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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

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FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended January 25, 2008

or

o 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:   1-3011

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		36-2443580
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)

1101 Third Street South
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

612/332-7371
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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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.     x Yes       o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Large accelerated filer x          Accelerated filer o          Non-accelerated filer o          Smaller reporting company o

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

As of February 28, 2008, The Valspar Corporation had 100,185,799 shares of common stock outstanding, excluding 18,256,825 shares held in treasury. The Company had no other classes of stock outstanding.

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION

 

Index to Form 10-Q

for the Quarter Ended January 25, 2008

 

 

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PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS – CONTINUED

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

(1)   Mandatorily Redeemable Stock accrual reduced basic and diluted earnings per share by three cents in the first quarter of 2008 and five cents in the first quarter of 2007 as further described in Note 3.

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

JANUARY 25, 2008

 

NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of The Valspar Corporation (“the Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the quarter ended January 25, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending October 31, 2008.

 

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at October 26, 2007 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

 

For further information refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in The Valspar Corporation’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 26, 2007.

 

NOTE 2: ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

 

Trade accounts payable includes $17.2 million at January 25, 2008, $39.2 million at October 26, 2007 and $24.8 million at January 26, 2007 of issued checks that had not cleared the Company’s bank accounts.

 

NOTE 3: ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

 

In January 2008, the Company completed the sale of its commercial/industrial polymer floor coatings product line to Sika AG, a global supplier to specialty chemicals markets. Sika is based in Baar, Switzerland, with North American headquarters in Lyndhurst, NJ. The product line had annual sales of approximately $17 million in fiscal year 2007. The pro forma results of operations for this divestiture have not been presented, as the impact on the reported results is not material. No manufacturing equipment or plants were included in the transaction. Valspar will produce selected products for Sika for a period of time.

 

In December 2007, the Company acquired control of Aries Coil Coatings S.A. de C.V. (Aries), a privately owned manufacturer of high-performance coil and packaging coatings based in Monterrey, Mexico. Aries had annual sales in calendar year 2007 of approximately $40 million. This transaction was accounted for as a purchase. Accordingly, the net assets and operating results have been included in the Company’s financial statements from the date of acquisition. The purchase price allocation is preliminary. The pro forma results of operations for this acquisition have not been presented, as the impact on reported results is not material.

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

JANUARY 25, 2008 – CONTINUED

 

In August 2007, the Company acquired Teknos Nova Coil TNC Oy (TNC), a privately owned manufacturer of high-performance coil coatings based in Helsinki, Finland. TNC’s revenues for calendar 2006 were approximately €31 million. This transaction was accounted for as a purchase. The net assets and operating results have been included in the Company’s fiscal year 2007 financial statements from the date of acquisition. The purchase price allocation is preliminary. The pro forma results of operations for this acquisition have not been presented, as the impact on reported results is not material.

 

In December 2006, the Company acquired the powder coatings business of H.B. Fuller Company. H.B. Fuller’s powder coatings business, which had net sales of approximately $75 million in 2005, serves customers in 26 countries from manufacturing facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom. This transaction was accounted for as a purchase. Accordingly, the net assets and operating results have been included in the Company’s financial statements from the date of acquisition. The pro forma results of operations for this acquisition have not been presented, as the impact on reported results is not material.

 

In July 2006, the Company acquired approximately 80% of the share capital of Huarun Paints Holdings Company Limited (Huarun Paints), one of China’s largest independent coatings companies, from Champion Regal Limited, a Hong Kong based investment company, and certain other shareholders. Huarun Paints is one of China’s leading domestic suppliers of wood and furniture coatings, and a rapidly growing supplier of architectural coatings. Huarun Paints sells its products primarily through an extensive network of distributors and retail paint stores throughout China. Huarun Paints’ revenue for fiscal year 2005 was approximately $180 million. The cash purchase price was approximately $290.4 million. Certain of the shares not purchased by the Company at the closing are subject to various put and call rights. The combination of put and call rights makes certain of the minority shares of Huarun Paints mandatorily redeemable, and therefore subject to classification outside of shareholders’ equity in Mandatorily Redeemable Stock. The balance in Mandatorily Redeemable Stock was $40.3 million at January 25, 2008, $37.3 million at October 26, 2007 and $23.8 million at January 26, 2007.

