esop11k2011.htm
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549


FORM 11-K


(Mark One)

 
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

OR

 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period ____________ to ______________

Commission File Number 1-10928

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

INTERTAPE POLYMER CORP. USA EMPLOYEES’
STOCK OWNERSHIP AND RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
(f/k/a Intertape Polymer Group Inc. USA Employees’
Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan)
3647 Cortez Road West
Bradenton, Florida 34210

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

INTERTAPE POLYMER GROUP INC.
9999 Cavendish Blvd., Suite 200
Ville St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada H4M 2X5


 
 

 

Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
December 31, 2011 and 2010


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page
 
Number
2
   
Financial Statements
 
3
 
4
5
   
Supplemental Schedule
 
18
   
19
   
Exhibit Index
20
 
 

 
 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


Trustees
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Intertape Polymer Corp. USA Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, 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 the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audit included 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 of 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, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, 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, Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2011, is presented for purposes 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.  This supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.


/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Tampa, Florida
June 27, 2012

 
- 2 -

 


Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits



             
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
ASSETS
           
Investments, at fair value:
           
     Mutual funds
  $ 37,300,510     $ 38,833,533  
     Bond funds
    2,439,259       2,101,750  
     Collective trust fund
    14,462,891       12,865,877  
     Common trust fund - Intertape Polymer Group
    2,936,320       1,284,309  
                 
          Total investments at fair value
    57,138,980       55,085,469  
                 
Receivables:
               
     Notes receivable from participants
    2,938,441       2,607,542  
     Employer contributions receivable
    1,503,865       -  
                 
          Total receivables
    4,442,306       2,607,542  
                 
Total assets
    61,581,286       57,693,011  
                 
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-
               
     responsive investment contracts
    (366,917 )     (310,537 )
                 
Net assets available for benefits
  $ 61,214,369     $ 57,382,474  



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

 
- 3 -

 

Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits



             
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
ADDITIONS
           
Contributions from:
           
     Employer
  $ 1,503,865     $ -  
     Participants
    3,390,755       3,252,014  
                 
          Total contributions
    4,894,620       3,252,014  
                 
Investment and other income:
               
     Dividends
    1,403,132       1,087,740  
     Net appreciation in fair value of investments
    904,221       2,689,689  
     Interest on notes receivable from participants
    126,785       137,316  
                 
          Total investment and other income
    2,434,138       3,914,745  
                 
Total additions
    7,328,758       7,166,759  
                 
DEDUCTIONS
               
Benefits paid to participants
    (3,460,689 )     (4,021,237 )
Fees and commission expenses
    (36,174 )     (51,618 )
                 
Total deductions
    (3,496,863 )     (4,072,855 )
                 
Net increase in net assets available for benefits
    3,831,895       3,093,904  
Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year
    57,382,474       54,288,570  
                 
Net assets available for benefits at end of year
  $ 61,214,369     $ 57,382,474  


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

 
- 4 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


1 – Description of the Plan

The following description of the Intertape Polymer Corp. USA Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information.  Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

General

Intertape Polymer Group Inc. and its participating subsidiaries (the “Company”) established the Intertape Polymer Group Inc. Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan effective November 29, 1994.  As of January 1, 2001, the Plan was amended and operates as an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”), and is designed to comply with Section 4975(e)(7) and the regulations thereunder of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) of 1986 as amended and is subject to the applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).  As of January 1, 2008, the Plan’s name was changed to Intertape Polymer Corp. USA Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan.  All other aspects of the plan remained unchanged.

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter the Plan, participants must complete 90 consecutive days of service with the Company and have attained the age of 18.

Contributions

Participants may contribute up to 25 percent of their pretax annual compensation, subject to Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) limitations based upon the participant’s compensation level.  The Company may elect to match a portion of elective contributions if a participant is credited with at least 180 service days during the Plan year and the participant is employed on the last day of the year.  Matching contributions are generally based upon management’s discretion, but cannot exceed 6% of compensation.  In addition, the Board of Directors, at its discretion, may make an ESOP contribution.

Participant Accounts and Voting Rights

Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions, Company contributions, and an allocation of the Plan earnings or losses.  Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined by the Plan.  Each participant is entitled to the vested portion of their account.  Participants may direct the investment of their account balances into various investment options offered by the Plan.

 
 
- 5 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


1 – Description of the Plan (continued)

Each participant is entitled to exercise voting rights attributable to the Company’s common stock allocated to his or her account and is notified by the trustee prior to the time that such rights are to be exercised. The trustee is not permitted to vote any allocated shares for which instructions have not been given by a participant. The trustee is required, however, to vote any unallocated shares on behalf of the collective best interest of Plan participants and beneficiaries.

Vesting

Participants are immediately vested in their voluntary contributions plus actual earnings thereon.  Vesting in the Company contributions portion of their accounts plus earnings thereon is based on years of continuous service.  A participant is 20 percent vested after each year and 100 percent vested after the earlier of five years of service, upon reaching normal retirement age, death, or becoming totally and permanently disabled.

Participant Loans

Participants may borrow from their accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of the vested portion of the participant’s account balance.  The loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at a rate of one point above the prime borrowing rate, defined in the Plan document as the prime rate of interest as published in the Wall Street Journal on the date of the loan commitment.  Principal and interest repayments are made ratably through payroll deductions over a period not to exceed five years, unless the loans were used to purchase a primary residence in which case the loan terms may exceed five years, up to a maximum loan term of 15 years.  Interest rates for loans outstanding at December 31, 2011 range from 4.25% to 9.25%.  The Plan Administrator will suspend loan repayments for a military service leave of absence.  During 2010, the Plan was amended to allow for participants to have up to two loans outstanding at any one time.

Payment of Benefits

Upon separation of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant is entitled to receive their benefits as a lump-sum amount equal to the value of the participant’s vested interest in his or her account, or any portion thereof.  Certain in-service withdrawals are allowed by the Plan, in accordance with IRS limitations, for participants meeting minimum age requirements.  Additionally, under certain circumstances of financial hardship, the participant is allowed to withdraw funds from the Plan.

 
 
- 6 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. The guidance is intended to improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this new accounting guidance will not have a significant effect on the financial statements.

Forfeited Accounts

When certain terminations of participation in the Plan occur, the non-vested portion of the participant’s account, as defined in the Plan, represents a forfeiture.  Forfeitures are used to offset employer contributions.

Unallocated Accounts

Prior to 2009, the Company made contributions to the Plan that have not been allocated to participants and have been recorded in unallocated accounts.  Funds available in these unallocated accounts are used to offset employer contributions. See Note 3, Employer Contributions, and Forfeited and Unallocated Accounts.

Basis of Accounting

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared using the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets available for benefits and the reported amounts of additions and deductions from assets available for benefits during the reported period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Payment of Benefits

Benefits are recorded when paid.

 
 
- 7 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Administrative Expenses

Plan administrative expenses are paid by the Company.  Participant-related fees and expenses are paid by the Plan through charges to participant accounts.

Valuation of Investments, Notes Receivable from Participants and Income Recognition

The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value.  Investments in mutual funds and bond funds are based on published market quotations on national exchanges.  The fair value of the collective trust is calculated based on the net asset value per share derived from the audited financial statements times the number of shares held by the Plan.  The fair value of the common trust fund is calculated based on the net asset value per share of the Company’s common stock from the published market quotation plus cash and cash equivalents.  Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade confirmation-date basis.  Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.  Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.  See Note 6 for disclosures regarding fair value measurements.

The Plan’s investment in the collective trust fund is carried at fair value (See Note 5).  However, the Stable Asset Fund invests in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts which it has adjusted to contract value in its statement of assets and liabilities. Contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for the collective trust fund because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan.  Therefore, an adjustment has been made on the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits to reflect the Plan’s investment in the collective trust at contract value.  The Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits are prepared and presented on a contract value basis.

Notes receivable from participants are valued at amortized cost plus accrued interest.  Delinquent loans are treated as distributions pursuant to the terms of the Plan document.

Reclassifications

In the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2010, interest on notes receivable from participants of $137,316 was reclassified to a separate line item to conform to the 2011 presentation.

Subsequent Events

The Plan’s management evaluated its December 31, 2011 financial statements for subsequent events through June 27, 2012, the date the financial statements were  issued.

