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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1998
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 0-20490
THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 25-1575609
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification Code)
One Gateway Center, 19th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA
15222
(Address of principal executive offices)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (412) 562-3700
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SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
NONE
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
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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
--- ---
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K [ ]
The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the Registrant as of the close of business on September 25, 1998 was
$38,171,010.
As of the close of business on September 25, 1998 there were 8,552,342
shares of the Registrant's $0.01 par value Common Stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
The information required under Part III is incorporated by reference to
the Registrant's Proxy Statement and Notice of the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders for 1998, which is to be filed within 120 days after July 31, 1998.
<PAGE> 2
PART I
Item 1 Business
OVERVIEW
The Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc. (the Company or Registrant) is a major U.S.
manufacturer of graphite electrode products and calcium carbide products.
Graphite electrodes are used as conductors of electricity, and are consumed, in
the electric arc furnace steel-making process common to all mini-mill steel
producers. Calcium carbide and derivative products, primarily acetylene, are
used in the manufacture of specialty chemicals, as a fuel in metal cutting and
welding and for metallurgical applications such as iron and steel
desulfurization. The Company is the only manufacturer of graphite electrodes
that produces its own requirements of needle coke, the principal raw material
used in the manufacture of graphite electrodes, and the Company sells needle
coke to its competitors in the graphite electrode business. Net sales for the
Company's graphite electrode products segment and calcium carbide products
segment represented 73.5% and 26.5%, respectively, of consolidated net sales for
fiscal 1998. Refer to Note 11 to the Company's consolidated financial statements
for its fiscal year ended July 31, 1998 (incorporated by reference under Item 8
of this Form 10-K) for information regarding sales (including export sales),
operating income and identifiable assets by business segment.
On September 26, 1997, the Company completed a tender offer for
essentially all ($79.9 million of the $80.0 million then outstanding) of its
11.5% Senior Notes due 2003 (the Senior Notes) (the Tender). The tender price
paid to holders of the Senior Notes was $1,086.20 for each $1,000 in Senior Note
principal. Also, most holders received an additional $15.00 per $1,000 in Senior
Note principal in exchange for their consent to eliminate substantially all of
the restrictive covenants and certain default provisions in the indenture
governing the Senior Notes (the Senior Note Indenture) other than the covenants
to pay interest on and principal of the Senior Notes and the default provisions
related to such covenants. Consents were received by holders of more than a
majority of the outstanding Senior Notes, resulting in the elimination of such
restrictive covenants and default provisions. After the Tender, $0.1 million in
Senior Notes were outstanding. Subsequent to July 31, 1998, the Company notified
the trustee of the Senior Notes that it intended to exercise an option to redeem
early the remaining Senior Notes at a price of $1,057.50 for each $1,000 in
Senior Note principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The early redemption of
the remaining Senior Notes outstanding was completed during the first quarter of
the Company's fiscal year ending July 31, 1999 and will not have a material
impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In connection with the Tender, the Company entered into an agreement
with a consortium of banks led by PNC Bank for a five-year, $150 million
revolving credit facility with a $15 million sub-limit for standby letters of
credit (the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility, as amended). The 1997 Revolving
Credit Facility replaces a $25 million revolving credit facility with PNC Bank
entered into on December 1, 1995 (the 1995 Revolving Credit Facility). Interest
under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility is based on, at the option of the
Company, either PNC Bank's prime rate or a floating LIBOR rate plus a spread
(currently 0.75%) based on a leverage calculation (specifically, the
Consolidated Total Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio). As of July 31, 1998, the
interest rate on borrowings outstanding under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility
was 6.6%. Repayment of funds borrowed under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility
is not required until the expiration of the facility on September 25, 2002. The
most restrictive covenants under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility include a
minimum Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.5 to 1.0, a maximum Consolidated Total
Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio of 3.0 to 1.0 and a minimum Consolidated Tangible
Net Worth Ratio, all as defined in the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility agreement.
During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998, the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility
was amended to incorporate a $38 million pre-tax charge ($25 million after
expected tax benefits) for pending antitrust claims (see below). The financial
covenants in the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility agreement were generally amended
to exclude the effects of this provision and reserve, although the cash flow
impact associated with any future settlements of such antitrust claims will
effectively reduce EBITDA in the computation of the Consolidated Total
Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio computed for pricing purposes in the future. The
1997 Revolving Credit Facility is collateralized with receivables and inventory.
As a result of the Tender and revolving credit facility refinancing,
the Company recorded a $6.4 million net extraordinary loss on the early
retirement of debt for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998. This extraordinary
charge represents the premium paid to Senior Note holders in connection with the
Tender and the write off of unamortized deferred financing fees associated with
the Senior Notes tendered and the 1995 Revolving Credit Facility.
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In May 1997, the Company was served with a subpoena issued by a Grand
Jury empanelled by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania. The Company was advised by attorneys for the Antitrust Division of
the United States Department of Justice (the DOJ) that the Grand Jury is
investigating price fixing by producers of graphite products in the United
States and abroad during the past five years. The Company is cooperating with
the DOJ in the investigation. The DOJ has granted the Company and certain former
and present senior executives the opportunity to participate in its Corporate
Leniency Program and the Company has entered into an agreement with the DOJ
under which the Company and such executives who cooperate will not be subject to
criminal prosecution with respect to the investigation if charges are issued by
the Grand Jury. Under the agreement, the Company has agreed to use its best
efforts to provide for restitution to its domestic customers for actual damages
if any conduct of the Company which violated the Federal Antitrust Laws in the
manufacture and sale of such graphite products caused damage to such customers.
Subsequent to the initiation of the DOJ investigation, four civil cases
were filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia asserting claims on behalf of a class of purchasers
for violations of the Sherman Act. These cases, which have been consolidated,
name the Company, UCAR International, Inc. (UCAR), SGL Carbon Corporation (SGL
Corp.) and SGL Carbon AG (SGL) (the Named Defendants) as defendants and seek
treble damages. On March 30, 1998, a number of purchasers who were previously
included in the purported class of plaintiffs covered by the consolidated case
initiated a separate action in the same District Court which asserts
substantially the same claims and seeks the same relief as the consolidated case
and names the Named Defendants as well as Showa Denko Carbon, Inc. (Showa
Denko). Thereafter, five additional purchasers who were previously included in
the purported class of plaintiffs covered by the consolidated case instituted
their own actions against the Named Defendants, Showa Denko and, in several
cases, certain present or former related parties of UCAR asserting substantially
the same claims and seeking the same relief as in the consolidated cases. Three
such actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania on April 3, 1998, April 17, 1998 and May 14, 1998,
respectively. One action was filed in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Ohio on April 17, 1998, but has been transferred to the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania for pre-trial proceedings. One such action was
filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania on June 17, 1998; the Company is seeking to have this case
transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for pre-trial proceedings.
