10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


 

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

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 000-16674

 


IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Texas   74-0704500

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Imperial Square, P.O. Box 9, Sugar Land, Texas 77487

(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

(281) 491-9181

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer, see definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer  ¨    Accelerated Filer  x    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.    Yes  x    No  ¨

As of August 1, 2006 there were 11,297,802 shares of common stock, without par value, of the registrant outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY

Index

 

          Page

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

      Item 1.

   Financial Statements   
   Consolidated Balance Sheets    3
   Consolidated Statements of Operations    4
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow    5
   Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity    6
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    7

      Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    13

      Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    17

      Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    18

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

  

      Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    19

      Item 6.

   Exhibits    20

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements regarding future market prices and margins, future energy costs, future operating results, future availability of raw sugar, operating efficiencies, future government and legislative action, future outcomes of legal proceedings, future cost savings, future benefit costs, our liquidity and ability to finance our operations, and other statements that are not historical facts contained in this report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements. We identify forward-looking statements in this report by using the following words and similar expressions:

 

•      expect

  

•      project

  

•      estimate

•      believe

  

•      anticipate

  

•      likely

•      plan

  

•      intend

  

•      could

•      should

  

•      may

  

•      predict

•      budget

  

•      possible

  

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, market factors, energy costs, the effect of weather and economic conditions, farm and trade policy, our ability to realize planned cost savings, the available supply of sugar, actual or threatened acts of terrorism or armed hostilities, legislative, administrative and judicial actions and other factors detailed elsewhere in this report and in our other filings with the SEC. Many of such factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Management cautions against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or future earnings levels. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. All forward-looking statements in this report on Form 10-Q are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this section and elsewhere in this report and other SEC filings.

 

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

    

June 30,

2006

   

September 30,

2005

 
     (In Thousands of Dollars)  
ASSETS     

Current Assets:

    

Cash and Temporary Investments

   $ 50,115     $ 49,179  

Marketable Securities

     308       310  

Accounts Receivable, Net

     48,907       52,233  

Inventories:

    

Finished Products

     51,027       34,977  

Raw and In-Process Materials

     63,160       51,627  

Supplies

     10,931       9,043  
                

Total Inventory

     125,118       95,647  

Prepaid Expenses

     5,033       12,037  

Assets Held for Sale

     4,625       4,625  
                

Total Current Assets

     234,106       214,031  

Other Investments

     2,784       2,303  

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

     90,541       96,818  

Deferred Income Taxes, Net

     29,049       40,338  

Other Assets

     6,723       6,301  
                

Total

   $ 363,203     $ 359,791  
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts Payable, Trade

   $ 62,451     $ 69,142  

Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt

     2,587       2,346  

Other Current Liabilities

     27,161       23,386  
                

Total Current Liabilities

     92,199       94,874  
                

Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Maturities

     2,197       4,361  

Deferred Employee Benefits and Other Liabilities

     110,879       111,084  

Commitments and Contingencies

    

Shareholders’ Equity:

    

Preferred Stock, Without Par Value, Issuable in Series; 5,000,000 Shares Authorized, None Issued

     —         —    

Common Stock, Without Par Value; 50,000,000 Shares Authorized; 11,297,792 and 10,561,017 Shares Issued and Outstanding at June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005

     116,980       110,450  

Retained Earnings

     86,785       80,693  

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

     (45,837 )     (41,671 )
                

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     157,928       149,472  
                

Total

   $    363,203     $ 359,791  
                

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

June 30,

 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  
     (In Thousands of Dollars, Except per Share Amounts)  

Net Sales

   $ 231,294     $ 191,025     $ 706,544     $ 577,223  
                                

Cost of Sales

     195,638       183,143       613,271       545,731  

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

     11,506       11,246       33,417       31,062  

Depreciation and Amortization

     3,370       3,280       10,683       9,464  

Loss (Gain) on Operating Asset Dispositions

     —         248       116       (3,372 )
                                

Total Costs and Expenses

     210,514       197,917       657,487       582,885  
                                

Operating Income (Loss)

     20,780       (6,892 )     49,057       (5,662 )

Interest Expense

     (513 )     (589 )     (1,626 )     (2,210 )

Gain on Non-Operating Asset Dispositions

     —         —         —         1,854  

Other Income, Net

     1,438       902       2,976       2,191  
                                

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations

        

Before Income Taxes

     21,705       (6,579 )     50,407       (3,827 )

Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes

     6,932       (2,426 )     17,451       (1,140 )
                                

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations

     14,773       (4,153 )     32,956       (2,687 )

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

     437       (342 )     1,372       3,661  
                                

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 15,210     $ (4,495 )   $ 34,328     $ 974  
                                

