Converted by FileMerlin


UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-K


[X]

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE


SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003


OR


[ ]

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Commission file number:   1-8120


             BAIRNCO CORPORATION

                             

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


                                Delaware                                   13-3057520        

           (State or other jurisdiction of               (IRS Employer

                incorporation or organization)           Identification No.)


       300 Primera Blvd., Lake Mary, Florida                         32746        

    (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (407) 875-2222

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


   Name of each Exchange on

 

                      Title of each class                  

           which registered               

 

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

New York Stock Exchange      

                                                                                  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None


Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]  


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  X  No    


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes __No X


On July 5, 2003, the aggregate market value of the Registrant's voting stock held by non-affiliates was $43,454,833.


On March 10, 2004, there were 7,476,605 shares of Common Stock outstanding, exclusive of treasury shares or shares held by subsidiaries of the Registrant.


Parts I, II and IV incorporate information by reference from the Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.  Part III incorporates information by reference from the Proxy Statement dated March 17, 2004 in connection with the Registrant's Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 22, 2004.

#



PART I


Item 1.

BUSINESS

 


a.

Recent Developments and Description


Bairnco Corporation was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York on April 9, 1981. Effective September 24, 1991, Bairnco Corporation changed its state of incorporation from New York to Delaware.  Unless otherwise indicated herein, the terms "Bairnco" and the "Corporation" refer to Bairnco Corporation and its subsidiaries.


Bairnco operates two core businesses – Arlon and Kasco. Arlon businesses design, manufacture, and sell engineered materials and components for the electronic, industrial and commercial markets. These products are based on common technologies in coating, laminating, polymers, and dispersion chemistry. Kasco is a leading provider of meat-room products and maintenance services for the meat and deli departments of supermarkets; restaurants; meat, poultry and fish processing plants; and manufacturers and distributors of electrical saws and cutting equipment throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South America.


In February of 2000 Bairnco purchased certain assets of the materials business (“Signtech”) of Signtech USA, Ltd., a manufacturer of laminated vinyl fabrics designated for use in the commercial graphics market.  In January 2001, Bairnco purchased selected net assets ("Viscor") of Viscor, Inc.  Viscor's engineered, coated products include transfer adhesives, single and double-coated foam and film tapes, and other custom coated products.  The acquisitions complement Arlon's graphic and industrial products with product line extensions, additional brand recognition, and penetration into new customer segments and markets.  The acquisitions also expanded Arlon's coating and converting capacity.


To improve productivity, reduce costs and improve product development focus, Arlon's Northbrook, Illinois facility was closed on December 31, 2001 and production was transferred to Arlon's Santa Ana, California and East Providence, Rhode Island plants.


In 2003 the Board of Directors approved a plan for the consolidation of its industrial engineered coated product’s businesses in a new leased facility in San Antonio, Texas. The goal is to create a critical business size with a focused management, development, engineering and production team in one location which is more responsive to our customers’ requirements and to the development of new products, and is more cost effective. The first stage of the consolidation began in 2003 and approximately $1.7 million of consolidation and startup expenses were incurred plus $2.6 million of capital expenditures were made.  During 2004, an additional $1.0 million of consolidation expenses and $1.0 million of capital expenditures are expected to be incurred with the final closure and transfer of equipment of the East Providence, Rhode Island facility.  


During the second quarter of 2003, Arlon, Inc. purchased the MOX-Tape® brand of products, including inventory and related equipment, from Flexfab Horizons International, Inc., of Hastings, Michigan.  The business was moved to Arlon’s Bear, Delaware plant.  MOX-Tape® products consist of un-reinforced and reinforced silicone, self-fusing tapes used in a broad range of applications and markets, including high temperature electrical and mechanical insulation for the military, aerospace, automotive, utility, and power generation markets.  The acquisition expands Arlon’s self-fusing silicone tapes product line with the addition of the reinforced tapes.  Arlon is a leader in semi-cured and uncured precision-calendered silicone, silicone-coated fabrics, and silicone self-fusing tapes.


At December 31, 2003, Bairnco employed 761 persons including 16 headquarters personnel. Bairnco's operations occupy approximately 892,000 square feet of factory and office space at its principal locations. There is an additional 21,000 square feet of leased space used as field warehouses throughout North America.  


b. & c.

Financial Information about Industry Segments and Narrative Description of Business


Bairnco Corporation is a diversified multinational company that operates two businesses. Arlon’s two segments are Electronic Materials and Coated Materials which design, manufacture and sell products under the Arlon brand identity to electronic, industrial and commercial markets.  Arlon products are based on common technologies in coating, laminating, polymers and dispersion chemistry.  Replacement Products and Services are manufactured and distributed under the Kasco brand identity principally to supermarkets, meat and deli operations, and meat, poultry and fish processing plants throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.  Kasco also manufactures small band saw blades for cutting metal and wood, and large band saw blades for use at lumber mills.  In Canada and France, in addition to providing its replacement products, Kasco also sells equipment to the supermarket and food processing industries.


Financial data and other information about the Corporation's segments is set forth in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 37 through 39 and on pages 4 through 7 of Bairnco's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders which is incorporated herein by reference.  This information should be read in conjunction with the "Financial History" set forth under “Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA” of this filing, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis" set forth on pages 10 through 16 of Bairnco's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.


The principal facilities utilized by each segment are detailed under "Item 2. PROPERTIES" of this filing.


#




ARLON ELECTRONIC MATERIALS SEGMENT


Description of Business


Arlon Electronic Materials’ principal products include high performance materials for the printed circuit board industry and silicone rubber-based insulation materials used in a broad range of industrial, military/aerospace, consumer and commercial markets.  


Arlon is known worldwide as a premier supplier of high technology materials to the printed circuit board (PCB) industry.  These products are marketed principally to PCB manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) by a direct technical sales force as well as distributors in the US, and through distributors and manufacturer’s representatives in Europe and Asia-Pacific, supported by direct technical sales specialists. Arlon’s conventional laminates product line includes a wide variety of specialty polyimide and epoxy laminates and bonding films, as well as, other high performance thermoset laminates. These materials are used in demanding commercial and military market applications including high density interconnect (HDI), surface mount technology (SMT), heat sink bonding, semiconductor testing, wireless communications and microvia PCB's. The microwave and RF product area offers fluoropolymers (i.e. PTFE), ceramic-filled fluoropolymers, and other non-PTFE laminates that deliver the electrical performance needed in frequency-dependent circuit applications such as analog, digital and personal communication systems (PCS), high frequency military electronics, microwave antennas and base stations. These products are supplied as copper-clad laminates with bonding plies or prepregs for production of multi-layer printed circuits.


Arlon also manufactures a line of silicone rubber materials used in a broad range of military, consumer, industrial and commercial products.  Typical applications and products include: silicone rubber bagging materials for producing composite parts; silicone rubber insulating tapes for electric traction motor coil windings; insulation materials for industrial and commercial flexible heaters; silicone rubber materials  for high temperature hose and duct markets; insulating tape for medium and high voltage electrical splices and self-fusing tapes for a variety of industrial and commercial applications; as well as compliant, thermally or electrically conductive silicone sheet adhesives known as Thermabond™ for heat sink-bonding to printed circuit boards.


Competition


There are numerous competitors ranging in size from small, sole proprietorships to units of very large, multinational corporations that in certain instances have far greater market positions and financial resources than the Corporation’s.


Competition for Arlon's products varies by product line and type of customer.  Competition for established lines is usually based on one or more elements such as lead time, price, product performance, or technical support and customer service. It may also be based on the ability to service emerging technologies through the custom design of new products, or redesign of existing products, as well as the development of materials for new applications.  As an example, for some high performance materials sold to the printed circuit board industry, the consistent technical performance of the materials supplied in excess of specified standards can be the critical competitive element.  In addition, Arlon sells a significant portion of its circuit board materials into the Far East and European markets where local producers of similar materials have a competitive advantage related to their geographic location.


Distribution


Arlon products are marketed by company sales personnel, as well as outside sales representatives and distributors in North and South America, Europe, the Far East and other international markets.


Raw Materials and Purchased Parts


The essential raw materials used in Arlon Electronic Materials are silicone rubber, fiberglass cloth, pigments, copper foil, aluminum and inconel foil, polyethylene foam and various plastic films, special papers and release liners, vinyl resins, various adhesives and solvents, Teflon™ or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin, polyimide resin, epoxy resins, other thermoset resins, and various chemicals.  Generally, these materials are each available from several qualified suppliers.  There are, however, several raw materials used in Arlon Electronic Materials’ products that are purchased from chemical companies that are proprietary in nature.  Other raw materials are purchased from a single approved vendor on a "sole source" basis, although alternative sources could be developed in the future if necessary.  However, the qualification procedure can take several months or longer and could therefore interrupt production if the primary raw material source was lost unexpectedly. Current suppliers are located in the United States, Asia, and Europe.


Patents and Trademarks


The Corporation owns patents and several registered trademarks under which certain Arlon Electronic Materials’ products are sold. The Corporation does not believe that the loss of any or all of these trademarks would have a material adverse effect on this segment.


#



ARLON COATED MATERIALS SEGMENT


Description of Business


Arlon Coated Materials’ principal products include adhesive coated cast and calendered vinyl films, cast vinyl fabric, custom-engineered laminates, and coated and laminated films, foils, foams and papers used in a broad range of industrial, consumer and commercial products.  


Arlon specialty graphic films are marketed under the Arlon, CalonÒ and MII™ brand names and include cast and calendered vinyl films that are manufactured in a wide variety of colors, face stocks and adhesive systems.  These vinyl films are used in commercial and electrical signage, point of purchase displays, highway signage, fleet markings, and other commercial advertising applications. Arlon also manufactures laminated vinyl fabrics for corporate identity programs. These products are marketed under the Signtechâ brand name and complement the CalonÒ specialty graphic films.  


Arlon manufactures and markets custom-engineered laminates and coated products. Typical applications include insulating foam tapes for thermopane windows, specialty flexible circuit materials, electrical insulation materials for motors and transformers, thermal insulation panels for appliances and cars, durable printing stock, transfer adhesives used in industrial assembly, and single and double-coated foam and film tapes and other custom engineered laminates for specific industrial applications.


Competition


There are numerous competitors ranging in size from small, sole proprietorships to units of very large, multinational corporations that in certain instances have far greater market positions and financial resources than the Corporation’s.


Competition varies by product line and type of customer.  While competition for established lines is usually based on one or more of lead time, price, product performance, or technical support and customer service, it may also be based on the ability to service emerging technologies through the custom design of new products, or redesign of existing products, and materials for the new applications.  


Distribution


Arlon Coated Materials’ products are marketed by company sales personnel, outside sales representatives and distributors in North and South America, Europe, Australia, the Far East and several other international markets.


Raw Materials and Purchased Parts


The essential raw materials used by Arlon Coated Materials include pigments, copper foil, aluminum foil, polyethylene foam and various plastic films, calendered vinyl, special papers and release liners, vinyl resins, various adhesives and solvents, and various chemicals.  Generally, these materials are each available from several qualified suppliers.  There are, however, several raw materials used in Arlon Coated Material's products that are purchased from chemical companies and are proprietary in nature.  Other raw materials are purchased from a single approved vendor on a "sole source" basis although alternative sources could be developed in the future if necessary.  However, the qualification procedure can take from several months to an extended period of time and could therefore interrupt production if the primary raw material source was lost unexpectedly. Current suppliers are located in the United States, Asia, and Europe.


Patents and Trademarks


The Corporation owns several registered trademarks under which certain Arlon Coated Materials’ products are sold. The Corporation does not believe that the loss of any or all of these trademarks would have a material adverse effect on this segment.




#




KASCO REPLACEMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES SEGMENT


Description of Business


Kasco is a leading provider of meat-room products and repair services for the meat, deli, and seafood departments of supermarkets; for restaurants; for meat, poultry and fish processing plants; and for manufacturers and distributors of electrical saws and cutting equipment throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and South America.  These products and services include band saw blades for cutting meat and fish, band saw blades for cutting wood and metal, grinder plates and knives for grinding meat, preventative maintenance and repairs for meat-room and food equipment in retail grocery and restaurant operations, electrical saws and cutting machines, seasoning products, and other related butcher supply products.


Kasco’s replacement products and services are sold under a number of brand names including Kasco in the United States and Canada, Atlantic Services in the United Kingdom and Canada, Bertram & Graf, Biro France and EuroKasco in Continental Europe.


Competition and Marketing


Kasco competes with several large and medium-sized national and regional companies, as well as numerous small local companies.  The principal methods of competition are price, service, and product performance.  The performance of meat band saw blades and grinder plate and knives used in cutting meat or other food items is balanced between minimizing waste and maximizing the efficiency and productivity of the band saw machine or grinder, and operator.  


Kasco has a significant distribution network that reaches over 20,000 retail grocery stores, restaurants, delis, and processing plants in the US, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia.  Kasco’s distribution network is made up of corporate-direct salesmen, route salesmen, field technicians, and distributors who have in-depth knowledge of the local markets and each customer’s needs.

 

During 2003, Atlantic Services UK and Bertram & Graf completed their manufacturing consolidation, which led to cost savings and quality gains.  Biro France completed a restructuring program to improve operating and distribution costs and to improve customer service, which included streamlining their staff and relocating their distribution and service headquarters to a modern facility near Charles de Gaulle airport.  Kasco North America opened a new manufacturing facility in Matamoros, Mexico, and relocated a portion of the St. Louis manufacturing to the new facility.  In addition, Kasco North America made significant capital investment into CNC equipment at the St. Louis factory to further improve manufacturing cost and quality of key product lines. The Kasco business is well positioned globally from a manufacturing cost basis, customer service, and product quality basis going into 2004.  


Since 2000, the market environment for Kasco has been difficult due to market contraction through retail consolidation and the supermarkets’ shift to “Case Ready” product offerings.  Kasco does not expect to see any real improvement in the market environment in 2004.  The reported occurrence of a single “mad cow” case in the US during December 2003 could have a negative impact on the US beef market in 2004 if more cases are discovered.  During 2004, Kasco North America will continue to diversify and grow its repair services business and butcher supplies distribution business to avoid being too concentrated on the band-saw blade product line for revenue generation.  Globally, Kasco will continue to invest in manufacturing productivity projects to further improve our cost position and product quality.


Raw Materials and Purchased Supplies


High quality carbon steel and stainless steel are the principal raw materials used in the manufacture of band saw blades; they are purchased from multiple domestic and international suppliers. Tool steel is utilized in manufacturing meat grinder plates and knives and is purchased from qualified suppliers located in the United States, Europe and Japan. Equipment, replacement parts, and supplies are purchased from a number of manufacturers and distributors in Asia, the United States, and Europe.  In France and Canada, certain specialty equipment and other items used in the supermarket industry and in the food processing industry are purchased and resold under exclusive distributorship agreements with the equipment manufacturers. All of the raw materials and purchased products utilized by this segment have been readily available throughout this last year.  


Patents and Trademarks


The Corporation has a number of US and foreign mechanical patents related to several of the products manufactured and sold by Kasco, as well as a number of design patents and registered trademarks.  The Corporation does not believe, however, that the loss of any or all of those patents would have a material adverse effect on this segment.




FOREIGN OPERATIONS


The Corporation has foreign operations located in Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.  Information on the Corporation's operations by geographical area for the last three fiscal years is set forth in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 37 through 39 of Bairnco's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders which is incorporated herein by reference.


In addition, export sales from the Corporation's US based operations for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were approximately $37,668,000, $38,720,000 and $41,536,000, respectively. Export sales to any particular country or geographic area did not exceed 10% of consolidated sales during any of these years.  



#





Item 2.

PROPERTIES


The following chart lists for the Corporation as a whole, and by each of its segments, the principal locations of the Corporation's facilities and indicates whether the property is owned or leased and if leased, the lease expiration date.



   

LEASED OR OWNED

LOCATION

SQUARE FEET

 

(LEASE EXPIRATION)

    

CORPORATION TOTAL

913,000

  
    
    

Headquarters

   
    

           Lake Mary, FL

  11,000

 

Leased (Expires 2009)

    
    

Arlon Electronic Materials

   
    

           Bear, DE                 

135,000

 

Owned

           Rancho Cucamonga, CA

  80,000

 

Owned

    

Arlon Coated Materials

   
    

           Dallas, TX

75,000

 

Leased (Expires 2005)

           East Providence, RI

  60,000

 

Owned

           San Antonio, TX

96,000

 

Leased (Expires 2008)

           San Antonio, TX

16,000

 

Leased (Expires 2007)

           Santa Ana, CA

124,000

 

Leased (Expires 2008)

           San Antonio, TX

139,000

 

Leased (Expires 2012)

    

Kasco Replacement Products and Services

   
    

           Gwent, Wales, UK

  25,000

 

Owned

           Montreal, Canada

  9,000

 

Leased (Expires 2005)

           Pansdorf, Germany

  18,000

 

Owned

           Paris, France

  26,000

 

Leased (Expires 2006)

           St. Louis, MO

  78,000

 

Owned

           Field Warehouses:

   

               42 locations in North America

21,000

 

Leased




Item 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS


Bairnco and its subsidiaries are among the defendants in a lawsuit (the “Transactions Lawsuit”) brought in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “District Court”).  As set forth below, in a series of decisions now on appeal, the District Court has dismissed the Transactions Lawsuit in its entirety, and that dismissal has been appealed.


Plaintiffs in the Transactions Lawsuit effectively seek to hold Bairnco (and other defendants) liable, on a variety of legal theories, for liabilities associated with asbestos-containing products manufactured by Keene Corporation ("Keene"), Bairnco’s former subsidiary.  The plaintiffs are the trustees of the Keene Creditors Trust (the “KCT”), a successor in interest to Keene.  In the Transactions Lawsuit complaint, the trustees of the KCT allege that certain sales of assets by Keene to other subsidiaries of Bairnco were fraudulent conveyances and otherwise in violation of state law, as well as being in violation of the civil RICO statute, 18 U.S.C. Section 1964.  The complaint seeks compensatory damages of $700 million, interest, punitive damages, and trebling of the compensatory damages pursuant to civil RICO.  


At the outset of the case, Bairnco and the other defendants made motions to dismiss and for summary judgment (the “threshold motions”).  In a series of decisions in 1998 and 1999, the District Court dismissed plaintiffs’ civil RICO claims; dismissed 14 of the 21 defendants named in the complaint; and partially granted defendants’ motions for summary judgment on statute of limitations grounds.


The parties then conducted discovery.  Following the conclusion of discovery, Bairnco and the other defendants filed motions to exclude the testimony of plaintiffs’ proposed expert witnesses on the valuation of the businesses sold by Keene as well as plaintiffs’ proposed expert on the business purpose of the challenged transactions.  Bairnco and the other defendants also filed motions for summary judgment, seeking dismissal of the case.  On January 28, 2003, the District Court issued a decision granting defendants’ motions to exclude plaintiffs’ experts.  On March 14, 2003, the District Court issued a decision granting all defendants’ motions for summary judgment and dismissing all remaining claims.


On April 14, 2003, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.  Plaintiffs are pursuing their appeal from the final judgment and from certain of the District Court’s rulings, including the dismissal of the fraudulent conveyance claims, the statute of limitations rulings and the exclusion of plaintiffs’ valuation experts. Plaintiffs are not pursuing their appeal from some of the District Court’s rulings, including the dismissal of the RICO claims and the exclusion of plaintiffs’ expert on business purpose.  The briefing of the appeal concluded on February 2, 2004, and argument of the appeal is expected to take place in late March or early April 2004.


Keene was spun off from Bairnco in 1990, filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in 1993, and emerged from Chapter 11 pursuant to a plan of reorganization approved in 1996 (the “Keene Plan”). The Keene Plan provided for the creation of the KCT, and transferred the authority to prosecute the Transactions Lawsuit from the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Keene (which initiated the lawsuit in the Bankruptcy Court in 1995) to the KCT.  An injunction entered pursuant to the Keene Plan further provided that only the KCT, and no other entity, can sue Bairnco on account of damages caused by a Keene asbestos-containing product.  Therefore, although a number of other asbestos-related personal injury and property damage cases against Bairnco based on Keene’s liabilities nominally remain pending in courts around the country, the injunction bars such claims and Bairnco’s liability, if any, will be finally determined in the Transactions Lawsuit.

 

Bairnco also is the defendant in a separate action by the trustees of the KCT (the “NOL Lawsuit”), also pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in which plaintiffs seek for the KCT the exclusive benefit of tax refunds attributable to the carryback by Keene of certain net operating losses (“NOL Refunds”), notwithstanding applicable tax sharing agreements between Keene and Bairnco. (As with the Transactions Lawsuit, the NOL Lawsuit was commenced during Keene’s Chapter 11 case and, pursuant to the Keene Plan, the trustees of the KCT became the plaintiffs and the lawsuit was moved from the Bankruptcy Court to the District Court.) Pending resolution of the NOL Lawsuit, the NOL Refunds that have been received have been held in escrow. Through December 31, 2003 approximately $28.5 million of NOL Refunds had been received and placed in an interest-bearing escrow account.  There can be no assurance whatsoever that resolution of the NOL Lawsuit will result in the release of any portion of the NOL Refunds to Bairnco.  The NOL Lawsuit and the Transactions Lawsuit were consolidated by the District Court for purposes of discovery.  By order of the District Court entered on April 16, 2003, the NOL Lawsuit has been placed on the court's "suspense docket" - i.e., it will not be actively litigated - pending resolution of the appeal in the Transaction Lawsuit.


Bairnco and its Arlon subsidiary previously were among the defendants in a third action by the KCT (the “Properties Lawsuit”), commenced on December 8, 1998 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.  In the Properties Lawsuit, plaintiffs sought a declaratory judgment that the KCT owns certain patents and real property purchased by Arlon from Keene in 1989, based on the allegations that technical title to these assets was not conveyed at the time of the sale and that no proof of claim specifically referencing these assets was filed during Keene’s Chapter 11 case.  In an answer and counterclaims, Bairnco and Arlon denied these claims and requested a declaratory judgment that full title to the patents and real property in question in fact had been transferred to Arlon at the time of its 1989 purchase of assets from Keene.  By agreement, the claims asserted against Bairnco and Arlon in the Properties Lawsuit were dismissed without prejudice, with the proviso that the issues raised in the Properties Lawsuit complaint would be resolved in the Transactions Lawsuit.


Management believes that Bairnco (including its subsidiaries) has meritorious defenses to all claims or liability purportedly derived from Keene and that it is not liable, as an alter ego, successor, fraudulent transferee or otherwise, for the asbestos-related claims against Keene or with respect to Keene products.


Bairnco Corporation and its subsidiaries are defendants in a number of other actions. Management of Bairnco believes that the disposition of these other actions, as well as the actions and proceedings described above, will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations or the financial position of Bairnco Corporation and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003.




Item 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS


No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2003.





EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT


The information required with respect to executive officers of the Corporation is as follows:


Name & Age of Executive Officers

Data Pertaining to Executive Officers

  

Luke E. Fichthorn III (62)

Mr. Fichthorn has served as Chairman of Bairnco since May 23, 1990, and on December 18, 1991, became Chief Executive Officer of Bairnco.  For over twenty-five years, Mr. Fichthorn has been a private investment banker and partner of Twain Associates, a private investment banking and consulting firm.  Mr. Fichthorn served as a director of Keene Corporation, a former subsidiary of Bairnco Corporation from August 1969 until May 1981, and became a director of Bairnco in January 1981.  Mr. Fichthorn is also a director of Florida Rock Industries, Inc. and Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc., neither of which is affiliated with Bairnco.

  

Larry D. Smith (54)

Mr. Smith was elected Vice President - Administration and Secretary of Bairnco in April 1999. Prior to joining Bairnco, Mr. Smith was employed for over 14 years with Emerson Electric Company in various human resource managerial capacities.  Most recently, Mr. Smith was Vice President Human Resources for Emerson’s Therm-O-Disc, Inc. division in Mansfield, Ohio.

  

Lawrence C. Maingot (44)

Mr. Maingot was appointed Corporate Controller of Bairnco in December 1999. From May 1997 to December 1999, Mr. Maingot was Bairnco’s Assistant Controller. From April 1992 to May 1997, Mr. Maingot was Bairnco’s Accounting Manager. Prior to joining Bairnco, Mr. Maingot was employed with Arthur Andersen LLP.



#




PART II



Item 5.

MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANTS COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS



a. & c.    Data regarding market prices of Bairnco's common stock is included in the "Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)" on page 17 of Bairnco's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders which is incorporated herein by reference.  Bairnco's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BZ.  Data on dividends paid is included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations on page 19 of Bairnco's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference. The quarterly cash dividend has remained constant at $0.05 per share during 2003 and 2002.  The Board continues to review the dividend on a quarterly basis.


b.   The approximate number of registered holders of Bairnco common stock (par value $.01 per share) as of December 31, 2003 was 992.




#



Item 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA


The following table contains certain financial and operating data and is qualified by the more detailed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Bairnco's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders which is incorporated herein by reference. The balance sheet data as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 and the statement of operations data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 were derived from the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent certified public accountants. The balance sheet data as of December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 and the statements of operations data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 were derived from the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that were audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent certified public accountants. The financial data shown below should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in Bairnco's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders which is incorporated herein by reference.


  

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

Summary of Operations ($ in thousands)

      

Net sales

$

152,696

154,354

160,369

187,513

168,881

Gross profit

$

42,871

44,991

46,535

60,556

55,147

Selling and administrative expenses

$

38,248

38,189

39,140

44,012

40,145

Provision for litigation costs

$

--

4,000

6,200

1,000

--

Operating profit

$

4,623

2,802

1,195

15,544

15,002

Interest expense, net

$

768

1,005

2,486

3,481

2,104

Income (loss) before income taxes

$

3,855

1,797

(1,291)

12,063

12,898

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

$

1,206

436

(983)

3,830

4,257

Net income (loss)

$

2,649

1,361

(308)

8,233

8,641

Return from operations on:

      

    Net sales

%

1.7

0.9

(0.2)

4.4

5.1

    Average stockholders’ investment

%

5.0

2.7

(0.6)

15.9

18.0

    Average capital employed

%

3.7

2.4

1.3

10.8

11.9

       

Yearend Position ($ in thousands)

      

Working capital

$

32,573

23,850

25,801

34,926

33,256

Working capital as a % of sales

%

21.3

15.5

16.1

18.6

19.7

Plant and equipment, net

$

36,476

37,468

42,602

47,341

39,682

Total assets

$

118,229

115,584

118,255

135,769

119,145

Total debt

$

31,833

27,747

33,584

46,190

31,283

Stockholders’ investment

$

54,298

51,516

50,018

52,709

50,167

Capital employed

$

86,131

79,263

83,602

98,899

81,450

       

Per Common Share Data

      

Basic earnings (loss) per share

$

0.36

0.19

(0.04)

1.09

1.08

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

$

0.36

0.19

(0.04)

1.09

1.08

Cash dividend

$

0.20

0.20

0.20

0.20

0.20

Stockholders’ investment

$

7.35

7.02

6.82

7.21

6.43

Market price:

      

    High

$

7.1500

6.1000

8.4000

8.0000

8.0000

    Low

$

4.6500

4.6900

5.1500

6.0625

4.6250

       

Other Data (in thousands)

      

Depreciation and amortization

$

7,797

8,113

9,082

9,097

7,365

Capital expenditures

$

5,664

3,811

3,081

6,388

5,670

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

7,338

7,332

7,321

7,567

7,965

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding

 

7,391

7,337

7,321

7,678

8,038

       

Current ratio

 

2.3

1.7

1.8

2.0

2.1

Number of registered common stockholders at yearend

 

992

1,066

1,148

1,246

1,356

Average number of employees

 

755

789

841

926

820

Sales per employee

$

202,250

195,600

190,700

202,500

205,950


#






Item 7.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


Reference is made to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis" on pages 10 through 16 of Bairnco's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders which is incorporated herein by reference.



Item 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET

RISK


Market risks relating to the Corporation's operations results primarily from changes in interest rates and changes in foreign currency exchange rates.


Impact of Interest Rates


The interest on the Corporation’s bank debt is floating and based on prevailing market interest rates.  For market rate based debt, interest rate changes generally do not affect the market value of the debt but do impact future interest expense and hence earnings and cash flows, assuming other factors remain unchanged.  A theoretical one-percentage point increase (decrease) in market rates in effect on December 31, 2003 would increase (decrease) interest expense and hence reduce (increase) the net income of the Corporation by approximately $220,000 per year.


The following table summarizes the principal cash flows of the Corporation's financial instruments outstanding at December 31, 2003, categorized by type of instrument and by year of maturity.  There have been no changes in market risk factors for the year ended December 31, 2003.



(In Thousands)

2004

2005

2006

2007

Total

Fair Value

  

Short Term Debt

$1,875

$      --

$      --

$      --

$1,875

$1,875

Long Term Debt:

      

Term Loan (interest at           2.3125%)

2,000

--

--

--

2,000

2,000

Revolving line of credit (interest ranging from 2.3125% to 2.375%)



--



27,392



--



--



27,392



27,392

   Note Payable

100

100

100

100

400

382

   Foreign Loan Facility

73

74

37

--

184

184



Impact of Foreign Currency Exchange Rates


The Corporation’s sales denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars were approximately 19.2% of total sales.  Net assets maintained in a functional currency other than U.S. dollars at December 31, 2003 were approximately 15.3% of total net assets. The translation effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates has not historically been significant.  At December 31, 2003, a 10% weaker U.S. dollar against the currencies of all foreign countries in which the Corporation had operations during 2003, would have resulted in an increase of revenues by $2.6 million, and an increase of operating profit by $75,000.  A 10% stronger U.S. dollar would have resulted in similar decreases to revenues and operating profit.

 

The Corporation’s French Kasco operation has forward exchange rate contracts used to cover trade payable needs for forecasted US and UK purchases. The Corporation recognized $191,000 in exchange rate losses in 2003 and $80,000 in exchange rate losses in 2002 on open forward exchange rate contracts.


Effect of Inflation


General inflation has had minimal impact on Bairnco's operating results in the last three years.  Sales prices and volumes have been more strongly influenced by specific market supply and demand and by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations than by inflationary factors.



Item 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA


Reference is made to the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes included on pages 19 through 40 and the "Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)" on page 17 of Bairnco's 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders which is incorporated herein by reference.  Financial Statement Schedules are included in Part IV of this filing.




Item 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE


None.


#



Item 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls


Our management, including our CEO and CAO, does not expect that our Disclosure Controls or Internal Controls will prevent all errors and all fraud.  A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs.


Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected.  These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake.  Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the control.  The design of any system of controls also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.


Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations, we believe that our Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls provide reasonable assurances that the objectives of our control system are met.


Quarterly Evaluation of the Company’s Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls


a)

The Corporation carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporation’s management, including the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Controller, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2003, pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Controller concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Corporation (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Corporation’s Exchange Act filings.


b)

There have been no significant changes in the Corporation’s internal controls or in other factors which could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date the Corporation carried out its evaluation.





#




PART III



Item 10.

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT


The information required with respect to directors and the audit committee of Bairnco is included in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bairnco, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by reference.


See the information regarding executive officers of the Corporation on page 14 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


On January 29, 2004, the Board of Directors of Bairnco Corporation (the “Board”) adopted the Financial Code of Ethical Conduct, which applies to the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and the chief financial officer, the other financial officers and other financial managers.  The Financial Code of Ethical Conduct is posted on the Corporation’s internet site at www.bairnco.com.


The Board has determined that the Corporation has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.  Gerald L. DeGood, Chairman of the Audit Committee, qualifies as an audit committee financial expert and is an independent member of the Board.  Mr. DeGood meets the independence requirements as set forth in the Exchange Act Section 10A(m)(3).



Item 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


The information required by Item 11 is included in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bairnco, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by reference.



Item 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND

MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS


The information required by Item 12 is included in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bairnco, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by reference.



#



Item 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS


The information required by Item 13 is included in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bairnco, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by reference.



Item 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES


The following table presents fees charged for professional audit services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP for the audit of the Corporation’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, and fees billed by Ernst & Young for other services during those years.  Certain amounts for 2002 have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.


 

2003

2002

Audit fees (1)

$160,100

$140,000

Audit related fees (2)

13,700

13,000

Tax fees (3)

32,500

7,500

All other fees

--

--

Total

$206,300

$160,500


(1)

Audit fees consisted of audit work (including the tax accrual review) performed in connection with the preparation of the quarterly and year end financial statements, European statutory audits and review of documents filed with the SEC.


(2)

Audit related fees consisted of audits of employee benefit plans.


(3)

Tax fees consisted of assistance related to tax compliance and reporting.


Pre-Approval of Audit & Non-Audit Services – Under the Corporation’s Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (“Audit Committee”) is required to pre-approve all auditing services and permissible non-audit services, including related fees and terms, to be performed for the Corporation by the independent auditor, subject to de-minimus exceptions for non-audit services described under Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the engagement, provided that such services had not been recognized as non-audit services at the time of the engagement.  


All pre-approvals must take place in advance of the services within a period not to exceed three months prior to the start of the engagement. The proposals submitted by the independent accountant to the Audit Committee for pre-approval must be specific as to the type of service and provide detail of the scope of work and fee estimate, including out-of-pocket expenses. The proposals must include detailed back-up documentation regarding the specific services to be provided. Any expected change in the audit scope or related fees from the pre-approved amounts will also require pre-approval in advance of the additional work.


The Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more of its members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permissible non-audit services, provided that decisions of such subcommittees to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Committee will not delegate to management any of the Committee’s responsibilities related to pre-approval of audit and permissible non-audit services.


The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit services, audit related services and tax review and compliance services for the Corporation by Ernst & Young during 2003.



#



PART IV


Item 15.

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K


a)

1.  Financial Statements


Included in the 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders which is included as Exhibit 13 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K:


·

Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants;

·

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001;

·

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001;

·

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2003 and 2002;

·

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001;

·

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Investment for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001;

·

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


2.  Financial Statement Schedules


Included in Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:


·

Financial Statement Schedule for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001:


Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts on page 25 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


All other schedules and notes are omitted because they are either not applicable, not required or the information called for therein appears in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.


3.  See Index to Exhibits on pages 28 through 30 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


b)

Reports on Form 8-K – Third Quarter 2003 press release dated October 28, 2003.






BAIRNCO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001




 

Balance

   

Balance

Year Ended

Beginning

   

End

December 31,  

Of Year

Expenses

Deductions (a)                  

Other (b)

Of Year  

2003

     

Reserve for

     

Doubtful Accounts

$1,295,000

$   371,000

$   (308,000)

$         --

$1,358,000

      
      

2002

     

Reserve for

     

Doubtful Accounts

$2,698,000

$1,296,000

$(2,699,000)

$         --

$1,295,000

      
      

2001

     

Reserve for

     

Doubtful Accounts

$1,717,000

$1,447,000

$   (536,000)

$ 70,000

$2,698,000

      
      



(a)

Actual charges incurred in connection with the purpose for which the reserves were established.

(b)

Additions to the reserve from acquisition.



#





SIGNATURES


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



 

BAIRNCO CORPORATION

 

(Registrant)

  
  

Date:  March 18, 2004

By:   /s/ Lawrence C. Maingot   

 

Lawrence C. Maingot               

 

Corporate Controller

 

(Chief Accounting Officer)




#



SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been executed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated above.




 /s/ Luke E. Fichthorn III                                 

Luke E. Fichthorn III

Chairman and CEO




 /s/ Gerald L. DeGood                                         

Gerald L. DeGood

Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee




 /s/ Charles T. Foley                                         

Charles T. Foley

Director




 /s/ James A. Wolf                                             

James A. Wolf

Director




 /s/ William F. Yelverton                                  

William F. Yelverton

Director




 /s/ Lawrence C. Maingot                                 

Lawrence C. Maingot

Corporate Controller

(Chief Accounting Officer)



#



                                                              

                                                              




SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


WASHINGTON, DC  20549






EXHIBITS


TO


FORM 10-K


ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003


Commission File No.: 1-8120






BAIRNCO CORPORATION


(Exact name of registrant as specified in the charter)










Description

Incorporated Herein by Reference To

Certificate of Incorporation, as amended through September 24, 1991.


Exhibit 3 to Bairnco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 1991.

By Laws, as amended through December 18, 1991.

Exhibit 3 to Bairnco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 1991.

Agreement of the Corporation, dated March 30, 1987, to furnish a copy of any instrument with respect to certain other long-term debt to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.

Exhibit 4(e) to Bairnco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 1986.

Bairnco Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan and Trust.

Exhibit 4.3 to Bairnco's Registration Statement on Form S-8, No. 33-41313.

Bairnco Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.

Exhibit A to Bairnco's Proxy Statement for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.



Bairnco Corporation Management Incentive Compensation Plan.

Exhibit 10 to Bairnco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 1981.

Employment Agreement dated January 22, 1990, between Bairnco Corporation and Luke E. Fichthorn III.

Exhibit 10 to Bairnco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 1989.

Promissory Note dated January 31, 1998, between Bairnco Corporation and Bank of America NT&SA.

Exhibit 4 to Bairnco’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.

Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 22, 2000, by and among Bairnco Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries and certain Commercial Lending Institutions and Bank of America, N.A., as the Agent for Lenders.

Exhibit 2 to Bairnco’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 24, 2000.

Exhibits to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 22, 2000, by and among Bairnco Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries and certain Commercial Lending Institutions and Bank of America, N.A., as the Agent for Lenders.

Exhibit 3 to Bairnco’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 24, 2000.

#




Description

Incorporated Herein by Reference To

Lease, dated May 17, 1999, between Crescent Resources, Inc. a South Carolina Corporation, and Bairnco Corporation.

Exhibit 10.1 to Bairnco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.

Lease, dated February 16, 2000, between Signtech USA, Ltd., a Texas Limited Partnership, and Arlon Signtech Ltd.

Exhibit 10.2 to Bairnco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.

Standard Industrial Lease dated May 1, 2002 between James E. and Nancy S. Welsh, trustees under Welsh Family Trust, dated April 20, 1979 and Arlon, Inc. as successor to Keene Corporation.

Exhibit 99 to Bairnco's Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2002.

Ernst & Young Preferability Letter Dated January 30, 2003 Re: Change in Actuarial Valuation Measurement Date for Pension Plans.

Exhibit 18 to Bairnco’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

Commercial/Industrial Lease dated December 18, 2002 between The Ben-Tal Family Trust and Arlon-Viscor LTD., a Texas limited partnership.

Exhibit 99 to Bairnco’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001.

Exhibit 11 filed herewith.

2003 Annual Report to Stockholders.


Exhibit 13 filed herewith.

Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

Exhibit 21 filed herewith.

Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants.

Exhibit 23 filed herewith.

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Exhibit 31.1 filed herewith.

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Exhibit 31.2 filed herewith

Certification pursuant to U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit 32.1 filed herewith.

#




Description

Incorporated Herein by Reference To

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Exhibit 32.2 filed herewith.

First Lease Renewal Agreement, dated February 15, 2003, between Arlon Signtech Ltd, a Texas limited partnership and RAM Global, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership.

Exhibit 99 filed herewith.


#