UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-K/A
Amendment No. 1
(MARK ONE)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO
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Commission File Number 1-4462
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STEPAN COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 36-1823834
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
Edens and Winnetka Road, Northfield, Illinois 60093
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number including area code: 847-446-7500
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:
Name of Each Exchange
Title of Each Class on Which Registered
------------------- -----------------------
Common Stock, $1 par value New York Stock Exchange
Chicago Stock Exchange
5 1/2% Convertible Preferred Stock, no par value New York Stock Exchange
Chicago Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
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 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 (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, and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No[ ]
Aggregate market value at February 28, 2002, of voting stock held by
nonaffiliates of the registrant: $148,005,000*
Number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common
stock as of February 28, 2002:
Class Outstanding at February 28, 2002
----- --------------------------------
Common Stock, $1 par value 8,837,448
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Part of Form 10-K/A Document Incorporated
------------------- ---------------------
Part III, Items 10-12 Proxy Statement dated March 28, 2002
* Based on reported ownership by all directors, officers and beneficial
owners of more than 5% of registrant's voting stock. However, this determination
does not constitute an admission of affiliate status for any of these holders.
This amendment to Form 10-K is being filed to give effect to the restatement of
Stepan Company's financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2001,
2000 and 1999, as discussed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Item 8 of this Form 10-K/A).
PART I
Item 1. Business
Stepan Company and its subsidiaries (the "Company") produce specialty and
intermediate chemicals, which are sold to other manufacturers and then made into
a variety of end products. The Company has three reportable segments:
surfactants, polymers and specialty products. Surfactants refer to chemical
agents, which affect the interaction between two surfaces; they can provide
actions such as detergency (i.e., the ability of water to remove soil from
another surface), wetting and foaming, dispersing, emulsification (aiding two
dissimilar liquids to mix), demulsification and viscosity modifications.
Surfactants are the basic cleaning agent in detergents for washing clothes,
dishes, carpets, fine fabrics, floors and walls. Surfactants are also used for
the same purpose in shampoos and conditioners, toothpastes, cosmetics and other
personal care products. Commercial and industrial applications include
emulsifiers for agricultural products, emulsion polymers such as floor polishes
and latex foams and coatings, wetting and foaming agents for wallboard
manufacturing and surfactants for enhanced oil recovery. Polymers, which
included phthalic anhydride, polyols and polyurethane foam systems, are used in
plastics, building materials and refrigeration industries. Polymers are also
used in coating, adhesive, sealant and elastomer applications. Specialty
products sells chemicals used in food, flavoring and pharmaceutical
applications.
MARKETING AND COMPETITION
Principal markets for surfactants are manufacturers of detergents, shampoos,
lotions, toothpastes and cosmetics. In addition, surfactants are sold to the
producers of emulsifiers and lubricating products. The Company also is a
principal provider of polymers used in construction, refrigeration, automotive,
boating and other consumer product industries. Specialty products are used
primarily by food and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
The Company does not sell directly to the retail market, but sells to a
wide range of manufacturers in many industries and has many competitors. The
principal methods of competition are product performance, price and adaptability
to the specific needs of individual customers. These factors allow the Company
to compete on a basis other than price alone, reducing the severity of
competition as experienced in the sales of commodity chemicals having identical
performance characteristics. The Company is a leading merchant producer of
surfactants in the United States. In the case of surfactants, much of the
Company's competition comes from several large national and regional producers
and the internal divisions of larger companies. In the manufacture of polymers,
the Company competes with the chemical divisions of several large companies, as
well as with other small specialty chemical manufacturers. In recent years, the
Company has also faced periodic competition from foreign imports of phthalic
anhydride. In specialty products, the Company competes with several large firms
plus numerous small companies.
MAJOR CUSTOMER AND BACKLOG
The Company does not have any one single customer whose business represents more
than 10 percent of the Company's consolidated revenue. Most of the Company's
business is essentially on the "spot delivery basis" and does not involve a
significant backlog. The Company does have contract arrangements with certain
customers, but purchases are generally contingent on purchaser requirements.
ENERGY SOURCES
Substantially all of the Company's manufacturing plants operate on electricity
and interruptable gas purchased from local utilities. During peak heating demand
periods, gas service to all plants may be temporarily interrupted for varying
periods ranging from a few days to several months. The plants operate on fuel
oil during these periods of interruption. The Company has not experienced any
plant shutdowns or adverse effects upon its business in recent years that were
caused by a lack of available energy sources.
RAW MATERIALS
The most important raw materials used by the Company are of a petroleum or
vegetable nature. For 2002, the Company has commitments from suppliers to cover
its forecasted requirements and is not substantially dependent upon any one
supplier.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Company maintains an active research and development program to assist in
the discovery and commercialization of new knowledge with the intent that such
effort will be useful in developing a new product or in bringing about a
significant improvement to an existing product or process. Total expenses for
research and development during 2001, 2000 and 1999 were $13.7 million, $13.4
million, and $13.1 million, respectively. The balance of expenses reflected on
the Consolidated Statements of Income relates to technical services, which
include routine product testing, quality control and sales support service.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
Compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations regarding the
discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the
protection of the environment, resulted in capital expenditures by the Company
of approximately $1.1 million during 2001. Such capital expenditures in 2002
should approximate $1.5 to $2.0 million. These expenditures represented
approximately three percent of the Company's capital expenditures in 2001 and
are expected to be approximately five percent in 2002. These expenditures, when
incurred, are depreciated and charged on a straight-line basis to pre-tax
earnings over their estimated useful lives, which is typically 10 years.
Compliance with such regulations is not expected to have a material adverse
effect on the Company's earnings and competitive position in the foreseeable
future.
EMPLOYMENT
At December 31, 2001 and 2000, the Company employed worldwide 1,491 and 1,387
persons, respectively.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS
See Note 14, Segment Reporting, of the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8
of this Form 10-K/A).
SEGMENTS
See Note 14, Segment Reporting, of the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8
of this Form 10-K/A).
Item 2. Properties
The Company's corporate headquarters and central research laboratories are
located in Northfield, Illinois. The Northfield facilities contain approximately
70,000 square feet on an eight acre site. In addition, the Company leases 49,000
square feet of office space in a nearby office complex.
Stepan Canada maintains a leased sales office in Mississauga, Canada.
Stepan Mexico maintains a leased sales office in Mexico City, Mexico.
Surfactants are produced at four plants in the United States and six wholly
owned subsidiaries: one each in France, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Colombia
and Germany. The principal plant is located on a 626 acre site at Millsdale
(Joliet), Illinois. A second plant is located on a 39 acre tract in Fieldsboro,
New Jersey. West Coast operations are conducted on an eight acre site in
Anaheim, California. A fourth plant is located on a 175 acre site in Winder,
Georgia. The plant, laboratory and office of Stepan Europe are located on a 20
acre site near Grenoble, France. Stepan Canada, Inc. is located on a 70 acre
leased, with an option to purchase, site in Longford Mills, Ontario, Canada.
Stepan Mexico is located on a 13 acre site in Matamoros, Mexico. Stepan Germany
is located on a five acre site in Cologne, Germany. Stepan UK Limited is located
on a five acre site in Stalybridge (Manchester), United Kingdom. Stepan Colombia
is located on a five acre site in Manizales, Colombia. The phthalic anhydride,
polyurethane systems and polyurethane polyols plants are also located at
Millsdale. Specialty products are mainly produced at a plant located on a 19
acre site in Maywood, New Jersey.
The Company owns all of the foregoing facilities except the leased office
space and Canadian plant site mentioned above. The Company believes these
properties are adequate for its operations.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company's site in Maywood, New Jersey and property formerly owned by the
Company adjacent to its current site, were listed on the National Priorities
List in September 1993 pursuant to the provisions of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability
Act (CERCLA) because of certain alleged chemical contamination. Pursuant to an
Administrative Order on Consent entered into between the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Company for property formerly
owned by the Company, and the issuance of an order by USEPA to the Company for
property currently owned by the Company, the Company completed a Remedial
Investigation Feasibility Study (RI/FS) in 1994. The Company submitted the Draft
Final FS for Soil and Source Areas (Operable Unit 1) in September 2002. In
addition, the Company has also submitted additional information regarding the
remediation, most recently in October 2002. Discussions between USEPA and the
Company are continuing. The Company is awaiting the issuance of a Record of
Decision (ROD) from USEPA relating to the currently owned and formerly owned
Company property and the proposed remediation. The final ROD will be issued
sometime after the public comment period.
In 1985, the Company entered into a Cooperative Agreement with the United
States of America represented by the Department of Energy (Agreement). Pursuant
to this Agreement, the Department of Energy (DOE) took title to radiological
contaminated materials and was to remediate, at its expense, all radiological
waste on the Company's property in Maywood, New Jersey. The Maywood property
(and portions of the surrounding area) were remediated by the DOE under the
Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, a federal program under which
the U.S. Government undertook to remediate properties which were used to process
radiological material for the U.S. Government. In 1997, responsibility for this
clean-up was transferred to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
On January 29, 1999, the Company received a copy of a USACE Report to Congress
dated January 1998 in which the USACE expressed their intention to evaluate,
with the USEPA, whether the Company and/or other parties might be responsible
for cost recovery or contribution claims related to the Maywood site. Subsequent
to the issuance of that report, the USACE advised the Company that it had
requested legal advice from the Department of Justice as to the impact of the
Agreement.
By letter dated July 28, 2000, the Department of Justice advised the
Company that the USACE and USEPA had referred to the Justice Department claims
against the Company for response costs incurred or to be incurred by the USACE,
USEPA and the DOE in connection with the Maywood site and the Justice Department
stated that the United States is entitled to recovery of its response costs from
the Company under CERCLA. The letter referred to both radiological and
non-radiological hazardous waste at the Maywood site and stated that the United
States has incurred unreimbursed response costs to date of $138 million. Costs
associated with radiological waste at the Maywood site, which the Company
believes represent all but a small portion of the amount referred to in the
Justice Department letter, could be expected to aggregate substantially in
excess of that amount. In the letter, the Justice Department invited the Company
to discuss settlement of the matter in order to avoid the need for litigation.
The Company believes that its liability, if any, for such costs has been
resolved by the aforesaid Agreement. Despite the fact that the Company continues
to believe that it has no liability to the United States for such costs,
discussions with the Justice Department are currently ongoing to attempt to
resolve this matter.
The Company believes it has adequate reserves for claims associated with
the Maywood site. However, depending on the results of the ongoing discussions
regarding the Maywood site, the final cost of the remediation could differ from
the current estimates.
The Company has been named as a potentially responsible party (PRP) in the
case USEPA v. Jerome Lightman (92 CV 4710 D. N. J.) which involves the Ewan and
D'Imperio
Superfund Sites located in New Jersey. Trial on the issue of the Company's
liability at these sites was completed in March 2000. The Company is awaiting a
decision from the court. If the Company is found liable at either site, a second
trial as to the Company's allocated share of clean-up costs at these sites will
likely be held in 2003. The Company believes it has adequate defenses to the
issue of liability. In the event of an unfavorable outcome related to the issue
of liability, the Company believes it has adequate reserves. On a related
matter, the Company has filed an appeal to the United States Third Circuit Court
of Appeals objecting to the lodging of a partial consent decree in favor of the
United States Government in this action. Under the partial consent decree, the
government recovered past costs at the site from all PRPs including the Company.
The Company paid its assessed share but by objecting to the partial consent
decree, the Company is seeking to recover back the sums it paid.
Regarding the D'Imperio Superfund Site, USEPA has indicated it will seek
penalty claims against the Company based on the Company's alleged noncompliance
with the modified Unilateral Administrative Order. The Company is currently
negotiating with USEPA to settle its proposed penalty against the Company but
does not believe that a settlement, if any, will have a material impact on the
financial condition of the Company. In addition, the Company also received
notice from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) dated
March 21, 2001, that NJDEP has indicated it will pursue cost recovery against
the alleged responsible parties, including the Company. The NJDEP's claims
include costs related to remediation of the D'Imperio Superfund Site in the
amount of $434,406 and alleged natural resource damages in the amount of
$529,584 (as of November 3, 2000). The NJDEP settled such claims against the
alleged responsible parties, resulting in the Company paying its portion of
$83,061 in July 2002. This payment is subject to reallocation after the
allocation phase of the above-identified trial, if any. The payment did not have
a material impact on the financial condition of the Company.
The Company received a Section 104(e) Request for Information from USEPA
dated March 21, 2000, regarding the Lightman Drum Company Site located in
Winslow Township, New Jersey. The Company responded to this request on May 18,
2000. In addition, the Company received a Notice of Potential Liability and
Request to Perform RI/FS dated June 30, 2000, from USEPA. The Company has
decided that it will participate in the performance of the RI/FS. However, based
on the current information known regarding this site, the Company is unable to
predict what its liability, if any, will be for this site.
The Company received a General Notice of Potential Liability letter from
the USEPA dated October 18, 2002, regarding the Liquid Dynamics Site located in
Chicago, Illinois. The Company submitted a response to USEPA on November 5,
2002, stating that it is interested in negotiating a resolution of its potential
responsibility at this site. Based on the fact that the Company believes it is a
de minimis PRP at this site, the Company believes that a resolution of its
liability at this site will not have a material impact on the financial
condition of the Company.
As reported previously in the Company's Quarterly Report Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended September 30, 1994 and various subsequent reports, the Company
received a Request for Information from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection relating to the Company's formerly-owned
site at 51 Eames Street, Wilmington, Massachusetts. The Company received a copy
of another Request for Information regarding this site dated October 18, 2002.
The Company's response to this request is due on November 29, 2002. The
Company is currently investigating this matter and therefore, cannot predict
what its liability, if any, will be for this site.
Item 4. Results of Votes of Security Holders
No matters were submitted to stockholders during the fourth quarter of the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
Executive Officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors at the
first meeting following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to serve until the
next annual meeting of the Board and until their respective successors are duly
elected and qualified.
Effective February 15, 1999, F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., was elected President
and Chief Operating Officer. He was previously Vice President and General
Manager - Surfactants as of January 1, 1997, Vice President - Global Laundry and
Cleaning Products as of May 1996 and Director - Business Management as of May
1992.
F. Quinn Stepan, Sr., has served the Company as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer since 1984. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer
from 1973 until February 15, 1999.
Effective February 16, 1999, John V. Venegoni was elected Vice President
and General Manager - Surfactants. From May 1992 until May 1996, he served as a
Senior Business Manager - Consumer Products. From May 1996 until February 16,
1999, he served as Director - Global Personal Care.
Effective January 1, 2001, Robert J. Wood was elected Vice President and
General Manager - Polymers. From April 1988 until March 1996, he served as a
Business Manager - Polyols. From March 1996 until January 1, 2001, he served as
Director - Polyols.
Mickey Mirghanbari retired on June 30, 2001. Before the retirement, he
served as Vice President - Manufacturing and Engineering.
Earl H. Wagener retired on August 31, 2001. Before the retirement, he
served as Vice President - Research and Development.
Effective March 7, 2001, F. Samuel Eberts III was elected Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary. From 1992 until 1996, he served as an Assistant
General Counsel for Baxter International Inc. From 1996 until 1998, he served as
an Associate General Counsel for Allegiance Healthcare Corporation. From 1998
until 2001, he served as an Assistant General Counsel for Cardinal Health Inc.
