GENERAL CHEMICAL CORP /DE/
10-Q, 1996-08-14
INDUSTRIAL INORGANIC CHEMICALS
Previous: MARATHON FINANCIAL CORP, 10-Q, 1996-08-14
Next: HAWKINS ENERGY CORP, 10QSB, 1996-08-14






<PAGE>
<PAGE>




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

    X              QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996

                                       OR

                TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  For the transition period from       to      
                         Commission File Number 33-64824

                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

          DELAWARE                                               22-2689817
(State of other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                            Identification Number)

     90 EAST HALSEY ROAD
   PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY                                           07054
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (201) 515-0900

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

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>
<PAGE>



                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                                    FORM 10-Q

                      QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996

                                      INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PAGE NO.
                                                                              --------
<S>                                                                              <C>
PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
    Item 1. Financial Statements

      Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three Months and Six Months
       Ended June 30, 1995 and 1996..........................................    1

      Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 1995 and
       June 30, 1996.........................................................    2

      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Six Months
       Ended June 30, 1995 and 1996..........................................    3

      Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.........................   4-7

    Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                Condition and Results of Operations..........................   8-9

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION:

    Item 1.  Legal Proceedings...............................................   10

    Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K................................   11

SIGNATURES...................................................................   12

EXHIBIT INDEX................................................................   13

EXHIBITS.....................................................................   14
</TABLE>



<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               THREE MONTHS ENDED        SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                    JUNE 30,                 JUNE 30,
                                                               ------------------        ----------------
                                                                  1995      1996         1995        1996
                                                                  ----      ----         ----        ----
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>     
        Net revenues......................................    $ 121,228   $133,061     $226,335    $250,456
        Cost of sales.....................................       82,417     88,223      158,494     171,748
        Selling, general and administrative expense.......        9,436     18,117       18,329      27,608
                                                              ---------   --------     --------    --------
        Operating profit..................................       29,375     26,721       49,512      51,100
        Interest expense..................................        6,210      6,042       12,522      12,121
        Interest income...................................          269        279          609         558
        Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses.......         (634)       (88)        (776)       (139)
        Other (income) expense, net.......................           15        464          (17)        356
                                                              ---------   --------     --------    --------
        Income before income taxes and minority interest .       24,053     20,582       38,392      39,320
        Minority interest.................................        5,064      8,311        9,203      14,769
                                                              ---------   --------     --------    --------
        Income before income taxes .......................       18,989     12,271       29,189      24,551
        Income tax provision..............................        7,290      4,581       10,913       9,392
                                                              ---------   --------     --------    --------
               Net income.................................    $  11,699   $  7,690     $ 18,276    $ 15,159
                                                              =========   ========     ========    ========
</TABLE>


      See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.


                                      -1-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

                                     ASSETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   DECEMBER 31,    JUNE 30,
                                                                       1995          1996
                                                                       ----          ----
                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                <C>             <C>      
Current Assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents...................................  $  13,279       $  17,920
     Receivables, net............................................     76,440          98,089
     Inventories.................................................     35,427          35,123
     Deferred income taxes.......................................     12,559          11,533
     Other current assets........................................        916           1,720
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total current assets....................................    138,621         164,385
Property, plant and equipment, net...............................    187,417         195,184
Other assets.....................................................     29,297          32,387
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total assets............................................  $ 355,335       $ 391,956
                                                                   =========       =========


                               LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Current Liabilities:

     Accounts payable............................................  $  44,388       $  44,311
     Accrued liabilities.........................................     71,280          62,295
     Income taxes payable........................................      1,083           3,472
     Current portion of long-term debt...........................     17,392          17,392
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total current liabilities...............................    134,143         127,470
Long-term debt...................................................    255,608         230,912
Other liabilities................................................    161,691         162,248
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total liabilities.......................................    551,442         520,630
                                                                   ---------       ---------
Minority interest................................................     28,278          36,666
                                                                   ---------       ---------
Equity (deficit):
     Common stock, $.01 par value
      authorized:  1,000 shares
      issued and outstanding:  100 shares........................        --              --
     Capital deficit.............................................   (232,241)       (188,332)
     Foreign currency translation adjustments....................     (1,362)         (1,385)
     Retained earnings ..........................................      9,218          24,377
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total equity (deficit)..................................   (224,385)       (165,340)
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total liabilities and equity (deficit)..................  $ 355,335       $ 391,956
                                                                   =========       =========
</TABLE>



      See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.


                                      -2-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                              JUNE 30,
                                                                         ----------------
                                                                       1995           1996
                                                                       ----           ----
<S>                                                                 <C>            <C>     
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income ...................................................   $ 18,276       $ 15,159
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
    provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization...............................     12,785         13,175
     Net (gain) loss on disposition of long-term assets..........        (83)           540
     Unrealized exchange (gain) loss.............................     (1,080)            11
     Restricted unit plan costs .................................        --           8,309
     (Increase) in receivables...................................     (6,721)       (21,616)
     Decrease in inventories.....................................      1,669            295
     (Increase) decrease in other assets........................         426         (3,460)
     Increase (decrease) in accounts payable....................         163            (81)
     (Decrease) in accrued liabilities...........................     (4,718)        (8,986)
     Increase in income taxes payable............................        817          2,398
     Increase in other liabilities...............................      1,157            556
     Increase in minority interest...............................      2,454          8,388
                                                                    --------       --------
       Net cash provided by operating activities.................     25,145         14,688
                                                                    --------       --------
Cash flows from investing activities:
   Capital expenditures..........................................    (10,360)       (20,908)
   Proceeds from sales or disposals of long-term assets.........         112            --
                                                                    --------       -------
      Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities.......    (10,248)       (20,908)
                                                                    --------       --------
Cash flows from financing activities:
   Proceeds from long-term debt..................................      2,000         20,000
   Repayment of long-term debt...................................    (14,000)       (44,696)
   Capital contribution from parent..............................        --          35,600
   Dividends.....................................................     (6,000)           --
                                                                    --------       -------
      Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities.......    (18,000)        10,904
                                                                    --------       --------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash..........................        267            (43)
                                                                    --------       --------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents.................     (2,836)         4,641
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period.................     18,284         13,279
                                                                    --------       --------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period.......................   $ 15,448       $ 17,920
                                                                    ========       ========
Supplemental information:
   Cash paid for income taxes....................................   $  5,874       $  3,167
                                                                    ========       ========
   Cash paid for interest........................................   $ 11,927       $  8,138
                                                                    ========       ========


      See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.


                                      -3-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

                                   (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

       The accompanying  unaudited  consolidated  financial statements have been
prepared by General Chemical  Corporation  ("General Chemical" or the "Company")
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The  financial  statements  do not include  certain  information  and  footnotes
required  by  generally  accepted  accounting  principles.  In  the  opinion  of
management,   all  adjustments  (consisting  of  normal  recurring  adjustments)
considered  necessary  for a fair  presentation  have been  included.  Operating
results for the six months ended June 30, 1996 are not necessarily indicative of
the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 1996.  General
Chemical's financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and the notes thereto included in General Chemical's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.

NOTE 2 - CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION

       On May 16, 1996, The General Chemical Group Inc. (the Company's  ultimate
parent)  completed  an  initial  public  offering  in which it  issued  and sold
2,500,000  shares of Common  Stock for $17.50  per  share.  A portion of the net
proceeds,  $35,600, was contributed to the Company and was recorded as a capital
contribution. Additionally, $8,309 was recorded as a capital contribution by the
Company  related to The General  Chemical Group Inc.  restricted  unit plan. See
"Note 7 - Phantom Equity Plan."

NOTE 3 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Management Agreement

       The  Company  is  party to the  Management  Agreement  with  The  General
Chemical Group Inc.  Pursuant to the  Agreement,  the Company was charged $1,480
and $1,520 for the six months  ended June 30, 1995 and 1996,  respectively,  for
general corporate supervisory services,  strategic guidance and payments made to
Company management personnel in connection with incentive compensation programs.
The Management Agreement expires in 1997 and is subject to extension.

NOTE 4 - ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

       The components of inventories were as follows:


</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               DECEMBER 31,      JUNE 30,
                                                                   1995            1996
                                                                   ----            ----
<S>                                                             <C>             <C>     
           Raw materials....................................... $  9,053        $  8,278
           Work in process.....................................    2,668           4,163
           Finished products...................................   15,927          14,478
           Supplies ...........................................    7,779           8,204
                                                                --------        --------
                                                                $ 35,427        $ 35,123
                                                                ========        ========
</TABLE>



                                      -4-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)

                FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

                                   (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 5 - LONG-TERM DEBT

        Long-term debt consists of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     DECEMBER 31,    JUNE 30,
                                                       MATURITIES        1995          1996
                                                       ----------    ------------    --------
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>          <C>      
   Bank Term Loan - floating rate.....................  1996-2001     $ 100,000    $  91,304
   Senior Subordinated Notes - 9.25%..................    2003          100,000      100,000
   Canada Senior Notes - 9.09%........................    1999           52,000       52,000
   U.S. Revolving Credit Facility - floating rate.....    1999           21,000        5,000
                                                                      ---------    ---------
   Total Debt.........................................                  273,000      248,304
   Less:  Current Portion.............................                   17,392       17,392
                                                                      ---------    ---------
   Net Long-Term Debt.................................                $ 255,608    $ 230,912
                                                                      =========    =========
</TABLE>

NOTE 6 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

       Richmond Works July 26, 1993 Incident.  On July 26,1993 a pressure relief
device on a railroad tank car  containing  oleum that was being  unloaded at the
Company's Richmond, California, facility, ruptured during the unloading process,
causing the release of a significant  amount of sulfur  trioxide.  Approximately
150  lawsuits  seeking  substantial  amounts of damages  were filed  against the
Company on behalf of in excess of 60,000  claimants  in  municipal  and superior
courts  of  California  and  in  federal  court.  All  state  court  cases  were
coordinated  before a coordination  trial judge in Contra Costa County  Superior
Court.  The federal court cases were stayed until  completion of the state court
cases.

       On November  22,  1995,  the court  approved a  comprehensive  settlement
agreement  pursuant  to which the  Company,  with  funds to be  provided  by its
insurers  pursuant to the terms of the Company's  insurance  policies  agreed to
make available a maximum of $180,000 to implement the settlement.

       The  settlement  agreement  provides,  among  other  things,  that  while
claimants may "opt out" of the  compensatory  damages  portion of the settlement
and  pursue  their  own  case  separate  and  apart  from the  class  settlement
mechanism,  they have no right to opt out of the punitive damages portion of the
settlement.  Consequently,  under the terms of the settlement, no party may seek
punitive  damages from the Company  outside of those provided by the settlement.
The  deadline  for  claimants  electing to opt out of the  compensatory  damages
portion of the settlement was October 5, 1995. Fewer than 3,000 claimants, which
constitutes  approximately  5 percent  of the total  number of  claimants,  have
elected to so opt out.


                                      -5-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)

                FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

                                   (UNAUDITED)

       Notices of appeal of all or  portions of the  settlement  approved by the
court  have  been  filed  by five law  firms  representing  approximately  2,750
claimants,  with approximately 2,700 of these claimants  represented by the same
law firm.  Based on papers filed by the  appellants in the  California  Court of
Appeals,  the  primary  grounds  for the appeal are that the  settlement  is not
"fair, reasonable and adequate" under California law, that the trial court erred
in  certifying  a class action for purposes of  settlement  and in  certifying a
mandatory  punitive  damage  class,  that  the  trial  court  awarded  excessive
attorneys' fees to the plaintiffs'  management  committee and plaintiffs'  class
counsel, that the trial court exceeded its authority in reducing contingent fees
payable to attorneys for representing individual claimants,  and the trial court
erroneously  applied a state statute that governs unclaimed  residuals remaining
from class action settlements.