The Company understands that defendants UCAR and Showa Denko have
reached settlement agreements with the class action plaintiffs, which are
subject by law to court approval, and have also settled claims brought by some
of the individual purchasers. The Company further understands that UCAR and
Showa Denko have pleaded guilty to antitrust conspiracy charges filed by the DOJ
and have been ordered to pay fines in connection with those guilty pleas.
The Company has also advised the Commission of the European Communities
(the European Commission) that it wishes to invoke its Notice on the
non-imposition or reduction of fines in cartel cases (the Leniency Notice).
Generally under these guidelines, the European Commission may substantially
reduce fines and other penalties if a company cooperates with the European
Commission and in the judgment of the European Commission provides significant
information. The Company understands that the European Commission will determine
any fines at the completion of its proceedings that may not be concluded for a
year or more.
On June 18, 1998, a group of Canadian purchasers filed a lawsuit in the
Ontario Court (General Division) claiming a conspiracy and violations of the
Canadian Competition Act. The Canadian lawsuit names the Named Defendants as
well as several present or former parents, subsidiaries and/or affiliates of
UCAR, SGL and Showa Denko. The Canadian Competition and Consumer Law Division
has initiated an inquiry and the Company is cooperating fully with the
authorities conducting that inquiry.
During fiscal 1998, the Company recorded a $38 million pre-tax charge
($25 million after expected tax benefits) for potential liabilities which may
result from civil lawsuits, claims, legal costs and other expenses associated
with the antitrust matters noted above and the investigations initiated by the
antitrust enforcement authorities of the European Union (the Antitrust Charge).
Based on the information currently available to the Company to date (including
the nature of the antitrust claims against the Company and its defenses), the
Company presently believes the Antitrust Charge should be appropriate under the
present assumptions to address the resolution of the civil suits and other
claims and costs associated with the antitrust investigations. The Company
understands that defendants UCAR and Showa Denko recently reached settlements at
substantially higher amounts with the class action plaintiffs and certain
individual purchasers. In light of these and other future developments and other
factors, the actual liabilities, costs and expenses resulting from
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the antitrust matters (including the European Commission antitrust
investigation) could differ materially from the current estimate which could
adversely affect the Company's financial condition and its ability to service
its currently planned liquidity needs. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources"
under Item 7 of this Form 10-K.
GRAPHITE ELECTRODE PRODUCTS BUSINESS
Products and Markets
The Company's graphite electrode products business segment includes graphite
electrodes, needle coke, bulk graphite, granular graphite (primarily from
machine turnings) and other related miscellaneous sales. The following table
presents the Company's net sales and percentage of segment sales within its
graphite electrode products segment for fiscal 1998, by principal product
category:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL 1998
------------------------------
Product Category Net Sales % of Total
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
(dollars in thousands)
Graphite electrodes $159,997 74.2%
Needle coke (third party sales) 33,907 15.7
Granular graphite 9,627 4.5
Bulk graphite 9,273 4.3
Other 2,963 1.3
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total graphite electrode products net sales $215,767 100.0%
================================================================================
</TABLE>
The Company's needle coke production capacity at its affiliate,
Seadrift Coke, L.P. (Seadrift) is currently approximately 180,000 tons per year,
an increase of approximately 34% over fiscal 1997 as a result of a $22 million
capital expansion and process modification project completed in fiscal 1998.
During fiscal 1998, the Company sold approximately 47% of its needle coke
production to six other graphite electrode producers. As a result of the
capacity expansion project at Seadrift, the Company's sales of needle coke to
its competitors in the graphite electrode industry is expected to become a more
significant component of the graphite electrode products segment in the future.
In connection with the fiscal 1995 sale (the Specialty Products Sale)
of the Company's graphite specialty products business (Specialty Products) to
SGL Corp., the Company agreed to continue to produce graphite rods and plates
(also known as bulk graphite), the majority of which were sold to SGL Corp. at
prices approximating the Company's manufacturing cost under a supply agreement
which expired in January 1998 (the SGL Supply Agreement). Sales to SGL Corp.
under this contract in fiscal 1998 were $3.9 million versus $16.7 million in
fiscal 1997. The Company also sells these bulk graphite rods and plates, and
certain other graphite products, to other graphite specialty customers. The
Company is currently pursuing a strategy to increase its customer base for bulk
graphite. While the Company believes that it will continue to sell bulk graphite
to both SGL Corp. and other bulk graphite customers, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to sell quantities of bulk graphite equal to those
sold while the SGL Supply Agreement was in effect. Granular graphite is
primarily turnings from the machining of graphite electrodes and is used in a
variety of industrial applications, including brake shoe materials and carbon
additives for steel chemistry. In addition, the Company provides processing
services, which include graphitizing baked rods.
Domestic sales of graphite electrode products are made primarily by the
Company's direct sales force, consisting of seven salesmen for graphite
electrodes and one salesman for other graphite products. This sales force is
supported by five technical service personnel. International sales of electrodes
are made through long-standing relationships with over twenty independent
agents. Exports of graphite electrodes account for approximately 50% of the
Company's annual shipments of graphite electrodes and subject the Company to
risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Most
foreign currencies were weaker in relationship to the U.S. dollar during fiscal
1998 which negatively impacted foreign price realizations and operating results.
The Company regularly enters into forward foreign currency contracts to help
mitigate foreign currency exchange rate exposure. In addition, the Company is
attempting to shift sales to markets in which transactions are completed in U.S.
dollars and to markets with foreign currencies that are not as weak. There can
be no assurance that the Company's attempts to mitigate its exposure to foreign
currency valuations will fully offset the negative effects of the strengthened
U.S. dollar.
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The steel industry, which constitutes the principal market for the
Company's graphite electrodes and a major market for its calcium carbide for
metallurgical applications, is highly cyclical. As a result, the Company's steel
industry-related products will face periods of reduced demand, which, because of
the generally high fixed costs of the Company's business, could result in
substantial downward pressure on profitability. Current weakness in certain
regions of the global economy is expected to have a negative impact on demand
for graphite electrodes and premium needle coke and has resulted in and is
expected to continue to result in decreasing shipments and/or average prices of
graphite electrodes and needle coke in fiscal 1999 and potentially beyond.
