Myers Industries - 10-Q quarterly report FY2011 Q2

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Myers Industries, Inc. and all wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), and have been prepared without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information not misleading. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K.

In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of June 30, 2011, and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that will occur for the year ending December 31, 2011.

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Updated No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) — Presentation of Comprehensive Income. The new accounting standard will require companies to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either as one continuous statement or two separate but consecutive statements. The update eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in equity. The Company plans to adopt this guidance beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The Company does not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, as this guidance modifies presentation of other comprehensive income already disclosed in the financial statements.

The Company follows guidance included in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, for its financial assets and liabilities, as required. The guidance established a common definition for fair value to be applied to U.S. GAAP requiring the use of fair value, established a framework for measuring fair value, and expanded disclosure requirements about such fair value measurements. The guidance did not require any new fair value measurements, but rather applied to all other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. Under ASC 820, the hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value is divided into three levels:

The fair value of the Company’s cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses are considered to have a fair value which approximates carrying value due to the nature and relative short maturity of these assets and liabilities.

The fair value of debt under the Company’s Credit Agreement approximates carrying value due to the floating interest rates and relative short maturity (less than 90 days) of the revolving borrowings under this agreement. The fair value of the Company’s $35 million fixed rate senior notes was estimated at $38.4 million at June 30, 2011 using market observable inputs for the Company’s comparable peers with public debt, including quoted prices in active markets and interest rate measurements which are considered level 2 inputs.

Approximately 27 percent of the Company’s inventories use the last in first out (LIFO) method of determining cost. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can be made only at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations must necessarily be based on management’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs. Because these are subject to many factors beyond management’s control, estimated interim results are subject to change in the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation and therefore, no adjustment was recorded at June 30, 2011.

On July 21, 2010, the Company acquired the assets of Enviro-Fill, Inc., a developer of a new fuel overfill prevention and fuel vapor capture system. The total purchase price was approximately $1.5 million, including contingent liabilities for additional future consideration. The allocation of purchase price includes $0.8 million of amortizable intangible assets and $0.7 million of goodwill. These assets were recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition using primarily level 2 and 3 inputs. The Enviro-Fill business is included in the Company’s Engineered Products Segment.

The change in goodwill for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was as follows:

On February 1, 2007, the Company sold its former Material Handling — Europe business segment. On November 10, 2010, the French Tax Authorities issued a notice of assessment to the buyer, and current owner, of these businesses. The assessment related to business taxes for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008, and totaled 1.5 million euros. As part of the sale agreement, the Company provided indemnification to the current owner for any taxes, interest, penalties and reasonable costs related to these businesses for periods through the date of sale. On January 13, 2011, the Company filed a Notice of Claim to protest the assessment with the French Tax Authorities. The Company and its French legal counsel believe that the basis for the assessment is not valid, and accordingly, will continue to appeal the claim through all available means. Accordingly, no amounts have been recognized in the financial statements related to this matter.

Net income (loss) per common share, as shown on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss), is determined on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period as follows:

Options to purchase 1,172,729 and 1,757,404 shares of common stock that were outstanding at June 30, 2011 were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, as the exercise price of these options was greater than the average market price of common shares, and their effect would be anti-dilutive. Options to purchase 1,584,830 that were outstanding at June 30, 2010 were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 as the exercise price of these options was greater than the average market price of common shares, and their effect would be anti-dilutive. In addition, 119,232 dilutive common shares were excluded from the computation of the loss per common share in the three months ended June 30, 2010 due to the Company’s net loss position.

The Company’s cash payments for interest and income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

A summary of comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the balance in the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income is comprised of the following:

During the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded total expenses of $1.2 million and $1.7 million, respectively, for costs associated with restructuring plans including impairment of property, plant and equipment, lease obligations, severance, consulting and other related charges. Impairment charges for property, plant and equipment were based on appraisals or estimated market values of similar assets which are considered level 2 inputs. Estimated lease obligations associated with closed facilities were based on level 2 inputs.

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company recorded expenses of $0.6 million and $1.2 million, respectively, related to restructuring activities. The restructuring costs included charges of $0.3 million and $0.7 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, related to the Distribution Segment and a $0.3 million write-down for an idle Lawn and Garden manufacturing facility from the first quarter of 2011.

In the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recorded expenses of approximately $0.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively, for restructuring costs that were primarily related to rigging and transportation costs in connection with the movement of certain machinery and equipment between facilities. In addition, during the first quarter of 2010 the Company sold its closed Material Handling plant in Shelbyville, Kentucky for $5.1 million and recorded a gain on the sale of $0.7 million.

The accrued liability balance for severance and other exit costs associated with restructuring is included in Other Accrued expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Activity related to the Company’s restructuring reserves as of June 30, 2011 is as follows:

As a result of restructuring activity and plant closures, approximately $5.0 million of property, plant, and equipment has been classified as held for sale at both June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and is included in other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

The Company’s 2008 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2008 Plan”) authorizes the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors to issue up to 3,000,000 shares of various types of stock based awards including stock options, restricted stock and stock appreciation rights to key employees and directors. In general, options granted and outstanding vest over three to five years and expire ten years from the date of grant.

Stock compensation expense was $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, respectively. Stock compensation expense was $1.6 million and $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Stock compensation is included in SG&A expense in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested share based compensation arrangements at June 30, 2011 was approximately $3.9 million which is expected to be recognized over the next three years.

On March 3, 2011, 355,025 stock option shares were granted with a three year vesting period. The fair value of these option shares was estimated using a Trinomial Lattice option pricing model based on assumptions set forth in the following table. The Company uses historical data to estimate employee exercise and departure behavior. The risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant and through the expected term. The dividend yield rate is based on the Company’s historical dividend yield, and expected volatility is derived from historical volatility of the Company’s shares and those of similar companies measured against the market as a whole.

The following table summarizes the stock option activity for the six months ended June 30, 2011:

The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 was approximately $4 and $13, respectively.

In addition, at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had outstanding 291,850 and 177,250 shares of restricted stock, respectively, with vesting periods through March 2014. The restricted stock awards are rights to receive shares of common stock subject to forfeiture and other restrictions, which generally vest over a three to four year period.

As of December 31, 2010, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $5.8 million of which $5.5 million would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate. The unrecognized tax benefits include $4.2 million from the tax position taken on the Company’s 2007 U.S. Corporate Income Tax Return relating to the loss on the sale of its European Material Handling business. The amount of accrued interest expense related to uncertain tax positions within the Company’s consolidated financial position at December 31, 2010 was $0.4 million. No material changes have occurred in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits during the six months ended June 30, 2011.

The Company recognizes accrued amounts of interest and penalties related to its uncertain tax positions as part of its income tax expense within its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

As of June 30, 2011, the Company and its significant subsidiaries are subject to examination for the years after 2004 in Brazil, after 2005 in Canada, and after 2006 in the United States. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to examination in certain states within the United States starting after 2005 and in the remaining states after 2006 and 2007.

In the current year, certain unrecognized tax benefits, including $4.2 million related to the Company’s 2007 sale of its European Material Handling business, are expected to be recognized in the quarter ending September 30, 2011.

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have pension and profit sharing plans covering substantially all of their employees. The Company’s frozen defined benefit pension plan provides benefits primarily based upon a fixed amount for each year of service as defined. The net periodic pension cost for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, are as follows:

As of June 30, 2011, the Company made contributions of $76 to the pension plan and expects to make contributions totaling $268 in 2011.

The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits and a party to various other legal proceedings, in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. We believe that the outcome of these lawsuits and other proceedings will not individually or in the aggregate have a future material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

A number of parties, including the Company and its subsidiary, Buckhorn Inc., were identified in a planning document adopted in October 2008 by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region (RWQCB). The planning document relates to the presence of mercury, including amounts contained in mining wastes, in and around the Guadalupe River Watershed (Watershed) region in Santa Clara County, California. Buckhorn has been alleged to be a successor in interest to an entity that performed mining operations in a portion of the Watershed area. The Company has not been contacted by the RWQCB with respect to Watershed clean-up efforts that may result from the adoption of this planning document. The extent of the mining wastes that may be the subject of future cleanup has yet to be determined, and the actions of the RWQCB have not yet advanced to the stage where a reasonable estimate of remediation cost, if any, is available. Although assertion of a claim by the RWQCB is reasonably possible, it is not possible at this time to estimate the amount of any obligation the Company may incur for these cleanup efforts within the Watershed region, or whether such cost would be material to the Company’s financial statements.