 
 
- 8 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


3 – Employer Contributions, and Forfeited and Unallocated Accounts

The following represents activity for forfeited and unallocated accounts for the 2010 and 2011 plan years:

                   
   
Forfeited
   
Unallocated
       
   
Accounts
   
Accounts
   
Total
 
                   
     Balances at December 31, 2009
  $ 161,588     $ 1,368,792     $ 1,530,380  
                         
Forfeitures
    35,023       -       35,023  
Dividends and gains
    2,991       23,303       26,294  
Fees and commission expenses
    (240 )     (1,952 )     (2,192 )
Used for employer contributions
    (170,910 )     (1,277,009 )     (1,447,919 )
                         
     Balances at December 31, 2010
    28,452       113,134       141,586  
                         
Forfeitures
    37,411       -       37,411  
Dividends and gains
    835       5,064       5,899  
Fees and commission expenses
    (41 )     (118 )     (159 )
                         
     Balances at December 31, 2011
  $ 66,657     $ 118,080     $ 184,737  


In 2010 for the 2009 plan year, the Company matched at a rate of 45% of a participant’s contributions up to 6% of the participant’s eligible salary and made a profit sharing contribution of 1% of participants’ eligible salaries.  These contributions were funded by funds available in unallocated and forfeited accounts.  The Company made no matching or profit-sharing contribution in 2011 for the 2010 plan year.

For the 2011 plan year, the Company’s management approved a matching contribution at a rate of 45% of participants’ contributions up to 6% of eligible salaries. The Company’s Board of Directors also approved a profit-sharing contribution of 1% of participant’s eligible salaries. The total contribution of $1,680,782 was funded in February 2012 by use of $66,657 of forfeiture accounts, $110,260 of unallocated accounts, and cash contributions by the Company totaling $1,503,865 which is classified as employer contributions receivable in the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2011.


4 – Investments

The Plan’s investments are held by the trustee of the Plan and invested for the benefit of the Plan’s participants.  Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”) is the trustee of the Plan.


 
 
- 9 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


4 – Investments (continued)

The following presents investments which are 5 percent or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits:

             
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Mutual and Bond Funds:
           
     Invesco Van Kampen Equity & Income Fund
  $ 4,359,675     $ 4,670,154  
     Columbia Large Cap Index Fund
  $ 6,105,403     $ 6,142,065  
     American Century LIVESTRONG 2025 Fund
  $ 3,220,631     $ 3,115,705  
     Franklin Growth Fund
  $ 4,724,594     $ 4,764,236  
     American Century Mid Cap Value Fund
  $ 3,384,574     $ 3,672,954  
                 
Collective Trust Funds:
               
     Bank of America, N.A. Stable Asset Fund
    *     $ 12,865,877  
     Wells Fargo Stable Value Fund O
  $ 14,462,891     $ -  
                 
* - Fund was eliminated as an investment option during 2011.
         


The Plan’s investments (including investments bought, sold, and held during the year) appreciated in value as follows:

             
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Mutual funds
  $ (1,262,343 )   $ 4,234,913  
Bond funds
    22,511       52,238  
Collective trust fund
    110,225       -  
Common trust fund - Intertape Polymer Group
    2,033,828       (1,597,462 )
                 
Total net appreciation in fair value
  $ 904,221     $ 2,689,689  

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Plan held 898,691 shares (average cost per share of $1.178; market value per share of $3.170) and 1,057,291 shares (average cost per share of $1.090; market value per share of $1.150), respectively, of Company common stock in the common trust fund, all of which was allocated to participant accounts.  The common trust fund also had cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2011 and 2010 of $86,261 and $68,243, respectively.


5 – Collective Trust Funds

In 2010 and until August, 2011, the Plan invested in the Stable Asset Fund with Bank of America, the trustee of the Plan.  Starting in August, 2011, the Plan invests in the Wells Fargo Stable Value Fund O.  Funds of this type primarily invest in a variety of investment contracts such as Guaranteed Investment Contracts (GICs) issued by financial institutions and other investment products (separate account contracts and synthetic GICs) with similar characteristics.

 
 
- 10 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


5 – Collective Trust Funds (continued)

The traditional GICs are backed by the general credit of the issuer.  The fund deposits a lump sum with the issuers and receives a guaranteed interest rate for a specified time.

The guaranteed rates for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 varied depending on the issuer and contract.  Separate account GICs are similar in structure to traditional GICs, except that the underlying assets are held in a separate account for the benefit of the fund.  A synthetic GIC is an investment contract issued by an insurance company or bank, backed by a portfolio of bonds that are owned by the fund.  These assets underlying the wrap contract are maintained separate from the contract issuer’s general assets, usually by a third party custodian.  The wrapper contracts are obligated to provide an interest rate of not less than zero.

The issuers of these investment contracts guarantee that all qualified participant withdrawals will occur at contract value.  There are no reserves against contract value for credit risk of the contract issuers or otherwise.  The crediting interest rate is based on a formula agreed upon with the issuers.

       
Average yields for the year ended December 31, 2011:
     
     Based on actual earnings
    1.56 %
     Based on interest rates credited to participants
    2.33 %
         
Average yields for the year ended December 31, 2010:
       
     Based on actual earnings
    1.44 %
     Based on interest rates credited to participants
    2.96 %



6 – Fair Value Measurements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”) provides a framework for measuring fair value.  This framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under this guidance are described below:

Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.

Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

●           Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

 
 
- 11 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


6 – Fair Value Measurements (continued)

 
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

 
Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or

 
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value:

Mutual Funds/Bond Funds: Valued at the net asset value (NAV) of shares held by the Plan at year end.

Collective trust fund:  Valued based on contractual terms of the underlying investment contracts.

Common trust fund:  Valued at the fair value of the underlying assets of the fund, which includes cash and Company common stock valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the Company’s common stock is traded.

The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.


 
 
- 12 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


6 – Fair Value Measurements (continued)

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s investments at fair value:

                         
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
     Mutual funds:
                       
Invesco Van Kampen Equity & Income Fund (a)
  $ 4,359,675     $ -     $ -     $ 4,359,675  
American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund (b)
    1,165,736       -       -       1,165,736  
Columbia Large Cap Index Fund (c)
    6,105,403       -       -       6,105,403  
American Funds Capital World Growth
                               
     and Income Fund (d)
    2,145,107       -       -       2,145,107  
Janus Global Select Fund (e)
    1,372,727       -       -       1,372,727  
American Century LIVESTRONG Income Fund (f)
    582,266       -       -       582,266  
Columbia Small Cap Value I Fund (g)
    421,664       -       -       421,664  
American Century Equity Income Fund (h)
    1,996,899       -       -       1,996,899  
Baron Growth Fund (i)
    1,708,343       -       -       1,708,343  
American Century LIVESTRONG 2015 Fund (f)
    1,852,173       -       -       1,852,173  
American Century LIVESTRONG 2025 Fund (f)
    3,220,631       -       -       3,220,631  
American Century LIVESTRONG 2035 Fund (f)
    1,715,477       -       -       1,715,477  
American Century LIVESTRONG 2045 Fund (f)
    1,016,696       -       -       1,016,696  
ASTON/Fairpointe Mid Cap Fund (h)
    1,528,545       -       -       1,528,545  
Franklin Growth Fund (j)
    4,724,594       -       -       4,724,594  
American Century Mid Cap Value Fund (h)
    3,384,574       -       -       3,384,574  
                                 
     Total mutual funds
    37,300,510       -       -       37,300,510  
                                 
     Bond funds:
                               
Federated Total Return Bond Fund (k)
    2,131,124       -       -       2,131,124  
BlackRock Inflation Protected Bond Fund (l)
    308,135       -       -       308,135  
                                 
     Total bond funds
    2,439,259       -       -       2,439,259  
                                 
     Collective trust fund:
                               
Wells Fargo Stable Value Fund O (m)
    -       14,462,891       -       14,462,891  
                                 
     Common trust fund:
                               
Intertape Polymer Group Inc. common stock
    2,936,320       -       -       2,936,320  
                                 
     Total investments at fair value
  $ 42,676,089     $ 14,462,891     $ -     $ 57,138,980  


 
 
- 13 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


6 – Fair Value Measurements (continued)


                         
   
December 31, 2010
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
     Mutual funds:
                       
Invesco Van Kampen Equity & Income Fund (a)
  $ 4,670,154     $ -     $ -     $ 4,670,154  
American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund (b)
    1,459,645       -       -       1,459,645  
Columbia Large Cap Index Fund (c)
    6,142,065       -       -       6,142,065  
American Funds Capital World Growth
                               
     and Income Fund (d)
    2,406,653       -       -       2,406,653  
Janus Global Select Fund (e)
    1,867,418       -       -       1,867,418  
American Century LIVESTRONG Income Fund (f)
    512,415       -       -       512,415  
Columbia Small Cap Value I Fund (g)
    578,379       -       -       578,379  
American Century Equity Income Fund (h)
    1,897,021       -       -       1,897,021  
Baron Growth Fund (i)
    1,371,390       -       -       1,371,390  
American Century LIVESTRONG 2015 Fund (f)
    1,923,906       -       -       1,923,906  
American Century LIVESTRONG 2025 Fund (f)
    3,115,705       -       -       3,115,705  
American Century LIVESTRONG 2035 Fund (f)
    1,903,149       -       -       1,903,149  
American Century LIVESTRONG 2045 Fund (f)
    955,038       -       -       955,038  
ASTON/Fairpointe Mid Cap Fund (h)
    1,593,405       -       -       1,593,405  
Franklin Growth Fund (j)
    4,764,236       -       -       4,764,236  
American Century Mid Cap Value Fund (h)
    3,672,954       -       -       3,672,954  
                                 
     Total mutual funds
    38,833,533       -       -       38,833,533  
                                 
     Bond fund:
                               
Federated Total Return Bond Fund (k)
    2,101,750       -       -       2,101,750  
                                 
     Collective trust fund:
                               
Bank of America, N.A. Stable Asset Fund (m)
    -       12,865,877       -       12,865,877  
                                 
     Common trust fund:
                               
Intertape Polymer Group Inc. common stock
    1,284,309       -       -       1,284,309  
                                 
     Total investments at fair value
  $ 42,219,592     $ 12,865,877     $ -     $ 55,085,469  


(a)  
The fund invests in income-producing equity securities and investment-grade debt securities.
(b)  
The fund invests primarily in common stocks, convertibles, American Depositary Receipts, European Depositary Receipts, bonds and cash.
(c)  
The fund seeks total return before fees and expenses that corresponds to the total return of the S&P 500 Index.
(d)  
The fund invests primarily in common stocks of well-established U.S. and foreign-based companies, many of which have the potential to pay dividends.
(e)  
The fund may invest in various U.S. and foreign equity and debt securities.

 
 
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Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


6 – Fair Value Measurements (continued)

(f)  
The fund invests in other American Century mutual funds that represent a variety of asset classes and investment styles.
(g)  
The fund invests primarily in equity securities of companies that have market capitalizations in the range of the companies in the Russell 2000 Value Index at the time of purchase.
(h)  
The fund invests in equity securities of companies that are believed to be undervalued and have the potential for an increase in price.
(i)  
The fund invests in small-sized U.S. companies with market capitalizations below $2.5 billion and may hold investments as they become larger.
(j)  
The fund normally invests substantially in the equity securities of U.S.-based large and medium market capitalization companies.
(k)  
The fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of investment-grade fixed-income securities.
(l)  
The fund invests most of its assets in inflation indexed bonds of varying maturities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. governments, their agencies or instrumentalities, and U.S. and non-U.S. corporations.
(m)  
See Note 5 for description of a Collective Trust Fund's investment strategy.

The funds have no redemption restrictions.


7 – Party-In-Interest Transactions

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and for the years then ended, the Plan’s investments were managed by Bank of America, the Plan’s trustee.  Certain Plan investments include or have included shares of mutual funds managed by Bank of America.  For the periods described above, all transactions by the Plan with mutual funds managed by Bank of America are considered to be party-in-interest transactions.

Transactions by the Plan with the common trust fund and notes receivable from participants qualify as parties-in-interest transactions.


8 – Plan Termination

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA.  In the event of Plan termination, participants would become 100 percent vested in their accounts.