Demand for and sales of graphite electrodes and needle coke can also fluctuate
from quarter to quarter due to such factors as scheduled plant shutdowns by
customers, changes in customer production schedules in response to seasonal
changes in energy costs, weather conditions, strikes and work stoppages at
customer plants and changes in customer order patterns in response to the
announcement of price increases or decreases.
Manufacturing and Modernization
The Company's electrodes and other graphite products are manufactured at its
facilities in Niagara Falls, New York and St. Marys, Pennsylvania. Both plants
are equipped with facilities for milling, mixing, homogenizing and extruding;
baking and rebaking; pitch impregnating; graphitizing; and machine finishing.
The Company currently has the effective capacity to manufacture approximately
125 million pounds of electrodes and approximately 20 million pounds of bulk
graphite annually.
The Company manufactures all of its needle coke (the primary raw
material for graphite electrodes) at its affiliate, Seadrift. The Company
currently has the capacity to manufacture approximately 180,000 tons of needle
coke annually, approximately 40% of which is used internally for the production
of graphite electrodes. Needle coke is shipped from Seadrift largely by rail
(and to a lesser extent by barge) to the Company's St. Marys facilities.
The Company has completed the construction and machinery installation
phases of a program to modernize certain components of its electrode
manufacturing process (the Modernization Program). The primary objectives of the
Modernization Program, which has a total cost of approximately $40 million, are
the automation of labor intensive processes and the replacement of older
equipment with new, state-of-the-art technology in order to reduce costs while
improving electrode quality and consistency. A major aspect of the Modernization
Program focuses on the electrode forming processes, including the addition of
equipment to automate the Company's sizing and weighing systems, and to enhance
production capabilities by adding new needle coke preheaters, needle coke and
pitch mixers as well as mix cooling/homogenization equipment. These
improvements, with a total cost of approximately $32 million, are designed to
reduce total labor requirements and minimize variations in the critical initial
forming of the electrodes, resulting in better and more consistent electrode
quality. This project will also allow the Company to produce 28-inch electrodes,
a market in which it does not currently compete. In addition, the Company has
added three new computer-controlled machine tools used for electrode finishing
in its Niagara Falls facility. With a cost of approximately $8 million, the
machine tool system is expected to meet the highest electrode machining
standard. The majority of the cost for the machine tool system is being financed
under a long-term operating lease. The Company currently expects to complete the
start-up phase of the Modernization Program during the first half of its fiscal
year ending July 31, 1999. While the Company does not believe that significant
start-up costs or delays will be incurred with respect to the Modernization
Program projects, there can be no assurance that significant start-up costs or
delays will not be incurred in connection with such projects.
The Company has also announced plans to build a longitudinal
graphitizing facility at a cost now estimated at $40 million. This new facility,
which would replace older, higher cost Acheson graphitizing facilities, should
increase productivity, as well as allow for the production of more large, high
quality electrodes. In light of the current weakness in certain global markets
and its anticipated impact on EAF steel production and graphite electrode
demand, the Company is re-evaluating the timing of this project's commencement.
See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" under Item 7 of this Form 10-K.
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CALCIUM CARBIDE PRODUCTS BUSINESS
Products and Markets
The Company's primary products in this segment are pipeline acetylene, calcium
carbide for metallurgical applications such as iron and steel desulfurization
and calcium carbide for fuel gas applications. The following table presents the
Company's net sales and percentage of segment sales within its calcium carbide
products business for fiscal 1998, by principal product category:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL 1998
-------------------------------
Product Category Net Sales % of Total
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
(dollars in thousands)
Pipeline acetylene $28,863 37.0%
Metallurgical applications 23,712 30.4
Fuel gas applications 20,009 25.7
Other 5,400 6.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total calcium carbide product net sales $77,984 100.0%
================================================================================
</TABLE>
The Company produces acetylene at its Louisville and Calvert City,
Kentucky plants for pipeline delivery to three customers, International
Specialty Products (ISP), Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (Air Products) and
E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company (DuPont), for use as a feedstock in the
manufacture of specialty chemicals. Each of these customers, which together
represented 37% of the Company's total calcium carbide product net sales in
fiscal 1998, has been supplied by the Company for over thirty years. Although
relationships with these pipeline customers are long-standing, there can be no
assurance that any of these customers will continue to operate its adjacent
facility or require the Company's acetylene product.
The Company sells calcium carbide for metallurgical applications, such
as blast furnace hot metal desulfurization, foundry iron desulfurization and
electric furnace slag conditioning and deoxidation. Most calcium carbide
desulfurization products are finely ground to talcum powder size and, together
with several additives, are injected into baths of molten iron to reduce the
sulfur content of the material. Sales of calcium carbide for metallurgical
applications represented 30.4% of total calcium carbide products net sales for
fiscal 1998. The Company continues to face increased competition from other
calcium carbide suppliers and substitute desulfurization agents in this product
line, as well as weakness in the steel industry, which is expected to result in
lower sales in this product line in fiscal 1999 and, potentially, beyond. The
Company sells calcium carbide to major distributors which in turn supply carbide
mixtures and a variety of ancillary services to steel mills for metallurgical
applications.
Calcium carbide is sold to industrial gas generators as a raw material
for the production of cylinder acetylene, a fuel gas which is primarily used in
the metal fabrication and construction industries. The acetylene distribution
market is comprised of several large, national distributors of industrial gases
with numerous generating locations, and a large number of small companies that
generate acetylene for distribution within their regional markets. The Company
sells to both types of customers. The Company is experiencing increased price
competition in the fuel gas application product line which is expected to result
in lower sales in this product line in fiscal 1999 and, potentially, beyond. The
Company markets calcium carbide products to all of its end customers through a
sales force of three and through distributors, with technical service support
from a staff of two. Sales to customers other than pipeline customers are
generally made through purchase orders.
Manufacturing
The Company manufactures its calcium carbide products at plants in Louisville
and Calvert City, Kentucky with a combined production capacity of approximately
200,000 tons. Both plants operate submerged arc electric furnaces for the
production of calcium carbide, as well as crushing, screening and packing
equipment; acetylene generators; and grinding facilities. The Louisville plant
supplies pipeline acetylene to DuPont; the Calvert City plant supplies pipeline
acetylene to ISP and Air Products. The Calvert City plant is operated in
block-run fashion on an as needed basis.
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COMPETITION
Graphite Electrode Products
The Company's competition in graphite electrodes includes two major producers,
UCAR and SGL, as well as a group of smaller, foreign producers, including Showa
Denko KK (of Japan), Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd. (of Japan), Nippon Carbon Co. Ltd.
(of Japan) and VAW Aluminum AG (of Germany). Participants in the graphite
electrode industry compete on the basis of service and product quality,
reliability, efficiency and price.
UCAR and SGL are market and price leaders, each have worldwide market
shares ranging between 25% and 35%, and each have greater financial resources
than the Company. Both maintain operations in various international markets. The
Company is one of a small group of graphite electrode producers each having a
worldwide market share of 5% to 7%. While the Company markets its graphite
electrodes worldwide, it has no production facility outside of the United States
and, accordingly, has significant transportation, duty cost and, at times,
foreign currency exchange rate disadvantages relative to some of its competitors
who have production facilities located in foreign markets.
From time to time, graphite electrode manufacturers, including the
Company, experience temporary declines in the quality of their graphite
electrodes, sometimes resulting in customer credits and reimbursements. The
Company continually evaluates and implements procedures to improve electrode
quality and believes that its electrode performance meets the quality
requirements of its customers. Moreover, the Modernization Program is intended
to enhance further the Company's ability to consistently manufacture electrodes
of acceptable quality. There can be no assurance, however, that temporary
declines in electrode quality will not recur.
Outside of Japan, there are currently only three needle coke producers:
Conoco, Inc. (Conoco), UNO-VEN Company (Uno-Ven) and Seadrift. Conoco is the
largest needle coke producer and is the market leader, with annual capacity
currently estimated by the Company to be 400,000 tons. Uno-Ven has a production
capacity of approximately 100,000 tons per year and Seadrift's production
capacity is currently approximately 180,000 tons per year. In Japan, there are
four small producers, one of which is a Conoco affiliate, and two of which make
a different type of coke from coal tar pitch. The Company believes the three
Japanese producers (other than the Conoco affiliate) produce an aggregate of
approximately 200,000 tons per year. Participants in the needle coke industry
compete primarily on price and quality.
The Company has numerous competitors in the sale of granular graphite,
including granular graphite marketed by other electrode manufacturers and a
variety of graphite scrap dealers and granular graphite substitutes. Graphite
blocks and rods (also known as bulk graphite) are produced by a number of
companies throughout the world, including UCAR and SGL. These materials are
marketed on a worldwide basis by the Company.
Calcium Carbide Products
The Company's primary competitors in the manufacture and marketing of calcium
carbide in the United States and Canada are Elkem and Airgas, Inc., both of
which market calcium carbide through a joint venture, Elkem-American Carbide
Company. Participants in the calcium carbide market compete on the basis of
service and product quality, reliability, efficiency and price.
The Company sells all of its acetylene to the adjacent specialty
chemical plants of its pipeline customers. These plants are not supplied with
acetylene by any source other than the Company, although certain pipeline
acetylene customers have alternative production facilities producing the same
end products for which they purchase acetylene from the Company. See "-Calcium
Carbide Products Business-Products and Markets."
For many years, other, less expensive materials have competed with
cylinder acetylene for use in the metal fabrication and construction industries.
Acetylene has maintained its market position through its versatility and ease of
use. Acetylene provides the hottest cutting flame of all the fuel gases and thus
allows for faster, cleaner cutting operations. Calcium carbide for metallurgical
applications competes with magnesium- and lime-based desulfurization products
and lime spar. The commodity price of magnesium and the resultant price of
magnesium-based desulfurizers affects the demand for calcium carbide-based
desulfurization products. As previously mentioned, the Company is experiencing
increased competition in the fuel gas and metallurgical markets for calcium
carbide which is expected to have a negative impact on sales and results in
fiscal 1999 and, potentially, beyond.
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RAW MATERIALS AND COSTS
Graphite Electrode Products
The significant raw material costs of production for all graphite electrode
manufacturers are needle coke, coal tar pitch, natural gas for the heating of
kilns and electricity for graphitizing. The Company's graphite electrode
business purchases all of its needle coke requirements from Seadrift, an
affiliate of the Company.
Seadrift uses low sulfur decant oil, a by-product of fluid catalytic
cracking units in integrated oil refineries, in the manufacture of needle coke.
Most of this feedstock is purchased from refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast. A
limited number of refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast produce decant oil suitable
for use by Seadrift. Due to restraints on local availability, Seadrift also
purchases decant oil on the West and East Coasts at a higher cost (due primarily
to transportation costs) than if obtained from a local refinery. Conoco and
Uno-Ven, Seadrift's two largest needle coke competitors, operate large,
integrated refineries that have the ability to desulfurize decant oil.
The cost of refinery decant oil is pegged to the U.S. Gulf Coast spot
cargo barge prices for heavy fuel oil and, in certain cases, West Texas
Intermediate crude oil. Fuel oil prices generally move with worldwide crude oil
prices and, to some extent, with winter weather conditions in the United States.
The Company regularly hedges oil costs by trading in futures contracts for crude
oil and/or heating oil and oil swap agreements for low sulfur fuel oil. Seadrift
believes that decant oil of an acceptable quality is generally available to
supply its current needs. However, there can be no assurance that Seadrift will
be able to obtain an adequate quantity of suitable feedstocks at all times in
the future or at acceptable prices.
Electricity for graphitizing operations represents a major cost factor
due to the large quantities of electricity needed to graphitize electrodes. At
the Company's plant in Niagara Falls, electricity is supplied by the Power
Authority of the State of New York at favorable, pre-determined prices under a
contract that expires in 2006. The St. Marys plant is supplied electricity under
a conventional power contract. Through an electricity co-generation process,
Seadrift is a net power producer, resulting in only nominal electrical power
costs for that facility. The Company purchases natural gas for heating kilns
from either interstate natural gas carriers or from local gas well operators.
Calcium Carbide Products
Raw materials required for calcium carbide manufacture are lime, coke and large
amounts of electricity for submerged arc electric furnaces. The Company believes
that its raw materials are widely available at satisfactory prices. Both the
Louisville and Calvert City plants are supplied electricity under conventional
power contracts.
EMPLOYEES
The Company employed 1,210 people as of July 31, 1998. At July 31, 1998, the
Company employed 877 people in its graphite electrode products segment; 33% were
salaried and 67% were paid hourly. Seadrift is staffed entirely with salaried
personnel. At July 31, 1998, there were 294 people in the calcium carbide
segment; 21% were salaried and 79% were paid hourly. At July 31, 1998, the
Company employed 39 people in its corporate function, almost all of whom were
salaried employees.
The Company has various labor agreements with unions representing its
hourly work force. Within the graphite electrode products business, the St.
