10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-K

 


 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005

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: 0-26640

 


LOGO

SCP POOL CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   36-3943363

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

109 Northpark Boulevard, Covington, Louisiana   70433-5001
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

985-892-5521

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

 


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

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

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

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

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. (Check One):

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    YES  ¨    NOx

The aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant based on the closing sales price of the Registrant’s common stock as of June 30, 2005 was approximately $1,787,577,939.

As of February 17, 2006, the Registrant had 52,606,950 shares of common stock outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement to be mailed to stockholders on or about March 27, 2006 for the

Annual Meeting to be held on May 9, 2006, are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.

 



Table of Contents

SCP POOL CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page
PART I.   
Item 1.   Business    1
Item 1A.   Risk Factors    7
Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments    10
Item 2.   Properties    10
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings    12
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    12
PART II.   
Item 5.   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    13
Item 6.   Selected Financial Data    14
Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    15
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    28
Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    29
Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    56
Item 9A.   Controls and Procedures    56
Item 9B.   Other Information    59
PART III.   
Item 10.   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    59
Item 11.   Executive Compensation    59
Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management    59
Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    59
Item 14.   Principal Accounting Fees and Services    59
PART IV.   
Item 15.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules    60
Signatures      61


Table of Contents

PART I.

Item 1. Business

General

Based on industry data, SCP Pool Corporation (the Company, which may be referred to as POOL, we, us or our) is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment and related leisure products. The Company was incorporated in the State of Delaware in 1993 under the name SCP Holding Corporation, and in 1995 changed its name to SCP Pool Corporation.

In October 2005, we acquired Automatic Rain Company, a leading regional wholesale distributor of irrigation and landscape products serving professional contractors in the landscape construction and maintenance markets, through our newly formed and wholly owned subsidiary Horizon Distributors, Inc. (Horizon). Our acquisition of Horizon expands our complementary product offerings and provides us with a solid distribution platform in the irrigation and landscape marketplace.

Our industry is highly fragmented, and as such, we add considerable value to the industry by purchasing products from a large number of manufacturers and then distributing the products and offering a range of services to our customer base on conditions that are more favorable than these customers could obtain on their own.

As of December 31, 2005 we operated 246 customer service centers in North America and Europe.

Our Industry

We believe that the swimming pool industry is relatively young, with room for continued growth from increased penetration of new pools. Of the approximately 69 million homes in the United States that have the economic capacity and the yard space to have a swimming pool, approximately 12% own a pool. The industry has grown at a 4 to 6% annual rate for the past several years. New homes are being constructed at a higher rate over the last 3-5 years, which creates even more potential pool owners annually.

We believe the swimming pool industry will continue to grow at a rate of approximately 4 to 5% annually over the next five years, primarily because of favorable demographic and socioeconomic trends, as well as the expected continued growth in housing starts in warmer markets and the need to maintain the growing installed base of pools. We expect our sales growth to be higher than the industry average due to increases in market share and expansion of our product offerings.

A large portion of consumer spending in our industry is derived from the maintenance of existing swimming pools, including the repair and replacement of the equipment for those pools. We believe that consumer demand for qualified pool builders, particularly in larger pool markets, will continue to outweigh the supply. Thus, the industry has generally not been negatively affected by economic downturns, although there is no assurance that this will continue.

The demand for new pools is driven by the perceived benefits of pool ownership including relaxation, entertainment, family activity, exercise and convenience. The industry competes for new pool sales against other discretionary consumer purchases such as kitchen and bathroom remodeling, boats, motorcycles, recreational vehicles and vacations.

The industry has been positively impacted by the trend for increased homeowner spending on outdoor living spaces for relaxation and entertainment. Additionally, the developing trend in recent years is for consumers to bundle the purchase of a pool with other products as part of a complete backyard makeover. New irrigation systems and landscaping are often key components to completing a swimming pool installation or remodel. The irrigation and landscape market has many characteristics in common with the pool industry, and we believe that it benefits from the same favorable demographic and socioeconomic trends and will realize growth rates similar to the pool industry.

 

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Our industry is seasonal, and weather is the principal external factor which affects our business. Peak industry activity occurs during the warmest months of the year, typically April through September. The industry is also affected by other factors including consumer saving and discretionary spending levels, the increase in pool eligible households and consumer attitudes toward pool and landscape products for environmental or safety reasons.

Business Strategy and Growth

Our mission is to provide exceptional value to our customers and suppliers, in order to provide exceptional return to our shareholders while providing exceptional opportunities to our employees. Our three core strategies are to promote the growth of our industry, to promote the growth of our customers’ businesses and to continuously strive to operate more effectively.

We promote the growth of the industry through various advertising and promotional programs intended to raise consumer awareness of the benefits and affordability of pool ownership, the ease of pool maintenance and the many ways in which a pool and the surrounding spaces may be enjoyed beyond swimming. These programs include media advertising, industry-oriented website development such as www.swimmingpool.com ™ and public relations campaigns, and we use these programs as tools to educate consumers and lead prospective pool owners to our customers.

We promote the growth of our customers’ businesses through comprehensive support programs that offer promotional tools and marketing support to help generate increased sales for our customers. Our uniquely tailored programs include such features as customer lead generation, personalized websites, brochures, marketing campaigns and business development training. As a customer service, we also provide certain retail store customers assistance with everything from site selection to store layout and design to business management system implementation.

We strive to operate more effectively by continuously focusing on improvements in our operations such as product sourcing, procurement and logistics initiatives, adoption of enhanced business practices and improved working capital management.

In addition to our efforts aimed at industry and customer growth, we have increased our product breadth, as described in the “Customers and Products” section below, and expanded our service center network through acquisitions and new service center openings.

We have grown organically through increases in base business sales of 14% in 2005, 10% in 2004 and 11% in 2003. Since 2001, we have opened 23 new service centers. Acquisitions have historically been an important source of sales growth as well, and since 2001, we have successfully completed 13 acquisitions, consisting of 93 service centers (net of service center closings and consolidations).

We acquired a total of 42 service centers in 2005, including 40 service centers through our acquisition of Horizon in October 2005. For additional discussion of our recent acquisitions, see Note 2 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. We intend to pursue additional strategic acquisitions, which will allow us to further penetrate existing markets and expand into new geographic markets and product categories. For information regarding our sources and uses of cash, you should read Item 7, “Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES,” of this Form 10-K.

 

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Customers and Products

We serve roughly 68,000 customers, none of which account for more than 1% of our sales. We primarily serve five types of customers:

 

    swimming pool remodelers and builders;

 

    retail swimming pool stores;

 

    swimming pool repair and service businesses;

 

    landscape construction and maintenance contractors; and

 

    golf courses.

The majority of these customers are small, family owned businesses with relatively limited capital resources.

We conduct our operations through 246 service centers in North America and Europe. Our primary markets, which have the highest concentration of swimming pools, are California, Florida, Texas and Arizona, representing approximately 54% of our net sales in 2005. We use a combination of international and local sales and marketing personnel to promote the growth of our business and develop and strengthen our customers’ businesses. Our international personnel focus on developing customer programs and promotional activities, creating and enhancing sales management tools and providing product and market expertise. Our local sales personnel work from the service centers and are charged with understanding and meeting our customers’ specific needs.

We offer our customers more than 100,000 national brand and private label products. We believe that our selection of pool equipment and supplies, chemicals, replacement parts and complementary products is the most comprehensive in the industry. The products we sell can be categorized as follows:

 

    maintenance products such as chemicals, supplies and pool accessories;

 

    repair and replacement parts for cleaners, filters, heaters, pumps and lights;

 

    packaged pool kits including walls, liners, bracing, filters, heaters, pumps and coping for in-ground and above-ground pools;

 

    pool equipment and materials for new pool construction and the remodeling of existing pools; and

 

    complementary products, including:

 

  -   construction materials used for pool installations and remodeling, such as concrete, plumbing and electrical components and pool surface and decking materials;

 

  -   irrigation and landscape products, including professional lawn care equipment; and

 

  -   other discretionary recreational and related outdoor lifestyle products that enhance consumers use and enjoyment of outdoor living spaces.

Maintenance products and repair and replacement parts are non-discretionary in nature, meaning that these items must be purchased by end-users to maintain existing swimming pools and landscaped areas. Over 60% of our gross profits are derived from the sale of products used to maintain and repair these existing features and less than 40% are derived from the construction and installation (equipment, materials, plumbing, electrical, etc.) of new pools and landscaping.

Our complementary product sales grew 32% in 2005, excluding Horizon, and have grown from approximately $3.0 million in 1999 to over $140.0 million in 2005. This growth has been an important factor in our base business sales growth over the past six years. Including Horizon’s fourth quarter 2005 sales, complementary products sales grew 76% over 2004 and accounted for nearly 12% of our total net sales at comparable margins to our traditional product offerings.

We have identified other product categories that could become part of our complementary product offerings in the future. We typically choose two to three categories each year and introduce them in certain markets. We then evaluate the performance of these test categories and focus on those which we believe exhibit long-term growth potential. In 2006, we intend to continue to expand our complementary products initiative by

 

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increasing the number of locations which offer complementary products, increasing the number of complementary products offered at certain locations and also through a modest broadening of the product offerings on a company-wide basis. We expect complementary product sales to approach 20% of our total sales in 2006.

Operating Strategy

We operate three distribution networks: the SCP Distributors (SCP) network, the Superior Pool Products (Superior) network and the Horizon Distributors (Horizon) network. The SCP network consists of 145 service centers, including 12 locations in Europe, the Superior network consists of 61 locations and the Horizon network consists of 40 locations.

We distribute swimming pool supplies, equipment and related leisure products through our SCP and Superior networks and we distribute irrigation and landscape products through our Horizon network. We adopted the strategy of operating two distinct distribution networks within the swimming pool marketplace primarily for two reasons:

 

  1. To offer our customers a choice of different distributors, featuring distinctive product selections and service personnel; and

 

  2. To increase the level of customer service and operational efficiency provided by the service centers in each network by promoting healthy competition between the two networks.

We evaluate our service centers based upon their performance relative to predetermined standards that include both financial and operational measures. Our corporate support groups provide our field operations with various services including customer and vendor related programs, information systems support and expert resources to help achieve their goals. We employ incentive programs and feedback mechanisms along with the competitive nature of our internal networks to stimulate performance.

Distribution

Our service centers are located near customer concentrations, typically in industrial, commercial or mixed-use zones. Customers may pick up products at any service center location, or products may be delivered via our trucks or third party carriers.

Our service centers maintain well-stocked inventories to meet customers’ immediate needs. We utilize warehouse management technology to optimize receiving, inventory control, picking, packing and shipping functions.

In addition, we operate five centralized shipping locations and two construction materials centers that redistribute products we purchase in bulk quantities to our service centers or directly to customers.

Purchasing and Suppliers

We enjoy good relationships with our suppliers, who generally offer competitive pricing, return policies and promotional allowances. It is customary in our industry for manufacturers to seasonally offer extended payment terms to qualifying purchasers such as POOL. These terms are typically available to us for pre-season or early season purchases.

We initiated a preferred vendor program in 1999 which encourages our buyers to purchase products from a smaller number of vendors. We work closely with these vendors to develop programs and services to better meet the needs of our customers and concentrate our purchasing activities. These practices, together with a more comprehensive service offering, have resulted in improved margins at the service center level.

 

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We regularly evaluate supplier relationships and consider alternate sourcing to assure competitive cost, service and quality standards. Our largest suppliers include Pentair Corporation, Hayward Pool Products, Inc. and Waterpik Technologies, Inc., which accounted for approximately 20%, 13% and 7%, respectively, of the cost of products we sold in 2005.

Competition

Based on industry knowledge and available data, management believes we are the largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related backyard products, and the only truly national wholesale distributor focused on the swimming pool industry in the United States. Additionally, we are one of the top three regional distributors of landscape and irrigation products in the United States. We face intense competition from many regional and local distributors in our markets and to a lesser extent, mass-market retailers and large pool supply retailers with their own internal distribution networks. We also compete against one national wholesale distributor of landscape and irrigation products.

Some geographic markets we serve, particularly our largest, higher density markets in California, Florida, Texas and Arizona, are more competitive than others. Barriers to entry in our industry are relatively low. We compete with other distributors for rights to distribute brand-name products. If we lose or are unable to obtain these rights, we might be materially and adversely affected. We believe that the size of our operations allows us to compete favorably for such distribution rights.

We believe that the principal competitive factors in swimming pool and landscape supply distribution are:

 

    the breadth and availability of products offered;

 

    the quality and level of customer service;

 

    the breadth and depth of sales and marketing programs;

 

    consistency and stability of business relationships with customers; and

 

    competitive product pricing.

We believe that we generally compete favorably with respect to each of these factors.

Seasonality and Weather

For a discussion regarding seasonality and weather, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations,” of this Form 10-K.

Environmental, Health and Safety Regulations

Our business is subject to regulation under local fire codes and federal, state and local environmental and health and safety requirements including:

 

    the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and other Environmental Protection Agency regulations;

 

    the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and other Department of Transportation regulations; and

 

    the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).

Most of these requirements govern the packaging, labeling, handling, transportation, storage and sale of pool chemicals and landscape chemicals and fertilizers. We store certain types of chemicals and/or fertilizers at each of our service centers, and the storage of these items is strictly regulated by local fire codes. In addition, we sell algaecides and pest control products that are regulated as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and various state pesticide laws. These laws are primarily related to labeling, annual registration and licensing.

 

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Employees

We employed approximately 3,200 people at December 31, 2005. Given the seasonal nature of our business, our peak employment period is the summer, when we add up to 15% more employees to our work force to meet seasonal demand.

Intellectual Property

We maintain both domestic and foreign registered trademarks primarily for our private label products, and we intend to maintain the trademark registrations that are important to our current and future business operations. We also own rights to several Internet domain names.

Geographic Areas

Net sales by geographic region were as follows for the past three fiscal years (in thousands):

 

         Year Ended December 31,
       2005    2004    2003
  United States    $ 1,442,332    $ 1,226,654    $ 1,094,035
  International      110,327      84,199      61,797
                      
     $ 1,552,659    $ 1,310,853    $ 1,155,832
                      

Net property and equipment by geographic region was as follows (in thousands):

  
         December 31,
       2005    2004    2003
 

United States

   $ 22,520    $ 16,214    $ 22,535
 

International

     3,078      2,381      2,108
                      
     $ 25,598    $ 18,595    $ 24,643
                      

Available Information

Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge on our website at www.poolcorp.com as soon as reasonably practical after we electronically file such reports with, or furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Additionally, we have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, applicable to all employees, officers and directors, which is available free of charge on our website.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Our disclosure and analysis in this report contains forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. Our forward-looking statements express our current expectations or forecasts of possible future results or events, including projections of future performance, statements of management’s plans and objectives, future contracts, and forecasts of trends and other matters. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts and often use words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “believe,” “will likely result,” “outlook,” “project” and other words and expressions of similar meaning. No assurance can be given that the results in any forward-looking statements will be achieved and actual results could be affected by one or more factors, which could cause them to differ materially. For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.

Risk Factors

Certain factors that may affect our business and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements include the following:

We are susceptible to adverse weather conditions.

Weather is the principal external factor affecting our business. For example, unseasonably late warming trends can decrease the length of the pool season and unseasonably cool weather or extraordinary rainfall during the peak season can decrease swimming pool use, installation and maintenance, as well as landscape installations and maintenance. These weather conditions adversely affect sales of our products. For a discussion regarding seasonality and weather, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations,” of this Form 10-K.

Our distribution business is highly dependent on our ability to maintain favorable relationships with suppliers and manufacturers.

As a distribution company, maintaining favorable relationships with our suppliers is critical to the success of our business. We believe that we add considerable value to the swimming pool supply chain and landscape supply chain by purchasing products from a large number of manufacturers and distributing the products to a highly fragmented customer base on conditions that are more favorable than these customers could obtain on their own. We believe that we currently enjoy good relationships with our suppliers, who generally offer us competitive pricing, return policies and promotional allowances. However, our inability to maintain favorable relationships with our suppliers could have an adverse effect on our business.

Our largest suppliers are Pentair Corporation, Hayward Pool Products, Inc. and Waterpik Technologies, Inc., which accounted for approximately 20%, 13% and 7%, respectively, of the costs of products we sold in 2005. While we do not believe that the loss of any single supplier would adversely affect our business, a decision by several suppliers, acting in concert, to sell their products directly to retail customers and other end-users of their products, bypassing distribution companies like ours, would have an adverse effect on our business. We dedicate significant resources to promote the benefits and affordability of pool ownership, which we believe greatly benefits our swimming pool customers and suppliers.

We face intense competition both from within our industry and from other leisure product alternatives.

We face competition from both inside and outside of our industry. Within our industry, we compete against various regional and local distributors and, to a lesser extent, mass market retailers and large pool supply retailers. Outside of our industry, we compete with sellers of other leisure product alternatives, such as boats and motor homes, and with other companies who rely on discretionary homeowner expenditures, such as

 

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home remodelers. New competitors may emerge as there are low barriers to entry in our industry. Some geographic markets that we serve, particularly our largest, higher density markets in California, Florida, Texas and Arizona, representing approximately 54% of our net sales in 2005, also tend to be more competitive than others.

More aggressive competition by mass merchants could adversely affect our sales.

Mass market retailers today carry a limited range of, and devote a limited amount of shelf space to, merchandise and products targeted to our industry. Historically, mass market retailers have generally expanded by adding new stores and product breadth, but their product offering of pool and landscape related products has remained relatively constant. Should mass market retailers increase their focus on the pool or professional landscape industries, or increase the breadth of their pool and landscape related product offerings, they may become a more significant competitor for direct and end-use customers which could have an adverse impact on our business.

The demand for our swimming pool and related outdoor lifestyle products may be adversely affected by economic downturns.

In economic downturns, the demand for swimming pool or leisure related products may decline as discretionary consumer spending, the increase in pool eligible households and swimming pool construction decline. Although maintenance products and repair and replacement equipment that must be purchased by pool owners to maintain existing swimming pools account for more than 60% of our gross profits, the growth of our business depends on the expansion of the installed pool base, which may be viewed by most consumers as a discretionary expenditure that may be adversely affected by economic downturns.

We depend on key personnel.

We consider our employees to be the foundation for our growth and success. As such, our future success depends in large part on our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel, including our executive officers and key management personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, our operating results could be adversely affected.

Specifically, our future success depends to an extent upon the continued service of Manuel Perez de la Mesa, our Chief Executive Officer. The loss of Mr. Perez de la Mesa in particular could have a material adverse effect on our business. Mr. Perez de la Mesa is not nearing retirement age, and we have no indication that he intends to retire in the near future. We do not currently maintain key man insurance on Mr. Perez de la Mesa.

We may not be able to sustain our pace of growth.

We have experienced substantial sales growth in recent years through acquisitions and new service center openings that have increased our size, scope and geographic distribution. Since 2001, we have opened 23 new service centers and have completed 13 acquisitions including our acquisition of Horizon in October 2005. These acquisitions have added 93 service centers, net of service center closings and consolidations, and a centralized shipping location to our distribution networks. While we contemplate continued growth through acquisitions and internal expansion, no assurance can be made as to our ability to:

 

    penetrate new markets;

 

    identify appropriate acquisition candidates;

 

    complete acquisitions on satisfactory terms and successfully integrate acquired businesses;

 

    obtain financing;

 

    generate sufficient cash flows to support expansion plans and general operating activities;

 

    maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships; and

 

    identify and divest assets which do not continue to create value consistent with our objectives.

If we do not manage these potential difficulties successfully, our operating results could be adversely affected.

 

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The growth of our business depends on effective marketing programs.

The growth of our business depends on the expansion of the installed pool base. Thus, an important part of our strategy is to promote the growth of the pool industry through our extensive advertising and promotional programs that attempt to raise consumer awareness regarding the benefits and affordability of pool ownership, the ease of pool maintenance and the many ways in which a pool may be enjoyed beyond swimming. These programs include media advertising, website development such as www.swimmingpool.com ™ and public relations campaigns. We believe these programs benefit the entire supply chain from our suppliers to our customers.

We also promote the growth of our customers’ businesses through comprehensive support programs that offer promotional tools and marketing support to help generate increased sales for our customers. Our programs include such things as personalized websites, brochures, marketing campaigns and business development training. We also provide certain retail store customers with assistance in site selection, store layout and design and business management system implementation. Our inability to sufficiently develop effective advertising, marketing and promotional programs to succeed in a weakened economic environment and an increasingly competitive marketplace, in which we (and our entire supply chain) also compete with other luxury product alternatives, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our business is highly seasonal.

In 2005, approximately 64% of our net sales and 89% of our operating income were generated in the second and third quarters of the year, which represent the peak months of swimming pool use, installation, remodeling and repair. Our sales are substantially lower during the first and fourth quarters of the year, when we may incur net losses.

The nature of our business subjects us to compliance with Environmental, Health, Transportation and Safety Regulations.

We are subject to regulation under federal, state and local environmental, health, transportation and safety requirements, which govern such things as packaging, labeling, handling, transportation, storage and sale of pool chemicals and landscape chemicals and fertilizers. For example, we sell algaecides and pest control products that are regulated as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and various state pesticide laws. These laws are primarily related to labeling, annual registration and licensing.

Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties or the imposition of injunctive relief. Moreover, compliance with such laws and regulations in the future could prove to be costly, and there can be no assurance that we will not incur such costs in material amounts. These laws and regulations have changed substantially and rapidly over the last 20 years, and we anticipate that there will be continuing changes. The clear trend in environmental, health, transportation and safety regulation is to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that impact the environment, such as the use and handling of chemical substances. Increasingly, strict restrictions and limitations have resulted in increased operating costs for us, and it is possible that the costs of compliance with such laws and regulations will continue to increase. We will attempt to anticipate future regulatory requirements that might be imposed and we will plan accordingly to remain in compliance with changing regulations and to minimize the costs of such compliance.

We store chemicals, fertilizers and other combustible materials that involve fire, safety and casualty risks.

We store chemicals and fertilizers, including certain combustible, oxidizing compounds, at our service centers. A fire, explosion or flood affecting one of our facilities could give rise to fire, safety and casualty losses and related liability claims. We maintain what we believe is prudent insurance protection. However, we cannot guarantee that our insurance coverage will be adequate to cover future claims that may arise or that we will be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we consider reasonable. Successful claims for which we are not fully insured may adversely affect our working capital and profitability. In addition, changes in the insurance industry have generally led to higher insurance costs and decreased availability of coverage.

 

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We conduct business internationally, which exposes us to additional risks.

Our international operations expose us to certain additional risks, including difficulty in staffing and managing foreign subsidiary operations, uncertain political and regulatory conditions, foreign currency fluctuations, adverse tax consequences and dependence on foreign economies.

We source certain products we sell, including our private label products, from Asia and other foreign locations. There is a significant risk that we may not be able to access products in a timely and efficient manner, and we may also be subject to certain trade restrictions that prevent us from obtaining products. Fluctuations in other factors relating to foreign trade, such as tariffs, currency exchange rates, transportation costs and inflation are beyond our control.

A terrorist attack or the threat of a terrorist attack could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001, in the U.S. were unprecedented events that have created many economic and political uncertainties, some of which may materially impact our business. Discretionary spending on leisure products such as ours is generally adversely affected during times of economic uncertainty. The potential for future terrorist attacks, the national and international responses to terrorist attacks, and other acts of war or hostility have created many economic and political uncertainties, which could adversely affect our business for the short or long-term in ways that cannot presently be predicted.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2. Properties

We lease the POOL corporate offices, which consist of approximately 50,000 square feet of office space in Covington, Louisiana, from an entity in which we have a 50% ownership interest. We own three service centers in Florida. All of our other properties are leased for terms that expire between 2006 and 2026. In addition to minimum rental payments, which are set at competitive rates, certain leases require reimbursement for taxes, maintenance and insurance. Most of our leases contain renewal options, some of which involve rent increases.

Our service centers range in size from approximately 3,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet and generally consist of warehouse, counter, display and office space. Our centralized shipping locations and construction materials centers range in size from 16,000 square feet to 132,000 square feet.

We believe that our facilities are well maintained, suitable for our business and occupy sufficient space to meet our operating needs. As part of our normal business, we regularly evaluate service center performance and site suitability and may relocate a service center or consolidate two locations if a service center is redundant in a market, under performing or otherwise deemed unsuitable. We do not believe that any single lease is material to our operations.

 

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The table below identifies the number of service centers by state and foreign country as of December 31, 2005:

 

Location

  

Number of

Service Centers

United States

  

California

   52

Florida

   35

Texas

   16

Arizona

   15

Georgia

   7

Tennessee

   7

Alabama

   6

New York

   6

Oregon

   6

Washington

   6

Nevada

   5

New Jersey

   5

Ohio

   5

Indiana

   4

Louisiana

   4

Missouri

   4

North Carolina

   4

Pennsylvania

   4

Colorado

   3

Illinois

   3

Michigan

   3

Oklahoma

   3

Virginia

   3

Arkansas

   2

Kansas

   2

Massachusetts

   2

Minnesota

   2

South Carolina

   2

Connecticut

   1

Iowa

   1

Idaho

   1

Kentucky

   1

Maine

   1

Maryland

   1

Mississippi

   1

Nebraska

   1

New Mexico

   1

Utah

   1

Wisconsin

   1
    

Total United States

   227
    

International

  

Canada

   6

France

   4

United Kingdom

   3

Portugal

   2

Spain

   2

Italy

   1

Mexico

   1
    

Total International

   19
    

Total

   246
    

 

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we are subject to various claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including product liability, personal injury, commercial, contract and employment matters. While the outcome of any litigation is inherently unpredictable, we do not believe, based on currently available facts, that the ultimate disposition of any of these matters will have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

No matters were submitted to a vote of our stockholders during the quarter ended December 31, 2005.

 

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PART II.

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

Our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “POOL” in October 1995. On February 13, 2006, there were approximately 28,130 beneficial holders of our common stock. The table below sets forth the high and low sales prices of our common stock as well as dividends declared for each quarter during the last two fiscal years. The prices and dividends for the first two quarters of 2004 have been adjusted to reflect the three-for-two stock split effective September 10, 2004.

 

     High    Low    Dividends
Declared

Fiscal 2005

        

First Quarter

   $ 34.82    $ 28.59    $ 0.070

Second Quarter

     36.87      30.06      0.090

Third Quarter

     38.08      33.46      0.090

Fourth Quarter

     39.89      31.59      0.090

Fiscal 2004

        

First Quarter

   $ 25.11    $ 20.57    $ —  

Second Quarter

     30.24      24.25      0.067

Third Quarter

     31.26      26.13      0.067

Fourth Quarter

     32.40      24.80      0.070

We initiated quarterly dividend payments to our shareholders in the second quarter of 2004, and we have continued payments in each subsequent quarter. Our Board of Directors (our Board) increased the dividend amount in the fourth quarter of 2004 and again in the second quarter of 2005. Payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board, after taking into account various factors, including earnings, capital requirements and surplus, financial position, contractual restrictions and other relevant business considerations. We plan to continue to pay quarterly dividends, but there can be no assurance that dividends will be declared or paid any time in the future if our Board deems that there is a better use of those funds.

The table below summarizes the repurchases of our common stock in the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

Period

   Total number of
shares purchased(2)
   Average price
paid per share
   Total number of shares
purchased as part of
publicly announced plan(1)
   Maximum approximate
dollar value that may yet be
purchased under the plan

October 1-31, 2005

   751,887    $ 33.01    707,100    $ 3,248,275

November 1-30, 2005

   —        —      —        50,000,000

December 1-31, 2005

   23,937      38.46    —        50,000,000

(1) In July 2002, our Board authorized $50.0 million for the repurchase of shares of our common stock in the open market. In August 2004, when approximately $17.6 million of the amount authorized remained available for share repurchases, our Board increased the authorization for the repurchase of shares of our common stock in the open market to a total of $50.0 million. In November 2005, when approximately $3.2 million of the amount authorized remained available for share repurchases, our Board increased the authorization for the repurchase of shares of our common stock in the open market to a total of $50.0 million, all of which remained available as of February 17, 2006.

 

(2) These shares include shares of our common stock surrendered to us by employees in order to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with certain exercises of employee stock options granted under our 1995 and 1998 Stock Option Plans.

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The table below sets forth selected financial data from the Consolidated Financial Statements. You should read this information in conjunction with the discussions in Item 7 of this Form 10-K and with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

 

     Year Ended December 31, (1)  

(in thousands, except per share data)

   2005     2004     2003     2002     2001  

Statement of Income Data

          

Net sales

   $ 1,552,659     $ 1,310,853     $ 1,155,832     $ 983,246     $ 854,234  

Net income

     83,621       66,941       50,848       41,303       35,444  

Earnings per share:

          

Basic

   $ 1.59     $ 1.27     $ 0.96     $ 0.76     $ 0.62  

Diluted

     1.50       1.19       0.91       0.72       0.59  

Cash dividends declared per common share

     0.34       0.20       —         —         —    

Balance Sheet Data

          

Working capital (2)

   $ 194,571     $ 128,189     $ 60,030     $ 144,174     $ 136,856  

Total assets

     736,636       480,866       450,272       402,094       348,590  

Total long-term debt, including current portion

     132,584       54,910       48,346       129,602       85,091  

Stockholders’ equity

     272,980       220,335       195,241       141,941       144,572  

Other

          

Base business sales growth (3)

     14 %     10 %     11 %     10 %     3 %

Number of service centers

     246       201       197       185       172  

(1) During the years 2001 to 2005, we successfully completed 13 acquisitions consisting of 109 service centers, of which 15 were closed or consolidated into existing service centers. For information about our recent acquisitions, see Note 2 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

 

(2) The approximate 52% increase in working capital from 2004 to 2005 is due primarily to a greater amount of early buy inventory purchases that we made and received during the fourth quarter of 2005 and the Horizon acquisition. This increase was partially offset by the deferral of our third and fourth quarter 2005 estimated federal income tax payments. For further discussion, see the “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES” section included in Item 7 of this Form 10-K.

The approximate 58% decrease in working capital from 2002 to 2003 is due to the classification of our former revolving line of credit balance and the addition of short-term financing. Since this revolving line of credit expired in November 2004, the outstanding balance at December 31, 2003 was classified as current. The accounts receivable securitization facility that we entered into in 2003 is also classified as current.

 

(3) For a discussion regarding our calculation of base business sales growth, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” of this Form 10-K.

 

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

2005 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

Financial Results

Our 2005 financial results reflect the continuing execution of our strategies for profitable revenue growth. We have built on our core strengths with a focus on growing our customers’ businesses faster than the overall market and incrementally improving all aspects of our business operations.

