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SUPERIOR GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)

Form 10K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008

 

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

Commission File Number 1-5869

 

 

SUPERIOR UNIFORM GROUP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Florida   11-1385670

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

10055 Seminole Blvd.

Seminole, Florida 33772

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (727) 397-9611

 

 

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

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, par value $.001 per share   Listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market

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

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

Large accelerated filer  ¨    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller Reporting Company  x

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

At June 30, 2008, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common shares held by non-affiliates, computed by reference to the last sales price ($8.71) as reported by the NASDAQ Stock Market, was approximately $39.1 million.

The number of shares outstanding as of February 23, 2009 was 6,049,815 shares.

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

Portions of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission not later than 120 days after the conclusion of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, relating to its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 1, 2009, are incorporated by reference to furnish the information required by Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III and portions of the information required by Item 5 of Part II.

Exhibit index may be found on Page 42.

 

 

 


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 subsidiaries, 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; the availability of manufacturing materials and those risks discussed under Item 1A of this report entitled “Risk Factors.” 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®, and UniVogue™ – manufactures and sells a wide range of uniforms, career apparel and accessories for the hospital and healthcare fields; hotels; fast food and other restaurants; and public safety, industrial, and commercial markets. There are no significant distinct segments or lines of business. In excess of 95% of Superior’s 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 identity apparel, 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;

 

   

Retail stores;

 

   

General and special purpose industrial uses;

 

   

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

 

   

Public and private safety and security organizations; and

 

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Miscellaneous service uses.

 

   

Miscellaneous products directly related to:

 

   

Uniforms and service apparel specified above (e.g. boots and sheets); and

 

   

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.

Uniforms and service apparel account for in excess of 95% of net sales; no other single class of product listed above accounts for more than 10% of net sales.

Competition

Superior competes with more than three dozen firms, including divisions of larger corporations. Superior competes with national and regional manufacturers which include publicly held companies such as Cintas Corporation, Unifirst Corporation and G&K Services, as well as ARAMARK – a division of privately-held ARAMARK Corporation. Superior also competes with local firms in most major metropolitan areas. The nature and degree of competition varies with the customer and the 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. We believe that the strength of our brands and marketing, coupled with the quality of our products, allow us to compete effectively.

Customers

Superior has a substantial number of customers, the largest of which accounted for approximately 8% of its 2008 net 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 recurring firm orders being processed and filled.

Superior normally completes shipments of orders from stock within one week after their receipt. As of February 20, 2009, the backlog of all orders that we believe to be firm was approximately $4.8 million, compared to approximately $6.5 million as of February 23, 2008.

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. Superior's principal raw materials are textile products. In 2008 and 2007, approximately 63% and 62%, respectively, of our products were obtained from suppliers located in Central America. Superior does not believe that it is dependent upon any of its suppliers, despite the concentration of its purchasing from a few sources, as other suppliers of the same or similar products are readily available. However, if Superior is unable to continue to obtain its products from Central America it could significantly disrupt Superior’s business.

Intellectual Property

Superior owns and uses several trademarks and service marks relating to its brands that have significant value and are instrumental to its ability to market its products. Superior’s most significant trademark is its mark "Fashion Seal Uniforms" (presently registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office until August 8, 2017). The Fashion Seal Uniforms trademark is critically important to the marketing and operation of Superior’s business, as 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, and 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.

 

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Employees

Superior employed 534 persons, of which 525 were full-time employees, as of December 31, 2008.

Securities Exchange Act Reports

The Company maintains an internet website at the following address: www.superioruniformgroup.com. The information on the Company's website is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 10-K.

We make available on or through our website certain reports and amendments to those reports that we file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). These include our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K, and Section 16 filings. We make this information available on our website free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file the information with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our business, operations and financial condition are subject to various risks, and many of those risks are driven by factors that we cannot control or predict. The following discussion addresses those risks that management believes are the most significant, and you should take these risks into account in evaluating us or any investment decision involving us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known or that we currently believe to be less significant may also adversely affect us.

Risks Relating To Our Industry

We face intense competition within our industry and our revenue may decrease if we are not able to respond to this competition accordingly.

Customers in the uniform and corporate identity apparel industry choose suppliers primarily based upon the quality, price and breadth of products offered. We encounter competition from a number of companies in the geographic areas we serve. Major competitors include publicly held companies such as Cintas Corporation, Unifirst Corporation and G&K Services, as well as ARAMARK – a division of privately-held ARAMARK Corporation. We also compete with a multitude of regional and local competitors that vary by market. If our existing or future competitors seek to gain or retain market share by reducing prices, we may be required to lower our prices, which would adversely affect our operating results. In addition, our competitors generally compete with us for acquisition candidates, which can increase the price for acquisitions and reduce the number of acquisition candidates available to us.

Regional or national economic slowdowns and high unemployment levels will likely have an adverse effect on our revenues and operating results.

National or regional economic slowdowns or certain industry specific slowdowns resulting in higher unemployment levels and overall weak economic conditions generally result in reductions of customers’ employees in uniform that, in turn, adversely affect our revenues. If we are unable to offset this effect through the addition of new customers (through acquisition or otherwise) or the penetration of existing customers with a broader mix of product and service offerings, our revenue growth rates will be negatively impacted. Events or conditions in a particular geographic area, such as adverse weather and other factors, could also hurt our operating results. While we do not believe that our exposure is greater than that of our competitors, we could be adversely affected by increases in the prices of fabric, natural gas, gasoline, wages, employee benefits, insurance costs and other components of product cost unless we can recover such increases through increases in the prices for our products and services. Competitive and general economic conditions might limit our ability and that of our competitors to increase prices to cover such increases in our product cost.

 

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Volatility in the global economy could adversely affect results.

Global financial markets have been experiencing an extreme disruption in recent months, including, among other things, volatility in security prices, diminished liquidity and credit availability, rating downgrades of certain investments and declining valuations of others. However, there can be no assurance that there will not be further change, which could lead to challenges in our business and negatively impact our financial results. The current tightening of credit in financial markets adversely affects the ability of our customers and suppliers to obtain financing for significant purchases and operations and could result in a decrease in orders and spending for our products and services. We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of the current disruption in financial markets and adverse economic conditions and the effects they may have on our business and financial condition.

The uniform and corporate identity apparel industry is subject to pricing pressures that may cause us to lower the prices we charge for our products and adversely affect our financial performance.

Many of our competitors source their product requirements from developing countries to achieve a lower cost operating environment, possibly in environments with lower costs than our offshore facilities, and those manufacturers may use these cost savings to reduce prices. To remain competitive, we must adjust our prices from time to time in response to these industry-wide pricing pressures. Moreover, increased customer demands for allowances, incentives and other forms of economic support could reduce our gross margins and affect our profitability. Our financial performance may be negatively affected by these pricing pressures if we are forced to reduce our prices and we cannot reduce our product costs or if our product costs increase and we cannot increase our prices.

Increases in the price of raw materials used to manufacture our products could materially increase our costs and decrease our profitability.

The principal fabrics used in our business are made from cotton, wool, silk, synthetic and cotton-synthetic blends. The prices we pay for these fabrics are dependent on the market price for the raw materials used to produce them, primarily cotton and chemical components of synthetic fabrics. These raw materials are subject to price volatility caused by weather, supply conditions, government regulations, economic climate, currency exchange rates, and other unpredictable factors. Fluctuations in petroleum prices may also influence the prices of related items such as chemicals, dyestuffs and polyester yarn. Any raw material price increase could increase our cost of sales and decrease our profitability unless we are able to pass higher prices on to our customers. In addition, if one or more of our competitors is able to reduce their production costs by taking advantage of any reductions in raw material prices or favorable sourcing agreements, we may face pricing pressures from those competitors and may be forced to reduce our prices or face a decline in net sales, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Changing international trade regulation and the elimination of quotas on imports of textiles and apparel may increase competition in our industry. Future quotas, duties or tariffs may increase our costs or limit the amount of products that we can import.

A portion of our operations are subject to quotas imposed by bilateral textile agreements between the countries from which we procure raw materials and the countries where our products are manufactured. These quotas limit the amount of products that may be imported from a particular country.

In addition, the countries in which our products are manufactured or into which they are imported may from time to time impose additional new quotas, duties, tariffs and requirements as to where raw materials must be purchased, additional workplace regulations, or other restrictions on our imports or adversely modify existing restrictions. Adverse changes in these costs and restrictions could harm our business. We cannot assure you that future trade agreements will not provide our competitors an advantage over us, or increase our costs, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our operations are also subject to various international trade agreements and regulations such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Caribbean Basin Initiative, and the activities and regulations of the World Trade Organization (“WTO”). Generally, these trade agreements benefit our business by reducing or eliminating the duties and/or quotas assessed on products manufactured in a particular country. However, trade agreements can also impose requirements that negatively affect our business, such as limiting the countries from which we can purchase raw materials and setting quotas on products that may be imported into the United States from a particular country. In addition, increased competition from developing countries could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

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The corporate identity apparel and uniform industry is subject to changing fashion trends and if we misjudge consumer preferences, the image of one or more of our brands may suffer and the demand for our products may decrease.

We believe our products are, in general, less subject to fashion trends compared to many other apparel manufacturers because we manufacture and sell uniforms, corporate identity apparel and other accessories. However, the apparel industry, including uniforms and corporate identity apparel is subject to shifting customer demands and evolving fashion trends and our success is also dependent upon our ability to anticipate and promptly respond to these changes. Failure to anticipate, identify or promptly react to changing trends or styles may result in decreased demand for our products, as well as excess inventories and markdowns, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. In addition, if we misjudge consumer preferences, our brand image may be impaired.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS

Our success depends upon the continued protection of our trademarks and other intellectual property rights and we may be forced to incur substantial costs to maintain, defend, protect and enforce our intellectual property rights.