Effective July 1, 2001, Anthony J. Zoglio was elected Vice President -
Manufacturing and Engineering. From 1991 until June 1, 1999, he served as
Millsdale Plant Manager. From June 1, 1999 to July 1, 2001, he served as Vice
President, Plant Operations.
Effective February 11, 2002, James E. Hurlbutt was elected Vice President
and Corporate Controller. From August 7, 1996 until February 11, 2002, he served
as Controller - International and Tax Accounting.
Walter J. Klein retired on April 30, 2002. Before the retirement, he served
as Vice President - Finance.
James A. Hartlage retired on July 31, 2002. Before the retirement, he
served as Senior Vice President - Technology and Operations.
All other executive officers have remained in their current capacity for
over five years.
The Executive Officers of the Company, their ages as of the filing of this
Form 10-K/A , and certain other information are as follows:
Year First
Name Age Title Elected Officer
---- --- ----- ---------------
F. Quinn Stepan 65 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 1967
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr. 42 President and Chief Operating Officer 1997
John V. Venegoni 43 Vice President and General Manager - Surfactants 1999
F. Samuel Eberts III 43 Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary 2001
Robert J. Wood 45 Vice President and General Manager - Polymers 2001
Anthony J. Zoglio 57 Vice President - Manufacturing and Engineering 2001
James E. Hurlbutt 49 Vice President and Corporate Controller 2002
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Security Holder Matters
(a) The Company's common stock is listed and traded on both the New York Stock
Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange. See table below for quarterly
market price information.
Quarterly Stock Data
Stock Price Range
---------------------------------
2001 2000
--------------- ---------------
Quarter High Low High Low
------- ------ ------ ------ ------
First $24.75 $22.35 $23.19 $19.88
Second $26.20 $23.10 $23.25 $20.94
Third $26.38 $17.98 $25.00 $19.63
Fourth $24.40 $17.80 $24.00 $18.50
Year $26.38 $17.80 $25.00 $18.50
------ ------ ------ ------
The Company's 5 1/2 percent convertible preferred stock is listed and
traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange. See Note 8
of the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8 of this Form 10-K/A) for the
description of the preferred stockholders' rights.
From time to time the Company purchases shares of its common stock in the
open market and in block transactions from dealers for the purpose of funding
option grants under its stock option plans and deferred compensation plans for
directors and officers.
(b) On February 28, 2002, there were 1,231 holders of common stock of the
Company.
(c) See table below for quarterly dividend information. Also, see Note 5 of the
Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8 of this Form 10-K/A), which sets
forth the restrictive covenants covering dividends.
Dividends Paid Per Common Share
Quarter 2001 2000
------- ----------- -----------
First 17.50(cent) 16.25(cent)
Second 17.50(cent) 16.25(cent)
Third 17.50(cent) 16.25(cent)
Fourth 18.25(cent) 17.50(cent)
----------- -----------
Year 70.75(cent) 66.25(cent)
----------- -----------
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
See the table below for selected financial information. The data have been
restated, where appropriate, to reflect the correction of an accounting error
discussed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8 of this
Form 10-K/A).
(In thousands, except per share and employee data)
For the Year 2001/(d)/ 2000/(d)/ 1999/(d)/ 1998/(d)/ 1997
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------
Net Sales $711,517 $698,937 $694,659 $635,756 $605,574
Operating Income 30,832 31,358 42,022 45,088 44,370
Percent of net sales 4.3% 4.5% 6.0% 7.1% 7.3%
Pre-tax Income 25,798 24,475 35,768 39,090 34,874
Percent of net sales 3.6% 3.5% 5.1% 6.1% 5.8%
Provision for Income Taxes 9,726 9,423 13,043 15,440 14,464
Net Income 16,072 15,052 22,725 23,650 20,410
Per share (Diluted) /(a)/ 1.65 1.53 2.21 2.21 1.86
Percent of net sales 2.3% 2.2% 3.3% 3.7% 3.4%
Percent to stockholders' equity /(b)/ 10.8% 10.0% 15.8% 17.2% 15.5%
Cash Dividends Paid 7,056 6,730 6,505 5,430 6,069
Per common share 0.7075 0.6625 0.6125 0.5625 0.5125
Depreciation and Amortization 39,972 39,277 39,452 37,347 35,281
Capital Expenditures 34,014 28,442 32,697 44,056 35,589
Weighted-average Common
Shares Outstanding 8,837 8,948 9,232 9,499 9,831
As of Year End
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Working Capital $ 72,628 $ 68,008 $ 66,331 $ 59,774 $ 63,789
Current Ratio 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8
Property, Plant and Equipment, net 211,433 198,147 208,481 214,096 206,601
Total Assets 438,755 417,592 418,762 408,919 374,936
Long-term Debt, less current maturities 109,588 96,466 107,420 107,708 94,898
Stockholders' Equity 154,351 149,059 150,906 143,631 137,598
Per share /(c)/ 16.27 15.69 15.35 14.23 13.01
Number of Employees 1,491 1,387 1,365 1,372 1,292
/(a)/ Based on weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the
year.
/(b)/ Based on equity at beginning of year.
/(c)/ Based on common shares and the assumed conversion of the convertible
preferred shares outstanding at year end.
/(d)/ Restated; see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for
explanation of restatement.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about
Market Risk
As discussed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8 of this
Form 10-K/A), the Company has restated its financial statements for the years
ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999. The accompanying Management's Discussion
and Analysis gives effect to the restatement.
Some information contained in the Management's Discussion and Analysis is
forward looking and involves risks and uncertainties. The results achieved this
year are not necessarily an indication of future prospects for the Company.
Actual results in future years may differ materially. Potential risks and
uncertainties include, among others, fluctuations in the volume and timing of
product orders, changes in demand for the Company's products, changes in
technology, continued competitive pressures in the marketplace, availability of
raw materials, foreign currency fluctuations and general economic conditions.
Critical Accounting Policies
Estimates
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America ("generally accepted
accounting principles"). Preparing our financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Critical areas where estimates are required are noted below:
Environmental Liabilities:
It is the Company's accounting policy to record environmental liabilities when
environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and the cost or
range of possible costs can be reasonably estimated. When no amount within the
range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum is accrued. Some
of the factors on which the Company bases its estimates include information
provided by feasibility studies, potentially responsible party negotiations and
the development of remedial action plans.
Reserves for Doubtful Accounts:
Accounts receivable are reported net of reserves for doubtful accounts. The
Company determines the reserve requirement based upon the estimated
collectibility of specific delinquent accounts, the Company's historical loss
experience and the level of non-delinquent accounts receivable.
Reserves for Obsolete and Slow Moving Inventories:
The Company provides reserves for obsolete and slow moving inventory items. The
reserve requirement is estimated based upon a review of specific inventory items
that are identified as slow moving and consideration of potential salvage value
and disposal costs.
Because the foregoing liabilities and reserves are recorded based on estimates,
actual amounts could differ from these estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized upon shipment of goods to customers. The Company records
shipping and handling billed to a customer in a sales transaction as revenue.
Costs incurred for shipping and handling are recorded in cost of sales. Volume
discounts due customers are recognized as earned and reported as reductions of
revenue in the statement of income.
Deferred Compensation
The Company maintains deferred compensation plans. These plans allow management
to defer receipt of their bonuses and directors to defer receipt of director
fees until retirement or departure from the Company. The plans allow the
participant to choose to invest in either Stepan common stock or a limited
variety of mutual funds. These assets are owned by the Company and subject to
the claims of general creditors of the Company. These plans are accounted for
under the requirements of the consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task
Force ("EITF") of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") in issue No.
97-14, "Accounting for Deferred Compensation Arrangements Where Amounts Earned
are Held in a Rabbi Trust and Invested". A description of the Company's deferred
compensation accounting policy follows:
The deferred compensation liability to the participants who elect deferral is
recorded after the underlying compensation is earned, and recorded as expense.
The purchase of Stepan common shares for the plans is recorded as a regular
treasury stock purchase. The purchase of mutual funds is recorded as long term
investments.
Fluctuations in the value of these assets are recorded as adjustments for
the deferred compensation liability and compensation costs included in
administrative expense. The dividends, interest and capital gains from the
mutual fund assets are recorded as investment income and included in "Other
Income" as interest expense, net of investment income. Unrealized gains and
losses resulting from market fluctuations of the mutual funds are recorded as
other comprehensive income or expense in stockholders' equity.
Results of Operations
2001 Compared with 2000
Net sales for 2001 increased two percent from $698.9 million in 2000 to $711.5
million in 2001. Net sales by segment were as follows:
Percent
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000 Change
-------- -------- -------
Surfactants $558,927 $537,006 +4
Polymers 127,722 140,786 -9
Specialty Products 24,868 21,145 +18
-------- --------
Total $711,517 $698,937 +2
======== ========
Surfactants are a principal ingredient in consumer and industrial cleaning
products such as detergents, shampoos, lotions, toothpastes and cosmetics. Other
applications include lubricating ingredients and emulsifiers for agricultural
products, and plastics and composites.
Surfactants net sales, representing 79 percent of the Company's revenue,
increased $21.9 million, or four percent, due to a four percent rise in sales
volume. Foreign operations accounted for the overall improvement, reporting a
$32.5 million, or 27 percent, rise in net sales due to a 28 percent increase in
sales volume. Approximately $14.7 million of the foreign improvement was
attributable to the fourth quarter acquisition of Stepan UK Limited (formerly
Manro Performance Chemicals) located in Stalybridge, UK. In addition, all other
foreign subsidiaries reported increased net sales, primarily due to higher sales
volumes. European operations, excluding the United Kingdom, posted a net
increase of $8.6 million. Net sales for South American operations grew $4.5
million, while net sales for Mexico and Canada increased $2.6 million and $2.1
million, respectively. Domestic operations, which accounted for 73 percent of
total surfactant revenues, reported a $10.6 million, or three percent, decline
in net sales from $417.2 million in 2000 to $406.6 million in 2001. The decrease
was due to a one percent drop in sales volume and a one percent decline in
average selling prices. Lower demand for laundry and cleaning products and
increased market competition led to the decline. The economic slowdown adversely
impacted sales volume of higher margin industrial surfactants.
The polymers product group includes phthalic anhydride (PA), polyurethane
systems and polyurethane polyols. PA is used in polyester alkyd resins and
plasticizers for applications in construction materials and components of
automotive, boating and other consumer products. Polyurethane systems provide
thermal insulation and are sold to the construction, industrial and appliance
markets. Polyurethane polyols are used in the manufacture of laminate board for
the construction industry. Polyurethane polyols are also sold to the appliance,
coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers markets.
Polymer net sales, accounting for 18 percent of the Company's revenue,
decreased $13.1 million, or nine percent, from $140.8 million in 2000 to $127.7
million in 2001. The decline was due to a 13 percent drop in sales volume,
driven primarily by a slowdown in the U.S. economy. PA's net sales decreased 21
percent to $32.8 million for 2001 from $41.4 million in 2000. A 24 percent
decline in sales volume accounted for the decrease. Polyurethane systems net
sales fell 15
percent to $19.4 million for 2001 from $22.7 million in 2000. A drop in sales
volume accounted for the decline and more than offset an increase in average
selling prices. Globally, polyurethane polyols net sales decreased $1.2 million,
or one percent, between years from $76.7 million in 2000 to $75.5 million in
2001. Domestic net sales fell less than one percent due to a five percent
decrease in sales volume, partially offset by an increase in average selling
prices. European operations reported a decline in revenue due to an 11 percent
drop in average selling prices, which offset a two percent gain in sales volume.
Continued market pressures led to the average selling price drop.
Specialty products include flavors, emulsifiers and solubilizers used in
the food and pharmaceutical industries. Net sales for the year were $24.9
million, a rise of $3.7 million, or 18 percent, over 2000. Higher average
selling prices coupled with a slightly higher sales volume led to the growth in
revenue.
Gross profit decreased to $107.2 million in 2001 from $112.0 million in
2000. Surfactants gross profit was down $4.8 million, or six percent, from $79.3
million in 2000 to $74.5 million in 2001. Domestic operations reported an $8.9
million decline in gross profit due primarily to a drop in average margins.
Lower sales volume also contributed. The decrease in average margins was mainly
due to weaker sales mix and higher energy costs. Higher margin industrial
surfactants sales volume declined as the economy slowed down through the final
quarter of 2001. Gross profit for foreign surfactants increased $4.1 million, or
29 percent, from year-to-year. A 28 percent improvement in sales volume caused
the increase in gross profit. The newly acquired United Kingdom subsidiary
contributed $1.9 million of the foreign increase. European operations, excluding
United Kingdom, and South American operations contributed $1.0 million and $0.7
million, respectively, of the gross profit gain. Polymers gross profit declined
$4.1 million, or 15 percent, from $27.9 million in 2000 to $23.8 million in
2001. Gross profit for PA declined 50 percent to $3.2 million in 2001 from $6.4
million in 2000. Lower sales volume and lower average margins accounted for the
drop. Higher unit overhead costs resulting from decreased production volume
coupled with some price reductions resulting from competitive situations led to
the declined average margins. Global polyurethane polyols gross profit fell $0.3
million, or two percent, between years. Domestic operations reported an increase
of $0.2 million, or one percent, in gross profit due to improved average margins
that more than offset lower sales volume. Foreign operations gross profit fell
$0.6 million on reduced average margins that more than offset higher sales
volume. Polyurethane systems gross profit declined eight percent on lower sales
volume. Improved average margins due to an average selling price increase and
favorable sales mix partially offset the impact of lower sales volume. Specialty
products reported an increase of $4.1 million in gross profit from year-to-year.
The improvement was due to higher sales volume of higher margin products.
Operating income was $30.8 million, a $0.5 million, or two percent,
decrease in comparison with 2000. Operating expenses, consisting of marketing,
administrative and research and development expenses, decreased five percent
between years. Administrative expenses declined $4.2 million, or 13 percent,
from those reported in the prior year. A $7.5 million decline in legal and
environmental expense, partially offset by $4.7 million of 2001 expense for the
implementation of an enterprise resource planning system, accounted for most of
the decrease between years. The drop in legal and environmental expense was
primarily due to $6.1 million of prior year expense related to the Company's
Maywood, New Jersey, site that was non-recurring in 2001. In addition, current
year expense was reduced by insurance recoveries received of $2.0 million,
somewhat offset
by a $0.5 million year-to-year increase in general legal expenses. Marketing
expenses declined one percent between years and research and development
expenses remained almost unchanged.
Interest expenses declined nine percent from year-to-year due to lower
overall borrowing rates coupled with lower average debt levels, partially offset
by decreased investment income.
Philippine joint venture equity income rose $1.2 million between years. The
improvement was largely due to reduced foreign exchange losses resulting from a
devaluation of the Philippine peso in 2000.
Pretax income increased $1.3 million, or five percent, to $25.8 million in
2001 from $24.5 million in 2000.
The effective tax rate was 37.7 percent in 2001 compared to 38.5 percent in
2000. The lower effective tax rate was primarily attributable to Philippine tax
benefits realized during 2001 (see Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated
Financial Statements for a reconciliation of the statutory rate to the effective
tax rate).
Net income for the year was $16.1 million, or $1.65 per share diluted,
compared with $15.1 million, or $1.53 per share diluted, a year ago. The
acquisition of Stepan UK Limited added $0.4 million to net income, or $0.04 per
share diluted.
2000 Compared with 1999
Net sales for 2000 increased one percent from $694.7 million in 1999 to $698.9
million in 2000 (1999 data has been reclassified to conform to 2000
presentation). The increase was due to a three percent rise in sales volume. Net
sales by segment were as follows:
Percent
(Dollars in thousands) 2000 1999 Change
-------- -------- -------
Surfactants $537,006 $547,359 -2
Polymers 140,786 126,774 +11
Specialty Products 21,145 20,526 +3
-------- --------
Total $698,937 $694,659 +1
======== ========
Surfactants net sales, representing 77 percent of the Company's revenue,
decreased $10.4 million, or two percent, from $547.4 million in 1999 to $537.0
million in 2000. Foreign operations' net sales decreased $13.2 million, or 10
percent, from $133.0 million in 1999 to $119.8 million in 2000, which accounted
for the overall net sales decline. The decrease was mainly due to a decline in
revenue reported by the Company's Mexican and European subsidiaries. Mexican
operations reported lower revenue due to decreased sales volume. Despite a
volume gain between years, European operations' net sales decreased. Weaker
selling prices and lower European currency exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar
contributed to the overall decline. Domestic sales increased $2.8 million, or
one percent, from $414.4 million in 1999 to $417.2 million in 2000. A six
percent rise in sales volume offset a five percent drop in average selling
prices. Average selling prices declined largely due to sales mix, increased
market competition and the non-recurring favorable impact in 1999 of the
settlement of a contract cancellation. Sales volume grew six percent due to
higher demand for the Company's laundry and cleaning products and rising export
sales to Asia.
Polymer net sales, accounting for 20 percent of the Company's revenue,
increased 11 percent, from $126.8 million in 1999 to $140.8 million in 2000. The
increase was due to a five percent rise in sales volume coupled with increased
average selling prices. Globally, polyurethane polyols' net sales rose $6.7
million, or ten percent, from $70.0 million in 1999 to $76.7 million in 2000.
The increase was entirely due to a nine percent rise in sales volume. Both
domestic and foreign operations sales increased between years. PA's net sales
increased 14 percent from $36.3 million in 1999 to $41.4 million in 2000. The
improvement was entirely due to a 14 percent rise in average selling prices
resulting from increased raw material costs, which were passed on to customers.
Sales volume was flat between years. Polyurethane systems reported a $2.2
million, or 11 percent, increase in net sales. A nine percent rise in sales
volume coupled with a two percent increase in average selling prices caused an
overall improvement.
Specialty products net sales for the year 2000 were $21.1 million, a rise
of $0.6 million, or three percent over 1999. Higher average selling prices led
to the growth.
Gross profit decreased to $112.0 million in 2000 from $120.9 million in
1999. Surfactants gross profit was down $8.3 million, or nine percent, from
$87.6 million in 1999 to $79.3 million in 2000. Domestic operations reported a
$6.6 million, or nine percent, decrease due to lower average margins.
Termination of the previously mentioned supply contract coupled with lower
pricing in the higher volume product lines led to the margin decline. Gross
profit for foreign operations decreased $1.7 million, or 11 percent, between
years. Decreased sales volume for Mexican operations coupled with lower margins
reported by the Company's French subsidiary led to the overall decline. Weaker
exchange rates in Europe and strong competition contributed to the decrease.
Polymers' gross profit increased slightly between years to $27.9 million in 2000
from $27.8 million in 1999. Lower margins offset the impact of increased sales
volume. Globally, polyurethane polyols gross profit was down $2.6 million, or 12
percent, between years. Decreased domestic and European margins, due to higher
raw material costs, caused the drop in gross profit. PA's gross profit was up
$1.9 million, or 42 percent, between years, despite a $0.9 million write-off of
damaged catalyst. Improved margins accounted for the increase. A rise in margins
and sales volume also led to a $0.7 million, or 17 percent, increase in
polyurethane systems gross profit. Specialty products gross profit decreased by
$0.7 million, or 13 percent, between years mainly due to lower sales of higher
margin products.
Operating income was $31.4 million in 2000, a $10.7 million, or 25 percent,
decrease from 1999. Operating expenses, consisting of marketing, administrative
and research and development expenses, increased two percent between years.
Marketing expenses rose $1.4 million, or six percent, primarily due to increased
bad debt provision. Administrative expenses increased $0.3 million, or one
percent, despite unusually high 1999 expenses that resulted from a $10.2 million
legal settlement charge. Administrative expenses for 2000 included $6.1 million
of legal and environmental-related charges, most of which related to potential
future remediation costs at the Company's Maywood, New Jersey, plant. General
legal expense was up $1.4 million, and expense related to the Company's deferred
compensation plans was up $0.9 million between years.
Philippine joint venture equity income fell $0.7 million, or 51 percent,
between years. An $0.8 million unfavorable swing in foreign currency exchange
losses, due to a weaker Philippine peso, caused the decline. The impact from
foreign exchange fluctuations excluding the joint venture was immaterial to the
results of the Company's operations.
Pretax income declined $11.3 million, or 32 percent, to $24.5 million in
2000 from $35.8 million in 1999.
The effective tax rate was 38.5 percent in 2000 compared to 36.5 percent in
1999. The higher effective tax rate was primarily attributable to the inability
to tax benefit losses in Germany and Mexico. A lower tax benefit realized on
Philippine income during 2000 also contributed to the higher effective tax rate
(see Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a
reconciliation of the statutory rate to the effective tax rate).
Net income for the year 2000 was $15.1 million, or $1.53 per share diluted,
compared with $22.7 million, or $2.21 per share diluted, for 1999.
Fourth Quarter 2001 Compared with 2000
For the quarter ended December 31, 2001, the Company reported net income of $0.1
million, or a $0.01 loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $2.8
million, or a $0.34 loss per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2000. The
newly acquired United Kingdom subsidiary contributed $0.4 million of 2001 fourth
quarter net income, or $0.04 per diluted share. Net sales for the quarter grew
five percent to $178.1 million from $169.4 million a year ago. Net sales for
surfactants increased $12.6 million (10 percent), due to the acquisition of the
United Kingdom subsidiary and to increased foreign sales volume. Domestic
revenues and volumes declined between quarters. Polymer sales fell $3.9 million
(12 percent) on a seven percent decline in sales volumes. Gross profit of $25.1
million was down slightly from the $25.2 million reported in the fourth quarter
of 2000. Surfactants gross profit increased $1.2 million, or seven percent, due
to a $3.2 million increase recorded by foreign operations. The acquisition of
the United Kingdom subsidiary contributed $1.9 million of the increased gross
profit. Gross profit for polymers declined $1.9 million, or 25 percent, between
quarters due to reduced sales volume coupled with lower margins. All polymer
businesses reported decreased quarterly earnings. Gross profit for specialty
products was up $0.6 million between quarters. Higher sales volume of higher
margin products led to the growth. Operating expenses declined $3.6 million, or
13 percent, in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2000. Administrative
expenses dropped $2.9 million, or 19 percent, between quarters. Legal and
environmental expense decreased $6.4 million from quarter to quarter due to $6.1
million of prior year Maywood-related charges that did not recur in the fourth
quarter of 2001. Most of these changes were related to potential future
remediation costs at the Company's Maywood, New Jersey plant. Non-recurring
fourth quarter 2000 acquisition investigation expenses of $0.6 million also
contributed to the decline. The decline was partially offset by $2.7 million in
expense incurred in 2001 related to the implementation of an enterprise resource
planning system, $0.8 million in expenses incurred by the new United Kingdom
subsidiary and a $1.6 million increase in expense related to the Company's
deferred compensation plans. Marketing expenses decreased $0.7 million, or 10
percent, between quarters due mostly to a $1.2 million decrease in domestic bad
debt expense resulting from improved collectibility estimates for certain
accounts receivable. The decline was somewhat offset by $0.3 million in
marketing expense reported by the United Kingdom. Research and development
expenses were flat between quarters. Philippine joint venture equity income
increased $0.5 million between quarters. Foreign currency exchange losses in
2000 resulting from a weaker Philippine peso accounted for most of the
improvement.
Interest expenses declined 10 percent between quarters. The decrease was
due to lower overall borrowing rates, partially offset by an increased level of
debt and lower investment income.
Liquidity and Financial Condition
Net cash from operations for 2001 totaled $53.4 million compared to $54.6
million for the prior year. Working capital required the use of $0.6 million for
the current year, compared to a cash use of $0.7 million during 2000. From year
to year accounts receivable decreased by $6.1 million and were partially offset
by a $5.4 million decrease in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities.
Inventories increased by $0.2 million during 2001 while other working capital
items, mainly prepaid expenses, absorbed $1.0 million.
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, totaled $34.0 million for the
current year compared to $28.4 million during 2000. Current year capital
spending included $6.6 million for an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system,
which is expected to be completed in 2002. It is anticipated that total 2002
capital spending will rise modestly over 2001 levels, due mostly to higher
non-ERP spending.
During September 2001 the Company completed the acquisition of Manro
Performance Chemicals Limited, located in Stalybridge, UK. This acquisition was
made for cash totaling $24.6 million and was initially funded through the
Company's committed lines of credit. During March, 2002, the Company's Stepan
Europe subsidiary completed a (euro)13.4 million term loan as long-term
financing for a portion of the Manro acquisition.
Consolidated debt increased by $14.3 million during 2001 to $120.3 million
mainly in order to fund the Manro Performance Chemicals Limited acquisition. As
of December 31, 2001, the ratio of long-term debt to long-term debt plus
stockholders' equity was 41.5 percent compared to 39.3 percent one year earlier.
The Company maintains contractual relationships with its domestic banks
that provide for revolving credit of up to $60 million, which may be drawn upon,
through May 2, 2007, as needed for general corporate purposes under a revolving
credit agreement dated May 3, 2002. The Company also meets short-term liquidity
requirements through uncommitted domestic bank lines of credit.
During September 2002, the Company completed a new $30 million private
placement loan with its existing insurance company lenders. The proceeds of the
loan were used to repay existing bank debt that had been classified as
long-term. The new loan is unsecured and will bear interest at 6.86 percent
through the stated maturity date of September 1, 2015.
The Company's foreign subsidiaries maintain committed and uncommitted bank
lines of credit in their respective countries to meet working capital
requirements as well as to fund capital expenditure programs and acquisitions.
During March 2002, the Company's Stepan Europe subsidiary completed an $11.7
million (denominated in euros) bank term loan as long-term financing for a
portion of the Manro acquisition. This loan will mature in 7 years and bears
interest at rates set quarterly, based on 90-day EURIBOR. The U.S. parent
company does not guaranty this loan.
The Company anticipates that cash from operations and from committed credit
facilities will be sufficient to fund anticipated capital expenditures,
dividends and other planned financial commitments for the foreseeable future.
Any substantial acquisitions would require additional funding.
The 50 percent owned Philippine joint venture, which is accounted for under
the equity method, has $5.1 million of debt, which is not consolidated with or
guaranteed by the Company.
Market Risk Analysis
FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RISK
Because the Company operates in the global marketplace, its cash flows and
operating results are exposed to foreign currency fluctuations. The Company
manufactures and sells products in many foreign locations and, therefore,
believes its currency exchange risk is well diversified. Except as noted below,
substantially all the Company's foreign subsidiaries' financial instruments are
denominated in their respective functional currencies. As such, exposure to
exchange rate risk on foreign currency financial instruments is insignificant.
In addition, the foreign subsidiaries periodically use short-term forward
exchange contracts to limit the exposure of certain foreign currency
transactions and balances to fluctuating exchange rates. At December 31, 2001,
the balance of such contracts was not significant.
The Company's 50 percent owned Philippine joint venture has U.S.
dollar-denominated debt with the potential for future foreign exchange gains or
losses. A 10 percent change in this exchange rate would not have a material
effect on the Company's operating results or cash flow.
INTEREST RATES
The Company's debt was composed of fixed-rate and variable-rate borrowings
totaling $83.3 million and $37.0 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2001.
For 2002, it is projected that interest on variable-rate borrowings will
comprise about 27 percent of the Company's total interest expense. A 10 percent
increase or decrease to short-term interest rates would be immaterial to the
Company's operating results or cash flow.
The fair value of the Company's fixed-rate debt, including current
maturities, was estimated to be $87.1 million as of December 31, 2001, which was
approximately $3.8 million above the carrying value. Market risk was estimated
as the potential increase to the fair value that would result from a
hypothetical 10 percent decrease in the Company's weighted average long-term
borrowing rates at December 31, 2001, or $2.0 million. Such a rate decrease
would be immaterial to future operating results or cash flow.
COMMODITY PRICE RISK
Certain raw materials used in the manufacture of the Company's products are
subject to price volatility caused by weather, petroleum prices and other
unpredictable factors. In many cases, the Company has the ability to pass on raw
material price increases to customers. Therefore, commodity financial
instruments are generally not used for raw material purchases. Periodically,
firm purchase commitments are entered into which fix the price of a specific
commodity that will be delivered at a future time. Such commitments usually
cover only a portion of the Company's anticipated requirements. Commodity future
and forward contracts are used to a limited extent, most often to aid in
managing the Company's utility costs. As of December 31, 2001, unrealized gains
and losses related to such contracts were not material. A hypothetical 10
percent fluctuation in the price of commodities covered by firm commitments and
forward contracts would have an immaterial effect on the Company's financial
position, results of operations and cash flow.
Environmental and Legal Matters
The Company is subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws
and regulations. Although the Company's environmental policies and practices are
designed to ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, future
developments and increasingly stringent environmental regulation could require
the Company to make additional unforeseen environmental expenditures. The
Company will continue to invest in the equipment and facilities necessary to
comply with existing and future regulations. During 2001, the Company's
expenditures for capital projects related to the environment were $1.1 million.
These projects are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful
lives, which is typically 10 years. Recurring costs associated with the
operation and maintenance of facilities for waste treatment and disposal and
managing environmental compliance in ongoing operations at our manufacturing
locations were approximately $7.9 million for 2001 and 2000. While difficult to
project, it is not anticipated that these recurring expenses will increase
significantly in the future.
The Company has been named by the government as a potentially responsible
party at 16 waste disposal sites where cleanup costs have been or may be
incurred under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
and Liability Act and similar state statutes. In addition, damages are being
claimed against the Company in general liability actions for alleged personal
injury or property damage in the case of some disposal and plant sites. The
Company believes that it has made adequate provisions for the costs it may incur
with respect to the sites. It is the Company's accounting policy to record
liabilities when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable
and the cost or range of possible costs can be reasonably estimated. When no
amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum
is accrued. Some of the factors on which the Company basis its estimates include
information provided by feasibility studies, potentially responsible party
negotiations and the development of remedial action plans. Because reported
liabilities are recorded based on estimates, actual amounts could differ from
those estimates. After partial remediation payments at certain sites, the
Company has estimated a range of possible environmental and legal losses from
$7.4 million to $35.0 million at December 31, 2001, compared to $7.5 million to
$35.0 million at December 31, 2000. At December 31, 2001, the Company's reserve
was $17.0 million for legal and environmental matters compared to $16.6 million
at December 31, 2000. During 2001, non-capital expenditures related to legal and
environmental matters approximated $2.6 million compared to $2.5 million, net of
insurance recoveries, expended in 2000. While it is difficult to forecast the
timing of the expenditures, the Company believes that $3.0 million of the $17.0
million reserve is likely to be paid out in 2002. As of the date of this filing,
$2.3 million has been paid out. The timing of future payments is uncertain.
