currently outstanding. See Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our Common Stock, Class B Stock and Class A Common Stock. The number of holders of record of Common Stock and Class B Stock on September 30, 2011 were 693 and 29, respectively, as reported by our transfer agent. In the last three years, we have not sold any securities which were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
 The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales price for our Common Stock listed on the NYSE and dividends per share paid on our Common Stock and Class B Stock.
 
 
Common Stock
Price Range
 
Cash Dividends
Per Share
 
 
Low
 
High
 
Common
Stock
 
Class B
Common
Stock
Fiscal 2011:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
 
$
18.73

 
$
22.20

 
$
0.1600

 
$
0.1200

Second Quarter
 
18.81

 
23.00

 
0.1600

 
0.1200

Third Quarter
 
18.74

 
22.17

 
0.1600

 
0.1200

Fourth Quarter
 
19.11

 
22.39

 
0.1700

 
0.1275

Total
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.6500

 
$
0.4875

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fiscal 2010
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
 
$
14.05

 
$
17.40

 
$
0.1500

 
$
0.1125

Second Quarter
 
14.75

 
16.54

 
0.1500

 
0.1125

Third Quarter
 
15.10

 
20.76

 
0.1500

 
0.1125

Fourth Quarter
 
18.50

 
23.53

 
0.1600

 
0.1200

Total
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.6100

 
$
0.4575


     Dividends. Our Board of Directors determines the timing and amount of any dividends. Our Board of Directors may change its dividend practice at any time. The declaration and payment of future dividends, if any, will depend, among other things, upon our future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, legal requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant. Our 1998 Note Agreement with Prudential Financial, our Credit Agreement with Harris N.A. and our 2005 Note Agreement with The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company require that certain minimum net worth and tangible net worth levels are to be maintained. To the extent that these balances are not attained, our ability to pay dividends may be impaired. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about our note agreements.
 
     Issuer Repurchase of Equity Securities. On October 10, 2005, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock, with repurchases to be made from time to time at the discretion of our management and in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. All shares under this authorization have been repurchased. On March 11, 2010 and also on March 11, 2011, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional 250,000 shares of Common Stock. These authorizations do not have a stated expiration date. We did not repurchase any shares of our Common Stock in the three months ended July 31, 2011. As of July 31, 2011, a total of 366,877 shares of Common Stock may yet be repurchased under these authorizations. We do not have any current authorization from our Board of Directors to repurchase shares of Class B Stock.

   

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PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
The following graph shows the annual cumulative total stockholders’ return for the five years ending July 31, 2011 on an assumed investment of $100 on July 31, 2006 in our Common Stock, the Russell Microcap Index and the Russell 2000-Material and Processing Economic Sector Index. Our Common Stock is included in the Russell Microcap Index and we consider the Russell 2000-Material and Processing Economic Sector Index to be our peer group. The graph assumes all dividends were reinvested. The historical stock price performance of our Common Stock is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.
 
Comparative Five-Year Total Returns
Oil-Dri Corporation of America, Russell Microcap Index , Russell 2000-Materials & Processing Index
(Performance results through 7/31/2011)
 


 
 
 
 
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
ODC
 
o
 
$
100.00

$
107.29

$
113.94

$
107.73

$
155.10

$
151.31

Russell Microcap
 
r
 
$
100.00

$
110.22

$
92.46

$
73.29

$
84.96

$
103.58

Russell 2000-Materials & Processing
 
∏
 
$
100.00

$
132.71

$
134.67

$
97.83

$
120.54

$
156.84


This performance graph and accompanying disclosure is not soliciting material, is not deemed filed with the SEC, and is not incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made on, before or after the date of this filing and irrespective of any general incorporation language in such filing.


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ITEM 6 – SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
FIVE YEAR SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL DATA
 
 
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT FOR PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fiscal Year Ended July 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
2008
 
2007
Summary of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
 
$
226,755

 
$
219,050

 
$
236,245

 
$
232,359

 
$
212,117

Cost of Sales (1)
 
(176,715
)
 
(169,362
)
 
(186,861
)
 
(186,289
)
 
(166,417
)
Gross Profit
 
50,040

 
49,688

 
49,384

 
46,070

 
45,700

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
 
(36,331
)
 
(36,139
)
 
(34,801
)
 
(33,340
)
 
(35,163
)
Income from Operations
 
13,709

 
13,549

 
14,583

 
12,730

 
10,537

Other Income (Expense)
 

 

 
 
 

 

       Interest Income
 
61

 
126

 
365

 
1,070

 
1,415

       Interest Expense
 
(2,053
)
 
(1,345
)
 
(1,910
)
 
(2,189
)
 
(2,389
)
       Foreign Exchange (Losses) Gains
 
(22
)
 
(213
)
 
(324
)
 
165

 
(23
)
       Other, Net (2)
 
446

 
697

 
595

 
399

 
905

              Total Other Expense, Net
 
(1,568
)
 
(735
)
 
(1,274
)
 
(555
)
 
(92
)
Income before Income Taxes
 
12,141

 
12,814

 
13,309

 
12,175

 
10,445

Income Taxes
 
(3,090
)
 
(3,356
)
 
(3,723
)
 
(3,136
)
 
(2,785
)
Net Income
 
$
9,051

 
$
9,458

 
$
9,586

 
$
9,039

 
$
7,660

Average Shares Outstanding
 

 

 

 

 

       Diluted (3)
 
7,103

 
7,275

 
7,200

 
7,152

 
6,945

Net Income per Share
 

 

 

 

 

       Basic Common (3)
 
$
1.36

 
$
1.42

 
$
1.46

 
$
1.39

 
$
1.21

       Basic Class B Common (3)
 
$
1.06

 
$
1.07

 
$
1.09

 
$
1.04

 
$
0.90

       Diluted (3)
 
$
1.26

 
$
1.30

 
$
1.33

 
$
1.25

 
$
1.09

Important Highlights
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Total Assets
 
$
173,393

 
$
153,982

 
$
149,261

 
$
148,988

 
$
142,087

       Long-Term Debt
 
$
29,700

 
$
14,800

 
$
18,300

 
$
21,500

 
$
27,080

       Working Capital
 
$
65,336

 
$
48,398

 
$
49,949

 
$
52,550

 
$
50,895

       Working Capital Ratio
 
3.5

 
2.7

 
3.1

 
2.7

 
2.9

       Book Value per Share
 
$
13.63

 
$
12.77

 
$
12.76

 
$
12.66

 
$
11.91

       Dividends Declared
 
$
4,305

 
$
4,041

 
$
3,759

 
$
3,463

 
$
3,117

       Dividends Declared per Common Share
 
$
0.6500

 
$
0.6100

 
$
0.5700

 
$
0.5300

 
$
0.4900

       Dividends Declared per Class B Common Share
 
$
0.4875

 
$
0.4575

 
$
0.4275

 
$
0.3975

 
$
0.3675

       Capital Expenditures
 
$
13,806

 
$
10,413

 
$
15,253

 
$
7,302

 
$
7,757

       Depreciation and Amortization
 
$
8,473

 
$
7,371

 
$
7,406

 
$
7,455

 
$
7,498

       Net Income as a Percent of Net Sales
 
4.0
%
 
4.3
%
 
4.1
%
 
3.9
%
 
3.6
%
       Return on Average Stockholders' Equity
 
9.7
%
 
10.5
%
 
10.8
%
 
10.3
%
 
10.0
%
       Gross Profit as a Percent of Net Sales
 
22.1
%
 
22.7
%
 
20.9
%
 
19.8
%
 
21.5
%
       Operating Expenses as a Percent of Net Sales
 
16.0
%
 
16.5
%
 
14.7
%
 
14.3
%
 
16.6
%


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(1) In fiscal year 2008, cost of sales was reduced by pre-tax net proceeds of $831,000 from the sale of emission reduction credits to unaffiliated third parties.
 
(2) In fiscal year 2007, Other Income (Expense) included pre-tax proceeds of $389,000 from life insurance on former employees.
 
(3) In fiscal year 2010, we adopted guidance under Accounting Standards Codification Topic (“ASC”) 260-10, Earnings Per Share, which required our unvested restricted stock awards to be considered participating securities and to be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. Upon adoption, we were required to retrospectively adjust earnings per share data to conform to this standard. Accordingly, we have restated diluted average shares outstanding and net income per share for all prior periods presented.

ITEM 7 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes included elsewhere herein. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed under “Forward-Looking Statements” and in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
OVERVIEW
 
We develop, mine, manufacture and market sorbent products principally produced from clay minerals, primarily consisting of montmorillonite and attapulgite and, to a lesser extent, other clay-like sorbent materials, such as Antelope shale. Our principal products include cat litter, industrial and automotive floor absorbents, fluids purification and filtration bleaching clays, agricultural and horticultural chemical carriers, animal health and nutrition products and sports field products. Our products are sold to two primary customer groups, including customers who resell our products as originally produced to the end customer and those who use our products as part of their production process or use them as an ingredient in their final finished product. We have two reportable operating segments based on the different characteristics of our two primary customer groups: Retail and Wholesale Products Group and Business to Business Products Group. Each operating segment is discussed individually below. Additional detailed descriptions of the operating segments are included in Item 1 “Business” above. Beginning in fiscal 2011, our sports field products were moved to the Retail and Wholesale Products Group to reflect a change in management organization intended to better serve our customers. Prior year segment information has been restated to reflect this change.
 
Consolidated net income was $9,051,000, or $1.26 per diluted share, for the year ended July 31, 2011, a 4% decrease from net income of $9,458,000, or $1.30 per diluted share, for the year ended July 31, 2010.

During fiscal 2011, our commitment to provide valuable products to our customers was rewarded with higher sales. Our efforts to add value to our products focused on new product development and promotion and on existing product improvements. In the Retail and Wholesale Products Group, sales of our established branded cat litters increased during fiscal 2011. In addition, we developed and introduced our new Cat's Pride Fresh & Light product in the fourth quarter. In the Business to Business Products Group, sales of our fluid purification and traditional agricultural products increased during the year. Verge, our engineered granule product that we introduced late in fiscal 2010, provided incremental sales in the professional pesticides and agricultural markets. Further opportunities opened for our animal health and nutrition products as registration was approved in new markets. Both Groups were challenged by higher costs related to commodities, depreciation and labor which, combined with increased spending for product market research and promotion development, resulted in lower operating margins and overall results. We issued new debt, continued to invest in our capital assets and maintained a strong consolidated balance sheet during fiscal 2011.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FISCAL 2011 COMPARED TO FISCAL 2010
 
Consolidated net sales for the year ended July 31, 2011 were $226,755,000, a 4% increase from net sales of $219,050,000 in fiscal 2010. Net sales increased for our Business to Business Products Group and our Retail and Wholesale Products Group as discussed below. Net income for fiscal 2011 was $9,051,000, a 4% decrease from net income of $9,458,000 in fiscal 2010. Net income was negatively impacted by a 3% decrease in tons sold for both of our operating segments, higher costs for freight, packaging and materials and increased spending for product market research and promotion development. These negative factors outweighed the favorable affects of increased net selling prices, an increased proportion of sales from products with a higher net selling price and a lower cost for fuel used in our manufacturing processes. Segment operating income declined for both the Retail

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and Wholesale and the Business to Business Products Groups as discussed below.
 
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS PRODUCTS GROUP
 
Net sales of the Business to Business Products Group for fiscal 2011 were $74,479,000, an increase of $2,488,000, or 3%, from net sales of $71,991,000 in fiscal 2010. A higher average net selling price in fiscal 2011 more than offset a 3% decrease in tons sold for the Group compared to fiscal 2010. Net sales of agricultural and horticultural products, fluid purification products and animal health products all increased, while net sales of co-packaged cat litter decreased. Net sales of agricultural and horticultural products increased 19% with approximately 5% more tons sold. Our traditional agricultural chemical carrier products tons sold increased in fiscal 2011 after the downturn in the agricultural chemical carriers market during fiscal 2010. Our new engineered granule product, that was introduced late in fiscal 2010, also provided incremental sales in the professional pesticides and agricultural markets for fiscal 2011. Net sales of fluid purification products increased 5% from fiscal 2010 with a 5% increase in tons sold. Sales in some export and domestic markets improved for fluid purification products used in edible oil and recycled oil processing; however, sales of our products used for biodiesel processing declined. Net sales of animal health and nutrition products rose 1% in fiscal 2011 as a higher average net selling price outweighed a 2% decrease in tons sold. Product registration in new countries, including China, opened additional markets during fiscal 2011; however, sales in certain existing foreign markets were temporarily disrupted during the year due to implementation of new distribution processes. In addition, our co-packaged traditional coarse cat litter net sales decreased 7% as the coarse cat litter market continued to decline as a whole.
 
The Business to Business Products Group’s operating income was $19,504,000 in fiscal 2011, a decrease of $421,000, or 2%, from operating income of $19,925,000 in fiscal 2010. This decrease was driven by an increase of approximately 8% for combined freight, packaging and material costs. Freight costs increased approximately 20% due primarily to higher diesel fuel prices.  Packaging costs increased 10% due to fluctuations in the price of paper and resin. Material costs increased approximately 4% as higher non-fuel manufacturing costs more than offset the lower cost of fuel used in our manufacturing processes.  See further discussion of manufacturing costs under Consolidated Results below. The Group’s selling and administrative expenses in fiscal 2011 were even with fiscal 2010.
 
RETAIL AND WHOLESALE PRODUCTS GROUP
 
Net sales of the Retail and Wholesale Products Group for fiscal 2011 were $152,276,000, an increase of $5,217,000, or 4%, from net sales of $147,059,000 in fiscal 2010. The Group's net sales benefited from higher average net selling prices and a greater proportion of sales from higher priced products, which more than offset a 3% decrease in tons sold. Sales increased for both cat litter and industrial absorbent products. These increases outweighed a decrease in sales by our foreign subsidiaries, which is described under Foreign Operations below. Cat litter net sales increased approximately 5% due to a higher average net selling price and a greater proportion of sales from higher priced products. Net sales of branded cat litter increased approximately 17% due to more tons sold and lower trade spending. Sales to Walmart increased during fiscal 2011 as our branded scoopable litter was reinstated following the reduction in the number of cat litter brands carried, including ours, in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. We also introduced our new Cat's Pride Fresh & Light product in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Net sales of private label cat litter decreased approximately 4% compared to fiscal 2010 as the coarse cat litter market continued to decline as a whole. Sales of cat litter box liners increased 10% due primarily to increased distribution to existing customers. Net sales of industrial absorbents increased approximately 3% compared to fiscal 2010. The increase in sales was due primarily to selling price increases that outweighed a decline in tons sold.
 
The Retail and Wholesale Products Group’s segment operating income for fiscal 2011 was $10,439,000, a decrease of $1,230,000, or 11%, from operating income of $11,669,000 in fiscal 2010. This decrease was driven by higher costs, which more than offset the increased net sales described above. The Group’s combined freight, packaging and material costs increased approximately 9% compared to fiscal 2010. Freight costs increased approximately 10% due primarily to higher diesel fuel prices. Packaging costs increased 9% due to fluctuations in the price of paper and resin. Material costs increased approximately 7% as higher non-fuel manufacturing costs more than offset the lower cost of fuel used in manufacturing.  See further discussion of manufacturing costs under Consolidated Results below. The Group’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased 16% compared to fiscal 2010 due primarily to significant spending for new product market research and promotion development.

During fiscal 2011, we made substantial outlays for capital investment and for market research and promotion development related to our new Cat's Pride Fresh & Light product launched in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. We will continue to invest heavily in promotion activities throughout fiscal 2012. We anticipate such spending thereafter will be higher than historic levels, but lower than in fiscal 2012. We do not anticipate the new product to positively impact earnings until fiscal 2013.
 

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CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
 
Consolidated gross profit as a percentage of net sales in fiscal 2011 decreased to 22% from 23% in fiscal 2010. Gross profit was negatively impacted by increased costs for freight, packaging and materials. The increase in packaging and freight costs are described in the operating segment discussions above. Material costs were negatively impacted by a 6% increase in non-fuel manufacturing cost per ton produced, which included depreciation and amortization.  This cost increase was driven primarily by increased manufacturing of products that required purchased additives, fragrances and other materials.  Labor and employee benefit costs also increased compared to the prior year. These cost increases exceeded the benefit from a 13% lower cost of fuel used in our manufacturing processes. We use natural gas, recycled oil and coal in the manufacturing process to operate kilns that dry our clay.
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 16% in fiscal 2011, compared to 17% in fiscal 2010. The discussions of the Groups’ operating income above describes the increased selling and administrative expenses that were allocated to the operating segments. The remaining unallocated corporate expenses in fiscal 2011 included a lower estimated annual incentive plan bonus accrual. The incentive bonus expense was based on performance targets that are established for each fiscal year. The lower bonus expense was partially offset by higher depreciation expense for computer software and equipment, additional compensation expense related to restricted stock awards and increased spending for research and development.
 
Interest expense in fiscal 2011 increased $708,000 from fiscal 2010. Interest expense increased due primarily to the discontinued capitalization of interest for a capital project and additional interest on new debt issued in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. See Liquidity and Capital Resources below for more information on the new debt. Interest income in fiscal 2011 decreased $65,000 from fiscal 2010 due to less interest earned on a lease receivable, which exceeded the additional interest received on higher average investment balances at a slightly higher average interest rate.
 
Net other income in fiscal 2011 decreased $251,000 from fiscal 2010 due to a reduction in lease income related to a lease arrangement with a co-packaging partner and regulatory expense accruals.

Our effective tax rate was 25.5% of pre-tax income in fiscal 2011 compared to 26.2% in fiscal 2010. The effective tax rate was lower in fiscal 2011 due to the net impact of foreign tax attributes. See Note 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Total assets increased $19,411,000, or 13%, during fiscal 2011. Current assets increased $15,627,000, or 21%, from fiscal 2010 year-end balances due primarily to increased investment in short-term securities, inventories, prepaid expenses and accounts receivable. These increases were partially offset by lower deferred income taxes, cash and cash equivalents and prepaid repairs expense. The changes in current assets are described in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section below. Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, increased $5,526,000 due to additions to fixed assets in excess of the increase in accumulated depreciation. Fixed asset additions included new product-related projects at our manufacturing facilities, replacement of machinery and land purchases. Other noncurrent assets decreased $1,742,000 due to amortization of intangible assets and lower deferred taxes, which were partially offset by capitalization of costs related to the issuance of new debt and increased cash surrender value of life insurance on key employees.
 
Total liabilities increased $14,702,000, or 23%, during fiscal 2011. Current liabilities decreased $1,311,000, or 5%, during fiscal 2011. The changes in current liabilities are described in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section below. Noncurrent liabilities increased $16,013,000, or 45%, due primarily to new debt, increased accruals for pension and postretirement health benefits and higher deferred compensation balances. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on pension and postretirement health benefit plans. Deferred compensation accruals increased due to new deferrals and earnings on deferred balances in excess of payouts.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FISCAL 2010 COMPARED TO FISCAL 2009
 
Consolidated net sales for the year ended July 31, 2011 were $219,050,000, a 7% decrease from net sales of $236,245,000 in fiscal 2009. The decline in net sales was driven by our Retail and Wholesale Products Group as discussed below. Net income for fiscal 2010 was $9,458,000, a 1% decrease from net income of $9,586,000 in fiscal 2009. Fiscal 2010 net income was negatively affected by 7% fewer tons sold; however, increased sales of higher margin products and lower costs for natural gas used to dry our clay positively impacted this year’s results. The Retail and Wholesale Products Group’s segment operating income declined as a reduction in tons sold prevailed over the benefit of lower costs. The Business to Business Products Group’s segment operating

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income improved as increased sales of higher margin products outweighed the impact of fewer tons sold.
 
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS PRODUCTS GROUP
 
Net sales of the Business to Business Products Group for fiscal 2010 were $71,991,000, an increase of $1,285,000, or 2%, from net sales of $70,706,000 in fiscal 2009. Increased sales of higher margin products in fiscal 2010 more than offset a 4% decrease in tons sold for the Group compared to fiscal 2009. Net sales of fluid purification and animal health and nutrition products increased, while net sales of co-packaged cat litter and agricultural chemical carrier products decreased. Net sales of fluid purification products increased 21% from fiscal 2009, with a 17% increase in tons sold. Sales to new customers and a greater proportion of sales from higher margin products contributed to the higher fluid purification products net sales. Sales in some export markets improved in part due to a weaker U.S. dollar relative to certain foreign currencies, which made our products more competitive in the global marketplace. A decline in the quality of oil from this year’s soybean crop also resulted in increased demand for our fluid purification products. In addition, sales of our fluid purification products used in the biodiesel industry and in palm oil processing increased compared to fiscal 2009. Net sales of animal health and nutrition products rose 6% in fiscal 2010. Higher sales of our enterosorbent animal health products, which were introduced during fiscal 2009, overcame a decline in sales of our traditional animal health and nutrition products. Increased net sales of these products were partially offset by a 19% decline in net sales of our agricultural chemical carriers in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009. The agricultural chemical carriers market continued to experience economic challenges, which resulted in 18% fewer tons sold. Economic conditions and price competition impacted net sales of our flowability aid product used in animal feed, which declined 24% in fiscal 2010. In addition, our co-packaged traditional coarse cat litter net sales decreased 10%, with 4% fewer tons sold. Net sales were adversely affected by a lower net selling price during most of fiscal 2010; however, the net selling price increased in April 2010 under our agreement with Clorox. Both the loss of a small co-packaging customer during the latter part of fiscal 2009 and a decline in the coarse cat litter market also contributed to the decreased net sales and tons sold.
 
The Business to Business Products Group’s operating income was $19,925,000 in fiscal 2010, an increase of $4,691,000, or 31%, from operating income of $15,234,000 in fiscal 2009. This increase was driven primarily by a greater proportion of sales from higher margin products. The Group’s combined packaging, freight and material costs in fiscal 2010 were comparable with fiscal 2009, as lower packaging and freight costs were offset by higher material costs. Packaging costs declined approximately 5% due primarily to price fluctuations for resin and paper commodities used in packaging materials. Freight costs decreased approximately 2% due primarily to changes in the price of diesel fuel and the cost of ocean freight. Material costs increased 1% as the negative cost impact of fewer tons produced at some of our manufacturing facilities prevailed over the benefit of lower energy-related costs in our mining and manufacturing processes. The Group’s selling and administrative expenses were 7% higher in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009, including higher sales bonuses and commissions based on the improved operating results. Fiscal 2010 selling and administrative expenses also included additional costs for personnel, market research, product promotion and technical services related to our new agricultural engineered granule product, which more than offset the decrease in similar costs related to our animal health enterosorbent products.
 
RETAIL AND WHOLESALE PRODUCTS GROUP
 
Net sales of the Retail and Wholesale Products Group for fiscal 2010 were $147,059,000, a decrease of $18,480,000, or 11%, from net sales of $165,539,000 in fiscal 2009. The decline in net sales was driven by lower tons sold, a lower average net selling price and a lower proportion of sales from higher margin products. The Group’s total tons sold decreased 9% compared fiscal 2009. Cat litter net sales were down approximately 17% compared to fiscal 2009 due primarily to 11% lower tons sold. The average net selling price for cat litter declined in part due to increased trade spending for product promotions, which were deducted from net sales, and a lower proportion of sales from higher margin products. Net sales of branded cat litter decreased 28% due primarily to 18% fewer tons sold. Walmart began to carry a reduced number of cat litter brands in August 2009. During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, Walmart reinstated our branded scoopable litter in a limited number of stores; however, the new store count remained materially reduced from the store count at the end of fiscal 2009. Incremental net sales at customers other than Walmart and increased marketing to promote brand awareness partially offset the overall sales decline. Net sales of private label cat litter decreased 6% compared to fiscal 2009 due to 8% fewer tons sold. The reduction in tons sold was due primarily to a continued overall decline in the coarse cat litter category. In contrast, sales of cat litter box liners increased 17% due primarily to increased distribution to an existing customer. Net sales of industrial absorbents decreased 3% compared to fiscal 2009. Tons sold decreased 6% due primarily to continued weak economic conditions in the manufacturing and automotive industries. See Foreign Operations below for further information regarding our foreign subsidiaries’ results.
 
The Retail and Wholesale Products Group’s segment operating income for fiscal 2010 was $11,669,000, a decrease of $5,052,000, or 30%, from operating income of $16,721,000 in fiscal 2009. The decrease is attributed to the lower net sales described above that prevailed over a decrease of approximately 3% for the Group’s combined freight, materials and packaging costs. Packaging costs decreased approximately 10% due to price fluctuations for resin and paper commodities. Freight costs decreased

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approximately 3% due primarily to changes in the price of diesel fuel. The decline in packaging and freight costs was partially offset by a 1% increase in material costs. Material costs increased as the negative cost impact of lower tons produced at some of our manufacturing facilities prevailed over the benefit of lower energy-related costs in our mining and manufacturing processes. The Group’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased 2% compared to fiscal 2009 due primarily to increased advertising costs and broker commissions, which were partially offset by lower bad debt expense.
 
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
 
Consolidated gross profit as a percentage of net sales in fiscal 2010 increased to 23% from 21% in fiscal 2009. Gross profit was positively impacted by increased sales of higher margin products and lower costs for packaging, freight and fuel used in our manufacturing processes. The cost of fuel was 36% lower in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009. We use natural gas, recycled oil and coal in the manufacturing process to operate kilns that dry our clay. Gross profit for fiscal 2010, however, was negatively impacted by an 11% increase in non-fuel manufacturing costs per ton produced, which included depreciation and amortization. This cost increase per ton was driven primarily by 8% fewer tons produced and increased expenditures for employee benefits and repairs. Many of the other non-fuel manufacturing costs, such as salaries and certain labor costs, and depreciation, were relatively consistent with fiscal 2009 levels, despite the reduced number of tons produced, due to their generally fixed nature.
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 17% in fiscal 2010 compared to 15% in fiscal 2009. The discussion of the Groups’ operating income above describes the increased selling and administrative expenses that were allocated to the operating segments. The remaining unallocated corporate expenses in fiscal 2010 included a higher estimated annual incentive plan bonus accrual and higher employee postretirement benefit costs. The higher incentive bonus expense was based on performance targets that are established for each fiscal year. The postretirement benefit costs are based on actuarial calculations as described in Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. These higher costs were partially offset by lower costs for outside legal services, reduced spending for research and development and lower stock option compensation expense. Research and development costs were lower compared to fiscal 2009 as fewer new products were in the development stage. Stock option compensation was lower as more stock options became fully vested and no new options were issued.
 
Interest expense in fiscal 2010 decreased $565,000 from fiscal 2009 due to a reduction in debt outstanding and the capitalized interest expense for a new product-related capital project. Interest income in fiscal 2010 decreased $239,000 from fiscal 2009 due to lower average interest rates.
 
Other income in fiscal 2010 increased $102,000 from fiscal 2009 due to higher royalty income, miscellaneous investment income and insurance proceeds.

Our effective tax rate was 26.2% of pre-tax income in fiscal 2010 compared to 28% in fiscal 2009. The effective tax rate was lower in fiscal 2010 due to utilization of prior period Alternative Minimum Tax credits.
 
Total assets increased $4,721,000, or 3%, during fiscal 2010. Current assets increased $2,472,000, or 3%, from fiscal 2009 year-end balances due primarily to higher cash and cash equivalents and deferred income taxes. These increases were partially offset by lower investment in short-term securities, accounts receivable, inventories and prepaid expenses. The changes in current assets are described in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section below. Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, increased $3,017,000 due primarily to purchases of land and machinery and equipment and increased construction in progress. These increases were partially offset by additional accumulated depreciation. Other noncurrent assets decreased $768,000 due to a reduction in a lease receivable and amortization of intangible assets, which were partially offset by an increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies on key employees.
 
Total liabilities increased $3,695,000, or 6%, during fiscal 2010. Current liabilities increased $4,023,000, or 17%, during fiscal 2010. The changes in current liabilities are described in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section below. Noncurrent liabilities decreased $328,000, or 1%, due primarily to schedule payments that reduced long term debt. This decrease was partially offset by higher accruals for pension and postretirement health benefits, deferred compensation and reclamation costs for mining properties. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on pension and postretirement health benefit plans. Deferred compensation accruals increased due to new deferrals and earnings on deferred balances in excess of payouts. The higher reclamation liability is the result of ongoing mining activities and acquisition of mining property during fiscal 2010.
 

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FOREIGN OPERATIONS
 
Net sales by our foreign subsidiaries during fiscal 2011 were $12,516,000, a decrease of $1,212,000, or 9%, from net sales of $13,728,000 during fiscal 2010. Net sales by our foreign subsidiaries represented 6% of our consolidated net sales during fiscal year 2011. Net sales declined 15% for our United Kingdom subsidiary and 7% for our Canadian subsidiary. Bleaching earth and industrial absorbents sales by our United Kingdom subsidiary declined in a strong competitive and price sensitive marketplace. Industrial product sales for our Canadian subsidiary were relatively flat and cat litter sales were lower due to the loss of a customer and lower sales to existing customers. The impact of these sales declines was lessened by the relative strength of the Canadian Dollar and British Pound compared to the U.S. Dollar. The Canadian Dollar was about 5% stronger on average and the British Pound was about 2% stronger on average against the U.S. Dollar during fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010, which resulted in higher sales values after translation to U.S. Dollars.
  
For fiscal 2011, our foreign subsidiaries reported a net loss of $567,000, compared to a net loss of $519,000 in fiscal 2010. The decrease in the net income was due primarily to lower sales and increased costs for freight and purchased materials, which were partially offset by the foreign currency exchange gain described above.

Identifiable assets of our foreign subsidiaries as of July 31, 2011 were $9,697,000 compared to $9,424,000 as of July 31, 2010. The increase is primarily due to higher accounts receivable and cash and cash equivalents, which were partially offset by lower inventories and prepaid taxes.

Net sales by our foreign subsidiaries during fiscal 2010 were $13,728,000, an increase of $281,000, or 2%, from net sales of $13,447,000 during fiscal 2009. Net sales by our foreign subsidiaries represented 6% of our consolidated net sales during fiscal year 2010. Tons sold increased 5% in our Canadian subsidiary, but decreased 21% in our United Kingdom subsidiary. Net sales of our Canadian subsidiary increased due to higher sales of industrial products and a favorable exchange rate for the Canadian Dollar. The Canadian Dollar was about 11% stronger on average against the U.S. Dollar during fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009, which resulted in higher sales values after translation to U.S. Dollars. Partially offsetting the higher Canadian net sales was a decline in net sales of industrial absorbents by our United Kingdom subsidiary due primarily to the loss of a key distributor.
 
For fiscal 2010, our foreign subsidiaries reported a net loss of $519,000, compared to a net loss of $559,000 in fiscal 2009. The decrease in the net loss was due in part to the higher sales for our Canadian subsidiary, which more than offset the sales decline of our United Kingdom subsidiary. In addition, the currency translation loss reported by our foreign operations in fiscal 2010 was significantly less than the loss reported in fiscal 2009. The British Pound declined significantly in value compared to the U.S. Dollar during fiscal 2009, which resulted in a substantial currency translation loss. During fiscal 2010, the British Pound did not fluctuate considerably in value compared to the U.S. Dollar. Negatively impacting the foreign subsidiaries’ operating results were higher packaging and freight costs in our Canadian subsidiary. Packaging costs increased due to fluctuations in the cost of polystyrene and freight costs included a multi-year withholding tax charge on our leased railcars.
 
Identifiable assets of our foreign subsidiaries as of July 31, 2010 were $9,424,000 compared to $9,692,000 as of July 31, 2009. The decrease is primarily due to lower fixed assets that resulted from the sale of a building in our United Kingdom subsidiary and lower accounts receivable and inventories. These decreases were partially offset by higher cash and cash equivalents balances.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
Our principal capital requirements include funding working capital needs, purchasing and upgrading real estate, equipment and facilities, and investing in infrastructure and potential acquisitions. We have principally used cash generated from operations and, to the extent needed, issuance of debt securities and borrowings under our credit facilities to fund these requirements. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $17,885,000, $18,762,000 and $11,389,000 at July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. As of July 31, 2011, there were no outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility with Harris N.A.
 

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The following table sets forth certain elements of our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):
 
 
 
Fiscal Year Ended
 
 
July 31, 2011
 
July 31, 2010
 
July 31, 2009
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
13,108

 
$
26,216

 
$
15,814

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(23,665
)
 
(7,890
)
 
(2,189
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
9,929

 
(11,314
)
 
(9,082
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
(249
)
 
(89
)
 
448

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
(877
)
 
$
6,923

 
$
4,991


Net cash provided by operating activities
 
Net cash provided by operations was $13,108,000 for fiscal 2011 compared to $26,216,000 for fiscal 2010. The change was due primarily to working capital fluctuations and changes in other accounts. The changes in the primary components of working capital and other accounts that impacted operating cash flows for these years are as follows:
 
Deferred income taxes were $3,515,000 lower at fiscal year-end 2011 compared to fiscal year-end 2010 due primarily to lower accrued expenses and higher depreciation and amortization expense. Deferred income taxes were $1,763,000 higher at fiscal year-end 2010 compared to fiscal year-end 2009 due primarily to higher accrued expenses and increased postretirement benefits liabilities. Depreciation and amortization expense has increased in both years due to replacement of machinery and new capital projects at our manufacturing facilities. The change in accrued expenses for both years is discussed below. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding our employee benefit plans.