Our registered and common law trademarks, as well as certain of our licensed trademarks, have significant value and are instrumental to our ability to market our products. While we own and use several trademarks, our mark “Fashion Seal Uniforms” (presently registered until August 8, 2017) is important to our business, as more than 50% of our products are sold under that name. We cannot assure you that third parties will not assert claims against any such intellectual property or that we will be able to successfully resolve all such claims. In addition, although we seek international protection of our intellectual property, the laws of some foreign countries may not allow us to protect, defend or enforce our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. We could also incur substantial costs to defend legal actions relating to use of our intellectual property, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, some of our license agreements with third parties will expire by their terms over the next several years. There can be no assurance that we will be able to negotiate and conclude extensions of such agreements on similar economic terms or at all.

Our customers may cancel or decrease the quantity of their orders, which could negatively impact our operating results.

Although we have long-standing customer relationships, we do not have long-term contracts with many of our customers. Sales to many of our customers are on an order-by-order basis. If we cannot fill customers’ orders on time, orders may be cancelled and relationships with customers may suffer, which could have an adverse effect on us, especially if the relationship is with a major customer. Furthermore, if any of our customers experience a significant downturn in their business, or fail to remain committed to our programs or brands, the customer may reduce or discontinue purchases from us. The reduction in the amount of our products purchased by several of our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

In addition, some of our customers have experienced significant changes and difficulties, including consolidation of ownership, increased centralization of buying decisions, restructurings, bankruptcies and liquidations. A significant adverse change in a customer relationship or in a customer’s financial position could cause us to limit or discontinue business with that customer, require us to assume more credit risk relating to that customer’s receivables or limit our ability to collect amounts related to previous purchases by that customer, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We have significant pension obligations with respect to our employees and our available cash flow may be adversely affected in the event that payments became due under any pension plans that are unfunded or underfunded.

A portion of our active and retired employees participate in defined benefit pension plans under which we are obligated to provide prescribed levels of benefits regardless of the value of the underlying assets, if any, of the applicable pension plan. If our obligations under a plan are unfunded or underfunded, we will have to use cash flow from operations and other sources to pay our obligations either as they become due or over some shorter funding period. As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately $7.1 million in unfunded or underfunded obligations related to our pension plans.

 

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We may undertake acquisitions to expand our business, which may pose risks to our business.

We selectively pursue acquisitions from time to time as part of our growth strategy. We compete with others within our industry for suitable acquisition candidates. This competition may increase the price for acquisitions and reduce the number of acquisition candidates available to us. As a result, acquisition candidates may not be available to us in the future on favorable terms. Even if we are able to acquire businesses on favorable terms, managing growth through acquisition is a difficult process that includes integration and training of personnel, combining plant and operating procedures, and additional matters related to the integration of acquired businesses within our existing organization. Unanticipated issues related to integration may result in additional expense or in disruption to our operations, either of which could negatively impact our ability to achieve anticipated benefits. While we believe we will be able to fully integrate acquired businesses, we can give no assurance that we will be successful in this regard.

We are subject to local laws and regulations.

We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting our business, including those promulgated under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Textile Fiber Product Identification Act, the rules and regulations of the Consumer Products Safety Commission and various labor, workplace and related laws, as well as environmental laws and regulations. Failure to comply with such laws may expose us to potential liability and have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

Shortages of supply of sourced goods from suppliers or interruptions in our manufacturing could adversely affect our results of operations.

We utilize multiple supply sources and manufacturing facilities. However, an unexpected interruption in any of the sources or facilities could temporarily adversely affect our results of operations until alternate sources or facilities can be secured. In 2008 and 2007 approximately 63% and 62%, respectively, of our products were obtained from suppliers located in Central America. If we are unable to continue to obtain our products from Central America, it could significantly disrupt our business. Because we source products in Central America, we are affected by economic conditions in Central America, including increased duties, possible employee turnover, labor unrest and lack of developed infrastructure.

Our business may be impacted by adverse weather.

Our corporate headquarters and a substantial number of our customers are located in Florida. During fiscal 2005, four hurricanes made land-fall in Florida, with Hurricane Wilma moving directly through South Florida and causing significant infrastructure damage and disruption to the area. Sales of our products were adversely affected by these and the other Gulf Coast hurricanes during fiscal 2005. While we were not impacted by any hurricane related events during fiscal 2007 or 2008, because we are located in Florida, which is a hurricane-sensitive area, we are particularly susceptible to the risk of damage to, or total destruction of, our headquarters and surrounding transportation infrastructure caused by a hurricane. In addition, similar disruptions to the business of our customers located in areas affected by hurricanes may adversely impact sales of our products.

Certain of our existing stockholders have significant control.

At December 31, 2008, our executive officers and certain of their family members collectively beneficially owned 34.5% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, our executive officers and certain of their family members have significant influence over the election of our Board of Directors, the approval or disapproval of any other matters requiring stockholder approval, and the affairs and policies of our company.

The success of our business depends on our ability to attract and retain qualified employees.

We need talented and experienced personnel in a number of areas including our core business activities. An inability to retain and attract qualified personnel, especially our key executives, could harm our business.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

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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 material manufacturing and distribution locales are rented for nominal amounts due to cities providing incentives for businesses 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 Company; 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 requiring payment of only a nominal rental fee; used for manufacturing, warehousing, and shipping; lease expiring in 2011.

 

   

Tampa, Florida – Plant of approximately 15,000 square feet, leased from private owners; used for warehousing, shipping and customer service for customers located in the greater Tampa Bay area; lease expiring in 2010.

 

   

McGehee, Arkansas – Plant of approximately 26,000 square feet, leased from the City of McGehee requiring payment of only a nominal rental fee; used for storage; lease expiring in 2009.

 

   

San Salvador, El Salvador – Office space of approximately 16,000 square feet; owned by The Office Gurus, a subsidiary of Superior Office Solutions and Fashion Seal Corp., wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company; used as office space.

 

   

Miscellaneous – Atlanta, Georgia: leased warehouse and sales office of approximately 10,000 square feet – lease expiring in 2010; Lexington, Mississippi: facility used for warehousing and shipping, approximately 40,000 square feet – owned by the Company; Hamburg, Arkansas: approximately 18,000 square feet, used for shipping – owned by the Company; Dallas, Texas: leased sales office of approximately 2,055 square feet – lease expiring in 2010.

 

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

None

PART II

 

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

The principal market on which Superior's common shares are traded is the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “SGC” said shares have also been admitted to unlisted trading on the Midwest Stock Exchange.

The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices and cash dividends declared on our common stock by quarter for 2008 and 2007 as reported in the consolidated transaction reporting system of the NASDAQ Stock Market (2008) and American Stock Exchange (2007-2008).

 

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     QUARTER ENDED
     2008    2007
     Mar. 31    June 30    Sept. 30    Dec. 31    Mar. 31    June 30    Sept. 30    Dec. 31

Common Shares:

                       

High

   $ 10.64    $ 10.16    $ 10.82    $ 10.60    $ 13.54    $ 13.46    $ 13.30    $ 13.60

Low

   $ 8.13    $ 8.21    $ 8.46    $ 6.80    $ 12.35    $ 12.35    $ 10.41    $ 9.38

Dividends (total for 2008-$0.54; 2007-$0.54)

   $ 0.135    $ 0.135    $ 0.135    $ 0.135    $ 0.135    $ 0.135    $ 0.135    $ 0.135

We declared cash dividends of $0.135 per share in each of the quarters for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2007 and 2008. We intend to pay regular quarterly distributions to our common stockholders, the amount of which may change from time to time. Future distributions will be declared and paid at the discretion of our Board of Directors, and will depend upon cash generated by operating activities, our financial condition, capital requirements, and such other factors as our Board of Directors deem relevant.

On February 23, 2009, we had 179 shareholders of record and the closing price for our common shares on the NASDAQ Stock Market was $6.90 per share.

Information regarding the Company’s equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to the information set forth in Item 12 of Part III of this report under the section entitled “Equity Compensation Plans.”

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

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, 2008.

 

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, 2008 to October 31, 2008)

   341,712    $ 9.24    341,712   

Month #2

(November 1, 2008 to November 30, 2008)

   8,122    $ 9.50    8,122   

Month #3

(December 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008)

   11,110    $ 8.24    11,110   

TOTAL

   360,944    $ 9.22    360,944    588,615

 

(1) In May 2006, the Board of Directors reset the common stock repurchase program authorization so that the Company could make future repurchases of up to 750,000 of its common shares. Through July 31, 2008, the Company repurchased 625,881 shares of its common stock under such repurchase program. On August 1, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors reset the common stock repurchase program authorization to allow for the repurchase of 1,000,000 additional shares of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. There is no expiration date or other restriction governing the period over which we can make our share repurchases under the program. All such purchases were open market transactions.

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following selected data is 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.

Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

Years Ended December 31,

 

     2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  

Net sales

   $ 123,745,201     $ 120,457,891     $ 123,714,773     $ 128,068,824     $ 135,844,749  

Costs and expenses:

          

Cost of goods sold

     83,402,581       80,837,592       84,385,588       89,674,453       91,025,370  

Selling and administrative expenses

     34,263,750       33,784,794       33,983,449       35,920,705       35,531,559  

Goodwill impairment loss

     1,617,411       —         —         —         —    

Interest expense

     321,126       329,674       451,026       610,781       624,199  

Gain on sale of facility

     —         —         —         (651,944 )     —    
                                        
     119,604,868       114,952,060       118,820,063       125,553,995       127,181,128  
                                        

Earnings from continuing operations before taxes on income

     4,140,333       5,505,831       4,894,710       2,514,829       8,663,621  

Taxes on income

     1,850,000       1,810,000       1,830,000       600,000       2,940,000  
                                        

Earnings from continuing operations

     2,290,333       3,695,831       3,064,710       1,914,829       5,723,621  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes

     (156,560 )     (1,146,503 )     (867,443 )     (670,644 )     (344,934 )
                                        

Net earnings

   $ 2,133,773     $ 2,549,328     $ 2,197,267     $ 1,244,185     $ 5,378,687  
                                        

Per Share Data:

          

Basic

          

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.35     $ 0.56     $ 0.45     $ 0.26     $ 0.77  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes

     (0.02 )     (0.18 )     (0.13 )     (0.09 )     (0.05 )
                                        

Net earnings

   $ 0.33     $ 0.38     $ 0.32     $ 0.17     $ 0.72  
                                        

Diluted

          

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.35     $ 0.55     $ 0.45     $ 0.26     $ 0.76  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes

     (0.02 )     (0.17 )     (0.13 )     (0.09 )     (0.05 )
                                        

Net earnings

   $ 0.33     $ 0.38     $ 0.32     $ 0.17     $ 0.71  
                                        

Cash dividends per common share

   $ 0.54     $ 0.54     $ 0.54     $ 0.54     $ 0.54  
                                        

At year end:

          

Total assets

   $ 79,591,277     $ 87,903,512     $ 85,158,774     $ 97,261,057     $ 107,954,243  
                                        

Long-term debt

   $ 3,379,000     $ 2,445,604     $ 2,201,806     $ 3,979,540     $ 5,662,569  
                                        

Working capital

   $ 55,801,578     $ 59,251,139     $ 56,411,002     $ 58,922,055     $ 61,255,572  
                                        

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 60,694,873     $ 72,445,430     $ 72,102,191     $ 81,524,754     $ 87,068,494  
                                        

 

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

OVERVIEW: In 2008, net sales increased by 2.7% in comparison to 2007 and in 2007, net sales decreased by 2.6% in comparison to 2006. The increase in net sales in 2008 was primarily attributed to several large new customer uniform programs that were distributed in 2008. The positive impact of these new programs was offset by softer demand from existing customers due to the current economic downturn occurring in the United States. Our customers are reducing employee counts as a result of the current environment and this is expected to continue to negatively impact sales results in 2009.

OPERATIONS: In 2008, net sales increased 2.7% in comparison to 2007. The increase in net sales is primarily attributed to several large new customer uniform programs that were distributed in 2008 offset by softer demand from existing customers. In 2007, net sales decreased 2.6% in comparison to 2006. The decrease in net sales was primarily attributed to the elimination of the uniform program at one of our major customers in the fourth quarter of 2006. This resulted in a decrease of approximately $2,917,000 in net sales for 2007. During 2007, we were awarded additional business from this customer that began shipping late in the second quarter. This resulted in net sales of approximately $1,422,000 in 2007. Additionally, demand from existing customers was lower than expected and more than offset the new business generated in 2007. The remainder of the decrease was attributed to customers lost as a result of the 2005 implementation of our new warehouse management system that resulted in disruptions to our service levels with customers during the first half of 2005. Certain of these lost customers were still winding down purchases from the Company during the first half of 2006.

As a percentage of sales, cost of goods sold was 67.4% in 2008, and 67.1% in 2007. The percentage increase in 2008 as compared to 2007 is primarily attributed to an increase in direct product costs as a percentage of sales (0.9%) offset by the impact of more efficient operations in our value added services area and spreading our overhead over higher net sales (-0.6%). The Company’s gross margins may not be comparable with other entities, since some entities include all of the costs related to their distribution network in cost of goods sold. As disclosed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company includes a portion of the costs associated with its distribution network in selling and administrative expenses. The amounts included in selling and administrative expenses for each of the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, were $7,353,914, and $7,323,836.

As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative expenses were 27.7% in 2008 and 28.0% in 2007. The decrease in percentage in 2008 as compared to 2007 is attributed to increased sales volume (-0.7%) offset by miscellaneous increases in other selling and administrative expenses in excess of the percentage increase in net sales.

In connection with the preparation of the Company’s audited financial statements for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2008, the Company completed its annual evaluation of goodwill in accordance with FAS No. 142. As a result, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment loss of $1,617,411 in the fourth quarter of 2008. The decline in fair value that resulted in the impairment was primarily attributed to the significant economic downturn currently being experienced in the United States. After recognition of this impairment loss, there is no goodwill remaining on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008.

Interest expense as a percentage of sales was 0.3% in 2008 and 2007.

The effective income tax rate in 2008 was 44.7% and in 2007 was 32.9%. The increase in 2008 is primarily due to the non-deductible portion of the goodwill impairment loss (6.1%) and the impact of the change in unrecognized tax benefits (6.8%). The 2007 tax provision included the results of an audit of our federal tax returns for 2004 and 2005 as well as the expiration of the statute of limitations on various other uncertain tax positions. There were no significant amounts of this nature included in the 2008 tax provision.

The Company reported losses from discontinued operations of 0.1% and 1.0% of sales for the years 2008 and 2007, respectively. As discussed above, during the fourth quarter of 2007, we made a decision to divest Sope Creek. At the beginning of February 2008, we sold the operations of Sope Creek. As a result, we classified the assets of Sope Creek as held for sale at December 31, 2007 and marked them down to their estimated fair value less selling costs. Additionally, we reclassified the results of operations of Sope Creek to loss from discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of earnings. We do not expect any further losses from the discontinued operations of Sope Creek.

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.

 

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Accounts receivable decreased 6.5% from $18,670,466 on December 31, 2007 to $17,464,279 as of December 31, 2008. The decrease is primarily attributed to improvement in the aging of customer accounts as well as a decline in net sales during the fourth quarter of 2008.

Inventories decreased 6.6% from $46,463,662 on December 31, 2007 to $43,410,146 as of December 31, 2008. The decrease is primarily attributed to increases in inventory levels in 2007 in preparation for implementing several large new customer programs during the first part of 2008.

Prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased 26.5% from $3,525,114 on December 31, 2007 to $2,590,350 as of December 31, 2008. $505,000 of this decrease is attributed to a decrease in deposits for inventory paid for in advance of receipt and $280,000 is due to a decrease in refundable income taxes in the current year. The remainder of the fluctuation is attributed to a decrease in prepaid general expenses.

Other assets decreased 88.2% from $2,204,434 on December 31, 2007 to $260,039 as of December 31, 2008. This decrease is primarily attributed to the decrease in the amount of pension assets recognized in other assets of $1,937,000.

Accounts payable decreased 30.3% from $6,635,412 on December 31, 2007 to $4,626,789 on December 31, 2008 primarily due to lower inventory purchases in the current year.

Other current liabilities decreased 1.2% from $2,549,680 on December 31, 2007 to $2,518,956 on December 31, 2008.

Long-term pension liability increased 664.3% from $923,184 on December 31, 2007 to $7,056,055 on December 31, 2008 as a result of the significant decline in the fair value of the pension plan assets in the current year. The Company plans to contribute $1,000,000 to its defined benefit pension plans in 2009.

Cash flows related to discontinued operations are not segregated in the statements of cash flows. Cash flows from operating activities related to discontinued operations were insignificant in 2008 and were approximately $155,000 in 2007. Cash flows used in investing and financing activities for discontinued operations were insignificant in 2008 and 2007.

The working capital of the Company at December 31, 2008 was approximately $55,802,000 and the working capital ratio was 8.2:1. At December 31, 2007 the working capital of the Company was approximately $59,251,000 and the working capital ratio was 6.5:1. 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 2008, the Company's percentage of total debt to total debt and equity was 6.2%. In 2007 the Company's percentage of total debt to total debt and equity was 5.2%.

The Company has an on-going capital expenditure program designed to maintain and improve its facilities. Capital expenditures were approximately $2,271,000 and $1,163,000, in the years 2008 and 2007, respectively.

During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company paid cash dividends of approximately $3,494,000 and $3,591,000, respectively, resulting from a quarterly dividend of $.135 per share. In May 2006, the Board of Directors reset the common stock repurchase program authorization so that the Company could make future repurchases of up to 750,000 of its common shares. Through July 31, 2008, the Company repurchased 625,881 shares of its common stock under such repurchase program. On August 1, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors reset the common stock repurchase program authorization to allow for the repurchase of 1,000,000 additional shares of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. The Company reacquired and retired 617,096 shares and 0 shares of its common stock in the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, with approximate costs of $5,712,000, and $0, respectively. At December 31, 2008, the Company had 588,615 shares remaining on its 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.

 

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In 2008, cash and cash equivalents decreased by approximately $637,000. This decrease is attributed to approximately $10,426,000 in cash provided from operations, offset by approximately $1,919,000 utilized in investing activities, as well as approximately $9,144,000 utilized in financing activities. Investing activities consisted primarily of capital expenditures, including approximately $1,268,000 spent to purchase an office building in El Salvador. Financing activities consisted primarily of dividends paid and the repurchase of approximately $5,712,000 of Company stock, as discussed above, which were offset by debt proceeds of approximately $33,000.

In 2007, cash and cash equivalents decreased by approximately $3,151,000. This decrease was attributed to approximately $839,000 in cash provided from operations, offset by approximately $1,004,000 utilized in investing activities, as well as approximately $2,986,000 utilized in financing activities. Investing activities consisted primarily of capital expenditures. Financing activities consisted primarily of dividends paid, as discussed above, which were offset by debt proceeds of approximately $17,000 and approximately $562,000 in proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options.

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 (4.4% at December 31, 2008). 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, 2008, $3,379,000 was outstanding on the revolver and approximately $85,000 was outstanding under letters of credit. On March 27, 2001, on April 27, 2004, and again on June 25, 2007, 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, 2010. 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 contain restrictive provisions concerning liabilities to tangible net worth ratio (.75:1), other borrowings, capital expenditures, working capital ratio (2.5:1), and fixed charges coverage ratio (2.5:1). The Company is in full compliance with all terms, conditions and covenants of the various credit agreements.

