a50181434.htm
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
FORM 10-K
 
[X]  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended January 1, 2012
 
OR
 
[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from  ________ to ________
 
Commission file number 0-01097
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
 (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
OHIO
31-0455440
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
   
600 ALBANY STREET, DAYTON OHIO
45417
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
(937) 221-1000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT
   
Common stock $1.00 par value
New York Stock Exchange
Title of each class
Name of each exchange
 
on which registered
 
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT
 
None
 
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes[  ]  No[X]
 
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes[  ]  No[X]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes [X]  No[  ]
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.   See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer [  ]   
Accelerated filer [  ]  
Non-accelerated filer [  ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company [X]
 
Indicate by checkmark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes [  ]  No [X]
 
The aggregate market value of all stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant at July 3, 2011 was approximately $40,695,170 based on a closing sales price of $3.13 per share on July 3, 2011
 
At January 29, 2012, the number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s classes of common stock is as follows:
Common stock, $1.00 par value
25,219,325 shares
Class A stock, $1.00 par value
4,725,000 shares
 
Part III incorporates information by reference from the Proxy Statement for Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 26, 2012.
 
 
 

 
 
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
FORM 10-K
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PART I
 
Item 1 – BUSINESS
 
COMPANY
 
The Standard Register Company (referred to in this report as the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or “Standard Register”) is a publicly-traded company that began operations in 1912 in Dayton, Ohio.  Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol SR.

Standard Register is a recognized leader in the healthcare, financial services, commercial, and industrial markets.  Our mission is to be trusted by the world’s leading organizations to build and protect their reputations.  We use a century of industry expertise, leading technologies, and a compelling portfolio of solutions to help companies advance their reputations by aligning mission-critical communications with corporate standards and priorities.  We believe our success depends on our ability to build strategic relationships with our customers.  Through an intense focus on customer needs and continued development of innovative solutions, we help them solve problems and gain a competitive advantage.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
 
We provide a combination of market-specific solutions and other solutions that serve common business needs across our markets.  We classify our solutions as core or legacy based upon our business strategy and focus.  Core solutions represent solutions designed to address current and evolving needs of targeted markets, consist of combinations of print, labels, services, and software, and are targeted growth areas for us.  Legacy solutions primarily support common business transaction processing needs and consist mainly of printed products and distribution services.  Although many of our legacy solutions continue to be negatively impacted by digital technology advances, our history and expertise in these solutions provides unique insight that enables us to create new core solutions and access to a broad customer base.  Core solutions accounted  for approximately 40% of total revenue in 2011.

Product/Service:
Core
Legacy
 
Print
 
Global marketing solutions: Multi-media marketing materials such as brochures, newsletters, direct mail, commercial business cards, flyers, post cards, product literature, and promotional items
 
Critical communications: Patient education materials, billing statements, explanation of benefits, healthcare plan enrollment kits, training materials, commercial transaction documents, customer notices, membership and enrollment documents, double-sided postcards, and other variable communications
 
Digital print solutions: On-demand printing with digital color and wide-format capabilities, technical literature for manufactured products
 
Administrative and clinical forms, traditional business documents such as checks, envelopes, application forms, deposit slips, tellers receipts, and secure documents
 
Secure documents, secure prescriptions produced in secure pads, laser sheets, and rolls of thermal paper
 
Labels
 
Patient wristbands, labels and documentation with barcodes, patient photos and data
 
Functional, decorative, and in-mold labels, as well as pressure-sensitive decals, for manufactured products
 
Transactional labels such as shipping and distribution labels
 
Software
 
Patient information solutions, such as SMARTworks Clinical Enterprise and iMedConsentTM
 
Branch automation solutions for retail banks
 
 
Services
 
Distribution and design services for global marketing solutions and critical communications
 
Software maintenance support and professional services
 
Distribution services for medical forms and other business documents
 
 
1

 

Our product offerings are supported by our SMARTworks technology platform which provides our customers a central point of access from which their entire organization can quickly upload content and order printed materials.  The platform offers companies decentralized content management with centralized brand control and the ability to create one-to-one personalized communications.  For print products, we also offer flexible output options, from print and mail, to e-mail, fax, or online presentment.
 
SEGMENTS
 
We operate four business units, which are organized based upon their customer base and the primary markets they serve:  Healthcare, Financial Services, Commercial Markets, and Industrial.  Each of these business units represents an operating segment and a reportable segment.  You can read additional information related to revenues and operating profit for each reportable segment for years 2009 through 2011 in Note 17, “Segment Reporting” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Healthcare
 
Our Healthcare segment accounted for 36.5%, 37.6%, and 38.3% of our consolidated revenues in 2011, 2010, and 2009.  This segment serves the needs of the healthcare market, which is comprised of the following:
 
  
Acute Care Providers – Primarily hospitals and integrated delivery networks (IDNs) - defined as groups of healthcare providers
 
  
Long-Term Care Providers – Organizations that provide senior living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and dementia care services
 
  
Ambulatory Care Providers – Other organizations providing healthcare such as physicians and outpatient surgery centers
 
  
Payors and Managed Care – Organizations that provide some portion of payment for healthcare services such as Anthem, Medicare, and HMO’s - sometimes referred to as the insurance sector
 
  
Facilitators of Ancillary Services – Providers of ancillary healthcare services that are prescribed by providers or other non-clinical services that directly interact with patients such as laboratories and clinical staffing

Our primary focus is on acute care providers where we serve 62% of U.S. hospitals.  However, we also serve long-term and ambulatory care providers, payors and managed care, and providers of ancillary services.

Products and ServicesOur customers’ success depends on delivering safe, quality patient care.  Through on-going collaboration with our customers and extensive market expertise, we support their success by delivering solutions to help them accelerate performance, attract and educate patients, enhance their safety, and improve quality of care.
 
Healthcare segment revenues are derived primarily from administrative and clinical forms, critical communications, global marketing solutions, labels, secure prescriptions, and patient information solutions.  Administrative and clinical forms account for approximately half of the Healthcare segment’s revenues and support the compliant and safe delivery of care.  Our solutions help hospitals standardize documents, streamline workflow, reduce costs, improve regulatory compliance, and more effectively manage both paper and electronic medical records.
 
Our critical communication and global marketing solutions provide cost-effective, targeted, personalized communications that enable our customers to attract patients and new professionals, communicate with physicians and benefactors, and educate patients and the community at large.  These web-based solutions allow our customers to combine static and variable text, as well as photos and graphics, to produce professional brochures, mailers and other communications, tailored to an individual recipient.
 
Labels are essential to patient identification and safety.  Our technology gives hospitals the ability to generate labels, wristbands and documentation with barcodes, patient photos and data which help assure the right tests, treatments, and medications are matched with the right patient.  We offer laser and thermal wristbands and labels, as well as traditional patient ID and alert wristbands.
 
Our patient information solutions help hospitals manage what is increasingly a hybrid environment of both paper and electronic medical records.  Our newest offering is our iMedConsent solution which assists physicians in educating and informing patients about conditions, diagnoses, and treatments.  This solution streamlines internal practices, standardizes communication across the enterprise, and better documents required informed consent encounters.
 
 
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Market Trends  With an increasing number of patients due to population growth and aging, the focus on patient safety is intensifying.  The Joint Commission redefined its patient safety goals in 2011 which include: improving patient identification, enhancing the effectiveness of communications among caregivers, and accurately and completely reconciling medications across the continuum of care.  The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act statute, passed in 2010, gives the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services the authority to penalize hospitals for excess readmission rates starting in federal fiscal year 2013 based on clinical outcome experience in 2012.  In addition, there are “pay for performance” trends emerging within healthcare insurance whereby healthcare providers may be paid based on quality and efficiency measures instead of solely on the type of service provided.  We anticipate these trends will create increased demand for patient identification products and services, patient information solutions, as well as critical communication and global marketing solutions.
 
The healthcare market continues to move to electronic medical records (EMR), using fewer traditional paper documents for managing patient information and administrative functions.  With enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), we estimate the use of paper documents will continue to decline at an annual rate of approximately 20%.  The ARRA provides financial incentives through the Medicare program to encourage physicians and hospitals to adopt and use certified electronic medical records in a meaningful way.  Incentives for early adopters began in 2010 and extend to 2014, with a 1% penalty incurred by non-adopters beginning in 2015.  The federal government has defined “meaningful use” milestones and identified investments that are eligible to receive incentive payments for 2011, with additional rules to be determined for 2013 and 2015.  As understanding of these complex rules builds, we anticipate hospitals will move forward with their EMR investment plans, although the market effort to comply thus far has been slow.  We anticipate paper documents will remain into the foreseeable future, even at the highest stages of EMR adoption.  Therefore, this trend may create additional opportunities for digital print solutions and patient information solutions that help hospitals organize, manage and migrate to an electronic state.
 
Declining reimbursements, an increasing population of uninsured patients, and tough economic conditions are placing financial pressures on hospitals and creating increased demand for solutions that reduce cost.  At the same time, hospitals are in an increasingly competitive environment and are seeking to attract and retain both staff and patients, creating more opportunities for global marketing solutions.
 
Financial Services
 
The Financial Services segment serves the needs of the financial services market, which consists of retail banks, insurance carriers, credit agencies, security dealers, insurance agents or brokers, and holding companies.  We focus on major retail banks and large insurance carriers, targeting the top 450 large and mid-market retail banks and the 300 largest insurance carriers.  Currently, three customers account for approximately 50% of this segment’s revenue.
 
The Financial Services segment accounted for 26.9%, 26.3%, and 27.8% of our consolidated revenues in 2011, 2010, and 2009.
 
Products and ServicesService providers within the financial services market are focused on customer retention, cost management, revenue growth, managing security and regulatory compliance, and creating operational efficiencies. We provide solutions that help companies ensure brand consistency, increase customer loyalty, enhance security, increase efficiencies, and decrease costs.
 
Revenue for Financial Services is derived primarily from the following: traditional documents, global marketing solutions, critical communications, and software and professional services.  Traditional documents account for just under half of segment revenues.  We are an industry leader in document security, utilizing specialized inks, secure papers, unique constructions, and other proprietary security features to defeat attempts to create fraudulent copies or alterations.  We also offer a national network of production locations and certified suppliers, which enables our customers to reduce inventory and distribution costs associated with pre-printed documents and eliminate obsolete content.
 
Global marketing solutions account for approximately 34% of our Financial Services segment revenues.  Our web-based solutions enable marketers to more effectively launch and manage campaign materials through their sales channels by ensuring that marketing materials are current and consistent across all media and enabling shortened cycle times for delivery.  In addition, we also manage point of sale and collateral fulfillment as a service to our customers, utilizing expertise of our PrintConcierge® group and software that facilitates bidding and order management among a nationwide network of third-party commercial printers.  In 2011, we introduced a new suite of promotional products solutions.  These solutions provide businesses with greater control over their brand and more creativity.  This offering is now available to businesses of all sizes through a new retail website, SR-Promo.com.  Businesses can create a dedicated company store, providing easy access to promotional items that support local marketing efforts or internal recognition and incentive programs, while maintaining control of the brand.

 
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For most of our critical communications, we utilize digital technology to enable customers to vary the data printed on each page or create fully personalized kits of information.  Our newest solution, integrated statement and billing, enables businesses to manage multi-channel customer communications to reduce transaction costs, shorten the time between invoicing and payment, and create new cross-selling opportunities.  It provides a complete outsourced solution for managing the printing, mailing, electronic transmission, and fulfillment of business-critical documents such as invoices, statements, and notifications.  The multi-channel approach coordinates print and electronic presentment and payment solutions, enabling businesses to tailor communications to customer preferences while moving aggressively to increase e-billing and payment.
 
Software includes our branch automation solution for banks that automates the creation, authorization, printing, reporting, and reconciliation of official items such as checks, money orders, starter checks, and similar items.  The solution creates operational efficiencies, minimizes internal and external fraud, and increases opportunities for cross-selling by bank staff.
 
Market Trends
 
Economic uncertainty and the recent crisis in the financial markets are sharpening retail banks’ focus on preserving capital and competing for deposits.  Banks and insurance providers are also experiencing increased competitive pressures from ongoing consolidations and nontraditional competitors such as internet-only providers.  In addition, the industry continues to be impacted by advances in digital technologies and trends in customer preferences to conduct business transactions at ATMs or on the internet and in marketing through social media channels.  As financial service providers assess their portfolios and seek to differentiate themselves, they are focusing on customer retention and making significant moves to reposition their offerings in the market.  The combination of these trends continues to create price pressures and reduced demand for traditional printed documents and communications.  However, as these providers continue to seek more customer-specific marketing materials, demand for global marketing solutions, as well as commercial and digital print, is expected to increase.
 
As a result of economic uncertainties, financial service providers are also focused on cost management and operational efficiencies in their branch and call center operations and back-office processing centers.  This trend may create additional opportunities for software solutions and the efficiencies and cost-saving benefits they provide.  Additionally, banks may explore potential benefits of outsourcing non-core operations, such as printed communications, creating additional opportunities for our global marketing solutions.
 
In response to expanding regulatory requirements adopted to address corporate scandals, fraud, accounting irregularities, and privacy rights, financial services providers are placing renewed emphasis on the need to maintain the confidentiality of customer data, thereby increasing demand for suppliers with secure controls and safeguards in place to host or process personal data when outsourcing a critical business process.  We are positioned to provide a full range of innovative products to respond to these needs by utilizing our history of expertise in specialized inks, secure paper, proprietary document security features, secure printing software, bar codes, and data encryption.
 
Commercial Markets
 
The Commercial Markets segment serves the business-to-business or commercial market, which primarily includes retailers, business service providers, wholesalers, transportation services, technology and communication providers, and government.  Currently, our primary customers are large diverse retailers, state governments, overnight delivery carriers, business service providers, and wholesale companies.
 
Our Commercial Markets segment accounted for 24.6%, 25.5%, and 25.3% of our consolidated revenues in 2011, 2010, and 2009.
 
Products and ServicesCustomers within the commercial market generally operate high transaction businesses, have a national footprint of service locations, and require specialized printing needs in core processes to run their operations and communicate with customers, employees, and stakeholders.  We provide solutions that help companies ensure brand consistency, increase customer loyalty, enhance security, increase efficiencies, and decrease costs.
 
Revenue for Commercial Markets is derived primarily from the following: traditional documents, global marketing solutions, labels, critical communications, and professional services.  Traditional documents account for approximately 35%; while global marketing solutions and labels each account for approximately 20% of the segment’s revenues.  Product offerings for traditional documents, labels, global marketing solutions, and critical communications are the same as those offered in our Financial Services segment, but modified to meet the particular needs of our Commercial Market customers.

 
4

 
 
Market Trends
 
The introduction of alternative technologies has reduced industry demand for traditional custom-printed documents, while a very competitive and oversupplied market has led to price competition.  The combination of improved digital printing devices and more sophisticated workflow software is transforming an industry once dominated by long-run offset production to one characterized by shorter, digitally-printed runs.  As a result, investments in digital color management and production technologies will be vital to maintaining a competitive product portfolio within the industry.
 
Economic uncertainty, driven by the recent financial crisis, has also created global volatility and consumer anxiety in the retail markets.  As a result, consumers are narrowing their purchases to necessities, affecting retailer demand as well as wholesale demand.  Discretionary spending remains under pressure, so retailers are responding with enhanced value propositions.  Additionally, in-store marketing is on the rise, which we expect to result in declines in the amount of traditional advertising.  Retailers are also investing in their websites to set them apart from their competition.  These trends may create additional opportunities for our global marketing solutions and critical communications.
 
We are seeing a transformation currently underway throughout government with a trend toward more outsourcing and updating of technology.  We expect heavy reliance on our traditional documents to remain intact. Issues surrounding national security, immigration reform, and identity protection all create opportunity for us to leverage our intellectual property in the document security space.
 
We continue to see increasing trends in the number of organizations outsourcing their document management programs.  In addition, customers are migrating to fewer suppliers and more strategic relationships.  These trends create opportunities for providers who maintain an extensive portfolio of solutions.
 
Industrial
 
Our Industrial segment accounted for 12.0%, 10.6%, and 8.6% of our consolidated revenues in 2011, 2010, and 2009.  This segment is focused on the printed production part needs of manufacturers.  Printed production parts are all of the labels and technical literature which go on a manufactured product or are shipped with a product.
 
There are over 280,000 manufacturing companies in the U.S. producing millions of different products.  Industries offering the best fit for our Industrial segment range from apparel, wood, and consumer products to rubber, plastic, and metal products and industrial machinery and equipment.  We focus on companies that produce hard goods with multiple manufacturing facilities, particularly companies that have a centralized sourcing model and value technical expertise and high levels of service.  We are a market leader in printed production parts for key industry segments such as HVAC, electrical, and appliance and consumer durables, and a preferred supplier for multi-site manufacturers.
 
Products and ServicesThe manufacturing environment is characterized by large numbers of stock-keeping units (SKUs), high obsolescence, little coordination between facilities, and many time-consuming processes.  Additionally, manufacturers place heavy emphasis on consumer safety and compliance.  In today’s economic environment, manufacturers are forced to meet these challenges with fewer resources, creating unique needs related to printed production parts.  We help manufacturers realize efficiencies by removing waste from the manufacturing process, reduce product liability claims through improved compliance, and gain distinction with the latest product decoration technology.
 
Revenue for this segment is derived primarily from labels, global marketing solutions, technical literature and other documents, and critical communications.  Labels include functional, decorative, and in-mold labeling and decorating and represent approximately 70% of segment revenues.  Utilizing our material science capabilities, our functional labels protect our customers’ images by ensuring their product marking complies with legally-required standards and is designed and applied in the most efficient and effective manner.  Our color management capabilities with our decorative labels ensure a manufacturer’s brand is presented consistently to consumers and can improve the appearance of products, potentially leading to new consumers.
 
In-mold labeling solutions enhance the appearance of molded plastic products while reducing the risk of label failure.  Through patented Grafilm® technology, our in-mold labeling and decorating products allow manufacturers to enhance the appearance of their products by expanding available decoration space, even on curved, contoured or textured parts.  In-mold labels bond with the molded part and are permanent and non-removable, providing manufacturers with safety labeling, branding and decoration that lasts the life of the product.
 
Global marketing solutions consist primarily of managing and producing the materials that enable manufacturers to market to the end consumer through their dealer/distributor networks.  Our technology helps to ensure that our customers’ dealers and distributors utilize their brand appropriately.
 
Critical communications enable manufacturers to provide targeted, effective messages to their customers, while reducing costs and ensuring information security.

 
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Market Trends In the industrial market, multiple compliance and legal requirements, a focus on consumer safety, and an increased interest in enhancing the marketing potential of industrial products are driving an increase in consumer and industrial end-use applications for labels.  In addition, rising wages and regulatory costs in low-cost countries such as China are driving some U.S. manufacturers to move production back to North America.  Based on these trends and an expected increase in the number of industrial products produced as the population grows, we expect the market for functional, decorative, and in-mold labels, as well as technical literature in North America, to exhibit steady growth in the long term.
 
In the short term, the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy is slowly recovering from the recent recession and is expected to continue its upward momentum.  According to the Institute for Supply Management, which publishes the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), production increased approximately 4% in 2011.  Production for 2012 is expected to grow approximately 3% according to the Machinery and Allied Products Institute (MAPI).  Stronger U.S. manufacturing performance coupled with growth in Asian manufacturing has put upward pressure on commodity prices that are being reflected in rising U.S. producer prices.  These trends are expected to result in increased demand in the short-term for labels and technical literature, particularly for solutions that reduce a manufacturer’s product costs.
 
Technologies such as bar code, radio frequency identification, internet-based commerce, digital presses, and environmentally-friendly adhesives and inks continue to advance.  Customers will seek products utilizing these technologies as costs related to their application decline to acceptable levels, requiring providers to continue to make selective investments to remain competitive.  In-mold labeling is underpenetrated in durable goods in the U.S.  Acceptance is growing, and the use of robotics dedicated to in-mold labeling is accelerating this market growth.
 
COMPETITION
 
We have a market-focused approach to solutions development and a long history of working within our targeted markets.  We also have an extensive product offering which enables us to offer end-to-end solutions that create efficiencies, eliminate costs associated with maintaining multiple vendor relationships, and improve the quality and effectiveness of our customers’ communications.  Combined with our national footprint of sales and production capabilities, we believe these factors create competitive advantages for us in each of our segments.  Each segment has a unique competitive environment.  A discussion of our competitive advantages and challenges specific to each segment follows.
 
Healthcare We have contractual agreements with the five largest Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs).  GPOs are large influential service companies that help healthcare providers realize savings and efficiencies by aggregating purchasing volume and using that leverage to negotiate discounts with manufacturers, distributors and other vendors.  The combination of our long history of healthcare experience in process improvement and contractual agreements with the GPOs provide us a competitive advantage with the majority of hospitals and IDNs.
 
Our principal competitors for print products, including forms, patient communication, and marketing materials, are R.R. Donnelley and Sons and WorkflowOne, which are national competitors.  Excess production capacity and price competition are prevalent with some print products.  The service and technology we provide combined with our industry knowledge and breadth of product offerings enable us to compete effectively, even with forms where there is greater price sensitivity.
 
Principal competitors for wristbands and labels include LaserBand and Precision Dynamics Corporation (PDC), although we also partner with PDC on certain products.  Wristbands and labels are primarily dominated by suppliers with limited offerings and no supporting technology, though technology will become increasingly important as hospitals move to electronic medical records.
 
Principal competitors for technology solutions are FormFast, Bottomline Technologies, and Access e-Forms.  Service is an important component in competing in this sector.  We believe our extensive experience in healthcare and workflow solutions and the assistance we provide in organizing, managing, and migrating clinical and business forms differentiate us from our competitors.
 
Financial Services and Commercial MarketsMajor competitors for these segments include national companies such as R.R. Donnelley and Sons, WorkflowOne, and Williams Lea, as well as regional printers and print distributors.  Highly focused application specialists continue to evolve in the market.  In addition, many local and regional printers compete by offering shortened turnaround times.  These factors contribute to a highly competitive environment for most of our product offerings.
 
Emerging competitors include marketing technology providers that provide solutions similar in nature to our SMARTworks platform and specialized marketing solutions providers.  We believe our strategic focus on our targeted markets and continued investment in digital technologies will enable us to maintain and develop a competitive portfolio of innovative solutions.

 
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IndustrialOur Industrial segment differentiates itself by offering a comprehensive national program for design, sourcing and inventory management of printed production parts.  Our customer service team is made up of specialists who understand the form, fit and function of printed production parts, as well as the importance of these parts to the manufacturer’s products.  Our professional design team has the ability to work across multiple platforms, including computer-aided design (CAD)-based systems.  We offer full graphic capabilities and electronic cataloging for reorders, ensuring uniformity of all parts.  Our professionals are also fully conversant with current compliance requirements.  With competency in more than 100 languages, we also support the global communication needs of industrial manufacturers.
 
The market is dominated by local and regional competitors, with no one competitor owning a substantial percentage of the market.  Principal competitors for functional and decorative labels include R. R. Donnelley and Sons, Avery Dennison, Brady Label, Worldmark, and Serigraph.  We compete by offering extensive expertise in industrial label applications and material sciences, a national footprint, and a complete printed production parts solution.  However, the market is extremely competitive, and suppliers offering favorable pricing effectively compete with our offerings.
 
Our principal competitors for in-mold labeling and decorating are Central Decal, Inland Label, Serigraph, and other local and regional competitors.  The market for this product is underpenetrated in durable goods in the U.S., and the new technology currently has not gained wide acceptance.  We believe our patented Grafilm technology outperforms other technology in the market.  With the addition of robotics solutions in 2011, we are able to provide a complete turnkey solution.
 
Principal competitors for marketing solutions include R. R. Donnelley and Sons, Avery Dennison, JG Sullivan, and other local and regional competitors.  The market for these products is highly decentralized, with the majority of the market served by local and regional competitors.  We believe our SMARTworks technology platform provides us a competitive advantage.
 
WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION
 
Many of our custom-printed documents are warehoused for subsequent delivery to our customers in the quantity, time, and place of their choosing.  We provide a network of distribution centers across the country which allows us to service customers with multiple locations.  Inventory control, reporting, and reorder are provided in a module of our proprietary SMARTworks document management system that resides on the customer’s desktop.  Revenue derived from these services is attributed to all of our segments based upon the customer and market being served.
 
