SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED December 31, 2017

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-08524

MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

OHIO

34-0778636

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(IRS Employer Identification Number)

 

1293 S. MAIN STREET, AKRON, OHIO

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

44301

(Zip Code)

(330) 253-5592

(Telephone Number)

 

Securities Registered Pursuant to

Section 12(b) of the Act:

Name of Each Exchange

On which registered:

Common Stock, Without Par Value

(Title of Class)

New York Stock Exchange

 

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  

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  

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 the filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes       No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes       No  

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (229.405 of this chapter) 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.  

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “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 

 

 

Emerging growth company 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes       No  

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the closing sale price on the New York Stock Exchange as of June 30, 2017: $538,844,114

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of registrant’s common stock as of February 28, 2018: 30,509,220 Shares of Common Stock, without par value.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

Portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I

 

 

 

ITEM 1. Business

1

 

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

6

 

ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

11

 

ITEM 2. Properties

12

 

ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings

13

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

16

 

ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data

18

 

ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

19

 

ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

26

 

ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

27

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

27

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

28

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

29

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

30

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

31

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

32

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

33

 

ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

56

 

ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures

56

 

ITEM 9B. Other Information

58

 

 

 

Part III

 

 

 

ITEM 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

58

 

ITEM 11. Executive Compensation

58

 

ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

58

 

ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

59

 

ITEM 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

59

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 

 

ITEM 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

60

 

 

SIGNATURES

64

 

Exhibit 21

 

 

Exhibit 23

 

 

Exhibit 31(a)

 

 

Exhibit 31(b)

 

 

Exhibit 32

 

 

Exhibit 101

 

 

 

 

 


PART I

ITEM 1.

Business

 

(a)

General Development of Business

Myers Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) was founded in Akron, Ohio, in 1933. The terms “Myers Industries,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” wherever used herein refer to the Company, unless the context indicates to the contrary. Since then, the Company has grown from a small storefront distributing tire service supplies into an international manufacturing and distribution enterprise. In 1971, the Company went public, and the stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MYE.

Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the Company manufactures a diverse range of polymer products for industrial, agricultural, automotive, commercial, and consumer markets. Myers Industries is a leader in the manufacturing of plastic reusable material handling containers and pallets, and plastic fuel tanks. Other principal product lines include plastic storage and organization containers, rubber tire repair products and custom plastic and rubber products.

The Company is also the largest distributor of tools, equipment and supplies for the tire, wheel and undervehicle service industry in the United States. The distribution products range from tire balancers and alignment systems to valve caps, tire repair tools and other consumable service supplies.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company operated nine manufacturing facilities, 20 sales offices, four distribution centers and three distribution branches located throughout North and Central America; had approximately 15,000 manufactured products and over 13,500 distributed products; and had approximately 1,900 employees.

Serving customers around the world, Myers Industries’ brands provide safety and efficiency solutions to a wide variety of customers in diverse niche markets. Myers Industries’ diverse products and solutions help customers improve shop productivity with point of use inventory, store and transport products more safely and efficiently, improve sustainability through reuse, lower overall material handling costs, improve ergonomics for their labor force, eliminate waste and ultimately increase profitability.  Myers Industries’ employees think and act like owners, implementing long term improvements both internally and for their customers.

The Company’s business strategy is guided by the following key operating principles: 1) Niche Market Focus, 2) Flexible Operations, and 3) Strong Cash Flow Growth. Applying these principles to our business, management emphasizes:

 

Customer intimacy - #1 or #2 in each served market;

 

Strong brands;

 

Process driven, simplified, lean operating principles;

 

Manufacture only value-added components and products;

 

Asset light business model; and

 

Cash return on investment.

The Company continually reviews its segments and brands for strategic fit and growth potential. The review process is dedicated to furthering innovation and brand leadership in niche markets, building strong customer relationships and positioning the Company for strong financial performance.

 

(b)

Financial Information About Segments

The response to this section of Item 1 is contained in the Industry Segments footnote of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this report.

 

(c)

Description of Business

The Company conducts its business activities in two distinct business segments, Material Handling and Distribution, consistent with the manner in which the Chief Operating Decision Maker evaluates performance and makes resource allocation decisions.

1


In December 2017, the Company approved and completed the sale of its subsidi aries Myers do Brasil Embalagens Plasticas Ltda. and Plasticos Novel do Nordeste Ltda. (collectively, the “Brazil Business”) to allow the Company to focus resources on its core businesses and additional growth opportunities. The Brazil Business designed an d manufactured reusable plastic shipping containers, plastic pallets, crates and totes used for closed loop-shipping and storage in Brazil’s automotive, distribution, food, beverage and agriculture industries. The operating results for the Brazil Business are classified as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations under Item 8 of this report. The Brazil Business was part of the Material Handling Segment.

During the second quarter of 2014, the Company's Board of Directors approved the commencement of the sale process to divest its Lawn and Garden business to allow it to focus resources on core growth platforms. The divestiture of the Lawn and Garden business was completed in February 2015 and was sold to an entity controlled by Wingate Partners V, L.P. (“L&G Buyer”). The Lawn and Garden business served the North American horticulture market with plastic products such as seedling trays, nursery products, hanging baskets, custom print containers as well as decorative resin planters. The operating results for the Lawn and Garden business are classified as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations under Item 8 of this report.

In our Material Handling Segment, we design, manufacture, and market a variety of plastic and metal products. These range from plastic reusable material handling containers and small parts storage bins to plastic RV tanks and parts, marine tanks and parts, portable plastic fuel tanks and water containers, portable marine fuel containers, ammunition containers, storage totes, bulk shipping containers, beverage crates and metal carts and cabinets. The Material Handling Segment conducts operations in the United States and Canada. Markets served encompass various niches of industrial manufacturing, food processing, retail/wholesale products distribution, agriculture, automotive, recreational vehicles, marine vehicles, healthcare, appliance, bakery, electronics, textiles, consumer, and others. Products are sold both directly to end-users and through distributors.

The Distribution Segment is engaged in the distribution of tools, equipment and supplies used for tire, wheel and undervehicle service on passenger, heavy truck and off-road vehicles and the manufacturing of tire repair materials and custom rubber products. The product line includes categories such as tire valves and accessories, lifts and alignment equipment, service equipment and tools, and tire repair/retread supplies. The Distribution Segment operates domestically through its sales offices and four regional distribution centers in the United States, and in certain foreign countries through export sales. In addition, the Distribution Segment operates directly in certain foreign markets, principally Central America, through foreign branch operations. Markets served include retail and truck tire dealers, commercial auto and truck fleets, auto dealers, general service and repair centers, tire retreaders, and government agencies.

Information regarding the revenues of each segment classified as continuing operations is contained in the Industry Segments footnote of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this report.

 

2


The following table summarizes the key attributes of the business segments for the year ended December 31, 2017:

 

Material Handling Segment

 

Net Sales

 

Key Product Areas

 

Product Brands

 

Key Capabilities & Services

 

Representative Markets

 

$391.3

Plastic Reusable Containers &

Akro-Mils™

Product Design

Agriculture

 

71%

 

Pallets

Jamco Products

Prototyping

Automotive

 

 

Plastic Storage &

Buckhorn®

Product Testing

Commercial

 

 

 

Organizational Products

Ameri-Kart®

Material Formulation

Food Processing

 

 

Plastic Carts

Scepter

Injection Molding

Food Distribution

 

 

Metal Carts

 

 

Structural Foam Molding

Healthcare

 

 

Metal Cabinets

 

 

Metal Forming

Industrial

 

 

Wooden Dollies

 

 

Stainless Steel Forming

Manufacturing

 

 

Custom Products

 

 

Wood Fabrication

Retail Distribution

 

 

 

 

 

 

Powder Coating

Wholesale Distribution

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material Regrind & Recycling

Consumer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plastic Blow Molding

Recreational Vehicle

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plastic Rotational Molding

Marine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thermoforming

Military

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infrared Welding

Food & Beverage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Custom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution Segment

 

Net Sales

 

Key Product Areas

 

Product Brands

 

Key Capabilities & Services

 

Representative Markets

 

$156.4

Tire Valves & Accessories

Myers Tire Supply®

Broad Sales Coverage

Retail Tire Dealers

 

29%

Tire Changing &

Myers Tire Supply

Local Sales

Truck Tire Dealers

 

 

 

Balancing Equipment

 

International™

Four Strategically Placed

Auto Dealers

 

 

Lifts & Alignment Equipment

Patch Rubber Company®

 

Distribution Centers

Commercial Auto & Truck

 

 

Service Equipment

Elrick

International Distribution

 

Fleets

 

 

Hand Tools

Fleetline

Personalized Service

General Repair & Services

 

 

Tire Repair & Retread

MTS

National Accounts

 

Facilities

 

 

 

Equipment & Supplies

Phoenix

Product Training

Tire Retreaders

 

 

Brake, Transmission & Allied

Seymoure

Repair/Service Training

Tire Repair

 

 

 

Service Equipment & Supplies

 

 

New Products/Services

Governmental Agencies

 

 

Highway Markings

 

 

 

"Speed to Market"

Telecommunications

 

 

Industrial Rubber

 

 

Rubber Mixing

Industrial

 

 

General Shop Supplies

 

 

Rubber Compounding

Road Construction

 

 

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

 

 

Rubber Calendaring

Mining

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiered Product Offerings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segments Overview

Material Handling Segment

The Material Handling Segment manufactures highly engineered polymer packaging containers, storage and safety products, and specialty molded parts. The brands within this segment include Buckhorn ® , Akro-Mils , Jamco Products , Ameri-Kart ® , and Scepter.

Buckhorn’s reusable containers and pallets are used in closed-loop supply chain systems to help customers improve product protection, increase handling efficiencies, reduce freight costs and eliminate solid waste and disposal costs.  Buckhorn offers products to replace costly single use cardboard boxes, wooden pallets, and steel containers. The product line is among the broadest in the industry and includes injection-molded and structural foam-molded constructions.  Buckhorn’s product lines include hand-held

3


containers used for inventory control, order management and transportation of retail goods; collapsible and fixed-wall bulk transport containers for light and heavy-duty tasks; intermediate bulk containers for the storage and transport of food, liquid, powder, and granular products; plastic pallets; and specialty boxes designed for storage of items such as seed. Buckhorn also produces a wide variety of specialty products designed for niche applications and cust om products designed according to exact customer specifications.

Akro-Mils material handling products provide customers everything they need to store, organize and transport a wide range of goods while increasing overall productivity and profitability.  Serving industrial and commercial markets, Akro-Mils products range from AkroBins ® — the industry’s leading small parts bins — to Super-Size AkroBins, metal panel and bin hanging systems, metal storage cabinet and bin systems, wire shelving systems, plastic and metal transport carts and a wide variety of custom storage and transport products. Akro-Mils products deliver storage and organization solutions in a wide variety of applications, from creating assembly line workstations to organizing medical supplies and retail displays. Emphasis is placed on product bundling and customizing systems to create specific storage and organization configurations for customers’ operations.

Jamco Products is well established in industrial and commercial markets with its wide selection of welded steel service carts, platform trucks, mobile work centers, racks and cabinets for plastic bins, safety cabinets, medical cylinder carts and more. Jamco Products’ strong product offering, relationships with industrial distributors and reputation for quality and service complements Myers Industries' existing Material Handling businesses.

Ameri-Kart is an industry leading manufacturer and thermoformer of rotational-molded water, fuel and waste handling tanks, plastic trim and interior parts used in the production of seat components, consoles, and other applications throughout the recreational vehicle, marine, and industrial markets.  In addition to standard marine parts, Ameri-Kart is well respected within the marine market for its patented Enviro-Fill ® overfill prevention system (“OPS”) technology and is the industry’s only turnkey provider of an integrated, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”)-compliant marine fuel tank and patented Enviro-Fill diurnal system.

Scepter is a leading producer of portable plastic fuel containers, portable marine fuel tanks and water containers, ammunition containers and storage totes.  Scepter was the first provider of Jerry Cans to North America which offer safe, reliable transportation and storage of fuel for the consumer market.  Scepter also manufactures a variety of molded products for military applications from high quality containers to safely store and transport large caliber ammunition, to military specified portable fuel and water canisters. Scepter's in-house product engineering and state of the art mold capabilities complements Myers Industries' Material Handling Segment through an increased product offering and global reach.

Distribution Segment

Our Distribution Segment includes the Myers Tire Supply ® , Myers Tire Supply International and Patch Rubber Company ® brands.  Within the Distribution Segment we source and manufacture top of the line products for the tire, wheel and undervehicle service industry.

Myers Tire Supply is the largest U.S. distributor and single source for tire, wheel and undervehicle service tools, equipment and supplies. We buy and sell approximately 13,500 different items — everything that professionals need to service passenger, truck and off-road tires, wheels and related components. Independent tire dealers, mass merchandisers, commercial auto and truck fleets, auto dealerships, tire retreaders and general repair facilities rely on our broad product selection, rapid availability and personal service to be more productive and profitably grow their business. Myers Tire Supply International further distributes these product offerings in Central America, through its branch offices, and to other foreign countries, through its U.S. export business.

While the needs and composition of our distribution markets constantly change, we adapt and deliver new products and services that are crucial to our customers’ success. The new product pipeline is driven by a thorough understanding of the market and its customers' needs. Myers Tire Supply in turn works closely with its suppliers to develop innovative products and services to meet these needs.

Patch Rubber Company manufactures one of the most comprehensive lines of tire repair and retreading products in the United States. Service professionals rely on our extensive product selection and quality for safe, cost-effective repairs to passenger, truck and off-road tires. Products include the plug that fills a puncture, the cement that seals the plug, the tire innerliner patch and the final sealing compound. Patch brand repair products maintain a strong position in the tire service markets including sales through the Myers Tire Supply sales network.  Patch Rubber also employs its rubber calendering and compounding expertise to create a diverse portfolio of products outside of the tire repair market, such as reflective highway marking tapes. Our rubber-based tape and symbols provide the durability and brightness that construction professionals demand to replace paint for marking road repair, intersections and hazardous areas. Compared with traditional highway paint, the tape stock is easier to apply, more reflective and longer lasting.

4


Raw Materials & Suppliers

The Company purchases substantially all of its raw materials from a wide range of third-party suppliers. These materials are primarily polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene plastic resins, all used within the Material Handling Segment, as well as synthetic and natural rubber. Most raw materials are commodity products and available from several domestic suppliers. We believe that the loss of any one supplier or group of suppliers would not have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our Distribution Segment purchases substantially all of its components from third-party suppliers and has multiple sources for its products.

Competition

Competition in our Material Handling Segment is substantial and varied in form and size from manufacturers of similar products and of other products which can be substituted for those produced by the Company. In general, most direct competitors with the Company’s brands are private entities. Myers Industries maintains strong brand presence and market positions in the niche sectors of the markets it serves. The Company does not command substantial, overall market presence in the broad market sectors.

Competition in our Distribution Segment is generally comprised of small companies, regional players and national auto parts chains where product offerings may overlap. Within the overall tire, wheel and undervehicle service market, Myers Industries is the largest U.S. distributor of tools, equipment and supplies offered based on national coverage.

Customer Dependence

In 2017, 2016 and 2015, there were no customers that accounted for more than five percent of total net sales from continuing operations. Myers Industries serves thousands of customers who demand value through product selection, innovation, quality, delivery and responsive personal service. Our brands foster satisfied, loyal customers who have recognized our performance through numerous supplier quality awards.

Employees

As of December 31, 2017, Myers Industries had a total of approximately 1,900 full-time and part-time employees. Of these, approximately 1,335 were employed in the Company’s Material Handling Segment and the Distribution Segment employed approximately 515. The Company’s corporate offices had approximately 50 employees.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had approximately 140 employees represented by a labor union. The collective bargaining agreement between us and the labor union expires June 2019. We consider our relationship with our employees generally to be satisfactory.

Backlog

The backlog of orders for our operations is estimated to have been approximately $54 million at December 31, 2017 and approximately $31 million at December 31, 2016. Generally, our lead time between customer order and product delivery is less than 90 days, and thus our estimated backlog is substantially expected to be delivered within the succeeding three months. During periods of shorter lead times, backlog may not be a meaningful indicator of future sales. Accordingly, we do not believe our backlog data and comparisons thereof, as of different dates, reliably indicate future sales or shipments.

 

(d)

Financial Information About Geographic Areas

The response to this section of Item 1 is contained in the Industry Segments footnote of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this report.

 

(e)

Available Information

Filings with the SEC.    As a public company, we regularly file reports and proxy statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), such as:

 

annual reports on Form 10-K;

 

quarterly reports on Form 10-Q;

5


 

current reports on Form 8-K; and

 

proxy statements on Schedule 14A.

Anyone may read and copy any of the materials we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Information regarding operations of the Public Reference Room may also be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an internet website that contains our reports, proxy and information statements, and our other SEC filings; the address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.

Also, we make our SEC filings available free of charge on our own internet site as soon as reasonably practicable after we have filed with the SEC. Our internet address is http://www.myersindustries.com. The content on the Company’s website is available for informational purposes only and is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.

Corporate Governance.     We have a Code of Business Conduct for our employees and members of our Board of Directors. A copy of this Code is posted on our website in the section titled “Investor Relations”. We will satisfy any disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, any provision of this Code with respect to our executive officers or directors by disclosing the nature of that amendment or waiver.

Our website also contains additional information about our corporate governance policies, including the charters of our standing board committees. Any of these items are available in print to any shareholder who requests them. Requests should be sent to Corporate Secretary, Myers Industries, Inc., 1293 S. Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44301.

ITEM 1A.

Risk Factors  

This Form 10-K and the information we are incorporating by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including information regarding the Company’s financial outlook, future plans, objectives, business prospects and anticipated financial performance. You can identify these statements by the fact that they include words such as “will,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” or variations of these words, or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts and represent only our current expectations regarding such matters. These statements inherently involve a wide range of known and unknown uncertainties. The Company’s actual actions and results could differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements. Specific factors that could cause such a difference include those set forth below and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these factors, as well as other variables that may affect our operating results, you should not rely on forward-looking statements, assume that past financial performance will be a reliable indicator of future performance, nor use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods. We expressly disclaim any obligation or intention to provide updates to the forward-looking statements and the estimates and assumptions associated with them.

Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the applicable statements include:

Any significant increase in the cost of raw materials or disruption in the availability of raw materials could adversely affect our performance.

Our ability to manage our cost structure can be adversely affected by movements in commodity and other raw material prices. Our primary raw materials include plastic resins, colorants and natural and synthetic rubbers. Plastic resins in particular are subject to substantial short term price fluctuations, including those arising from supply shortages and changes in the price of natural gas, crude oil and other petrochemical intermediates from which resins are produced, as well as other factors. Over the past several years, we have at times experienced rapidly increasing resin prices. The Company’s revenue and profitability may be materially and adversely affected by these price fluctuations.

Market conditions may limit our ability to raise selling prices to offset increases in our raw material input costs. If we are unsuccessful in developing ways to mitigate raw material cost increases, we may not be able to improve productivity or realize our ongoing cost reduction programs sufficiently to help offset the impact of these increased raw material costs. As a result, higher raw material costs could result in declining margins and operating results.

Changes in raw material availability may also occur due to events beyond our control, including natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. Our specific molding technologies and/or product specifications can limit our ability to locate alternative suppliers to produce certain products.

6


We may incur inherent risks and may not achieve anticipated benefits associated with our strategic growth initi atives.

Our growth initiatives include internal growth driven by strong brands and new product innovation; development of new, high-growth markets and expansion in existing niche markets; strengthened customer relationships through value-added initiatives and key product partnerships; investments in new technology and processes to reinforce market strength and capabilities in key business groups; consolidation and rationalization activities to further reduce costs and improve productivity within our manufacturing and distribution footprint; an opportunistic and disciplined approach to strategic acquisitions to accelerate growth in our market positions; and potential divestitures of businesses with non-strategic products or markets.

While this is a continuous process, all of these activities and initiatives have inherent risks and there remain significant challenges and uncertainties, including economic and general business conditions that could limit our ability to achieve anticipated benefits associated with announced strategic initiatives and affect our financial results. We may not achieve any or all of these goals and are unable to predict whether these initiatives will produce significant revenues or profits.

We may not realize the improved operating results that we anticipate from past acquisitions or from acquisitions we may make in the future and we may experience difficulties in integrating the acquired businesses or may inherit significant liabilities related to such businesses.  

We explore opportunities to acquire businesses that we believe are related to the execution of the Company’s long-term strategy, with a focus on, among other things, asset light business models, flexible operations, and penetration of niche markets. Some of these acquisitions may be material to us. We expect such acquisitions will produce operating results consistent with our other operations and fit within our strategic goals; however, we may be unable to achieve the benefits expected to be realized from our acquisitions. In addition, we may incur additional costs and our management’s attention may be diverted because of unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other risks inherent in acquiring businesses, including the following:

 

we may have difficulty integrating the acquired businesses as planned, which may include integration of systems of internal controls over financial reporting and other financial and administrative functions;

 

we may have delays in realizing the benefits of our strategies for an acquired business;

 

the increasing demands on our operational systems and integration costs, including diversion of management’s time and attention, may be greater than anticipated;

 

we may not be able to retain key employees necessary to continue the operations of an acquired business;

 

acquisition costs may be met with cash or debt, increasing the risk that we will be unable to satisfy current financial obligations; and

 

acquired companies may have unknown liabilities that could require us to spend significant amounts of additional capital.

Our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected by a downturn in the general markets or the general economic environment.

We operate in a wide range of geographies, primarily North America and Central America, and, until the divesture of our Brazil Business in the fourth quarter of 2017, South America. Additionally, some of our end markets are cyclical, and some of our products are a capital expense for our customers. Worldwide and regional economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the economic conditions of the broader markets and in our individual niche markets, could have an adverse effect on one or both of our operating segments.

We operate in a very competitive business environment.

Both of our segments participate in markets that are highly competitive. We compete primarily on the basis of product quality, product performance, value, and supply chain competency. Our competitive success also depends on our ability to maintain strong brands, customer relationships and the belief that customers will need our products and services to meet their growth requirements. The development and maintenance of such brands requires continuous investment in brand building, marketing initiatives and advertising. The competition that we face in all of our markets — which varies depending on the particular business segment, product lines and customers — may prevent us from achieving sales, product pricing and income goals, which could affect our financial condition and results of operations.

7


Our operations depend on our ability to maintain continuous, uninterrupted production at our manufacturing facilities, which are subject to physical and other risks that could disrupt production.

We are subject to inherent risks in our diverse manufacturing and distribution activities, including, but not limited to: product quality, safety, licensing requirements and other regulatory issues, environmental events, loss or impairment of key manufacturing or distribution sites, disruptions in logistics and transportation services, labor disputes and industrial accidents. While we maintain insurance covering our manufacturing and production facilities, including business interruption insurance, a catastrophic loss of the use of all or a portion of our facilities due to accident, fire, explosion, or natural disaster, whether short or long-term, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Unexpected failures of our equipment and machinery may also result in production delays, revenue loss and significant repair costs, as well as injuries to our employees. Any interruption in production capability may require us to make large capital expenditures to remedy the situation, which could have a negative impact on our profitability and cash flows. Our business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to offset the lost revenues or increased costs that we may experience during a disruption of our operations. A temporary or long-term business disruption could result in a permanent loss of customers. If this were to occur, our future sales levels, and therefore our profitability, could be materially adversely affected.

We derive a portion of our revenues from direct and indirect sales outside the United States and are subject to the risks of doing business in foreign countries.

We currently operate manufacturing, sales and service facilities outside of the United States, particularly in Canada and Central America. For the year ended December 31, 2017, international net sales accounted for approximately 10% of our total net sales from continuing operations. Accordingly, we are subject to risks associated with operations in foreign countries, including:

 

fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

 

limitations on the remittance of dividends and other payments by foreign subsidiaries;

 

limitations on foreign investment;

 

additional costs of compliance with local regulations; and

 

in certain countries, higher rates of inflation than in the United States.

In addition, our operations outside the United States are subject to the risk of new and different legal and regulatory requirements in local jurisdictions, potential difficulties in staffing and managing local operations and potentially adverse tax consequences. The costs related to our international operations could adversely affect our operations and financial results in the future.

Our future performance depends in part on our ability to develop and market new products if there are changes in technology, regulatory requirements or competitive processes.

Changes in technology, regulatory requirements and competitive processes may render certain products obsolete or less attractive. Our performance in the future will depend in part on our ability to develop and market new products that will gain customer acceptance and loyalty, as well as our ability to adapt our product offerings and control our costs to meet changing market conditions. Our operating performance would be adversely affected if we were to incur delays in developing new products or if such products did not gain market acceptance. There can be no assurance that existing or future products will be sufficiently successful to enable us to effectively compete in our markets or, should new product offerings meet with significant customer acceptance, that one or more current or future competitors will not introduce products that render our products noncompetitive.

We may not be successful in protecting our intellectual property rights, including our unpatented proprietary know-how and trade secrets, or in avoiding claims that we infringed on the intellectual property rights of others.

In addition to relying on patent and trademark rights, we rely on unpatented proprietary know-how and trade secrets and employ various methods, including confidentiality agreements with employees and consultants, to protect our know-how and trade secrets. However, these methods and our patents and trademarks may not afford complete protection and there can be no assurance that others will not independently develop the know-how and trade secrets or develop better production methods than us. Further, we may not be able to deter current and former employees, contractors and other parties from breaching confidentiality agreements and misappropriating proprietary information and it is possible that third parties may copy or otherwise obtain and use our information and proprietary technology without authorization or otherwise infringe on our intellectual property rights. Additionally, in the future we may license patents, trademarks, trade secrets and similar proprietary rights to third parties. While we attempt to ensure that our intellectual property and similar proprietary rights are protected when entering into business relationships, third parties may take

8


actions that could materially and adversely affect our rights or the value of our intellectual property, similar proprietary rights or reputation. In the future, we may also rely on litigation to enfor ce our intellectual property rights and contractual rights and, if not successful, we may not be able to protect the value of our intellectual property. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that we will not be subject to claims asserting the infringement of the intellectual property rights of third parties seeking damages, the payment of royalties or licensing fees and/or injunctions against the sale of our products. Any litigation could be protracted and costly and could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations regardless of its outcome.

If we are unable to maintain access to credit financing, our business may be adversely affected.

The Company’s ability to make payments and to refinance our indebtedness, fund planned capital expenditures and acquisitions and pay dividends will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future and retain access to credit financing. This, to some extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

We cannot provide assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operating activities or that future borrowings will be available to us under our credit facilities in amounts sufficient to enable us to service debt, make necessary capital expenditures or fund other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, on or before maturity. We cannot be sure that we would be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

The credit facilities contain restrictive covenants and cross default provisions that require us to maintain specified financial ratios. The Company’s ability to satisfy those financial ratios can be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot be assured we will satisfy those ratios. A breach of any of those financial ratio covenants or other covenants could result in a default. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the lenders could elect to declare the applicable outstanding indebtedness due immediately and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit. We cannot be sure that our lenders would waive a default or that we could pay the indebtedness in full if it were accelerated.

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results. As a result, current and potential shareholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our common stock.

Internal control systems are intended to provide reasonable assurance regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. Any failure to maintain effective controls or implement required new or improved controls could cause us to fail to meet our periodic reporting obligations or result in material misstatements in our Consolidated Financial Statements, and substantial costs and resources may be required to rectify these internal control deficiencies. If we have an internal control deficiency and our remedial measures are insufficient, material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting could be discovered or occur in the future, and our consolidated financial statements may contain material misstatements. See Item 9A – Controls and Procedures for further discussion.

We may be subject to risks relating to our information technology systems.

We rely on information technology systems to process, transmit and store electronic information and manage and operate our business. Such systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from natural disasters, power loss, telecommunication failures, computer viruses, computer denial-of-service attacks, unauthorized intrusion, and other events, any of which could interrupt our business operations. While we have implemented security measures designed to prevent and mitigate the risk of breaches, information security risks have generally increased in recent years because of the proliferation of new technologies and the increased sophistication and activities of perpetrators of cyber-attacks. A failure in or a breach of security could expose us and our customers and suppliers to risks of misuse of confidential information, manipulation and destruction of data, production downtimes and operations disruptions, which in turn could negatively affect our reputation, competitive position, business, results of operations or cash flows. Furthermore, because the techniques used to carry out cyber-attacks change frequently and in many instances are not recognized until after they are used against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these changes or implement adequate preventative measures.

Future claims, litigation and regulatory actions could adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to conduct our business.

The nature of our business exposes us, from time to time, to breach of contract, warranty or recall claims, or claims for negligence, product liability, strict liability, personal injury or property damage claims. While we strive to ensure that our products comply with applicable government regulatory standards and internal requirements and that our products perform effectively and safely, customers from time to time could claim that our products do not meet contractual requirements, and users could be harmed by use or misuse of our products. This could give rise to breach of contract, warranty or recall claims, or claims for negligence, product liability, strict liability, personal injury or property damage. Such claims can be expensive to defend and may divert the attention of management for

9


significant time periods. While we currently maintain what we believe to be a suitable and adequate product liability insurance, product liability insurance coverage may not be available or adequate in all circumstances and such claims may increase the cost of such insurance coverage . In addition, claims may arise related to patent infringement, environmental liabilities, distributor terminations, commercial contracts, antitrust or competition law, employment law and employee benefits issues and other regulatory matters. While we have in place processes and policie s to mitigate these risks and to investigate and address such claims as they arise, we cannot predict the underlying costs to defend or resolve such claims.

Current and future environmental and other governmental laws and requirements could adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to conduct our business.

Our operations are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations that impose limitations on the discharge of pollutants into the air and water and establish standards for the handling, use, treatment, storage and disposal of, or exposure to, hazardous wastes and other materials and require clean-up of contaminated sites. Some of these laws and regulations require us to obtain permits, which contain terms and conditions that impose limitations on our ability to emit and discharge hazardous materials into the environment and periodically may be subject to modification, renewal and revocation by issuing authorities. Fines, penalties and other civil or criminal sanctions may be imposed for non-compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and the failure to have or to comply with the terms and conditions of required permits. Certain environmental laws in the United States, such as the federal Superfund law and similar state laws, impose liability for the cost of investigation or remediation of contaminated sites upon the current or, in some cases, the former site owners or operators (or their predecessor entities) and upon parties who arranged for the disposal of wastes or transported or sent those wastes to an off-site facility for treatment or disposal, regardless of when the release of hazardous substances occurred or the lawfulness of the activities giving rise to the release. Such liability can be imposed without regard to fault and, under certain circumstances, can be joint and several, resulting in one party being held responsible for the entire obligation.

While we have not been required historically to make significant capital expenditures in order to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations, we cannot predict with any certainty our future capital expenditure requirements because of continually changing compliance standards and environmental technology. Furthermore, violations or contaminated sites that we do not know about, including contamination caused by prior owners and operators of such sites, or at sites formerly owned or operated by us or our predecessors in connection with discontinued operations, could result in additional compliance or remediation costs or other liabilities, which could be material.

As more fully described in Item 3, “Legal Proceedings,” below, we are a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) in an environmental proceeding and remediation matter in which substantial amounts may be involved. It is possible that adjustments to reserved expenses will be necessary as new information is obtained. Estimates of our liability are based on current facts, laws, regulations and technology. Estimates of our environmental liabilities are further subject to uncertainties regarding the negotiations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), the nature and extent of site contamination, the range of remediation alternatives available, evolving remediation standards, imprecise engineering evaluation and cost estimates, the extent of remedial actions that may be required, the number and financial condition of other PRPs that may be named as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation, and the availability of insurance coverage for these expenses. At this time, we have not accrued for such remediation costs as we are unable to estimate the liability at this time. Additionally, we are party to a consent decree regarding another location pursuant to which we are required to contribute to the costs of the remediation project.

We have limited insurance coverage for potential environmental liabilities associated with historic and current operations and we do not anticipate increasing such coverage in the future. We may also assume significant environmental liabilities in acquisitions. Such costs or liabilities could adversely affect our financial situation and our ability to conduct our business.

Environmental regulations specific to plastic products and containers could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.

Federal, state, local and foreign governments could enact laws or regulations concerning environmental matters that increase the cost of producing, or otherwise adversely affect the demand for, plastic products. Legislation that would prohibit, tax or restrict the sale or use of certain types of plastic and other containers, and would require diversion of solid wastes such as packaging materials from disposal in landfills, has been or may be introduced in the U.S. Congress, in state legislatures and other legislative bodies. While container legislation has been adopted in a few jurisdictions, similar legislation has been defeated in public referenda in several states, local elections and many state and local legislative sessions. There can be no assurance that future legislation or regulation would not have a material adverse effect on us. Furthermore, a decline in consumer preference for plastic products due to environmental considerations could have a negative effect on our business.