       Under the  terms of the  settlement  agreement,  settling  claimants  may
receive  payment of their  claims prior to the  resolution  of any appeal of the
settlement  upon  providing,  among  other  things,  a signed  release  document
containing  language which fully  releases the Company from any further  claims,
either for  compensatory or punitive  damages,  arising out of the July 26, 1993
incident. Plaintiffs' liaison counsel are currently undertaking to obtain signed
releases  from the  approximately  95 percent of  claimants  who have elected to
participate in the settlement.

       On May 8, 1996,  the  California  Court of Appeals  dismissed each of the
appeals that had been filed  challenging the trial court's approval of the class
action  settlement.  The Court of Appeals  dismissed the appeal  relating to the
trial  court's  rulings on  plaintiffs'  attorney's  fees on the ground that the
appealing  attorneys  lacked  standing  to  appeal.  The Court of  Appeals  also
dismissed each of the other pending appeals ruling that the trial court's orders
and rulings approving the settlement were not presently  appealable,  if at all,
by the  appealing  claimants  since  they  had  all  elected  to opt  out of the
settlement.  The appealing  attorneys and some of the appealing  claimants  have
filed a petition for review with the California Supreme Court, which has not yet
decided  whether to hear the appeals.  If the dismissals by the Court of Appeals
are allowed to stand,  it is possible  that one or more of the  claimants,  once
their cases are finally  litigated through trial, may attempt to refile all or a
portion of the appeals that have now been dismissed.

       While there can be no assurances  regarding how the  California  Superior
Court might rule,  the Company  believes that the  settlement  will be upheld on
appeal.  If the  settlement is upheld on appeal,  the Company  believes that any
further  liability in excess of the amounts made available  under the settlement
agreement  will not exceed the available  insurance  coverage,  if at all, by an
amount  that  could  be  material  to its  financial  condition  or  results  of
operations.  In the event of a reversal or  modification  of the  settlement  on
appeal,  with respect to lawsuits by any then remaining  claimants (opt-outs and
settling  claimants  who have not signed  releases) the Company  believes  that,
whether or not it elects to terminate the settlement in the event it is reversed
or  modified  on appeal,  it will have  adequate  resources  from its  available
insurance  coverage to vigorously  defend these lawsuits  through their ultimate
conclusion, whether by trial or settlement. However, in the event the settlement
is  overturned  or  modified  on  appeal,  there  can be no  assurance  that the
Company's ultimate liability resulting from the July 26, 1993 incident would not
exceed the available  insurance coverage by an amount which could be material to
its  financial  condition or results of  operations,  nor is the Company able to
estimate or predict a range of what such ultimate liability might be, if any.



                                      -6-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONCLUDED)

                FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

                                   (UNAUDITED)


NOTE 7 - PHANTOM EQUITY PLAN

       During the second  quarter of 1996,  participants  in the Phantom  Equity
Plan (the  "Plan")  received  rights in a  Restricted  Unit Plan  adopted by The
General  Chemical  Group Inc.  replacing  their rights earned  beginning in 1989
under the Plan;  the  Plan  was   then  terminated.  The  Restricted  Unit  Plan
authorizes the issuance of 850,000 units, with each unit representing one  share
of Common Stock of the General Chemical Group to be  issued  to  the participant
upon the occurrence of certain conditions. All awards are subject to a five year
tiered vesting schedule under which a portion of each participant's award  vests
annually   over   a   five   year   period.   Accordingly,   during  the  second
quarter of 1996 the Company  recorded an $8,309 charge related to the Restricted
Unit Plan for amounts earned in the Plan since 1989.  The offsetting  credit has
been recorded as a capital contribution.


