Summary of ENNIS, INC. - Yahoo! Finance

Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
Ennis, Inc. (formerly Ennis Business Forms, Inc.) was organized under the laws of Texas in 1909. Ennis, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively known as the "Company," "Registrant," "Ennis," or "we," "us," or "our") print and manufacture a broad line of business forms and other business products and also manufacture a line of activewear for distribution throughout North America. Distribution of business products and forms throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico is primarily through independent dealers, and with respect to our activewear products, through sales representatives. This distributor channel encompasses print distributors, stationers, quick printers, computer software developers, activewear wholesalers, screen printers and advertising agencies, among others. The Company's apparel business was acquired on November 19, 2004. The Apparel Segment produces and sells activewear, including t-shirts, fleece goods and other wearables. We offer a selection of high-quality activewear apparel and hats with a wide variety of styles and colors in sizes ranging from toddler to 6XL. The apparel line features a wide variety of tees, fleece, shorts and yoga pants, and two headwear brands.
On October 5, 2007, we acquired certain assets of B & D Litho, Inc. ("B & D") headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and certain assets and related real estate of Skyline Business Forms, operating in Denver, Colorado for $12.5 million. The acquisition of B&D Litho, Inc. did not include the acquisition of B&D Litho California, Inc., which is mainly a commercial printing operation located in Ontario, California. No significant liabilities were assumed in the transactions. The combined sales of the purchased operations were $25.0 million during the most recent twelve month period. The acquisition will add additional medium and long run multi-part forms, laser cut sheets, jumbo rolls and mailer products sold through the indirect sales (distributorship) marketplace.
On September 17, 2007, we acquired certain assets of Trade Envelope, Inc. ("Trade") for $2.7 million. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, we have agreed to pay the former owners of Trade under a contingent earn-out arrangement over three years for intangibles, subject to certain set-offs. Trade is an envelope manufacturer (converter) and printer, offering high quality, 1-4 color process with lithograph and flexography capabilities with locations in Tullahoma, Tennessee and Carol Stream, Illinois. The combined sales of Trade during the most recent twelve month period were $11.4 million. The acquisition expanded and strengthened the envelope line of products currently being offered by the Company.
Business Segment Overview
We operate in two business segments, the Print Segment and the Apparel Segment. For additional financial information concerning segment reporting, please see note 15 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Print Segment
The Print Segment, which represented 58% and 54% of our consolidated net sales for the three and nine months ended November 30, 2008, is in the business of manufacturing, designing and selling of business forms and other printed business products primarily to distributors located in the United States. The Print Segment operates 39 manufacturing locations throughout the United States in 16 strategically located domestic states. Approximately 94% of the business products manufactured by the Print Segment are custom and semi-custom products, constructed in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and quantities on an individual job basis depending upon the customers' specifications.
The products sold include snap sets, continuous forms, laser cut sheets, tags, labels, envelopes, integrated products, jumbo rolls and pressure sensitive products in short, medium and long runs under the following labels: Ennis®, Royal Business Forms™, Block Graphics™, Specialized Printed Forms™, 360º Custom Labels™, Enfusion™, Witt Printing™, B&D Litho of ArizonaTM, GenformsTM and Calibrated Forms™. The Print Segment also sells the Adams-McClure™ brand (which provides Point of Purchase advertising for large franchise and fast food chains as well as kitting and fulfillment); the Admore brand (which provides presentation folders and document