SALES CHANNELS
 
We serve our customers through a combination of field-based sales, telesales, and the web.  Each approach is customized to meet the needs of the segment being served.  However, we have a unified approach in sales methodology, customer relationship management, and training.  Each of our primary markets has devoted sales channels specific to the market.  These channels are primarily organized based upon a combination of their sales objective, market segmentation, and account segmentation as follows:
 
  
Geographically-based direct sales forces that focus on the retention, expansion and acquisition of middle market to larger accounts
  
Inside-sales channel that focuses on the retention and expansion of supplies and specialized product offerings to smaller accounts or remote geographies where our direct sales force cannot be cost effective
  
Business development groups that focus on the acquisition of new business
  
A specialized technology sales group that focuses on the acquisition of new technology business and supports direct sales teams in selling software and systems integration
  
E-commerce websites for selling commonly-used items and supporting smaller customers where our direct sales forces cannot be cost effective
  
A group of associates responsible for developing and maintaining relationships to distribute legacy and core products through external channels.
 
OUR RAW MATERIALS
 
We purchase raw paper in a wide variety of weights, grades, and colors from various paper mills in the U.S. and Canada.  Pressure-sensitive materials, carbonless paper, inks, and printing supplies are available nationally and are purchased from leading vendors.  We continuously ensure that we have adequate supplies to meet present and future sales objectives.  We generally order from suppliers with whom we have long-standing relationships.
 
 
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OUR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
During 2011, we spent $4.5 million on research and development compared with $4.9 million and $5.2 million in 2010 and 2009.  Research and development is primarily focused on two areas:  the design and development of new products, services, software and technologies, and process improvement activities.  The design and development of new products and technologies also includes equipment design and development used in production, as well as the integration of new technologies available in the marketplace.
 
OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
 
We have many trademarks and patents related to documents, equipment, systems, labels, and security products that provide a competitive advantage or generate license income.  None of these, individually, have a material effect upon the business.
 
SEASONALITY
 
No material portion of our business could be considered seasonal.  However, historically, we generate slightly lower revenues in the third quarter than in other quarters of the year.
 
GOVERNMENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
 
We have no significant exposure with regard to the renegotiation or termination of government contracts.  Any expenditure made to comply with federal, state, or local provisions of environmental protection has not had a material effect upon our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position.
 
The Company has participated with other Potentially Responsible Parties (“PRPs”) in the investigation, study, and remediation of the Pasco Sanitary Landfill Superfund Site (the “Pasco Site”) in eastern Washington State since 1998.  The Company was a member of a PRP Group known as the Industrial Waste Area Generators Group II (the “IWAG Group”).  In 2000, the IWAG Group and several other PRP groups entered into agreed orders with the Department of Ecology for implementation of interim remedial actions and expansion of groundwater monitoring.  In September 2010, the group entered into a new agreement creating the IWAG Group III.  The new agreement changed the allocation of responsibility among the members, which resulted in a significant decrease in our level of participation.  Based upon new investigations, it was also deemed probable that participation by certain other PRPs would increase for costs expected to be incurred after 2010.  At this time, an agreement has not yet been reached on the final remediation approach.  We have accrued our best estimate of our obligation and have an undiscounted liability of $1.2 million that we currently believe is adequate to cover our portion of the total future potential costs of remediation.   We expect the costs to be incurred over a period of 60 years; however, the current proposed remediation approach could require monitoring for a longer period of time.  This estimate is contingent upon the final remedy agreed upon, the participation of other PRPs, the length of monitoring required, and the final agreed upon allocation.  Until a final remediation approach is approved and a final agreement is reached among all PRPs, it is reasonably possible that one or more of these factors could change our estimate; however, we are unable to determine the impact at this time.

From 1995 through 2003, the Company participated with other PRPs in the investigation, study, and remediation of the Valleycrest Landfill Site (the “Valleycrest Site”) in western Ohio.  The Company is a member of a PRP Group known as the Valleycrest Landfill Site Group (the “VLSG”).  In 2003, General Motors Corporation (“GM”) stepped into the Company’s position under the Site Participation Agreement and in return for $270, agreed to indemnify the Company against certain future liability in connection with the Valleycrest Landfill Site.  Therefore, we did not previously record a liability for potential remediation costs.   In 2009, we were notified that in connection with GM’s bankruptcy filing, GM does not plan to continue contributions to the site, including its contractual obligation to indemnify the Company for future liability.  We believe that it is probable the Company will participate in remediation actions.  A remedial investigation and feasibility study was conducted by the VLSG which indicated a range of viable remedial approaches.  During 2010, we obtained an updated estimate of costs for possible final remedies.  At this early stage, a final remediation approach has not been selected, and we have accrued the estimate of our obligation based on the most likely approach.  In addition, we have also determined that GM will likely not be required to fund their originally allocated portion of the environmental costs.  However, GM has entered into an agreement with the VLSG to fund a small portion of these costs through bankruptcy settlements.  We have an undiscounted long-term liability of $2.3 million that we currently believe is adequate to cover our portion of the total future potential costs of remediation, which are expected to be incurred over a period of 30 years.  This estimate is contingent upon the final remedy agreed upon, the participation of other PRPs not currently in the VLSG, and the final agreed upon allocation.  Until a final remediation approach is approved and a final agreement is reached among all PRPs, it is reasonably possible that one or more of these factors could change our estimate; however, we are unable to determine the impact at this time.

 
8

 
 
OUR EMPLOYEES
 
At January 1, 2012, we had approximately 2,700 employees.
 
OUR WEBSITE
 
Our internet website is www.standardregister.com.  Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to these reports are available, without charge, on the website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file these reports with the SEC.  You can also obtain these reports, free of charge, by contacting Investor Relations, Standard Register, Corporate Offices, P.O. Box 1167, Dayton, Ohio 45401, e-mail:  investor@standardregister.com, phone:  937-221-1504.  In addition, these reports and other information can be obtained, free of charge, at www.sec.gov.  You may also read and copy materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549.  Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 800-732-0330.  We are not including the information contained in our website as part of, or incorporating it by reference to, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
 
This report includes forward-looking statements covered by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances, and those future events or circumstances may not occur.  Forward-looking statements include statements in which we use words such as "anticipates," "projects," "expects," "plans," "intends," "believes," "estimates," "targets," and other similar expressions that indicate trends and future events.  Among other things, all statements regarding expectations related to the following are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties:
 
  
decline in legacy solutions
  
expansion in core solutions
  
future pension funding requirements and amortization of actuarial gains and losses
  
expanding market share in core markets and globally
  
investing in our employees
  
2012 priorities
  
future financial condition, revenue trends, and cash flows
  
projected costs or cost savings related to our 2011 restructuring plan
  
ability to realize deferred tax assets
  
2012 capital expenditures
  
business strategy
 
Because forward-looking statements deal with future events, actual results for fiscal year 2012 and beyond could differ materially from our current expectations depending on a variety of factors including, but not limited to:
 
  
our access to capital for expanding in core solutions
  
the pace at which digital technologies erode the demand for certain legacy solutions
  
the success of our plans to deal with the threats and opportunities brought by digital technology
  
results of cost-containment strategies and restructuring programs
  
our ability to attract and retain key personnel
  
variation in demand and acceptance of the Company's products and services
  
frequency, magnitude, and timing of paper and other raw material price changes
  
timing of the completion and integration of acquisitions.

These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and estimates.  We cannot assure that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of new information, since these statements may no longer be accurate or timely.
 
 
9

 

Item 1A – Not applicable
 
Item 1B – Not applicable
 
Item 2 – PROPERTIES
 
Our corporate office is an owned facility located in Dayton, Ohio.  In addition, as of January 1, 2012, we lease or own 28 production facilities and operate 11 warehouses, the majority of which are combined with our production facilities.  All facilities are located in the U.S., with the exception of one production facility located in Mexico. More than half of our products are produced in our production facilities; other products are primarily sourced from one of the Company’s preferred suppliers.  Our current capacity, with modest capital additions, is expected to be sufficient to meet production requirements for the near future.
 
Item 3 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
We have no material claims or litigation pending against us.
 
Item 4 – Not applicable

 
PART II
 
- MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON STOCK, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
Market Price - The following table lists the high and low market prices as reported on the NYSE and cash dividends paid per share:
 
 
2011
 
Quarter
 
Dividend
   
High
   
Low
 
                     
 
1st
  $ 0.05     $ 3.61     $ 2.92  
 
2nd
  $ 0.05     $ 3.58     $ 3.01  
 
3rd
  $ 0.05     $ 3.20     $ 2.46  
 
4th
  $ 0.05     $ 2.74     $ 2.26  
                           
 
2010
 
Quarter
 
Dividend
   
High
   
Low
 
                           
 
1st
  $ 0.05     $ 6.56     $ 4.66  
 
2nd
  $ 0.05     $ 5.87     $ 2.90  
 
3rd
  $ 0.05     $ 3.96     $ 2.73  
 
4th
  $ 0.05     $ 3.79     $ 2.92  
                           
 
Approximate Number of Holders of Common Stock - On January 31, 2012, there were 2,129 shareholders of record of our common stock.  This number includes restricted shares, but excludes individual holders whose shares are held by nominees.  There are also 16 holders of Class A stock.
 
Dividends – On January 23, 2012, we announced the suspension of quarterly dividends in keeping with Ohio law, which requires that cash dividends be paid only out of a corporation’s statutory surplus. Because of the decline in shareholders’ equity,  there is not currently a statutory surplus.  The 2012 first quarter dividend which was declared in December 2011 was paid on March 9, 2012.  See further discussion under “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.
 
There were no repurchases of our common stock during the fourth quarter of 2011.  Information regarding our equity compensation plans is included in Item 12 and is incorporated by reference into this section of Item 5.
 
 
10

 
 
                   
                               
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL SUMMARY
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
                               
   
2011
   
2010 (a)
   
2009(a)
   
2008 (a)
      2007 (a,b,c)  
                                 
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
                               
  Revenue
  $ 648,109     $ 668,377     $ 694,016     $ 791,076     $ 865,432  
  Cost of sales
    449,940       458,569       478,367       540,180       594,076  
      Gross margin
    198,169       209,808       215,649       250,896       271,356  
  Operating expenses
    192,338       205,913       240,884       234,131       281,514  
  Interest expense
    2,466       2,189       1,197       2,220       3,763  
  Investment and other income (expense)
    632       (333 )     390       285       208  
  Income tax expense (benefit)
    91,695       1,005       (10,678 )     7,942       (5,556 )
 (Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (87,698 )   $ 368     $ (15,364 )   $ 6,888     $ (8,157 )
                                         
Net (loss) income
  $ (87,698 )   $ 368     $ (15,364 )   $ 6,888     $ (7,883 )
                                         
DILUTED PER SHARE DATA
                                       
                                         
(Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (3.02 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.53 )   $ 0.24     $ (0.27 )
Net (loss) income
  $ (3.02 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.53 )   $ 0.24     $ (0.26 )
                                         
  Dividends paid
  $ 0.20     $ 0.20     $ 0.38     $ 0.92     $ 0.92  
  Book value per share
  $ (3.40 )   $ 2.07     $ 2.06     $ 1.92     $ 4.58  
                                         
YEAR-END FINANCIAL DATA
                                       
  Current ratio
 
2.1 to 1
   
2.4 to 1
   
1.6 to 1
   
2.2 to 1
   
2.5 to 1
 
  Working capital
  $ 89,409     $ 109,238     $ 73,071     $ 106,613     $ 131,538  
  Plant and equipment
  $ 73,950     $ 74,149     $ 85,740     $ 102,071     $ 110,975  
  Total assets
  $ 293,861     $ 384,787     $ 396,952     $ 433,575     $ 441,084  
  Long-term debt (d)
  $ 60,149     $ 42,926     $ -     $ 33,840     $ 51,988  
  Shareholders' (deficit) equity
  $ (99,053 )   $ 59,804     $ 59,385     $ 55,167     $ 131,497  
                                         
OTHER DATA
                                       
  Number of shares
                                       
    outstanding at year-end
    29,100,203       28,955,247       28,864,151       28,786,354       28,727,177  
  Number of employees
    2,700       2,600       2,900       3,100       3,400  
  Capital expenditures
  $ 14,186     $ 8,403     $ 8,844     $ 17,330     $ 21,575  
                                         
                         
(a) Adjusted for accounting method change from LIFO to FIFO
                       
(b) Reflects the gain on sale of Digital Solutions on April 21, 2007.
                 
(c) Reflects losses from discontinued operations as a result of the sale of Digital Solutions.
   
(d) Reflects all debt as current in 2009.
   
 
 
11

 
 
 
- MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
 
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis provides material historical and prospective disclosures intended to enable investors and other users to assess our financial condition and results of operations.  Statements that are not historical are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under the caption “Forward-Looking Information” in Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and elsewhere in this report.  These risks could cause our actual results to differ materially from any future performance suggested below.  This Management’s Discussion and Analysis includes the following sections:
 
  
Overview – An overall discussion of our Company, the business challenges and opportunities we believe are key to our financial success, and our plans for facing these challenges and capitalizing upon the opportunities before us.
 
  
Critical Accounting Polices and Estimates – A discussion of the accounting policies that require our most critical judgments and estimates.  This discussion provides insight into the level of subjectivity, quality, and variability involved in these judgments and estimates.
 
  
Results of Operations – An analysis of our consolidated results of operations and segment results for the three years presented in our consolidated financial statements.  This analysis discusses material trends within our business and provides important information necessary for an understanding of our operating results.
 
  
Liquidity and Capital Resources – An analysis of cash flows and a discussion of our financial condition.  This section provides information necessary to evaluate our ability to generate cash and to meet existing and known future cash requirements over both the short and long term.
 
References to 2011, 2010, and 2009 refer to the 52-weeks period ended January 1, 2012 and January 2, 2011, and the 53-week period ended January 3, 2010.
 
OVERVIEW
 
The Company – We are trusted by the world’s leading companies to advance their reputations by aligning their communications with corporate standards and priorities.  By partnering with our customers, we help them increase efficiency; comply with regulatory requirements; improve the way they communicate with and serve their customers, employees, and stakeholders; and ultimately thrive in today’s competitive business climate.
 
We continue to build a portfolio of solutions to address the changing business landscape for our primary markets. We help companies migrate from paper-based to digital processes by providing innovative tools to manage the entire lifecycle of their documents from concept to delivery.  To accomplish this, we utilize our market expertise to provide products and services including:  printed documents and communications, labels, nationwide warehousing and custom-delivery services, consulting, and software solutions.
 
Our operations include four reportable segments based upon the primary markets we serve:  Healthcare, Financial Services, Commercial Markets, and Industrial.
 
Our Business ChallengesAdvances in on-demand technologies have accelerated the adoption of electronic distribution of documents and digital printing, therefore reducing the market for longer-run traditional business forms, a legacy product offering of the Company.  In addition, the downturn in the economy and turmoil in the credit markets in recent years have created highly competitive conditions in an already over-supplied, price-competitive industry.  We have taken substantial measures to transform our Company to be leaders in our primary markets.  Going forward, we believe our success is dependent upon addressing the following key challenges:
 
  
Transformation of our portfolio of solutions
 
  
Future pension funding requirements and amortization of actuarial gains and losses
 
  
Generating positive cash flow
 
  
Expanding market share in core markets
 
  
Developing a targeted approach in global expansion

 
12

 
 
Transformation of our portfolio of solutions – Traditional business documents and information-driven processes are essential in order to conduct business.  However, many printed documents and related services are being replaced or commoditized by advances in digital technologies, causing significant price pressures and steady declines in demand for a large portion of our legacy product line.  The same digital advances also introduce new opportunities with significant growth potential for us, such as print-on-demand services and solutions that assist customers in their transition to digital business environments.  These growth opportunities are particularly enhanced within our four market segments due to our extensive history and experience.
 
At the end of 2008, we began the process of evolving into a market-focused innovator.  In 2009, we transformed from a product-driven company to one focused on the key markets we serve and we aligned management roles and resources to create an intense focus on customer needs within our four primary markets.  In 2010 and 2011, we continued our transformation and focused on providing and developing new solutions for growth and durability.  A key example of this in 2011 is our investment in new digital color equipment and technology.  The investment supports our strategy for growth in core marketing solutions by helping our customers manage their brand through effective color execution and increased security and efficiency in their critical communications.  Optimization of our manufacturing footprint and implementation of new workflow and print technology in our Print On Demand Centers in 2010 was an important first step operationally.  We transformed five of our regional print centers into "super centers," equipping each with high-speed, high-quality color printing, and in-line finishing and bindery capabilities.  In addition, the regional centers and our three largest satellite facilities were upgraded with the latest high-speed, monochrome printing equipment as well as wide-format printers. Advances in production were complemented by new digital workflow technology, which was rolled out across our entire digital print network.  The software allows web-based orders to move from customer desktops through the production process with minimal intervention.  It automatically routes orders to the print center most convenient to the customer, which dramatically improves fulfillment times and reduces freight costs for the customer.  These investments create a strategic advantage for us by allowing us to capitalize on growth opportunities in web publishing.
 
During 2011 and 2010, we renewed our emphasis on leveraging our intellectual property to further develop and enhance our solution portfolio, resulting in new inventions and patents.  We also made strategic acquisitions.  In 2011, we acquired 100% of the ownership interest in Dialog Medical.  Dialog Medical provides solutions for managing the patient informed consent process.  We believe this acquisition strengthens and broadens our leadership in the healthcare market, compliments our portfolio of solutions, and enhances our ability to continue to advance our core growth products in the healthcare market.  In 2010, we purchased the assets of Fusion Graphics, Inc.  The assets consisted primarily of patented in-mold label products and intellectual property, including the Grafilm In-Mold Labeling System.  The acquisition is expected to allow us to serve a much broader group of customers worldwide and continue to develop new products within our Industrial business unit.  Building on these technologies, we launched our new Grafilm-Roto in-mold labeling product in the fourth quarter of 2010.
 
We have also developed strategic relationships with outside partners and invested in additional talent to further drive growth and development of innovative solutions that address the needs of our core markets.
 
As a result of these investments, we expect to continue to grow and develop innovative solutions, specifically in the areas of patient identification and safety solutions, secure document solutions, marketing and critical communication solutions, and industrial in-mold labeling.  These solutions address important business needs and are positioned for future growth.  They have also contributed to the shift in our revenue from legacy to core solutions.  Core solutions, as a percent of total revenue, were 40% in 2011, compared with 37% in 2010 and 32% in 2009.  We believe our extensive expertise within our markets combined with our continued focus on targeted solutions for those markets will differentiate us from our competitors and will continue to produce growth opportunities outside of our legacy solutions.
 
Future pension funding and loss amortization – During 2001, 2002, and most recently in 2008 and 2011, our qualified pension plan became underfunded due to weak stock market returns and historically low long-term interest rates.  The amortization of these actuarial losses has resulted in significant pension loss amortization in recent years – $24.3 million in 2011, $18.7 million in 2010, and $14.6 million in 2009.  We expect this trend to continue and that pension loss amortization will continue to materially impact our operating profit in future years.  Based upon current estimates of funding, asset performance, and interest rates, we project pension loss amortization to be $23.0 million in 2012.  Due to the high degree of variability and uncertainty regarding the assumptions used to determine these amounts, actual results could differ significantly from those expected.

 
13

 
 
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 became effective in 2008 and increased the minimum funding requirements for our qualified pension plan.  In response to the weak economic conditions, the Pension Relief Act of 2010 (PRA) was passed in 2010.  The PRA provides funding relief specifically for plan years 2008 – 2011 by allowing plan sponsors to stretch out funding over a longer period of time for two of these years.  Based upon the new requirements and current estimates, our minimum funding is estimated to be $27 million in 2012, $37 million in 2013, and $44 million in 2014.  Our estimates of minimum funding requirements are also dependent upon investment return and interest rate assumptions that have a high degree of variability and uncertainty, as evidenced in the recent economic climate.  Unexpected gains or losses in asset values or changes in factors affecting interest rates could materially impact the actual required contributions.
 
In response to these challenges, in 2008 we modified our qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans.  As a result, participants in these plans ceased accruing additional pension benefits in July 2008, and the final pension amounts will be based upon pay and service through June 29, 2008.  The effect of these actions eliminated pension service costs for these plans for 2009 and beyond, resulting in annualized net savings of approximately $4 million in retirement costs.  In addition, some variability in the actuarial gains and losses of these plans were eliminated as estimates of service periods and compensation levels are no longer required since plan benefits have been frozen.
 
Despite these changes, settlement of our pension obligations will still present uncertainty and variability in our financial results in future years, with the ultimate outcome determined by actual asset performance in our qualified plan, interest rates, and the level of our pension contributions.
 
Generating positive cash flow – Transforming our product portfolio and funding our pension plan creates additional challenges related to generating and maintaining positive cash flow due to the significant cash investments required.  Pricing pressures in our legacy product line as these products are further commoditized create additional pressures on cash.  Our core solutions generally generate higher profit margins; therefore, our continued shift from legacy to core solutions will help offset these pressures.  We continue to undertake aggressive actions to accelerate our transition, reduce costs, and align resources around our core solutions business.  Significant restructuring actions have been implemented to improve our cost structure, most recently late in 2011.  The 2011 plan is expected to reduce costs by approximately $45 million annually and allow us to continue to maintain sufficient liquidity and capital resources to fund near-term operations and growth initiatives.  Additionally, due to the lack of a statutory surplus required under Ohio law, we have suspended our dividend, which will result in the retention of approximately $6 million of capital annually.
 
Expanding market share in core markets – In 2010 and 2011, we continued to grow market share, optimize operations and earnings, and develop new solutions for growth and durability.  We achieved positive results, as we acquired new customers and expanded business with existing customers across all of our segments.  We continued to advance our market positions by developing key partnerships and alliances, providing us with new opportunities for growth-targeted products and increased market share in our legacy print products.  Additionally, we continued investing in system and infrastructure enhancements, including a refresh of our web-based SMARTworks platform.  These enhancements provide advanced web-based capabilities for our customers, reduce costs, and create operating efficiencies; all of which allow us opportunities to expand our market share through client service and reinvestment in solutions.
 
As demand for traditional print products is projected to decline approximately 10% to 15% per year, the continued expansion of our market share is a key factor to our success.  We believe our current strategic plans will continue to drive further expansion of our market share in the U.S. going forward.
 
Developing a targeted approach to global expansion – Since many of our customers have a global presence, we believe we must also increase our ability to provide solutions that support global requirements and are working to develop plans to achieve this.
 
Our Focus In 2011, we continued to focus on our customers, creating cost and operational improvements and efficiencies, and cash flow.  As a result of aligning our organization around our key markets, implementing and progressing with our go-to-market strategy, and creating an internal structure for continuous cost and revenue improvement, we have made substantial progress in these areas.  Building on this success, our 2012 priorities continue to center around our customers and operational and profit improvement:
 
  
Acquire new customers
 
  
Defend and expand current business
 
  
Optimize cost structure.
 
To offset expected declines in legacy product demand, we will continue plans to acquire new customers.  We have made investments in our business development and marketing organizations and will continue to invest in alternate sales channels.  By successfully combining legacy print/product capabilities with technological capabilities, we offer complete solutions that we expect to give us a competitive advantage in acquiring new customers.
 
 
14

 

We believe the key to our success is our customers.  Our intense focus on our customers’ needs is intended to foster customer loyalty, and we have developed processes and tools to assist in building loyalty, extending our relationships, and measuring and ensuring customer satisfaction.  We will continue to monitor our progress and sponsor additional market-focused customer councils to further enhance our understanding of customer needs and how we can better serve them.  By focusing on customer loyalty, we are ensuring that we have a clear understanding of how our customers view us and can develop specific action plans regarding retaining and expanding our business.
 
We expect to continue to optimize our cost structure and align our operations around our core solutions.  Our realignment around vertical markets has enabled us to focus our efforts on providing valuable solutions to markets where we are trusted industry leaders and have extensive understanding of document and information management needs.  In 2012, organizational excellence continues to be our goal, and we expect to continue refining our processes to ensure that each person and process in the Company is aligned with our strategic goals.  We will also continue to critically evaluate costs and improve productivity in order to stay cost competitive and most importantly, generate positive cash flow.
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
 
In preparing our financial statements and accounting for the underlying transactions and balances, we applied the accounting policies disclosed in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  Preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.  Although we believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable, they are based on information presently available, and actual results may differ significantly from those estimates.
 
We consider the estimates discussed below as critical to an understanding of our financial statements because they place the most significant demands on management’s judgment about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain, and the impact of different estimates or assumptions is material to our financial condition or results of operations.  The impact and any associated risks related to these estimates are discussed throughout this discussion and analysis where such estimates affect reported and expected financial results.  The impact of changes in the estimates and assumptions discussed below for the pension plan, fair value measurements, deferred taxes, and environmental liabilities generally do not affect segment results.  However, changes in revenue recognition could impact individual segment results.
 