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 2009.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS:

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.

 

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Our critical accounting estimates are those that we believe require our most significant judgments about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. A discussion of our critical accounting estimates, the underlying judgments and uncertainties used to make them and the likelihood that materially different estimates would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions is as follows:

Allowance for Losses on Accounts Receivable

These allowances are based on both recent trends of certain customers estimated to be a greater credit risk as well as general trends of the entire customer pool. 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. An additional impairment in value of one percent of net accounts receivable would require an increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts and would result in additional expense of approximately $175,000. The Company’s concentration of risk is also monitored and at year-end 2008, the largest outstanding customer account balance was $2,357,000 and the five largest account balances totaled $5,857,000.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Judgments and estimates are used in determining the likelihood that new 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.

Goodwill Impairment

The Company had $1,617,000 of goodwill on its consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2008, prior to the completion of our year-end impairment testing. The review of fair value involves judgment and estimates of discount rates, transaction multiples and future cash flows for the reporting unit that may be impacted by future sales and operating results for the reporting unit, market conditions and economic conditions. The Company analyzed various discount rates, transaction multiples and cash flows for the reporting unit. As a result of these calculations, we determined that the remaining goodwill was fully impaired and the Company took a charge as a goodwill impairment loss in the amount of $1,617,000. There is no goodwill remaining on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2008.

Insurance

The Company self-insures for certain obligations related to health insurance 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.

Pensions

The Company’s pension obligations are determined using estimates including those related to discount rates, asset values and changes in compensation. The discount rates used for the Company’s pension plans of 5.99% to 6.13%, were determined based on the Citigroup Pension Yield Curve. This rate was selected as the best estimate of the rate at which the benefit obligations could be effectively settled on the measurement date taking into account the nature and duration of the benefit obligations of the plan using high-quality fixed-income investments currently available (rated AA or better) and expected to be available during the period to maturity of the benefits. The 8% expected return on plan assets was determined based on historical long-term investment returns as well as future expectations given target investment asset allocations and current economic conditions. The 4.5% rate of compensation increase represents the long-term assumption for expected increases in salaries among continuing active participants accruing benefits under the plans. In 2008, a reduction in the expected return on plan assets of 0.25% would have resulted in additional expense of approximately $45,000, while a reduction in the discount rate of 0.25% would have resulted in additional expense of approximately $90,000 and would have reduced the funded status by $730,000 for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans. Interest rates and pension plan valuations may vary significantly based on worldwide economic conditions and asset investment decisions.

Income Taxes

The Company is required to estimate and record income taxes payable for federal and state jurisdictions in which the Company operates. This process involves estimating actual current tax expense and assessing temporary differences resulting from differing accounting treatment between tax and book that result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. In addition, accruals are also estimated for federal and state tax matters for which deductibility is subject to interpretation. Taxes payable and the related deferred tax differences may be impacted by changes to tax laws, changes in tax rates and changes in taxable profits and losses. Reserves are also estimated for uncertain tax positions

 

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that are currently unresolved. The Company routinely monitors the potential impact of such situations and believes that it is properly reserved. For the year ending December 31, 2008, we recognized a net increase in total unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $62,000, primarily as a result of tax positions related to 2008. As of December 31, 2008, we had an accrued liability of $665,000 for unrecognized tax benefits. We accrue interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense, and the related liability is included in the total liability for unrecognized tax benefits under FIN 48.

Share-based Compensation

We adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) (“FAS No. 123R”) on January 1, 2006. FAS 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values. This statement revises FAS 123, and supersedes Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion 25. Share-based compensation expense that was recorded in 2008 and 2007 includes the compensation expense for the share-based payments granted in those years. In our share-based compensation strategy we utilize a combination of stock options and stock appreciation rights (“SARS”) that fully vest on the date of grant. Therefore, the fair value of the options and SARS granted is recognized as expense on the date of grant. We used the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model to value any share-based compensation under FAS 123R. Option valuation methods, including Black-Scholes-Merton, require the input of assumptions including the risk free interest rate, dividend rate, expected term and volatility rate. The Company determines the assumptions to be used based upon current economic conditions. The impact of changing any of the individual assumptions by 10% would not have a material impact on the recorded expense.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB issued FAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS No. 157”). FAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements required under other accounting pronouncements, but does not change existing guidance as to whether or not an instrument is carried at fair value. We have adopted FASB Staff Position 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157 (“FSP No. 157-2”), issued February 2008, and as a result we applied the provisions of FAS No. 157 that are applicable as of January 1, 2008, which had no material effect on our consolidated financial statements. FSP No. 157-2 delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for certain non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities until January 1, 2009.

In February 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“FAS No. 159”) which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. FAS No. 159 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. The adoption of FAS No. 159 has not had a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 141 (revised 2007) (FAS No. 141(R)), Business Combinations, which is a revision of FAS No. 141, Business Combinations. The primary requirements of FAS No. 141(R) are as follows: (I.) Upon initially obtaining control, the acquiring entity in a business combination must recognize 100% of the fair values of the acquired assets, including goodwill, and assumed liabilities, with only limited exceptions even if the acquirer has not acquired 100% of its target. As a consequence, the current step acquisition model will be eliminated. (II.) Contingent consideration arrangements will be fair valued at the acquisition date and included on that basis in the purchase price consideration. The concept of recognizing contingent consideration at a later date when the amount of that consideration is determinable beyond a reasonable doubt, will no longer be applicable. (III.) All transaction costs will be expensed as incurred. FAS No. 141 (R) is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2008. Adoption is prospective and early adoption is not permitted. The Company does not believe the adoption of this standard will have an impact on its 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.

 

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Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

Years Ended December 31,

 

     2008     2007  

Net sales

   $ 123,745,201     $ 120,457,891  
                

Costs and expenses:

    

Cost of goods sold

     83,402,581       80,837,592  

Selling and administrative expenses

     34,263,750       33,784,794  

Goodwill impairment loss

     1,617,411       —    

Interest expense

     321,126       329,674  
                
     119,604,868       114,952,060  
                

Earnings from continuing operations before taxes on income

     4,140,333       5,505,831  

Taxes on income

     1,850,000       1,810,000  
                

Earnings from continuing operations

     2,290,333       3,695,831  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits of $90,000 and $680,000, respectively

     (156,560 )     (1,146,503 )
                

Net earnings

   $ 2,133,773     $ 2,549,328  
                

Per Share Data:

    

Basic

    

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.35     $ 0.56  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

     (0.02 )     (0.18 )
                

Net earnings

   $ 0.33     $ 0.38  
                

Diluted

    

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.35     $ 0.55  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

     (0.02 )     (0.17 )
                

Net earnings

   $ 0.33     $ 0.38  
                

Cash dividends per common share

   $ 0.54     $ 0.54  
                

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31,

 

     2008     2007  
ASSETS     

CURRENT ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 133,152     $ 769,715  

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $575,000 and $490,000, respectively

     17,464,279       18,670,466  

Inventories

     43,410,146       46,463,662  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,590,350       3,525,114  

Assets held for sale

     —         558,476  
                

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

     63,597,927       69,987,433  

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

     12,587,454       13,320,218  

GOODWILL

     —         1,617,411  

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

     535,857       774,016  

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

     2,610,000       —    

OTHER ASSETS

     260,039       2,204,434  
                
   $ 79,591,277     $ 87,903,512  
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

CURRENT LIABILITIES

    

Accounts payable

   $ 4,626,789     $ 6,635,412  

Accrued expenses

     2,518,956       2,549,680  

Current portion of long-term debt

     650,604       1,551,202  
                

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

     7,796,349       10,736,294  

LONG-TERM DEBT

     3,379,000       2,445,604  

LONG-TERM PENSION LIABILITY

     7,056,055       923,184  

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

     665,000       603,000  

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

     —         750,000  

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Notes 10 and 11)

    

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—6,056,754 and 6,670,650, respectively.

     6,056       6,670  

Additional paid-in capital

     15,486,181       16,763,987  

Retained earnings

     50,641,401       56,178,511  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

    

Cash flow hedges

     (5,000 )     (30,000 )

Pensions

     (5,433,765 )     (473,738 )
                

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     60,694,873       72,445,430  
                
   $ 79,591,277     $ 87,903,512  
                

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

Years Ended December 31,

 

     Common
Shares
    Common
Stock
    Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income,
net of tax
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 

Balance, January 1, 2007

   6,604,844     $ 6,605     $ 15,235,448     $ 57,753,587     $ (893,449 )   $ 72,102,191  

Common shares issued upon exercise of options

   101,850       101       1,046,102           1,046,203  

Share-based compensation expense

         539,915           539,915  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

         27,000           27,000  

Common shares received for exercise of stock options

   (36,044 )     (36 )     (84,478 )     (400,103 )       (484,617 )

Cash dividends declared ($.54 per share)

           (3,591,301 )       (3,591,301 )

Comprehensive Income:

            

Net earnings

           2,549,328         2,549,328  

Net change during the period related to:

            

Cash flow hedges

             6,000       6,000  

Pensions, net of taxes of $236,000

             383,711       383,711  
                  

Comprehensive Income

               2,939,039  

Adjustment to initially apply FIN 48

           (133,000 )       (133,000 )
                                              

Balance, December 31, 2007

   6,670,650     $ 6,670     $ 16,763,987     $ 56,178,511     $ (503,738 )   $ 72,445,430  

Common shares issued upon exercise of options

   3,200       3       29,165           29,168  

Share-based compensation expense

         263,146           263,146  

Purchase and retirement of common shares

   (617,096 )     (617 )     (1,570,117 )     (4,141,639 )       (5,712,373 )

Cash dividends declared ($.54 per share)

           (3,493,707 )       (3,493,707 )

Comprehensive Income (Loss):

            