For certain sites, estimates cannot be made of the total costs of
compliance or the Company's share of such costs; accordingly, the Company is
unable to predict the effect thereof on future results of operations. In the
event of one or more adverse determinations in any annual or interim period, the
impact on results of operations for those periods could be material. However,
based upon the Company's present belief as to its relative involvement at these
sites, other viable entities' responsibilities for cleanup and the extended
period over which any costs would be incurred, the Company believes that these
matters will not have a material effect on the Company's financial position.
Certain of these matters are discussed in Item 3, Legal Proceedings, in the 2001
Form 10-K/A and in other filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,
which are available upon request from the Company. See also Note 13,
Contingencies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary
of the environmental proceedings related to certain environmental sites.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2001, the EITF released Issue No. 00-25, "Vendor Income Statement
Characterization of Consideration Paid to a Reseller of the Vendor's Products."
Issue No. 00-25 provides guidance regarding the reporting of consideration given
by a vendor to a reseller of the vendor's products. This issue requires certain
considerations from vendor to a reseller of the vendor's products be viewed: (a)
as a reduction of the selling prices of the vendor's products and, therefore, be
recorded as a reduction of revenue when recognized in the vendor's income
statement, or (b) as a cost incurred by the vendor for assets or services
received from the reseller and, therefore, be recorded as a cost or an expense
when recognized in the vendor's income statement. Issue No. 00-25 is effective
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. The Company's accounting
policies are currently consistent with the guidance provided in this issue.
Therefore, the adoption of Issue No.00-25 is not expected to have an impact on
the Company's financial position or results of operations.
In June 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
("SFAS") No. 141, "Business Combinations" and SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets," effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2001, for acquisitions entered into prior to June 30, 2001, and effective
immediately for acquisitions entered into after June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 141
requires the use of the purchase method of accounting for all transactions
initiated after June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 142 addresses financial accounting and
reporting for goodwill and other intangible assets subsequent to their
acquisition. The new standard establishes that goodwill is no longer to be
amortized. Instead, goodwill will be tested for impairment by applying a
fair-value-based test each year, and more frequently, if circumstances indicate
a possible impairment. If the carrying amount exceeds the implied fair value of
that goodwill, an impairment loss shall be recognized. Equity-method goodwill is
not, however, subject to the new impairment rules; the impairment guidance in
existing rules for equity-method investments continues to apply. The standard
also establishes new accounting guidelines for intangible assets that are
determined to have an indefinite useful life. These assets are no longer subject
to amortization, but shall be tested for impairment annually or more frequently
if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.
If the carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds the fair value, an
impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Any
impairment as a result of initial adoption of SFAS No. 142 will be recorded as a
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles. The Company has applied
the provisions of SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142 to the September 13, 2001,
acquisition of Manro Performance Chemicals in Stalybridge, UK (see Note 3,
Acquisitions, in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The provisions of
SFAS No. 142 that apply to acquisitions made prior to June 30, 2001, were
adopted on January 1, 2002. As a result the Company stopped recognizing
approximately $0.6 million of goodwill amortization expense in 2002. The Company
has also completed the impairment test of goodwill and intangible assets.
Results of this test indicated no impairment at January 1, 2002.
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations". SFAS No. 143, which is effective for fiscal years
beginning after June 15, 2002, supersedes previous guidance for financial
accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of
tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. The
statement applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of
long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development
and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset. The Company is evaluating the
effect of this standard on its financial statements.
In August 2001, SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment of Disposal of
Long-Lived Assets," was issued. This statement addresses financial accounting
and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets and supersedes
SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for
Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of." SFAS No. 144 was effective January 1,
2002. Adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact on the
Company's financial position or results of operations.
In June 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 146,
"Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities." The standard
requires companies to recognize costs associated with exit or disposal
activities when they are incurred rather than at the date of a commitment to an
exit or disposal plan. SFAS No. 146 is to be applied prospectively to exit or
disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. Based on the information
currently available, adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact
on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The following statements and data are included in this item:
Independent Auditors' Report
Consolidated Balance Sheets (December 31, 2001 and 2000)
Consolidated Statements of Income (For years ended December 31, 2001,
2000 and 1999)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (For years ended December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999)
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (For years ended
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Selected Quarterly Financial Data
All financial statements, notes and data have been restated, where
appropriate, to give effect to the correction discussed in Note 2 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Independent Auditors' Report
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Stepan Company
Northfield, Illinois
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Stepan Company
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related consolidated
statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 2001. Our audits also included the
financial statement schedule for the three years in the period ended December
31, 2001, listed in the Index at Item 14. These financial statements and
financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and
financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Stepan Company and subsidiaries at
December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of their operations and their cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001 in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when
considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a
whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth
therein.
As discussed in Note 2, the accompanying financial statements have been
restated.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Chicago, Illinois
November 11, 2002
Stepan Company
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2001 and 2000
2001 2000
(Dollars in thousands) As Restated* As Restated*
------------ ------------
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,224 $ 3,536
Receivables, less allowances of $2,272 in 2001 and $3,154 in 2000 103,190 98,488
Inventories (Note 4) 59,330 57,013
Deferred income taxes (Note 7) 8,810 8,523
Other current assets 5,233 4,191
-------- --------
Total current assets 180,787 171,751
-------- --------
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land 6,156 5,786
Buildings and improvements 75,720 69,654
Machinery and equipment 564,150 529,564
Construction in progress 20,091 13,292
-------- --------
666,117 618,296
Less: accumulated depreciation 454,684 420,149
-------- --------
Property, plant and equipment, net 211,433 198,147
-------- --------
Long-term investments 7,674 8,005
-------- --------
Other assets 38,861 39,689
-------- --------
Total assets $438,755 $417,592
======== ========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 5) $ 10,745 $ 9,586
Accounts payable 62,410 57,255
Accrued liabilities (Note 11) 35,004 36,902
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 108,159 103,743
-------- --------
Deferred income taxes (Note 7) 28,603 32,312
-------- --------
Long-term debt, less current maturities (Note 5) 109,588 96,466
-------- --------
Deferred compensation (Note 2) 16,653 16,737
-------- --------
Other non-current liabilities (Note 12) 21,401 19,275
-------- --------
Stockholders' Equity (Note 8):
5 1/2 percent convertible preferred stock, cumulative, voting, without
par value; authorized 2,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
583,252 shares in 2001 and
583,469 shares in 2000 14,581 14,587
Common stock, $1 par value; authorized 30,000,000 shares; issued
9,604,003 shares in 2001 and 9,411,106 shares in 2000 9,604 9,411
Additional paid-in capital 16,531 12,968
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 1) (15,870) (13,028)
Retained earnings (approximately $48,987 unrestricted in 2001 and $45,849 in 2000) 144,658 135,642
Less: Treasury stock, at cost, 782,232 shares in 2001 and 590,188 shares in 2000 (15,153) (10,521)
-------- --------
Stockholders' equity 154,351 149,059
-------- --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $438,755 $417,592
======== ========
* See Note 2 for explanation of restatement.
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part
of these financial statements.
Stepan Company
Consolidated Statements of Income
For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
2001 2000 1999
(In thousands, except per share amounts) As Restated* As Restated* As Restated*
------------ ------------ ------------
Net Sales (Note 1) $711,517 $698,937 $694,659
-------- -------- --------
Cost of Sales 604,288 586,911 573,714
-------- -------- --------
Gross Profit 107,229 112,026 120,945
-------- -------- --------
Operating Expenses:
Marketing 24,884 25,166 23,799
Administrative 28,644 32,822 32,531
Research, development and technical services (Note 1) 22,869 22,680 22,593
-------- -------- --------
76,397 80,668 78,923
-------- -------- --------
Operating Income 30,832 31,358 42,022
Other Income (Expenses):
Interest, net (Note 5) (6,903) (7,586) (7,681)
Equity in earnings of joint venture (Note 1) 1,869 703 1,427
-------- -------- --------
(5,034) (6,883) (6,254)
-------- -------- --------
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes 25,798 24,475 35,768
Provision for Income Taxes (Note 7) 9,726 9,423 13,043
-------- -------- --------
Net Income $ 16,072 $ 15,052 $ 22,725
======== ======== ========
Net Income Per Common Share (Note 15):
Basic $ 1.73 $ 1.59 $ 2.37
======== ======== ========
Diluted $ 1.65 $ 1.53 $ 2.21
======== ======== ========
Shares Used to Compute Net Income
Per Common Share (Note 15):
Basic 8,837 8,948 9,232
======== ======== ========
Diluted 9,721 9,829 10,272
======== ======== ========
* See Note 2 for explanation of restatement.
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part
of these financial statements.
Stepan Company
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
2001 2000 1999
(Dollars in thousands) As Restated* As Restated* As Restated*
------------ ------------ ------------
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income $ 16,072 $ 15,052 $ 22,725
Depreciation and amortization 39,972 39,277 39,452
Deferred revenue (470) (1,761) (5,165)
Deferred income taxes (2,431) (3,877) 4,088
Environmental and legal liabilities 331 5,069 (4,999)
Other non-cash items 526 1,609 (282)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables, net 6,062 (1,399) (15,199)
Inventories (167) (7,255) 1,169
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (5,427) 7,723 10,174
Other current assets (1,042) 201 (575)
-------- -------- --------
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities 53,426 54,639 51,388
-------- -------- --------
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment (34,014) (28,442) (32,697)
Business acquisitions (24,640) -- (450)
Other non-current assets 1,891 (1,226) (968)
-------- -------- --------
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities (56,763) (29,668) (34,115)
-------- -------- --------
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Revolving debt and notes payable to banks, net 22,200 (1,500) 11,400
Other debt borrowings 1,188 -- --
Other debt repayments (9,107) (7,531) (10,832)
Purchases of treasury stock, net (4,632) (9,548) (8,851)
Dividends paid (7,056) (6,730) (6,505)
Stock option exercises 3,151 1,397 1,088
-------- -------- --------
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities 5,744 (23,912) (13,700)
-------- -------- --------
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash (1,719) (1,492) (587)
-------- -------- --------
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents 688 (433) 2,986
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year 3,536 3,969 983
-------- -------- --------
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year $ 4,224 $ 3,536 $ 3,969
======== ======== ========
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash payments of income taxes, net of refunds $ 11,652 $ 13,262 $ 10,564
Cash payments of interest $ 7,862 $ 8,775 $ 8,780
* See Note 2 for explanation of restatement.
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part
of these financial statements.
Stepan Company
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
Convertible Additional
Preferred Common Paid-in Treasury
(Dollars in thousands) Stock Stock Capital Stock
----------- ------ ---------- --------
Balance, January 1, 1999 as previously
reported $19,611 $9,998 $10,962 $(11,015)
Prior period adjustments -- -- (514) (5,038)
------- ------ ------- --------
Balance January 1, 1999 as restated* 19,611 9,998 10,448 (16,053)
Sale of 85,250 shares of common stock under
stock option plan -- 85 1,003 --
Purchase of 317,048 shares of common and
38,646 shares of preferred treasury
stock, net of sales* -- -- -- (8,851)
Retirement of 400,000 shares of common
treasury stock -- (400) (516) 9,572
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock (36) 2 34 --
Net income* -- -- -- --
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments -- -- -- --
Unrealized gain(loss) on securities*
Comprehensive income* -- -- -- --
Cash dividends paid: -- -- -- --
Preferred stock ($1.375 per share) -- -- -- --
Common stock (61.25(cent) per share)* -- -- -- --
Non-qualified stock option income tax benefit -- -- 422 --
------- ------ ------- --------
Balance, December 31, 1999* 19,575 9,685 11,391 (15,332)
Sale of 113,950 shares of common stock
under stock option plan -- 114 1,283 --
Purchase of 421,069 shares of common and
16,015 shares of preferred treasury
stock, net of sales* -- -- (117) (9,548)
Retirement of shares of treasury stock:
400,000 shares of common stock -- (400) (565) 8,975
188,535 shares of preferred stock (4,713) -- 239 5,384
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock (275) 12 262
Net income* -- -- -- --
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments -- -- -- --
Unrealized gain(loss) on securities*
Comprehensive income* -- -- -- --
Cash dividends paid: -- -- -- --
Preferred stock ($1.375 per share) -- -- -- --
Common stock (66.25(cent) per share)* -- -- -- --
Non-qualified stock option income tax benefit -- -- 475 --
------- ------ ------- --------
Balance, December 31, 2000* 14,587 9,411 12,968 (10,521)
Sale of 192,650 shares of common stock
under stock option plan -- 193 2,958 --
Purchase of 210,865 shares of common stock,
net of sales* -- -- (5) (4,632)
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock (6) -- 6 --
Net income* -- -- -- --
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments -- -- -- --
Unrealized gain(loss) on securities* -- -- -- --
Minimum pension liability adjustment
(net of income tax of $595) -- -- -- --
Comprehensive income* -- -- -- --
Cash dividends paid: -- -- -- --
Preferred stock ($1.375 per share) -- -- -- --
Common stock (70.75(cent) per share)* -- -- -- --
Non-qualified stock option income tax benefit -- -- 604 --
------- ------ ------- --------
Balance, December 31, 2001* $14,581 $9,604 $16,531 $(15,153)
======= ====== ======= ========
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive Retained Comprehensive
(Dollars in thousands) Loss Earnings Income
------------- -------- -------------
Balance, January 1, 1999 as previously
reported $ (9,050) $127,478 --
Prior period adjustments -- 1,198 --
-------- -------- -------
Balance January 1, 1999 as restated* (9,050) 128,676
Sale of 85,250 shares of common stock under
stock option plan -- -- --
Purchase of 317,048 shares of common and
38,646 shares of preferred treasury
stock, net of sales* -- -- --
Retirement of 400,000 shares of common
treasury stock -- (8,656) --
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock -- -- --
Net income* -- 22,725 $22,725
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments (1,581) -- (1,581)
Unrealized gain(loss) on securities* (22) (22)
-------
Comprehensive income* -- -- $21,122
=======
Cash dividends paid: -- -- --
Preferred stock ($1.375 per share) -- (858) --
Common stock (61.25(cent) per share)* -- (5,647) --
Non-qualified stock option income tax benefit -- -- --
-------- -------- -------
Balance, December 31, 1999* (10,653) 136,240 --
Sale of 113,950 shares of common stock
under stock option plan -- -- --
Purchase of 421,069 shares of common and
16,015 shares of preferred treasury
stock, net of sales* -- -- --
Retirement of shares of treasury stock:
400,000 shares of common stock -- (8,010) --
188,535 shares of preferred stock -- (910) --
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock -- -- --
Net income* -- 15,052 $15,052
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments (1,771) -- (1,771)
Unrealized gain(loss) on securities* (604) -- (604)
-------
Comprehensive income* -- -- $12,677
=======
Cash dividends paid: -- -- --
Preferred stock ($1.375 per share) -- (815) --
Common stock (66.25(cent) per share)* -- (5,915) --
Non-qualified stock option income tax benefit -- -- --
-------- -------- -------
Balance, December 31, 2000* (13,028) 135,642 --
Sale of 192,650 shares of common stock
under stock option plan -- -- --
Purchase of 210,865 shares of common stock,
net of sales* -- -- --
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock -- -- --
Net income* -- 16,072 $16,072
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments (1,414) -- (1,414)
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities* (444) -- (444)
Minimum pension liability adjustment
(net of income tax of $595) (984) -- (984)
-------
Comprehensive income* -- -- $13,230
=======
Cash dividends paid: -- -- --
Preferred stock ($1.375 per share) -- (802) --
Common stock (70.75(cent) per share)* -- (6,254) --
Non-qualified stock option income tax benefit -- -- --
-------- -------- -------
Balance, December 31, 2001* $(15,870) $144,658 --
======== ======== =======
* As Restated; see Note 2 for explanation of restatement.
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part
of these financial statements
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations
Stepan Company's (the "Company") operations consist predominantly of the
production and sale of specialty and intermediate chemicals, which are sold to
other manufacturers for use in a variety of end products. Principal markets for
all products are manufacturers of cleaning and washing compounds (including
detergents, shampoos, toothpastes and household cleaners), paints, cosmetics,
food and beverages, agricultural products, plastics, furniture, automotive
equipment, insulation and refrigeration.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and
its wholly owned foreign subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The investment in the 50
percent owned joint venture in the Philippines is accounted for on the equity
method and is included in the "Other Assets" caption on the Consolidated Balance
Sheet. The Company's share of the net earnings of the investment is included in
consolidated net income.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of
three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Concentration of Credit Risks
The Company grants credit to its customers who are widely distributed across the
Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. The Company does not have any one single
customer whose business represents more than 10 percent of the Company's
consolidated revenue. There is no material concentration of credit risk.
Inventories
Inventories are valued at cost, which is not in excess of market value, and
include material, labor and plant overhead costs. The last-in, first-out (LIFO)
method is used to determine the cost of most Company inventories. The first-in,
first-out (FIFO) method is used for all other inventories. Inventories priced at
LIFO as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, amounted to 86 and 91 percent of total
inventories, respectively.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Depreciation of physical properties is provided on a straight-line basis over
the estimated useful lives of various assets. Lives used for calculating
depreciation are 30 years for buildings, 15 years for building improvements and
from three to 15 years for machinery and equipment. Major renewals and
betterments are capitalized in the property accounts, while maintenance and
repairs ($19,366,000, $18,472,000, and $17,815,000 in 2001, 2000 and 1999,
respectively), which do not renew or extend the life of the respective assets,
are charged to operations currently. The cost of property retired or sold and
the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any
resulting gain or loss is reflected in income.
Included in property, plant and equipment are costs related to the
acquisition and development of internal-use software. Capitalized costs include
external direct costs of materials and services consumed in obtaining and
developing the software. For development projects where major internal resources
are committed, payroll and payroll-related costs incurred during the application
development phase of the project are also capitalized. The capitalized costs are
amortized over the useful life of the software, which is generally three to ten
years. Costs incurred in the preliminary project phase are expensed. At December
31, 2001, the consolidated "Construction in progress" amount included $6,012,000
of capitalized costs related to the Company's enterprise resource planning
system implementation project.
Interest charges on borrowings applicable to major construction projects
are capitalized.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized upon shipment of goods to customers. The Company records
shipping and handling billed to a customer in a sales transaction as revenue.
Costs incurred for shipping and handling are recorded in cost of sales. Volume
discounts due customers are recognized as earned and reported as reductions of
revenue in the statement of income.
Environmental Expenditures
Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are expensed or
capitalized as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition
caused by past operations, and which do not contribute to current or future
revenue generation, are expensed. Liabilities are recorded when environmental
assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and the cost or range of
possible costs can be reasonably estimated. When no amount within the range is a
better estimate than any other amount, the minimum is accrued. Some of the
factors on which the Company bases its estimates include information provided by
feasibility studies, potentially responsible party negotiations and the
development of remedial action plans. Because reported liabilities are recorded
based on estimates, actual amounts could differ from those estimates. Legal
costs related to environmental matters are expensed as incurred. Expenditures
that mitigate or prevent environmental contamination and that benefit future
operations are capitalized. Capitalized expenditures are depreciated generally
utilizing a 10 year life. See Note 13, Contingencies.
Intangible Assets
Included in other assets are intangible assets consisting of patents, agreements
not to compete, trademarks, customer lists and goodwill, all of which were
acquired as part of business acquisitions. These assets are presented net of
amortization provided on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives
generally ranging from five to 15 years.
In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 141, "Business
Combinations," and SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,"
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, for acquisitions
entered into prior to June 30, 2001, and effective immediately for acquisitions
entered into after June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 141 requires the use of the purchase
method of accounting for all transactions initiated after June 30, 2001. SFAS
No. 142 requires that the goodwill acquired as a result of a business
combination should not be amortized. The Company has applied the provisions of
SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142 to the September 2001 acquisition of Manro
Performance Chemicals Limited (see Note 3).
Research and Development Costs
The Company's research and development costs are expensed as incurred. These
expenses are aimed at discovery and commercialization of new knowledge with the
intent that such effort will be useful in developing a new product or in
bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process.
Total expenses were $13,729,000, $13,383,000 and $13,113,000 in 2001, 2000 and
1999, respectively. The balance of expenses reflected in the Consolidated
Statements of Income relates to technical services, which include routine
product testing, quality control and sales support service.
Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes includes federal, foreign, state and local income
taxes currently payable and those deferred because of temporary differences
between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities.
Deferred tax assets or liabilities are computed based on the difference between
the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using the
enacted marginal tax rate. Deferred income tax expenses or credits are based on
the changes in the asset or liability from period to period.
Translation of Foreign Currencies
Assets and liabilities of consolidated foreign subsidiaries are translated into
U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at year end. The resulting translation
adjustments are included in stockholders' equity. Revenues and expenses are
translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Gains or losses
on foreign currency transactions and the related tax effects are reflected in
net income.
Long-Lived Assets
Operating assets and associated goodwill are written down to fair value whenever
an impairment review indicates that the carrying value cannot be recovered on an
undiscounted cash flow basis. No impairment loss has needed to be recognized for
applicable assets of continuing operations.
Stock-Based Compensation
SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," encourages, but does
not require companies to record compensation cost for stock-based employee
compensation plans at fair value. The Company has chosen to continue to account
for stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value method prescribed in
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees," and related interpretations. Accordingly, compensation cost for
stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of
the Company's stock at the date of the grant over the amount an employee must
pay to acquire the stock. See Note 9, Stock Option Plans.
Per Share Data
Basic earnings per share amounts are computed based on the weighted-average
number of common shares outstanding. Net income used in computing basic earnings
per share has been reduced by dividends paid to preferred stockholders. Diluted
earnings per share amounts are based on the increased number of common shares
that would be outstanding assuming the exercise of certain outstanding stock
options (under the treasury stock method) and the conversion of the convertible
preferred stock, when such conversion would have the effect of reducing earnings
per share. See Note 15, Earnings Per Share.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income includes net income and all other nonowner changes in
equity that are not reported in net income. For the year ended December 31,
2001, the Company's comprehensive income included net income, foreign currency
translation gains and losses, unrealized gains and losses on securities and a
minimum pension liability adjustment. For the years ended December 31, 2000 and
1999, the Company's comprehensive income included net income, unrealized gains
and losses on securities and foreign currency translation gains and losses.
Comprehensive income is disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of
Stockholders' Equity. At December 31, 2001, the total accumulated other
comprehensive loss of $15,870,000 was comprised of $13,816,000 of foreign
currency translation adjustments, $1,070,000 of unrealized losses on securities
and $984,000 of minimum pension liability adjustments (net of income taxes of
$595,000). At December 31, 2000, the accumulated other comprehensive loss of
$13,028,000 was comprised of $12,402,000 of foreign currency translation
adjustments and $626,000 of unrealized losses on securities.
Segment Reporting
The Company reports financial and descriptive information about its reportable
operating segments. Operating segments are components of the Company that have
separate financial information that is regularly evaluated by the chief
operating decision maker to assess segment performance and allocate resources.
The Company discloses segment revenue, operating income, assets, capital
expenditures and depreciation and amortization expenses. Enterprise-wide
financial information about the revenues derived from the Company's products,
the geographic locations in which the Company earns revenues and holds assets is
also disclosed. See Note 14, Segment Reporting.
Derivative Instruments
In June 1998, the FASB issued SFAS No. 133, as amended, "Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," effective for fiscal years
beginning after June 15, 1999. The new standard establishes accounting and
reporting requirements for derivative instruments, including certain derivative
instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. Such
instruments are to be recognized on the balance sheet as either an asset or a
liability measured at fair value. Changes in fair value must be recognized
currently in earnings or in other comprehensive income if specific hedge
criteria are met. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative
instrument's gains and losses to offset related results on the hedged item in
the statement of income, to the extent effective. If a transaction is designated
to receive hedge accounting, the Company must establish at the inception of the
hedge the method it will use for assessing the effectiveness of the hedge and
the measurement approach for determining the ineffective aspect of the hedge.
The Company has limited transactions that fall under the accounting rules
of SFAS No. 133. Company policy prohibits the use of financial instruments for
trading or speculative purposes. Periodically, the Company enters into forward
contracts to minimize exposure related to changing natural gas prices for a
portion of the natural gas requirements used in its production facilities. In
addition, the Company's foreign subsidiaries make limited use of short-term
forward exchange contracts to minimize the exposure of certain foreign currency
transactions and balances to fluctuating exchange rates. As of December 31,
2001, the effects of the forward commodity and exchange contracts were not
material to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Deferred Compensation
The Company maintains deferred compensation plans. These plans allow management
to defer receipt of their bonuses and directors to defer receipt of director
fees until retirement or departure from the Company. The plans allow the
participant to choose to invest in either Stepan common stock or a limited
variety of mutual funds. These assets are owned by the Company and subject to
the claims of general creditors of the Company. These plans are accounted for
under the requirements of the consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task
Force ("EITF") of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") in issue No.
97-14, "Accounting for Deferred
Compensation Arrangements Where Amounts Earned are Held in a Rabbi Trust and
Invested". A description of the Company's deferred compensation accounting
policy follows:
The deferred compensation liability to the participants who elect deferral
is recorded after the underlying compensation is earned, and recorded as
expense. The purchase of Stepan common shares for the plans is recorded as a
regular treasury stock purchase. The purchase of mutual funds is recorded as
long term investments.
Fluctuations in the value of these assets are recorded as adjustments from
the deferred compensation liability and compensation costs included in
administrative expense. The dividends, interest and capital gains from the
mutual fund assets are recorded as investment income and included in "Other
Income" as interest expense, net of investment income. Unrealized gains and
losses resulting from market fluctuations of the mutual funds are recorded as
other comprehensive income or expense in stockholders' equity.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2001, the EITF released Issue No. 00-25, "Vendor Income Statement
Characterization of Consideration Paid to a Reseller of the Vendor's Products."
Issue No. 00-25 provides guidance regarding the reporting of consideration given
by a vendor to a reseller of the vendor's products. This issue requires certain
considerations from vendor to a reseller of the vendor's products be viewed: (a)
as a reduction of the selling prices of the vendor's products and, therefore,
recorded as a reduction of revenue when recognized in the vendor's income
statement, or (b) as a cost incurred by the vendor for assets or services
received from the reseller and, therefore, recorded as a cost or an expense when
recognized in the vendor's income statement. Issue No. 00-25 is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. The Company's accounting
policies are currently consistent with the guidance provided in this issue.
Therefore, the adoption of Issue No.00-25 is not expected to have an impact on
the Company's financial position or results of operations.
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations" and
SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2001, for acquisitions entered into prior to June
30, 2001, and effective immediately for acquisitions entered into after June 30,
2001. SFAS No. 141 requires the use of the purchase method of accounting for all
transactions initiated after June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 142 addresses financial
accounting and reporting for goodwill and other intangible assets subsequent to
their acquisition. The new standard establishes that goodwill is no longer to be
amortized. Instead, goodwill will be tested for impairment by applying a
fair-value-based test each year, and more frequently, if circumstances indicate
a possible impairment. If the carrying amount exceeds the
implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized.
Equity-method goodwill is not, however, subject to the new impairment rules; the
impairment guidance in existing rules for equity-method investments continues to
apply. The standard also establishes new accounting guidelines for intangible
assets that are determined to have an indefinite useful life. These assets are
no longer subject to amortization, but must be tested for impairment annually or
more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset
might be impaired. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds the
fair value, an impairment loss must be recognized in an amount equal to that
excess. Any impairment as a result of initial adoption of SFAS No. 142 will be
recorded as a cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles. The Company
has applied the provisions of SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142 to the September 13,
2001, acquisition of Manro Performance Chemicals in Stalybridge, UK (see Note 3,
Acquisitions). The provisions of SFAS No. 142 that apply to acquisitions made
prior to June 30, 2001, were adopted on January 1, 2002. As a result the Company
stopped recognizing approximately $0.6 million of goodwill amortization expense
in 2002. The Company has also completed the impairment test of goodwill and
intangible assets. Results of this test indicated no impairment at January 1,
2002.
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations". SFAS No. 143, which is effective for fiscal years
beginning after June 15, 2002, supersedes previous guidance for financial
accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of
tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. The
statement applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of
long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development
and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset. The Company is evaluating the
effect of this standard on its financial statements.
In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the
Impairment of Disposal of Long-Lived Assets". This statement addresses financial
accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets and
supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and
for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of." SFAS No. 144 was effective January 1,
2002. Adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact on the
Company's financial position or results of operations.
In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs
Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities". The standard requires companies to
recognize costs associated with exit or disposal activities when they are
incurred rather than at the date of a commitment to an exit or disposal plan.
SFAS No. 146 is to be applied prospectively to exit or disposal activities
initiated after December 31, 2002. Based on the information currently available,
adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact on the Company's
financial position or results of operations.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the 2000 and 1999 financial statements have been reclassified
to conform to the 2001 presentation.
2. Restatement
Subsequent to the issuance of its financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2001, the management of the Company determined that the accounting
treatment that had previously been afforded to the deferred compensation
arrangements entered into with its managers and directors was not in accordance
with the requirements of the consensus reached by the EITF of the FASB in issue
No. 97-14, "Accounting for Deferred Compensation Arrangements Where Amounts
Earned Are Held in a Rabbi Trust and Invested". This consensus requires that
assets and liabilities of the deferred compensation plan be presented separately
on the balance sheet; that fluctuations in asset values should result in
compensation expense or income; and that, based on the categories of assets
underlying the plan, investment income and expense should be recorded in the
income statement and unrealized market appreciation should be reported as a
component of other comprehensive income and included in stockholders' equity.
Historically, the Company had recorded the assets and liabilities related to the
plans on a net basis when the awards were made and did not recognize changes in
asset value in income.
As a result, the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December
31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 have been restated from the amounts previously reported
to give effect to the correction of this accounting error. A summary of the
significant effects of the restatement is as follows:
As of December 31, 2001:
As
Previously
(Dollars in thousands) Reported Adjustments As Restated
---------- ----------- -----------
Assets
Deferred income taxes $ 10,684 $(1,874) $ 8,810
Long term investments -- 7,674 7,674
Liabilities
Deferred income taxes $ 35,040 $(6,437) $ 28,603
Deferred compensation - current and long-term -- 17,615 17,615
Stockholders' Equity
Additional paid-in capital $ 16,893 $ (362) $ 16,531
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (14,800) (1,070) (15,870)
Retained earnings 142,110 2,548 144,658
Treasury stock (8,659) (6,494) (15,153)
As of December 31, 2000:
As
Previously
(Dollars in thousands) Reported Adjustments As Restated
---------- ----------- -----------
Assets
Deferred income taxes $ 10,866 $(2,343) $ 8,523
Long term investments -- 8,005 8,005
Liabilities
Deferred income tax $ 39,170 $(6,858) $ 32,312
Deferred compensation - current and long-term -- 17,637 17,637
Stockholders' Equity
Additional paid-in capital $ 13,343 $ (375) $ 12,968
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (12,402) (626) (13,028)
Retained earnings 133,308 2,334 135,642
Treasury stock (4,071) (6,450) (10,521)
For the year ended December 31, 2001:
As
(Dollars and shares in thousands,except Previously
per share amounts) Reported Adjustments As Restated
---------- ----------- -----------
Net income $16,152 $ (80) $16,072
Net Income Per Common Share
Basic $ 1.66 $0.07 $ 1.73
Diluted 1.59 0.06 1.65
Shares Used to Compute Net
Income Per Share
Basic 9,249 (412) 8,837
Diluted 10,133 (412) 9,721
Other Comprehensive Loss $ 2,398 $ 444 $ 2,842
For the year ended December 31, 2000:
As
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except Previously
per share amounts) Reported Adjustments As Restated
---------- ----------- -----------
Net income $15,008 $ 44 $15,052
Net Income Per Common Share
Basic $ 1.52 $0.07 $ 1.59
Diluted 1.47 0.06 1.53
Shares Used to Compute Net
Income Per Share
Basic 9,355 (407) 8,948
Diluted 10,236 (407) 9,829
Other Comprehensive Loss $ 1,771 $ 604 $ 2,375
For the year ended December 31, 1999:
As
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except Previously
per share amounts) Reported Adjustments As Restated
---------- ----------- -----------
Net income $22,129 $ 596 $22,725
Net Income Per Common Share
Basic $ 2.22 $0.15 $ 2.37
Diluted 2.08 0.13 2.21
Shares Used to Compute Net
Income Per Share
Basic 9,592 (360) 9,232
Diluted 10,632 (360) 10,272
Other Comprehensive Loss $ 1,581 $ 22 $ 1,603
3. Acquisitions
On September 13, 2001, the Company acquired the stock of Manro Performance
Chemicals Limited based in Stalybridge, UK, and changed its name to Stepan UK
Limited. Manro Performance Chemicals Limited manufactures surfactants for a wide
range of customers, and specializes in anionic surfactants, hydrotropes and acid
catalysts.
The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase in accordance with SFAS
No. 141. The acquisition cost was $24.6 million, which was $1.2 million in
excess of the fair value of Manro Performance Chemicals Limited net assets. The
$1.2 million excess acquisition cost over net assets was recorded as goodwill,
which in accordance with SFAS No. 142, will not be amortized. The purchase price
allocation was finalized in the first half of 2002. This acquisition was funded
through the Company's committed lines of credit. The following table summarizes
the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the
date of the acquisition.
At September 13, 2001 (unaudited)
---------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
Current assets $13,937
Property, plant and equipment 17,950
Goodwill 1,211
-------
Total assets acquired $33,098
=======
Current liabilities $ 8,458
Total liabilities assumed 8,458
-------
Net assets acquired $24,640
=======
Following are the unaudited pro forma financial results prepared under the
assumption that the acquisition of Manro Performance Chemicals Limited had been
completed at the beginning of the year 2000. These pro forma financial results
include the assumption that the acquisition price of $24.6 million was funded
through the Company's committed lines of credit. Applied weighted average
interest rates were 6.97 percent in 2000 and 4.63 percent in 2001.
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share Twelve Months Ended
amounts) December 31
-------------------
2001 2000
-------- --------
Net Sales $743,369 $741,097
Income Before Income Taxes $ 27,273 $ 23,154
Net Income $ 16,994 $ 14,239
Net Income Per Common Share:
Basic $ 1.83 $ 1.50
======== ========
Diluted $ 1.75 $ 1.45
======== ========
Shares used to compute Earnings
Per Common Share:
Basic 8,837 8,948
======== ========
Diluted 9,721 9,829
======== ========
These pro forma statements represent the Company's determination of
adjustments associated with the purchase of Manro Performance Chemicals Limited
and are based upon available information and certain assumptions that the
Company believes to be reasonable. Consequently, the actual results may differ
from the Pro Forma results.
4. Inventories
The composition of inventories was as follows:
December 31
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000
-----------------
Finished products $33,932 $37,560
Raw materials 25,398 19,453
------- -------
Total inventories $59,330 $57,013
======= =======
If the first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory valuation method had been used,
inventories would have been approximately $7,500,000 and $8,900,000 higher than
reported at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.
5. Debt
Debt was composed of the following:
December 31
-------------------
(Dollars in thousands) Maturity Dates 2001 2000
--------------- -------- --------
Unsecured promissory notes
6.59% 2003 - 2013 $ 30,000 $ 30,000
7.77% 2002 - 2010 24,545 27,272
7.22% 2002 - 2007 18,000 21,000
7.69% 2002 - 2005 8,000 10,000
9.70% 2002 - 2003 1,667 2,667
Unsecured bank debt 2003 35,200 13,000
Debt of foreign subsidiaries
payable in foreign currency 2002 - 2006 2,921 2,113
-------- --------
Total debt 120,333 106,052
Less current maturities 10,745 9,586
-------- --------
Long-term debt $109,588 $ 96,466
======== ========
Unsecured bank debt at December 31, 2001, consisted of borrowings under a
committed $60,000,000 revolving credit agreement with interest at varying rates
averaging 3.88 percent during the year. The agreement requires a commitment fee
to be paid on the unused portion of the commitment, which averaged 0.13 percent
during the year. Periodically, the Company also had other borrowings under notes
payable to banks under which there were no outstanding balances at December 31,
2001 and 2000.
The various loan agreements contain provisions, which, among others,
require maintenance of certain financial ratios and place limitations on
additional debt, investments and payment of dividends. Unrestricted retained
earnings were $48,987,000 and $45,849,000 at December 31, 2001 and 2000,
respectively. The Company is in compliance with all debt covenants.
Debt at December 31, 2001, matures as follows: $10,745,000 in 2002;
$46,579,000 in 2003; $10,709,000 in 2004; $10,709,000 in 2005; $8,582,000 in
2006 and $33,009,000 after 2006.
The fair value of the Company's fixed-rate debt, including current
maturities, was estimated to be $87.1 million compared to a carrying value of
$83.3 million as of December 31, 2001.
Net interest expense for the years ended December 31 was composed of the
following:
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000 1999
------ ------ ------
Interest expense $7,858 $8,724 $8,661
Interest income (229) (124) (211)
Investment income (265) (742) (695)
------ ------ ------
7,364 7,858 7,755
Capitalized interest (461) (272) (74)
------ ------ ------
Interest expense, net $6,903 $7,586 $7,681
====== ====== ======
6. Leased Properties
The Company leases certain property and equipment (primarily transportation
equipment, buildings and computer equipment) under operating leases. Total
rental expense was $4,174,000, $4,242,000 and $3,661,000 in 2001, 2000 and 1999,
respectively.
Minimum future rental payments under operating leases with terms in excess
of one year as of December 31, 2001, are:
(Dollars in thousands) Year Amount
---- -------
2002 $ 2,591
2003 2,168
2004 1,742
2005 1,546
2006 1,259
Subsequent to 2006 6,947
-------
Total minimum future rental payments $16,253
=======
7. Income Taxes
The provision for taxes on income and the related income before taxes were as
follows:
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
Taxes on Income
Federal
Current $ 9,036 $ 9,901 $ 6,269
Deferred (2,596) (3,417) 2,916
State
Current 1,393 1,700 1,181
Deferred (344) (456) 682
Foreign
Current 1,681 2,104 1,983
Deferred 556 (409) 12
------- ------- -------
Total $ 9,726 $ 9,423 $13,043
======= ======= =======
Income before Taxes
Domestic $21,277 $20,922 $30,102
Foreign 4,521 3,553 5,666
------- ------- -------
Total $25,798 $24,475 $35,768
======= ======= =======
Deferred income taxes have not been provided on $34,534,000 of
undistributed earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries, or on the equity
in income of its foreign joint venture. In general, the Company reinvests
earnings of foreign subsidiaries in their operations indefinitely. However, the
Company will repatriate earnings from a subsidiary where excess cash has
accumulated and it is advantageous for tax or foreign exchange reasons. Because
of the probable availability of foreign tax credits, it is not practicable to
estimate the amount, if any, of the deferred tax liability on earnings
reinvested indefinitely.
The variations between the effective and statutory federal income tax rates
are summarized as follows:
2001 2000 1999
------------- ------------- --------------
(Dollars in thousands) Amount % Amount % Amount %
------ ---- ------ ---- ------- ----
Federal Income tax provision at statutory tax rate $9,029 35.0 $8,566 35.0 $12,519 35.0
State taxes on income
less applicable federal tax benefit 682 2.6 809 3.3 1,211 3.4
Foreign income taxed at different rates 655 2.5 452 1.9 (42) (0.1)
Effect of equity income from foreign joint venture (654) (2.5) (198) (0.8) (499) (1.4)
Other items 14 0.1 (206) (0.9) (146) (0.4)
------ ---- ------ ---- ------- ----
Total income tax provision $9,726 37.7 $9,423 38.5 $13,043 36.5
====== ==== ====== ==== ======= ====
The net deferred tax liability at December 31 was comprised of the
following:
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000
-------- --------
Current deferred income taxes
Assets $ 9,448 $ 9,055
Liabilities (638) (532)
-------- --------
Total net current deferred tax assets 8,810 8,523
Non-current deferred income taxes
Assets 19,576 15,558
Liabilities (48,179) (47,870)
-------- --------
Total net non-current deferred tax liabilities (28,603) (32,312)
-------- --------
Net deferred tax liability $(19,793) $(23,789)
======== ========
At December 31, the tax effect of significant temporary differences representing
deferred tax assets and liabilities was as follows:
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000
-------- --------
Tax over book depreciation $(40,884) $(44,512)
Safe Harbor leases (2,032) (2,329)
SFAS No. 87 pension accounting (2,506) (3,135)
State income tax accrual 1,788 1,925
Deferred revenue 1,415 1,608
Book reserves deductible in other periods 21,235 21,313
Other, net 1,191 1,341
-------- --------
Net deferred tax liability $(19,793) $(23,789)
======== ========
8. Stockholders' Equity
The Company's preferred stock is convertible at the option of the holder at any
time (unless previously redeemed) into shares of common stock at a conversion of
1.14175 shares of common stock for each share of preferred stock. Dividends on
preferred stock accrue at a rate of $1.375 per share per annum, which are
cumulative from the date of original issue. The Company may not declare and pay
any dividend or make any distribution of assets (other than dividends or other
distribution payable in shares of common stock) or redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire, shares of common stock, unless all accumulated and unpaid preferred
dividends have been paid or are contemporaneously declared and paid. The
preferred stock is subject to optional redemption by the Company, in whole or in
part, at any time on or after September 1, 1997. As of September 1, 2001, the
redemption price is $25.14 per share and was reduced to the minimum redemption
price of $25 per share on September 1, 2002, plus accrued and unpaid dividends
thereon to the date fixed for redemption. Preferred stock is entitled to 1.14175
votes per share on all matters submitted to stockholders for action and votes
together with the common stock as a single class, except as otherwise provided
by law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. There is no mandatory
redemption or sinking fund obligation with respect to the preferred stock.
On November 3, 2000, 400,000 shares of common stock and 188,535 shares of
preferred stock held in treasury were retired in accordance with the Board of
Directors' authorization. At December 31, 2000, treasury stock consisted of no
shares of preferred stock and 590,188 shares of common stock. No retirement of
treasury stock took place during 2001. At December 31, 2001, treasury stock
consisted of no shares of preferred stock and 782,232 shares of common stock.
9. Stock Option Plans
The Company has three fixed stock option plans: the 1982 Plan, the 1992 Plan and
the 2000 Plan. No further grants may be made under the 1982 Plan and no options
granted under the 1982 Plan remain outstanding at December 31, 2001. The 1992
Plan extends participation to directors who are not employees of the Company. It
authorizes the award of up to 1,600,000 shares of the Company's common stock for
stock options ("options") and stock appreciation rights ("SAR"). SARs entitle
the employee to receive an amount equal to the difference between the fair
market value of a share of stock at the time the SAR is exercised and the
exercise price specified at the time the SAR is granted. No further grants may
be made under the 1992 Plan after December 31, 2001. The 2000 Plan, which also
extends participation to non-employee directors, authorizes the award of
1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock for options, SAR and stock
awards. A stock award is a grant of shares of stock to an employee, the earnings
vesting or distribution of which is subject to certain conditions established by
the Compensation and Development Committee of the Board of Directors. Options
are granted at the market price on the date of grant. An option may not be
exercised within two years from the date of grant and no option will be
exercisable after 10 years from the date granted.
The Company accounts for these plans under APB Opinion No. 25, under which
no compensation cost has been recognized for the Company's stock option grants.
Had compensation cost for options granted under these stock option plans been
determined based on the fair value at the grant date for awards in 2001, 2000
and 1999 consistent with the provisions
of SFAS No. 123, the Company's net income and earnings per share would have been
reduced to the following pro forma amounts:
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
Net Income - as reported $16,072 $15,052 $22,725
Net Income - pro forma 15,147 14,052 21,868
Basic Earnings per share - as reported 1.73 1.59 2.37
Basic Earnings per share - pro forma 1.62 1.48 2.28
Diluted Earnings per share - as reported 1.65 1.53 2.21
Diluted Earnings per share - pro forma 1.56 1.44 2.14
The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions used for grants in 2001, 2000 and 1999: expected dividend yield of
2.75 percent in 2001, and 2.50 percent in 2000 and 1999. Expected volatility of
24.2 percent in 2001, 24.7 percent in 2000 and 26.7 percent in 1999; expected
lives of 7.5 years; and risk-free interest rate of 5.14 percent in 2001, 6.72
percent in 2000 and 5.21 percent in 1999.