 

The Mandatorily Redeemable Stock will be accrued to redemption value at each balance sheet date. The accrual, as well as any dividends, is shown as an adjustment below net income to arrive at the net income available to common shareholders. The Company accrued $2.9 million and $5.1 million for the periods ended January 25, 2008 and January 26, 2007, respectively. This accrual reduced basic and diluted income available to common shareholders by three cents per share in the first quarter of 2008 and five cents per share in the first quarter of 2007. The net income per share available to common shareholders was $0.21 for the period ended January 25, 2008 and $0.18 for the period ended January 26, 2007. The accruals for the redemption value will be subsequently reversed to net income available to common shareholders and acquisition accounting applied upon exercise of the put or call option and acquisition of the underlying shares.

 

Certain other shares were awarded as part of a Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) by Huarun prior to the acquisition closing. The shares covered by the LTIP award were initially treated as liability awards under SFAS 123R. During 2007, the pre-acquisition share awards were reclassified to equity awards and were modified to make fair value the relevant re-purchase price as it was determined that the Company has no obligation to purchase the shares and if they do, the share awards will be based on fair market value.

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

JANUARY 25, 2008 – CONTINUED

 

The terms of the acquisition also require the Company to pay to Champion Regal and certain other shareholders an amount equal to the excess cash, as defined in the purchase agreement, held by Huarun as of the closing date. The liability shall be paid as soon as practical before the third anniversary of the closing date, including interest at 6%. The excess cash of $34.4 million was recorded as a deferred liability under purchase accounting. In 2007, the Company paid $19.7 million plus accrued interest including $10.9 million in the first quarter of 2007, to reduce this deferred liability.

 

NOTE 4: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

For the three months ended January 25, 2008 and January 26, 2007, Comprehensive Income, a component of Stockholders’ Equity, was as follows:

 

 

NOTE 5: GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

The carrying amount of goodwill for the quarter ended January 25, 2008 increased from the end of fiscal 2007 by $60.3 million to $1,359.3 million. The increase is primarily due to the acquisition of Aries and foreign currency translation.

 

Total intangible asset amortization expense for the three months ended January 25, 2008 was $2.0 million, compared to $1.4 million for the same period last year. Estimated amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years based on the intangible assets as of January 25, 2008 is expected to be approximately $8.0 million annually.

 

NOTE 6: SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

In accordance with SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” (SFAS 131), and based on the nature of the Company’s products, technology, manufacturing processes, customers and regulatory environment, the Company aggregates its operating segments into two reportable segments: Coatings and Paints.

 

SFAS 131 requires an enterprise to report segment information in the same way that management internally organizes its business for assessing performance and making decisions regarding allocation of resources. The Company evaluates the performance of operating segments and allocates resources based on profit or loss from operations before interest expense and taxes (EBIT).

 

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

JANUARY 25, 2008 – CONTINUED

 

The Coatings segment aggregates the Company’s industrial and packaging product lines. Industrial products include a broad range of decorative and protective coatings for metal, wood, plastic and glass. Packaging products include both interior and exterior coatings used in metal packaging containers, principally food containers and beverage cans. The products of this segment are sold throughout the world.

 

The Paints segment aggregates the Company’s architectural and automotive product lines. Architectural products include interior and exterior decorative paints, primers, varnishes, floor paints and specialty decorative products, such as enamels, aerosols and faux varnishes for the do-it-yourself and professional markets in North America and Asia. Other Paints products include automotive refinish paints.

 

The Company’s remaining activities are included in All Other. These activities include specialty polymers and colorants that are used internally and sold to other coatings manufacturers, as well as gelcoats and related products and furniture protection plans. Also included within All Other are the administrative expenses of the Company’s corporate headquarters site. The administrative expenses include interest and amortization expense, certain environmental-related expenses and other expenses not directly allocated to any other operating segment.

