GENERAL CHEMICAL CORP /DE/
10-Q, 1996-11-13
INDUSTRIAL INORGANIC CHEMICALS
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                       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 SEPTEMBER 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

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                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                                    FORM 10-Q

                    QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

                                      INDEX

                                                                        PAGE NO.

PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

    Item 1. Financial Statements

      Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three Months and Nine Months
       Ended September 30, 1995 and 1996...................................    1

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

      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Nine Months
       Ended September 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






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                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               THREE MONTHS ENDING        NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                   SEPTEMBER 30,            SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                               --------------------------------------------
                                                                  1995       1996         1995        1996
                                                                  ----       ----         ----        ----
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>     
        Net revenues......................................    $ 118,647   $132,324     $344,982    $382,780
        Cost of sales.....................................       79,935     90,267      238,429     262,015
        Selling, general and administrative expense.......       10,011      9,832       28,340      37,440
                                                              ---------   --------     --------    --------
        Operating profit..................................       28,701     32,225       78,213      83,325
        Interest expense..................................        6,143      5,616       18,665      17,737
        Interest income...................................          272        301          881         859
        Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses.......         (773)        26       (1,549)       (113)
        Other (income) expense, net.......................          (98)      (212)        (115)        143
                                                              ---------   --------     --------    --------
        Income before income taxes and minority interest .       23,701     27,096       62,093      66,417
        Minority interest.................................        5,725      8,265       14,928      23,034
                                                              ---------   --------     --------    --------
        Income before income taxes .......................       17,976     18,831       47,165      43,383
        Income tax provision..............................        6,587      7,200       17,500      16,592
                                                              ---------   --------     --------    --------
               Net income.................................    $  11,389   $ 11,631     $ 29,665    $ 26,791
                                                              =========   ========     ========    ========


</TABLE>
















      See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

                                       -1-


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                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

                                     ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                   DECEMBER 31,  SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                   ---------------------------
                                                                       1995          1996
                                                                       ----          ----
                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                <C>             <C>      
Current Assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents...................................  $  13,279       $  34,404
     Receivables, net............................................     76,440          92,067
     Inventories.................................................     35,427          30,383
     Deferred income taxes.......................................     12,559          11,637
     Other current assets........................................        916           1,538
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total current assets....................................    138,621         170,029
Property, plant and equipment, net...............................    187,417         201,356
Other assets.....................................................     29,297          32,314
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total assets............................................  $ 355,335       $ 403,699
                                                                   =========       =========


                               LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Current Liabilities:

     Accounts payable............................................  $  44,388       $  46,070
     Accrued liabilities.........................................     71,280          62,160
     Income taxes payable........................................      1,083           4,124
     Current portion of long-term debt...........................     17,392          17,392
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total current liabilities...............................    134,143         129,746
Long-term debt...................................................    255,608         221,565
Other liabilities................................................    161,691         165,268
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total liabilities.......................................    551,442         516,579
                                                                   ---------       ---------
Minority interest................................................     28,278          40,516
                                                                   ---------       ---------
Equity (deficit):
     Common stock, $.01 par value
      authorized:  1,000 shares
      issued and outstanding:  100 shares........................        --             --
     Capital deficit.............................................   (232,241)       (188,026)
     Foreign currency translation adjustments....................     (1,362)         (1,379)
     Retained earnings ..........................................      9,218          36,009
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total equity (deficit)..................................   (224,385)       (153,396)
                                                                   ---------       ---------
         Total liabilities and equity (deficit)..................  $ 355,335       $ 403,699
                                                                   =========       =========

</TABLE>


      See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

                                       -2-


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                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                         NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                           SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                         -----------------
                                                                       1995           1996
                                                                       ----           ----
<S>                                                                 <C>            <C>     
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income ...................................................   $ 29,665       $ 26,791
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
    provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization...............................     19,191         19,431
     Net (gain) loss on disposition of long-term assets..........        (93)           363
     Unrealized exchange (gain) loss.............................     (2,085)             3
     Restricted unit plan costs .................................        --           8,615
     (Increase) in receivables...................................     (4,196)       (15,648)
     Decrease in inventories.....................................        858          5,031
     (Increase) decrease in other assets........................       1,167         (3,609)
     Increase (decrease) in accounts payable....................      (1,538)         1,693
     (Decrease) in accrued liabilities...........................     (1,810)        (9,125)
     Increase in income taxes payable............................        646          3,053
     Increase (decrease) in other liabilities....................     (4,489)         3,577
     Increase in minority interest...............................      3,211         12,238
                                                                    --------       --------
       Net cash provided by operating activities.................     40,527         52,413
                                                                    --------       --------
Cash flows from investing activities:
   Capital expenditures..........................................    (17,124)       (33,155)
   Proceeds from sales or disposals of long-term assets.........         123            312
                                                                    --------       --------
      Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities.......    (17,001)       (32,843)
                                                                    --------       --------
Cash flows from financing activities:
   Proceeds from long-term debt..................................      2,000         20,000
   Repayment of long-term debt...................................    (14,000)       (54,043)
   Capital contribution from parent..............................        --          35,600
   Dividends.....................................................    (11,500)           --
                                                                    --------       -------
      Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities.......    (23,500)         1,557
                                                                    --------       --------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash..........................        485             (2)
                                                                    --------       --------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents.................        511         21,125
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period.................     18,284         13,279
                                                                    --------       --------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period.......................   $ 18,795       $ 34,404
                                                                    ========       ========
Supplemental information:
   Cash paid for income taxes....................................   $  8,196       $  5,543
                                                                    ========       ========
   Cash paid for interest........................................   $ 18,951       $ 17,877
                                                                    ========       ========

</TABLE>

      See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

                                       -3-


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                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

             FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 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 nine  months  ended  September  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 a Management  Agreement with The General Chemical
Group Inc. Pursuant to the Agreement,  the Company was charged $2,219 and $2,280
for the nine months ended September 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>
<CAPTION>
                                                               DECEMBER 31,    SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                               -----------     -------------
                                                                   1995            1996
                                                                   ----            ----
                                                                                (unaudited)
           <S>                                                  <C>             <C>
           Raw materials....................................... $  9,053        $  8,256
           Work in process.....................................    2,668           3,050
           Finished products...................................   15,927          11,292
           Supplies ...........................................    7,779           7,785
                                                                --------        --------
                                                                $ 35,427        $ 30,383
                                                                ========        ========
</TABLE>

                                       -4-


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                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)

             FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 5- LONG-TERM DEBT

        Long-term debt consists of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31,    SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                  -----------     -------------
                                                     MATURITIES       1995            1996
                                                     ----------       ----            ----
                                                                                   (unaudited)
   <S>                                                <C>          <C>             <C>
   Bank Term Loan - floating rate...................  1996-2001    $ 100,000       $  86,957
   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            --
                                                                   ---------       -------
   Total Debt.......................................                 273,000         238,957
   Less:  Current Portion...........................                  17,392          17,392
                                                                   ---------       ---------
   Net Long-Term Debt...............................               $ 255,608       $ 221,565
                                                                   =========       =========
</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-


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                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)

             FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)

       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.

       Notices of appeal of all or  portions of the  settlement  approved by the
court were 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 were 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'  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  then
filed a petition for review with the  California  Supreme  Court which on August
15, 1996 elected not to review the Court of Appeals'  decision.  Notwithstanding
this decision, it is possible that one or more of the appealing 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  Supreme
Court might rule in the event of such a refiling,  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-


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                          GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONCLUDED)

             FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 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.

September 30, 1996 Compared with December 31, 1995

Financial Condition

       Cash and cash  equivalents  were $34.4  million at September  30, 1996 as
compared with $13.3  million at December 31, 1995.  During the first nine months
of 1996 the  Company  generated  cash flow from  operating  activities  of $52.4
million,  received $35.6 million as a capital  contribution from its parent, and
used cash of $33.2  million for capital  expenditures  and $34.0 million for net
repayment of long-term debt.

