SEC Company Response from MORTON INDUSTRIAL GROUP INC (CIK 0000064247) — Jun 24, 2005
MORTON INDUSTRIAL GROUP INC (CIK 0000064247)
Date: June 24, 2005 · CIK: 0000064247 · Accession: 0000950137-05-007833
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
File numbers found in text: 000-13198
Referenced dates: May 23, 2005
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CORRESP
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MORTON INDUSTRIAL GROUP, INC.
1021 W. Birchwood
Morton, IL 61550
June 24, 2005
Via EDGAR filing (as a Correspondence File)
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Attn: Nili Shah
Accounting Branch Chief
Washington, DC 20549-0510
Re:
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004
Filed March 29, 2005
File No. 000-13198
Gentlemen:
We are submitting this response to your letter dated May 23, 2005 with respect to your comments to
the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 (the “Form 10-K”) of Morton
Industrial Group, Inc. (the “Company”).
For convenience of reference, each comment contained in your letter is reprinted below in italics,
numbered to correspond with the paragraph numbers assigned in your May 23, 2005 comment letter, and
is followed by our corresponding response.
March 26, 2004 Refinancing, p. 16
1.
Please tell us how you accounted for the extinguishment of the revolving credit
facility and term loan due to the former Harris syndicate, as well as the cancellation of
the warrants held by them.
Response — Accounting for Extinguishment of Debt.
The Company considered the March 26, 2004 refinancing to be a modification of debt, rather than an
extinguishment of debt. In the case of this modification, the change in cash flows is less than 2%
different under the new credit facility compared to the prior credit facility, and there were no
remaining discounts on debt, nor were there any unamortized debt issuance costs.
Response — Accounting for the cancellation of warrants.
At the date of issue, September 20, 2000, the 238,584 warrants were valued at $863,000, which was
accounted for as debt discount and as additional paid-in capital. The debt discount was amortized
over a period, beginning with the date of issue through May 2003, the termination date of the
then-existing related term loan. Since the debt discount was fully amortized at the date the
warrants were surrendered, March 26, 2004, there was no gain or loss recognized.
Significant Cash Commitments, p. 18
2.
In future filings, include your interest commitments under your interest-bearing debt
in this table, or provide textual discussion of this obligation below the table. If you
provide a textual discussion, the discussion should quantify the interest payments using
the same time frames stipulated in the table. Regardless of whether you decide to include
interest payments in the table or in textual discussion below the table, you should
provide appropriate disclosure with respect to your assumptions of your estimated variable
rate interest payments.
Response — As requested, we will add the estimated variable rate interest payments to the
significant cash commitments table, as well as textual discussion with respect to the related
assumptions, beginning with Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending July 2, 2005.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, p. 24
3.
Please amend your filing to include the signature of your independent registered
public accounting firm. Refer to Article 2 of Regulation S-X.
Response — We can amend the filing if necessary; however, this omission was corrected prior to
mailing the Form 10-K’s to our shareholders; each shareholder, and anyone who has or requests a
printed copy of Form 10-K, has or will have the conformed signature of the independent registered
public accounting firm.
(5) Intangible Assets, p. 34
4.
Regarding your intangible assets:
•
In future filings, debt issuance costs should not be included as intangible
assets as these costs do not meet the definition of an intangible asset. Please
reclassify this amount on your balance sheets.
•
Please tell us the method you use to amortize your debt issuance costs and
where you classify such amortization.
•
Please tell us why your accumulated amortization decreased by $1,569 from
December 31, 2003 to December 31, 2004.
Response — In future filings, we will reclassify debt issuance costs as other assets, and we will
reclassify the December 31, 2004 balance sheet on a consistent basis.
Response — Debt issuance costs are amortized using a straight-line method over the term of the
related debt instrument. The straight-line method was selected because the related principal
amounts do not change significantly over the terms of the related debt instruments (significant
balloon payments are scheduled at maturity). The expense recognized using the straight-line method
would not be materially different than the expense that would have been recognized using a level
effective-yield method. Debt issuance costs related to the term loan and revolving credit facility
are amortized over 4 years. Debt issuance costs related to the senior subordinated debt are
amortized over 5 years. These costs have historically been included in general and administrative
costs; however, in future filings, and to be consistent with the balance sheet reclassification
referenced above, we will classify the amortization of debt issuance costs as interest expense, and
will reclassify historical data on a consistent basis.
Response — The decrease of $1,569 is the net of an increase in accumulated amortization of $453
related to the amortization of new 2004 debt issuance costs; less a decrease in accumulated
amortization of $2,022 related to eliminating the accumulated amortization related to prior credit
facilities.
(9) Income Taxes, p. 40
5.
We note that the decrease in your deferred tax valuation allowance of $7,441
increased your net earnings by 58% for the year ended December 31, 2004. Please explain
in detail your consideration of paragraphs 20-25 of SFAS No. 109 in reducing your
valuation allowance and determining that your net deferred tax asset of $8,100 is
realizable, particularly in light of your pre-tax losses in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Please
also identify for us the specific factors that resulted in this reduction in 2004, as
opposed to other years.
6.
In addition, in future filings in your management’s discussion and analysis section,
please explain the reason for this decrease in your valuation allowance and its effect on
your net income. In your response, please show us what these future revisions will look
like.
Response — The Company, which incurred pre-tax losses in 2000, 2001 and 2002, generated pre-tax
book income of $1,682 in 2003 and $6,991 in 2004. These pre-tax losses and pre-tax book income
relate to the continuing operations of Morton Industrial Group, Inc. and do not consider its
discontinued operations. The forecasts for 2005, 2006 and 2007 indicate that the Company will
utilize significant amounts of its NOL carryforward and realize the deferred tax asset of $8,100.
Forecasts are based, in part, on discussions with our leading customers, Deere & Co., and
Caterpillar Inc., both of whom are generating record sales and profits, and who are indicating
continued success. Our leading customers are more positive in their outlook for 2005 and beyond
than they were one year ago; accordingly, our outlook was more positive at the end of 2004 compared
to our outlook at the end of 2003.
In 2003, the Company utilized approximately $3,700 of its NOL carryforward, and for 2004, the
Company utilized approximately $4,300 of its NOL carryforward. The exact amount of NOL
carryforward utilized for 2004 will be determined when the Company’s Form 1120 for 2004 is
completed.
At end of 2002, the Company’s balance sheet included a deferred tax asset of $1,751, and at the end
of 2003, the Company’s balance sheet included a deferred tax asset of $1,600. At the end of 2003,
the Company considered decreasing its valuation allowance to a greater extent, but it was
determined that more time was needed to demonstrate the Company’s ability to generate the levels of
taxable income that would allow utilization of additional NOL carryforwards.
Response — In future filings, as an example, the text will generally appear as follows: “The
Company reduced the level of its valuation allowance for gross deferred tax assets from ($$) at
(date) to ($$) at (date); the impact of this reduction was to generate an income tax benefit of
($$) that is included in the income tax benefit of ($$) included in the Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
(10) Redeemable Preferred Stock, p. 42
7.
Citing relevant accounting literature, please explain why you recognize the gain on
the 2003 modification of your mandatorily redeemable preferred stock over the term of the
agreement, as opposed to recognizing the gain, in its entirety, in 2003.
Response — The Company relied upon the guidance of SFAS15, Accounting by Debtors and Creditors for
Troubled Debt Restructurings. In summary, the carrying amount of the redeemable preferred stock
did not change as a result of the 2003 agreement. The future gains are contingent upon scheduled
redemption payments being made. To the extent that the redemption payments are not made, the
original face value of the shares continues to be due to the holder of the preferred shares in
accordance with the original terms of the preferred stock agreements.
(16) Segment Reporting, p. 45
8.
You indicate that your only segment is your contract metal fabrication segment.
However, we note, based on your discussion in Item 1 of your Form 10-K, that your products
are used in the construction, industrial, and agricultural industries. Please clarify for
us whether your business includes any components that meet the definition of an operating
segment in paragraph 10 of SFAS No. 131. If so, please tell us how you meet the
aggregation requirements in paragraph 17 if SFAS No. 131, given the variety of industries
you serve, the variety of your products, and the tailored-nature of your production
processes. In addition, in future filings, please disclose and supplementally provide to
us the information required by paragraph 37 of SFAS No. 131.
Response — While our sales are quantified and include components used in 3 major industries, the
chief operating decision maker, the Company’s chairman, does not have available either gross
margins or operating income by industry, as such information is not quantified by industry. The
Company meets part a. of the paragraph 10 definition of an operating segment, but does meet parts
b. or c. of that definition.
If the 3 major industries had each met the definition of an operating segment, the aggregation
criteria of paragraph 17 of SFAS No. 31 would apply, and we would report all of our operations as
one segment. For each product, and for each industry, the manufactured components are:
All are primarily fabricated sheet metal components.
All are fabricated using the same processes: laser cutting,
forming, welding, painting and assembly. These processes are similar,
regardless of the industry for which they are fabricated.
All of the products are sold to original equipment manufacturers,
who incorporate those components into their final product.
All of the products are sold under arrangements where the Company
manufactures a significant number of components for the customers on a
repetitive basis. Two customers currently represent over 85% of
the Company’s net sales, and those two customers purchase components for
all three (construction, industrial and agricultural) industries.
Response — The percentage of net sales to the construction, industrial and agricultural industries
is referenced in Note 1(a) to the Financial Statements. In future filings, we will disclose net
sales dollars in addition to the percentages.
In connection with this letter, the Company acknowledges the following:
•
The Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its
filings with the Commission;
•
Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose
the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and
•
The Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by
the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the foregoing, or have additional questions or
comments, please contact me at 309-266-7176.
Sincerely,
/s/ Daryl R. Lindemann
Daryl R. Lindemann
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary