SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

x                              Annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006

Commission File Number 1-5725

A.           Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

Quanex Corporation 401 (k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees

B.             Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

Quanex Corporation

1900 West Loop South, Suite 1500

Houston, TX  77027

 

 




 

QUANEX CORPORATION 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2006 and 2005

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Years Ended December 31, 2006 and 2005

Notes to Financial Statements as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and for the Years Ended December 31, 2006 and 2005

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES:

Form 5500, Schedule H, Part IV, Line 4i—Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
as of December 31, 200
6

NOTE:

 

All other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable

 




 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Benefits Committee
Quanex Corporation

Re: Quanex Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Quanex Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) at December 31, 2006 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Such supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

As discussed in Note B to the financial statements, the Plan adopted FASB Staff Position AAG INV-1 and SOP 94-4-1, Reporting of Fully Benefit-Responsive Contracts Held by Certain Investment Companies Subject to the AICPA Investment Company Guide and Defined-Contribution Health and Welfare and Pension Plans, for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

As discussed in Note B, the financial statements include investments valued at $2,439,190 and $3,625,513 as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, whose fair values have been calculated by management based on adjustment factors and other information provided by the fund managers or trustee.

/s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

 

June 21, 2007

 

 

 

1




 

QUANEX CORPORATION 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES

 

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Investments—at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

Participant-directed investments

 

$

35,883,015

 

$

31,952,808

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

Employer contribution

 

87,827

 

86,065

 

Participant contributions

 

105,305

 

81,493

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total receivables

 

193,132

 

167,558

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS AT FAIR VALUE

 

36,076,147

 

32,120,366

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

 

$

24,515

 

$

41,159

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

 

$

36,100,662

 

$

32,161,525

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

2




 

QUANEX CORPORATION 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

ADDITIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions:

 

 

 

 

 

Participant contributions

 

$

884,379

 

$

1,006,393

 

Employer contributions

 

969,993

 

968,417

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total contributions

 

1,854,372

 

1,974,810

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income:

 

 

 

 

 

Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments

 

(500,185

)

609,453

 

Interest and Dividends

 

3,003,911

 

1,388,125

 

Net investment income

 

2,503,726

 

1,997,578

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on Participant Loans

 

78,128

 

64,615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Additions

 

4,436,226

 

4,037,003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEDUCTIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits paid to participants

 

5,104,552

 

2,010,470

 

Administrative expenses

 

4,794

 

4,196

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total deductions

 

5,109,346

 

2,014,666

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSFERS BETWEEN PLANS

 

4,612,257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS

 

3,939,137

 

2,022,337

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS:

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of year

 

32,161,525

 

30,139,188

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of year

 

$

36,100,662

 

$

32,161,525

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

3




 

QUANEX CORPORATION 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005, AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006

 

A.                                   DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

The following brief description of the Quanex Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees (the “Plan”) provides only general information.  Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for more complete information.

(1)                                  General.  The Plan is a defined contribution plan, which covers substantially all union hourly employees of the Davenport, Iowa, Lincolnshire, Illinois and Decatur, Alabama facilities.    The Plan is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).  Fidelity Management Trust Company (“Fidelity” or the “Trustee”) holds the assets of the Plan in trust.  The Benefits Committee (the “Committee”), appointed by the Company’s Board of Directors, serves as the Plan administrator.

(2)                                  Contributions.  Participants may elect to reduce the current level of their compensation from 1% to 50% by contributing on a pre-tax basis as defined by the Plan agreement.  The Company contributes 50% of the first 5% of compensation that a participant contributes to the Plan.   Company supplemental contributions are made based on a percentage of the employee’s compensation for each individual with at least one year of service and vary by location as defined in the plan document.

(3)                                  Participants Account.  Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution, the employer’s contribution, and the participant’s pro rata share of investment earnings.  Investment earnings allocations are based on individual participant account balances as of the end of the period in which the income is earned.

(4)                                  Investments. Participants direct the investment of contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan.  The Plan currently offers 33 mutual funds, one common/commingled trust and unitized Quanex stock as investment options for participants.

(5)                                  Vesting and Forfeitures.  Participants are immediately vested in their voluntary contributions and the related earnings.  Vesting in the employer’s matching  and supplemental contributions for employees is 20% for each year of credited service and fully vests after five years.  In the event of termination, nonvested portions of employer’s contributions are immediately forfeited by participants and utilized to reduce future employer matching contributions. Amounts forfeited during 2006 and 2005 were $12,892and $2,909, respectively. In 2006 and 2005, respectively, $13,542 and $2,279 of forfeited amounts were used to offset employer contributions. There were $4 and $636 available for future use in the forfeiture account at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

(6)                                  Payment of Benefits.  The Plan is intended for long-term savings but provides for early withdrawals and loan arrangements under certain conditions.  Upon termination of service, the participant may elect to receive a lump-sum amount equal to the amount of vested benefits in his or her account.  Terminated employees with an account balance of less than $1,000 will automatically receive a lump sum distribution ($5,000 before March 28, 2005).

(7)                                  Participant Loans.  Loans may be granted to a participant of the Plan at the Committee’s discretion.  Loan terms range up to five years or seven years if used for the purchase of a primary residence. Loans’ mature within 1.5 to 7 years and bear interest at 5% to 9.5%.  Interest on a participant’s loan is allocated to the borrower’s account.

 

4




B.                                     SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(1)                                  Accounting Basis.  The financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

(2)                                  Investment Valuation.  Investments are reflected at fair value in the financial statements.  The Plan recognizes net appreciation or depreciation in the fair value of its investments.  Shares of mutual funds are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end.  Fair value for Quanex Corporation common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is determined using the last recorded sales price. The  common/commingled trust is stated at fair value as determined by the issuer of the common/collective trust fund based on the fair market value of the underlying investments. Common/collective trust funds with underlying investments in investment contracts are valued at fair market value of the underlying investments and then adjusted by the issuer to contract value.   Particpant loans are valued at the outstanding loan balances.

The Managed Income Portfolio is a stable value fund that is a commingled pool of the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio Fund. The fund may invest in fixed interest insurance investment contracts, money market funds, corporate and government bonds, mortgage-backed securities, bond funds, and other fixed income securities. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value. Contract value represents contributions made to the fund, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis.  Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.  Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Management fees and operating expenses charged to the Plan for investments in the mutual funds are deducted from income earned on a daily basis and are not separately reflected.  Consequently, management fees and operating expenses are reflected as a reduction of investment return for such investments.

(3)                                  Use of Estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from these estimates.

(4)                                  Adoption of new Accounting Guidance.  The financial statements reflect the retroactive adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position, FSP AAG INV-1 and SOP 94-4-1, Reporting of Fully Benefit-Responsive Contracts Held by Certain Investment Companies Subject to the AICPA Investment Company Guide and Defined-Contribution Health and Welfare and Pension Plans (the “FSP”).  As required by the FSP, the statements of net assets available for benefits presents investment contracts at fair value as well as an additional line item showing an adjustment of fully benefit-responsive contracts from fair value to contract value. The statement of changes in net assets available for benefit is presented on a contract value basis and was not affected by the adoption of the FSP. The adoption of the FSP did not impact the amount of net assets available for benefits at December 31, 2005.

(5)                                  Administrative Expenses.  The Company pays the administrative expenses, except for loan set up and carrying fees and redemption fees imposed on certain Fidelity funds.

(6)                                  Payment of Benefits.  Benefit payments to participants are recorded when distributed.

 

5




(7)                                  Risks and Uncertainties.  The Plan utilizes various investment instruments, including mutual funds, common/collective trusts and common stock.  Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit and overall market volatility.  Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements.

C.                                     INVESTMENTS

The Plan’s investments that represented 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

 

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

 

Amount

 

Fidelity Contrafund

 

 

 

65,259

 

 

 

$

4,254,896

 

 

 

53,975

 

 

 

$

3,495,445

 

Fidelity Gov’t Money Market

 

 

 

5,651,921

 

 

 

5,651,921

 

 

 

4,481,409

 

 

 

4,481,409

 

Fidelity Magellan

 

 

 

54,377

 

 

 

4,867,793

 

 

 

43,310

 

 

 

4,590,767

 

Fidelity Balanced

 

 

 

155,963

 

 

 

3,030,368

 

 

 

140,041

 

 

 

2,627,165

 

Fidelity Growth & Income

 

 

 

144,666

 

 

 

4,506,342

 

 

 

129,411

 

 

 

4,452,112

 

Fidelity Managed Income

 

 

 

2,463,705

 

 

 

2,463,705

 

 

 

3,666,672

 

 

 

3,666,672

 

Quanex Unitized Stock

 

 

 

64,251

 

 

 

2,304,839

 

*

 

38,555

 

*

 

1,331,683

 

Fidelity Independence

 

*

 

34,087

 

*

 

748,544

 

 

 

86,129

 

 

 

1,692,433

 


*                    presented for comparative purposes only

During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in value as follows:

 

2006

 

2005

 

Mutual Funds

 

$

(506,115

)

$

521,244

 

Quanex Unitized Stock

 

5,930

 

88,209

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments

 

$

(500,185

)

$

609,453

 

 

D.            EXEMPT PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS

Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Fidelity.  Fidelity is the trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as exempt party-in-interest transactions.  In addition, the Plan invests in shares of Quanex Corporation unitized common stock.  Quanex Corporation is the Plan sponsor as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions also qualify as exempt party-in-interest transactions.   As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, the value of Quanex Corporation common stock held by the Plan was $2,304,938 and $1,327,859, respectively.