For a detailed discussion of the application of these and other accounting policies, see “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  Management has discussed the development and selection of the critical accounting policies and the related disclosure included herein with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
 
Pension Benefit Plan Assumptions
 
Included in our financial statements are significant pension obligations and benefit costs which are measured using actuarial valuations.  The use of actuarial models requires us to make certain assumptions concerning future events that will determine the amount and timing of the benefit payments.  Such assumptions include the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets.  In addition, the actuarial calculation includes subjective factors, such as withdrawal and mortality rates, to estimate the projected benefit obligation.  The actuarial assumptions used may differ materially from actual results due to changing market and economic conditions, higher or lower withdrawal rates, or longer or shorter life spans of participants.  These differences may have a significant impact on the amount of pension obligations and benefit expense recorded in future periods.
 
Discount rate – One of the principal components of calculating the projected benefit obligation and certain components of pension benefit costs is the assumed discount rate.  The discount rate is the assumed rate at which future pension benefits could be effectively settled.  The discount rate established at year end for the benefit obligations is also used in the calculation of the interest component of benefit cost for the following year.  Discount rates are established based on prevailing market rates for high-quality, fixed-income instruments with maturities equal to the future cash flows to pay the benefit obligations when due.

 
15

 
 
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets – One of the principal components of the net periodic pension cost calculation is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets.  The required use of an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets may result in recognized pension income that is greater or less than the actual returns of those plan assets in any given year.  Over time, however, the expected long-term returns are designed to approximate the actual long-term returns and therefore result in a pattern of income and expense recognition that more closely matches the pattern of the services provided by our employees.  Our qualified defined benefit pension plan’s assets are invested in a broadly- diversified portfolio consisting primarily of publicly-traded common stocks and fixed-income securities.  We use long-term historical actual return experience and estimates of future long-term investment return, with consideration to the expected investment mix of the plan’s assets, to develop our expected rate of return assumption used in the net periodic pension cost calculation.  Differences between actual and expected returns are recognized in the pension cost calculation over five years using a five-year, market-related asset value method of amortization.  The amortization of these differences has, and will continue to have, a significant effect on net periodic pension cost.
 
Our non-qualified pension benefit plans are unfunded plans and have no plan assets.  Therefore, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is not a factor in accounting for these benefit plans.
 
Assumptions regarding mortality – One of the assumptions made in the calculation of the projected benefit obligation is an estimate of mortality rates for the population of pension participants.  Our actuaries use mortality tables, which include death rates for each age, in estimating the amount of pension benefits that will become payable.  The mortality tables include the proportion of the number of deaths in a specified group to the number living at the beginning of the period in which the deaths occur.  We use the RP-2000 Mortality Table to determine benefit obligations and to determine pension and postretirement benefit cost.
 
We review the assumptions used to account for our pension obligations and benefit cost each fiscal year end.
 
Weighted-Average Assumptions
 
Projected benefit obligation
2011
 
2010
Discount rate used for pension obligations
4.25%
 
5.00%
 
Holding all other assumptions constant:
 
  
A 1% increase in the discount rate would decrease the pension obligation recorded by approximately $39.2 million.
 
  
A 1% decrease in the discount rate would increase the pension obligation recorded by approximately $45.9 million.
 
 
Net periodic pension benefit cost
2011
 
2010
 
2009
Discount rate (1)
5.00%
 
5.80%
 
5.75/7.0%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets
8.00%
 
8.75%
 
8.75%
 
(1) The discount rate was 5.75% through March 1, 2009 and 7.0% April through December 2009 due to settlements that occurred on March 1, 2009.  As a result, pension expense was adjusted to reflect the updated discount rate at that time.
 
Holding all other assumptions constant:
 
  
A 1% increase or decrease in the discount rate would decrease or increase pension cost by approximately $1.1 million.
 
  
A 1% increase or decrease in the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets would decrease or increase pension benefit cost by $2.8 million.
 
The long-term rate of return on plan assets we expect to use to determine fiscal 2012 net periodic pension cost is 8.0%, the same as in 2011.
 
In 2011, we recorded non-cash actuarial losses of $80.5 million to accumulated other comprehensive income.   We currently have a total of $209.8  million of actuarial losses, net of deferred tax benefits, related to our pension plans that will be amortized to expense in future years.  Amortization of actuarial losses is expected to be approximately $23.0 million in 2012.  We expect amortization expense to trend higher in future periods based on current estimates of funding, asset performance, and interest rates.  Due to the high degree of variability and uncertainty in these assumptions, actual results could differ significantly.
 
 
16

 
 
Goodwill
 
During the second quarter of 2011, we performed the annual impairment test for goodwill.  The test was performed at the reporting unit level using the two-step approach required by generally accepted accounting principles.
 
The first step of the test required us to compare the fair value of the reporting units to the carrying value of the assets assigned to those reporting units, including goodwill.  If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is performed.  If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value, step two is completed to determine the amount of the impairment loss.
 
To determine fair value, we followed an income approach utilizing a discounted future cash flow methodology.  The determination of the fair value of the reporting units required us to make significant estimates and assumptions, including revenue growth rates and operating margins used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount rates, and future economic and market conditions.  In addition, we made certain judgments and assumptions in allocating shared assets and liabilities to determine the carrying values for each of our reporting units.  Though we believe our assumptions are reasonable, actual financial results could be different due to unanticipated events and circumstances that may occur.  The following describes the key assumptions used in our fair value calculations:
 
  
Revenue and cost assumptions:  Using historical trending and internal forecasting techniques, we projected revenue and costs for the remainder of 2011 through 2014.  Factory cost/revenue forecasts were based on both historical information and the Company’s current strategic plan.  A terminal value was then applied to the projected cash flow stream based on the three-year cash flow.
 
We calculated three outcomes:  a most likely, a best case, and a worst case based on future cash flow projections.  All outcomes were weighted to arrive at an overall projected cash flow.
 
  
Discount rate determination:  We used the industry weighted-average cost of capital that reflects the weighted average return on debt and equity of our peer group from a market participant perspective.
 
The results of our test indicated that the fair values of our reporting units were greater than their carrying value; therefore, goodwill was not impaired.
 
In addition to calculating a range of possible outcomes, we also performed a sensitivity analysis designed to understand the relative impact of the major assumptions used in our calculations.  If our estimate of expected future cash flows had been 5% lower, or there was a 1% variation in either the terminal value or the discount rate , the expected future cash flows would still have exceeded the carrying value of the assets, including goodwill.
 
Deferred Taxes
 
We are subject to income taxes in both the United States and Mexico.  Significant management judgment is required in determining our deferred tax assets and liabilities, any valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets, and our provision for income taxes, including tax positions taken or to be taken in our tax returns.
 
At January 1, 2012, we had net deferred tax assets of $146.9  million attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and to operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.
 
We review the potential future tax benefits of all deferred tax assets on an ongoing basis.  The Company concluded after evaluating all positive and negative evidence regarding the potential realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets, a valuation allowance is necessary primarily based on cumulative losses in recent years, (defined as the current and two preceding years) and current year actuarial pension losses.  A valuation allowance is being recorded against the entire U.S. net deferred tax asset except for $21.0 million related to the pension liability. We are forecasting that the pension liability will be reduced by future actuarial gains prior to funding the related liability; therefore, the deferred tax asset will be realized  without the need for future taxable income.  Because of the cumulative losses in recent years, the Company is not relying on forecasts of future taxable income to realize any U.S. deferred tax assets.  The amount of our deferred tax assets considered realizable; however, could change if our estimates of business results or future taxable income change.
 
We also have a Canadian capital loss carryforward that has an indefinite carryforward period.  A full valuation allowance has been provided for the tax benefit associated with this capital loss as it is more likely than not that this capital loss will not be utilized.

 
17

 
 
We base our estimate of deferred tax assets and liabilities on current tax laws and rates.  Since the effect of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the changes are enacted, changes in existing tax laws or rates could affect actual tax results and the valuation of deferred tax assets over time.  As the economic recovery continues to be sluggish and as issues of debt reduction, global competitiveness, and job creation dominate the national discussion, pressure is clearly building for Congress to lower the corporate rate.  President Obama’s deficit-reduction commission recommended a rate between 23% and 29%, while others have suggested a drop to 10%.   If enacted, the effect of a change in corporate tax rates on our tax expense and deferred taxes will be dependent on the amount of our tax valuation allowance.
 
Environmental Remediation
 
We are currently involved in the remediation of three environmental sites that are more fully described in Note 18 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.  In accordance with accounting standards for environmental liabilities, we have recorded an estimate of the total costs to remediate these sites.  However, due to the lengthy nature in settling environmental obligations and the fact that final remedies have not been determined for two of the sites, determining total costs requires the use of significant judgment and estimates.  Areas requiring the most significant judgments and estimates include the extent and timing of final remediation actions and the estimation of our share of the final remedy.  Due to the complexity of environmental issues, monitoring costs can extend for many years.  We must also estimate all costs related to the final remedy, which frequently involves complex procedures that can vary significantly from original plans depending on actual conditions encountered on the site.  Until final remediation approaches are approved and final agreements are reached among all PRPs, it is reasonably possible that one or more of these factors could change our estimates; however, we are unable to determine the impact at this time.
 
 Revenue Recognition
 
We enter into arrangements with customers that contain multiple elements or deliverables such as software, professional services, and ongoing maintenance and post-contract customer support.  We account for the licensing of software arrangements in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards for software revenue recognition.We recognize revenue when all four revenue recognition criteria have been met:  persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, we have delivered the product or performed the service, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collection is probable.  Determining whether and when some of these criteria have been satisfied often involves assumptions and judgments that can have a significant impact on the timing and amount of revenue we report.  For example, for multiple element arrangements, we must:  (1) determine whether and when each element has been delivered; (2) determine whether undelivered products or services are essential to the functionality of the delivered products and services; (3) determine whether vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) of fair value exists for each undelivered element; and (4) allocate the total price among the various elements we must deliver.  Changes in assumptions or judgments or changes to the elements in a software arrangement could change the timing or amount of revenue that we report in a particular period.
 
We also enter into arrangements with customers that contain multiple elements or deliverables such as custom-printed products, warehousing services, and custom-delivery services.  During 2011, we adopted a new accounting standard that requires us to use a hierarchy to allocate arrangement consideration to each element in the arrangement.  The hierarchy requires the use of VSOE, third-party evidence of selling price (TPE), or best estimate of selling price (BESP).  VSOE represents the price of the deliverable when sold on a stand-alone basis, while TPE represents the price that outside vendors charge on a stand-alone basis.  BESP is management’s best estimate of the selling price on a stand-alone basis using available internal and external data and should be used only when VSOE or TPE cannot be established.
 
Two of our deliverables, custom-printed products and warehousing services, require the use of BESP.  Determining BESP requires us to make judgments and assumptions regarding the value of these deliverables on a stand-alone basis.  To determine BESP, we consider internally-generated data such as estimated costs for materials, labor, manufacturing and administrative costs, as well as external data such as observable pricing for similar products and current industry and competitive market conditions.  In addition, we consider product life cycle stages, profit margins, assumed volume/activity levels, and typical agreement terms.  We routinely update, analyze, and weight this data based on the significance we believe each assumption bears on the selling prices we ultimately could charge.  As such, our determination of BESP requires significant judgment.
 
We adopted the new accounting standard on a prospective basis for new or materially modified arrangements beginning in 2011.  The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our financial statements; however, future changes in the assumptions utilized or judgments could change the timing or amount of revenue that we report in future periods.
 
 
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The discussion that follows provides information which we believe is relevant to an understanding of our results of operations and financial condition.  The discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.  This analysis is presented in the following sections:
 
  
Consolidated Summary:  A discussion of our consolidated results of operations for 2011, 2010, and 2009.
 
  
Segment Operating Results:  An analysis of revenue, cost of sales, gross margin, and operating income by segment.

Consolidated Results
 
The following summarizes our consolidated results for 2011, 2010, and 2009.  In addition, the following table presents “Non-GAAP net income,” which is a non-GAAP financial measure and represents net income excluding pension loss amortization, pension settlements and curtailments, postretirement plan termination, restructuring charges, asset impairments, and the deferred tax valuation allowance.  Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows where amounts are either excluded or included not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  The presentation of non-GAAP information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  We believe that this non-GAAP financial measure provides a more complete understanding of our current underlying operating performance, a clearer comparison of current period results with past reports of financial performance, and greater transparency regarding information used by management in its decision making.  This presentation is similar to the manner in which our Board of Directors internally evaluates performance.
 
   
2011
   
% Change
   
2010 (1)
   
% Change
   
2009 (1)
 
Revenue
  $ 648.1       -3%     $ 668.4       -4%     $ 694.0  
Cost of sales
    449.9       -2%       458.6       -4%       478.3  
Gross margin
    198.2       -6%       209.8       -3%       215.7  
  Gross margin % of sales
    30.6%               31.4%               31.1%  
                                         
SG&A expense
    206.7       1%       204.6       0%       205.3  
Pension settlements, curtailments, and postretirement
                                       
plan termination
    (19.7 )             0.4               20.4  
Restructuring and asset impairment
    5.2               1.7               12.7  
Environmental remediation
    0.2               (0.8 )             2.5  
Other expense, net
    1.8               2.5               0.8  
Income (loss) before taxes
    4.0               1.4               (26.0 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
    91.7               1.0               (10.6 )
     % rate
    2294.0%               73.2%               41.0%  
 
Net (loss) income
  $ (87.7 )           $ 0.4             $ (15.4 )
                                         
Non-GAAP net (loss) income:
                                       
Net (loss) income
  $ (87.7 )           $ 0.4             $ (15.4 )
Adjustments:
                                       
Deferred tax valuation
    89.5               -               -  
Pension loss amortization
    24.3               18.7               14.6  
Pension settlements, curtailments, and postretirement
                                       
plan termination
    (19.7 )             0.4               20.4  
Restructuring and asset impairment (2)
    5.2               2.3               12.7  
Income tax effect of adjustments (at statutory tax rates)
    (3.9 )             (8.6 )             (18.9 )
Non-GAAP net income
  $ 7.7             $ 13.2             $ 13.4  
                                         
(1) Adjusted for accounting method change for inventory. See Note 7 - Inventories of the Notes to Financial Statements
 
(2) Includes impairment recorded in other income in 2010
           
 
 
19

 
 
In 2011 and 2010, we remained focused on transforming our product portfolios within all of our segments and launched new solutions.  Economic conditions also showed improvement across our markets, which corresponded to increased order levels.  However, as the recovery in the economy has been slow, customers have continued to focus on cost containment, resulting in pressure on price.  Additionally, cost reduction initiatives implemented by our customers and the continued proliferation of technology have driven declines in the use of certain legacy print products, as technology was utilized to reduce or eliminate the need for printed products.  These conditions have led to accelerated rates of decline in our legacy products, particularly during the last half of 2011.  As a result, overall declines in revenue in legacy print products continue to offset progress made in our core solutions.
 
The following table details the estimated changes in revenue and cost of sales for 2011 and 2010.
 
   
Revenue Change
   
Cost of Sales Change
 
   
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
                         
Units
    -4 %     -3 %     -3 %     -3 %
Price
    1 %     -1 %     1 %     -3 %
Mix
    -       -       -       2 %
      -3 %     -4 %     -2 %     -4 %
                                 
 
Revenue
 
The acquisition of new customers, expansion of new business with existing customers, and an upward trend in order levels due to improved economic conditions drove improvement in our unit sales during 2011 and 2010.  However, due to continued pressures on legacy print products, overall units declined.  Excluding the extra week of revenue in 2009, the unit decline in 2010 was only 2%.
 
Increases in revenue due to price in 2011 were driven primarily by the pass-through of material price increases.  Declines in pricing in 2010 were driven by intense price competition and customer efforts to minimize costs, particularly in our Commercial Markets segment which operates in highly competitive market conditions.  We experienced increased material costs during 2010 and successfully passed through these costs, which offset pricing pressures during 2010.
 
The following table provides further insight into the changes in revenue by major categories.
 
   
2011
   
% Chg
 
2010
   
% Chg
 
2009
 
                               
Print
  $ 388.2       -5 %   $ 407.5       -5 %   $ 430.2  
Labels
    108.6       4 %     104.5       2 %     102.1  
Software
    10.0       -4 %     10.4       21 %     8.6  
Services
    89.4       -6 %     95.1       -5 %     99.9  
Other
    51.9       2 %     50.9       -4 %     53.2  
    $ 648.1       -3 %   $ 668.4       -4 %   $ 694.0  
Core
    40%               37%               32%  
Legacy
    60%               63%               68%  
 
Core print revenue increased in 2011 and 2010 as we progressed with our go-to-market strategy and acquired new customers and expanded sales to existing customers.  Marketing solutions increased approximately $3.4 million in 2011 and $16.2 million in 2010.  Critical communication solutions increased approximately $1.7 million in 2011, but decreased slightly in 2010.  However, declines in legacy print, primarily business forms and documents, declined approximately $21.4 million in 2011 and $34.6 million in 2010 despite expanding our market share and acquiring new customers.
 
Labels revenue increased in 2011 and 2010 driven by improved economic conditions and advancement of new solutions such as our in-mold labels.  Core label products increased approximately $5.4 million in 2011 and $6.6 million in 2010, which was offset by declines in legacy label products of $1.2 million and $4.3 million.

 
20

 
 
Services revenue, primarily warehousing and custom-delivery services, declined in 2011 and 2010 as print revenue volume declined.  Many of these services are bundled with printed products and therefore fluctuate with the changes in print revenue.
 
Cost of Sales and Gross Margin
 
In 2011, cost of sales decreased primarily as a result of units due to lower sales volume.  These decreases were offset partially by increases in price resulting from higher material costs and increased costs associated with newly-acquired customers and unabsorbed costs due to lower sales volume.  We realized savings from previously implemented cost reduction initiatives, which partially offset these increases.  As a result, the gross margin percentage declined slightly as compared with 2010.
 
The decline in cost of sales in 2010 was driven primarily by units and price.  Units declined due to the overall decrease in sales volume.  We estimate that the reduction in production costs through our restructuring actions, workforce reductions, and cost reduction initiatives taken during 2009 accounted for substantially the entire decline in price.  Cost reductions were partially offset by an unfavorable product mix.  Due to increased opportunities in certain marketing solutions, product mix shifted from some lower-cost internally-produced products to other higher-cost products that are primarily outsourced.  The gross margin percentage in 2010 remained consistent with 2009, despite the decline in revenue.
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Selling expense
  $ 100.1     $ 100.7     $ 108.7  
General and administrative expense
    74.5       76.5       71.3  
Depreciation
    8.1       8.8       9.2  
Amortization of pension net actuarial losses
    24.3       18.7       14.6  
Other expense
    (0.3 )     (0.1 )     1.5  
Total selling, general and administrative expense
  $ 206.7     $ 204.6     $ 205.3  
                         
 
In 2011, selling compensation and related expenses decreased due to reduced revenue volume and changes in selling compensation plans during the year.  In addition, communication and facility costs were lower as compared to 2010 as we continued to realize benefits from previously implemented restructuring and cost reduction initiatives. These savings were partially offset by increases in business development and training costs.  In 2010, our cost reduction initiatives reduced expenses approximately $10.7 million, primarily in compensation-related expenses, communication service costs, and facility costs.  Reductions in communication service costs were enabled in large part by the increased infrastructure investments reported in general and administrative expenses.  Product management costs on key priority solutions, new deal support costs in client satisfaction, and business development costs were higher by approximately $2.7 million as we moved forward with planned investments related to our go-to-market strategy.
 
General and administrative expenses declined in 2011 as a result of lower employee healthcare costs, planned technology investments, and incentive compensation as compared with 2010.  In 2010, our restructuring plans and cost reduction initiatives resulted in steady declines in general and administrative expenses.  However, a significant portion of the savings was used for planned investments and increased compensation and related expenses.  Investments in system infrastructure projects accounted for an increase of approximately $6 million, of which approximately $2.7 million was focused on advancing our client-facing technology through SMARTworks.
 
Amortization of pension net actuarial losses increased in 2011 and 2010 as expected due to significant net actuarial losses recorded in recent years that are required to be amortized in future periods.  Based upon current estimates of funding, asset performance, and interest rates, we project pension loss amortization to be $23.0 million in 2012.
 
Other expense consists primarily of research and development and other pension and postretirement costs.  Primarily as a result of plan modifications, other pension and postretirement costs declined in 2011 and 2010.  These savings were partially offset in 2011 as a result of the termination of our postretirement healthcare plan, which is more fully discussed under “Pension curtailments and settlements.”  Due to the termination, amortization of unrecognized prior service credits and actuarial losses were approximately $1.0 million less favorable in 2011.  We will no longer amortize any unrecognized prior service credits and actuarial losses for this plan in future periods.  This amortization previously had been favorably impacting operating expenses by approximately $1.0 million per quarter or $4.0 annually.

 
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Pension curtailments and settlements
 
As a result of associates retiring and electing a lump-sum payment of their pension benefit, we recorded non-cash settlement charges of $0.5 million and $0.4 million in 2011 and 2010 related to our non-qualified retirement plan and $20.4 million in 2009 related to our qualified, non-qualified, and supplemental executive retirement plans.  A pension settlement charge is recorded when the total lump sum payments for a year exceed total service and interest costs recognized for that year.  The settlement charge recognizes a pro-rata portion of the unrecognized actuarial losses at the date of the settlement.
 
In 2011, we also terminated our postretirement healthcare plan and will no longer offer medical benefits to currently retired employees, effective as of December 31, 2011.  Because the elimination of these benefits reduced benefits previously earned, this action was treated as a negative plan amendment that reduced the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation by $5.1 million.
 
In addition, the plan amendment also resulted in a net credit of $15.2 to net postretirement benefit cost for the immediate recognition of previously unrecognized prior service credits and actuarial losses.  This credit was offset by an adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income and deferred tax liabilities.
 
Restructuring and Other Exit Costs
 
The Company has undertaken cost reduction initiatives and restructuring actions as part of ongoing efforts to improve efficiencies, reduce costs, and maintain a strong financial condition.  We recorded $5.2 million, $1.7 million, $11.5 million, of restructuring and other exit costs in 2011, 2010, and 2009 related to these initiatives.  We intend to continue to critically evaluate operations and costs and may initiate additional cost-reducing initiatives or restructurings in the future.
 
2011 Plans
 
In late 2011, we developed a strategic restructuring program that was announced in January 2012.  The restructuring program is designed to better align our resources in support of our growing core solutions business and to reduce costs to offset the impact of declining revenue in our legacy operations.  The restructuring program is expected to result in an estimated $45.0 million in annual savings and the elimination of 12% to 15% of our workforce over the next six to nine months.  Approximately $11.0 million of the savings is expected to be realized in cost of sales, with the remainder realized in SG&A expenses.
 
Total costs of the restructuring program are expected to be approximately $7.0 million, of which $5.5 million is for involuntary termination costs and $1.5 million is for contract termination and other associated costs, primarily costs for the relocation of equipment and inventory and fees to a third party to assist with the program implementation.
 
2009 Plans
 
In 2009, we launched a company-wide review of business practices and growth acceleration opportunities designed around the priorities of client satisfaction, cost reduction, and increased market coverage.  As a result, we implemented a restructuring plan and numerous organizational improvements to simplify business, move closer to the customer, grow revenue, and improve overall efficiency of our business.
 
Restructuring costs primarily included: severance related to workforce reductions; contract termination and other exit costs from the strategic closure of production and distribution facilities and the subsequent relocation of equipment and inventory; and fees to the third-party that assisted with the development and implementation of the plan.
 
All of our plans were completed by the end of 2011, and we have realized substantially all of the projected savings expected.
 
Environmental Remediation
 
We currently participate in the remediation of two environmental sites for which final remedies have not yet been determined (Pasco Site and Valleycrest Site).  Prior to 2009, our expenses related to these matters had not been significant.  However, in 2009, we recorded noncash charges of $2.5 million for estimated costs for environmental remediation.  Of this amount, $2.0 million related to the Valleycrest Landfill site.  We had participated with other potentially responsible parties of this site from 1995 through 2003.  In 2003, GM stepped into the Company’s position under the Site Participation Agreement and agreed to indemnify the Company against certain future liability in connection with the site.  Therefore, we did not previously record a liability for potential remediation costs.  In 2009, we were notified that in connection with GM’s bankruptcy filing, GM did not plan to continue contributions to the site, including its contractual obligation to indemnify the Company for future liability.  Due to this development, we recorded an estimate of our potential liability for remediation costs.  Determining the amount of these costs required significant estimates, as we are in the early stages of developing a remediation plan with other potentially responsible parties, and final potentially responsible parties and their respective shares are unknown.
 