Net sales grew 18% to $1.55 billion in 2005 compared to $1.31 billion in 2004. This is higher than the 13% sales growth experienced in 2004 due primarily to the increase in our base business growth rate as well as fourth quarter sales from acquired service centers, which includes the 40 Horizon service centers acquired in October 2005. Our base business growth has been relatively stable at 14%, 10% and 11% for 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. This growth contrasts with the growth of the overall market for swimming pool equipment and supplies, which we estimate grew on average from 4% to 6% per year over this same time period. We attribute much of our growth to the success of the programs we offer to our customers, which are aimed at growing their businesses. In 2005, product pricing also contributed to the sales growth as we were able to pass most vendor price increases through to customers.

Our gross profit as a percent of net sales (gross margin) decreased by approximately 40 basis points in 2005 compared to 2004, reflecting the impact of the divestiture of our North American manufacturing assets in December 2004.

Our operating income increased 24% to $140.3 million in 2005 due primarily to the growth in sales, as well as our ability to leverage our existing distribution and administrative infrastructure and our success with ongoing operational improvements. Net income increased 25% in 2005 and included $1.5 million of net equity earnings from our investment in Latham Acquisition Corporation (LAC).

Financial Position and Liquidity

In 2005, both our cash flow provided by operations and year-end working capital balance were impacted by a greater amount of early buy inventory purchases that we received as of year-end. We made aggressive inventory purchases during the fourth quarter of 2005 to take advantage of price discounts and to mitigate the potential adverse gross margin impact of expected 2006 price increases.

As a result of the inventory purchases received and paid for in the fourth quarter of 2005, which totaled approximately $53.0 million, partially offset by the deferral of third and fourth quarter 2005 estimated federal income tax payments, our cash from operations decreased to $38.1 million in 2005 from $56.4 million in 2004. Coupled with net proceeds from financing activities of approximately $119.5 million, cash from operations helped fund our acquisition of Horizon in the fourth quarter of 2005, $32.1 million of share repurchases in 2005 and the payment of our quarterly cash dividend to shareholders, which we increased in the second quarter of 2005.

Our year-end inventory levels increased 69% to $330.6 million as of December 31, 2005, due primarily to our increased early buy inventory purchases and the Horizon acquisition. As a result of this increase, inventory turns decreased slightly to 4.3 days in 2005 from 4.5 days in 2004. Days sales outstanding (DSO) remained consistent between years at 33.6 days for fiscal 2005 compared to 33.4 days for fiscal 2004. We continue to maintain a healthy current ratio, which was down slightly to 1.6 as of December 31, 2005 compared to 1.7 as of December 31, 2004.

 

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OUTLOOK

We believe that the following factors will contribute to net sales growth in 2006:

 

    sales from acquired service centers, including Horizon;
    expansion of our existing service centers through continued execution of our sales, marketing and service programs;
    the anticipated opening of 6 to 10 new service centers in 2006;
    continued growth of the installed base of swimming pools;
    growth in complementary product sales; and
    expected product price increases passed through the supply chain.

We believe that complementary products will continue to grow at a faster rate than our overall sales growth, with an acceleration of the complementary products growth rate in the first three quarters of 2006, compared to the same period in 2005, due to the addition of Horizon’s products to our complementary product offerings. Including Horizon’s sales, complementary products should comprise approximately 20% of net sales for the full year 2006.

We expect to continue to increase our focus on supply chain management initiatives, including expansion of international sourcing and private label opportunities, particularly where margin expansion opportunities exist. We also plan to make further advances in working capital management to achieve continued operational improvements in 2006 and beyond.

We expect a positive contribution from equity earnings from our investment in LAC in 2006. LAC’s business is highly seasonal and more heavily weighted to northern markets, with the first and fourth quarters being the slowest parts of the year and the second and third quarters being the busiest.

We plan to use the modified-retrospective transition method under SFAS 123(R), Share-Based Payment. As such, we will adjust prior period financial statements beginning in the first quarter of 2006 to reflect the impact of stock option expense for amounts previously reported in our pro-forma footnote disclosures required by SFAS 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. Our 2005 fully diluted earnings per share was $1.50 as reported, or $1.45 after adjusting for the impact of stock option expense. We believe that 2006 earnings per share will be in the range of $1.70 to $1.75 per diluted share, including an expected $0.06 impact from stock option expensing.

We believe that over the long term, we will generate sufficient cash flow and have adequate access to capital to both fund our business objectives and provide a direct return to our shareholders in the form of dividend payments.

Our business is subject to significant risks, including weather, competition, general economic conditions and other risks as detailed in Item 1A of this Form 10-K.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. Management identifies critical accounting estimates as:

 

    those that require the use of assumptions about matters that are inherently and highly uncertain at the time the estimates are made; and
    those for which changes in the estimate or assumptions, or the use of different estimates and assumptions, could have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

 

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Management has discussed the development, selection and disclosure of our critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board. We believe the following critical accounting estimates require us to make the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for an estimate of the losses we will incur if our customers do not make required payments. We perform periodic credit evaluations of our customers and typically do not require collateral. Consistent with industry practices, we require payment from our customers within 30 days except for sales under early buy programs for which we provide extended payment terms to qualified customers. The extended terms require payments in equal installments in April, May and June or May and June, depending on geographical location. In the past, credit losses have been within or better than our expectations.

As our business is seasonal, our customers’ businesses are also seasonal. Sales are lowest in the winter months, and our past due accounts receivable balance as a percentage of total receivables generally increases during this time. We provide reserves for uncollectible accounts based on the accounts receivable aging ranging from 0.12% for amounts currently due up to 100% for specific accounts more than 60 days past due.

At the end of each year, we perform a reserve analysis of all accounts with past due balances greater than $25,000. Additionally, we perform a separate reserve analysis on the balance of our accounts receivables with emphasis on the remainder of the past due portion of the aging. As we review these past due accounts, we evaluate collectibility based on a combination of factors, including:

 

    aging statistics and trends;
    customer payment history;
    independent credit reports; and
    discussions with customers.

During the year, we write off account balances when we have exhausted reasonable collection efforts and determined that the likelihood of collection is remote. Such write-offs are charged against our allowance for doubtful accounts. In the past five years, write-offs have averaged less than 0.2% of net sales.

If the balance of the accounts receivable reserve increased or decreased by 20% at December 31, 2005, pretax income would change by approximately $0.8 million and earnings per share would change by approximately $0.01 per diluted share based on the number of diluted shares outstanding at December 31, 2005.

Inventory Obsolescence

Product inventories represent the largest asset on our balance sheet. Our goal is to manage our inventory such that we minimize stock-outs to provide the highest level of service to our customers. To do this, we maintain at each service center an adequate inventory of stock keeping units (SKUs) with the highest sales volume. At the same time, we continuously strive to better manage our slower moving classes of inventory, which are not as critical to our customers and thus, inherently have lower velocity. Service centers classify products into 13 classes based on sales at that location over the past 12 months. The table below presents a description of these inventory classes:

 

Classes 1-4   highest sales value items, which represent approximately 80% of net sales at the service center
Classes 5-12   lower sales value items, which we keep in stock to provide a high level of customer service
Class 13   products with no sales for the past twelve months or special order products not yet delivered to the customer

 

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There is little risk of obsolescence for products in classes 1-4 because products in these classes generally turn quickly. We establish our reserve for inventory obsolescence based on inventory classes 5-13, which we believe represent some exposure to inventory obsolescence, with particular emphasis on SKUs with the least sales over the previous 12 months. The reserve is intended to reflect the value of inventory that we may not be able to sell at a profit. We provide a reserve of 5% for inventory in classes 5-13 as determined at the service center level. We also provide an additional 5% reserve for excess inventory in classes 5-12 and an additional 45% reserve for excess inventory in class 13. We determine excess inventory, which is defined as the amount of inventory on hand in excess of the previous 12 months usage, on a company-wide basis.

In evaluating the adequacy of our reserve for inventory obsolescence, we consider a combination of factors including:

 

    the level of inventory in relationship to historical sales by product, including inventory usage by class based on product sales at both the service center and Company levels;
    changes in customer preferences;
    seasonal fluctuations in inventory levels;
    geographical location; and
    new product offerings.

Our reserve for inventory obsolescence may periodically require adjustment as changes occur in the above-identified factors.

If the balance of our inventory reserve increased or decreased by 20% at December 31, 2005, pretax income would change by approximately $0.8 million and earnings per share would change by approximately $0.01 per diluted share based on the number of diluted shares outstanding at December 31, 2005.

Vendor Rebates

We account for vendor rebates in accordance with the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 02-16, Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor. Many of our arrangements with our vendors provide for us to receive a rebate of a specified amount of consideration, payable to us when we achieve any of a number of measures, generally related to the volume level of purchases from our vendors. We account for such rebates as if they are a reduction of the prices of the vendor’s products and therefore as a reduction of inventory until we sell the product, at which time such rebates reduce cost of sales in our income statement. Throughout the year, we estimate the amount of the rebate earned based on our estimate of purchases to date relative to the purchase levels that mark our progress toward earning the rebates. We continually revise these estimates to reflect actual rebates earned based on actual purchase levels.

If market conditions were to change, vendors may change the terms of some or all of these programs. Although such changes would not affect the amounts we have recorded related to product already purchased, it may lower or raise our gross margins on products we sell or revenues earned in future periods.

Incentive Compensation Accrual

We have an incentive compensation structure designed to attract, motivate and retain employees. Our incentive compensation packages include bonus plans that are specific to each group of eligible participants and their levels and areas of responsibility. The majority of our bonus plans have annual cash payments that are based primarily on objective performance criteria, with a small component based on management’s discretion. We calculate bonuses as a percentage of salaries based on the achievement of certain key measurable financial and operational results, including budgeted operating income and diluted earnings per share. We generally make bonus payments at the end of February following the most recent completed fiscal year.

 

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The objectives for our bonus plans are set at the inception of the bonus plan year using both historical information and forecasted results of operations for the current plan year. We record an incentive compensation accrual as of each month-end using management’s estimate of the total overall incentives earned based on the amount of progress achieved towards the stated bonus plan objectives. During the third and fourth quarters and as of our fiscal year-end, we adjust our estimated incentive compensation accrual based on our detailed analysis of each bonus plan, the participants’ progress toward achievement of their specific bonus plan objectives and management’s estimates related to the discretionary components of the bonus plans. Due to both the discretionary components of the bonus plans and the timing of the approval and payment of the annual bonuses, our estimated quarterly incentive compensation expense and accrual balances may vary relative to actual annual bonus expense and payouts.

Income Taxes

We record deferred tax assets or liabilities based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities using currently enacted rates and laws that will be in effect when we expect the differences to reverse. Due to changing tax laws and state income tax rates, significant judgment is required to estimate the effective tax rate expected to apply to tax differences that are expected to reverse in the future.

As of December 31, 2005, and in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, United States taxes were not provided on undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries, as we have invested or expect to invest the undistributed earnings indefinitely. If in the future these earnings are repatriated to the United States, or if we determine that the earnings will be remitted in the foreseeable future, additional tax provisions may be required.

We hold, through our affiliates, cash balances in the countries in which we operate, including substantial amounts held outside the United States. Most of the amounts held outside the United States could be repatriated to the United States, but, under current law, may be subject to United States federal income taxes, less applicable foreign tax credits. Repatriation of some foreign balances is restricted by local laws including the imposition of withholding taxes in some jurisdictions.

The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the Jobs Act) provided for a temporary 85% dividends received deduction on certain foreign earnings repatriated during a one-year period. During the fourth quarter of 2005, we completed our analysis of the costs and benefits of repatriating funds under the Jobs Act and decided not to repatriate any of our foreign earnings. Therefore, there was no impact from the repatriation provisions of the Jobs Act.

We have operations in 39 states and seven foreign countries. The amount of income taxes we pay is subject to adjustment by the applicable tax authorities. We are subject to regular audits by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. Our estimate for the potential outcome of any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental. We believe we have adequately provided for any reasonably foreseeable outcome related to these matters. However, our future results may include favorable or unfavorable adjustments to our estimated tax liabilities in the period the assessments are made or resolved or when statutes of limitation on potential assessments expire. These adjustments may include differences between the estimated deferred tax liability that we have recorded for equity earnings in unconsolidated investments and the actual taxes paid upon the return of undistributed equity earnings through a manner other than a capital transaction. As a result of these uncertainties, our effective tax rate may fluctuate on a quarterly basis.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the amount we paid to acquire a company over the estimated fair value of tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets acquired, less liabilities assumed. At December 31, 2005, our goodwill balance was $139.5 million, representing 19% of total assets and 51% of stockholders’ equity.

 

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We account for goodwill under the provisions of SFAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Under these rules, we test goodwill for impairment annually or at any other time when impairment indicators exist.

In October 2005, we performed our annual goodwill impairment test, which requires comparison of our estimated fair value to our book value, including goodwill. As a result of this test, we believe the goodwill on our balance sheet is not impaired.

If circumstances change or events occur to indicate that our fair market value has fallen below book value, we will compare the estimated fair value of the goodwill to its book value. If the book value of goodwill exceeds the estimated fair value of goodwill, we will recognize the difference as an impairment loss in operating income.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The table below summarizes information derived from our Consolidated Statements of Income expressed as a percentage of net sales for the past three fiscal years:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2005     2004     2003  

Net sales

   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %

Cost of sales

   72.1     71.7     72.7  
                  

Gross profit

   27.9     28.3     27.3  

Selling and administrative expenses

   18.8     19.6     19.6  
                  

Operating income

   9.0     8.7     7.6  

Interest expense, net

   0.4     0.3     0.4  
                  

Income before income taxes and equity earnings

   8.6     8.4     7.2  
                  

 

Note: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to operating income or income before income taxes and equity earnings.

The following discussion of consolidated operating results includes the operating results from acquisitions in 2005, 2004 and 2003. We accounted for these acquisitions using the purchase method of accounting, and we have included the results of operations in our consolidated results since the respective acquisition dates.

We exclude the following service centers from base business for 15 months:

 

    acquired service centers;
    service centers divested or consolidated with acquired service centers; and
    new service centers opened in new markets.

Additionally, we generally allocate overhead expenses to acquired service centers on the basis of acquired service center net sales as a percentage of total net sales.

 

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Fiscal Year 2005 compared to Fiscal Year 2004

 

(Unaudited) (In thousands)

   Base Business Twelve
Months Ended December 31,
   

Acquired and Divested Twelve

Months Ended December 31,

   

Total Twelve

Months Ended December 31,

 
     2005     2004     2005     2004     2005     2004  

Net sales

   $ 1,479,746     $ 1,299,399     $ 72,913     $ 11,454     $ 1,552,659     $ 1,310,853  

Gross profit

     410,721       362,786       21,727       8,048       432,448       370,834  

Gross margin

     27.8 %     27.9 %     29.8 %     70.3 %     27.9 %     28.3 %

Selling and operating expenses

     270,878       248,310       21,313       8,930       292,191       257,240  

Expenses as a % of net sales

     18.3 %     19.1 %     29.2 %     78.0 %     18.8 %     19.6 %

Operating income (loss)

     139,843       114,476       414       (882 )     140,257       113,594  

Operating income (loss) margin

     9.5 %     8.8 %     0.6 %     (7.7 )%     9.0 %     8.7 %

For purposes of comparing operating results for the year ended December 31, 2005 to the year ended December 31, 2004, 201 service centers were included in the base business calculations and 45 service centers were excluded because they were acquired within the last 15 months. The base business calculation also excludes our North American manufacturing operations that we divested in December 2004. The following service center acquisitions and manufacturing operation divestitures are excluded from the base business calculations for the periods identified:

 

Acquired / Divested(*)

  

Acquisition / Divestiture Date

  

Period Excluded (1)

B&B s.r.l. (Busatta)

  

October 2005

  

November - December 2005

Direct Replacements, Inc.