Net earnings

           2,133,773         2,133,773  

Net change during the period related to:

            

Cash flow hedges

             25,000       25,000  

Pensions, net of tax benefit of $2,826,000

             (4,960,027 )     (4,960,027 )
                  

Comprehensive Loss:

               (2,801,254 )

Adjustment to change measurement date per FAS No. 158, net of tax benefit of $21,000

           (35,537 )       (35,537 )
                                              

Balance, December 31, 2008

   6,056,754     $ 6,056     $ 15,486,181     $ 50,641,401     $ (5,438,765 )   $ 60,694,873  
                                              

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 31,

 

     2008     2007  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net earnings

   $ 2,133,773     $ 2,549,328  

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided from operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     3,235,980       3,358,646  

Provision for bad debts

     190,000       88,000  

Share-based compensation expense

     263,146       539,915  

Deferred income tax (benefit) expense

     (513,000 )     29,000  

Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment

     (16,266 )     (77,215 )

Goodwill impairment loss

     1,617,411       —    

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     1,016,187       2,128,833  

Inventories

     3,053,516       (8,849,134 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,106,796       (179,440 )

Other assets

     2,001,285       (751,676 )

Accounts payable

     (2,008,623 )     1,609,431  

Accrued expenses

     (5,724 )     603,552  

Long-term pension liability

     (1,709,693 )     (185,039 )

Other long-term liabilities

     62,000       (25,000 )
                

Net cash flows provided from operating activities

     10,426,788       839,201  
                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (2,271,090 )     (1,162,745 )

Disposal of property, plant and equipment

     22,299       148,437  

Other assets

     10,000       9,995  

Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale

     233,870       —    

Proceeds from notes receivable collections

     85,684       —    
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,919,237 )     (1,004,313 )
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Proceeds from long-term debt

     66,875,000       18,643,000  

Repayment of long-term debt

     (66,842,202 )     (18,625,734 )

Payment of cash dividends

     (3,493,707 )     (3,591,301 )

Proceeds received on exercise of stock options

     29,168       561,586  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

     —         27,000  

Common stock reacquired and retired

     (5,712,373 )     —    
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (9,144,114 )     (2,985,449 )
                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (636,563 )     (3,150,561 )

Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of year

     769,715       3,920,276  
                

Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of year

   $ 133,152     $ 769,715  
                

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Years Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

NOTE 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

a) Business description

Superior Uniform Group®, through its Signature marketing brands – Fashion Seal®, Fashion Seal Healthcare™, Martin’s®, Worklon®, and UniVogue™ – manufactures and sells a wide range of uniforms, image apparel and accessories, primarily in domestic markets. Superior specializes in managing comprehensive uniform programs, and is dedicated to servicing the Healthcare, Hospitality, Restaurant/Food Services, Retail Employee I.D., Governmental/Public Safety, Entertainment, Commercial, and Cleanroom markets.

b) Basis of presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries Fashion Seal Corporation and Superior Office Solutions, and their jointly owned subsidiary, The Office Gurus. 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 as products are shipped and title passes. The Company collects sales tax for various taxing authorities. It is the Company’s policy to record these amounts on a net basis. Therefore, these amounts are not included in net sales for the Company. A provision for estimated returns and allowances is recorded based upon historical experience and current allowance programs. 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. Charge-offs of accounts receivable are made once all collection efforts have been exhausted. 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) Advertising expenses

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, were $135,373 and $195,465.

f) Cost of goods sold and shipping and handling fees and costs

Cost of goods sold consists primarily of direct costs of acquiring inventory, including cost of merchandise, inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, and warehousing costs. Additionally, the Company follows EITF 00-10, Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs, which requires shipping and handling fees billed to customers to be classified as revenue and shipping and handling costs to be either classified as cost of sales or disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. The Company includes shipping and handling fees billed to customers in net sales. Shipping and handling costs associated with out-bound freight are generally recorded in cost of goods sold. Other shipping and handling costs are included in selling and administrative expenses and totaled $7,353,914 and $7,323,836 for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

g) Inventories

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

h) 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 within selling and administrative expenses.

i) 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 consolidated balance sheets and no longer be amortized

 

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but tested for impairment on a periodic basis. We annually evaluate the recoverability of goodwill and take into account events or circumstances that warrant revised estimates of useful lives or indicate that an impairment exists. At December 31, 2008, the Company performed its annual goodwill impairment test. The fair value of the reporting unit was estimated based on a discounted projection of future cash flows. Current and future levels of income are considered as well as business trends and market conditions. Due primarily to reduced short-term growth expectations resulting from weakening economic conditions, the analysis indicated the potential for impairment. Therefore, the Company performed the second step and determined that an impairment of goodwill existed. Accordingly, a non-cash charge of $1,617,411 was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2008 for goodwill impairment. After recording this impairment charge, the Company has no goodwill remaining on its consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2008. There was no goodwill impairment recorded for the year ended December 31, 2007. Amortization expense for other intangible assets was $238,159 for each of the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. Amortization expense for other intangible assets is expected to be $238,159 in each of the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 with the remaining balance of $59,539 being amortized in 2011.

j) 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 33-1/3% 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.

k) Employee benefits

Pension plan costs are funded currently based on actuarial estimates, with prior service costs amortized over 20 years. The Company recognizes settlement gains and losses in its financial statements when the cost of all settlements in a year is greater than the sum of the service cost and interest cost components of net periodic pension cost for the plan for the year.

l) Insurance

The Company self-insures for certain obligations related to employee health 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.

m) Taxes on income

Income taxes are provided for under the liability method in accordance with FAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. The calculation of our tax liabilities also involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We recognize liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be required. We also report interest and penalties related to uncertain income tax positions as income taxes. Refer to Note 7.

n) Impairment of long-lived assets

In accordance with FAS No. 144, Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets, long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of the asset is measured by comparison of its carrying amount to future net cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value.

o) Share-based compensation

The Company awards share-based compensation as an incentive for employees to contribute to the Company’s long-term success. Historically, the Company has issued options and stock settled stock appreciation rights. At December 31, 2008, the Company had 1,603,800 shares of common stock authorized for awards of share-based compensation under its 2003 Incentive Stock and Awards Plan.

On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted FAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (“FAS No. 123(R)”). Accordingly, the Company recognizes share-based compensation expense for all awards granted to employees, which is based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant. Under FAS No. 123(R), the Company’s reported stock compensation expense includes expense related to stock compensation awards granted subsequent to January 1, 2006,

 

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which is based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of FAS No. 123(R). All share-based awards previously granted by the Company were fully vested prior to the adoption of FAS No. 123(R). Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock compensation awards requires the input of certain highly complex and subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the stock compensation awards and the Company’s common stock price volatility. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock compensation awards represent management’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. As a result, if factors change and the Company deems it necessary to use different assumptions, stock compensation expense could be materially different from what has been recorded in the current period.

For the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized $263,146 and $539,915, respectively, of pre-tax share-based compensation expense under FAS No. 123(R), recorded in selling and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of earnings. These expenses were offset by $21,000 and $42,000, respectively, of deferred tax benefits for non-qualified share–based compensation. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had no unrecognized compensation cost expected to be recognized for share-based awards based upon the Company’s standard vesting policies, which provide for immediate vesting at the date of grant.

Stock options and stock settled stock appreciation rights. The Company grants stock options and stock settled stock appreciation rights to employees that allow them to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Options are also granted to outside members of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company determines the fair value of stock options and stock settled stock appreciation rights at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model. All options and stock appreciation rights vest immediately at the date of grant. Awards generally expire five years after the date of grant with the exception of options granted to outside directors, which expire ten years after the date of grant. The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of stock options and stock settled stock appreciation rights.

During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company received $29,168 and $561,586, respectively, in cash from stock option exercises. Tax benefits of $0 and $27,000, respectively, were recognized for these exercises. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company received 36,044 shares of its common stock as payment for the issuance of 48,725 shares of its common stock related to the exercise of stock option agreements.

p) Earnings per share

Historical basic per share data is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Historical diluted per share data is reconciled by adding to weighted average shares outstanding the dilutive impact of the exercise of outstanding stock options and stock-settled stock appreciation rights.

q) Comprehensive income

FAS No. 130 Reporting Comprehensive Income requires disclosure of total comprehensive income. 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).

r) Operating segments

FAS No. 131 Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information requires disclosures of certain information about operating segments, 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.

s) Risks and concentrations

When assessing credit risk the Company considers whether the credit risk exists at both the individual and group level. Consideration is given to the activity, region and economic characteristics when assessing if there exists a group concentration risk. At December 31, 2008 the Company has one individual customer with accounts receivable balances greater than 10% of the total accounts receivable. This customer owed $2,357,000 or approximately 13.1% of the total accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2008. At December 31, 2008 the accounts receivable balances for the Company’s five largest customers totaled $5,857,000 or approximately 32.5% of the total accounts receivable balance. At December 31, 2007 the Company had no individual customer with accounts receivable balances greater than 10% of the total accounts receivable. At December 31, 2007 the accounts receivable balances for the Company’s five largest customers totaled $4,739,000 or approximately 24.7% of the total accounts receivable balance. The Company’s largest customer for the year ended December 31, 2008 had net sales of approximately $9,713,000 or approximately 7.8% of total net sales for the Company. The Company’s five largest customers for the year ended December 31, 2008 had net sales of approximately $33,806,000 or approximately 27.3% of total net sales for the Company. The Company’s largest customer for the year ended December 31, 2007 had net sales of approximately $7,625,000 or approximately 6.3% of total net sales for the Company. The Company’s five largest customers for the year ended December 31, 2007 had net sales of approximately $24,496,000 or approximately 20.3% of total net sales for the Company.