 
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During 2010, we obtained updated information regarding currently-proposed remediation and our expected share of the remediation for these sites.  As a result, we updated the estimates of our total costs to remediate these sites, which resulted in a net noncash credit of $0.8 million.  Of this amount, the Pasco Site accounted for a credit of $1.3 million, and the Valleycrest Site accounted for a charge of $0.5 million.  As we are still in the early stages of developing a remediation plan with other potentially responsible parties for the Valleycrest Site, estimates of total projected costs are difficult to determine.  Additionally, since the final potentially responsible parties and their respective shares of the remediation costs have not been determined at this time for either site, uncertainty exists as to what our final share of the total costs may be.   Therefore, we could experience increased costs in future periods as the remediation processes progress, although we are unable to estimate the amounts at this time.
 
Income Taxes
 
The effective tax rate used to calculate our tax benefit or expense was 2,294.0%, 73.2%, and 41.0% for 2011, 2010, and 2009.  The reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective tax rate follows:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Statutory federal income tax rate
    35.0 %     35.0 %     35.0 %
State and local income taxes
    1.7       15.3       4.7  
Change in cash surrender value
    5.0       (12.5 )     2.2  
Meals and entertainment
    4.9       12.3       (0.7 )
Change in unrecognized tax benefits
    (9.8 )     14.0       -  
Adjustment to prior year tax accruals
    1.4       20.8       (0.3 )
Foreign statutory rate differential
    (2.3 )     (0.4 )     (0.4 )
Rate adjustment to deferred taxes
    17.5       -       -  
Deficiencies on equity awards
    3.6       6.9       (0.7 )
Valuation allowance
    2,238.6       (19.8 )     -  
Permanent and other items
    (1.6 )     1.6       1.2  
                         
Effective tax rate
    2,294.0 %     73.2 %     41.0 %
                         
 
The effective tax rate for 2011 was significantly impacted by an adjustment to establish a valuation allowance against substantially all of our net deferred tax assets except for $21.0 million related to the pension liability.  After evaluating all positive and negative evidence regarding the potential realization of our deferred tax assets, we concluded that a valuation allowance is necessary primarily based on cumulative losses in recent years and current year actuarial pension losses.  Because of the cumulative losses in recent years, the Company is not relying on forecasts of future taxable income to realize any U.S. deferred tax assets.
 
Segment Operating Results
 
Management evaluates the results of its segments on the basis of operating income before restructuring and impairment, and excludes items listed in the reconciliation in Note 17 – Segment Reporting of the Notes to Financial Statements.  This non-GAAP information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  A complete description of our reportable segments is included in Item 1, “Business.”

Components of Segment Operating Income
 
Production costs of our manufacturing and supply chain shared-services functions are accumulated on a customer basis and reported in the applicable business unit’s cost of sales.  Our business units incur a portion of selling, general and administrative expense directly.  Each business unit also receives an allocation of SG&A expense as follows:

  
Each business unit has its own sales regions.  Selling expense incurred by each sales region is allocated to other business units based on the percentage of revenue generated for the other business unit.  We use an activity-based method to allocate expense associated with our client satisfaction function to business units.
  
Finance, technology, and other corporate general and administrative expenses are allocated based on the business unit’s budgeted revenue as a percentage of actual consolidated revenue.
  
General and administrative expense of our remaining shared-services is allocated based on a percentage of actual revenue.
 
 
23

 

In 2011, we reclassified certain customers between our segments to better align them with the core markets served.  Segment information for prior years has been revised from previously reported information to reflect the current presentation.  In addition, we changed the allocation methodology for our finance, technology, and other corporate general and administrative expenses.  Previously, these expenses were allocated based on the business unit’s actual revenue as a percentage of actual consolidated revenue.  Beginning in 2011, these expenses are now allocated based on the business unit’s budgeted revenue as a percentage of budgeted consolidated revenue.
 
Variability in the segment’s actual revenue or the level of selling or corporate SG&A expense to allocate can have a significant impact on segment profitability.
 
Segment Operating Results
 
The following table presents Revenue, Gross Margin, and Operating Income (Loss) by segment for 2011, 2010, and 2009.  A discussion of each segment’s results follows.
 
   
2011
   
% Chg
 
2010
   
% Chg
 
2009
       
Revenue
                                   
Healthcare
  $ 236.8       -6 %   $ 251.0       -6 %   $ 265.8        
Financial Services
    174.1       -1 %     175.7       -9 %     193.2        
Commercial Markets
    159.4       -7 %     170.6       -3 %     175.4        
Industrial
    77.8       9 %     71.1       19 %     59.6        
Consolidated Revenue
  $ 648.1       -3 %   $ 668.4       -4 %   $ 694.0        
                                               
           
% Rev
         
% Rev
         
% Rev
Gross Margin
                                             
Healthcare
  $ 83.1       35.1 %   $ 91.9       36.6 %   $ 96.5       36.3 %
Financial Services
    50.5       29.0 %     52.2       29.7 %     56.2       29.1 %
Commercial Markets
    41.8       26.2 %     44.2       25.9 %     46.9       26.7 %
Industrial
    22.8       29.3 %     21.5       30.2 %     16.1       27.0 %
Total Segments
  $ 198.2       30.6 %   $ 209.8       31.4 %   $ 215.7       31.1 %
                                                 
Operating Income (Loss)
                                               
Healthcare
  $ 14.5       6.1 %   $ 19.6       7.8 %   $ 22.6       8.5 %
Financial Services
    7.3       4.2 %     7.4       4.2 %     7.9       4.1 %
Commercial Markets
    (3.9 )     -2.4 %     (3.3 )     -1.9 %     (2.6 )     -1.5 %
Industrial
    0.1       0.1 %     (0.5 )     -0.7 %     (2.7 )     -4.5 %
Total Segments (1)
  $ 18.0       2.8 %   $ 23.2       3.5 %   $ 25.2       3.6 %
 
(1) A reconciliation of operating income per segment to consolidated income from operations is provided in Note 17-Segment Reporting of the Notes to Financial Statements.

Healthcare
 
Our Healthcare segment serves hospitals and other providers of healthcare and related services.  This market is undergoing fundamental change as advancing technologies and the focus on patient safety and cost efficiencies are transforming how patient information is obtained and maintained throughout the patient care process.  These factors, combined with legislative actions in the U.S., are leading to a shift from printed patient documents and records to electronic medical records, steadily reducing demand for most legacy print products while increasing demands for digital document solutions and safety products.  In 2011, we continued to see the effects of these factors, with declines in legacy print products accelerating as the year progressed.
 
Since reorganizing around our markets in 2009, we have continued to build on our extensive expertise in healthcare and address the needs of our customers in this changing market by focusing on solutions that ease the transition to electronic medical records, enhance patient care and safety, and reduce overall costs.  We have also taken efforts to increase our market share by extending existing solutions to current customers, securing additional GPO agreements, and creating strategic partnerships.

 
24

 
 
In 2011, we acquired 100% of the ownership interest in Dialog Medical.  Dialog Medical provides solutions for managing the patient informed consent process.  We believe this acquisition strengthens and broadens our leadership in the healthcare market, compliments our portfolio of solutions, and enhances our ability to continue to advance our core growth products in the healthcare market.
 
The following table details the estimated changes in revenue and cost of sales for 2011 and 2010.  Changes in product mix did not materially contribute to the changes in either revenue or cost of sales.
 
   
Revenue Change
 
Cost of Sales Change
   
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
                 
Units
 
-7%
 
-5%
 
-5%
 
-4%
Price
 
        -
 
-1%
 
        -
 
-2%
Acquisition
 
1%
 
            -
 
1%
 
          -
   
-6%
 
-6%
 
-4%
 
-6%
 
Revenue
 
During 2011 and 2010, units increased as we continued efforts to retain and expand our customer base by pursuing new opportunities provided by the Novation contract secured late in 2009 and by expanding sales in core solutions.  However, these increases were more than offset by declines in our administrative and clinical forms due to adoption of digital technologies and lower-than-expected rates of expansion in label and wristband products.  Additionally, 2% of the unit decline in 2010 related to the additional week in 2009.
 
The decrease in pricing in 2010 was primarily the result of an increase in discounts related to new customers acquired as a result of new GPO agreements, as well as other new customers.
 
The following table provides further insight into the changes in revenue by major categories.
 
   
2011
   
% Chg
   
2010
   
% Chg
   
2009
 
                               
Print
  $ 152.5       -8 %   $ 165.6       -6 %   $ 176.4  
Labels
    31.6       1 %     31.4       -8 %     34.3  
Software
    5.6       47 %     3.8       124 %     1.7  
Services
    29.7       -5 %     31.3       -5 %     33.0  
Other
    17.4       -8 %     18.9       -7 %     20.4  
    $ 236.8       -6 %   $ 251.0       -6 %   $ 265.8  
Core
    37%               34%               31%  
Legacy
    63%               66%               69%  
 
We continued executing our go-to-market strategy by acquiring new customers and expanding our offerings to existing customers in 2011 and 2010.  These efforts produced positive results as print revenue in core communication solutions increased $2.6 million in 2011 and $3.1 million in 2010.  However, overall revenue in legacy print products, primarily administrative and clinical forms, declined $15.6 million in 2011 and $14.0 million in 2010, which more than offset these gains.  These declines were driven by the continued adoption of digital technologies and are expected to continue at accelerated rates in future periods.
 
Labels revenue increased slightly in 2011 as we began to see the effects of our focus on developing and expanding core patient identification solutions.  Declines in labels in 2010 resulted from decreases in legacy labels and lower than expected rates of expansion in core labels and wristbands, due in part to limitations under our GPO agreements.
 
Services declined in 2011 and 2010 due to declines in legacy print products and the associated services with these products, primarily storage and freight.
 
Although currently only 2% of total revenue, software sales have increased in 2011 and 2010 as we continue to expand our core solutions in this area.  Revenue from our recent acquisition of Dialog Medical accounted for an increase of approximately $2.2 million.

 
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Cost of sales
 
Cost of sales decreased in 2011 and 2010 primarily due to units from lower sales volume.  Material prices increased approximately 1% in 2011 and 2010; however, lower production expenses realized from our cost reduction initiatives offset these costs.
 
Operating income
 
Operating income was down $5.1 million in 2011 compared with 2010 due to lower gross margin on lower sales volume.  The decline was partially offset by lower compensation-related selling expenses and lower allocated SG&A expenses.
 
Operating income was down $3.0 million in 2010 compared with 2009.  The decline resulted from lower sales volume and higher SG&A costs.  Compensation-related selling expenses declined substantially in 2010 from sales optimization initiatives implemented as a result of our structured cost improvement processes.  However, these savings were offset by planned investments in technology sales and product management costs.
 
Financial Services
 
Our Financial Services segment operates in a market where advancing technologies and changing regulatory requirements continue to transform the products and services desired by our customers.  The unstable economic conditions in 2009 and 2010 particularly impacted financial services customers leading to consolidations within the industry, intense customer focus on cost reductions, and highly competitive conditions.  These factors also led to an increase in the adoption of digital technologies further impacting demand and prices for traditional print products.
 
During 2010 and 2011, we utilized our extensive experience to continue to develop our product portfolio and address the changing needs of this market.  We expanded sales to existing customers in marketing solutions and also began to expand our customer base.  Although the economy in general improved in 2010 and 2011, economic conditions within this market still remain weak.  Combined with cost pressures related to regulatory compliance requirements, financial services institutions continue to struggle which continues to impact this segment.
 
The following table details the estimated changes in revenue and cost of sales for 2011 and 2010.
 
   
Revenue Change
 
Cost of Sales Change 
   
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
                         
Units
    -1 %     -9 %     -1 %     -8 %
Price
    -       -       1 %     -4 %
Mix
    -       -       -       2 %
      -1 %     -9 %     -       -10 %
 
Revenue
 
We saw positive effects from our go-to-market strategy in 2011 and 2010 as we increased our customer base slightly and expanded sales to existing customers.  However, we continued to see the effects of weak economic conditions and technology erosion which offset these gains and resulted in unit declines, particularly in 2010.  In 2010, unit declines were further impacted by the significant erosion in volume with a few customers that occurred during 2009.  The lack of an extra week in 2010 as compared with 2009 also resulted in a 1% decline in units.
 
Recently, one of our significant customers announced a major restructuring.  We do not know the exact impact this may have on the segment’s financial results; however, we anticipate lower revenue of approximately $15-18 million from this customer in 2012.

 
26

 
 
The following table provides further insight into the changes in revenue by major categories.
 
   
2011
   
% Chg
 
2010
   
% Chg
 
2009
 
                               
Print
  $ 125.7       -1 %   $ 126.4       -10 %   $ 141.1  
Labels
    1.7       6 %     1.6       33 %     1.2  
Software
    3.1       -42 %     5.3       26 %     4.2  
Services
    31.2       -4 %     32.6       -10 %     36.4  
Other
    12.4       27 %     9.8       -5 %     10.3  
    $ 174.1       -1 %   $ 175.7       -9 %   $ 193.2  
Core
    34%               30%               24%  
Legacy
    66%               70%               76%  
 
Expansion of sales to existing customers and acquisition of new customers contributed to increases in our core print solutions in 2011 and 2010.  Marketing solutions increased approximately $2.2 million in 2011 and $6.5 million in 2010.  Critical communication solutions also increased $3.0 million in 2011.  However, these gains were outpaced by declines in legacy print of approximately $5.7 million in 2011 and $17.1 million in 2010.
 
Cost of sales
 
In 2011, costs declined due to units as a result of lower sales volume.  This decline was offset by an increase in price, driven by higher material costs and initial costs associated with newly-acquired customers.  These increases offset continued improvements in cost of sales from previously implemented cost reduction initiatives.  As a result, the gross margin percentages declined slightly as compared to 2010.
 
In 2010, cost of sales declined primarily due to units on lower sales volume.  The decrease attributable to price was primarily driven by our internal cost reduction initiatives and restructuring plans.  These reductions were partially offset by increased costs related to product mix resulting from our go-to-market strategy for marketing solutions.  Some of these solutions are lower-margin products that are primarily outsourced at a higher cost than internally-produced products.  As a result, the gross margin percentage in 2010 improved only slightly as compared with 2009.
 
Operating income
 
Operating income in 2011 was consistent with 2010.  The decline in gross margin as a result of lower volume was offset by lower allocated SG&A expenses.
 
Operating income decreased by $0.5 million in 2010 compared with 2009, due primarily to planned increases in selling and administrative expenses related to business development activities and improvements in our infrastructure during the first half of 2010.  Increased costs were offset somewhat by lower commissions on reduced revenue and cost savings realized from our cost reduction initiatives taken in 2008 and 2009.
 
Commercial Markets
 
Our Commercial Markets segment also operates in a market being affected by digital advances.  Customer adoption of digital technologies has reduced demand in traditional print products creating excess capacity and increased price competition, while at the same time creating new opportunities for print-on-demand and digital-based products.  Additionally, products sold in this segment are heavily weighted toward customer spending on transactional documents, training, advertising, and payroll services.  Therefore, a strong correlation exists between the demand for most of our products and the economic conditions within the market and unemployment rates.  A slow economic recovery and high unemployment rates continue to have a negative impact on our customers.  Reduced demand has resulted in consolidations and divestitures as a means to control costs and create efficiencies.
 
During 2011 and 2010, economic conditions slowly improved, and we continued to focus on our customers’ needs and the development of new solutions.  We extended solutions to existing customers and acquired new customers.  However, intense price competition and continued technological erosion in our traditional print products led to revenue declines.

 
27

 
 
The following table details the estimated changes in revenue and cost of sales for 2011 and 2010.
 
   
Revenue Change
   
Cost of Sales Change
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Units
    -8 %     1 %     -7 %     -1 %
Price
    1 %     -4 %     1 %     -5 %
Mix
    -       -       -1 %     4 %
      -7 %     -3 %     -7 %     -2 %
 
Revenue
 
Revenue declined in 2011 primarily due to lower units.  Non-repeat orders in marketing solutions, lost revenues from a few large customers, and reduced demand for legacy products drove the declines.  Increases in revenue due to price resulted primarily from the pass-through of material cost increases.
 
In 2010, units increased primarily as a result of improved economic conditions and a small expansion in our customer base.  However, this increase was offset by price declines.  Intense competition within the industry resulted in higher discounts on new business, as well as with existing customers.
 
The following table provides further insight into the changes in revenue by major categories.
 
   
2011
   
% Chg
 
2010
   
% Chg
 
2009
 
                               
Print
  $ 90.3       -7 %   $ 97.3       1 %   $ 96.1  
Labels
    27.4       -5 %     28.8       -15 %     33.7  
Software
    1.1       10 %     1.0       -58 %     2.4  
Services
    21.6       -11 %     24.4       2 %     24.0  
Other
    19.0       -1 %     19.1       -1 %     19.2  
    $ 159.4       -7 %   $ 170.6       -3 %   $ 175.4  
Core
    30%               30%               24%  
Legacy
    70%               70%               76%  
 
Declines in legacy solutions negatively impacted print revenue in 2011 and 2010, accounting for declines of approximately $4.9 million and $6.7 million. Marketing solutions increased in 2010 approximately $6.8 million but declined $3.0 million in 2011.
 
Services declined in 2011 primarily due to declines in distribution services associated with unit declines in print products.
 
Cost of sales
 
In 2011, cost of sales decreased overall primarily driven by lower sales volume.  We did experience some higher costs as a result of material cost increases during the year and increased production costs related to newly acquired customers and unabsorbed costs due to lower unit volume.  However, changes in product mix from some lower margin legacy products to higher margin core growth products offset some of the higher costs.
 
In 2010, cost of sales decreased overall primarily driven by lower production costs of approximately 5% resulting from our workforce reductions and other cost reduction initiatives.    These savings were offset by a shift in product mix from some internally produced products to higher-cost outsourced products.   Despite the reduction in cost of sales, the gross margin percentage declined in 2010 as compared with 2009, as pricing concessions in revenue outpaced the cost savings.
 
Operating income
 
The operating loss for 2011 was $0.6 million higher compared with 2010 due to the decline in sales volume and unabsorbed SG&A costs.  The operating loss for 2010 was $0.7 million higher than 2009 due the decline in sales volume and increased administrative expenses related to planned investments in infrastructure in 2010.

 
28

 
 
Industrial
 
Our industrial segment has experienced growth as we continued to execute our go-to-market strategy and expand our in-mold product line.  Our acquisition of selected assets of Fusion Graphics in 2010 and the development of new applications has supported these efforts.
 
Additional growth has been realized as economic conditions in the U.S. have slowly improved from the economic downturn in 2009.  Primary customers for this segment are manufacturers of products directly affected by discretionary spending levels of consumers and products supporting the housing industry.  As a result, as conditions improved, order levels for most of our products increased.  Although manufacturing has continued to expand in the U.S. in 2011 and is expected to expand in 2012, some industrial segments that we focus on have continued to show slow growth or declines, especially HVAC, electrical distribution, and appliances.
 
The following table details the estimated changes in revenue and cost of sales for 2011 and 2010.
 
   
Revenue Change
   
Cost of Sales Change
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Units
    6%       15%       6%       14%  
Price
    3%       4%       4%       -1%  
Mix
    -       -       -       1%  
      9%       19%       10%       14%  
 
Revenue
 
Revenue increased in 2011 and 2010 primarily due to units.  Growth was driven by increased sales of core solutions, the acquisition of new customers, and expansion of sales to existing customers.
 
Units also increased, particularly in 2010, as economic conditions in manufacturing improved from the downturn in 2009.  Due to slow economic growth and some declines experienced by our HVAC, electrical distribution, and appliance customers, revenue increases were lower in 2011 as compared to 2010.
 
Pricing increased in 2011 and 2010 primarily due to targeted efforts to improve profit margins and the pass-through of material price increases.  We expect this trend to continue in 2012.
 
The following table provides further insight into the changes in revenue by major categories.
 
   
2011
   
% Chg
   
2010
   
% Chg
   
2009
 
                               
Print
  $ 19.7       8%     $ 18.2       10%     $ 16.6  
Labels
    47.9       12%       42.7       30%       32.9  
Software
    0.2       -33%       0.3       -       0.3  
Services
    6.9       1%       6.8       5%       6.5  
Other
    3.1       -       3.1       -6%       3.3  
    $ 77.8       9%     $ 71.1       19%     $ 59.6  
Core
    88%               86%               82%  
Legacy
    12%               14%               18%  
 
Increases in print products in 2011 and 2010 were driven primarily by increases in marketing solutions and critical communications.  These solutions increased approximately $1.7 million in 2011 and $1.6 million in 2010.  The increases were partially offset by declines in legacy print products of $0.3 million in 2011 and 2010.  Marketing solutions and critical communications increased due to increased sales efforts around these core solutions as we implemented our go-to-market strategy.

 
29

 
 
Increases in labels in 2011 and 2010 were primarily driven by increased sales in printed production parts as a result of the acquisition of new customers and improved economic conditions.  The rate of increase in 2011 was lower as economic growth in some of our primary industrial segments weakened as 2011 progressed. Sales of our in-mold labels continued to increase with the acquisition of new customers, although at lower than anticipated rates.  Revenue from in-mold labels was $2.8 million, $1.7 million, and $0.6 million in 2011, 2010, and 2009.
 
Cost of sales
 
The increase in cost of sales due to units in 2011 and 2010 was driven by higher sales volume.  In 2011, costs also increased due to pricing as a result of higher material costs of approximately 2% and higher production costs of 2%.  Higher production costs resulted from unabsorbed costs due to lower than anticipated volume in our in-mold product line and temporarily higher costs associated with certain customer accounts.  Due to the increase in costs, the gross margin percentage declined approximately 1% in 2011 as compared with 2010.
 
In 2010, volume increases throughout the year improved cost absorption rates, particularly in our in-mold product line.  We incurred higher material costs of approximately 2% resulting from supplier price increases during 2010.  However, we successfully offset these increases with reduced production costs of approximately 3% resulting from our restructuring and cost reduction initiatives.  Due to these cost improvements, the gross margin percentage increased from 27.0% in 2009 to 30.2% in 2010.
 
Operating income
 
Operating income improved from a loss of $0.5 million in 2010 to income of $0.1 million in 2011as a result of higher sales volume and targeted cost reduction efforts.
 
Improvements in gross margin drove the increase in operating income in 2010.  Although, higher administrative costs and increases in selling expenses during 2010 offset some of these gains.  Administrative costs increased as part of planned investments in infrastructure and increased costs related to the acquisition of Fusion Graphics.  Selling expenses increased due to planned investments in business development activities associated with implementing our go-to-market strategy and higher commissions due to the increase in revenue in 2010.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
Our discussion of liquidity and capital resources will include an analysis of our cash flows and capital structure.  This discussion also presents financial measures that are considered non-GAAP.  Because our credit facility is borrowed under a revolving credit agreement which currently permits us to borrow and repay at will up to a balance of $100 million (subject to limitations related to receivables, inventories, and letters of credit), we take the measure of cash flow performance prior to borrowing or repayment of the credit facility.  In effect, we evaluate cash flow as the change in net debt (credit facility less cash and cash equivalents).

 
30

 

Cash Flows
 
The major elements of the Statements of Cash Flows are summarized below:
 
CASH INFLOW (OUTFLOW)
 
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Net income plus non-cash items
  $ 32.5     $ 44.3     $ 50.3  
Working capital
    7.2       (0.3 )     7.7  
Restructuring payments
    (1.2 )     (5.4 )     (9.9 )
Contributions to qualified pension plan
    (25.0 )     (24.0 )     (20.6 )
Other (1)
    (0.2 )     (2.8 )     (8.3 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    13.3       11.8       19.2  
                         
Capital expenditures
    (14.1 )     (8.4 )     (8.8 )
Acquisitions
    (4.9 )     (2.5 )     -  
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
    1.8       0.4       0.6  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (17.2 )     (10.5 )     (8.2 )
                         
Net change in borrowings under credit facility
    12.6       4.0       2.0  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (1.7 )     (1.5 )     (0.2 )
Dividends paid
    (5.8 )     (5.8 )     (11.0 )
Other
    -       0.2       0.2  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    5.1       (3.1 )     (9.0 )
Net effect of exchange rate changes
    (0.2 )     (0.1 )     0.1  
Net change in cash
  $ 1.0     $ (1.9 )   $ 2.1  
                         
Memo:
                       
Add back credit facility borrowed
    (12.6 )     (4.0 )     (2.0 )
Cash flow on a net debt basis
  $ (11.6 )   $ (5.9 )   $ 0.1  
                         
(1) Includes deferred compensation and non-qualified pension payments and changes in other non-current assets and liabilities.
 
