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SUPERIOR GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. - Annual Report: 2004 (Form 10-K)

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004
Table of Contents

 

FORM 10-K

 


 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

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

 

Commission File Number 1-5869-1

 


 

SUPERIOR UNIFORM GROUP, INC.

 


 

Incorporated - Florida   I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
    11-1385670
10055 Seminole Blvd.    
Seminole, Florida 33772    
Telephone   (727) 397-9611

 


 

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

Common Shares with a par value

of $.001 each

 

Listed on

American Stock Exchange

 


 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

As of March 1, 2005, 7,450,187 common shares were outstanding, and the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common shares held by non-affiliates was approximately $87 million (based on the closing sale price of the registrant’s common shares on the American Stock Exchange on the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2004) ). Shares of common stock held by each executive officer and director have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. The determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

 

Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement to be filed on or before March 30, 2005, for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 4, 2005, are incorporated by reference to furnish the information required by Items 10, 11, 12,13 and 14 of Part III.

 

Exhibit index may be found on Page 34.

 



Table of Contents

PART I

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

References in this report to “the Company”, “Superior”, “we”, “our”, or “us” mean Superior Uniform Group, Inc. together with its subsidiary, except where the context otherwise requires. Certain matters discussed in this Form 10-K are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statement will include words such as we “believe,” “anticipate”,” expect” or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, objectives, strategies or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may materially adversely affect the anticipated results. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited, to the following: general economic conditions in the areas of the United States in which the Company’s customers are located; changes in the healthcare, resort and commercial industries where uniforms and service apparel are worn; the impact of competition; our ability to successfully integrate operations following consummation of acquisitions and the availability of manufacturing materials. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements made herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this Form 10-K and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

 

Item 1. Business

 

Superior Uniform Group, Inc. was organized in 1920 and was incorporated in 1922 as a New York company under the name Superior Surgical Mfg. Co., Inc. In 1998, the Company changed its name to Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and its state of incorporation to Florida.

 

Superior, through its Signature marketing brands – Fashion Seal®, Fashion Seal Healthcare, Martin’s®, Worklon®, Universal®, Sope Creek® and UniVogue – manufactures and sells a wide range of uniforms, corporate I.D., career apparel and accessories for the hospital and healthcare fields; hotels; fast food and other restaurants; and public safety, industrial, transportation and commercial markets, as well as corporate and resort embroidered sportswear. There are no significant distinct segments or lines of business. Approximately 95% of its business consists of the sale of uniforms and service apparel, and miscellaneous products directly related thereto.

 

Products

 

Superior manufactures and sells a wide range of uniforms, corporate I.D., career apparel and accessories for the medical and health fields as well as for the industrial, commercial, leisure, and public safety markets. Its principal products are:

 

    Uniforms and service apparel for personnel of:

 

    Hospitals and health facilities;

 

    Hotels, commercial buildings, residential buildings, and food service facilities;

 

    General and special purpose industrial uses;

 

    Commercial enterprises (career apparel for banks, airlines, etc.);

 

    Public and private safety and security organizations;

 

    Miscellaneous service uses.

 

    Miscellaneous products directly related to:

 

    Uniforms and service apparel specified above (e.g. operating room masks, boots, and sheets);

 

    Linen suppliers and industrial launderers, to whom a substantial portion of Superior’s uniforms and service apparel are sold; such products being primarily industrial laundry bags.

 

    Corporate and resort embroidered sportswear.

 

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Uniforms and service apparel account for approximately 95% of total sales and revenues; no other single class of product listed above accounts for more than 10% of total sales and revenues.

 

Competition

 

Superior competes with national and regional manufacturers and also with local firms in most major metropolitan areas. Superior competes with more than three dozen firms including divisions of larger corporations. The nature and degree of competition varies with the customer and market where it occurs. Industry statistics are not available, but we believe that Superior is one of the leading suppliers of garments to hospitals and industrial clean rooms, hotels and motels, food service establishments and uniforms to linen suppliers. Superior experiences competition primarily in the areas of product development, styling and pricing.

 

Customers

 

Superior has a substantial number of customers, the largest of which accounted for no more than 5% of its 2004 sales.

 

Backlog

 

Although Superior at all times has a substantial backlog of orders, we do not consider this significant since our backlog of orders at any time consists primarily of recurrent firm orders being processed and filled.

 

Superior normally completes shipments of orders from stock between 1 and 2 weeks after their receipt. As of March 5, 2005, the backlog of all orders that we believe to be firm was approximately $8,857,000, compared to approximately $5,947,000 a year earlier.

 

Inventory

 

Superior markets itself to its customers as a “stock house”. Therefore, Superior at all times carries substantial inventories of raw materials (principally piece goods) and finished garments which requires substantial working capital. In 2004, 2003 and 2002 approximately 70%, 75% and 65%, respectively of the Company’s products were obtained from suppliers located in Central America. Any inability by the Company to continue to obtain its products from Central America could significantly disrupt the Company’s business. Because the Company manufactures and sources products in Central America, the Company is affected by economic conditions in those countries, including increased duties, possible employee turnover, labor unrest and lack of developed infrastructure. Superior’s principal raw materials are textile products, generally available from a number of sources.

 

Intellectual Property

 

While Superior owns and uses several trademarks, its mark “Fashion Seal Uniforms” (presently registered until August 7, 2007, subject to renewal) is important since more than 50% of Superior’s products are sold under that name.

 

Environmental Matters

 

In view of the nature of our business, compliance with federal, state, or local laws regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, has had no material effect upon our operations or earnings and we do not expect it to have a material impact in the future.

 

Employees

 

Superior employed 887 persons as of December 31, 2004.

 

Item 2. Properties

 

The Company has an ongoing program designed to maintain and improve its facilities. Generally, all properties are in satisfactory condition. The Company’s properties are currently fully utilized (except as otherwise noted), and have aggregate productive capacity to meet the Company’s present needs as well as those of the foreseeable future. The

 

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material manufacturing locales are rented for nominal amounts due to cities providing incentives for manufacturers to locate in their area - all such properties may be purchased for nominal amounts. As a result, it is believed that the subject lease expirations and renewal terms thereof are not material. Set forth below are the locations of our facilities:

 

    Seminole, Florida – Plant of approximately 60,000 square feet owned by the registrant; used as principal administrative office and for warehousing and shipping, as well as the corporate design center.

 

    Eudora, Arkansas – Plant of approximately 217,000 square feet, partially leased from the City of Eudora under lease requiring payment of only a nominal rental; used for manufacturing, warehousing, and shipping.

 

    Tampa, Florida – Plant of approximately 111,000 square feet, owned by the registrant; used for warehousing, shipping and small retail operation.

 

    Miami, Florida – Plant of approximately 5,000 square feet, leased from private owners under a lease expiring in 2005; used for regional sales office, warehousing, shipping, and small retail operation.

 

    McGehee, Arkansas – Plant of approximately 26,000 square feet, leased from the City of McGehee under lease requiring payment of only a nominal rental; used for manufacturing.

 

    Marietta, Georgia – Plant and warehouse of approximately 33,000 square feet leased from private owners.

 

    Portland, Oregon – Plant and warehouse of approximately 35,800 square feet leased from private owners under a lease expiring in 2005.

 

    Miscellaneous – Atlanta, Georgia, warehouse and sales office - leased; Lexington, Mississippi, used for manufacturing – owned; Dallas, TX, sales office - leased.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

We are a party to certain lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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

 

(a) None

 

PART II

 

Item 5. Market Price of and Dividends on Superior’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

The principal market on which Superior’s common shares are traded is the American Stock Exchange; said shares have also been admitted to unlisted trading on the Midwest Stock Exchange.

 

The table below presents, for our common shares, dividend information and the quarterly high and low sales prices as reported in the consolidated transaction reporting system of the American Stock Exchange.

 

     QUARTER ENDED

     2004

   2003

     Mar. 31

   June 30

   Sept. 30

   Dec. 31

   Mar. 31

   June 30

   Sept. 30

   Dec. 31

Common Shares:

                                                       

High

   $ 16.90    $ 16.70    $ 15.85    $ 14.95    $ 12.48    $ 11.45    $ 14.80    $ 16.93

Low

   $ 14.00    $ 14.50    $ 12.81    $ 13.65    $ 10.20    $ 10.45    $ 11.00    $ 13.20

Dividends (total for 2004-$.54; 2003-$.54)

   $ .135    $ .135    $ .135    $ .135    $ .135    $ .135    $ .135    $ .135

 

Our long-term debt agreements include covenants that, among other things, restrict dividends payable by us. Under the most restrictive debt agreement, retained earnings of approximately $7,916,000 were available at December 31, 2004 for declaration of dividends. We have declared cash dividends of $.135 per share in each of the quarters for the

 

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fiscal years ending December 31, 2003 and 2004. We expect that, so long as earnings and business conditions warrant, we will continue to pay dividends and that the amount thereof, as such conditions permit, and as the Directors approve, will increase from time to time.

 

On March 1, 2005, registrant had 262 shareholders of record and the closing price for registrant’s common shares on the American Stock Exchange was $13.86 per share.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table provides information about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants, rights and restricted stock under all our existing equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2004, including the 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan and the 2003 Incentive Stock and Awards Plan:

 

Plan category


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


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


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


     (a)    (b)    (c)

Equity compensation Plans approved by Security holders

   709,825    $ 12.03    2,199,125

Equity compensation Plans not approved by Security holders

   —        —      —  
    
  

  

Total

   709,825    $ 12.03    2,199,125
    
  

  

 

The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of Superior Uniform Group, Inc. or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act), of our common shares during the three months ended December 31, 2004.

