Table of Contents

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 11-K

 

x   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED)

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

 

OR

 

¨   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED)

 

For the transition period from                          to                         

 

Commission file number: 000-20646

 


 

Caraustar Industries, Inc.

Employees’ Savings Plan

3100 Joe Jerkins Boulevard

Austell, Georgia 30106

(Full title of the plan and the address of the plan)

 

Caraustar Industries, Inc.

3100 Joe Jerkins Boulevard

Austell, Georgia 30106

(Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office)

 



Table of Contents

CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC.

EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN

 

Financial Statements as of December 31, 2002 and 2001

and for the Year Ended December 31, 2002,

Supplemental Schedules as of December 31, 2002

and Independent Auditors’ Report

 


Table of Contents

CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC.

EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN

 

Table of Contents

 

     Page

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

   1

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001 AND FOR THE YEAR

    ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002:

    

Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits

   2

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

   3

Notes to Financial Statements

   4

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002:

    

Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes at End of Year

   9

Schedule of Nonexempt Transactions

   10

 

Schedules required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, other than the schedule listed above, are omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required.


Table of Contents

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

 

To the Administrative Committee

of the Caraustar Industries, Inc.

Employees’ Savings Plan:

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Caraustar Industries, Inc. Employees’ Savings Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements 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 financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2002 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements, but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These schedules are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Such schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the basic 2002 financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

 

/s/    DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Atlanta, Georgia

June 20, 2003

 


Table of Contents

CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC.

EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN

 

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001


 

     2002

    2001

 

INVESTMENTS, at fair value

   $ 70,821,406     $ 67,419,572  
    


 


RECEIVABLES:

                

Participant contributions

     904,793       798,009  

Employer contributions

     299,474       256,370  

Other

     4,250       87,283  
    


 


Total receivables

     1,208,517       1,141,662  
    


 


EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS REFUNDABLE TO PARTICIPANTS

     (107,927 )     (476,419 )
    


 


NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

   $ 71,921,996     $ 68,084,815  
    


 


 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

-2-


Table of Contents

CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC.

EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002


 

ADDITIONS:

      

Contributions:

      

Participant contributions

   $ 10,026,241

Employer contributions

     3,568,671

Rollovers from qualified plans

     1,616,254
    

Total contributions

     15,211,166

Transfers from other plan (Note 1)

     88,959

Dividends and interest

     1,363,334
    

Total additions

     16,663,459
    

DEDUCTIONS:

      

Net depreciation in fair value of investments

     7,432,931

Benefits paid to participants

     5,317,679

Administrative expenses

     75,668
    

Total deductions

     12,826,278
    

NET INCREASE

     3,837,181

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS:

      

Beginning of year

     68,084,815
    

End of year

   $ 71,921,996
    

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 

-3-


Table of Contents

CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC.

EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2002 and 2001 AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002


 

1.   PLAN DESCRIPTION

 

The following description of the Caraustar Industries, Inc. Employees’ Savings Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the plan document for a complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

 

General—The Plan is a defined contribution plan established by Caraustar Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) for the benefit of eligible employees of the Company. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), as amended.

 

As a result of the Company’s acquisition of Arrow Paper Products Company on September 6, 2000, the Arrow Paper Products Hourly 401(k) Plan was merged into the Plan on May 1, 2002. Assets of $88,959 were transferred into the Plan on May 1, 2002.

 

Plan Administration—The Plan is administered by an administrative committee that is appointed by the board of directors of the Company. Fidelity Management Trust Company (the “Trustee”) serves as the Trustee for the Plan.

 

Contributions—Participation in the Plan is voluntary. Each year participants may contribute between 1% and 25% of pretax eligible compensation and of after-tax compensation. Any noncollectively bargained employee who was hired on or after July 1, 2001 and who satisfies the eligibility requirements, as defined by the Plan, will automatically have 2% of eligible compensation contributed to the Plan for each pay period, unless the employee notifies the employer that he/she does not want to contribute or wants to contribute a different amount.

 

The Company contributes 50% of the participant’s total pretax deferral, up to 6% of the participant’s annual compensation. The participant’s after-tax contributions are not eligible for matching contributions.

 

Vesting—Participants are fully vested in their contributions and the earnings thereon. Vesting in employer matching contributions is based on years of continuous service. Prior to January 1, 2002, credit for whole years of service required 1,000 hours of service during a plan year. Effective January 1, 2002, credit for a whole year of service requires employment from January 1 to December 31 for participants hired before January 1, 2002, and service computation periods are based on date of hire for participants hired after that date. A participant’s employer matching contributions vest according to the following schedule:

 

     Vested
Interest


 

Years of service:

      

Less than one year

   0 %

One year, but less than two years

   25  

Two years, but less than three years

   50  

Three years, but less than four years

   75  

Four or more years

   100  

 

-4-


Table of Contents

While employed, a participant may withdraw vested Company matching contributions. Participants who reach retirement age, become disabled, or die become vested immediately in Company contributions.

 

Forfeited Accounts—Forfeited accounts are first used to reduce administrative expenses and then to reduce future employer contributions. Forfeitures were $49,486 for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Benefit Payments—Upon termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant or the participant’s beneficiary may elect to receive an amount equal to the value of the participant’s vested interest in his/her account. The normal age of retirement is 65; however, a participant may receive benefits payments beginning at the age of 59 1/2 without penalty. The form of payment is a lump-sum distribution or an annuity to be paid in monthly, quarterly or annually installments over a period not to exceed ten years. Participants may also elect to receive a distribution in kind for amounts invested in Caraustar Industries, Inc. common stock.

 

Participant Accounts—Individual accounts are maintained for each of the Plan’s participants to reflect the participant’s contributions and the Company’s contributions as well as the participant’s share of the Plan’s income (losses) and any related administrative expenses. Allocations of income (losses) and expenses are based on the participant’s account balance. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.

 

Investment Options—Participants may direct their contributions into various investment options, which include primarily Fidelity mutual funds and Company common stock. Participants may change their investment elections at any time.

 

Loans to Participants—A participant may borrow the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of his/her vested account balance, with a minimum loan amount of $1,000. Loans are repaid through payroll deductions and are collateralized by the participant’s account balance. The maximum length of the loan is five years unless the loan is used to purchase a principal residence, in which case the length of the loan can be 30 years. The interest rate is the prime rate, as published in The Wall Street Journal on the last business day in the month in which the loan is taken out, plus 1%. Interest rates on loans to participants ranged from 5.0% to 10.5% as of December 31, 2002.

 

Plan Termination—Although it has not expressed an intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the terms of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination or partial termination, participants will become fully vested in their accounts.

 

2.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Accounting—The accompanying financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.

 

Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Plan’s management to use estimates and

 

-5-


Table of Contents

assumptions that affect the accompanying financial statements and disclosures. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The Plan utilizes various investment instruments. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

 

Income Recognition—Interest income is recorded as earned on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis.

 

Investment Valuation—Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value. Marketable securities are stated at fair value. Securities traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the year; investments traded in the over-the-counter market and listed securities for which no sale was reported on the last day of the plan year are valued at the last reported bid price. Participant loans are stated at remaining unpaid principal balance, which approximates fair value.

 

Net Depreciation in Fair Value of Investments—Net realized gains (losses) from the sale of investments and changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) are recorded in the accompanying statement of changes in net assets available for benefits as net depreciation in fair value of investments.

 

Administrative Expenses—The Company pays all administrative expenses of the Plan except for the administrative costs of mutual funds and loan processing fees.

 

3.   INVESTMENTS

 

The fair market values of individual assets, including those that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets are as follows:

 

     2002

   2001

     Shares

   Fair Value

   Shares

   Fair Value

Fidelity Dividend Growth Fund

   957,616    $ 21,373,985    960,375    $ 27,207,411

Fidelity Diversified International Fund

   442,148      7,587,267    405,265      7,732,461

Fidelity Balanced Fund

   290,626      3,862,421    239,432      3,567,534

PIMCO Total Return Fund

   398,269      4,249,533    307,701      3,218,553

Fidelity Retirement Money Market Fund

   6,218,306      6,218,306    4,780,521      4,780,521

Caraustar Industries, Inc. common stock

   902,799      8,558,531    823,168      5,704,556

Other

   992,239      18,971,363    664,084      15,208,536
         

       

          $ 70,821,406         $ 67,419,572
         

       

 

Net (depreciation) appreciation in fair value of investments by major type is as follows for the year ended December 31, 2002:

 

Registered investment companies

   $ (9,539,358 )

Caraustar Industries, Inc. common stock

     2,106,427  
    


     $ (7,432,931 )
    


 

-6-


Table of Contents
4.   TAX STATUS

 

The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by letter dated July 29, 2002, that the Plan and the related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable provisions of the IRC.

 

5.   RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Certain of the Plan’s investments are shares of mutual funds managed by the Trustee or affiliates of the Trustee. Transactions related to such investments qualify as permissible party-in-interest transactions under ERISA.