 
Operating activities
 
Restructuring payments were lower in 2011 and 2010 as we completed previously initiated restructuring plans.  In January 2012, we announced a restructuring program that when fully implemented is expected to result in an estimated $45.0 million in annual savings.  Total costs of the restructuring program are expected to be approximately $7.0 million, the majority of which will be incurred 2012.
 
Contributions to the Company’s qualified pension plan were $25.0 million, $24.0 million, and $20.6 million in 2011, 2010, and 2009.  We have elected to take advantage of the funding relief provisions of the Pension Relief Act of 2010.  Based upon these provisions and current estimates, our minimum funding is estimated to be $27 million in 2012, $37 million in 2013, and $44 million in 2014.
 
Deferred compensation balances paid to employees and payments of supplementary pension benefits were significantly higher in 2009 due to employees retiring and electing lump sum payments of their benefits during that year.

Investing activities
 
Net cash used in investing activities were primarily driven by capital expenditures in 2011, 2010, and 2009.  In 2011 and 2010, we made strategic investments in our infrastructure and product portfolio.  In 2009, our capital spending primarily related to projects with higher returns on invested capital and those required to maintain operations.  In 2012, we expect capital expenditures to be in the range of $9 million to $11 million.
 
In the last half of 2011, we also entered into several capital lease obligations for digital color equipment and technology.  The new investment supports our strategy for growth in core marketing solutions.  The capital lease obligations provide for aggregate payments, including interest, of approximately $8.3 million over the next five years.

 
31

 
 
As part of our go-to-market strategy to expand our product portfolio, we invested in acquisitions totaling $4.9 million and $2.5 million in 2011 and 2010.  In 2011, we acquired 100% of the ownership interest in Dialog Medical as an addition to our Healthcare segment.  We paid approximately $4.9 million at the time of purchase.  We also signed a note payable for $0.6 million, which will be paid in two annual installments beginning on the first anniversary date of the agreement.  In addition, in accordance with the contingent consideration arrangement, we will pay two additional annual payments based upon the achievement of certain revenue targets by the acquired business.  The agreement provides for maximum contingent consideration of $2.0 million.  However, based on current revenue forecasts, we have recorded a liability in the amount of $0.6 million.
 
In 2010, we purchased selected assets, primarily patents, of Fusion Graphics, Inc. for approximately $2.5 million.  The purchase represents an important part of transforming our product portfolio specifically related to our in-mold product line of our Industrial segment.  We expect to continue considering other acquisition opportunities that further expand and improve our product portfolio.
 
Financing activities
 
In 2011 and 2010, borrowings increased under our revolving credit facility, driven by lower operating profit, increased contributions to our qualified pension plan, and increases in capital expenditures and acquisitions.  Although, savings from our cost reduction initiatives and lower dividend payments allowed us to partially absorb these costs.
 
Dividend payments to shareholders in 2011 were consistent with 2010.  Dividend payments in 2010 were lower compared with 2009, as our Board of Directors elected to reduce the quarterly dividend from $0.23 to $0.05 per share beginning in the second quarter of 2009.  This decision was made after giving consideration to the economic environment and the Company’s strategy, equity position, and capital needs.
 
In January 2012, we announced the suspension of our quarterly dividend in keeping with Ohio law, which requires that cash dividends be paid only out of a corporation’s statutory surplus.  Because of the decline in shareholder’s equity related to actuarial losses in our pension plan and the valuation allowance established against deferred tax assets, there is not currently a statutory surplus.
 
We have a $100,000 four-year senior secured revolving credit facility (Credit Facility) with five banks that matures in 2014.  The Credit Facility is secured by accounts receivable, inventories, fixed assets, and certain other assets.  The Credit Facility contains a fixed charge coverage covenant test that becomes applicable if the sum of available unborrowed credit plus certain cash balances falls below 15% of aggregate commitments or $11.2 million, whichever is greater.
 
The Credit Facility provides for the payment of interest on amounts borrowed under London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) contracts and base rate loans.  Payment of interest on LIBOR contracts is at an annual rate equal to the LIBOR rate plus 3.00% to 3.50% based on our level of liquidity.  Payment of interest on base rate loans is based on the prime rate plus 2.00% to 2.50% based upon our level of liquidity.  We are also required to pay a fee on the unused portion of the Credit Facility.  Such fee is payable at an annual rate of 50.0 basis points if the unused portion is equal to or less than 50% of the aggregate commitment or 75.0 basis points if the unused portion is greater than 50% of the aggregate commitment.
 
At year end, we had $35.0 million available under the Credit Facility.
 
We believe that the combination of internally-generated funds, available cash reserves, and our Credit Facility will be sufficient to fund our operations, including capital expenditures, and investments in growth initiatives over the next year.  We believe our major long-term cash requirements consist of investing in our growth initiatives aimed at transforming our product portfolio and our pension funding.  While we have taken steps to enable us to adequately fund these items, actual amounts required may be higher than estimated due to the uncertainty in determining the exact amounts needed.
 
Item 7ANot applicable

 
32

 
 
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management of Standard Register is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In association with the preparation of the Company’s annual financial statements, management of the Company has undertaken an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2012, based on the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework.  Management’s assessment included an evaluation of the design and testing the operational effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Based on the assessment, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of January 1, 2012.
 
The Company’s independent auditors, Battelle & Battelle LLP, a registered public accounting firm, are appointed by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.  Battelle & Battelle have audited and reported on the Consolidated Financial Statements of The Standard Register Company and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  The reports of the independent auditors are contained in this Form 10-K.
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ JOSEPH P. MORGAN, JR
/s/ ROBERT M. GINNAN
Joseph P. Morgan, Jr.
Robert M. Ginnan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Vice President, Treasurer and
March 9, 2012
Chief Financial Officer
 
March 9, 2012
 
 
33

 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


Board of Directors and Shareholders
The Standard Register Company
Dayton, Ohio

We have audited The Standard Register Company and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  The Standard Register Company and subsidiaries’ management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, The Standard Register Company and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements of The Standard Register Company and subsidiaries and our report dated March 9, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion.

/S/ BATTELLE & BATTELLE LLP

Dayton, Ohio
March 9, 2012
 
 
34

 
 
Item 8 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


Board of Directors and Shareholders
The Standard Register Company
Dayton, Ohio

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Standard Register Company and subsidiaries as of January 1, 2012 and January 2, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, cash flows, and shareholders’ (deficit) equity for each of the three years in the period ended January 1, 2012.  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.  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, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Standard Register Company and subsidiaries as of January 1, 2012 and January 2, 2011, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 1, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the method of accounting for certain inventories from the LIFO method to the FIFO method in 2011 resulting in the retrospective application to all prior periods presented.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), The Standard Register Company and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 9, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of The Standard Register Company and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting.


/S/ BATTELLE & BATTELLE LLP

Dayton, Ohio
March 9, 2012
 
 
35

 
 
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
             
             
             
   
January 1,
   
January 2,
 
A S S E T S
 
2012
   
2011
 
             
CURRENT ASSETS
           
  Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,569     $ 531  
  Accounts receivable, net
    113,403       122,308  
  Inventories
    48,822       54,061  
  Deferred income taxes
    -       2,139  
  Prepaid expense
    9,058       8,962  
      Total current assets
    172,852       188,001  
                 
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
               
  Land
    1,919       2,221  
  Buildings and improvements
    65,111       65,111  
  Machinery and equipment
    186,547       181,808  
  Office equipment
    165,017       165,600  
  Construction in progress
    1,758       1,431  
      Total
    420,352       416,171  
    Less accumulated depreciation
    346,402       342,022  
      Total plant and equipment, net
    73,950       74,149  
                 
OTHER ASSETS
               
  Goodwill
    7,456       6,557  
  Intangible assets, net
    7,023       2,265  
  Deferred tax asset
    23,996       102,996  
  Other
    8,584       10,819  
      Total other assets
    47,059       122,637  
                 
      Total assets
  $ 293,861     $ 384,787  
                 
 See accompanying notes.
               
 
 
36

 
 
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
             
             
             
             
   
January 1,
   
January 2,
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY
 
2012
   
2011
 
             
CURRENT LIABILITIES
           
  Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 2,470     $ 1,467  
  Accounts payable
    32,259       34,110  
  Accrued compensation
    13,019       15,056  
  Accrued restructuring and other exit costs
    5,660       1,689  
  Deferred revenue
    5,345       2,225  
  Deferred income taxes
    2,887       -  
  Other current liabilities
    21,803       24,216  
      Total current liabilities
    83,443       78,763  
                 
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
               
  Long-term debt
    60,149       42,926  
  Pension benefit obligation
    236,206       185,174  
  Retiree healthcare obligation
    -       4,931  
  Deferred compensation
    5,777       6,306  
  Environmental liabilities
    3,753       3,823  
  Other long-term liabilities
    3,586       3,060  
      Total long-term liabilities
    309,471       246,220  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - See Note 18
               
                 
SHAREHOLDERS'(DEFICIT) EQUITY
               
  Common stock, $1.00 par value:
               
    Authorized 101,000,000 shares
               
    Issued 2011 - 26,389,523;  2010 - 26,227,199
    26,389       26,227  
  Class A stock, $1.00 par value:
               
    Authorized - 9,450,000 shares
               
    Issued - 4,725,000
    4,725       4,725  
  Capital in excess of par value
    65,307       63,401  
  Accumulated other comprehensive losses
    (210,173 )     (142,900 )
  Retained earnings
    64,924       158,518  
  Treasury stock at cost:
               
     2,014,320 and 1,996,952 shares
    (50,225 )     (50,167 )
     Total shareholders' (deficit) equity
    (99,053 )     59,804  
                 
     Total liabilities and shareholders' (deficit) equity
  $ 293,861     $ 384,787  
                 
                 
See accompanying notes.
               
 
 
37

 
 
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                   
   
52 Weeks Ended
   
52 Weeks Ended
   
53 Weeks Ended
 
   
January 1,
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
                   
REVENUE
                 
Products
  $ 558,664     $ 573,253     $ 594,087  
Services
    89,445       95,124       99,929  
Total revenue
    648,109       668,377       694,016  
                         
COST OF SALES
                       
Products
    394,650       398,288       414,817  
Services
    55,290       60,281       63,550  
Total cost of sales
    449,940       458,569       478,367  
                         
GROSS MARGIN
    198,169       209,808       215,649  
                         
OPERATING EXPENSES
                       
Selling, general and administrative
    206,656       204,613       205,270  
Pension settlements, curtailments, and postretirement plan termination
    (19,719 )     370       20,412  
Environmental remediation
    203       (803 )     2,513  
Asset impairments
    -       -       1,176  
Restructuring and other exit costs
    5,198       1,733       11,513  
Total operating expenses
    192,338       205,913       240,884  
                         
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS
    5,831       3,895       (25,235 )
                         
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
                       
Interest expense
    (2,466 )     (2,189 )     (1,197 )
Investment and other income (expense)
    632       (333 )     390  
Total other expense
    (1,834 )     (2,522 )     (807 )
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE
                       
  INCOME TAXES
    3,997       1,373       (26,042 )
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)
    91,695       1,005       (10,678 )
NET (LOSS) INCOME
  $ (87,698 )   $ 368     $ (15,364 )
                         
                         
BASIC AND DILUTED (LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE
  $ (3.02 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.53 )
                         
NET (LOSS) INCOME
  $ (87,698 )   $ 368     $ (15,364 )
Net actuarial (losses) gains, net of $49, ($4,467), and $6,267
                       
deferred income tax expense (benefit)
    (80,426 )     (6,781 )     9,514  
Actuarial loss reclassification, net of $1,636, $7,645, and $10,875
                       
deferred income tax expense
    26,995       11,606       16,512  
Prior service credit, net of $2,015 and $979 deferred income tax expense
    3,059       1,486       -  
Prior service credit reclassification, net of ($10,998), ($1,590), and ($1,591)
                 
deferred income tax benefit
    (16,697 )     (2,415 )     (2,415 )
Cumulative translation adjustment
    (204 )     (28 )     140  
                         
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
  $ (154,971 )   $ 4,236     $ 8,387  
                         
See accompanying notes.
                       
 
 
38

 
 
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                   
   
52 Weeks Ended
   
52 Weeks Ended
   
53 Weeks Ended
 
   
January 1,
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                 
  Net (loss) income
  $ (87,698 )   $ 368     $ (15,364 )
  Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net
                       
  cash provided by operating activities:
                       
    Depreciation and amortization
    21,809       23,255       25,044  
    Restructuring charges
    5,198       1,733       11,513  
    Pension and postretirement (benefit) expense
    (215 )     14,454       32,320  
    Deferred tax expense (benefit)
    91,330       62       (9,862 )
    Other
    2,053       4,483       6,613  
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of
                       
  effects from acquisitions:
                       
      Accounts and notes receivable
    8,607       (14,504 )     3,715  
      Inventories
    5,239       8,253       10,014  
      Restructuring spending
    (1,227 )     (5,409 )     (9,872 )
      Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (6,670 )     5,912       (6,006 )
      Pension and postretirement contributions and payments
    (28,734 )     (27,801 )     (28,181 )
      Deferred compensation payments
    (606 )     (2,415 )     (2,374 )
      Other assets and liabilities
    4,169       3,397       1,614  
        Net cash provided by operating activities
    13,255       11,788       19,174  
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                       
  Additions to plant and equipment
    (14,186 )     (8,403 )     (8,844 )
  Proceeds from sale of equipment
    1,845       359       634  
  Acquisitions, net of cash received
    (4,905 )     (2,464 )     -  
        Net cash used in investing activities
    (17,246 )     (10,508 )     (8,210 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                       
  Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facility
    12,661       4,019       2,010  
  Principal payments on long-tem debt
    (1,721 )     (1,477 )     (159 )
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    163       187       239  
  Dividends paid
    (5,836 )     (5,807 )     (11,026 )
  Purchase of treasury stock
    (58 )     (34 )     (38 )
        Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    5,209       (3,112 )     (8,974 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (180 )     (41 )     132  
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    1,038       (1,873 )     2,122  
  Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    531       2,404       282  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR
  $ 1,569     $ 531     $ 2,404  
                         
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES
                       
  Cash paid during the year for:
                       
    Interest
  $ 2,461     $ 2,132     $ 1,250  
    Income taxes paid (refunded)
    184       (1,010 )     567  
                         
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                 
                         
Capital leases
  $ 7,287     $ 4,384     $ -  
Acquisition financing
    1,276       -       -  
Loan payable recorded for professional services
    -       1,598       -  
Note receivable recorded in connection with sale of plant and equipment
    -       -       950  
                         
See accompanying notes.
                       
 
 
39

 
 
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                   
   
52 Weeks Ended
   
52 Weeks Ended
   
53 Weeks Ended
 
   
January 1,
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
COMMON STOCK
                 
  Beginning balance
  $ 26,227     $ 26,130     $ 26,044  
  Dividend reinvestment plan
    55       50       52  
  Issuance of vested shares
    107       47       34  
  Ending balance
  $ 26,389     $ 26,227     $ 26,130  
                         
CLASS A STOCK
  $ 4,725     $ 4,725     $ 4,725  
                         
CAPITAL IN EXCESS OF PAR VALUE
                       
  Beginning balance
  $ 63,401     $ 62,888     $ 61,304  
  Stock option compensation expense
    1,160       1,017       973  
  Compensation expense for nonvested shares
    745       874       458  
  Dividend reinvestment plan
    108       137       187  
  Dividends declared, $.05 per share
    -       (1,468 )     -  
  Issuance of vested shares
    (107 )     (47 )     (34 )
  Ending balance
  $ 65,307     $ 63,401     $ 62,888  
                         
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSSES
                       
  Beginning balance
  $ (142,900 )   $ (146,768 )   $ (170,519 )
  Cumulative translation adjustment
    (204 )     (28 )     140  
  Change in net actuarial losses
    (53,431 )     4,825       26,026  
  Change in net prior service credit
    (13,638 )     (929 )     (2,415 )
  Ending balance
  $ (210,173 )   $ (142,900 )   $ (146,768 )
                         
RETAINED EARNINGS
                       
  Beginning balance
  $ 158,518     $ 162,543     $ 183,708  
  Net (loss) income
    (87,698 )     368       (15,364 )
  Dividends declared, $.20 per share in 2011, $.15 per share
                       
  in 2010, and $.20 per share in 2009
    (5,896 )     (4,393 )     (5,801 )
  Ending balance
  $ 64,924     $ 158,518     $ 162,543  
                         
TREASURY STOCK AT COST
                       
  Beginning balance
  $ (50,167 )   $ (50,133 )   $ (50,095 )
  Treasury stock acquired
    (58 )     (34 )     (38 )
  Ending balance
  $ (50,225 )   $ (50,167 )   $ (50,133 )
                         
    Total shareholders' (deficit) equity
  $ (99,053 )   $ 59,804     $ 59,385  
                         
See accompanying notes.
                       
 
 
40

 
 
THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 

NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
The Standard Register Company is a recognized leader in the healthcare, financial services, commercial, and industrial markets.  Our principle products include print, labels, and software.  Service revenue primarily includes warehousing and custom-delivery services (distribution services), professional services and other consulting, design services, and software postcontract support.
 
The accounting policies that affect the more significant elements of our financial statements are summarized below.
 
Principles of Consolidation
 
Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Standard Register Company and its wholly-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) after elimination of intercompany transactions, profits, and balances.
 
Fiscal Year
 
Our fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period ending the Sunday nearest to December 31.  Fiscal years 2011, 2010, and 2009, ended on January 1, 2012, January 2, 2011, and January 3, 2010.  Fiscal years 2011 and 2010 each included 52 weeks and fiscal year 2009 included 53 weeks.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.  The accounting estimates and assumptions that place the most significant demands on our judgment include, but are not limited to:  pension benefit plan assumptions; fair value measurements; deferred taxes;  environmental liabilities; and revenue recognition.  These estimates and assumptions are based on information presently available and actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Foreign Currency
 
Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate in effect at the end of the fiscal period.  Income statement amounts are translated at the average monthly exchange rates in effect during the period.  Adjustments resulting from the translation of financial statements denominated in foreign currencies are charged or credited directly to shareholders’ equity and shown as cumulative translation adjustments in other comprehensive income.  Realized gains and losses from transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded in other income and are not material.
 
Cash Equivalents
 
All highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are classified as cash equivalents.
 
Accounts and Notes Receivable
 
Receivables are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts.
 
Trade receivables are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms requiring payment generally within 30 days from the invoice date.  Our estimate of the allowance for doubtful accounts for trade receivables is primarily determined based on the length of time the receivables are past due.  In addition, estimates are used to determine probable losses based upon an analysis of prior collection experience, specific account risks, and economic conditions.  We have a series of actions that occur based upon the aging of past-due trade receivables, including letters, statements, and direct customer contact.  Accounts are deemed uncollectible based on past experience and current financial condition.
 
Notes receivable are stated at the principal amount with interest accrued when considered collectible.  An allowance for uncollectible notes receivable is recorded for probable losses based upon an analysis of prior collection experience, specific account risks, and economic conditions.
 
Bad debt expense was $1,248, $1,351, and $1,343 in 2011, 2010, and 2009.
 
 
41

 
 
Inventories
 
Our inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.
 
In the fourth quarter of 2011, we changed our method of accounting for inventory from using a combination of the last-in, last-out (LIFO) method and the FIFO method to using the FIFO method for all of our inventories.   We believe the new method of accounting for inventory is preferable because the FIFO method better reflects the current value of inventories, is used by key users of our financial statements including our lenders which use FIFO to value the collateral and to calculate our borrowing capacity and compliance with debt covenants, enhances comparability with our peers, and provides consistency across all of our operations regarding the method of accounting used for financial reporting.
 
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 250 “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections,” all prior periods presented have been retrospectively adjusted to apply the new method of accounting.  As a result of the change in accounting principle, beginning retained earnings as of January 3, 2010 increased by $20,198 which represents the cumulative effect of the change on periods prior to fiscal 2009.  For a summary of the retrospective adjustments, see Note 7 to the financial statements.
 
Long-Lived Assets
 
Plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Costs of normal maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred.  Upon the disposition of assets, their cost and related depreciation are removed from the respective accounts, and the resulting gain or loss is included in current income.
 
Plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of assets may not be recoverable.  We first evaluate recoverability of assets to be held and used by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to undiscounted expected future cash flows to be generated by the assets.  If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment amount is then calculated using a fair-value-based test that compares the fair value of the asset to its carrying value.  Assets held for sale, if any, are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.
 
Depreciation
 
For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the depreciable assets.  Depreciation expense was $21,178, $23,155, and $24,498 in 2011, 2010, and 2009 and includes amortization of assets recorded under capital lease arrangements.  Estimated useful lives range from 15-40 years for buildings and improvements; 5-15 years for machinery and equipment; and 3-15 years for office furniture and equipment.
 
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price paid over the value of net assets of businesses acquired and is not amortized.  Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise, using a fair-value-based test that compares the fair value of the asset to its carrying value.  Intangible assets with determinable lives are primarily amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life.
 
Software Development Costs
 
Costs incurred during the application development stage and implementation stage in developing, purchasing, or otherwise acquiring software for internal use and website development costs are capitalized and amortized over a period of five years.  Costs incurred during the preliminary project stage are expensed as incurred.  The carrying value of capitalized internal use software is included in Plant and Equipment in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and totaled $11,644 at January 1, 2012 and $12,767 at January 2, 2011.  These amounts are related to production, invoicing, and warehousing systems; customer interface portals and account management tools; and system management, security, and desktop applications.
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Our pension plan assets are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, while other assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, generally as a result of impairment charges.  Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified using the following hierarchy, which is based on the inputs to the valuation and gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs:

Level 1 – Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
 
Level 2 – Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that reflect our own assumptions that are not corroborated by market data.
 
 
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Revenue Recognition
 
Revenue is recognized when all of the following criteria are met:
 
Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists
 
Delivery has occurred or services have been performed
 
The fee is fixed or determinable, and
 
Collectability is reasonably assured.
 
Product Revenue
 
Revenue is generally recognized when products are shipped to the customer, title and risks of ownership have passed to the customer, and all significant obligations have been satisfied.  Because the majority of products are customized, product returns are not significant.

Service Revenue
 
We generally recognize service revenue as the services are performed.

Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables
 
When a customer arrangement involves multiple deliverables, we evaluate all deliverables to determine whether they represent separate units of accounting, allocate the arrangement consideration to the separate units, and recognize revenue in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for revenue recognition.  We have one type of non-software multiple-element arrangement which consists of three deliverables:  custom-printed products, warehousing services, and custom-delivery services.  Under this type of an arrangement, we provide warehousing and custom-delivery services for customers who want just-in-time delivery of custom-printed products.
 
For the majority of our contractual arrangements, at the customer’s request we print and store custom-printed products that remain in our inventory until the customer’s specified future delivery.  For these arrangements, title and risk of ownership for these products remains with us until the product is shipped to the customer.  Therefore, the product is considered to be delivered last, and the customer is invoiced when the product is delivered to the customer.
 
Under certain other contractual arrangements, at the customer’s request we print and store the custom-printed products for the customer’s specified future delivery.  Such products are stored in our warehouses and are not used to fill other customers’ orders.  For these products, manufacturing is complete, the finished product is not included in our inventory, and title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer.  In these transactions, the customer is invoiced under normal billing and credit terms when the product is placed in the warehouse for storage.  As such, the product is considered to be delivered first and warehousing and custom-delivery services are delivered last.
 
Fees for warehousing and custom-delivery services are often bundled into the price of the products and are therefore invoiced when the product is considered delivered.  However, if requested by the customer, these fees may also be invoiced separately as the services are performed.
 
Multiple-element arrangements entered into or materially modified beginning in 2011
 
For arrangements entered into or materially modified beginning in fiscal 2011, we determine whether each deliverable in the arrangement represents a separate unit of accounting based on the following criteria:
 
Whether the delivered item has value to the customer on a standalone basis; and
 
If the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item, whether delivery or performance of the undelivered item is considered probable and is substantially in our control.
 
We then allocate the consideration received to each deliverable in the arrangement based on the relative selling prices of each deliverable.
 