A summary of the status of the Company's stock option plans at December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999, and changes during the years then ended is presented as
follows:
Weighted- Weighted- Weighted-
Average Average Average
2001 Exercise 2000 Exercise 1999 Exercise
Shares Price Shares Price Shares Price
---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Options outstanding,
beginning of year 1,502,899 $20.49 1,222,363 $19.38 1,247,591 $18.76
Options exercised (192,650) 16.35 (113,950) 12.26 (85,250) 12.76
Options canceled (78,171) 24.48 (24,238) 25.43 (4,036) 30.97
Options granted 26,630 23.30 418,724 21.77 64,058 23.42
---------- ---------- ----------
Options outstanding,
end of year 1,258,708 20.93 1,502,899 20.49 1,222,363 19.38
---------- ---------- ----------
Option price range $ 14.000- $ 12.563- $ 9.438-
at end of year 30.969 30.969 30.969
Option price range $ 12.563- $ 9.438- $ 9.438-
for exercised shares 19.750 19.750 19.750
Options available for grant
at end of year 912,616 861,075 255,561
Weighted-average fair value
of options granted during
the year $ 6.22 $ 6.94 $ 6.98
Options exercisable 876,858 1,034,668 931,802
A summary of stock options outstanding at December 31, 2001, is as follows:
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
------------------------------------- -----------------------
Weighted-
Average Weighted- Weighted-
Number Remaining Average Number Average
Range of Outstanding Contractual Exercise Exercisable Exercise
Exercise Price at 12/31/01 Life Price at 12/31/01 Price
--------------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- ---------
$14.000 270,000 2.23 $14.00 270,000 $14.00
$18.219 - $19.750 350,202 3.78 19.34 350,202 19.34
$21.750 - $30.969 638,506 7.47 24.74 256,656 28.99
--------- -------
1,258,708 5.32 $20.93 876,858 $20.52
========= =======
10. Pension Plans
The Company has non-contributory defined benefit plans covering substantially
all employees and two non-qualified defined benefit pension plans (a
supplemental executive plan and an outside directors plan). The benefits under
these plans are based primarily on years of service and compensation levels. The
Company funds the qualified pension plans up to the maximum amount deductible
for income tax purposes. The plans' assets consist principally of marketable
equity securities and government and corporate debt securities. The plans'
assets at December 31, 2001 and 2000, included $10,239,000 and $10,023,000,
respectively, of the Company's common stock.
Net 2001, 2000 and 1999 periodic pension cost for the plans consisted of the
following:
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000 1999
------- ------- -------
Service cost $ 2,273 $ 2,119 $ 2,415
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 4,434 4,190 3,813
Expected return on plan assets (6,233) (5,812) (5,156)
Amortization of unrecognized net transition
assets -- (557) (557)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost 475 437 412
Amortization of unrecognized net loss(gain) (418) (477) 79
------- ------- -------
Net pension expense(income) $ 531 $ (100) $ 1,006
======= ======= =======
Changes in benefit obligations for the years ending December 31, 2001 and 2000,
were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000
------- -------
Benefit obligation at beginning of year $59,714 $53,243
Service cost 2,273 2,119
Interest cost 4,434 4,190
Plan amendments 92 844
Actuarial loss 2,598 1,522
Benefits paid (2,211) (2,204)
------- -------
Benefit obligation at end of year $66,900 $59,714
======= =======
Changes in the fair value of plan assets during years 2001 and 2000 were as
follows:
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000
------- -------
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $73,664 $76,249
Actual return on plan assets (8,319) (792)
Employer contributions 185 411
Benefits paid (2,211) (2,204)
------- -------
Fair value of plan assets at end of the year $63,319 $73,664
======= =======
The reconciliation of the funded status of the plans at December 31 was as
follows:
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000
------- --------
Plan assets (less than) in excess of $(3,581) $ 13,950
projected benefit obligations
Unrecognized prior service cost 2,173 2,556
Unrecognized net loss(gain) 6,211 (11,359)
------- --------
Net amount recognized $ 4,803 $ 5,147
======= ========
The foregoing accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets
amounts include both overfunded and underfunded plans. At December 31,
2001, the projected benefit obligation, the accumulated benefit obligation
and fair value of plan assets for the underfunded plans were $15,508,000,
$15,026,000 and $9,940,000, respectively.
The amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31
consisted of the following:
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000
------- -------
Prepaid benefit cost $ 6,762 $ 7,558
Accrued benefit liability (5,037) (3,480)
Intangible asset 1,499 1,069
Accumulated other comprehensive loss 1,579 --
------- -------
Net amount recognized $ 4,803 $ 5,147
======= =======
The prepaid benefit cost and intangible asset amounts are included in the
"Other Assets" caption of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accumulated
other comprehensive loss amount is included in the "Stockholders' Equity"
section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The weighted-average assumptions as of December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, were as
follows:
2001 2000 1999
----------- ---------- -----------
Discount rate 7.25% 7.50% 7.75%
Expected return on plan assets 8.50% 8.50% 8.50%
Rate of compensation increase 4.00%-6.00% 4.00%-6.00% 4.25%-6.25%
The plans' net transitional assets are fully amortized as of December 31,
2001. The prior service costs are being amortized over the average remaining
service lives of employees expected to receive benefits.
11. Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consisted of:
December 31
-----------------
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000
------- -------
Accrued payroll and benefits $15,817 $14,829
Accrued customer discounts 8,669 9,800
Other accrued liabilities 10,518 12,273
------- -------
Total accrued liabilities $35,004 $36,902
======= =======
12. Other Non-Current Liabilities
Other non-current liabilities were comprised of the following:
December 31
-----------------
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000
------- -------
Deferred revenue $ 2,568 $ 3,264
Environmental and legal matters 13,964 13,632
Other non-current liabilities 4,869 2,379
------- -------
Total other non-current liabilities $21,401 $19,275
======= =======
During and prior to 1998, the Company received prepayments on certain multi-year
commitments for future shipments of products. As the commitments are fulfilled,
a proportionate share of the deferred revenue is recognized into income. In
2000, the term of a current contract was extended, and the recognition rate of
deferred revenue into income was revised to correspond to the extended term.
Related deferred revenue at December 31, 2001 and 2000, were $3,297,000 and
$3,767,200, respectively, of which the amount recognizable within one year is
included in the "Accrued Liabilities" caption in the Consolidated Balance
Sheets.
13. Contingencies
There are a variety of legal proceedings pending or threatened against the
Company. Some of these proceedings may result in fines, penalties, judgments or
costs being assessed against the Company at some future time. The Company's
operations are subject to extensive local, state and federal regulations,
including the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and the Superfund amendments of 1986
("Superfund"). The Company and others have been named as potentially responsible
parties at affected geographic sites. The Company believes that it has made
adequate provisions for the costs it may incur with respect to these sites.
After partial remediation payments at certain sites, the Company has
estimated a range of possible environmental and legal losses from $7.4 million
to $35.0 million at December 31,
2001, compared to $7.5 million to $35.0 million at December 31, 2000. At
December 31, 2001, the Company's best estimate of reserve for such losses was
$17.0 million for legal and environmental matters compared to $16.6 million at
December 31, 2000. The Company made payments of $2.6 million in 2001 and $2.5
million in 2000 related to legal costs, settlements and costs related to
remedial design studies at various sites.
For certain sites, estimates cannot be made of the total costs of
compliance, or the Company's share of such costs; accordingly, the Company is
unable to predict the effect thereof on future results of operations. In the
event of one or more adverse determinations in any annual or interim period, the
impact on results of operations for those periods could be material. However,
based upon the Company's present belief as to its relative involvement at these
sites, other viable entities' responsibilities for cleanup, and the extended
period over which any costs would be incurred, the Company believes that these
matters will not have a material effect on the Company's financial position.
Following are summaries of proceedings related to the Company's environmental
sites:
Maywood, New Jersey, Site
The Company's site in Maywood, New Jersey and property formerly owned by the
Company adjacent to its current site, were listed on the National Priorities
List in September 1993 pursuant to the provisions of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) because of
certain alleged chemical contamination. Pursuant to an Administrative Order on
Consent entered into between the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA) and the Company for property formerly owned by the Company, and the
issuance of an order by USEPA to the Company for property currently owned by the
Company, the Company completed a Remedial Investigation Feasibility Study
(RI/FS) in 1994. The Company submitted the Draft Final FS for Soil and Source
Areas (Operable Unit 1) in September 2002. In addition, the Company has also
submitted additional information regarding the remediation, most recently in
October 2002. Discussions between USEPA and the Company are continuing. The
Company is awaiting the issuance of a Record of Decision (ROD) from USEPA
relating to the currently owned and formerly owned Company property and the
proposed remediation. The final ROD will be issued sometime after the public
comment period.
In 1985, the Company entered into a Cooperative Agreement with the United
States of America represented by the Department of Energy (Agreement). Pursuant
to this Agreement, the Department of Energy (DOE) took title to radiological
contaminated materials and was to remediate, at its expense, all radiological
waste on the Company's property in Maywood, New Jersey. The Maywood property
(and portions of the surrounding area) were remediated by the DOE under the
Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, a federal program under which
the U.S. Government undertook to remediate properties which were used to process
radiological material for the U.S. Government. In 1997, responsibility for this
clean-up was transferred to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
On January 29, 1999, the Company received a copy of a USACE Report to Congress
dated January 1998 in which the USACE expressed their intention to evaluate,
with the USEPA, whether the Company and/or other parties might be responsible
for cost recovery or contribution claims related to the Maywood site. Subsequent
to the issuance of that report, the USACE advised the Company that it had
requested legal advice from the Department of Justice as to the impact of the
Agreement.
By letter dated July 28, 2000, the Department of Justice advised the
Company that the USACE and USEPA had referred to the Justice Department claims
against the Company for response costs incurred or to be incurred by the USACE,
USEPA and the DOE in connection with the Maywood site and the Justice Department
stated that the United States is entitled to recovery of its response costs from
the company under CERCLA. The letter referred to both radiological and
non-radiological hazardous waste at the Maywood site and stated that the United
States has incurred unreimbursed response costs to date of $138 million. Costs
associated with radiological waste at the Maywood site, which the Company
believes represent all but a small portion of the amount referred to in the
Justice Department letter, could be expected to aggregate substantially in
excess of that amount. In the letter, the Justice Department invited the Company
to discuss settlement of the matter in order to avoid the need for litigation.
The Company believes that its liability, if any, for such costs has been
resolved by the aforesaid Agreement. Despite the fact that the Company continues
to believe that it has no liability to the United States for such costs,
discussions with the Justice Department are currently ongoing to attempt to
resolve this matter. The Company believes it has adequate reserves for claims
associated with the Maywood site. However, depending on the results of the
ongoing discussions regarding the Maywood site, the final cost of the
remediation could differ from the current estimates.
Ewan and D'Imperio Sites
The Company has been named as a potentially responsible party (PRP) in the case
USEPA v. Jerome Lightman (92 CV 4710 D. N. J.) which involves the Ewan and
D'Imperio Superfund Sites located in New Jersey. Trial on the issue of the
Company's liability at these sites was completed in March 2000. The Company is
awaiting a decision from the court. If the Company is found liable at either
site, a second trial as to the Company's allocated share of clean-up costs at
these sites will likely be held in 2003. The Company believes it has adequate
defenses to the issue of liability. In the event of an unfavorable outcome
related to the issue of liability, the Company believes it has adequate
reserves.
Lightman Drum Site
The Company received a Section 104(e) Request for Information from USEPA dated
March 21, 2000, regarding the Lightman Drum Company Site located in Winslow
Township, New Jersey. The Company responded to this request on May 18, 2000. In
addition, the Company received a Notice of Potential Liability and Request to
Perform RI/FS dated June 30, 2000, from USEPA. The Company has decided that it
will participate in the performance of the RI/FS. However, based on the current
information known regarding this site, the Company is unable to predict what its
liability, if any, will be for this site.
Liquid Dynamics Site
The Company received a General Notice of Potential Liability letter from the
USEPA dated October 18, 2002, regarding the Liquid Dynamics Site located in
Chicago, Illinois. The Company submitted a response to USEPA on November 5,
2002, stating that it is interested in negotiating a resolution of its potential
responsibility at this site. Based on the fact that the
Company believes it is a de minimis PRP at this site, the Company believes that
a resolution of its liability at this site will not have a material impact on
the financial condition of the Company.
Wilmington Site
During the third quarter of 1994, the Company received and responded to a
Request for Information from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection relating to the Company's formerly-owned site at 51
Eames Street, Wilmington, Massachusetts. The Company received a copy of another
Request for Information regarding this site dated October 18, 2002. The
Company's response to this request is due on November 29, 2002. The Company is
currently investigating this matter and therefore, cannot predict what its
liability, if any, will be for this site.
14. Segment Reporting
The Company has three reportable segments: surfactants, polymers and specialty
products. Each segment provides distinct products and requires separate
management due to unique markets, technologies and production processes.
Surfactants are used in a variety of consumer and industrial cleaning compounds
as well as in agricultural products, lubricating ingredients and other
specialized applications. Polymers derive its revenues from the sale of phthalic
anhydride, polyurethane polyols and polyurethane systems used in plastics,
building materials and refrigeration systems. Specialty products sell chemicals
used in food, flavoring and pharmaceutical applications.
The Company evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates
resources based on operating income before interest income/expense, other
income/expense items and income tax provisions. The accounting policies of the
reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of
significant accounting policies. All intercompany transactions are eliminated
from segments' revenues.
Segment data for the three years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, was as
follows:
Specialty Segment
(Dollars in thousands) Surfactants Polymers Products Totals
----------- -------- --------- --------
2001
Net sales $558,927 $127,722 $24,868 $711,517
Operating income 35,168 17,264 7,807 60,239
Assets 337,880 43,427 17,724 399,031
Capital expenditures 22,408 2,529 1,689 26,626
Depreciation and amortization
expense 30,472 5,656 1,290 37,418
Specialty Segment
(Dollars in thousands) Surfactants Polymers Products Totals
----------- -------- --------- --------
2000
Net sales $537,006 $140,786 $21,145 $698,937
Operating income 41,718 21,001 3,130 65,849
Assets 310,820 53,314 18,121 382,255
Capital expenditures 23,333 3,427 986 27,746
Depreciation and amortization
expense 30,276 5,981 1,334 37,591
1999
Net sales $547,359 $126,774 $20,526 $694,659
Operating income 51,123 21,453 4,454 77,030
Assets 315,580 52,434 18,760 386,774
Capital expenditures 24,423 4,846 807 30,076
Depreciation and amortization
expense 31,091 5,856 1,128 38,075
Below are reconciliations of segment data to the accompanying consolidated
financial statements:
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000 1999
-------- -------- --------
Operating income - segment totals $ 60,239 $ 65,849 $ 77,030
Unallocated corporate expenses(a) (29,407) (34,491) (35,008)
Interest expense (6,903) (7,586) (7,681)
Income from equity in joint venture 1,869 703 1,427
-------- -------- --------
Consolidated income before income taxes $ 25,798 $ 24,475 $ 35,768
======== ======== ========
Assets - segment totals $399,031 $382,255 $386,774
Unallocated corporate assets(b) 39,724 35,337 31,988
-------- -------- --------
Consolidated assets $438,755 $417,592 $418,762
======== ======== ========
Capital expenditures - segment totals $ 26,626 $ 27,746 $ 30,076
Unallocated corporate expenditures 7,388 696 2,621
-------- -------- --------
Consolidated capital expenditures $ 34,014 $ 28,442 $ 32,697
======== ======== ========
Depreciation and amortization expense - segment
totals $ 37,418 $ 37,591 $ 38,075
Unallocated corporate depreciation expense 2,554 1,686 1,377
-------- -------- --------
Consolidated depreciation
and amortization expense $ 39,972 $ 39,277 $ 39,452
======== ======== ========
(a) Includes corporate administrative and corporate manufacturing expenses
which are not included in segment operating income and not used to evaluate
segment performance.