Basic Earnings (Loss) per Share of Common Stock:

        

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations

   $ 1.31     $ (0.39 )   $ 3.01     $ (0.26 )
                                

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

   $ 0.04     $ (0.04 )   $ 0.13     $ 0.35  
                                

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 1.35     $ (0.43 )   $ 3.14     $ 0.09  
                                

Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share of Common Stock:

        

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations

   $ 1.26     $ (0.39 )   $ 2.94     $ (0.26 )
                                

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

   $ 0.04     $ (0.04 )   $ 0.12     $ 0.35  
                                

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 1.30     $ (0.43 )   $ 3.06     $ 0.09  
                                

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:

        

Basic

     11,305,763       10,552,009       10,937,462       10,455,375  
                                

Diluted

     11,677,704       10,552,009       11,221,270       10,455,375  
                                

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2006     2005  
     (In Thousands of Dollars)  

Operating Activities:

    

Net Income

   $ 34,328     $ 974  

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

    

Depreciation

     10,683       9,464  

Cash Settlements on Derivative Instruments

     (1,414 )     (74 )

Reclassification Adjustment from Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss to Net Income

     (5,028 )     (2,418 )

Loss (Gain) on Asset Dispositions

     156       (5,226 )

Deferred Income Taxes

     18,205       573  

Income From Discontinued Operations

     (1,449 )     (2,917 )

Gain on Disposal of Discontinued Operations

     (677 )     (743 )

Other

     (176 )     664  

Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities (Excluding Operating Assets and Liabilities Sold in Dispositions):

    

Accounts Receivable

     3,326       7,370  

Inventories

     (29,471 )     17,241  

Deferred Costs and Prepaid Expenses

     7,004       (3,464 )

Accounts Payable—Trade

     (6,691 )     (23,332 )

Other Liabilities

     2,227       (2,595 )
                

Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Continuing Operations

     31,023       (4,483 )

Net Cash Provided by Discontinued Operations

     1,799       21,148  
                

Net Cash Provided by Operations

     32,822       16,665  
                

Investing Activities:

    

Capital Expenditures—Continuing Operations

     (4,569 )     (7,926 )

Proceeds from Sale of Assets

     10       6,456  

Other

     (562 )     (597 )
                

Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Continuing Operations

     (5,121 )     (2,067 )

Capital Expenditures—Discontinued Operations

     —         (3,398 )

Proceeds from Collection of Escrow—Discontinued Operations

     229       8,994  
                

Net Cash Provided by Discontinued Operations

     229       5,596  
                

Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Operations

     (4,892 )     3,529  
                

Financing Activities:

    

Repayment of Revolving Credit (Net)

     —         (3,250 )

Repayment of Long-Term Debt

     (1,749 )     (1,540 )

Issuance of Common Stock

     2,918       547  

Dividends

     (28,163 )     (1,046 )
                

Financing Cash Flow—Continuing Operations

     (26,994 )     (5,289 )
                

Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Temporary Investments

     936       14,905  

Cash and Temporary Investments, Beginning of Period

     49,179       2,514  
                

Cash and Temporary Investments, End of Period

   $ 50,115     $ 17,419  
                

Supplemental Non-Cash Items:

    

Tax Effect of Deferred Gains (Losses)

   $ (2,280 )   $ 923  
                

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2006

(Unaudited)

 

     Shares of
Common Stock
    Common Stock     Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total  
     (In Thousands of Dollars, Except Share Data)  

Balance September 30, 2005

   10,561,017     $ 110,450     $ 80,693     $ (41,671 )   $ 149,472  

Comprehensive Income:

          

Net Income

   —         —         34,328       —         34,328  

Change in Unrealized Securities Gains
(Net of Tax of $1)

   —         —         —         (3 )     (3 )

Change in Derivative Fair Value
(Net of Tax of $518)

   —         —         —         (896 )     (896 )

Recognition of Deferred Gains in Net Income
(Net of Tax of $1,761)

   —         —         —         (3,267 )     (3,267 )
                

Total Comprehensive Income

   —         —         —         —         30,162  

Cash Dividends ($2.67 per share)

   —         —         (28,236 )     —         (28,236 )

Stock Options and Warrants Exercised
and Restricted Stock Granted

   747,856       6,628       —         —         6,628  

Shares Canceled

   (11,081 )     (98 )     —         —         (98 )
                                      

Balance June 30, 2006

   11,297,792     $    116,980     $      86,785     $    (45,837 )   $    157,928  
                                      

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2006 AND 2005

(Unaudited)

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, that are necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. These financial statements include the accounts of Imperial Sugar Company and its majority owned subsidiaries (the “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain information and footnote disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2005. The Company operates its business as one domestic segment - the production and sale of refined sugar and related products.

Cost of Sales

The Company’s sugar inventories, which are accounted for on a LIFO basis, are periodically reduced at interim dates to levels below that of the beginning of the fiscal year. When such interim LIFO liquidations are expected to be restored prior to fiscal year-end, the estimated replacement cost of the liquidated layers is utilized as the basis of the cost of sugar sold from beginning of the year inventory. Accordingly, the cost of sugar utilized in the determination of cost of sales for interim periods includes estimates which may require adjustment in future fiscal periods.

Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) revised Financial Accounting Standard No. 123, Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123R). The revised statement requires the recording of compensation expense for the fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation awards. The Company adopted this standard in fiscal 2006, using the modified prospective method and recorded the applicable expenses of $0.1 million and $0.4 million for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2006, for stock options currently outstanding based on the methods and assumptions noted below.

 

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Prior year results are presented using the intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” The Company’s reported net income and net income per share for the prior year would have been different had compensation cost been determined using the fair value method of accounting as shown in the pro forma amounts below (in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts):

 

    

Three Months Ended
June 30,

2005

   

Nine Months Ended
June 30,

2005

 

Net income (loss), as reported

   $ (4,495 )   $ 974  

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method

     (112 )     (247 )
                

Pro forma net income (loss)

   $ (4,607 )   $ 727  
                

Net income (loss) per share, Basic:

    

As reported

   $ (0.43 )   $ 0.09  
                

Pro forma

   $ (0.44 )   $ 0.07  
                

Net income (loss) per share, Diluted:

    

As reported

   $ (0.43 )   $ 0.09  
                

Pro forma

   $ (0.44 )   $ 0.07  
                

For purposes of estimating the fair value of options on their date of grant, in fiscal 2005 the Company began using a binomial lattice option pricing model and used the Black-Scholes option-pricing model previously. The following assumptions were used in those models:

 

Expected stock price volatility

   3.0 - 35%

Risk-free interest rate

   2.5 - 4.2%

Expected life of options

   5.0 years

Dividend yield

   0 - 0.7%

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48—Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. The Company is analyzing the impact, if any, of FIN 48, which is required to be adopted in fiscal 2008, on its consolidated financial statements.

2. LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt was as follows (in thousands of dollars):

 

    

June 30,

2006

   September 30,
2005

Senior revolving credit facility

   $ —      $ —  

Industrial revenue bonds

     1,500      1,500

Non-interest bearing notes

     3,284      5,207
             

Total long-term debt

     4,784      6,707

Less current maturities

     2,587      2,346
             

Long-term debt, net

   $         2,197    $ 4,361
             

The senior revolving credit facility (“Revolver”), which provides for borrowings of up to $100 million (subject to a borrowing base), is used to finance various ongoing capital needs of the Company as well as for other general corporate purposes. The Revolver matures on December 31, 2008 and has no financial covenants so long as average total liquidity (defined as the average of the borrowing base including cash, less average actual borrowings and letters of credit) exceeds $20 million; otherwise a minimum level of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as defined (“EBITDA”) test would apply. The Revolver limits the Company’s ability to pay dividends or repurchase stock, if average total liquidity, after adjustment on a pro forma basis for such payment, is less than $20 million.

The Revolver is secured by our cash and temporary investments, accounts receivable, inventory, certain investments and certain property, plant and equipment. All subsidiaries of the Company are borrowers or guarantors under the facility.

 

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Although the final maturity of the Revolver is December 31, 2008, the Company classifies debt under the Revolver as current, pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 95-22. The Revolver contains a subjective acceleration clause which can be exercised if, in the opinion of the lender, there is a material adverse effect, and provides the lenders direct access to our cash receipts.

3. CONTINGENCIES

The Company is party to litigation and claims which are normal in the course of its operations; while the results of such litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes the final outcome of such matters will not have a materially adverse effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

In connection with the sale of a subsidiary in 2002, the buyer assumed $18.5 million of industrial revenue bonds, with final maturity in 2025. The Company remains contingently liable for repayment of the bonds under a guaranty arrangement and does not believe that a liability is probable. The Company has recorded a non-current liability for the fair value of the guarantee pursuant to Financial Interpretation No. 45.