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2008 folders); Ennis Tag & Label™ (which provides tags and labels, promotional products and advertising concept products); Trade EnvelopesTM and Block GraphicsTM (which provide custom and imprinted envelopes) and Northstar® and GFS™ (which provide financial and security documents).
The Print Segment sells predominantly through private printers and independent distributors. Northstar and Adams McClure also sell to a small number of direct customers. Northstar has continued its focus with large banking organizations on a direct basis (where a distributor is not acceptable or available to the end-user) and has acquired several of the top 25 banks in the United States as customers and is actively working on other large banks within the top 25 tier of banks in the United States. Adams-McClure sales are generally through advertising agencies.
The printing industry generally sells its products in two ways. One market direction is to sell predominately to end users, and is dominated by a few large manufacturers, such as Moore Wallace (a subsidiary of R.R. Donnelly), Standard Register, and Cenveo. The other market direction, which the Company primarily serves, sells forms and other business products through a variety of independent distributors and distributor groups. While it is not possible, because of the lack of adequate statistical information, to determine Ennis' share of the total business products market, management believes Ennis is one of the largest producers of business forms in the United States distributing primarily through independent dealers, and that its business forms offering is more diversified than that of most companies in the business forms industry.
There are a number of competitors that operate in this segment, ranging in size from single employee-owner operations to multi-plant organizations, such as Cenveo and their resale brands known as: PrintXcel, Discount Label, and Printegra. We believe our strategic locations and buying power permit us to compete on a favorable basis within the distributor market on competitive factors, such as service, quality, and price.
Distribution of business forms and other business products throughout the United States is primarily done through independent dealers; including business forms distributors, stationers, printers, computer software developers, and advertising agencies.
Raw materials of the Print Segment principally consist of a wide variety of weights, widths, colors, sizes, and qualities of paper for business products purchased from a number of major suppliers at prevailing market prices.
Business products usage in the printing industry is generally not seasonal. General economic conditions and contraction of the traditional business forms industry are the predominant factors in quarterly volume fluctuations. Apparel Segment
The Apparel Segment represented 42% and 46% of our consolidated net sales for the three and nine months ended November 30, 2008, and operates under the name of Alstyle Apparel ("Alstyle"). Alstyle markets high quality knit basic activewear (t-shirts, tank tops, and fleece) across all market segments. Over 95% of Alstyle's revenues are derived from t-shirt sales, and more than 90% of those are domestic sales. Alstyle's branded product lines are AAA Alstyle Apparel & Activewear®, Gaziani®, Diamond Star®, Murina®, A Classic, Tennessee River®, D Drive™, and Hyland®Headware.
Alstyle is headquartered in Anaheim, California, where it knits domestic cotton yarn and some polyester fibers into tubular material. The material is dyed at that facility and then shipped to its plants in Ensenada or Hermosillo, Mexico, where it is cut and sewn into finished goods. Alstyle also ships their dyed and cut product to outsourced manufacturers in El Salvador and Nicaragua for sewing. After sewing and packaging is completed, product is shipped to one of Alstyle's eight distribution centers located across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The products of the Apparel Segment are standardized shirts manufactured in a variety of sizes and colors. The Apparel Segment operates six manufacturing facilities, one in California, and five in Mexico. Alstyle utilizes a customer-focused internal sales team comprised of 20 sales representatives assigned to specific geographic territories in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Sales representatives are allocated performance objectives for their respective territories and are provided financial incentives for achievement of their target

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2008 objectives. Sales representatives are responsible for developing business with large accounts and spend approximately half their time in the field.
Alstyle employs a staff of customer service representatives that handle call-in orders from smaller customers. Sales personnel sell directly to Alstyle's customer base, which consists primarily of screen printers, embellishers, retailers, and mass marketers.
A majority of Alstyle's sales are to direct customer branded products, and the remainder relates to private label and re-labels programs. Generally, sales to screen printers and mass marketers are driven by the availability of competitive products and price considerations, which drive our requirements for inventory levels of our various products, while sales in the private label business are characterized by slightly higher customer loyalty.
Alstyle's most popular styles are produced based on demand management forecasts to permit quick shipment and to level production schedules. Alstyle offers same-day shipping and uses third party carriers to ship products to its customers.
Alstyle's sales are seasonal, with sales in the first and second quarters generally being the highest. The apparel industry is characterized by rapid shifts in fashion, consumer demand and competitive pressures, resulting in both price and demand volatility. However, the imprinted activewear market that Alstyle sells to is generally "event" driven. Blank t-shirts can be thought of as "walking billboards" promoting movies, concerts, sports teams, and "image" brands. Still, the demand for any particular product varies from time to time based largely upon changes in consumer preferences and general economic conditions affecting the apparel industry.
The apparel industry is comprised of numerous companies who manufacture and sell a wide range of products. Alstyle is primarily involved in the activewear market and produces t-shirts, and outsources such products as fleece, hats, shorts, pants and other such activewear apparel from China, Thailand, Pakistan, and other foreign sources to sell to its customers through its sales representatives. Its primary competitors are Delta Apparel ("Delta"), Russell, Hanes and Gildan Activewear ("Gildan"). While it is not possible to calculate precisely, based on public information available, management believes that Alstyle is one of the top three providers of blank t-shirts in North America. Alstyle competes with many branded and private label manufacturers of knit apparel in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, some of which are larger in size and have greater financial resources than Alstyle. Alstyle competes on the basis of price, quality, service, and delivery. Alstyle's strategy is to provide the best value to its customers by delivering a consistent, high-quality product at a competitive price. Alstyle's competitive disadvantage is that its brand name, Alstyle Apparel, is not as well known as the brand names of its largest competitors, such as Gildan, Delta, Hanes, and Russell.
Distribution of the Apparel Segment's products is through Alstyle's own staff of sales representatives and regional distribution centers selling to local distributors who resell to retailers, or directly to screen printers, embellishers, retailers and mass marketers.
Raw materials of the Apparel Segment principally consist of cotton and polyester yarn purchased from a number of major suppliers at prevailing market prices, although we purchase more than 75% of our cotton and yarn from one supplier. Reference is made to - "Risk Factors" of this Report. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, before making an investment in our common stock. The risks described below are not the only ones we face in our business. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition or operating results could be materially harmed. In such an event, our common stock could decline in price and you may lose all or part of your investment.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2008 Our results and financial condition are affected by global and local market conditions, which can adversely affect our sales, margins, and net income.
Our results of operations are substantially affected not only by global economic conditions, but also by local operating and economic conditions, which can vary substantially by market. Unfavorable conditions can depress sales in a given market and may prompt promotional or other actions that adversely affect our margins, constrain our operating flexibility or result in charges. Certain macroeconomic events, such as the current crisis in the financial markets, could have a more wide-ranging and prolonged impact on the general business environment, which could also adversely affect us. Whether we can manage these risks effectively depends mainly on the following:
• Our ability to manage upward pressure on commodity prices and the impact of government actions to manage national economic conditions such as consumer spending, inflation rates and unemployment levels, particularly given the current volatility in the global financial markets;

• The impact on our margins of labor costs given our labor-intensive business model, the trend toward higher wages in both mature and developing markets and the potential impact of union organizing efforts on day-to-day operations of our manufacturing facilities.

Declining economic conditions could negatively impact our business.
Our operations are affected by local, national and worldwide economic conditions. Markets in the United States and elsewhere have been experiencing extreme volatility and disruption for more than 12 months, due in part to the financial stresses affecting the liquidity of the banking system and the financial markets generally. In recent weeks, this volatility and disruption has reached unprecedented levels. The consequences of a potential or prolonged recession may include a lower level of economic activity and uncertainty regarding energy prices and the capital and commodity markets. A lower level of economic activity might result in a decline in demand for our products, which may adversely affect our revenues and future growth. Instability in the financial markets, as a result of recession or otherwise, also may affect our cost of capital and our ability to raise capital.
The terms and conditions of our credit facility impose certain restrictions on our operations. We may not be able to raise additional capital, if needed for proposed expansion projects, etc.
The terms and conditions of our credit facility impose certain restrictions on our ability to incur additional debt, make capital expenditures, acquisitions, asset dispositions, as well as other customary covenants, such as minimum equity level and total funded debt to EBITDA, as defined. Our ability to comply with the covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, such as distressed and volatile financial markets which could trigger an impairment charge to our recorded intangible assets (see Risk Factors - We may be required to write down goodwill and other intangible assets, which could cause our financial condition and results of operations to be negatively affected in the future - page 27). A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our credit facility. In the event of a default, the bank could elect to declare the outstanding principal amount of our credit facility, all interest thereon, and all other amounts payable under our credit facility to be immediately due and payable. As of November 30, 2008 we were in compliance with all terms and conditions of our credit facility, which matures on March 31, 2010.
We anticipate borrowing under our credit facility to provide financing for our new facility in Aqua Prieta. Our ability to access this facility for these funds will depend upon our future operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic, financial and business conditions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. In the event that we aren't able to access the facility for the funds needed and require additional capital, there can be no assurance that we will be able to raise such capital when needed or at all. Declining financial market conditions could adversely impact the funding status of our pension plan.
We maintain a defined-benefit pension plan for our employees. Included in our financial results are pension costs that are measured using actuarial valuations. The actuarial assumptions used may differ from actual results. In addition, as our pension assets are invested in marketable securities, severe fluctuations in market values could

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2008 potentially negatively impact our funding status, recorded pension liability, and future required minimum contribution levels.
We may be required to write down goodwill and other intangible assets, which could cause our financial condition and results of operations to be negatively affected in the future.
When we acquire a business, a portion of the purchase price of the acquisition may be allocated to goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets. The amount of the purchase price which is allocated to goodwill and other intangible assets is the excess of the purchase price over the net identifiable tangible assets acquired. At November 30, 2008, our goodwill and other intangible assets were approximately $178.4 million and $86.3 million, respectively. Under current accounting standards, if we determine goodwill or intangible assets are impaired, we would be required to write down the value of these assets. Annually, we have conducted a review of our goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets to determine whether there has been impairment. Such a review was completed for our fiscal year ended February 29, 2008, and we concluded that no impairment charge was necessary. We cannot provide assurance that we will not be required to take an impairment charge in the future especially given the current economic environment and the extreme volatility in the financial markets. Any impairment charge would have a negative effect on our shareholders' equity and financial results and may cause a decline in our stock price and increase our borrowing costs.
Printed business forms may be superceded over time by "paperless" business forms or otherwise affected by technological obsolescence and changing customer preferences, which could reduce our sales and profits.
Printed business forms and checks may eventually be superceded by "paperless" business forms, which could have a material adverse effect on our business over time. The price and performance capabilities of personal computers and related printers now provide a cost-competitive means to print low-quality versions of many of our business forms on plain paper. In addition, electronic transaction systems and off-the-shelf business software applications have been designed to automate several of the functions performed by our business form and check products. In response to the gradual obsolescence of our standardized forms business, we continue to develop our capability to provide custom and full-color products. If new printing capabilities and new product introductions do not continue to offset the obsolescence of our standardized business forms products, there is a risk that the number of new customers we attract and existing customers we retain may diminish, which could reduce our sales and profits. Decreases in sales of our standardized business forms and products due to obsolescence could also reduce our gross margins. This reduction could in turn adversely impact our profits, unless we are able to offset the reduction through the introduction of new high margin products and services or realize cost savings in other areas.
Our distributors face increased competition from various sources, such as office supply superstores. Increased competition may require us to reduce prices or to offer other incentives in order to enable our distributors to attract new customers and retain existing customers.
Low price, high value office supply chain stores offer standardized business forms, checks and related products. Because of their size, these superstores have the buying power to offer many of these products at competitive prices. These superstores also offer the convenience of "one-stop" shopping for a broad array of office supplies that our distributors do not offer. In addition, superstores have the financial strength to reduce prices or increase promotional discounts to expand market share. This could result in us reducing our prices or offering incentives in order to enable our distributors to attract new customers and retain existing customers.
Technological improvements may reduce our competitive advantage over some of our competitors, which could reduce our profits.
Improvements in the cost and quality of printing technology are enabling some of our competitors to gain access to products of complex design and functionality at competitive costs. Increased competition from these competitors could force us to reduce our prices in order to attract and retain customers, which could reduce our profits.

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ENNIS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2008 We could experience labor disputes that could disrupt our business in the future.
As of November 30, 2008, approximately 11% of our domestic employees are represented by labor unions under collective bargaining agreements, which are subject to periodic renegotiations. Two unions represent all of our hourly employees in Mexico. There can be no assurance that any future labor negotiations will prove successful, which may result in a significant increase in the cost of labor, or may break down and result in the disruption of our business or operations.
We obtain our raw materials from a limited number of suppliers and any disruption in our relationships with these suppliers, or any substantial increase in the price of raw materials, material shortages, or an increase in transportation costs, could have a material adverse effect on us.
Cotton yarn is the primary raw material used in Alstyle's manufacturing processes. Cotton accounts for approximately 40% of the manufactured product cost. Alstyle acquires its yarn from two major sources that meet stringent quality and on-time delivery requirements. The largest supplier provides more than 75% of Alstyle's yarn requirements and has an entire yarn mill dedicated to Alstyle's production. If Alstyle's relations with its suppliers are disrupted, Alstyle may not be able to enter into arrangements with substitute suppliers on terms as favorable as its current terms and our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Alstyle generally acquires its cotton yarn under short-term purchase orders with its suppliers, and has exposure to swings in cotton market prices. At November 30, 2008 we have committed to more than 70% of our estimated cotton needs through July 2009 through various contracts which fix the price of our cotton. Alstyle does not use derivative instruments, including cotton option contracts, to manage its exposure to movements in cotton market prices. Alstyle may use such derivative instruments in the future. We believe we are competitive with other companies in the United States apparel industry in negotiating the price of cotton. However, any significant increase in the price of cotton or shortages in the availability of cotton as the result of farmers switching to alternative crops, such as corn, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Freight costs also represent a significant cost to our Apparel Segment. We incur freight costs associated with the delivery of yarn to our manufacturing facility in Anaheim, California. We also incur freight costs associated with transporting our knit and dyed products to Mexico and our final sewn products from Mexico to our various distribution centers. Any significant increase in transportation costs due to increased fuel costs could have a material impact on our reported apparel margins.
Current pressures on commodity prices are significant, particularly in our Apparel Segment. There can be no assurance that we can increase selling prices to fully offset commodity price increases in the future. Pressures on commodity prices could materially affect our operating results.
We also purchase our paper products from a limited number of sources, which meet stringent quality and on-time delivery standards under long-term contracts. Fluctuations in the quality of our paper and price increases could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.
Alstyle faces intense competition to gain market share, which may lead some competitors to sell substantial amounts of goods at prices against which we cannot profitably compete.
Demand for Alstyle's products is dependent on the general demand for shirts and the availability of alternative sources of supply. Alstyle's strategy in this market environment is to be a low cost producer and to differentiate itself by providing quality service and quality products to its customers. Even if this strategy is successful, its results may be offset by reductions in demand or price declines due to competitors' pricing strategies.
The apparel industry is heavily influenced by general economic cycles.
The apparel industry is cyclical and dependent upon the overall level of discretionary consumer spending, which changes as regional, domestic and international economic conditions change. These include, but are not limited to, employment levels, energy costs, interest rates, tax rates, personal debt levels, and uncertainty about the future. Any

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