Determination of selling prices
 
Selling prices are determined based on the following hierarchy: vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value (VSOE), third-party evidence of selling price (TPE), or best estimate of selling price (BESP).  For each deliverable, we review historical sales data to determine if we have sufficient stand-alone sales that are within an acceptable range to establish VSOE.  VSOE is considered established if 80% of stand-alone sales are within +/-15% of the median sales price.  Available third-party evidence is evaluated to determine if TPE can be established for items where VSOE does not exist.  In absence of VSOE and TPE, BESP is used.  Determining BESP requires significant judgment due to the nature of factors that must be considered and the subjectivity involved in determining the impact each of these factors should have on BESP.
 
 
43

 
 
Custom-printed products
 
Due to the variances in pricing for available stand-alone sales and custom nature of our products, VSOE or TPE cannot be established.  To develop BESP, we consider numerous internal and external factors including: internal cost experience for materials, labor, manufacturing and administrative costs; external pricing for similar products; level of  market competition and potential for market share gain; stage in the product life cycle; industry served; profit margins; current market conditions; length of typical agreements; and anticipated volume.
 
Warehousing services
 
VSOE cannot be established for warehousing services, as we generally do not sell these services separately.  Although some third-party evidence is readily available for certain aspects of our warehousing services, an adequate amount of data for services similar to our offering is not available to establish TPE.  BESP is developed by utilizing a pricing process which considers the following internal and external factors: cost driver activity such as full versus partial carton shipments, storage space utilized, type of product stored, and shipping frequency; internal cost experience; profit margins; volume-related discounts; current market conditions; and to a lesser degree, pricing from third-party providers when available.
 
Custom-delivery services
 
For custom-delivery services, no stand-alone sales are available as we do not sell these services separately; therefore, VSOE cannot be established.  TPE is developed by utilizing individual pricing templates for each customer.  The pricing templates consider profit margins, volume, and expected shipping addresses for the customer applied to a freight rate table that is developed from negotiated rates with our third-party logistics partners.
 
Timing of revenue recognition
 
For arrangements where warehousing and custom-delivery services are delivered last, revenue allocated to the product is recognized when it is placed in the warehouse for storage.  Revenue allocated to warehousing and custom-delivery services is recognized as the services are performed.
 
For arrangements where the product is delivered last, revenue allocated to the product is recognized when shipped from the warehouse to the customer.  Revenue allocated to warehousing and distribution services is recognized as the services are performed.
 
Multiple-element arrangements entered into prior to 2011
 
Arrangements entered into prior to 2011 continue to be accounted for in accordance with the revenue recognition standards effective prior to 2011.  Under previous revenue recognition guidance, deliverables represent separate units of accounting if the following criteria are met:
 
 
The delivered item has value to the customer on a standalone basis;
 
Objective and reliable evidence exists for the fair value of the undelivered item; and
 
If the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item, delivery or performance of the undelivered item is considered probable and is substantially in our control.
 
We previously determined that objective and reliable evidence of fair value exists for the warehousing and custom-delivery services but not for the products due to the custom nature of our printed products and lack of consistent pricing in stand-alone sales.  Accordingly, in customer arrangements where warehousing and delivery services are delivered last, we utilize the residual method to allocate arrangement consideration to the products based on the fair value of the warehousing and delivery services and recognize revenue for the product when placed in the warehouse.  Revenue allocated to warehousing and delivery services is recognized as the services are performed.
 
In arrangements where the products are delivered last, we are unable to allocate arrangement consideration to the deliverables due to the lack of objective evidence of fair value for the products.  Therefore, the arrangement is recognized as a single unit of accounting, and all revenue is recognized when the products are delivered to the customer.
 
Changes in revenue recognition as a result of adopting ASU 2009-13
 
For arrangements entered into or materially modified in 2011, we continue to recognize custom-printed products, warehousing services, and custom-delivery services as separate units of accounting for arrangements where warehousing and delivery services are delivered last.  For arrangements where custom-printed products are delivered last, we previously accounted for these arrangements as one unit of accounting and recognized the arrangement consideration as product revenue.  Due to the establishment of BESP for the custom-printed products, we now recognize the products, warehousing services, and custom-delivery services as separate units of accounting.  This change resulted in an increase in reported services revenue in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
 
44

 
 
The pattern and timing of revenue recognition did not change for our arrangements where warehousing and delivery services are delivered last.  For arrangements where products are delivered last, we now recognize warehousing services as performed rather than as the product is delivered.  However, this change did not materially impact the timing of revenue recognition and is not expected to have a material effect in the near term.
 
Software  Arrangements
 
 We generate revenue from licensing the rights to software products to end users.  These licenses are generally sold as perpetual licenses.  We generally license our software in combination with professional services and post-contract customer support (PCS) which includes telephone assistance and software problem corrections.  Under these multiple deliverable arrangements, revenue is allocated to the separate elements based on VSOE of the fair value of each undelivered element in the arrangement.  Fair value for ongoing PCS is based upon established renewal rates and the related service revenue is deferred and subsequently recognized ratably over the term of the support agreement.  Fair value for professional services associated with licensing the software, such as training, software installation, building simple interfaces, and consulting services such as implementation support, forms design and system configuration is based upon rates charged to customers when these services are sold in separate transactions.  Revenue for these professional services is recognized either on the completed contract method or when specific milestones are reached.  Our software is generally not sold on a stand-alone basis and therefore we cannot establish VSOE.  The amount of revenue allocated to the software is determined using the residual method and recognized when the software is delivered.  Under this method, the software revenue equals the total amount of consideration received for the arrangement less the revenue allocated to PCS and professional services.
 
When we are unable to establish VSOE for the professional services, we use the combined services approach.  The entire arrangement is accounted for as one unit of accounting, and revenue is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the longer of the PCS period or the period the professional services are expected to be performed.  When the professional services are complete, the software has been delivered, and the only remaining undelivered element is the PCS, the deferred revenue is adjusted to reflect only the remaining post-contract support amount.
 
We also have entered into certain multiple deliverable arrangements to license software where VSOE cannot be established for any of the undelivered service elements.  These arrangements are accounted for as one unit of accounting, and revenue is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis as the services are performed, which typically ranges from one to five years.
 
The determination of whether deliverables within a multiple element arrangement can be treated separately for revenue recognition purposes involves significant estimates and judgment, such as whether fair value can be established on undelivered obligations and whether delivered items have standalone value to the customer.  Changes to our assessment of the accounting units in a multiple deliverable arrangement or the ability to establish fair values could change the timing of revenue recognition.
 
Shipping and Handling Fees
 
Shipping and handling fees billed to customers are recorded as revenue, and shipping and handling costs paid to vendors are recorded as cost of sales.
 
Sales Taxes
 
Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are recorded on a net basis (excluded from revenues) in our Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
Research and Development
 
Research and development costs relate to the development of new products and to the improvement of existing products and services and are charged to expense as incurred.  These efforts are entirely company sponsored.  Total research and development costs were $4,530, $4,867, and $5,200 in 2011, 2010, and 2009.
 
Income Taxes
 
We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of liabilities and assets, using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.
 
Earnings Per Share
 
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding and common equivalent shares from stock options and nonvested shares using the treasury method, except when anti-dilutive.
 
 
45

 
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses
 
Other comprehensive losses include any revenues, expenses, gains and losses that are excluded from net income and recognized directly as a component of shareholders’ equity.  Components of accumulated other comprehensive losses, net of deferred taxes, include the following:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Net actuarial loss
  $ (209,843 )   $ (156,412 )   $ (161,237 )
Net prior service credit
    -       13,638       14,567  
Foreign currency translation
    (330 )     (126 )     (98 )
Total
  $ (210,173 )   $ (142,900 )   $ (146,768 )
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current-year presentation.
 
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements
 
In 2011, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-13 which amended the revenue recognition standards related to non-software multiple-element revenue arrangements. The standard requires the allocation of the overall consideration to each deliverable based on its estimated selling price in the absence of other objective evidence of selling prices and expands the required disclosures for multiple-element arrangements.  The standard permitted retrospective or prospective adoption, and we elected prospective adoption for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified beginning in fiscal 2011.  Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated results of operation, financial position, or cash flows.
 
NOTE 2 – ACQUISITIONS
 
On July 6, 2011, we acquired 100% of the ownership interest in iMedConsent, LLC (dba Dialog Medical).  Dialog Medical provides solutions for managing the patient informed consent process and will be operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary reporting through our Healthcare segment.  We believe this acquisition strengthens and broadens our leadership in the healthcare market and will enable us to help our customers advance their reputations by improving patient safety, compliance, critical patient communications and operational performance.
 
The total purchase price was $6,217 which includes $4,941 paid in cash, a $650 note payable to be paid over two years, and $626 of contingent consideration expected to be paid that is based upon achievement of certain revenue targets by Dialog Medical through July 6, 2013.   The maximum payout under the contingent arrangement is $2,000.
 
The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination; therefore, the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition.  All values recorded for the acquisition are final.  The purchase price allocation consisted of: $5,389 for identifiable intangibles; $899 for goodwill; and ($71) in net working capital accounts.
 
Identifiable intangibles included: acquired software technology of $2,650, customer relationships of $2,610, and a trademark of $129.  The acquired software technology and trademark are being amortized on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of seven years.  Customer relationships are being amortized on an accelerated basis over eight years.  Goodwill, which was allocated to our Healthcare segment, primarily represents the value of the assembled workforce and expected synergies and other benefits that we believe will result from the acquisition.
 
In June 2010, we purchased the assets of Fusion Graphics, Inc. for approximately $2,500 in cash.  The assets acquired primarily consist of intellectual property related to the Grafilm In-Mold Labeling System that will be utilized by our Industrial segment for our in-mold label product line.  The purchase price was allocated based on the estimated fair value of the assets acquired; $2,262 was assigned to several patents, $100 was assigned to a non-compete agreement, and the balance was assigned to working capital accounts.  The patents are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 years and the non-compete agreement is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement which is five years.
 
Pro forma financial information and other disclosures have not been presented because the acquisitions are not considered material to our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
 
NOTE 3 – ITEMS DISCLOSED AT FAIR VALUE
 
We have financial assets and liabilities that are not recorded at fair value but which require disclosure of their fair value.  The carrying value of cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments and is not material.  We believe the carrying value of outstanding amounts under our secured revolving credit facility and capital lease obligation approximate fair value based on currently available market rates.
 
 
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Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk principally consist of cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables.  Cash and cash equivalents are placed with high-credit quality financial institutions.  Our credit risk, with respect to trade receivables, is limited in management’s opinion due to industry and geographic diversification.  We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts to cover estimated credit losses.
 
NOTE 4 – RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER EXIT COSTS
 
All costs related to restructuring actions are included in restructuring and other exit costs in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.  Components include the following:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
2011 Plans
                 
Involuntary termination costs
  $ 5,480     $ -     $ -  
      Total 2012
    5,480       -       -  
2009 Plans
                       
Involuntary termination costs
    (521 )     (213 )     3,615  
Contract exit and termination costs
    154       1,025       361  
Other associated exit costs
    86       848       7,223  
      Total 2009
    (281 )     1,660       11,199  
                         
2008 Plans
                       
Involuntary termination costs
    -       -       (453 )
Contract exit and termination costs
    -       35       229  
Other associated exit costs
    (1 )     38       538  
      Total 2008
    (1 )     73       314  
Total
  $ 5,198     $ 1,733     $ 11,513  
 
Under our current operating model, the majority of our manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution activities are managed under a shared-services model and are therefore not specific to a particular reportable segment.  Additionally, we still maintain certain other corporate functions that also are not attributable to a specific reportable segment.  As a result, none of our restructuring or exit activities are reported under any segment, and are all attributable to corporate and other shared services.
 
2011 Plans
 
In late 2011, we developed a strategic restructuring program that was announced in January 2012.  The restructuring program is designed to better align our resources in support of our growing core solutions business and to reduce costs to offset the impact of declining revenue in our legacy operations.  The restructuring program is expected to result in an estimated $45,000 in annual savings and the elimination of 12% to 15% of our workforce over the next six to nine months.  Total costs of the restructuring program are expected to be approximately $7,000, of which $5,480 is for severance related to the workforce reduction and $1,520 is for contract termination and other associated costs, primarily for fees to a third party to assist with the program implementation and costs for the relocation of equipment and inventory.
 
Components of 2011 restructuring and other exit costs consist of the following:
 
                   
   
Total
   
Total
   
Cumulative
 
   
Expected
   
2011
   
To-Date
 
   
Costs
   
Expense
   
Expense
 
                   
Involuntary termination costs
  $ 5,480     $ 5,480     $ 5,480  
Contract termination costs
    370       -       -  
Other associated exit costs
    1,150       -       -  
Total
  $ 7,000     $ 5,480     $ 5,480  
 
A summary of the 2011 accrual activity is as follows:
 
   
Accrued
   
Incurred
   
Balance
 
   
in 2011
   
in 2011
   
2011
 
                   
Involuntary termination costs
  $ 5,480     $ -     $ 5,480  
      Total
  $ 5,480     $ -     $ 5,480  
 
 
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2009 Plans
 
In 2009, we launched a company-wide review of business practices and growth acceleration opportunities designed around the priorities of client satisfaction, cost reduction, and increased market coverage.  As a result, we implemented a restructuring plan and numerous organizational improvements to simplify business, move closer to the customer, grow revenue, and improve overall efficiency of our business.
 
Restructuring costs primarily included:  severance related to workforce reductions; contract termination and other exit costs from the  strategic closure of production and distribution facilities and the subsequent relocation of equipment and inventory; and fees to the third-party that assisted with the development and implementation of the plan.
 
All of our plans were completed by the end of 2011.  In 2011 and 2010, we reversed $567 and $492 of previously accrued severance and contract termination costs due to lower than expected costs.

Components of 2009 restructuring and other exit costs consist of the following:
 
                   
   
Total
   
Total
   
Cumulative
 
   
Expected
   
2011
   
To-Date
 
   
Costs
   
Expense
   
Expense
 
                   
Involuntary termination costs
  $ 2,881     $ (521 )   $ 2,881  
Contract termination costs
    1,700       154       1,540  
Other associated exit costs
    8,200       86       8,157  
Total
  $ 12,781     $ (281 )   $ 12,578  
 
A summary of the 2009 accrual activity is as follows:
 
   
Balance
   
Accrued
   
Incurred
   
Reversed
   
Balance
   
Accrued
   
Incurred
   
Reversed
   
Balance
 
   
2009
   
in 2010
   
in 2010
   
in 2010
   
2010
   
in 2011
   
in 2011
   
in 2011
   
2011
 
                                                       
Involuntary termination costs
  $ 3,412     $ 63     $ (2,212 )   $ (385 )   $ 878     $ -     $ (358 )   $ (520 )   $ -  
Contract termination costs
    361       1,079       (522 )     (107 )     811       124       (708 )     (47 )     180  
Other associated exit costs
    1,300       -       (1,300 )     -       -       -       -       -       -  
      Total
  $ 5,073     $ 1,142     $ (4,034 )   $ (492 )   $ 1,689     $ 124     $ (1,066 )   $ (567 )   $ 180  
 
2008 Plans
 
Restructuring and other exit costs included in 2011, 2010 and 2009 primarily relate to contract termination costs that are required to be expensed as incurred and, in 2009, include a reversal of $583 for lower than expected involuntary termination costs.  We do not expect any additional costs related to this restructuring plan.
 
NOTE 5 - ASSET IMPAIRMENTS
 
In 2009, we held a trademark valued at $1,000 associated with our consulting and print-asset optimization product line, which was part of our shared services organization.  In the second quarter of 2009, we received an offer to purchase certain assets related to this product line which indicated the value of the assets should be evaluated for impairment.  Accordingly, we performed an evaluation of the recoverability of the trademark value; an annual test that was otherwise scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2009.  The impairment test required us to compare the fair value of the trademark with its carrying amount.
 
To determine fair value, we considered the cost, market, and income approaches.  We determined that the cost method would not yield a representative value at which market participants would transact and that observable market data was not available without undue cost; therefore, these methods were not utilized.  Our evaluation followed an income approach that utilized discounted future cash flow analyses.  Inherent in our fair value determinations are certain judgments and estimates relating to future cash flows, including interpretation of current economic indicators and market conditions, overall economic conditions, and our strategic operational plans.  In connection with preparing the impairment assessment, our change in strategic direction and investment caused deterioration in the expected future financial performance of the product line compared to the expected future financial performance at the end of fiscal 2008.  Based on the results of our evaluation, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge to write down the trademark by $850, which is included in Asset Impairments in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.  As a result of the write down, the value of the trademark was reduced to $150 as of June 28, 2009 and was considered a Level 3 fair value measurement.  The trademark was subsequently sold in the third quarter of 2009.
 
 
48

 
 
With the income approach, cash flows that are anticipated over several years, plus a terminal value at the end of that period, are discounted to their present value using an estimated weighted-average cost of capital.  The most critical inputs used were the revenue and cost assumptions, the terminal value assumed, and the discount rate applied.  We determined that these inputs were unobservable Level 3 inputs.  The following describes the significant inputs utilized in our fair value calculations and the information used to develop the inputs:
 
 
Revenue and cost assumptions:  We reviewed all existing customer contracts and the existing pipeline of new opportunities for the applicable product lines.  We projected future unidentified customer opportunities using existing pricing practices and sale productivity trends.  The customer data was then used to project future revenue over the next five years.
 
We reviewed historical cost and investment performance, classifying costs into fixed and variable categories and then projected the incremental costs and investments needed to match the revenue projections.
 
A terminal value was then applied to the cash flow stream based on the year five cash flow.  We calculated three outcomes:  a most likely, a best case, and a worst case.  In addition, we calculated a fourth outcome that considered market data included in the purchase offer to determine the terminal value.  All outcomes were weighted to arrive at an overall projected cash flow, with the most probability assigned to the fourth outcome.
 
 
Discount rate:  We used a weighted-average cost of capital that assumed a mix of debt and equity consistent with our current financing structure and investor and lender expectations.
 
As a result of the 2009 restructuring plan, we conducted an extensive review of our property, plant, and equipment to determine if any assets were impaired.  We recorded impairment charges of $326, the majority of which was related to costs for internal-use software in development that was determined to have no future benefit.
 
NOTE 6 – ACCOUNTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLE
 
Accounts and notes receivable consist of the following:
 
   
January 1,
   
January 2,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Current:
           
Trade receivables
  $ 111,398     $ 117,300  
Less allowance for doubtful accounts
    (3,230 )     (2,816 )
Net trade receivables
    108,168       114,484  
Other receivables
    5,235       7,824  
Total current receivables
  $ 113,403     $ 122,308  
                 
Long-term:
               
Notes receivable
  $ 1,041     $ 1,309  
Less allowance for uncollectible receivables
    (477 )     (745 )
Total long-term notes receivable
  $ 564     $ 564  
 
NOTE 7 – INVENTORIES
 
Inventories consist of the following:
 
   
January 1,
   
January 2,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Materials and supplies
  $ 6,468     $ 6,007  
Jobs in process
    1,787       1,433  
Finished products
    40,567       46,621  
Total
  $ 48,822     $ 54,061  
 
In the fourth quarter of 2011, we changed our method of accounting for inventory from a combination of the LIFO method and the FIFO method to the FIFO method for all inventories.  As a result of the retrospective application of this change in accounting principle, certain amounts in our consolidated statements of income for 2010 and 2009 were adjusted as follows:
 
 
49

 
 
   
52 Weeks Ended
   
53 Weeks Ended
 
   
January 2, 2011
   
January 3, 2010
 
   
As Originally
         
As Originally
       
   
Reported
   
As Adjusted
   
Reported
   
As Adjusted
 
                         
Cost of sales
  $ 454,796     $ 458,569     $ 473,446     $ 478,367  
Gross margin
    213,581       209,808       220,570       215,649  
Income (loss) from operations
    7,668       3,895       (20,314 )     (25,235 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
    2,503       1,005       (8,724 )     (10,678 )
Net income (loss)
    2,643       368       (12,397 )     (15,364 )
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share
  $ 0.09     $ 0.01     $ (0.43 )   $ (0.53 )
 
Our consolidated statement of financial position for 2010 was adjusted as follows:
 
   
January 2, 2011
 
   
As Originally
       
   
Reported
   
As Adjusted
 
             
Inventories
  $ 29,253     $ 54,061  
Deferred income taxes
    11,991       2,139  
Retained earnings
    143,562       158,518  
 
Our consolidated statements of cash flows for 2010 and 2009 were adjusted as follows:
 
   
52 Weeks Ended
   
53 Weeks Ended
 
   
January 2, 2011
   
January 3, 2010
 
   
As Originally
         
As Originally
       
   
Reported
   
As Adjusted
   
Reported
   
As Adjusted
 
                         
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,643     $ 368     $ (12,397 )   $ (15,364 )
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
    1,560       62       (8,724 )     (10,678 )
Inventories
    4,480       8,253       5,093       10,014  
 
Our consolidated statements of income for the interim quarters of 2011 were adjusted as follows:
 
   
13 Weeks Ended
   
13 Weeks Ended
   
13 Weeks Ended
 
   
April 3, 2011
   
July 3, 2011
   
October 2, 2011
 
   
As Originally
         
As Originally
         
As Originally
       
   
Reported
   
As Adjusted
   
Reported
   
As Adjusted
   
Reported
   
As Adjusted
 
                                     
Cost of sales
  $ 111,257     $ 111,435     $ 113,381     $ 113,524     $ 111,284     $ 111,392  
Gross margin
    53,632       53,454       50,904       50,761       46,259       46,151  
Income (loss) from operations
    1,255       1,077       (1,328 )     (1,471 )     15,246       15,138  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    153       82       (497 )     (554 )     6,257       6,214  
Net income (loss)
    535       428       (910 )     (996 )     8,419       8,354  
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share
  $ 0.02     $ 0.01     $ (0.03 )   $ (0.03 )   $ 0.29     $ 0.29  
 
Our segment results are reported on the FIFO basis; therefore, segment information for prior periods was not impacted by the change in accounting principle.
 
 
50

 
 
NOTE 8 – GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
In the second quarter of 2011 and 2010, we performed the annual impairment test for goodwill which did not result in any impairment.  In conjunction with performing the goodwill impairment test in 2010, we re-evaluated our identified reporting units and revised our goodwill allocation.
 
Goodwill consists of the following:
 
   
Healthcare
   
Financial Services
   
Commercial
   
Industrial
   
Unallocated
   
Total
 
Goodwill at January 3, 2010
  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 6,557     $ 6,557  
Reallocation of goodwill
    2,385       1,743       1,296       1,133       (6,557 )     -  
Goodwill at January 2, 2011
    2,385       1,743       1,296       1,133       -       6,557  
Acquisitions
    899       -       -       -       -       899  
Goodwill at January 1, 2012
  $ 3,284     $ 1,743     $ 1,296     $ 1,133     $ -     $ 7,456  
 
Identifiable intangible assets consist of the following:
 
   
January 1, 2012
   
January 2, 2011
 
   
Gross
         
Gross
       
   
Carrying
   
Accumulated
   
Carrying
   
Accumulated
 
   
Amount
   
Amortization
   
Amount
   
Amortization
 
                         
Intangible Assets with Determinable Lives
                       
Patents
  $ 2,916     $ (891 )   $ 2,916     $ (739 )
Customer relationships
    2,610       (261 )     -       -  
Software technology
    2,650       (189 )     -       -  
Trademark
    129       (9 )     -       -  
Non-compete agreement
    100       (32 )     100       (12 )
Total
  $ 8,405     $ (1,382 )   $ 3,016     $ (751 )
 
Amortization expense for intangible assets was $631, $101, and $66 for 2011, 2010, and 2009.  Estimated amortization expense for the next five years is as follows: $1,090 in 2012, $960 in 2013, $829 in 2014, $817 in 2015, and $809 in 2016.
 
NOTE 9 – OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
 
Other current liabilities consist of the following:
 
   
January 1,
   
January 2,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Non-income taxes
  $ 4,440     $ 5,430  
Current portion of pension and postretirement obligations
    2,148       3,065  
Other current liabilities
    15,215       15,721  
   Total
  $ 21,803     $ 24,216  
 
 
51

 
 
NOTE 10 – LONG-TERM DEBT
 
Long-term debt consists of the following:
 
   
January 1,
   
January 2,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Revolving credit facility
  $ 52,389     $ 39,728  
Capital lease obligations
    9,945       3,727  
Loan payable
    285       938  
Total
    62,619       44,393  
Less current portion
    2,470       1,467  
Long-term portion
  $ 60,149     $ 42,926  
 
We have a $100,000 four-year senior secured revolving credit facility (Credit Facility) with five banks that matures in 2014.  The Credit Facility is secured by accounts receivable, inventories, fixed assets, and certain other assets.  The Credit Facility contains a fixed charge coverage covenant test that becomes applicable if the sum of available unborrowed credit plus certain cash balances falls below 15% of aggregate commitments or $11,250, whichever is greater.
 