 

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Period


   (a) Total Number of
Shares Purchased


   (b) Average
Price Paid per
Share


   (c) Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs


  

(d) Maximum Number
of Shares that May Yet
Be Purchased Under the

Plans or Programs (1)


Month #1 (October 1, 2004 to October 31, 2004)

                     

Month #2 (November 1, 2004 to November 30, 2004)

   84,050    $ 13.91    84,050    604,050

Month #3 (December 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004)

                     
    
  

  
  

TOTAL

   84,050    $ 13.91    84,050    604,050
    
  

  
  

(1) In July 2002, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a program to repurchase up to 750,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. There is no expiration date or other restriction governing the period over which the Company can make share repurchases under the program

 

The following selected data are derived from our consolidated financial statements. This data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto incorporated into Item 8, and with Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

 

Years Ended December 31,


   2004

   2003

   2002

    2001

   2000

Net sales

   $ 143,567,473    $ 137,326,341    $ 148,106,311     $ 156,134,944    $ 171,106,190
    

  

  


 

  

Costs and expenses:

                                   

Cost of goods sold

     96,279,784      90,334,765      99,859,787       104,967,460      114,912,716

Selling and administrative expenses

     38,524,803      37,491,162      39,400,795       39,342,762      42,372,386

Interest expense

     624,199      696,504      853,081       1,623,016      2,167,763
    

  

  


 

  

       135,428,786      128,522,431      140,113,663       145,933,238      159,452,865
    

  

  


 

  

Earnings before taxes on income, and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     8,138,687      8,803,910      7,992,648       10,201,706      11,653,325

Taxes on income

     2,760,000      3,100,000      2,895,000       3,730,000      4,250,000
    

  

  


 

  

Earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     5,378,687      5,703,910      5,097,648       6,471,706      7,403,325

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax benefit of $2,560,000

     —        —        (4,504,563 )     —        —  
    

  

  


 

  

Net earnings

   $ 5,378,687    $ 5,703,910    $ 593,085     $ 6,471,706    $ 7,403,325
    

  

  


 

  

Basic net earnings per common share:

                                   

Earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 0.72    $ 0.79    $ 0.72     $ 0.91    $ 1.03

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax

     —        —        (0.64 )     —        —  
    

  

  


 

  

Basic net earnings per common share

   $ 0.72    $ 0.79    $ 0.08     $ 0.91    $ 1.03
    

  

  


 

  

Diluted net earnings per common share:

                                   

Earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 0.71    $ 0.78    $ 0.71     $ 0.91    $ 1.03

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax

     —        —        (0.63 )     —        —  
    

  

  


 

  

Diluted net earnings per common share

   $ 0.71    $ 0.78    $ 0.08     $ 0.91    $ 1.03
    

  

  


 

  

Cash dividends per common share

   $ 0.54    $ 0.54    $ 0.54     $ 0.54    $ 0.54
    

  

  


 

  

At year end:

                                   

Total assets

   $ 106,279,126    $ 102,973,933    $ 99,826,952     $ 112,914,563    $ 130,039,204
    

  

  


 

  

Long-term debt

   $ 5,662,569    $ 6,266,047    $ 7,445,068     $ 13,549,147    $ 29,530,239
    

  

  


 

  

Working capital

   $ 61,255,572    $ 66,212,497    $ 61,688,699     $ 65,117,560    $ 74,360,573
    

  

  


 

  

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 87,068,494    $ 84,884,482    $ 80,110,389     $ 82,762,205    $ 81,641,863
    

  

  


 

  

 

 

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

 

OPERATIONS: In 2004 net sales increased 4.5% in comparison to 2003 and in 2003 net sales decreased 7.3% in comparison to 2002. The 2004 increase is primarily attributed to the acquisition of UniVogue during the first quarter of 2004, which was offset by continuing soft demand from existing customers. The 2003 decrease was attributed to the continued economic slowdown as our customers postponed or cancelled orders in an effort to reduce the impact of the slowdown on their own operations.

 

As a percentage of sales, cost of goods sold were 67.1% in 2004, 65.8% in 2003 and 67.4% in 2002. The percentage increase in 2004 was due to increased freight costs in 2004 of approximately $1,610,000 while the amounts invoiced to customers (included in net sales) for freight and handling charges only increased $651,000. Additionally, competitive pricing pressures in the market contributed to reduced margins in 2004. The percentage decrease in 2003 was attributed to the continued transition of production to offshore sources.

 

As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative expenses were 26.8% in 2004, 27.3% in 2003, and 26.6% in 2002. The decrease in this percentage in 2004 is attributed to the increase in sales volume, the impact of 2003 staffing and other cost reductions including the consolidation of our Martins division into our corporate offices. Additionally, we experienced a net recovery in bad debts in 2004 of $12,000 versus net bad debt expense of $218,000 in 2003. The impact of these cost savings were offset by approximately $690,000 in outside consulting costs incurred in association with our efforts to prepare for compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The increase in this percentage in 2003 is attributed to the overall decline in sales volume more than offsetting the impact of staffing and other cost reductions on selling administrative expenses. Selling and administrative expenses for 2003 included bad debt expense of approximately $218,000 versus $1,165,000 in 2002 due primarily to the write off of one large account in 2002; and during 2002, the Company incurred approximately $360,000 in costs associated with the review of a potential acquisition that we are no longer pursuing.

 

Interest expense as a percentage of sales was 0.4% in 2004, 0.5% in 2003, and 0.6% in 2002. The decreases in 2004 and 2003 are due to lower average borrowings outstanding and lower interest rates.

 

The effective income tax rate in 2004 was 33.9%; in 2003 it was 35.2%; and in 2002 it was 36.2%. The decreases are primarily attributed to decreases in state income taxes.

 

In 2004, the Company reported earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of 3.7% of sales with a return of 6.3% on average shareholders’ equity. In 2003, the Company reported earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of 4.2% of sales with a return of 6.9% on average shareholders’ equity. In 2002, the Company reported earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of 3.4% of sales with a return of 6.3% on average shareholders’ equity.

 

The cumulative effect of change in accounting principle charge in the amount of $4,504,563, net of tax benefit of $2,560,000 was recognized in 2002 as a result of the Company’s adoption of FAS No. 142. The Company completed its transitional impairment testing of goodwill during 2002 and determined that its goodwill for certain reporting units was impaired.

 

In 2004, the Company reported net income of 3.7% of sales with a return of 6.3% on average shareholders’ equity. In 2003, the Company reported net income of 4.2% of sales with a return of 6.9% on average shareholders’ equity. In 2002, the Company reported net income of 0.4% of sales with a return of 0.7% on average shareholders’ equity.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES: The Company uses a number of standards for its own purposes in measuring its liquidity, such as: working capital, profitability ratios, long-term debt as a percentage of long-term debt and equity, and activity ratios.

 

Accounts receivable increased 3.5% from $24,419,287 on December 31, 2003 to $25,263,744 as of December 31, 2004. This increase is primarily attributed to the increase in sales in the current period.

 

Inventories increased 25.7% from $36,380,470 on December 31, 2003 to $45,741,410 as of December 31, 2004. This increase is attributed to the acquisition of UniVogue inventories of $2,065,444 in the first quarter of 2004, a conscious effort by management to increase inventories in the Company’s core styles to better service customer needs and to the increase in the amount of product being sourced in Asia during 2004.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (con’t)

 

Accounts payable increased 32.9% from $5,400,401 on December 31, 2003 to $7,177,596 on December 31, 2004 primarily due to the higher inventory levels discussed above.

 

Other current liabilities decreased 25.9% from $5,078,982 on December 31, 2003 to $3,761,660 on December 31, 2004. The Company is in a net refund position at December 31, 2004 for income taxes as a result of estimated tax payments in excess of the current year liability, whereas the Company had an accrued balance payable of $699,000 at December 31, 2003. The current year prepaid balance of approximately $476,000 is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets at December 31, 2004. Additionally, the current year accrued liabilities decreased by $426,000 as a result of improvements in the current year funded status of the Company’s defined benefit plans and a reduction of $317,000 in the accrued liability related to the Company’s interest rate swap agreement.

 

The working capital of the Company at December 31, 2004 was approximately $61,256,000 and the working capital ratio, 5.9:1; for 2003, it was approximately $66,213,000 and the working capital ratio, 6.7:1. The Company has operated without hindrance or restraint with its present working capital, believing that income generated from operations and outside sources of credit, both trade and institutional, are more than adequate to fund the Company’s operations.

 

In 2004, the Company’s percentage of total debt to total debt and equity was 7.7% and in 2003 it was 8.1%. The decrease is attributed primarily to decreased borrowings under the Company’s borrowing agreements as a result of scheduled repayments in 2004 offset by $990,000 of new borrowings in 2004.

