Exhibit 99.01

 

Premier Boxboard

Limited LLC

Financial Statements as of December 31,

2006 and 2005, and for the Three Years

Ended December 31, 2006, and

Report of Independent Registered Public

Accounting Firm


PREMIER BOXBOARD LIMITED LLC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

   1

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005, AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005, AND 2004:

  

Balance Sheets

   2

Statements of Operations

   3

Statements of Members’ Equity

   4

Statements of Cash Flows

   5

Notes to Financial Statements

   6–13


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Members of

Premier Boxboard Limited LLC:

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Premier Boxboard Limited LLC (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related statements of operations, members’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, 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 financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Note 4 to the financial statements, the Company adopted the recognition and related disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R) on December 31, 2006.

/s/    Deloitte & Touche LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

March 15, 2007


PREMIER BOXBOARD LIMITED LLC

 

BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005

 

     2006     2005  

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 7,732,215     $ 2,452,745  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $129,961 and $173,826, respectively

     1,851,182       4,608,704  

Related-party receivables

     986,458       3,880,111  

Inventories

     4,683,537       4,619,968  
                

Total current assets

     15,253,392       15,561,528  
                

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT—At cost:

    

Land

     2,257,924       2,257,924  

Buildings and improvements

     30,469,089       30,456,607  

Machinery and equipment

     162,714,176       160,660,909  

Furniture and fixtures

     463,606       549,136  

Construction in progress

     839,289       1,557,906  
                
     196,744,084       195,482,482  

Less accumulated depreciation

     (69,566,709 )     (61,780,013 )
                

Property, plant, and equipment—net

     127,177,375       133,702,469  

OTHER ASSETS

     1,383,558       1,795,226  
                

TOTAL

   $ 143,814,325     $ 151,059,223  
                

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 1,984,112     $ 2,222,992  

Related-party payables

     4,856,899       4,593,152  

Accrued expenses

     3,710,761       5,790,795  
                

Total current liabilities

     10,551,772       12,606,939  

LONG-TERM DEBT

     50,000,000       50,000,000  

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

     604,733       693,032  

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

    

MEMBERS’ EQUITY

     82,657,820       87,759,252  
                

TOTAL

   $ 143,814,325     $ 151,059,223  
                

See notes to financial statements.

 

- 2 -


PREMIER BOXBOARD LIMITED LLC

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005, AND 2004

 

     2006    2005    2004

SALES

   $ 118,494,987    $ 122,062,760    $ 109,370,530

COST OF SALES

     85,934,548      85,626,473      81,363,811
                    

GROSS PROFIT

     32,560,439      36,436,287      28,006,719

FREIGHT AND DISTRIBUTION COSTS

     6,047,537      4,225,312      5,454,922

SELLING, GENERAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE

     11,477,490      11,301,905      9,602,547
                    

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

     15,035,412      20,909,070      12,949,250

INTEREST EXPENSE

     4,220,000      4,219,365      4,328,352

OTHER INCOME—Net

     233,968      183,791      33,348
                    

NET INCOME

   $ 11,049,380    $ 16,873,496    $ 8,654,246
                    

See notes to financial statements.

 

- 3 -


PREMIER BOXBOARD LIMITED LLC

 

STATEMENTS OF MEMBERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005, AND 2004

 

     Caraustar
Industries, Inc.
   

Inland
Paperboard
and

Packaging, Inc.

    Total  

MEMBERS’ EQUITY—December 31, 2003

   $ 45,164,341     $ 45,164,341     $ 90,328,682  

Net income

     4,327,123       4,327,123       8,654,246  

Minimum pension liability adjustment

     (48,669 )     (48,669 )     (97,338 )
            

Comprehensive income

         8,556,908  
            

Contributions from members

     10,000       10,000       20,000  

Distributions

     (1,000,000 )     (1,000,000 )     (2,000,000 )
                        

MEMBERS’ EQUITY—December 31, 2004

     48,452,795       48,452,795       96,905,590  

Net income

     8,436,748       8,436,748       16,873,496  

Minimum pension liability adjustment

     (9,917 )     (9,917 )     (19,834 )
            

Comprehensive income

         16,853,662  

Distributions

     (13,000,000 )     (13,000,000 )     (26,000,000 )
                        

MEMBERS’ EQUITY—December 31, 2005

     43,879,626       43,879,626       87,759,252  

Net income

     5,524,690       5,524,690       11,049,380  

Minimum pension liability adjustment

     74,572       74,572       149,144  
            

Comprehensive income

         11,198,524  

Adjustment to adopt SFAS No. 158 (Note 4)

     (149,978 )     (149,978 )     (299,956 )
            

Distributions

     (8,000,000 )     (8,000,000 )     (16,000,000 )
                        

MEMBERS’ EQUITY—December 31, 2006

   $ 41,328,910     $ 41,328,910     $ 82,657,820  
                        

 

Note: The balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2006 and 2005, was $384,891 and $234,079, respectively, and consist solely of unrecognized pension costs.

See notes to financial statements.

 

- 4 -


PREMIER BOXBOARD LIMITED LLC

 

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005, AND 2004

 

     2006     2005     2004  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net income

   $ 11,049,380     $ 16,873,496     $ 8,654,246  

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

      

(Recovery)provision for allowances and discounts

     (43,865 )     88,551       (19,028 )

Depreciation, accretion and amortization

     8,161,089       8,195,071       8,300,511  

Losses on disposal of property, plant and equipment—net

     76,730      

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Accounts receivable

     2,801,387       339,585       (3,387,920 )

Related-party receivables

     2,893,653       1,978,262       1,037,028  

Inventories

     (63,569 )     1,482,849       (1,848,447 )

Other assets

     193,912       (117,432 )     16,507  

Accounts payable

     (238,880 )     (5,352,539 )     780,427  

Related-party payables

     263,747       2,360,128       815,634  

Accrued expenses

     (2,663,564 )     1,689,202       357,078  

Other long-term liabilities

     (216,053 )     (4,807 )     (23,936 )
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     22,213,967       27,532,366       14,682,100  
                        

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

      

Change in restricted cash

       (621,402 )  

Purchases of property, plant, and equipment

     (934,497 )     (2,305,348 )     (4,095,880 )
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (934,497 )     (2,926,750 )     (4,095,880 )
                        

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

      

Capital contributions from members

         20,000  

Distributions

     (16,000,000 )     (26,000,000 )     (2,000,000 )

Repayments of borrowings under line of credit

         (10,000,000 )
                        

Net cash used in financing activities

     (16,000,000 )     (26,000,000 )     (11,980,000 )
                        

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     5,279,470       (1,394,384 )     (1,393,780 )

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of year

     2,452,745       3,847,129       5,240,909  
                        

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of year

   $ 7,732,215     $ 2,452,745     $ 3,847,129  
                        

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

      

Cash paid for interest

   $ 4,220,000     $ 4,219,365     $ 4,219,365  
                        

Purchases of property, plant, and equipment on account

   $ 560,472     $ 234,267     $ —    
                        

See notes to financial statements.

 

- 5 -


PREMIER BOXBOARD LIMITED LLC

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005, AND 2004

 

1. BUSINESS DESCRIPTION AND FORMATION

Premier Boxboard Limited LLC (“Premier” or the “Company”) was formed during 1999 by Caraustar Industries, Inc. (“Caraustar”) and Inland Paperboard and Packaging, Inc. (“IPP”) a wholly owned subsidiary of Temple Inland Corporation (“Temple-Inland”). The Company is operated as a joint venture of Caraustar with a 50% ownership and, until December 2004, of IPP with a 50% ownership interest. In December 2004, 0.01% of interest in Premier was issued to Temple Inland Premier Holding Company which reduced IPP’s ownership to 49.99%. On December 31, 2004, IPP was merged into Temple-Inland Forest Products Corporation (“Temple FPC”) and then Temple FPC and Gaylord Container Corporation were merged under the name of TIN Inc. (“TIN”). In connection with these mergers, an Assignment of Limited Liability Company Interest was entered into by IPP, as assignor, TIN, as assignee, and Premier, under which the 49.99% membership interest of IPP in Premier was assigned to and assumed by TIN. The result was Temple-Inland now has a 50% ownership in Premier through two subsidiaries. The Company’s operations are managed by Caraustar. Under the joint venture agreement, Caraustar contributed $50,000,000 to the joint venture and IPP contributed the physical and intangible assets of a paper mill located in Indiana with a fair value of $100,000,000, subject to a $50,000,000 loan assumed by Premier. Additionally, each member contributed certain inventory and operating assets aggregating approximately $1,200,000. Each member’s contribution was made on June 27, 2000 (the “Initial Contribution”), at which time Premier began operations.

Premier manufactures and distributes containerboard and lightweight gypsum facing paper.

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Cash and Cash Equivalents—All investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash—The Company had $621,401 in restricted cash set aside for the purpose of settling an asset retirement obligation at December 31, 2006 and 2005 (see Note 6). The restricted cash is included in other assets at December 31, 2006 and 2005.

Inventories—Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market on an average cost basis. Cost includes materials, labor, and overhead.

Inventories consisted of the following at December 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

     2006    2005

Raw materials

   $ 2,342,799    $ 2,300,704

Finished goods

     2,340,738      2,319,264
             
   $ 4,683,537    $ 4,619,968
             

 

- 6 -


Property, Plant, and Equipment—Property, plant, and equipment, which were contributed at the Initial Contribution, are stated at the estimated fair value based on the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 98-4, Accounting by a Joint Venture for Business Received at Its Formation. Additions of property, plant and equipment subsequent to the Initial Contribution are recorded at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation expense was $7,943,333, $7,977,312, and $8,059,067 for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred, while major additions and improvements are capitalized.

The estimated lives used in determining depreciation are as follows:

 

Buildings and improvements

   40 years

Machinery and equipment

   3–20 years

Furniture and fixtures

   5 years

Other Assets—In connection with the formation of Premier, intangible assets of $2,000,000 were recorded and are being amortized over 10 years. Amortization expense totaled $217,759 for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004. Accumulated amortization totaled $1,237,844, $1,020,086, and $802,327 at December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. Expected amortization expense through 2009 is $217,759 and then $108,879 for 2010.

Income Taxes—The earnings and losses of Premier are included in the respective tax returns of the members, and accordingly, no provision for income taxes is included in the accompanying financial statements.

Members’ Equity—Under the terms of the membership agreement, income and distributions of the Company are allocated to the members based on their respective ownership interests.

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. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition—Revenues are recognized upon passage of title which occurs at the time the product is delivered to the customer, the price is fixed and determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured.

Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included in sales and the related costs thereof are included in freight and distribution costs.

Long-Lived Assets—The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment wherever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the undiscounted future cash flows estimated to be generated by the asset are not sufficient to recover the unamortized balances of the asset.

 

3. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, to define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and expand disclosures about fair value

 

- 7 -


measurements. This statement does not require any new fair value measurements; rather, it applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. The provisions of the statement are to be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which this statement is initially applied, with any transition adjustment recognized as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The provisions of SFAS No.157 are effective for the years beginning after November 15, 2007; therefore, we anticipate adopting this standard as of January 1, 2008. The Company has not determined the effect, if any; the adoption of this statement will have on our financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans, (“SFAS No. 158”), which requires employers to recognize a net liability or asset and an offsetting adjustment to other comprehensive income to report the funded status of defined benefit pension and other post-retirement benefit plans. SFAS No. 158 requires an employer to initially apply the requirement to recognize the funded status of a benefit plan as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year ending after June 15, 2007. At December 31, 2006 the Company early adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 158 (see Note 4).

In February, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company has not determined the effect, if any, the adoption of this statement will have on our financial position or results of operations.

 

4. PENSION AND PROFIT-SHARING PLANS

Effective December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 158, which requires that the Company’s Balance Sheet reflect funded status of defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”). The funded status is measured as the difference between the plan assets at fair value and the projected benefit obligation. The impact of adopting SFAS No. 158 on individual line items in the balance sheet as of December 31, 2006 is shown below:

 

Balance Sheet Caption

   Balances Before
Adoption of
Statement 158
   Adjustments     Balances After
Adoption of
Statement 158

Other assets (long term)

   $ 1,560,371    $ (176,813 )   $ 1,383,558
                     

Total Assets

   $ 143,991,138    $ (176,813 )   $ 143,814,325
                     

Other long-term liabilities

   $ 481,590    $ 123,143     $ 604,733

Members’ Equity

     82,957,776      (299,956 )     82,657,820
                     

Total Liabilities and Members’ Equity

   $ 143,991,138    $ (176,813 )   $ 143,814,325
                     

 

- 8 -


Components of net periodic pension costs for the years ended December 31 included the following:

 

     2006     2005     2004  

Service cost

   $ 307,482     $ 295,368     $ 220,453  

Interest cost

     95,066       76,837       53,306  

Expected return on plan assets

     (111,806 )     (72,602 )     (47,530 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     17,099       17,099       8,337  

Recognized actuarial loss

     14,963       18,980       13,189  
                        

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 322,804     $ 335,682     $ 247,755  
                        

A reconciliation of the changes in the plans’ benefit obligations and fair value of assets over the two-year period ending December 31, 2006, and a statement of the funded status at December 31 for these years for the Company’s pension plan is as follows:

 

Change in benefit obligation:

    

Net benefit obligation—beginning of year

   $ 1,686,910     $ 1,210,966  

Service cost

     307,482       295,368  

Interest cost

     95,066       76,837  

Amendments

       117,147  

Actuarial (gain )loss

     (141,470 )     22,573  

Benefits paid

     (16,091 )     (35,981 )
                

Net benefit obligation—end of year

   $ 1,931,897     $ 1,686,910  
                

Change in plan assets:

    

Fair value of plan assets—beginning of year

   $ 1,144,051     $ 677,029  

Actual return on plan assets

     139,430       43,540  

Employer contributions

     336,769       459,463  

Benefits paid

     (16,091 )     (35,981 )
                

Fair value of plan assets—end of year

   $ 1,604,159     $ 1,144,051  
                

Funded status:

    

Funded status

   $ (327,738 )   $ (542,859 )

Unrecognized actuarial loss

     N/A       392,135  

Unrecognized prior service cost

     N/A       193,912  
                

Amount recognized at December 31

   $ (327,738 )   $ 43,188  
                

Amounts recognized in the balance sheets as of December 31 were as follows:

 

     2006     2005  

Other long-term liabilities

   $ (327,738 )   $ —    

Accrued benefit liability

       (384,803 )

Intangible assets

       193,912  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

       234,079  
                

Net amounts recognized

   $ (327,738 )   $ 43,188  
                

 

- 9 -


Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2006 were as follows:

 

Unrecognized actuarial loss

   $ 208,078

Unrecognized prior service cost

     176,813
      

Total recognized in other comprehensive income

   $ 384,891
      

The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $1,808,704 and $1,528,854 at December 31, 2006, and 2005, respectively.

Information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:

 

     2006    2005

Projected Benefit Obligation

   $ 1,931,897    $ 1,686,910

Accumulated Benefit Obligation

     1,808,754      1,528,854

Fair Value of Plan Assets

     1,604,159      1,144,051

The minimum liability concept, including recognition of an intangible asset, has been eliminated under SFAS No. 158 effective December 31, 2006. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 158, a minimum liability adjustment was recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to the extent there was an unfunded accumulated benefit obligation that had not been recognized in the balance sheet. Minimum pension liabilities of $149,144 were recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of December 31, 2006, prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 158, representing an adjustment for the change in the additional minimum liability for the year ended December 31, 2006. This minimum pension liability was subsequently eliminated upon the adoption of SFAS No.158 at December 31, 2006. At December 31, 2005 the cumulative minimum pension liability of $386,907 was offset by an intangible asset of $193,912.

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31,

 

     2006     2005  

Discount rate

   6.10 %   5.80 %

Rate of compensation increase

   3.25     3.25  

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

     2006     2005  

Discount rate

   5.80 %   5.75 %

Expected return on plan assets

   8.50     8.50  

Rate of compensation increase

   3.25     3.00  

It is the Company’s policy to adjust, on an annual basis, the discount rate used to determine the projected benefit obligation to approximate rates on high-quality, long-term obligations.

The Company expects to contribute $421,297 to its pension plan in 2007.

 

- 10 -


The estimated benefits payable for the future ten years are as follows:

 

2007

   $ 32,111

2008

     39,084

2009

     43,394

2010

     52,781

2011

     64,663

2012–2016

     728,920

The Company has a 401(k) plan which provides for voluntary contributions by employees not to exceed 25% of their gross salaries and wages or $15,000, whichever is lower. The Company matches 100% of the first 3% and 50% of the next 2% of each employee’s contribution. The amounts incurred for the Company’s matching contributions totaled $334,346 and $343,356 in 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

5. LONG-TERM DEBT

On June 27, 2000, the Company assumed $50,000,000 of obligations of TIN under senior notes, which bear an interest rate of 8.44% per annum and are due on June 1, 2010. A substantial portion of Company’s assets are pledged as security for the notes. These notes are guaranteed by Temple-Inland.

The Company was required, under the above loan agreement, to maintain certain financial ratio levels as well as other nonfinancial covenants. Additionally, as part of the member guarantee of the revolving credit facility, TIN was required to meet certain covenants on behalf of the Company. At December 31, 2006, TIN was in compliance with these certain covenants, as amended.

On July 30, 1999, the Company entered into a revolving credit agreement with a financial institution, which provided for borrowings of up to $75,000,000. On December 18, 2000, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the same financial institution, which reduced the total available borrowings to a maximum of $40,000,000. Caraustar and TIN each guaranteed one-half of the borrowings. On March 28, 2003, the Agreement was amended to reduce the maximum available borrowings to $20,285,094. Further, any amounts repaid could not be reborrowed and the maximum available borrowings were automatically reduced by the amount of any principal repayments. The termination date was initially revised to January 5, 2004, and on December 22, 2003, the Agreement was amended to extend the termination date to January 5, 2005. Borrowings under the agreement were due at that date; however, the financial institution agreed to continue to provide the letter of credit subfacility in the amount of $614,285, which is secured by a back to back letter of credit from Caraustar in the amount of $307,142 and by a guaranty for a like amount from TIN. The Company had an undrawn letter of credit in the amount of $614,285 at December 31, 2004. The Agreement and the letter of credit was terminated in 2005.

 

6. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

The Company accounts for its asset retirement obligation related to a landfill in accordance with SFAS 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations. Under this pronouncement, an asset retirement obligation resulting from the legal obligation associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset that results from acquisition, construction and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset is recorded as a liability and a corresponding asset (as part of the related asset’s carrying amount) and is allocated to expense over the asset’s useful life. The fair value of the liability for an asset retirement obligation is recorded as the present value of the retirement obligation, discounted at a credit adjusted risk free rate, in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made.

 

- 11 -


The Company operated a landfill in Newport, Indiana used to dispose of refuse resulting from the paperboard manufacturing process. This landfill was first permitted in 1985 and was closed during 2005, with on-going closure costs expected to be incurred through December 31, 2033. The permit to use the landfill by Premier constitutes a legal obligation to incur costs to retire such landfill, including capping and closing costs at the culmination of the landfill use, as well as on-going costs related to periodic inspection reports, ground water monitoring, methane control and maintenance of the final cover.

The Company calculated an estimate of the fair value of these closure costs as of June 1985, the date the legal obligation was incurred. Upon adoption, the Company recorded a liability for the asset retirement obligation adjusted for cumulative accretion to January 1, 2003. Each year accretion expense is recorded based on the credit adjusted risk free rate used to calculate the present value of the liability at January 1, 2003. The following table represents a rollforward of the liability, a component of other long-term liabilities, related to the retirement of the landfill from adoption of SFAS No. 143 on January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2006:

 

BALANCE—December 31, 2003

   $  289,135  

2004 Accretion expense

     22,802  
        

BALANCE—December 31, 2004

     311,937  

2005 Accretion expense

     23,055  

2005 Post-closure costs payments

     (28,862 )
        

BALANCE—December 31, 2005

     306,130  

2006 Accretion expense

     17,497  

2006 Post-closure costs payments

     (48,737 )
        

BALANCE—December 31, 2006

   $ 274,890  
        

As of December 31, 2006, the Company has restricted cash of $621,402 on deposit for purposes of settling this asset retirement obligation as required by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

 

7. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, TIN purchased approximately $59,553,000, $44,754,000, and $49,955,000, respectively, of the Company’s production. During 2006, 2005 and 2004, Premier paid marketing fees to TIN of approximately $997,657, $734,000, and $1,038,000, respectively. Such fees are included as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006.

For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, Caraustar purchased, approximately $2,992,000, $2,964,000, and $4,245,000, respectively, of the Company’s production. For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 the Company purchased, at market prices, approximately $38,368,000, $8,857,000, and $2,030,000, respectively, of goods from Caraustar.

 

- 12 -


For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 Standard Gypsum, Inc., a 50% owned joint venture of Caraustar and Temple-Inland, purchased, at net prices, approximately $3,191,000, $16,299,000, and $10,740,000, respectively, of the Company’s products.

Caraustar has a marketing agreement with Premier as the exclusive marketing agent for all non-containerboard products produced by Premier. Caraustar and Temple-Inland, have the right to market containerboard products (in addition to its exclusive marketing agreement with Caraustar for non-containerboard products), produced by Premier. During 2006, 2005 and 2004, Premier paid total marketing fees to Caraustar of approximately $2,407,000, $2,824,000, and $2,113,000, respectively. Such fees are included as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006.

Premier has a management agreement with Caraustar, employing Caraustar as exclusive manager of Premier’s operations. Under the terms of the agreement, Premier incurred and paid Caraustar $500,000 for management services for each of the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004. Such fees are included as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006.

Each of the above agreements expires on the date Caraustar or TIN, or any subsidiary or affiliate of Caraustar or TIN, ceases to own a membership interest in Premier.

 

8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Insurance—The Company is self-insured for the majority of its workers’ compensation costs and group health insurance costs, subject to specific retention levels. Consulting actuaries and administrators assist the Company in determining its liability for self-insured claims and such liabilities are not discounted.

Operating Leases—The Company leases certain of its equipment under noncancelable lease agreements. Minimum lease payments under noncancelable leases for years subsequent to December 31, 2006, are as follows:

 

2007

   $  244,171

2008

     45,767

2009

     34,677

2010

     3,697

There are no noncancelable leases after 2010. Total rental expense incurred during 2006, 2005, and 2004 was $244,171, $286,634, and $234,430 respectively.

Legal Matters—The Company is subject to certain lawsuits and claims incidental to its business. In the opinion of management, based on its examination of such matters and discussions with counsel, the ultimate resolution of pending or threatened litigation, claims, and assessments will have no material adverse effect upon the Company’s financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.

 

9. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS

During 2006, 2005, and 2004 a single customer accounted for sales of $41,068,000, $47,632,000, and $43,328,000, respectively. There were no other customers who individually accounted for more than 10% of total sales (excluding IPP and Caraustar, discussed in Note 7).

******

 

- 13 -