 
 
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Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2011 and 2010


9 – Tax Status

The IRS issued a favorable opinion letter dated November 9, 2001, in regards to the Plan.  The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter.  However, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC, in all material respects.  As such, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.  In February 2009, the Plan requested an updated determination letter from the IRS, whose response is pending.


10 – Risks and Uncertainties

The Plan invests in various securities including mutual funds, bond funds, collective trust funds and a common trust fund.  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 change could materially affect the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits.


11 – Reconciliation of Financial Statement to Form 5500

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to Form 5500:

             
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
  $ 61,214,369     $ 57,382,474  
Employer contributions receivable at December 31, 2011
    (1,503,865 )     -  
                 
Total net assets per Form 5500
  $ 59,710,504     $ 57,382,474  


The following is a reconciliation of net increase in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to Form 5500:

             
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net increase in net assets available for benefits
           
     per the financial statements
  $ 3,831,895     $ 3,093,904  
Employer contributions receivable at December 31, 2011
    (1,503,865 )     -  
Participant contributions receivable at December 31, 2009
    -       88,135  
                 
Net income per Form 5500
  $ 2,328,030     $ 3,182,039  



 
 
- 16 -

 






















Supplemental Schedule

 
 
- 17 -

 
Intertape Polymer Corp. USA
Employees’ Stock Ownership and Retirement Savings Plan
Schedule H, Line 4(i) – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
As of December 31, 2011



 
 
(b)
(c)
     
 
Identity of issuer,
Description of investment, including
 
(e)
 
 
borrower, lessor or
maturity date, rate of interest, collateral,
 
Current
 
(a)
similar party
par, or maturity value
 
Value
 
 
Invesco Van Kampen Equity & Income Fund
Mutual fund
  $ 4,359,675  
 
American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund
Mutual fund
    1,165,736  
 
Columbia Large Cap Index Fund
Mutual fund
    6,105,403  
 
American Funds Capital World Growth and Income Fund
Mutual fund
    2,145,107  
 
Janus Global Select Fund
Mutual fund
    1,372,727  
 
American Century LIVESTRONG Income Fund
Mutual fund
    582,266  
 
Columbia Small Cap Value I Fund
Mutual fund
    421,664  
 
American Century Equity Income Fund
Mutual fund
    1,996,899  
 
Baron Growth Fund
Mutual fund
    1,708,343  
 
American Century LIVESTRONG 2015 Fund
Mutual fund
    1,852,173  
 
American Century LIVESTRONG 2025 Fund
Mutual fund
    3,220,631  
 
American Century LIVESTRONG 2035 Fund
Mutual fund
    1,715,477  
 
American Century LIVESTRONG 2045 Fund
Mutual fund
    1,016,696  
 
ASTON/Fairpointe Mid Cap Fund
Mutual fund
    1,528,545  
 
Franklin Growth Fund
Mutual fund
    4,724,594  
 
American Century Mid Cap Value Fund
Mutual fund
    3,384,574  
          37,300,510  
             
 
Federated Total Return Bond Fund
Bond fund
    2,131,124  
 
BlackRock Inflation Protected Bond Fund
Bond fund
    308,135  
          2,439,259  
             
 
Stable Asset Fund *
Wells Fargo Stable Value Fund O
    14,095,974 **
             
 
Intertape Polymer Group Inc. *
Intertape Polymer Group Inc. common stock
    2,936,320  
             
 
Notes Receivable from Participants *
Rates from 4.25% to 9.25%, with weekly and bi-weekly payments and maturities through 2026
    2,938,441  
             
        $ 59,710,504  
             
* - Represents a party-in-interest.
         
** - Reported at contract value.  Fair value is $14,462,891.
         

 
 
- 18 -

 

Signature

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.


INTERTAPE POLYMER CORP. INC. USA EMPLOYEES’ STOCK OWNERSHIP AND RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

By:           Intertape Polymer Corp., Plan Administrator



By:           /s/ Burgess H. Hildreth______________
Burgess H. Hildreth, Senior Vice President

Date:  June 27, 2012

 
 
- 19 -

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number
Exhibit Description
   
23.1
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP – Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 
 
- 20 -