  

October 2005

  

November - December 2005

Horizon Distributors, Inc.

  

October 2005

  

October - December 2005

Pool Tech Distributors, Inc.

  

December 2004

  

January - December 2005

Les Industries R.P. Inc. (*)

  

December 2004

  

January - December 2004

Fort Wayne manufacturing (*)

  

November 2003

  

January - December 2004

SCP Pool Distributors Spain, S.L.

  

December 2004

  

January 2005 and January 2004


(1) After 15 months of operations, we include acquired service centers in the base business calculation including the comparative prior year period.

For information about our recent acquisitions, see Note 2 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Net Sales

 

     Year Ended December 31,       

(in millions)

   2005    2004    Change  

Net sales

   $ 1,552.7    $ 1,310.9    $ 241.8    18 %

Base business growth of 14% contributed to the increase in net sales, primarily due to the following:

 

    a larger installed base of swimming pools resulting in increased sales of non-discretionary products;

 

    price increases, which were passed through the supply chain;

 

    the continued successful execution of our sales, marketing and service programs;

 

    32% growth in complementary product sales.

 

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New product initiatives continue to be focused on our complementary products category, for which sales have grown from $3.0 million in 1999 to over $140.0 million in 2005, excluding Horizon. In 2005, complementary product sales grew 32% over 2004. These products, which our customers historically purchased from other suppliers, carry gross margins comparable to our traditional product categories.

The remaining increase in net sales is attributable to acquired service centers, including the Horizon branches acquired in October 2005. Including Horizon’s fourth quarter 2005 sales, complementary products sales grew 76% over 2004 and accounted for 12% of total revenues for the full year 2005.

Gross Profit

 

     Year Ended December 31,        

(in millions)

   2005     2004     Change  

Gross profit

   $ 432.4     $ 370.8     $ 61.6     17 %

Gross margin

     27.9 %     28.3 %     (0.4 )%  

Base business gross profit growth of 13% contributed $47.9 million to the increase in 2005, while acquired service centers accounted for the remaining increase.

Gross margin decreased to 27.9% in 2005 primarily due to a decrease of approximately 40 basis points related to the disposition of our North American manufacturing assets in December 2004. We also had a slight decrease in gross margin due to the impact of certain product price increases. Supplier price increases were much more pronounced in 2005 than in prior years due to significant price increases on certain chemicals used in the pool industry, as well as increases in underlying commodity costs, particularly oil and steel. In certain product categories, we were only able to pass along price increases on a dollar per unit basis rather than a percentage basis due to competitive pressures. The overall decrease in gross margin was partially offset by improvements achieved through our focus on supply chain management and a shift in product mix to our higher margin products, most notably in the fourth quarter.

Operating Expenses

 

     Year Ended December 31,        

(in millions)

   2005     2004     Change  

Operating expenses

   $ 292.2     $ 257.2     $ 35.0     14 %

Operating expenses as a percent of net sales

     18.8 %     19.6 %     (0.8 )%  

Operating expenses as a percent of net sales decreased 80 basis points in 2005 as increases in employee related costs and freight expenses were offset by our ability to leverage much of our existing distribution infrastructure and personnel base to support our sales growth.

Interest Expense

Net interest expense increased to $6.4 million in 2005 from $3.9 million 2004 as a result of an increase in the effective interest rate to 4.3% in 2005 from 2.5% in 2004 and a 21% increase in the average debt outstanding. The increase in the interest rate and higher average debt outstanding was partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in the amortization of deferred financing fees.

Income Taxes

Income taxes increased to $51.7 million in 2005 from $42.8 million in 2004 primarily due to the $24.1 million increase in income before income taxes. Our effective income tax rate decreased from 39% at December 31, 2004 to 38.6% at December 31, 2005. This decrease is due to the anticipated impact of certain tax advantaged business strategies.

 

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Net Income and Earnings Per Share

Net income increased 25% to $83.6 million in 2005 from $66.9 million in 2004. This amount included $1.5 million of net equity earnings from our investment in LAC, which reflects a $0.9 million tax adjustment recorded in the fourth quarter. Diluted earnings per share increased 26% to $1.50 per share in 2005 from $1.19 per share in 2004.

Fiscal Year 2004 compared to Fiscal Year 2003

 

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

  

Base Business

Twelve Months

Ended

December 31,

   

Acquired and Consolidated
Twelve Months
Ended

December 31,

   

Total

Twelve Months

Ended

December 31,

 
     2004     2003     2004     2003     2004     2003  

Net sales

   $ 1,254,907     $ 1,138,133     $ 55,946     $ 17,699     $ 1,310,853     $ 1,155,832  

Gross profit

     356,555       309,909       14,279       5,229       370,834       315,138  

Gross margin

     28.4 %     27.2 %     25.5 %     29.5 %     28.3 %     27.3 %

Selling and operating expenses

     240,943       219,554       16,297       7,558       257,240       227,112  

Expenses as a % of net sales

     19.2 %     19.3 %     29.1 %     42.7 %     19.6 %     19.6 %

Operating income (loss)

     115,612       90,355       (2,018 )     (2,329 )     113,594       88,026  

Operating income (loss) margin

     9.2 %     7.9 %     (3.6 )%     (13.2 )%     8.7 %     7.6 %

For purposes of comparing operating results for the year ended December 31, 2004 to the year ended December 31, 2003, 195 service centers were included in the base business calculations and six service centers were excluded because they were acquired within the last 15 months. The following service center acquisitions and service centers consolidations are excluded from the base business calculations for the periods identified:

 

Acquired/Consolidated

  

Date of

Acquisition /

Consolidation

  

Period Excluded (1)

Service centers consolidated with Fort Wayne locations

   December 2002    January – February 2003 and January – February 2004

Les Industries R.P. Inc.

   May 2003    May – July 2003 and January – July 2004

SCP Mexico S.A. de C.V.

   August 2003    August – October 2003 and January – October 2004

Sud Ouest Filtration

   August 2003    August – October 2003 and January – October 2004

Distribution division of Litehouse Products

   October 2003    October 2003 – December 2004

SCP Pool Distributors Spain, S.L.

   November 2003    November 2003 - December 2004

(1) After 15 months of operations, we include acquired service centers in the base business calculation including the comparative prior year period.

 

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Net Sales

 

     Year Ended December 31,            
(in millions)    2004    2003    Change  

Net sales

   $ 1,310.9    $ 1,155.8    $ 155.1    13 %

Base business growth of 10% contributed $116.8 million to the increase, while acquired service centers and service centers consolidated with acquired locations accounted for the remaining increase. Base business net sales increased primarily due to the following:

 

  a larger installed base of swimming pools resulting in increased sales of non-discretionary products;

 

  the continued successful execution of our sales, marketing and service programs;

 

  27% growth in complementary product sales; and

 

  price increases on products sold.

Gross Profit

 

     Year Ended December 31,              
(in millions)    2004     2003     Change  

Gross profit

   $ 370.8     $ 315.1     $ 55.7     18 %

Gross margin

     28.3 %     27.3 %     1.0 %  

Base business gross profit growth of 15% contributed $46.6 million to the increase in 2004, while acquired service centers and service centers consolidated with acquired locations accounted for the remaining increase. Base business gross margin improved to 28.4% in 2004 due primarily to improved selling and supply chain management practices.

Operating Expenses

 

     Year Ended December 31,              
(in millions)    2004     2003     Change  

Operating expenses

   $ 257.2     $ 227.1     $ 30.1     13 %

Operating expenses as a percent of net sales

     19.6 %     19.6 %     —   %  

Operating expenses relating to the base business contributed $21.4 million to the increase in 2004 in order to support increased sales activity, while acquired service centers and service centers consolidated with acquired locations accounted for the remaining increase.

Base business operating expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased slightly to 19.2% in 2004 from 19.3% in 2003.

Interest Expense

Net interest expense decreased to $3.9 million in 2004 from $4.7 million 2003 as a result of lower average outstanding debt in 2004 compared to 2003, a decline in the effective interest rate to 2.5% in 2004 from 2.6% in 2003 and a decrease of $0.5 million in amortization expense related to capitalized finance costs.

Income Taxes

Income taxes increased to $42.8 million in 2004 from $32.5 million in 2003 primarily due to the $26.4 million increase in income before income taxes. Our effective income tax rate remained unchanged at 39% at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

 

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Net Income and Earnings Per Share

Net income increased 32% to $66.9 million in 2004 from $50.8 million while diluted earnings per share increased 31% to $1.19 per share in 2004 from $0.91 per share in 2003.

Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations

Our business is highly seasonal. In general, sales and operating income are highest during the second and third quarters, which represent the peak months of both swimming pool use and installation and landscape installations and maintenance. Sales are substantially lower during the first and fourth quarters when we may incur net losses. In 2005, approximately 64% of our net sales and 89% of our operating income were generated in the second and third quarters of the year.

We typically experience a build-up of product inventories and accounts payable during the winter months in anticipation of the peak selling season. Excluding borrowings to finance acquisitions and share repurchases, our peak borrowing usually occurs during the second quarter, primarily because extended payment terms offered by our suppliers typically are payable in April, May and June, while our peak accounts receivable collections typically occur in June, July and August.

The following table presents certain unaudited quarterly data for 2005 and 2004. We have included income statement and balance sheet data for the most recent eight quarters to allow for a meaningful comparison of the seasonal fluctuations in these amounts. In our opinion, this information reflects all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of this data. Due to the seasonal nature of the swimming pool industry, the results of any one or more quarters are not necessarily a good indication of results for an entire fiscal year or of continuing trends.

 

(Unaudited)    QUARTER  
(in thousands)    2005     2004  
     First     Second     Third     Fourth     First     Second     Third     Fourth  

Statement of Income Data

                

Net sales

   $ 265,161     $ 563,978     $ 423,729     $ 299,791     $ 234,648     $ 504,177     $ 362,091     $ 209,937  

Gross profit

     71,951       162,681       114,605       83,211       65,032       145,215       104,183       56,404  

Operating income (loss)

     11,301       82,795       42,393       3,768       7,672       72,589       36,949       (3,616 )

Net income (loss)

     4,753       51,640       27,120       108       4,080       43,595       22,010       (2,744 )

Net sales as a % of annual net sales

     17 %     37 %     27 %     19 %     18 %     38 %     28 %     16 %

Gross profit as a % of annual gross profit

     17 %     38 %     26 %     19 %     18 %     39 %     28 %     15 %

Operating income (loss) as a % of annual operating income

     8 %     59 %     30 %     3 %     7 %     64 %     32 %     (3 )%

Balance Sheet Data

                

Total receivables, net

   $ 164,507     $ 231,736     $ 152,037     $ 141,785     $ 147,097     $ 197,683     $ 130,360     $ 97,589  

Product inventories, net

     281,267       247,350       197,135       330,575       241,903       219,711       167,024       195,787  

Accounts payable

     219,290       165,872       99,920       174,170       166,305       144,029       76,454       113,114  

Total debt

     145,045       174,743       86,922       198,241       152,181       161,766       102,197       97,505  

In the fourth quarter 2005, our results of operations include the 40 Horizon service centers that we acquired in October 2005. We expect that our quarterly results of operations will continue to fluctuate depending on the timing and amount of revenue contributed by new and acquired service centers. We attempt to open new service centers at the end of the fourth quarter or the first quarter of the subsequent year to take advantage of preseason sales programs and the following peak selling season.

 

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Table of Contents

Weather is the principal external factor affecting our business. The table below presents some of the possible effects resulting from various weather conditions.

 

Weather    Possible Effects

Hot and dry

  

•      Increased purchases of chemicals and supplies for existing swimming pools

  

•      Increased purchases of above-ground pools and irrigation products

Unseasonably cool weather or extraordinary amounts of rain

  

•      Fewer pool and landscape installations

  

•      Decreased purchases of chemicals and supplies

  

•      Decreased purchases of impulse items such as above-ground pools and accessories

Unseasonably early warming trends (primarily in the northern half of the US)

  

•      A longer pool and landscape season, thus increasing our sales

Unseasonably late warming trends (primarily in the northern half of the US)

  

•      A shorter pool and landscape season, thus decreasing our sales

In 2005, our sales were negatively impacted by a late start to the pool season in northern markets due to less than favorable weather throughout much of the first quarter. This decrease in sales was partially off-set by increased sales attributable to above average temperatures during the fourth quarter of 2005, which helped to extend the pool season in certain markets.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity is defined as the ability to generate adequate amounts of cash to meet current cash needs. We assess our liquidity in terms of our ability to generate cash to fund our operating activities, taking into consideration the seasonal nature of our business. Significant factors which could affect our liquidity include the following:

 

    cash flows generated from operating activities;

 

    the adequacy of available bank lines of credit;

 

    acquisitions;

 

    the timing and extent of share repurchases;

 

    capital expenditures;

 

    dividend payments; and

 

    the ability to attract long-term capital with satisfactory terms.

Our primary capital needs are seasonal working capital obligations and other general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, share repurchases and dividend payments. Our primary sources of working capital are cash from operations supplemented by bank borrowings, which combined with seller financing have historically been sufficient to support our growth and finance our acquisitions. The same principle applies for funds used for share repurchases and capital expenditures. Our priorities for the use of cash are as follows:

 

    maintenance and new service center capital expenditures estimated at 0.5% to 0.75% of net sales;

 

    strategic acquisitions executed opportunistically;

 

    payment of cash dividends as and when declared by the Board;

 

    repurchase of common stock at Board defined parameters; and

 

    repayment of debt.

 

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Table of Contents

Sources and Uses of Cash

Our 2005 cash from operations was $38.1 million, or 46% of net income, compared to net cash provided by operations of $56.4 million in 2004. The decrease in cash from operations in 2005 is primarily a result of our participation in vendor early payment incentives for early buy purchases received and paid for in the fourth quarter, partially offset by the deferral of our third and fourth quarter 2005 estimated federal tax payments and higher net income.

In 2005, cash used in investing activities included $85.7 million for our acquisition of Horizon in the fourth quarter of 2005. Our financing activities included $119.5 million of net proceeds from debt and the issuance of common stock under stock option plans, offset by $32.1 million of share repurchases and $17.9 million for the payment of our quarterly cash dividend to shareholders, which we increased in the second quarter of 2005. The impact of our common stock repurchases reduced diluted weighted average shares outstanding by approximately 0.3 million shares for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Future Sources and Uses of Cash

On December 20, 2005, we amended our unsecured syndicated senior credit facility (the Credit Facility) to provide for additional borrowing capacity. The amended Credit Facility, which matures on December 20, 2010, provides for a $120.0 million five-year revolving credit facility (the Revolver) and a $60.0 million term loan (the Term Loan). The Credit Facility includes sublimits for the issuance of swingline loans and standby letters of credit. The aggregate maximum principal amount of the commitments under the Credit Facility may be increased from time to time by a total amount up to $40.0 million.

At December 31, 2005, there was $69.1 million outstanding and $49.2 million available for borrowing under the Revolver. The average effective interest rate on the Revolver was approximately 4.5% for the year ended December 31, 2005. For additional information regarding the Credit Facility, see Note 5 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

In March 2005, we renewed our accounts receivable securitization facility (the Receivables Facility), which provides a seasonal borrowing capacity of up to $100.0 million, through March 2006. The Receivables Facility provides for the true sale of certain of our receivables as they are created to a wholly owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary. This subsidiary grants an undivided security interest in the receivables to an unrelated commercial paper conduit. Because of the structure of the bankruptcy-remote subsidiary and our ability to control its activities, we include the transferred receivables and related debt in our consolidated balance sheet. We employed this arrangement because it provides us with a lower cost form of financing. At December 31, 2005, there was $65.7 million outstanding under the Receivables Facility at an average effective interest rate of 4.0%.