                                      -7-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

June 30, 1996 Compared with December 31, 1995

Financial Condition

       Cash and cash equivalents were $17.9 million at June 30, 1996 as compared
with $13.3 million at December 31, 1995. During the first six months of 1996 the
Company generated cash flow from operating activities of $14.7 million, received
$35.6 million as a capital  contribution from its parent, and used cash of $20.9
million  for  capital  expenditures  and  $24.7  million  for net  repayment  of
long-term debt.

       The  Company  had  working  capital of $36.9  million at June 30, 1996 as
compared  with $4.5  million at  December  31,  1995.  This  increase in working
capital  reflects  higher cash and accounts  receivable  balances,  coupled with
lower accrued liabilities, partially offset by higher income taxes payable.

These changes arose in the normal course of business.

Six Months Ended June 30, 1996, Compared with Six Months Ended June 30, 1995

Results of Operations

       The following  table sets forth the results of operations  and percentage
of net revenues  represented by the  components of operating  income and expense
for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 (dollars in millions).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                 JUNE  30,
                                                     -------------------------------
                                                           1995             1996
                                                     ----------------  -------------
<S>                                                   <C>     <C>      <C>       <C> 
   Net revenues....................................   $226.3  100%     $ 250.4   100%
   Cost of sales...................................    158.5   70        171.7    69
                                                      ------  ---       ------   ---
   Gross profit....................................     67.8   30         78.7    31
   Selling, general and administrative expense.....     18.3    8         27.6    11
                                                      ------  ---       ------   ---
   Operating profit................................   $ 49.5   22%      $ 51.1    20%
                                                      ======  ===       ======   ===
</TABLE>

       Net revenues  for the six months ended June 30, 1996 were $250.4  million
or 11  percent  higher  than the prior  year level due  primarily  to  favorable
pricing for soda ash and improved performance in all other product lines.

       Gross profit for the first six months of 1996  increased  16.1 percent to
$78.7 million from $67.8 million for the comparable prior year period.

       Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues  increased to 31 percent for
the first six  months of 1996 from 30  percent  for the prior  year level due to
favorable soda ash pricing, partially offset by higher manufacturing expenses.

       Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  was  11  percent  of net
revenues  for the first six  months of 1996  versus 8 percent  for the first six
months of 1995.  The  increase is due  primarily  to a one-time  noncash  pretax
charge  of $8.3  million  related  to a  Restricted  Unit  Plan  created  by the
Company's  parent  which  satisfied  the  Company's  liability  under its former
Phantom Equity Plan.


                                      -8-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

       Interest expense for the first six months of 1996 was $12.1 million which
was $.4  million  lower  than  the 1995  level  due to  lower  outstanding  debt
balances.

       Interest  income for the first six months of 1996 was $.6  million  which
approximated the 1995 level.

       The foreign currency  transaction gain for 1996 was $.1 million.  This is
principally  due to the impact of exchange  rate  fluctuations  on a $52 million
U.S.  denominated  loan of the  Company's  Canadian  subsidiary.  The  impact of
foreign currency transaction (gains) losses on this loan is noncash.

       Minority  interest for the first six months of 1996 was $14.8  million as
compared  with $9.2  million for the same period  last year,  reflecting  higher
earnings of General Chemical (Soda Ash) Partners.

       Net income for the first six months of 1996 was $15.2 million as compared
with $18.3 million for the same period in 1995,  for the foregoing  reasons,  in
particular, the one-time charge related to the Restricted Unit Plan.


                                      -9-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

       Richmond Works July 26, 1993 Incident.  The following  developments  have
occurred with respect to this matter since the filing of the Company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1996:

       In  connection  with  efforts by  plaintiffs'  liaison  counsel to obtain
signed releases from the  approximately 95 percent of claimants who have elected
to  participate  in the  settlement,  as of July 1, 1996 the Company had already
received releases from approximately 91 percent of the settling claimants. Final
payments to the  plaintiffs'  management  committee on behalf of these  settling
claimants  have been made  with  funds  provided  principally  by the  Company's
insurers  pursuant  to the  terms of the  insurance  policies  described  in the
Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 1995 and
further payments will be made as additional releases are received and reviewed.