In October 2009, an employee was fatally wounded while performing maintenance at the Company’s manufacturing facility in Springfield, Missouri. On February 22, 2011, the family of the deceased filed a civil complaint against the manufacturer of the press involved in the incident and the Buckhorn Inc. employee involved in the incident. Buckhorn Inc. has not been named as a party to this lawsuit. At this time the Company is not able to determine whether this proceeding or the incident will result in legal exposure to the Company, or if any such liability that results would be material to the Company’s financial statements. The Company believes that it has adequate insurance to resolve any claims resulting from this incident.

Using the criteria of ASC 280 Segment Reporting, the Company has four operating segments: Lawn and Garden, Material Handling, Distribution, and Engineered Products. Each of these operating segments is also a reportable segment under the ASC 280 criteria.

None of the reportable segments include operating segments that have been aggregated. Some of these segments contain individual business components that have been aggregated on the basis of common management, customers, products, production processes and other economic characteristics.

Income (loss) before income taxes for each business segment is based on net sales less cost of products sold, and the related selling, administrative and general expenses. In computing business segment operating income, general corporate overhead expenses and interest expenses are not included.

Net sales in the quarter ended June 30, 2011 were $176.8 million, an increase of $0.9 million or 1% compared to the prior year. Increases of $7.9 million from higher selling prices and $1.6 million from the effect of foreign currency translation were largely offset by a $7.0 million reduction in volume.

Net sales in the Lawn and Garden Segment in the second quarter of 2011 were down $3.8 million or 8% compared to the second quarter of 2010. The decreased sales primarily reflects lower unit volume of $7.5 million compared to the second quarter of 2010 as the weak economy and unfavorable weather conditions through most of the spring growing season resulted in soft demand across the market. The lower sales volume was partially offset by an increase of $2.7 million from improved pricing discipline and a $0.9 million increase from foreign currency translation reflecting the impact of exchange rates for the Canadian dollar.

Net sales in the Material Handling Segment increased $4.3 million or 7% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same quarter in 2010. The current quarter sales improvement includes $3.5 million from increased selling prices and $0.5 million from the effect of foreign currency translation. In addition, current quarter sales volume increased slightly as strong growth in agricultural, automotive and manufacturing markets more than offset a loss of approximately $12 million in custom pallet sales.

Net sales in the Distribution Segment increased $2.1 million or 5% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the second quarter of 2010. The sales increase includes $1.3 million from higher selling prices and increased sales volume of $0.6 million from stronger replacement tire sales and vehicle service demand.

In the Engineered Products Segment, net sales in the second quarter of 2011 decreased $1.9 million or 6% compared to the prior year. The decrease in sales was primarily due to lower volumes which more than offset an increase of $0.4 million from higher selling prices. In addition, a reduction in sales volume of $3.3 million in the transplant automotive markets was partially offset by increased demand in the recreational vehicle and marine markets.

Gross profit margin increased to 24.9% for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared with the prior year, despite higher raw material costs affecting the Lawn & Garden, Material Handling and Engineered Products Segments. Prices for plastic resins were, on average, approximately 20% higher for polypropylene and 15% higher for high density polyethylene in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the second quarter of 2010. Increased selling prices, primarily in the Material Handling and Lawn and Garden Segments, mitigated the impact of higher raw material costs. Gross profit margins were higher due to a favorable sales mix in Material Handling, combined with productivity improvements in all segments.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 were $35.4 million, an increase of $1.4 million or 4% compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher freight and other variable selling expenses in the Material Handling Segment compared to the prior year. SG&A expense in the second quarter of 2011 included restructuring and other unusual charges of $0.6 million compared with similar charges of $1.6 million in the second quarter of 2010.

Net interest expense was $1.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, a decrease of 38% compared to $1.9 million in the prior year. The reduction in 2011 interest expense was the result of lower borrowing levels and a reduction in average interest rates.

Income (Loss) Before Taxes:

Income (loss) before taxes for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, was $7.5 million compared to a loss of $1.9 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to a more favorable product sales mix which increased gross profit margins. In addition, lower interest expense increased income (loss) before taxes $0.7 million compared with the prior year.

The effective tax rate for the income tax provision in the quarter ended June 30, 2011 was 38.1% compared to a 40.9% effective rate for the tax benefit in the prior year. In the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the income tax benefit was increased by approximately $0.2 million to recognize a previously reserved foreign tax net operating loss carry-forward. Other differences in the effective tax rate between years are primarily attributable to changes in the mix of domestic and foreign composition of income and related foreign tax rate differences.

Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were $370.2 million, an increase of $7.9 million or 2% compared to the prior year. Sales increased by $14.9 million from higher selling prices and $3.4 million from the impact of foreign currency translation which were partially offset by lower sales volumes of $10.4 million, particularly in the Lawn and Garden Segment.

Net sales in the Lawn and Garden Segment for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were down $8.3 million or 7% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. The decrease in net sales primarily reflects lower unit volume of $15.6 million as a weak economy and unfavorable weather conditions resulted in soft demand throughout the first half of 2011. The lower sales volumes were partially offset by increased sales of $5.0 million from disciplined pricing actions and $2.4 million from the effect of foreign currency translation.

Net sales in the Material Handling Segment increased $9.8 million or 8% in the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. The increase in current year net sales includes $7.1 million from improved pricing and $0.7 million from the effect of foreign currency translation. Strong demand for reusable bulk containers in agricultural, industrial and automotive markets resulted in a net sales volume increase of $2.0 million which more than offset a reduction of $28 million in custom pallet sales.

Net sales in the Distribution Segment increased $5.0 million or 6% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. The higher sales reflect increased volume of $2.8 million, primarily from new product sales and a broader customer base. In addition, current year sales increased $2.0 million from higher selling prices and $0.2 million from foreign currency translation.

In the Engineered Products Segment, net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased $1.6 million, or 3% compared to the prior year. The increase in net sales includes volume increase of $0.8 million as strong demand for recreational vehicle and marine markets more than offset lower volume in the transplant automotive market. In addition, the Engineered Products Segment had increased sales of $0.8 million from higher selling prices in the six months ended June 30, 2011.

Gross profit margin increased to 25.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared with 21.8% in the prior year, despite higher raw material costs affecting the Lawn & Garden, Material Handling and Engineered Products Segments. Prices for plastic resins were, on average, approximately 18% higher for polypropylene and 12% higher for high density polyethylene for the first six months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. Increased selling prices, primarily in the Material Handling and Lawn and Garden Segments, reduced the impact of higher costs for raw material plastic resins. The impact of product pricing, more favorable sales mix and productivity improvements resulted in a higher gross profit margin for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the prior year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were $75 million, an increase of $6.6 million or 10% compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to increased freight charges of $2 million, increased provision for bad debts of $1.5 million and other increased selling expenses resulting from higher sales volumes and the change in product sales mix. In addition, SG&A expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2011 includes an impairment charge of $0.3 million related to a closed manufacturing facility compared to a gain of $0.7 million from the sale of a plant in the same period of 2010 for a net increase of $1 million. SG&A expense for the six months ended June 30, 2011 includes restructuring and other unusual charges of $1.2 million compared with similar charges of $1.8 million for the same period in 2010.

Net interest expense was $2.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, a decrease of 35% compared to $3.7 million in the prior year. The reduction in 2011 interest expense was the result of lower borrowing levels and a reduction in average interest rates.

Income before taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2011, was $18.7 million, an increase of $11.9 million compared to $6.8 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher sales and a more favorable sales mix resulting in increased gross profit margins in the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared with the prior year.

The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was 39.0% compared to 35.0% in the prior year. The lower effective tax rate in 2010 is primarily attributable to a tax benefit of $0.2 million to recognize a previously reserved foreign tax net operating loss. Other differences are due to changes in the mix of domestic and foreign composition of income between years and related foreign tax rate differences.

Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $8.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to cash used of $2.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The increase of $11.4 million in current year cash provided by operations was primarily attributable to an increase of approximately $7.0 million in net income and an increase of approximately $4.0 million in depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges, compared to the prior year.