The Credit Facility provides for the payment of interest on amounts borrowed under both London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) contracts and base rate loans.  Payment of interest on LIBOR contracts is at an annual rate equal to the LIBOR rate plus 3.00% to 3.50% based on our level of liquidity.  Payment of interest on base rate loans is based on the prime rate plus 2.00% to 2.50% based upon our level of liquidity.  The weighted average interest rate, including the spread, was 3.73% at January 1, 2012 and 4.04% at January 2, 2011.  We are also required to pay a fee on the unused portion of the Credit Facility payable at an annual rate of 50.0 basis points if the unused portion is equal to or less than 50% of the aggregate commitment or 75.0 basis points if the unused portion is greater than 50% of the aggregate commitment.  As of January 1, 2012, such fee is payable at an annual rate of 50.0 basis points.
 
We have three five-year capital leases for printing equipment.  The capital leases have remaining aggregate payments, including interest, of approximately $11,340.  Payments under the leases, including interest, are as follows: 2012-$2,688; 2013-$2,688; 2014-$2,688; 2015-$1,814; and 2016-$1,462.  Amortization expense for all capital leases is included with depreciation expense on the Company’s consolidated statement of income.
 
We also have an unsecured loan payable, including interest at 6.5%, of $285 due in monthly installments of approximately $60, including interest, through April 2012.
 
NOTE 11 – INCOME TAXES
 
The income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Current:
                 
Federal
  $ -     $ 192     $ (700 )
Foreign
    629       111       -  
State and local
    (264 )     640       (116 )
      -       -       -  
      365       943       (816 )
Deferred:
                       
Federal
  $ 75,068     $ 51     $ (8,012 )
Foreign
    (104 )     -       -  
State and local
    16,366       11       (1,850 )
      91,330       62       (9,862 )
Total
  $ 91,695     $ 1,005     $ (10,678 )
 
Consolidated pretax income (loss) is comprised of the following sources:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
U.S. pretax income (loss)
  $ 2,197     $ 263     $ (25,797 )
Non-U.S. pretax income (loss)
    1,800       1,110       (245 )
Total
  $ 3,997     $ 1,373     $ (26,042 )
 
 
52

 
 
The significant components of the deferred tax expense (benefit) consist of the following:
 
                   
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Depreciation
  $ (1,859 )   $ (2,271 )   $ (2,332 )
Goodwill and intangible assets
    1,276       1,608       1,486  
Restructuring
    (1,562 )     1,459       (652 )
Pension
    (5,080 )     6,867       182  
Net operating loss carryforward
    1,166       (7,220 )     (8,118 )
Retiree healthcare benefits
    9,622       1,870       1,983  
Capital loss carryforward
    461       177       (962 )
Inventory
    (2,468 )     (982 )     (2,194 )
Valuation allowance
    89,478       (445 )     -  
Other
    296       (1,001 )     745  
   Total
  $ 91,330     $ 62     $ (9,862 )
 
The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 allowed the carry back of certain federal net operating losses for up to five years.  Under this Act, in 2010 we recovered $625 of alternative minimum tax paid in 2007 and 2008.  There are no other recoverable taxes within the five year carryback period.

The components of the current net deferred tax (liability) asset and long-term net deferred tax asset consist of the following:
 
   
January 1,
   
January 2,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Deferred tax (liability) asset:
           
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 1,162     $ 1,038  
Inventories
    (6,620 )     (9,094 )
Compensation and benefits
    5,824       5,863  
Other
    4,909       4,332  
Total current tax asset
    5,275       2,139  
Less: valuation allowance
    (8,162 )     -  
          Net current (liability) asset
  $ (2,887 )   $ 2,139  
                 
Deferred tax asset:
               
Depreciation
  $ (4,268 )   $ (6,127 )
Goodwill and intangible assets
    2,475       3,484  
Pension
    91,177       56,566  
Retiree healthcare benefits
    -       9,622  
Capital loss carryforwards
    14,536       14,997  
Net operating loss carryforward
    29,875       31,042  
Federal tax credit
    1,600       1,584  
Other
    6,184       5,862  
                 
Total long-term tax asset
    141,579       117,030  
Less: valuation allowance
    (117,583 )     (14,034 )
          Net long-term asset
  $ 23,996     $ 102,996  
              Net deferred tax asset
  $ 21,109     $ 105,135  
 
 
53

 
 
At January 1, 2012, the Company has unused U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $77,679 and $61,070, generally expiring from 2012 through 2030.  In addition, we have a U.S. capital loss carryforward of $1,272 that expires in 2014.
 
We review the potential future tax benefits of all deferred tax assets on an ongoing basis.  The Company concluded after evaluating all positive and negative evidence regarding the potential realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets, a valuation allowance is necessary primarily based on cumulative losses in recent years, (defined as the current and two preceding years) and current year actuarial pension losses.  A valuation allowance is being recorded against the entire U.S. net deferred tax asset except for $21,000 related to the pension liability. We are forecasting that the pension liability will be reduced by future actuarial gains prior to funding the related liability; therefore, the deferred tax asset will be realized  without the need for future taxable income.  Because of the cumulative losses in recent years, the Company is not relying on forecasts of future taxable income to realize any U.S. deferred tax assets.
 
We also have a Canadian capital loss carryforward of $80,194 that has an indefinite carryforward period.  A full valuation allowance has been provided for the tax benefit associated with this capital loss as it is more likely than not that this capital loss will not be utilized.
 
The reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate follows:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Statutory federal income tax rate
    35.0 %     35.0 %     35.0 %
State and local income taxes
    1.7       15.3       4.7  
Change in cash surrender value
    5.0       (12.5 )     2.2  
Meals and entertainment
    4.9       12.3       (0.7 )
Change in unrecognized tax benefits
    (9.8 )     14.0       -  
Adjustment to prior year tax accruals
    1.4       20.8       (0.3 )
Foreign statutory rate differential
    (2.3 )     (0.4 )     (0.4 )
Rate adjustment to deferred taxes
    17.5       -       -  
Deficiencies on equity awards
    3.6       6.9       (0.7 )
Valuation allowance
    2,238.6       (19.8 )     -  
Permanent and other items
    (1.6 )     1.6       1.2  
Effective tax rate
    2,294.0 %     73.2 %     41.0 %
 
State tax expense reflects state tax liabilities derived from a tax base other than net income.
 
The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal, various state, and Mexican jurisdictions.  With few exceptions, based on expiration of statutes of limitation, the Company is no longer subject to federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2008 or state, local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2007.  However, federal and state net operating and capital loss carryforwards generated from 2001 through 2010 are subject to review by taxing authorities in the year utilized.
 
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Balance at January 2, 2011
  $ 1,912     $ 1,755     $ 1,755  
Adjustments for tax positions of prior years
    -       157       -  
Reductions from lapse of applicable statute of limitations
    (486 )     -       -  
Settlements
    (51 )     -       -  
Balance at January 1, 2012
  $ 1,375     $ 1,912     $ 1,755  
 
These unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective income tax rate of a future period or periods unless the benefits are in deferred taxes and reserved with a valuation allowance.  We do not anticipate any material change in the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to occur within the next 12 months.
 
Our continuing policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in tax expense.  The amount of interest and penalty expense recorded in 2011, 2010, and 2009 was not material.
 
 
54

 
 
Income taxes have not been provided on undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries as the Company considers such earnings to be permanently reinvested outside of the United States.  The additional U.S. taxable income and tax that would arise on repatriation of the remaining undistributed earnings could be wholly or partially offset by net operating loss carryforwards and foreign tax credits on repatriation.  However, it is impractical to estimate the amount of net income and withholding tax that might be payable.
 
NOTE 12 – CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 
The Company has two classes of capital stock issued and outstanding, Common and Class A.  These are equal in all respects except voting rights and restrictions on ownership of Class A stock.  Each share of Common outstanding has one vote, while each outstanding share of Class A is entitled to five votes.  Class A stock is convertible into Common stock on a share-for-share basis at which time ownership restrictions are eliminated.
 
NOTE 13 – EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
The number of shares outstanding for calculation of earnings per share (EPS) is as follows:
 
(Shares in thousands)
 
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic
    29,049       28,917       28,836  
Effect of potentially dilutive securities
    -       27       -  
Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted
    29,049       28,944       28,836  
 
The effects of stock options and nonvested shares on diluted EPS are reflected through the application of the treasury stock method.  Due to the net loss from continuing operations incurred in 2011 and 2009, no outstanding options or nonvested shares were included in the diluted EPS computation because they would automatically result in anti-dilution.  Outstanding options to purchase 2,830,645 were not included in the computation of diluted EPS for 2010 because the exercise price of the options was greater than the average market price of the shares at the end of the period; therefore, the effect would be anti-dilutive.
 
NOTE 14 – SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
 
We have two plans under which share-based awards currently can be granted;  the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (2011 Plan), which provides for the granting of a maximum of 5,780,000 shares, and the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan (2002 Plan), which provides for the granting of a maximum of 3,500,000 shares.  A committee of the Board of Directors (Committee) administers the plans and has the authority to determine to whom awards will be made, the amount of the awards, and the other terms and conditions of the awards.  Key employees, including any executive officer or employee-director, and non-employee directors are eligible to receive awards under the plans.
 
Both plans permit the grant of incentive or nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards, performance share awards, and stock appreciation rights.  Under the 2011 Plan, awards in any form other than options or stock appreciation rights are counted as two shares for every one share actually issued.  The contractual term and exercise price for stock options granted under the plans are determined by the Committee.  However, the contractual term may not exceed ten years, and the exercise price may not be lower than the fair market value of a share on the date of grant.  Options vest over periods determined when granted, generally four years, and are exercisable until the contractual term expires.
 
Under both plans, shares subject to restricted stock award may be issued when the award is granted or at a later date.  The stock awards are subject to terms determined by the Committee, have voting rights, and may include specified performance objectives.  The sale or transfer of these shares is restricted during the vesting period.  Recipients of restricted stock awards prior to April 23, 2009 had the right to receive dividends during the vesting period.  Recipients of restricted stock awards after April 23, 2009 earn dividends during the vesting period that are paid only if the shares vest.
 
Total share-based compensation expense by type of award is as follows:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Stock awards, service-based
  $ 497     $ 444     $ 458  
Stock awards, performance-based
    248       430       38  
Stock options
    1,160       1,017       973  
Total share-based compensation expense
    1,905       1,891       1,469  
Tax effect on share-based compensation expense
    757       751       583  
Net share based compensation expense
  $ 1,148     $ 1,140     $ 886  
 
 
55

 
 
Stock Options
 
The weighted-average fair value of stock options granted in 2011, 2010, and 2009, was estimated at $1.63, $2.75, and $1.91 per share using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on the following assumptions:
 
Risk-Free Interest Rate:  We base the risk-free interest rate on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term equivalent to the expected term of the options being valued.
 
Dividend Yield: We calculate the expected dividend yield based on our projection of future stock prices and dividends expected to be paid.  The range of expected dividends used was $0.05 to $0.10 per share.
 
Expected Term:  The expected term represents the period of time that our stock options are expected to be outstanding and is based on our historic exercise behavior.
 
Expected Volatility:  We calculate the expected volatility factor based on the Company’s historical stock prices for a period of time equal to the expected term of the award.
 
The weighted-average of significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options granted is as follows:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Risk-free interest rate
    1.4 %     1.9 %     1.6 %
Dividend yield
    4.5 %     3.7 %     4.8 %
Expected term
 
4 years
   
4 years
   
4 years
 
Expected volatility
    79.9 %     75.7 %     66.9 %
 
A summary of our stock option activity and related information for 2011 is as follows:
 
             
 Weighted-
     
         
Weighted-
 
 Average
     
   
Number
   
Average
 
 Remaining
 
Aggregate
 
   
of
   
Exercise
 
 Contractual
 
Intrinsic
 
   
Shares
   
Price
 
Life
 
Value
 
                     
Outstanding at January 2, 2011
    2,817,650     $ 9.54          
Granted
    1,526,924       3.37          
Exercised
    -       -          
Forfeited/Canceled
    (353,435 )     10.25          
Outstanding at January 1, 2012
    3,991,139     $ 7.12  
 7 years
    -  
Fully vested or expected to vest at January 1, 2012
    3,623,442     $ 7.43  
 7 years
    -  
Exercisable at January 1, 2012
    1,606,949     $ 11.30  
 5 years
    -  
 
Expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, generally four years, and is based on the number of options ultimately expected to vest and therefore has been reduced for estimated forfeitures.  As of January 1, 2012, there was a total of $2,640 of share-based compensation related to stock options that will be amortized to expense over a weighted-average remaining service period of 1.4 years.
 
Service-Based Stock Awards
 
We have awarded nonvested stock to employees and directors that vest based on service requirements.  The fair value of the service-based stock awards is based on the closing market price of our common stock on the date of award.  Expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, generally four years, and is based on the number of awards ultimately expected to vest and therefore has been reduced for estimated forfeitures.  The weighted-average grant date fair value of service-based nonvested stock issued in 2011, 2010, and 2009 was $3.39, $4.34, and $5.22 per share.  The total fair value of stock that vested during 2011, 2010, and 2009 was $229, $253, and $169.  As of January 1, 2012, there was a total of $870 of share-based compensation related to service-based nonvested stock that will be amortized to expense over a weighted-average remaining service period of 1.5 years.
 
 
56

 
 
A summary of our service-based stock award activity and related information for 2011 is as follows:
 
         
Weighted-
 
   
Number
   
Average
 
   
of
   
Grant Date
 
   
Shares
   
Fair Value
 
             
Nonvested at January 2, 2011
    198,556     $ 5.66  
Granted
    153,400       3.39  
Vested
    (66,441 )     6.56  
Forfeited/Canceled
    (499 )     10.38  
Nonvested at January 1, 2012
    285,016     $ 4.22  
 
Performance-Based Stock Awards
 
The fair value of performance-based stock awards is based on the closing market price of our common stock on the date of award.  Performance-based stock awards vest only upon the achievement of specific measurable performance criteria, and continued employment for two additional years.  These shares have voting rights and accrue dividends during the performance period which will be paid if the shares vest.
 
We recognize compensation expense for stock awards subject to performance criteria when it is probable that the performance goal will be achieved.  Compensation expense is recognized for the total amount of performance-based shares expected to vest and is subject to adjustment based on the actual level of achievement of the performance goal.  Expense for performance-based awards with graded vesting is recognized under the accelerated recognition method, whereby each vesting is treated as a separate award with expense for each vesting recognized ratably over the requisite service period.
 
In 2011, the Company awarded 472,575 shares of performance-based restricted stock, of which 29,500 were canceled in 2011.  We did not recognize any expense for these awards because we did not believe the performance goal would be achieved.  Since the performance goal was not achieved, the remaining nonvested shares will be canceled in 2012.
 
Performance-based stock awards issued in 2010 allowed partial vesting if a minimum level of performance was attained in 2010.  Based on the level of performance achieved, 163,574 shares were earned, and the remaining shares were forfeited and cancelled in March 2011.  An additional 8,763 shares were cancelled in 2011 and the remaining nonvested shares earned vest as follows: 25% in March 2012 and 50% in March 2013.  The total fair value of stock that vested during 2011 was $134.
 
As of January 1, 2012, there was a total of $170 of share-based compensation related to performance-based nonvested stock that will be amortized to expense over a remaining service period of 1.2 years.
 
A summary of our performance-based stock award activity and related information for 2011 is as follows:
 
         
Weighted-
 
   
Number
   
Average
 
   
of
   
Grant Date
 
   
Shares
   
Fair Value
 
             
Nonvested at January 2, 2011
    240,550     $ 5.82  
Granted
    472,575       3.39  
Vested
    (40,898 )     5.82  
Forfeited/Canceled
    (115,242 )     5.20  
Nonvested at January 1, 2012
    556,985     $ 3.89  
 
NOTE 15 – PENSION PLANS
 
We have a qualified defined benefit plan covering certain of our U.S. employees that is no longer available to new participants.  We consider the funded status of the plan, required plan contributions, income tax deductibility, and cash flow in our funding decisions.
 
 
57

 
 
The benefit amount for certain participants (primarily those hired after December 31, 1999) is frozen and these participants no longer earn any additional benefit credits; however, their lump sum earns 4% interest annually until termination of employment with the Company.  We also modified the qualified defined benefit plan and the non-qualified supplementary benefit plan discussed below for participants that were still accruing benefits under the plans.  As a result, these participants also ceased accruing pension benefits and final pension benefit amounts will be based on pay and service through June, 2008.
 
Our non-qualified benefit plan provides supplemental pension payments in excess of qualified plan payments including payments in excess of limits imposed by federal tax law.  The plan covers certain officers and key employees.  The plan is no longer available to new participants and benefits have been frozen.  Our funding policy is to contribute amounts to the plan equal to the benefit payments required for each year.
 
We have an additional supplemental non-qualified retirement plan for executive officers which provides retirement benefits based on years of credited service as an executive officer in excess of five years.  The plan is no longer available to new participants and benefits have been frozen.  We also have separate supplemental retirement agreements that provide retirement benefits to two former officers.  Our funding policy is to contribute amounts to these plans equal to the benefit payments required for each year.
 
The following tables set forth the reconciliation of the benefit obligation, plan assets, and the funded status for all of our pension plans:
 
Change in Benefit Obligation
 
2011
   
2010
 
             
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
  $ 452,205     $ 438,358  
Interest cost
    21,829       24,398  
Settlement loss (gain)
    290       (655 )
Actuarial loss
    52,891       16,874  
Benefits paid
    (32,272 )     (26,770 )
Benefit obligation at end of year
  $ 494,943     $ 452,205  
 
Change in Plan Assets
           
             
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
  $ 264,887     $ 234,198  
Actual return on plan assets
    (4,178 )     31,573  
Employer contributions
    28,152       26,819  
Settlements
    (1,257 )     (933 )
Benefits paid
    (31,015 )     (26,770 )
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
  $ 256,589     $ 264,887  
Funded status at end of year
  $ (238,354 )   $ (187,318 )
 
The actuarial loss in 2011 is primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate from 5.0% to 4.25%.
 
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet
 
2011
   
2010
 
             
Accrued pension liability - current
  $ (2,148 )   $ (2,144 )
Accrued pension liability - long-term
    (236,206 )     (185,174 )
Total
  $ (238,354 )   $ (187,318 )
                 
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses Before Tax
         
Net actuarial loss
  $ 311,965     $ 255,976  
 
The amount of net actuarial loss that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive losses into net periodic benefit cost during 2012 is $23,176.
 
The projected benefit obligation equaled the accumulated benefit obligation of all our pension plans at the end of 2011 and 2010.  All of our pension plans have benefit obligations in excess of plan assets.
 
 
58

 
 
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other
                 
Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Losses
                 
                   
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
 
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Service cost of benefits earned
  $ -     $ -     $ 126  
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
    21,829       24,398       25,777  
Expected return on plan assets
    (23,431 )     (25,853 )     (25,568 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    -       593       593  
Settlement loss
    520       370       20,412  
Amortization of net actuarial loss from prior years
    24,281       18,672       14,598  
Total net periodic pension cost
  $ 23,199     $ 18,180     $ 35,938  
 
Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations
Recognized in Other Comprehensive Losses Before Tax
 
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Net actuarial loss
  $ 80,500     $ 11,153     $ (15,897 )
Net actuarial loss recognized
    (24,511 )     (18,764 )     (26,893 )
Prior service credit recognized
    -       (593 )     (592 )
Total recognized in other comprehensive losses
    55,989       (8,204 )     (43,382 )
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost
                       
and other comprehensive losses
  $ 79,188     $ 9,976     $ (7,444 )
 
Weighted-average Assumptions
 
Projected benefit obligation
 
2011
   
2010
   
2009
   
Discount rate
    4.25 %     5.00 %     5.80 %  
                           
Net periodic benefit cost                           
Discount rate     5.00 %     5.80     5.75/7.0 % (1)
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets      8.00 %     8.75 %     8.75 %  
 
(1) The discount rate was 5.75% through March 1, 2009 and 7.0% April through December 2009 due to settlements that occurred on March 1, 2009.  As a result, pension expense was adjusted to reflect the updated discount rate at that time.
 
Asset allocation studies form the basis for the development of the overall long-term rate of return assumptions and are based on the long-term historical returns of each asset class in which we invest our pension assets.  The expected long-term rate of return assumptions reflect the expected return forecast of each major asset class, the allocation weighting of each asset class included in the target mix, and the correlations among the asset classes and their volatilities.  The long-term expected return forecasts reflect the current yield on U.S. government bonds and risk premiums for each asset class. Differences between actual and expected returns are recognized in the net periodic pension calculation over five years using a five-year market-related asset value method of amortization.
 
Discount rates are established based on prevailing market rates for high-quality, fixed-income instruments with maturities equal to the future cash flows to pay the benefit obligation when due.  Our pension plan assets have historically been invested predominantly in equity investments, which have typically realized annual returns at or above the expected long-term rate of return.
 
 
59

 
 
The benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five fiscal years, and in the aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter are as follows:
 
2012
  $ 39,218  
2013
    33,749  
2014
    33,750  
2015
    35,927  
2016
    35,260  
2017-2021
    187,070  
 
Plan Assets
 
Our long-term investment policy objectives with respect to the qualified defined benefit plan assets have been to achieve funding of the plan at a level consistent with the Plan’s accumulated benefit obligation.  We have two basic long-term investment objectives.  First, to achieve an annualized return over a complete business cycle which exceeds that of a customized index weighted to our target allocation.  Second, for the annual internal rate of return to meet or exceed our targeted rate of 8%, recognizing that market performance varies and the target rate may not be meaningful during some periods.  The target asset allocation percentages for equity investments range from a minimum of 42% to a maximum total equity position of 78% with the target being 60%.  Total fixed income percentages range from a minimum of 17.5% to a maximum of 32.5% with a target percentage of 25%.  Equity real estate / infrastructure percentages range from a minimum of 10.5% to a maximum of 19.5% with a target of 15%. 
 
It is our policy to diversify the investment of the plan’s assets to reduce the risk of large losses.  Progress toward achieving performance objectives is reviewed quarterly by management with particular attention directed to reviewing performance relative to the risks. Each investment vehicle is expected to perform in the top 75% of its peer group over the most recent 12-month period and the top 50% of its peer group over five-to ten-year periods and the majority of the rolling three-year periods.   Performance of the pension funds, individual investment managers, actuarial assumptions, and other attributes of the pension plan are reviewed at least annually with the Company’s Board of Directors. 
 
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 became effective in 2008 and increases the minimum funding requirements for our qualified pension plan.  We expect to contribute $27,000 to $30,000 in 2012.  The fair values of our qualified defined benefit pension plan assets by asset category at January 1, 2012, and January 2, 2011, are shown in the table below.
 
   
January 1, 2012
   
January 2, 2011
 
Asset Category
 
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
                                                 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 178     $ 178     $ -     $ -     $ 1,221     $ 1,221     $ -     $ -  
Equity securities
                                                               
Commingled equity funds
    107,303       76,150       4,677       26,476       50,647       -       50,647       -  
Media and technology
    9,628       9,628       -       -       31,520       31,520       -       -  
Consumer products and services
    10,336       10,336       -       -       22,194       22,194       -       -  
Business products and services
    7,526       7,526       -       -       18,169       18,169       -       -  
Healthcare
    5,856       5,856       -       -       14,112       14,112       -       -  
Energy and utilities
    6,644       6,644       -       -       19,974       19,974       -       -  
Banking and financial services
    3,851       3,851       -       -       16,848       16,848       -       -  
Other
    9,608       9,608       -       -       17,879       17,879       -       -  
Fixed income securities
                                                               
Commingled fixed income funds
    34,103       12,403       -       21,700       25,047       -       -       25,047  
Mortgage-back securitites
    -       -       -       -       9,907       -       9,907       -  
Corporate bonds
    176       -       176       -       6,250       -       6,250       -  
Municipal bonds
    18       -       18       -       1,772       -       1,772       -  
U.S. Treasury securities
    -       -       -       -       2,375       2,375       -       -  
Private placements
    361       -       361       -       975       -       975       -  
Other
    135       -       135       -       2,632       -       2,632       -  
Private equity funds
    9,323       -       -       9,323       8,983       -       -       8,983  
Hedge funds
    34,865       -       -       34,865       -       -       -       -  
Real estate
    16,678       -       -       16,678       14,382       -       -       14,382  
Total
  $ 256,589     $ 142,180     $ 5,367     $ 109,042     $ 264,887     $ 144,292     $ 72,183     $ 48,412  
 
 
60

 
 
The classification of fair value measurements within the hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement.  Inputs and valuation methodologies used for material categories of pension plan assets are as follows:
 
Equity securities and Fixed Income U.S. Treasury Securities
 
Common stock and U.S. Treasury notes and treasury inflation indexed securities (TIPS) are traded in open markets where quoted prices are determinable and available.  The investments are valued by independent pricing vendors using a market approach based on prices obtained from the primary exchange on which they are traded.  In the absence of a primary market, a secondary market price is used.
 