Marys labor agreement will expire in June 1999. In May 1998, the Company and the
union representing the hourly work force at its Niagara Falls facility agreed to
a five-year extension of its labor agreement. The extended agreement, which
becomes effective in January 1999 and expires in January 2004, was negotiated on
terms deemed satisfactory to the Company. Within the calcium carbide products
business, the Louisville and Calvert City agreements will expire in July 2001
and February 2001, respectively. The Company believes that its relationships
with the unions are stable. However, there can be no assurance that new
agreements will be reached when the current agreements expire without union
action or will be on terms satisfactory to the Company.
7
<PAGE> 9
PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
The Company does not believe that any of its patents, patent applications or
trademarks are material to its business or operations.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
In connection with the agreement under which the Company acquired its operating
assets from The BOC Group, plc (BOC) (the Asset Acquisition), BOC agreed to
indemnify the Company, its successors and assigns, against certain liabilities,
to the extent not disclosed and expressly excluded from the indemnity, arising
from (i) pre-closing operations of its former divisions (regardless of whether
such liabilities arose during or before BOC's ownership thereof); (ii) assets
transferred to the Company pursuant to the Asset Acquisition; and (iii)
pre-closing activities conducted at the real property and leased premises
transferred to the Company pursuant to the Asset Acquisition. Such
indemnification includes certain liabilities arising out of the use, generation,
transportation, storage, treatment, release or disposal of hazardous materials;
the violation of any environmental regulations; or any claim or cause of action
to the effect that the Company is responsible or liable for acts or omissions of
BOC concerning hazardous materials. Under the indemnity, the Company is required
to pay 20% of the first $2.5 million of costs relating to such environmental
claims or liabilities. Thereafter, BOC is responsible for all of such
liabilities. The BOC indemnity survives for all covered claims brought within 15
years after closing of the Asset Acquisition, which occurred in July 1988. A
number of identifiable costs at the time of the Asset Acquisition, such as the
need for certain pollution control equipment, receipt of certain discharge
permits and the need for continued operation and maintenance of a landfill used
exclusively by the Company at its St. Marys facility, were disclosed by BOC and
were excluded from the indemnification. The Company has installed much of the
pollution control equipment and received the discharge permits excluded from the
BOC indemnity. If any of the pollution control equipment excluded from the BOC
indemnity is required in the future for reactivation of production equipment or
increases in capacity, the costs related thereto are not believed by the Company
to be material.
In connection with the Specialty Products Sale, the Company agreed to
indemnify SGL Corp. for 80% of all environment costs in excess of an aggregate
$100,000 threshold up to a maximum exposure of $6.0 million. In addition, with
respect to the Company's former subsidiary, Speer Canada, Inc., sold pursuant to
the Specialty Products Sale, the Company agreed to indemnify SGL Corp. for 80%
of all environment costs, in excess of a $100,000 threshold, relating to such
former subsidiary's operations prior to the consummation of the Specialty
Products Sale, up to a maximum exposure of $1.5 million. As of July 31, 1998, no
environmental claims have been submitted for indemnification by SGL Corp.
Since 1970, a wide variety of federal, state and local environmental
laws, regulations and ordinances have been, and continue to be, adopted and
amended. Some of these laws, regulations and ordinances hold current owners or
operators of land liable for their own and previous owners' or operators'
releases of hazardous substances. Because of its operations and the operations
of its predecessors, and the use, production or discharge of certain substances
by their plants, the Company is affected by these laws and regulations. Various
Company facilities have experienced some level of regulatory scrutiny in the
past and continue to be subject to regulatory inspections and requests for
investigation or response action in connection with releases or threatened
releases of hazardous substances.
The Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, each as amended, and similar state or
local counterparts of these federal laws, regulate air emissions, water
discharges and wastes. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986, among others, provides for responses to and
liability for releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances into the
environment. The Company's current operations require compliance with the above
laws as well as the Toxic Substances Control Act and related laws designed to
assess the risk to health and the environment at early developmental stages of
new products. In addition, the Company is subject to laws adopted or proposed in
various states that impose various reporting or remediation requirements if
operations cease or the property is transferred or sold. While the Company
believes it is in substantial compliance with these regulations, from time to
time it receives from various government agencies notification or complaints or
gives notice to such agencies of potential violations of the requirements, which
the Company then works with the agency to resolve. No such notice is outstanding
or anticipated which would be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial condition, future operating results or cash flows.
8
<PAGE> 10
The Clean Air Act was amended in 1990 (including Title V). While the
Company believes that its facilities generally meet current regulatory standards
applicable to air emissions, some of its facilities will be required to comply
with new standards for hazardous emissions to be promulgated by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) over the next several years. In
addition, the Clean Air Act has resulted and will continue to result in
revisions to state implementation plans which may necessitate the installation
of additional controls for certain of the Company's emission sources. The
Company's Title V applications for its five production facilities are in various
stages of completion. The Company does not believe that its compliance with
Title V will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, future
operating results or cash flows.
In the process of developing permit applications for facility upgrades
at two of the Company's plants, the Company determined that certain parameters
in its Niagara Falls air permits do not reflect current operations; testing at
the St. Marys location is required to determine its status. The Company is
working to resolve this issue and has advised the appropriate state
environmental authorities. At this time, management cannot determine the
magnitude of the costs or fines, if any, that may be incurred.
Periodic upsets at the Niagara Falls facility resulting in particulate
air emissions from baking and graphitization furnaces and odor have led to
complaints to the Niagara County Health Department. The Company has made certain
improvements and is evaluating further corrective actions which may, in future
years, require expenditures for new production and air pollution control
equipment. The Company does not believe that such expenditures will have a
material adverse effect on its financial condition, future operating results or
cash flows.
The Company had submitted to the NYDEC a plan for compliance with
restrictions on emissions of volatile organic compounds from its graphitization
plant at Niagara Falls. The Company has received approval of its plan.
Expenditures under the plan for compliance will not materially affect the
Company's financial condition, future operating results or cash flows.
Refer to Item 3, "Legal Proceedings" for a discussion of
environmental-related claims against the Company.
During fiscal 1998, the Company spent approximately $0.9 million on
capital expenditures in order to comply with environmental laws and regulations
(which expenditures are included in the consolidated financial statements,
including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K as additions
to property, plant and equipment). During fiscal 1999, the Company expects to
spend approximately $2.0 million for such projects.
ITEM 2 PROPERTIES
The Company maintains its corporate headquarters at One Gateway Center,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under a lease with an initial term expiring on December
31, 1999.