 

At December 31, 2002 and 2001, the Plan held 902,799 and 823,168 shares, respectively, of Caraustar Industries, Inc. common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2002, dividends received on the stock held totaled $25,076. Fees paid to an affiliate of the Trustee for recordkeeping services totaled $75,668 for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

6.   NONEXEMPT TRANSACTIONS

 

During 2002, the Plan failed to remit $4,814 of employee contributions to the trust on a timely basis. Such contributions have since been remitted to the trust. There were no earnings related to the contributions.

 

During 2001, the Plan failed to remit $875 of employee contributions to the trust on a timely basis. Such contributions have since been remitted to the trust. There were no earnings related to the contributions.

 

-7-


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES

 

(See Independent Auditors’ Report)

 

 

-8-


Table of Contents

CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC.

EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN

 

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AT END OF YEAR

DECEMBER 31, 2002


 

    

Identity of Issuer, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar Party


  

Description of Investment, Including Maturity Date, Rate of
Interest, Collateral, and Par or Maturity Value


   Cost

    Current Value

     COMMON STOCK:                  

*

   Caraustar Industries, Inc.    Common stock, 902,799 shares    (a )   $ 8,558,531
     MONEY MARKET FUND:                  

*

   Fidelity Money Market Trust    Retirement Money Market Fund, 6,218,306 shares    (a )     6,218,306
     REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES:                  

*

   Fidelity Investment Trust    Fidelity Diversified International Fund, 442,148 shares    (a )     7,587,267

*

   Fidelity Devonshire Trust    Fidelity Equity Income Fund, 57,095 shares    (a )     2,264,954

*

   Fidelity Securities Fund    Fidelity OTC Portfolio, 84,733 shares    (a )     2,025,977
          Fidelity Dividend Growth Fund, 957,616 shares    (a )     21,373,985

*

   Fidelity Institutional Trust    Spartan U.S. Equity Index Fund, 44,426 shares    (a )     1,383,883

*

   Fidelity Aberdeen Street Trust    Fidelity Freedom Income Fund, 118,247 shares    (a )     1,253,413
          Fidelity Freedom 2000 Fund, 55,874 shares    (a )     615,173
          Fidelity Freedom 2010 Fund, 126,248 shares    (a )     1,444,279
          Fidelity Freedom 2020 Fund, 130,140 shares    (a )     1,384,687
          Fidelity Freedom 2030 Fund, 81,182 shares    (a )     831,305
          Fidelity Freedom 2040 Fund, 34,412 shares    (a )     201,655

*

   Fidelity Puritan Trust    Fidelity Balanced Fund, 290,626 shares    (a )     3,862,421

*

   Fidelity Commonwealth Trust    Fidelity Large Cap Stock Fund, 133,539 shares    (a )     1,488,956
     Pacific Investment Management Company    PIMCO Total Return Fund, 398,269 shares    (a )     4,249,533
     Ariel Funds    Ariel Appreciation Fund, 38,369 shares    (a )     1,268,474
          Morgan Stanley Small Company Growth—Class B, 20,974 shares    (a )     152,271
          Fidelity Low Priced Stock Fund, 67,000 shares    (a )     1,686,395
     PARTICIPANT LOANS:                  
                        

*

   Various plan participants    Interest rates ranging from 5.0% to 10.5%, maturing in 1 to 360 months    (a )     2,969,941
                    

          Total investments          $ 70,821,406
                    

 

*   Indicates a party-in-interest transaction.
(a)   Cost information is not required to be presented for participant-directed investments.

 

 

-9-


Table of Contents

CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC.

EMPLOYEES’ SAVINGS PLAN

 

SCHEDULE OF NONEXEMPT TRANSACTIONS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002


 

Identity of
Party
Involved


  

Relationship to Plan,
Employer, or Other
Party-in-Interest


  

Including Maturity Date, Rate

of Interest, Collateral, Par, on

Maturity Value


   Deemed
Principal
Amount


Caraustar Industries, Inc.

   Plan Sponsor    Overdue 2002 employee contributions not timely remitted to the plan    $ 4,814

Caraustar Industries, Inc.

   Plan Sponsor    Overdue 2001 employee contributions not timely remitted to the plan      875

 

*This represents the total amount of contributions that have been withheld from employees but not remitted timely into the Plan by the Plan sponsor.

 

-10-


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Caraustar Industries, Inc., as plan administrator, has duly caused this annual report to be signed on behalf of the Caraustar Industries, Inc. Employees’ Savings Plan by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:

 

/s/    BARRY A. SMEDSTAD


   

Barry A. Smedstad

Vice President, Human Resources

and Public Relations

 

Date: June 27, 2003

 

 

-11-


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Document


23   

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

99   

Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

-12-