       The Company had working capital of $40.3 million at September 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  lower  inventories,  higher
accounts payable and income taxes payable.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996, Compared with Nine Months Ended
September 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 nine months ended September 30, 1995 and 1996 (dollars in millions).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                     -------------------------------
                                                            1995             1996
                                                     ----------------- -------------
<S>                                                   <C>     <C>       <C>      <C> 
   Net revenues....................................   $345.0  100%      $382.8   100%
   Cost of sales...................................    238.5   69        262.0    68
                                                      ------  ---       ------   ---
   Gross profit....................................    106.5   31        120.8    32
   Selling, general and administrative expense.....     28.3    8         37.5    10
                                                      ------  ---       ------   ---
   Operating profit................................   $ 78.2   23%      $ 83.3    22%
                                                      ======  ===       ======   ===
</TABLE>

       Net  revenues for the nine months  ended  September  30, 1996 were $382.8
million  or 11  percent  higher  than the  prior  year  level due  primarily  to
continued  favorable pricing for soda ash as well as performance  improvement in
all other product lines.

       Gross  profit for the first nine months of 1996  increased  13 percent to
$120.8 million from $106.5 million for the comparable  prior year period.  Gross
profit as a  percentage  of net  revenues  increased to 32 percent for the first
nine  months of 1996 from 31 percent  for the prior year level due to  favorable
soda ash pricing, partially offset by higher manufacturing expenses.

       Selling,  general  and  administrative  expense  was  10  percent  of net
revenues  for the first nine  months of 1996 versus 8 percent for the first nine
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.

       Interest  expense  for the first  nine  months of 1996 was $17.7  million
which was $1.0 million lower than the 1995 level due to lower  outstanding  debt
balances.

                                       -8-


<PAGE>
<PAGE>







       Interest  income for the first nine months of 1996 was $.9 million  which
approximated the 1995 level.

       The foreign  currency  transaction gain for 1996 was $.1 million versus a
$1.5 gain in 1995.  These amounts are  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 nine months of 1996 was $23.0 million as
compared with $14.9 million for the same period last year, reflecting the higher
earnings of General Chemical (Soda Ash) Partners.

       Net  income  for the  first  nine  months of 1996 was  $26.8  million  as
compared  with $29.7  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

       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 June 30, 1996:

       Richmond  Works July 26, 1993  Incident.  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
September 30, 1996 the Company had already received releases from  approximately
94  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 were 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 filed a
petition for review with the  California  Supreme Court which on August 15, 1996
elected  not to review  the Court of  Appeals'  decision.  Notwithstanding  this
decision,  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 and Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for
the  quarter  ended June 30,  1996 as filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.

                                      -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   November 11, 1996                   /s/Edward J. Waite, III
     --------------------                     --------------------
                                              EDWARD J. WAITE, III
                                              Vice President, General Counsel
                                              and Secretary (Authorized Officer)

Date   November 11, 1996                   /s/Ralph M. Passino
     --------------------                     --------------------
                                              RALPH M. PASSINO
                                              Chief Financial Officer and Vice
                                              President of Administration
                                             (Principal Financial Officer)

                                      -12-


<PAGE>
<PAGE>





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

   EXHIBIT NO.           DESCRIPTION                                       PAGE
   ----------            -----------                                       -----
       27                Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR filings only)        14







                                       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.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                         1,000
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                       JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                         SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        9-MOS
<CASH>                               $34,404
<SECURITIES>                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                        96,970
<ALLOWANCES>                         4,903
<INVENTORY>                          30,383
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                     170,029
<PP&E>                               355,179
<DEPRECIATION>                       153,823
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       403,699
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                129,746
<BONDS>                              221,565
                0
                          0
<COMMON>                             0
<OTHER-SE>                          (153,396)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>         403,699
<SALES>                              382,780
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                     382,780
<CGS>                                262,015
<TOTAL-COSTS>                        262,015 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                     29
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   17,737
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      43,383
<INCOME-TAX>                         16,592
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  26,791
<DISCONTINUED>                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                      0
<CHANGES>                            0
<NET-INCOME>                         26,791
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                        0



</TABLE>


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