form10q.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

FORM 10-Q 

 
(Mark One)
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
 
 
 
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011
 
 
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
 
 
 
For the transition period from __________________to __________________

1-13948
(Commission file number)
 

SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 

 
Delaware
62-1612879
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
100 North Point Center East, Suite 600
 
Alpharetta, Georgia
30022
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
 
1-800-514-0186
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x   No o
 
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   x     No   o
 
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 x
Accelerated filer  o
Non-accelerated filer o
Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o  No  x
 
There were 16,109,461 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the registrant outstanding as of July 27, 2011.
 


 
 

 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
Page
Part I
 
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
1
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
16
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
30
 
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
30
 
 
 
 
Part II
 
OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
31
 
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
31
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
31
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
31
 
 
 
 
Item 5.
 
31
 
 
 
 
Item 6.
 
31
 
 
32
 
 
33
 

PART I
ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30, 2011
 
   
June 30, 2010
 
   
June 30, 2011
 
   
June 30, 2010
 
 
Net Sales
  $ 206.2     $ 182.6     $ 386.9     $ 375.4  
Cost of products sold
    151.1       137.3       284.6       276.6  
Gross Profit
    55.1       45.3       102.3       98.8  
 
                               
Selling expense
    5.5       4.6       10.6       9.8  
Research expense
    2.4       2.1       4.4       4.1  
General expense
    14.9       10.7       27.6       22.4  
Total nonmanufacturing expenses
    22.8       17.4       42.6       36.3  
 
                               
Restructuring and impairment expense
    0.7       2.9       1.7       6.5  
Operating Profit
    31.6       25.0       58.0       56.0  
Interest expense
    0.7       0.6       0.7       1.0  
Other income (expense), net
    (0.1 )     (0.2 )     0.1       (1.3 )
Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes and Income from Equity Affiliates
    30.8       24.2       57.4       53.7  
 
                               
Provision for income taxes
    11.6       9.1       22.5       19.4  
Income from equity affiliates
    1.1       0.7       2.0       1.3  
Income from Continuing Operations
    20.3       15.8       36.9       35.6  
Loss from Discontinued Operations
    (0.5 )     (1.0 )     (0.9 )     (2.2 )
Net Income
  $ 19.8     $ 14.8     $ 36.0     $ 33.4  
 
                               
Net Income per Share - Basic:
                               
Income per share from continuing operations
  $ 1.19     $ 0.85     $ 2.12     $ 1.96  
Loss per share from discontinued operations
    (0.04 )     (0.05 )     (0.06 )     (0.12 )
Net income per share – basic
  $ 1.15     $ 0.80     $ 2.06     $ 1.84  
 
                               
Net Income per Share – Diluted:
                               
Income per share from continuing operations
  $ 1.17     $ 0.83     $ 2.10     $ 1.92  
Loss per share from discontinued operations
    (0.03 )     (0.05 )     (0.05 )     (0.12 )
Net income per share – diluted
  $ 1.14     $ 0.78     $ 2.05     $ 1.80  
 
                               
Cash Dividends Declared Per Share
  $ 0.15     $ 0.15     $ 0.30     $ 0.30  
 
                               
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
                               
Basic
    16,887,400       17,820,200       17,158,600       17,813,000  
 
                               
Diluted
    17,003,400       18,137,500       17,268,800       18,150,100  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
62.1
 
 
$
87.3
 
Accounts receivable
 
 
113.5
 
 
 
98.9
 
Inventories
 
 
125.8
 
 
 
113.8
 
Income taxes receivable
 
 
11.3
 
 
 
0.9
 
Other current assets
 
 
13.9
 
 
 
11.9
 
Total Current Assets
 
 
326.6
 
 
 
312.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment, net
 
 
474.7
 
 
 
440.8
 
Deferred Income Tax Benefits
 
 
7.2
 
 
 
11.8
 
Investment in Equity Affiliates
 
 
25.5
 
 
 
20.5
 
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
 
8.7
 
 
 
8.8
 
Other Assets
 
 
63.3
 
 
 
55.7
 
Total Assets
 
$
906.0
 
 
$
850.4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current debt
 
$
8.7
 
 
$
8.7
 
Accounts payable
 
 
56.8
 
 
 
66.4
 
Accrued expenses
 
 
90.3
 
 
 
105.6
 
Current deferred revenue
 
 
1.1
 
 
 
6.0
 
Total Current Liabilities
 
 
156.9
 
 
 
186.7
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-Term Debt
 
 
157.3
 
 
 
43.1
 
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
 
47.9
 
 
 
46.3
 
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities
 
 
32.9
 
 
 
28.9
 
Other Liabilities
 
 
21.2
 
 
 
21.2
 
Total Liabilities
 
 
416.2
 
 
 
326.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.10 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.10 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 18,724,119 and 18,721,474 shares issued at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively; 16,400,802  and 18,027,903 shares outstanding at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
 
 
1.9
 
 
 
1.9
 
Additional paid-in-capital
 
 
206.8
 
 
 
208.8
 
Common stock in treasury, at cost, 2,323,317 and 693,571 shares at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
 
 
(115.8
)
 
 
(24.4
)
Retained earnings
 
 
367.1
 
 
 
336.4
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
29.8
 
 
 
1.5
 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
489.8
 
 
 
524.2
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
$
906.0
 
 
$
850.4
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 (dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Common Stock Issued
 
 
 
 
 
Treasury Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
 
Amount
 
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
 
Shares
 
 
Amount
 
 
Retained
Earnings
 
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
(Loss)
 
 
Total
 
Balance, December 31, 2009
 
 
18,633,235
 
 
$
1.9
 
 
$
205.7
 
 
 
758,350
 
 
$
(14.0
)
 
$
281.9
 
 
$
6.7
 
 
$
482.2
 
Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2010
 
 
                                       
33.4
             
33.4
 
Adjustments to unrealized foreign currency translation
 
 
                                               
(25.6
)
   
(25.6
)
Changes in fair value of derivative instruments, net of tax
 
 
                                               
(2.9
)
   
(2.9
)
Amortization of postretirement benefit plans’ costs, net of tax
 
 
                                               
1.1
     
1.1
 
Comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
                                                       
6.0
 
 
 
 
                                                         
 
Dividends declared ($0.30 per share)
 
 
                                       
(5.4
)
           
(5.4
)
Restricted stock issuances, net
 
 
               
(8.6
)
   
(451,973
)
   
8.6
                     
 
Stock-based employee compensation expense
 
 
               
3.5
                                     
3.5
 
Excess tax benefits of stock-based employee compensation
 
 
               
1.1
                                     
1.1
 
Stock issued to directors as compensation
 
 
1,345
             
0.1
                                     
0.1
 
Issuance of shares for options exercised
 
 
44,701
 
 
 
       
1.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1.1
 
Purchases of treasury stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11,791
 
 
 
(0.8
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(0.8
)
Balance, June 30, 2010
 
 
18,679,281
 
 
$
1.9
 
 
$
202.9
 
 
 
318,168
 
 
$
(6.2
)
 
$
309.9
 
 
$
(20.7
)
 
$
487.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2010
 
 
18,721,474
 
 
$
1.9
 
 
$
208.8
 
 
 
693,571
 
 
$
(24.4
)
 
$
336.4
 
 
$
1.5
 
 
$
524.2
 
Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2011
 
 
                                       
36.0
             
36.0
 
Adjustments to unrealized foreign currency translation
 
 
                                               
22.1
     
22.1
 
Changes in fair value of derivative instruments, net of tax
 
 
                                               
4.4
     
4.4
 
Amortization of postretirement benefit plans’ costs, net of tax
 
 
                                               
1.8
     
1.8
 
Comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
                                                       
64.3
 
 
 
 
                                                         
 
Dividends declared ($0.30 per share)
 
 
                                       
(5.3
)
           
(5.3
)
Restricted stock issuances, net
 
 
               
(13.1
)
   
(317,060
)
   
13.1
                     
 
Stock-based employee compensation expense
 
 
               
2.0
                                     
2.0
 
Excess tax benefits of stock-based employee compensation
 
 
               
9.0
                                     
9.0
 
Stock issued to directors as compensation
 
 
476
             
                                     
 
Issuance of shares for options exercised
 
 
2,169
             
0.1
                                     
0.1
 
Purchases of treasury stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,946,806
 
 
 
(104.5
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(104.5
)
Balance, June 30, 2011
 
 
18,724,119
 
 
$
1.9
 
 
$
206.8
 
 
 
2,323,317
 
 
$
(115.8
)
 
$
367.1
 
 
$
29.8
 
 
$
489.8
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
(dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
2011
 
 
June 30,
2010
 
Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
36.0
 
 
$
33.4
 
Less: Loss from discontinued operations
 
 
0.9
 
 
 
2.2
 
Income from continuing operations
 
 
36.9
 
 
 
35.6
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-cash items included in net income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
 
21.5
 
 
 
19.9
 
Restructuring-related impairment
   
     
0.4
 
Amortization of deferred revenue
 
 
(4.9
)
 
 
(3.9
)
Deferred income tax provision
 
 
2.0
 
 
 
12.3
 
Pension and other postretirement benefits
 
 
2.6
 
 
 
1.2
 
Stock-based compensation
 
 
2.0
 
 
 
3.5
 
Income from equity affiliate
 
 
(2.0
)
 
 
(1.3
)
Other items
 
 
(2.3
)
 
 
(1.7
)
Net changes in operating working capital
 
 
(41.0
)
 
 
20.2
 
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- Continuing operations
 
 
14.8
 
 
 
86.2
 
- Discontinued operations
 
 
(2.6
)
 
 
(11.5
)
Cash Provided by Operations
 
 
12.2
 
 
 
74.7
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital spending
 
 
(42.1
)
 
 
(25.8
)
Capitalized software costs
 
 
(1.0
)
 
 
(6.1
)
Investment in equity affiliates
   
(2.5
)
   
 
Other
 
 
(1.4
)
 
 
2.0
 
Cash Used for Investing
 
 
(47.0
)
 
 
(29.9
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financing
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Cash dividends paid to SWM stockholders
 
 
(5.3
)
 
 
(5.4
)
Changes in short-term debt
 
 
0.7
 
 
 
1.7
 
Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt
 
 
204.5
 
 
 
48.0
 
Payments on long-term debt
 
 
(95.0
)
 
 
(55.6
)
Purchases of treasury stock
 
 
(104.5
)
 
 
(0.8
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
 
 
0.1
 
 
 
1.1
 
Excess tax benefits of stock-based awards
 
 
9.0
 
 
 
1.1
 
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing
 
 
9.5
 
 
 
(9.9
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash
 
 
0.1
 
 
 
0.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
 
(25.2
)
 
 
35.0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at beginning of period
 
 
87.3
 
 
 
56.9
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at end of period
 
$
62.1
 
 
$
91.9
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


NOTE 1. GENERAL
 
Nature of Business
 
Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc., or SWM or the Company, is a multinational diversified producer of premium specialty papers headquartered in the United States of America. The Company manufactures and sells paper and reconstituted tobacco products to the tobacco industry as well as specialized paper products for use in other applications. The Company’s tobacco-related products include cigarette, plug wrap and base tipping papers, or Cigarette Papers, used to wrap various parts of a cigarette, reconstituted tobacco leaf, or RTL, which is used as a blend with virgin tobacco in cigarettes and reconstituted tobacco wrappers and binders for machine-made cigars. These products are sold directly to the major tobacco companies or their designated converters in the Americas, Europe, Asia and elsewhere. Non-tobacco industry products are a diverse mix of products, certain of which represent commodity paper grades produced to maximize machine operations.
 
The Company is a manufacturer of high porosity papers, which are used in manufacturing ventilated cigarettes, banded and print banded papers for the production of lower ignition propensity, or LIP, cigarettes and the leading independent producer of RTL used in producing blended cigarettes. The Company conducts business in over 90 countries and currently operates 11 production locations worldwide, with mills in the United States, France, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil and Poland. The Company also has a 50% equity interest in a paper mill in China.
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto have been prepared in accordance with the instructions of Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. However, such information reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods including the results of a business reclassified as a discontinued operation which is more fully described in Note 2. Discontinued Operations.
 
The results of operations for the three month and six month periods ended June 30, 2011, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC on February 25, 2011.
 
Principles of Consolidation
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and wholly-owned, majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. The Company’s share of the net income of its 50% owned joint venture in China is included in the consolidated statements of income as income from equity affiliates. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, inventory valuation, useful lives, fair values, sales returns, receivables valuation, pension, postretirement and other benefits, restructuring and impairment, taxes and contingencies. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
There have been no recent accounting pronouncements which are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, or disclosures.
 
NOTE 2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
Due to ongoing losses, the Company decided in 2009 to close its Malaucène, France finished tipping paper mill. During 2010, the run off operations at our Malaucène, France mill were completed and, therefore operations at the Malaucène mill are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Consequently, results of the Malaucène mill have been removed from each individual line within the statements of income and the operating activities section of the statements of cash flow. In each case a separate line has been added for the net results of the discontinued operation, including previously reported restructuring and impairment amounts. The Company is pursuing actions to dispose of the remaining assets and liabilities related to the Malaucène site.
 
Restructuring expense incurred during all periods primarily related to additional severances and claims from employees for additional severances.


Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are the following major classes of assets and liabilities associated with the discontinued operations ($ in millions):
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
Assets of discontinued operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
$
1.7
 
 
$
3.9
 
Noncurrent deferred income tax benefits
 
 
9.2
 
 
 
8.0
 
Other assets – assets held for sale
 
 
0.3
 
 
 
0.4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities of discontinued operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
9.8
 
 
 
12.2
 
 
Summary comparative financial results of discontinued operations were as follows ($ in millions):
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30
   
Six Months Ended
June 30
 
 
 
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net sales
  $     $ 0.4     $     $ 0.6  
Restructuring and impairment expense
    0.7       1.1       1.0       2.3  
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes
    (0.9 )     (1.5 )     (1.5 )     (3.3 )
Income tax benefit
    0.4       0.5       0.6       1.1  
Loss from discontinued operations
  $ (0.5 )   $ (1.0 )   $ (0.9 )   $ (2.2 )
 
Restructuring liabilities related to discontinued operations were classified within accrued expenses in each of the June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the restructuring liabilities during 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows ($ in millions):
 
 
 
Six Months
Ended
 
 
Year Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
Balance at beginning of year
 
$
9.2
 
 
$
20.9
 
Accruals for announced programs
 
 
1.0
 
 
 
7.7
 
Cash payments
 
 
(3.3
)
 
 
(17.8
)
Exchange rate impacts
 
 
0.7
 
 
 
(1.6
)
Balance at end of period
 
$
7.6
 
 
$
9.2
 
 
NOTE 3. NET INCOME PER SHARE
 
The Company uses the two-class method to calculate earnings per share. The Company has granted restricted stock that contains nonforfeitable rights to dividends on unvested shares. Since these unvested restricted shares are considered participating securities under the two-class method, the Company allocates earnings per share to common stock and participating securities according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings.


Diluted net income per common share is computed based on net income divided by the weighted average number of common and potential common shares outstanding. Potential common shares during the respective periods are those related to dilutive stock-based compensation, including long-term share-based incentive compensation, stock options outstanding, and directors’ accumulated deferred stock compensation which may be received by the directors in the form of stock or cash. A reconciliation of the average number of common and potential common shares outstanding used in the calculations of basic and diluted net income per share follows ($ in millions, shares in thousands):
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
2011
   
June 30,
2010
   
June 30,
2011
   
June 30,
2010
 
Numerator (basic and diluted):
                       
Net income
  $ 19.8     $ 14.8     $ 36.0     $ 33.4  
Less: Dividends paid to participating securities
    (0.1 )     (0.1 )     (0.1 )     (0.1 )
Less: Undistributed earnings available to participating securities
    (0.2 )     (0.5 )     (0.5 )     (0.6 )
Undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders
  $ 19.5     $ 14.2     $ 35.4     $ 32.7  
 
                               
Denominator:
                               
Average number of common shares outstanding
    16,887.4       17,820.2       17,158.6       17,813.0  
Effect of dilutive stock-based compensation
    116.0       317.3       110.2       337.1  
Average number of common and potential common shares outstanding
    17,003.4       18,137.5       17,268.8       18,150.1  
 
There were no anti-dilutive stock options during the three month or six month periods ended June 30, 2011 or 2010.
 
NOTE 4. INVENTORIES
 
The following schedule details inventories by major class ($ in millions):
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
Raw materials
 
$
33.8
 
 
$
31.7
 
Work in process
 
 
27.9
 
 
 
23.8
 
Finished goods
 
 
43.3
 
 
 
37.1
 
Supplies and other
 
 
20.8
 
 
 
21.2
 
Total
 
$
125.8
 
 
$
113.8
 
 
NOTE 5. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for each segment for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were as follows ($ in millions):
 
 
 
Reconstituted Tobacco
 
 
Paper
 
 
Total
 
Goodwill
 
$
5.8
 
 
$
2.7
 
 
$
8.5
 
Accumulated impairment losses
 
 
 
 
 
(2.7
)
 
 
(2.7
)
Balance as of January 1, 2011
 
 
5.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
 
0.5
     
     
0.5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill
 
$
6.3
 
 
$
2.7
 
 
$
9.0
 
Accumulated impairment losses
 
 
 
 
 
(2.7
)
 
 
(2.7
)
Balance as of June 30, 2011
 
$
6.3
 
 
$
 
 
$
6.3
 

 
The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for amortizable intangible assets consisted of the following ($ in millions):
 
 
 
June 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
 
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization*
   
Net
Carrying
Amount
   
Gross
Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization*
   
Net
Carrying
Amount
 
Customer-related intangibles (Reconstituted Tobacco Segment)
 
$
10.0
   
$
7.6
   
$
2.4
   
$
10.0
   
$
7.0
   
$
3.0
 
 
 *  Accumulated amortization also includes adjustments for foreign currency translation.

Amortization expense of intangible assets was $0.4 million and $0.8 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, and $0.4 million and $0.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively. The Company’s customer-related intangibles are amortized to expense using the 150% declining balance method over a 6-year life. Estimated amortization expense for the next three fiscal years is as follows (in millions of dollars): 2011—$1.6 million, 2012—$1.2 million, and 2013—$0.2 million.
 
NOTE 6. RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES
 
The Company incurred cash-related restructuring expenses of $0.7 million and $2.4 million in the three month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $1.7 million and $6.1 million in the six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, in connection with previously announced restructuring activities.  In the Paper segment, rationalization of base paper manufacturing footprint included restructuring actions to close the Lee Mills facilities in Lee, Massachusetts in 2008, workforce reductions and shutting down a paper machine in Spotswood, New Jersey in 2009, workforce reductions and a small machine impairment in Quimperle, France in 2009 and a workforce reduction in Brazil in 2010.
 
In the Reconstituted Tobacco segment, restructuring actions included workforce reductions in Spay, France in 2009 and workforce reductions and suspending construction of the RTL facility in the Philippines in 2011. In January 2011, the Company learned of decreased RTL needs of a major customer. As a consequence, management decided to suspend the construction of the RTL facility in the Philippines. During the second quarter, the Company updated its impairment analysis of its $75.4 million investment in the Philippine RTL facility and concluded no impairment was indicated as of June 30, 2011.
 
Restructuring liabilities were classified within accrued expenses in each of the consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Changes in the restructuring liabilities during the six month period ended June 30, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010 are summarized as follows ($ in millions):
 
 
 
Six Months
Ended
 
 
Year Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
Balance at beginning of year
 
$
10.0
 
 
$
12.1
 
Accruals for announced programs
 
 
1.7
 
 
 
10.2
 
Cash payments
 
 
(7.1
)
 
 
(11.2
)
Exchange rate impacts
 
 
0.6
 
 
 
(1.1
)
Balance at end of period
 
$
5.2
 
 
$
10.0
 

 
NOTE 7. DEBT
 
Total debt is summarized in the following table ($ in millions):
 
 
 
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2011
   
2010
 
             
Revolving Credit Agreement
 
$
144.2
   
$
 
Euro Revolver
   
     
33.5
 
French Employee Profit Sharing
   
13.7
     
11.2
 
Bank Overdrafts
   
4.8
     
6.6
 
Other
   
3.3
     
0.5
 
Total Debt
   
166.0
     
51.8
 
Less: Current debt
   
(8.7
)
   
(8.7
)
Long-Term Debt
 
$
157.3
   
$
43.1
 
 
Credit Agreement
 
In May 2011, the Company entered into a new unsecured revolving credit facility, or Credit Agreement, which replaced its former credit facility executed on July 20, 2006 that was scheduled to expire in July 2012.

The five-year revolving Credit Agreement provides for borrowing capacity of approximately $225 million with an option to increase borrowing capacity by $100 million and includes a $100 million equivalent sub-limit available in euros, of which 25 million euro was drawn at June 30, 2011, and a $25 million equivalent sub-limit available in Philippine pesos. The Credit Agreement contains representations and warranties which are customary for facilities of this type and covenants and provisions that, among other things, require the Company to maintain (a) a Maximum Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio of 3.00 and (b) Minimum Interest Coverage of 3.50. The Company was in compliance with its financial covenants at June 30, 2011.

Under the Credit Agreement, interest rates are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate plus an applicable margin that varies from 1.25% to 2.00% depending on the Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement.  The Company will incur commitment fees at an annual rate of 0.20% to 0.30% of the applicable margin on the committed amounts not drawn, depending on the Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio. As of June 30, 2011, the applicable interest rate on Credit Agreement borrowings was 1.44% on US Dollar borrowings and 2.51% on euro borrowings.
 
Interest Expense and Rate Swap Agreements
 
The Company capitalized $0.5 million and $0.9 million of interest expense in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, due to the ongoing construction of a RTL facility in the Philippines and the EU LIP facility in Poland.
 
The Company maintains interest rate swap agreements on portions of its long-term debt. As a result, as of June 30, 2011, the LIBOR rates on $33.0 million of the Company’s variable-rate long-term debt were fixed at 2.1% through March 2012. The impact of the swap agreements on the consolidated financial statements was not material for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. See Note 8. Derivatives for more information.
 
Fair Value of Debt
 
At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the estimated fair values of the Company’s current and long-term debt approximated the respective carrying amounts since the interest rates were variable and based on current market indices.
 
NOTE 8. DERIVATIVES
 
In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk and interest rate risk on its variable-rate debt. To manage these risks, the Company utilizes a variety of practices including, where considered appropriate, derivative instruments. The Company has no derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes nor any derivatives with credit risk related contingent features. All derivative instruments used by the Company are either exchange traded or are entered into with major financial institutions in order to reduce credit risk and risk of nonperformance by third parties. The fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments are determined using observable inputs and are considered Level 2 assets or liabilities.
 
The Company utilizes currency forward, swap and, to a lesser extent, option contracts to selectively hedge its exposure to foreign currency transaction risk when it is practical and economical to do so. The use of these contracts minimizes transactional exposure to exchange rate changes. Usually, these contracts extend for no more than 12 months. We designate certain of our foreign currency hedges as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges are reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. For foreign exchange contracts not designated as cash flow hedges, changes in the contracts’ fair value are recorded to net income each period.


The Company selectively hedges its exposure to interest rate increases on variable-rate, long-term debt when it is practical and economical to do so. The Company utilizes various forms of interest rate hedge agreements, including interest rate swap agreements, typically with contractual terms no longer than 24 months. Changes in the fair value of our interest rate swaps are recorded to net income each period. See Note 7. Debt for more information about our interest rate swaps.
 
The following table presents the fair value of asset and liability derivatives and the respective balance sheet locations at June 30, 2011 ($ in millions):
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
Fair
Value
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
Fair
Value
 
Derivatives designated as hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
Accounts Receivable
 
$
5.8
 
Accounts Payable
 
$
 
Foreign exchange contracts
Property, Plant & Equipment
 
 
(0.3
)
Other Liabilities
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
Other Assets
 
 
6.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total derivatives designated as hedges
 
 
 
11.7
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
Other Assets
 
 
 
Other Liabilities
 
 
0.4
 
Foreign exchange contracts
Accounts Receivable
 
 
 
Accounts Payable
 
 
0.4
 
Total derivatives not designated as hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0.8
 
Total derivatives
 
 
$
11.7
 
 
 
$
0.8
 
 
The following table presents the fair value of asset and liability derivatives and the respective balance sheet locations at December 31, 2010 ($ in millions):
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
Fair
Value
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
Fair
Value
 
Derivatives designated as hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
Accounts Receivable
 
$
4.2
 
Accounts Payable
 
$
 
Foreign exchange contracts
Property, Plant & Equipment
 
 
(0.3
)
Other Liabilities
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
Other Assets
 
 
3.6
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total derivatives designated as hedges
 
 
 
7.5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
Other Assets
 
 
 
Other Liabilities
 
 
0.7
 
Foreign exchange contracts
Accounts Receivable
 
 
 
Accounts Payable
 
 
0.4
 
Total derivatives not designated as hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1.1
 
Total derivatives
 
 
$
7.5
 
 
 
$
1.1
 

 
The following tables provide the effect derivative instruments in cash flow hedging relationships had on accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), or AOCI, and results of operations ($ in millions):

The Effect of Cash Flow Hedge Derivative Instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Income
for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
                 
   
Change in
AOCI
Gain /
(Loss)
Location of Gain
/(Loss)
reclassified from
AOCI into
Income
(Effective
Portion)
 
Gain /(Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI
into Income
(Effective
Portion)
 
Location of Gain /
(Loss) Recognized in
Income (Ineffective
Portion and Amount
Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)
Gain / (Loss)
Recognized in
Income (Ineffective
Portion and
Amount excluded
from Effectiveness
Testing)
Derivatives designated as hedges:
               
Three Months Ended:
               
Foreign exchange contracts
 
$
2.9
 
Net Sales
 
$
1.8
 
Other Income/ (Expense)
$
                         
Six Months Ended:
               
Foreign exchange contracts
 
$
4.4
 
Net Sales
 
$
3.2
 
Other Income/ (Expense)
$
 
The Effect of Cash Flow Hedge Derivative Instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Income
 for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2010
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in
AOCI
Gain
/ (Loss)
 
Location of Gain
/(Loss)
reclassified from
AOCI into
Income
(Effective
Portion)
 
 
Gain /(Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI
into Income
(Effective
Portion)
 
 
Location of Gain /
(Loss) Recognized in
Income (Ineffective
Portion and Amount
Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)
 Gain / (Loss)
Recognized in
Income (Ineffective
Portion and
Amount excluded
from Effectiveness
Testing)
Derivatives designated as hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts
 
$
(0.7
)
Net Sales
 
$
1.7
 
Other Income/ (Expense)
$
                         
Six Months Ended:
               
Foreign exchange contracts
 
$
(2.9
)
Net Sales
 
$
3.4
 
Other Income/ (Expense)
$
 
The following tables provide the effect derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments had on net income ($ in millions):
 
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments
 
Location of Gain / (Loss)
Recognized in Income on
Derivatives
 
Amount of Gain / (Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivatives for the Three
Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2011
 
 
June 30, 2010
 
Interest rate contracts
 
Other Income / Expense
 
$
0.2
 
 
$
(0.1
)
Foreign exchange contracts
 
Other Income / Expense
 
 
0.2
 
 
 
(0.1
)
Total
 
 
 
$
0.4
 
 
$
(0.2
)


 
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments
 
Location of Gain / (Loss)
Recognized in Income on
Derivatives
 
Amount of Gain / (Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivatives for the Six
Months Ended
 
       
June 30, 2011
   
June 30, 2010
 
Interest rate contracts
 
Other Income / Expense
 
$
0.3
   
$
(0.4
)
Foreign exchange contracts
 
Other Income / Expense
   
(1.0
)
   
(0.1
)
Total
     
$
(0.7
)
 
$
(0.5
)
 
NOTE 9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
Litigation
 
The Company is involved in various legal proceedings and disputes (see Note 17, Commitments and Contingencies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010). Except as noted below, there have been no material developments to these matters during 2011.
 
Imposto sobre Circulaçăo de Mercadorias e Serviços, or ICMS, a form of value-added tax in Brazil, was assessed to our Brazilian subsidiary, SWM-B, in December of 2000. SWM-B received two assessments from the tax authorities of the State of Rio de Janeiro for unpaid ICMS taxes from January 1995 through November 2000, collectively the Assessment.
 
The Assessment concerned the accrual and use by SWM-B of ICMS tax credits generated from the production and sale of certain non-tobacco related grades of paper sold domestically that are immune from the tax to offset ICMS taxes otherwise owed on the sale of products that are not immune. One of the two assessments related in part to tax periods that predated our acquisition of Pirahy and is covered in part by an indemnification from the sellers of Pirahy, or Assessment 1 (case number 2001.001.115144-5). The second assessment pertains exclusively to periods that SWM-B owned the Pirahy mill, or Assessment 2 (case number 2001.001.064544-6). While SWM-B is primarily responsible for the full payment of the Assessment in the event of an ultimate unfavorable outcome, SWM-B is not aware of any difficulties that would be encountered in obtaining reimbursement of that portion of any payment resulting from Assessment 1 from the previous owner under the indemnification.
 
SWM-B has contested the Assessment based on Article 150, VI of the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988, which grants immunity from ICMS taxes to papers used in the production of books, newspapers and periodicals, or immune papers, and the raw material inputs used to produce immune papers.
 
Both assessments are presently on appeal before the Federal Supreme Court, which is the last step in the full adjudication of these assessments.  No docket entry has been made yet regarding argument on either assessment.  SWM-B continues to vigorously contest the Assessments and believes that the Assessments will ultimately be resolved in its favor. Based on the foreign currency exchange rate at June 30, 2011, the Assessment totaled approximately $38 million, of which approximately $17 million is covered by the above-discussed indemnification. No liability has been recorded in our consolidated financial statements for the Assessment based on our evaluation of the Assessment under the facts and law as presently understood.
 
Environmental Matters
 
The Company’s operations are subject to federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances relating to various environmental matters. The nature of the Company’s operations exposes it to the risk of claims with respect to environmental matters, and there can be no assurance that material costs or liabilities will not be incurred in connection with such claims. While the Company has incurred in the past several years, and will continue to incur capital and operating expenditures in order to comply with environmental laws and regulations, it believes that its future cost of compliance with environmental laws, regulations and ordinances, and its exposure to liability for environmental claims and its obligation to participate in the remediation and monitoring of certain hazardous waste disposal sites, or as a result of environmental remediation associated with any of its plant closures, will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. However, future events, such as changes in existing laws and regulations, or future claims for remediation of contamination of sites presently or previously owned, operated or used for waste disposal by the Company (including contamination caused by prior owners and operators of such sites or other waste generators) may give rise to additional costs which could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
 
Other
 
In Brazil, we are currently generating more value-added tax credits than we utilize. As of June 30, 2011, these credits totaled $17.8 million and are classified in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. We have applied on behalf of the paper industry in the State of Rio de Janeiro for a special government action to enable more rapid utilization of these credits. We expect approval and, if successful, this and other actions should allow our Brazilian operation to utilize more credits than it generates on an annual basis. These credits do not expire; however, if the actions are not successful, we may record an allowance for a significant portion of the balance.


Beginning in 2009 and through December 2010, Philip Morris – USA included in its payments against invoices for banded papers a notice that it disputes the manner in which the Company has calculated costs for banded cigarette papers under a cost-plus based contract for this product. Such action is required under the applicable law to preserve Philip Morris-USA’s right to bring a claim to recover the alleged overpayments, which to date Philip Morris-USA has not done. Currently, the disputed portion of the payments made by Philip Morris-USA is approximately $24.4 million. The Company believes that it has properly calculated the amount it invoiced and has not recorded any provision for loss associated with this unasserted claim. The ultimate resolution of this dispute, if unfavorable to the Company, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.
 
NOTE 10. POSTRETIREMENT AND OTHER BENEFITS
 
The Company sponsors pension benefits in the United States, France, the Philippines and Canada and postretirement healthcare and life insurance, or OPEB, benefits in the United States and Canada. The Company’s Canadian and Philippines pension and OPEB benefits are not material and therefore are not included in the following disclosures.
 
Pension and OPEB Benefits
 
The components of net pension and OPEB benefit costs for U.S. employees and net pension benefit costs for French employees during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows ($ in millions):
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30
 
 
 
U.S. Pension Benefits
 
 
French Pension Benefits
 
 
U.S. OPEB Benefits
 
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
Service cost
 
$
 
 
$
 
 
$
0.3
 
 
$
0.2
 
 
$
0.1
 
 
$
 
Interest cost
 
 
1.5
 
 
 
1.6
 
 
 
0.3
 
 
 
0.4
 
 
 
0.2
 
 
 
0.3
 
Expected return on plan assets
 
 
(1.9
)
 
 
(2.2
)
 
 
(0.2
)
 
 
(0.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortizations and other
 
 
1.1
 
 
 
0.8
 
 
 
0.2
 
 
 
0.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
0.7
 
 
$
0.2
 
 
$
0.6
 
 
$
0.5
 
 
$
0.3
 
 
$
0.3
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30
 
 
 
U.S. Pension Benefits
 
 
French Pension Benefits
 
 
U.S. OPEB Benefits
 
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
Service cost
 
$
 
 
$
 
 
$
0.5
 
 
$
0.4
 
 
$
0.1
 
 
$
 
Interest cost
 
 
3.0
 
 
 
3.2
 
 
 
0.7
 
 
 
0.7
 
 
 
0.4
 
 
 
0.5
 
Expected return on plan assets
 
 
(3.8
)
 
 
(4.4
)
 
 
(0.3
)
 
 
(0.4
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortizations and other
 
 
2.2
 
 
 
1.6
 
 
 
0.4
 
 
 
0.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
1.4
 
 
$
0.4
 
 
$
1.3
 
 
$
0.9
 
 
$
0.5
 
 
$
0.5
 

During the full-year 2011, the Company expects to recognize approximately $4.8 million for amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to its U.S. pension and OPEB plans and approximately $0.9 million for its French pension plans.
 
The Company made no contributions to its pension plans during the six months ended June 30, 2011. The Company paid $0.3 million and $0.5 million during the three month and six month periods ended June 30, 2011, respectively, for its U.S. OPEB benefits and expects to pay a total of approximately $1 million during the full-year 2011 for such benefits.


NOTE 11. INCOME TAXES
 
A reconciliation of income taxes computed at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the provision (benefit) for income taxes is as follows ($ in millions):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
2011
   
June 30,
2010
   
June 30,
2011
   
June 30,
2010
 
Tax provision at U.S. statutory rate
  $ 10.8       35.0 %   $ 8.5       35.0 %   $ 20.1       35.0 %   $ 18.8       35.0 %
Tax benefits of foreign legal structure
    (0.7 )     (2.2 )     (0.1 )     (0.4 )     (1.3 )     (2.2 )     (0.6 )     (1.1 )
Foreign tax holiday
    0.3       1.0       0.1       0.4       1.0       1.7       0.1       0.1  
Other foreign taxes, net
    (0.1 )     (0.3 )     0.6       2.6       2.0       3.5       1.2       2.2  
Other, net
    1.3       4.2                   0.7       1.2       (0.1 )     (0.1 )
Provision for income taxes
  $ 11.6       37.7 %   $ 9.1       37.6 %   $ 22.5       39.2 %   $ 19.4       36.1 %
 
Tax benefits of foreign legal structure result from net foreign tax deductions from the restructuring of the Company’s foreign operations in 2003. The proportionate effect of this item on the overall effective income tax rate decreases as earnings increase.  Losses realized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 at both SWM Poland and RTL-Philippines are not deductible for income tax purposes in Poland and the Philippines, respectively, due to the presence of tax incentives.  Therefore, these losses have the effect of increasing SWM’s effective income tax rate.
 
At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had no significant unrecognized tax benefits related to income taxes. The Company’s policy with respect to penalties and interest in connection with income tax assessments or related to unrecognized tax benefits is to classify penalties as provision for income taxes and interest as interest expense in its consolidated income statement. There were no material income tax penalties or interest accrued during either of the three or six month periods ended June 30, 2011 or 2010.
 
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. Federal and several state jurisdictions as well as in many foreign jurisdictions. With certain exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal, state and local, or foreign income tax examinations for years before 2006.
 
NOTE 12. SEGMENT INFORMATION
 
Effective during the first quarter of 2011, the Company realigned its management structure to evaluate its business based on product lines in addition to geographies. The realignment resulted in an external reporting segment change to product lines from geographies. The Company’s two operating product line segments are also the Company’s reportable segments: Paper and Reconstituted Tobacco. The Paper segment primarily produces Cigarette Papers such as cigarette, including LIP papers, plug wrap and base tipping papers used to wrap various parts of a cigarette for sale to cigarette manufacturers. The Paper segment also includes commercial and industrial products such as lightweight printing and writing papers, battery separator paper, drinking straw wrap, filter paper and other specialized papers. These non-tobacco industry products are generally sold directly to converters and other end-users or brokers. The Reconstituted Tobacco segment produces reconstituted tobacco leaf, or RTL, and wrapper and binder products for sale to cigarette and cigar manufacturers.
 
The accounting policies of these segments are the same as those described in Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. The Company primarily evaluates segment performance and allocates resources based on operating profit. Expense amounts not associated with segments are referred to as unallocated expenses. Certain of the Company’s assets are used in the production of both segments’ products. Consequently, product line asset information has not been used in segment performance measures.
 
Net Sales
($ in millions)
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
  June 30, 2011     June 30, 2010     June 30, 2011     June 30, 2010  
Paper
  $ 143.2       69.4 %   $ 133.6       73.2 %   $ 268.3       69.3 %   $ 264.7       70.5 %
Reconstituted Tobacco
    63.0       30.6       49.0       26.8       118.6       30.7       110.7       29.5  
Total Consolidated
  $ 206.2       100.0 %   $ 182.6       100.0 %   $ 386.9       100.0 %   $ 375.4       100.0 %


Operating Profit
($ in millions)
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2011
   
June 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2011
   
June 30, 2010
 
Paper
  $ 10.6       33.5 %   $ 10.8       43.2 %   $ 20.8       35.9 %   $ 20.0       35.7 %
Reconstituted Tobacco
    26.3       83.2       18.1       72.4       46.3       79.8       44.0       78.6  
Unallocated
    (5.3 )     (16.7 )     (3.9 )     (15.6 )     (9.1 )     (15.7 )     (8.0 )     (14.3 )
Total Consolidated
  $ 31.6       100.0 %   $ 25.0       100.0 %   $ 58.0       100.0 %   $ 56.0       100.0 %


ITEM 2.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following is a discussion of our results of operations, current financial position and cash flows. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report and the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and the selected financial data included in Item 6 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Effective during the first quarter of 2011, the Company realigned its management structure to evaluate its business based on product lines in addition to geographies. The realignment resulted in an external reporting segment change to product lines from geographies. The Company’s two operating product line segments are also the Company’s reportable segments: Paper and Reconstituted Tobacco.
 
The discussion of our results of operations and financial position includes various forward-looking statements about our markets, the demand for our products and our future results. These statements are based on certain assumptions that we consider reasonable. For information about risks and exposures relating to our business and our company, you should read the section entitled “Factors That May Affect Future Results” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.  Unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar terms include Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. and our consolidated subsidiaries.
 
Executive Summary
($ in millions, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30, 2011
 
 
June 30, 2010
 
 
June 30, 2011
 
 
June 30, 2010
 
Net sales
 
$
206.2
 
 
 
100.0
%
 
$
182.6
 
 
 
100.0
%
 
$
386.9
 
 
 
100.0
%
 
$
375.4
 
 
 
100.0
%
Gross profit
 
 
55.1
 
 
 
26.7
 
 
 
45.3
 
 
 
24.8
 
 
 
102.3
 
 
 
26.4
 
 
 
98.8
 
 
 
26.3
 
Restructuring & impairment expense
 
 
0.7
 
 
 
0.3
 
 
 
2.9
 
 
 
1.6
 
 
 
1.7
 
 
 
0.4
 
 
 
6.5
 
 
 
1.7
 
Operating profit
 
 
31.6
 
 
 
15.3
 
 
 
25.0
 
 
 
13.7
 
 
 
58.0
 
 
 
15.0
 
 
 
56.0
 
 
 
14.9
 
Interest expense
 
 
0.7
 
 
 
0.3
 
 
 
0.6
 
 
 
0.3
 
 
 
0.7
 
 
 
0.2
 
 
 
1.0
 
 
 
0.2
 
Income from continuing operations
   
20.3
     
9.8
     
15.8
     
8.6
     
36.9
     
9.5
     
35.6
     
9.5
 
Loss from discontinued operations
   
(0.5
)
   
(0.2
)
   
(1.0
)
   
(0.5)
     
(0.9
)
   
(0.2
)
   
(2.2
)
   
0.6
 
Net income
 
 
19.8
 
 
 
9.6
%
 
 
14.8
 
 
 
8.1
%
 
 
36.0
 
 
 
9.3
%
 
 
33.4
 
 
 
8.9
%
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
 
$
1.17
           
$
0.83
           
$
2.10
           
$
1.92
         
Diluted earnings per share
 
$
1.14
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
0.78
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
2.05
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1.80
 
 
 
 
 
Cash provided by operations
 
$
12.4
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
43.3
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
12.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
74.7
 
 
 
 
 
Capital spending
 
$
14.4
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
15.9
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
42.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
25.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
Second Quarter Highlights
 
Compared to the second quarter 2010, net sales during the second quarter 2011 increased $23.6 million due to changes in foreign currency exchange rate impacts and increased sales volumes of certain products partially offset by an unfavorable mix of products sold.
 
Gross profit was $55.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2011, an increase of $9.8 million from the prior-year quarter. The gross profit margin of 26.7% increased from 24.8% in the prior-year quarter. Restructuring and impairment expenses were $0.7 million and $2.9 million for the three month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Operating profit was $31.6 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2011 versus $25.0 million in the prior-year quarter. The higher gross profit was primarily due to $5.6 million in favorable volume impacts, $6.6 million in manufacturing cost reductions primarily from the benefits of cost savings programs and operational excellence initiatives and a $1.7 million impact from a favorable sales mix and pricing. These positive impacts were partially offset by $3.8 million in higher inflationary costs primarily from higher energy and wood pulp costs and $1.7 million in European start-up costs.

Nonmanufacturing expenses increased $4.4 million versus the prior year quarter, including higher legal expenses related to SWM LIP patents.
 
The loss from discontinued operations, which was associated with the closure of the Malaucène, France finished tipping paper facility, declined by $0.5 million during the second quarter compared to the prior year. Net income and diluted net income per share improved versus the prior-year by $5.0 million and $0.36 per share, respectively.


Capital spending was $14.4 million and $15.9 million during the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The capital spending in 2011 was primarily due to construction and equipment spending for the RTL production facility which is being brought to a state of suspension. In 2010, the capital spending was primarily due to establishing LIP production capability in the European Union, or EU, and the construction of the RTL mill in the Philippines.

Year-to-Date Highlights
 
Compared to the prior year-to-date period, net sales increased $11.5 million due to changes in sales volumes of certain products and foreign currency exchange rate impacts which were partially offset by an unfavorable mix of products sold.
 
Gross profit was $102.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase of $3.5 million from the prior-year period. The gross profit margin of 26.4% increased from 26.3% in the prior-year period. Restructuring and impairment expenses were $1.7 million and $6.5 million for the six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Operating profit was $58.0 million in the six month period ended June 30, 2011 versus $56.0 million in the prior-year period. The higher gross profit was primarily due to $11.0 million in manufacturing cost reductions primarily from the benefits of cost savings programs and operational excellence initiatives and $6.4 million in favorable impacts due to changes in sales volumes. These positive impacts were partially offset by $10.0 million higher inflationary costs primarily from $3.7 million in higher wood pulp costs and $3.6 in higher energy costs, and $3.0 million in European LIP start-up costs. Operating profit also benefited from $4.8 million in lower restructuring expense.
 
Nonmanufacturing expenses increased $5.4 million versus the prior year quarter, including higher legal expenses to defend our LIP patents.

The loss from discontinued operations, which was associated with the closure of the Malaucène, France finished tipping paper facility, declined by $1.3 million during the six months ending June 30, 2011 compared to the prior-year period. Net income and diluted net income per share were favorable versus the prior-year by $2.6 million and $0.25 per share, respectively.
 
Capital spending was $42.1 million and $25.8 million during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The capital spending in 2011 was primarily due to construction and equipment spending for the Philippine RTL  production facility which is being brought to a state of suspension. In 2010, the capital spending was primarily due to establishing LIP production capability in the European Union, or EU, and the construction of the RTL mill in the Philippines.

Recent Developments
 
During July 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with the affiliates of China National Tobacco Corporation to form a joint venture to manufacture RTL in Yuxi, Yunnan Province in China to be named China Tobacco Schweitzer (Yunnan) Reconstituted Tobacco Co. Ltd., or CTS. SWM will own 50% of the venture. The remaining prerequisites to initiating construction include receipt of final Chinese government approvals and incorporation of the joint venture.  SWM’s 50% equity contribution is expected to be approximately $25 million to $30 million and will be financed using its current credit facilities and cash generated from operations. The Company expects to begin contributing to the venture in the third quarter of 2011 and complete payments in 2012.   After a two-year construction period, SWM expects the joint venture will begin production in 2013.

As cigarette manufacturers prepare to meet the LIP requirements in the European Union in 2011, we are poised to further strengthen our market position in this premium application and improve the margin profile of our Paper segment. During the second quarter, we made our first sales of LIP papers from our new LIP facilities in Europe and achieved during June 2011 the first month of profitable operations at our new Poland facility after incurring $3.0 million in start-up costs to-date in 2011.
 
Administrative and Court Proceedings Relating to Papers for Lower Ignition Propensity Cigarettes
 
In December 2009, Miquel y Costas S.A., delfortgroup AG, and Societe Papeterie Leman SAS filed Notices of Opposition to the European Patent Office’s, or EPO, grant of European Patent  EP 1482815.  The oppositions filed by Societe Papeterie Leman and delfortgroup contend that the claim language regarding the film-forming material to have a certain viscosity was not sufficiently described, that the claims were not patentable due to a prior art reference, a reference that was disclosed by SWM to the examiner and cited by him in granting the patent, and lack of inventive step.  Societe Papeterie Leman further alleged that claim 1 is not sufficiently definite and is therefore invalid.  Miquel y Costas claims that the patent lacks novelty as to the film-former gum Arabic, that claim 1 of the patent lacks sufficient disclosure and that claim 1 also lacks novelty.  The Company will continue to defend the grant of this patent by taking necessary actions including responding to further submissions by the opponents.  Once the EPO considers that all positions have been fully briefed, it may hold a hearing to assist it in reaching a final conclusion on the oppositions.  There is no mandated timetable by which the EPO must reach a decision.  The outcome of this dispute would not prevent the Company from practicing its Alginex® LIP solution.  The patent remains in effect and fully enforceable while the opposition proceedings are pending.
 
On November 12, 2010, the EPO issued a Notice of Decision to Grant SWM European Patent No. 1333729.  On December 8, 2010, Julius Glatz GmbH filed a Notice of Opposition to the grant of this patent.  From the patent issuance date, other parties have nine months in which to file opposition notices and we do not anticipate the EPO will open an opposition proceeding until that deadline has expired. The Company believes that the EPO properly granted the patent and it intends to defend the patent should an opposition proceeding be opened.


The Company filed an infringement action on February 8, 2010 in the United States District Court for South Carolina, Charleston Division, against multiple defendants alleging infringement of the Company’s United States Patent Number 6,725,867 and a First Amended Complaint on June 1, 2010 which added claims of alleged infringement under United States Patent Number 5,878,753 and further specifies products we believe violate our patents. Adversarial proceedings present uncertainties and risks, which could include invalidation of the patent in dispute, a change in the scope of the patent claims, or an adverse determination on the question of infringement, among others. As was their right under the applicable statute, the defendants requested and the court granted a motion staying this civil action until completion of the International Trade Commission, or ITC, proceedings. The civil action may be restarted once the ITC action is concluded. We believe the outcome of this dispute would not prevent the Company from practicing its Alginex® LIP solution.
 
On December 17, 2010, the Company filed a complaint with the ITC against multiple respondents, including Julius Glatz, delfortgroup, Astra Tobacco and LipTEC based on their unlawful importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain paper wrappers used in manufacture of reduced ignition proclivity cigarettes and products that infringe, are made or produced under, or by means of, a process covered by, one or more of claims 36, 43, and 45 of United States Patent No. 6,725,867 and claims 1-6, 10-18, and 22-25 of United States Patent No. 5,878,753. We amended our complaint to add new respondents including Dosal Tobacco Corp.; Farmer’s Tobacco Co.; S M Brands, Inc.; Tantus Tobacco LLC; KenX Worldwide, LLC; Dr. Franz Feurstein GmbH and Paperfabrik Wattens GmbH Co. KG.  Our complaint requests the ITC to issue an exclusion order and cease and desist order. The ITC opened an investigation in January 2011, and issued a scheduling order that provides for a hearing October 27, 2011 through November 4, 2011. A decision by the Administrative Law Judge is due on January 27, 2012 and the Target Date for the Commission’s decision is May 29, 2012.  During this process, we anticipate that there will be numerous motions, orders and other procedural matters decided that are the normal course of an adversarial process.  Absent any of these events having a material impact on the likely outcome of the proceeding, we would not expect to comment on such matters publicly. The outcome of this action will not impact the Company’s right to produce and sell its flagship Alginex® papers for LIP cigarettes.
 
delfortgroup requested re-examinations by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, USPTO, of two our patents: U.S. Patent No. 6,725,867 and U.S. Patent No. 5,878,753. After a number of initial rejections, the USPTO opened an interpartes re-examination of Patent No. 6,725,867 and an ex-parte re-examination of Patent No. 5,878,753.  The USPTO issued an initial office action regarding Patent No. 6,725, 867 on March 17, 2011 that confirmed certain claims and that rejected other claims.  The timing of the next office action is at the discretion of the USPTO.  There can be additional preliminary office actions or a final office action.  The patent remains valid and enforceable during the pendency of the re-examination process unless and until a final order of cancellation is issued, which may then be appealed to the Patent Board at the USPTO and thereafter to the U.S. Federal Circuit.  Although expected, no office action has yet been issued in the re-examination of Patent No. 5,878,753. We anticipate any office action would be preliminary and may include rejections of some of the patent claims. During this routine office action process, the Company would have the opportunity to submit its arguments in support of the USPTO's previous decision to grant the patent claims.

In July 2011, delfortgroup filed an action in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Patents Court in the United Kingdom (UK)  seeking a declaration that European Patents (UK) Nos. 0-870-437 and 1-333-729 are each invalid and petitioned for an order that they each be revoked. delfortgroup further petitioned the Court for a declaration under s. 71 Patents Act of 1977 or under the Court’s inherent jurisdiction for a declaration that the importation into and sale in the UK of paper wrappers made pursuant to a disclosed process purportedly used by delfortgroup would not constitute an infringement of any of claims 1 to 9 of European Patent (UK) No. 1-333-729.  The Company intends to contest this action and will file the required responses in a timely fashion. After our initial response, the Court may dismiss the action or establish the schedule that will govern any future proceedings. The outcome of this action will not impact the Company’s right to produce and sell its Alginex® papers for LIP cigarettes in the UK.
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2011 Compared with the Three Months Ended June 30, 2010
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated
Sales
 
Net Sales
 (dollars in millions)
 
June 30,
2011
 
 
June 30,
2010
 
 
Change
 
 
Percent
Change
 
 
Volume
Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paper
 
$
143.2
 
 
$
133.6
 
 
$
9.6
 
 
 
7.2
%
 
 
(9
)%
Reconstituted Tobacco
 
 
63.0
 
 
 
49.0
 
 
 
14.0
 
 
 
28.6
 
 
 
18
 
Total
 
$
206.2
 
 
$
182.6
 
 
$
23.6
 
 
 
12.9
%
 
 
10
%
 
Net sales were $206.2 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2011 compared with $182.6 million in the prior-year quarter.  The increase in net sales consisted of the following ($ in millions):

 
 
Amount
 
 
Percent
 
Changes in currency exchange rates
 
$
12.5
 
 
 
6.8
%
Changes due to volume
 
 
11.7
 
 
 
6.4
 
Changes in product mix and selling prices
 
 
(0.6
)
 
 
(0.3
)
Total
 
$
23.6
 
 
 
12.9
%


 
Changes in currency exchange rates increased  net sales by $12.5 million, or 6.8%, in the three month period ended June 30, 2011 and primarily reflected the impact of changes in the value of the euro compared with the U.S. dollar in the second quarter of 2011 versus the prior-year quarter.

 
Unit sales volumes increased by 10% in the three month period ended June 30, 2011 versus the prior-year quarter.  The increase in overall volumes positively impacted net sales by $11.7 million.
 
 
o
Sales volumes for the Paper segment decreased by 9%. Sales volume for traditional paper products declined in certain markets partially offset by a 27% increase in LIP paper sales volume. The dollar impact of increased LIP volumes more than offset the dollar impact of decline in traditional paper volume.

 
o
Sales volumes in the Reconstituted Tobacco segment increased by 18% primarily due to prior period inventory reductions at certain RTL customers.  Sales volumes during the second quarter of 2011 are consistent with recent experience and in line with previously announced demand decreases during 2011 from two of our largest customers.
 
 
A sales mix which included a higher proportion of lower-priced Paper products had an unfavorable impact of $0.6 million, or 0.3%, on net sales.

Paper segment net sales of $143.2 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2011 increased by $9.6 million, or 7.2%, versus $133.6 million in the prior-year quarter.  The increase in net sales was primarily the result of $7.1 million in foreign exchange impacts mostly due to changes in the value of the euro compared to the U.S. dollar in the second quarter of 2011 versus the prior-year quarter and $2.7 million impact of increased volumes of high-value products.
 
Reconstituted Tobacco segment net sales of $63.0 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2011 increased by $14.0 million, or 28.6%, compared with $49.0 million in the prior-year quarter.  The increase in net sales of the Reconstituted Tobacco segment resulted from $9.0 million in higher sales volumes and $5.4 million foreign currency impact of changes in the value of the euro versus the U.S. dollar.
 
Gross Profit
(dollars in millions)
 
 
Three Months Ended
                   
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
         
Percent
   
Percent of Net Sales
 
 
 
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
Change
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net Sales
 
$
206.2
   
$
182.6
   
$
23.6
     
12.9
%
   
100.0
%
   
100.0
%
 
                                               
Cost of products sold
   
151.1
     
137.3
     
13.8
     
10.1
     
73.3
     
75.2
 
Gross Profit
 
$
55.1
   
$
45.3
   
$
9.8
     
21.6
%
   
26.7
%
   
24.8
%
 
Higher second quarter 2011 gross profit was due to $6.6 million from the Company’s cost savings and operational excellence initiatives, $5.6 million higher sales volumes impacts and $1.7 million impacts from a favorable sales mix. These positives were partially offset by $3.8 million in inflationary cost increases, primarily related to higher energy and per ton wood pulp prices, during the three month period ended June 30, 2011 compared with the prior-year quarter.  The average per ton list price of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp in the United States was $1,025 per metric ton during the three month period ended June 30, 2011 compared with $990 per metric ton during the prior-year quarter.


Nonmanufacturing Expenses
(dollars in millions)
 
 
Three Months Ended
                   
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
         
Percent
   
Percent of Net Sales
 
 
 
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
Change
   
2011
   
2010
 
Selling expense
 
$
5.5
   
$
4.6
   
$
0.9
     
19.6
%
   
2.7
%
   
2.5
%
Research expense
   
2.4
     
2.1
     
0.3
     
14.3
     
1.2
     
1.2
 
General expense
   
14.9
     
10.7
     
4.2
     
39.3
     
7.2
     
5.8
 
Nonmanufacturing expenses
 
$
22.8
   
$
17.4
   
$
5.4
     
31.0
%
   
11.1
%
   
9.5
%
 
Nonmanufacturing expenses increased by $5.4 million to $22.8 million from $17.4 million in the prior-year quarter, including higher legal expenses to defend SWM LIP patents.
 
Restructuring and Impairment Expense
 
Restructuring and impairment expense of $0.7 million was recognized during the three month period ended June 30, 2011 related to costs to suspend construction of the RTL facility in the Philippines and employee severance expenses in France.  Total restructuring and impairment expense of $2.9 million was recognized during the prior-year quarter which was primarily due to severance expenses in France.
 
Operating Profit
($ in millions)
 
 
Three Months Ended
         
Return on Net
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
         
Sales
 
 
 
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
2011
   
2010
 
Paper
 
$
10.6
   
$
10.8
   
$
(0.2
)
   
7.4
%
   
8.1
%
Reconstituted Tobacco
   
26.3
     
18.1
     
8.2
     
41.7
     
36.9
 
Unallocated expenses
   
(5.3
)
   
(3.9
)
   
(1.4
)
               
Total
 
$
31.6
   
$
25.0
   
$
6.6
     
15.3
%
   
13.7
%
 
Operating profit was $31.6 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2011 compared with $25.0 million during the prior-year quarter.
 
The Paper segment’s operating profit was $10.6 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2011, a decrease of $0.2 million from the prior-year quarter.  The decrease was primarily due to:
 
 
$2.5 million in higher inflationary costs, primarily from wood pulp, labor rates and other raw material prices

 
$2.5 million in higher nonmanufacturing expenses

 
$1.7 million in European LIP start-up expenses

 
$1.8 million foreign currency impacts, primarily due to a weaker U.S. dollar relative to the Brazilian real

 
These negative factors were mostly offset by $2.4 million in lower restructuring expenses, $1.7 million favorable sales volume impact of high-value products despite lower total volumes and $3.1 million in benefits from cost saving and operational excellence initiatives
 
The Reconstituted Tobacco segment’s operating profit was $26.3 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2011, an $8.2 million increase from $18.1 million in the prior-year quarter.  The increase was primarily due to:
 
 
$3.9 million from higher sales volumes

 
$3.5 million from cost saving and operational excellence initiatives

 
$2.4 million from foreign currency exchange impacts primarily due to a weaker U.S. dollar relative to the euro

 
$1.3 million from inflationary cost increases primarily due to energy


Non-Operating Expenses
 
Interest expense was $0.7 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2011, an increase from $0.6 million in the prior-year quarter.  The increase in interest expense is due to higher average outstanding debt balances and higher interest rates. The Company also capitalized $0.5 million of interest expense related to the construction of the RTL facility in the Philippines and the EU LIP facility in Poland during the three months ended June 30, 2011.  The weighted average effective interest rates on our debt facilities were approximately 2.1% and 1.7% for the three month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Other expense, net was $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, primarily due to foreign currency transaction impacts net of interest income.
 
Income Taxes
 
The provision for income taxes in the three month period ended June 30, 2011 reflected an effective tax rate of 37.7% compared with 37.6% in the prior-year quarter.  The effective tax rate is higher than the statutory rate primarily due to start-up expenses of the new Polish operation and restructuring expenses of the Philippine RTL which do not create income tax benefits due to tax incentives for both of these entities. The impact of these start-up expenses increased the effective rate by 100 basis points in 2011. In Poland, the Company was granted certain tax incentives for investment in a special economic zone that are expected to substantially offset its income tax obligations for a period of time dependent upon its level of profitability. In the Philippines, the Company’s RTL entity was granted a tax holiday and certain other tax incentives effective four years after starting operations.
 
Income from Equity Affiliates
 
Income from equity affiliates was $1.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with $0.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2010.  These results reflected the operations of our joint venture in China to produce cigarette papers. The improved results reflect the joint venture’s increased sales volume and favorable sales mix, including new products.
 
Discontinued Operations
 
Operations at our Malaucène mill are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.  Consequently, results of the Malaucène mill have been removed from each line of the statements of income and the operating activities section of the statements of cash flow.  In each case, a separate line has been added for the net results of the discontinued operation, including previously reported restructuring and impairment amounts.   In the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the results of discontinued operations included $0.7 million of accrued expenses associated with severance costs.
 
Net Income and Income per Share
 
Net income for the three month period ended June 30, 2011 was $19.8 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, compared with $14.8 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, during the prior-year quarter.  The quarter over quarter increase in net income in 2011 was primarily due to higher sales volumes, the benefits of the Company’s cost saving and operational excellence initiatives, partially offset by higher inflationary costs and nonmanufacturing expenses.
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 Compared with the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated
Sales
 
Net Sales
 (dollars in millions)
 
June 30,
2011
 
 
June 30,
2010
 
 
Change
 
 
Percent
Change
 
 
Volume
Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paper
 
$
268.3
 
 
$
264.7
 
 
$
3.6
 
 
 
1.4
%
 
 
10
%
Reconstituted Tobacco
 
 
118.6
 
 
 
110.7
 
 
 
7.9
 
 
 
7.1
 
 
 
3
 
Total
 
$
386.9
 
 
$
375.4
 
 
$
11.5
 
 
 
3.1
%
 
 
1
%



Net sales were $386.9 million in the six month period ended June 30, 2011 compared with $375.4 million in the prior-year period.  The increase in net sales consisted of the following ($ in millions):
 
 
Amount
   
Percent
 
Changes in currency exchange rates
 
$
9.8
     
2.6
%
Changes due to volume
   
7.2
     
1.9
 
Changes in product mix and selling prices
   
(5.5
)
   
(1.4
)
Total
 
$
11.5
     
3.1
%
 
 
Changes in currency exchange rates increased net sales of $9.8 million, or 2.6%, in the six month period ended June 30, 2011 and primarily reflected the impact of changes in the value of the euro compared with the U.S. dollar during the period versus the prior year.
 
 
Unit sales volumes increased by 1% in the six month period ended June 30, 2011 versus the prior-year period.  The increase in overall volumes positively impacted net sales by $7.2 million.
 
 
o
Sales volumes for the Paper segment decreased by 10%. Sales volume for traditional paper products declined in certain markets partially offset by an 18% increase in LIP paper sales volume. The dollar impact of increased LIP volumes more than offset the dollar impact of decline in traditional paper volume.

 
o
Sales volumes in the Reconstituted Tobacco segment increased by 3% primarily due to prior period inventory reductions at certain RTL customers.  Sales volumes during the second quarter of 2011 are consistent with recent experience and in line with previously announced demand decreases during 2011 from two of our largest customers.
 
 
A sales mix which included a higher proportion of lower-priced Paper products had an unfavorable impact of $5.5 million, or 1.4%, on net sales.

Paper segment net sales of $268.3 million in the six month period ended June 30, 2011 increased by $3.6 million, or 1.4%, versus $264.7 million in the prior-year period.  The increase in net sales was primarily the result of $5.9 million of foreign exchange impacts mostly due to changes in the value of the euro compared to the U.S. dollar in the first half of 2011 versus the prior-year period and $3.3 million of favorable impacts of sales volumes which was partially offset by $5.6 million lower prices primarily reflecting an unfavorable mix of products sold.
 
Reconstituted Tobacco segment net sales of $118.6 million in the six month period ended June 30, 2011 increased by $7.9 million, or 7.1%, compared with $110.7 million in the prior-year period.  The increase in net sales of the Reconstituted Tobacco segment resulted from $3.9 million in higher sales volumes and $3.9 million due to the foreign currency impact of changes in the value of the euro versus the U.S. dollar.
 
Gross Profit
(dollars in millions)
 
 
Six Months Ended
                   
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
         
Percent
   
Percent of Net Sales
 
 
 
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
Change
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net Sales
 
$
386.9
   
$
375.4
   
$
11.5
     
3.1
%
   
100.0
%
   
100.0
%
 
                                               
Cost of products sold
   
284.6
     
276.6
     
8.0
     
2.9
     
73.6
     
73.7
 
Gross Profit
 
$
102.3
   
$
98.8
   
$
3.5
     
3.5
%
   
26.4
%
   
26.3
%
 
The Company’s cost savings and operational excellence initiatives improved gross profit by $11.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the prior-year period. Other positive factors included $6.4 million from higher sales volumes. Inflationary cost increases, primarily related to higher energy and per ton wood pulp prices, had an unfavorable impact on operating expenses of $10.0 million during the six month period ended June 30, 2011 compared with the prior-year period.  The average per ton list price of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp in the United States was $998 per metric ton during the six month period ended June 30, 2011 compared with $935 per metric ton during the prior-year period. Other unfavorable impacts included $3.0 million from European start-up expenses and $1.4 million of unfavorable foreign currency exchange impacts primarily from a stronger Brazilian real compared to the U.S. dollar in the first half of 2011 versus the prior-year period.


Nonmanufacturing Expenses
(dollars in millions)
 
 
Six Months Ended
                   
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
   
 
   
Percent
   
Percent of Net Sales
 
 
 
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
Change
   
2011
   
2010
 
Selling expense
 
$
10.6
   
$
9.8
   
$
0.8
     
8.2
%
   
2.8
%
   
2.6
%
Research expense
   
4.4
     
4.1
     
0.3
     
7.3
     
1.1
     
1.1
 
General expense
   
27.6
     
22.4
     
5.2
     
23.2
     
7.1
     
6.0
 
Nonmanufacturing expenses
 
$
42.6
   
$
36.3
   
$
6.3
     
17.4
%
   
11.0
%
   
9.7
%
 
Nonmanufacturing expenses increased by $6.3 million, or 17.4%, to $42.6 million from $36.3 million in the prior-year period, including higher legal expenses to defend SWM LIP patents.
 
Restructuring and Impairment Expense
 
Restructuring and impairment expense of $1.7 million was recognized during the six month period ended June 30, 2011 related to costs resulting from the decision to suspend construction of the RTL facility in the Philippines and employee severance expenses in France.  Total restructuring and impairment expense of $6.5 million was recognized during the prior-year period which was primarily due to severance expenses in France.
 
Operating Profit
($ in millions)
 
 
Six Months Ended
         
Return on Net
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
         
Sales
 
 
 
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
2011
   
2010
 
Paper
 
$
20.8
   
$
20.0
   
$
0.8
     
7.8
%
   
7.6
%
Reconstituted Tobacco
   
46.3
     
44.0
     
2.3
     
39.0
     
39.7
 
Unallocated expenses
   
(9.1
)
   
(8.0
)
   
(1.1
)
               
Total
 
$
58.0
   
$
56.0
   
$
2.0
     
15.0
%
   
14.9
%
 
Operating profit was $58.0 million in the six month period ended June 30, 2011 compared with $56.0 million during the prior-year period.
 
The Paper segment’s operating profit was $20.8 million in the six month period ended June 30, 2011, an increase of $0.8 million from the prior-year period.  The increase was primarily due to:

 
$7.4 million in benefits from cost saving and operational excellence initiatives

 
$5.8 million in lower restructuring expenses

 
$4.8 million sales volume impact of high-value products despite lower volumes

 
These positive factors were mostly offset by $7.4 million in higher inflationary costs, including wood pulp, energy and labor, $3.2 million of foreign currency impacts and $2.8 million in higher nonmanufacturing expenses
 
The Reconstituted Tobacco segment’s operating profit was $46.3 million in the six month period ended June 30, 2011, a $2.3 million increase from $44.0 million in the prior-year period. The increase was primarily due to:

 
$3.2 million in benefits from cost saving and operational excellence initiatives

 
$1.8 million from currency exchange impacts primarily due to a weaker U.S. dollar relative to the euro

 
$1.6 million from higher sales volumes

 
These positive factors were mostly partially offset by $2.6 million from higher inflationary costs primarily from energy
 
Non-Operating Expenses
 
Interest expense was $0.7 million in the six month period ended June 30, 2011, a decline from $1.0 million in the prior-year period.  The decline in interest expense is due to the capitalization of $0.9 million of interest expense related to the construction of the RTL facility in the Philippines and the EU LIP facility in Poland during the six months ended June 30, 2011.  The weighted average effective interest rates on our debt facilities were approximately 1.9% and 1.6% for the six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.


Other income, net was $0.1 million and other expense, net was $1.3 million for the six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, primarily due to interest income and foreign currency transaction impacts.
 
Income Taxes
 
The provision for income taxes in the six month period ended June 30, 2011 reflected an effective tax rate of 39.2% compared with 36.1% in the prior-year period.  The effective tax rate was impacted by 170 basis points in 2011 due to start-up expenses of the new Polish operation and restructuring expenses of the Philippine RTL which do not create income tax benefits due to tax incentives for both of these entities. In Poland, the Company was granted certain tax incentives for investment in a special economic zone that are expected to substantially offset its income tax obligations for a period of time dependent upon its level of profitability. In the Philippines, the Company’s RTL entity was granted a tax holiday and certain other tax incentives effective four years after starting operations.
 
Income from Equity Affiliates
 
Income from equity affiliates was $2.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared with $1.3 million during the three months ended June 30, 2010.  These results reflected the operations of our joint venture in China to produce cigarette papers. The improved results reflect the joint venture’s increased sales volume and favorable sales mix, including new products.
 
Discontinued Operations
 
Operations at our Malaucène mill are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.  Consequently, results of the Malaucène mill have been removed from each line of the statements of income and the operating activities section of the statements of cash flow.  In each case, a separate line has been added for the net results of the discontinued operation, including previously reported restructuring and impairment amounts.   In the six months ended June 30, 2011, the results of discontinued operations included $1.0 million of accrued expenses associated with severance costs.
 
Net Income and Income per Share
 
Net income for the six month period ended June 30, 2011 was $36.0 million, or $2.05 per diluted share, compared with $33.4 million, or $1.80 per diluted share, during the prior-year period.  The increase in net income in 2011 was primarily due to the benefits of the Company’s cost saving and operational excellence initiatives and favorable volume impacts which were only partially offset by higher inflationary costs, increased nonmanufacturing expenses and currency impacts.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
A major factor in our liquidity and capital resource planning is our generation of cash flow from operations, which is sensitive to changes in the sales mix, volume and pricing of our products, as well as changes in our production volumes, costs and working capital. Our liquidity is supplemented by funds available under our revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks that is used as either operating conditions or strategic opportunities warrant. As of June 30, 2011, $61.3 million of the Company’s $62.1 million of cash and cash equivalents was held by foreign subsidiaries. Movement of cash balances may have significant tax consequences. The Company considers the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries to be indefinitely reinvested and currently plans to repatriate such earnings only when tax effective to do so.

Cash Requirements
 
As of June 30, 2011, we had net operating working capital of $109.4 million and cash and cash equivalents of $62.1 million, compared with net operating working capital of $47.4 million and cash and cash equivalents of $87.3 million as of December 31, 2010.  Changes in these amounts include the impacts of changes in currency exchange rates which are not included in the changes in operating working capital presented on the consolidated statements of cash flow.


Cash Flows from Operating Activities
($ in millions)
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
2011
   
June 30,
2010
 
 
           
Net Income
 
$
36.0
   
$
33.4
 
Less: Loss from discontinued operations
   
0.9
     
2.2
 
Income from continuing operations
   
36.9
     
35.6
 
Non-cash items included in net income:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
21.5
     
19.9
 
Restructuring-related impairment
   
     
0.4
 
Amortization of deferred revenue
   
(4.9
)
   
(3.9
)
Deferred income tax provision
   
2.0
     
12.3
 
Pension and other postretirement benefits
   
2.6
     
1.2
 
Stock-based compensation
   
2.0
     
3.5
 
Income from equity affiliate
   
(2.0
)
   
(1.3
)
Other items
   
(2.3
)
   
(1.7
)
Net changes in operating working capital
   
(41.0
)
   
20.2
 
Net cash provided by operating activities of:
               
Continuing operations
   
14.8
     
86.2
 
Discontinued operations
   
(2.6
)
   
(11.5
)
Cash Provided by Operations
 
$
12.2
   
$
74.7
 
 
Net cash provided by operations was $12.2 million in the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared with $74.7 million provided by operations in the prior-year period.  Our net cash provided by operations changed unfavorably by $62.5 million in 2011 compared to the prior-year period, primarily due to $41.0 million unfavorable changes in operating working capital in 2011 versus favorable changes in operating working capital in 2010 of $20.2 million, a change of $61.2 million.
 
Operating Working Capital
     
($ in millions)
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
2011
   
June 30,
2010
 
Changes in operating working capital
           
Accounts receivable
 
$
(8.9
)
 
$
(11.5
)
Inventories
   
(6.4
)
   
11.0
 
Prepaid expenses
   
(9.7
)
   
7.0
 
Accounts payable
   
(5.6
)
   
(4.3
)
Accrued expenses
   
(0.6
)
   
(1.9
)
Accrued income taxes
   
(9.8
)
   
19.9
 
Net changes in operating working capital
 
$
(41.0
)
 
$
20.2
 
 
In the six month period ended June 30, 2011, net changes in operating working capital contributed unfavorably to cash flow by $41.0 million. The change in working capital was primarily driven by a decline in accrued expenses and accounts payable, including payments of restructuring-related severances, increased accounts receivable, inventory and timing of income tax payments.
 
In the prior-year period, net changes in operating working capital contributed favorably to cash flow by $20.2 million, primarily due to receipt of a French income tax refund in the 2010 period and decreases in inventory. These were partially offset by increases in accounts receivable due to higher sales and payments of previously accrued restructuring costs.

 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
($ in millions)
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
2011
   
June 30,
2010
 
 
           
Capital spending
 
$
(42.1
)
 
$
(25.8
)
Capitalized software costs
   
(1.0
)
   
(6.1
)
Investment in equity affiliates
   
(2.5
)
   
 
Other
   
(1.4
)
   
2.0
 
Cash Used for Investing
 
$
(47.0
)
 
$
(29.9
)
 
Cash used for investing activities was $47.0 million in the six month period ended June 30, 2010 versus $29.9 million during the prior-year period. During the second quarter of 2011, the Company made an additional equity contribution to its Chinese paper joint venture CTM of $2.5 million and expects to contribute another $2.0 million during the remainder of 2011.

During July 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with the affiliates of China National Tobacco Corporation to form a joint venture to manufacture RTL in Yuxi, Yunnan Province in China to be named China Tobacco Schweitzer (Yunnan) Reconstituted Tobacco Co. Ltd., or CTS. SWM will own 50% of the venture. The remaining prerequisites to initiating construction include receipt of final Chinese government approvals  and incorporation of the joint venture.  SWM’s 50% equity contribution is expected to be approximately $25 million to $30 million and will be financed using its current credit facilities and cash generated from operations. The Company expects to begin contributing to the venture in the third quarter of 2011 and complete payments in 2012.   After a two-year construction period, SWM expects the joint venture will begin production in 2013.
 
Capital Spending and Capitalized Software Costs
 
Capital spending was $42.1 million and $25.8 million in the six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  The capital spending incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2011 was primarily due to $29.0 million for construction of a reconstituted tobacco facility in the Philippines and $4.5 million to establish an LIP production facility for the EU in Poland. During 2011, we expect to spend approximately $34 million to bring the reconstituted tobacco facility in the Philippines to a mothball state due to the previously announced change to our Asian RTL strategy. As of June 30, 2011, approximately $3 million was under contract for the Philippine RTL site.
 
Capitalized software costs were $1.0 million and $6.1 million for the six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
We incur spending necessary to meet legal requirements and otherwise relating to the protection of the environment at our facilities in the United States, France, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil and Canada.  For these purposes, we expect to incur capital expenditures of approximately $2 million to $3 million in 2011 and less than $1 million in 2012, of which no material amount is the result of environmental fines or settlements.  The foregoing capital expenditures are not expected to reduce our ability to invest in other appropriate and necessary capital projects and are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
 
Total capital spending for 2011 is expected to be $55 million to $65 million, including the above projects.
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
($ in millions)
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
2011
 
 
June 30,
2010
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash dividends paid to SWM stockholders
 
$
(5.3
)
 
$
(5.4
)
Net proceeds from (payments on) borrowings
 
 
110.2
 
 
 
(5.9
)
Purchases of treasury stock
 
 
(104.5
)
 
 
(0.8
)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options
 
 
0.1
 
 
 
1.1
 
Excess tax benefits of stock-based awards
 
 
9.0
 
 
 
1.1
 
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing
 
$
9.5
 
 
$
(9.9
)
 
Financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2011 included share repurchases, both open market and surrendering of restricted stock grants, of $104.5 million, net borrowings of $110.2 million and excess tax benefits of the vesting of stock-based awards of $9.0 million. Cash dividends paid to SWM stockholders were $5.3 million.
 
Financing activities during the prior-year period included borrowings of $49.7 million and repayments of debt totaling $55.6 million for a net repayment of $5.9 million.  Cash dividends paid to SWM stockholders were $5.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2010.


Dividend Payments
 
We have declared and paid quarterly dividends of $0.15 per share since the second quarter of 1996.  On June 16, 2011, the Board of Directors authorized a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock.  The dividend will be payable on September 29, 2011, to stockholders of record on August 29, 2011. We expect to continue this level of dividend.  However, the decision to declare a dividend is made quarter by quarter and is based upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, earnings, funding of strategic opportunities and our financial condition.  A decision could be made to cancel, suspend, modify or change the form of future dividend payments.

Share Repurchases
 
We repurchased 1,946,806 shares of our common stock during the six month period ended June 30, 2011 at a cost of $104.5 million, including $88.7 million in open market purchases and $15.8 million for the value of employees’ stock-based compensation share awards surrendered to satisfy their personal statutory income tax withholding obligations. See Part II, Item 2, Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
 
Debt Instruments and Related Covenants
($ in millions)
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
2011
   
June 30,
2010
 
Changes in short-term debt
 
$
0.7
   
$
1.7
 
Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt
   
204.5
     
48.0
 
Payments on long-term debt
   
(95.0
)
   
(55.6
)
Net proceeds from (payments on) borrowings
 
$
110.2
   
$
(5.9
)
 
Net proceeds from long-term debt were $109.5 million and proceeds from short-term debt were $0.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2011.  The Company anticipates additional borrowings in the range of approximately $15 million to $20 million during 2011. With this level of borrowing and forecasted results, we expect to remain in compliance with our Credit Agreement financial covenants.
 
In May 2011, the Company entered into a new unsecured revolving credit facility, or Credit Agreement which replaced its former credit facility executed on July 20, 2006 that was scheduled to expire in July 2012. The five-year revolving Credit Agreement provides for borrowing capacity of approximately $225 million and includes a $100 million equivalent sub-limit available in euros, a $25 million equivalent sub-limit available in Philippine pesos.  Availability under the Credit Agreement was $80.8 million as of June 30, 2011. We also had availability under our bank overdraft facilities and lines of credit of $49.2 million as of June 30, 2011.

The Credit Agreement contains representations and warranties which are customary for facilities of this type and covenants and provisions that, among other things, require the Company to maintain (a) a Maximum Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio of 3.00 and (b) Minimum Interest Coverage of 3.50. The Company was in compliance with its financial covenants at June 30, 2011.

Our total debt to capital ratios at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 were 25.3% and 9.0%, respectively.
 
Other Factors Affecting Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Postretirement Benefits.  Our pension obligations are funded by our separate pension trusts, which held $121.5 million in assets at December 31, 2010.  The combined postretirement benefit obligation of our U.S. and French pension plans was underfunded by $45.4 million as of December 31, 2010.  We are not required to make contributions to these plans during 2011.
 
Other Commitments. The Paper segment has minimum purchase agreements for wood pulp and other fibers of $27 million and $7 million during 2011, respectively.  The Reconstituted Tobacco segment has an agreement to purchase $3 million in tobacco stems in 2011. Papeteries de Mauduit, or PdM, has a minimum annual commitment for calcium carbonate purchases, a raw material used in the manufacturing of some paper products, which totals approximately $2 million per year through 2014.  Our future purchases at PdM are expected to be at levels that exceed such minimum levels under the contract.
 
LTRI and PdM are committed to purchasing minimum annual amounts of steam provided by cogeneration facilities for the next 10 years.  These minimum annual commitments together total approximately $4 to $5 million.  LTRI’s and PdM’s current and expected requirements for steam are at levels that exceed the minimum levels under the respective contracts.
 
Brazil, or SWM-B, has an agreement for the transmission and distribution of energy, effective through December 31, 2011, covering 100% of the mill’s consumption of electrical energy valued at approximately $4 million.  PdM, LTRI and St. Girons have contracts for the distribution and consumption of natural gas valued at approximately $30 million in 2011 and $25 million in 2012.


Outlook
 
SWM’s 2011 performance is beginning to benefit from LIP sales in Europe and improved results in our RTL business, especially compared to a weak 2010 second quarter.  We began commercial sales from our new LIP facilities in Europe and in June generated the first profitable month of operations at our new primary European LIP production facility in Poland. Second quarter earnings benefited significantly from our operational excellence initiatives which more than offset continued wood pulp and energy cost increases as well as increased nonmanufacturing expenses.

In early July, we signed an agreement with the affiliates of China National Tobacco Corporation to form China Tobacco Schweitzer (Yunnan) Reconstituted Tobacco Co. Ltd, or CTS, to be located at a site in Yuxi, Yunnan province.  Also during the second quarter, we repurchased 1.1 million shares of SWM stock on the open market and by early July completed the $75 million buyback authorization from our Board of Directors.  Including July activity, year-to-date repurchases of 2.2 million shares reduced total shares outstanding by 12%.  The repurchases are expected to be accretive to earnings by approximately $0.40 per share in 2011.

The expected annual growth in our earnings stems from European LIP demand that we project to ramp progressively through the second half of 2011 until we reach an approximate 40% share of the European market.  RTL results will likely be lower than first half 2011 results but somewhat improved over previous 2011 expectations. Across our operations, the primary factor pressuring earnings is continued inflation in energy costs and wood pulp costs.  We are confident our continued success in driving cost reductions through our cost savings and lean manufacturing efforts will help mitigate inflationary impacts until selling price adjusters begin to provide some recovery later this year.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to the safe harbor created by that Act.  These statements include those in the “Outlook” section and our expectations elsewhere in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, and in “Risk Factors” in Item 1A.  They also include statements containing “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “appears,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “typically” and similar words.  Actual results may differ materially from the results suggested by these statements for a number of reasons, including the following:
 
Schweitzer-Mauduit has manufacturing facilities in seven countries, a joint venture in China, and sells products in over 90 countries. As a result, it is subject to a variety of import and export, tax, foreign currency, labor and other regulations within these countries. Changes in these regulations, or adverse interpretations or applications, as well as changes in currency exchange rates, could adversely impact the Company’s business in a variety of ways, including increasing expenses, decreasing sales, limiting its ability to repatriate funds and generally limiting its ability to conduct business. In Brazil, we are currently generating more value-added tax credits than we utilize. As of June 30, 2011, these credits totaled $17.8 million. We have applied for a special government action to obtain tax exempt status in the state of Rio de Janeiro to enable more rapid utilization of these credits. We expect approval and, if successful, this and other actions should allow our Brazilian operation to utilize more credits than it generates on an annual basis. These credits do not expire; however, if the exemption is not obtained, we may record an allowance for a significant portion of the balance.
 
 
The Company’s sales are concentrated to a limited number of customers. In 2010, 45% of its sales were to its three largest customers. The loss of one or more of these customers, or a significant reduction in one or more of these customers’ purchases, could have a material adverse effect on the company’s results of operations.


The Company’s financial performance is materially impacted by sales of both reconstituted tobacco products and cigarette paper for lower ignition propensity cigarettes. A significant change in sales or production volumes, pricing or manufacturing costs of these products could have a material impact on future financial results. In this regard, Philip Morris – USA began advising the Company in 2009 that it disputes the manner in which the Company has calculated costs for banded cigarette papers under a cost-plus based contract for this product during the period April 2009 through December 2010. Notwithstanding that the dispute is now over a year old, and SWM has consistently advised Philip Morris – USA that it disagrees with its position, Philip Morris -USA to-date has not instituted any formal action to bring this matter to a close. Philip Morris - USA has also consistently paid the full invoiced amount from the date of the first notice of dispute to the present thereby avoiding any contention by SWM that the agreement has been breached for non-payment. Philip Morris - USA’s action reflects a requirement found in the Virginia Uniform Commercial Code, the law that governs the contract, that suggests a party making full payment of a disputed invoice potentially waives any right to recover the amount paid unless such payment is accompanied by an explicit reservation of rights. Currently, the disputed amount is approximately $24.4 million. While the Company believes that it has properly calculated the amount it invoiced, the ultimate resolution of this dispute, if unfavorable to the Company, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.
 
 
As a result of excess capacity in the tobacco-related papers industry and increased operating costs, competitive levels of selling prices for certain of the Company’s products are not sufficient to cover those costs with a margin that the Company considers reasonable. Such competitive pressures have resulted in downtime of certain paper machines and, in some cases, accelerated depreciation or impairment charges for certain equipment as well as employee severance expenses associated with downsizing activities. The Company will continue to disclose any such actions as they are announced to affected employees or otherwise become certain and will continue to provide updates to any previously disclosed expectations of expenses associated with such actions.
 
 
The demand for our reconstituted tobacco leaf product is subject to change depending on the rate at which this product is included in the blend that forms the column of tobacco in various cigarette brands as well as the supply and cost of natural tobacco leaf, which serves to an extent as a substitute for reconstituted tobacco. A change in the inclusion rate or the dynamics of the natural leaf tobacco market can have a material adverse affect on the volume of reconstituted tobacco sales, the price for reconstituted tobacco or both, either of which can have a material adverse effect on our earnings from that product line. In past years, the Company has experienced the adverse effects for one or more years related to changes in the demand and supply relationship for natural leaf.
 
 
In recent years, governmental entities around the world, particularly in the United States and western Europe, have taken or have proposed actions that may have the effect of reducing consumption of tobacco products. Reports with respect to the possible harmful physical effects of cigarette smoking and use of tobacco products have been publicized for many years and, together with actions to restrict or prohibit advertising and promotion of cigarettes or other tobacco products, to limit smoking in public places and to increase taxes on such products, are intended to discourage the consumption of cigarettes and other such products. Also in recent years, certain governmental entities, particularly in North America, have enacted, considered or proposed actions that would require cigarettes to meet specifications aimed at reducing their likelihood of igniting fires when the cigarettes are not actively being smoked. Furthermore, it is not possible to predict what additional legislation or regulations relating to tobacco products will be enacted, or to what extent, if any, such legislation or regulations might affect our business.
 
 
Our portfolio of granted patents varies by country, which could have an impact on any competitive advantage provided by patents in individual markets. We rely on patent, trademark, and other intellectual property laws of the United States and other countries to protect our intellectual property rights. In order to maintain the benefits of our patents, we may be required to enforce certain of our patents against infringement through court actions. However, we may be unable to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property or infringing on our patents without our authorization, which may reduce any competitive advantage we have developed. If we have to litigate to protect these rights, any proceedings could be costly, time consuming, could divert management resources, and we may not prevail. We cannot guarantee that any United States or foreign patents, issued or pending, will continue to provide us with any competitive advantage or will not be successfully challenged by third parties. We do not believe that any of our products infringe the valid intellectual property rights of third parties. However, we may be unaware of intellectual property rights of others that may cover some of our products or services. In that event, we may be subject to significant claims for damages. Effectively policing our intellectual property and patents is time consuming and costly, and the steps taken by us may not prevent infringement of our intellectual property, patents or other proprietary rights in our products, technology and trademarks, particularly in foreign countries where in many instances the local laws or legal systems do not offer the same level of protection as in the United States.
 
For additional factors and further discussion of these factors, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
 
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our market risk exposure at June 30, 2011 is consistent with, and not materially different than, the types of market risk and amount of exposures presented under the caption “Market Risk” in Part I, Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC.
 
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
We currently have in place systems relating to disclosure controls and procedures with respect to the accurate and timely recording, processing, summarizing and reporting of information required to be disclosed in our periodic Exchange Act reports. We periodically review and evaluate these disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions about required disclosure. In completing our review and evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2011, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2011. No changes in our internal control over financial reporting were identified as having occurred in the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
The Company is involved in various legal proceedings and disputes (see Note 17, Commitments and Contingencies, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010). There have been no material developments to these matters during 2011.
 
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
 
There were no material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
The following table indicates the amount of shares of the Company’s common stock it has repurchased during 2011 and the remaining amount of share repurchases currently authorized by our Board of Directors as of June 30, 2011:
 
Period
 
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
 
 
Average
Price
Paid per
Share
 
 
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Programs
 
 
Maximum amount of
shares that May Yet
Be Purchased under
the Programs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(# shares)
 
 
($ in millions)
 
 
($ in millions)
 
First Quarter 2011
   
803,337
   
$
57.09
     
525,000
   
$
30.0
       
April 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
May 2011
 
 
262,800
 
 
 
49.57
 
 
 
262,800
 
 
 
13.0
 
 
 
 
June 2011
 
 
880,669
 
 
 
51.80
 
 
 
880,669
 
 
 
45.7
 
 
 
 
Total Year-to-Date 2011
 
 
1,946,806
 
 
$
54.00
 
 
 
1,668,469
 
 
$
88.7
 
 
$
16.3
*
 *During July 2011, the Company repurchased 291,741 shares for $16.3 million which completed the $75 million repurchase authorization from its Board of Directors.

The Company sometimes uses corporate 10b5-1 plans so that share repurchases can be made at predetermined stock price levels, without restricting such repurchases to specific windows of time.  Future common stock repurchases will be dependent upon various factors, including the stock price, strategic opportunities and cash availability.
 
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
 
None
 
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
 
(a)
Exhibits:
 
10.14
Credit Agreement, dated May 12, 2011, among Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc., and Schweitzer-Mauduit RTL Philippines Inc. and a group of banks. †
 
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
32
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
 
101
The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. (Furnished herewith.)

 
Exhibit has been redacted pursuant to a Confidentiality Request under Rule 24(b)-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
*
These Section 906 certifications are not being incorporated by reference into the Form 10-Q filing or otherwise deemed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.
(Registrant)
 
By:
/s/ PETER J. THOMPSON
 
By:
/s/ MARK A. SPEARS
 
Peter J. Thompson
 
 
Mark A. Spears
 
Executive Vice President, Finance
 
 
Corporate Controller
 
& Strategic Planning
 
 
(principal accounting officer)
 
(duly authorized officer and
 
 
 
 
principal financial officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
August 3, 2011
 
 
August 3, 2011

 
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
 
The following are definitions of certain terms used in our Form 10-Q and 10-K filings:
 
 
Banded cigarette paper” is a type of paper, used to produce lower ignition propensity cigarettes, by applying bands to the paper during the papermaking process.

 
Binder” is used to hold the tobacco leaves in a cylindrical shape during the production process of cigars.

 
Cigarette paper” wraps the column of tobacco within a cigarette and has varying properties such as basis weight, porosity, opacity, tensile strength, texture and burn rate.

 
Commercial and industrial products” include lightweight printing and writing papers, coated papers for packaging and labeling applications, business forms, battery separator paper, drinking straw wrap and other specialized papers.

 
Flax” is a cellulose fiber from a flax plant used as a raw material in the production of certain cigarette papers.

 
Lower ignition propensity cigarette paper” includes banded and print banded cigarette paper, both of which contain bands, which increase the likelihood that an unattended cigarette will self-extinguish.

 
Net debt to EBITDA ratio” is a financial measurement used in bank covenants where “ Net Debt  “ is defined as consolidated total debt minus unrestricted cash and cash equivalents in excess of $15 million, and “EBITDA” is defined as net income plus the sum of interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, non-cash restructuring and impairment charges, earnings attributable to the minority interest to the extent such earnings are received by the Company and all other non-cash charges minus amortization of deferred revenue and minority interest in the earnings of subsidiaries to the extent such earnings are distributed to holders other than the Company.

 
“Net debt to capital ratio” is total debt less cash and cash equivalents, divided by the sum of total debt, noncontrolling interest and total stockholders’ equity.

 
Net debt to equity ratio” is total debt less cash and cash equivalents, divided by the sum of noncontrolling interest and total stockholders’ equity.

 
“Net operating working capital” is accounts receivable, inventory, current income tax refunds receivable and prepaid expense, less accounts payable, accrued liabilities and accrued income taxes payable.

 
“Opacity” is a measure of the extent to which light is allowed to pass through a given material.

 
“Operating profit return on assets” is operating profit divided by average total assets.

 
Plug wrap paper” wraps the outer layer of a cigarette filter and is used to hold the filter materials in a cylindrical form.

 
Print banded cigarette paper” is a type of paper, used to produce lower ignition propensity cigarettes, with bands added to the paper during a printing process, subsequent to the papermaking process.

 
Reconstituted tobacco” is produced in 2 forms: leaf, or reconstituted tobacco leaf, and wrapper and binder products. Reconstituted tobacco leaf is blended with virgin tobacco as a design aid to achieve certain attributes of finished cigarettes. Wrapper and binder are reconstituted tobacco products used by manufacturers of cigars.

 
Restructuring and impairment expense” represents expenses incurred in connection with activities intended to significantly change the size or nature of the business operations, including significantly reduced utilization of operating equipment, exit of a product or market or a significant workforce reduction and charges to reduce property, plant and equipment to its fair value.

 
Start-up costs” are costs incurred prior to generation of income producing activities in the case of a new plant, or costs incurred in excess of expected ongoing normal costs in the case of a new or rebuilt machine. Start-up costs can include excess variable costs such as raw materials, utilities and labor and unabsorbed fixed costs.

 
Tipping paper” joins the filter element to the tobacco-filled column of the cigarette and is both printable and glueable at high speeds.

 
Wrapper” covers the outside of cigars providing a uniform, finished appearance.


SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2011
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit
 
 
Number
 
Description
 
 
 
 
Credit Agreement, dated May 12, 2011, among Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc., and Schweitzer-Mauduit RTL Philippines Inc. and a group of banks.†
       
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
 
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
 
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document.**
 
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Schema Document.**
 
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document.**
       
101. DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document.**
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document.**
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document.**
 
*
These Section 906 certifications are not being incorporated by reference into the Form 10-Q filing or otherwise deemed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
**
In accordance with Regulation S-T, the XBRL-related information in Exhibit No. (101) to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q shall be deemed “furnished” and not “filed.”
Exhibit has been redacted pursuant to a Confidentiality Request under Rule 24(b)-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 

34