On February 17, 2006, $50.0 million remained available under the authorization of our Board of Directors for future share repurchases. We intend to continue to repurchase shares on the open market from time to time, depending on market conditions. We may use cash flows from operations to fund these purchases, or we may incur additional debt.

In the third quarter of 2006, our cash flows will be negatively impacted by payment of our third and fourth quarter 2005 estimated federal tax payments that have been deferred as allowed by the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (the Act). These payments, which were originally deferred until February 2006 under the Act, will now be due in August 2006, as the Internal Revenue Service has postponed the payment deadline for affected taxpayers.

We believe we have adequate availability of capital to fund present operations and anticipated growth, including expansion in existing and targeted market areas. We continually evaluate potential acquisitions and hold discussions with acquisition candidates. If suitable acquisition opportunities or working capital needs arise that would require additional financing, we believe that our financial position and earnings history provide a solid base for obtaining additional financing resources at competitive rates and terms. Additionally, we may issue common or preferred stock to raise funds.

 

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Table of Contents

Contractual Obligations

At December 31, 2005, our contractual obligations for long-term debt and operating leases were as follows (in thousands):

 

     Total    Payments due by period
        Less than
1 year
   1-2 years    3-4 years    5 years and
thereafter

Long-term debt

   $ 132,584    $ 1,350    $ 7,790    $ 54,000    $ 69,444

Short-term financing

     65,657      65,657      —        —        —  

Operating leases

     117,180      29,922      45,007      25,129      17,122
                                  
   $ 315,421    $ 96,929    $ 52,797    $ 79,129    $ 86,566
                                  

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to market risks, including interest rate risk and foreign currency risk. The adverse effects of potential changes in these market risks are discussed below. The following discussion does not consider the effects of the reduced level of overall economic activity that could exist following such changes. Further, in the event of changes of such magnitude, we would likely take actions to mitigate our exposure to such changes.

Interest Rate Risk

Our earnings are exposed to changes in short-term interest rates because of the variable interest rates on our debt. If (i) the variable rates on our Credit Facility and our Receivables Facility increased or decreased 1.0% from the rate at December 31, 2005; and (ii) we borrowed the maximum amount available under the Credit Facility ($220.0 million) and the Receivables Facility ($100.0 million) for all of 2006, then our pretax income would change by approximately $2.6 million and earnings per share would change by $0.03 per diluted share based on the number of weighed average diluted shares outstanding at December 31, 2005.

The fair value of our Revolver is not affected by changes in market interest rates. In December 2005, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on our Term Loan. The swap will be in effect as of June 30, 2006 and terminate on December 31, 2008.

Foreign Exchange Risk

We have wholly owned subsidiaries in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Spain and Italy. In the past, we have not hedged our foreign currency exposure, and fluctuations in exchange rates have not materially affected our operating results. Future changes in exchange rates may positively or negatively impact our revenues, operating expenses and earnings. Due to the size of our foreign operations, however, we do not anticipate that exposure to foreign currency rate fluctuations will be material in 2006.

 

Functional Currencies

Canada

  

Canadian Dollar

Mexico

  

Peso

United Kingdom

  

British Pound

France

  

Euro

Portugal

  

Euro

Spain

  

Euro

Italy

  

Euro

 

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Table of Contents

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   30

Consolidated Statements of Income

   31

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   32

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   33

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

   35

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   36

 

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Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of SCP Pool Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SCP Pool Corporation as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. 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, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of SCP Pool Corporation at December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 3, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana

March 3, 2006

 

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Table of Contents

SCP POOL CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except share data)

 

      Year Ended December 31,
     2005    2004    2003

Net sales

   $ 1,552,659    $ 1,310,853    $ 1,155,832

Cost of sales

     1,120,211      940,019      840,694
                    

Gross profit

     432,448      370,834      315,138

Selling and administrative expenses

     292,191      257,240      227,112
                    

Operating income

     140,257      113,594      88,026

Interest expense, net

     6,434      3,855      4,669
                    

Income before income taxes and equity earnings

     133,823      109,739      83,357

Provision for income taxes

     51,669      42,798      32,509

Equity earnings in unconsolidated investments, net

     1,467      —        —  
                    

Net income

   $ 83,621    $ 66,941    $ 50,848
                    

Earnings per share:

        

Basic

   $ 1.59    $ 1.27    $ 0.96
                    

Diluted

   $ 1.50    $ 1.19    $ 0.91
                    

Weighted average shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     52,445      52,838      53,058
                    

Diluted

     55,634      56,139      55,773
                    

Cash dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.34    $ 0.20    $ —  

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SCP POOL CORPORATION

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

 

     December 31,  
     2005     2004  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 26,866     $ 21,762  

Receivables, net

     42,809       33,887  

Receivables pledged under receivables facility

     98,976       63,702  

Product inventories, net

     330,575       195,787  

Prepaid expenses

     5,190       6,057  

Deferred income taxes

     7,977       2,340  
                

Total current assets

     512,393       323,535  

Property and equipment, net

     25,598       18,595  

Goodwill

     139,546       104,684  

Other intangible assets, net

     22,838       12,620  

Equity interest investments

     29,907       18,616  

Other assets, net

     6,354       2,816  
                

Total assets

   $ 736,636     $ 480,866  
                

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 174,170     $ 113,114  

Accrued and other current liabilities

     76,645       38,287  

Short-term financing

     65,657       42,595  

Current portion of long-term liabilities

     1,350       1,350  
                

Total current liabilities

     317,822       195,346  

Deferred income taxes

     14,600       11,625  

Long-term debt

     129,100       50,420  

Other long-term liabilities

     2,134       3,140  
                

Total liabilities

     463,656       260,531  
                

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 52,414,883 and 52,186,711 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively

     52       52  

Additional paid-in capital

     96,051       76,729  

Retained earnings

     176,362       141,772  

Treasury stock

     (921 )     —    

Unearned compensation

     (703 )     (1,092 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     2,139       2,874  
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     272,980       220,335  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 736,636     $ 480,866  
                

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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SCP POOL CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2005     2004     2003  

Operating activities

      

Net income

   $ 83,621     $ 66,941     $ 50,848  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation

     5,410       5,895       5,523  

Amortization

     4,388       4,758       4,312  

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable, net of write-offs

     (332 )     (774 )     544  

Provision for inventory obsolescence, net of write-offs

     115       (51 )     16  

Change in deferred income taxes

     (5,096 )     703       7,456  

Loss on sale of property and equipment

     133       43       329  

Equity earnings in unconsolidated investments

     (2,386 )     —         —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:

      

Receivables

     (13,394 )     (12,879 )     (4,976 )

Product inventories

     (103,579 )     (2,681 )     2,030  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     (934 )     (2,300 )     (1,576 )

Accounts payable

     41,932       (6,880 )     16,322  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     28,207       3,660       (2,068 )
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     38,085       56,435       78,760  
                        
      

Investing activities

      

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

     (89,963 )     (644 )     (21,772 )

Equity interest investments

     (3,539 )     (6,961 )     —    

Purchase of property and equipment, net of sale proceeds

     (8,361 )     (6,063 )     (8,351 )
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (101,863 )     (13,668 )     (30,123 )
                        
      

Financing activities

      

Proceeds from revolving line of credit

     364,383       340,104       195,800  

Payments on revolving line of credit

     (345,703 )     (328,584 )     (282,075 )

Proceeds from asset-backed financing

     67,133       66,522       102,270  

Payments on asset-backed financing

     (44,071 )     (66,345 )     (62,029 )

Proceeds from other long-term debt

     60,000       —         3,711  

Payments on other long-term debt

     (1,350 )     (2,023 )     (1,014 )

Payment of deferred financing costs

     (243 )     (483 )     (626 )

Issuance of common stock under stock option plans

     19,322       6,917       4,322  

Payment of cash dividends

     (17,862 )     (10,706 )     —    

Purchase of treasury stock

     (32,091 )     (40,823 )     (3,336 )
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     69,518       (35,421 )     (42,977 )
                        

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (636 )     1,604       2,020  
                        

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     5,104       8,950       7,680  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     21,762       12,812       5,132  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 26,866     $ 21,762     $ 12,812  
                        

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)

(In thousands)

 

Supplemental cash flow information

   Year Ended December 31,
     2005    2004    2003

Cash paid during the year for:

        

Interest

   $ 5,660    $ 2,965    $ 3,256

Income taxes, net of refunds

     14,313      36,053      24,883

See Note 2 for the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed for acquisitions recorded using the purchase method of accounting.

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands, amounts in Dollars except share data)

 

     Common Stock    

Treasury

Stock

   

Additional
Paid-In

Capital

  

Unearned

Compensation

   

Retained

Earnings

   

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

   

Total

 
     Shares     Amount               

Balance at December 31, 2002

   53,088     53     —       63,525    (575 )   78,847     91     141,941  

Net income

   —       —       —       —      —       50,848     —       50,848  

Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $763

   —       —       —       —      —       —       1,201     1,201  

Interest rate swaps, net of tax of $11

   —       —       —       —      —       —       (17 )   (17 )
                     

Comprehensive income, net of tax

                  52,032  

Treasury stock, 288 shares of common stock

   —       —       (3,336 )   —      —       —       —       (3,336 )

Retirement of treasury shares

   (288 )   —       3,336     —      —       (3,336 )   —       —    

Unearned compensation

   —       —       —       —      285     —       —       285  

Exercise of stock options including tax benefit of $2,107

   372     —       —       3,755    —       —       —       3,755  

Employee stock purchase plan

   50     —       —       564    —       —       —       564  
                                               

Balance at December 31, 2003

   53,222     53     —       67,844    (290 )   126,359     1,275     195,241  

Net income

   —       —       —       —      —       66,941     —       66,941  

Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $1,011

   —       —       —       —      —       —       1,582     1,582  

Interest rate swaps, net of tax of $11

   —       —       —       —      —       —       17     17  
                     

Comprehensive income, net of tax

                  68,540  

Treasury stock, 1,568 shares of common stock

   —       —       (40,823 )   —      —       —       —       (40,823 )

Retirement of treasury shares

   (1,568 )   (1 )   40,823     —      —       (40,822 )   —       —    

Unearned compensation

   —       —       —       —      (802 )   —       —       (802 )

Exercise of stock options including tax benefit of $3,886

   419     —       —       6,512    —       —       —       6,512  

Declaration of cash dividends

   —       —       —       —      —       (10,706 )   —       (10,706 )

Issuance of restricted stock

   55     —       —       1,226    —       —       —       1,226  

Employee stock purchase plan

   58     —       —       1,147    —       —       —       1,147  
                                               

Balance at December 31, 2004

   52,186     52     —       76,729    (1,092 )   141,772     2,874     220,335  

Net income

   —       —       —       —      —       83,621       83,621  

Foreign currency translation including tax benefit of $548

   —       —       —       —      —       —       (836 )   (836 )

Interest rate swap, net of tax of $63

   —       —       —       —      —       —       101     101  
                     

Comprehensive income, net of tax

                  82,886  

Treasury stock, 964 shares of common stock

   —       —       (32,091 )   —      —       —       —       (32,091 )

Retirement of treasury shares

   (939 )   (1 )   31,170     —      —       (31,169 )   —       —    

Unearned compensation

   —       —       —       —      389     —       —       389  

Exercise of stock options including tax benefit of $14,133

   1,124     1     —       18,125    —       —       —       18,126  

Declaration of cash dividends

   —       —       —       —      —       (17,862 )   —       (17,862 )

Employee stock purchase plan

   44     —       —       1,197    —       —       —       1,197  
                                               

Balance at December 31, 2005

   52,415     52     (921 )   96,051    (703 )   176,362     2,139     272,980  
                                               

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

As of December 31, 2005, SCP Pool Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the Company, which may be referred to as POOL, we, us or our), maintained 246 service centers in North America and Europe from which we sell swimming pool equipment, parts and supplies and irrigation and landscape products to pool builders, retail stores, service companies, and landscape contractors. We distribute products through three networks: The SCP Distributors (SCP) network, the Superior Pool Products (Superior) network and the Horizon Distributors (Horizon) network.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

We prepared the consolidated financial statements following accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) and the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and operating results.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SCP Pool Corporation and our wholly owned subsidiaries. We eliminated all significant intercompany accounts and transactions among our wholly owned subsidiaries. We account for our 38% investment in Latham Acquisition Corporation (LAC) and our 50% investment in Northpark Corporate Center, LLC (NCC) using the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, we report our share of income or loss based on our ownership interests in these investments.

Use of Estimates

In order to prepare financial statements that conform to GAAP, we make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and accompanying notes. Our most significant estimates are those relating to the allowance for doubtful accounts, the inventory reserve and the reserve for tax contingencies. We continually review our estimates and make adjustments as necessary, but actual results could be significantly different from what we expected when we made these estimates.

Segment Reporting

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, establishes standards for the way that public companies report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and for related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers. POOL’s management evaluates our service centers based upon their individual performance relative to predetermined standards that include both financial and operational measures. Additionally, POOL’s management makes decisions about how to allocate resources primarily on a service center-by-service center basis. Since all of our service centers have similar operations and share similar economic characteristics, we aggregate our service centers into a single reportable segment

Seasonality and Weather

Our business is highly seasonal, and weather is the principal external factor affecting our business. In general, sales and net income are highest during the second and third quarters, which represent the peak months of both swimming pool use and installation and landscape installations and maintenance. Sales are substantially lower during the first and fourth quarters when we may incur net losses.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

Stock Split

In August 2004, our Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split of our common stock, which was paid in the form of a stock dividend on September 10, 2004 to the stockholders of record at the close of business on August 23, 2004. Accordingly, all share and per share data and the related capital amounts for all periods presented reflect the effects of this split.

Earnings Per Share

In accordance with SFAS 128, Earnings per Share, we calculate basic earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effects of stock awards.

Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash, receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short maturity of those instruments. The carrying amount of long-term debt approximates fair value as it bears interest at variable rates.

Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Credit Risk and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We record our trade receivables at the invoiced amount less an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses due to customer non-payment. We perform periodic credit evaluations of our customers and we typically do not require collateral. Consistent with industry practices, we require payment from our customers within 30 days except for sales under early buy programs for which we provide extended payment terms to qualified customers. Our historical credit losses have been within or better than our expectations. The following table summarizes the changes in our allowance for doubtful accounts for the past three years (in thousands):

 

     2005     2004     2003  

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 3,138     $ 3,843     $ 3,299  

Acquisition of business

     1,160       —         350  

Bad debt expense

     1,850       1,308       2,136  

Write-offs, net of recoveries

     (1,937 )     (2,013 )     (1,942 )
                        

Balance at end of year

   $ 4,211     $ 3,138     $ 3,843  
                        

Product Inventories and Reserve for Inventory Obsolescence

Product inventories consist primarily of goods purchased from manufacturers for resale to our customers. We record inventory at the lower of cost, using the average cost method, or market. We establish our reserve for inventory obsolescence based on inventory turns by category with particular emphasis on stock keeping units with the weakest sales over the previous 12 months. The reserve is intended to reflect the value of inventory that we may not be able to sell at a profit.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

In evaluating the adequacy of our reserve for inventory obsolescence at the service center level, we consider a combination of factors including:

 

    the level of inventory in relationship to historical sales by product, including inventory usage by class based on product sales at both the service center and Company levels;

 

    changes in customer preferences;

 

    seasonal fluctuations in inventory levels

 

    geographical location; and

 

    new product offerings.