 

The Company has an on-going capital expenditure program designed to maintain and improve its facilities. Capital expenditures were approximately $6,162,000, $2,051,000, and $2,820,000, in the years 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively. The significant increase in 2004 was primarily attributed to an upgrade of the Company’s central warehouse distribution system in Eudora, Arkansas. This project was completed in January of 2005. Total capitalized expenditures for this project in 2004 were approximately $5,237,000. Additionally, in 2004, the Company purchased certain software for approximately $990,000 that was 100% financed via long-term debt. The Company at all times evaluates its capital expenditure programs in light of prevailing economic conditions.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company paid cash dividends of approximately $4,015,000 and $3,895,000, respectively, on a quarterly dividend of $.135 per share. In July 2002, our Board of Directors reset the common stock repurchase program authorization so that the Company may make future repurchases of up to 750,000 of its common shares. The Company reacquired and retired 94,950 and 35,000 of its common shares in the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, with costs of $1,312,000 and $366,000, respectively. At December 31, 2004, we had approximately 604,000 shares remaining on our common stock repurchase authorization. Shares purchased under our share repurchase program are constructively retired and returned to unissued status. We consider several factors in determining when to make share repurchases, including among other things, our cost of equity, our after-tax cost of borrowing, our debt to total capitalization targets and our expected future cash needs. There is no expiration date or other restriction governing the period over which we can make our share repurchases under the program. The Company anticipates that it will continue to pay dividends and that it will repurchase additional shares of its common stock in the future as financial conditions permit.

 

In 2004, cash and cash equivalents decreased by $14,765,000. This decrease is attributed to approximately $3,578,000 in cash provided from operations, offset by approximately $13,497,000 utilized in investing activities and approximately $4,846,000 utilized in financing activities. Investing activities consisted primarily of $6,272,000 utilized in the acquisition of UniVogue in the first quarter of 2004 and $6,162,000 utilized for fixed asset additions, primarily for the central warehouse distribution system.

 

In 2003, cash and cash equivalents increased by $7,444,000. This increase is attributed to approximately $12,826,000 in cash provided from operations, offset by approximately $2,688,000 utilized in investing activities and approximately $2,693,000 utilized in financing activities.

 

On March 26, 1999, the Company entered into a 3-year credit agreement with Wachovia Bank that made available to the Company up to $15,000,000 on a revolving credit basis. Interest is payable at LIBOR plus 0.60% based upon the one-month LIBOR rate for U.S. dollar based borrowings (3.0% at December 31, 2004). The Company pays an annual commitment fee of 0.15% on the average unused portion of the commitment. The available balance under the credit agreement is reduced by outstanding letters of credit. As of December 31, 2004, approximately $552,000 was outstanding under letters of credit. On March 27, 2001, and again on April 27, 2004, the Company entered into

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (con’t)

 

agreements with Wachovia Bank to extend the maturity of the revolving credit agreement. The revolving credit agreement matures on June 30, 2007. At the option of the Company, any outstanding balance on the agreement at that date will convert to a one-year term loan. The remaining terms of the original revolving credit agreement remain unchanged. The Company also entered into a $12,000,000 10-year term loan on March 26, 1999 with the same bank. The term loan is an amortizing loan, with monthly payments of principal and interest, maturing on April 1, 2009. The term loan carries a variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.80% based upon the one-month LIBOR rate for U.S. dollar based borrowings. Concurrent with the execution of the term loan agreement, the Company entered into an interest rate swap with the bank under which the Company receives a variable rate of interest on a notional amount equal to the outstanding balance of the term loan from the bank and the Company pays a fixed rate of 6.75% on a notional amount equal to the outstanding balance of the term loan to the bank.

 

The credit agreement and the term loan with Wachovia Bank contain restrictive provisions concerning debt to net worth ratios, other borrowings, capital expenditures, rental commitments, tangible net worth ($76,378,000 at December 31, 2004); working capital ratio (2.5:1), fixed charges coverage ratio (2.5:1), stock repurchases and payment of dividends. At December 31, 2004, under the most restrictive terms of the debt agreements, retained earnings of approximately $7,916,000 were available for declaration of dividends. The Company is in full compliance with all terms, conditions and covenants of the various credit agreements.

 

The Company prepaid the balance of its 6.65% note payable to MassMutual, including a prepayment penalty of approximately $285,000, on March 18, 2002 utilizing cash balances on hand as of December 31, 2001 and additional cash generated from operations in the first quarter of 2002. With funds from the credit agreement, anticipated cash flows generated from operations and other credit sources readily available, the Company believes that its liquidity is satisfactory, its working capital adequate and its capital resources sufficient for funding its ongoing capital expenditure program and its operations, including planned expansion for 2005.

 

The following table summarizes our fixed cash obligations as of December 31, 2004 for the fiscal years ending December 31:

 

     2005

   2006

   2007

   2008

   2009 and
thereafter


   Total

Variable rate term loans and revolving credit facility

   $ 1,264,000    $ 1,353,000    $ 1,448,000    $ 1,551,000    $ 650,000    $ 6,266,000

Other debt arrangements, including capital leases

     330,000      330,000      330,000      —        —        990,000

Operating leases

     321,000      157,000      156,000      90,000      —        724,000
    

  

  

  

  

  

Total contractual cash obligations

   $ 1,915,000    $ 1,840,000    $ 1,934,000    $ 1,641,000    $ 650,000    $ 7,980,000
    

  

  

  

  

  

 

The Company does not engage in any off-balance sheet financing arrangements. In particular, we do not have any interest in variable interest entities, which include special purpose entities and structured finance entities.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of the financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate the estimates that we have made. These estimates are based upon our historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

9


Table of Contents

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (con’t)

 

Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

The Company recognizes revenue in the period in which the product is shipped. Judgments and estimates are used in determining the collectability of accounts receivable. The Company analyzes specific accounts receivable and historical bad debt experience, customer credit worthiness, current economic trends and the age of outstanding balances when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. Management judgments and estimates are used in connection with establishing the allowance in any accounting period. Changes in estimates are reflected in the period they become known. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Judgments and estimates are used in determining the likelihood that goods on hand can be sold to customers. Historical inventory usage and current revenue trends are considered in estimating both excess and obsolete inventories. If actual product demand and market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

 

Insurance

 

The Company self-insures for certain obligations related to health and workers’ compensation programs. The Company also purchases stop-loss insurance policies to protect it from catastrophic losses. Judgments and estimates are used in determining the potential value associated with reported claims and for losses that have occurred, but have not been reported. The Company’s estimates consider historical claim experience and other factors. The Company’s liabilities are based on estimates, and, while the Company believes that the accrual for loss is adequate, the ultimate liability may be in excess of or less than the amounts recorded. Changes in claim experience, the Company’s ability to settle claims or other estimates and judgments used by management could have a material impact on the amount and timing of expense for any period.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued FAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Shared-Based Payment.” FAS 123(R) addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions in which an enterprise receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the enterprise or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the enterprise’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. Statement 123(R) requires an entity to recognize the grant-date fair-value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees in the income statement. The revised Statement generally requires that an entity account for those transactions using the fair-value-based method, and eliminates the intrinsic value method of accounting in APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, which was permitted under Statement 123, as originally issued.

 

The revised Statement requires entities to disclose information about the nature of the share-based payment transactions and the effects of those transactions on the financial statements. FAS 123(R) is effective for public companies that do not file as small business issuers as of the beginning of the first interim or annual reporting period that begins after June 15, 2005 (i.e., third quarter 2005 for the Company). All public companies must use either the modified prospective or the modified retrospective transition method. The Company has not yet evaluated the impact of adoption of this pronouncement that must be adopted in the third quarter of our fiscal year 2005.

 

In December 2003, the FASB issued FAS No. 132 (revised 2003), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.” The provisions of FAS No. 132(R) do not change the measurement and recognition provisions of FAS No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” or FAS No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Plans and Termination Benefits.” During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Company adopted the provisions of FAS No. 132(R), which did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2004, the FASB issued FAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs - an Amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4,” to provide clarification that abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material be recognized as current-period charges. In addition, this standard requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The provisions of this standard are effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the standard will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

10


Table of Contents

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (con’t)

 

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” which establishes criteria to identify variable interest entities (“FIN 46”) and the primary beneficiary of such entities. An entity that qualifies as a VIE must be consolidated by its primary beneficiary. All other holders of interests in a VIE must disclose the nature, purpose, size and activity of the VIE as well as their maximum exposure to losses as a result of involvement with the VIE. FIN 46 was revised in December 2003 and is effective for financial statements of public entities that have variable interest entities, as defined, for periods ending after December 15, 2003. For public entities without variable interest entities, it is effective for financial statements for periods ending after March 15, 2004. The Company does not have any variable interest entities, as defined, and accordingly the adoption of FIN 46 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

A variety of proposed or otherwise potential accounting standards are currently under study by standard-setting organizations and various regulatory agencies. Because of the tentative and preliminary nature of these proposed standards, management has not determined whether implementation of such proposed standards would be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

 

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates, which may adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition. The Company seeks to minimize the risks from these interest rates when considered appropriate, through the limited use of derivative financial instruments. The Company’s policy is to not use financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes and is not a party to any leveraged financial instruments. The Company has debt obligations with variable interest rates tied to LIBOR which are described in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” as well as Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company estimates that a hypothetical increase in interest rates of 1% would have resulted in an insignificant increase in the Company’s interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

The Company has one interest rate swap agreement to hedge against the potential impact on earnings from increases in market interest rates of a variable rate term loan. Under the interest rate swap agreement, the Company receives or makes payments on a monthly basis, based on the differential between a specified interest rate and one month LIBOR. A term loan of $6,266,047 is designated as a hedged item for interest rate swaps at December 31, 2004.

 

This interest rate swap is accounted for as a cash flow hedge in accordance with FAS 133 and FAS 138. As of the report date, the swap met the effectiveness test, and as such no gains or losses were included in net income during the year related to hedge ineffectiveness and there was no income adjustment related to any portion excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. A gain of $317,000 associated with this interest rate swap agreement was included in other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2004. A gain of $256,000 associated with this interest rate swap agreement was included in other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2003. A loss of $464,000 was included in other comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2002. The fair market values of the interest rate swap of $331,000 and $648,000 are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The original term of the contract is ten years.

 

The Company is also exposed to changes in prevailing market interest rates affecting the return on its investments but does not consider this interest rate market risk exposure to be material to its financial condition or results of operations. The Company invests primarily in highly liquid debt instruments with strong credit ratings and short-term (less than three months) maturities.

 

11


Table of Contents

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiary

 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

Years Ended December 31,

 

     2004

   2003

   2002

 

Net sales

   $ 143,567,473    $ 137,326,341    $ 148,106,311  
    

  

  


Costs and expenses:

                      

Cost of goods sold

     96,279,784      90,334,765      99,859,787  

Selling and administrative expenses

     38,524,803      37,491,162      39,400,795  

Interest expense

     624,199      696,504      853,081  
    

  

  


       135,428,786      128,522,431      140,113,663  
    

  

  


Earnings before taxes on income and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     8,138,687      8,803,910      7,992,648  

Taxes on income

     2,760,000      3,100,000      2,895,000  
    

  

  


Earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     5,378,687      5,703,910      5,097,648  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax benefit of $2,560,000

     —        —        (4,504,563 )
    

  

  


Net earnings

   $ 5,378,687    $ 5,703,910    $ 593,085  
    

  

  


Basic net earnings per common share:

                      

Earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 0.72    $ 0.79    $ 0.72  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax

     —        —        (0.64 )
    

  

  


Basic net earnings per common share

   $ 0.72    $ 0.79    $ 0.08  
    

  

  


Diluted net earnings per common share:

                      

Earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 0.71    $ 0.78    $ 0.71  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax

     —        —        (0.63 )
    

  

  


Diluted net earnings per common share

     0.71      0.78      0.08  
    

  

  


Dividends per common share

   $ 0.54    $ 0.54    $ 0.54  
    

  

  


 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

12


Table of Contents

Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiary

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31,

 

     2004

    2003

 
ASSETS                 

CURRENT ASSETS

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 150,563     $ 14,915,079  

Accounts receivable, net

     25,263,744       24,419,287  

Inventories

     45,741,410       36,380,470  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,632,918       2,156,065  
    


 


TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

     73,788,635       77,870,901  

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

     22,062,359       18,289,436  

GOODWILL

     1,617,411       741,929  

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

     1,488,492       —    

OTHER ASSETS

     7,322,229       6,071,667  
    


 


     $ 106,279,126     $ 102,973,933  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

                

Accounts payable

   $ 7,177,596     $ 5,400,401  

Accrued expenses

     3,761,660       5,078,982  

Current portion of long-term debt

     1,593,807       1,179,021  
    


 


TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

     12,533,063       11,658,404  

LONG-TERM DEBT

     5,662,569       6,266,047  

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

     1,015,000       165,000  

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Notes 11 and 12)

                

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

                

Preferred stock, $1 par value - authorized 300,000 shares (none issued)

     —         —    

Common stock, $.001 par value - authorized 50,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding - 7,436,512 and 7,370,562, respectively.

     7,437       7,371  

Additional paid-in capital

     15,265,862       13,641,223  

Retained earnings

     72,126,195       71,883,888  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

                

Cash flow hedges

     (331,000 )     (648,000 )
    


 


TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     87,068,494       84,884,482  
    


 


     $ 106,279,126     $ 102,973,933  
    


 


 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiary

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

Years Ended December 31,

 

     Common
Shares


    Common
Stock


    Additional
Paid-In
Capital


    Retained
Earnings


    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)


    Total
Shareholders’
Equity


 

Balance, January 1, 2002

   7,032,887     $ 7,033     $ 9,653,981     $ 73,767,383     $ (666,192 )   $ 82,762,205  

Common shares issued upon exercise of options

   114,350       114       989,244       —         —         989,358  

Purchase and retirement of common shares

   (16,000 )     (16 )     (23,152 )     (155,132 )     —         (178,300 )

Cash dividends declared ($.54 per share)

   —         —         —         (3,818,151 )     —         (3,818,151 )

Comprehensive Income:

                                              

Net earnings

   —         —         —         593,085       —         593,085  

Net change during the period related to cash flow hedges

   —         —         —         —         (464,000 )     (464,000 )

Net change during the period related to minimum pension liability

   —         —         —         —         226,192       226,192  
                                          


Other comprehensive loss

                                           (237,808 )
                                          


Comprehensive Income

                                           355,277  
    

 


 


 


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2002

   7,131,237       7,131       10,620,073       70,387,185       (904,000 )     80,110,389  

Common shares issued upon exercise of options

   274,325       275       2,671,396       —         —         2,671,671  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

   —         —         403,000       —         —         403,000  

Purchase and retirement of common shares

   (35,000 )     (35 )     (53,246 )     (312,469 )     —         (365,750 )

Cash dividends declared ($.54 per share)

   —         —         —         (3,894,738 )     —         (3,894,738 )

Comprehensive Income:

                                              

Net earnings

   —         —         —         5,703,910       —         5,703,910  

Net change during the period related to cash flow hedges

   —         —         —         —         256,000       256,000  
                                          


Other comprehensive income

                                           256,000  
                                          


Comprehensive Income

                                           5,959,910  
    

 


 


 


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2003

   7,370,562       7,371       13,641,223       71,883,888       (648,000 )     84,884,482  

Common shares issued upon exercise of options

   160,900       161       1,659,233       —         —         1,659,394  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

   —         —         155,000       —         —         155,000  

Purchase and retirement of common shares

   (94,950 )     (95 )     (189,594 )     (1,121,821 )     —         (1,311,510 )

Cash dividends declared ($.54 per share)

   —         —         —         (4,014,559 )     —         (4,014,559 )

Comprehensive Income:

                                              

Net earnings

   —         —         —         5,378,687       —         5,378,687  

Net change during the period related to cash flow hedges

   —         —         —         —         317,000       317,000  
                                          


Other comprehensive income

                                           317,000  
                                          


Comprehensive Income

                                           5,695,687  
    

 


 


 


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2004

   7,436,512     $ 7,437     $ 15,265,862     $ 72,126,195     $ (331,000 )   $ 87,068,494  
    

 


 


 


 


 


 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

14


Table of Contents

Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiary

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Years Ended December 31,

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                        

Earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 5,378,687     $ 5,703,910     $ 5,097,648  

Adjustments to reconcile earnings before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, to net cash provided from operating activities:

                        

Depreciation and amortization

     3,489,772       3,602,074       4,217,197  

(Recovery) Provision for bad debts

     (11,638 )     218,000       1,165,536  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

     155,000       403,000       —    

Deferred income tax provision

     850,000       15,000       460,000  

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:

                        

Accounts receivable

     1,132,827       (4,224,085 )     3,022,781  

Inventories

     (7,295,496 )     6,275,464       5,437,225  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (216,142 )     1,114,274       291,162  

Accounts payable

     1,095,285       208,408       (1,609,806 )

Accrued expenses

     (1,000,322 )     (490,440 )     734,683  
    


 


 


Net cash flows provided from operating activities

     3,577,973       12,825,605       18,816,426  
    


 


 


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                        

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (6,162,371 )     (2,051,067 )     (2,820,406 )

Reduction in property, plant and equipment

     176,656       218,721       652,980  

Purchase of business, net of cash acquired

     (6,272,259 )     —         —    

Other assets

     (1,238,819 )     (856,002 )     (1,687,300 )
    


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (13,496,793 )     (2,688,348 )     (3,854,726 )
    


 


 


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                        

Repayment of long-term debt

     (1,179,021 )     (1,104,080 )     (7,698,480 )

Payment of cash dividends

     (4,014,559 )     (3,894,738 )     (3,818,151 )

Proceeds received on exercise of stock options

     1,659,394       2,671,671       989,358  

Common stock reacquired and retired

     (1,311,510 )     (365,750 )     (178,300 )
    


 


 


Net cash used in financing activities

     (4,845,696 )     (2,692,897 )     (10,705,573 )
    


 


 


Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (14,764,516 )     7,444,360       4,256,127  

Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of year

     14,915,079       7,470,719       3,214,592  
    


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of year

   $ 150,563     $ 14,915,079     $ 7,470,719  
    


 


 


 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiary

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002

 

NOTE 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

 

a) Business description

 

Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and subsidiary (“the Company”), through its Signature marketing brands – Fashion Seal®, Fashion Seal Healthcare, Martin’s®, Worklon®, Universal®, Sope Creek® and UniVogue – manufactures and sells a wide range of uniforms, corporate I.D., career apparel and accessories for the hospital and healthcare fields; hotels; fast food and other restaurants; and public safety, industrial, transportation and commercial markets, as well as corporate and resort embroidered sportswear.

 

b) Basis of presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fashion Seal Corporation. Intercompany items have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

c) Cash and cash equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.

 

d) Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

The Company recognizes revenue in the period in which the product is shipped. In accordance with EITF 00-10, the Company includes amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling charges in net sales in its consolidated statements of earnings. The related shipping and handling expenses are included in cost of sales. Judgments and estimates are used in determining the collectability of accounts receivable. The Company analyzes specific accounts receivable and historical bad debt experience, customer credit worthiness, current economic trends and the age of outstanding balances when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. Management judgments and estimates are used in connection with establishing the allowance in any accounting period. Changes in estimates are reflected in the period they become known. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

 

e) Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market.

 

f) Property, plant and equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized, while replacements, maintenance and repairs which do not improve or extend the life of the respective assets are expensed currently. Costs of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation and amortization are eliminated from accounts and the net gain or loss is reflected in the statement of earnings.

 

g) Goodwill and other intangible assets

 

The Company follows FAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” which addresses the financial accounting and reporting standards for the acquisition of intangible assets outside of a business combination and for goodwill and other intangible assets subsequent to their acquisition. This accounting standard requires that goodwill be separately disclosed from other intangible assets in the statement of financial position, and no longer be amortized but tested for impairment on a periodic basis. We annually evaluate the recoverability of goodwill and other intangible assets and take into account events or circumstances that warrant revised estimates of useful lives or indicate that an impairment exists. Amortization expense for other intangible assets was $178,619, $0 and $0, for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Other intangible assets were recorded in the year ended December 31, 2004 as the Company completed its valuation of the UniVogue acquisition. Other intangible assets include the value assigned to the customer list acquired in this acquisition of $1,667,111 less accumulated amortization of $178,619. The customer list is being amortized over 7 years.

 

h) Depreciation and amortization

 

Plant and equipment are depreciated on the straight-line basis at 2 1/2% to 5% for buildings, 2 1/2% to 20% for improvements, 10% to 20% for machinery, equipment and fixtures and 20% to 33 1/3% for transportation equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the terms of the leases inasmuch as such improvements have useful lives of at least the terms of the respective leases.

 

i) Employee benefits

 

Pension plan costs are funded currently based on actuarial estimates, with prior service costs amortized over 20 years.

 

j) Taxes on income

 

The Company computes taxes currently payable upon determination of taxable income which differs from pre-tax financial statement income. Deferred taxes are provided on this difference, primarily the effect of computing depreciation of plant and equipment by accelerated methods for tax purposes and by the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes.

 

k) Stock based compensation

 

The Company continues to apply Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 for the method used to account for stock-based employee compensation arrangements, where applicable, but has adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS 148 beginning with its first quarter ending March 31, 2003. The Company estimated the fair value of options utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

16


Table of Contents

The following table illustrates the effect on net earnings and earnings per common share as if the fair value based method had been applied to all awards in each period:

 

     December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

Net earnings, as reported

   $ 5,378,687    $ 5,703,910    $ 593,085

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     715,917      585,502      317,603
    

  

  

Pro forma net earnings

   $ 4,662,770    $ 5,118,408    $ 275,482
    

  

  

Net earnings per common share:

                    

Basic – as reported

   $ 0.72    $ 0.79    $ 0.08
    

  

  

Basic – pro forma

   $ 0.63    $ 0.71    $ 0.04
    

  

  

Diluted – as reported

   $ 0.71    $ 0.78    $ 0.08
    

  

  

Diluted – pro forma

   $ 0.61    $ 0.70    $ 0.04
    

  

  

 

l) Earnings per share

 

Historical basic per share data under FAS 128 is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Historical diluted per share data under FAS 128 is reconciled by adding to weighted average shares outstanding the dilutive impact of the exercise of outstanding stock options.

 

m) Comprehensive Income

 

FAS 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income” requires disclosure of comprehensive income in addition to the existing income statement. Other comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity during a period, from transactions and other events, excluding changes resulting from investments by owners (e.g., supplemental stock offering) and distributions to owners (e.g., dividends).

 

n) Operating Segments

 

FAS 131 “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” requires disclosures of certain information about operating segments and about products and services, geographic areas in which the Company operates, and their major customers. The Company has evaluated the effect of this standard and has determined that currently it operates in one segment, as defined in this statement.

 

o) Risks and Concentrations

 

In 2004, 2003 and 2002 approximately 70%, 75% and 65%, respectively, of the Company’s products were obtained from suppliers located in Central America. Any inability by the Company to continue to obtain its products from Central America could significantly disrupt the Company’s business. Because the Company manufactures and sources products in Central America, the Company is affected by economic conditions in those countries, including increased duties, possible employee turnover, labor unrest and lack of developed infrastructure. Included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2004 and 2003 are receivable balances from contractors in Central America totaling approximately $5.0 million and $4.5 million, respectively.

 

p) Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company follows FAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” as amended by FAS No. 138, “Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities - an Amendment to FASB Statement No. 133.” The Company has only limited involvement with derivative financial instruments. The Company has one interest rate swap agreement to hedge against the potential impact on earnings from increases in market interest rates of a variable rate term loan. Under the interest rate swap agreement, the Company receives or makes payments on a monthly basis, based on the differential between a specified interest rate and one month LIBOR. A term loan of $6,266,047 is designated as a hedged item for interest rate swaps at December 31, 2004. This interest rate swap is accounted for as a cash flow hedge in accordance with FAS 133 and FAS 138. As of the report date, the swap met the effectiveness test, and as such no gains or losses were included in net income during the year related to hedge ineffectiveness and there was no income adjustment related to any portion excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. A gain of $317,000 was included in other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2004. A gain of $256,000 was included in other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2003. A loss of $464,000 was included in other comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2002. The fair market values of the interest rate swap of $331,000 and $648,000 are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The original term of the contract is ten years.

 

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q) 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 at 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.

 

r) New Accounting Standards

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued FAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Shared-Based Payment.” FAS 123(R) addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions in which an enterprise receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the enterprise or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the enterprise’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. Statement 123(R) requires an entity to recognize the grant-date fair-value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees in the income statement. The revised Statement generally requires that an entity account for those transactions using the fair-value-based method, and eliminates the intrinsic value method of accounting in APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, which was permitted under Statement 123, as originally issued.

 

The revised Statement requires entities to disclose information about the nature of the share-based payment transactions and the effects of those transactions on the financial statements. FAS 123(R) is effective for public companies that do not file as small business issuers as of the beginning of the first interim or annual reporting period that begins after June 15, 2005 (i.e., third quarter 2005 for the Company). All public companies must use either the modified prospective or the modified retrospective transition method. The Company has not yet evaluated the impact of adoption of this pronouncement that must be adopted in the third quarter of our fiscal year 2005.

 

In December 2003, the FASB issued FAS No. 132 (revised 2003), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.” The provisions of FAS No. 132(R) do not change the measurement and recognition provisions of FAS No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” or FAS No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Plans and Termination Benefits.” During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Company adopted the provisions of FAS No. 132(R), which did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2004, the FASB issued FAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs - an Amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4,” to provide clarification that abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material be recognized as current-period charges. In addition, this standard requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The provisions of this standard are effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the standard will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” (“FIN 46”) which establishes criteria to identify variable interest entities (“VIE”) and the primary beneficiary of such entities. An entity that qualifies as a VIE must be consolidated by its primary beneficiary. All other holders of interests in a VIE must disclose the nature, purpose, size and activity of the VIE as well as their maximum exposure to losses as a result of involvement with the VIE. FIN 46 was revised in December 2003 and is effective for financial statements of public entities that have variable interest entities, as defined, for periods ending after December 15, 2003. For public entities without variable interest entities, it is effective for financial statements for periods ending after March 15, 2004. The Company does not have any variable interest entities, as defined, and accordingly the adoption of FIN 46 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

A variety of proposed or otherwise potential accounting standards are currently under study by standard-setting organizations and various regulatory agencies. Because of the tentative and preliminary nature of these proposed standards, management has not determined whether implementation of such proposed standards would be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

s) Reclassifications

 

The following amounts have been reclassified in the 2003 and 2002 consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2004 presentation. Shipping and handling revenues of $3,001,976 and $3,107,057, for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively have been reclassified from selling and administrative expenses to net sales. Shipping and handling expenses of $4,126,859 and $4,638,774, for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively have been reclassified from selling and administrative expenses to cost of goods sold.

 

NOTE 2 – Acquisitions:

 

On February 27, 2004, the Company acquired substantially all of the net assets of UniVogue, Inc. (“UniVogue”), a supplier of uniforms with a strong national presence, particularly in the hospitality, lodging, food service and culinary markets, with revenues for the year ended December 2003 of approximately $9,300,000. The acquisition

 

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has been accounted for utilizing the purchase method of accounting. The purchase price for this acquisition was approximately $6,293,000 and was allocated as follows:

 

Cash

   $ 20,431

Accounts Receivable

     1,965,646

Other Current Assets

     260,711

Inventories

     2,065,444

Property, Plant & Equipment

     108,032

Other Assets

     11,743

Other Intangible Assets

     1,667,111

Goodwill

     875,482
    

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 6,974,600
    

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

   $ 681,910
    

 

Revenue and expenses of UniVogue are included in the consolidated financial statements beginning March 1, 2004.

 

NOTE 3 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets:

 

In June 2001, the FASB issued FAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” which eliminates the pooling method of accounting for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 and addresses the initial recognition and measurement of goodwill and other intangible assets acquired in a business combination.

 

Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted FAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” which addresses the financial accounting and reporting standards for the acquisition of intangible assets outside of a business combination and for goodwill and other intangible assets subsequent to their acquisition. This accounting standard requires that goodwill be separately disclosed from other intangible assets in the statement of financial position, and no longer be amortized but tested for impairment on a periodic basis.