In 2008 and 2007, approximately 63% and 62%, 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

 

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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.

t) Fair value of financial instruments

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximated fair value as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, because of the relatively short maturities of these instruments. The carrying amount of long-term debt, including current maturities, approximated fair value as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, based upon terms and conditions currently available to the Company in comparison to terms and conditions of the existing long-term debt.

u) Derivative financial instruments

The Company follows FAS No. 133 Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (“FAS No. 133”) as amended by FAS No. 138, Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities —an Amendment to FAS Statement No. 133 (“FAS No. 138”). 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 $650,604 is designated as a hedged item for the interest rate swap at December 31, 2008. This interest rate swap is accounted for as a cash flow hedge in accordance with FAS No. 133 and FAS No. 138. As of the report date, the swap met the effectiveness test, and as such no gains or losses were included in net earnings during the year related to hedge ineffectiveness and there was no income adjustment related to any portion excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. Gains of $25,000 and $6,000 were included in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The fair market values of the interest rate swap of $5,000 and $30,000 are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The original term of the contract is ten years.

v) 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 materially from those estimates.

w) Recent accounting pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB issued FAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS No. 157”). FAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements required under other accounting pronouncements, but does not change existing guidance as to whether or not an instrument is carried at fair value. We have adopted FASB Staff Position 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP No. 157-2”), issued February 2008, and as a result we applied the provisions of FAS No. 157 that are applicable as of January 1, 2008, which had no material effect on our consolidated financial statements. FSP No. 157-2 delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for certain non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities until January 1, 2009.

In February 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“FAS No. 159”) which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. FAS No. 159 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. The adoption of FAS No. 159 has not had a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 141 (revised 2007) (“FAS No. 141(R)”), Business Combinations, which is a revision of FAS No. 141, Business Combinations. The primary requirements of FAS No. 141(R) are as follows: (I.) Upon initially obtaining control, the acquiring entity in a business combination must recognize 100% of the fair values of the acquired assets, including goodwill, and assumed liabilities, with only limited exceptions even if the acquirer has not acquired 100% of its target. As a consequence, the current step acquisition model will be eliminated. (II.) Contingent consideration arrangements will be fair valued at the acquisition date and included on that basis in the purchase price consideration. The concept of recognizing contingent consideration at a later date when the amount of that consideration is determinable beyond a reasonable doubt, will no longer be applicable. (III.) All transaction costs will be expensed as incurred. FAS No. 141(R) is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2008. Adoption is prospective and early adoption is not permitted. The adoption of FAS No. 141(R) has not had a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. It will impact any future business combinations effective after January 1, 2009.

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.

 

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NOTE 2—Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable:

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

 

     2008     2007  

Balance at the beginning of year

   $ 490,000     $ 500,000  

Provision for bad debts

     190,000       88,000  

Charge-offs

     (112,076 )     (108,413 )

Recoveries

     7,076       10,413  
                

Balance at the end of year

   $ 575,000     $ 490,000  
                

NOTE 3—Reserve for Sales Returns and Allowances:

The activity in the reserve for sales returns and allowances was as follows:

 

     2008     2007  

Balance at the beginning of year

   $ 373,087     $ 343,753  

Provision for returns and allowances

     3,760,961       4,231,837  

Actual returns and allowances paid to customers

     (3,699,125 )     (4,202,503 )
                

Balance at the end of year

   $ 434,923     $ 373,087  
                

NOTE 4—Inventories:

 

     December 31,
     2008    2007

Finished goods

   $ 34,255,052    $ 35,613,513

Work in process

     118,030      171,842

Raw materials

     9,037,064      10,678,307
             
   $ 43,410,146    $ 46,463,662
             

NOTE 5—Property, Plant and Equipment:

 

     December 31,
     2008    2007

Land

   $ 1,377,774    $ 727,416

Buildings, improvements and leaseholds

     8,593,747      7,938,553

Machinery, equipment and fixtures

     45,890,163      45,018,711
             
     55,861,684      53,684,680

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     43,274,230      40,364,462
             
   $ 12,587,454    $ 13,320,218
             

Depreciation and amortization charges were approximately $2,998,000 and $3,120,000 in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

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NOTE 6 – Long-Term Debt:

 

     December 31,
2008
   December 31,
2007

Note payable to Wachovia, pursuant to revolving credit agreement, maturing June 30, 2010

   $ 3,379,000    $ 1,795,000

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

     650,604      2,201,806
             
     4,029,604      3,996,806

Less payments due within one year included in current liabilities

     650,604      1,551,202
             

Long-term debt less current maturities

   $ 3,379,000    $ 2,445,604
             

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 (4.4% at December 31, 2008). 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, 2008, approximately $85,000 was outstanding under letters of credit. On March 27, 2001, on April 27, 2004, and again on June 25, 2007, 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, 2010. 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 contain restrictive provisions concerning liabilities to tangible net worth ratio (.75:1), other borrowings, capital expenditures, working capital ratio (2.5:1), and fixed charges coverage ratio (2.5:1). The Company is in full compliance with all terms, conditions and covenants of the various credit agreements.

Scheduled principal payments on long-term debt obligations are approximately $651,000 in 2009 and $3,379,000 in 2011.

 

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NOTE 7 – Taxes on Income:

Aggregate income tax provisions consist of the following:

 

     2008     2007

Current:

    

Federal

   $ 2,166,000     $ 1,600,000

State and local

     197,000       181,000
              
     2,363,000       1,781,000

Deferred

     (513,000 )     29,000
              
   $ 1,850,000     $ 1,810,000
              

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

 

     2008     2007  

Deferred income tax assets:

    

Pension accruals

   $ 3,083,000     $ 236,000  

Operating reserves and other accruals

     1,069,000       1,009,000  

Tax carrying value in excess of book basis of goodwill

     1,053,000       1,137,000  

Deferred income tax liabilities:

    

Book carrying value in excess of book basis of property

     (1,695,000 )     (1,934,000 )

Deferred expenses

     (900,000 )     (1,198,000 )
                

Net deferred income tax asset (liability)

   $ 2,610,000     $ (750,000 )
                

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

 

     2008     2007  

Statutory Federal income tax rate

   34.0 %   34.0 %

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

   3.1     2.2  

Effect of change in unrecognized tax benefit

   1.5     (5.3 )

Non-deductible portion of goodwill impairment

   6.1     —    

Non-deductible share-based employee compensation expense

   1.7     2.6  

Other items

   (1.7 )   (0.6 )
            

Effective income tax rate

   44.7 %   32.9 %
            

We adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48, and FASB Staff Position No. FIN 48-1, on January 1, 2007. Only tax positions that met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the adoption date were recognized or continued to be recognized. As a result of the implementation of FIN No. 48, we recognized a $133,000 increase to the liability for uncertain tax positions, which was accounted for as an adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings.

As of the date of adoption, including the increase in the liability noted above, we had approximately $728,000 of unrecognized tax benefits, all of which, if recognized, would favorably affect the annual effective income tax rate. As of December 31, 2008, we have $665,000 of unrecognized tax benefits, all of which, if recognized, would favorably affect the annual effective income tax rate. None of this liability is expected to be paid in the next twelve months. Accordingly, the balance of $665,000 is included in other long-term liabilities.

The Internal Revenue Service completed an audit of our 2004 and 2005 federal income tax returns during the year ended December 31, 2007. As a result, we paid approximately $137,000 of tax, $28,000 of interest and $0 in penalties during the year ended December 31, 2007. The tax payment was primarily related to timing difference benefits being deferred.

 

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Changes in the Company’s gross liability for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, were as follows:

 

     2008     2007  

Balance at January 1,

   $ 483,000     $ 599,000  

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     77,000       88,000  

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     24,000       99,000  

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     (6,000 )     (80,000 )

Reductions due to lapse of statute of limitations

     (47,000 )     (47,000 )

Reductions due to settlements with tax authorities

     —         (176,000 )
                

Balance at December 31,

   $ 531,000     $ 483,000  
                

We recognize interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. After adopting FIN 48 at January 1, 2007, we had $129,000 accrued for interest and penalties, net of tax benefit. During 2007, we recorded $50,000 for interest and penalties, net of tax benefit. We reduced the liability by $59,000 of interest and penalties due to lapse of statute of limitations and audit settlements. At December 31, 2007, we had $120,000 accrued for interest and penalties, net of tax benefit. During 2008, we recorded $38,000 for interest and penalties, net of tax benefits. We reduced the liability by $25,000 of interest and penalties due to lapse of statute of limitations. At December 31, 2008, we had $134,000 accrued for interest and penalties, net of tax benefit.

We anticipate that it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $6,000 within the next 12 months due to the closure of tax years by expiration of the statute of limitations and audit settlements related to various state tax filing positions. The earliest tax year open to examination by a major taxing jurisdiction is 2001.

NOTE 8 – Benefit Plans:

Defined Benefit Plans

The Company is the sponsor of two noncontributory qualified defined benefit pension plans, providing for normal retirement at age 65, covering 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. The Company is also the sponsor of an unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) in which several of its employees are participants. Pension plan assets for retirement benefits consist primarily of fixed income securities and common stock equities.

FAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans: an amendment of FAS Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) (“FAS No. 158”) requires the Company to recognize the funded status of its defined benefit postretirement plan in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

At December 31, 2008, the Company’s projected benefit obligation under its pension plans exceeded the fair value of the plans’ assets by $7,056,000 and thus the plans are underfunded.

Prior to December 31, 2008, plan liabilities and the market-related value of our corporate plan assets were determined based on a November 1st measurement date and our factory plan was determined based upon a December 31st measurement date. During 2008, the measurement date of our corporate plan was changed to December 31st in accordance with the requirements of FAS No. 158. 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.