The Company has the following additional properties, which are owned or
leased, as indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AREA
(APPROXIMATE OWNED
LOCATION USE SQUARE FEET) OR LEASED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Graphite Electrode Products Facilities:
Niagara Falls, New York Electrodes 1,000,000 Owned
St. Marys, Pennsylvania Electrodes 742,000 Owned
Seadrift, Texas Needle Coke 743,000 Owned
Calcium Carbide Products Facilities:
Calvert City, Kentucky Carbide Products 150,000 Owned
Louisville, Kentucky Carbide Products 200,000 Owned
Louisville, Kentucky Carbide Sales, Technical and Finance Offices 6,000 Leased
==============================================================================================================
</TABLE>
Pursuant to the Specialty Products Sale, SGL Corp. acquired a discrete
portion of the Company's St. Marys facility. The Company and SGL Corp. share
common steam services in St. Marys. In addition, the Company leases to SGL Corp.
a portion of a building and certain parking lot space at its facility in Niagara
Falls pursuant to a lease expiring in January 2000 (subject to optional renewals
by SGL Corp. for a maximum of five additional years).
9
<PAGE> 11
The Company owns all of its major manufacturing facilities. The Company
believes that its plants and facilities, which are of varying ages and types of
construction, are generally in satisfactory condition.
Many of the Company's operations are conducted at extremely high
temperatures, exceeding 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit in the case of electrode
graphitizing. In some facilities, a maintenance "turnaround" is conducted
annually; in other facilities, major maintenance is conducted on an ongoing
basis. Maintenance expenditures, which are expensed as incurred, amounted to
approximately $37.7 million, $37.5 million and $37.1 million for the fiscal
years ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
Item 3 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
GENERAL
In May 1997, the Company was served with a subpoena issued by a Grand Jury
empanelled by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania. The Company was advised by attorneys for the DOJ that the Grand
Jury is investigating price fixing by producers of graphite products in the
United States and abroad during the past five years. The Company is cooperating
with the DOJ in the investigation. The DOJ has granted the Company and certain
former and present senior executives the opportunity to participate in its
Corporate Leniency Program and the Company has entered into an agreement with
the DOJ under which the Company and such executives who cooperate will not be
subject to criminal prosecution with respect to the investigation if charges are
issued by the Grand Jury. Under the agreement, the Company has agreed to use its
best efforts to provide for restitution to its domestic customers for actual
damages if any conduct of the Company which violated the Federal Antitrust Laws
in the manufacture and sale of such graphite products caused damage to such
customers.
Subsequent to the initiation of the DOJ investigation, four civil cases
were filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia asserting claims on behalf of a class of purchasers
for violations of the Sherman Act. These cases, which have been consolidated,
name the Company, UCAR, SGL Corp. and SGL as defendants and seek treble damages.
On March 30, 1998, a number of purchasers who were previously included in the
purported class of plaintiffs covered by the consolidated case initiated a
separate action in the same District Court which asserts substantially the same
claims and seeks the same relief as the consolidated case and names the Named
Defendants as well as Showa Denko. Thereafter, five additional purchasers who
were previously included in the purported class of plaintiffs covered by the
consolidated case instituted their own actions against the Named Defendants,
Showa Denko and, in several cases, certain present or former related parties of
UCAR asserting substantially the same claims and seeking the same relief as in
the consolidated cases. Three such actions were filed in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on April 3, 1998, April
17, 1998 and May 14, 1998, respectively. One action was filed in the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on April 17, 1998, but
has been transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for pre-trial
proceedings. One such action was filed in the United States District Court for
the Western District of Pennsylvania on June 17, 1998; the Company is seeking to
have this case transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for pre-trial
proceedings.
The Company understands that defendants UCAR and Showa Denko have
reached settlement agreements with the class action plaintiffs, which are
subject by law to court approval, and have also settled claims brought by some
of the individual purchasers. The Company further understands that UCAR and
Showa Denko have pleaded guilty to antitrust conspiracy charges filed by the DOJ
and have been ordered to pay fines in connection with those guilty pleas.
The Company has also advised the Commission of the European Communities
that it wishes to invoke its Leniency Notice. Generally under these guidelines,
the European Commission may substantially reduce fines and other penalties if a
company cooperates with the European Commission and in the judgment of the
European Commission provides significant information. The Company understands
that the European Commission will determine any fines at the completion of its
proceedings that may not be concluded for a year or more.
On June 18, 1998, a group of Canadian purchasers filed a lawsuit in the
Ontario Court (General Division) claiming a conspiracy and violations of the
Canadian Competition Act. The Canadian lawsuit names the Named Defendants as
well as several present or former parents, subsidiaries and/or affiliates of
UCAR, SGL and Showa Denko. The Canadian Competition and Consumer Law Division
has initiated an inquiry and the Company is cooperating fully with the
authorities conducting that inquiry.
10
<PAGE> 12
During fiscal 1998, the Company recorded the Antitrust Charge, a $38
million pre-tax charge ($25 million after expected tax benefits), classified as
"other expense" in the consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year
ended July 31, 1998, for potential liabilities resulting from civil lawsuits,
claims, legal costs and other expenses associated with pending antitrust
matters. Based on the information currently available to the Company to date
(including the nature of the antitrust claims against the Company and its
defenses), the Company presently believes the Antitrust Charge should be
appropriate under the present assumptions to address the resolution of the civil
suits and other claims and costs associated with the antitrust investigations.
The Company understands that defendants UCAR and Showa Denko recently reached
settlements at substantially higher amounts with the class action plaintiffs and
certain individual purchasers. In light of these and other future developments
and other factors, the actual liabilities, costs and expenses resulting from the
antitrust matters (including the European Commission antitrust investigation)
could differ materially from the current estimate which could adversely affect
the Company's financial condition and its ability to service its currently
planned liquidity needs. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" under Item 7 of
this Form 10-K.
The Company is also involved in various legal proceedings considered
incidental to the conduct of its business, the ultimate disposition of which, in
the opinion of the Company's management, will not have a material adverse effect
on the financial position, fiscal year operating results or business of the
Company. Claims (other than environmental and contract claims and claims for
punitive damages) against the Company are generally covered by insurance which
includes a $250,000 per occurrence self-insured retention. As of July 31, 1998,
a $0.1 million reserve has been recorded to provide for estimated exposure on
claims for which a loss is deemed probable.
ENVIRONMENTAL
In April 1995, the Company was named as a third-party defendant in a Superfund
action in Federal District Court in New Jersey relating to waste disposal at a
landfill located in Sayreville, New Jersey (the Sayreville Litigation).
Recently, three of the seven third-party plaintiffs have agreed with the Company
to dismiss their third-party claims. A stipulation of dismissal is being
circulated and will shortly be submitted to the Court for approval. The
remaining four third-party plaintiffs have recently entered into settlement
agreements directly with the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs report that those settlement
agreements include a provision requiring the settlors to dismiss all claims made
in the lawsuit, which includes the third-party claims made against the Company.
The plaintiffs expect the stipulations of dismissal relating to the settlements
to be submitted for court approval shortly. Upon approval of the foregoing
stipulations by the Court, all claims against the Company will be dismissed.
Carbon Graphite Group, Inc. was named as successor to Airco-Speer Company
(Airco-Speer). Since this landfill was closed prior to the organization of the
Company in 1988, the Company's only possible connection with the Sayreville
Litigation would be if it were a successor to Airco-Speer, a claim which it
disputes. Furthermore, pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement by which the
Company acquired assets from BOC, BOC agreed to provide an indemnification for
certain environmental matters. BOC has assumed and commenced the defense of the
Sayreville Litigation and agreed to indemnify the Company for losses associated
therewith in accordance with the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement. In
addition, BOC asserts that the liability in this matter was settled by a 1992
agreement with the plaintiffs in the present case. As a result of a motion for
summary judgment, the Court has substantially reduced the scope of claims which
may be brought against the Company. Based on the above, management does not
believe that the Company will incur a material loss with respect to the
Sayreville Litigation.
ITEM 4 SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO VOTE OF SECURITIES HOLDERS
This item is not applicable to the Registrant for this Annual Report on Form
10-K.
11
<PAGE> 13
PART II
ITEM 5 MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System. The
following tables provide information regarding the high and low prices at which
the Company's Common Stock traded for each of the quarterly periods in the
fiscal years ended July 31, 1998 and 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
QUARTERLY STOCK INFORMATION
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1998 HIGH LOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
First $39-15/16 $28-1/2
Second 39-1/8 33
Third 37 28-1/2
Fourth 34-1/8 20
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year $39-15/16 $20
================================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1997 HIGH LOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
First $19-1/2 $15-1/4
Second 22-1/2 15-7/8
Third 25 19-3/4
Fourth 29-1/2 21-1/2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year $29-1/2 $15-1/4
================================================================================
</TABLE>
No Common Stock dividends were declared during fiscal 1998 or fiscal
1997. The Company estimates that as of September 25, 1998, there were 80 record
holders and approximately 1,900 beneficial holders of its Common Stock.
12
<PAGE> 14
ITEM 6 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(in thousands, except per share amounts,
percentages and pricing information)
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA(1)(2):
Net sales $ 293,751 $289,586 $259,394 $241,456 $207,536
Cost of goods sold 242,535 235,401 214,396 198,160 172,323
Selling, general and administrative 14,884 16,031 14,609 16,247 21,430
Early retirement/severance charge(3) - 1,100 - - -
Other expense (income)(4) 38,000 - (308) (3,358) -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss) (1,668) 37,054 30,697 30,407 13,783
Interest expense, net 5,130 7,894 9,073 10,518 9,604
Special financing expenses - - 889 357 -
Provision (benefit) for income taxes (1,729) 10,732 6,416 7,206 1,644
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from continuing operations
and before extraordinary loss $ (5,069) $ 18,428 $ 14,319 $ 12,326 $ 2,535
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per share income (loss) from continuing
operations and before extraordinary loss
applicable to common stock(5):
Basic $ (0.58) $ 2.16 $ 1.90 $ 2.00 $ (0.17)
Diluted (0.58) 2.09 1.67 1.59 (0.17)
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT PERIOD END)(6):
Working capital $ 70,129 $100,825 $104,825 $106,449 $ 77,456
Property, plant and equipment, net 137,603 87,653 65,177 58,370 64,350
Total assets 289,099 235,860 212,870 214,409 192,434
Long-term debt 110,232 80,035 81,763 110,000 115,000
Stockholders' equity 84,814 96,209 74,808 43,012 15,439
OTHER OPERATING DATA(2):
Gross profit margin percentage 17.4% 18.7% 17.3% 17.9% 17.0%
Operating income margin percentage (0.6) 12.8 11.8 12.6 6.6
EBITDA(7) $ 50,708 $ 49,354 $ 39,560 $ 35,371 $ 22,787
Depreciation and amortization(7) 14,376 11,200 9,171 8,322 9,004
Capital expenditures(8) 64,306 33,765 15,670 10,526 8,950
Quantity of graphite electrodes sold
(in thousands of pounds) 119,307 110,293 105,279 100,775 96,659
Graphite electrode average
net price per pound $ 1.34 $ 1.34 $ 1.28 $ 1.19 $ 1.09
=======================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Excludes the historical operating results of Specialty Products.
(2) Certain amounts reported in previous years have been reclassified to
conform with current year presentation.
(3) Represents costs associated with the retirement of two executives in fiscal
1997.
(4) Represents expense related to the Antitrust Reserve in fiscal 1998 and
income related to a long-term contract for the construction of a graphite
electrode plant in the People's Republic of China (the China Contract) in
fiscal years 1996 and 1995. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis."
(5) Loss per share from continuing operations applicable to common stock
includes the after-tax effect of the Antitrust Charge in fiscal 1998 and a
$5.1 million special bonus paid to certain key employees in fiscal 1994.
Loss per share from continuing operations applicable to common stock in
fiscal 1994 was adjusted for the redemption of convertible redeemable
preferred stock and warrants in excess of carrying value.
(6) July 31, 1994 amounts include working capital items, property, plant and
equipment and assets related to Specialty Products.
(7) EBITDA is defined as operating income before depreciation and amortization,
early retirement/severance charges and other expense and income. EBITDA is
not presented as a measure of operating results under generally accepted
accounting principles. However, management believes that EBITDA is an
appropriate measure of the Company's ability to service its cash
requirements. Depreciation and amortization included in the computation of
EBITDA includes amortization of certain intangibles and does not include
depreciation and amortization related to Specialty Products.
(8) Prior to fiscal 1996, includes capital expenditures related to Specialty
Products.
During fiscal 1994, the Company paid a $5.00 per share Common Stock dividend. No
other Common Stock dividends were declared or paid during the five-year period
ended July 31, 1998.
13
<PAGE> 15
ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS OVERVIEW OF RESULTS
The Company's results from operations were a $5.1 million net loss, or $0.58 per
share, for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998 versus earnings from operations
of $18.4 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended July 31,
1997 and $14.3 million, or $1.67 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 1996. During fiscal 1998, the Company recorded the Antitrust Charge.