E.             PLAN TERMINATION

Although it has not expressed any intention to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to terminate the Plan at any time subject to the provisions set forth in ERISA.  In the event of Plan termination, the assets held by the Trustee under the Plan will be valued and fully vested, and each participant will be entitled to distributions respecting his or her account.

 

6




F.             FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS

The Plan is subject to specific rules and regulations related to employee benefit plans under the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service. The Plan has received a favorable letter of tax determination dated September 4, 2003.  As such, the Plan is a qualified trust under Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and, as a result, is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code. Although the Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter, the Company believes the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. The Company believes the Plan was qualified and the related trust was tax-exempt as of the financial statement dates.

G.            TRANSFER OF ASSETS

Account balances of $4,612,257 were transferred between the Plan and the Quanex Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan in plan year 2006.

H.            SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On January 3, 2007 account balances of approximately $7,246,373 were transferred into the plan as a result of the merger of the TruSeal Technologies, Inc. 401(K) Profit Sharing Plan into the Plan.

 

7




 

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES

 

8




 

 

QUANEX CORPORATION 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES

 

FORM 5500, SCHEDULE H, PART IV, LINE 4i—

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Description of Investment,
Including Maturity Date,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

 

Rate of Interest,

 

 

 

(e)

 

(a)

 

Identity of Issue, Borrower,
Lessor, or Similar Party

 

Collateral, and Par or 
Maturity Value

 

(d)
Cost

 

Current
Value

 

 

 

PIMCO

 

Total Return Fund

 

$

73,729

 

$

73,853

 

 

 

 

Templeton

 

Foreign Fund

 

584,785

 

664,063

 

 

 

 

Neuberger & Berman

 

Partners Trust Fund

 

528,991

 

573,541

 

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs

 

Mid Cap Value Fund

 

62,623

 

65,812

 

 

 

 

RS Investments

 

RS Partners Fund

 

237,325

 

233,781

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Magellan Fund

 

5,233,323

 

4,867,793

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Contrafund

 

3,526,976

 

4,254,896

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Growth & Income Fund

 

4,865,596

 

4,506,342

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Independence Fund

 

658,237

 

748,544

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Overseas Fund

 

1,079,217

 

1,167,591

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Balanced Fund

 

2,704,690

 

3,030,368

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Blue Chip Fund

 

1,090,084

 

1,101,574

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Low-Priced Stock Fund

 

1,039,471

 

1,267,330

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom Income Fund

 

126,645

 

128,873

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom 2010 Fund

 

994

 

997

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom 2020 Fund

 

693,948

 

671,657

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom 2030 Fund

 

64,500

 

64,850

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Government Money Market Fund

 

5,651,921

 

5,651,921

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom 2040 Fund

 

49,694

 

50,512

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom 2005 Fund

 

5,222

 

5,090

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom 2015 Fund

 

7,804

 

7,627

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom 2025 Fund

 

227,737

 

231,319

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom 2035 Fund

 

15,156

 

15,457

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom 2045 Fund

 

3,753

 

3,762

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Freedom 2050 Fund

 

258

 

260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28,532,679

 

29,387,813

 

 

*

 

Quanex Corporation

 

Unitized common stock

 

1,919,542

 

2,304,938

 

 

*

 

Fidelity

 

Common/Commingled trust

 

2,439,190

 

2,439,190

 

 

 

 

Participant loans

 

Loan maturing within 1.5 to 7 years,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bearing interest at 5.0% to 9.5%

 

 

 

1,751,074

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

32,891,411

 

$

35,883,015

 

 

 


*                    Party-in-Interest

 

9




 

SIGNATURES

The Plan.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Quanex Corporation 401 (k) Savings Plan for Hourly Employees

Date: June 28, 2007

 

/s/ Thomas M. Walker

 

 

Thomas M. Walker, Benefits Committee

 




 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

23.1                                           Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

99.1                                           Certification by chief executive officer and chief financial officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002