In connection with the sales of certain businesses, the Company made customary representations and warranties, and undertook indemnification obligations with regard to certain of these representations and warranties including certain environmental matters and conduct of the businesses prior to the sale. These indemnification obligations are subject to certain deductibles, caps and expiration dates and, in some cases, may be deducted from the related escrow balance. In connection with the sale of the Company’s Holly Sugar Corporation subsidiary to Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative (“SMBSC”) in September 2005, approximately $1.5 million of sales proceeds is being held in escrow or by the buyer pending the final settlement of post-closing working capital adjustment and $2.8 million of proceeds are in escrow for 18 months to secure the Company’s indemnity obligations. SMBSC objected to the Company’s initial working capital computations and the parties agreed to a reduction of $150,000. The Company reduced the previously established allowance for such disputes by $350,000, which is reflected as a gain on disposition of discontinued operations in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. A receivable for the working capital post-closing adjustment is recorded in accounts receivable, net of an allowance for the disputed items. Additionally, SMBSC has alleged that the Company breached certain warranties and covenants in the sales agreement and has filed an arbitration claim before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) alleging damages in excess of $7 million. The Company has denied the claims and intends to vigorously defend its position. The Company does not believe that its liability, if any, pursuant to SMBSC’s claim will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Also, in conjunction with the sale of Holly Sugar, the Company negotiated a five-year option to purchase up to 500,000 hundredweight of bulk, refined sugar per year from SMBSC at a formula price based on the traded domestic raw sugar futures market. SMBSC rejected the Company’s exercise of that option in February 2006, alleging that there had been an unspecified “material change” in the domestic raw sugar futures market, necessitating a renegotiation of the refined sugar price under the option. The Company filed a counterclaim against SMBSC in the AAA proceeding seeking specific performance of the Supply Option Agreement and damages for breach of contract.

 

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4. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table presents information necessary to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts):

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

June 30,

 
     2006    2005     2006    2005  
     (In Thousands of Dollars, Except per Share Amounts)  

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations

   $ 14,773    $ (4,153 )   $ 32,956    $ (2,687 )
                              

Average Shares Outstanding

     11,305,763      10,552,009       10,937,462      10,455,375  

Effect of Incremental Shares Issuable from Assumed Exercise of Stock Options Under the Treasury Stock Method (1)

     371,941      0       283,808      0  
                              

Adjusted Average Shares

     11,677,704      10,552,009       11,221,270      10,455,375  
                              

Diluted EPS - Continuing Operations

   $ 1.26    $ (0.39 )   $ 2.94    $ (0.26 )
                              

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

   $ 437    $ (342 )   $ 1,372    $ 3,661  
                              

Average Shares Outstanding

     11,305,763      10,552,009       10,937,462      10,455,375  

Effect of Incremental Shares Issuable from Assumed Exercise of Stock Options Under the Treasury Stock Method (1)

     371,941      0       283,808      0  
                              

Adjusted Average Shares

     11,677,704      10,552,009       11,221,270      10,455,375  
                              

Diluted EPS - Discontinued Operations

   $ 0.04    $ (0.04 )   $ 0.12    $ 0.35  
                              

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 15,210    $ (4,495 )   $ 34,328    $ 974  
                              

Average Shares Outstanding

     11,305,763      10,552,009       10,937,462      10,455,375  

Effect of Incremental Shares Issuable from Assumed Exercise of Stock Options Under the Treasury Stock Method (1)

     371,941      0       283,808      0  
                              

Adjusted Average Shares

     11,677,704      10,552,009       11,221,270      10,455,375  
                              

Diluted EPS - Net Income (Loss)

   $ 1.30    $ (0.43 )   $ 3.06    $ 0.09  
                              

(1) There were no anti-dilutive securities for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Options to purchase 2,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 1,049,748 shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 because they were anti-dilutive. All options and warrants were anti-dilutive for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2005 as the Company reported a net loss from continuing operations.

During the nine-month period ended June 30, 2006, the Company granted options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $13.725 per share (fair market value, date of grant) and granted 121,500 shares of restricted stock. The options vest over a three-year period and expire ten years after the date of grant. The restricted stock vests over a three or four-year period. Options to purchase 636,787 shares of common stock with an average strike price of $4.58 per share (fair market value, date of grant) were exercised during the nine months ended June 30, 2006. Additionally, 58,750 stock appreciation rights were exercised at a price of $1.35 per right during the same time period.