       With  respect  to  the  notices  of  appeal  of all  or  portions  of the
settlement  approved  by the  court  which  have  been  filed by five law  firms
representing  approximately  2,750 claimants (2,700  represented by the same law
firm),  these  claimants  have not specified the amount of their claims in court
documents,  although the Company  believes  that their  alleged  injuries are no
different  in nature or extent  than those  alleged by the  settling  claimants.
Based on papers filed by the appellants  with the  California  Court of Appeals,
the primary grounds for appeal are that the settlement is not "fair,  reasonable
and adequate"  under  California law, that the trial court erred in certifying a
class action for purposes of settlement  and in certifying a mandatory  punitive
damage class,  that the trial court  awarded  excessive  attorneys'  fees to the
plaintiffs'  management committee and plaintiffs' class counsel,  that the trial
court  exceeded its authority in reducing  contingent  fees payable to attorneys
for  representing  individual  claimants,  and that the trial court  erroneously
applied a state statute that governs  unclaimed  residuals  remaining from class
action settlements.

       On May 8, 1996,  the  California  Court of Appeals  dismissed each of the
appeals that had been filed  challenging the trial court's approval of the class
action  settlement.  The Court of Appeals  dismissed the appeal  relating to the
trial  court's  rulings on  plaintiffs'  attorneys'  fees on the ground that the
appealing  attorneys  lacked  standing  to  appeal.  The Court of  Appeals  also
dismissed each of the other pending appeals ruling that the trial court's orders
and rulings approving the settlement were not presently  appealable,  if at all,
by the  appealing  claimants  since  they  had  all  elected  to opt  out of the
settlement.  The appealing  attorneys and some of the appealing  claimants  have
filed a petition for review with the California Supreme Court, which has not yet
decided  whether to hear the appeals.  If the dismissals by the Court of Appeals
are allowed to stand, it is possible that one or more of the opt-out  claimants,
once their opt-out cases are finally  litigated  through  trial,  may attempt to
refile all or a portion of the appeals that have now been dismissed.

       For additional information,  refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.


                                      -10-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

       a)  Exhibits

           (27)  Financial Data Schedule

       b)  No  report on Form 8-K has  been filed during  the period  covered by
           this report.


                                      -11-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                    GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                              (Registrant)

Date   August 12, 1996        /s/Edward J. Waite, III
       ---------------           -----------------------------------------------
                                 EDWARD J. WAITE, III
                                 Vice President, General Counsel
                                 and Secretary (Authorized Officer)

Date   August 12, 1996        /s/Ralph M. Passino
       ---------------           -----------------------------------------------
                                 RALPH M. PASSINO
                                 Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
                                 of Administration (Principal Financial Officer)


                                      -12-

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   EXHIBIT NO.                    DESCRIPTION                                   PAGE
   -----------                    -----------                                   ----
<S>                               <C>                                            <C>
       27                         Financial Data Schedule                        14
</TABLE>



                                      -13-

<PAGE>


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>            5
<LEGEND>             This schedule contains summary financial information
                     extracted from Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1996
                     and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
                     financial statements.
<MULTIPLIER>         1,000
       
<S>                  <C>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>       JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>         JUN-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>        6-MOS
<CASH>                              $17,920
<SECURITIES>                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                       102,943
<ALLOWANCES>                          4,854
<INVENTORY>                          35,123
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    164,385
<PP&E>                              343,958
<DEPRECIATION>                      148,774
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      391,956
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               127,470
<BONDS>                             230,912
                     0
                               0
<COMMON>                                  0
<OTHER-SE>                         (165,340)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        391,956
<SALES>                             250,456
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    250,456
<CGS>                               171,748
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       171,748
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        160
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   12,121
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      24,551
<INCOME-TAX>                          9,392
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  15,159
<DISCONTINUED>                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                         15,159
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             0
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0
        


</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission