Form 11-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

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, 2009 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number: 0-23008

 

 

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Valassis Communications, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware   38-2760940

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

19975 Victor Parkway

Livonia, Michigan 48152

(address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number: (734) 591-3000

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement

Savings Plan

Financial Statements

and Supplemental Schedule

Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008


Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Contents

 

Independent Auditors’ Reports

   1

Financial Statements

  

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

   2

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

   3

Notes to Financial Statements

   4-20

Supplemental Schedule

  

Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

   22

Signature

   23

Exhibit 23

  

Consent of Independent Registered Accounting Firm

   24


Table of Contents

Independent Auditors’ Report

To the Trustees and Participants of the

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Livonia, Michigan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statement 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 audits 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 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, 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, 2009 and 2008, 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 performed for the purpose of forming opinions on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets as of December 31, 2009 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. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The 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/ BDO Seidman LLP

Troy, Michigan

June 28, 2010

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

 

Year Ended December 31,

   2009    2008

Assets

     

Investments, at fair value (Notes 2, 4 and 5)

     

Mutual funds

   $ 130,591,384    $ 90,002,720

Common collective funds

     141,868,035      113,540,816

Self-directed brokerage account

     19,548,323      5,210,153

Valassis stock fund

     28,821,733      3,297,274

Cash surrender value of insurance

     31,222      30,794

Participant loans

     9,778,103      9,373,791
             

Total Investments

     330,638,800      221,455,548
             

Employer Contribution Receivables

     10,469,494      8,985,879
             

Net Assets Available for Benefits at Fair Value

     341,108,294      230,441,427

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts (Note 2)

     2,406,776      5,845,722
             

Net Assets Available for Benefits

   $ 343,515,070    $ 236,287,149
             

See accompanying independent auditors’ report and notes to financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

 

Year Ended December 31,

   2009    2008  

Additions

     

Contributions

     

Participant

   $ 16,244,227    $ 18,215,454   

Employer

     10,533,757      9,093,431   
               

Total Contributions

     26,777,984      27,308,885   
               

Investment Income (Loss)

     

Interest and dividends

     1,788,290      1,950,205   

Interest from employee loans

     573,572      739,939   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

     

Employer common stock

     36,644,168      (8,385,104

Mutual funds

     29,682,414      (59,863,302

Brokerage account

     9,303,963      (5,459,334

Common collective funds

     19,221,598      (30,347,551
               

Total Investment Income (Loss)

     97,214,005      (101,365,147
               

Total Additions (Reductions)

     123,991,989      (74,056,262
               

Deductions

     

Benefit payments and other deductions

     14,129,209      18,826,717   

Administrative expenses

     352,744      241,823   

Hardship and other withdrawals

     2,282,115      2,954,532   
               

Total Deductions

     16,764,068      22,023,072   
               

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Available for Benefits

     107,227,921      (96,079,334
               

Net Assets Transferred In (Note 1)

     —        142,929,801   
               

Net Assets Available for Benefits, beginning of year

     236,287,149      189,436,682   
               

Net Assets Available for Benefits, end of year

   $ 343,515,070    $ 236,287,149   
               

See accompanying independent auditors’ report and notes to financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

1.      Plan Description

   The following brief description of the Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan (the “Plan”) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan documents for more complete information.
   The Plan was established under the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.
   General
   Employees of Valassis Communications, Inc. (“Valassis” or the “Company”) may become participants upon date of hire in the 401(k) portion of the Plan. Employees become eligible for the profit sharing portion of the Plan after they have completed the eligibility requirements which are one year of service and 1,000 hours of service. Collectively bargained employees are subject to the terms of their bargaining agreement. Once eligible for profit sharing, employees must work 1,000 hours in the Plan year in order to receive a profit sharing contribution for that year.
   The Valassis Retirement Plan Committee voted on December 11, 2007 to terminate the ADVO, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (Plan Number 001) and ADVO, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (Plan Number 004). The Plans’ assets in the amount of $142,929,801 were transferred to the Plan on January 2, 2008.
   Contributions
   Participants may contribute a self-determined portion, between 1 percent and 50 percent, of their compensation of the Plan, subject to tax deferral limitations established by the Internal Revenue Code. Collectively bargained employees are subject to their contract terms.
   Effective January 1, 2008, the Plan allows for an employer match for union employees of 100 percent of the first 6 percent of salary annually. Employer matching contributions for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 amounted to $62,751 and $65,579, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