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts, increased $2,039,000 at fiscal year-end 2011 compared to fiscal year-end 2010. The increase was due primarily to higher fiscal 2011 fourth quarter sales compared to fiscal 2010 fourth quarter sales. Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts, decreased $1,822,000 at fiscal year-end 2010 compared to fiscal year-end 2009. The decrease was due primarily to lower fiscal 2010 fourth quarter sales compared to fiscal 2009 fourth quarter sales.

Inventories were $3,207,000 higher at fiscal year-end 2011 compared to fiscal year-end 2010. Finished goods and packaging inventories were up due primarily to higher costs. Purchased materials inventories were also up due to cost increases and the mix of products produced. Inventories were $1,772,000 lower at fiscal year-end 2010 compared to fiscal year-end 2009. Finished goods and packaging inventories were down due to lower sales requirements. Lower packaging costs also contributed to lower packaging inventories.
 
Prepaid expenses increased $2,954,000 at fiscal year-end 2011 compared to fiscal year-end 2010 due primarily to an increase in prepaid income taxes and higher prepaid advertising costs at July 31, 2011. Prepaid expenses decreased $505,000 at fiscal year-end 2010 compared to fiscal year-end 2009 primarily due to lower prepaid repair expense, which was impacted by the timing of repairs and the ongoing efforts to improve spare parts inventory management. 

Other assets increased $110,000 at fiscal year-end 2011 compared to fiscal year-end 2011 due primarily to capitalization of costs related to the issuance of new debt and increased cash surrender value of life insurance on key employees. These increases were partially offset by amortization of intangible assets. Other assets decreased $466,000 at fiscal year-end 2010 compared to fiscal year-end 2009. The decrease included the reclassification of the current portion of a lease receivable and amortization of intangible assets, which were partially offset by an increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance on key employees.

Accounts payable increased $275,000 at fiscal year-end 2011 compared to fiscal year-end 2010 due primarily to an increase in trade accounts payable which was partially offset by lower income taxes payable. Income taxes payable decreased due to a combination of lower income in the current year, the utilization of certain deferred tax assets and additional depreciation deductions due to recent legislative changes. See Note 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information about income taxes. Accounts payable increased $1,702,000 at fiscal year-end 2010 compared to fiscal year-end 2009 due primarily to higher income taxes payable. Income taxes payable increased due to current year tax accruals. Changes in trade accounts payable in all periods are also subject to normal fluctuations in the timing of payments.
 

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Accrued expenses decreased $1,384,000 at fiscal year-end 2011 compared to fiscal year-end 2010. Accrued expenses included a lower discretionary bonus accrual for fiscal 2011. This decrease was partially offset by increased accrued freight and other accrued operating expenses due to higher freight costs and timing of payments. Accrued expenses increased $2,496,000 at fiscal year-end 2010 compared to fiscal year-end 2009. Accrued expenses included a higher discretionary bonus accrual for fiscal 2010. Accrued freight and other accrued operating expenses increased due to timing of payments. Accrued trade promotions and advertising increased due to more marketing programs.

Deferred compensation increased $378,000 at fiscal year-end 2011 compared to fiscal year-end 2010 as employee deferrals and interest on accumulated deferred compensation balances exceeded payouts, including the first payout of an executive deferred bonus award under our annual incentive plan. Deferred compensation increased $926,000 at fiscal year-end 2010 compared to fiscal 2009 as employee deferrals and interest on accumulated deferred compensation balances exceeded payouts.

Other liabilities increased $613,000 at fiscal year-end 2011 compared to fiscal year-end 2010 due primarily to higher accruals for postretirement benefits. The postretirement benefits are based on actuarially calculated benefit obligations. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding our employee benefit plans. Other liabilities increased $1,468,000 at fiscal year-end 2010 compared to fiscal year-end 2009 due primarily to higher accruals for postretirement benefits and projected future reclamation obligations for mining properties.
 
Net cash used in investing activities
 
Cash used in investing activities was $23,665,000 in fiscal 2011 compared to $7,890,000 in fiscal 2010. Purchases of investment securities were $10,008,000 greater than dispositions in fiscal 2011 due to the investment of cash received from the issuance of new debt. In fiscal 2010, dispositions of investment securities exceeded purchases by $2,148,000. Purchases and dispositions of investment securities in both periods are subject to variations in the timing of investment maturities. Cash used for capital expenditures of $13,806,000 in fiscal 2011 included new product-related projects at our manufacturing facilities, replacement of machinery and land purchases. Capital expenditures for the same period in fiscal 2010 of $10,413,000 included approximately $3,000,000 to purchase land and mineral rights near our Georgia production plant.
 
Cash used in investing activities was $7,890,000 in fiscal 2010 compared to $2,189,000 in fiscal 2009. During fiscal 2010, cash provided by net dispositions of short-term investment securities was $2,148,000 compared to $13,037,000 in fiscal 2009. In fiscal 2009, the additional proceeds from disposition of short-term securities were used to fund higher debt payments and capital expenditures, including projects related to new product development at our manufacturing facilities. Capital expenditures were $15,253,000 in fiscal 2009 compared to $10,413,000 in fiscal 2010.

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
Cash provided by financing activities was $9,929,000 in fiscal 2011 compared to cash used in financing activities of $11,314,000 in fiscal 2010. Issuance of new debt during fiscal 2011 provided $18,500,000 in additional cash. Payments on long-term debt in fiscal 2011 were $3,500,000 compared to $3,200,000 in fiscal 2010. Dividend payments during fiscal 2011 of $4,218,000 were higher than the $3,992,000 paid during fiscal 2010 due to a dividend rate increase. Cash used to purchase treasury stock was $2,474,000 and $5,988,000 in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively. Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock and treasury stock related to stock option exercises were $1,135,000 and $1,361,000 in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Cash used in financing activities was $11,314,000 in fiscal 2010 compared to $9,082,000 in fiscal 2009. In fiscal 2010, payments for purchases of treasury stock were $5,988,000 compared to $656,000 in fiscal 2009. In addition, cash payments for dividends were $3,992,000 in fiscal 2010 compared to $3,684,000 in fiscal 2009. Payments on long-term debt were $2,380,000 lower in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009 in accordance with our debt agreements. Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock and treasury stock were $1,361,000 and $666,000 in fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively, as a result of more stock option exercises.

Other
 
Total cash and investment balances held by our foreign subsidiaries at July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $1,904,000, $1,773,000 and $1,030,000, respectively. Cash and investment balances fluctuated due to normal business operations.
  
We have a $15,000,000 unsecured revolving credit agreement with Harris N.A. (“Harris”) which will expire December 31, 2011. The credit agreement provides that we may select a variable rate based on either Harris’ prime rate or a LIBOR-based rate, plus a margin which varies depending on our debt to earnings ratio, or a fixed rate as agreed between us and Harris. At July 31, 2011, the variable rates would have been 3.3% for the Harris’ prime-based rate or 0.8% for the LIBOR-based rate. The credit agreement contains restrictive covenants that, among other things and under various conditions, limit our ability to incur additional

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indebtedness or to dispose of assets. The agreement also requires us to maintain a minimum fixed coverage ratio and a minimum consolidated net worth. As of July 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no outstanding borrowings under this credit facility and we were in compliance with its covenants. While there can be no assurance regarding the terms, timing or consummation of any successor agreement, on or before the expiration of this agreement on December 31, 2011, we expect to enter into a successor credit arrangement with Harris N.A. or another financing source under terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to us; however, future developments in the financial and credit markets could limit our ability to draw on or to enter into any such credit arrangement.
 
On November 12, 2010, we sold at aggregate face value $18,500,000 in senior promissory notes to The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Forethought Life Insurance Company, Physicians Mutual Insurance Company and BCBSM, Inc. dba Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota pursuant to a Note Agreement dated November 12, 2010 (the “Note Agreement”).  The Notes bear interest at 3.96% per annum and mature on August 1, 2020.  The proceeds of the sale may be used to fund future principal payments of our debt, acquisitions, stock repurchases, capital expenditures and for working capital purposes.  The Note Agreement contains certain covenants that restrict our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to, among other things, (i) incur liens, (ii) incur indebtedness, (iii) merge or consolidate, (iv) sell assets, (v) sell stock of those certain subsidiaries, (vi) engage in business that would change the general nature of the business we are engaged in, and (vii) enter into transactions other than on “arm’s length” terms with affiliates.

We believe that cash flow from operations, availability under our current revolving credit facility, and any successor agreements, and current cash and investment balances will provide adequate cash funds for foreseeable working capital needs, capital expenditures at existing facilities and debt service obligations for at least the next 12 months. We expect cash requirements for capital expenditures in fiscal 2012 to be lower than in fiscal 2011 due to completion of projects at our manufacturing facilities related to new products; however, we intend to spend significantly for product promotion activities throughout the new product introduction in fiscal 2012 and we anticipate such spending thereafter will be higher than historic levels. Our capital requirements are subject to change as business conditions warrant and opportunities arise. Our ability to fund operations, to make planned capital expenditures, to make scheduled debt payments and to remain in compliance with all of the financial covenants under debt agreements, including, but not limited to, the current credit agreement and any successor agreements, depends on our future operating performance, which, in turn, is subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors. The timing and size of any new business ventures or acquisitions that we complete may also impact our cash requirements.
 
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL COMMITMENTS
 
Our capital requirements are subject to change as business conditions warrant and opportunities arise. The following tables summarize our significant contractual obligations and commercial commitments at July 31, 2011 and the effect such obligations are expected to have on liquidity and cash flows in future periods:
 
 
 
Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
 
Less Than 1 Year
 
1 – 3 Years
 
4 – 5 Years
 
After 5 Years
Long-Term Debt
 
$
33,300,000

 
$
3,600,000

 
$
7,300,000

 
$
6,983,000

 
$
15,417,000

Interest on Long-Term Debt
 
6,980,000

 
1,562,000

 
2,400,000

 
1,543,000

 
1,475,000

Capital Leases
 
32,000

 
32,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

Operating Leases
 
8,957,000

 
2,073,000

 
2,895,000

 
2,044,000

 
1,945,000

Unconditional Purchase Obligations
 
134,000

 
134,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total Contractual Cash Obligations
 
$
49,403,000

 
$
7,401,000

 
$
12,595,000

 
$
10,570,000

 
$
18,837,000


The unconditional purchase obligations represent forward purchase contracts we have entered into for a portion of our natural gas fuel needs for fiscal 2012. As of July 31, 2011, the remaining purchase obligation was $134,000 for 30,000 MMBtu for fiscal 2012. These contracts were entered into in the normal course of business and no contracts were entered into for speculative purposes.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we made a contribution of approximately $1,281,000 to our defined benefit pension plan. We have not presented this obligation for future years in the table above because the funding requirement can vary from year to year based on changes in the fair value of plan assets and actuarial assumptions. See Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” below for certain information regarding the potential impact of financial market fluctuations on pension plan assets and future funding contributions.
 

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Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period
 
 
Total Amounts
Committed
 
Less Than
1 Year
 
1 – 3 Years
 
4 – 5 Years
 
After 5
Years
Other Commercial Commitments
 
$
28,945,000

 
$
27,920,000

 
$
1,025,000

 
$
—

 
$
—


The obligations above are open purchase orders primarily for packaging and other ingredients used in our products. The expected timing of payments of these obligations is estimated based on current information. Timing of payments and actual amounts paid may be different, depending on the time of receipt of goods or services, or changes to agreed-upon amounts for some obligations.
 
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
 
We do not have any unconsolidated special purpose entities. As of July 31, 2011 we do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors. The term “off-balance sheet arrangement” generally means any transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement to which an entity unconsolidated with us is a party, under which we have: (i) any obligation arising under a guarantee contract, derivative instrument or variable interest; or (ii) a retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to such entity or similar arrangement that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support for such assets.
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
 
Management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations are based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles of the United States. We review our financial reporting and disclosure practices and accounting policies annually to ensure that our financial reporting and disclosures provide accurate and transparent information relative to current economic and business environment. We believe that of our significant accounting policies stated in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the policies listed below involve a higher degree of judgment and/or complexity. The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include promotional programs, allowance for doubtful accounts, pension accounting and income taxes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
 
Trade Receivables. We recognize trade receivables when the risk of loss and title pass to the customer. We record for an allowance for doubtful accounts based on our historical experience and a periodic review of our accounts receivable, including a review of the overall aging of accounts and analysis of specific accounts. A customer account is determined to be uncollectible when we have completed our internal collection procedures, including termination of shipments, direct customer contact and formal demand of payment. We believe our allowance for doubtful accounts is reasonable; however, the unanticipated default by a customer with a material trade receivable could occur. We recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts of $607,000 and $572,000 at July 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Inventories. We value inventories at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. Inventory costs include the cost of raw materials, packaging supplies, labor and other overhead costs. We perform a detailed review of our inventory items to determine if an obsolescence reserve adjustment is necessary. The review surveys all of our operating facilities and sales divisions to ensure that both historical issues and new market trends are considered. The obsolescence reserve not only considers specific items, but also takes into consideration the overall value of the inventory as of the balance sheet date. The inventory obsolescence reserve values at July 31, 2011 and 2010 were $326,000 and $449,000, respectively.

Reclamation. During the normal course of our mining process we remove overburden and perform on-going reclamation activities. As overburden is removed from a pit, it is hauled to a previously mined pit and used to refill older sites. This process allows us to continuously reclaim older pits and dispose of overburden simultaneously, therefore minimizing the liability of the reclamation process.
 
On an annual basis we evaluate our potential reclamation liability in accordance with ASC 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations. As of July 31, 2011 and 2010, we have recorded an estimated net reclamation asset of $495,000 and $498,000, respectively, and a corresponding estimated reclamation liability of $1,114,000 and $996,000, respectively. These values represent the discounted present value of the estimated future mining reclamation costs at the production plants. The reclamation

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assets are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the various mines. The reclamation liabilities are increased based on a yearly accretion charge, once again over the estimated useful lives of the mines.
 
Accounting for reclamation obligations requires that we make estimates unique to each mining operation of the future costs we will incur to complete the reclamation work required to comply with existing laws and regulations. Actual costs incurred in the future could significantly differ from estimated amounts. Future changes to environmental laws could increase the extent of reclamation work required. Any such increases in future costs could materially impact the amount incurred for reclamation costs.
 
Impairment of goodwill, trademarks and other intangible assets. We review carrying values of goodwill, trademarks and other indefinite lived intangible assets periodically for possible impairment in accordance ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Our impairment review is based on a discounted cash flow approach that requires significant judgment with respect to volume, revenue, expense growth rates and the selection of an appropriate discount rate. Impairment occurs when the carrying value exceeds the fair value. Our impairment analysis is performed in the first quarter of the fiscal year and when indicators such as unexpected adverse economic factors, unanticipated technological changes, competitive activities and acts by governments and courts indicate that an asset may become impaired. We use judgment in assessing whether assets may have become impaired. Our analysis in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 did not indicate any impairment. We continue to monitor events, circumstances or changes in the business that might imply a reduction in value and might lead to impairment.
 
Trade Promotions. We routinely commit to one-time or ongoing trade promotion programs in our Retail and Wholesale Products Group. Promotional reserves are provided for sales incentives made directly to consumers, such as coupons, and sales incentives made to customers, such as slotting, discounts based on sales volume, cooperative marketing programs and other arrangements. All such trade promotion costs are netted against sales. Promotional reserves are established based on our best estimate of the amounts necessary to settle future and existing claims on products sold as of the balance sheet date. To estimate trade promotion reserves, we rely on our historical experience with trade spending patterns and that of the industry, current trends and forecasted data. While we believe our promotional reserves are reasonable and that appropriate judgments have been made, estimated amounts could differ from future obligations. We have accrued liabilities at the end of each period for the estimated trade spending programs. We recorded liabilities of $2,259,000 and $2,303,000 for trade promotions at July 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation. We account for stock options and restricted stock issued under our long term incentive plans in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. ASC 718 requires the determination of the fair value of stock-based compensation at the grant date and the recognition in the financial statements of the related compensation expense over the appropriate vesting period. The fair value of stock-based compensation was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Method. This method requires management to make certain estimates, including estimating the expected term of stock options, expected volatility of our stock and expected dividends. In addition, judgment is required in estimating the amount of stock-based awards that are expected to be forfeited. It could have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements if actual results differ significantly from these estimates or different key assumptions were used. We recognized stock-based compensation expense of $478,000 in fiscal 2011 and $251,000 in fiscal 2010, net of related tax effect. These amounts include expense related to stock option grants and restricted stock.

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Costs. We calculate our pension and postretirement health benefit obligations and the related effects on results of operations using actuarial models. To measure the expense and obligations, we must make a variety of estimates including critical assumptions for the discount rate used to value certain liabilities and the expected return on plan assets set aside to fund these costs. We evaluate these critical assumptions at least annually. Other assumptions involving demographic factors, such as retirement age, mortality and turnover, are evaluated periodically and are updated to reflect actual experience. As these assumptions change from period to period, recorded pension and postretirement health benefit amounts and funding requirements could also change. Actual results in any given year will often differ from actuarial assumptions because of economic and other factors.
 
The discount rate is the rate assumed to measure the single amount that, if invested at the measurement date in a portfolio of high-quality debt instruments, would provide the necessary future cash flows to pay the pension benefits when due. The discount rate is subject to change each year. We refer to an applicable index and the expected duration of the benefit payments to select a discount rate at which we believe the benefits could be effectively settled. The discount rate was the single equivalent rate that would yield the same present value as the plan’s expected cashflows discounted with spot rates on a yield curve of investment-grade corporate bonds. The yield curve is the Citigroup Pension Liability Index. Our determination of pension expense or income is based on a market-related valuation of plan assets, which is the fair market value. Our expected rate of return on plan assets is determined based on asset allocations and historical experience. The expected long-term rate of inflation and risk premiums for the various asset categories are based on general historical returns and inflation rates. The target allocation of assets is used to

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develop a composite rate of return assumption. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
 
Income Taxes. Our effective tax rate is based on expected income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to us in various jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment is required in determining our effective tax rate and in evaluating our tax positions.
 
We determine our current and deferred taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. The tax effect of the expected reversal of tax differences is recorded at rates currently enacted for each jurisdiction in which we operate. To the extent that temporary differences will result in future tax benefit, we must estimate the timing of their reversal and whether taxable operating income in future periods will be sufficient to fully recognize any deferred tax assets. We maintain valuation allowances where it is likely that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in the income tax provision in the period of change. In determining whether a valuation allowance is warranted, we take into account such factors as prior earnings history, expected future earnings and other factors that could affect the realization of deferred tax assets. We recorded valuation allowances for income taxes of $3,106,000 and $2,909,000 at July 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The valuation allowance at July 31, 2011 has been established for the full amount of the deferred tax benefit related to our alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards since we believe it is more likely than not that the benefit of these credits will not be realized.

In addition to valuation allowances, we provide for uncertain tax positions when such tax positions do not meet certain recognition thresholds or measurement standards. Amounts for uncertain tax positions are adjusted when new information becomes available or when positions are effectively settled. Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits based on tax positions related to the current and prior fiscal years were $273,000 at July 31, 2011and $643,000 at July 31, 2010. See Note 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
 
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued guidance under ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures: Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, that requires new disclosures related to Level 3 fair value measurements. Adoption of this guidance may result in enhanced disclosures beginning with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending October 31, 2011 and will not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued guidance under ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. These amendments clarify FASB's intent about the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements and change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or disclosing information about fair value measurements. We are currently evaluating the impact this Statement will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending April 30, 2012.

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance under ASC 220, Comprehensive Income: Presentation of Comprehensive Income, that requires presentation of the components of net income and other comprehensive income either in one continuous statement, referred to as the Statement of Comprehensive Income, or in two separate consecutive statements. The requirements eliminate the current option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the Statement of Stockholders' Equity. The components recognized in net income or other comprehensive income under current accounting guidance will not change. The presentation requirements will be adopted beginning with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending October 31, 2012 and will be applied retrospectively.

In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance under ASC 350, Testing Goodwill for Impairment, that provides the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine if the annual two-step test of goodwill for impairment must be performed. If, based on the qualitative assessment of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the goodwill fair value is less than its carrying amount, then it is not necessary to perform the two-step impairment test. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then the two-step impairment test must be performed to identify potential impairment and to measure the amount of goodwill impairment, if any. We are currently evaluating the impact this Statement will have on our annual goodwill impairment testing for our 2013 fiscal year beginning August 1, 2012.

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ITEM 7A – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
We are exposed to interest rate risk and employ policies and procedures to manage our exposure to changes in the market risk of our cash equivalents and short-term investments. We believe that the market risk arising from holdings of our financial instruments is not material.
 
We are exposed to foreign currency fluctuation risk, primarily U.S. Dollar/British Pound, U.S. Dollar/Euro and U.S. Dollar/Canadian Dollar, as it relates to certain accounts receivables and our foreign operations. Foreign currency denominated accounts receivable is a small fraction of our consolidated accounts receivable. We are also subject to translation exposure of our foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements. In recent years, our foreign subsidiaries have not generated a substantial portion of our consolidated net sales or net income. We do not enter into any hedge contracts in an attempt to offset any adverse effect of changes in currency exchange rates. We believe that the foreign currency fluctuation risk is immaterial to our Consolidated Financial Statements. 

We are exposed to market risk at it relates to the investments of plan assets under our defined benefit pension plan. The fair value of these assets is subject to change due to fluctuations in the financial markets. A lower asset value may increase our pension expense and may increase the amount and accelerate the timing of future funding contributions.
 
We are exposed to regulatory risk in the fluids purification, agricultural and animal health markets, principally as a result of the risk of increasing regulation of the food chain throughout the world, but particularly in the United States and Europe. We actively monitor developments in this area, both directly and through trade organizations of which we are a member.
 
We are exposed to commodity price risk with respect to fuel. We monitor fuel market trends and we may contract for a portion of our anticipated fuel needs using forward purchase contracts to mitigate the volatility of our kiln fuel prices. Natural gas prices have remained reasonably stable; therefore, as of July 31, 2011, we have purchased a limited number of natural gas contracts for our planned kiln fuel needs for fiscal 2012. All contracts are related to the normal course of business and no contracts are entered into for speculative purposes. We continue to purchase natural gas at spot rates on a month to month basis to meet our needs.
 
The following table provides information about our natural gas future contracts, which are sensitive to changes in commodity prices, specifically natural gas prices. For the future contracts, the table presents the notional amounts in MMBtu’s, the weighted average contract prices, and the total dollar contract amount, which will mature by July 31, 2012. The Fair Value was determined using the “Most Recent Settle” price for the “Henry Hub Natural Gas” option contract prices as listed by the New York Mercantile Exchange on September 30, 2011.
 
Commodity Price Sensitivity
Natural Gas Future Contracts
For the Year Ended July 31, 2012
 
 
 Expected 2012 Maturity
 
Fair Value
Natural Gas Future Volumes (MMBtu)
 
30,000
 
—
Weighted Average Price (Per MMBtu)
 
$4.47
 
—
Contract Amount ($ U.S., in thousands)
 
$134.2
 
$131.1

Factors that could influence the fair value of the natural gas contracts, include, but are not limited to, the creditworthiness of our natural gas suppliers, the overall general economy, developments in world events, general demand for natural gas by the manufacturing sector, seasonality and the weather patterns throughout the United States and the world. Some of these same events have allowed us to mitigate the impact of the natural gas contracts by the continued, and in some cases expanded, use of recycled oil in our manufacturing processes. Accurate estimates of the impact that these contracts may have on our fiscal 2012 financial results are difficult to make due to the inherent uncertainty of future fluctuations in option contract prices in the natural gas options market.
 
Please also see Item 1A “Risk Factors” above for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties we face in our business.


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ITEM 8 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
 
 
July 31,
ASSETS
 
2011
 
2010
 
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Current Assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
17,885

 
$
18,762

Investment in short-term securities
 
15,837

 
5,859

Accounts receivable, less allowance of $607 and $572
   in 2011 and 2011, respectively
 
29,217

 
27,178

Inventories
 
19,230

 
16,023

Deferred income taxes
 
1,193

 
2,867

Prepaid repairs expense
 
3,782

 
3,993

Prepaid expenses and other assets
 
4,672

 
1,507

Total Current Assets
 
91,816

 
76,189

Property, Plant and Equipment
 
 
 
 
Buildings and leasehold improvements
 
27,642

 
24,513

Machinery and equipment
 
115,978

 
108,420

Office furniture and equipment
 
9,993

 
8,886

Vehicles
 
10,570

 
9,411

 
 
164,183

 
151,230

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
 
(121,251
)
 
(115,115
)
 
 
42,932

 
36,115

Construction in progress
 
8,949

 
10,773

Land
 
16,147

 
15,614

Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
 
68,028

 
62,502

Other Assets
 
 
 
 
Goodwill
 
5,162

 
5,162

Trademarks and patents, net of accumulated amortization
   of $381 and $357 in 2011 and 2010, respectively
 
589

 
617

Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization
   of $333 and $524 in 2011 and 2010, respectively
 
463

 
255

Licensing agreements and non-compete agreements, net
   of accumulated amortization of $1,361 and $3,611 in
   2011 and 2010, respectively
 
878

 
1,127

Deferred income taxes
 
2,107

 
3,981

Other
 
4,350

 
4,149

Total Other Assets
 
13,549

 
15,291

Total Assets
 
$
173,393

 
$
153,982


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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July 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
 
Current maturities of notes payable
 
$
3,600

 
$
3,500

Accounts payable
 
6,369

 
6,482

Dividends payable
 
1,129

 
1,043

Accrued expenses
 

 
 
              Salaries, wages and commissions
 
4,143

 
7,064

              Trade promotions and advertising
 
2,270

 
2,313

              Freight
 
2,135

 
1,504

              Other
 
6,834

 
5,885

Total Current Liabilities
 
26,480

 
27,791

Noncurrent Liabilities
 
 
 
 
Notes payable
 
29,700

 
14,800

Deferred compensation
 
7,196

 
6,818

Pension and postretirement benefits
 
13,235

 
12,558

Other
 
1,484

 
1,426

Total Noncurrent Liabilities
 
51,615

 
35,602

Total Liabilities
 
78,095

 
63,393

 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
 
 
Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, issued 7,750,324
   shares in 2011 and 7,639,922 shares in 2010
 
775

 
764

Class B Stock, par value $.10 per share, issued 2,372,859
   shares in 2011 and 2,244,217 shares in 2010
 
237

 
224

Additional paid-in capital
 
29,213

 
25,104

Restricted unearned stock compensation
 
(2,446
)
 
(156
)
Retained earnings
 
121,388

 
116,917

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
 

 
 
Unrealized gain on marketable securities
 
71

 
67

Pension and postretirement benefits
 
(5,315
)
 
(5,310
)
Cumulative translation adjustment
 
799

 
492

Less treasury stock, at cost (2,642,387 Common and 324,741
   Class B shares at July 31, 2011 and 2,558,764 Common and
   324,741 Class B shares at July 31, 2010)
 
(49,424
)
 
(47,513
)
Total Stockholders’ Equity
 
95,298

 
90,589

 
 
 
 
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
$
173,393

 
$
153,982


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.



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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 
 
Year Ended July 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
(in thousands, except for per share data)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
 
$
226,755

 
$
219,050

 
$
236,245

Cost of Sales
 
(176,715
)
 
(169,362
)
 
(186,861
)
Gross Profit
 
50,040

 
49,688

 
49,384

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
 
(36,331
)
 
(36,139
)
 
(34,801
)
Income from Operations
 
13,709

 
13,549

 
14,583

Other Income (Expense)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
61

 
126

 
365

Interest expense
 
(2,053
)
 
(1,345
)
 
(1,910
)
Foreign exchange (losses) gains
 
(22
)
 
(213
)
 
(324
)
Other, net
 
446

 
697

 
595

Total Other Expense, Net
 
(1,568
)
 
(735
)
 
(1,274
)
Income Before Income Taxes
 
12,141

 
12,814

 
13,309

Income Taxes
 
(3,090
)
 
(3,356
)
 
(3,723
)
Net Income
 
$
9,051

 
$
9,458

 
$
9,586

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income Per Share
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic Common
 
$
1.36

 
$
1.42

 
$
1.46

Basic Class B Common
 
$
1.06

 
$
1.07

 
$
1.09

Diluted
 
$
1.26

 
$
1.30

 
$
1.33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Shares Outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic Common
 
5,083

 
5,203

 
5,146

Basic Class B Common
 
1,908

 
1,891

 
1,874

Diluted
 
7,103

 
7,275

 
7,200


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.



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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
 
Number of Shares
 
(in thousands of dollars)
 
 
Common
& Class B
Stock
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Common
& Class B
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Restricted
Unearned
Stock
Compensation
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income/(Loss)
 
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
Balance, July 31, 2008
 
9,632,013

 
(2,586,683
)
 
$
963

 
$
22,218

 
$
105,966

 
$
(674
)
 
$
(41,406
)
 
$
559

 
$
87,626

Net Income
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
9,586

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
9,586

Cumulative Translation Adjustments
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(330
)
 
(330
)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(28
)
 
(28
)
Unrecognized actuarial gain/ loss, prior service cost and transition liability
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4,463
)
 
(4,463
)
Total Comprehensive Income
 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 
4,765

Dividends Declared
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
(3,759
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3,759
)
Purchases of Treasury Stock
 

 
(41,579
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(656
)
 
—

 
(656
)
Issuance of Stock Under Long-Term Incentive Plans
 
83,359

 
21,000

 
8

 
662

 
(200
)
 
—

 
340

 
—

 
810

Share-based Compensation
 

 

 
—

 
486

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
486

Amortization of Restricted Stock
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
291

 
—

 
—

 
291

Balance, July 31, 2009
 
9,715,372

 
(2,607,262
)
 
$
971

 
$
23,366

 
$
111,593

 
$
(383
)
 
$
(41,722
)
 
$
(4,262
)
 
$
89,563

Net Income
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
9,458

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
9,458

Cumulative Translation Adjustments
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
210

 
210

Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
27

 
27

Unrecognized actuarial gain/ loss, prior service cost and transition liability
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(726
)
 
(726
)
Total Comprehensive Income
 

 

 


 


 

 

 

 

 
8,969

Dividends Declared
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
(4,041
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4,041
)
Purchases of Treasury Stock
 

 
(288,243
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(5,988
)
 
—

 
(5,988
)
Issuance of Stock Under Long-Term Incentive Plans
 
168,767

 
12,000

 
17

 
1,319

 
(93
)
 
(78
)
 
197

 
—

 
1,362

Share-based Compensation
 

 

 
—

 
419

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
419

Amortization of Restricted Stock
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
305

 
—

 
—

 
305

Balance, July 31, 2010
 
9,884,139

 
(2,883,505
)
 
$
988

 
$
25,104

 
$
116,917

 
$
(156
)
 
$
(47,513
)
 
$
(4,751
)
 
$
90,589

Net Income
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
9,051

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
9,051

Cumulative Translation Adjustments
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
307

 
307

Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3

 
3

Unrecognized actuarial gain/loss, prior service cost and transitionliability
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Total Comprehensive Income
 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 
9,357

Dividends Declared
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
(4,305
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4,305
)
Purchases of Treasury Stock
 

 
(117,123
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,407
)
 
—

 
(2,407
)
Issuance of Stock Under Long-Term Incentive Plans
 
239,044

 
33,500

 
24

 
3,741

 
(275
)
 
(2,917
)
 
496

 
—

 
1,069

Share-based Compensation
 

 

 
—

 
368

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
368

Amortization of Restricted Stock
 

 

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
627

 
—

 
—

 
627

Balance, July 31, 2011
 
10,123,183

 
(2,967,128
)
 
$
1,012

 
$
29,213

 
$
121,388

 
$
(2,446
)
 
$
(49,424
)
 
$
(4,445
)
 
$
95,298


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
 
 
Year Ended July 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
 
(in thousands of dollars)
Net Income
 
$
9,051

 
$
9,458

 
$
9,586

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
             Depreciation and amortization
 
8,473

 
7,371

 
7,406

             Amortization of investment discounts
 
30

 
(9
)
 
(119
)
             Non-cash stock compensation expense
 
641

 
340

 
460

             Excess tax benefits for share-based payments
 
(342
)
 
(383
)
 
(314
)
             Deferred income taxes
 
3,515

 
(1,763
)
 
(2,239
)
             Provision for bad debts
 
36

 
(62
)
 
29

             Loss on the sale of property, plant and equipment
 
168

 
45

 
59

             (Increase) decrease in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
                    Accounts receivable
 
(2,075
)
 
1,884

 
2,354

                    Inventories
 
(3,207
)
 
1,772

 
(51
)
                    Prepaid expenses
 
(2,954
)
 
505

 
(1,135
)
                    Other assets
 
(110
)
 
466

 
(157
)
             Increase (decrease) in:
 

 
 
 
 
                    Accounts payable
 
275

 
1,702

 
(1,773
)
                    Accrued expenses
 
(1,384
)
 
2,496

 
(1,841
)
                    Deferred compensation
 
378

 
926

 
394

                    Other liabilities
 
613

 
1,468

 
3,155

Total Adjustments
 
4,057

 
16,758

 
6,228

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
 
13,108

 
26,216

 
15,814

Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
             Capital expenditures
 
(13,806
)
 
(10,413
)
 
(15,253
)
             Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
 
149

 
375

 
27

             Purchases of investment in short-term securities
 
(60,083
)
 
(21,852
)
 
(80,963
)
             Dispositions of investment in short-term securities
 
50,075

 
24,000

 
94,000

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
 
(23,665
)
 
(7,890
)
 
(2,189
)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
             Proceeds from issuance of notes payable
 
18,500

 
—

 
—

             Principal payments on notes payable
 
(3,500
)
 
(3,200
)
 
(5,580
)
             Dividends paid
 
(4,218
)
 
(3,992
)
 
(3,684
)
             Purchase of treasury stock
 
(2,474
)
 
(5,988
)
 
(656
)
             Proceeds from issuance of treasury stock
 
221

 
103

 
140

             Proceeds from issuance of common stock
 
914

 
1,258

 
526

             Excess tax benefits for share-based payments
 
342

 
383

 
314

             Other, net
 
144

 
122

 
(142
)
                     Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
 
9,929

 
(11,314
)
 
(9,082
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
(249
)
 
(89
)
 
448

Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
(877
)
 
6,923

 
4,991

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year
 
18,762

 
11,839

 
6,848

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year
 
$
17,885

 
$
18,762

 
$
11,839

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Oil-Dri Corporation of America and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated from the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
MANAGEMENT USE OF ESTIMATES
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased.
 