For the six months ended June 30, 2011, cash of $23.8 million was used for working capital compared to cash used for working capital of $24.2 million in the prior year. In the six months ended June 30, 2011, higher sales resulted in increased accounts receivable and the use of $4.3 million of cash compared with a use of $3.3 million in the prior year. In addition, increasing sales volume and higher raw material costs resulted in higher inventories which used approximately $9.2 million of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to cash provided by inventories of $1.2 million for the same period in 2010. Accounts payable and accrued expenses used cash of $11.2 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011, compared with a use of $22.9 million in the prior year.

Capital expenditures were approximately $5.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and for the full year are expected to be at the high end of a $20 to $25 million forecasted range. In May 2011, the Company announced a share repurchase plan that allows the Company to repurchase up to 5 million shares of its common stock. In the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the Company used cash of $3.7 million to repurchase 371,779 shares pursuant to this plan. In addition, the Company used cash to pay dividends of $4.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011.

Total debt at June 30, 2011 was approximately $90.7 million compared with $83.8 million at December 31, 2010. The Company’s Credit Agreement provides available borrowing up to $180 million and, as of June 30, 2011, there was $54.5 million outstanding and approximately $125.5 million available under this agreement. As of June 30, 2011 the Company was in compliance with all its debt covenants. The most restrictive financial covenants for all of the Company’s debt are an interest coverage ratio and a leverage ratio, defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, as adjusted, compared to total debt. The ratios as of and for the period ended June 30, 2011 are shown in the following table:

The Company believes that cash flows from operations and available borrowing under its Credit Agreement will be sufficient to meet expected business requirements including capital expenditures, dividends, working capital, debt service and to fund the stock repurchase program into the foreseeable future.

The Company has certain financing arrangements that require interest payments based on floating interest rates. The Company’s financial results are subject to changes in the market rate of interest. At present, the Company has not entered into any interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments to fix the interest rate on any portion of its financing arrangements with floating rates. Accordingly, based on current debt levels at June 30, 2011, if market interest rates increase one percent, the Company’s interest expense would increase approximately $0.5 million annually.

Some of the Company’s subsidiaries operate in foreign countries and their financial results are subject to exchange rate movements. The Company has operations in Canada with foreign currency exposure, primarily due to sales made from businesses in Canada to customers in the United States. These sales are denominated in US dollars. In addition, the Company’s subsidiary in Brazil has loans denominated in U.S. dollars. The Company has a systematic program to limit its exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates related to certain assets and liabilities of its operations in Canada and Brazil that are denominated in U.S. dollars. The net exposure generally ranges from $5 to $10 million. The foreign currency contracts and arrangements created under this program are not designated as hedged items under FASB ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging, and accordingly, the changes in the fair value of the foreign currency arrangements, which have been immaterial, are recorded in the income statement. The Company’s foreign currency arrangements are generally three months or less and, as of June 30, 2011, the Company had no foreign currency arrangements or contracts in place.

The Company uses certain commodities, primarily plastic resins, in its manufacturing processes. The cost of operations can be affected as the market and price for these commodities changes. The Company currently has no derivative contracts to hedge this risk; however, the Company also has no significant purchase obligations to purchase fixed quantities of such commodities in future periods. Significant future increases in the cost of plastic resin or other adverse changes in the general economic environment could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-a5(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

The Company carries out a variety of on-going procedures, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to evaluate the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level as of the end of the period covered by this report.

There has been no change in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

A number of parties, including the Company and its subsidiary, Buckhorn Inc. (“Buckhorn”), were identified in a planning document adopted in October 2008 by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region (RWQCB). The planning document relates to the presence of mercury, including amounts contained in mining wastes, in and around the Guadalupe River Watershed (Watershed) region in Santa Clara County, California. Buckhorn has been alleged to be a successor in interest to an entity that performed mining operations in a portion of the Watershed area. The Company has not been contacted by the RWQCB with respect to Watershed clean-up efforts that may result from the adoption of this planning document. The extent of the mining wastes that may be the subject of future cleanup has yet to be determined, and the actions of the RWQCB have not yet advanced to the stage where a reasonable estimate of remediation cost, if any, is available. Although assertion of a claim by the RWQCB is reasonably possible, it is not possible at this time to estimate the amount of any obligation the Company may incur for these cleanup efforts within the Watershed region, or whether such cost would be material to the Company’s financial statements.

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