 

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5. PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

The components of net periodic benefit costs for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 were (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Pension Plans

        

Service Cost

   $ 193     $ 325     $ 579     $ 974  

Interest Cost

     2,819       3,639       8,459       10,917  

Expected Return on Plan Assets

     (3,038 )     (3,554 )     (9,116 )     (10,661 )

Amortization of Prior Service Cost

     28       33       84       98  

Recognized Actuarial Loss

     396       161       1,188       483  

Curtailment Loss

     97       —         291       —    
                                

Total Net Periodic Benefit Costs

   $ 495     $ 604     $ 1,485     $ 1,811  
                                

Postretirement Benefits Other than Pension Plans

        

Service Cost

   $ (4 )   $ 3     $ 19     $ 9  

Interest Cost

     (276 )     302       1,058       906  

Amortization of Prior Service Cost

     515       (265 )     (1,976 )     (795 )

Recognized Actuarial Loss

     (269 )     175       1,029       525  
                                

Total Net Periodic Benefit Costs

   $ (34 )   $ 215     $ 130     $ 645  
                                

Pension plan contributions, which are based on regulatory requirements, totaled $0.6 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2006 compared to $0.8 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2005. Contributions during the remainder of fiscal 2006 are expected to be approximately $2.6 million.

 

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6. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

The financial statements reflect the operating results of the Holly Sugar subsidiary (“Holly”), which was sold in September 2005, and Diamond Crystal Brands, which was sold in December 2002, as discontinued operations.

Summary operating results of discontinued operations are as follows (in thousands of dollars):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Nine Months Ended
June 30
 
     2006    2005     2006     2005  

Net Sales

   $ —      $ 45,595     $ —       $ 126,314  

Cost and Expenses

     —        (45,336 )     1,449       (119,824 )

Depreciation

     —        (828 )     —         (2,403 )

Gain on Sale of Assets

     —        6       —         388  
                               

Operating Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

     —        (563 )     1,449       4,475  

Other Income (Expense)

     —        (11 )     —         156  

Provision for Income Taxes

     —        213       (514 )     (1,713 )
                               

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Before Gain

     —        (361 )     935       2,918  

Gain on Disposal

     437      19       437       743  
                               

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

   $          437    $        (342 )   $       1,372     $ 3,661  
                               

In June 2006, the Company settled an indemnity claim in connection with its acquisition of a business which was purchased in 1998 and subsequently sold in 2002. The Company recorded a $0.3 million gain from discontinued operations equal to the cash distribution from the related escrow account, plus the fresh start value of the Company common stock and warrants received from escrow, which were cancelled.

 

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Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This discussion should be read in conjunction with information contained in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005.

Overview

We operate in a single domestic business segment, which produces and sells refined sugar and related products.

Our results of operations substantially depend on market factors, including the demand for and price of refined sugar, the price of raw cane sugar and the availability and price of energy and other resources. These market factors are influenced by a variety of external forces that we are unable to predict, including the number of domestic acres contracted to grow sugar cane and sugarbeets, prices of competing crops, domestic health and eating trends, competing sweeteners, weather conditions and United States farm and trade policy. The domestic sugar industry is subject to substantial influence by legislative and regulatory actions. The current farm bill limits the importation of raw cane sugar and the marketing of domestic refined beet and raw cane sugar, potentially affecting refined sugar sales prices and volumes as well as the supply and cost of raw material available to our cane refineries.

In September 2005, we sold our Holly Sugar subsidiary (“Holly”). Holly’s results are excluded from continuing operations discussed below and are shown separately as discontinued operations.

Results of Operations

Three and Nine Months Ended June 30, 2006

Continuing Operations

In the third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2006, we reported income from continuing operations of $14.8 million or $1.26 per diluted share, compared to a loss of ($4.2) million or ($0.39) per diluted share during the third fiscal quarter of the prior year. For the first nine months of the current year, we reported income from continuing operations of $33.0 million or $2.94 per diluted share, compared to a loss of ($2.7) million or ($0.26) per diluted share last year. Our improved results were driven primarily by an improvement in gross margin resulting from higher sales prices, offset in part by higher raw sugar, energy, freight and manufacturing costs. We discuss these factors in more detail below.

Our results of operations primarily depend on our success in achieving appropriate spreads of sugar sales prices over raw material costs and our ability to control our manufacturing, distribution and administrative costs. Sugar sales comprise approximately 97% of our net sales.

 

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Sugar sales volumes and prices were:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    Nine Months Ended June 30,
     2006    2005    2006    2005
     Volume    Price    Volume    Price    Volume    Price    Volume    Price
     (000 cwt)    (per cwt)    (000 cwt)    (per cwt)    (000 cwt)    (per cwt)    (000 cwt)    (per cwt)

Sugar Sales:

                       

Industrial

   3,236    $ 33.79    3,276    $ 27.36    9,992    $ 31.66    9,324    $ 27.57

Consumer

   1,926      37.23    1,914      32.08    6,294      36.31    6,645      32.17

Foodservice

   889      41.54    878      30.21    3,173      38.39    2,412      30.46
                                               

Domestic Sales

   6,051    $ 36.02    6,068    $ 29.26    19,459    $ 34.26    18,381    $ 29.61

World/Toll Sales

   599      12.11    636      13.15    1,726      12.34    1,355      12.62
                                               

Sugar Sales

   6,650    $ 33.87    6,704    $ 27.73    21,185    $ 32.48    19,736    $ 28.45
                                               

Net sales increased 21.1% for the three months and 22.4% for the nine months ended June 30, 2006, each compared to the same period in the prior year. Domestic sugar volumes decreased 0.3% for the quarter and increased 5.9% for the nine-month period, while domestic prices increased 23.1% and 15.7% for the same periods. Favorable domestic sugar market conditions were driven by a tight domestic supply caused by a smaller domestic sugarbeet crop and delays in the start of the harvest in some sugar beet areas, along with the impact of Gulf Coast hurricanes on the cane sugar industry. Hurricanes damaged standing sugar cane crops in both Florida and Louisiana and caused a competitor’s cane sugar refinery, which produces over 9% of domestic refined sugar, to close from the end of August until it commenced production in early December 2005. Additionally, the active hurricane season caused significant disruption of rail and truck transportation service during the late summer and fall time periods. The USDA has attempted to compensate for these factors by increasing allowable imports of both raw and refined sugar several times during the year, most recently in July 2006. As a result of these factors, our volumes increased and prices rose. Lower promotional spending and logistical disruptions in the first half of the year, as well as continued private label competition, including private label sugar produced in Mexico, were the primary reasons for the lower consumer volumes for the nine-month period. We increased promotional activity in the third quarter and our consumer volume was slightly higher than the prior year period.

A significant portion of our industrial sales are done under fixed price forward sales contracts generally for a year, many of which are on a calendar year basis. Fiscal 2006 industrial contracting with some customers commenced as early as spring 2005, prior to the significant increases in market prices. As a result of these factors, industrial sales prices tend to lag market trends and the increase in industrial sales prices early in the fiscal year was not as robust as the increase in consumer and foodservice prices. We have realized rising industrial prices throughout fiscal 2006, as the volume of industrial shipments derived from higher priced contracts booked after market prices began rising in late summer of 2005 increased. This lag effect in realized industrial prices precipitated by contracts written after last summer’s market events largely matured in the third quarter, and we do not anticipate significant additional increases in realized industrial prices in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. Spot industrial prices and indicative contract pricing for 2007 have begun to soften from their very high levels of 2006, as the domestic cane refining industry capacity has been fully restored and sugar beet acreage planted for fall 2006 harvest increased a reported 5%.

World sales volume dropped in the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the same period of the prior year while toll volumes increased. Average world/toll prices reflected in the table above decreased due to the higher mix of lower priced toll volume, more than offsetting higher world prices.

Gross margin as a percentage of sales for the three months ended June 30, 2006, increased to 15.4% from 4.1% in the prior year quarter and increased to 13.2% for the first nine months compared to 5.5% in the prior year. The increase in our current year’s gross margin percentage is primarily due to increased sugar sales prices, partially offset by higher raw sugar, energy, freight and manufacturing costs. The increase in sales prices contributed 17.4% to the increase in gross margin in the third fiscal quarter and 12.7% in the first nine months of fiscal 2006. Our cost of raw cane sugar increased from $20.74 per cwt (on a raw market basis) for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 to $22.51 per cwt for the current quarter and from $20.61 per cwt for the first nine months of last year to $21.80 per cwt for the first nine months of this year. These higher raw sugar costs decreased our gross margin percentage by 4.6% for the three months and 3.3% for the nine months ended June 30, 2006. Energy costs were $1.3 million and $5.7 million higher for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2006, amounting to a reduction of gross margin percentage of 0.6% for the quarter and 0.8% for the nine months. In addition, fuel costs have increased our transportation costs, which reduced our gross margin 0.5% for the quarter and 0.4% for the nine months. Sugar manufacturing costs increased in the current fiscal year due primarily to increased costs for fringe benefits, taxes and maintenance. Increased manufacturing costs (excluding energy) negatively impacted gross margin by approximately 0.3% for the three months and 0.4% for the nine months ended June 30, 2006, compared to the same period in the prior year.

 

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Domestic raw sugar supplies in 2006 have been tight and there has been a risk of undersupply in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. In response to these conditions, the USDA announced a number of actions in late July to provide additional raw and refined sugar supply to the domestic market to help alleviate these tight conditions. While it is too soon to determine how much additional supply will actually enter the market, these actions should reduce the risk of undersupply. Raw sugar prices in 2006 have been high as a result of the tightness of supply, increasing our unhedged raw sugar cost. Raw sugar prices declined after the USDA’s July announcement, but we are unable to predict whether these lower prices will continue.

Energy costs have increased significantly over the past several years and we expect them to continue to be a larger part of our costs in the future. Our average cost of natural gas after applying gains and losses from hedging activity increased to $9.59 per mmbtu in the current quarter from $7.21 per mmbtu in the comparable prior year’s quarter. As of July 19, 2006 we had purchased or hedged 97% of our expected natural gas requirements for fiscal 2006. If the balance of our anticipated natural gas purchases were priced in the futures market on July 19, 2006, our full year fiscal 2006 natural gas costs would be approximately $7.0 million higher than in fiscal 2005 including $1.3 million for the fourth fiscal quarter. Additionally, other cost elements, such as freight costs, packaging material and chemicals, as well as secondary energy sources such as fuel oil and electricity, have been adversely affected by the higher energy costs this year.

Selling, general and administrative expense increased $0.3 million for the three months and $2.4 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2006, compared to the same periods in the prior year. Contributing to the increase in costs for the quarter was higher incentive compensation of $1.5 million and advertising and promotion costs of $1.2 million, offset in part by lower medical costs ($1.3 million) and lower salary costs ($0.8 million). For the nine month period, higher incentive compensation ($4.0 million), audit and consulting expense ($0.7 million), stock option expense ($0.5 million) and advertising and promotion cost ($1.1 million) were partially offset by $1.7 million lower salary costs as well as $1.8 million lower medical costs.

In the first quarter of the prior year, we sold various assets, including land and a warehouse in Georgia for a gain of approximately $2.7 million and wastewater rights and emission reduction credits at closed factories for a gain of $0.9 million. We also sold a royalty interest in a coal seam methane gas project for a gain of approximately $1.9 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2004, which was categorized as a non-operating gain on asset sale. No significant asset sales have occurred in fiscal 2006.

The Company’s lower borrowing level in fiscal 2006, as well as reduced interest rates and fees related to the amendment of the bank agreement in December 2004, were the primary reasons for the decrease in interest expense for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2006.

We recorded a deferred tax provision in the consolidated statement of operations, however we are not currently paying federal income taxes on our earnings as a result of net operating loss carry forwards from prior periods. We expect to begin paying cash income tax in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006.

 

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Discontinued Operations

Income from discontinued operations for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 was primarily due to the resolution of a pre-disposal contingency.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We fund our liquidity and capital requirements from cash generated from operations, supplemented as necessary with revolving credit borrowings under an agreement that provides for up to $100 million (subject to a borrowing base) of senior secured revolving credit loans (the “Revolver”). At June 30, 2006 we had no outstanding borrowings under the Revolver and had borrowing capacity of $88.6 million, after deducting outstanding letters of credit totaling $11.4 million.

The Revolver, which expires in December 2008, is secured by our cash and temporary investments, accounts receivable, inventory, certain investments and certain property, plant and equipment. Each of our subsidiaries is either a borrower or a guarantor under the facility. The agreement contains covenants limiting our ability to, among other things:

 

    incur other indebtedness

 

    incur other liens

 

    undergo any fundamental changes

 

    engage in transactions with affiliates

 

    enter into sale and leaseback transactions

 

    change our fiscal periods

 

    enter into mergers or consolidations

 

    sell assets

 

    prepay other debt

In addition, in the event that our average total liquidity (defined as the average of the borrowing base including cash, less average actual borrowings and letters of credit) falls below $20 million, the Revolver requires that we comply with a quarterly covenant which establishes a minimum level of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Revolver limits our ability to pay dividends or repurchase stock if our average total liquidity, after adjustment on a pro forma basis for such transaction, is less than $20 million.

The Revolver also includes customary events of default, including a change of control. Borrowings are generally available subject to a borrowing base and to the accuracy of all representations and warranties, including the absence of a material adverse change and the absence of any default or event of default. Although the facility has a final maturity date of December 31, 2008, we classify debt under the Revolver as current, pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 95-22 as the Revolver contains a subjective acceleration clause if in the opinion of the lenders there is a material adverse effect, and provides the lenders direct access to our cash receipts.

We increased our inventories by $29 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2006, because of higher raw and refined sugar levels we maintained in response to concerns about tight sugar markets during the balance of the year.

Our capital expenditures for the nine months ended June 30, 2006 were $4.6 million, primarily for normal replacement and productivity improvements. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2006 are expected to be approximately $9 million, of which slightly less than half will be related to productivity and packaging improvements, a similar amount related to normal replacement of factory equipment and a smaller amount to technology investments.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2006, we paid a special cash dividend of $2.50 per share in addition to the regular quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share. We increased the regular quarterly dividend rate to $0.06 per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2006.