 

In the following table, sales between segments are recorded at selling prices that are below market prices, generally intended to recover internal costs. Segment EBIT includes income realized on inter-segment sales. Comparative first quarter results on this basis are as follows:

 

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

JANUARY 25, 2008 – CONTINUED

 

NOTE 7: FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

The Company’s involvement with derivative financial instruments is limited principally to managing well-defined interest rate and foreign currency exchange risks. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments with high-credit quality counterparties and diversifies its positions among such counterparties to reduce its exposure to credit losses.

 

At January 25, 2008, the Company had no interest rate swaps in place. At January 26, 2007, the Company had a $100 million notional amount interest rate swap contract designated as a fair value hedge under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (SFAS 133) to pay floating rates of interest based on LIBOR and to receive a fixed interest rate. The interest rate swap contract was reflected at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Amounts to be received or paid under the contract were recognized in interest expense over the life of the contract. As the critical terms of the interest rate swap and hedged debt matched, there was an assumption of no ineffectiveness for this hedge. This contract matured on December 1, 2007.

 

Subsequent to January 25, 2008, the Company entered into an aggregate $100 million of notional amount interest rate swap contracts which have been designated as a cash flow hedges under SFAS 133, to pay fixed rates of interest and to receive a floating interest rate based on LIBOR. These contracts are not reflected in the January 25, 2008 condensed consolidated balance sheet.

 

At January 25, 2008, the Company had approximately $10.3 million notional amount of forward foreign currency exchange contracts maturing during fiscal year 2008. These forward foreign exchange contracts have been designated as hedges under SFAS 133 with unrealized gains or losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. Unrealized gains and losses will be recognized in Other Expense (Income) when they occur. There was no ineffectiveness for these hedges.

 

At January 25, 2008, the Company had no treasury locks in place. During 2007, the Company entered into $200 million notional amount of treasury locks to hedge, or lock-in, interest rates on anticipated long-term debt the company planned to issue during fiscal year 2007. This is in addition to the $100 million notional amount of treasury locks to hedge, or lock-in, interest rates the company had outstanding as of October 27, 2006. We had designated the treasury locks entered into as cash flow hedges under SFAS 133 and recorded unrealized gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive income. During April 2007, the Company issued $350 million of senior notes. At that time the $300 million treasury locks were terminated, yielding a deferred pre-tax gain of approximately $4.6 million. This gain is reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in our consolidated balance sheets and is being reclassified ratably to our statements of income as a decrease to interest expense over the five and ten-year term of the related debt, respectively.

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

JANUARY 25, 2008 – CONTINUED

 

NOTE 8: GUARANTEES AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

 

The Company accounts for and discloses guarantees and contractual obligations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others” (FIN 45). The interpretation requires disclosure in periodic financial statements of certain guarantee arrangements. The interpretation also clarifies situations where a guarantor is required to recognize the fair value of certain guarantees in the financial statements. The Company does not have any guarantees that require recognition at fair value under the interpretation.

 

The Company sells extended furniture protection plans and offers warranties for certain of its products. Revenue related to furniture protection plans is deferred and recognized over the contract life. Historical claims data is used to forecast claims payments over the contract period and revenue is recognized based on the forecasted claims payments. Actual claims costs are reflected in earnings in the period incurred. Anticipated losses on programs in progress are charged to earnings when identified. For product warranties, the Company estimates the costs that may be incurred under these warranties based on historical claims data and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time revenue is recognized.

 

The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of these recorded amounts and adjusts as necessary. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are estimable. Extended furniture protection plans entered into by the Company have fixed prices. To the extent the actual costs to complete contracts are higher than the amounts estimated as of the date of the financial statements, gross margin would be negatively affected in future quarters when the Company revises its estimates. The Company’s practice is to revise estimates as soon as such changes in estimates become known.

 

Changes in the recorded amounts during the period are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

NOTE 9: STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

 

Compensation expense associated with our stock-based compensation plans was $2.0 million ($1.3 million after tax) for the period ended January 25, 2008, compared to $2.3 million ($1.5 million after tax) for the period ended January 26, 2007.