  The Company may also make a discretionary profit-sharing contribution based on the compensation of the participant. Employer profit-sharing contributions for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 amounted to $10,471,006 and $9,093,679, respectively.
  Participant Accounts
  Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution, allocations of the Company’s contributions and plan earnings. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account. Participants may direct the investments of their account balances into various investment options offered by the Plan.
  Participants elect to invest their account balance and contributions among various investment options provided by the Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan Retirement Plan Committee (the “Committee”), including an option to invest in the Company common stock.
  Participant Loans
  The Plan permits participants to obtain loans up to $50,000, but limited to no more than 50 percent of the value of the participant’s account. This limit is imposed on the combined total of all loans from the Plan. Loan applications must be approved and are not available to highly compensated employees, officers, or stockholders in amounts greater than those available to other employees. Loan terms are limited to five years unless the borrower provides proof that the loan is for the purchase of a primary residence, in which case the Plan Administrator may extend the term up to 10 years. The loans are collateralized by the balance in the participant’s account. Interest rates are established at the prime rate, as determined by the Plan Administrator, as of the beginning of the month in which the loan originates.

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

   Forfeitures
   Voluntary employee contributions are nonforfeitable at all times. However, the nonvested portion of the employer contribution is forfeitable. Forfeited amounts may be used by the Company to offset future contributions and plan expenses. Vesting of employer contributions is described below. Forfeitures applied against employer contributions in 2009 and 2008 totaled $0 and $47,800, respectively. Forfeitures applied against plan expenses in 2009 and 2008 totaled $38,369 and $0, respectively. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, there were approximately $65,100 and $87,800, respectively, in forfeited nonvested accounts.
   Hardship and Other Withdrawals
   Participants may withdraw an amount from their account due to hardship, as defined in the Plan. Generally, hardship withdrawals are limited to the purchase of a primary residence, education or medical expenses, to prevent eviction or foreclosure on a participant’s principal residence, burial or funeral expense for a spouse, parent, child or tax dependent, or expenses for the repair of damage to a participant’s principal residence that would qualify for casualty deduction under Code Section 165. In addition, the Plan allows for in-service distributions, as defined by the Plan.
   Benefit Payments
   The normal retirement age defined by the Plan is 62. Upon normal retirement or death, the entire balance of the participant’s account becomes payable to the participant or his or her beneficiary. All benefits are payable in a lump-sum amount or qualified joint and survivor annuity. Benefit payments to participants are recorded upon distribution.

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

   Vesting   
  

 

Employee contributions are vested 100 percent at the time they are made. Employer contributions are vested in accordance with the following schedule:

   

  

 

Years of Service

  

Percentage

 
  

 

1

   20
   2    40
   3    60
   4    80
   5    100
         

2.      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

   Basis of Presentation   
   The accompanying financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.    
   Accounting guidance requires investment contracts held by a defined-contribution plan to be reported at fair value. However, contract value is the relevant measurement attributable for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined-contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were able to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. Accordingly, the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits presents the fair value of the investment contracts as well as the adjustment of the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts from fair value to contract value. The Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits is prepared on a contract basis.           

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

   Recently Issued Accounting Standard
   In June 2009, the Plan adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) which became the single source of authoritative non-governmental accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Codification establishes one level of authoritative GAAP, other than guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All other literature is considered non-authoritative. The adoption of the Codification had no impact on the Plan’s financial statements, except for references made to authoritative accounting literature in the financial statements.
   In April 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance reaffirming that fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. The guidance also reaffirms the need to use judgment in determining if a formerly active market has become inactive and in determining fair values when the market has become inactive. The guidance also requires that the Plan disclose debt and equity securities by major category, on a more disaggregated basis than had previously been required. The adoption did not materially impact the Plan’s financial statements.
   In September 2009, the Plan adopted FASB updated guidance regarding fair value measurement of investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share (or its equivalent) for investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value and are held by an entity that is required to report investment assets at fair value. It creates a practical expedient to measure the fair value of such investments on the basis of the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) and requires disclosures by major category of the investments about the attributes of investments, such as the nature of any restrictions on the investor’s ability to redeem its investments at the measurement date, any unfunded commitments, and the investment strategies of the investees. The adoption of this update did not materially impact the Plan’s financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

   For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Plan adopted the FASB’s update to general standards on accounting for disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date, but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. The adoption of the guidance did not materially impact the Plan’s financial statements.
   In January 2010, the FASB issued accounting guidance that requires (i) separate disclosure of significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 and reasons for the transfers; (ii) disclosure, on a gross basis, of purchases, sales issuances, and net settlements within Level 3; (iii) disclosures by class of assets and liabilities; and (iv) a description of the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the Level 3 disclosure requirements, which will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption is not expected to have a significant effect on the Plan’s financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

  

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

   The investments of the Plan are reported at fair value. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the exit price).
   Mutual Funds - These are public investment vehicles valued using the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) provided by the administrator of the fund. The NAV is based on the value of the underlying assets owned by the fund, minus its liabilities, and then divided by the number of shares outstanding. The NAV is a quoted price in an active market and classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
   Common Collective Funds (“CCF”) - These investments are public investment vehicles valued using the NAV provided by the administrator of the fund. The NAV is based on the value of the underlying assets owned by the fund, minus its liabilities, and then divided by the number of shares outstanding. The NAV is classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy because the NAV’s unit price is quoted on a private market that is not active; however, the unit price is based on underlying investments which are traded on an active market. The CCF provides for daily redemptions by the Plan at reported NAV with no advance notice requirements. The Plan is permitted to redeem investment units at NAV on the measurement date. The CCF may participate in securities lending. The objective of the CCF is to seek high total return with a shift to current income and capital appreciation over time as the CCF approaches and passes the target retirement date. To achieve this, the fund invests in a combination of equity, fixed income and short-term mutual funds.
   Included in the CCF is a stable value fund that has investments in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts which are valued at contract value. Contract value represents investments at cost plus accrued interest income less amounts withdrawn to pay benefits. The fair value of the stable value common collective fund is based on discounting the related cash flows of the underlying investment contracts based on current yields of similar instruments with comparable durations. The stable value fund’s objective is to protect principal while providing a higher rate of return than shorter maturity investments. To achieve this, the fund invests in instruments which are not expected to experience significant price fluctuations in most economic or interest rate environments. However there is no assurance that this objective can be achieved.

 

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Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

   Valassis Communications, Inc. Common Stock - Valassis Communications, Inc. common stock is valued at the closing price reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Listing and is classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
   Brokerage Accounts - The CISC Brokerage Option is made up of mutual funds, corporate common stocks and interest bearing cash. The investments are public investments valued using the Net Asset Value provided by the administrator of the fund or the closing values provided by the applicable stock exchange composite listings for any corporate stock. The NAV is a quoted price in an active market and classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
   Loans to Participants - Loans to participants are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value and are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.
   Purchases and sales of the investments within the Plan are reflected on a trade-date basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.
   The Plan presents in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits the net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments which consists of the realized gains or losses and the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on those investments.
   Benefit Payments
   Benefit payments are recorded when paid.
   Administrative Expenses
   Certain plan expenses are paid by the Company while other administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by the Plan as provided in the Plan document.

 

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Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

  Management 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 amount of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of changes in net assets during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
  Risk and Uncertainties
  The Plan provides for investment in the Company Stock Fund. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, approximately 8 percent and 1 percent of the Plan’s net assets were invested in the common stock of the Company, respectively. The underlying value of the Company common stock is entirely dependent upon performance of the Company and the market valuation of such performance.
  The Plan invests in various securities including mutual funds, common collective funds, and corporate stocks. 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 and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the risks and values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits.

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

  Subsequent Events
  The financial statements and related disclosures include an evaluation of events up to and including June 28, 2010, which is the date the financial statements were issued, and there were no subsequent events requiring adjustments to or disclosure in the financial statements.

3.      Party-In-Interest Transactions

  Certain plan investments are shares of funds managed by JP Morgan Chase Bank. JPMorgan Chase Bank is the trustee as defined by the Plan and JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services is the recordkeeper; therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Fees paid by the Plan for investment management services were included as a reduction of the return earned on each fund.
  The Plan held $28,821,733 and $3,297,274 of the Company’s stock in the Valassis Stock Fund as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Participants have loans from their participant accounts outstanding in the amount of $9,778,103 and $9,373,791 as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

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Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

4.      Investments

  The following presents investments that represent five percent or more of the Plan’s net assets:

 

    

December 31,

   2009    2008
 

 

Investments, at fair value

     
 

JPMorgan Equity Index Fund

   $ 39,192,647    $ 30,103,455
 

American Funds Growth Fund of America

     37,869,490      26,536,033
 

Harbor International Fund

     30,748,946      22,257,440
 

Valassis Stock Fund

     28,821,733      *
 

Federated Total Return Bond Fund

     17,339,244      *
 

 

Investment, at contract value

     
 

JPMorgan Stable Asset Income Fund

     56,240,284      51,183,116
 

 

*       Amount is below the five percent of net assets available for benefits for the applicable year.

 

5.      Fair Value Measurements

   Accounting guidance defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs when measuring fair value.
   The guidance describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value.
   Level 1 - Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices available in active markets for identical investments as of the reporting date;
   Level 2 - Inputs to the valuation methodology are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date, and fair value can be determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies; and

 

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Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

  Level 3 - Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable inputs in situations where there is little or no market activity of the asset and liability and the reporting entity makes estimates and assumptions related to the pricing of the asset or liability including assumptions regarding risk.
  A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
  The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Plan investment assets at fair value, as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

         As of December 31, 2009
       Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total Fair
Value
 

 

Assets

           
 

Mutual funds

           
 

Large cap

   $ 63,635,443    $ —      $ —      $ 63,635,443
 

International growth fund

     30,748,946      —        —      $ 30,748,946
 

Mid cap

     4,703,011      —        —      $ 4,703,011
 

Fixed Income fund

     17,339,244      —        —      $ 17,339,244
 

Small cap

     14,164,740      —        —      $ 14,164,740
                             
 

Total mutual funds

   $ 130,591,384      —        —      $ 130,591,384
                             
 

 

Collective investment trusts

     —        141,868,035      —      $ 141,868,035
                             
 

Common stock - VCI

     28,821,733      —        —      $ 28,821,733
                             
 

Brokerage Accounts

           
 

Corporate stock - common

     8,176,965      —        —      $ 8,176,965
 

Interest bearing cash

     8,998,677      —        —      $ 8,998,677
 

Registered investment companies

     2,177,812      —        —      $ 2,177,812
 

Other

     194,869      —        —      $ 194,869
                             
 

Total brokerage accounts

     19,548,323      —        —      $ 19,548,323
                             
 

Participant loans

     —        —        9,778,103    $ 9,778,103
                             
 

 

Total Assets

   $ 178,961,440    $ 141,868,035    $ 9,778,103    $ 330,607,578
                             

 

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Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

         As of December 31, 2008
       Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total Fair
Value
 

 

Assets

           
 

Mutual funds

           
 

Large cap

   $ 45,292,863    $ —      $ —      $ 45,292,863
 

Internatioal growth fund

     22,257,440      —        —      $ 22,257,440
 

Fixed Income fund

     11,468,962      —        —      $ 11,468,962
 

Small cap

     8,612,590      —        —      $ 8,612,590
 

Mid cap

     2,370,865      —        —      $ 2,370,865
                             
 

Total mutual funds

   $ 90,002,720      —        —      $ 90,002,720
                             
 

 

Collective investment trusts

     —        113,540,816      —      $ 113,540,816
                             
 

Common stock - VCI

     3,297,274      —        —      $ 3,297,274
                             
 

Brokerage Accounts

           
 

Corporate stock - common

     2,750,528      —        —      $ 2,750,528
 

Interest bearing cash

     1,898,561      —        —      $ 1,898,561
 

Registered investment companies

     559,807      —        —      $ 559,807
 

Other

     1,257      —        —      $ 1,257
                             
 

Total Brokerage Accounts

     5,210,153      —        —      $ 5,210,153
                             
 

Participant loans

     —        —        9,373,791    $ 9,373,791
                             
 

 

Total Assets

   $ 98,510,147    $ 113,540,816    $ 9,373,791    $ 221,424,754
                             

 

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Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

   The table below sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Plan’s Level 3 investment assets and liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

         Year ended December 31, 2009
         Beginning Fair
Value
   Realized/
Unrealized
Gains
   Issuances,
Maturities,
Transfer
In/Out, Net
   Ending Fair
Value
 

 

Participant Loans

   $ 9,373,791    $ —      $ 404,312    $ 9,778,103
                             
 

Total Assets

   $ 9,373,791    $ —      $ 404,312    $ 9,778,103
                             
      

 

Year ended December 31, 2008

       Beginning Fair
Value
   Realized/
Unrealized
Gains
   Issuances,
Maturities,
Transfer

In/Out, Net
   Ending Fair
Value
 

 

Participant Loans

   $ 5,702,572    $ —      $ 3,671,219    $ 9,373,791
                             
 

Total Assets

   $ 5,702,572    $ —      $ 3,671,219    $ 9,373,791
                             

 

6.      Termination of the Plan

   Although it has not expressed any intention to do so, the Company has the right, under the Plan to discontinue its contributions and to terminate the Plan under the provisions of ERISA. In the event the Plan is terminated, participants would become 100 percent vested in their accounts. Participants will be entitled to the amount credited to their accounts, plus a pro rata share of any unallocated funds or assets of the Plan.

 

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Table of Contents

Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

7.      Internal Revenue Service Status

   The Plan received a determination letter dated May 11, 2010 in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). The Plan prototype document has been amended since applying for the determination letter. The Plan administrator and legal counsel believe that the Plan is currently designed and is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. Therefore, they believe that the Plan was qualified and the related trust was tax-exempt as of the financial statement date.

8.      Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500

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

 

    

Years Ended December 31,

   2009     2008  
 

 

Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

   $ 343,515,070      $ 236,287,149   
 

 

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

     (2,406,776     (5,845,722
                  
 

 

Net Assets Available for Benefits Per the Form 5500

   $ 341,108,294      $ 230,441,427   
                  

 

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Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

  The following is a reconciliation of the total additions per the financial statements to total income per the Form 5500:    
    

Year Ended December 31,

   2009     2008  
 

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Available for Benefits, per the financial Statements

   $ 107,227,921      $ (96,079,334
 

 

Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively

     5,845,722        316,399   
 

 

Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively

     (2,406,776     (5,845,722
                  
 

 

Total Income Per the Form 5500

   $ 110,666,867      $ (101,608,657
                  

 

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Supplemental Schedule


Table of Contents
 

Employer Identification Number:

  38-2760940
 

Plan Number:

  004
   

 

(a)

 

(b)

Identity of Issue, Borrower,

Lessor or Similar Party

  

(c)

Description of Investment, Including

Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral,

Par or Maturity Value

   (d)
Cost
   (e)
Current
Value
 

JPMorgan

   Equity Index fund    a    $ 39,192,647
 

JPMorgan

   Stable Asset Income fund    a      56,240,284
 

JPMorgan

   SmartRetirement 2010* - Common collective fund    a      2,596,319
 

JPMorgan

   SmartRetirement 2015* - Common collective fund    a      3,720,708
 

JPMorgan

   SmartRetirement 2020* - Common collective fund    a      7,463,854
 

JPMorgan

   SmartRetirement 2025* - Common collective fund    a      10,029,409
 

JPMorgan

   SmartRetirement 2030* - Common collective fund    a      10,369,072
 

JPMorgan

   SmartRetirement 2035* - Common collective fund    a      4,327,514
 

JPMorgan

   SmartRetirement 2040* - Common collective fund    a      4,606,074
 

JPMorgan

   SmartRetirement 2045* - Common collective fund    a      1,473,168
 

JPMorgan

   SmartRetirement Inc. fund    a      1,053,878
 

JPMorgan

   SmartRetirement 2050 fund    a      795,108
 

Harbor

   International - Mutual fund    a      30,748,946
 

American Funds

   Growth Fund of America - Mutual fund    a      37,869,490
 

Wells Fargo

   Adv Sml Cap Growth - Mutual fund    a      6,654,344
 

American Beacon

   Large Cap Value - Mutual fund    a      9,686,061
 

Thornburg

   Core Growth - Mutual fund    a      5,049,044
 

Artisan

   Mid Cap Value - Mutual fund    a      3,178,885
 

Davis

   New York Venture - Mutual fund    a      11,030,848
 

Morgan Stanley

   US Mid Cap Value - Mutual fund    a      1,524,126
 

Oppenheimer

   Main Street Small Cap - Mutual fund    a      6,924,943
 

Victory

   Small Company Opportunity - Mutual fund    a      585,453
 

Federated

   Total Return Bond fund    a      17,339,244
 

Valassis Communications

   Company Stock*    a      28,804,474
 

JPMorgan

   Cash in Stock*    a      17,259
 

CISC

   Brokerage fund    a      19,548,323
 

Insurance contracts

   Policy Number 6568255    a      5,219
 

Insurance contracts

   Policy Number 6404438    a      4,829
 

Insurance contracts

   Policy Number 6568454    a      4,736
 

Insurance contracts

   Policy Number 6060720    a      4,070
 

Insurance contracts

   Policy Number 6400395    a      2,814
 

Insurance contracts

   Policy Number 6567722    a      3,235
 

Insurance contracts

   Policy Number 6568706    a      2,327
 

Insurance contracts

   Policy Number 6567686    a      2,003
 

Insurance contracts

   Policy Number 6404486    a      1,103
 

Insurance contracts

   Policy Number 6229051    a      886
 

Participants

  

Participant Loans (3.25% - 10.5% maturing through November 30,  2022)¨*

   a      9,778,103
              
    

Total

      $ 330,638,800
              

* - A party-in-interest as defined by ERISA.

a - The cost of participant directed investments is not required to be disclosed.

¨ - Includes loans grandfathered in from merged plans

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the undersigned has duly caused this annual report to be signed on behalf of the Plan by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized in the City of Livonia, State of Michigan on June 28, 2010.

 

Valassis Communications, Inc.
Valassis Employees’ Retirement Savings Plan
By:  

/s/ Robert L. Recchia

 

Robert L. Recchia, Chief Financial Officer

and Plan Administrator

 

23