Corporate Bonds, Municipal Bonds and Mortgage-backed securities
 
Individual fixed income securities are valued using a market approach based on observable market inputs.   Inputs used to value corporate and municipal bonds include dealer quotes, trading levels, bid prices and spreads, and benchmark curves.  Mortgage backed securities are valued based on the present value of expected future cash flows.  Directly observable market inputs include interest rates and yield curves at commonly-quoted intervals, volatilities, prepayment speeds, default rates, and credit spreads.
 
Commingled equity and fixed income funds
 
Commingled funds are valued at the fair value of the ownership interests in the funds.  The Net Asset Value (NAV) is the primary input into the valuation.  The NAV per unit is based on the fair value of the underlying assets owned by the fund, minus its liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding.  The fair value of equity securities held by the funds is generally based on observable prices or inputs based on quotes in active markets.  Fixed income securities held by the funds may be valued based on an “evaluated bid” valuation method.  Inputs to the valuation include interest rates on coupons, maturities, ratings, and cash flow projections.  Additionally, bid-side quotations from independent pricing services or broker-dealers may also be used to determine the fair value of fixed income securities.
 
Private Equity, Hedge Funds and Real Estate
 
Our private equity, hedge funds and real estate funds are valued on a NAV per unit based on the underlying investments of the funds.  Our private equity funds typically include direct investments in infrastructure assets, partnership interests, or other interests in infrastructure-related assets.  The primary valuation methodology for the underlying assets is a discounted cash flow analysis based on unobservable inputs.  Key inputs include estimates of operating income and discount rates.  Additionally, discounted cash flow valuations are validated using appropriate transaction and trading multiples, where available.
 
Our hedge funds typically hold investments in secured and unsecured debt instruments issued by European corporations and business entities, as well as foreign currency derivatives.  The debt instruments are primarily valued through market quotations, or by reference to comparable investments for which market quotes are available.  Key inputs of the foreign currency derivatives include interest rates, currency rates, time value, default rates, and potentially unobservable inputs.
 
Underlying assets of our real estate funds primarily consist of investment properties valued by independent appraisals as there are no observable markets for these investments.  Key inputs include revenue and expense growth rates, terminal capitalization rates, and discount rates.
 
The following table summarizes the changes in plan assets measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs. Realized and unrealized gains and losses in plan assets are reported in other comprehensive income.
 
   
Commingled
Equity and
Fixed Income
Funds
   
Private
Equity
Funds
   
Hedge
Funds
   
Real Estate
   
Total
 
                               
Beginning balance at January 2, 2011
  $ 25,047     $ 8,983     $ -     $ 14,382     $ 48,412  
                                         
Actual return on plan assets
                                       
Assets still held at January 1, 2012
    1,382       (61 )     (236 )     2,296       3,381  
Assets sold during the period
    1,712       1       -       -       1,713  
Purchases, sales, and settlements
    20,035       400       35,101       -       55,536  
Transfers in and/or out of level 3
    -       -       -       -       -  
Ending balance at January 1, 2012
  $ 48,176     $ 9,323     $ 34,865     $ 16,678     $ 109,042  
 
 
61

 
 
There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy during the year ended January 1, 2012.
 
Defined Contribution Plans
 
We sponsor a 401(k) savings plan in which substantially all of the employees are eligible to participate.  Late in 2009, we reduced the Company match for all employees from 75% to 50%.  Expense recorded for employer matching contributions under this plan totaled $3,615, $3,307, and $5,611 in 2011, 2010, and 2009.
 
We also have a supplemental executive retirement plan for officers designed to supplement benefits available under our 401(k) savings plan.  Participant accounts are credited annually with 15% of their annual compensation, which includes base salary and annual cash incentive awards, and with an investment return which currently is 6%.  Expense recorded for this plan totaled $423, $281, and $213 in 2011, 2010, and 2009.
 
NOTE 16 – POSTRETIREMENT HEALTHCARE BENEFITS
 
In addition to providing pension benefits, we provided certain healthcare benefits for eligible retired employees.  The plan’s cost-sharing provisions previously were amended to adjust retiree premiums and in 2010, the plan was subsequently amended to further reduce the monthly per person caps for 2010 and beyond which reduced our benefit obligation by $2,465.  Because our healthcare costs were effectively capped; healthcare cost trend assumptions were no longer applicable.
 
During 2011, we terminated our postretirement healthcare plan and no longer offer medical benefits to currently retired employees.  While we have no successor plan to replace coverage for the retired employees currently covered by the plan, we are facilitating their purchase of individual plans in the marketplace.   Because the elimination of these benefits reduced benefits previously earned, this action was treated as a negative plan amendment that reduced the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation by $5,074.
 
In addition, the plan amendment also resulted in the immediate recognition of previously unrecognized prior service credits and actuarial losses, which was offset by an adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income and deferred tax liabilities.
 
The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the benefit obligation and the funded status for this plan.
 
Change in Benefit Obligation
 
2011
   
2010
 
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
  $ 5,852     $ 8,819  
Interest cost
    161       385  
Amendments
    (5,074 )     (2,465 )
Actuarial (gain) loss
    (122 )     95  
Net benefits paid
    (817 )     (982 )
Benefit obligation at end of year
  $ -     $ 5,852  
Plan Assets
    -       -  
                 
Funded status
  $ -     $ (5,852 )
                 
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet
               
                 
Accrued postretirement liability - current
  $ -     $ (921 )
Accrued postretirement liability - long-term
    -       (4,931 )
Total amount recognized
  $ -     $ (5,852 )
 
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses Before Tax
       
Prior service credit
  $ -     $ (22,621 )
Net actuarial loss
    -       4,242  
Total
  $ -     $ (18,379 )
 
 
62

 
 
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other
                 
Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Losses
                 
                   
Net Postretirement Benefit Cost
 
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Interest cost
  $ 161     $ 385     $ 485  
Amortization of prior service credits
    (27,695 )     (4,598 )     (4,598 )
Amortization of net actuarial losses
    4,120       487       494  
Total postretirement benefit cost
  $ (23,414 )   $ (3,726 )   $ (3,619 )
                         
Other Changes in Benefit Obligation Recognized in Other Comprehensive Losses Before Tax
         
                         
Net actuarial (gain) loss
  $ (122 )   $ 95          
Prior service credit
    (5,074 )     (2,465 )        
Prior service credit recognized
    27,695       4,598          
Net actuarial loss recognized
    (4,120 )     (487 )        
Total recognized in other comprehensive losses
  $ 18,379     $ 1,741          
Total recognized in net postretirement benefit cost
                       
and other comprehensive losses
  $ (5,035 )   $ 1,741          
 
Weighted-average Assumptions
 
Benefit obligation
 
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Discount rate
    -       4.00 %     4.75 %
                         
Net periodic benefit cost
                       
Discount rate
    4.00 %     4.75 %     5.50 %
 
The accumulated benefit obligation at the end of 2010 was determined using the unit credit method and discount rates that are based on management’s evaluation of available information about rates implicit in current prices of annuity contracts, as well as rates of return on high-quality fixed-income investments that could be used to affect settlement of the obligations.
 
NOTE 17 – SEGMENT REPORTING

We operate the following four business units, which are organized based upon their customer base and the primary markets they serve:  Healthcare, Financial Services, Commercial Markets, and Industrial.  Each of these business units represents an operating segment and a reportable segment.
 
Under our current operating model, the majority of our manufacturing, printing, warehousing, and distribution functions are managed under a shared-services model and are therefore not specific to a particular reportable segment.  Each business unit is supported by our shared services group comprised of manufacturing, supply chain, and client satisfaction, as well as finance, technology, and other corporate functions.  The profitability measure we use to assess segment performance is segment operating income before restructuring and impairment, and excludes items listed in the following reconciliation that are not allocated to segment operating income.
 
 
63

 
 
Production costs for our manufacturing and supply chain shared services functions are accumulated on a customer basis and reported in the applicable business unit’s cost of sales.  Our business units incur a portion of SG&A directly.  Each business unit also receives an allocation of SG&A expense as follows:

 
Each business unit has its own sales regions.  Selling expense incurred by each sales region is allocated to other business units based on the percentage of revenue generated for the other business unit.  We use an activity-based method to allocate expense associated with our client satisfaction function to business units.
 
Finance, technology, and other corporate general and administrative expenses are allocated based on the business unit’s budgeted revenue as a percentage of actual consolidated revenue.
 
General and administrative expense of our remaining shared services is allocated based on a percentage of actual revenue.

In 2011, we reclassified certain customers between our segments to better align them with the core markets served.  Segment information for prior years has been revised from previously reported information to reflect the current presentation.  In addition, we changed the allocation methodology for our finance, technology, and other corporate general and administrative expenses.  Previously, these expenses were allocated based on the business unit’s actual revenue as a percentage of actual consolidated revenue.  Beginning in 2011, these expenses are now allocated based on the business unit’s budgeted revenue as a percentage of budgeted consolidated revenue.
 
As a result of our shared-services model, our segments do not have separately identified assets and depreciation expense is part of the allocations.  Asset information is not provided as part of the business unit’s discrete financial information.  The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1.  No single customer provided more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenue in any of the years presented.
 
A description of our reportable segments is provided below:
 
Healthcare -- The Healthcare segment serves hospitals and other providers of healthcare and related services.  Revenues are derived primarily from administrative and clinical forms, critical communications, global marketing solutions, wristbands and labels, secure prescriptions, and patient information solutions.
 
Financial Services – The Financial Services segment serves the needs of the financial services market, which consists of  retail banks, insurance carriers, credit agencies, security dealers, insurance agents or brokers, and holding companies.  Revenues are derived primarily from traditional documents, global marketing solutions, critical communications, and software and professional services.
 
Commercial Markets -- The Commercial Markets segment serves the business-to-business or commercial market, focusing primarily on large diverse retailers, state governments, overnight delivery carriers, business service providers, and wholesale companies.  Revenues are derived primarily from traditional documents, global  marketing solutions, labels, critical communications, and professional services.
 
Industrial – The Industrial segment primarily provides printed production parts to the industrial manufacturing market.  Printed production parts are all of the labels and technical literature which go on a manufactured product or are shipped with a product.  Revenues are derived primarily from functional and decorative labels, in-mold labeling and decorating and printed technical literature and other documents.
 
Information about our operations by reportable segment is as follows:
 
     
Healthcare
   
Financial
Services
   
Commercial
Markets
   
Industrial
   
Total
 
Revenue from external
2011
  $ 236,772     $ 174,170     $ 159,392     $ 77,775     $ 648,109  
   customers
2010
    250,963       175,677       170,636       71,101       668,377  
 
2009
    265,850       193,203       175,404       59,559       694,016  
Operating income (loss)
2011
  $ 14,475     $ 7,329     $ (3,959 )   $ 113     $ 17,958  
from continuing
2010
    19,575       7,361       (3,323 )     (449 )     23,164  
operations
2009
    22,553       7,914       (2,610 )     (2,675 )     25,182  
Depreciation and
2011
  $ 8,011     $ 5,534     $ 5,475     $ 2,789     $ 21,809  
amortization
2010
    8,390       5,980       6,063       2,822       23,255  
 
2009
    9,121       7,169       6,429       2,325       25,044  
 
 
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Reconciling information between reportable segments and our consolidated financial statements is as follows:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
   Total consolidated revenue
  $ 648,109     $ 668,377     $ 694,016  
                         
Segment operating income
  $ 17,958     $ 23,164     $ 25,182  
Restructuring and other exit costs
    (5,198 )     (1,733 )     (11,513 )
Asset impairments
    -       -       (1,176 )
Amortization of net pension actuarial losses
    (24,281 )     (18,672 )     (14,598 )
Pension settlements
    (520 )     (370 )     (20,412 )
Other unallocated pension
    1,602       1,455       (209 )
Unallocated portion of postretirement credit
    15,164       -       -  
Environmental remediation
    (203 )     803       (2,513 )
Other unallocated
    1,309       (752 )     4  
Total other expense
    (1,834 )     (2,522 )     (807 )
   Income (loss) before income taxes
  $ 3,997     $ 1,373     $ (26,042 )
 
Our operations are conducted primarily in the United States.  Revenue and long-lived assets for our operations in Mexico are not material.  Revenue by the products and services we provide is as follows:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Print
  $ 388,176     $ 407,473     $ 430,193  
Labels
    108,640       104,511       102,129  
Software
    9,980       10,371       8,614  
Services
    89,445       95,124       99,929  
Other
    51,868       50,898       53,151  
Total consolidated revenue
  $ 648,109     $ 668,377     $ 694,016  
 
NOTE 18 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
We do not have any significant purchase agreements with suppliers extending beyond normal quantity requirements or significant purchase commitments for capital improvements at January 1, 2012.
 
The majority of our purchase commitments relate to annual software license fees and outsourced information technology and telecommunication services. At January 1, 2012, we have multiple years remaining on purchase commitments of $4,750.  Certain supply contracts contain penalty provisions for early termination.  At January 1, 2012, the early termination penalties total approximately $6,023.
 
We lease sales offices, warehouses, print facilities, and equipment under operating leases, none of which are considered individually significant.  Annual expense under these leases was $12,579 in 2011, $13,778 in 2010, and $14,672 in 2009.  Future minimum payments under existing noncancelable leases at January 1, 2012 are as follows:
 
       
       
2012
  $ 9,368  
2013
    7,497  
2014
    4,338  
2015
    3,067  
2016
    810  
Later years
    186  
Total
  $ 25,266  
 
 
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Contingencies
 
We have outstanding letters of credit as of January 1, 2012 totaling $3,596, primarily as a requirement of our workers’ compensation insurance.  All letters of credit are renewable annually.
 
In the opinion of management, no litigation or claims are pending against the Company that will have a material effect on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.  The Company is subject to laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and is party to environmental actions that have arisen in the ordinary course of business.  We provide for expenses associated with environmental remediation obligations when such amounts are probable and can be reasonably estimated.  The amount of liability recorded is based on an evaluation of currently available facts and is reviewed periodically.  Actual expenses incurred in future periods may vary from current estimates, given the inherent uncertainties in estimating the extent of necessary remediation efforts.

The Company has participated with other Potentially Responsible Parties (“PRPs”) in the investigation, study, and remediation of the Pasco Sanitary Landfill Superfund Site (the “Pasco Site”) in eastern Washington State since 1998.  The Company was a member of a PRP Group known as the Industrial Waste Area Generators Group II (the “IWAG Group”).  In 2000, the IWAG Group and several other PRP groups entered into agreed orders with the Department of Ecology for implementation of interim remedial actions and expansion of groundwater monitoring.  In September 2010, the group entered into a new agreement creating the IWAG Group III.  The new agreement changed the allocation of responsibility among the members, which resulted in a significant decrease in our level of participation.  Based upon new investigations, it was also deemed probable that participation by certain other PRPs would increase for costs expected to be incurred after 2010.  At this time, an agreement has not yet been reached on the final remediation approach.  We have accrued our best estimate of our obligation and have an undiscounted liability of $1,213 that we currently believe is adequate to cover our portion of the total future potential costs of remediation.   We expect the costs to be incurred over a period of 60 years; however, the current proposed remediation approach could require monitoring for a longer period of time.  This estimate is contingent upon the final remedy agreed upon, the participation of other PRPs, the length of monitoring required, and the final agreed upon allocation.  Until a final remediation approach is approved and a final agreement is reached among all PRPs, it is reasonably possible that one or more of these factors could change our estimate; however, we are unable to determine the impact at this time.

From 1995 through 2003, the Company participated with other PRPs in the investigation, study, and remediation of the Valleycrest Landfill Site (the “Valleycrest Site”) in western Ohio.  The Company is a member of a PRP Group known as the Valleycrest Landfill Site Group (the “VLSG”).  In 2003, General Motors Corporation (“GM”) stepped into the Company’s position under the Site Participation Agreement and in return for $270, agreed to indemnify the Company against certain future liability in connection with the Valleycrest Landfill Site.  Therefore, we did not previously record a liability for potential remediation costs.   In 2009, we were notified that in connection with GM’s bankruptcy filing, GM does not plan to continue contributions to the site, including its contractual obligation to indemnify the Company for future liability.  We believe that it is probable the Company will participate in remediation actions.  A remedial investigation and feasibility study was conducted by the VLSG which indicated a range of viable remedial approaches.  During 2010, we obtained an updated estimate of costs for possible final remedies.  At this early stage, a final remediation approach has not been selected, and we have accrued the estimate of our obligation based on the most likely approach.  In addition, we have also determined that GM will likely not be required to fund their originally allocated portion of the environmental costs.  However, GM has entered into an agreement with the VLSG to fund a small portion of these costs through bankruptcy settlements.  We have an undiscounted long-term liability of $2,343 that we currently believe is adequate to cover our portion of the total future potential costs of remediation, which are expected to be incurred over a period of 30 years.  This estimate is contingent upon the final remedy agreed upon, the participation of other PRPs not currently in the VLSG, and the final agreed upon allocation.  Until a final remediation approach is approved and a final agreement is reached among all PRPs, it is reasonably possible that one or more of these factors could change our estimate; however, we are unable to determine the impact at this time.

In addition, we have undiscounted reserves totaling $197 for environmental remediation at one previously owned facility.  Our remediation costs for this facility is partially covered by our insurance provider, and we have recorded a receivable of $60 for the portion of these costs we expect to recover.
 
NOTE 19 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
The Company has evaluated for disclosure all subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued and filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
 
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Item 9 – CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
None
 
Item 9A – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures over financial reporting (Disclosure Controls) as of January 1, 2012.  The evaluation was carried out under the supervision, and with the participation, of our management including our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
 
Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Disclosure Controls were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC and that material information relating to The Standard Register Company is made known to management, including the CEO and CFO, particularly during the period when our periodic reports are being prepared.
 
Changes in Internal Control
 
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, there have been no material changes to our internal controls or in other factors that could materially affect these controls and no corrective actions have been taken with regard to material weaknesses in such controls.
 
Item 9B OTHER INFORMATION
 
None.
 
PART III
 
Item 10 – DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 26, 2012.
 
Item 11 – EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to that part of the information under “Executive Compensation” of our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 26, 2012.
 
Item 12 – SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to “Owners of More than 5% of the Common and Class A Stock of Standard Register” and “Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers” of our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 26, 2012.
 
The following table summarizes information as of January 1, 2012 regarding equity securities that have been authorized for issuance:
 
Plan Category
 
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
   
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
   
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans
 
                   
Equity compensation plans
approved by shareholders
    3,991,139     $ 7.12       3,836,724  
 
 
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Item 13 – CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 26, 2012
 
Item 14 – FEES AND SERVICES OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 26, 2012.
 
PART IV
 
Item 15 – EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
(a)  
Documents filed as part of this report.
 
1.  
Financial statements
 
The following consolidated financial statements of The Standard Register Company and subsidiaries are included at Item 8 herein:
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets – January 1, 2012 and January 2, 2011
 
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income – Years ended January 1, 2012, January 2, 2011, and January 3, 2010.
 
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity – Years ended January 1, 2012, January 2, 2011, and January 3, 2010.
 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows – Years ended January 1, 2012, January 2, 2011, and January 3, 2010.
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
2.  
No other financial statement schedules are included because they are not applicable or because the required information is shown in the financial statements or in the notes thereto.
 
3.  
Exhibits
 
The exhibits as listed on the accompanying index to exhibits are filed as part of this
Form 10-K.
 
 
68

 
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, The Standard Register Company has duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on February 23, 2012.
 
  THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY
 
 
   
 
By:  /S/  JOSEPH P. MORGAN, JR.
  Joseph P. Morgan, Jr
 
President and Chief Executive Officer and Director
   
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of The Standard Register Company and in the capacities indicated on February 23, 2012:
 
     Signatures
                                                 Title
   
/S/  F. D. Clarke, III
Chairman of the Board and Director
    F. D. Clarke, III
 
   
/S/  R. M. Ginnan
Vice President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
    R. M. Ginnan
 
 

F. D. Clarke, III, pursuant to powers of attorney, which are being filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has signed below on February 23, 2012, as attorney-in-fact for the following directors of the Registrant:

 
 
D. P. Bailis
R. W. Begley, Jr
 
J. D. Klapstein
M. E. Kohlsdorf
R. E. McCarthey
J. P. Morgan, Jr.
J. J. Schiff, Jr.
J. Q. Sherman, II
 
 
 
/S/  F. D. Clarke, III
 
F. D. Clarke, III
 
 
69

 
 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
   
 3.1
Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Company and Code of Regulations.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 333-8687.
   
 3.2
Certificate of Amendment by the Shareholders to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of The Standard Register Company.  Incorporated by reference to Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 1995.
   
 
INSTRUMENTS DEFINING THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS, INCLUDING INDENTURES
   
4.1
The Loan and Security Agreement between Standard Register and the following banking institutions: Banc of America Securities, LLC, KeyBank National Association, Bank of America, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., PNC Bank National Association, Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation (New England), incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 4, 2010.
   
 
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
   
10.1
The Standard Register Company Non-Qualified Retirement Plan, revised December 11, 2008, effective June 29, 2008, incorporated by reference from Form 10-K for the period ended December 28, 2008.
   
10.2
The Standard Register Company Officers' Supplemental Non-Qualified Retirement Plan, restated October 26, 2006, effective January 1, 2007, incorporated by reference from Form 10-K for the period ended December 30, 2007.
   
10.3
First Amendment to The Standard Register Company Officers' Supplemental Non-Qualified Retirement Plan, dated December 11, 2008, effective January 1, 2008, incorporated by reference from Form 10-K for the period ended December 28, 2008.
   
10.4
The Standard Register Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated December 12, 2006, effective January 1, 2007, incorporated by reference from Form 10-K for the period ended December 30, 2007.
   
10.5
 
First Amendment to The Standard Register Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated December 11, 2008, effective January 1, 2008, incorporated by reference from Form 10-K for the period ended December 28, 2008.
   
10.6
The Standard Register Company 1995 Incentive Stock Option Plan, incorporated by reference from the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 17, 1996.
   
10.7
The Standard Register Company Management Incentive Compensation Plan, incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held April 16, 1997.
   
10.8
First Amendment to The Standard Register Company Management Incentive Compensation Plan incorporated by reference from the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 17, 2002.
 
10.9
The Standard Register Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan, incorporated by reference from Registration Statement No. 333-05321.
   
10.10
The Standard Register Company 2002 Equity Incentive Plan incorporated by reference from the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 17, 2002.
   
10.11
The Standard Register Company Amended and Restated 2002 Equity Incentive Plan incorporated by reference from the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 23, 2009.
 
 
 
70

 
 
10.12
Asset Purchase Agreement between Exped LLC and The Standard Register Company, dated April 21, 2007, incorporated by reference from Form 8-K filed April 26, 2007.
   
10.13
The Standard Register Company 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan, revised November 2, 2006, effective January 1, 2007, incorporated by reference from Form 10-K for the period ended December 30, 2007.
 
10.14
The Standard Register Company 2011 Equity Incentive Plan incorporated by reference from Form 10Q for the period ended July 3, 2011.
 
10.15
The Third Amendment to The Standard Register Company Management Incentive Compensation Plan incorporated by reference from Form 10Q for the period ended July 3, 2011.
 
 
 
COMPUTATION OF PER SHARE EARNINGS
   
11
Computation of per share earnings is included in Item 8 herein.
   
 
CODE OF ETHICS
   
14
The Standard Register Company Code of Ethics incorporated by reference from Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2003.
 
LETTER REGARDING CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
 
18
Preferability letter from Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
   
21
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
   
 
CONSENTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
   
23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
   
24
Power of Attorney of  David P. Bailis, R. W. Begley, Jr., Julie D. Klapstein, Michael E. Kohlsdorf, R. Eric McCarthey,      J. J. Schiff, Jr., and J. Q. Sherman, II.
 
 
CERTIFICATIONS
   
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32
Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
  XBRL RELATED DOCUMENTS
   
101
The following financial information from The Standard Register Company Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 1, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

71