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

JANUARY 25, 2008 – CONTINUED

 

NOTE 10: PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

 

The Company sponsors a number of defined benefit pension plans for certain hourly, salaried and non-U.S. employees. The benefits for most of these plans are generally based on stated amounts for each year of service. The Company funds the plans in amounts consistent with the limits of allowable tax deductions.

 

The net periodic benefit cost of the pension benefits is as follows:

 

 

The net periodic benefit cost of the post-retirement medical benefits is as follows:

 

 

NOTE 11: RECLASSIFICATION

 

Certain amounts in the 2007 financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2008 presentation.

 

NOTE 12: INCOME TAXES

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48), in June 2006. This statement clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (SFAS 109). FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and was adopted by the Company on October 27, 2007, the first day of fiscal year 2008.

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

JANUARY 25, 2008 – CONTINUED

 

As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $10.8 million, increasing its liability for unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties and reducing the October 27, 2007 balance of retained earnings.

 

At October 27, 2007, the Company had a $57.4 million liability recorded for gross unrecognized tax benefits. Of this total, $30.3 million represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.

 

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The Company had approximately $9.9 million accrued at October 27, 2007.

 

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and numerous state and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2002. The Company is currently under audit in several jurisdictions, including an examination of the U.S. federal tax returns for the fiscal years ended 2004 and 2005 by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). We expect the IRS examination to be completed during 2008. The Company also expects various statutes of limitation to expire during the year. Due to the uncertain response of taxing authorities, a range of outcomes cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

 

NOTE 13: RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (SFAS 157), in September 2006. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, FASB having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, this statement does not require any new fair value measurements.

 

In February 2008, FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FIN 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (FSP FIN 157-2) which delays the effective date for the implementation of SFAS 157 solely for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those non-financial items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (i.e., at least annually). The new effective date would be for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 or fiscal year 2010 for the Company. The Board indicated that the partial deferral would not be available to entities that have previously early adopted SFAS 157 in its entirety. Therefore, for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, all companies would be required to implement SFAS 157 for all financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value (whether on a recurring or non-recurring basis), as well as for any other assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS 157 on its financial statements.

 

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

JANUARY 25, 2008 – CONTINUED

 

FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (SFAS 158), in September 2006. SFAS 158 was adopted by the Company in 2007. SFAS 158 will further require the Company to measure the plans’ assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year (with limited exceptions). This will be required to be adopted for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008, which would be the fiscal year ending October 30, 2009 for the Company. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this further requirement of SFAS 158 on its financial statements.

 

In December 2007, FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (SFAS 141(R)), and SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an Amendment of ARB No. 51”, (SFAS 160) which change the accounting for and reporting of business combinations and non-controlling interests in consolidated financial statements. SFAS 141(R) and SFAS 160 are required to be adopted simultaneously and are effective for the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, which is fiscal year 2010 for the Company. Earlier adoption is prohibited. SFAS 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the date of adoption. SFAS 160 shall be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which shall be applied retrospectively for all periods presented.

 

ITEM 2:    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Overview: In the first quarter of fiscal 2008, sales increased compared to the prior year as a result of growth in our packaging, industrial and architectural product lines, favorable foreign currency exchange and acquisitions. Although the U.S. residential construction market remains weak, the Company’s international business continues to grow. Gross margins were down compared to last year as a result of higher raw material costs. The Company implemented price increases in January to offset these raw material costs increases. Operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, have decreased compared to the prior year due to expense controls and leverage from acquisition sales. The increase in debt from the end of fiscal year 2007 was driven by the acquisition of Aries Coil Coatings S.A. de C.V. (Aries) and share repurchases.

 

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ITEM 2:

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CONTINUED

 

Earnings Per Share: In the first quarter of 2008, the Company accrued $2.9 million for the Mandatorily Redeemable Stock related to the Huarun Paints acquisition (See Note 3 for further details). The accrual reduced basic and diluted income available to common shareholders by three cents per share in the first quarter of 2008 and five cents per share in the first quarter of 2007. The net income per share available to common shareholders was $0.21 for the period ended January 25, 2008 and $0.18 for the period ended January 26, 2007.