 

In accordance with FAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of,” the Company has historically evaluated goodwill for impairment by comparing the entity level balance of goodwill to projected undiscounted cash flows, which did not result in an indicated impairment. FAS No. 142 requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level upon adoption and at least annually thereafter or more frequently, if indicators of impairment arise, utilizing a two-step methodology. The initial step requires the Company to determine the fair value of each reporting unit and compare it to the carrying value, including goodwill, of such unit. The Company determined the fair value of each reporting unit by using a combination of present value and multiple of earnings valuation techniques and compared it to the reporting units’ carrying values. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no impairment loss would be recognized. However, if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the goodwill of this unit may be impaired. The amount, if any, of the impairment would then be measured in the second step. The Company completed the first step during the second quarter of 2002 that indicated that goodwill recorded in the Empire and Sope Creek divisions was impaired as of January 1, 2002. Due to the indicated impairment, the Company then completed step two of the test to measure the amount of the impairment. Based on that analysis, a transitional impairment loss of $7,065,000 ($4,505,000 after tax), or $0.63 per diluted share after tax, was recognized as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. In accordance with FAS No. 142, this impairment loss was recorded as of January 1, 2002. The Company has also completed the annual impairment test at December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 which indicated no impairment of the remaining goodwill or other intangible assets. The Company will continue to test goodwill and any other identifiable intangible assets for impairment annually on December 31, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recovered.

 

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NOTE 4 - Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable:

 

The activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable was as follows:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Balance at the beginning of year

   $ 475,000     $ 565,000     $ 550,000  

Provision for doubtful accounts

     (11,638 )     218,000       1,165,536  

Charge-offs

     (112,006 )     (582,093 )     (1,162,572 )

Recoveries

     125,571       274,093       12,036  

Acquisition

     48,073       —         —    
    


 


 


Balance at the end of year

   $ 525,000     $ 475,000     $ 565,000  
    


 


 


 

NOTE 5 - Inventories:

 

     December 31,

     2004

   2003

Finished goods

   $ 39,347,976    $ 30,826,116

Work in process

     648,197      386,517

Raw materials

     5,745,237      5,167,837
    

  

     $ 45,741,410    $ 36,380,470
    

  

 

NOTE 6 - Property, Plant and Equipment:

 

     December 31,

     2004

   2003

Land

   $ 2,030,166    $ 2,054,842

Buildings, improvements and leaseholds

     9,746,252      10,233,075

Machinery, equipment and fixtures

     47,929,353      43,235,243
    

  

       59,705,771      55,523,160

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     37,643,412      37,233,724
    

  

     $ 22,062,359    $ 18,289,436
    

  

 

Depreciation and amortization charges were approximately $3,311,000, $3,602,000, and $4,217,000, in 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.

 

NOTE 7 – Long-Term Debt:

 

     December 31,
2004


   December 31,
2003


Note payable to Wachovia, pursuant to revolving credit agreement, maturing April 26, 2007

   $ —      $ —  

6.75% term loan payable to Wachovia, with monthly payments of principal and interest, maturing April 1, 2009

     6,266,047      7,445,068

Note payable to Bank of America, 0% interest payable in three equal installments on July 1, 2005, January 1, 2006, and January 1, 2007

     990,329      —  
    

  

       7,256,376      7,445,068

Less payments due within one year included in current liabilities

     1,593,807      1,179,021
    

  

Long-term debt less current maturities

   $ 5,662,569    $ 6,266,047
    

  

 

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On March 26, 1999, the Company entered into a 3-year credit agreement with Wachovia Bank that made available to the Company up to $15,000,000 on a revolving credit basis. Interest is payable at LIBOR plus 0.60% based upon the one-month LIBOR rate for U.S. dollar based borrowings (3.0% at December 31, 2004). The Company pays an annual commitment fee of 0.15% on the average unused portion of the commitment. The available balance under the credit agreement is reduced by outstanding letters of credit. As of December 31, 2004, approximately $552,000 was outstanding under letters of credit. On March 27, 2001 and again on April 27, 2004, the Company entered into agreements with Wachovia Bank to extend the maturity of the revolving credit agreement. The revolving credit agreement matures on June 30, 2007. At the option of the Company, any outstanding balance on the agreement at that date will convert to a one-year term loan. The remaining terms of the original revolving credit agreement remain unchanged. The Company also entered into a $12,000,000 10-year term loan on March 26, 1999 with the same bank. The term loan carries a variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.80% based upon the one-month LIBOR rate for U.S. dollar based borrowings. Concurrent with the execution of the term loan agreement, the Company entered into an interest rate swap with the bank under which the Company receives a variable rate of interest on a notional amount equal to the outstanding balance of the term loan from the bank and the Company pays a fixed rate of 6.75% on a notional amount equal to the outstanding balance of the term loan to the bank.

 

The credit agreement and the term loan with Wachovia Bank contain restrictive provisions concerning debt to net worth ratios, other borrowings, capital expenditures, tangible net worth ($76,378,000 at December 31, 2004); working capital ratio (2.5:1), fixed charges coverage ratio (2.5:1), stock repurchases and payment of dividends. At December 31, 2004, under the most restrictive terms of the debt agreements, retained earnings of approximately $7,916,000 were available for declaration of dividends. The Company is in full compliance with all terms, conditions and covenants of the various credit agreements.

 

The Company prepaid the balance of its 6.65% note payable to Mass Mutual, including a prepayment penalty of approximately $285,000, on March 18, 2002. This penalty is included in selling and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Scheduled principal payments on long-term obligations are $1,594,000 in 2005; $1,683,000 in 2006; $1,778,000 in 2007, $1,551,000 in 2008, and $650,000 in 2009.

 

NOTE 8 – Taxes on Income:

 

Aggregate income tax provisions consist of the following:

 

     2004

   2003

   2002

Current:

                    

Federal

   $ 1,832,000    $ 3,015,000    $ 2,244,000

State and local

     78,000      70,000      191,000
    

  

  

       1,910,000      3,085,000      2,435,000

Deferred

     850,000      15,000      460,000
    

  

  

     $ 2,760,000    $ 3,100,000    $ 2,895,000
    

  

  

 

The significant components of the deferred income tax liability are as follows:

 

     2004

   2003

Deferred income tax assets:

             

Operating reserves and other accruals

   $ 2,491,000    $ 2,709,000

Deferred income tax liabilities:

             

Book carrying value in excess of tax basis of property

     2,404,000      2,231,000

Deferred expenses

     1,102,000      643,000
    

  

Net deferred income tax liability

   $ 1,015,000    $ 165,000
    

  

 

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The difference between the total statutory Federal income tax rate and the actual effective income tax rate is accounted for as follows:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Statutory Federal income tax rate

   34.0 %   34.0 %   34.0 %

State and local income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit

   0.6     0.5     1.6  

Other items

   (0.7 )   0.7     0.6  
    

 

 

Effective income tax rate

   33.9 %   35.2 %   36.2 %
    

 

 

 

NOTE 9 – Benefit Plans:

 

Defined Benefit Plans

 

Noncontributory qualified defined benefit pension plans, providing for normal retirement at age 65, cover all eligible employees (as defined). Periodic benefit payments on retirement are determined based on a fixed amount applied to service or determined as a percentage of earnings prior to retirement. Pension plan assets for retirement benefits consist primarily of fixed income securities and common stock equities.

 

It is our policy to make contributions to the various plans in accordance with statutory funding requirements and any additional funding that may be deemed appropriate. Plan liabilities and the market-related value of our corporate plan assets are determined based on a November 1st measurement date and our factory plans are determined based upon a December 31st measurement date.

 

The following tables present the changes in the benefit obligations and the various plan assets, the funded status of the plans, and the amounts recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Changes in benefit obligation

                

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 17,107,000     $ 17,317,000  

Service cost

     672,000       699,000  

Interest cost

     1,033,000       1,096,000  

Actuarial loss (gain)

     498,000       (458,000 )

Settlement

     —         129,000  

Benefits paid

     (1,028,000 )     (1,676,000 )
    


 


Benefit obligation at end of year

     18,282,000       17,107,000  
    


 


Changes in plan assets

                

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

     15,202,000       12,614,000  

Actual return on assets

     1,157,000       2,064,000  

Employer contributions

     1,943,000       2,200,000  

Benefits paid

     (1,028,000 )     (1,676,000 )
    


 


Fair value of plan assets at end of year

     17,274,000       15,202,000  
    


 


Reconciliation of funded status

                

Underfunded status

     (1,008,000 )     (1,905,000 )

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

     2,550,000       1,993,000  

Unrecognized prior service costs

     420,000       592,000  
    


 


Prepaid benefit costs

   $ 1,962,000     $ 680,000  
    


 


     2004

    2003

 

Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheet

                

Prepaid benefit cost

   $ 2,886,000     $ 2,030,000  

Accrued benefit liability

     (924,000 )     (1,350,000 )
    


 


Net amount recognized

   $ 1,962,000     $ 680,000  
    


 


 

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Included in the above table are pension plans with aggregate projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets. The aggregate projected benefit obligations for these plans were $13,630,000 and $12,659,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The fair value of plan assets for these plans were $11,574,000 and $9,889,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Included in the above table are pension plans with aggregate accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets. The aggregate accumulated benefit obligations for these plans were $386,000 and $489,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. There are no plan assets for these plans at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

The following table presents the net periodic pension expense under our plans:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

   $ 672,000     $ 699,000     $ 760,000  

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

     1,033,000       1,096,000       1,075,000  

Expected return on plan assets

     (1,249,000 )     (1,002,000 )     (953,000 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     172,000       171,000       166,000  

Recognized actuarial loss (gain)

     34,000       214,000       61,000  

Settlement loss

     —         184,000       —    

Curtailment loss

     —         —         —    

Termination loss

     —         —         —    
    


 


 


Net periodic pension cost after curtailments and settlements

   $ 662,000     $ 1,362,000     $ 1,109,000  
    


 


 


 

The table below presents various assumptions used in determining the benefit obligation for each year and reflects the percentages for the various plans:

 

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31,

 

     Discount Rate

   

Long Term Rate

of Return


    Salary Scale

     Corp.