(b) Includes items such as deferred tax asset, prepaid pension asset, joint
venture investment, long term investments, corporate fixed assets and LIFO
inventory reserve which are not allocated to segments.
Company-wide geographic data for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and
1999, is as follows (net sales attributed to countries based on selling
location):
(Dollars in thousands) 2001 2000 1999
-------- -------- --------
Net sales
United States $550,208 $569,357 $553,966
All foreign countries 161,309 129,580 140,693
-------- -------- --------
Total $711,517 $698,937 $694,659
======== ======== ========
Long-lived assets
United States $172,090 $180,369 $193,436
All foreign countries 39,343 17,778 15,045
-------- -------- --------
Total $211,433 $198,147 $208,481
======== ======== ========
15. Earnings Per Share
Below is the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years
ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999:
(In thousands, except per share amounts) 2001 2000 1999
-------- ------- -------
Computation of Basic Earnings per Share
Net income $16,072 $15,052 $22,725
Deduct dividends on preferred stock 802 815 858
-------- ------- -------
Income applicable to common stock $15,270 $14,237 $21,867
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding 8,837 8,948 9,232
-------- ------- -------
Basic earnings per share $ 1.73 $ 1.59 $ 2.37
======== ======= =======
Computation of Diluted Earnings per Share
Net income $16,072 $15,052 $22,725
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding 8,837 8,948 9,232
Add net shares from assumed exercise of options
(under treasury stock method) 218 203 324
Add weighted-average shares from assumed
conversion of convertible preferred stock 666 678 716
-------- ------- -------
Shares applicable to diluted earnings 9,721 9,829 10,272
-------- ------- -------
Diluted earnings per share $ 1.65 $ 1.53 $ 2.21
======== ======= =======
16. Subsequent Events
During March 2002, the Company's Stepan Europe subsidiary completed an $11.7
million (denominated in euros) bank term loan as long-term financing for a
portion of the Manro acquisition. This loan will mature in 7 years and bears
interest at rates set quarterly, based on 90-day EURIBOR plus 1.825 percent.
The U.S. parent does not guaranty this loan.
In May 2002, the Company replaced its existing U.S. bank revolver with a new
loan agreement. The new revolver will provide up to $60 million of committed
funding for general corporate purposes and may be drawn upon as needed through
May 2, 2007. This arrangement provides for borrowings at various interest rates
based, at the Company's option, on LIBOR plus a margin or at the bank's prime
rate.
During September 2002, the Company completed a new $30 million private placement
loan with its existing insurance Company lenders. The proceeds of the loan were
used to repay existing bank debt. The new loan is unsecured and will bear
interest at 6.86 percent through the stated maturity date of September 1, 2015.
Quarterly Financial Data
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
2001 2000
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
As As
Previously Previously
Reported Adjustments As Restated Reported Adjustments As Restated
---------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- -----------
First Quarter
Net Sales $176,857 -- $176,857 $174,988 -- $174,988
Gross Profit 25,901 -- 25,901 27,083 -- 27,083
Interest, net (1,956) $ 51 (1,905) (2,051) $ 88 (1,963)
Pre-tax Income 6,000 136 6,136 7,003 362 7,365
Net Income 3,628 82 3,710 4,271 220 4,491
Net Income
per Share (Diluted) 0.36 0.02 0.38 0.41 0.04 0.45
Second Quarter
Net Sales $182,767 -- $182,767 $177,897 -- $177,897
Gross Profit 29,701 -- 29,701 30,680 -- 30,680
Interest, net (1,805) $ 48 (1,757) (2,186) $ 107 (2,079)
Pre-tax Income / (Loss) 10,040 (1,222) 8,818 10,859 (513) 10,346
Net Income / (Loss) 6,173 (746) 5,427 6,625 (312) 6,313
Net Income/(Loss)
per Share (Diluted) 0.61 (0.05) 0.56 0.64 -- 0.64
Third Quarter
Net Sales $173,829 -- $173,829 $176,608 -- $176,608
Gross Profit 26,483 -- 26,483 29,025 -- 29,025
Interest, net (1,819) $ 106 (1,713) (2,099) $ 247 (1,852)
Pre-tax Income 7,335 3,870 11,205 9,989 1,325 11,314
Net Income 4,481 2,365 6,846 6,233 813 7,046
Net Income
per Share (Diluted) 0.44 0.26 0.70 0.61 0.11 0.72
Fourth Quarter
Net Sales $178,064 -- $178,064 $169,444 -- $169,444
Gross Profit 25,144 -- 25,144 25,238 -- 25,238
Interest, net (1,588) $ 60 (1,528) (1,992) $ 300 (1,692)
Pre-tax Income / (Loss) 2,551 (2,912) (361) (3,448) (1,102) (4,550)
Net Income / (Loss) 1,870 (1,781) 89 (2,121) (677) (2,798)
Net Income/(Loss)
per Share (Diluted) 0.18 (0.19) (0.01) (0.25) (0.09) (0.34)
Year
Net Sales $711,517 -- $711,517 $698,937 -- $698,937
Gross Profit 107,229 -- 107,229 112,026 -- 112,026
Interest, net (7,168) $ 265 (6,903) (8,328) $ 742 (7,586)
Pre-tax Income / (Loss) 25,926 (128) 25,798 24,403 72 24,475
Net Income / (Loss) 16,152 (80) 16,072 15,008 44 15,052
Net Income
per Share (Diluted) 1.59 0.06 1.65 1.47 0.06 1.53
See Note 2, Restatement
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure
On April 29, 2002, the Company ended its engagement of Arthur Andersen LLP and
retained Deloitte & Touche LLP as its independent accountants. At that time, the
Company filed a current report on Form 8-K/A dated May 16, 2002. The text of the
Form 8-K/A Report that was filed follows:
On April 29, 2002, the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors of the
Company decided to no longer engage Arthur Andersen LLP ("Andersen") as the
Company's independent public accountants and engaged Deloitte & Touche LLP
("Deloitte") to serve as the Company's independent public accountants for the
fiscal year 2002 effective May 16, 2002.
Andersen's reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements for
each of the years ended 2001 and 2000 did not contain an adverse opinion or
disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty,
audit scope or accounting principles.
During the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the subsequent
interim period through May 16, 2002, there were no disagreements with Andersen
on any matter of accounting principle or practice, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Andersen's
satisfaction, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter in
connection with their report on the Company's consolidated financial statements
for such years or its review report on the Company's financial statements for
the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2002, and there were no reportable events as
defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K within the years ended December
31, 2001 and 2000, and the subsequent interim period through May 16, 2002.
The Company provided Andersen with a copy of the foregoing disclosures.
Andersen's letter, dated May 16, 2002, stating its agreement with such
statements, was attached as Exhibit 16 of the Form 8-K/A.
During the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the subsequent
interim period through May 16, 2002, the Company did not consult Deloitte with
respect to the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction,
either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be
rendered on the Company's consolidated financial statements, or any other
matters or reportable events as set forth in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) or
Regulation S-K.
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
(a) Directors
See Company's Proxy Statement dated March 28, 2002, for Directors of the
Registrant, which is incorporated by reference herein.
(b) Executive Officers
See Executive Officers of the Registrant in Part 1 above.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
See Company's Proxy Statement dated March 28, 2002 which is incorporated by
reference herein.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
See Company's Proxy Statement dated March 28, 2002 which is incorporated by
reference herein.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
None
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) Financial Statements
See Item 8 for the Consolidated Financial Statements and supplementary
data included in this Form 10-K/A.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
None
(c) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index filed herewith
(d) Supplementary Schedule
See Supplemental Schedule to Consolidated Financial Statements filed
herewith
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.
STEPAN COMPANY
By: /s/ James E. Hurlbutt
---------------------------------------
Vice President and Corporate Controller
November 22, 2002
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 and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ F. Quinn Stepan Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director November 22, 2002
----------------------------
F. Quinn Stepan
/s/ F. Quinn Stepan, Jr. President, Chief Operating Officer and Director November 22, 2002
----------------------------
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.
/s/ James E. Hurlbutt Vice President and Corporate Controller November 22, 2002
----------------------------
James E. Hurlbutt
/s/ James A. Hartlage Senior Vice President - Technology and Operations November 22, 2002
---------------------------- and Director
James A. Hartlage
/s/ Thomas F. Grojean Director November 22, 2002
----------------------------
Thomas F. Grojean
/s/ Paul H. Stepan Director November 22, 2002
----------------------------
Paul H. Stepan
/s/ Robert D. Cadieux Director November 22, 2002
----------------------------
Robert D. Cadieux
/s/ Robert G. Potter Director November 22, 2002
----------------------------
Robert G. Potter
James E. Hurlbutt, pursuant to powers of attorney executed by each of the
directors and officers listed above, does hereby execute this report on behalf
of each of such directors and officers in the capacity in which the name of each
appears above.
November 22, 2002
James E. Hurlbutt
CERTIFICATIONS
I, F. Quinn Stepan, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this amended annual report on Form 10-K/A of Stepan
Company;
2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report, as amended, does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this annual report, as amended; and
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this annual report, as amended, fairly present in
all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and
cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
annual report, as amended.
Date: November 22, 2002 /s/ F. Quinn Stepan
--------------------------------------
F. Quinn Stepan
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
CERTIFICATIONS
I, James E. Hurlbutt, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this amended annual report on Form 10-K/A of Stepan
Company;
2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report, as amended, does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this annual report, as amended; and
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this annual report, as amended, fairly present in
all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and
cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
annual report, as amended.
Date: November 22, 2002 /s/ James E. Hurlbutt
------------------------------------------
James E. Hurlbutt
Vice President & Corporate Controller
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2001, 2000 AND 1999
AS REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH REGULATION S-X
Schedule II - Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
Below is an analysis of the allowance for doubtful accounts for the three
years ended December 31:
(In Thousands) 2001 2000 1999
------ ------ ------
Balance, Beginning of Year $3,154 $2,389 $2,263
Provision/(Benefit) charged to income (156) 1,281 222
Accounts written off, net of recoveries (726) (516) (96)
------ ------ ------
Balance, End of Year $2,272 $3,154 $2,389
====== ====== ======
Certain supplemental schedules are not submitted because they are not
applicable or not required, or because the required information is included in
the financial statements or notes thereto.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
No. Description
------- -----------
(3)a Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, and the Certificates of
Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, dated May 6, 1968, April
20, 1972, April 16, 1973, December 2, 1983. Filed with the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1983, and
incorporated herein by reference.
(3)a(1) Copy of Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation,
dated May 24, 1999. (Note 13)
(3)b Copy of the Bylaws of the Company as through February 15, 1999. (Note
14)
(3)c Copy of Certificate of Amendment, dated April 28, 1993, to Article IV
of Certificate of Incorporation. (Note 7)
(3)d Copy of Certificate of Amendment, dated May 5, 1987, to Article X of
Certificate of Incorporation. (Note 1)
(4)h Copy of Loan Agreement, dated June 15, 1995, with Aid Association for
Lutherans, the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and The
Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. (Note 10)
(4)i Copy of Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated February 20,
1990, with The First National Bank of Chicago and the amendment, dated
March 21, 1990. (Note 3)
(4)m Copy of Second Amendment, dated September 20, 1991, amending Revolving
Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated February 20, 1990 (see (4)i
above). (Note 4)
(4)m(1) Copy of Third Amendment, dated December 29, 1992, amending Revolving
Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated February 20, 1990 (see (4)i and
(4)m above). (Note 8)
(4)m(2) Copy of Fourth Amendment, dated May 31, 1994, amending Revolving
Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated February 20, 1990 (see (4)i,
(4)m and (4)m(1) above). (Note 9)
(4)n(1) Copy of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of the 5
1/2% Convertible Preferred Stock, without Par Value and the Amended
Certificate, dated August 12, 1992 and April 28, 1993. (Note 7)
(4)n(2) Copy of Issuer Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 13E-4, dated August
13, 1992. (Note 6)
(4)n(3) Copy of Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13E-4 (see also (4)n(2) above),
dated September 23, 1992. (Note 6)
(4)n(4) Copy of the Company's Form 8-A, dated August 13, 1992. (Note 6)
(4)o Copy of Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated January 9,
1998, with The First National Bank of Chicago. (Note 11)
(4)o(1) Copy of Certificate of Amendment, dated March 12, 1999, amending
Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated January 9, 1998. (Note
12)
(4)p Copy of Term Loan Agreement, dated October 1, 1998, with The
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and Connecticut General
Life Insurance Company. (Note 14)
(4)r Copy of Revolving Credit Agreement, dated May 3, 2002, with Bank One,
NA (as agent bank). (Note 17)
In accordance with 601(b)(4) (iii) of Regulation S-K, certain debt
instruments are omitted, where the amount of securities authorized
under such instruments does not exceed 10% of the total consolidated
assets of the Registrant. Copies of such instruments will be furnished
to the Commission upon request.
(10)a Description of the 1965 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan. (Note 2)
(10)b Copy of the 1969 Management Incentive Compensation Plan as amended and
restated as of January 1, 1992. (Note 5)
(10)d Copy of the 1982 Stock Option Plan. (Note 2)
(10)e Copy of Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan. (Note 3)
(10)f Copy of the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan. (Note 5)
(10)g Copy of the Company's 2000 Stock Option Plan. (Note 15)
(16) Letter regarding change in certifying accountant (Note 16)
(18) Letter re change in accounting principle for the year ended December
31, 1992. (Note 8)
(21) Subsidiaries of Registrant at December 31, 2001.
(23) Independent Auditors' Consent.
(24) Power of Attorney.
(99.1) Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Corporate Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
(99.2) Copy of Note Purchase Agreement, dated September 1, 2002, with The
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and MONY Life
Insurance Company (Note 18)
Notes To Exhibit Index
Note
No.
----
1. Filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1987, and incorporated herein by reference.
2. Filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1988, and incorporated herein by reference.
3. Filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1989, and incorporated herein by reference.
4. Filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1991, and incorporated herein by reference.
5. Filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 1992, and incorporated herein by reference.
6. Filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1992, and incorporated herein by reference.
7. Filed with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 28,
1993, and incorporated herein by reference.
8. Filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1992, and incorporated herein by reference.
9. Filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1994, and incorporated herein by reference.
10. Filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 1995, and incorporated herein by reference.
11. Filed with the Company's Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference.
12. Filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference.
13. Filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference.
14. Filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
15. Filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference.
16. Filed with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on May 16,
2002, and incorporated herein by reference.
17. Filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference.
18. Filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference.