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Quotes & Info
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| ACU > SEC Filings for ACU > Form 10-Q on 5-Aug-2008 | All Recent SEC Filings |
5-Aug-2008
Quarterly Report
Item 2. - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Information
The Company may from time to time make written or oral "forward-looking statements" including statements contained in this report and in other communications by the Company, which are made in good faith by the Company pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements include statements of the Company's plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions, which are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which are beyond the Company's control). The following factors, in addition to others not listed, could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements: the strength of the domestic and local economies in which the Company conducts operations, changes in client needs and consumer spending habits, the impact of competition and technological change on the Company, the Company's ability to manage its growth effectively, including its ability to successfully integrate any business which it might acquire, and currency fluctuations. All forward-looking statements in this report are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this report. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
Critical Accounting Policies
There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Results of Operations
Net Sales
Consolidated net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $22,708,000 compared with $18,999,000 in the same period in 2007, a 20% increase (17% at constant currency). Consolidated net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $36,977,000, compared with $31,240,000 for the same period in 2007, an 18% increase (15% at constant currency). Net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 in the U.S. segment increased 23% and 21%, respectively, primarily as a result of market acceptance of new anti-microbial school scissors, rulers, and math kits and iPoint pencil sharpeners. Net sales in Canada in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 increased by 3% and 5% in U.S. dollars but declined 5% and 6% in local currency, primarily due to soft demand in the overall office products market. European net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 increased 18% in U.S. dollars and 3% in local currency.
Traditionally, the Company's sales are stronger in the second and third quarters, and weaker in the first and fourth quarters of the fiscal year, due to the seasonal nature of the back-to-school market.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $8,918,000 (39.3% of net sales) compared to $7,979,000 (42.0% of net sales) for the same period in 2007. Gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $14,904,000 (40.3% of net sales) compared to $13,313,000 (42.6% of net sales) in the same period in 2007. The gross margin declines for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 were primarily due to increased costs of material, labor and energy, as well as the appreciation of the Chinese currency against the U.S. dollar. Also, during the second quarter of 2008 the company gained additional market share in the highly competitive back to school segment which reduced gross margins.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $6,121,000 (27.0% of net sales) compared with $5,435,000 (28.6% of net sales) for the same period of 2007, an increase of $686,000. SG&A expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $11,039,000 (29.9% of net sales) compared with $9,593,000 (30.7% of net sales) in the comparable period of 2007, an increase of $1,446,000. SG&A expenses increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 primarily as a result of the addition of sales, marketing and quality control personnel as well as incrementally higher freight costs and sales commissions associated with higher sales.
Operating Income
Operating income for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $2,797,000 compared with $2,544,000 in the same period of 2007. Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $3,865,000 compared to $3,720,000 in the same period of 2007.
Interest Expense
Interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $90,000, compared with $156,000 for the same period of 2007, a $66,000 decrease. Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $187,000 as compared to $310,000 for the same period in 2007, a $123,000 decrease. The decrease in interest expense for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 was primarily the result of lower interest rates under the Company's revolving credit facility, partially offset by a higher average outstanding debt balance.
Other Expense (Income), Net
Net other expense was $24,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2008 as compared to $41,000 in the same period of 2007. Net other income was $162,000 in the first six months of 2008 compared to net other expense of $14,000 in the first six months of 2007. The increase other expense (income), net for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was primarily due to gains from foreign currency transactions.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was 36% compared to 35% in the same period of 2007. The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was 35% compared to 36% in the same period of 2007.
Financial Condition
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company's working capital, current ratio and long-term debt to equity ratio
follow:
(000's omitted) June 30, 2008 December 31, 2007
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Working capital $ 35,881 $ 29,326
Current ratio 4.19 4.44
Long term debt to equity ratio 60.6% 44.0%
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During the first six months of 2008, total debt outstanding under the Company's Modified Loan agreement, referred to below, increased by $4,851,000 compared to total debt at December 31, 2007, principally due to an increase in borrowings for inventory and accounts receivables for the back to school season as well as share repurchases, partially offset by earnings. As of June 30, 2008, $14,949,000 was outstanding and $5,051,000 was available for borrowing under the Modified Loan Agreement.
On June 23, 2008, the Company modified its Revolving Loan Agreement (the "Modified Loan Agreement") with Wachovia Bank. The Modified Loan Agreement amends certain provisions of the original Revolving Loan Agreement. The amendments include an increase in the maximum borrowing amount from $15 million to $20 million; an extension of the maturity date of the loan from June 30, 2009 to June 30, 2010; and a decrease in the interest rate to LIBOR plus 7/8% (from LIBOR plus 1.0%). Funds borrowed under the Modified Loan Agreement are used for working capital, general operating expenses and certain other purposes.
Cash expected to be generated from operating activities, together with funds available under the Modified Loan Agreement are expected, under current conditions, to be sufficient to finance the Company's planned operations over the next twelve months.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS No. 157"). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP and establishes a hierarchy that categorizes and prioritizes the sources to be used to estimate fair value. SFAS No. 157 also expands financial statement disclosures about fair value measurements. On February 12, 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) 157-2 which delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for one year, for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). SFAS No. 157 and FSP 157-2 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We will elect a partial deferral of SFAS No. 157 under the provisions of FSP 157-2 related to the measurement of fair value used when evaluating long-lived assets for impairment and valuing asset retirement obligations. The impact of partially adopting SFAS No. 157 effective January 1, 2008 will not be material to our financial statements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities," ("SFAS No. 159") which provides companies with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value in an attempt to reduce both complexity in accounting for financial instruments and the volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. This statement is effective as of the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company chose not to adopt these fair value provisions.
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