10


Our insurance coverage may be inadequate to protect against potential hazardous incidents to our business.

We maintain property, business interruption, product liability and casualty insurance coverage, but such insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential claims, including losses resulting from war risks, terrorist acts or product liability claims relating to products we manufacture. Consistent with market conditions in the insurance industry, premiums and deductibles for some of our insurance policies have been increasing and may continue to increase in the future. In some instances, some types of insurance may become available only for reduced amounts of coverage, if at all. In addition, there can be no assurance that our insurers would not challenge coverage for certain claims. If we were to incur a significant liability for which we were not fully insured or that our insurers disputed, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Our business operations could be significantly disrupted if members of our senior management team were to leave.

Our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our senior management team. Our senior management team has extensive marketing, sales, manufacturing, finance and engineering experience, and we believe that the depth of our management team is instrumental to our continued success. The loss of any of our key executive officers in the future could significantly impede our ability to successfully implement our business strategy, financial plans, expansion of services, marketing and other objectives.

Unforeseen future events may negatively impact our economic condition.

Future events may occur that would adversely affect the reported value of our assets. Such events may include, but are not limited to, strategic decisions made in response to changes in economic and competitive conditions, the impact of the economic environment on our customer base, a material adverse change in our relationship with significant customers, or natural disasters or other catastrophic events beyond our control. Any of these events may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Equity Ownership Concentration

Based solely on the Schedule 13D filed on November 17, 2017, by Gabelli Funds, LLC, GAMCO Asset Management Inc., MJG Associates, Inc., Gabelli & Company Investment Advisors, Inc., Teton Advisors, Inc., Gabelli Foundation, Inc., GGCP, Inc., and GAMCO Investors, Inc., (collectively, the “Gamco Group”), for which the Company disclaims any responsibility, beneficially owned 6,807,576 shares of our common stock, which represented approximately 22% of the 30,301,721 shares outstanding as reported in our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017. Combined, these parties may have sufficient voting power to influence actions requiring the approval of our shareholders.

Changes in laws and regulations may have an adverse impact on our operations.

Changes in laws and regulations and approvals and decisions of courts, regulators, and governmental bodies on any legal claims known or unknown, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial results. In late 2017, the United States federal government U.S. tax reform legislation commonly referred to as the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”) was enacted. The Tax Act significantly changes how the U.S. taxes corporations. The Tax Act requires complex computations to be performed that were not previously required in U.S. tax law, significant judgements to be made in interpretation of the provisions of the Tax Act and significant estimates in calculations, and the preparation and analysis of information not previously relevant or regularly produced. The U.S. Treasury Department, the IRS, and other standard-setting bodies could interpret or issue guidance on how provisions of the Tax Act will be applied or otherwise administered that is different from our interpretation. As we complete our analysis of the Tax Act, collect and prepare necessary data, and interpret any additional guidance, we may make adjustments to provisional amounts that we have recorded that may materially impact our provision for income taxes in the period in which the adjustments are made. Given the timing, scope, and magnitude of the changes enacted by the Tax Act, along with on-going implementation efforts, guidance, and other developments from U.S. regulatory and standard-setting bodies, the completion of the accounting for certain tax items included in the consolidated financial statements that have been reported as provisional, may be subject to material change. Any significant changes to our future effective tax rate, including final resolution of provisional amounts relating to effects of the Tax Act, may result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

 

ITEM 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

11


ITEM 2.

Pr operties

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to properties owned by the Company:

 

 

 

Distribution

 

 

 

Location

 

Approximate

Floor Space

(Square Feet)

 

 

Approximate

Land Area

(Acres)

 

 

Use

Akron, Ohio

 

 

129,000

 

 

 

8

 

 

Headquarters and distribution center

Akron, Ohio

 

 

67,000

 

 

 

5

 

 

Administration and warehousing

Wadsworth, Ohio

 

 

125,000

 

 

 

12

 

 

Distribution center

Pomona, California

 

 

18,000

 

 

 

1

 

 

Sales and distribution center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manufacturing

 

 

 

Miami, Oklahoma

 

 

330,000

 

 

 

16

 

 

Manufacturing and distribution

Sandusky, Ohio

 

 

305,000

 

 

 

8

 

 

Manufacturing and distribution

Springfield, Missouri

 

 

227,000

 

 

 

19

 

 

Manufacturing and distribution

Wadsworth, Ohio

 

 

197,000

 

 

 

23

 

 

Manufacturing and distribution

Bristol, Indiana

 

 

185,000

 

 

 

12

 

 

Manufacturing and distribution

Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina

 

 

172,000

 

 

 

20

 

 

Manufacturing and distribution

Scarborough, Ontario

 

 

170,000

 

 

 

8

 

 

Manufacturing and distribution

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to facilities leased by the Company:

 

 

 

Manufacturing & Distribution

 

 

Location

 

Approximate

Floor Space

(Square Feet)

 

 

Expiration Date

of Lease

 

Use

Cassopolis, Michigan

 

 

210,000

 

 

October 31, 2018

 

Manufacturing and distribution

South Beloit, Illinois

 

 

160,000

 

 

September   30, 2018

 

Manufacturing and distribution

Springfield, Missouri

 

 

70,000

 

 

October 31, 2019

 

Warehousing

Southaven, Mississippi

 

 

56,000

 

 

September 30, 2023

 

Distribution center

Salt Lake City, Utah

 

 

30,000

 

 

October 31, 2023

 

Distribution center

Milford, Ohio

 

 

22,000

 

 

November 30, 2018

 

Administration and sales

 

The Company also leases facilities for its sales offices and sales branches in the United States and Central America which, in the aggregate, amount to approximately 50,000 square feet of warehouse and office space. All of these locations are used by the Distribution Segment.

The Company believes that all of its properties, machinery and equipment generally are well maintained and adequate for the purposes for which they are used.

12


ITEM 3.

Legal Proceedings

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

New Idria Mercury Mine

In September 2015, the U.S. EPA formally informed a subsidiary of the Company, Buckhorn, Inc. (“Buckhorn”) via a notice letter and related documents (the “Notice Letter”) that it considers Buckhorn to be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) in connection with the New Idria Mercury Mine Superfund site (“New Idria Mine”).  New Idria Mining & Chemical Company (“NIMCC”), which owned and/or operated the New Idria Mine from 1936 through 1976 was merged into Buckhorn Metal Products Inc. in 1981, which was subsequently acquired by Myers Industries in 1987.  As a result of the EPA Notice Letter, Buckhorn and the Company have been engaged in negotiations with the EPA with respect to a draft Settlement Agreement and Administrative Order on Consent (“AOC”) proposed by the EPA for the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (“RI/FS”) to determine the extent of remediation necessary and the screening of alternatives.  

The Company and the EPA are in the final stages of negotiation on the AOC and related Statement of Work (“SOW”) with regards to the New Idria Mine, and the Company expects to execute the AOC in March 2018. The key terms of the AOC and SOW include, but are not limited to, scope of the site, categories of and schedules for completion of required tasks, administration of future oversight costs, stipulated penalties, and resolution of any disputed items between the parties. As a result of recent negotiations, the Company recognized expected future EPA oversight costs for the RI/FS of $1 million in 2017. In addition, the AOC will require the Company to provide $2 million of financial assurance to the EPA during the estimated three year life of the RI/FS.  Per federal statutes, this financial assurance can take several forms, including a financial guarantee by the Company, a letter of credit, or a surety bond.  The Company expects to provide this assurance within 30 days following the execution of the AOC, and is currently evaluating the options available under the statute.

The New Idria Mine is located near Hollister, California and was added to the Superfund National Priorities List by the EPA in October 2011, at which time the Company recognized expense of $1.9 million related to performing the RI/FS.   In the second quarter of 2016, the Company, based on discussions with the EPA, determined that the RI/FS would begin in 2017 and therefore obtained updated estimated costs to perform the RI/FS.  As a result of the updated estimated costs, the Company recorded additional expense of $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2016. In the second quarter of 2017, the Company, based on the status of its discussions with the EPA, determined that field work on the RI/FS would likely begin in 2018 with no changes to the cost estimates to perform the RI/FS. In the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded an additional reserve of $0.3 million for this project, as a result of additional professional fees and other project costs expected to be incurred as part of the implementation of the AOC and site preparation and stabilization, in advance of starting the RI/FS field work in 2018.

As part of the Notice Letter, the EPA also made a claim for approximately $1.6 million in past costs for actions it claims it has taken in connection with the New Idria Mine since 1993.  While the Company is evaluating this past cost claim and may challenge portions of it, in 2015 the Company recognized an expense of $1.3 million related to the claim. These past costs will not be addressed or settled upon execution of the AOC discussed above.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company has a total reserve of $3.6 million related to the New Idria Mine.

As negotiations with the EPA proceed, it is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary to reflect new information. Estimates of the Company’s liability are based on current facts, laws, regulations and technology. Estimates of the Company’s environmental liabilities are further subject to uncertainties regarding the negotiations with EPA, the nature and extent of the specific tasks required in the RI/FS, the nature and extent of site contamination, the range of remediation alternatives available, evolving remediation standards, imprecise engineering evaluation and cost estimates, the extent of remedial actions that may be required, the number and financial condition of other PRPs that may be named as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation, and the availability of insurance coverage for these expenses.

At this time, we have not accrued for remediation costs in connection with this site as we are unable to estimate the liability, given the circumstances referred to above, including the fact that the final remediation strategy has not yet been determined.

13


New Almaden Mine (formerly referred to as Guad a lupe River Watershed)

A number of parties, including the Company and its subsidiary, Buckhorn (as successor to NIMCC), were alleged by trustee agencies of the United States and the State of California to be responsible for natural resource damages due to environmental contamination of areas comprising the historical New Almaden mercury mines located in the Guadalupe River Watershed region in Santa Clara County, California (“County”). In 2005, Buckhorn and the Company, without admitting liability or chain of ownership of NIMCC, resolved the trustees’ claim against them through a consent decree that required them to contribute financially to the implementation by the County of an environmentally beneficial project within the impacted area.  Buckhorn and the Company negotiated an agreement with the County, whereby Buckhorn and the Company agreed to reimburse one-half of the County’s costs of implementing the project, originally estimated to be approximately $1.6 million. As a result, in 2005, the Company recognized expense of $0.8 million representing its share of the initial estimated project costs, of which approximately $0.5 million has been paid to date. In April 2016, the Company was notified by the County that the original cost estimate may no longer be appropriate due to expanded scope and increased costs of construction, and provided a revised estimate of between  $3.3 million and $4.4 million.  T he Company completed a detailed review of the support provided by the County for their revised estimate, and as a result, recognized additional expense of $1.2 million in the second and third quarters of 2016. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has a total reserve of $1.5 million related to the New Almaden Mine.    

The project has not yet been implemented though significant work on design and planning has been performed. Field work on the project is expected to commence in 2018.  As work on the project occurs, it is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary to reflect new information.   In addition, the Company may have claims against and defenses to claims by the County under the 2005 agreement that could reduce or offset its obligation for reimbursement of some of these potential additional costs. With the assistance of environmental consultants, the Company will closely monitor this matter and will continue to assess its reserves as additional information becomes available.

Lawn and Garden Indemnification Claim

In connection with the sale of the Lawn and Garden business, as described in Note 4, the Company received Notices of Indemnification Claims in April 2015 and July 2016 (collectively, the “Claims”), alleging breaches of certain representations and warranties under the agreement resulting in alleged losses in the amount of approximately $10 million. As described in Note 4, approximately $8.6 million of the sale proceeds that were placed in escrow were due to be released in August 2016, but continue in escrow until the Claims are resolved, which are the subject of a lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court.

In December 2017, the Delaware Chancery Court issued a non-final opinion in favor of the L&G Buyer that it is entitled to a distribution of the escrow property on technical grounds, without resolving the merits of the alleged breaches that are the subject of the Claims. The Company intends to appeal this decision, and has the right to a de novo review and believes it has meritorious grounds to reverse the decision. The Company also believes that it has meritorious defenses to the L&G Buyer’s Claims and will vigorously defend its position that it is entitled to the escrow property.

Other

Buckhorn and Schoeller Arca Systems, Inc. (“SAS”) were plaintiffs in a patent infringement lawsuit against Orbis Corp. and Orbis Material Handling, Inc. (“Orbis”) for alleged breach by Orbis of an exclusive patent license agreement from SAS to Buckhorn. SAS is an affiliate of Schoeller Arca Systems Services B.V. (“SASS B.V.”), a Dutch company. SAS manufactures and sells plastic returnable packaging systems for material handling. In the course of the litigation, it was discovered that SAS had given a patent license agreement to a predecessor of Orbis that pre-dated the one that SAS sold to Buckhorn. As a result, judgment was entered in favor of Orbis, and the court awarded attorney fees and costs to Orbis in the amount of $3.1 million, plus interest and costs.

In May 2014, Orbis made demand to SAS that SAS pay the judgment in full, and subsequently in July 2014, Orbis made the same demand to Buckhorn. Buckhorn believed it was not responsible for any of the judgment because it was not a party to the Orbis license. Despite this belief, the Company recorded expense of $3.0 million in 2014 for the entire amount of the unpaid judgment. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the judgment against Buckhorn on July 2, 2015, and found that Buckhorn was not liable to Orbis for any portion of the judgment entered in favor of Orbis. Accordingly, Myers reversed the accrual of $3.0 million in 2015, which was reflected as a reduction of general and administrative expenses. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Orbis' petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc. All opportunities for Orbis to appeal have expired. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio has now released Buckhorn’s appellate bond. Buckhorn was also pursuing legal action against SAS and SASS B.V. for fraudulently selling an exclusive patent license they could not sell and related claims. In 2016, the Company settled with SAS and SASS B.V. in return for a payment to the Company of $0.2 million, which was recorded as a reduction in general and administrative expenses. 

14


When a loss arising from these or other legal matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, we record the amount of the estimated loss, or the minimum est imated liability when the loss is estimated using a range, and no point within the range is more probable of occurrence than another. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters will be assessed and the est imates will be revised, if necessary.

Based on current available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or overall trends in our results of operations. However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the financial position and results of operations of the period in which the ruling occurs, or in future periods.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Set forth below is certain information concerning the executive officers of the Registrant as of December 31, 2017. Executive officers are appointed annually by the Board of Directors.

 

Name

 

Age

 

Title

R. David Banyard

 

49

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

Matteo Anversa

 

46

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

Kevin L. Brackman

 

45

 

Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer

 

Mr. Banyard, President and Chief Executive Officer, was appointed to his current position on December 7, 2015. Formerly, Mr. Banyard served as the Group President, Fluid Handling Technologies at Roper Technologies where he led a diverse portfolio of companies serving a wide array of end markets. Prior to that, Mr. Banyard was with Danaher Corporation, where he held successive leadership roles during his six year tenure culminating with his leadership of the Vehicle Systems business unit of Kollmorgen, based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Mr. Anversa, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, was appointed to his current position on December 1, 2016. Prior to that, he was with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., where he served as Vice President, Group Financial Planning and Analysis. Prior to that, Mr. Anversa was with General Electric Corporation, where he held successive leadership roles during his sixteen year tenure.  

Mr. Brackman, Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, was appointed to his current position on March 2, 2017. Previously, he served as Vice President, Corporate Controller, since joining the Company in March 2015 and also acted as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary from March 18, 2016 until December 1, 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Brackman was with Ingersoll-Rand, where he held various finance leadership roles.  

 

 

 

15


PART II

 

ITEM 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MYE). The approximate number of shareholders of record at December 31, 2017 was 1,043. High and low stock prices and dividends for the last two years were:

 

2017

 

Sales Price

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

High

 

 

Low

 

 

Dividends

 

March 31

 

$

15.90

 

 

$

13.20

 

 

$

0.135

 

June 30

 

 

19.45

 

 

 

15.58

 

 

 

0.135

 

September 30

 

 

21.30

 

 

 

15.40

 

 

 

0.135

 

December 31

 

 

22.65

 

 

 

18.80

 

 

 

0.135

 

 

2016

 

Sales Price

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

High

 

 

Low

 

 

Dividends

 

March 31

 

$

13.22

 

 

$

10.12

 

 

$

0.135

 

June 30

 

 

15.76

 

 

 

12.23

 

 

 

0.135

 

September 30

 

 

15.86

 

 

 

12.84

 

 

 

0.135

 

December 31

 

 

15.55

 

 

 

11.35

 

 

 

0.135

 

 

Purchases of equity securities by the issuer

The following table presents information regarding the Company’s stock repurchase plan during the three months ended December 31, 2017.

 

 

 

Total   Number of

Shares Purchased

 

 

Average Price Paid

per Share

 

 

Total   Number of

Shares Purchased as

Part of the Publicly

Announced Plans or Programs

 

 

Maximum number

of Shares that may

yet be Purchased

Under the Plans or Programs (1)

 

10/1/17 to 10/31/17

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

5,547,665

 

 

 

2,452,335

 

11/1/17 to 11/30/17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,547,665

 

 

 

2,452,335

 

12/1/17 to 12/31/17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,547,665

 

 

 

2,452,335

 

 

(1)

On July 11, 2013, the Board authorized the repurchase of up to an additional five million shares of the Company’s common stock. This authorization was in addition to the 2011 Board authorized repurchase of up to five million shares. The Company completed the repurchase of approximately 2.0 million shares in 2011 pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 plans, which were adopted pursuant to the 2011 authorized share repurchase.

 

See Item 12 of this Form 10-K for the Equity Compensation Plan Information Table which is incorporated herein by reference.      

 

 

16


Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return

Assumes Initial Investment of $100

December 31, 2017

The chart below compares the Company’s cumulative total shareholder return for the five years ended December 31, 2017, to that of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index – Total Return and the Russell 2000 Index. In all cases, the information is presented on a dividend-reinvested basis and assumes investment of $100 on December 31, 2012.

 

 

2012

 

 

2013

 

 

2014

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

Myers Industries Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual   Return %

 

 

 

 

 

42.35

 

 

 

(14.36

)

 

 

(21.65

)

 

 

11.74

 

 

 

40.72

 

Cum $

 

100.00

 

 

 

142.35

 

 

 

121.91

 

 

 

95.52

 

 

 

106.73

 

 

 

150.20

 

S&P 500 Index - Total Return

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Return %

 

 

 

 

 

32.39

 

 

 

13.69

 

 

 

1.38

 

 

 

11.96

 

 

 

21.83

 

Cum $

 

100.00

 

 

 

132.39

 

 

 

150.51

 

 

 

152.59

 

 

 

170.84

 

 

 

208.14

 

Russell 2000 Index - Total Return

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Return %

 

 

 

 

 

38.82

 

 

 

4.89

 

 

 

(4.41

)

 

 

21.31

 

 

 

14.65

 

Cum $

 

100.00

 

 

 

138.82

 

 

 

145.62

 

 

 

139.19

 

 

 

168.85

 

 

 

193.58

 

 

17


ITEM 6.

Selected Financial Data

Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Data

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

Operations for the Year (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

547,043

 

 

$

534,379

 

 

$

571,020

 

 

$

576,759

 

 

$

534,735

 

Cost of sales

 

 

389,590

 

 

 

372,481

 

 

 

395,158

 

 

 

419,575

 

 

 

376,590

 

Selling expenses

 

 

56,614

 

 

 

58,782

 

 

 

58,456

 

 

 

56,097

 

 

 

50,634

 

General and administrative expenses

 

 

78,889

 

 

 

73,797

 

 

 

82,333

 

 

 

73,938

 

 

 

63,969

 

(Gain) loss on disposal of fixed assets

 

 

(3,482

)

 

 

628

 

 

 

556

 

 

 

(20

)

 

 

(72

)

Impairment charges

 

 

544

 

 

 

1,329

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

1,888

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

 

7,292

 

 

 

8,643

 

 

 

9,009

 

 

 

8,570

 

 

 

4,512

 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

531,335

 

 

 

515,660

 

 

 

545,512

 

 

 

558,160

 

 

 

495,633

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

15,708

 

 

 

18,719

 

 

 

25,508

 

 

 

18,599

 

 

 

39,102

 

Income tax expense

 

 

4,864

 

 

 

7,395

 

 

 

8,037

 

 

 

5,680

 

 

 

13,744

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

10,844

 

 

$

11,324

 

 

$

17,471

 

 

$

12,919

 

 

$

25,358

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

$

(20,733

)

 

$

(10,267

)

 

$

291

 

 

$

(21,600

)

 

$

644

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(9,889

)

 

$

1,057

 

 

$

17,762

 

 

$

(8,681

)

 

$

26,002

 

Net income per basic share from continuing operations

 

$

0.36

 

 

$

0.38

 

 

$

0.57

 

 

$

0.40

 

 

$

0.75

 

Net income per diluted share from continuing

   operations

 

$

0.35

 

 

$

0.38

 

 

$

0.56

 

 

$

0.40

 

 

$

0.74

 

Net income (loss) per basic share from discontinued

   operations

 

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.35

)

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

(0.67

)

 

$

0.02

 

Net income (loss) per diluted share from discontinued

   operations

 

$

(0.68

)

 

$

(0.35

)

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

(0.67

)

 

$

0.02

 

Net income (loss) per basic share

 

$

(0.33

)

 

$

0.03

 

 

$

0.58

 

 

$

(0.27

)

 

$

0.77

 

Net income (loss) per diluted share

 

$

(0.33

)

 

$

0.03

 

 

$

0.57

 

 

$

(0.27

)

 

$

0.76

 

Financial Position — At Year End (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets (1)

 

$

355,942

 

 

$

381,684

 

 

$

429,024

 

 

$

563,433

 

 

$

468,344

 

Current assets

 

 

150,012

 

 

 

141,151

 

 

 

154,541

 

 

 

285,441

 

 

 

234,910

 

Current liabilities

 

 

98,653

 

 

 

79,312

 

 

 

117,045

 

 

 

153,814

 

 

 

150,583

 

Working capital

 

 

51,359

 

 

 

61,839

 

 

 

37,496

 

 

 

131,627

 

 

 

84,327

 

Other assets (1)

 

 

122,026

 

 

 

134,267

 

 

 

151,982

 

 

 

154,365

 

 

 

151,588

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

83,904

 

 

 

106,266

 

 

 

122,501

 

 

 

123,627

 

 

 

81,846

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, less current portion (1)

 

 

151,036

 

 

 

189,522

 

 

 

191,881

 

 

 

235,029

 

 

 

43,234

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

8,236

 

 

 

9,452

 

 

 

13,543

 

 

 

15,851

 

 

 

25,375

 

Deferred income taxes (2)

 

 

4,265

 

 

 

10,365

 

 

 

8,852

 

 

 

12,168

 

 

 

13,645

 

Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

93,752

 

 

 

93,033

 

 

 

97,703

 

 

 

146,571

 

 

 

235,507

 

Common Shares Outstanding

 

 

30,495,737

 

 

 

30,019,561

 

 

 

29,521,566

 

 

 

31,162,962

 

 

 

33,572,778

 

Book Value Per Common Share

 

$

3.07

 

 

$

3.10

 

 

$

3.31

 

 

$

4.70

 

 

$

7.01

 

Other Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends paid

 

$

16,341

 

 

$

16,221

 

 

$

16,675

 

 

$

15,707

 

 

$

9,103

 

Dividends declared per Common Share

 

$

0.54

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

$

0.52

 

 

$

0.36

 

Average Basic Common Shares Outstanding during

   the year

 

 

30,222,289

 

 

 

29,750,378

 

 

 

30,616,485

 

 

 

32,232,965

 

 

 

33,588,720

 

 

(1)

Balances for 2013-2015 reflect the retrospective change to the balance sheet presentation of unamortized debt issuance costs in conjunction with the adoption of ASU 2015-03 in 2016. Under this guidance, unamortized debt issuance costs are to be presented as a reduction of the corresponding debt liability rather than a separate asset.

(2)

Balances as of December 31, 2015 reflect the prospective change to the balance sheet presentation of deferred taxes in conjunction with the adoption of ASU 2015-17. Under this guidance, all deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as long-term.

(3)

Historical information has been adjusted to reflect discontinued operations presentation. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.

18


ITEM 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Executive Overview

The Company conducts its business activities in two distinct segments: The Material Handling Segment and the Distribution Segment. The Brazil Business, which was sold in December 2017, and the Lawn and Garden business, which was sold in February 2015, are classified as discontinued operations in all periods presented.

The Company designs, manufactures, and markets a variety of plastic and rubber products. Our Material Handling Segment manufactures products that range from plastic reusable material handling containers and small parts storage bins to plastic OEM parts, custom plastic products, consumer fuel containers, military water containers as well as ammunition packaging and shipping containers. Our Distribution Segment is engaged in the distribution of tools, equipment and supplies used for tire, wheel and under vehicle service on passenger, heavy truck and off-road vehicles, as well as the manufacturing of tire repair and retreading products.

Results of Operations: 2017 versus 2016

Net Sales:

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Material Handling

 

$

391.3

 

 

$

363.9

 

 

$

27.4

 

 

 

8

%

Distribution

 

 

156.4

 

 

 

170.7

 

 

 

(14.3

)

 

 

(8

)%

Inter-company elimination

 

 

(0.7

)

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

(0.5

)

 

 

 

 

Total net sales

 

$

547.0

 

 

$

534.4

 

 

$

12.6

 

 

 

2

%

 

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $547.0 million, an increase of $12.6 million or 2% compared to the prior year. Net sales were positively impacted by higher sales volumes of approximately $4.0 million, higher pricing of $7.5 million and the effect of favorable foreign currency translation of approximately $1.1 million.

Net sales in the Material Handling Segment increased $27.4 million or 8% for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the prior year. The increase in net sales was due to higher sales volume of $19.9 million, mainly due to increased demand in the Company’s consumer and food and beverage markets, higher pricing of $6.4 million, and the effect of favorable foreign currency translation of $1.1 million.  

Net sales in the Distribution Segment decreased $14.3 million or 8% in the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the prior year primarily due to lower volume. A significant portion of this volume decline resulted from a strategic decision to exit a low margin product line with a customer in early 2017, which contributed to overall gross margin improvement in this segment. The remainder of the decrease in volume was across all product lines and regions, including our export and international channels; however, the Company saw most of this decline early in 2017, as both demand and pricing improved throughout the second half of the year.

Cost of Sales & Gross Profit:

 

 

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Cost of sales

 

$

389.6

 

 

$

372.5

 

 

$

17.1

 

 

 

5

%

Gross profit

 

$

157.5

 

 

$

161.9

 

 

$

(4.4

)

 

 

(3

)%

Gross profit as a percentage of sales

 

 

28.8

%

 

 

30.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit margin decreased to 28.8% for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 30.3% for the same period in 2016, primarily due to higher raw material costs and operating inefficiencies, as well as restructuring and related costs of $7.5 million within the Material Handling Segment. These impacts were partially offset by higher pricing and a favorable sales mix.

19


Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:

 

 

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

SG&A expenses

 

$

135.5

 

 

$

132.6

 

 

$

2.9

 

 

 

2

%

SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales

 

 

24.8

%

 

 

24.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $135.5 million, an increase of $2.9 million or 2% compared to the prior year. SG&A expenses in 2017 were unfavorably impacted by higher legal and professional fees of $1.0 million, costs associated with the restructuring within the Material Handling Segment of $1.2 million, and the non-recurring reversal of a long-term liability of approximately $2.3 million recognized in 2016, partially offset by lower expenses related to the environmental contingencies of approximately $0.8 million, which is described in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.

Restructuring:

As further discussed in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company initiated a restructuring plan (the “Plan”) in the first quarter of 2017 to improve the Company’s organizational structure and operational efficiency within the Material Handling Segment. The Company has incurred a total of $7.6 million of restructuring costs in connection with the Plan during 2017. The Company also recorded $3.9 million in net gains on sales of assets in 2017, primarily related to the closure and sale of the Bluffton, Indiana facility and certain equipment. All actions under the Plan were substantially completed by the end of 2017.

As a result of the Plan, the Company expects to save approximately $10 million on an annualized basis, of which $8 million is expected to be realized in 2018.

(Gain) Loss on Disposal of Fixed Assets:

The gain on disposal of fixed assets for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $3.5 million compared to a loss of $0.6 million in the prior year. The gains in 2017 were primarily due to the sale of the Bluffton facility and certain equipment associated with the restructuring plan within the Material Handling Segment, as discussed in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.

Impairment Charges:

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $0.5 million related to assets held for sale at its Scarborough, Ontario, Canada location, as discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. The building was sold in December 2017.

The Company recorded $1.3 million of non-cash impairment charges, primarily related to long-lived assets associated with the exit of a non-strategic product line in the Material Handling Segment during the year ended December 31, 2016, as discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

Net Interest Expense:

 

 

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net interest expense

 

$

7.3

 

 

$

8.6

 

 

$

(1.3

)

 

 

(15

)%

Outstanding borrowings, net of deferred financing costs

 

$

151.0

 

 

$

189.5

 

 

$

(38.5

)

 

 

(20

)%

Average borrowing rate

 

 

4.94

%

 

 

4.69

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $7.3 million compared to $8.6 million during 2016. The decrease in net interest expense is due to a decrease in average borrowings during the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the prior year, partially offset by a slightly higher borrowing rate.

20


Loss on Extinguishment of Debt:

During the year ended December, 31, 2017, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $1.9 million related to the purchase of a portion of the outstanding Senior Unsecured Notes in 2017, as discussed in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes:

 

 

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

$

15.7

 

 

$

18.7

 

Income tax expense

 

$

4.9

 

 

$

7.4

 

Effective tax rate

 

 

31.0

%

 

 

39.5

%

 

The effective tax rate was 31.0% for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 39.5% in the prior year. The 2017 effective tax rate is lower than our statutory rate and the effective tax rate for the same period in 2016, primarily due to the enactment of the Tax Act in December 2017, which reduces the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018. As a result the Company revalued its U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the lower U.S. corporate rates, which resulted in a tax benefit of $3.0 million in 2017. This was partially offset by a $1.8 million provision for one-time transition tax expense under the Tax Act related to certain foreign earnings previously not taxed in the U.S.

Discontinued Operations:

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes was $20.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to loss of $10.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. In 2017, this result included a loss on sale of the Brazil Business of $35.0 million (pre-tax), offset primarily by a tax benefit of $15 million, which was generated as a result of a worthless stock deduction for the Brazil Business.

Results of Operations: 2016 versus 2015

Net Sales:

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Material Handling

 

$

363.9

 

 

$

384.3

 

 

$

(20.4

)

 

 

(5

)%

Distribution

 

 

170.7

 

 

 

187.6

 

 

 

(16.9

)

 

 

(9

)%

Inter-company elimination

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

(0.9

)

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

 

 

Total net sales

 

$

534.4

 

 

$

571.0

 

 

$

(36.6

)

 

 

(6

)%

 

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $534.4 million, a decrease of $36.6 million or 6% compared to the prior year. Net sales were negatively impacted by lower sales volumes of approximately $24.4 million, lower indexed pricing of $9.7 million and the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation of approximately $2.5 million.

Net sales in the Material Handling Segment decreased $20.4 million or 5% for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the prior year. The decrease in net sales was due to lower sales volume of $7.5 million, mainly in the food and beverage end market, partially offset by favorable sales volume in the vehicle end market, unfavorable pricing of $10.4 million and the effect of unfavorable foreign currency translation of $2.5 million.

Net sales in the Distribution Segment decreased $16.9 million or 9% in the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the prior year. The decrease in net sales was primarily due to lower equipment sales and lower sales volume in the retread market segment, partially offset by higher pricing. Additionally, the Company implemented a sales force improvement initiative in 2016 that, in some territories, had a negative impact on sales. The initiative is designed to broaden market coverage, upgrade the talent of our sales team and improve the overall sales process. It resulted in some sales force turnover and territory gaps during the year with the resulting reductions in sales from those territories.

21


Cost of Sales & Gross Profit:

 

 

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Cost of sales

 

$

372.5

 

 

$

395.2

 

 

$

(22.7

)

 

 

(6

)%

Gross profit

 

$

161.9

 

 

$

175.9

 

 

$

(14.0

)

 

 

(8

)%

Gross profit as a percentage of sales

 

 

30.3

%

 

 

30.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit margin decreased to 30.3% in the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to 30.8% in the prior year primarily due to lower pricing and lower sales volume, partially offset by lower input costs for plastic resins.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:

 

 

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

SG&A expenses

 

$

132.6

 

 

$

140.8

 

 

$

(8.2

)

 

 

(6

)%

SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales

 

 

24.8

%

 

 

24.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $132.6 million, a decrease of $8.2 million or 6% compared to the prior year. SG&A expenses were favorably impacted by lower compensation expense and other employee-related costs of approximately $9.1 million, lower legal and professional costs of $1.5 million associated with the Brazilian investigation completed in the first quarter of 2015 and the non-recurring reversal of a long-term liability of approximately $2.3 million recognized in 2016, partially offset by additional environmental contingency expense of $0.9 million and the absence of a $3.0 million benefit recognized in 2015 related to the reversal of the legal reserve associated with the Orbis litigation, each described in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.

Impairment Charges:

The Company recorded $1.3 million of non-cash impairment charges, primarily related to long-lived assets associated with the exit of a non-strategic product line in the Material Handling Segment during the year ended December 31, 2016, as discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. No impairment charges were recorded during the same period in 2015.

Net Interest Expense:

 

 

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net interest expense

 

$

8.6

 

 

$

9.0

 

 

$

(0.4

)

 

 

(4

)%

Outstanding borrowings, net of deferred financing costs

 

$

189.5

 

 

$

191.9

 

 

$

(2.4

)

 

 

(1

)%

Average borrowing rate

 

 

4.69

%

 

 

4.59

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $8.6 million compared to $9.0 million during 2015. The decrease in net interest expense is due to a decrease in average borrowings during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the prior year, and higher interest income on the note receivable from the sale of the Lawn and Garden business described in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes:

 

 

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Income from continuing operations before taxes

 

$

18.7

 

 

$

25.5

 

Income tax expense

 

$

7.4

 

 

$

8.0

 

Effective tax rate

 

 

39.5

%

 

 

31.5

%

 

22


The effective tax rate was 39.5% for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to 31.5% in the prior year. The 201 6 effective rate is higher than our statutory rate and the effective tax rate for the same period in 2015, due primarily to a valuation allowance of $0.6 million related to Brazil and increased state tax expense .

Discontinued Operations:

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes was $10.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to income of $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Impairment charges of $8.5 million related to the Brazil Business were included in loss from discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2016. A gain on sale of the Lawn and Garden business of $1.9 million, pre-tax, was included in income (loss) from discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Financial Condition & Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $49.1 million, $34.0 million and $43.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The increase in cash provided by continuing operations of $15.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016 was mainly due to an increase in cash provided by working capital of $23.4 million, which was driven by a significant increase in accounts payable in 2017. This increase in accounts payable occurred primarily in the Material Handling Segment as a result of higher demand near year-end, as well as strategic initiatives from the 2017 restructuring plan. These initiatives included outsourcing production of certain product lines after the closure of the Bluffton facility, which results in increased payables to these strategic partners. Income from continuing operations was $10.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $11.3 million for the same period in 2016. Income from continuing operations in 2017 includes gains on sale of assets of $3.5 million and non-cash deferred tax benefits of $5.7 million.

The decrease in cash provided by continuing operations during the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to 2015 was mainly due to an increase in the use of working capital, primarily due to a significant reduction in accounts payable in 2016.  The decline in operating cash flow also included a decrease in income from continuing operations of $6.2 million, which includes non-cash impairment charges of $1.3 million, a decrease of $1.6 million in non-cash stock-based compensation expense. Income from continuing operations was $11.3 million in 2016 compared to $17.5 million in 2015. Depreciation and amortization costs from continuing operations were $31.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $32.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The lower depreciation and amortization are attributable to the reduction of $9.3 million in capital expenditures in 2016 compared to 2015.

Investing Activities

Capital expenditures were $5.8 million, $12.5 million and $21.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Higher capital spending in 2016 and 2015 compared to 2017 was due to additional investments that were made for new manufacturing focused on growth and productivity improvements in addition to higher spending at Scepter. The Company paid a final working capital adjustment to the buyer of the Lawn and Garden business of approximately $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2016 as described in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements. During 2015, the Company received approximately $69.8 million in cash proceeds in connection with the sale of the Lawn and Garden business and $1.0 million in connection with the sale of WEK (which occurred in 2014).

Financing Activities

Net repayments on the credit facility were $16.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to net repayments of $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company used cash of $23.8 million to purchase a portion of the outstanding Senior Unsecured Notes in 2017, as discussed in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements. The Company used cash to pay dividends of $16.3 million, $16.2 million and $16.7 million for the years 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In addition, under a share repurchase plan, the Company used cash of $30.0 million to purchase 1,992,379 shares of its stock in 2015.  The Company did not repurchase any stock during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Credit Sources

In March 2017, the Company entered into a Fifth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”).  The Loan Agreement replaced the pre-existing $300 million senior revolving credit facility with a $200 million facility and extended the term from December 2018 to March 2022.  In addition, the Loan Agreement provides for a maximum Leverage Ratio of 3.75 for the first and second quarters of 2017, stepping down to 3.5 in the third quarter of 2017, and 3.25 thereafter.

23


Borrowings under the Loan Agreement bear interest at the LIBOR rate, prime rate, federal funds effective rate, the Canadian deposit offered rate, or the eurocurrency reference rate depending on the type of loan requested by the Company, in each case plus the applicable margin as set forth in the Loan Agreement .

The Company has outstanding Senior Unsecured Notes totaling $78 million with a group of investors pursuant to a note purchase agreement. The series of four notes range in face value from $11 million to $40 million, with interest rates ranging from 4.67% to 5.45%, payable semiannually, and maturing between 2021 and 2026.

Total debt outstanding at December 31, 2017 was $151.0 million, net of deferred financing costs of $1.6 million, compared with $189.5 million at December 31, 2016. The Company’s Loan Agreement provides available borrowing up to $200 million, reduced for letters of credit issued. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $4.4 million of letters of credit issued related to insurance and other financing contracts in the ordinary course of business. As of December 31, 2017, there was $121.0 million available under our Loan Agreement.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all its debt covenants. The most restrictive financial covenants for all of the Company’s debt are an interest coverage ratio (defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted, divided by interest expense) and a leverage ratio (defined as total debt divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted). The ratios as of and for the period ended December 31, 2017 are shown in the following table:

 

 

 

Required Level

 

Actual Level

 

Interest Coverage Ratio

 

3.00 to 1   (minimum)

 

 

7.58

 

Leverage Ratio

 

3.25 to 1 (maximum)

 

 

2.40

 

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

Contractual Obligations

The following summarizes the Company’s estimated future cash outflows from financial contracts and commitments reflecting our current debt structure:

 

 

 

Less than

1 Year

 

 

2-3

Years

 

 

4-5

Years

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Principal payments on debt

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

114,632

 

 

$

38,000

 

 

$

152,632

 

Interest

 

 

5,947

 

 

 

7,789

 

 

 

4,131

 

 

 

3,419

 

 

 

21,286

 

Lease payments

 

 

2,486

 

 

 

1,605

 

 

 

1,154

 

 

 

390

 

 

 

5,635

 

Retirement obligations and other benefits

 

 

536

 

 

 

832

 

 

 

732

 

 

 

1,302

 

 

 

3,402

 

Total

 

$

8,969

 

 

$

10,226

 

 

$

120,649

 

 

$

43,111

 

 

$

182,955

 

 

Not included in the table above is an estimate from a one-time, provisional charge of $1.8 million related to the transition tax on certain foreign earnings previously untaxed in the United States. Uncertain tax position liabilities are also excluded from the contractual obligations table because a reasonably reliable estimate of the period of cash settlement with the respective tax authority cannot be made.

Critical Accounting Policies

The discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based on the accompanying consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). As indicated in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (included in Item 8 of this report), the amount of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses reported are affected by estimates and judgments that are necessary to comply with U.S. GAAP. The Company bases its estimates on prior experience and other assumptions that they consider reasonable to their circumstances. The Company believes the following matters may involve a high degree of judgment and complexity.

Inventory — Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market for last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) inventory and lower of cost or net realizable value for first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) inventory. Cost is determined by the LIFO method for approximately 30 percent of the Company’s inventories and the FIFO method for all other inventories. Where appropriate, standard cost systems are utilized and

24


appropriate variances are evaluated for purposes of determining cost; the standards are adjusted as necessary to ensure they approximate actual costs. Estimates of lower of cost or net realizable value of inventory are determined based u pon current economic conditions, historical sales quantities and patterns and, in some cases, the specific risk of loss on specifically identified inventories.

Goodwill — Goodwill is subject to annual impairment testing, unless significant changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment may have occurred sooner. The Company conducts its annual impairment assessment as of October 1. Such assessment can be done on a qualitative or quantitative basis. When conducting a qualitative assessment, the Company considers relevant events and circumstances that affect the fair value or carrying amount of the reporting unit. A quantitative test is required only if the Company concludes that it is more likely than not (defined as a likelihood of more than 50%) that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. If under the quantitative assessment the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the amount of the impairment loss, if any, must be recorded.

At October 1, 2017, after considering changes to assumptions used in the most recent quantitative annual testing for each reporting unit, including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance, the magnitude of the excess of fair value over the carrying amount of each reporting unit as determined in the most recent quantitative annual testing, and other factors, management concluded that it was not more likely than not that the fair values of the reporting units were less than their respective carrying values and, therefore, did not perform a quantitative analysis.

Contingencies — In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings and contingencies. The Company has recorded liabilities for these matters in accordance with FASB ASC 450, Contingencies (“ASC 450”). ASC 450 requires a liability to be recorded based on our estimate of the probable cost of the resolution of a contingency. When management believes that a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, they record the amount of the estimated loss, or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is estimated using a range, and no point within the range is more probable of occurrence than another. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters will be assessed and the estimates will be revised, if necessary. The actual resolution of these contingencies may differ from our estimates. If a contingency were settled for an amount greater than our estimate, a future charge to income would result. Likewise, if a contingency were settled for an amount that is less than our estimate, a future credit to income would result.

Revenue Recognition — The Company recognizes revenues from the sale of products, net of actual and estimated returns, at the point of passage of title and risk of loss, which is generally at time of shipment, and collectability of the fixed or determinable sales price is reasonably assured.

Income Taxes — Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be received or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period the change is enacted.

ASC 740, Income Taxes ("ASC 740") requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance, if based on all available evidence, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company evaluates the recovery of its deferred tax assets by assessing the adequacy of future expected taxable income from all sources, including reversal of taxable temporary differences, forecasted operating earnings and available tax planning strategies. These sources of income inherently rely heavily on estimates.

Significant judgement is required in determining the Company’s tax expense and in evaluating its tax positions, including evaluating uncertainties under ASC 740. ASC 740 provides detailed guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized under ASC 740. The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.

In response to the complexities and timing of the Tax Act, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“SAB 118”). Per the guidance in SAB 118, adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded by the Company in 2017 that are identified within a subsequent period of up to one year from the enactment date will be included as an adjustment in the period the amounts are determined.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Information regarding the recent accounting pronouncements is contained in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies footnote of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this report.

25


 

 

ITEM 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market Risk and Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company has certain financing arrangements that require interest payments based on floating interest rates. The Company’s financial results are subject to changes in the market rate of interest. At present, the Company has not entered into any interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments to fix the interest rate on any portion of its financing arrangements with floating rates. Accordingly, based on current debt levels at December 31, 2017, if market interest rates increase one percent, the Company’s interest expense would increase approximately $0.7 million annually.

Some of the Company’s subsidiaries operate in foreign countries and their financial results are subject to exchange rate movements. The Company has operations in Canada with foreign currency exposure, primarily due to sales made from businesses in Canada to customers in the United States ("U.S."). These sales are denominated in U.S. dollars. The Company has a systematic program to limit its exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates related to certain assets and liabilities of its operations in Canada that are denominated in U.S. dollars. The net exposure generally ranges from $1 million to $5 million. The foreign currency contracts and arrangements created under this program are not designated as hedged items under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 815, Derivatives and Hedging , and accordingly, the changes in the fair value of the foreign currency arrangements, which have been immaterial, are recorded in the income statement. The Company’s foreign currency arrangements are typically three months or less and are settled before the end of a reporting period. At December 31, 2017, the Company had no foreign currency arrangements or contracts in place.

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

 

 

 

26


ITEM 8.

Financial Statemen ts and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 9, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion .

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2011.

 

Akron, Ohio

March 9, 2018

 

 

 

27


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Net sales

$

547,043

 

 

$

534,379

 

 

$

571,020

 

Cost of sales

 

389,590

 

 

 

372,481

 

 

 

395,158

 

Gross profit

 

157,453

 

 

 

161,898

 

 

 

175,862

 

Selling expenses

 

56,614

 

 

 

58,782

 

 

 

58,456

 

General and administrative expenses

 

78,889

 

 

 

73,797

 

 

 

82,333

 

 

 

135,503

 

 

 

132,579

 

 

 

140,789

 

(Gain) loss on disposal of fixed assets

 

(3,482

)

 

 

628

 

 

 

556

 

Impairment charges

 

544

 

 

 

1,329

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

24,888

 

 

 

27,362

 

 

 

34,517

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income

 

(1,361

)

 

 

(1,262

)

 

 

(1,067

)

Expense

 

8,653

 

 

 

9,905

 

 

 

10,076

 

Interest expense, net

 

7,292

 

 

 

8,643

 

 

 

9,009

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

1,888

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

15,708

 

 

 

18,719

 

 

 

25,508

 

Income tax expense

 

4,864

 

 

 

7,395

 

 

 

8,037

 

Income from continuing operations

 

10,844

 

 

 

11,324

 

 

 

17,471

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax

 

(20,733

)

 

 

(10,267

)

 

 

291

 

Net income (loss)

$

(9,889

)

 

$

1,057

 

 

$

17,762

 

Income per common share from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.36

 

 

$

0.38

 

 

$

0.57

 

Diluted

$

0.35

 

 

$

0.38

 

 

$

0.56

 

Income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.35

)

 

$

0.01

 

Diluted

$

(0.68

)

 

$

(0.35

)

 

$

0.01

 

Net income (loss) per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

(0.33

)

 

$

0.03

 

 

$

0.58

 

Diluted

$

(0.33

)

 

$

0.03

 

 

$

0.57

 

Dividends declared per share

$

0.54

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

 

28


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(9,889

)

 

$

1,057

 

 

$

17,762

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

2,391

 

 

 

5,105

 

 

 

(27,622

)

Reclassification adjustment for foreign currency translation included in

   net income (loss)

 

 

17,201

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension liability, net of tax expense (benefit) of $14 in 2017, ($95) in

   2016, and $113 in 2015

 

 

41

 

 

 

(169

)

 

 

200

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

19,633

 

 

 

4,936

 

 

 

(27,422

)

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

9,744

 

 

$

5,993

 

 

$

(9,660

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

 

29


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

2,520

 

 

$

2,404

 

Restricted cash

 

 

8,659

 

 

 

8,635

 

Accounts receivable, less allowances of $1,313 and $1,497, respectively

 

 

76,650

 

 

 

64,282

 

Income tax receivable

 

 

12,954

 

 

 

2,208

 

Inventories, net

 

 

47,025

 

 

 

44,785

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

2,204

 

 

 

4,639

 

Current assets of discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

14,198

 

Total Current Assets

 

 

150,012

 

 

 

141,151

 

Other Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant, and equipment, net

 

 

83,904

 

 

 

106,266

 

Goodwill

 

 

59,971

 

 

 

59,219

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

39,049

 

 

 

46,868

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

120

 

 

 

83

 

Notes receivable

 

 

18,737

 

 

 

18,275

 

Other

 

 

4,149

 

 

 

3,313

 

Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

6,509

 

Total Assets

 

$

355,942

 

 

$

381,684

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

63,581

 

 

$

47,573

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation

 

 

15,544

 

 

 

11,276

 

Taxes, other than income taxes

 

 

1,664

 

 

 

1,600

 

Accrued interest

 

 

2,392

 

 

 

3,202

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

15,472

 

 

 

12,911

 

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

2,750

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

 

98,653

 

 

 

79,312

 

Long-term debt

 

 

151,036

 

 

 

189,522

 

Other liabilities

 

 

8,236

 

 

 

9,203

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

4,265

 

 

 

10,365

 

Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

249

 

Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serial Preferred Shares (authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued and outstanding)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares, without par value (authorized 60,000,000 shares;

   outstanding 30,495,737 and 30,019,561; net of treasury shares

   of 7,456,720 and 7,932,896, respectively)

 

 

18,547

 

 

 

18,234

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

209,253

 

 

 

202,033

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(14,541

)

 

 

(34,174

)

Retained deficit

 

 

(119,507

)

 

 

(93,060

)

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

93,752

 

 

 

93,033

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

355,942

 

 

$

381,684

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

 

30


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Common Shares

 

 

Additional

Paid-In

 

 

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

 

 

Retained

 

 

Total

Shareholders'

 

 

 

Number

 

 

Amount

 

 

Capital

 

 

Income (Loss)

 

 

Deficit

 

 

Equity

 

Balance at January 1, 2015

 

 

31,162,962

 

 

$

18,855

 

 

$

218,394

 

 

$

(11,688

)

 

$

(78,990

)

 

$

146,571

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,762

 

 

 

17,762

 

Issuances under option plans

 

 

239,908

 

 

 

162

 

 

 

2,613

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,775

 

Dividend reinvestment plan

 

 

8,968

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

144

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

149

 

Restricted stock vested

 

 

120,723

 

 

 

78

 

 

 

(78

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted stock and stock option grants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,277

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,277

 

Tax benefit from options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,622

)

 

 

 

 

 

(27,622

)

Repurchase of common stock

 

 

(1,992,379

)

 

 

(1,193

)

 

 

(28,830

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(30,023

)

Stock contributions

 

 

8,250

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

143

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

148

 

Shares withheld for employee taxes on

   equity awards

 

 

(26,866

)

 

 

(17

)

 

 

(958

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(975

)

Declared dividends - $0.54 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16,597

)

 

 

(16,597

)

Pension liability, net of tax of $113

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

200

 

 

 

 

 

 

200

 

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

 

29,521,566

 

 

 

17,895

 

 

 

196,743

 

 

 

(39,110

)

 

 

(77,825

)

 

 

97,703

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,057

 

 

 

1,057

 

Issuances under option plans

 

 

374,958

 

 

 

205

 

 

 

3,030

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,235

 

Dividend reinvestment plan

 

 

10,520

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

133

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

139

 

Restricted stock vested

 

 

169,929

 

 

 

104

 

 

 

(104

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

3,333

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,357

 

Tax benefit from options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

64

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,105

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,105

 

Shares withheld for employee taxes on

   equity awards

 

 

(57,412

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,166

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,166

)

Declared dividends - $0.54 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16,292

)

 

 

(16,292

)

Pension liability, net of tax of $95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(169

)

 

 

 

 

 

(169

)

Balance at December 31, 2016

 

 

30,019,561

 

 

 

18,234

 

 

 

202,033

 

 

 

(34,174

)

 

 

(93,060

)

 

 

93,033

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,889

)

 

 

(9,889

)

Issuances under option plans

 

 

375,292

 

 

 

229

 

 

 

4,167

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,396

 

Dividend reinvestment plan

 

 

7,625

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

126

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

131

 

Restricted stock vested

 

 

130,036

 

 

 

79

 

 

 

(79

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,626

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,391

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,391

 

Shares withheld for employee taxes on

   equity awards

 

 

(36,777

)

 

 

 

 

 

(620

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(620

)

Declared dividends - $0.54 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16,558

)

 

 

(16,558

)

Pension liability, net of tax of $14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

 

41

 

Reclassification adjustment for foreign

   currency translation included in

   net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,201

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,201

 

Balance at December 31, 2017

 

 

30,495,737

 

 

$

18,547

 

 

$

209,253

 

 

$

(14,541

)

 

$

(119,507

)

 

$

93,752

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

 

31


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(Dollars in thousands)

 

  

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(9,889

)

 

$

1,057

 

 

$

17,762

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

 

 

(20,733

)

 

 

(10,267

)

 

 

291

 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

10,844

 

 

 

11,324

 

 

 

17,471

 

Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by

   (used for) operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

19,952

 

 

 

22,049

 

 

 

22,418

 

Amortization

 

 

8,886

 

 

 

9,743

 

 

 

9,912

 

Accelerated depreciation associated with restructuring activities

 

 

1,993

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense

 

 

3,626

 

 

 

3,357

 

 

 

4,934

 

(Gain) loss on disposal of fixed assets

 

 

(3,482

)

 

 

628

 

 

 

556

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

1,888

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

(5,663

)

 

 

555

 

 

 

211

 

Accrued interest income on note receivable

 

 

(1,360

)

 

 

(1,268

)

 

 

(1,060

)

Impairment charges

 

 

544

 

 

 

1,329

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

256

 

 

 

155

 

 

 

104

 

Payments on performance based compensation

 

 

(1,010

)

 

 

(1,794

)

 

 

(1,303

)

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

723

 

 

 

(592

)

 

 

1,936

 

Cash flows provided by (used for) working capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

(6,757

)

 

 

6,411

 

 

 

(5,032

)

Inventories

 

 

(1,876

)

 

 

8,603

 

 

 

3,666

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

2,209

 

 

 

1,047

 

 

 

147

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

18,299

 

 

 

(27,594

)

 

 

(10,588

)

Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities - continuing operations

 

 

49,072

 

 

 

33,953

 

 

 

43,372

 

Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations

 

 

(4,633

)

 

 

(232

)

 

 

(5,640

)

Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities

 

 

44,439

 

 

 

33,721

 

 

 

37,732

 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(5,814

)

 

 

(12,489

)

 

 

(21,787

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

11,058

 

 

 

450

 

 

 

1,261

 

Proceeds (payments) related to sale of business

 

 

 

 

 

(4,034

)

 

 

70,762

 

Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities - continuing operations

 

 

5,244

 

 

 

(16,073

)

 

 

50,236

 

Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations

 

 

(1,107

)

 

 

(16

)

 

 

(2,521

)

Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities

 

 

4,137

 

 

 

(16,089

)

 

 

47,715

 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net borrowings (repayments) on credit facility

 

 

(16,474

)

 

 

(3,804

)

 

 

(37,110

)

Repayments of senior unsecured notes

 

 

(23,798

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends paid

 

 

(16,341

)

 

 

(16,221

)

 

 

(16,675

)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

 

4,527

 

 

 

3,374

 

 

 

2,924

 

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

64

 

 

 

38

 

Repurchase of common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(30,023

)

Shares withheld for employee taxes on equity awards

 

 

(620

)

 

 

(1,166

)

 

 

(975

)

Deferred financing costs

 

 

(1,030

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities - continuing operations

 

 

(53,736

)

 

 

(17,753

)

 

 

(81,821

)

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities

 

 

(53,736

)

 

 

(17,753

)

 

 

(81,821

)

Foreign exchange rate effect on cash

 

 

(208

)

 

 

665

 

 

 

(958

)

Less: Net increase (decrease) in cash classified within discontinued operations

 

 

(5,484

)

 

 

493

 

 

 

3,992

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

 

 

116

 

 

 

51

 

 

 

(1,324

)

Cash at January 1

 

 

2,404

 

 

 

2,353

 

 

 

3,677

 

Cash at December 31

 

$

2,520

 

 

$

2,404

 

 

$

2,353

 

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the year for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

8,913

 

 

$

8,917

 

 

$

10,131

 

Income taxes

 

$

5,651

 

 

$

8,136

 

 

$

10,136

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

 

32


 

MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Myers Industries, Inc. and all wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All subsidiaries that are not wholly owned and are not included in the consolidated operating results of the Company are immaterial investments which have been accounted for under the equity or cost method. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company completed the sale of certain subsidiaries in Brazil. As further discussed in Note 4, the results of operations and cash flows of these subsidiaries have been classified as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented.

Accounting Standards Adopted

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation - Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting , which involves several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Under the new standard, income tax benefits and deficiencies are to be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement and the tax effects of exercised or vested awards should be treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. An entity should also recognize excess tax benefits regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period. Excess tax benefits should be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity. In regards to forfeitures, the entity may make an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures when they occur. The Company adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2017 and elected to recognize forfeitures as they occur. The cash flow classification requirements of ASU 2016-09 were applied prospectively. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments , which clarifies how entities should classify certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows.  The new guidance also clarifies how the predominance principle should be applied when cash receipts and cash payments have aspects of more than one class of cash flows.  This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted.  The Company early adopted this standard in the fourth quarter of 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). This ASU allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The new standard also requires certain disclosures about stranded tax effects. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The ASU should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (as further discussed in Note 11) is recognized. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) – Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost.   This ASU requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item(s) as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period.  The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented.  The ASU also allows only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods.  The ASU should be applied retrospectively for the presentation of the service

33


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

cost component and the other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the income statement and prospectively, on and after the effective date, for the capitalization of the service cost component of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit in assets.  The Company does not anticipate that adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements as the pension plan is frozen.

In January 2017 , the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.  This ASU eliminates Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test and requires goodwill impairment to be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of its goodwill. The ASU is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  The guidance allows for early adoption for impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017.  While the Company has elected not to early adopt this guidance for fiscal year 2017 and will continue to evaluate the timing of adoption, it does not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 -18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Restricted Cash . This ASU requires that companies include amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, along with cash and cash equivalents, when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the statement of cash flows.  The ASU should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those annual periods. To the extent there are changes in the Company’s restricted cash balances, adoption of this standard will impact the presentation within the statement of cash flows.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16,  Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (Topic 740) . This ASU requires immediate recognition of the income tax consequences of intercompany asset transfers other than inventory. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company does not anticipate that adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments , which introduces new guidance for the accounting for credit losses on instruments.  The new guidance introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) . Under ASU 2016-02, an entity will be required to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 offers specific accounting guidance for a lessee, a lessor and sale and leaseback transactions. Lessees and lessors are required to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements to enable a user of the financial statements to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The new standard is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019 and requires a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to clarify the principles used to recognize revenue for all entities. Under ASU 2014-09, an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which a company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Additional disclosures will also be required to help users of financial statements understand the nature, amount, and timing of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts. The new guidance is effective January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted for January 1, 2017. Entities have the option to apply the new guidance under a retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented, or a modified retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially applying the new guidance recognized at the date of initial application within the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity. The Company will adopt the new guidance effective January 1, 2018 under the modified retrospective approach. As part of the implementation plan developed, the Company identified its revenue streams and completed its contract review for each of these revenue streams to assess the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements. This assessment included the potential impact of whether revenue from certain product lines would be required to be recognized over time rather than at a point in time. Based on the results of these reviews, the adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on the timing or measurement of revenue recognition in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the standard requires new disclosures related to revenue, which the Company is in the process of finalizing .

34


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

Translation of Foreign Currencies

All asset and liability accounts of consolidated foreign subsidiaries are translated at the current exchange rate as of the end of the accounting period and income statement items are translated monthly at an average currency exchange rate for the period. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of shareholders' equity.

Fair Value Measurement

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

 

Level 1:

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2:

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for identical similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly.

 

Level 3:

Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data or which reflect the entity’s own assumptions.

The Company has financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The fair value of these financial instruments approximate carrying value due to the nature and relative short maturity of these assets and liabilities.

The fair value of debt under the Company’s Loan Agreement, as defined in Note 10, approximates carrying value due to the floating rates and relative short maturity (less than 90 days) of the revolving borrowings under this agreement. The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate senior unsecured notes was estimated using market observable inputs for the Company’s comparable peers with public debt, including quoted prices in active markets and interest rate measurements which are considered Level 2 inputs. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the aggregate fair value of the Company's outstanding fixed rate senior unsecured notes was estimated at $78.0 million and $98.0 million, respectively.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk primarily consist of trade accounts receivable. The concentration of accounts receivable credit risk is generally limited based on the Company’s diversified operations, with customers spread across many industries and countries. The Company’s largest single customer in 2017 accounts for approximately 5% of net sales with no other customer greater than 4%. Outside of the United States, only customers located in Canada, which account for approximately 2.4% of net sales, are significant to the Company’s operations. In addition, management has established certain requirements that customers must meet before credit is extended. The financial condition of customers is continually monitored and collateral is usually not required. The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, a specific allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded against amounts due to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. Additionally, the Company also reviews historical trends for collectability in determining an estimate for its allowance for doubtful accounts. If economic circumstances change substantially, estimates of the recoverability of amounts due the Company could be reduced by a material amount. Expense related to bad debts was approximately $0.7 million, $0.8 million and $0.3 million for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is recorded within selling expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Deductions from the allowance for doubtful accounts, net of recoveries, were approximately $0.7 million, $0.4 million and $0.5 million for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market for last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) inventory and lower of cost or net realizable value for first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) inventory. Approximately 30 percent of our inventories are valued using the LIFO method of determining cost. Cost of other inventories is determined using methods that approximate the FIFO method.

 

35


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

Inventories at December 31 consist of the following:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Finished and in-process products

 

$

30,874

 

 

$

31,081

 

Raw materials and supplies

 

 

16,151

 

 

 

13,704

 

 

 

$

47,025

 

 

$

44,785

 

 

If the FIFO method of inventory cost valuation had been used exclusively by the Company, inventories would have been $5.6 million and $4.7 million higher than reported at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Cost of sales decreased by $0.1 million and less than $0.1 million in 2017 and 2015, respectively, as a result of the liquidation of LIFO inventories. Cost of sales increased by $0.1 million in 2016 as a result of the liquidation of LIFO inventories.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Company provides for depreciation and amortization on the basis of the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

 

Buildings

20 to 40 years

Machinery and Equipment

3 to 10 years

Leasehold Improvements

5 to 10 years

 

The Company’s property, plant and equipment by major asset class at December 31 consists of:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Land

 

$

7,815

 

 

$

8,916

 

Buildings and leasehold improvements

 

 

59,730

 

 

 

65,425

 

Machinery and equipment

 

 

260,880

 

 

 

299,065

 

 

 

 

328,425

 

 

 

373,406

 

Less allowances for depreciation and amortization

 

 

(244,521

)

 

 

(267,140

)

 

 

$

83,904

 

 

$

106,266

 

 

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had approximately $6.9 million and $6.2 million, respectively, of capitalized software costs included in machinery and equipment. Amortization expense related to capitalized software costs was approximately $1.0 million, $0.6 million and $0.5 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets and identifiable intangible assets with finite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Determination of potential impairment related to assets to be held and used is based upon undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use and ultimate disposition of the asset. For assets held for sale, the amount of potential impairment may be based upon appraisal of the asset, estimated market value of similar assets or estimated cash flow from the disposition of the asset. Refer to Note 2 for discussion of the impairment charges.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenues from the sale of products, net of actual and estimated returns, at the point of passage of title and risk of loss, which is generally at time of shipment, and collectability of the fixed or determinable sales price is reasonably assured.

36


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and are as follows:

 

 

 

Foreign

Currency

 

 

Defined Benefit

Pension Plans

 

 

Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2015

 

$

(9,825

)

 

$

(1,863

)

 

$

(11,688

)

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

 

 

(17,131

)

 

 

144

 

 

 

(16,987

)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax of ($32) (1)

 

 

(10,491

)

 

 

56

 

 

 

(10,435

)

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

(27,622

)

 

 

200

 

 

 

(27,422

)

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

 

(37,447

)

 

 

(1,663

)

 

 

(39,110

)

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

 

 

5,105

 

 

 

(222

)

 

 

4,883

 

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax of ($30) (1)

 

 

 

 

 

53

 

 

 

53

 

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

5,105

 

 

 

(169

)

 

 

4,936

 

Balance at December 31, 2016

 

 

(32,342

)

 

 

(1,832

)

 

 

(34,174

)

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

 

 

2,391

 

 

 

(31

)

 

 

2,360

 

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax of ($24) (1) (2)

 

 

17,201

 

 

 

72

 

 

 

17,273

 

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

19,592

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

19,633

 

Balance at December 31, 2017

 

$

(12,750

)

 

$

(1,791

)

 

$

(14,541

)

 

 

(1)

The accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) components related to defined benefit pension plans are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 12, Retirement Plans for additional details.

 

(2)

Cumulative translation adjustment associated with the sale of the Brazil Business, as further discussed in Note 4, was included in the carrying value of assets disposed of.

Shipping and Handling

Costs for shipments to customers are classified as selling expenses for the Company’s manufacturing business and as cost of sales for the Company’s distribution business in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company incurred costs for shipments to customers of approximately $8.2 million, $8.9 million and $8.5 million in selling expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively and $6.0 million, $6.1 million, and $6.2 million in cost of sales for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. All other internal distribution costs are recorded in selling expenses.

Stock Based Compensation

The Company has stock plans that provide for the granting of stock-based compensation to employees and to non-employee directors. Shares issued for option exercises or restricted shares may be either from authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. The Company records the costs of the plan under the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation . For transactions in which the Company obtains employee services in exchange for an award of equity instruments, the Company measures the cost of the services based on the grant date fair value of the award. The Company recognizes the cost over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award, referred to as the requisite service period (usually the vesting period).

 

 

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be received or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period the change is enacted.

37


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

The Company evaluates its tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes . ASC 740 provides detailed guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement a nd disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized under ASC 740. The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value. The Company maintains operating cash and reserves for replacement balances in financial institutions which, from time to time, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company periodically assesses the financial condition of these institutions and believes that the risk of loss is minimal.

Cash flows used in investing activities excluded $0.6 million, $0.1 million and $6.6 million of accrued capital expenditures in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

 

2.  Impairment Charges

During the second quarter of 2017, an underutilized building at the Company’s Scarborough, Ontario, Canada location, in the Material Handling Segment, was identified for closure and classified as held for sale as of June 30, 2017. This building was recorded at its fair value, less estimated costs to sell, of $3.2 million (based primarily on a third party offer considered to be a Level 2 input), which resulted in an impairment charge of approximately $0.5 million recognized in the second quarter of 2017. In December 2017, the building was sold for approximately $3.1 million, which resulted in an additional loss on sale of $0.1 million.

During 2016, the Company recorded impairment charges of $1.3 million, primarily related to long-lived assets associated with the exit of a non-strategic product line in the Material Handling Segment.  

 

 

3.  Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company tests for impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets on at least an annual basis, unless significant changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment may have occurred sooner. Such changes in circumstances may include, but are not limited to, significant changes in economic and competitive conditions, the impact of the economic environment on the Company’s customer base or its businesses, or a material negative change in its relationships with significant customers.  

The Company conducted its annual impairment assessment as of October 1 for all of its reporting units, noting no impairment in continuing operations in 2017, 2016 or 2015.      

During the 2017 annual review of goodwill, management performed a qualitative assessment for all of its reporting units. After considering changes to assumptions used in the most recent quantitative annual testing for each reporting unit, including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance, the magnitude of the excess of fair value over the carrying amount of each reporting unit as determined in the most recent quantitative annual testing, and other factors, management concluded that it was not more likely than not that the fair values of the reporting units were less than their respective carrying values and, therefore, did not perform a quantitative analysis in 2017. A quantitative analysis was performed at October 1, 2016 and 2015.

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 is as follows:

 

 

 

Distribution

 

 

Material

Handling

 

 

Total

 

January 1, 2016

 

$

505

 

 

$

58,382

 

 

$

58,887

 

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

332

 

 

 

332

 

December 31, 2016

 

$

505

 

 

$

58,714

 

 

$

59,219

 

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

752

 

 

 

752

 

December 31, 2017

 

$

505

 

 

$

59,466

 

 

$

59,971

 

38


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

 

Intangible assets other than goodwill primarily consist of trade names, customer relationships, patents, and technology assets established in connection with acquisitions. These intangible assets, other than certain trade names, are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The Company performs an annual impairment assessment for the indefinite lived trade names which had a carrying value of $9,972 and $10,050 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. In performing this assessment the Company uses an income approach, based primarily on Level 3 inputs, to estimate the fair value of the trade name. The Company records an impairment charge if the carrying value of the trade name exceeds the estimated fair value at the date of assessment.

Intangible assets at December 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

Weighted

Average Remaining Useful

Life (years)

 

 

Gross

 

 

Accumulated

Amortization

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Accumulated

Amortization

 

 

Net

 

Trade Names – Indefinite

   Lived

 

 

 

 

 

$

9,972

 

 

$

 

 

$

9,972

 

 

$

10,050

 

 

$

 

 

$

10,050

 

Trade Names

 

 

7.5

 

 

 

80

 

 

 

(40

)

 

 

40

 

 

 

80

 

 

 

(34

)

 

 

46

 

Customer Relationships

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

41,043

 

 

 

(27,396

)

 

 

13,647

 

 

 

39,774

 

 

 

(21,127

)

 

 

18,647

 

Technology

 

 

6.2

 

 

 

24,980

 

 

 

(9,590

)

 

 

15,390

 

 

 

24,980

 

 

 

(7,037

)

 

 

17,943

 

Patents

 

 

0.0

 

 

 

11,730

 

 

 

(11,730

)

 

 

 

 

 

11,730

 

 

 

(11,548

)

 

 

182

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

87,805

 

 

$

(48,756

)

 

$

39,049

 

 

$

86,614

 

 

$

(39,746

)

 

$

46,868

 

 

Intangible amortization expense was $8,378, $9,277 and $9,447 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Estimated annual amortization expense for intangible assets with finite lives for the next five years is: $8,198 in 2018; $7,824 in 2019; $4,946 in 2020; $2,278 in 2021 and $2,278 in 2022.

 

 

4.  Discontinued Operations

On December 18, 2017, the Company, collectively with its wholly owned subsidiary, Myers Holdings Brasil, Ltda. (“Holdings”), completed the sale of its subsidiaries, Myers do Brasil Embalagens Plasticas Ltda. and Plasticos Novel do Nordeste Ltda. (collectively, the “Brazil Business”), to Novel Holdings – Eireli (“Buyer”), an entity controlled by a member of the Brazil Business’ management team.  The divestiture of the Brazil Business will allow the Company to focus resources on its core businesses and additional growth opportunities. The Brazil Business is a leading designer and manufacturer of reusable plastic shipping containers, plastic pallets, crates and totes used for closed-loop shipping and storage in Brazil’s automotive, distribution, food, beverage and agriculture industries. The sale of the Brazil Business included manufacturing facilities and offices located in Lauro de Freitas City, Bahia, Brazil ; Ibipora, Parana, Brazil; and Jaguarinuna, Brazil. The Brazil Business was part of the Company’s Material Handling Segment.

Pursuant to the terms of the Quota Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, Holdings and Buyer (the “Purchase Agreement”), the Buyer paid a purchase price of one U.S. Dollar to the Company and has assumed all liabilities and obligations of the Brazil Business, whether arising prior to or after the closing of the transaction. There are no additional amounts due, or to be settled, under the terms of the Purchase Agreement with the Buyer. The Company recorded a loss on the sale of the Brazil Business during the fourth quarter of 2017 of $35.0 million, which included $1.2 million of cash held by the Brazil Business and approximately $0.3 million of costs to sell. In addition, the Company recorded a U.S. tax benefit of approximately $15 million as a result of a worthless stock deduction related to the Company’s investment in the Brazil Business.

The Company has agreed to be the guarantor under a factoring arrangement between the Buyer and Banco Alfa de Investimento S.A. until December 31, 2019 for up to $7 million, in the event the Buyer is unable to meet its obligations under this arrangement. The Company also holds a first lien against certain machinery and equipment, exercisable only upon default by the Buyer under the guaranty. Based on the nature of the guaranty, as well as the existence of the lien, the Company believes the fair value of the guaranty is immaterial (based primarily on Level 3 inputs), and thus has recorded no liability related to this guaranty in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. This guaranty also creates a variable interest to the Company in the Brazil Business. Based on the terms of the transaction and the fact that the Company has no management involvement or voting interests in the Brazil Business following the sale, the Company does not have any power to direct the significant activities of the Brazil Business, and is thus not the primary beneficiary.

39


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

During the second quarter of 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the commencement of the sale process to divest its Lawn and Garden business to allow it to focus resources on its core growth platforms. The business was sold February 17, 2015 to an entity controlled by Wingate Partners V, L.P. (“L&G Buyer”) , a private equity firm, for $110.0 million, subject to a wor king capital adjustment. The terms of the agreement include a $90.0 million cash payment, promissory notes totaling $20.0 million that mature in August 2020, a 6% interest rate and approximately $8.6 million placed in escrow that was due to be settled by A ugust 2016, but has been extended until certain indemnification claims are resolved, as discussed in Note 9 . The fair value of the notes at the date of sale was $17.8 million . The carrying value of the notes as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, was $18.7 mill ion and $18.3 million, respectively , which represents the fair value at date of sale plus accretion and is included in Notes Receivable in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Position . The fair value of the notes receivable was calculated using L evel 2 inputs as defined in Note 1. Interest income on the note s receivable was $1.3 million, $1.3 million, and $1.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and was recognized based on the stated interest rate above. The fin al working capital adjustment resulted in a cash payment to the buyer of approximately $4.0 million in 2016. The total gain on the sale of the Lawn and Garden business in 2015 was $0.5 million, net of tax, and is included in income (loss) from discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

On June 20, 2014, the Company completed the sale of the assets and associated liabilities of its wholly-owned subsidiaries WEK Industries, Inc. and Whiteridge Plastics LLC (collectively “WEK”) for approximately $20.7 million, which includes a working capital adjustment of approximately $0.8 million. Of the total proceeds from the sale of WEK, approximately $1.0 million was held in escrow until it was received in December 2015. The Company recorded a gain on the sale of WEK in 2014 of approximately $3.0 million, net of tax of $1.6 million, which was included in income (loss) from discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Summarized selected financial information for Brazil Business, Lawn and Garden business and WEK for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are presented in the following table:

 

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2017*

 

 

2016

 

 

2015**

 

Net sales

 

 

$

29,976

 

 

$

23,683

 

 

$

59,853

 

Cost of sales

 

 

 

25,359

 

 

 

20,941

 

 

 

50,772

 

Selling, general, and administrative

 

 

 

6,748

 

 

 

5,438

 

 

 

13,898

 

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

 

 

 

(32

)

 

 

226

 

 

 

62

 

Impairment charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,545

 

 

 

 

Interest income, net

 

 

 

(286

)

 

 

(469

)

 

 

(10

)

Gain (loss) on the disposal of the discontinued operations

 

 

 

(34,956

)

 

 

 

 

 

1,873

 

Loss from discontinued operations before income tax

 

 

 

(36,769

)

 

 

(10,998

)

 

 

(2,996

)

Income tax benefit

 

 

 

(16,036

)

 

 

(731

)

 

 

(3,287

)

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax

 

 

$

(20,733

)

 

$

(10,267

)

 

$

291

 

*

Includes Brazil Business operating results through December 18, 2017.

**

Includes Lawn and Garden operating results through February 17, 2015.

 


40


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

The assets and liabilities of discontinued operations are stated separately as of December 31, 2016 in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position and are c omprised of the following items:

 

 

 

December 31, 2016

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

5,484

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

7,328

 

Inventories

 

 

1,238

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

148

 

Total current assets

 

 

14,198

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

1,126

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

134

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

5,215

 

Other

 

 

34

 

Total noncurrent assets

 

 

6,509

 

Total assets of the disposal group classified as discontinued operations

 

$

20,707

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

1,415

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

1,335

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

2,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

249

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

 

 

249

 

Total liabilities of the disposal group classified as discontinued operations

 

$

2,999

 

 

 

5.  Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

Net income (loss) per common share, as shown on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, is determined on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods as follows:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding basic

 

 

30,222,289

 

 

 

29,750,378

 

 

 

30,616,485

 

Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock

 

 

340,357

 

 

 

217,534

 

 

 

327,208

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding diluted

 

 

30,562,646

 

 

 

29,967,912

 

 

 

30,943,693

 

 

Options to purchase 242,500, 551,761 and 463,200 shares of common stock that were outstanding at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the exercise prices of these options was greater than the average market price of common shares, and were therefore anti-dilutive.

 

 

6.  Restructuring

The charges related to various restructuring programs implemented by the Company are included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses depending on the type of cost incurred. The restructuring charges recognized in the years ended 2017, 2016 and 2015 are presented in the following table.  

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Segment

 

 

Cost of

sales

 

 

SG&A

 

 

Total

 

 

Cost of

sales

 

 

SG&A

 

 

Total

 

 

Cost of

sales

 

 

SG&A

 

 

Total

 

Distribution

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

124

 

 

$

124

 

Material Handling

 

 

 

7,389

 

 

 

164

 

 

 

7,553

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,340

 

 

 

912

 

 

 

2,252

 

Corporate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

35

 

Total

 

 

$

7,389

 

 

$

164

 

 

$

7,553

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,340

 

 

$

1,071

 

 

$

2,411

 

41


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

 

On March 9, 2017, the Company announced a restructuring plan (the “Plan”) to improve the Company’s organizational structure and operational efficiency within the Material Handling Segment, which related primarily to anticipated facility shutdowns and associated activities.  Total restructuring costs expected to be incurred are approximately $7.6 million, which includes employee severance and other employee-related costs of approximately $3.1 million, $2.5 million related to equipment relocation and facility shut down costs and non-cash charges, primarily accelerated depreciation charges on property, plant and equipment, of approximately $2.0 million.  All actions under the Plan were substantially completed by the end of the year as further described below.

During 2017, the Company incurred restructuring charges of $5.5 million related to closing a manufacturing plant in Bluffton, Indiana. In the third quarter of 2017, the Bluffton facility and certain related equipment were sold for approximately $6.0 million, which resulted in a gain of $2.6 million. Additional gains of $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 were recognized on other asset dispositions in connection with closing this plant.  

In the second quarter of 2017, the Company finalized the specific actions to be taken under the Plan to reduce headcount in its Scarborough, Ontario, Canada location.  These actions resulted in the recognition of $1.6 million of severance and related costs for the year ended December 31, 2017.

During 2017, the Company recognized $0.5 million of restructuring charges related to the planned closure of a manufacturing plant in Sandusky, Ohio, which is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2018.

 

The table below summarizes restructuring activity for the year ended December 31, 2017:

 

 

 

Employee Reduction

 

 

Accelerated Depreciation

 

 

Other Exit Costs

 

 

Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2017

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Charges to expense

 

 

3,022

 

 

 

1,993

 

 

 

2,538

 

 

 

7,553

 

Cash payments

 

 

(1,924

)

 

 

 

 

 

(2,448

)

 

 

(4,372

)

Non-cash utilization

 

 

 

 

 

(1,993

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,993

)

Balance at December 31, 2017

 

$

1,098

 

 

$

 

 

$

90

 

 

$

1,188

 

 

In addition to the restructuring costs noted above, the Company has also incurred other associated costs of the Plan of $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, of which $0.1 million is included in cost of sales and $1.0 is included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, and are primarily related to third party consulting costs.  

 

In 2015, the Material Handling Segment consolidated two manufacturing plants, streamlined Brazilian operations, closed a Canadian branch operation and sold a product line. The Company recorded $2.3 million of restructuring cost for these initiatives, primarily related to severance and moving expenses for equipment and inventory.

 

 

7.  Other Current Liabilities

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the balance in other current liabilities is comprised of the following:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Deposits and amounts due to customers

 

$

3,102

 

 

$

2,562

 

Dividends payable

 

 

4,478

 

 

 

4,260

 

Accrued litigation and professional fees

 

 

417

 

 

 

452

 

Current portion of environmental reserves

 

 

1,322

 

 

 

605

 

Other accrued expenses

 

 

6,153

 

 

 

5,032

 

 

 

$

15,472

 

 

$

12,911

 

 

 

42


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

8.  Stock Compensation

Subject to shareholder approval, which was received on April 26, 2017, the Board of Directors approved the Company’s Amended and Restated 2017 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2017 Plan”) on March 2, 2017. The 2017 Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors to issue up to 5,126,950 shares of various stock awards including stock options, performance stock units, restricted stock units and other forms of equity-based awards to key employees and directors. Options granted and outstanding vest over the requisite service period and expire ten years from the date of grant.

The following tables summarize stock option activity in the past three years:

Options granted in 2017, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

 

Year

 

Options

 

 

Exercise

Price

 

2017

 

 

397,759

 

 

$

14.30

 

2016

 

 

271,350

 

 

$

11.62

 

2015

 

 

208,200

 

 

$

18.67

 

 

Options exercised in 2017, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

 

Year

 

Options

 

 

Exercise

Price

2017

 

 

375,292

 

 

$9.97 to $20.93

2016

 

 

334,836

 

 

$9.00 to $14.77

2015

 

 

239,508

 

 

$9.97 to $17.02

 

In addition, options totaling 218,130, 162,565 and 71,567 expired or were forfeited during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

 

Year

 

Outstanding

 

 

Range of Exercise

Prices

 

Exercisable

 

 

Weighted   Average

Exercise Price

 

2017

 

 

988,167

 

 

$9.97 to $20.93

 

 

539,993

 

 

$

16.23

 

2016

 

 

1,183,830

 

 

$9.97 to $20.93

 

 

934,898

 

 

$

14.88

 

2015

 

 

1,409,881

 

 

$9.00 to $20.93

 

 

1,231,544

 

 

$

13.47

 

 

The fair value of options granted is estimated using an option pricing model based on the assumptions set forth in the following table. The Company uses historical data to estimate employee exercise and departure behavior. The risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant and through the expected term. The dividend yield rate is based on the Company’s historical dividend yield. The expected volatility is derived from historical volatility of the Company’s shares and those of similar companies measured against the market as a whole. In 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company used the binomial lattice option pricing model based on the assumptions set forth in the following table.

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Risk free interest rate

 

 

2.50

%

 

 

1.80

%

 

 

2.10

%

Expected dividend yield

 

 

3.80

%

 

 

4.60

%

 

 

2.90

%

Expected life of award (years)

 

 

4.10

 

 

8.00

 

 

 

8.00

 

Expected volatility

 

 

50.00

%

 

 

50.00

%

 

 

50.00

%

Fair value per option

 

$

4.47

 

 

$

3.45

 

 

$

6.03

 

 

43


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

The following table provides a summary of stock option activity for the period ended December 31, 2017:

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Average

Exercise

Price

 

 

Weighted

Average

Life (in Years)

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2016

 

 

1,183,830

 

 

$

14.50

 

 

 

 

 

Options granted

 

 

397,759

 

 

 

14.30

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercised

 

 

(375,292

)

 

 

11.71

 

 

 

 

 

Canceled or forfeited

 

 

(218,130

)

 

 

16.08

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

 

 

988,167

 

 

 

15.13

 

 

 

7.24

 

Exercisable at December 31, 2017

 

 

539,993

 

 

$

16.23

 

 

 

5.85

 

 

The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised in 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $2,813, $1,809 and $1,151, respectively.

The following table provides a summary of restricted stock units and restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2017:

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Average

Grant-Date

Fair Value

 

Unvested shares at December 31, 2016

 

 

331,410

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

238,111

 

 

$

14.57

 

Vested

 

 

(100,006

)

 

 

14.89

 

Forfeited

 

 

(56,865

)

 

 

13.91

 

Unvested shares at December 31, 2017

 

 

412,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted stock units are rights to receive shares of common stock, subject to forfeiture and other restrictions, which vest over a two or three year period. Restricted shares are considered to be non-vested shares under the accounting guidance for share-based payment and are not reflected as issued and outstanding shares until the restrictions lapse. At that time, the shares are released to the grantee and the Company records the issuance of the shares. Restricted stock awards are valued based on the market price of the underlying shares on the grant date. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. At December 31, 2017, restricted stock awards had vesting periods up through December 2020.

 

Included in the December 31, 2017 unvested shares are 211,769 performance-based restricted stock units. The fair value of these awards is calculated using the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. In determining fair value, the Company does not take into account performance-based vesting requirements. For these awards, the performance-based vesting requirements determines the number of shares that ultimately vest, which can vary from 0% to 200% of target depending on the level of achievement of established performance criteria. Compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service period subject to adjustment based on the probable number of shares expected to vest under the performance condition.

 

Stock compensation expense was approximately $3,626, $3,357 and $4,934 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These expenses are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. Total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share based compensation arrangements at December 31, 2017 was approximately $5,317 which will be recognized over the next three years, as such compensation is earned.

 

 

9.  Contingencies

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

44


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

New Idria Mercury Mine

In September 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) formally informed a subsidiary of the Company, Buckhorn, Inc. (“Buckhorn”) via a notice letter and related documents (the “Notice Letter”) that it considers Buckhorn to be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) in connection with the New Idria Mercury Mine Superfund site (“New Idria Mine”).  New Idria Mining & Chemical Company (“NIMCC”), which owned and/or operated the New Idria Mine from 1936 through 1976 was merged into Buckhorn Metal Products Inc. in 1981, which was subsequently acquired by Myers Industries in 1987.  As a result of the EPA Notice Letter, Buckhorn and the Company have been engaged in negotiations with the EPA with respect to a draft Settlement Agreement and Administrative Order on Consent (“AOC”) proposed by the EPA for the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (“RI/FS”) to determine the extent of remediation necessary and the screening of alternatives.

The Company and the EPA are in the final stages of negotiation on the AOC and related Statement of Work (“SOW”) with regards to the New Idria Mine, and the Company expects to execute the AOC in March 2018. The key terms of the AOC and SOW include, but are not limited to, scope of the site, categories of and schedules for completion of required tasks, administration of future oversight costs, stipulated penalties, and resolution of any disputed items between the parties. As a result of recent negotiations, the Company recognized expected future EPA oversight costs for the RI/FS of $1 million in 2017. In addition, the AOC will require the Company to provide $2 million of financial assurance to the EPA during the estimated three year life of the RI/FS.  Per federal statutes, this financial assurance can take several forms, including a financial guarantee by the Company, a letter of credit, or a surety bond.  The Company expects to provide this assurance within 30 days following the execution of the AOC, and is currently evaluating the options available under the statute.

The New Idria Mine is located near Hollister, California and was added to the Superfund National Priorities List by the EPA in October 2011, at which time the Company recognized expense of $1.9 million related to performing the RI/FS.   In the second quarter of 2016, the Company, based on discussions with the EPA, determined that the RI/FS would begin in 2017 and therefore obtained updated estimated costs to perform the RI/FS.  As a result of the updated estimated costs, the Company recorded additional expense of $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2016.  In the second quarter of 2017, the Company, based on the status of its discussions with the EPA, determined that field work on the RI/FS would likely begin in 2018 with no changes to the cost estimates to perform the RI/FS. In the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded an additional reserve of $0.3 million for this project, as a result of additional professional fees and other project costs expected to be incurred as part of the implementation of the AOC and site preparation and stabilization, in advance of starting the RI/FS field work in 2018.  

As part of the Notice Letter, the EPA also made a claim for approximately $1.6 million in past costs for actions it claims it has taken in connection with the New Idria Mine since 1993.  While the Company is evaluating this past cost claim and may challenge portions of it, in 2015 the Company recognized an expense of $1.3 million related to the claim. These past costs will not be addressed or settled upon execution of the AOC discussed above.

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had a total reserve of $3.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively, related to the New Idria Mine.  As of December 31, 2017, $1.0 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $2.6 million is classified in Other Liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. All charges related to this claim have been recorded with general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

As negotiations with the EPA proceed it is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary to reflect new information. Estimates of the Company’s liability are based on current facts, laws, regulations and technology. Estimates of the Company’s environmental liabilities are further subject to uncertainties regarding the negotiations with EPA, the nature and extent of the specific tasks required in the RI/FS, the nature and extent of site contamination, the range of remediation alternatives available, evolving remediation standards, imprecise engineering evaluation and cost estimates, the extent of remedial actions that may be required, the number and financial condition of other PRPs that may be named as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation, and the availability of insurance coverage for these expenses.

At this time, we have not accrued for remediation costs in connection with this site as we are unable to estimate the liability, given the circumstances referred to above, including the fact that the final remediation strategy has not yet been determined.

45


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

New Almaden Mine (formerly referred to as Guad a lupe River Watershed)

A number of parties, including the Company and its subsidiary, Buckhorn (as successor to NIMCC), were alleged by trustee agencies of the United States and the State of California to be responsible for natural resource damages due to environmental contamination of areas comprising the historical New Almaden mercury mines located in the Guadalupe River Watershed region in Santa Clara County, California (“County”). In 2005, Buckhorn and the Company, without admitting liability or chain of ownership of NIMCC, resolved the trustees’ claim against them through a consent decree that required them to contribute financially to the implementation by the County of an environmentally beneficial project within the impacted area.  Buckhorn and the Company negotiated an agreement with the County, whereby Buckhorn and the Company agreed to reimburse one-half of the County’s costs of implementing the project, originally estimated to be approximately $1.6 million. As a result, in 2005, the Company recognized expense of $0.8 million representing its share of the initial estimated project costs, of which approximately $0.5 million has been paid to date. In April 2016, the Company was notified by the County that the original cost estimate may no longer be appropriate due to expanded scope and increased costs of construction, and provided a revised estimate of between  $3.3 million and $4.4 million.   The Company completed a detailed review of the support provided by the County for the revised estimate, and as a result, recognized additional expense of $1.2 million in the second and third quarters of 2016.  As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company has a total reserve of $1.5 million related to the New Almaden Mine. As of December 31, 2017, $0.3 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $1.2 million is classified in Other Liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. All charges related to this claim have been recorded with general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The project has not yet been implemented though significant work on design and planning has been performed. Field work on the project is expected to commence in 2018.  As work on the project occurs, it is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary to reflect new information.   In addition, the Company may have claims against and defenses to claims by the County under the 2005 agreement that could reduce or offset its obligation for reimbursement of some of these potential additional costs. With the assistance of environmental consultants, the Company will closely monitor this matter and will continue to assess its reserves as additional information becomes available.

Lawn and Garden Indemnification Claim

In connection with the sale of the Lawn and Garden business, as described in Note 4, the Company received a Notices of Indemnification Claims in April 2015 and July 2016 (collectively, the “Claims”),  alleging breaches of certain representations and warranties under the agreement resulting in alleged losses in the amount of approximately $10 million. As described in Note 4, approximately $8.6 million of the sale proceeds that were placed in escrow were due to be settled in August 2016, but continue in escrow until the Claims are resolved, which are the subject of a lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court.

In December 2017, the Delaware Chancery Court issued a non-final opinion in favor of the L&G Buyer that it is entitled to a distribution of the escrow property on technical grounds, without resolving the merits of the alleged breaches that are the subject of the Claims. The Company intends to appeal this decision, and has the right to a de novo review and believes it has meritorious grounds to reverse the decision. The Company also believes that it has meritorious defenses to the L&G Buyer’s Claims and will vigorously defend its position that it is entitled to the escrow property.  

Other

Buckhorn and Schoeller Arca Systems, Inc. (“SAS”) were plaintiffs in a patent infringement lawsuit against Orbis Corp. and Orbis Material Handling, Inc. (“Orbis”) for alleged breach by Orbis of an exclusive patent license agreement from SAS to Buckhorn. SAS is an affiliate of Schoeller Arca Systems Services B.V. (“SASS B.V.”), a Dutch company. SAS manufactures and sells plastic returnable packaging systems for material handling. In the course of the litigation, it was discovered that SAS had given a patent license agreement to a predecessor of Orbis that pre-dated the one that SAS sold to Buckhorn. As a result, judgment was entered in favor of Orbis, and the court awarded attorney fees and costs to Orbis in the amount of $3.1 million, plus interest and costs.

46


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

In May 2014 , Orbis made demand to SAS that SAS pay the judgment in full, and subsequently in July 2014, Orbis made the same demand to Buckhorn. Buckhorn believed it was not responsible for any of the judgment because it was not a party to the Orbis license. Despite t his belief, the Company recorded expense of $3.0 million during the third quarter of 2014 for the entire amount of the unpaid judgment. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the judgment against Buckhorn on July 2, 2015, and f ound that Buckhorn was not liable to Orbis for any portion of the judgment entered in favor of Orbis. Accordingly, Myers reversed the accrual of $3.0 million during the second quarter of 2015, which was reflected as a reduction of general and administrativ e expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Orbis' petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc. All opportunities for Orbis to appeal have expired. The United States District Court fo r the Southern District of Ohio has now released Buckhorn’s appellate bond. Buckhorn was also pursuing legal action against SAS and SASS B.V. for fraudulently selling an exclusive patent license they could not sell and related claims. In 2016, the Company settled with SAS and SASS B.V. in return for a payment to the Company of $0.2 million, which was recorded as a reduction in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. 

When a loss arising from these or other legal matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, we record the amount of the estimated loss, or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is estimated using a range, and no point within the range is more probable of occurrence than another. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters will be assessed and the estimates will be revised, if necessary.

Based on current available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or overall trends in our results of operations. However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the financial position and results of operations of the period in which the ruling occurs, or in future periods.

 

 

10.  Long-Term Debt and Loan Agreements

Long-term debt at December 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Loan Agreement

 

$

74,632

 

 

$

90,686

 

4.67% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2021

 

 

40,000

 

 

 

40,000

 

5.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024

 

 

11,000

 

 

 

11,000

 

5.30% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024

 

 

15,000

 

 

 

29,000

 

5.45% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026

 

 

12,000

 

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

 

152,632

 

 

 

190,686

 

Less unamortized deferred financing costs

 

 

1,596

 

 

 

1,164

 

 

 

$

151,036

 

 

$

189,522

 

 

In March 2017, the Company entered into a Fifth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”).  The Loan Agreement replaced the pre-existing $300 million senior revolving credit facility with a $200 million facility and extended the term from December 2018 to March 2022.  In addition, the Loan Agreement provides for a maximum Leverage Ratio of 3.75 for the first and second quarters of 2017, stepping down to 3.5 in the third quarter of 2017, and 3.25 thereafter.

Under the terms of the Loan Agreement, the Company may borrow up to $200 million, reduced for letters of credit issued. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $121.0 million available under the Loan Agreement. The Company had $4.4 million of letters of credit issued related to insurance and other financing contracts in the ordinary course of business at December 31, 2017. Borrowings under the Loan Agreement bear interest at the LIBOR rate, prime rate, federal funds effective rate, the Canadian deposit offered rate, or the eurocurrency reference rate depending on the type of loan requested by the Company, in each case plus the applicable margin as set forth in the Loan Agreement.

The Company’s Senior Unsecured Notes (“Notes”) range in face value from $11 million to $40 million, with interest rates ranging from 4.67% to 5.45%, payable semiannually, and maturing between 2021 and 2026. In September 2017, the Company made an offer to all holders of the $100 million Notes to purchase all or a portion of the Notes prior to their maturity dates. In October 2017, one

47


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

note holder accepted the offer and elected to tender $22 million in Notes. The Company purchased the Notes from the holder on October 31, 2017 for approximately $23.8 million, whi ch includes the outstanding principal balance of $22.0 million and a make-whole premium of $1.8 million. A loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $1.9 million was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2017, which consisted of the make-whole premiu m plus unamortized deferred financing costs of $0.1 million. At December 31, 2017, $78 million of the Notes were outstanding.

Amortization expense of the deferred financing costs was $508, $466, and $465 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in interest expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The average interest rate on borrowings under our loan agreements were 4.94% for 2017, 4.69% for 2016, and 4.59% for 2015, which includes a quarterly facility fee on the used and unused portion.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants associated with its Loan Agreement and Notes. The most restrictive financial covenants for all of the Company’s debt are an interest coverage ratio (defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted, divided by interest expense) and a leverage ratio (defined as total debt divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted). The ratios as of December 31, 2017 are shown in the following table:

 

 

 

Required Level

 

Actual Level

 

Interest Coverage Ratio

 

3.00 to 1   (minimum)

 

 

7.58

 

Leverage Ratio

 

3.25 to 1 (maximum)

 

 

2.40

 

 

 

11.  Income Taxes

The effective tax rate from continuing operations was 31.0% in 2017, 39.5% in 2016 and 31.5% in 2015. A reconciliation of the Federal statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:

 

  

 

Percent of Income before

Income Taxes

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Statutory Federal income tax rate

 

 

35.0

%

 

 

35.0

%

 

 

35.0

%

State income taxes - net of Federal tax benefit

 

 

8.3

 

 

 

3.0

 

 

 

0.2

 

Foreign tax rate differential

 

 

(1.6

)

 

 

(0.9

)

 

 

(2.2

)

Domestic production deduction

 

 

(5.2

)

 

 

(3.2

)

 

 

(3.4

)

Non-deductible expenses

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

2.9

 

 

 

1.5

 

Impact of tax law changes

 

 

(7.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in unrecognized tax benefits

 

 

0.9

 

 

 

(0.8

)

 

 

(1.6

)

Foreign tax incentives

 

 

 

 

 

(0.4

)

 

 

 

Valuation allowances

 

 

 

 

 

3.2

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

2.0

 

Effective tax rate for the year

 

 

31.0

%

 

 

39.5

%

 

 

31.5

%

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes was attributable to the following sources:

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

United States

 

$

12,979

 

 

$

17,010

 

 

$

19,546

 

Foreign

 

 

2,729

 

 

 

1,709

 

 

 

5,962

 

Totals

 

$

15,708

 

 

$

18,719

 

 

$

25,508

 

 

48


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations consisted of the following:

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

 

Current

 

 

Deferred

 

 

Current

 

 

Deferred

 

 

Current

 

 

Deferred

 

Federal

 

$

6,304

 

 

$

(4,394

)

 

$

5,684

 

 

$

(413

)

 

$

6,677

 

 

$

(368

)

Foreign

 

 

1,821

 

 

 

(883

)

 

 

515

 

 

 

741

 

 

 

337

 

 

 

1,308

 

State and local

 

 

2,402

 

 

 

(386

)

 

 

641

 

 

 

227

 

 

 

812

 

 

 

(729

)

 

 

$

10,527

 

 

$

(5,663

)

 

$

6,840

 

 

$

555

 

 

$

7,826

 

 

$

211

 

 

On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). Effective January 1, 2018, the Tax Act establishes a corporate income tax rate of 21%, replacing the current 35% rate, and creates a territorial tax system rather than a worldwide system, which generally eliminates the U.S. federal income tax on dividends from foreign subsidiaries. The transition to the territorial system includes a one-time deemed repatriation transition tax (“Transition Tax”) on certain foreign earnings previously untaxed in the United States. The Company has made reasonable estimates for certain provisions under the Tax Act and has recorded a provisional net benefit to income tax expense of $1.2 million related to its enactment. This net benefit includes a provisional deferred tax benefit of $3.0 million related to revaluing the net U.S. deferred tax liabilities to reflect the lower U.S. corporate tax rate. The deferred tax benefit is offset by a provision of $1.8 million related to the Transition Tax. In general, the Transition Tax imposed by the Tax Act results in the taxation of foreign earnings and profits (“E&P”) at a 15.5% rate on liquid assets and 8% on the remaining unremitted foreign E&P, both net of foreign tax credits. The provisional amounts for the Transition Tax recorded by the Company in 2017 included the undistributed E&P for all the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.

Additional provisions of the Tax Act which may have an impact to the Company in future periods include, but are not limited to, the repeal of the domestic production deduction, limitations on interest expense deductions, accelerated depreciation that will allow for full expensing of qualified property, provisions related to performance-based executive compensation and other international provisions resulting from the territorial tax system established, as noted above.

In response to the complexities and timing of issuance of the Tax Act, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“SAB 118”). Management believes that it has made reasonable estimates of the impacts of the Tax Act in its 2017 consolidated financial statements. However, as the Company completes its analysis of the Tax Act, collects further data and reviews additional information and guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, the IRS, and other standard-setting bodies, the provisional amounts included in the 2017 financial statements may be subject to adjustment. Per the guidance in SAB 118, adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded by the Company in 2017 that are identified within a subsequent period of up to one year from the enactment date will be included as an adjustment in the period the amounts are determined.

Except as provided for under the Transition Tax, no additional provision has been recorded as of December 31, 2017, related to the unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries. In accordance with SAB 118, the Company will continue to evaluate the impact of the Tax Act on its assertion that these earnings will be indefinitely reinvested. As noted above, the E&P for all foreign subsidiaries has been included in the calculation of the provisional Transition Tax, and thus, should there be a repatriation of earnings from any foreign subsidiaries in future periods, the Company would be subject to only foreign withholding tax.

 

49


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

Significant components of the Company’s deferred taxes as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

$

6,255

 

 

$

11,529

 

Tax-deductible goodwill

 

 

5,202

 

 

 

9,136

 

State deferred taxes

 

 

132

 

 

 

360

 

Other

 

 

149

 

 

 

889

 

 

 

 

11,738

 

 

 

21,914

 

Deferred income tax assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation

 

 

3,030

 

 

 

5,686

 

Inventory valuation

 

 

502

 

 

 

769

 

Allowance for uncollectible accounts

 

 

268

 

 

 

487

 

Non-deductible accruals

 

 

2,195

 

 

 

3,525

 

Non-deductible intangibles

 

 

1,193

 

 

 

1,165

 

Capital loss carryforwards

 

 

1,982

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

 

 

405

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,575

 

 

 

11,632

 

Valuation Allowance

 

 

(1,982

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,593

 

 

 

11,632

 

Net deferred income tax liability

 

$

4,145

 

 

$

10,282

 

 

ASC 740, Income Taxes , requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance, if based on all available evidence, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Available evidence includes the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of temporary differences, taxable income in carryback years and tax planning strategies.

As further discussed in Note 4, the Company sold its investments in certain Brazilian subsidiaries on December 18, 2017. In connection with this divestiture, the Company incurred a capital loss of $9.5 million on its investment in the Myers do Brazil business and recorded a deferred tax asset of $2.0 million as the result of this capital loss carryforward. A valuation allowance of $2.0 million has been recorded against this deferred tax asset as the recovery of the asset is not more likely than not as of December 31, 2017. In addition, in accordance with ASC 740, for the year ended December 31, 2016 the Company allocated $0.6 million of a valuation allowance related to the Brazil Business to income from continuing operations in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, as this valuation allowance related to the change in estimated realizability of the beginning of the year net deferred tax asset in the Brazil Business.

The Company recorded a tax benefit of approximately $15 million generated as a result of a worthless stock deduction for the Novel do Nordeste business included in the divestiture. Although management believes that the worthless stock deduction is valid, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge it and, if challenged, that the Company will prevail. This tax benefit is included in the net loss from discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits:

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Balance at January 1

 

$

478

 

 

$

151

 

 

$

483

 

Increases related to previous year tax positions

 

 

359

 

 

 

478

 

 

 

151

 

Reductions due to lapse of applicable statute of limitations

 

 

(478

)

 

 

(151

)

 

 

(483

)

Reduction due to settlements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31

 

$

359

 

 

$

478

 

 

$

151

 

 

The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits that would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate was $0.4 million, $0.5 million and $0.2 million at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.  

50


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

The Company a nd its subsidiaries file U.S. Federal, state and local, and non-U.S. income tax returns.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal examinations by tax authorities for tax years before 201 4 . The Company is subject to state a nd local examinations for tax years of 2012 through 2016. In addition, the Company is subject to non-U.S. income tax examinations for tax years of 2012 through 2016.

 

 

12.  Retirement Plans

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have pension and profit sharing plans covering substantially all of their employees. The Company’s defined benefit pension plan, The Pension Agreement between Akro-Mils and United Steelworkers of America Local No. 1761-02 , provides benefits primarily based upon a fixed amount for each year of service. The plan was frozen in 2007, and thus benefits for service were no longer accumulated after this date.

Net periodic pension cost for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Interest cost

 

$

253

 

 

$

270

 

 

$

272

 

Expected return on assets

 

 

(295

)

 

 

(319

)

 

 

(332

)

Amortization of net loss

 

 

96

 

 

 

82

 

 

 

88

 

Net periodic pension cost

 

$

54

 

 

$

33

 

 

$

28

 

 

The reconciliation of changes in projected benefit obligations are as follows:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year

 

$

6,503

 

 

$

6,465

 

Interest cost

 

 

253

 

 

 

270

 

Actuarial loss

 

 

276

 

 

 

238

 

Expenses paid

 

 

(84

)

 

 

(92

)

Benefits paid

 

 

(369

)

 

 

(378

)

Projected benefit obligation at end of year

 

$

6,579

 

 

$

6,503

 

Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year

 

$

6,579

 

 

$

6,503

 

 

The assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost and benefit obligations are as follows:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Discount rate for net periodic pension cost

 

 

4.00

%

 

 

4.30

%

 

 

3.90

%

Discount rate for benefit obligations

 

 

3.50

%

 

 

4.00

%

 

 

4.30

%

Expected long-term return of plan assets

 

 

7.75

%

 

 

7.75

%

 

 

7.50

%

 

The expected long-term rate of return assumption is based on the actual historical rate of return on assets adjusted to reflect recent market conditions and future expectations consistent with the Company’s current asset allocation and investment policy. This policy provides for aggressive capital growth balanced with moderate income production. Though inherent risks of equity exposure exist, returns generally are less volatile than maximum growth programs. The assumed discount rates represent long-term high quality corporate bond rates commensurate with the liability duration of the plan.

51


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

The following table reflects the change in the fair value of the plan’s assets:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

$

5,183

 

 

$

5,443

 

Actual return on plan assets

 

 

531

 

 

 

210

 

Company contributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses paid

 

 

(84

)

 

 

(92

)

Benefits paid

 

 

(369

)

 

 

(378

)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

$

5,261

 

 

$

5,183

 

 

The fair value of plan assets are all categorized as level 1 and were determined based on period end closing, quoted prices in active markets.

The weighted average asset allocations at December 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

U.S. Equities securities

 

 

72

%

 

 

72

%

U.S. Debt securities

 

 

24

%

 

 

24

%

Cash

 

 

4

%

 

 

4

%

Total

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of the funded status of the plan at December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Projected benefit obligation

 

$

6,579

 

 

$

6,503

 

Plan assets at fair value

 

 

5,261

 

 

 

5,183

 

Funded status

 

$

(1,318

)

 

$

(1,320

)

 

The funded status shown above is included in Other Liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at December 31, 2017 and 2016. The Company does not expect to make a contribution to the plan in 2018.

Benefit payments projected for the plan are as follows:

 

2018

 

$

360

 

2019

 

 

366

 

2020

 

 

371

 

2021

 

 

372

 

2022

 

 

370

 

2023-2027

 

 

1,874

 

 

The Myers Industries Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan is maintained for the Company’s U.S. based employees, not covered under defined benefit plans, who have met eligibility service requirements. The Company recognized expense related to the 401(k) employer matching contribution in the amount of $2,302, $2,324 and $2,363 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

In addition, the Company has a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) to provide certain participating senior executives with retirement benefits in addition to amounts payable under the 401(k) plan. Expense related to the SERP was approximately $128, $192 and $188 for the years ended December 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The SERP liability was based on the discounted present value of expected future benefit payments using a discount rate of 3.5% at December 31, 2017 and 4.0% at December 31, 2016. The SERP liability was approximately $2,923 and $3,319 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and is included in Accrued Employee Compensation and Other Liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The SERP is unfunded.

52


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

 

 

13.  Leases

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are committed under non-cancelable operating leases involving certain facilities and equipment. Aggregate rental expense for all leased assets was $3,198, $3,625 and $3,647 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Future minimum rental commitments are as follows:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2018

 

$

2,486

 

2019

 

 

942

 

2020

 

 

663

 

2021

 

 

590

 

2022

 

 

564

 

Thereafter

 

 

390

 

Total

 

$

5,635

 

 

 

14.  Industry Segments

Using the criteria of ASC 280, Segment Reporting , the Company manages its business under two operating segments, Material Handling and Distribution, consistent with the manner in which our Chief Operating Decision Maker evaluates performance and makes resource allocation decisions. None of the reportable segments include operating segments that have been aggregated.  These segments contain individual business components that have been combined on the basis of common management, customers, products, production processes and other economic characteristics. The Company accounts for intersegment sales and transfers at cost plus a specified mark-up.

The Material Handling Segment manufactures a broad selection of plastic reusable containers, pallets, small parts bins, bulk shipping containers, storage and organization products and rotationally-molded plastic tanks for water, fuel and waste handling. This segment conducts its primary operations in the United States and Canada. Markets served encompass various niches of industrial manufacturing, food processing, retail/wholesale products distribution, agriculture, automotive, recreational vehicles, marine vehicles, healthcare, appliance, bakery, electronics, textiles, consumer, and others. Products are sold both directly to end-users and through distributors.

The Distribution Segment is engaged in the distribution of equipment, tools, and supplies used for tire servicing and automotive undervehicle repair and the manufacture of tire repair and retreading products. The product line includes categories such as tire valves and accessories, tire changing and balancing equipment, lifts and alignment equipment, service equipment and tools, and tire repair/retread supplies. The Distribution Segment operates domestically through its sales offices and four regional distribution centers in the United States, and in certain foreign countries through export sales. In addition, the Distribution Segment operates directly in certain foreign markets, principally Central America, through foreign branch operations. Markets served include retail and truck tire dealers, commercial auto and truck fleets, auto dealers, general service and repair centers, tire retreaders, and government agencies.

53


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

Total sales from foreign business units were approximately $53.9 million, $64.2 million, and $75.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Total export sales to countries outside the U.S. were approximately $17.2 million, $18.6 million, and $25.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectiv ely . Sales made to customers in Canada accounted for approximately 2.4% of total net sales in 2017, 4.6% in 2016 and 5.5% in 2015. There are no other individual foreign countries for which sales are material. Long-lived assets in foreign countries, primari ly in Canada, consist ed of property, plant and equipment, and were approximately $17.6 million at December 31, 2017 and $22.4 million at December 31, 2016.

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Net Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material Handling

 

$

391,313

 

 

$

363,956

 

 

$

384,351

 

Distribution

 

 

156,428

 

 

 

170,660

 

 

 

187,637

 

Inter-company sales

 

 

(698

)

 

 

(237

)

 

 

(968

)

Total net sales

 

$

547,043

 

 

$

534,379

 

 

$

571,020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material Handling

 

$

38,874

 

 

$

40,776

 

 

$

53,418

 

Distribution

 

 

9,073

 

 

 

12,834

 

 

 

16,114

 

Corporate

 

 

(23,059

)

 

 

(26,248

)

 

 

(35,015

)

Total operating income

 

 

24,888

 

 

 

27,362

 

 

 

34,517

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

(7,292

)

 

 

(8,643

)

 

 

(9,009

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

(1,888

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

$

15,708

 

 

$

18,719

 

 

$

25,508

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identifiable Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material Handling

 

$

257,863

 

 

$

268,634

 

 

$

307,799

 

Distribution

 

 

49,822

 

 

 

56,072

 

 

 

58,772

 

Corporate

 

 

48,257

 

 

 

36,271

 

 

 

34,746

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

20,707

 

 

 

27,707

 

Total identifiable assets

 

$

355,942

 

 

$

381,684

 

 

$

429,024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Additions, Net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material Handling

 

$

5,165

 

 

$

10,933

 

 

$

19,482

 

Distribution

 

 

622

 

 

 

1,424

 

 

 

1,795

 

Corporate

 

 

27

 

 

 

132

 

 

 

510

 

Total capital additions, net

 

$

5,814

 

 

$

12,489

 

 

$

21,787

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material Handling

 

$

28,506

 

 

$

29,270

 

 

$

30,018

 

Distribution

 

 

1,174

 

 

 

1,221

 

 

 

998

 

Corporate

 

 

1,151

 

 

 

1,301

 

 

 

1,314

 

Total depreciation and amortization

 

$

30,831

 

 

$

31,792

 

 

$

32,330

 

 

 

15.  Subsequent Events (Unaudited)

On February 27, 2018, the Company sold a distribution center in Pomona, California for approximately $2.3 million, net of approximately $0.1 million in closing costs. The Company concurrently entered into an agreement to lease the facility back from the buyer for a period of 10 years. This facility is included in our Distribution Segment.

 

54


MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands, except where otherwise indicated)

 

16.  Summarized Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

Quarter Ended 2017

 

March 31

 

 

June 30

 

 

September 30

 

 

December 31

 

 

Total

 

Net Sales

 

$

136,572

 

 

$

135,252

 

 

$

135,113

 

 

$

140,106

 

 

$

547,043

 

Gross Profit

 

 

41,761

 

 

 

38,292

 

 

 

39,143

 

 

 

38,257

 

 

 

157,453

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations (3) (4)

 

 

3,458

 

 

 

2,482

 

 

 

3,083

 

 

 

1,821

 

 

 

10,844

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net (1) (2)

 

 

(344

)

 

 

(489

)

 

 

174

 

 

 

(20,074

)

 

 

(20,733

)

Net income (loss) (1) (2) (3) (4)

 

 

3,114

 

 

 

1,993

 

 

 

3,257

 

 

 

(18,253

)

 

 

(9,889

)

Income (loss) per common share from continuing

   operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic*

 

$

0.12

 

 

$

0.08

 

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.06

 

 

$

0.36

 

Diluted*

 

$

0.11

 

 

$

0.08

 

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.06

 

 

$

0.35

 

Income (loss) per common share from discontinued

   operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic*

 

$

(0.02

)

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

(0.66

)

 

$

(0.69

)

Diluted*

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

(0.65

)

 

$

(0.68

)

Net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic*

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.07

 

 

$

0.11

 

 

$

(0.60

)

 

$

(0.33

)

Diluted*

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.07

 

 

$

0.11

 

 

$

(0.59

)

 

$

(0.33

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended 2016

 

March 31

 

 

June 30

 

 

September 30

 

 

December 31

 

 

Total

 

Net Sales

 

$

147,177

 

 

$

138,244

 

 

$

125,669

 

 

$

123,289

 

 

$

534,379

 

Gross Profit

 

 

48,440

 

 

 

43,482

 

 

 

34,676

 

 

 

35,300

 

 

 

161,898

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

 

5,722

 

 

 

5,921

 

 

 

580

 

 

 

(899

)

 

 

11,324

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net (5)

 

 

(9,115

)

 

 

(427

)

 

 

(166

)

 

 

(559

)

 

 

(10,267

)

Net income (loss) (5)

 

 

(3,393

)

 

 

5,494

 

 

 

414

 

 

 

(1,458

)

 

 

1,057

 

Income (loss) per common share from continuing

   operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic*

 

$

0.19

 

 

$

0.20

 

 

$

0.02

 

 

$

(0.03

)

 

$

0.38

 

Diluted*

 

$

0.19

 

 

$

0.20

 

 

$

0.02

 

 

$

(0.03

)

 

$

0.38

 

Income (loss) per common share from discontinued

   operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic*

 

$

(0.30

)

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

(0.02

)

 

$

(0.35

)

Diluted*

 

$

(0.30

)

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

(0.02

)

 

$

(0.35

)

Net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic*

 

$

(0.11

)

 

$

0.19

 

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

(0.05

)

 

$

0.03

 

Diluted*

 

$

(0.11

)

 

$

0.19

 

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

(0.05

)

 

$

0.03

 

 

 

( 1 )

A loss on the sale of the Brazil Business of $35 million was recognized during the fourth quarter of 2017. This loss is included in loss from discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.  

( 2 )

During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded a U.S. tax benefit of approximately $15 million as a result of a worthless stock deduction related to the Company’s investment in the Brazil Business. This benefit is included in loss from discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

( 3 )

During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $1.9 million.

( 4 )  

During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded a net tax benefit of approximately $1.2 million related to the Tax Act.

( 5 )

During the quarter ended March 31, 2016, the Company concluded that the goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets related to Novel were impaired and recorded an impairment charge of $8.5 million.

 

*

The sum of the earnings per share for the four quarters in a year does not necessarily equal the total year earnings per share due to the computation of weighted shares outstanding during each respective period.

 

55


 

 

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

None.

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

The Company carries out a variety of on-going procedures, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to evaluate the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2017.

Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting, and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm on internal control over financial reporting are titled “Management’s Annual Assessment of and Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” and “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”, respectively, and are included herein.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Management’s Annual Assessment of and Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The 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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Because of its inherent limitation, 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.

Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report included herein.

 

R. David Banyard

Matteo Anversa

President and

Executive Vice President,

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer and

Corporate Secretary

 

56


 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

We have audited Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated statements of financial position of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017 and the related notes of the Company and our report dated March 9, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

The Company’s 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 Annual Assessment of and 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 are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

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 .

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Akron, Ohio

March 9, 2018

57


 

ITEM 9B.

Other Information.

None.

 

 

PART III

 

 

ITEM 10.

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

For information about the directors of the Company, see the sections titled “Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors”, “Nominees”, “Corporate Governance Guidelines”, “Corporate Governance and Compensation Practices”, “Board and Committee Independence”, “Board Committees and Meetings”, “Committee Charters and Policies”, and “Shareholder Nomination Process” of the Company’s Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders to be held on April 25, 2018 (“Proxy Statement”), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Each member of the Company’s Audit Committee is financially literate and independent as defined under the Company’s Independence Criteria Policy and the independence standards set by the New York Stock Exchange. The Board has identified Robert A. Stefanko, Jane Scaccetti, F. Jack Liebau, Jr. and Daniel R. Lee as “Audit Committee Financial Experts”.

Information about the Executive Officers of Registrant appears in Part I of this Report.

Disclosures by the Company with respect to compliance with Section 16(a) appears under the section entitled “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.

For information about our Code of Ethics see the section titled “Corporate Governance and Compensation Practices” of our Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

ITEM 11.

Executive Compensation

See the sections titled “Executive Compensation and Related Information”, “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation”, "Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation”, “Risk Assessment of Compensation Practices”, “Corporate Governance Guidelines”, “Corporate Governance and Compensation Practices” and “Board Role in Risk Oversight” of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

ITEM 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

See the sections titled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management,” and “Proposal No. 1 - Election of Directors” of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

  

 

(A)

 

 

(B)

 

 

(C)

 

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 (Excluding

Securities Reflected in

Column (A))

 

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders

 

 

1,400,817

 

(1)

$

15.13

 

(2)

 

1,915,039

 

Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders

 

–0–

 

 

–0–

 

 

–0–

 

Total

 

 

1,400,817

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,915,039

 

 

(1)

This information is as of December 31, 2017 and includes outstanding stock option and restricted share awards granted under the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan and 1999 Incentive Stock Plan.

(2)

Represents the weighted average exercise price of outstanding stock options and does not take into account outstanding restricted share awards, which do not have an exercise price.

 

 

58


 

ITEM 13.

Certain Relationshi ps and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

See the sections titled “Policies and Procedures with Respect to Related Party Transactions” and “Corporate Governance Guidelines”, “ Corporate Governance and Compensation Practices” and “Board and Committee Independence” of the Proxy Statement, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

ITEM 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Required information regarding fees paid to and services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the pre-approval policies and procedures of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors is set forth under the section titled “Matters Relating to the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” of the Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

59


 

PART IV

 

 

ITEM 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

The following consolidated financial statements of the Registrant appear in Part II of this Report:

15.

(A)(1) Financial Statements

Consolidated Financial Statements of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations For The Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) For the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position As of December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity For The Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For The Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements For The Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

15.

(A)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

All schedules are omitted because they are inapplicable, not required, or because the information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto which appear in Part II of this Report.

60


 

15.

(A)(3) Exhibits

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

2(a)

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2014, among Scepter Corporation, SHI Properties Inc., CA Acquisition Inc., and Myers Industries, Inc. Reference is made to Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 7, 2014.**

2(b)

Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2014, among Eco One Holdings, Inc., Crown US Acquisition Company, and Myers Industries, Inc. Reference is made to Exhibit 2.2 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 7, 2014.**

2(c)

Indemnification Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2014 among Scepter Corporation, SHI Properties Inc., Eco One Holdings, Inc., Crown US Acquisition Company, and CA Acquisition Inc. Reference is made to Exhibit 2.3 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 7, 2014.**

2(d)

First Amendment to the Asset Purchase Agreement, Unit Purchase Agreement and Indemnification Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2014, among Scepter Corporation, SHI Properties Inc., CA Acquisition Inc., Eco One Holdings, Inc., Crown US Acquisition Company, and Myers Industries, Inc. Reference is made to Exhibit 2.4 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 7, 2014.**

2(e)

Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2015, among Myers Industries, Inc., MYE Canada Operations, Inc., and the HC Companies, Inc. Reference is made to Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 18, 2015.**

2(f)

Quota Purchase Agreement by and among Myers Industries, Inc., Myers Holdings Brasil Ltda., Novel Holdings - Eireli, and Gabriel Alonso Neto dated as of December 18, 2017. Reference is made to Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 18, 2017.

3(a)

Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. Reference is made to Exhibit 3(a) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 16, 2005.

3(b)

Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Code of Regulations. Reference is made to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 12, 2013.

10(a)

Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(a) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 30, 2001.

10(b)

Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 1, 2009.

10(c)

Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 99 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3 filed with the Commission on March 19, 2004.

10(d)

Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Incentive Stock Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(f) to Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 9, 2006.*

10(e)

Myers Industries, Inc. Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit (10)(g) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 26, 2003.*

10(f)

Amendment to the Myers Industries, Inc. Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan, effective August 12, 2015. Reference is made to the Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 14, 2015.*

10(g)

Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and John C. Orr dated July 18, 2000. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(j) to Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 6, 2003.*

10(h)

Amendment to the Myers Industries, Inc. Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan (John C. Orr) effective June 1, 2008. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 24, 2008.*

10(i)

Third Amendment to the Myers Industries, Inc. Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan (John C. Orr) effective June 1, 2011. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 7, 2011.*

10(j)

Non-Competition and Confidentiality Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and Gregg Branning dated September 1, 2012. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(s) to Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 1, 2013.*

10(k)

Performance Bonus Plan of Myers Industries, Inc. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 30, 2013.*

10(l)

Note Purchase Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and the Note Purchasers, dated October 22, 2013, regarding the issuance of $40,000,000 of 4.67% Series A Senior Notes due January 15, 2021, $11,000,000 of 5.25% Series B Senior Notes due January 15, 2024, $29,000,000 of 5.30% Series C Senior Notes due January 15, 2024, and $20,000,000 of 5.45% Series D Senior Notes due January 15, 2026. Reference is made to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 24, 2013.

10(m)

First Amendment to the Note Purchase Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and the Note Purchasers, regarding the issuance of $40,000,000 of 4.67% Series A Senior Notes due January 15, 2021, $11,000,000 of 5.25% Series B Senior Notes due January 15, 2024, $29,000,000 of 5.30% Series C Senior Notes due January 15, 2024, and $20,000,000 of 5.45% Series D Senior Notes due January 15, 2026, dated July 21, 2015. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 23, 2015.

61


 

10(n)

Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement among Myers Industries, Inc., MYE Canada Operations, Inc., the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Agent, dated December 13, 2013. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 17, 2013.

10(o)

First Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement among Myers Industries, Inc., the foreign subsidiary borrowers, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Agent, dated May 30, 2014. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 4, 2014.

10(p)

Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan of the Company, effective as of March 5, 2015. Reference is made to the Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 30, 2015.*

10(q)

Second Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement among Myers Industries, Inc., the foreign subsidiary borrowers, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Agent, dated May 19, 2015. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 26, 2015.

10(r)

Severance Agreement between the Company and R. David Banyard, entered into as of December 7, 2015. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 8, 2015.*

10(s)

Non-Competition and Confidentiality Agreement between Myers Industries, Inc. and R. David Banyard dated December 7, 2015. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(u) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2016.*

10(t)

Form of Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan for Named Executive Officers. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(v) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2016.*

10(u)

Form of Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan for Eligible Employees. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(w) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2016.*

10(v)

Form of Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan for Director Awards. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(x) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2016.*

10(w)

Form of Option Award Agreement under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan for Named Executive Officers. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(y) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2016.*

10(x)

Form of Option Award Agreement under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan for Eligible Employees. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(z) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2016.*

10(y)

Form of Long Term Cash Award Agreement under the Performance Bonus Plan. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(aa) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2016.*

10(z)

Stock Unit Award Agreement (three-year vest period) under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan for R. David Banyard dated December 7, 2015. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(ab) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2016.*

10(aa)

Stock Unit Award Agreement (two-year vest period) under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan for R. David Banyard dated December 7, 2015. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(ac) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2016.*

10(ab)

Severance Agreement between the Company and Matteo Anversa, entered into as of October 17, 2016. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 19, 2016.*

10(ac)

Form of Performance-based Stock Unit Award Agreement (three-year vest period) under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan for R. David Banyard.  Reference is made to Exhibit 10(a) to Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 2, 2016.*

10(ad)

Form of Director Stock Award Agreement under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan.  Reference is made to Exhibit 10(b) to Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 2, 2016.*

10(ae)

Form of 2017 Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc. Reference is made to Exhibit 10(ag) to Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2017.*

10(af)

Fifth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated March 8, 2017, among Myers Industries, Inc., MYE Canada Operations Inc., Scepter Canada Inc. and the other foreign subsidiary borrowers, the lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as administrative agent. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2017.

10(ag)

Second Amendment to the Note Purchase Agreement among the Subsidiary Guarantors identified therein and each of the institutions which is a signatory thereto, dated March 8, 2017. Reference is made to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 9, 2017.

10(ah)

Amended and Restated 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc., effective as of March 2, 2017, incorporated by reference to Annex A of the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement dated March 21, 2017.

10(ai)

Form of Option Award Agreement under the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc.* (filed herewith)

10(aj)

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc.* (filed herewith)

62


 

10(ak)

Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement for Canadian employees under the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc.* (filed herewith)

10(al)

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Canadian employees under the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc.* (filed herewith)

10(am)

Form of Option Award Agreement for Canadian employees under the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc.* (filed herewith)

10(an)

Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc.* (filed herewith)

10(ao)

Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan of Myers Industries, Inc., amended as of March 8, 2018.* (filed herewith)

14

Myers Industries, Inc. Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. Reference is made to Exhibit 14.1 to Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 6, 2017 .

21

List of Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries, and Operating Divisions, of Myers Industries, Inc.

23

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

31(a)

Certification of R. David Banyard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Myers Industries, Inc., pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31(b)

Certification of Matteo Anversa, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Myers Industries, Inc., pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32

Certifications of R. David Banyard, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Matteo Anversa, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, of Myers Industries, Inc. pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101

The following financial information from Myers Industries, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, formatted in XBRL includes: (i) Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (v) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity, and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

*

Indicates executive compensation plan or arrangement.

**

Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, certain exhibits and schedules have been omitted from this filing. The registrant agrees to furnish the Commission on a supplemental basis a copy of any omitted exhibit or schedule.

63


 

SIGNA TURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

M YERS I NDUSTRIES , I NC .

 

/s/ Matteo Anversa

Matteo Anversa

Executive Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and

Corporate Secretary

 

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 Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

SIGNATURE

 

TITLE

 

DATE

/s/ R. David Banyard

 

President, Chief Executive Officer

and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

 

March 9, 2018

R. DAVID BANYARD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Matteo Anversa

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary (Principal Financial Officer)

 

March 9, 2018

MATTEO ANVERSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Kevin L. Brackman

 

Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

March 9, 2018

KEVIN L. BRACKMAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Sarah R. Coffin

 

Director

 

March 9, 2018

SARAH R. COFFIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ John B. Crowe

 

Director

 

March 9, 2018

JOHN B. CROWE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ William A. Foley

 

Director

 

March 9, 2018

WILLIAM A. FOLEY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Daniel R. Lee

 

Director

 

March 9, 2018

DANIEL R. LEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ F. Jack Liebau, Jr.

 

Director

 

March 9, 2018

F. JACK LIEBAU, JR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Bruce M. Lisman

 

Director

 

March 9, 2018

BRUCE M. LISMAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jane Scaccetti

 

Director

 

March 9, 2018

JANE SCACCETTI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert A. Stefanko

 

Director

 

March 9, 2018

ROBERT A. STEFANKO

 

 

 

 

 

64

 

Exhibit 10ai

2018 OPTION AGREEMENT
(Non-Qualified Stock Option)

This Option Agreement is made as of the __ day of March 2018 between Myers Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), and «full_name» an employee of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries (hereinafter called the “Employee”).

WHEREAS , the Company has heretofore adopted the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc., as amended and restated (the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS , it is a requirement of the Plan that an Option Agreement be executed to evidence the Non-Qualified Stock Option granted to the Employee.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto have agreed, and do hereby agree, as follows:

1. Grant of Option .  The Company hereby grants to the Employee the right and option (hereinafter called the “Option”) to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of   ________ shares of the common stock, no par value, of the Company (“Shares”) (such number being subject to adjustment as set forth herein and in the Plan) on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan.

2. Type of Option .  The Option granted under this Option Agreement is a non-qualified stock option and shall not be treated by the Company or the Employee as an incentive stock option for federal income tax purposes.

3. Option Price .  The option price of the Shares covered by the Option is $ ______ per Share.

4. Term of Option .  The term of the Option shall be for a period of ten (10) years from the date hereof, subject to earlier termination as provided in the Plan or this Agreement.

5. Exercise of Option .

(a) Prior to its expiration or termination, and except as hereinafter provided, the Employee’s right to exercise the Option shall vest, and the Employee may exercise the Option, as follows:

(i) At any time after the first anniversary of the date of this Option Agreement, the Option may be exercised as to not more than one third (1/3) of Shares originally subject to this Option;

(ii) At any time after the second anniversary of the date of this Option Agreement, the Option may be exercised as to not more than an aggregate of two thirds (2/3) of the Shares originally subject to this Option; and

(iii) At any time after the third anniversary of the date of this Option Agreement, the Option may be exercised as to all or any part of the Shares originally subject to this Option.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated by reason of the Employee’s death, Disability or retirement on or after the Employee’s sixty-fifth birthday, the Option shall become exercisable in full as of the date of such termination.

(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if (x)  the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is completely terminated by the Company for any reason other than Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason, in either case, following a Change in Control, the Option shall become exercisable in full immediately prior to such termination of employment or (y) the Option is terminated in connection with a Change in Control and not assumed or replaced with a substituted option or other right having a substantially equivalent value and substantially equivalent or better terms and conditions, then the Option shall become exercisable in full prior to such termination as provided in the Plan.

(b) In order to exercise the Option, the person or persons entitled to exercise it shall deliver to the Company written notice of the number of full Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised.  Such notice shall be delivered


 

to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer or such other person as the Committee may designate.  Unless (i) the Company, in its discretion, establishes “cashless exercise” procedures pursuant to Section 13.2 of the Plan, and (ii) the Committee, in its discretion, permits the person or persons entitled to exercise the Option to utilize such “cashless exercise” procedures, the notice shall be accompanied by payment in full for any Shares being purchased, which payment shall be in cash, in Shares that have been held free and clear of all liens and encumbrances for at least six (6) months valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise, or by a combination of cash and Shares.

(c) No Shares shall be issued until full payment therefor has been made, and the Employee shall have none of the rights of a shareholder in respect of such Shares until full payment therefor has been made.

6. Nontransferability .  The Option shall not be transferable, other than:  (a) by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and the Option may be exercised, during the lifetime of the holder of the Option, only by him, or in the event of death, his Successor, or in the event of disability, his personal representative, or (b) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in the Code or ERISA or the rules thereunder.

7. Termination of Employment .  In the event of the complete termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason other than cause, death, Disability or retirement on or after the Employee’s sixty-fifth (65th) birthday (the date of such termination of employment, the “Termination Date”), then (a) the Option may be exercised by the Employee (to the extent that he shall have been entitled to do so as of the Termination Date) at any time within three (3) months after the Termination Date, but not beyond the original term thereof, (b) the portion of the Option that has not vested (i.e., that is not then exercisable, taking into account Section 5.1(a)(v)) as of the Termination Date shall automatically terminate as of the Termination Date, and (c) the vested portion of the Option shall automatically terminate upon the expiration of the three (3) month period described above to the extent not theretofore exercised.  So long as the Employee shall continue to be an employee of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries, the Option shall not be affected by any change of duties or position.  Nothing in this Option Agreement shall confer upon the Employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary to terminate his employment at any time.  Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event of the complete termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for cause, the Option, to the extent not theretofore exercised, shall automatically terminate as of the date of the Employee’s complete termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for cause.

8. Death or Disability of Employee .  If the Employee shall die while he shall be employed by the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries, or within the period described in Section 7(a) above after the complete termination of his employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries other than for Cause if by the Company, or if the employment of the Employee shall terminate on account of his Disability, then (a) the Option may be exercised by the Employee’s Successor or personal representative, as the case may be, at any time within one (1) year after the date of the Employee’s death or Disability, but not beyond the term of the Option, and (b) the  Option shall automatically terminate upon the expiration of the one (1) year period described above to the extent not theretofore exercised.  For purposes of this Option Agreement, “Disability” shall mean permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

9. Retirement of Employee .  If the employment of the Employee with the Company and its Subsidiaries shall terminate as a result of his retirement on or after his sixty-fifth (65th) birthday, then the Option may be exercised in full  by the Employee (or in the event of the Employee’s subsequent death, the Employee’s Successor) at any time during the remaining term of the Option.

10. Taxes .  The Company shall have the right to require a person entitled to receive Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option to pay the Company the amount of any taxes which the Company is or will be required to withhold with respect to such Shares before the certificate for such Shares is delivered pursuant to the Option.  Furthermore, the Company may elect to deduct such taxes from any amounts then payable in cash or in shares or from any other amounts payable any time thereafter to the Employee.  

11. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization .  In the event of changes in all of the outstanding Shares by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, exchanges of shares, separations, reorganizations, liquidations, or similar events, or in the event of extraordinary cash or non-cash dividends being declared with respect to the Shares, or similar transactions or events, the number and class of Shares subject to the Option hereby granted, the option price and all of the other applicable provisions thereof shall, subject to the provisions of the Plan, be correspondingly equitably adjusted by the Committee (which adjustment may, but need not, include payment to the holder of the Option, in cash or in shares, in an amount equal to the difference between the option price and the then current Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option as equitably determined by the Committee) in order to prevent the diminution or enlargement of the benefits under this Option, as the

2


 

Committee shall decide in its sole discretion.  Any such adjustment may provide for the elimination of any fractional share which might otherwise be subject to the Option.

12. Delivery of Shares on Exercise .  Delivery of certificates for Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option may be postponed by the Company for such period as may be required for it, with reasonable diligence, to comply with any applicable requirements of any federal, state or local law or regulation or any administrative or quasi-administrative requirement applicable to the sale, issuance, distribution or delivery of such Shares.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, require the holder of the Option to furnish the Company with appropriate representations and a written investment letter prior to the exercise of the Option or the delivery of any Shares pursuant to the Option.

13. Acknowledgment .  The Employee acknowledges that none of the Company, the Board, the Committee or any of the Company’s affiliates, officers, employees, agents or representatives has provided or is providing the undersigned with tax advice regarding the receipt of the Option or the exercise of the Option for Shares, and the Company has urged the Employee to consult the Employee’s own tax advisor with respect to the income taxation consequences of receiving, holding and disposing of the Option or any Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option.

14. Cause and Good Reason .  Unless otherwise defined in a written agreement between the Employee and the Company, for purposes of this Agreement the terms “Cause” and “Good Reason” shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Cause” means:

(i) The commission by the Employee (evidenced by a conviction or written, voluntary and freely given confession) of a criminal act constituting a felony involving fraud or moral turpitude;

(ii) the repeated failure of the Employee to follow the reasonable directives of the Employee’s superiors after having been given written notice thereof; or

(iii) commission by the Employee of any act, which both (A) constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct and (B) results in material economic harm to the Company or has a materially adverse effect on the Company’s operations, properties or business relationships.

(b) “Good Reason” means the occurrence of one or more of the following conditions arising without the consent of the Employee:

(i) a material diminution in the Employee’s annual base salary;

(ii) a material diminution in the Employee’s duties and responsibilities; or

(iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Employee must perform his Duties.

In order for a condition to constitute a Good Reason, the Employee must provide written notification to the Company of the existence of the condition within forty-five (45) days of the initial existence of the condition (or within forty-five (45) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition, if later), upon the notice of which the Company shall have a period of thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the condition.  Furthermore, to constitute a Good Reason, the Employee must voluntarily terminate employment with the Company within one hundred eighty (180) days following the initial existence of the condition (or within one hundred eighty (180) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition.  The parties agree that “Good Reason” will not be deemed to have occurred merely because the Company becomes a subsidiary or division of another entity following a Change in Control.

15. Incorporation of Provisions of the Plan .  All of the provisions of the Plan, pursuant to which this Option is granted, are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part hereof as if specifically set forth herein, and to the extent of any conflict between this Option Agreement and the terms contained in the Plan, the Plan shall control.  To the extent any capitalized terms are not otherwise defined herein, they shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

16. Invalidity of Provisions .  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Option Agreement as a result of a violation of any state or federal law, or of the rules or regulations of any governmental regulatory body, or any securities exchange shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Option Agreement.

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17. Waiver and Modification .  The provisions of this Option Agreement may not be waived or modified unless such waiver or modification is in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

18. Interpretation .  All decisions or interpretations made by the Committee, in its reasonable discretion, with regard to any question arising under the Plan or this Option Agreement as provided by Section 4 of the Plan, shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the Employee.

19. Multiple Counterparts .  This Option Agreement may be signed in multiple counterparts, all of which when taken together shall constitute an original agreement.  The execution by one party of any counterpart shall be sufficient execution by that party, whether or not the same counterpart has been executed by any other party.

20. Governing Law .  This Option Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Option Agreement to be duly executed by its duly authorized officer, and the Employee has hereunto set his hand, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:

R. David Banyard

Its:

President  & Chief Executive Officer

 

«full_name» Employee

 

5

 

Exhibit 10aj

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

 

This Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of the __ day of March 2018 between Myers Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), and «full_name» an employee (the “Employee”) of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries.

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore adopted the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc., as amended and restated (the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS, it is a requirement of the Plan that a Stock Unit Award Agreement be executed to evidence the Stock Units awarded to the Employee.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto have agreed, and do hereby agree as follows:

1. Grant of Stock Units .  The Company hereby grants to the Employee an Award of ________ Stock Units on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan.  Each Stock Unit represents the right of the Employee to receive an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date that payment is made with respect to the Stock Unit.

2. Rights with Respect to Stock Units .  The Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, and the Employee shall have no rights with respect to the Stock Units other than those of a general creditor of the Company.  Prior to the issuance of Shares as payment with respect to the Stock Units, the Employee shall have no rights of ownership in or to the Shares underlying the Stock Units and shall not be deemed the beneficial owner of such Shares.

3. Restrictions on and Vesting of the Stock Units .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, none of the Stock Units may be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of; provided, however, the right to receive payment with respect to the Stock Units may be transferred upon the death of the Employee to the Employee’s Successor.

(b) The Stock Units subject to this Agreement shall vest in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of this Agreement (each such anniversary, a “Vesting Date”) or, if earlier,


 

upon the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries by reason of his death, disability or retirement on or after his sixty-fifth birthday or the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries without Cause if by the Company or for Good Reason if by the Employee, in either case following a Change in Control of the Company (an “Acceleration Event”).

(c) In the event of the complete termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason other than (i) by reason of the Employee’s death, disability or retirement on or after the Employee’s sixty-fifth birthday prior to the earlier of the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (ii) by the Company without Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason, in either case following a Change in Control of the Company, the Stock Units that have not vested as of the date of such termination shall be immediately and automatically forfeited to the Company without notice for no consideration.

(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “disability” shall mean a physical or mental incapacity that prevents the Employee from performing his duties for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days.

4. Payment and Issuance of Shares .  On each Vesting Date or, if earlier, upon an Acceleration Event (each such Vesting Date or Acceleration Event, a “Payment Date”), or within thirty (30) days thereafter in the case of an Acceleration Event or by March 15 of the year in which such Vesting Date occurs, the Company shall make a payment to the Employee of one Share for every Stock Unit that became vested as of such Payment Date (and with respect to which a payment has not previously been made pursuant to this Section 4) as payment with respect to each such vested Stock Unit.  If any dividends are declared on the Company’s Shares while the Stock Units subject to this Agreement are outstanding, the Company shall make a payment to the Employee on each Payment Date, or within thirty (30) days thereafter in the case of an Acceleration Event or by March 15 of the year in which such Vesting Date occurs, with respect to each Stock Unit that became vested as of such Payment Date, in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of dividends that would have been payable to the Employee with respect to each such vested Stock Unit had such vested Stock Unit instead been an issued and outstanding Share on the record date of any such dividends (the “Dividend Equivalent Amount”), but only to the extent that the Dividend Equivalent Amount has not previously been paid to the Employee with respect to such vested Stock Unit.  At the Company’s discretion, payment of the Dividend Equivalent Amount may be made in cash or in Shares having a Fair Market Value on the Payment Date equal to the Dividend Equivalent Amount.  At the Company’s election, the Company shall cause the Shares delivered as payment with respect to the vested Stock Units to either be

2


 

evidenced by a book entry account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), by a certificate issued in the Employee’s name, or by delivery to the Employee’s individual share holdings account in the Company’s equity plan manager’s system (“Employee’s Account”).  Upon the earlier of the date the Shares are evidenced in a book entry account maintained by the Transfer Agent, the date a certificate for the Shares are issued in the Employee’s name, or the transfer to the Employee’s Account, the Employee shall be a shareholder with respect to the Shares and shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive any dividends and other distributions paid with respect to the Shares.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, following a Change of Control of the Company, the Company, at its election, may elect to make any payment required to be made to the Employee pursuant to this Section 4 in cash rather than Shares.

5. Taxes .  The Company shall have the right to satisfy any obligation of the Company to withhold taxes or other amounts with respect to the Stock Units by withholding Shares otherwise deliverable to the Employee with respect to the Stock Units having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such tax or other withholdings, provided the amount will not result in liability accounting for the Company.  Furthermore, the Company may elect to deduct from any cash payment made to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement the amount of any taxes or other amounts which the Company is or will be required to withhold with respect to such cash payment.

6. No Right to Employment .  Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon the Employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary to terminate his employment at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.

7. Acknowledgement and Section 409A Compliance .

(a) Employee acknowledges that neither the Company nor any of the Company’s affiliates, officers, shareholders, employees, agents or representatives has provided or is providing the undersigned with tax advice regarding the Stock Units subject to this Agreement or any other matter, and the Company has urged the Employee to consult with his own tax advisor with respect to the income taxation consequences associated with the Stock Units subject to this Agreement.

(b) It is intended that this Award of Stock Units comply with Section 409A of the Code, and this Award and the terms of this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in a manner consistent with such

3


 

intent, although in no event shall the Company have any liability to the Employee if this Award or the terms of this Agreement are determined not to comply with Section 409A of the Code.  For purposes of this Agreement, termination of employment means a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h).

(c) Whenever payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., payment may be made within thirty (30) days after the Payment Date), the actual date of payment within the specified period will be determined solely by the Company.

(d) If the Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code at the time of his “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then any payment otherwise required to be made to him under this Agreement on account of his separation from service, to the extent such payment (after taking into account all exclusions applicable to such payment under Section 409A of the Code) is properly treated as deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, shall not be made until the first business day after (i) the expiration of six months from the date of the Employee’s separation from service, or (ii) if earlier, the date of the Employee’s death.

(e) The Employee’s right to receive each installment of Stock Units shall be treated as separate payments for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

8. Cause and Good Reason .  Unless otherwise defined in a written agreement between the Employee and the Company, for purposes of this Agreement the terms “Cause” and “Good Reason” shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Cause” means:

(i) The commission by the Employee (evidenced by a conviction or written, voluntary and freely given confession) of a criminal act constituting a felony involving fraud or moral turpitude;

(ii) the repeated failure of the Employee to follow the reasonable directives of the Employee’s superiors after having been given written notice thereof; or

(iii) commission by the Employee of any act, which both (A) constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct and (B) results in material economic harm to the Company or has a materially adverse effect on the Company’s operations, properties or business relationships.

4


 

(b) “Good Reason” means the occurrence of one or more of the following conditions arising without the consent of the Employee:

(i) a material diminution in the Employee’s annual base salary;

(ii) a material diminution in the Employee’s duties and responsibilities; or

(iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Employee must perform his Duties.

In order for a condition to constitute a Good Reason, the Employee must provide written notification to the Company of the existence of the condition within forty-five (45) days of the initial existence of the condition (or within forty-five (45) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition, if later), upon the notice of which the Company shall have a period of thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the condition.  Furthermore, to constitute a Good Reason, the Employee must voluntarily terminate employment with the Company within one hundred eighty (180) days following the initial existence of the condition (or within one hundred eighty (180) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition.  The parties agree that “Good Reason” will not be deemed to have occurred merely because the Company becomes a subsidiary or division of another entity following a Change in Control.

9. Incorporation of Provisions of the Plan .  All of the provisions of the Plan pursuant to which the Stock Units are granted are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part hereof as if specifically set forth herein, and to the extent of any conflict between this Agreement and the terms contained in the Plan, the Plan shall control.  To the extent any capitalized terms are not otherwise defined herein, they shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

10. Invalidity of Provisions .  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement as a result of a violation of any state or federal law, or of the rules or regulations of any governmental regulatory body, shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement.

11. Waiver and Modification .  The provisions of this Agreement may not be waived or modified unless such waiver or modification is in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

12. Interpretation .  All decisions or interpretations made by the Committee with regard to any question arising under the Plan or this Agreement as provided by Section 4 of the Plan, shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the Employee.

5


 

13. Multiple Counterparts .  This Agreement may be signed in multiple counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an original agreement.  The execution by one party of any counterpart shall be sufficient execution by that party, whether or not the same counterpart has been executed by any other party.

14. Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.


6


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly executed, and the Employee has hereunto set his hand, all as of the day and year first above written.

MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC.

By: R. David Banyard

Its: President & Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

«full_name» , Employee

7

 

Exhibit 10ak

Performance STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

(CA Employee)

This Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of the ___ day of March, 2018 between Myers Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), and __________________, an employee (the “Employee”) of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries.

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore adopted the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc., as amended and restated (the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS, it is a requirement of the Plan that a Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement be executed to evidence the Performance Stock Units awarded to the Employee.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto have agreed, and do hereby agree as follows:

1. Grant of Performance Stock Units .  The Company hereby grants to the Employee an Award of Performance Stock Units (such number to be determined as set forth in Section 4(b) based on a target award of ____________  Performance Stock Units) on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan.  Each Performance Stock Unit represents the right of the Employee to receive the payment of one Share on the date that payment is made.

2. Defined Terms .  Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “Free Cash Flow as a Percentage of Sales” means the total Free Cash Flow over the Performance Period compared against total Sales over the Performance Period, with such adjustments as may be approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, in its discretion.

(b) “Adjusted EBITDA” means the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in each case as set forth on the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year with such adjustments as may be approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, in its discretion.

(c) Unless otherwise defined in a written agreement between Employee and the Company, “Cause” means:

 

(i)

The commission by the Employee (evidenced by a conviction or written, voluntary and freely given confession) of a criminal act constituting a felony or involving fraud or moral turpitude;

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(ii)

The repeated failure of the Employee to follow the reasonable directives of the Employee’s superiors after having been given written notice thereof; or

 

(iii)

Commission by the Employee of any act, which both (A) constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct and (B) has a materially adverse effect on the Company’s operations, properties or business relationships.

(d) “Cumulative EBITDA” means the sum of Adjusted EBITDA for each year of the Performance Period.

(e) “Disability” means a physical or mental incapacity that prevents the Executive from performing his duties for a total of one hundred eighty (180) days in any twenty four (24) month period.

(f) “Free Cash Flow” means  cash from continuing operations less capital expenditures.

(g) Unless otherwise defined in a  written agreement between the Employee and the Company, “Good Reason” means the occurrence of one or more of the following conditions arising without the consent of the Employee:

 

(i)

A material diminution in the Employee’s annual base salary;

 

(ii)

A material diminution in the Employee’s duties and responsibilities; or

 

(iii)

A material change in the geographic location at which the Employee must perform his duties.

In order for a condition to constitute Good Reason, the Employee must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of the condition within forty-five (45) days of the initial existence of the condition (or within forty-five (45) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition, if later), upon receipt of such notice, the Company shall have a period of thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the condition.  Furthermore, to constitute Good Reason, the Employee must voluntarily terminate employment with the Company within one hundred eighty (180) days following the initial existence of the condition (or within one hundred eighty (180) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition, if later).  The parties agree that “Good Reason” will not be deemed to have occurred merely because the Company becomes a subsidiary or division of another entity following a Change of Control.

(a) “Performance Goals” mean Cumulative EBITDA and Free Cash Flow as a Percentage of Sales established by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors within ninety (90) days after the commencement of the Performance Period.

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(b) “Performance Period” means the period commencing on January 1, 2018 and ending on December 31, 2020.

(c) “Sales”  means net sales.

3. Rights with Respect to Performance Stock Units .  The Performance Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, and the Employee shall have no rights with respect to the Performance Stock Units other than those of a general creditor of the Company.  Prior to the issuance of Shares as payment with respect to the Performance Stock Units, the Employee shall have no voting, dividend or other rights of ownership in or to the Shares underlying the Performance Stock Units and shall not be deemed the beneficial owner of such Shares.

4. Restrictions on Number and Vesting of the Performance Stock Units .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, none of the Performance Stock Units may be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of; provided, however, the right to receive payment with respect to the Performance Stock Units may be transferred upon the death of the Employee to the Employee’s Successor.

(b) The number of Performance Stock Units earned shall be determined, and shall vest, as of December 31, 2020 based on the relative level of achievement of the Performance Goals as set forth in Exhibit A or earlier, upon an Acceleration Event (as defined in Section 5).  The number of Performance Stock Units earned shall be determined by providing equal weight to the Performance Goals (such number of Performance Stock Units, the “Vested Performance Stock Units”).  The determination of the Vested Performance Stock Units shall be made by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in its sole discretion as soon as administratively possible after the Company’s audited financial statements are available for the final fiscal year of the Performance Period.  Any Performance Stock Units or rights to Performance Stock Units that do not become Vested Performance Stock Units as of December 31, 2020, or earlier upon an Acceleration Event, shall be immediately and automatically forfeited to the Company without notice and without consideration.

(c) In the event of the complete termination of the Employee’s employment by the Company for Cause (as defined herein unless defined in any written agreement between the Company and the Employee in effect at the time of such termination of employment) or by the Employee without Good Reason (as defined herein unless defined in any written agreement between the Company and the Employee in effect at the time of such termination of employment) prior to the earlier of December 31, 2020 or an Acceleration Event, the Employee’s right to any Stock Units subject to this Agreement shall be immediately and automatically forfeited to the Company without notice for no consideration.  For the avoidance of doubt, a termination by the Employee without Good Reason will not include a termination by reason of the Employee’s death, disability, retirement on or after the Employee’s sixty-fifth birthday or a termination by the Employee for Good Reason.

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5. Payment and Issuance of Shares .  As soon as administratively practicable following the determination of the achievement of the Performance Goals for the Performance Period, but in no event later than March 15 following the end of the Performance Period (the “Payment Date”), the Company shall make a payment to the Employee of one Share for every Vested Performance Stock Unit as payment with respect to each such Vested Performance Stock Unit. For greater certainty, the Employee shall not be entitled to receive a cash payment from the Company in respect of any Performance Stock Unit granted hereunder . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated prior to December 31, 2020 by reason of the Employee’s death or disability (an “Acceleration Event”), then (i) for purposes of determining the number of Vested Performance Stock Units as of such Acceleration Event, the achievement of the Performance Goals shall be deemed to be 100% and the award shall be prorated for the shortened Performance Period (ii) the Company shall make a payment to the Employee of one Share for every Vested Performance Stock Unit as soon as reasonably practicable following such Acceleration Event, but in no event later than thirty (30) days after the date of the Acceleration Event, and (iii) the Employee will not be entitled to any further payment pursuant to this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, if the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated by reason of retirement on or after the Employee’s sixty-fifth birthday, by the Company without Cause (as defined herein unless defined in any written agreement between the Company and the Employee in effect at the time of such termination of employment) or by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined herein unless defined in any written agreement between the Company and the Employee in effect at the time of such termination of employment), the determination of the number of Vested Performance Stock Units, and any payment to be made to the Employee with respect to any Vested Performance Stock Units, shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable following the determination of the achievement of the  Performance Goals for the Performance Period, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year following the end of the Performance Period.  In no event will dividends or any dividend equivalents be paid on Performance Stock Units granted hereunder.  At the Company’s election, the Company shall cause the Shares delivered as payment with respect to the Vested Performance Stock Units to either be evidenced by a book entry account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), by a certificate issued in the Employee’s name, or by delivery to the Employee’s individual shareholdings account in the Company’s equity plan manager’s system (“Employee’s Account”).  Upon the earlier of the date the Shares are evidenced in a book entry account maintained by the Transfer Agent, the date a certificate for the Shares are issued in the Employee’s name, or the date transferred to Employee’s Account, the Employee shall be a shareholder with respect to the Shares and shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive any dividends and other distributions paid with respect to the Shares.  Employee acknowledges that the Shares are not freely tradeable shares under Canadian Securities laws.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, following a Change of Control of the Company, the Company, at its election, may elect to make any payment required to be made to the Employee pursuant to this Section 5 in cash rather than Shares.

6. Taxes .  The Company shall have the right to satisfy any obligation of the Company to withhold taxes or other amounts with respect to the Vested Performance Stock Units by withholding Shares otherwise deliverable to the Employee with respect to the Vested Performance Stock Units having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such tax or other withholdings, provided that the amount will not result in liability accounting for the Company.  

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Furthermore, the Company may elect to deduct from any cash payment made to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement the amount of any taxes or other amounts which the Company is or will be required to withhold with respect to such cash payment.

7. No Right to Employment .  Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon the Employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary to terminate his employment at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.  Employee confirms that he or she is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and has not been induced to participate in the Plan by expectation of employment or continued employment.

8. Acknowledgement and Section 409A Compliance .

(a) Employee acknowledges that neither the Company nor any of the Company’s affiliates, officers, shareholders, employees, agents or representatives has provided or is providing the undersigned with tax advice regarding the Performance Stock Units subject to this Agreement or any other matter, and the Company has urged the Employee to consult with his own tax advisor with respect to the income taxation consequences associated with the Performance Stock Units subject to this Agreement.

(b) It is intended that this Award of Performance Stock Units comply with Section 409A of the Code, and this Award and the terms of this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in a manner consistent with such intent, although in no event shall the Company have any liability to the Employee if this Award or the terms of this Agreement are determined not to comply with Section 409A of the Code.  For purposes of this Agreement, termination of employment means a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h).

(c) Whenever payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., payment may be made within thirty (30) days after the Payment Date), the actual date of payment within the specified period will be determined solely by the Company.

(d) If the Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code at the time of his “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then any payment otherwise required to be made to him under this Agreement on account of his separation from service, to the extent such payment (after taking into account all exclusions applicable to such payment under Section 409A of the Code) is properly treated as deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, shall not be made until the first business day after (i) the expiration of six months from the date of the Employee’s separation from service, or (ii) if earlier, the date of the Employee’s death.

9. Incorporation of Provisions of the Plan .  All of the provisions of the Plan pursuant to which the Performance Stock Units are granted are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part hereof as if specifically set forth herein, and to the extent of any conflict between this Agreement and the terms contained in the Plan, the Plan shall control.  To the

5

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extent any capitalized terms are not otherwise defined herein, they shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

10. Invalidity of Provisions .  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement as a result of a violation of any state or federal law, or of the rules or regulations of any governmental regulatory body, shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement.

11. Waiver and Modification .  The provisions of this Agreement may not be waived or modified unless such waiver or modification is in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

12. Interpretation .  All decisions or interpretations made by the Committee with regard to any question arising under the Plan or this Agreement as provided by Section 4 of the Plan, shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the Employee.

13. Multiple Counterparts .  This Agreement may be signed in multiple counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an original agreement.  The execution by one party of any counterpart shall be sufficient execution by that party, whether or not the same counterpart has been executed by any other party.

14. Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly executed, and the Employee has hereunto set his hand, all as of the day and year first above written.

MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, Employee


6

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Exhibit A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myers Industries Performance Share Calculation

 

 

 

in millions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

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Exhibit 10al

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

(CA Employee)

This Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of the __ day of March 2018 between Myers Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), and «full_name» an employee (the “Employee”) of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries.

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore adopted the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc., as amended and restated (the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS, it is a requirement of the Plan that a Stock Unit Award Agreement be executed to evidence the Stock Units awarded to the Employee.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto have agreed, and do hereby agree as follows:

1. Grant of Stock Units .  The Company hereby grants to the Employee an Award of ________ Stock Units on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan.  Each Stock Unit represents the right of the Employee to receive the payment of one Share on the date that payment is made with respect to the Stock Unit.

2. Rights with Respect to Stock Units .  The Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, and the Employee shall have no rights with respect to the Stock Units other than those of a general creditor of the Company.  Prior to the issuance of Shares as payment with respect to the Stock Units, the Employee shall have no rights of ownership in or to the Shares underlying the Stock Units and shall not be deemed the beneficial owner of such Shares.

3. Restrictions on and Vesting of the Stock Units .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, none of the Stock Units may be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of; provided, however, the right to receive payment with respect to the Stock Units may be transferred upon the death of the Employee to the Employee’s Successor.

(b) The Stock Units subject to this Agreement shall vest in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of this Agreement (each such anniversary, a “Vesting Date”) or, if earlier, upon the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries by reason of his

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death, disability or retirement on or after his sixty-fifth birthday or the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries without Cause if by the Company or for Good Reason if by the Employee, in either case following a Change in Control of the Company (an “Acceleration Event”).

(c) In the event of the complete termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason other than (i) by reason of the Employee’s death, disability or retirement on or after the Employee’s sixty-fifth birthday prior to the earlier of the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (ii) by the Company without Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason, in either case following a Change in Control of the Company, the Stock Units that have not vested as of the date of such termination shall be immediately and automatically forfeited to the Company without notice for no consideration.

(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “disability” shall mean a physical or mental incapacity that prevents the Employee from performing his duties for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days.

4. Payment and Issuance of Shares .  On each Vesting Date or, if earlier, upon an Acceleration Event (each such Vesting Date or Acceleration Event, a “Payment Date”), or within thirty (30) days thereafter in the case of an Acceleration Event or by March 15 of the year in which such Vesting Date occurs, the Company shall make a payment to the Employee of one Share for every Stock Unit that became vested as of such Payment Date (and with respect to which a payment has not previously been made pursuant to this Section 4) as payment with respect to each such vested Stock Unit. For greater certainty, the Employee shall not be entitled to receive a cash payment from the Company in respect of any Stock Unit granted hereunder. In no event will dividends or dividend equivalents be paid on Stock Units granted hereunder.  At the Company’s election, the Company shall cause the Shares delivered as payment with respect to the vested Stock Units to either be evidenced by a book entry account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), by a certificate issued in the Employee’s name, or by delivery to the Employee’s individual share holdings account in the Company’s equity plan manager’s system (“Employee’s Account”).  Upon the earlier of the date the Shares are evidenced in a book entry account maintained by the Transfer Agent, the date a certificate for the Shares are issued in the Employee’s name, or the transfer to the Employee’s Account, the Employee shall be a shareholder with respect to the Shares and shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive any dividends and other distributions paid with respect to the Shares.  Employee acknowledges that the Shares are not freely tradeable shares under Canadian Securities laws.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary

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herein, following a Change of Control of the Company, the Company, at its election, may elect to make any payment required to be made to the Employee pursuant to this Section 4 in cash rather than Shares.

5. Taxes .  The Company shall have the right to satisfy any obligation of the Company to withhold taxes or other amounts with respect to the Stock Units by withholding Shares otherwise deliverable to the Employee with respect to the Stock Units having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such tax or other withholdings, provided the amount will not result in liability accounting for the Company.  Furthermore, the Company may elect to deduct from any cash payment made to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement the amount of any taxes or other amounts which the Company is or will be required to withhold with respect to such cash payment.

6. No Right to Employment .  Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon the Employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary to terminate his employment at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.  Employee confirms that he or she is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and has not been induced to participate in the Plan by expectation of employment or continued employment.

7. Acknowledgement and Section 409A Compliance .

(a) Employee acknowledges that neither the Company nor any of the Company’s affiliates, officers, shareholders, employees, agents or representatives has provided or is providing the undersigned with tax advice regarding the Stock Units subject to this Agreement or any other matter, and the Company has urged the Employee to consult with his own tax advisor with respect to the income taxation consequences associated with the Stock Units subject to this Agreement.

(b) It is intended that this Award of Stock Units comply with Section 409A of the Code, and this Award and the terms of this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in a manner consistent with such intent, although in no event shall the Company have any liability to the Employee if this Award or the terms of this Agreement are determined not to comply with Section 409A of the Code.  For purposes of this Agreement, termination of employment means a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h).

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(c) Whenever payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., payment may be made within thirty (30) days after the Payment Date), the actual date of payment within the specified period will be determined solely by the Company.

(d) If the Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code at the time of his “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then any payment otherwise required to be made to him under this Agreement on account of his separation from service, to the extent such payment (after taking into account all exclusions applicable to such payment under Section 409A of the Code) is properly treated as deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, shall not be made until the first business day after (i) the expiration of six months from the date of the Employee’s separation from service, or (ii) if earlier, the date of the Employee’s death.

(e) The Employee’s right to receive each installment of Stock Units shall be treated as separate payments for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

8. Cause and Good Reason .  Unless otherwise defined in a written agreement between the Employee and the Company, for purposes of this Agreement the terms “Cause” and “Good Reason” shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Cause” means:

(i) The commission by the Employee (evidenced by a conviction or written, voluntary and freely given confession) of a criminal act constituting a felony involving fraud or moral turpitude;

(ii) the repeated failure of the Employee to follow the reasonable directives of the Employee’s superiors after having been given written notice thereof; or

(iii) commission by the Employee of any act, which both (A) constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct and (B) results in material economic harm to the Company or has a materially adverse effect on the Company’s operations, properties or business relationships.

(b) “Good Reason” means the occurrence of one or more of the following conditions arising without the consent of the Employee:

(i) a material diminution in the Employee’s annual base salary;

(ii) a material diminution in the Employee’s duties and responsibilities; or

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(iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Employee must perform his Duties.

In order for a condition to constitute a Good Reason, the Employee must provide written notification to the Company of the existence of the condition within forty-five (45) days of the initial existence of the condition (or within forty-five (45) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition, if later), upon the notice of which the Company shall have a period of thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the condition.  Furthermore, to constitute a Good Reason, the Employee must voluntarily terminate employment with the Company within one hundred eighty (180) days following the initial existence of the condition (or within one hundred eighty (180) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition.  The parties agree that “Good Reason” will not be deemed to have occurred merely because the Company becomes a subsidiary or division of another entity following a Change in Control.

9. Incorporation of Provisions of the Plan .  All of the provisions of the Plan pursuant to which the Stock Units are granted are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part hereof as if specifically set forth herein, and to the extent of any conflict between this Agreement and the terms contained in the Plan, the Plan shall control.  To the extent any capitalized terms are not otherwise defined herein, they shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

10. Invalidity of Provisions .  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement as a result of a violation of any state or federal law, or of the rules or regulations of any governmental regulatory body, shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement.

11. Waiver and Modification .  The provisions of this Agreement may not be waived or modified unless such waiver or modification is in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

12. Interpretation .  All decisions or interpretations made by the Committee with regard to any question arising under the Plan or this Agreement as provided by Section 4 of the Plan, shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the Employee.

13. Multiple Counterparts .  This Agreement may be signed in multiple counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an original agreement.  The execution by one party of any counterpart shall be sufficient execution by that party, whether or not the same counterpart has been executed by any other party.

14. Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly executed, and the Employee has hereunto set his hand, all as of the day and year first above written.

MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:

R. David Banyard

Its:

President & Chief Executive Officer

 

 

«full_name» Employee

 

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Exhibit 10am

2018 OPTION AGREEMENT
(Non-Qualified Stock Option)

(CA Employee)

This Option Agreement is made as of the __ day of March 2018 between Myers Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), and «full_name» an employee of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries (hereinafter called the “Employee”).

WHEREAS , the Company has heretofore adopted the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc., as amended and restated (the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS , it is a requirement of the Plan that an Option Agreement be executed to evidence the Non-Qualified Stock Option granted to the Employee.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto have agreed, and do hereby agree, as follows:

1. Grant of Option .  The Company hereby grants to the Employee the right and option (hereinafter called the “Option”) to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of   ________ shares of the common stock, no par value, of the Company (“Shares”) (such number being subject to adjustment as set forth herein and in the Plan) on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan.

2. Type of Option .  The Option granted under this Option Agreement is a non-qualified stock option and shall not be treated by the Company or the Employee as an incentive stock option for federal income tax purposes.

3. Option Price .  The option price of the Shares covered by the Option is $ ______ per Share which is the fair market value of a Share as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange on the date of this Option Agreement.

4. Term of Option .  The term of the Option shall be for a period of ten (10) years from the date hereof, subject to earlier termination as provided in the Plan or this Agreement.

5. Exercise of Option .

(a) Prior to its expiration or termination, and except as hereinafter provided, the Employee’s right to exercise the Option shall vest, and the Employee may exercise the Option, as follows:

(i) At any time after the first anniversary of the date of this Option Agreement, the Option may be exercised as to not more than one third (1/3) of Shares originally subject to this Option;

(ii) At any time after the second anniversary of the date of this Option Agreement, the Option may be exercised as to not more than an aggregate of two thirds (2/3) of the Shares originally subject to this Option; and

(iii) At any time after the third anniversary of the date of this Option Agreement, the Option may be exercised as to all or any part of the Shares originally subject to this Option.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated by reason of the Employee’s death, Disability or retirement on or after the Employee’s sixty-fifth birthday, the Option shall become exercisable in full as of the date of such termination.

(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if (x)  the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is completely terminated by the Company for any reason other than Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason, in either case, following a Change in Control, the Option shall become exercisable in full immediately prior to such termination of employment or (y) the Option is terminated in connection with a Change in Control and not assumed or replaced with a substituted option or other right having a substantially equivalent value and substantially equivalent or better terms and conditions, then the Option shall become exercisable in full prior to such termination as provided in the Plan.

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(b) In order to exercise the Option, the person or persons entitled to exercise it shall deliver to the Company written notice of the number of full Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised.  Such notice shall be delivered to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer or such other person as the Committee may designate.   T he notice shall be accompanied by payment in full for any Shares being purchased, which payment shall be in cash.  

(c) No Shares shall be issued until full payment therefor has been made, and the Employee shall have none of the rights of a shareholder in respect of such Shares until full payment therefor has been made. For greater certainty, the Employee shall not be entitled to receive a cash payment from the Company upon the exercise of the Option.

6. Nontransferability .  The Option shall not be transferable, other than to:  (a) the Employee’s spouse, (b) a trustee, custodian, or administrator acting on behalf of, or for the benefit of the Employee or the Employee’s spouse, or (c) a holding entity that is controlled by the Employee or the Employee’s spouse.

7. Termination of Employment .  In the event of the complete termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason other than cause, death, Disability or retirement on or after the Employee’s sixty-fifth (65th) birthday (the date of such termination of employment, the “Termination Date”), then (a) the Option may be exercised by the Employee (to the extent that he shall have been entitled to do so as of the Termination Date) at any time within three (3) months after the Termination Date, but not beyond the original term thereof, (b) the portion of the Option that has not vested (i.e., that is not then exercisable, taking into account Section 5.1(a)(v)) as of the Termination Date shall automatically terminate as of the Termination Date, and (c) the vested portion of the Option shall automatically terminate upon the expiration of the three (3) month period described above to the extent not theretofore exercised.  So long as the Employee shall continue to be an employee of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries, the Option shall not be affected by any change of duties or position.  Nothing in this Option Agreement shall confer upon the Employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary to terminate his employment at any time.  Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event of the complete termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for cause, the Option, to the extent not theretofore exercised, shall automatically terminate as of the date of the Employee’s complete termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for cause.

8. Death or Disability of Employee .  If the Employee shall die while he shall be employed by the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries, or within the period described in Section 7(a) above after the complete termination of his employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries other than for Cause if by the Company, or if the employment of the Employee shall terminate on account of his Disability, then (a) the Option may be exercised by the Employee’s Successor or personal representative, as the case may be, at any time within one (1) year after the date of the Employee’s death or Disability, but not beyond the term of the Option, and (b) the  Option shall automatically terminate upon the expiration of the one (1) year period described above to the extent not theretofore exercised.  For purposes of this Option Agreement, “Disability” shall mean permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

9. Retirement of Employee .  If the employment of the Employee with the Company and its Subsidiaries shall terminate as a result of his retirement on or after his sixty-fifth (65th) birthday, then the Option may be exercised in full  by the Employee (or in the event of the Employee’s subsequent death, the Employee’s Successor) at any time during the remaining term of the Option.

10. Taxes .  The Company shall have the right to require a person entitled to receive Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option to pay the Company the amount of any taxes which the Company is or will be required to withhold with respect to such Shares before the certificate for such Shares is delivered pursuant to the Option.  Furthermore, the Company may elect to deduct such taxes from any amounts then payable in cash or in shares or from any other amounts payable any time thereafter to the Employee.  

11. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization .  In the event of changes in all of the outstanding Shares by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, exchanges of shares, separations, reorganizations, liquidations, or similar events, or in the event of extraordinary cash or non-cash dividends being declared with respect to the Shares, or similar transactions or events, the number and class of Shares subject to the Option hereby granted, the option price and all of the other applicable provisions thereof shall, subject to the provisions of the Plan, be correspondingly equitably adjusted by the Committee (which adjustment may, but need not, include payment to the holder of the Option, in cash or in shares, in an amount equal to the difference between the option price and the then current Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option as equitably determined by the Committee) in order to prevent the diminution or enlargement of the benefits under this Option, as the

2

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Committee shall decide in its sole discretion.  Any such adjustment may provide for the elimination of any fractional share which might otherwise be subject to the Option.

12. Delivery of Shares on Exercise .  Delivery of certificates for Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option may be postponed by the Company for such period as may be required for it, with reasonable diligence, to comply with any applicable requirements of any federal, state or local law or regulation or any administrative or quasi-administrative requirement applicable to the sale, issuance, distribution or delivery of such Shares.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, require the holder of the Option to furnish the Company with appropriate representations and a written investment letter prior to the exercise of the Option or the delivery of any Shares pursuant to the Option.  Employee acknowledges that the Shares are not freely tradeable shares under Canadian Securities laws.

13. Acknowledgment .  The Employee acknowledges that none of the Company, the Board, the Committee or any of the Company’s affiliates, officers, employees, agents or representatives has provided or is providing the undersigned with tax advice regarding the receipt of the Option or the exercise of the Option for Shares, and the Company has urged the Employee to consult the Employee’s own tax advisor with respect to the income taxation consequences of receiving, holding and disposing of the Option or any Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option.   Employee confirms that he or she is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and has not been induced to participate in the Plan by expectation of employment or continued employment.

14. Cause and Good Reason .  Unless otherwise defined in a written agreement between the Employee and the Company, for purposes of this Agreement the terms “Cause” and “Good Reason” shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Cause” means:

(i) The commission by the Employee (evidenced by a conviction or written, voluntary and freely given confession) of a criminal act constituting a felony involving fraud or moral turpitude;

(ii) the repeated failure of the Employee to follow the reasonable directives of the Employee’s superiors after having been given written notice thereof; or

(iii) commission by the Employee of any act, which both (A) constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct and (B) results in material economic harm to the Company or has a materially adverse effect on the Company’s operations, properties or business relationships.

(b) “Good Reason” means the occurrence of one or more of the following conditions arising without the consent of the Employee:

(i) a material diminution in the Employee’s annual base salary;

(ii) a material diminution in the Employee’s duties and responsibilities; or

(iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Employee must perform his Duties.

In order for a condition to constitute a Good Reason, the Employee must provide written notification to the Company of the existence of the condition within forty-five (45) days of the initial existence of the condition (or within forty-five (45) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition, if later), upon the notice of which the Company shall have a period of thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the condition.  Furthermore, to constitute a Good Reason, the Employee must voluntarily terminate employment with the Company within one hundred eighty (180) days following the initial existence of the condition (or within one hundred eighty (180) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition.  The parties agree that “Good Reason” will not be deemed to have occurred merely because the Company becomes a subsidiary or division of another entity following a Change in Control.

15. Incorporation of Provisions of the Plan .  All of the provisions of the Plan, pursuant to which this Option is granted, are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part hereof as if specifically set forth herein, and to the extent of any conflict between this Option Agreement and the terms contained in the Plan, the Plan shall control.  To the extent any capitalized terms are not otherwise defined herein, they shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

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16. Invalidity of Provisions .  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Option Agreement as a result of a violation of any state or federal law, or of the rules or regulations of any governmental regulatory body, or any securities exchange shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Option Agreement.

17. Waiver and Modification .  The provisions of this Option Agreement may not be waived or modified unless such waiver or modification is in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

18. Interpretation .  All decisions or interpretations made by the Committee, in its reasonable discretion, with regard to any question arising under the Plan or this Option Agreement as provided by Section 4 of the Plan, shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the Employee.

19. Multiple Counterparts .  This Option Agreement may be signed in multiple counterparts, all of which when taken together shall constitute an original agreement.  The execution by one party of any counterpart shall be sufficient execution by that party, whether or not the same counterpart has been executed by any other party.

20. Governing Law .  This Option Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Option Agreement to be duly executed by its duly authorized officer, and the Employee has hereunto set his hand, all as of the day and year first above written.

MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:

R. David Banyard

Its:

President & Chief Executive Officer

 

 

«full_name» Employee

 

5

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Exhibit 10an

Performance STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

This Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of the ___ day of March, 2018 between Myers Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), and __________________, an employee (the “Employee”) of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries.

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore adopted the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc., as amended and restated (the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS, it is a requirement of the Plan that a Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement be executed to evidence the Performance Stock Units awarded to the Employee.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto have agreed, and do hereby agree as follows:

1. Grant of Performance Stock Units .  The Company hereby grants to the Employee an Award of Performance Stock Units (such number to be determined as set forth in Section 4(b) based on a target award of ____________  Performance Stock Units) on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan.  Each Performance Stock Unit represents the right of the Employee to receive the payment of one Share on the date that payment is made.

2. Defined Terms .  Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “Free Cash Flow as a Percentage of Sales” means the total Free Cash Flow over the Performance Period compared against total Sales over the Performance Period, with such adjustments as may be approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, in its discretion.

(b) “Adjusted EBITDA” means the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in each case as set forth on the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year with such adjustments as may be approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, in its discretion.

(c) Unless otherwise defined in a written agreement between Employee and the Company, “Cause” means:

 

(i)

The commission by the Employee (evidenced by a conviction or written, voluntary and freely given confession) of a criminal act constituting a felony or involving fraud or moral turpitude;


 

 

(ii)

The repeated failure of the Employee to follow the reasonable directives of the Employee’s superiors after having been given written notice thereof; or

 

(iii)

Commission by the Employee of any act, which both (A) constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct and (B) has a materially adverse effect on the Company’s operations, properties or business relationships.

(d) “Cumulative EBITDA” means the sum of Adjusted EBITDA for each year of the Performance Period.

(e) “Disability” means a physical or mental incapacity that prevents the Executive from performing his duties for a total of one hundred eighty (180) days in any twenty four (24) month period.

(f) “Free Cash Flow” means  cash from continuing operations less capital expenditures.

(g) Unless otherwise defined in a  written agreement between the Employee and the Company, “Good Reason” means the occurrence of one or more of the following conditions arising without the consent of the Employee:

 

(i)

A material diminution in the Employee’s annual base salary;

 

(ii)

A material diminution in the Employee’s duties and responsibilities; or

 

(iii)

A material change in the geographic location at which the Employee must perform his duties.

In order for a condition to constitute Good Reason, the Employee must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of the condition within forty-five (45) days of the initial existence of the condition (or within forty-five (45) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition, if later), upon receipt of such notice, the Company shall have a period of thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the condition.  Furthermore, to constitute Good Reason, the Employee must voluntarily terminate employment with the Company within one hundred eighty (180) days following the initial existence of the condition (or within one hundred eighty (180) days following the Employee actually becoming aware of such condition, if later).  The parties agree that “Good Reason” will not be deemed to have occurred merely because the Company becomes a subsidiary or division of another entity following a Change of Control.

(a) “Performance Goals” mean Cumulative EBITDA and Free Cash Flow as a Percentage of Sales established by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors within ninety (90) days after the commencement of the Performance Period.

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(b) “Performance Period” means the period commencing on January 1, 201 8 and ending on December 31, 20 20 .

(c) “Sales”  means net sales.

3. Rights with Respect to Performance Stock Units .  The Performance Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, and the Employee shall have no rights with respect to the Performance Stock Units other than those of a general creditor of the Company.  Prior to the issuance of Shares as payment with respect to the Performance Stock Units, the Employee shall have no voting, dividend or other rights of ownership in or to the Shares underlying the Performance Stock Units and shall not be deemed the beneficial owner of such Shares.

4. Restrictions on Number and Vesting of the Performance Stock Units .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, none of the Performance Stock Units may be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of; provided, however, the right to receive payment with respect to the Performance Stock Units may be transferred upon the death of the Employee to the Employee’s Successor.

(b) The number of Performance Stock Units earned shall be determined, and shall vest, as of December 31, 2020 based on the relative level of achievement of the Performance Goals as set forth in Exhibit A or earlier, upon an Acceleration Event (as defined in Section 5).  The number of Performance Stock Units earned shall be determined by providing equal weight to the Performance Goals (such number of Performance Stock Units, the “Vested Performance Stock Units”).  The determination of the Vested Performance Stock Units shall be made by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in its sole discretion as soon as administratively possible after the Company’s audited financial statements are available for the final fiscal year of the Performance Period.  Any Performance Stock Units or rights to Performance Stock Units that do not become Vested Performance Stock Units as of December 31, 2020, or earlier upon an Acceleration Event, shall be immediately and automatically forfeited to the Company without notice and without consideration.

(c) In the event of the complete termination of the Employee’s employment by the Company for Cause (as defined herein unless defined in any written agreement between the Company and the Employee in effect at the time of such termination of employment) or by the Employee without Good Reason (as defined herein unless defined in any written agreement between the Company and the Employee in effect at the time of such termination of employment) prior to the earlier of December 31, 2020 or an Acceleration Event, the Employee’s right to any Stock Units subject to this Agreement shall be immediately and automatically forfeited to the Company without notice for no consideration.  For the avoidance of doubt, a termination by the Employee without Good Reason will not include a termination by reason of the Employee’s death, disability, retirement on or after the Employee’s sixty-fifth birthday or a termination by the Employee for Good Reason.

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5. Payment and Issuance of Shares .  As soon as administratively practicable following the determination of the achievement of the Performance Goals for the Performance Period, but in no event later than March 15 following the end of the Performance Period (the “Payment Date”), the Company shall make a payment to the Employee of one Share for every Vested Performance Stock Unit as payment with respect to each such Vested Performance Stock Unit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated prior to December 31, 20 20 by reason of the Employee’s death or disability (an “Acceleration Event”), then (i) for purposes of determining the number of Vested Performance Stock Units as of such Acceleration Event, the achievement of the Performance Goals shall be deemed to be 100% and the award shall be prorated for the shortened Performance Period (ii) the Company shall make a payment to the Employee of one Share for every Vested Performance Stock Unit as soon as reasonably practicable following such Acceleration Event, but in no event later than thirty (30) days after the date of the Acceleration Event, and (iii) the Employee will not be entitled to any further payment pursuant to this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, if the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated by reason of retirement on or after the Employee’s sixty-fifth birthday, by the Company without Cause (as defined herein unless defined in any written agreement between the Company and the Employee in effect at the time of such termination of employment) or by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined herein unless defined in any written agreement between the Company and the Employee in effect at the time of such termination of employment), the determination of the number of Vested Performance Stock Units, and any payment to be made to the Employee with respect to any Vested Performance Stock Units, shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable following the determination of the achievement of the  Performance Goals for the Performance Period, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year following the end of the Performance Period.  If any dividends are declared on the Company’s Shares while the Performance Stock Units subject to this Agreement are outstanding, the Company shall make a payment to the Employee on the Payment Date or the Acceleration Event, as the case may be, with respect to each Performance Stock Unit that became a Vested Performance Stock Unit on the Payment Date or the Acceleration Event, in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of dividends that would have been payable to the Employee with respect to each such Vested Performance Stock Unit had such Vested Stock Performance Unit instead been an issued and outstanding Share on the record date of any such dividends (the “Dividend Equivalent Amount”).  At the Company’s discretion, payment of the Dividend Equivalent Amount may be made in cash or in Shares having a Fair Market Value on the Payment Date or the Acceleration Event, as the case may be, equal to the Dividend Equivalent Amount.  In no event will dividends or any dividend equivalents be paid on unvested Performance Stock Units which are forfeited.  At the Company’s election, the Company shall cause the Shares delivered as payment with respect to the Vested Performance Stock Units to either be evidenced by a book entry account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), by a certificate issued in the Employee’s name, or by delivery to the Employee’s individual share holdings account in the Company’s equity plan manager’s system (“Employee’s Account”).  Upon the earlier of the date the Shares are evidenced in a book entry account maintained by the Transfer Agent, the date a certificate for the Shares are issued in the Employee’s name, or the date transferred to Employee’s Account, the Employee shall be a shareholder with respect to the Shares and shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive any dividends and other distributions paid with respect to the Shares.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, following a Change of Control of the Company, the Company, at its election, may elect to make any payment required to be made to the Employee pursuant to this Section 5 in cash rather than Shares.

6. Taxes .  The Company shall have the right to satisfy any obligation of the Company to withhold taxes or other amounts with respect to the Vested Performance Stock Units by withholding Shares otherwise deliverable to the Employee with respect to the Vested Performance Stock Units having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such tax or other withholdings, provided that the amount will not result in liability accounting for the Company.  Furthermore, the Company may elect to deduct from any cash payment made to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement the amount of any taxes or other amounts which the Company is or will be required to withhold with respect to such cash payment.

7. No Right to Employment .  Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon the Employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary to terminate his employment at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

8. Acknowledgement and Section 409A Compliance .

(a) Employee acknowledges that neither the Company nor any of the Company’s affiliates, officers, shareholders, employees, agents or representatives has provided or is providing the undersigned with tax advice regarding the Performance Stock Units subject to this Agreement or any other matter, and the Company has urged the Employee to consult with his own tax advisor with respect to the income taxation consequences associated with the Performance Stock Units subject to this Agreement.

(b) It is intended that this Award of Performance Stock Units comply with Section 409A of the Code, and this Award and the terms of this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in a manner consistent with such intent, although in no event shall the Company have any liability to the Employee if this Award or the terms of this Agreement are determined not to comply with Section 409A of the Code.  For purposes of this Agreement, termination of employment means a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h).

(c) Whenever payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., payment may be made within thirty (30) days after the Payment Date), the actual date of payment within the specified period will be determined solely by the Company.

(d) If the Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code at the time of his “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then any payment otherwise required to be made to him under this Agreement on account of his separation from service, to the extent such payment (after taking into account all exclusions applicable to such payment under Section 409A of the Code) is properly treated as deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, shall not be made until the first business day after (i) the

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expiration of six months from the date of the Employee’s separation from service, or (ii) if earlier, the date of the Employee’s death.

9. Incorporation of Provisions of the Plan .  All of the provisions of the Plan pursuant to which the Performance Stock Units are granted are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part hereof as if specifically set forth herein, and to the extent of any conflict between this Agreement and the terms contained in the Plan, the Plan shall control.  To the extent any capitalized terms are not otherwise defined herein, they shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

10. Invalidity of Provisions .  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement as a result of a violation of any state or federal law, or of the rules or regulations of any governmental regulatory body, shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement.

11. Waiver and Modification .  The provisions of this Agreement may not be waived or modified unless such waiver or modification is in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

12. Interpretation .  All decisions or interpretations made by the Committee with regard to any question arising under the Plan or this Agreement as provided by Section 4 of the Plan, shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the Employee.

13. Multiple Counterparts .  This Agreement may be signed in multiple counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an original agreement.  The execution by one party of any counterpart shall be sufficient execution by that party, whether or not the same counterpart has been executed by any other party.

14. Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly executed, and the Employee has hereunto set his hand, all as of the day and year first above written.

MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, Employee

 


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Exhibit A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myers Industries Performance Share Calculation

 

 

 

in millions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

Exhibit 10ao

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN OF
MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC.

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED
(Effective March 2, 2017)

As Amended March 8, 2018

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2017 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN

OF

MYERS INDUSTRIES, INC.

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

(EFFECTIVE MARCH 2, 2017)

AS AMENDED MARCH 8, 2018

 

 

WHEREAS, the 2008 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc., as amended and restated on March 6, 2009 and as further amended on March 4, 2010, May 29, 2012, April 26, 2013, and March 5, 2015 (the “Existing Plan”), provided that Four Million (4,000,000) Shares were authorized for grants under the Plan;

WHEREAS, the Company previously amended and restated the Existing Plan as set forth below to incorporate certain changes, including increasing the number of Shares subject to the Existing Plan by an additional 1,126,950 Shares (the “Additional Shares”), which would bring the total number of authorized Shares under the Plan to 5,126,950 Shares, 3,311,950 of which are subject to outstanding Awards as of December 31, 2016;

WHEREAS, after this increase, a total of 1,815,000 Shares were available for grants of Awards under the Plan;

WHEREAS, the Plan was amended and restated by the Board as set forth below on March 2, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), subject to receipt of shareholder approval at the 2017 Annual Meeting; and

WHEREAS, the Company now desires to further amend the Plan to incorporate certain additional changes.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended and restated by the Board as set forth below.  

1. Purpose of the Plan

  This 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc. is intended to encourage officers, directors and other key employees of, and consultants to, the Company and its Subsidiaries to acquire or increase their ownership of common stock of the Company on reasonable terms.  Grants made hereunder are part of the total compensation package for such persons and the opportunity so provided is intended to foster in participants a strong incentive to put forth maximum effort for the long-term success and growth of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to encourage long-term strategic decision making on the part of participants, to aid in retaining individuals who put forth such efforts and strategic decision making, and to assist in attracting the best available individuals to the Company and its Subsidiaries in the future, in each case, for the benefit of the Company’s shareholders.

2. Definitions

  When used herein, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth below:

2.1 “Award” means an Option, a Restricted Stock Award, an SAR, a Stock Unit Award, Performance Stock Unit Award, or a Director Award.

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2.2 “Award Agreement” means a written agreement in such form as may be, from time to time, hereafter approved by the Committee, which shall be duly executed by the Company and the Participant and which shall set forth the terms and conditions of an Award under the Plan.

2.3 “Board” means the Board of Directors of Myers Industries, Inc.

2.4 “Change of Control” means a change in control of the Company of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement;  provided that, without limitation, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if:

(a) Any “person” (as defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; provided that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur under this Section 2.4(a) by reason of the acquisition of securities by the Company or an employee benefit plan (or any trust funding such a plan) maintained by the Company;

(b) During any period of one year there shall cease to be a majority of the Board comprised of Continuing Directors; or

(c) There occurs (i) a merger or consolidation of the Company
with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation,  (ii) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company, or (iii) the sale or disposition by the Company of more than fifty percent (50%) of  the Company’s assets.  For purposes of this Section 2.4(c), (A) a sale of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s assets includes a sale of more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate value of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the sale of stock of one or more of the Company’s Subsidiaries with an aggregate value in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate value of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any combination of methods by which more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate value of the Company and its Subsidiaries is sold, and (B) a transfer of Company assets to a corporate or non-corporate entity (such as a partnership or limited liability company) in which the Company owns equity securities possessing at least fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of equity securities in such corporate or non-corporate entity shall not be treated as a sale or disposition by the Company of the assets contributed to such corporate or non-corporate entity.

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   For purposes of this Plan, a “Change of Control” will be deemed to occur:

 

(i) on the day on which a thirty percent (30%) or greater ownership interest described in Section 2.4(a) is acquired (other than by reason of the acquisition of securities by the Company or an employee benefit plan (or any trust funding such a plan) maintained by the Company, provided that a subsequent increase in such ownership interest after it first equals or exceeds thirty percent (30%) shall not be deemed a separate Change of Control;

(ii) on the day on which Continuing Directors cease to be a majority of the Board as described in Section 2.4(b);

(iii) on the day of a merger, consolidation or sale of assets as described in Section 2.4(c)(i) or Section 2.4(c)(iii); or

(iv) on the day of the approval of a plan of complete liquidation as described in Section 2.4(c)(ii).

2.5 “Canadian Participants” means Participants who are resident in Canada for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

2.6 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect at the time of reference, or any successor revenue code which may hereafter be adopted in lieu thereof, and reference to any specific provisions of the Code shall refer to the corresponding provisions of the Code as it may hereafter be amended or replaced.

2.7 “Continuing Directors” mean individuals who at the beginning of any period (not including any period prior to the date of this Agreement) of one year constitute the Board and any new Director(s) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved.

 

2.8 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any other committee appointed by the Board which is invested by the Board with responsibility for the administration of the Plan.

2.9 “Company” means Myers Industries, Inc.

2.10 “Director” means a member of the Board who is not also an Employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

2.11 “Director Award” means the grant of an Award to a Director pursuant to Section 11.

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2.12 “Director Award Agreement” means a written agreement in such form as may be, from time to time, hereafter approved by the Committee, which shall be duly executed by the Company and the Director and which shall set forth the terms and conditions of a Director Award under the Plan.

2.13 “Employees” means officers (including officers who are members of the Board), and other key employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

2.14 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect at the time of reference, or any successor law which may hereafter be adopted in lieu thereof, and any reference to any specific provisions of the Exchange Act shall refer to the corresponding provisions of the Exchange Act as it may hereafter be amended or replaced.

2.15 “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to the Shares, (i) the closing price of the Shares on the principal stock exchange on which Shares are then traded or admitted to trading on the date on which the value is to be determined, or (ii) if no sale takes place on such day on any such exchange, the average of the last reported closing bid and asked prices on such day as officially quoted on any such exchange.  If there shall be a public market for the Shares, and the foregoing references are unavailable or inapplicable, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined on the basis of the appropriate substitute public market price indicator as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

2.16 “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intending to meet the requirements and containing the limitations and restrictions set forth in Section 422 of the Code and designated in the Option Agreement as an Incentive Stock Option.

2.17 “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option.

2.18 “Option” means the right to purchase the number of Shares specified by the Committee at a price and for a term fixed by the Committee in accordance with the Plan, and subject to such other limitations and restrictions as the Plan or the Committee may impose.

 

2.19 “Option Agreement” means a written agreement in such form as may be, from time to time, hereafter approved by the Committee, which shall be duly executed by the Company and the Participant and which shall set forth the terms and conditions of an Option under the Plan.

2.20 “Parent” means any corporation, other than the employer corporation, in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the employer corporation if, at the time of the granting of the Option, each of the corporations other than the employer corporation owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

2.21 “Participants” means Employees and key consultants to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.  

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2.22 “Performance Goal” means one or more written objective goals approved by the Committee and established and administered in accordance with Section 162(m) of the  Code and the regulations thereunder, which performance goal or goals are determined based on one or more of the following business criteria: (i) increase in the Fair Market Value of the Shares, (ii) total stockholder return, (iii) revenue, sales, settlements, market share, customer conversion, net income, stock price and/or earnings per share, (iv) return on assets, net assets, and/or invested capital, (v) economic value added, (vi) improvements in costs and/or expenses, (vii) EBIT, EBITDA, operating or gross profits, cash earnings or income from continuing operations, (viii) net cash from continuing operations or cash flow from operating activities;  (ix) performance relative to peer group; (x) free cash flow as a percentage of sales; or (x) any performance measure established by the Committee.

2.23 “Performance Stock Unit” means an Award subject to the terms of this Plan, the value of which is equal to one Share at the time it is payable and is determined as a function of the extent to which corresponding Performance Goals have been achieved.  

2.24 “Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement” means a written agreement in such form as may be, from time to time, hereafter approved by the Committee, which shall be duly executed by the Company and the Participant and which shall set forth the terms and conditions of a grant of Performance Stock Units.

2.25 “Performance Period” means the period of time during which the Performance Goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award.

2.26 “Plan” means the Existing Plan, as amended and restated as of the date hereof, and as may be further amended from time to time.

2.27 “Regulation T” means Part 220, chapter II, title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations, issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System pursuant to the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor regulation which may hereafter be adopted in lieu thereof.

2.28 “Restricted Stock Award” means the right to receive Shares, but subject to forfeiture and/or other restrictions as set forth in the related Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

2.29 “Restricted Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement in such form as may be, from time to time, hereafter approved by the Committee, which shall be duly executed by the Company and the Participant and which shall set forth the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award under the Plan.

2.30 “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act, as in effect at the time of reference, or any successor rules or regulations which may hereafter be adopted in lieu thereof, and any reference to any specific provisions of Rule 16b-3 shall refer to the corresponding provisions of Rule 16b-3 as it may hereafter be amended or replaced.

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2.31 “SAR” means a stock appreciation right, which is a right to receive an amount in cash, or Shares, or a combination thereof, as determined or approved by the Committee, no greater than the excess, if any, of (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the SAR is exercised, over (ii) the SAR Base Price.

2.32 “SAR Base Price” means the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date an SAR was granted.

2.33 “Shares” means shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value, or, if by reason of the adjustment provisions contained herein, any rights under an Award under the Plan pertain to any other security, such other security.

2.34 “Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an equivalent of one Share, as awarded under the Plan.

2.35 “Stock Unit Award Agreement” means a written agreement in such form as may be, from time to time, hereafter approved by the Committee, which shall be duly executed by the Company and the Participant and which shall set forth the terms and conditions of a grant of Stock Units.

2.36 “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” means any corporation or corporations other than the employer corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the employer corporation if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

2.37 “Successor” means the (i) legal representative of the estate of a deceased Participant, (ii) the person or persons who shall acquire the right to exercise or receive an Award by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the death of the Participant, or (iii) the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Participant for any Option granted to the Participant that is outstanding at the time of his death.

2.38 “Term” means the period during which a particular Award may be exercised.

3. Stock Subject to the Plan

  There will be reserved for use upon the issuance, vesting, or exercise of Awards to be granted from time to time under the Plan to Participants, an aggregate of 5,126,950 Shares, subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 15 of the Plan, which Shares may be, in whole or in part, as the Board shall from time to time determine, authorized but unissued Shares, or issued Shares which shall have been reacquired by the Company, except as provided below. The following Shares shall not count against the Share limit in this Section 3:  (i) Shares covered by an Award that expires or is forfeited, canceled, surrendered, or otherwise terminated without the issuance of such Shares; (ii) Shares covered by an Award that is settled only in cash; (iii) Shares tendered in payment of the exercise price of a Stock Option; (iv) Shares withheld by the Company or any Subsidiary to satisfy a tax withholding obligation; and (v) Shares granted through assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards granted by a company to individuals who become

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Employees or Directors as the result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction involving such company and the Company or any of its Affiliates (except as may be required by reason of the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or other trading market on which the Shares are listed).  With respect to any SAR that is settled in Shares, only the Shares used to settle the SAR upon exercise shall count against the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan.

4. Administration of the Plan

 

  The Committee shall be invested with the responsibility for the administration of the Plan. The Committee shall consist of not less than two (2) outside directors as defined in Treasury Regulation 1.162-27 who shall also qualify as non‑employee directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3; provided, however, that the failure to satisfy the foregoing requirement shall not affect the validity of any Awards granted under the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority, in its discretion, to determine the Participants to whom Awards shall be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each of the Awards, and the terms of any such Award; to amend or cancel Awards (subject to Section 20 of the Plan); to accelerate the vesting of Awards; to interpret the Plan; to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; and generally to interpret and determine any and all matters whatsoever relating to the administration of the Plan and the granting of Awards hereunder. All decisions or interpretations made by the Committee with regard to any question arising under the Plan or any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the recipients of Awards.  Except as otherwise provided in the Company’s Compensation Committee Charter, (i) Committee members shall be recommended by the Company’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and appointed by the Board at its annual organizational meeting;  (ii) members shall serve until their successors shall be duly appointed; and (iii) the Committee’s chair shall be designated by the full Board, or, if it does not do so, the Committee members shall elect a Chair by vote of a majority of the full Committee.  The Committee shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it shall deem advisable.  A majority of its members shall constitute a quorum.  Any action of the Committee may be taken by a written instrument signed by all of the members, and any action so taken shall be fully as effective as if it had been taken by a vote of a majority of the members at a meeting duly called and held.  The Committee shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable and which are consistent with the scope of the Company’s Compensation Committee Charter as in effect from time to time. No member of the Committee shall be liable, in the absence of bad faith, for any act or omission with respect to his service on the Committee.

5. Participants to Whom Awards May Be Granted and Vesting Terms

 

5.1 Participants to Whom Awards May Be Granted .  Awards may be granted in each calendar year or portion thereof while the Plan is in effect to such of the Participants as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine; provided, however, that no Incentive Stock Options may be granted to a Participant who is not an Employee.  In determining the Participants to whom Awards shall be granted and the number of Shares to be subject to issuance or subject to purchase under such Awards, the Committee shall take into account the duties of the respective Participants, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and such other factors as the Committee shall deem relevant in connection with accomplishing the purposes of the Plan.  Notwithstanding

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anything to the contrary herein, no Participant shall receive Awards to acquire more than One Million (1,000,000) Shares in any one calendar year.

5.2 Vesting .  Awards granted under the Plan on or after the date the Plan this amendment and restatement becomes effective shall be subject to a minimum three (3) year vesting schedule, with one-third vesting to occur on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of the Award Agreement, provided however, that the Committee shall have the discretion to award up to ten percent (10%) of the Shares available for the grant of future Awards under the Plan as of the date hereof without being subject to the minimum vesting requirement.  

6. Options

 

6.1 Types of Options .  Options granted under the Plan may be (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Non-Qualified Stock Options, or (iii) a combination of the foregoing.  The Option Agreement shall designate whether an Option is an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option and separate Option Agreements shall be issued for each type of Option when a combination of an Incentive Stock Option and a Non-Qualified Stock Option are granted on the same date to the same Participant.  Any Option which is designated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option shall not be treated by the Company or the Participant to whom the Option is granted as an Incentive Stock Option for federal income tax purposes.  Canadian Participants shall not be eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options.

6.2 Option Price .  The option price per share of any Option granted under the Plan shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by the Option on the date the Option is granted.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event an Incentive Stock Option is granted to an Employee who, at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns, as defined in Section 424 of the Code, stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of:

(i) the Company; or

(ii) if applicable, a Subsidiary; or

(iii) if applicable, a Parent,

then the option price per share of any Incentive Stock Option granted to such Employee shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by the Option on the date the Option is granted.

6.3 Terms of Options .  Options granted hereunder shall be exercisable for a Term of not more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof, but shall be subject to earlier termination as hereinafter provided.  Each Option Agreement issued hereunder shall specify the term of the Option, which term shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with its discretionary authority hereunder.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event an Incentive Stock Option is granted to an Employee who, at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns, as defined in Section 424 of the Code,

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stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of:

(i) the Company; or

(ii) if applicable, a Subsidiary; or

(iii) if applicable, a Parent,

then such Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable more than five (5) years from the date of grant thereof, but shall be subject to earlier termination as hereinafter provided.

6.4 Other Terms and Conditions of Options .  Each Option or each Option Agreement setting forth an Option shall contain such other terms and conditions (e.g., vesting conditions) not inconsistent herewith as shall be approved by the Committee.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, except in connection with a change in capitalization described in Section 15, the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or cancel outstanding Options in exchange for cash, or other Awards or Options with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options without stockholder approval.

7. Limit on Fair Market Value of Incentive Stock Options

 

  No Employee may be granted an Incentive Stock Option hereunder to the extent that the aggregate fair market value (such fair market value being determined as of the date of grant of the option in question) of the stock with respect to which incentive stock options are first exercisable by such Employee during any calendar year (under all such plans of the Employee’s employer corporation, its Parent, if any, and its Subsidiaries, if any) exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).  For purposes of the preceding sentence, Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted.  Any Option granted under the Plan which is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, but which exceeds the limitation set forth in this Section 7, shall be a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

8. Restricted Stock Awards

 

  Restricted Stock Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to such terms and conditions as Committee may, in its discretion, determine and set forth in the related Restricted Stock Award Agreements. Restricted Stock Awards shall be granted to Participants in accordance with, and subject to, the provisions set forth below.  Canadian Participants are not eligible for Restricted Stock Awards.

8.1 Issuance of Shares .  Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Award Agreement that shall set forth the number of Shares issuable under the Restricted Stock Award.  Subject to the restrictions in Section 8.3 of the Plan, and subject further to such other restrictions or conditions established by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the related Restricted Stock Award Agreement, the number of Shares granted under a Restricted Stock Award shall be issued in the recipient Participant’s

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name on the date of grant of such Restricted Stock Award or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

8.2 Rights of Recipient Participants .  Shares received pursuant to Restricted Stock Awards shall be duly issued or transferred to the Participant, and a certificate or certificates for such Shares shall be issued in the Participant’s name.  Subject to the restrictions in Section 8.3 of the Plan, and subject further to such other restrictions or conditions established by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the related Restricted Stock Award Agreement, the Participant shall thereupon be a stockholder with respect to all the Shares represented by such certificate or certificates and shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote such Shares and to receive dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares provided that any cash dividends and stock dividends with respect to the Restricted Stock shall be withheld by the Company for the Participant’s account, and interest may be credited on the amount of the cash dividends withheld at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. The cash dividends or stock dividends so withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, if applicable, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends. In furtherance of the restrictions in Section 8.3 of the Plan and in the related Restricted Stock Award Agreement, the certificate or certificates for Shares awarded hereunder, together with a suitably executed stock power signed by such recipient Participant, shall be held by the Company in its control for the account of such Participant (i) until the restrictions in Section 8.3 of the Plan and in the related Restricted Stock Award Agreement lapse pursuant to the Plan or the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, at which time a certificate for the appropriate number of Shares (free of all restrictions imposed by the Plan or the Restricted Stock Award Agreement) shall be delivered to the Participant, or (ii) until such Shares are forfeited to the Company and cancelled as provided by the Plan or the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

8.3 Restrictions .  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and set forth in a Restricted Stock Award Agreement, each Share issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall be subject, in addition to any other restrictions set forth in the related Restricted Stock Award Agreement, to the following restrictions until such restrictions have lapsed pursuant to Section 8.4 of the Plan:

(a) Disposition .  The Shares awarded to a Participant and held by the Company pursuant to Section 8.2 of the Plan, and the right to vote such Shares or receive dividends on such Shares, may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of; provided, however, that such Shares may be transferred upon the death of the Participant to the Participant’s Successor.  Any transfer or purported transfer of such Shares in violation of the restrictions outlined in this Section 8.3 shall be null and void and shall result in the forfeiture of the Shares transferred or purportedly transferred to the Company without notice and without consideration.

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(b) Forfeiture .  The Shares awarded to a Participant and held by the Company pursuant to Section 8.2 of the Plan shall be forfeited to the Company without notice and without consideration therefor immediately upon the complete termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason whatsoever and at such other times as may be set forth in a Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

8.4 Lapse of Restrictions .  The restrictions set forth in Section 8.3 of the Plan on Shares issued under a Restricted Stock Award shall lapse upon either the passage of time or the achievement of one or more Performance Goals and on such terms as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine and set forth in the related Restricted Stock Award Agreement, and certificates for the Shares held for the account of the Participant in accordance with Section 8.2 of the Plan hereof shall be appropriately distributed to the Participant as soon as reasonably practical thereafter.  In granting any Restricted Stock Award which is intended to qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, the Committee shall follow any procedures determined by the Committee from time to time to be necessary or appropriate to ensure the qualification of such Restricted Stock Award under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

8.5 Issuance of Shares in Book Entry Form .  Shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award, may be issued in book entry form and evidenced by a book entry account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent, in which case (i) any requirement that certificates for Shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award be issued or delivered to a Participant shall be satisfied by the Company causing such Shares to be evidenced in a book entry account maintained by its stock transfer agent, (ii) any reference in Sections 8.2 through 8.4 of the Plan to Shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award being held by the Company shall include any Shares being held in a book entry account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent, and (iii) the Company shall have the same right to delay the entry of the Shares in a book entry account maintained by its stock transfer agent as its right to delay delivery of Shares subject to an Award pursuant to Sections 18.1 and 21 of the Plan.

9. Stock Appreciation Rights

 

9.1 Grant of SAR .  The Committee, in its discretion, may grant a Participant  an SAR on a stand-alone basis (i.e., independent of an Option).

9.2 Limitations on Exercise .  Each SAR granted on a stand-alone basis shall be exercisable to the extent, and for such Term, as the Committee may determine, provided, however that such Term shall not exceed ten (10) years.  The SARs shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine, which are not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan.  The terms and conditions may include Committee approval of the exercise of the SAR, limitations on the time within which and the extent to which such SAR shall be exercisable, limitations, if any, on the amount of appreciation in value which may be recognized with regard to such SAR, and specification of what portion, if any, of the amount payable to the Employee upon exercise of such SAR shall be payable in cash and what portion, if any, shall be payable in Shares.  If, and to the extent, that Shares

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are issued in satisfaction of amounts payable on exercise of an SAR, the Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise.

9.3 Other Terms and Conditions of SARs .  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, except in connection with a change in capitalization described in Section 15, the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding SARs or cancel outstanding SARs in exchange for cash, or other Awards or SARs with an SAR Base Price that is less than the SAR Base Price of the original SARs without stockholder approval.

10. Stock Units

 

  Awards of Stock Units or Performance Stock Units granted under the Plan shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine and set forth in the related Stock Unit Award or Performance Stock Unit Award Agreements.

10.1 Number of Shares .  Each Stock Unit Award or Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement shall set forth the number of Shares subject to such Award.

10.2 Rights of Participant .  A Participant awarded Stock Units or Performance Stock Units pursuant to the terms of this Plan shall not be deemed to be the beneficial owner of Shares underlying the Stock Units.  Each Stock Unit or Performance Stock Unit shall represent the right of the Participant to receive an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the payment of such Stock Unit.  A holder of Stock Units or Performance Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company.  Stock Units or Performance Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Stock Unit Award or Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement.

10.3 Terms of the Stock Units .  Each Stock Unit or Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement granting one or more Stock Units or Performance Stock Units shall contain such other terms and conditions, including but not limited to provision for payment of dividend equivalents, not inconsistent herewith as shall be approved by the Committee, and may vest based on the passage of time or the achievement of one or more Performance Goals.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no dividend equivalents shall be paid on unvested Stock Units, or with respect to Stock Units or Performance Stock Units held by Canadian Participants.

10.4 Performance Conditions .  The right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee and provided within the applicable Performance Stock Unit Agreement. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions.  If and to the extent required under Code Section 162(m), any power or authority relating to an Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), shall be exercised by the Committee.

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10.5 Performance Goals Generally .  The Performance Goals for such Performance Stock Unit Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 10 .   If an Award is intended to qualify for the performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code, Performance Goals shall be objective and shall meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of Performance Goals being “substantially uncertain.” The Committee may determine that such Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one Performance Goal or that two or more of the Performance Goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Awards.  Performance Goals may differ for Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.

10.6 Timing For Establishing Performance Goals .  If an Award is intended to qualify for the performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code, Performance Goals shall be established not later than the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days after the beginning of any Performance Period applicable to such Awards and (ii) the day on which 25% of any Performance Period applicable to such Awards has expired, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).

10.7 Payment of Stock Units or Performance Stock Units .  Payments made with respect to Stock Units or Performance Stock Units may be made in the form of cash, Shares or any combination of both and at such time as determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Stock Units, provided that any such payments to Canadian Participants will only be made in Shares.

11. Director Awards

11.1 Grant of Director Awards .  Each Director, who is a Director as of the date of the annual meeting of the Board with respect to any given year (such date, the “Meeting Date”) and has been a Director for the entire period since the annual meeting of shareholders of Company held in the immediately preceding calendar year, shall be granted a Director Award for a number of full Shares determined by dividing the Applicable Director Amount by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the grant date, such grant to be made as of such Meeting Date without further action by the Committee.  The Applicable Director Amount shall be recommended by the Committee based on an annual review of the total Board compensation package and approved by the full Board.  Each Director Award shall be evidenced by a Director Award Agreement.  The number of Shares granted under a Director Award shall be issued in the recipient Director’s name on the date of grant of such Director Award or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.  Shares received pursuant to Director Awards shall be duly issued or transferred to the Director, and a certificate or certificates for such Shares shall be issued in the Director’s name.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may determine to grant Directors Stock Units in lieu of a grant of Shares.

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11.2 Rights of Directors . A recipient Director shall thereupon be a stockholder with respect to all the Shares represented by such certificate or certificates and shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote such Shares provided that any cash dividends and stock dividends with respect to the Shares shall be withheld by the Company for the Director’s account, and interest may be credited on the amount of the cash dividends withheld at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. The cash dividends or stock dividends so withheld by the Committee and attributable to any Shares (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed to the Director in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, if applicable, upon the release of restrictions on such Shares and, if such Share is forfeited, the Director shall have no right to such dividends.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 11, each Director entitled to receive a Director Award of Shares on a particular Meeting Date shall have the right to elect to receive and be granted a Director Award for a number of full Stock Units determined by dividing the Applicable Director Amount by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the grant date in lieu of receiving a Director Award for an equivalent number of Shares on such Meeting Date.  Any such election must be made in a written notice delivered to the Chairman of the Board or his designee on or before the Meeting Date for the calendar year immediately preceding the applicable Meeting Date, which election once made, shall be irrevocable.  Any Stock Units granted to a Director pursuant to any such election or as provided in Section 11.1 shall provide that the Company will make a payment to such Director on the date that such Director ceases to be a member of the Board for any reason whatsoever of one Share for each such Stock Unit then held by such Director, or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practical, but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the date that such Director ceased to be a member of the Board, and will be subject to such other terms, including but not limited to provision for the payment of dividend equivalents, as contained in a Stock Unit Agreement approved by the Board, the execution of which shall be a condition to the receipt of the Stock Units.

11.3 Issuance of Shares in Book Entry Form .  Shares subject to a Director Award as described in this Section 11 of the Plan, may be issued in book entry form and evidenced by a book entry account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent, in which case (i) any requirement that certificates for Shares subject to a Director Award be issued or delivered to a Director pursuant to this Section 11 of the Plan shall be satisfied by the Company causing such Shares to be evidenced in a book entry account maintained by its stock transfer agent, and (ii) the Company shall have the same right to delay the entry of the Shares in a book entry account maintained by its stock transfer agent as its right to delay delivery of Shares subject to an Award pursuant to Sections 18.1 and 21 of the Plan.

11.4 Limitation on Awards to Non-Employee Directors .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) of all Awards granted to any Participant who is a non-employee Director of the Company during any single fiscal year shall not exceed $300,000.

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12. Date of Grant

  The date of grant of an Award granted hereunder shall be the date on which the Committee acts in granting the Award or, if later, such other date as the Committee shall specify.

13. Exercise of Rights Under Awards and Recoupment of Certain Compensation.

13.1 Notice of Exercise .  A Participant entitled to exercise an Award may do so by delivery of a written notice to that effect specifying the number of Shares or SARs with respect to which the Award is being exercised and any other information the Committee may prescribe.  The notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price of any Shares to be purchased, which payment may be made in cash or, with the Committee’s approval in Shares valued at Fair Market Value at the time of exercise or a combination thereof, provided that Canadian Participants shall not be entitled to make payment in the form of Shares.  No Shares shall be issued upon exercise of an Option until full payment has been made therefor.  All notices or requests provided for herein shall be delivered to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, or such other person as the Committee shall designate.

13.2 Cashless Exercise Procedures .  The Company, in its sole discretion, may establish procedures whereby a Participant, subject to the requirements of Rule 16b-3, Regulation T, federal income tax laws, and other federal, state and local tax and securities laws, can exercise an Option or a portion thereof without making a direct payment of the option price to the Company; provided, however, that these cashless exercise procedures shall not apply to Incentive Stock Options which are outstanding on the date the Company establishes such procedures unless the application of such procedures to such Options is permitted pursuant to the Code and the regulations thereunder without affecting the Options’ qualification under Code Section 422 as Incentive Stock Options.  If the Company so elects to establish a cashless exercise program, the Company shall determine, in its sole discretion, and from time to time, such administrative procedures and policies as it deems appropriate and such procedures and policies shall be binding on any Participant wishing to utilize the cashless exercise program.

13.3 Rights of Award Holder .   Except as set forth in Section 8 and Section 11 of the Plan, the holder of an Award shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to purchase or receipt under his Award, except to the extent that one or more certificates for such Shares shall be delivered to him upon the due exercise or grant of the Award. Shares subject to an Award under the Plan may be issued in book entry form and evidenced by a book entry account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent, in which case (i) any requirement that certificates for Shares subject to an Award be issued or delivered to a Participant or Director pursuant to Section this Section 13.3 of the Plan shall be satisfied by the Company causing such Shares to be evidenced in a book entry account maintained by its stock transfer agent, and (ii) the Company shall have the same right to delay the entry of the Shares in a book entry account maintained by its stock transfer agent as its right to delay delivery of Shares subject to an Award pursuant to Sections 18.1 and 21 of the Plan.

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13.4 Recoupment of Certain Compensation Attributable to Awards .  Any Award granted hereunder which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation, stock exchange listing requirement, or Company policy, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation, stock exchange listing requirement, or Company policy.

14. Nontransferability of Awards

 

  An Award shall not be transferable, other than:  (a) by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and an Award may be exercised, during the lifetime of the holder of the Award, only by the holder or in the event of death, the holder’s Successor, or in the event of disability, the holder’s personal representative, or (b) pursuant to a qualified domestic relation order, as defined in the Code or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) or the rules thereunder; provided, however, that an Incentive Stock Option may not be transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order unless such transfer is otherwise permitted pursuant to the Code and the regulations thereunder without affecting the Option’s qualification under Code Section 422 as an Incentive Stock Option.

15. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization

 

  In the event of changes in all of the outstanding Shares by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, or exchanges of shares, separations, reorganizations or liquidations, or similar events, or in the event of extraordinary cash or non-cash dividends being declared with respect to the Shares, or similar transactions or events, the number and class of Shares available under the Plan in the aggregate, the number and class of Shares subject to Awards theretofore granted, applicable purchase prices, Option prices, SAR Base Prices, individual share limits, and all other applicable provisions, shall, subject to the provisions of the Plan, be equitably adjusted by the Committee (which adjustment, only with respect to Participants other than Canadian Participants, may, but need not, include payment to the holder of an Option or SAR, in cash or in shares, in an amount equal to the difference between the price at which such Award may be exercised and the then current Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such Option as equitably determined by the Committee) in order to prevent the diminution or enlargement of benefits thereunder.  The foregoing adjustment and the manner of application of the foregoing provisions shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided, however, that to the extent applicable, any adjustment to an Incentive Stock Option shall be made in a manner consistent with Section 424 of the Code. Any such adjustment may provide for the elimination of any fractional share which might otherwise become subject to an Award.

16. Change in Control

 

  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or any Award Agreement, in the case of a Change of Control, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine, on a case by case basis, that each Award, other than an Award of Stock Units, granted under the Plan shall terminate upon the later of (i) the thirtieth (30 th ) day after the Award holder receives written notice from the Company of its intention to terminate the Award, or (ii) the consummation of such Change of Control, but, in the event of any such termination, an Option or SAR holder shall have the right, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control and subject to any limitation on

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the exercise of such Option or SAR in effect on the date of exercise, to exercise such Option or SAR, prior to its termination, as to the portion of the Option or SAR with respect to which the holder’s right to exercise the Option or SAR had previously vested as of the termination date.  Except as provided in an Award Agreement, or a written employment agreement or separation agreement in effect on the Effective Date, the Company will not accelerate the vesting of any outstanding Awards in connection with a Change in Control unless either (i) such acceleration is conditioned upon the employment of the holder of an outstanding Award being terminated on or after such Change in Control or (ii) any such outstanding Awards are not assumed or replaced with a substituted award or right having a substantially equivalent economic value and substantially equivalent or better terms and conditions.

17. Forms of Awards

 

  Nothing contained in the Plan nor any resolution adopted or to be adopted by the Board, the Committee or by the stockholders of the Company shall constitute the granting of any Award.  An Award shall be granted hereunder only by action taken by the Committee in granting an Award.  Whenever the Committee shall designate a Participant or Director for the receipt of an Award, the President of the Company, or such other person as the Committee shall designate, shall forthwith send notice thereof to the Participant or Director, in such form as the Committee shall approve, stating the number of Shares subject to the Award, its Term, if applicable, and the other terms and conditions thereof.  The notice shall be accompanied by an Award Agreement in such form as may from time to time hereafter be approved by the Committee, which shall have been duly executed by or on behalf of the Company.  If the surrender of previously issued Awards is made a condition of the grant, the notice shall set forth the pertinent details of such condition.  Execution by the Participant or Director to whom such Award is granted of an Award Agreement in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Plan shall be a condition precedent to the exercise or grant of any Award.  

18. Taxes

18.1 Right to Withhold Required Taxes .  The Company shall have the right to require a person entitled to receive Shares pursuant to receipt, vesting or exercise of an Award under the Plan to pay the Company the amount of any taxes which the Company is or will be required to withhold with respect to such Shares before the certificate for such Shares is delivered pursuant to the Award.  Furthermore, the Company shall deduct such taxes, as elected by the Participant, from any other amounts then payable in cash or in shares or from any other amounts payable any time thereafter to the Participant. If an Employee disposes of Shares acquired pursuant to an Incentive Stock Option in any transaction considered to be a disqualifying transaction under Sections 421 and 422 of the Code, the Employee shall notify the Company of such transfer and the Company shall have the right to deduct any taxes required by law to be withheld from any amounts otherwise payable then or at any time thereafter to the Employee. Shares subject to an Award under the Plan may be issued in book entry form and evidenced by a book entry account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent, in which case the Company shall have the same right to delay the entry of the Shares in a book entry account maintained by its stock transfer agent as its right to delay delivery of Shares subject to an Award pursuant to this Section 18.1 and Section 21 of the Plan.

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18.2 Election to Withhold Shares .  A Participant may elect to satisfy his tax liability with respect to the exercise of an Option or the receipt or vesting of a Restricted Stock Award or payment of a Stock Unit Award by having the Company withhold Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option or deliverable upon the grant or vesting of the Restricted Stock Award or payment of a Stock Unit Award; provided, however, that if a Participant is subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, such election must satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3.   

18.3   The Plan shall terminate ten (10) years from the Effective Date hereof, and an Award shall not be granted under the Plan after that date although the terms of any Awards may be amended at any date prior to the end of its Term in accordance with the Plan.  Any Awards outstanding at the time of termination of the Plan shall continue in full force and effect according to the terms and conditions of the Award and this Plan.

  The Plan may be amended at any time and from time to time by the Board, but no amendment without the approval of the stockholders of the Company shall be made if stockholder approval would be required under any applicable law.  Notwithstanding the discretionary authority granted to the Committee in Section 4 of the Plan, no amendment of the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall impair any of the rights of any holder, without such holder’s consent, under any Award theretofore granted under the Plan.

  Delivery of certificates for Shares pursuant to the grant or exercise of an Award may be postponed by the Company for such period as may be required for it with reasonable diligence to comply with any applicable requirements of any federal, state or local law or regulation or any administrative or quasi-administrative requirement applicable to the sale, issuance, distribution or delivery of such Shares.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, require a Participant to furnish the Company with appropriate representations and a written investment letter prior to the receipt or exercise of an Award or the delivery of any Shares pursuant to an Award.  Shares subject to an Award under the Plan may be issued in book entry form and evidenced by a book entry account maintained by the Company’s stock transfer agent, in which case the Company shall have the same right to delay the entry of the Shares in a book entry account maintained by its stock transfer agent as its right to delay delivery of Shares subject to an Award pursuant to Section 18.1 and this Section 21 of the Plan.

 

19. Fees and Costs

  The Company shall pay all original issue taxes on the grant or exercise of any Award granted under the Plan and all other fees and expenses necessarily incurred by the Company in connection therewith.

20. Effectiveness of the Plan

  The Plan shall be submitted to the Company’s shareholders for approval and unless the Plan is approved either (i) by the affirmative votes of the holders of shares having a majority of the voting power of all shares represented at a meeting duly held in accordance with Ohio law within twelve (12) months after being approved by the Board, or (ii) by a written consent of shareholders in accordance with Ohio law within twelve (12) months after being approved by the

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Board, the Plan (and all Awards made from the Additional Shares) shall be void and of no force and effect, and the Existing Plan shall continue in full force and effect.

21. Other Provisions

  As used in the Plan, and in Awards and other documents prepared in implementation of the Plan, references to the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to refer to the feminine or neuter, and references in the singular or the plural shall refer to the plural or the singular, as the identity of the person or persons or entity or entities being referred to may require.  The captions used in the Plan and in such Awards and other documents prepared in implementation of the Plan are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision hereof or thereof.

22. Effect on Employment

  Neither the adoption of this Plan, its operation, nor any of the Award Agreements or other documents described or referred to in the Plan shall confer upon any person any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or in any way affect any right or power of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment or service of any person at any time for any reason whatsoever.

23. International Participants

  To the extent that the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, to comply with foreign laws or practices and to further the purpose of the Plan, the Committee may, amend the terms of the Plan or Awards in order to conform with the requirements of such foreign laws or practices.

24. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code

  The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder, to the extent applicable.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Plan shall be interpreted, operated and administered consistent with this intent.  In that regard, and notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company reserves the right to amend the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan, by action of the Committee, without the consent of the any affected Participant or Director, to the extent deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of maintaining compliance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

25. Ohio Law to Govern

  This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

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Exhibit 21

Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries, and Operating Divisions,

of Myers Industries, Inc.

As of December 31, 2017

 

North, Central and South America Operations

 

 

Ameri-Kart Corp.

 

Kansas

Ameri-Kart (MI) Corp.

 

Michigan

Buckhorn Inc.

 

Ohio

- Buckhorn Services, Inc.

 

Ohio

Direct Source Supply, Inc.

 

Ohio

Erie Island LLC

 

Ohio

Jamco Products Inc.

 

Illinois

MYE Canada Operations Inc.

 

Canada

MYECAP Financial Corp.

 

Ohio

Myers Holdings Brasil Ltda. (99%)

 

Brazil

Myers Tire Supply International, Inc.

 

Ohio

   - Myers de El Salvador S.A. De C.V. (75%)

 

El Salvador

   - Orientadores Comerciales S.A.

 

Guatemala

- Myers de Panama S.A.

 

Panama

- Myers TSCA, S.A.

 

Panama

Myers de El Salvador S.A. De C.V. (25%)

 

El Salvador

Myers Tire Supply Distribution, Inc.

 

Ohio

MyersTireSupply.com, Inc.

 

Ohio

Patch Rubber Company

 

North Carolina

Scepter Canada Inc.

 

Canada

Scepter US Holding Company

 

Ohio

   - Scepter Manufacturing, LLC

 

Delaware

 

Reported Operating Divisions of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

 

Akro-Mils (of Myers Industries, Inc.)

 

Akron, Ohio

Myers Tire Supply (of Myers Industries, Inc.)

 

Akron, Ohio

Buckhorn Canada (of MYE Canada Operation Inc.)

 

Ontario, Canada

Myers Tire Supply Canada (of MYE Canada Operations Inc.)

 

Ontario, Canada

 

 

 

Exhibit 23

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:  

 

(1)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-207869) pertaining to the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc.,

 

(2)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-158055) pertaining to the 2008 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc.,

 

(3)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-90367) pertaining to Myers Industries, Inc. 1999 Incentive Stock Plan, Myers Industries, Inc. 1997 Incentive Stock Plan, Myers Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan,

 

(4)

Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 033-50286) of Myers Industries, Inc.,

 

(5)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-219683) pertaining to the 2017 Incentive Stock Plan of Myers Industries, Inc. as Amended and Restated, and

 

(6)

Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-220628) of Myers Industries, Inc.;

of our reports dated March 9 , 2018, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Myers Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2017.  

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

Akron, Ohio

March 9 , 2018

 

 

Exhibit 31(a)

Certification Per Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, R. David Banyard, certify that:

 

1.

 I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Myers Industries, Inc. ;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f), for the registrant and have:

 

a.

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b.

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

 

c.

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d.

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a.

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b.

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:

March 9, 2018

 

/s/ R. David Banyard

 

 

 

R. David Banyard, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Exhibit 31(b)

Certification Per Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Matteo Anversa, certify that:

 

1.

 I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Myers Industries, Inc. ;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f), for the registrant and have:

 

a.

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b.

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

 

c.

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d.

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a.

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b.

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:

March 9, 2018

 

/s/ Matteo Anversa

 

 

 

Matteo Anversa, Executive Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Myers Industries, Inc. (the Company) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2017, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, R. David Banyard, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and to my knowledge:

(1) The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended December 31, 2017 which this certification accompanies fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated:

March 9, 2018

 

/s/ R. David Banyard

 

 

 

R. David Banyard, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Myers Industries, Inc. (the Company) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2017, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Matteo Anversa, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and to my knowledge:

(1) The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended December 31, 2017 which this certification accompanies fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated:

March 9, 2018

 

/s/ Matteo Anversa

 

 

 

Matteo Anversa, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.