Our reserve for inventory obsolescence may periodically require adjustment as changes occur in the above-identified factors.

The following table summarizes the changes in our allowance for inventory obsolescence for the past three years (in thousands):

 

     2005     2004     2003  

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 3,085     $ 3,115     $ 3,099  

Acquisition of business

     685       —         —    

Inventory writedowns

     808       346       (6 )

Inventory write-offs

     (703 )     (376 )     22  
                        

Balance at end of year

   $ 3,875     $ 3,085     $ 3,115  
                        

Vendor Rebates

We account for vendor rebates in accordance with the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 02-16, Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor. Many of our arrangements with our vendors provide for us to receive a rebate of a specified amount of consideration, payable to us when we achieve any of a number of measures, generally related to the volume level of purchases from our vendors. We account for such rebates as a reduction of the prices of the vendor’s products and therefore as a reduction of inventory until we sell the product, at which time such rebates reduce cost of sales in our income statement. Throughout the year, we estimate the amount of the rebate earned based on our estimate of purchases to date relative to the purchase levels that mark our progress toward earning the rebates. We continually revise these estimates to reflect actual rebates earned based on actual purchase levels.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. We depreciate property and equipment on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives:

 

Buildings    40 years
Leasehold improvements    1 -10 years (1)
Autos and trucks    3 years
Machinery and equipment    10 years
Computer equipment    3 - 5 years
Furniture and fixtures    10 years

(1) For substantial improvements made near the end of a lease term where we are reasonably certain the lease will be renewed, we amortize the leasehold improvement over the remaining life of the lease including the expected renewal period.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

The table below presents depreciation expense for the past three years (in thousands):

 

2005

  

2004

  

2003

$ 5,410

   $5,898    $5,523

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the amount we paid to acquire a company over the estimated fair value of tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets acquired, less liabilities assumed. We account for goodwill under the provisions of SFAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. In accordance with these rules, we test goodwill for impairment annually or at any other time when impairment indicators exist. For additional discussion of goodwill and other intangible assets, see Note 3.

Self Insurance

We retain certain self-insurance risks for both health benefits and property and casualty insurance programs. We have limited our exposure by maintaining excess and aggregate liability coverage. We establish self-insurance reserves based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. The estimates are based on information provided to us by the claims administrators.

Advertising Costs

We expense advertising costs when incurred. The table below presents advertising expense for the past three years (in thousands):

 

2005

 

2004

  

2003

$ 7,763

  $6,830    $7,106

Income Taxes

We record deferred tax assets or liabilities based on differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities using currently enacted rates and laws that will be in effect when we expect the differences to reverse. Due to changing tax laws and state income tax rates, significant judgment is required to estimate the effective tax rate expected to apply to tax differences that are expected to reverse in the future. For additional discussion of income taxes, see Note 7.

Stock Compensation Arrangements

Under the provisions of SFAS 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, companies may account for employee stock options and stock equity grants using either (i) SFAS 123’s fair value method or (ii) the intrinsic value method provided by APB 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Under the SFAS 123 fair value method, companies recognize compensation expense related to employee stock options based on the fair value of the options on the grant date as estimated by an option pricing model. The intrinsic value method prescribed by APB 25 requires recognition of compensation expense over the option vesting period when the exercise price of the granted options is less than the stock’s market price on the grant date. Under both methods, stock equity grants are recognized as compensation expense over the grant vesting period based on the fair value of the grant at time of issuance.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

We account for our employee stock options under the intrinsic value method described by APB 25. Accordingly, we do not record compensation expense for options issued with an exercise price equal to the stock’s market price on the grant date. The table below presents pre-tax compensation expense for stock options with a five year vesting period granted below market price in 1999, 2000 and 2001 (in thousands):

 

2005

  

2004

  

2003

$ 90

   $184    $286

If we had accounted for our stock-based compensation using the fair value method described in SFAS 123, our net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro-forma amounts below (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2005     2004     2003  

Reported net income

   $ 83,621     $ 66,941     $ 50,848  

Add:          Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net
             income, net of the tax effect

     658       537       523  

Deduct:     Stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair
             value method for all awards, net of the tax effect

     (3,502 )     (3,672 )     (2,888 )
                        

Pro-forma net income

   $ 80,777     $ 63,806     $ 48,483  
                        

Basic earnings per share:

      

As reported

   $ 1.59     $ 1.27     $ 0.96  

Pro-forma

   $ 1.54     $ 1.21     $ 0.91  

Diluted earnings per share:

      

As reported

   $ 1.50     $ 1.19     $ 0.91  

Pro-forma

   $ 1.45     $ 1.14     $ 0.87  

For purposes of pro-forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of employee options is ratably expensed over the options’ vesting period. We estimated the fair value of these options at the grant date using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

 

     December 31,  
     2005     2004     2003  

Risk-free interest rate

   4.22 %   3.87 %   3.38 %

Expected dividend yield

   1.0 %   —       —    

Expected volatility

   30.3 %   34.9 %   32.5 %

Weighted average expected life

   7.0 years     7.0 years     7.0 years  

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed to estimate the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Additionally, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. In our opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of our employee stock options because:

 

  1. the characteristics of our employee stock options are significantly different from those of traded options; and

 

  2. changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS 123(R), Share-Based Payment. This new standard will require companies to recognize compensation cost for stock options and other stock-based awards based on their value as measured on the grant date. The new standard prohibits companies from accounting for stock-based compensation under the provisions of APB 25.

We adopted SFAS 123(R) effective January 1, 2006 and we are currently in the process of implementing the provisions of the statement. We have selected a Black-Scholes model for estimating the grant date fair value of share-based payments under

FAS 123(R) and we plan to use the modified-retrospective transition method. As such, beginning in the first quarter of 2006 we will adjust all prior period financial statements to reflect compensation cost for the amounts previously reported in our pro-forma footnote disclosures required by SFAS 123.

In 2006, we expect the annualized impact from SFAS 123(R) to our diluted earnings per share will approximate $0.05 to $0.06, which is consistent with the annualized impact of the pro-forma net income and earnings per share disclosed above.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 104, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, and the appropriate amendments. SAB 104 requires that four basic criteria must be met before we can recognize revenue:

 

  1. persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;

 

  2. delivery has occurred or services have been rendered;

 

  3. the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and

 

  4. collectibility is reasonably assured.

We record revenue when customers take delivery of products. Customers may pick up products at any service center location, or products may be delivered via our trucks or third party carriers. Products shipped via third party carriers are considered delivered based on the shipping terms, which are generally FOB shipping point.

We may offer volume rebates, which we accrue monthly as an adjustment to net sales. We record customer returns, including those associated with early buy programs, as an adjustment to net sales. In the past, customer returns have not been material.

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

We recognize all derivatives at fair value on the balance sheet. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges are recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings, or until it becomes unlikely that the hedged transaction will occur. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

In December 2005 we entered into an interest rate swap agreement to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. We have designated this swap as a cash flow hedge. Any difference paid or received on the interest rate swap will be recognized as an adjustment to interest expense over the life of the swap. The swap will be in effect as of June 30, 2006 and terminate on December 31, 2008.

Shipping and Handling Costs

We include shipping and handling fees billed to customers in net sales, and we record shipping and handling costs associated with inbound freight as cost of sales. The table below presents shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight, which we include in selling, general and administrative expenses (in thousands):

 

2005

  

2004

  

2003

$ 27,332

   $23,261    $19,908

Reclassifications

We have reclassified the payment of deferred financing costs and the related non-cash amortization of these amounts in our 2004 and 2003 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to conform to the 2005 presentation. The non-cash amortization was reclassed within the operating activities section to the amortization line item. Additionally, deferred financing costs have been reclassified as a use of cash from financing activities. Previously, we classified these amounts as a change in prepaid and other assets. These reclassifications had no effect on net income or earnings per share as previously reported.

We reclassified certain deferred tax amounts in our 2003 Consolidated Balance Sheet to conform to the 2004 presentation. This reclassification had no effect on net income or earnings per share as previously reported.

Note 2 - Acquisitions and Divestitures

2005 Acquisitions

In October 2005, we acquired Automatic Rain Company through our newly formed and wholly owned subsidiary Horizon Distributors, Inc. (Horizon). Horizon is a leading regional wholesale distributor of irrigation and landscape products serving professional contractors in the landscape construction and maintenance markets. We believe this transaction brings added depth and diversity to our operations through an extension of our complementary products offerings and furthers our objective of being the resource for pool and landscaping contractors. Horizon is a natural addition to our business, as irrigation and landscaping are often key components to completing a swimming pool installation or remodel.

The purchase price for the issued and outstanding stock of Automatic Rain Company was approximately $87.1 million in cash, which includes approximately $1.4 million in working capital adjustments that were recorded as of December 31, 2005, and paid subsequent to year-end. The purchase price was determined based on our negotiations with the former shareholders of Automatic Rain Company and our valuation considerations, which included historical and prospective earnings, net asset value and other valuation considerations consistent with our historical valuation of acquisitions.

The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase business combination with the purchase price preliminarily allocated to the fair values of the acquired assets net of assumed liabilities. In connection with the acquisition, we recorded other intangible assets totaling $14.4 million for the estimated fair value of a tradename, a non-compete agreement and certain employment contracts. We also recorded $33.0 million of goodwill in connection with the acquisition. The results of operations of Horizon are included in the consolidated statements of income since the acquisition date.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition (in thousands):

 

Current assets

   $ 64,184

Property and equipment, net

     3,875

Goodwill

     33,030

Other intangible assets

     14,400

Other assets

     176
      

Total assets acquired

     115,665

Current liabilities

     28,538
      

Net assets acquired

   $ 87,127
      

The purchase price allocations have been completed on a preliminary basis, subject to adjustment should new or additional facts about the business become known. We expect to finalize the allocations by the second quarter of 2006.

The components of intangible assets listed in the table above as of the acquisition date are as follows (in thousands):

 

Horizon tradename (indefinite life)

   $ 8,400

Non-compete agreement (5 year useful life)

     2,400

Employment contracts (3.7 year weighted average useful life)

     3,600
      

Total other intangible assets

   $ 14,400
      

We determined that the Horizon tradename has an indefinite life, and therefore it is not subject to amortization. We are amortizing the non-compete agreement and employee contracts using the straight-line method over their contractual lives.

In October 2005, we also acquired B&B s.r.l. (Busatta), a swimming pool supply distributor based in the northwestern Italian city of San Bernardo d’Ivrea, near Turin, as well as the assets of Direct Replacements, Inc., a Marietta, Georgia packaged pool distributor. Busatta is our first location in Italy and allows us to further our presence in the European market. The Marietta location will support our existing metropolitan Atlanta service centers until its launch as a new service center location in 2006. We have included the results of operations for Busatta and Direct Replacements, Inc. in our Consolidated Financial Statements since the respective acquisition dates.

2004 Acquisitions and Divestitures

In December 2004, we acquired certain assets of Latham International LP’s Canadian subsidiary, Pool Tech Distribution Inc., (Pool Tech or the Pool Tech Acquisition). Pool Tech distributes swimming pool supplies and equipment through three service centers in Ontario, Canada. We funded this transaction primarily through the exchange of manufacturing assets held by our subsidiary, Les Industries R.P. Inc. As a part of this transaction, we also completed the divestiture of our manufacturing assets located in Fort Wayne, Indiana to LAC. In exchange for these assets and cash consideration, we received a 42% interest in LAC. Our decision to divest of our manufacturing facilities in Canada and Indiana allows us to focus on our core distribution business while our investment in LAC provides us with a strategic relationship with an important supplier.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

During the third quarter of 2005, we finalized our allocation of the fair value received in connection with the 2004 Acquisitions and completed certain working capital adjustments that resulted in the following changes, including adjustments to the amount of goodwill recorded, the estimated fair value of the non-compete agreement and the deferred gain recorded on the exchange as a reduction to our investment in LAC:

 

     December 31,

(in thousands)

   2005    2004

Goodwill

   $ 2,190    $ 4,629

Other intangible assets

     1,342      1,908

Equity interest investments

     187      5,157

Product inventories, net

     5,139      5,280

Accrued and other liabilities

     1,958      135

Other intangible assets reflects the estimated fair value of the non-compete agreement related to Pool Tech, which we are amortizing on a straight-line basis over the five year contractual life. We recorded a $0.2 million gain on the exchange, the entire amount of which was deferred and recorded as a reduction of our investment in LAC. We disposed of approximately $12.9 million of goodwill in connection with the divestiture of our manufacturing assets in Canada and Indiana. In connection with this transaction, LAC acquired the business of Latham International, LP, a manufacturer of vinyl swimming pool liners, polymer and steel panels, steps and related swimming pool products based in Albany, New York.

We have included the results of operations for Pool Tech in our Consolidated Financial Statements since the acquisition date. We account for our interest in LAC using the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, we report our share of income or loss based on our ownership interest in LAC.

2003 Acquisitions

In May 2003, we acquired the capital stock of Les Industries R.P. Inc. (the Quebec Acquisition), a distributor and manufacturer of swimming pool products operating one service center in Quebec, Canada. In connection with the Quebec Acquisition, we recorded the cost of a non-compete agreement totaling $0.7 million, which we are amortizing using the straight-line method over the agreement’s six year contractual life. We also recorded approximately $1.3 million of goodwill in connection with the acquisition. As discussed above, in December 2004 we disposed of the manufacturing assets acquired in the Quebec Acquisition.

In August 2003, we acquired Sud Ouest Filtration (the SOFI Acquisition), a distributor and manufacturer of swimming pool products operating one service center in Bordeaux, France. The SOFI Acquisition represents our fourth location in France and expanded our market presence to the southwest part of that country. We also acquired in August certain assets of Mepasa Albercas, a swimming pool distributor in Cuernavaca, Mexico (the Mepasa Acquisition). The Cuernavaca service center is our first location in Latin America.

On October 1, 2003, we purchased substantially all of the assets of the distribution division of Litehouse Products, Inc. (the Litehouse Acquisition), which established a strong presence for us in northern Ohio and adjacent markets. We recorded approximately $2.5 million of goodwill in connection with this acquisition, all of which we expect will be deductible for tax purposes. The purchase agreement includes that a portion of the purchase price be paid in annual installments of $0.4 million for five years. We recorded these future payments as goodwill at the present value of $1.9 million, which we calculated using an interest rate of 2.6%. We signed two non-compete agreements totaling $3.0 million with certain shareholders of Litehouse Products, Inc. Additionally, we recorded a distribution agreement with the Litehouse retail stores as an

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

intangible asset at the present value of the estimated fair value of $6.1 million, which we calculated using an interest rate of 2.6%. We are amortizing the non-compete and distribution agreements using the straight-line method over the five year contractual lives.

In November 2003, we purchased substantially all of the distribution assets of Hayward Iberica, S.A., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Hayward Pool Products, Inc. (the Iberica Acquisition). Iberica distributed primarily Hayward equipment from two service centers in Madrid and Valencia, Spain. These two service centers are our first locations in Spain and allow us to further our presence in the European market.

We have included the results of operations of the Quebec, SOFI, Mepasa, Litehouse and Iberica Acquisitions in our Consolidated Financial Statements since the respective acquisition dates.

Note 3 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

In October 2005, we performed our annual goodwill impairment test, which requires comparison of our Company’s estimated fair value to the book value, including goodwill. As a result of this test, we believe the goodwill on our balance sheet is not impaired.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows (in thousands):

 

Balance at December 31, 2003

   $ 112,140  

Acquired goodwill

     4,728  

Purchase price adjustments

     672  

Goodwill disposal

     (12,856 )
        

Balance at December 31, 2004

     104,684  

Acquired goodwill

     37,015  

Purchase price adjustments

     (2,153 )
        

Balance at December 31, 2005

   $ 139,546  
        

Purchase price adjustments in 2004 represent payment of contingent amounts related to the 2003 Quebec Acquisition. Purchase price adjustments in 2005 represent payment of contingent amounts related to the 2003 Quebec Acquisition and certain adjustments related to the Pool Tech Acquisition.

Other intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2005     2004  

Tradename (indefinite life)

   $ 8,400     $ —    

Non-compete agreements (5.0 year weighted average useful life)

     15,605       15,531  

Employee contracts (3.7 year weighted average useful life)

     3,600       —    

Distribution agreement (5 year useful life)

     6,115       6,115  
                
     33,720       21,646  

Less accumulated amortization

     (10,882 )     (9,026 )
                
   $ 22,838     $ 12,620  
                

The tradename has an indefinite useful life, and therefore is not subject to amortization. The tradename is subject to periodic impairment testing under FAS 142. The non-compete and distribution agreements have finite useful lives, and as such, we amortize these agreements using the straight-line method over their respective contractual terms. Other intangible amortization expense was $3.9 million in 2005 and $4.0 million in 2004.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

The table below presents estimated amortization expense for other intangible assets for the next five years (in thousands):

 

2006

   $ 4,817

2007

     4,433

2008

     3,075

2009

     1,585

2010

     528

Note 4 - Details of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts

The table below presents additional information regarding certain balance sheet accounts (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2005     2004  

Receivables:

    

Trade accounts

   $ 10,462     $ 10,545  

Trade accounts, pledged

     98,976       63,702  

Vendor rebates

     31,450       21,662  

Other

     5,108       4,818  
                
     145,996       100,727  

Less allowance for doubtful accounts

     (4,211 )     (3,138 )
                
   $ 141,785     $ 97,589  
                

Property and equipment:

    

Land

   $ 1,257     $ 1,026  

Building

     1,342       1,342  

Leasehold improvements

     10,597       7,182  

Autos and trucks

     880       499  

Machinery and equipment

     14,632       12,270  

Computer equipment

     16,156       12,647  

Furniture and fixtures

     8,488       7,441  
                
     53,352       42,407  

Less accumulated depreciation

     (27,754 )     (23,812 )
                
   $ 25,598     $ 18,595  
                

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:

    

Salaries, bonuses and profit sharing

   $ 24,022     $ 17,532  

Current deferred tax liability

     7,750       9,202  

Other

     44,873       11,553  
                
   $ 76,645     $ 38,287  
                

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

Note 5 - Debt

The components of our long-term debt for the past two years were as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2005     2004  

Revolving Line of Credit, variable rate (described below)

   $ 69,100     $ 50,420  

Term loan, variable rate (described below)

     60,000       —    

Purchase price payments to Litehouse

     1,111       1,482  

Payments due - non-compete agreements

     2,029       3,008  

Other

     344       —    
                
     132,584       54,910  

Less current portion

     (1,350 )     (1,350 )
                

Total long-term debt

   $ 131,234     $ 53,560  
                

On December 20, 2005, we amended our unsecured syndicated senior credit facility (the Credit Facility) to provide for additional borrowing capacity. The amended Credit Facility, which matures on December 20, 2010, provides for a $120.0 million five-year revolving credit facility (the Revolver) and a $60.0 million term loan (the Term Loan). The Credit Facility includes sublimits for the issuance of swingline loans and standby letters of credit. The aggregate maximum principal amount of the commitments under the Credit Facility may be increased from time to time by a total amount up to $40.0 million.

At December 31, 2005, there was $69.1 million outstanding and $49.2 million available for borrowing under the Revolver. The average effective interest rate of the Revolver was approximately 4.5% for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Borrowings under the Revolver bear interest, at our option, at either of the following:

 

  a. a base rate, which is the greater of (i) the Wachovia Bank, National Association prime rate or (ii) the overnight Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%; or

 

  b. the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a spread ranging from 0.600% to 1.250%, with such spread in each case depending on our leverage ratio.

Borrowings under the Term Loan bear interest, at our option, at either of the following:

 

  a. a base rate, which is the greater of (i) the Wachovia Bank, National Association prime rate or (ii) the overnight Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%; or

 

  b. the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a spread ranging from 0.625% to 0.750%, with such spread in each case depending on our leverage ratio.

We are also required to pay (a) an annual facility fee of 0.150% to 0.250%, with such spread in each case depending on our leverage ratio, (b) an annual commercial letter of credit issuance fee of 0.125% multiplied by the face amount of each letter of credit and (c) a letter of credit commission of 0.150% to 0.250% multiplied by face amount of each letter of credit, with such spread in each case depending on our leverage ratio.

At December 31, 2005, there was $60.0 million outstanding on the Term Loan. The total outstanding balance is classified as long-term since our first scheduled principal payment on the Term Loan is not due until March 31, 2007. The average effective interest rate of the Term Loan was approximately 5.4% for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

In December 2005, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement as a cash flow hedge to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on the Term Loan. The swap will be in effect as of June 30, 2006 and will terminate on December 31, 2008.

Our obligations under the Credit Facility are guaranteed by all of our existing and future direct and indirect subsidiaries. The Credit Facility contains terms and provisions (including representations, covenants and conditions) and events of default customary for transactions of this type. If an event of default occurs and is continuing under the Credit Facility, the lenders may terminate their obligations thereunder and may require us to repay all amounts thereunder. Financial covenants include maintenance of a maximum average total leverage ratio and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. Other covenants include restrictions on our ability to, among other things, pay dividends or make other capital distributions (other than in accordance with our current dividend policy).

In March 2005, we renewed our accounts receivable securitization facility (the Receivables Facility), which provides a seasonal borrowing capacity of up to $100.0 million, through March 2006. The Receivables Facility provides for the true sale of certain of our receivables as they are created to a wholly owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary. This subsidiary grants an undivided security interest in the receivables to an unrelated commercial paper conduit. Because of the structure of the bankruptcy-remote subsidiary and our ability to control its activities, we include the transferred receivables and related debt in our consolidated balance sheet. We employed this arrangement because it provides us with a lower cost form of financing. The Receivables Facility has numerous restrictive covenants, which require that we maintain a minimum average total leverage ratio, fixed charge coverage ratio and minimum net worth ratio. At December 31, 2005, there was $65.7 million outstanding under the Receivables Facility at an average effective interest rate of 4.0%.

As of December 31, 2005, we were in compliance with all covenants and financial ratio requirements related to our Credit Facility and our Receivables Facility.

We capitalize financing costs we incur related to implementing and amending our debt. These costs are amortized over the contractual life of the related debt. The changes in deferred financing costs are as follows (in thousands):

 

     2005     2004  

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 2,010     $ 1,527  

Financing cost deferred

     243       483  

Write off fully amortized financing costs

     (1,527 )     —    
                

Balance at end of year

     726       2,010  

Less accumulated amortization

     (134 )     (1,563 )
                
   $ 592     $ 447  
                

Note 6 - Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income includes net income, foreign currency translation adjustments and the unrealized gain or loss on interest rate swaps. Total comprehensive income for the past three years (in thousands) was:

 

2005

  

2004

  

2003

$ 82,886

   $68,540    $52,032

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income as presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consists of the following components (in thousands):

 

     Foreign
Currency
Translation
    Unrealized
Gain(Loss)
on Interest
Rate Swaps
    Total  

Balance at December 31, 2003

   $ 1,292     $ (17 )   $ 1,275  

Net change

     1,582       17       1,599  
                        

Balance at December 31, 2004

     2,874       —         2,874  

Net change

     (836 )     101       (735 )
                        

Balance at December 31, 2005

   $ 2,038     $ 101     $ 2,139  
                        

Note 7 - Income Taxes

Income from continuing operations before the provision for income taxes is attributable to the following jurisdictions (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,
     2005    2004    2003

United States

   $ 129,573    $ 104,224    $ 80,430

Foreign

     4,250      5,515      2,927
                    

Total

   $ 133,823    $ 109,739    $ 83,357
                    

The provision for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,
     2005     2004     2003

Current:

      

Federal

   $   49,977     $   37,448     $ 28,140

Foreign

     1,896       1,358       945

Other, primarily state

     3,100       3,528       3,081
                      
     54,973       42,334       32,166
                      

Deferred:

      

Federal

     (2,844 )     793       317

Other, primarily state

     (460 )     (329 )     26
                      
     (3,304 )     464       343
                      

Total

   $ 51,669     $ 42,798     $ 32,509
                      

We made payments related to income taxes totaling $14.3 million in 2005 and $36.7 million in 2004. We have deferred our third and fourth quarter 2005 estimated federal tax payments as allowed by the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (the Act). These payments, which were originally deferred until February 2006 under the Act, will now be due in August 2006, as the Internal Revenue Service has postponed the payment deadline for affected taxpayers.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory tax rate to our effective tax rate on income before income taxes and equity earnings is as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2005     2004     2003  

Federal statutory rate

   35.00 %   35.00 %   35.00 %

Other, primarily state income tax rate

   3.61     4.00     4.00  
                  

Total effective tax rate

   38.61 %   39.00 %   39.00 %
                  

In 2005, we recorded equity earnings in LAC of $1.4 million, net of $0.9 million of income tax expense that is not reflected in the tables above.

The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
     2005    2004

Deferred tax liabilities:

     

Trade discounts on purchases

   $ 1,887    $ 3,851

Prepaid expenses

     1,171      2,145

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     146      165

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     1,342      1,843

Other

     3,204      1,198
             

Total current deferred tax liabilities

     7,750      9,202
             

Intangible assets, primarily goodwill

     11,775      10,706

Depreciation

     —        919

Equity earnings in unconsolidated interests

     919      —  

Other

     1,906      —  
             

Total non-current deferred tax liabilities

     14,600      11,625
             

Total deferred tax liabilities

     22,350      20,827
             

Deferred tax assets:

     

Product inventories

     3,078      2,075

Accrued expenses

     843      265

Other

     4,056      —  
             

Total current deferred tax assets

     7,977      2,340
             

Leases

     751      642

Depreciation

     52      —  

Other

     489      —  
             

Total non-current deferred tax assets

     1,292      642
             

Total deferred tax assets

     9,269      2,982
             

Deferred tax liabilities net of deferred tax assets

   $ 13,081    $ 17,845
             

As presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the change in deferred income taxes includes, among other items, the change in deferred income taxes related to the deferred income tax provision, the change between the deferred income taxes estimated for 2004 and actual deferred income taxes for 2004 and the change in deferred income taxes related to the estimated tax impact of accumulated other comprehensive income.

We reduce federal, state and foreign income taxes payable by the tax benefits associated with the exercise of stock options. We receive an income tax benefit based on the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the stock at the time the option is exercised. This benefit, which we record in stockholders’ equity, was $14.1 million in 2005 and $3.9 million in 2004.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

As of December 31, 2005, United States taxes were not provided on earnings of our foreign subsidiaries, as we have invested or expect to invest the undistributed earnings indefinitely. If in the future these earnings are repatriated to the United States, or if we determine that the earnings will be remitted in the foreseeable future, additional tax provisions may be required.

We hold, through our affiliates, cash balances in the countries in which we operate, including significant amounts held outside the United States. Most of the amounts held outside the United States could be repatriated to the United States, but, under current law, may be subject to United States federal income taxes, less applicable foreign tax credits. Repatriation of some foreign balances is restricted by local laws including the imposition of withholding taxes in some jurisdictions. We have not provided for the United States federal tax liability on these amounts and for financial statement purposes, these foreign cash balances are considered indefinitely reinvested outside the United States.

Note 8 - Earnings Per Share

The table below presents the reconciliation of basic and diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding and the related earnings per share calculation (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,
     2005    2004    2003

Net income

   $ 83,621    $ 66,941    $ 50,848
                    

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     52,445      52,838      53,058

Effect of dilutive securities:

        

Stock options

     3,159      3,276      2,706

Restricted stock awards

     19      8      —  

Employee stock purchase plan

     11      17      9
                    

Diluted

     55,634      56,139      55,773
                    

Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies

We lease facilities for our corporate office, service centers, vehicles and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases that expire in various years through 2026. Most of our leases contain renewal options, some of which involve rate increases. For leases with step rent provisions whereby the rental payments increase incrementally over the life of the lease, we recognize the total minimum lease payments on a straight-line basis over the minimum lease term. The table below presents rent expense associated with operating leases for the past three years (in thousands):

 

2005

  

2004

  

2003

$ 43,513

   $38,513    $34,071

The table below sets forth the approximate future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2005 related to non-cancelable operating leases with initial terms of one year or more (in thousands):

 

2006

   29,922

2007

   24,754

2008

   20,253

2009

   14,958

2010

   10,171

Thereafter

   17,122

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

From time to time, we are subject to various claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including product liability, personal injury, commercial, contract and employment matters. While the outcome of any litigation is inherently unpredictable, we do not believe, based on currently available facts, that the ultimate disposition of any of these matters will have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 10 - Related Party Transactions

In May 2005, we acquired a 50% membership interest in NCC through a $1.1 million cash contribution. NCC owns and operates an office building in Covington, Louisiana. We lease corporate and administrative offices from NCC, occupying approximately 50,000 square feet of office space. We amended the lease agreement in May 2005. The amended agreement has a 10 year term and we pay rent of $56,600 per month.

In October 1999, we entered into a lease agreement with S&C Development, LLC for a service center in Mandeville, Louisiana. The sole member of S&C Development, LLC is A. David Cook, a POOL executive officer. The seven year lease term commenced on January 1, 2000, and we pay rent of $6,510 per month. In January 2002, we entered into a lease agreement with S&C Development, LLC for additional warehouse space adjacent to our Mandeville service center. The five year lease term commenced on February 4, 2002, and we pay rent of $4,123 per month. The total $10,633 monthly lease payment is for both facilities consisting of 21,100 square feet.

In January 2001, we entered into a lease agreement with S&C Development, LLC for a service center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The ten year lease term commenced on November 10, 2001, and we pay rent of $12,745 per month for the 25,000 square foot facility.

In March 1997, we entered into a lease agreement with Kenneth St. Romain for a service center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kenneth St. Romain is the son of Frank J. St. Romain, who was President and Chief Executive Officer of SCP until January 1999 and was a director of SCP until May 2003. In January 2002, we extended this lease for a second term of five years which commenced on March 1, 2002. We pay rent of $10,340 per month for the 23,500 square foot facility.

In May 2001, we entered into a lease agreement with Kenneth St. Romain for a service center in Jackson, Mississippi. The seven year lease term commenced on November 16, 2001, and we pay rent of $8,823 per month for the 20,000 square foot facility.

We believe the leases discussed above reflect fair market rates and are as favorable to us as we could have obtained from unrelated third parties. The table below presents rent expense associated with these leases for the past three years (in thousands):

 

2005

  

2004

  

2003

$ 946

   $501    $493

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

Note 11 - Employee Benefit Plans

We offer a 401(k) savings and retirement plan, which provides benefits for substantially all employees who meet minimum age and length of service requirements. Eligible employees are able to contribute up to 25% of their base compensation, subject to the federal dollar limit. For plan participants, we contribute 50% of employee contributions up to 8% of their base compensation. We also provided a profit-sharing plan whereby, a profit-sharing contribution could be made annually to all eligible employees. Effective January 1, 2005, we eliminated the profit-sharing plan and increased the discretionary company matching contribution for the 401(k) plan to 8% as discussed above.

Effective March 1, 2005, we adopted the Pool Corp Deferred Compensation Plan, a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The plan allows certain employees who occupy key management positions to defer salary and bonus amounts, and provides a matching contribution similar to that provided under our 401(k) plan to the extent that a participant’s contribution to the 401(k) plan are limited by IRS non-discrimination limitations. The total company matching contribution provided to a participant under the 401(k) plan and the Pool Corp Deferred Compensation Plan combined for any one year shall not exceed 4% of a participant’s salary and bonus.

The employee and Company sponsored contributions are invested in certain equity and fixed income securities based on individual employee elections.

The table below sets forth our matching contributions and profit-sharing contributions for the past three years (in thousands):

 

     2005    2004    2003

Matching contributions 401(k)

   $ 2,244    $ 1,843    $ 2,365

Matching contributions deferred compensation plan

     77      —        —  

Profit-sharing contributions

     —        1,280      —  

 

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SCP POOL CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

Note 12 - Stock Option and Stock Purchase Plans

Stock options represent the right to purchase shares of our common stock in the future at a price that is fixed on the day the options are granted (the grant date).

The table below summarizes our stock option activity for the past three years (in thousands, except weighted average exercise price and fair value):

 

     2005    2004    2003
     Options     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Options     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Options     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

Outstanding - beginning of year

   7,474,859     $ 7.91    7,270,027     $ 6.35    6,720,193     $ 5.36

Granted

   526,350       31.52    691,401       21.94    987,638       12.05

Exercised

   (1,124,241 )     2.95    (421,290 )     3.53    (374,191 )     2.98

Forfeitures

   (80,281 )     16.19    (65,279 )     11.31    (63,613 )     9.79
                          

Outstanding - end of year

   6,796,687       10.46    7,474,859       7.91    7,270,027       6.35
                          

Exercisable at end of year

   3,643,944       5.62    3,593,055       4.06    3,114,395       3.66

Weighted average fair value of options granted during the year

       11.34        9.67        4.97

The table below summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2005:

 

     Outstanding Stock Options    Exercisable Stock Options
Range of exercise prices    Shares    Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
   Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
   Shares    Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

$ 0.00 to $ 5.99

   2,652,801    3.13 years    $ 3.19    2,601,160    $ 3.26

$ 6.00 to $ 11.99

   2,167,809    5.97 years      10.07    624,750      9.24

$ 12.00 to $ 17.99

   798,526    6.16 years      12.52    323,534      12.72

$ 18.00 to $ 23.99

   622,801    8.11 years      21.67    81,750      21.67

$ 24.00 to $ 29.99

   36,500    8.51 years      26.68    12,750      26.91

$ 30.00 to $ 34.93

   518,250    9.12 years      31.52    —        —  
                  

$ 0.00 to $ 34.93

   6,796,687    5.72 years      10.46    3,643,944      5.62
                  

Under the 1995 Stock Option Plan (the 1995 Plan) our Board of Directors (the Board) was authorized to grant stock options to employees, agents, consultants or independent contractors. These options generally were exercisable two years after the grant date, and they expire ten years from the grant date. In May 1998, the Board suspended the 1995 Plan. Options granted prior to the suspension were not affected by this action.

In May 1998, our stockholders approved the 1998 Stock Option Plan (the 1998 Plan), which authorized the Board to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and performance awards to employees, agents, consultants or independent contractors. These options generally were exercisable three or more years after the grant date, and they expire ten years after the grant date. In May 2002, the Board suspended the 1998 Plan. Options granted prior to the suspension were not affected by this action.

 

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SCP POOL CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

In May 2002, our stockholders approved the 2002 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2002 Plan), which authorized the Board to grant stock options and restricted stock awards to employees, agents, consultants or independent contractors. In May 2004, our stockholders approved an amendment to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2002 Plan from 1,575,000 to 2,700,000 shares. In 2005, we granted 475,350 options under the 2002 Plan. As of December 31, 2005, 767,340 shares were available for grant. Granted options have an exercise price equal to our stock’s market price on the grant date. These options generally may be exercised three or more years after the grant date, and they expire ten years after the grant date. No restricted shares were granted in 2005.

The SCP Pool Corporation Non-Employee Directors Equity Incentive Plan permits the Board to grant stock options to each non-employee director. No more than 1,350,000 shares may be issued under this plan. In 2005, we granted 51,000 options to the non-employee directors. As of December 31, 2005, 175,896 shares were available for grant. The exercise price of the granted options is equal to our stock’s market price on the grant date. The options generally may be exercised one year after the grant date, and they expire ten years after the grant date.

In March 1998, the Board adopted the SCP Pool Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Under this plan, employees who meet minimum age and length of service requirements may purchase stock at 85% of the lower of:

 

  a. the closing price of our common stock at the end of a six month period ending either June 30 or December 31; or

 

  b. the average of the beginning and ending closing prices of our common stock for such six month period.

No more than 956,250 shares of our common stock may be issued under this plan. In 2005, we issued 43,538 shares under this plan, and 582,508 shares remained available at December 31, 2005.

Note 13 - Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

The table below summarizes the unaudited quarterly operating results of operations for the past two years (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Quarter  
     2005    2004  
     First    Second    Third    Fourth    First    Second    Third    Fourth  

Net sales

   $ 265,161    $ 563,978    $ 423,729    $ 299,791    $ 234,648    $ 504,177    $ 362,091    $ 209,937  

Gross profit

     71,951      162,681      114,605      83,211      65,032      145,215      104,183      56,404  

Net income (loss)

     4,753      51,640      27,120      108      4,080      43,595      22,010      (2,744 )

Net income (loss) per share:

                       

Basic

   $ 0.09    $ 0.98    $ 0.51    $ 0.00    $ 0.08    $ 0.82    $ 0.42    $ (0.05 )

Diluted

   $ 0.09    $ 0.93    $ 0.49    $ 0.00    $ 0.07    $ 0.77    $ 0.39    $ (0.05 )

The sum of diluted earnings per share for each of the quarters may not equal the total diluted earnings per share for the annual period because there is a difference in the way that in-the-money stock options are considered from quarter to quarter under the requirements of SFAS 128, Earnings per Share.

 

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

Not applicable.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

The term “disclosure controls and procedures” is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Act). The rules refer to the controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that we file or submit under the Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified. As of December 31, 2005, management, including the CEO and CFO, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that as of December 31, 2005, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at ensuring that material information related to us or our consolidated subsidiaries is made known to them and is disclosed on a timely basis in our reports filed under the Act.

We maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting that is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Based on the most recent evaluation, we have concluded that no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

POOL’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to POOL’s management and Board of Directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Any evaluation or projection of effectiveness to future periods is also subject to risk that controls may become inadequate due to changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

POOL’s management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2005, POOL’s internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

In October 2005, we acquired Automatic Rain Company through our newly formed and wholly owned subsidiary Horizon Distributors, Inc. In conducting its assessment of internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, POOL’s management did not include the internal controls of Horizon Distributors, Inc. which constituted 8% and 14% of total and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2005 and 3% of net sales for the year then ended.

The registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of POOL’s internal controls over financial reporting. This report appears below.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of SCP Pool Corporation

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that SCP Pool Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). SCP Pool Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of Horizon Distributors, Inc. which is included in the 2005 consolidated financial statements of SCP Pool Corporation and constituted 8% and 14% of total and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2005 and 3% of net sales for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of SCP Pool Corporation also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Horizon Distributors, Inc.

In our opinion, management’s assessment that SCP Pool Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, SCP Pool Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of SCP Pool Corporation as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 of SCP Pool Corporation and our report dated March 3, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana

March 3, 2006

 

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Item 9B. Other Information

Not applicable.

PART III.

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Incorporated by reference to POOL’s 2006 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Incorporated by reference to POOL’s 2006 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

Incorporated by reference to POOL’s 2006 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Incorporated by reference to POOL’s 2006 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Incorporated by reference to POOL’s 2006 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC.

 

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PART IV.

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:

 

  (1) Consolidated Financial Statements:

 

     Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   30

Consolidated Statements of Income

   31

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   32

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   33

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

   35

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   36

 

  (2) Financial Statement Schedules.

All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or are not required

or because the required information is provided in our Consolidated Financial

Statements or accompanying Notes included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

 

  (3) The exhibits listed in the Index to the Exhibits.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on March 7, 2006.

 

SCP POOL CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ WILSON B. SEXTON

  Wilson B. Sexton, Chairman of the Board and Director

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities indicated on March 7, 2006.

 

Signature:

   Title:

/s/ WILSON B. SEXTON

   Chairman of the Board and Director
Wilson B. Sexton   

/s/ MANUEL J. PEREZ DE LA MESA

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Manuel J. Perez de la Mesa   

/s/ MARK W. JOSLIN

   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Mark W. Joslin   

/s/ DONALD L. MEYER

   Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) and Assistant Treasurer
Donald L. Meyer   

/s/ ANDREW W. CODE

   Director
Andrew W. Code   

/s/ JAMES J. GAFFNEY

   Director
James J. Gaffney   

/s/ GEORGE T. HAYMAKER

   Director
George T. Haymaker   

/s/ HARLAN F. SEYMOUR

   Director
Harlan F. Seymour   

/s/ ROBERT C. SLEDD

   Director
Robert C. Sledd   

/s/ JOHN E. STOKELY

   Director
John E. Stokely   

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number
 

Document Description

3.1   Composite Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. (1)
3.2   Composite Bylaws of the Company. (2)
4.1   Form of certificate representing shares of common stock of the Company. (3)
10.1   SCP Pool Corporation 1995 Stock Option Plan. (3) (11)
10.2   Form of Individual Stock Option Agreement under 1995 Stock Option Plan. (3) (11)
10.3   Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Equity Incentive Plan (7), as amended by Amendment No. 1. (4) (11)
10.4   SCP Pool Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan. (5) (11)
10.5   Form of Stock Option Agreement under 1998 Stock Option Plan. (6) (11)
10.6   Amended and Restated SCP Pool Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (4) (11)
10.7   Amended and Restated SCP Pool Corporation 2002 Long-Term Incentive Plan. (11) (12)
10.8   Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2002 Long-Term Incentive Plan. (11)(12)
10.9   Employment Agreement, dated January 25, 1999, among SCP Pool Corporation, South Central Pool
  Supply, Inc. and Manuel J. Perez de la Mesa. (6) (11)
10.10   Employment Agreement, dated January 17, 2003, between SCP Distributors, LLC and John M. Murphy. (11)(12)
10.11   Employment Agreement, dated January 17, 2003, between SCP Distributors, LLC and A. David Cook. (11)(12)
10.12   Employment Agreement, dated January 17, 2003, between SCP Distributors, LLC and Christopher W. Wilson. (11)(12)
10.13   Employment Agreement, dated January 17, 2003, between SCP Distributors, LLC and Stephen C. Nelson. (11)(12)
10.14   Compensation of Non-Employee Directors.
10.15   Form of Indemnity Agreement for Directors and Officers. (9) (11)
10.16   Louisiana Tax Equalization Agreement. (9)
10.17   Tax Reimbursement Arrangement. (1) (11)
10.18   Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of March 27, 2003, among SCP Distributors LLC, SCP Services LP and Superior Pool Products LLC, as Originators, and Superior Commerce LLC, as Buyer. (2)
10.19   Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of March 27, 2003, among Superior Commerce, LLC, as Seller, SCP Distributors LLC, as Servicer, Jupiter Securitization Corporation and Bank One, NA (Main Office Chicago) as Agent (2), as amended by amendment dated as of March 25, 2004. (10)
10.20   Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 27, 2003, by and between Bank One, NA, as agent under the Credit Agreement, and Bank One, NA (Main Office Chicago), as agent under the Receivables Purchase Agreement. (2)
10.21   Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2004, among SCP Pool Corporation, as US Borrower, SCP Distributors Inc., as Canadian Borrower, the Lenders, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and Issuing Lender, Congress Financial Corporation (Canada) as Canadian Dollar Lender, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as syndication Agent, Hibernia National Bank as Documentation Agent and Wells Fargo Bank Association, as Documentation Agent. (12)
10.22   Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement dated as of November 2, 2004. (12)
10.23   Performance Undertaking dated as of March 27, 2003, by and between SCP Pool Corporation and Superior Commerce LLC. (2)
10.24   Asset Exchange Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2004 by and among SCP Pool Corporation, Les Industries R.P. Inc. and Latham Acquisition Corp. (12)
10.25   Asset Contribution Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2004 by and among SCP Pool Corporation, Fort Wayne Pools, Inc and Latham Acquisition Corp. (12)
10.26   Subscription and Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2004, by and among Latham Acquisition Corp., Fort Wayne Pools, Inc., Brockway Moran & Partners Fund II, L.P. and Brockway Moran & Partners II. Co-Invest Fund, L.P (12)
10.27   Lease (Mandeville Service Center) entered into as of October 19, 1999, by and between S&C Development Company, LLC and South Central Pool Supply, Inc, as amended by Lease Agreement Amendment No. One, entered into as of May 26, 2000, by and between S&C Development Company, LLC and South Central Pool Supply, Inc, as amended by Lease Agreement (Warehouse) entered into as of January 16, 2002, by and between S&C Development Company, LLC and SCP Distributors, LLC, as amended by First Amendment entered into as of February 11, 2002 by and between S&C Development Company, LLC and SCP Distributors, LLC. (1)

 

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10.28   Lease (Oklahoma Service Center) entered into as of January 15, 2001, by and between Dave Cook, individually and SCP Pool Corporation, as amended by First Amendment, entered into as of October 24, 2001 by and between S&C Development, LLC and SCP Pool Corporation, as amended by First Amendment, entered into, as of December 5, 2001 by and between S&C Development, LLC and SCP Pool Corporation.(1)
10.29   Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Non-employee Director’s Equity Incentive Plan. (11)(12)
10.30   Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Basic Plan Document, dated March 1, 2005. (13)
10.31   Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Adoption Agreement by an among SCP Distributors, L.L.C., Superior Pool Products, L.L.C. and Cypress, Inc., dated March 1, 2005 (13)
10.32   Trust Agreement by and among SCP Distributors, L.L.C., Superior Pool Products, L.L.C. and Cypress, Inc. and T. Rowe Price Trust Company, dated March 1, 2005. (13)
10.33   Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Automatic Rain Company, Horizon Distributors, Inc. and the Shareholder Parties, dated August 26, 2005. (14)
10.34   Second Amendment of the Credit Agreement, dated December 20, 2005, among SCP Pool Corporation, as US Borrower, SCP Distributors Inc., as Canadian Borrower, the Lenders, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent Swingline Lender and Issuing Lender, Congress Financial Corporation (Canada) as Canadian Dollar Lender, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as syndication Agent, Hibernia National Bank and Wells Fargo Bank Association as Co-Documentation Agents and Regions Bank.
14   Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, Officers and Employees. (8)
21.1   Subsidiaries of the registrant.
23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
31.1   Certification by Mark W. Joslin pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2   Certification by Manuel J. Perez de la Mesa pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1   Certification by Manuel J. Perez de la Mesa and Mark W. Joslin pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(1)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004.
(2)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003.
(3)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 33-92738.
(4)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002.
(5)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed April 8, 1998.
(6)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
(7)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2001.
(8)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
(9)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2004.
(10)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2004.
(11)   Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(12)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
(13)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005.
(14)   Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2005.

 

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