 

 

The above table includes a non-GAAP financial measure – “Adjusted net income per common share-diluted” – which excludes a non-cash accrual relating to mandatorily redeemable stock in connection with the Huarun Paints acquisition. Management discloses this measure because it believes this measure may assist investors in comparing the Company’s results of operations in the respective periods without regard to the effect on results in the 2007 and 2008 periods of the non-cash accrual relating to the Huarun acquisition.

 

When the Mandatorily Redeemable Stock is redeemed, the accruals for the redemption value will be reversed and acquisition accounting applied.

 

Critical Accounting Policies: Other than the adoption of FIN 48, there were no material changes in the Company’s critical accounting policies during the first quarter ended January 25, 2008.

 

Operations: Consolidated net sales increased 10.2% for the quarter to $765.1 million from $694.5 million in the prior year. Sales growth was 3.6% after excluding the positive effect of foreign currency of 4.2% and the positive effect of acquisitions of 2.4%.

 

Net sales for the Paints segment increased 4.1% to $228.7 million in the quarter compared to the prior year. Excluding the positive effect of foreign currency exchange, core sales growth in Paints was 1.7%. The increase in core sales was primarily driven by new home center store openings and new business from line extensions and product programs resulting from our branding initiatives. Net sales of the Coatings segment increased 14.3% to $471.4 million in the quarter compared to the prior year. The increase in sales was primarily due to favorable foreign currency exchange and the acquisitions of Teknos Nova Coil TNC Oy (TNC), H.B. Fuller’s powder coatings business and Aries. Before acquisitions and excluding the positive effect of foreign currency exchange, core sales growth in Coatings was 5.0%. Coatings core sales growth was driven by our packaging, general industrial and coil product lines, particularly outside the U.S. Due to the seasonal nature of portions of the Company’s business, sales for the first quarter are not necessarily indicative of sales for subsequent quarters or for the full year.

 

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ITEM 2:

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CONTINUED

 

In the first quarter of 2008, consolidated gross profit increased $11.4 million from the prior year to $210.5 million. As a percent of consolidated net sales, consolidated gross profit during the first quarter of 2008 decreased to 27.5% from 28.7%. The decrease in gross margins was largely attributable to raw material cost increases partially offset by higher selling prices.

 

Consolidated operating expenses (research and development, selling and administrative) increased 5.2% to $155.5 million (20.3% of consolidated net sales) in the quarter compared to $147.9 million (21.3% of consolidated net sales) in the first quarter of 2007. The dollar increase in operating expenses during the first quarter was due to increased sales volume and acquisitions. The decrease in operating expenses as a percent of sales for the quarter compared to last year was primarily driven by expense control and leverage from acquisition sales.

 

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased $3.6 million or 7.3% from the prior year first quarter. Foreign currency exchange fluctuation had an immaterial effect on EBIT. EBIT in the Paints segment decreased to $18.3 million from $19.6 million in the prior year. As a percent of net sales for the Paints segment, EBIT decreased to 8.0% from 8.9%. The dollar decrease in EBIT was mainly due to slower sales in our automotive refinish product line. In the first quarter of 2007, sales were strong in Europe due to increased solvent sales prior to the conversion to water-based automotive coatings. EBIT in the Coatings segment increased to $39.3 million from $34.6 million last year. As a percent of net sales for the Coatings segment, EBIT decreased to 8.3% from 8.4%. The decrease was primarily driven by higher raw material costs partially offset by increased selling prices to customers. EBIT in Other increased to a loss of $5.3 million from a loss of $5.4 million in the first quarter last year. As a percent of net sales for Other, EBIT increased to a loss of 8.1% from a loss of 8.7% last year. The increase was due to improved operating profit in the Other segment product lines. Due to the seasonal nature of portions of the Company’s business, EBIT for the first quarter is not necessarily indicative of EBIT for subsequent quarters or for the full year.

 

Interest expense increased to $15.7 million in the first quarter of 2008 from $14.7 million in the first quarter of 2007, primarily due to increased debt levels offset by slightly lower average interest rates.

 

The effective tax rate increased from 30.8% in the first quarter of 2007 to 34.5% in the first quarter of 2008. The 2007 period included a one-time tax benefit for a decrease in non-U.S. statutory income tax rates. The effective income tax rate in 2008 includes the effect of the implementation of FIN 48.

 

Net income in the first quarter of 2008 increased 1.8% to $24.0 million or $.21 per diluted share. As described under “Earnings Per Share” above, adjusted net income per common share was $0.24 for the period ended January 25, 2008, compared to $0.23 in the 2007 period.

 

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ITEM 2:

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CONTINUED

 

Financial Condition: The net cash used by operations was $1.3 million for the first three months of 2008, compared with net cash used by operations of $51.2 million for the first three months of 2007. The use of cash for operations was related to a net decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and an increase in inventories and other current assets offset by a decrease in accounts receivable. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities decreased $46.0 million due the timing of disbursements. Inventories and other current assets increased primarily due to seasonal working capital build and growth in international operations. Accounts receivable decreased $38.6 million due to the timing of customer payments.

 

During the 2008 period, $88.9 million in proceeds from bank borrowings and sale of treasury stock and $13.8 million in proceeds from the divestiture of a product line (See note 3) were used to fund seasonal working capital needs as well as $64.6 million in acquisitions, $16.7 million in treasury stock repurchases, $14.0 million in dividend payments and $8.6 million in capital expenditures.

 

Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment were $8.6 million in the first three months of 2008, compared with $12.4 million in the first three months of 2007. The Company anticipates capital spending in 2008 to be approximately $60 million.

 

The ratio of total debt to capital increased to 44.4% at the end of the first quarter of 2008 compared to 42.4% at the close of fiscal 2007. The total debt to capital ratio as of January 26, 2007 was 44.3%. Short term debt (notes payable plus current portion of long term debt) was $302.8 million at January 25, 2008. This debt included U.S. Commercial Paper as well as short term borrowings. The Company believes its cash flow from operations, existing lines of credit, access to credit facilities and access to debt and capital markets will be sufficient to meet its current and projected needs for financing.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Financing: The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

 

Forward Looking Statements: This discussion contains certain “forward-looking” statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, dependence of internal earnings growth on economic conditions and growth in the domestic and international coatings industry; risks related to any future acquisitions, including risks of adverse changes in the results of acquired businesses and the assumption of unforeseen liabilities; risks of disruptions in business resulting from the integration process and higher interest costs resulting from further borrowing for any such acquisitions; our reliance on the efforts of vendors, government agencies, utilities and other third parties to achieve adequate compliance and avoid disruption of our business; risks of disruptions in business resulting from the Company’s relationships with customers and suppliers; unusual weather conditions adversely affecting sales; changes in raw materials pricing and availability; delays in passing along cost increases to customers; changes in governmental regulation, including more stringent environmental, health and safety regulations; the nature, cost and outcome of pending and future litigation and other legal proceedings; the outbreak of war and other significant national and international events; and other risks and uncertainties. The foregoing list is not exhaustive, and the Company disclaims any obligation to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

 

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ITEM 3:    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Company’s foreign sales and results of operations are subject to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. The Company has not hedged its exposure to translation gains and losses; however, it has reduced its exposure by borrowing funds in local currencies. A 10% adverse change in foreign currency rates would not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

The Company is also subject to interest rate risk. At January 25, 2008, approximately 55% of the Company’s total debt consisted of floating rate debt. From time to time, the Company may enter into interest rate swaps to hedge a portion of either its variable or fixed rate debt. Assuming the current level of borrowings, a 10% increase in interest rates from those in effect at the end of the first quarter would increase the Company’s interest expense for the second quarter of 2008 by approximately $0.7 million.

 

ITEM 4:    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Disclosure controls and procedures are defined by Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act as controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation referenced above.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1:    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

During the period covered by this report, there were no legal proceedings instituted that are reportable, and there were no material developments in any of the legal proceedings that were previously reported on the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended October 26, 2007.

 

ITEM 2:    UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

 

 

ITEM 6:    EXHIBITS

 

Exhibits

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

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