 

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A detailed analysis of the sources and uses of cash is provided in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimate methodologies since the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2005.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

We use raw sugar futures and options in our raw sugar purchasing programs and natural gas futures and options to hedge natural gas purchases used in our manufacturing operations. Our ability to effectively hedge raw sugar purchases is limited by the illiquidity in the domestic raw sugar futures market. Gains and losses on raw sugar futures and options are matched to inventory purchases and charged or credited to cost of sales as such inventory is sold. Gains and losses on natural gas futures are matched to the natural gas purchases and charged to cost of sales in the period of the purchase.

The information in the table below presents our domestic and world raw sugar futures positions outstanding as of June 30, 2006.

 

     Expected Maturity
Fiscal 2006
   Expected Maturity
Fiscal 2007

Domestic Futures Contracts (long positions):

     

Contract Volumes (cwt.)

     1,510,880      1,257,760

Weighted Average Contract Price (per cwt.)

   $ 23.39    $ 22.35

Contract Amount

   $ 35,346,569    $ 28,116,040

Weighted Average Fair Value (per cwt.)

   $ 23.15    $ 22.44

Fair Value

   $ 34,976,872    $ 28,225,098
     Expected Maturity
Fiscal 2006
   Expected Maturity
Fiscal 2007

World Futures Contracts (net long positions):

     

Contract Volumes (cwt.)

     0      6,720

Weighted Average Contract Price (per cwt.)

   $ 0    $ 17.66

Contract Amount

   $ 0    $ 118,675

Weighted Average Fair Value (per cwt.)

   $ 0    $ 16.68

Fair Value

   $ 0    $ 112,090

The above information does not include either our physical inventory or our fixed price purchase commitments for raw sugar. Short raw sugar futures positions may occur when suppliers deliver short futures pursuant to the pricing provisions of raw sugar supply agreements, creating an equal and offsetting long position in the physical supply agreement.

The information in the table below presents our natural gas futures positions outstanding as of June 30, 2006.

 

     Expected Maturity
Fiscal 2006
   Expected Maturity
Fiscal 2007

Futures Contracts (long positions):

     

Contract Volumes (mmbtu)

     410,000      260,000

Weighted Average Contract Price (per mmbtu)

   $ 9.13    $ 8.73

Contract Amount

   $ 3,742,840    $ 2,269,960

Weighted Average Fair Value (per mmbtu)

   $ 6.24    $ 7.83

Fair Value

   $ 2,558,290    $ 2,036,440

 

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Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

In accordance with Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2006 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the nine months ended June 30, 2006 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In connection with the sales of certain businesses, the Company made customary representations and warranties, and undertook indemnification obligations with regard to certain of these representations and warranties including certain environmental matters and conduct of the businesses prior to the sale. These indemnification obligations are subject to certain deductibles, caps and expiration dates and, in some cases, may be deducted from the related escrow balance. In connection with the sale of the Company’s Holly Sugar Corporation subsidiary to Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative (“SMBSC”) in September 2005, approximately $1.5 million of sales proceeds is being held in escrow or by the buyer pending the final settlement of post-closing working capital adjustment and $2.8 million of proceeds are in escrow for 18 months to secure the Company’s indemnity obligations. SMBSC objected to the Company’s initial working capital computations and the parties agreed to a reduction of $150,000. The Company reduced the previously established allowance for such disputes by $350,000, which is reflected as a gain on disposition of discontinued operations in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. A receivable for the working capital post-closing adjustment is recorded in accounts receivable, net of an allowance for the disputed items. Additionally, SMBSC has alleged that the Company breached certain warranties and covenants in the sales agreement and has filed an arbitration claim before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) alleging damages in excess of $7 million. The Company has denied the claims and intends to vigorously defend its position. The Company does not believe that its liability, if any, pursuant to SMBSC’s claim will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Also, in conjunction with the sale of Holly Sugar, the Company negotiated a five-year option to purchase up to 500,000 hundredweight of bulk, refined sugar per year from SMBSC at a formula price based on the traded domestic raw sugar futures market. SMBSC rejected the Company’s exercise of that option in February 2006, alleging that there had been an unspecified “material change” in the domestic raw sugar futures market, necessitating a renegotiation of the refined sugar price under the option. The Company filed a counterclaim against SMBSC in the AAA proceeding seeking specific performance of the Supply Option Agreement and damages for breach of contract.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

  (a) Exhibits

 

31.1    Chief Executive Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
31.2    Chief Financial Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
32    Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

  IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY
        (Registrant)
Dated: August 1, 2006   By:  

/s/ H. P. Mechler

    H. P. Mechler
    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.  

Document

31.1   Chief Executive Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
31.2   Chief Financial Officer Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
32   Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

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