    Plants

    Corp.

    Plants

    Corp.

    Plants

2002

   6.50 %   6.50 %   8.00 %   8.00 %   4.50 %   N/A

2003

   6.20 %   6.20 %   8.00 %   8.00 %   4.50 %   N/A

2004

   6.00 %   6.00 %   8.00 %   8.00 %   4.50 %   N/A

 

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for years ending December 31,

 

     Discount Rate

    Long Term
Rate of Return


    Salary Scale

     Corp.

    Plants

    Corp.

    Plants

    Corp.

    Plants

2002

   7.25 %   7.25 %   8.00 %   8.00 %   4.50 %   N/A

2003

   6.50 %   6.50 %   8.00 %   8.00 %   4.50 %   N/A

2004

   6.20 %   6.20 %   8.00 %   8.00 %   4.50 %   N/A

 

The methodology used to determine the expected rate of return on the pension plan assets was based on review of actual returns in the past and consideration of projected returns based upon our projected asset allocation. Our strategy with respect to our investments in pension plan assets is to be invested with a long-term outlook. Therefore, the risk and return balance of our asset portfolio should reflect a long-term horizon. Our pension plan asset allocation at December 31, 2004, 2003 and target allocation for 2005 are as follows:

 

     Percentage of Plan
Assets at
December 31,


    Target
Allocation


 

Investment description


   2004

    2003

    2005

 

Equity securities

   70 %   69 %   60-70 %

Fixed income

   30     31     30-40  
    

 

 

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %
    

 

 

 

We plan to contribute approximately $500,000 to our defined benefit pension plans in 2005.

 

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The following table includes projected benefit payments for the years indicated:

 

Year


   Projected Benefit Payments

    2005    $ 356,000
    2006      1,051,000
    2007      820,000
    2008      713,000
    2009      925,000
2010-2014    $ 5,494,000

 

Defined Contribution Plan

 

The Company provides a defined contribution plan covering qualified employees. The plan includes a provision that allows employees to make pre-tax contributions under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan provides for the Company to make a guaranteed match equal to 25% of each employee’s eligible contributions. The plan also provides the Company with the option of making an additional discretionary contribution to the plan each year. The Company contributions for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002 were approximately $147,000, $148,000, and $159,000, respectively.

 

NOTE 10 – Quarterly Results for 2003 and 2004 (Unaudited):

 

     Quarter Ended

     March 31,
2003


  

June 30,

2003


   September 30,
2003


   December 31,
2003


Net sales

   $ 31,616,215    $ 34,927,189    $ 36,016,237    $ 34,766,700
    

  

  

  

Earnings before taxes on income

   $ 966,186    $ 1,983,065    $ 3,059,887    $ 2,794,772
    

  

  

  

Net earnings

   $ 626,186    $ 1,283,065    $ 1,989,887    $ 1,804,772
    

  

  

  

Basic net earnings per common share

   $ 0.09    $ 0.18    $ 0.28    $ 0.25
    

  

  

  

Diluted net earnings per common share

   $ 0.09    $ 0.18    $ 0.27    $ 0.24
    

  

  

  

Dividends per common share

   $ 0.14    $ 0.14    $ 0.14    $ 0.14
    

  

  

  

Average outstanding shares (Basic)

     7,150,767      7,138,115      7,225,470      7,339,229
    

  

  

  

Average outstanding shares (Diluted)

     7,257,680      7,230,412      7,407,808      7,539,446
    

  

  

  

     Quarter Ended

     March 31,
2004


  

June 30,

2004


   September 30,
2004


   December 31,
2004


Net sales

   $ 33,765,220    $ 35,400,090    $ 36,960,340    $ 37,441,823
    

  

  

  

Earnings before taxes on income

   $ 1,750,468    $ 1,937,333    $ 2,763,113    $ 1,687,773
    

  

  

  

Net earnings

   $ 1,130,468    $ 1,277,333    $ 1,803,113    $ 1,167,773
    

  

  

  

Basic net earnings per common share

   $ 0.15    $ 0.17    $ 0.24    $ 0.16
    

  

  

  

Diluted net earnings per common share

   $ 0.15    $ 0.17    $ 0.24    $ 0.15
    

  

  

  

Dividends per common share

   $ 0.14    $ 0.14    $ 0.14    $ 0.14
    

  

  

  

Average outstanding shares (Basic)

     7,394,795      7,442,372      7,464,850      7,448,794
    

  

  

  

Average outstanding shares (Diluted)

     7,588,541      7,634,435      7,592,817      7,559,328
    

  

  

  

 

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The independent registered public accounting firms made limited reviews of the 2003 and 2004 quarterly financial information in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Such reviews were substantially less in scope than examinations in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole, and accordingly, no such opinions were expressed.

 

NOTE 11 – Rentals:

 

Aggregate rent expense, including month-to-month rentals, approximated $751,000, $744,000, and $1,081,000, for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively. Long-term lease commitments totaling $724,000 are as follows: 2005 - $321,000; 2006 - $157,000; 2007 - $156,000; and 2008 - $90,000.

 

NOTE 12 – Contingencies:

 

The Company is involved in various legal actions and claims arising from the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows, or financial position.

 

NOTE 13 – Stock Options:

 

In 1993 the Company adopted an Incentive Stock Option Plan (the “1993 Plan”) under which options on 1,500,000 shares were reserved for grant. The 1993 Plan provided for the issuance of incentive stock options. This plan expired in February of 2003. In May, 2003, the stockholders of the Company approved the 2003 Incentive Stock and Awards Plan (the “2003 Plan”), authorizing the granting of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance stock and other stock based compensation. A total of 2,500,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment for expirations and cancellations of options outstanding from the 1993 Plan subsequent to its termination) have been reserved for issuance under the 2003 Plan. All options under both plans have been or will be granted at prices at least equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant. Options (all of which are exercisable at each respective year end) granted to date under both plans are exercisable in part or in full within five years of grant date. Proceeds from the exercise of options are credited to common stock to the extent of par value, and the balance is credited to additional paid-in capital. A summary of option transactions during the three years ended December 31, 2004 follows:

 

     No. of
Shares


    Weighted Average
Exercise Price


   Total

    Market
Price


Outstanding January 1, 2002

   849,550     $ 11.09    $ 9,418,560        

Granted

   214,500       9.66      2,071,511     $ 2,061,513

Exercised

   (114,350 )     8.65      (989,358 )      

Lapsed

   (105,575 )     13.89      (1,466,634 )      

Cancelled

   (46,325 )     11.79      (545,958 )      
    

 

  


     

Outstanding December 31, 2002

   797,800       10.64      8,487,823        

Granted

   274,025       12.46      3,414,223     $ 3,404,219

Exercised

   (274,325 )     9.74      (2,671,671 )      

Lapsed

   (112,050 )     15.76      (1,765,525 )      

Cancelled

   (23,275 )     10.81      (251,663 )      
    

 

  


     

Outstanding December 31, 2003

   662,175       10.73      7,103,553        

Granted

   244,475       14.97      3,659,918     $ 3,659,918

Exercised

   (160,900 )     10.31      (1,659,390 )      

Lapsed

   (22,175 )     17.30      (383,705 )      

Cancelled

   (13,750 )     13.36      (183,705 )      
    

 

  


     

Outstanding December 31, 2004

   709,825     $ 12.03    $ 8,536,671        
    

 

  


     

 

The weighted average fair value of options granted for each of the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $2.93, $2.18 and $1.48, respectively. At December 31, options available to issue were 468,675 for 2002, 2,412,725 for 2003 and 2,199,125 for 2004. Options have never been repriced by the Company in any year.

 

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The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2004:

 

Range of Exercise Price


   Shares

   Weighted Average Remaining
Contractual Life (Years)


   Weighted Average
Exercise Price


$8.13 to $10.45    237,225    1.8    $ 9.16
  11.02 to 13.78    231,025    3.5      12.35
  14.00 to 17.13    241,575    4.3      14.99
    
  
  

$8.13 to $17.13    709,825    3.2    $ 12.18
    
  
  

 

     Related Party
Options


   Other Options

Exercise price

           

2004

   $15.11    $ 14.60-$16.00

2003

   $11.02-$13.37    $ 11.02-$13.55

2002

   $10.45    $ 9.50 - $9.75

Market price

           

2004

   $15.11    $ 14.60-$16.00

2003

   $11.02-$12.15    $ 11.02-$13.55

2002

   $9.50    $ 9.50 - $9.75

Risk free interest rate

           

2004

   3.07%      3.07%-3.69%

2003

   2.80%-2.90%      2.80%-2.90%

2002

   4.30%      3.81% - 4.30%

Expected option life

   5 years      5-10 years

Expected volatility

           

2004

   29.2%      28.1%-30.2%

2003

   28.2%-28.3%      28.2%-29.3%

2002

   28.1%      28.1%-28.3%

Dividend yield

   4.5%      3.4%-4.5%

 

NOTE 14 – Earnings Per Share:

 

The following table represents a reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

     2004

   2003

   2002

Net Income used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share

   $ 5,378,687    $ 5,703,910    $ 593,085
    

  

  

Weighted average shares outstanding

     7,437,703      7,213,395      7,074,435

Common stock equivalents

     156,077      145,441      92,936
    

  

  

Total weighted average shares outstanding

     7,593,780      7,358,836      7,167,371
    

  

  

Earnings per share:

                    

Basic

   $ 0.72    $ 0.79    $ 0.08
    

  

  

Diluted

   $ 0.71    $ 0.78    $ 0.08
    

  

  

 

Options to purchase 225,075 shares of common stock at $14.60 to $15.11 per share were outstanding during the second half of 2004 but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares. The options, which expire between February 5, 2009 and July 22, 2009, were still outstanding at December 31, 2004.