INVESTMENT IN SHORT-TERM SECURITIES
 
The composition of investment in short-term securities as of July 31, 2011 and 2010 was as follows:
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
 
(in thousands)
     U.S. Treasury Securities
 
$
12,499

 
$
4,000

     Debt Securities
 
2,143

 
1,259

     Certificates of Deposit
 
1,195

 
600

     Total Investment in Short-Term Securities
 
$
15,837

 
$
5,859


We intend and have the ability to hold these investments to maturity; therefore, these investments are reported at amortized cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
TRADE RECEIVABLES
 
We recognize trade receivables when the risk of loss and title pass to the customer. We record an allowance for doubtful accounts based on our historical experience and a periodic review of our accounts receivable, including a review of the overall aging of accounts and analysis of specific accounts. A customer account is determined to be uncollectible when we have completed our internal collection procedures, including termination of shipments, direct customer contact and formal demand of payment. We retain outside collection agencies to facilitate our collection efforts. Past due status is determined based on contractual terms and customer payment history.
 
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
 
Financial instruments, which potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of short-term investments and accounts receivable. We place our investments in government-backed instruments, both domestic and Canadian, and with other quality institutions. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are subject to the financial condition of certain major customers, principally the customer referred to in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We generally do not require collateral to secure customer receivables; however, we require letters of credit for some foreign customers or we purchase insurance to reduce our risk.

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INVENTORIES
 
We value inventories at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. We recorded inventory obsolescence reserves of approximately $326,000 and $449,000 as of July 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The composition of inventories as of July 31, 2011 and 2010 was as follows:
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
 
(in thousands)
        Finished goods
 
$
11,041

 
$
9,834

        Packaging
 
4,251

 
3,051

        Other
 
3,938

 
3,138

         Total Inventory
 
$
19,230

 
$
16,023


TRANSLATION OF FOREIGN CURRENCIES
 
Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, where the local currency is the functional currency, are translated at the exchange rates in effect at period end. Income statement items are translated at the average exchange rate on a monthly basis. Resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
 
INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL
 
We amortize most of our intangible assets on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from three to 17 years. We have some intangible assets that were determined to have indefinite lives and are not amortized. We periodically review intangibles and goodwill to assess recoverability from projected discounted cash flows of the related operating entities. Our review is based on discounted cash flow and other approaches that require significant judgment with respect to volume, revenue, expense growth rates and the selection of an appropriate discount rate. Impairment occurs when the carrying value exceeds the fair value. Our impairment analysis is performed in the first quarter of the fiscal year and when indicators such as unexpected adverse economic factors, unanticipated technological changes, competitive activities and acts by governments and courts indicate that an asset may become impaired.
 
Our estimated intangible amortization expense for the next five fiscal years is as follows (in thousands):
2012
$
344

2013
$
341

2014
$
316

2015
$
249

2016
$
76


OVERBURDEN REMOVAL AND MINING COSTS
 
We mine sorbent materials on property that we either own or lease as part of our overall operations. A significant part of our overall mining cost is incurred during the process of removing the overburden from the mine site, thus exposing the sorbent material used in a majority of our production processes. These stripping costs are treated as a variable inventory production cost and are included in cost of sales in the period they are incurred. We defer and amortize the pre-production overburden removal costs associated with opening a new mine.
 
Additionally, it is our policy to capitalize the purchase cost of land and mineral rights, including associated legal fees, survey fees and real estate fees. The costs of obtaining mineral patents, including legal fees and drilling expenses, are also capitalized. Pre-production development costs on new mines and any prepaid royalties that may be offset against future royalties due upon extraction of the mineral are also capitalized. All exploration related costs are expensed as incurred.

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RECLAMATION
 
We perform ongoing reclamation activities during the normal course of our overburden removal activities. As overburden is removed from a pit, it is hauled to previously mined pits and used to refill older sites. This process allows us to continuously reclaim older pits and dispose of overburden simultaneously, therefore minimizing the liability for the reclamation function.
 
On an annual basis we evaluate our potential reclamation liability in accordance with ASC 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations. The reclamation assets are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the various mines. The reclamation liabilities are increased based on a yearly accretion charge over the estimated useful lives of the mines.
 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
Property, plant and equipment are generally depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives which are listed below. Major improvements and betterments are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs that do not extend the useful life of the applicable assets are expensed as incurred.
     
 
     
Years
 
Buildings and leasehold improvements
 
5 - 30
 
Machinery and equipment
 
 
 
Packaging
 
2 - 20
 
Processing
 
2 - 20
 
Mining and Other
 
3 - 15
 
Office furniture, computers and equipment
 
2 - 10
 
Vehicles
 
3 - 10

Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for possible impairment on an annual basis. We take into consideration idle and underutilized equipment and review business plans for possible impairment. When impairment is indicated, an impairment charge is recorded for the difference between the carrying value of the asset and its fair market value.
 
TRADE PROMOTIONS

We routinely commit to one-time or ongoing trade promotion programs primarily in our Retail and Wholesale Products Group. All such costs are netted against sales. We have accrued liabilities at the end of each period for the estimated expenses incurred, but not paid for these programs. Promotional reserves are provided for sales incentives made directly to consumers, such as coupons, and sales incentives made to customers, such as slotting, discounts based on sales volume, cooperative marketing programs and other arrangements. We use judgment for estimates to determine our trade spending liabilities. We rely on our historical experience with trade spending patterns and that of the industry, current trends and forecast data.

ADVERTISING

Advertising costs for the development of printed materials, television commercials, web-based digital banners, web-based social media and sales videos are deferred and expensed upon the first use of the materials, unless such amounts are immaterial. Costs paid for communicating advertising over a period of time, such as television air time and print media advertising space, are deferred and expensed on a pro-rata basis. All other advertising costs, including participation in industry conventions and shows and market research, are expensed when incurred. All advertising costs are part of selling, general and administrative expenses.

Advertising expenses were approximately $3,220,000, $2,102,000, and $2,158,000 for the years ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Advertising expenses were increased in fiscal 2011 due to the launch of our new Cat's Pride Fresh and Light product.

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Table of Contents


FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
Non-derivative financial instruments included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are cash and cash equivalents, investment in short-term securities, cash surrender value of life insurance policies and notes payable. These instruments, except for notes payable, were carried at amounts approximating fair value as of July 31, 2011 and 2010. The investment in short-term securities includes U.S. Treasury securities, certificates of deposit and debt securities. We intend and have the ability to hold our investment in short-term securities to maturity; therefore, these investments are reported at amortized cost, which was approximately equal to fair value.
 
The fair value of notes payable was more than its carrying value by approximately $623,000 as of July 31, 2011 and by approximately $95,000 as of July 31, 2010. The fair value of notes payable was estimated based on future cash flows discounted at current interest rates available to us for debt with similar maturities and characteristics. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding assets and liabilities recorded at fair value.

REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
Under the terms of our sales agreements with customers, we recognize revenue when risk of loss and title are transferred. An invoice is generated at the time of shipment based on a fixed and determinable price. Sales returns and allowances are not material.
 
COST OF SALES
 
Cost of sales includes all manufacturing costs, including depreciation and amortization related to assets used in the manufacturing and distribution process, inbound and outbound freight, inspection costs, purchasing costs associated with materials and packaging used in the production process and warehouse and distribution costs.
 
SHIPPING AND HANDLING COSTS
 
Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales and were approximately $39,763,000, $36,101,000 and $40,465,000 for the years ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses include salaries, wages and benefits associated with staff outside the manufacturing and distribution functions, all marketing related costs, any miscellaneous trade spending expenses not required to be included in net sales, research and development costs, depreciation and amortization related to assets outside the manufacturing and distribution process and all other non-manufacturing and non-distribution expenses.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
Research and development costs of approximately $1,933,000, $1,826,000 and $2,099,000 were charged to expense as incurred for the years ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT COSTS
 
We provide a defined benefit pension plan for eligible salaried and hourly employees and we make contributions to fund the plan. We also provide a postretirement health benefit plan to domestic salaried employees who qualify under the plan’s provisions. The postretirement health benefit plan is unfunded. Our pension and postretirement health benefit plans are accounted for using actuarial valuations required by ASC 715, Compensation – Retirement Benefits. The funded status of our defined pension and postretirement health benefit plans are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the funded status that arise during the period but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost are recognized within other comprehensive income, net of income tax. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
 

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STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
We account for stock options and restricted stock issued under our long term incentive plans in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The fair value of stock-based compensation is determined at the grant date. The related compensation expense is recognized over the appropriate vesting period. See Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

INCOME TAXES
 
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the impact of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes. Deferred tax assets are reviewed and a valuation allowance is established if management believes that it is more likely than not that some portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in the tax provision in the period of change.
 
In addition to existing valuation allowances, we provide for uncertain tax positions when such tax positions do not meet the recognition thresholds or measurement standards prescribed by ASC 740, Income Taxes. Amounts for uncertain tax positions are adjusted when new information becomes available or when positions are effectively settled. We recognize interest and penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions in income tax (benefit) expense.
 
U.S. income tax expense and foreign withholding taxes are provided on remittances of foreign earnings and on unremitted foreign earnings that are not indefinitely reinvested. Where unremitted foreign earnings are indefinitely reinvested, no provision for federal or state tax expense is recorded. When circumstances change and we determine that some or all of the undistributed earnings will be remitted in the foreseeable future, a corresponding expense is accrued in the current period. See Note 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information about income taxes.
 
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued guidance under ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures: Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, that requires new disclosures related to Level 3 fair value measurements. Adoption of this guidance may result in enhanced disclosures beginning with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending October 31, 2011 and will not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued guidance under ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. These amendments clarify FASB's intent about the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements and change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or disclosing information about fair value measurements.  We are currently evaluating the impact this Statement will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending April 30, 2012.

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance under ASC 220, Comprehensive Income: Presentation of Comprehensive Income, that requires presentation of the components of net income and other comprehensive income either in one continuous statement, referred to as the Statement of Comprehensive Income, or in two separate consecutive statements. The requirements eliminate the current option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the Statement of Stockholders' Equity. The components recognized in net income or other comprehensive income under current accounting guidance will not change. The presentation requirements will be adopted beginning with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending October 31, 2012 and will be applied retrospectively.

In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance under ASC 350, Testing Goodwill for Impairment, that provides the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine if the annual two-step test of goodwill for impairment must be performed. If, based on the qualitative assessment of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the goodwill fair value is less than its carrying amount, then it is not necessary to perform the two-step impairment test. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then the two-step impairment test must be performed to identify potential impairment and to measure the amount of goodwill impairment, if any. We are currently evaluating the impact this Statement will have on our annual goodwill impairment testing for our 2013 fiscal year beginning August 1, 2012.



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NOTE 2 – OPERATING SEGMENTS
 
We have two reportable operating segments derived from the different characteristics of our two major customer groups: Retail and Wholesale Products Group and Business to Business Products Group. Net sales and operating income for each segment are provided below. As the result of a change in management organization in fiscal 2011, our sports field products are now included in the Retail and Wholesale Products Group.  Prior year segment net sales and operating income have also been restated to reflect this change.  The organizational change was intended to better serve our customers and the segment information presented reflects the information regularly reviewed by our chief operating decision maker.
 
Revenues by product line are not provided because it would be impracticable to do so. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

We do not rely on any segment asset allocations and we do not consider them meaningful because of the shared nature of our production facilities; however, we have estimated the segment asset allocations below for those assets for which we can reasonably determine. The unallocated asset category is the remainder of our total assets. The asset allocation is estimated and is not a measure used by our chief operating decision maker about allocating resources to the operating segments or in assessing their performance. The corporate expenses line represents certain unallocated expenses, including primarily salaries, wages and benefits, purchased services, rent, utilities and depreciation and amortization associated with corporate functions such as research and development, information systems, finance, legal, human resources and customer service. Corporate expenses also include the annual incentive plan bonus accrual.
 
 
July 31,
 
 
Assets
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
(in thousands)
Business to Business Products
 
$
40,635

 
$
41,773

 
$
40,358

Retail and Wholesale Products
 
81,049

 
69,248

 
71,523

Unallocated Assets
 
51,709

 
42,961

 
37,380

Total Assets
 
$
173,393

 
$
153,982

 
$
149,261


 
 
Year Ended July 31,
 
 
Net Sales
 
Income
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
(in thousands)
Business to Business Products
 
$
74,479

 
$
71,991

 
$
70,706

 
$
19,504

 
$
19,925

 
$
15,234

Retail and Wholesale Products
 
152,276

 
147,059

 
165,539

 
10,439

 
11,669

 
16,721

Total Sales/Operating Income
 
$
226,755

 
$
219,050

 
$
236,245

 
29,943

 
31,594

 
31,955

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Expenses
 
15,810

 
17,561

 
17,101

Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income
 
1,992

 
1,219

 
1,545

Income before Income Taxes
 
12,141

 
12,814

 
13,309

Income Taxes Provision
 
(3,090
)
 
(3,356
)
 
(3,723
)
Net Income
 
$
9,051

 
$
9,458

 
$
9,586


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The following is a summary of financial information by geographic region for the years ended July 31:
 
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
(in thousands)
   Sales to unaffiliated customers:
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Domestic
 
$
214,239

 
$
205,322

 
$
222,798

      Foreign subsidiaries
 
$
12,516

 
$
13,728

 
$
13,447

   Sales or transfers between geographic areas:
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Domestic
 
$
4,949

 
$
4,830

 
$
6,102

   Income (Loss) before income taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Domestic
 
$
12,815

 
$
13,318

 
$
13,812

      Foreign subsidiaries
 
$
(674
)
 
$
(504
)
 
$
(503
)
   Net Income (Loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Domestic
 
$
9,618

 
$
9,977

 
$
10,145

      Foreign subsidiaries
 
$
(567
)
 
$
(519
)
 
$
(559
)
   Identifiable assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Domestic
 
$
163,696

 
$
144,558

 
$
139,569

      Foreign subsidiaries
 
$
9,697

 
$
9,424

 
$
9,692


Our largest customer accounted for the following percentage of consolidated net sales and net accounts receivable:
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
Net sales for the years ended July 31
 
21%
 
20%
 
26%
Net accounts receivable as of July 31
 
33%
 
32%
 
38%

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NOTE 3 – NOTES PAYABLE
 
The composition of notes payable at July 31 is as follows:
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
 
(in thousands)
Prudential Insurance Company of America, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Forethought Life Insurance Company, Physicians Mutual Insurance Company and BCBSM, Inc.
 
 
 
 
Payable in annual principal installments on August 1: $3,083 in each fiscal year 2016 through 2021. Interest is payable semiannually at an annual rate of 3.96%.
 
$
18,500

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
 
Prudential Financial
 
 
 
 
Payable in annual principal installments on April 15: $1,500 in fiscal 2012 and 2013. Interest is payable semiannually at an annual rate of 6.55%.
 
3,000

 
5,000

 
 
 
 
 
The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company
 
 
 
 
Payable in annual principal installments on October 15: $2,100 in fiscal 2012; $2,300 in fiscal 2013; $3,500 in fiscal 2014 and 2015; and $400 in fiscal 2016. Interest is payable semiannually at an annual rate of 5.89%.
 
11,800

 
13,300

 
 
$
33,300

 
$
18,300

Less current maturities of notes payable
 
(3,600
)
 
(3,500
)
 
 
$
29,700

 
$
14,800



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We have $18,500,000 of senior promissory notes to The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Forethought Life Insurance Company, Physicians Mutual Insurance Company and BCBSM, Inc. dba Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota pursuant to a Note Agreement dated November 12, 2010.  The Notes bear interest at 3.96% per annum and mature on August 1, 2020.  The proceeds of the sale may be used to fund future principal payments of our debt, acquisitions, stock repurchases, capital expenditures and for working capital purposes.  The Note Agreement contains certain covenants that restrict our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to, among other things, (i) incur liens, (ii) incur indebtedness, (iii) merge or consolidate, (iv) sell assets, (v) sell stock of those certain subsidiaries, (vi) engage in business that would change the general nature of the business we are engaged in, and (vii) enter into transactions other than on “arm's length” terms with affiliates.

We have a $25,000,000 Note Purchase Agreement with Prudential Financial. This agreement includes a fixed charges ratio covenant of 1.50 to 1.00. An additional interest charge of 0.25% will be incurred for any fiscal quarter end for which the fixed charge coverage ratio is less than required amount.

We sold at face value $15,000,000 in senior promissory notes to The Prudential Insurance Company of America and to Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company pursuant to a Note Agreement dated December 16, 2005. The notes bear interest at 5.89% per annum and mature on October 15, 2015. The proceeds of the sale may be used to fund future principal payments on debt, acquisitions, stock repurchases, and capital expenditures and for working capital purposes. The Note Agreement contains certain covenants that restrict our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, dispose of assets and merge or consolidate. The Note Agreement also requires a minimum fixed coverage ratio and a minimum consolidated net worth to be maintained.
  
We have a $15,000,000 unsecured revolving credit agreement with Harris N.A. (“Harris”) effective until December 31, 2011. The credit agreement with Harris provides that we may select a variable rate based on either Harris’ prime rate or a LIBOR-based rate, plus a margin which varies depending on our debt to earnings ratio, or a fixed rate as agreed between us and Harris. As of July 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no outstanding borrowings under this credit facility. At July 31, 2011, the variable rates would have been 3.3% for the Harris’ prime-based rate or .8% for the LIBOR-based rate. At July 31, 2010, the variable rates would have been 3.3% for the Harris’ prime-based rate or 1.6% for the LIBOR-based rate. The credit agreement contains restrictive covenants that, among other things and under various conditions, limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness or to dispose of assets. The agreement also requires us to maintain a minimum fixed coverage ratio and a minimum consolidated net worth.
 
The agreements with Prudential Financial and Harris impose working capital requirements, dividend and financing limitations, minimum tangible net worth requirements and other restrictions. Our credit agreement with Harris indirectly restricts dividends by requiring us to maintain consolidated net worth, as defined, of about $56,760,000 plus 25% of cumulative quarterly earnings from January 31, 2006.
 
Our debt agreements also contain provisions such that if we default on one debt agreement, the others will automatically default. If we default on any guaranteed debt with a balance greater than $1,000,000, our unsecured revolving credit agreement with Harris will be considered in default. If we default on any debt with a balance greater than $5,000,000 we will also be considered in default on the note agreement with Prudential Financial and with the promissory notes to The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company.
 
We were in compliance with all restrictive covenants and limitations at July 31, 2011.
 
The following is a schedule by fiscal year of future maturities of notes payable as of July 31, 2011 (in thousands):
2012
$
3,600

2013
3,800

2014
3,500

2015
3,500

Later years
18,900

 
$
33,300



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NOTE 4 – FAIR VALUE
 
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The inputs used to measure fair value are prioritized into one of three categories based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Categories in the hierarchy are:
 
Level 1:
 
Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2:
 
Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on:
 
 
1)
 
Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets.
 
 
2)
 
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
 
 
3)
 
Valuation models whose inputs are observable, directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3:
 
Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs may reflect estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the financial assets and liabilities.

The following table summarizes our financial assets and liabilities that were reported at fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy:
 
 
Fair Value at July 31, 2011
(in thousands)
 
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
     Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Cash equivalents
 
$
10,020

 
$
10,020

 
$
—

     Marketable equity securities
 
74

 
74

 
—

     Cash surrender value of life insurance
 
4,032

 
—

 
4,032


Cash equivalents are classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they were valued using quoted market prices in active markets. These cash instruments are primarily money market mutual funds.

Marketable equity securities were valued using quoted market prices in active markets and as such are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. These securities represent stock we own in one publicly traded company and are included in other noncurrent assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Cash surrender value of life insurance is classified as Level 2. The value was determined by the underwriting insurance company’s valuation models, which take into account the passage of time, mortality tables, interest rates, cash values for paid-up additions and dividend accumulations. The cash surrender value represents the guaranteed value we would receive upon surrender of these policies held on key employees as of July 31, 2011. The cash surrender value of life insurance is included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
The investment in short-term securities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets includes U.S. Treasury securities, certificates of deposit and debt securities. We intend and have the ability to hold our investment in short-term securities to maturity; therefore, these investments were reported at amortized cost on the Consolidated Balance sheets, which approximated fair value as of July 31, 2011, and these balances are excluded from the above table.
 
Accounts receivable and accounts payable balances on the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate their fair values at July 31, 2011 and 2010 due to the short maturity and nature of those balances; therefore, these balances are excluded from the above table.


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NOTE 5 – INCOME TAXES
 
The provision for income tax expense (benefit) at July 31 consists of the following:
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
(in thousands)
Current
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
 
$
—

 
$
3,529

 
$
2,708

Foreign
 
(118
)
 
22

 
47

State
 
155

 
1,046

 
497

 
 
37

 
4,597

 
3,252

Deferred
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
 
2,479

 
(939
)
 
479

Foreign
 
11

 
(7
)
 
9

State
 
563

 
(295
)
 
(17
)
 
 
3,053

 
(1,241
)
 
471

Total Income Tax Provision
 
$
3,090

 
$
3,356

 
$
3,723


Principal reasons for variations between the statutory federal rate and the effective rates for the years ended July 31 were as follows:
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
U.S. federal income tax rate
 
34.0
 %
 
34.0
 %
 
34.0
 %
Depletion deductions allowed for mining
 
(8.7
)
 
(9.2
)
 
(9.5
)
State income tax expense, net of federal tax expense
 
2.9

 
3.9

 
2.4

Foreign tax restructuring
 
0.8

 
—

 
—

Difference in effective tax rate of foreign subsidiaries
 
(2.4
)
 
1.3

 
1.4

Empowerment zone credits
 
(1.2
)
 
(1.2
)
 
(0.3
)
Valuation allowance release
 
(1.7
)
 
(3.6
)
 
—

Other
 
1.8

 
1.0

 
—

 
 
25.5
 %
 
26.2
 %
 
28.0
 %

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The Consolidated Balance Sheets as of July 31 included the following tax effects of cumulative temporary differences:
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
 
(in thousands)
Depreciation
 
$
—

 
$
5,116

 
$
—

 
$
3,708

Deferred compensation
 
2,943

 
—

 
3,006

 
—

Postretirement benefits
 
4,364

 
—

 
4,444

 
—

Allowance for doubtful accounts
 
232

 
—

 
245

 
—

Deferred Marketing Expenses
 
—

 
442

 
—

 
—

Other assets
 
174

 
—

 
139

 
—

Accrued expenses
 
1,241

 
—

 
2,313

 
—

Tax credits
 
3,106

 
—

 
3,201

 
—

Amortization
 
—

 
247

 
—

 
194

Inventories
 
162

 
—

 
309

 
—

Depletion
 
—

 
530

 
—

 
576

Stock compensation expense
 
426

 
—

 
510

 
—

Reclamation and other
 
225

 
—

 
189

 
—

Other assets – foreign
 
—

 
132

 
—

 
121

 
 
12,873

 
6,467

 
14,356

 
4,599

Valuation allowance
 
(3,106
)
 
—

 
(2,909
)
 
—

Total deferred taxes
 
$
9,767

 
$
6,467

 
$
11,447

 
$
4,599


As of July 31, 2011, we had alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credit carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $3,106,000, which can be carried forward indefinitely or until utilized. A number of factors determine whether or not we will be able to utilize the AMT credit carryforwards. We believe it is more likely than not that we will not realize a benefit from the carryforwards; therefore, a valuation allowance has been established for the full amount of the deferred tax benefit related to the AMT tax credits.
 
During fiscal 2011, we have provided for income taxes related to previously untaxed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Due to the availability of foreign tax credits, the additional income tax expense related to these foreign earnings was not material.

During fiscal 2011, we decreased our liability for unrecognized tax benefits (“UTBs”) based on tax positions related to the current and prior fiscal years. Reconciliations of the beginning and ending amount of UTBs for the years ended July 31 were as follows:
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
(in thousands)
Gross balance – beginning of year
 
$
643

 
$
200

 
$
200

Gross increases - tax positions in current year
 
—

 
443

 
—

Gross decreases - tax positions from prior years
 
(370
)
 
—

 
—

Gross balance – end of year
 
$
273

 
$
643

 
$
200


The amount of UTBs that, if recognized as of July 31, 2011, would affect our effective tax rate was $138,000. We are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. Our federal income tax returns for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 remain open and are currently under examination. Foreign and U.S. state jurisdictions have statutes of limitations generally ranging from 3 to 5 years. The state impact of any federal income tax changes remains subject to examination by various states for a period of up to one year after formal notification to the states. There are no material open or unsettled state, local or foreign income tax audits. We believe our accrual for tax liabilities is adequate for all open audit years.
     

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We classify interest and penalty accruals related to UTBs as income tax expense. During fiscal 2011, we recognized an immaterial amount of interest and penalties. As of July 31, 2011, we had accrued $7,000 for the payment of interest and penalties.

NOTE 6 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
Our authorized capital stock at July 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of 15,000,000 shares of Common Stock, 7,000,000 shares of Class B Stock and 30,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, each with a par value of $.10 per share. There are no Class A Common Stock shares currently outstanding.

The Common Stock and Class B Stock are equal, on a per share basis, in all respects except as to voting rights, conversion rights, cash dividends and stock splits or stock dividends. The Class A Common Stock is equal, on a per share basis, in all respects, to the Common Stock except as to voting rights and stock splits or stock dividends. In the case of voting rights, Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share and Class B Stock is entitled to ten votes per share, while Class A Common Stock generally has no voting rights. Common Stock and Class A Common Stock have no conversion rights. Class B Stock is convertible on a share-for-share basis into Common Stock at any time and is subject to mandatory conversion under certain circumstances.

Common Stock is entitled to cash dividends, as and when declared or paid, equal to at least 133 1/3% on a per share basis of the cash dividend paid on Class B Stock. Class A Common Stock is entitled to cash dividends on a per share basis equal to the cash dividend on Common Stock. Additionally, while shares of Common Stock, Class A Common Stock and Class B Stock are outstanding, the sum of the per share cash dividend paid on shares of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock, must be equal to at least 133 1/3% of the sum of the per share cash dividend paid on Class B Stock and Class A Common Stock. See Note 3 regarding dividend restrictions.

Shares of Common Stock, Class A Common Stock and Class B Stock are equal in respect of all rights to dividends (other than cash) and distributions in the form of stock or other property (including stock dividends and split-ups) in each case in the same ratio except in the case of a Special Stock Dividend. The Special Stock Dividend, which can be issued only once, is either a dividend of one share of Class A Common Stock for each share of Common Stock and Class B Stock outstanding or a recapitalization, in which half of each outstanding share of Common Stock and Class B Stock would be converted into a half share of Class A Common Stock.

Our Board of Directors has authorized in the aggregate the repurchase of 3,416,771 shares of the Company stock. As of July 31, 2011, 2,707,653 shares of Common Stock and 342,241 shares of Class B Stock have been repurchased under the Board approved repurchase authorizations and 146,545 shares of Common Stock by other transactions authorized by management prior to the adoption of the Board’s repurchase authorizations.

NOTE 7 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
We determined the fair value of stock options and restricted stock issued under our long term incentive plans as of the grant date. We recognized the related compensation expense over the period from the date of grant to the date when the award is no longer contingent on the employee providing additional service to the company.
 
The fair value of the stock options was estimated on the date of the grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that used various assumptions. The risk free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. Expected life (estimated period of time outstanding) of a grant was determined by reference to the vesting schedule, past exercise behavior and comparison with other reporting companies. The dividend rate at the date of grant was used as the best estimate of future dividends. Expected volatility was determined by calculating the standard deviation of our stock price for the five years immediately prior to the grant date. This period of time closely resembles the expected term. All options currently outstanding have a term of 10 years. All stock options issued under our plans have an exercise price equal to the closing market price on the date of grant.

STOCK OPTIONS
 
Our 1995 Long Term Incentive Plan (“1995 Plan”) provided for grants of both incentive and non-qualified stock options and restricted stock. Stock options were granted at an option price per share of 100% of the fair market value of our Class A Common Stock or, if no Class A Common Stock is outstanding, our Common Stock (“Stock”) on the date of grant. Stock options were generally granted with a five-year vesting period and a 10-year term. The stock options vest 25% two years after the grant date and 25% in each of the three following anniversaries of the grant date. The 1995 Plan expired for purposes of issuing new grants on August 5, 2005. All shares of stock issued upon option exercises under this plan were from authorized but unissued stock; all shares of restricted stock issued were from treasury stock.

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Table of Contents

 
The Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan (“2006 Plan”) permits the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards and other stock-based and cash-based awards. Our employees and non-employee directors are eligible to receive grants under the 2006 Plan. The total number of shares of stock subject to grants under the 2006 Plan may not exceed 937,500. Option grants covering 25,000 shares have been issued to our outside directors with a vesting period of one year and option grants covering 32,500 shares have been issued to employees with vesting similar to the vesting described above under the 1995 Plan. In addition, 229,115 shares of restricted stock have been issued under the 2006 Plan.
 
The Oil-Dri Corporation of America Outside Director Stock Plan (the “Directors’ Plan”) provides for grants of stock options to directors, who are considered employees, at an option price per share of 100% of the fair market value of Common Stock on the date of grant. Stock options have been granted to our directors for a 10-year term with a one year vesting period. There are 18,750 shares outstanding and no shares are available for future grants under this plan. All shares of stock issued under the Directors’ Plan were from treasury stock.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION AS OF JULY 31, 2011
 
 
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of understanding options (in thousands)
 
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options
 
Number of securities remaining available for further issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (in thousands)
Plan category
 
(a)
 
(b)
 
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders
 
170
 
$11.18
 
651
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders
 
19
 
$10.35
 
—

A summary of option transactions under the plans is shown below.
 
 
Number of
Shares
(in thousands)
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(Years)
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)
Options outstanding at July 31, 2008
 
624

 
$
8.66

 
4.4
 
$
5,345

Options vested at July 31, 2008
 
429

 
$
8.68

 
4.3
 
$
3,661

Options unvested at July 31, 2008
 
195

 
$
8.61

 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
(104
)
 
$
6.39

 
 
 
$
1,117

Forfeited
 
(2
)
 
$
4.92

 
 
 
 

Expired
 
(13
)
 
$
9.00

 
 
 
 
Options outstanding at July 31, 2009
 
505

 
$
9.14

 
3.8
 
$
3,363

Options vested at July 31, 2009
 
473

 
$
8.74

 
3.6
 
$
3,321

Options unvested at July 31, 2009
 
32

 
$
15.03

 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
(176
)
 
$
7.75

 
 
 
$
1,881

Expired
 
(2
)
 
$
11.65

 
 
 
 

Options outstanding at July 31, 2010
 
327

 
$
9.87

 
3.2
 
$
3,934

Options vested at July 31, 2010
 
317

 
$
9.64

 
3.1
 
$
3,885

Options unvested at July 31, 2010
 
10

 
$
17.00

 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
(138
)
 
$
8.19

 

 
$
1,720

Options outstanding at July 31, 2011
 
189

 
$
11.10

 
2.8
 
$
1,882

Options vested at July 31, 2011
 
184

 
$
10.94

 
2.8
 
$
1,793

Options unvested at July 31, 2011
 
5

 
$
17.00

 

 



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The amount of cash received from the exercise of options during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011 was approximately $2,867,000 and the related tax benefit was approximately $831,000. The amount of cash received from the exercise of options during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2010 was approximately $3,242,000 and the related tax benefit was approximately $849,000. The amount of cash received from the exercise of options during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2009 was approximately $1,783,000 and the related tax benefit was approximately $302,000.
 
 
OPTIONS OUTSTANDING AND EXERCISABLE
BY PRICE RANGE AS OF July 31, 2011
 
 
 
Options Outstanding
 
Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices
 
Outstanding(in thousands)
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
Shares (in thousands)
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
$3.40 - $5.10
 
12

 
0.21
 
$
4.92

 
12

 
$
4.92

$5.11 - $6.80
 
—

 
—
 
$
—

 
—

 
$
—

$6.81 - $8.50
 
—

 
—
 
$
—

 
—

 
$
—

$8.51 - $10.20
 
105

 
2.08
 
$
9.34

 
105

 
$
9.34

$10.21 - $11.90
 
—

 
—
 
$
—

 
—

 
$
—

$11.91 - $13.60
 
25

 
3.18
 
$
13.10

 
25

 
$
13.10

$13.61 - $15.30
 
25

 
4.87
 
$
14.82

 
25

 
$
14.82

$15.31 - $17.00
 
22

 
4.94
 
$
16.09

 
17

 
$
15.83

$3.40 - $17.00
 
189

 
2.82
 
$
11.10

 
184

 
$
10.94


A five-for-four stock split was declared by our Board on June 6, 2006, during our fiscal year 2006. In keeping with historical practices, we have adjusted the number of shares and the option prices to equitably adjust all outstanding stock options. Under ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, the equitable adjustment of outstanding options to reflect a change in capitalization (such as a stock split) may require the recognition of incremental compensation expense if the adjustment is not determined to have been required by the actual terms of the equity incentive plan. The Director’s Plan and the 1995 Plan may be deemed to have been discretionary, rather than required by the actual terms of these plans. We recognized additional stock-based compensation expense of $117,000 in fiscal 2009, which was the last year this additional expense was incurred.

As of July 31, 2011, we had a total of approximately $4,000 in unamortized expense associated with all outstanding stock options. The weighted average period over which this expense is expected to be amortized is 0.3 years. As of July 31, 2010 and July 31, 2009, we had total unamortized compensation expense of approximately $18,000 and $47,000, respectively. The weighted average period over which this expense was expected to be amortized was 1.3 years and 1.7 years at July 31, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively.

There were no stock options granted in fiscal years 2011, 2010 or 2009.
 
RESTRICTED STOCK
 
Our 1995 Plan and 2006 Plan both provide for grants of restricted stock. The vesting schedule under the 1995 Plan has varied, but has been three years or less. Under the 2006 Plan, the grants issued so far have vesting periods between 2 years and 5 years.
 

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A summary of restricted stock transactions under the plans is shown below.
 
 
Number of
Shares
(in
thousands)
 
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(Years)
 
Unamortized
Expense
(in
thousands)
Unvested restricted stock outstanding at July 31, 2008
 
55
 
$15.42
 
2.3
 
$674
Vested
 
(20)
 
$15.50
 
 
 
 
Unvested restricted stock outstanding at July 31, 2009
 
35
 
$15.37
 
1.4
 
$383
Granted
 
5
 
$15.10
 

 

Vested
 
(17)
 
$15.37
 
 
 
 
Unvested restricted stock outstanding at July 31, 2010
 
23
 
$15.31
 
0.9
 
$156
       Granted
 
134
 
$21.78
 
 
 
 
       Vested
 
(18)
 
$15.37
 
 
 
 
Unvested restricted stock outstanding at July 31, 2011
 
139
 
$21.54
 
4.0
 
$2,446

NOTE 8 – EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
We provide a defined benefit pension plan for eligible salaried and hourly employees. Pension benefits are based on a formula of years of credited service and levels of compensation or stated amounts for each year of credited service.
 
We also provide a postretirement health benefit plan to domestic salaried employees who retire prior to reaching age 65, have at least 17 years of continuous service, have attained at least 55 years of age and whose age plus years of service equals at least 80. Eligible employees may elect to continue their health care coverage under the Oil-Dri Corporation of America Employee Benefits Plan until they reach the age of 65.
 
We also maintain a 401(k) savings plan under which we match a portion of employee contributions. This plan is available to essentially all domestic employees following 30 or 60 days of employment. Our contributions to this plan, and to similar plans maintained by our foreign subsidiaries, were $714,000 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011 and $660,000 for each of the fiscal years ended July 31, 2010 and 2009.

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Obligations and Funded Status
 
The following tables provide a reconciliation of changes in the plans’ benefit obligations, assets’ fair values and plans’ funded status for the fiscal years ended July 31 (in thousands):
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Health Benefits
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Change in benefit obligation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
 
$
27,994

 
$
24,529

 
$
1,933

 
$
1,636

Service cost
 
1,293

 
1,137

 
85

 
74

Interest cost
 
1,507

 
1,416

 
91

 
96

Actuarial loss
 
1,071

 
1,623

 
50

 
152

Benefits paid
 
(723
)
 
(711
)
 
(117
)
 
(25
)
Benefit obligation at end of year
 
$
31,142

 
$
27,994

 
$
2,042

 
$
1,933

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year
 
$
17,287

 
$
15,619

 
$
—

 
$
—

Actual return on plan assets
 
2,033

 
1,457

 
—

 
—

Employer contribution
 
1,281

 
922

 
117

 
25

Benefits paid
 
(723
)
 
(711
)
 
(117
)
 
(25
)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
 
$
19,878

 
$
17,287

 
$
—

 
$
—

Funded status, recorded in Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
$
(11,264
)
 
$
(10,707
)
 
$
(2,042
)
 
$
(1,933
)

The accumulated benefit obligation for the pension plan was $25,734,000 as of July 31, 2011 and $22,912,000 as of July 31, 2010.
 
The following table shows amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of July 31 (in thousands):
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Health
Benefits
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Deferred income taxes
 
$
3,623

 
$
3,711

 
$
741

 
$
733

Other current liabilities
 
—

 
—

 
(71
)
 
(82
)
Other noncurrent liabilities
 
(11,264
)
 
(10,707
)
 
(1,971
)
 
(1,851
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income –net of tax:
 

 
 
 

 
 
Net actuarial loss
 
4,833

 
4,828

 
410

 
388

Prior service cost
 
42

 
56

 
—

 
—

Net obligation at transition
 
—

 
—

 
30

 
39

 
 
$
(2,766
)
 
$
(2,112
)
 
$
(861
)
 
$
(773
)


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Table of Contents

Benefit Costs and Amortizations
 
The following table shows the components of the net periodic pension and postretirement health benefit costs for the fiscal years ended July 31(in thousands):
 
 
Pension Cost
 
 Postretirement Health Benefit Cost
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
Service cost
 
$
1,293

 
$
1,137

 
$
879

 
$
85

 
$
74

 
$
62

Interest cost on projected benefit obligations
 
1,507

 
1,416

 
1,338

 
91

 
96

 
93

Expected return on plan assets
 
(1,287
)
 
(1,167
)
 
(1,323
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Amortization of:
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Net transition obligation
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
15

 
16

 
16

Prior service costs
 
23

 
46

 
47

 
—

 
—

 
—

Other actuarial loss
 
316

 
230

 
—

 
14

 
21

 
14

Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
1,852

 
$
1,662

 
$
941

 
$
205

 
$
207

 
$
185


The following table shows amounts, net of tax, that are components of other comprehensive income for the fiscal years ended July 31 (in thousands):
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
 Postretirement Health Benefits
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Net actuarial loss
 
$
202

 
$
827

 
$
31

 
$
94

Amortization of:
 

 
 
 

 
 
Prior service cost
 
(14
)
 
(29
)
 
—

 
—

       Net transition obligation
 
—

 
—

 
(10
)
 
(10
)
Amortization of actuarial loss
 
(196
)
 
(143
)
 
(8
)
 
(13
)
 
 
$
(8
)
 
$
655

 
$
13

 
$
71


     The following table shows amortization amounts, net of tax, expected to be recognized in fiscal 2012 in accumulated other comprehensive income (in thousands):
Amortization of:
 
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Health Benefits
Net actuarial loss
 
$
190

 
$
18

Prior service cost
 
9

 
—

Net obligation at transition
 
—

 
10

 
 
$
199

 
$
28


Cash Flows
 
We have funded the pension plan based upon actuarially determined contributions that take into account the amount deductible for income tax purposes, the normal cost and the minimum contribution required and the maximum contribution allowed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended. We contributed approximately $1,281,000 and $922,000 during fiscal years 2011 and 2010, respectively. We expect to contribute approximately $1,070,000 in fiscal 2012.

The postretirement health plan is an unfunded plan. Our policy is to pay insurance premiums and claims from our assets.

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The following table shows the estimated future benefit payments (in thousands):
 
 
Pension
Benefits
 
Postretirement
Health Benefits
2012
 
$
844

 
$
71

2013
 
914

 
75

2014
 
1,047

 
60

2015
 
1,117

 
87

2016
 
1,146

 
122

2017-21
 
7,617

 
827

 
 
$
12,685

 
$
1,242


Assumptions
 
Our pension benefit and postretirement health benefit obligations and the related effects on operations are calculated using actuarial models. Critical assumptions that are important elements of plan expense and asset/liability measurement include discount rate and expected return on assets for the pension plan and health care cost trend for the postretirement health plan. We evaluate these critical assumptions at least annually. Other assumptions involving demographic factors such as retirement age, mortality and turnover are evaluated periodically and are updated to reflect our experience. Actual results in any given year will often differ from actuarial assumptions because of economic and other factors. The assumptions used in the previous calculations were as follows:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Postretirement Health Benefits
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Discount rate for net periodic benefit costs
 
5.50%
 
6.00%
 
5.50%
 
6.00%
Discount rate for year-end obligations
 
5.25%
 
5.50%
 
5.25%
 
5.50%
Rate of increase in compensation levels
 
4.00%
 
4.00%
 
—
 
—
Long-term expected rate of return on assets
 
7.50%
 
7.50%
 
—
 
—

The discount rate for fiscal 2011 and 2010 was the single equivalent rate that would yield the same present value as the plan’s expected cashflows discounted with spot rates on a yield curve of investment-grade corporate bonds. The yield curve is the Citigroup Pension Liability Index.
 
Our expected rate of return on plan assets is determined by our asset allocation, our historical long-term investment performance, our estimate of future long-term returns by asset class (using input from our actuaries, investment services and investment managers), and long-term inflation assumptions. Our historical actual return averaged approximately 6.6% for the 10-year period ending July 31, 2011. The actual rate of return in fiscal 2011 was approximately 12.8%. Future actual pension expense will depend on future investment performance, changes in future discount rates and various other factors related to the population of participants in our pension plans.
 
For fiscal 2011 and 2010 the medical cost trend assumption was 8.5% and 9.0%, respectively. The graded trend rate is expected to decrease to an ultimate rate of 5% in 0.5% annual increments.
 
The following table reflects the effect on postretirement health costs and accruals of a one-percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend in the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011 (in thousands):
 
 
 
One-Percentage Point
Increase
 
One-Percentage
Point Decrease
Effect on total service and interest cost for fiscal year ended July 31, 2011
 
$26
 
$(22)
Effect on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of July 31, 2011
 
$243
 
$(210)

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Table of Contents


Plan Assets
 
The investment objective for the pension plan assets is to optimize long-term return at a moderate level of risk in order to secure the benefit obligations to participants at a reasonable cost. To reach this goal, our investment structure includes various asset classes, asset allocations and investment management styles that, in total, have a reasonable likelihood of producing a sufficient level of overall diversification that balances expected return with expected risk over the long-term. The plan does not invest directly in Company stock.
 
We measure and monitor the plan’s investment performance and the allocation of plan assets through quarterly investment portfolio reviews. Investment performance is measured by absolute returns, returns relative to benchmark indices and any other appropriate basis of comparison. The targeted allocation percentages of plan assets is shown below for fiscal 2012 and the actual allocation as of July 31:
Asset Allocation
 
Target fiscal 2012
 
2011
 
2010
   Cash and accrued income
 
2%
 
6%
 
13%
   Fixed income
 
38%
 
31%
 
32%
   Equity
 
60%
 
63%
 
55%

     The fair value of our pension plan assets at July 31, 2011 by asset class are as follows:
 
 
Fair Value at July 31, 2011
(in thousands)
 
 
 
Total
 
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   Asset Class
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Cash and Cash Equivalents(a)
 
$
1,210

 
$
1,210

 
$
—

 
$
—

   Equity securities(b):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. companies
 
7,511

 
7,383

 
128

 
—

International companies
 
1,781

 
1,781

 
—

 
—

   Equity securities - international mutual funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Developed market(c)
 
1,542

 
—

 
1,542

 
—

       Emerging markets(d)
 
540

 
—

 
540

 
—

   Commodities(e)
 
680

 
8

 
672

 
—

   Fixed Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 U.S. Treasuries
 
2,841

 
—

 
2,841

 
—

       Corporate bonds(f)
 
2,179

 
—

 
2,179

 
—

       Emerging markets(g)
 
650

 
—

 
650

 
—

       Government sponsered entities(h)
 
422

 
—

 
422

 
—

   Other(i)
 
522

 
—

 
522

 
—

   Total
 
$
19,878

 
$
10,382

 
$
9,496

 
$
—


(a)
Cash and cash equivalents consists of highly liquid investments which are traded in active markets.
(b)
This class represents equities traded on regulated exchanges.
(c)
These mutual funds seek long-term capital growth by investing at least 80% of their assets in stocks of non- U.S. companies that are primarily in developed markets, however the fund allows up to 35% to be invested in emerging markets.
(d)
These mutual funds seek long-term capital growth by investing at least 80% of their assets in stocks of companies located in Asia, excluding Japan.

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(e)
The majority of the investments in this class seek maximum total return by investing primarily in commodity-linked derivative instruments. Assets not invested in commodity-linked instruments may be invested in inflation-indexed securities and other fixed income instruments.
(f)
This class includes bonds of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers from diverse industries.
(g)
This class invests at least 80% of its assets in directly in, or in derivative instruments that provide exposure to, emerging market bonds and other debt instruments denominated in the local currency of issue.
(h)
This class represents a beneficial ownership interest in a pool of single-family residential mortgage loans. These investments are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.
(i)
This class seek long-term positive returns by employing a number of arbitrage and alternative investment strategies. The portfolio of instruments may include equities, convertible securities, debt securities, warrants, options, swaps, future contracts, forwards or other types of derivative instruments.

The fair value of our pension plan assets at July 31, 2010 by asset class are as follows:
 
 
Fair Value at July 31, 2010
(in thousands)
 
 
Total
 
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   Asset Class
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Cash and Cash Equivalents(a)
 
$
2,229

 
$
1,829

 
$
400

 
$
—

   Equity securities(b):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       U.S. companies
 
5,651

 
5,539

 
112

 
—

       International companies
 
510

 
510

 
—

 
—

   Equity securities - international mutual funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Developed market(c)
 
2,426

 
—

 
2,426

 
—

       Emerging markets(d)
 
403

 
—

 
403

 
—

   Commodities(e)
 
540

 
540

 
—

 
—

   Fixed Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        U.S. Treasuries
 
2,999

 
—

 
2,999

 
—

       Corporate bonds(f)
 
2,529

 
—

 
2,529

 
—

   Total
 
$
17,287

 
$
8,418

 
$
8,869

 
$
—


(a)
Cash and cash equivalents consists of highly liquid investments which are traded in active markets.
(b)
This class represents equities traded on regulated exchanges.
(c)
These mutual funds seek long-term capital growth by investing at least 80% of their assets in stocks of non- U.S. companies that are primarily in developed markets, however some funds allow up to 35% to be invested in emerging markets.
(d)
These mutual funds seek long-term capital growth by investing at least 80% of their assets in stocks of companies located in Asia, excluding Japan.
(e)
This class represents a fund that invests in actively traded futures contracts traded on regulated futures exchanges and is managed to track the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Diversified Excess Return.
(f)
This class includes bonds of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers from diverse industries.

NOTE 9 – DEFERRED COMPENSATION
 
The Oil-Dri Corporation of America Deferred Compensation Plan permits directors and certain management employees to defer portions of their compensation and to earn interest on the deferred amounts. The participants’ returns are set at our long-term cost of borrowing plus 1%. Participants have deferred $532,000 and $454,000 into these plans in fiscal years 2011 and 2010, respectively. We recorded $400,000 and $409,000 of interest expense associated with these plans in fiscal years 2011 and 2010, respectively. Payments to participants were $348,000 and $384,000 in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively, and the total liability recorded for deferred compensation was $6,701,000 and $6,269,000 at July 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 

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The Oil-Dri Corporation of America Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) provides certain retired participants in the Oil-Dri Corporation of America Pension Plan (“Retirement Plan”) with the amount of benefits that would have been provided under the Retirement Plan but for: (1) the limitations on benefits imposed by Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and/or (2) the limitation on compensation for purposes of calculating benefits under the Retirement Plan imposed by Section 401(a)(17) of the Code. We recorded approximately $24,000 and $103,000 in expense associated with this plan in the fiscal years ended July 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The plan is unfunded and we will fund benefits when payments are made. The total liability recorded for the SERP was $544,000 at July 31, 2011 and $520,000 at July 31, 2010.
 
The Oil-Dri Corporation of America Annual Incentive Plan provides certain executives with the opportunity to receive a deferred executive bonus award if certain financial goals are met. Financial targets under the provisions of the plan were not achieved to merit an award for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011. A total of $407,000 was awarded for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2010 to certain executives. These awards will vest over a three-year vesting period and accrue interest at our long-term cost of borrowing plus 1%.

NOTE 10 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
We are party to various legal actions from time to time that are ordinary in nature and incidental to the operation of our business. While it is not possible at this time to determine with certainty the ultimate outcome of these or other lawsuits, we believe that none of the pending proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition.

In October 2010, a non-Oil-Dri truck driver died of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident while at our Ochlocknee, Georgia location. We believe that insurance will cover the civil claims associated with the incident and that the insurance company has established appropriate reserves.

NOTE 11 – LEASES
 
Our mining operations are conducted on leased or owned property. These leases generally provide us with the right to mine as long as we continue to pay a minimum monthly rental, which is applied against the per ton royalty when the property is mined. We also lease certain offices and production facilities. In addition, we lease vehicles, railcars, mining property and equipment, warehouse space, data processing equipment, and office equipment. In most cases, we expect that, in the normal course of business, leases will be renewed or replaced by other leases.
 
The following is a schedule by year of future minimum rental requirements under operating leases that have initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of July 31, 2011 (in thousands):
2012
$
2,073

2013
1,678

2014
1,217

2015
1,019

2016
1,025

Later years
1,945

 
$
8,957


The following schedule shows the composition of total rental expense for all operating leases, including those with terms of one month or less which were not renewed, as of the years ended July 31:
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
(in thousands)
Vehicles and Railcars
 
$
1,574

 
$
1,536

 
$
1,447

Office facilities
 
840

 
809

 
821

Warehouse facilities
 
288

 
335

 
256

Mining properties:
 

 
 
 
 
Minimum
 
112

 
113

 
114

Contingent
 
289

 
336

 
328

Other
 
135

 
167

 
175

 
 
$
3,238

 
$
3,296

 
$
3,141


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Contingent mining royalty payments are determined based on the tons of raw clay mined.

NOTE 12 – OTHER CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
     Cash payments for interest and income taxes were as follows for the years ended July 31 (in thousands):
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
Interest
 
$
1,275

 
$
1,332

 
$
1,502

Income taxes
 
$
2,501

 
$
2,608

 
$
2,854


NOTE 13 – SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
 
     A summary of selected information for 2011 and 2010 is as follows:
 
 
Fiscal 2011 Quarter Ended
 
 
 
 
October 31
 
January 31
 
April 30
 
July 31
 
Total
 
 
(in thousands except per share amounts)
Net Sales
 
$
56,285

 
$
57,201

 
$
55,538

 
$
57,731

 
$
226,755

Gross Profit
 
$
13,208

 
$
12,492

 
$
11,907

 
$
12,433

 
$
50,040

Net Income
 
$
2,519

 
$
1,777

 
$
1,860

 
$
2,895

 
$
9,051

Net Income Per Share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic Common
 
$
0.38

 
$
0.27

 
$
0.28

 
$
0.43

 
$
1.36

Basic Class B Common
 
$
0.30

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.22

 
$
0.33

 
$
1.06

Diluted
 
$
0.35

 
$
0.25

 
$
0.26

 
$
0.40

 
$
1.26

Dividends Per Share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common
 
$
0.1600

 
$
0.1600

 
$
0.1600

 
$
0.1700

 
$
0.6500

Class B
 
$
0.1200

 
$
0.1200

 
$
0.1200

 
$
0.1275

 
$
0.4875

Common Stock Price Range
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
 
$
22.20

 
$
23.00

 
$
22.17

 
$
22.39

 
 
Low
 
$
18.73

 
$
18.81

 
$
18.74

 
$
19.11

 
 
 
 
Fiscal 2010 Quarter Ended
 
 
 
 
October 31
 
January 31
 
April 30
 
July 31
 
Total
 
 
(in thousands except per share amounts)
Net Sales
 
$
53,404

 
$
54,734

 
$
56,259

 
$
54,653

 
$
219,050

Gross Profit
 
$
12,323

 
$
12,670

 
$
13,170

 
$
11,525

 
$
49,688

Net Income
 
$
2,194

 
$
2,262

 
$
2,586

 
$
2,416

 
$
9,458

Net Income Per Share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic Common
 
$
0.33

 
$
0.34

 
$
0.39

 
$
0.36

 
$
1.42

Basic Class B Common
 
$
0.25

 
$
0.26

 
$
0.29

 
$
0.28

 
$
1.07

Diluted
 
$
0.30

 
$
0.31

 
$
0.35

 
$
0.33

 
$
1.30

Dividends Per Share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common
 
$
0.1500

 
$
0.1500

 
$
0.1500

 
$
0.1600

 
$
0.6100

Class B
 
$
0.1125

 
$
0.1125

 
$
0.1125

 
$
0.1200

 
$
0.4575

Common Stock Price Range
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
 
$
17.40

 
$
16.54

 
$
20.76

 
$
23.53

 
 
Low
 
$
14.05

 
$
14.75

 
$
15.10

 
$
18.50

 
 

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MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
 
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15f. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
     Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, we conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our assessment, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of July 31, 2011.
 
     Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
     Our internal controls over financial reporting as of July 31, 2011 have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears on the next page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.



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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
To Board of Directors and Stockholders of Oil-Dri Corporation of America:
 
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Oil-Dri Corporation of America and its subsidiaries at July 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended July 31, 2011 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of July 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedules, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedules, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits (which were integrated audits in 2011 and 2010). 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
 
     A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) 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 (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
     Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
October 12, 2011


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ITEM 9 – CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
None.

ITEM 9A – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
     Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-K. The controls evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), and Chief Accounting Officer ("CAO"). Based upon the controls evaluation, our CEO, CFO and CAO have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO, CFO and CAO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
     Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is set forth in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
     There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
 
     Our management, including the CEO, CFO and CAO, do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on 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. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

ITEM 9B – OTHER INFORMATION
 
     Our mining operations are subject to regulation by the Mine Safety and Health Administration under authority of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended.  Information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the recently proposed Item 106 of Regulation S-K is included in Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report.


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PART III

ITEM 10 – DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
The information required by this Item (except as set forth below) is contained in Oil-Dri’s Proxy Statement for its 2011 annual meeting of stockholders under the captions “1. Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Director Nominations,” “Audit Committee” and “Corporate Governance Matters” and is incorporated herein by this reference.
 
     The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (the “Code”) which applies to all of its directors, officers (including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and senior financial officers) and employees. The Code imposes significant responsibilities on the Chief Executive Officer and the senior financial officers of the Company. The Code, the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charter of its Audit Committee may be viewed on the Company’s website, www.oildri.com and are available in print to any person upon request to Investor Relations, Oil-Dri Corporation of America, 410 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60611-4213, telephone (312) 321-1515 or e-mail to info@oildri.com. Any amendment to, or waiver of, a provision of the Code which applies to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or senior financial officers and relates to the elements of a “code of ethics” as defined by the SEC will also be posted on the Company’s website. As allowed by the controlled company exemption to certain NYSE rules, the Company does not have a nominating/corporate governance committee and its compensation committee does not have a charter.

ITEM 11 – EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The information required by this Item is contained in Oil-Dri’s Proxy Statement under the captions “Executive Compensation,” “Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors,” “Compensation of Directors,” “Compensation Committee” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12 – SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
 
     The information required by this Item is contained in Oil-Dri’s Proxy Statement under the captions “Principal Stockholders.” “Security Ownership of Management” and “Equity Compensation Plans” and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13 – CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
     The information required by this Item is contained in Oil-Dri’s Proxy Statement under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Director Independence” and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14 – PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
 
     The information required by this Item is contained in Oil-Dri’s Proxy Statement under the caption “Auditor Fees” and is incorporated herein by reference.


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PART IV

ITEM 15 – EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
 
(a)(1)
     
The following consolidated financial statements are contained herein.
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of July 31, 2011 and July 31, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2011, July 31, 2010 and July 31, 2009.
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2011, July 31, 2010 and July 31, 2009.
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2011, July 31, 2010 and July 31, 2009.
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
 
 
 
(a)(2)
 
The following financial statement schedule is contained herein:
 
 
 
 
 
Schedule to Financial Statements, as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, years ended July 31, 2011, July 31, 2010 and July 31, 2009.
 
 
 
 
 
All other schedules are omitted because they are inapplicable, not required under the instructions or the information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
 
 
 
(a)(3)
 
The following documents are exhibits to this Report:

Exhibit
 
 
 
 
No.
     
Description
     
SEC Document Reference
3.1
 
Certificate of Incorporation of Oil-Dri, as amended.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Oil-Dri’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-57625), filed on June 24, 1998.
 
 
 
 
 
3.2
 
By-Laws of Oil-Dri Corporation of America, as Amended and Restated on December 5, 2006.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.1
 
Memorandum of Agreement #1450 “Fresh Step“™dated as of March 12, 2001 between A&M Products Manufacturing Company and Oil-Dri (confidential treatment of certain portions of this exhibit has been granted).
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(s) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 1, 2001.
 
 
 
 
 
10.2
 
First Amendment, dated as of December 13, 2002, to Memorandum of Agreement #1450 “Fresh Step”™dated as of March 12, 2001.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007.

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Exhibit
 
 
 
 
No.
     
Description
     
SEC Document Reference
10.3
 
Second Amendment, dated as of October 15, 2007, to Memorandum of Agreement #1450 “Fresh Step”™ dated as of March 12, 2001.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2008.
 
 
 
 
 
10.4
 
Exclusive Supply Agreement dated May 19, 1999 between Church & Dwight Co., Inc. and Oil-Dri (confidential treatment of certain portions of this exhibit has been granted).
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(r) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1999.
 
 
 
 
 
10.5
 
$25,000,000 Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 15, 1998 between Oil-Dri and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America and Cigna Investments, Inc.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(m) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 1998.
 
 
 
 
 
10.6
 
First Amendment, dated as of January 15, 2001 to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 15, 1998.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(m)(5) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2001.
 
 
 
 
 
10.7
 
Second Amendment, dated as of July 15, 2002 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 15, 1998.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(m)(6) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2002.
 
 
 
 
 
10.8
 
Third Amendment, dated as of January 27, 2006 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 15, 1998.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 1, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.9
 
$15,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated January 27, 2006 among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company and Harris N.A.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 1, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.10
 
First Amendment, dated as of December 19, 2008 to Credit Agreement dated as of January 27, 2006.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2009.
 
 
 
 
 
10.11
 
$15,000,000 Note Agreement dated as of December 16, 2005 among the Company, The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 22, 2005.
 
 
 
 
 
10.12
 
First Amendment, dated as of July 12, 2006 to Note Agreement dated as of December 16, 2005.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.13
 
$18,500,000 Note Agreement dated as of November 12, 2010 among Oil-Dri Corporation of America, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Forethought Life Insurance Company, Physicians Mutual Insurance Company and BCBSM, Inc. dba Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
10.14
 
Description of 1987 Executive Deferred Compensation Program.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(f) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1988.

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Exhibit
 
 
 
 
No.
     
Description
     
SEC Document Reference
10.15
 
Salary Continuation Agreement dated August 1, l989 between Richard M. Jaffee and Oil-Dri (“1989 Agreement”).*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(g) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1989.
 
 
 
 
 
10.16
 
Extension and Amendment, dated October 9, 1998, to the 1989 Agreement.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.17
 
Second Amendment, effective October 31, 2000, to the 1989 Agreement.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2000.
 
 
 
 
 
10.18
 
Third Amendment, dated as of January 31, 2006, to the 1989 Agreement.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 13, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.19
 
Fourth Amendment, dated as of October 14, 2010, to the 1989 Agreement.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
10.20
 
Oil-Dri Corporation of America Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective April 1, 2003.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(j)(1) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2003.
 
 
 
 
 
10.21
 
First Amendment, effective as of January 1, 2007, to Oil-Dri Corporation of America Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective April 1, 2003.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2008.
 
 
 
 
 
10.22
 
Second Amendment, effective as of January 1, 2008, to Oil-Dri Corporation of America Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective April 1, 2003.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2008.
 
 
 
 
 
10.23
 
Oil-Dri Corporation of America 1995 Long-Term Incentive Plan as amended and restated effective June 9, 2000.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(k) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000.
 
 
 
 
 
10.24
 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated April 1, 2003.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(1) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2003.
 
 
 
 
 
10.25
 
Oil-Dri Corporation of America Outside Director Stock Plan as amended and restated effective October 16, 1999.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(n) to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000.
 
 
 
 
 
10.26
 
Oil-Dri Corporation of America Annual Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective January 1, 2008).*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2008.
 
 
 
 
 
10.27
 
Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated effective January 1, 2008)*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2008.
 
 
 
 
 

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Exhibit
 
 
 
 
No.
     
Description
     
SEC Document Reference
10.28
 
Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective July 28, 2006)*
 
Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on November 3, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.29
 
First Amendment, effective as of January 1, 2008, to Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective July 28, 2006)*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Oil-Dri’s (File No. 001-12622) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2008.
 
 
 
 
 
10.30
 
Form of Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan Employee Stock Option Agreement for Class A Common Stock.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.31
 
Form of Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan Employee Stock Option Agreement for Common Stock.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.32
 
Form of Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan Employee Stock Option Agreement for Class B Stock.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.33
 
Form of Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan Director Stock Option Agreement for Common Stock.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.34
 
Form of Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Agreement for Class A Common Stock.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.35
 
Form of Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Agreement for Common Stock.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.36
 
Form of Oil-Dri Corporation of America 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Agreement for Class B Stock.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2006.
 
 
 
 
 
10.37
 
Letter Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2010, between Oil-Dri Corporation of America and Brian K. Bancroft.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
10.38
 
Amendment, dated April 15, 2010, to the Letter Agreement, dated January 11, 2010, between Oil-Dri corporation of America and Brian K. Bancroft.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 16, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
10.39
 
Letter Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2011, between Oil-Dri Corporation of America and Andrew N. Peterson.*
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Oil-Dri’s (file No. 001-12622) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 24, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 


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Exhibit
 
 
 
 
No.
     
Description
     
SEC Document Reference
11.1
 
Statement re: Computation of Income per Share.
 
Filed herewith.
 
 
 
 
 
14.1
 
Code of Ethics
 
Available at Oil-Dri’s website www.oildri.com or in print upon request to Investor Relations, Oil-Dri Corporation of America, 410 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60611-4213, telephone (312) 321-1515 or e-mail to info@oildri.com.
 
 
 
 
 
21.1
 
Subsidiaries of Oil-Dri.
 
Filed herewith.
 
 
 
 
 
23.1
 
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 
Filed herewith.
 
 
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a).
 
Filed herewith.
 
 
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certifications pursuant to Section 1350 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Furnished herewith.
 
 
 
 
 
99.1
 
Mine Safety Disclosure
 
Filed herewith.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Oil-Dri has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
OIL-DRI CORPORATION OF AMERICA
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
By 
/s/ Daniel S. Jaffee
 
 
 
Daniel S. Jaffee
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director

Dated: October 12, 2011
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Oil-Dri and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

/s/ Richard M. Jaffee
   
October 12, 2011
Richard M. Jaffee
 
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Daniel S. Jaffee
 
October 12, 2011
Daniel S. Jaffee
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jeffrey M. Libert
 
October 12, 2011
Jeffrey M. Libert
 
 
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Daniel T. Smith
 
October 12, 2011
Daniel T. Smith
 
 
Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller
 
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ J. Steven Cole
 
October 12, 2011
J. Steven Cole
 
 
Director
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Arnold W. Donald
 
October 12, 2011
Arnold W. Donald
 
 
Director
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Joseph C. Miller
 
October 12, 2011
Joseph C. Miller
 
 
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
 
 
 
 
 

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/s/ Michael A. Nemeroff
 
October 12, 2011
Michael A. Nemeroff
 
 
Director
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Allan H. Selig
 
October 12, 2011
Allan H. Selig
 
 
Director
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Paul E. Suckow
 
October 12, 2011
Paul E. Suckow
 
 
Director
 
 


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SCHEDULE II
 
OIL-DRI CORPORATION OF AMERICA AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
 
 
 
Year Ended July 31
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
(in thousands)
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
$
572

 
$
652

 
$
614

Additions charged to expense
 
35

 
(61
)
 
31

Deductions*
 
—

 
(19
)
 
7

Balance at end of year
 
$
607

 
$
572

 
$
652

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Net of recoveries.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Valuation reserve for income taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
$
2,909

 
$
3,222

 
$
2,462

Additions (Deductions) charged to expense
 
197

 
(313
)
 
760

Balance at end of year
 
$
3,106

 
$
2,909

 
$
3,222




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EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
11.1
 
Statement Re: Computation of per share earnings
 
 
 
21.1
 
Subsidiaries of Oil-Dri
 
 
 
23.1
 
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certifications by Daniel S. Jaffee, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey M. Libert, Chief Financial Officer and Daniel T. Smith, Chief Accounting Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(a)
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certifications pursuant to Section 1350 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
99.1
 
Mine Safety Disclosure
 
 
 
Note:
 
Stockholders may receive copies of the above listed exhibits, without fee, by written request to Investor Relations, Oil-Dri Corporation of America, 410 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60611-4213, telephone (312) 321-1515 or e-mail to info@oildri.com.



 



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