11-K 1 h88569e11-k.txt QUANEX CORP. - NICHOLS 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN 1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 11-K [X] Annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 Commission File Number 1-5725 A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: Nichols 401(k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees B. Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: Quanex Corporation 1900 West Loop South, Suite 1500 Houston, TX 77027 2 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT The Benefits Committee Quanex Corporation Houston, Texas Re: Nichols 401(k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Nichols 401(k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees ("the Plan") as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of investments as of December 31, 2000 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. This supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE, LLP -------------------------- DELOITTE & TOUCHE, LLP May 25,2001 3 QUANEX CORPORATION NICHOLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------- 2000 1999 ----------- ----------- Assets: Investments at fair value (see Note C) $22,264,190 $20,822,972 Participant loans 930,540 777,265 Employee contributions receivable 80,335 90,954 Employer contributions receivable 74,884 79,614 ----------- ----------- 155,219 170,568 ----------- ----------- Net assets available for benefits $23,349,949 $21,770,805 =========== ===========
See notes to financial statements. 4 QUANEX CORPORATION NICHOLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------- 2000 1999 ------------ ------------ Investment income: Interest and dividends $ 1,746,101 $ 1,594,367 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments (see Note C) (1,699,342) 1,614,744 ------------ ------------ 46,759 3,209,111 ------------ ------------ Contributions: Employer (net of forfeitures) 873,415 789,795 Employee 1,050,475 1,006,744 ------------ ------------ 1,923,890 1,796,539 ------------ ------------ Interest on participant loans 68,620 61,177 ------------ ------------ Total additions 2,039,269 5,066,827 ------------ ------------ Benefit payments 361,834 649,264 Administrative fees (see Note D) 3,440 3,029 ------------ ------------ Total deductions 365,274 652,293 ------------ ------------ Transfers between plans (see Note G) (94,851) 291,816 ------------ ------------ Increase in net assets available for benefits 1,579,144 4,706,350 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 21,770,805 17,064,455 ------------ ------------ End of year $ 23,349,949 $ 21,770,805 ============ ============
See notes to financial statements. 5 SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AT END OF YEAR EIN: 38-1872178; PN 016 QUANEX CORPORATION NICHOLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS December 31, 2000
Shares/ Current Par Value Cost Value ----------- ----------- ----------- * Fidelity Puritan Fund 11,279 $ 214,676 $ 212,374 * Fidelity Magellan Fund 30,541 3,116,308 3,643,557 * Fidelity Contrafund 43,742 2,116,890 2,150,778 * Fidelity Growth & Income Fund 97,426 3,362,635 4,101,643 * Fidelity Independence Fund 138,806 3,572,649 3,055,120 * Fidelity Overseas Fund 6,683 245,403 229,684 * Fidelity Balanced Fund 63,940 945,965 971,244 * Fidelity Blue Chip Fund 10,354 570,076 533,566 * Fidelity Asset Manager Fund 20,251 350,647 340,621 * Fidelity Low-Priced Stock Fund 3,265 77,632 75,483 * Fidelity Government Money Market Fund 3,725,625 3,725,625 3,725,625 Templeton Foreign Fund 11,220 115,760 116,015 Neuberger & Berman Partners Trust Fund 908 16,059 15,339 ----------- ----------- Total Mutual Fund Assets 18,430,325 19,171,049 * Quanex Corporation unitized common stock 208,504 1,900,180 2,005,813 * Fidelity Common/Commingled trust 1,087,328 1,087,328 1,087,328 Participant loans (bearing interest rates from 7.85% to 9.50%, maturing within five to seven years) 930,540 930,540 ----------- ----------- Total Investments $22,348,373 $23,194,730 =========== ===========
* Party-in-interest 6 QUANEX CORPORATION NICHOLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000 AND 1999 A. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN The following description of the Nichols 401(k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees (the "Plan") provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for more complete information. (1) General. The Plan, sponsored by Quanex Corporation (the "Company") and Nichols Aluminum - Alabama, Inc., was established on October 1, 1987 and was amended and restated in its entirety in June 1999. The Plan is a defined contribution plan, which covers substantially all union hourly employees of the Davenport, Iowa and Decatur, Alabama facilities. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). Fidelity Management Trust Company ("Fidelity" or the "Trustee") holds the assets of the Plan in trust. The Benefits Committee (the "Committee"), appointed by the Company's Board of Directors, serves as the Plan administrator. Effective January 1, 1999, the name of the Plan was changed to the Nichols 401(k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees. Effective July 1, 1999, the Decatur Aluminum Corp. Hourly Employees' 401(k) Retirement Plan was merged into the Plan. (2) Contributions. Participants may elect to reduce the current level of their compensation from 1% to 15% by contributing on a pre-tax basis as defined by the Plan agreement. Participants may also contribute in half percentages. Company contributions are made based on a percentage of the employee's compensation for each individual with at least one year of service. (3) Participant Accounts. Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution, the employer's contribution, and the participant's pro rata share of investment earnings. Investment earnings allocations are based on individual participant account balances as of the end of the period in which the income is earned. (4) Vesting. Participants are immediately vested in their contributions and earnings thereon. Vesting in the employer contribution is based on years of credited service. A participant is 20% vested for each year of credited service and fully vested after five years. If a participant terminates employment prior to becoming fully vested, the nonvested portion of the employer contributions are immediately forfeited by the participant and utilized to reduce future employer contributions. (5) Payment of Benefits. The Plan is intended for long-term savings but provides for early withdrawals and loan arrangements under certain conditions. Upon termination of service, a participant may elect to receive a lump-sum distribution equal to the total amount of vested benefits in his or her account. Terminated participants with account balances of less than $5,000 will automatically receive a lump sum distribution. (6) Loans. Loans may be granted to a participant of the Plan at the Committee's discretion. Loan terms range up to five years or seven years if used for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans bear a reasonable rate of interest established by the Committee. Interest on the loan is allocated to the borrower's participant account. 7 B. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (1) Accounting Basis. The financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. (2) Investment Valuation. The Plan recognizes net appreciation or depreciation in the fair value of its investments. Investments are reflected at fair value in the financial statements. Fair value of mutual fund assets is determined using a quoted net asset value. Fair value for Quanex Corporation common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is determined using the last recorded sales price. The recorded value of the common/commingled trust is at face value, which is fair value. (3) Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates. (4) Administrative Expenses. The Company pays administrative expenses of the Plan, except loan set up and carrying fees and redemption fees imposed on certain Fidelity funds. (5) Payment of Benefits. Benefit payments are recorded when paid. C. INVESTMENTS The following are investments that represent 5 percent or more of the Plan's net assets.
December 31, 2000 December 31, 1999 Shares Amount Shares Amount --------- ----------- --------- ------------- Fidelity Magellan Fund 30,541 $ 3,643,557 29,295 $ 4,016,271 Fidelity Contrafund 43,742 2,150,778 38,197 2,292,618 Fidelity Growth and Income Fund 97,426 4,101,643 100,174 4,724,223 Fidelity Independence Fund 138,806 3,055,120 15,044 388,898 Fidelity Government Money Market Fund 3,725,625 3,725,625 3,893,899 3,893,899 Quanex unitized common stock 208,504 2,005,813 123,802 1,525,235 Common / Commingled Trust 1,087,328 1,087,328 1,594,176 1,594,176
During the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, the Plan's investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated / (depreciated) in value as follows:
2000 1999 ----------- ----------- Fidelity mutual funds $(1,678,080) $ 1,049,447 Quanex unitized common stock (21,262) 565,297 ----------- ----------- $(1,699,342) $ 1,614,744 =========== ===========
D. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Fidelity. Fidelity is the trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Fees paid by the Plan for the investment management services amounted to $3,440 and $3,029 for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. In addition, the Plan invests in shares of Quanex Corporation unitized common stock. Quanex Corporation is the Plan sponsor as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions also qualify as party-in-interest transactions. As of December 31, 2000 and 1999, the value of Quanex Corporation common stock held by the Plan was $2,005,813 and $1,525,235, respectively. 8 E. PLAN TERMINATION Although it has not expressed any intention to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to terminate the Plan at any time subject to the provisions set forth in ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, the assets held by the Trustee under the Plan will be valued and fully vested, and each participant will be entitled to distributions respecting his or her account. F. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS The Plan is subject to specific rules and regulations related to employee benefit plans under the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service. The Plan has received a favorable letter of tax determination dated June 18, 1993. As such, the Plan is a qualified trust under Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") and, as a result, is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code. The Company believes the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. The Company believes the Plan was qualified and the related trust was tax-exempt as of the financial statement dates. G. TRANSFER OF ASSETS Account balances and participant loans of $94,851 were transferred from the Plan to the Nichols 401(k) Savings Plan in plan year 2000. The assets and participant loans of the Decatur Aluminum Corp. Hourly Employees' 401(k) Retirement Plan, totaling $291,816, were transferred to the Plan on July 1, 1999. H. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS Effective July 1, 2001, the union employees of Temroc Metals, Inc. will become participants of the Plan. The assets of the Temroc Metals, Inc. Bargaining Unit Employees' 401(k) Plan will be transferred to the Plan on July 2, 2001. 9 SIGNATURES The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Nichols 401(k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees Date: June 22, 2001 /s/ Viren M. Parikh ------------------- Viren M. Parikh, Benefits Committee 10 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION ------ ----------- 23.1 Independents Auditor's Consent