 

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Table of Contents

NOTE 15 – Accrued Expenses:

 

     December 31,

     2004

   2003

Salaries, wages, commissions and vacation pay

   $ 1,311,731    $ 1,372,880

Other accrued expenses

     2,449,929      3,706,102
    

  

     $ 3,761,660    $ 5,078,982
    

  

 

NOTE 16 – Supplemental Information:

 

     Year Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

Income taxes paid

   $ 2,724,263    $ 2,351,386    $ 2,079,607
    

  

  

Interest paid

   $ 635,437    $ 695,334    $ 876,826
    

  

  

 

Non-cash investing transactions are excluded from the consolidated statement of cash flows. For the year ended December 31, 2004, non-cash activities included $990,329 in fixed asset acquisitions financed with long-term borrowings of the same amount. The years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 did not include any such non-cash transactions.

 

NOTE 17 – Stock Repurchase Plan:

 

In July 2002, the Board of Directors reset the common stock repurchase program authorization so that the Company may make future repurchases of up to 750,000 of its common shares. The Company reacquired and retired 94,950, 35,000, and 16,000 of its common shares in the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, with costs of $1,312,000, $366,000, and $178,300, respectively. 39,850 shares of the stock repurchased during 2004 were purchased from five members of senior management of the Company at $13.88 per share. At December 31, 2004, the Company had 604,050 shares remaining on its common stock repurchase authorization. Shares purchased under the share repurchase program are constructively retired and returned to unissued status. The Company considers several factors in determining when to make share repurchases, including among other things, the cost of equity, the after-tax cost of borrowing, the debt to total capitalization targets and the expected future cash needs. There is no expiration date or other restriction governing the period over which the Company can make its share repurchases under the program.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and

Shareholders of Superior Uniform Group, Inc.

 

We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and subsidiary (the “Company) as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and subsidiary as of December 31, 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

 

Tampa, Florida

March 4, 2005

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Directors and Shareholders

Superior Uniform Group, Inc.

Seminole, Florida

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes 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, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2003, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, as of January 1, 2002, the Company changed its method of accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets to conform to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 and recorded a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle as of January 1, 2002.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Certified Public Accountants

 

Tampa, Florida

February 27, 2004

 

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Table of Contents

PART II

 

Item 9.

  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

On June 8, 2004, with the approval of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, Superior Uniform Group, Inc., (the “Registrant”) engaged Grant Thornton LLP as its principal accountant to audit the financial statements of the Registrant. The Registrant dismissed Deloitte & Touche, LLP on June 8, 2004 as its principal accountant to audit the Registrant’s financial statements. Prior to the engagement of Grant Thornton, Deloitte & Touche LLP had served as the principal accountant to audit the Registrant’s financial statements for a period including the Registrant’s two most recent fiscal years. The decision to change accountants was approved by the Audit Committee of the Registrant’s Board of Directors.

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP audited the Registrant’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2003, and 2002, and issued its audit report dated February 27, 2004. During the two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period preceding June 8, 2004 (date of dismissal), no report of Deloitte & Touche LLP on the Registrant’s financial statements contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was one qualified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

 

During the two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period preceding June 8, 2004 (date of dismissal), there were no disagreements with Deloitte & Touche LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Deloitte & Touche LLP would have caused Deloitte & Touche LLP to make a reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its report on the Registrant’s financial statements for any such periods. Deloitte & Touche LLP has furnished the Registrant with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that it agrees with the above statements, which was filed as Exhibit 16 to a current report on Form 8-K filed on June 14, 2004.

Item 9A.

  

Controls and Procedures

 

Our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective and are designed to ensure that the information we are required to disclose is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the necessary time periods.

 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. As of the date of filing this Form 10-K, we are in the process of completing the testing of our internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires an annual management report of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting and for our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to attest to this report. On November 30, 2004, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued an exemptive order providing a 45-day extension for the filing of these reports and attestations by eligible companies. We elected to use this 45-day extension; therefore, this Form 10-K does not include these reports. These reports will be included in an amended Form 10-K, which we expect to file no later than April 30, 2005.

 

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2004, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Table of Contents
Item 9B.  

Other Information

 

NONE

 

PART III

 

Item 10.   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

    Gerald M. Benstock   

Chairman of the Board

and Executive Committee

    Michael Benstock    Chief Executive Officer
    Alan D. Schwartz    President
    Peter Benstock    Executive Vice President
    Manuel Gaetan, Ph.D. PE   

President, CEO,

MGR Enterprises, Inc.

    Robin Hensley    President, Raising the Bar
    Sidney Kirschner   

Retired, President and CEO,

Northside Hospital, Inc.

    Paul V. Mellini   

Chief Executive Officer and President,

Nature Coast Bank

    Arthur Wiener   

Retired, Chief Executive Officer,

Galey and Lord, Inc.

    EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
    Gerald M. Benstock   

Chairman of the Board

and Executive Committee

    Michael Benstock    Chief Executive Officer
    Alan D. Schwartz    President
    Peter Benstock    Executive Vice President
    Andrew D. Demott, Jr.   

Senior Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and Treasurer

    Richard T. Dawson    Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
   

 

The remaining information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Item 11.

 

 

Executive Compensation

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Item 12.

 

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Information regarding equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to the information set forth in Item 5 of Part I of this report.

 

Item 13.

 

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

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Table of Contents
Item 14.  

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

PART IV

 

Item 15.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K     
               Page

(a)    1.         Consolidated Financial Statements     
               The following financial statements of Superior Uniform Group, Inc. are included in Part II, Item 8:     
                   

Consolidated statements of earnings - years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002

   12
                   

Consolidated balance sheets - December 31, 2004 and 2003

   13
                   

Consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity - years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002

   14
                   

Consolidated statements of cash flows - years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002

   15
                   

Notes to consolidated financial statements

   16-27
                   

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms

   28-29
(a)    2.         Financial Statement Schedules     
              

All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, or not required, or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

    
(a)    3.         Exhibits     
                   

See Exhibit Index

    
(b)              Reports on Form 8-K:     
                   

On October 25, 2004, the Company filed a report on Form 8-K containing a press release announcing its earnings for the third quarter of 2004.

    
(c)              See (a) 3. above.     
(d)              None     

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

SUPERIOR UNIFORM GROUP, INC.

/s/ Michael Benstock


BY: Michael. Benstock

(Chief Executive Officer and Principal

Executive Officer)

/s/ Andrew D. Demott, Jr.


BY: Andrew D. Demott, Jr.

(Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and

Principal Financial Officer)

 

DATE: March 16, 2005

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

/s/ Gerald M. Benstock


     

/s/ Alan D. Schwartz


Gerald M. Benstock, March 16, 2005       Alan D. Schwartz, March 16, 2005
(Chairman)       (Director)

/s/ Peter Benstock


     

/s/ Robin Hensley


Peter Benstock, March 16, 2005       Robin Hensley, March 16, 2005
(Director)       (Director)

/s/ Manuel Gaetan


     

/s/ Sidney Kirschner


Manuel Gaetan, March 16, 2005       Sidney Kirschner, March 16, 2005
(Director)       (Director)

/s/ Arthur Wiener


     

/s/ Paul Mellini


Arthur Wiener, March 16, 2005       Paul Mellini, March 16, 2005
(Director)       (Director)

 

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SUPERIOR UNIFORM GROUP, INC.
EXHIBIT INDEX

(a)

   3.   Exhibits            
              Exhibit No.:

    

Description


                   3.1      Amended and restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Interim Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.
                   3.2      By-Laws of the Registrant filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s 1998 Interim Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.
                   4.1      Credit Agreement dated March 26, 1999, between the Registrant and First Union, filed with the Commission as Exhibit 4.1 in Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
                   4.2      Credit Agreement dated October 16, 2000, between the Registrant and First Union, filed with the Commission as Exhibit 4.2 in Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
                   4.3      Second amendment to Loan Agreement and Other Loan Documents between Registrant and First Union filed with the Commission as Exhibit 4.1 and Renewal of Revolving Credit Note filed with the Commission as Exhibit 4.2 in Registrant’s 2001 Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
                   4.4      Third amendment to Loan Agreement and Other Loan Documents between Registrant and Wachovia and Renewal of Revolving Credit Note.
                   10.1      Description of the informal bonus plan for officers of the Registrant filed as Exhibit 10 to the Registrant’s 1992 Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference.
                   10.2      1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Registrant filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s August 18, 1993 Registration Statement on Form S-8 and incorporated herein by reference.
                   10.3      1994 Superior Surgical Mfg. Co., Inc. Supplemental Pension Plan filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s 1994 Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference.
                   10.4      2003 Incentive Stock and Awards Plan of the Registrant filed as Exhibit 4 to the Registrant’s June 6, 2003 Registration Statement on Form S-8 and incorporated herein by reference.
                   13.      Forms 10-Q for the first three quarters of 2004 - herein incorporated by reference to Registrant’s filings thereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
                   14      Code of Ethics filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference.
                   21.      Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
                   23.1      Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Grant Thornton LLP
                   23.2      Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Deloitte & Touche LLP
                   31.1      Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.SC Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
                   31.2      Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.SC Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
                   32.1      Written Statement of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.SC Section 1350
                   32.2      Written Statement of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.SC Section 1350

 

 

34