 

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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, 2008 and 2007:

 

     December 31,  
     2008     2007  

Changes in benefit obligation

    

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 16,679,000     $ 16,848,000  

Service cost

     702,000       655,000  

Interest cost

     1,088,000       998,000  

Actuarial loss

     246,000       4,000  

Settlement

     —         188,000  

Benefits paid

     (1,005,000 )     (2,014,000 )
                

Benefit obligation at end of year

     17,710,000       16,679,000  
                

Changes in plan assets

    

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

     17,693,000       17,011,000  

Actual return on assets

     (6,034,000 )     2,196,000  

Employer contributions

     —         500,000  

Benefits paid

     (1,005,000 )     (2,014,000 )
                

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

     10,654,000       17,693,000  
                

Funded status at end of year

   $ (7,056,000 )   $ 1,014,000  
                

Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheet

    

Other assets

   $ —       $ 1,937,000  

Long-term pension liability

     (7,056,000 )     (923,000 )
                
   $ (7,056,000 )   $ 1,014,000  
                

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:

    

Net actuarial loss

   $ 8,381,000     $ 570,000  

Prior service cost

     115,000       140,000  
                
   $ 8,496,000     $ 710,000  
                

Information for pension plans with projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets

    
     December 31,  
     2008     2007  

Projected benefit obligation

   $ 17,710,000     $ 923,000  

Fair value of plan assets

     (10,654,000 )     —    
                
   $ 7,056,000     $ 923,000  
                

Components of net periodic benefit cost

    
     2008     2007  

Net periodic benefits cost

    

Service cost—benefits earned during the period

   $ 611,000     $ 655,000  

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

     976,000       998,000  

Expected return on plan assets

     (1,403,000 )     (1,363,000 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     32,000       37,000  

Recognized actuarial loss (gain)

     11,000       (22,000 )

Settlement gain

     —         (36,000 )
                

Net periodic pension cost after settlements

   $ 227,000     $ 269,000  
                

 

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The pension settlement gain included in the table above relates to lump sum payments made to various employees upon their retirement or termination in each year.

The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit pension plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $643,000 and $30,000, respectively.

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

2007

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

2008

   6.00 %   6.13 %   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

2007

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

2008

   6.00 %   6.00 %   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, 2008, 2007 and target allocation for 2009 are as follows:

 

     Percentage of Plan
Assets at
December 31,
    Target
Allocation
2009
 

Investment description

   2008     2007    

Equity securities

   68 %   71 %   70 %

Fixed income

   28 %   29 %   30 %

Other

   4 %   —       —    
                  

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %
                  

The Company plans to contribute $1,000,000 to our defined benefit pension plans in 2009.

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

 

Year

   Projected Benefit Payments

2009

   653,000

2010

   678,000

2011

   717,000

2012

   777,000

2013

   813,000

2014-2018

   5,129,000

 

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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, 2008 and 2007 were approximately $95,000 and $130,000, respectively.

NOTE 9 – Quarterly Results for 2007 and 2008 (Unaudited):

 

     Quarter Ended  
     March 31,
2007
    June 30,
2007
    September 30,
2007
    December 31,
2007
 

Net sales

   $ 28,713,303     $ 29,938,498     $ 30,391,919     $ 31,414,171  
                                

Gross Profit

   $ 9,539,629     $ 9,801,584     $ 9,941,098     $ 10,337,988  
                                

Earnings from continuing operations before taxes on income

   $ 370,488     $ 1,268,395     $ 1,692,277     $ 2,174,671  
                                

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 240,488     $ 808,395     $ 1,352,277     $ 1,294,671  
                                

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

   $ (115,893 )   $ (148,352 )   $ (134,905 )   $ (747,353 )
                                

Net earnings

   $ 124,595     $ 660,043     $ 1,217,372     $ 547,318  
                                

Per Share Data:

        

Basic

        

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.04     $ 0.12     $ 0.20     $ 0.20  
                                

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.12 )
                                

Net earnings

   $ 0.02     $ 0.10     $ 0.18     $ 0.08  
                                

Diluted

        

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.04     $ 0.12     $ 0.20     $ 0.19  
                                

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.11 )
                                

Net earnings

   $ 0.02     $ 0.10     $ 0.18     $ 0.08  
                                

Average Outstanding Shares (Basic)

     6,628,158       6,642,162       6,656,214       6,666,653  
                                

Average Outstanding Shares (Diluted)

     6,668,376       6,678,825       6,676,054       6,679,465  
                                

 

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     Quarter Ended  
     March 31,
2008
    June 30,
2008
    September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2008
 

Net sales

   $ 33,282,630     $ 31,699,285     $ 30,613,175     $ 28,150,111  
                                

Gross Profit

   $ 10,908,577     $ 10,657,901     $ 10,064,221     $ 8,711,920  
                                

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before taxes on income

   $ 1,504,808     $ 1,970,804     $ 1,524,786     $ (860,065 )
                                

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 914,808     $ 1,210,804     $ 984,786     $ (820,065 )
                                

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

   $ (113,438 )   $ (32,531 )   $ (8,641 )   $ (1,950 )
                                

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 801,370     $ 1,178,273     $ 976,145     $ (822,015 )
                                

Per Share Data:

        

Basic

        

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 0.14     $ 0.18     $ 0.15     $ (0.13 )
                                

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

   $ (0.02 )   $ —       $ —       $ —    
                                

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 0.12     $ 0.18     $ 0.15     $ (0.13 )
                                

Diluted

        

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 0.14     $ 0.18     $ 0.15     $ (0.13 )
                                

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

   $ (0.02 )   $ —       $ —       $ —    
                                

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 0.12     $ 0.18     $ 0.15     $ (0.13 )
                                

Average Outstanding Shares (Basic)

     6,670,650       6,611,262       6,459,751       6,149,358  
                                

Average Outstanding Shares (Diluted)

     6,674,072       6,612,110       6,472,142       6,149,358  
                                

The independent registered public accounting firm made reviews of the 2007 and 2008 quarterly financial information in accordance with standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 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 10 – Rentals:

Aggregate rent expense, including month-to-month rentals, approximated $385,000 and $491,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Long-term lease commitments totaling $362,000 are as follows: 2009 – $185,000; 2010—$162,000; 2011— $14,000; and 2012—$1,000.

NOTE 11 – 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.

During 2005, the Company entered into severance protection agreements with senior management. The terms of these agreements require the Company to potentially make certain payments to members of senior management in the event of a change in control of the Company.

During 2006, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers for certain events or occurrences that happen by reason of the fact that the officer or director is, was or has agreed to serve as an officer or director of the Company. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited; however, the Company has a Director and Officer insurance policy that is considered adequate to cover its exposure. No claims have ever been filed under these agreements.

 

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NOTE 12 – Share-Based Compensation:

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-settled stock appreciation rights (“SARS”), restricted stock, performance stock and other share-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 awards 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. Awards (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 with the exception of annual grants to outside directors which are exercisable in part or in full within ten years of grant date. Proceeds from the exercise of awards 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 two years ended December 31, 2008 follows:

 

     No. of
Shares
    Weighted Average
Exercise Price

Outstanding December 31, 2006

   781,850     $ 13.01

Granted

   161,350       12.58

Exercised

   (101,850 )     10.27

Lapsed

   (1,250 )     9.75

Cancelled

   (41,125 )     13.20
            

Outstanding December 31, 2007

   798,975       13.26

Granted

   210,150       9.13

Exercised

   (3,200 )     9.12

Lapsed

   (162,650 )     12.37

Cancelled

   (76,175 )     13.12
            

Outstanding December 31, 2008

   767,100     $ 12.35
            

At December 31, 2008, options outstanding, all of which were fully vested and exercisable, had no intrinsic value.

Options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, had intrinsic values of $3,307 and $289,936, respectively.

The weighted average fair value of options granted for each of the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, was $1.05 and $2.26, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2008:

 

Range of

Exercise Price

   Shares    Weighted Average Remaining
Contractual Life (Years)
   Weighted Average
Exercise Price

$8.125-$10.45

   207,100    4.38    $ 9.13

$11.02-$13.78

   306,975    3.21    $ 12.34

$14.00-$17.13

   253,025    0.72    $ 15.01
                  

$8.125-$17.13

   767,100    2.72    $ 12.35
                  

 

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A summary of stock-settled stock appreciation rights transactions during the two years ended December 31, 2008 follows:

 

     No. of
Shares
   Weighted Average
Exercise Price

Outstanding December 31, 2006

   157,000    $ 13.16

Granted

   75,000      12.74

Exercised

   —        —  

Lapsed

   —        —  

Cancelled

   —        —  
           

Outstanding December 31, 2007

   232,000      13.02

Granted

   41,400      9.16

Exercised

   —        —  

Lapsed

   —        —  

Cancelled

   —        —  
           

Outstanding December 31, 2008

   273,400    $ 12.44
           

At December 31, 2008 SARS outstanding, all of which were fully vested and exercisable, had no aggregate intrinsic value.

There were no SARS exercised during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

The weighted average fair value of SARS granted for each of the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $1.03 and $2.34, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about stock appreciation rights outstanding as of December 31, 2008:

 

Range of

Exercise Price

   SARS    Weighted Average Remaining
Contractual Life (Years)
   Weighted Average
Exercise Price

$8.125-$10.45

   41,400    4.08    $ 9.16

$11.02-$13.78

   150,000    2.58    $ 11.97

$14.00-$17.13

   82,000    1.08    $ 14.95
                  

$8.125-$17.13

   273,400    2.36    $ 12.44
                  

At December 31, options and SARS available to issue were 1,603,800 for 2008 and 1,616,525 for 2007. Options and SARS have never been repriced by the Company in any year.

 

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Table of Contents

The following table summarizes significant assumptions utilized to determine the fair value of share-based compensation awards:

 

     SARS     Options

Exercise price

    

2008

   $ 9.16     $ 9.04-$9.22

2007

   $ 12.74     $ 12.35-$12.74

Market price

    

2008

   $ 9.16     $ 9.04-$9.22

2007

   $ 12.74     $ 12.35-$12.74

Risk free interest rate (1)

    

2008

     2.8 %     2.8%-3.8%

2007

     4.7 %     4.6%-4.8%

Expected award life (2)

     5 years       5-10 years

Expected volatility (3)

    

2008

     23.5 %     23.5%-26.6%

2007

     24.6 %     23.0%-26.0%

Expected dividend yield (4)

    

2008

     5.9 %     5.9%-6.0%

2007

     4.2 %     4.2%-4.4%

 

(1) The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield of a U.S. treasury bond with a similar maturity as the expected life of the awards.
(2) The expected life in years for awards granted was based on the historical exercise patterns experienced by the Company when the award is made.
(3) The determination of expected stock price volatility for awards granted in each of the two years ended December 31, was based on historical Superior common stock prices over a period commensurate with the expected life.
(4) The dividend yield assumption is based on the history and expectation of the Company’s dividend payouts.

 

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NOTE 13 – Earnings Per Share:

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

 

     2008     2007  

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 2,290,333     $ 3,695,831  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

     (156,560 )     (1,146,503 )
                

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

   $ 2,133,773     $ 2,549,328  
                

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

     6,472,755       6,648,297  

Common stock equivalents

     4,165       27,383  
                

Total weighted average shares outstanding—diluted

     6,476,920       6,675,680  
                

Per Share Data:

    

Basic

    

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.35     $ 0.56  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

     (0.02 )     (0.18 )
                

Net earnings

   $ 0.33     $ 0.38  
                

Diluted

    

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.35     $ 0.55  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits

     (0.02 )     (0.17 )
                

Net earnings

   $ 0.33     $ 0.38  
                

Awards to purchase an average of 913,106 shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $13.06 per share were outstanding during 2008, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the awards’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares. Awards to purchase an average of 645,625 shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $14.11 per share were outstanding during 2007 but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the awards’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares.

NOTE 14 – Accrued Expenses:

 

     December 31,
     2008    2007

Salaries, wages, commissions and vacation pay

   $ 1,468,177    $ 1,504,662

Other accrued expenses

     1,050,779      1,045,018
             
   $ 2,518,956    $ 2,549,680
             

NOTE 15 – Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

 

     Year Ended December 31,
     2008    2007

Income taxes paid

   $ 1,879,256    $ 1,012,172
             

Interest paid

   $ 328,805    $ 338,721
             

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company received a note receivable for $324,606 as partial payment related to the sale of the Sope Creek business.

During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company repurchased $4,805,453 of raw materials inventory from its primary supplier in Central America. The Company reduced the accounts receivable balance from the supplier by the same amount as payment for the inventory. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company received 36,044 shares of its common stock as payment for the issuance of 48,725 shares of its common stock related to the exercise of stock option agreements.

 

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NOTE 16 – Stock Repurchase Plan:

In May 2006, the Board of Directors reset the common stock repurchase program authorization so that the Company could make future repurchases of up to 750,000 of its common shares. Through July 31, 2008, the Company repurchased 625,881 shares of its common stock under such repurchase program. On August 1, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors reset the common stock repurchase program authorization to allow for the repurchase of 1,000,000 additional shares of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. The Company reacquired and retired 617,096 shares and 0 shares of its common stock in the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, with approximate costs of $5,712,000, and $0, respectively. At December 31, 2008, the Company had 588,615 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.

NOTE 17 – Discontinued Operations:

During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company made a decision to divest Sope Creek. As a result, the related assets of Sope Creek have been classified as held for sale at December 31, 2007 and have been written down to their estimated fair value less selling costs. The write down to fair value resulted in a charge to loss from discontinued operations of approximately $596,000, net of tax benefit in the fourth quarter of 2007. Additionally, the results of operations of Sope Creek have been reported as a loss from discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of earnings for each of the two years ended December 31, 2008. The table below summarizes financial results for the Sope Creek business:

 

     Year Ended December 31,
     2008    2007

Net sales

   $ 281,171    $ 3,455,836

Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes

   $ 246,560    $ 1,826,503

Loss from discontinued operations

   $ 156,560    $ 1,146,503

Assets held for sale at December 31, 2007 includes $442,889 of inventory, $70,890 of prepaid expenses and other current assets, and $44,697 of property, plant and equipment.

The Company completed the sale of its Sope Creek business on February 4, 2008. The Company received $225,000 in cash at closing and a short-term note receivable for $324,606. These proceeds, net of expenses related to the transaction, approximated the carrying value of the assets sold, which were classified as assets held for sale in the consolidated balance sheet.

NOTE 18 – Related Party Transactions:

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company expensed approximately $70,000 to Alpert Business Consulting, LLC, a private corporation owned by the son-in-law of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, for consulting services.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders

Superior Uniform Group, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Superior Uniform Group, Inc. (a Florida corporation) and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2008. 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. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included 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, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2008 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Tampa, Florida

February 27, 2009

 

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

None.

 

Item 9A(T). Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer), Michael Benstock, and the Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), Andrew D. Demott, Jr., evaluated the effectiveness of Superior’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”), and concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information the Company is required to disclose in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

 

pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

 

 

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and

 

 

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation under the Internal Control – Integrated Framework, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2008.

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

 

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Item 9B. Other Information

None.

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The Company’s directors and executive officers as of December 31, 2008 are listed below:

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS                    

Gerald M. Benstock

  

Chairman of the Board

and Executive Committee

Michael Benstock

   Chief Executive Officer

Alan D. Schwartz

   President

Manuel Gaetan, Ph.D. PE

  

President, CEO,

MGR Enterprises, LLC

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

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 Company has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics applicable to the Company's Directors, officers (including the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer and controller) and employees, known as the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“the Code”). The Code is available on the Company's website. In the event that we amend or waive any of the provisions of the Code applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer or controller that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K, we intend to disclose the same on the Company's website at www.superioruniformgroup.com.

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 2009 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 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

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

The information required by this Item relating to beneficial ownership of securities is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with its 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

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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, 2008, 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

   1,040,500    $ 12.38    1,603,800

Equity compensation Plans not approved by Security holders

   —        —      —  
                

Total

   1,040,500    $ 12.38    1,603,800
                

 

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

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 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

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 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

               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, 2008 and 2007

   16
     

Consolidated balance sheets - December 31, 2008 and 2007

   17
     

Consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity - years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

   18
     

Consolidated statements of cash flows - years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

   19
     

Notes to consolidated financial statements

   20-36
     

Independent Auditors’ Report

   37

(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

  

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 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 )

DATE: February 27, 2009

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/ Michael Benstock

   
Michael Benstock, February 27, 2009    
Chief Executive Officer    
(Principal Executive Officer)    

/s/ Andrew D. Demott, Jr.

   
Andrew D. Demott, Jr., February 27, 2009    
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    
(Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer)    

/s/ Gerald M. Benstock

   

/s/ Alan D. Schwartz

Gerald M. Benstock, February 27, 2009     Alan D. Schwartz, February 27, 2009
(Chairman)     (Director)

/s/ Paul Mellini

   

/s/ Robin Hensley

Paul Mellini, February 27, 2009     Robin Hensley, February 27, 2009
(Director)     (Director)

/s/ Manuel Gaetan

   

/s/ Sidney Kirschner

Manuel Gaetan, February 27, 2009     Sidney Kirschner, February 27, 2009
(Director)     (Director)

 

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SUPERIOR UNIFORM GROUP, INC.

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

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 (File/Film No.: 001-05869/98680627) and incorporated herein by reference.
  3.2   Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Form 8-A filed on March 20, 2008 (File/Film No.: 001-05869/08700667) 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 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999 (File/Film No.: 001-05869/99609209) and 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 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000 (File/Film No.: 001-05869/752644) and 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 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001 (File/Film No.: 001-05869/1624119), both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  4.4   Third Amendment to Loan Agreement and Other Loan Documents between Registrant and Wachovia and Renewal of Revolving Credit Note filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K (File/Film No.: 001-05869/05684618) and incorporated herein by reference.
  4.5   Renewal Revolving Line of Credit Promissory Note between Registrant and Wachovia filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K (File/Film No.: 001-05869/08653598) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.1*   Form of Director/Officer Indemnification Agreement filed as Exhibit 10 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 (File/Film No.: 001-05869/06821111), and incorporated herein by reference.
10.2*(1)   Description of bonus plan for executive officers of the Registrant.
10.3*   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 (File No: 33-67604) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.4(1)   1994 Superior Surgical Mfg. Co., Inc. Supplemental Pension Plan as amended and restated on November 7, 2008.
10.5*   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 (File/Film No.: 333-105906/03735570) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.6*(1)   Form of [Incentive] Stock Option Award.
10.7*(1)   Form of Stock Appreciation Right Award.
10.8*   Severance Protection Agreement with Michael Benstock, dated November 23, 2005, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 28, 2005 (File/Film No.: 001-05869/051228333) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.9*   Severance Protection Agreement with Alan Schwartz, dated November 23, 3005, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 28, 2005 (File/Film No.: 001-05869/051228333) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.10*   Severance Protection Agreement with Peter Benstock, dated November 23, 2005, filed as Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 28, 2005 (File/Film No.: 001-05869/051228333) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.11*   Severance Protection Agreement with Andrew D. Demott, Jr., dated November 23, 2005, filed as Exhibit 99.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 28, 2005 (File/Film No.: 001-05869/051228333) and incorporated herein by reference.
14.1   Code of Business Ethics, as amended on November 12, 2007, filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K (File/Film No.: 001-05869/08653598) and incorporated herein by reference.
21.1(1)   Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1(1)   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Grant Thornton LLP.
31.1(1)   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2(1)   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1(1)   Written Statement of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
32.2(1)   Written Statement of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

* Management contracts and compensatory plans and arrangements.

(1)

Filed herewith.

 

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