Excluding the net effects of the Antitrust Charge, earnings from operations for
fiscal 1998 were $19.9 million, or $2.24 per share. Weighted average common and
common share equivalents outstanding were 8,893,998, 8,822,706, and 8,577,451
for the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
Extraordinary losses resulting from the early retirement of the Senior
Notes during the fiscal years presented reduced the Company's net results to an
$11.5 million loss, or $1.32 per share, for fiscal 1998 as compared to net
income of $18.3 million, or $2.07 per diluted share, and $12.1 million, or $1.42
per diluted share, for fiscal 1997 and 1996, respectively.
The Company's reportable business segments include graphite electrode
products, which includes graphite electrodes, needle coke and other graphite
specialty products, and calcium carbide products, which includes pipeline
acetylene, calcium carbide for metallurgical applications and calcium carbide
for fuel gas applications. The following table sets forth certain financial
information for the periods discussed below and should be read in conjunction
with the consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto,
appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1998 1997 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(dollar amounts in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales:
Graphite electrode products $215,767 $210,045 $179,925
Calcium carbide products 77,984 79,541 79,469
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net sales $293,751 $289,586 $259,394
======================================================================================================
Percentage of net sales:
Graphite electrode products 73.5% 72.5% 69.4%
Calcium carbide products 26.5 27.5 30.6
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total percentage of net sales 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
======================================================================================================
Gross profit as a percentage of segment net sales:
Graphite electrode products 18.0% 19.9% 16.2%
Calcium carbide products 15.9 15.6 19.9
Percentage of total net sales:
Total gross profit 17.4% 18.7% 17.3%
Selling, general and administrative 5.0 5.5 5.6
Operating income (loss) (0.6) 12.8 11.8
Income (loss) from operations (1.7) 6.4 5.5
Net income (loss) (3.9) 6.3 4.7
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
FISCAL 1998 VERSUS FISCAL 1997
Net sales for fiscal 1998 were $293.8 million versus $289.6 million in fiscal
1997, a 1.4% increase. Graphite electrode product sales increased 2.7% to $215.8
million, while calcium carbide product sales decreased 2.0% to $78.0 million.
Within the graphite electrode products segment, graphite electrode net
sales for fiscal 1998 were $160.0 million, an 8.7% increase over fiscal 1997 as
a result of an 8.2% increase in shipments. Graphite electrode shipments in
fiscal 1998 totaled 119.3 million pounds. Domestic and foreign electrode
shipments as a percentage of total electrode shipments for fiscal 1998 were
55.7% and 44.3%, respectively, versus 53.2% and 46.8%, respectively, in fiscal
1997. The average net price for graphite electrodes for fiscal 1998 was $1.34
per pound, unchanged as compared to fiscal 1997. A 4.8% decrease in the foreign
net price of graphite electrodes, which resulted primarily from the continued
strengthening of the U.S.
14
<PAGE> 16
dollar against foreign currencies, was offset by a 3.5% increase in the domestic
net price and the improved domestic/ foreign sales mix. Needle coke sales for
fiscal 1998 were $33.9 million versus $28.6 million in fiscal 1997, with the
increase resulting from a 13.8% increase in shipments and a 4.1% increase in the
average selling price of needle coke. Needle coke shipments were up
substantially over fiscal 1997 due to increased production capacity at the
Company's affiliate, Seadrift. The Company estimates that as a result of capital
expenditures made during fiscal 1997 and 1998, the current effective production
capacity of Seadrift is approximately 180,000 tons of premium needle coke.
Current weakness in certain regions of the global economy is expected to have a
negative impact on demand for graphite electrodes and premium needle coke and
has resulted in and is expected to continue to result in lower shipments and/or
average prices of graphite electrodes and needle coke in fiscal 1999 and,
potentially, beyond. Graphite specialty product sales during fiscal 1998 totaled
$21.9 million versus $34.2 million in fiscal 1997. The decrease in sales was
principally the result of the expiration of the SGL Supply Agreement. The
contract expired in January 1998.
Within the calcium carbide products segment, pipeline acetylene sales
were $28.9 million in fiscal 1998, a 4.7% increase over fiscal 1997 resulting
from a 5.0% increase in pipeline acetylene deliveries. Sales of calcium carbide
for metallurgical applications were $23.7 million, a 3.8% decrease from last
year resulting from a 1.9% decline in shipments and a 1.9% decrease in prices.
Sales of calcium carbide for fuel gas applications totaled $20.0 million, a 5.6%
decrease resulting from a 4.2% decrease in shipments and a 1.4% decrease in
prices. Net sales of calcium carbide for metallurgical and fuel gas applications
are expected to continue to decline in fiscal 1999 as a result of increasing
competition in these product lines. All other calcium carbide products net sales
totaled $5.6 million for fiscal 1998, a decrease of 11.8% resulting primarily
from lower shipments of electrically calcined anthracite coal.
Gross profit as a percentage of graphite electrode product sales for
fiscal 1998 was 18.0% versus 19.9% in fiscal 1997. The decrease in the gross
margin resulted primarily from the disruption in production of needle coke which
resulted from the extended plant shutdown to install and start-up new equipment
at the Company's affiliate, Seadrift. In addition, depreciation and amortization
increased 32.6% during fiscal 1998 to $12.4 million as a result of the Company's
capital expenditures during fiscal years 1998 and 1997. The negative impact from
the extended shutdown and higher depreciation charge more than offset the
benefits of increased needle coke and graphite electrode sales volumes and
improved needle coke prices during fiscal 1998. In addition, the cost of decant
oil, the primary raw material in the production of needle coke, during the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1998 was approximately 11% lower as compared to a
year ago, which contributed positively to the gross margin. Gross profit as a
percentage of calcium carbide product sales for fiscal 1998 was 15.9% versus
15.6% in fiscal 1997. The increase was primarily the result of lower operating
costs during fiscal 1998.
Selling, general and administrative expenditures for fiscal 1998 were
$14.9 million versus $16.0 million in fiscal 1997. The decrease was primarily
the result of a $1.8 million decrease in incentive compensation expenses for
salaried employees in fiscal 1998.
During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Company recorded a $1.1
million non-recurring charge to provide for benefits associated with the early
retirement of two executives of the Company.
During fiscal 1998, the Company recorded the Antitrust Charge, a $38
million pre-tax charge ($25 million after expected tax benefits), classified as
"other expense" in the consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year
ended July 31, 1998, for potential liabilities resulting from civil lawsuits,
claims, legal costs and other expenses associated with pending antitrust
matters. Based on the information currently available to the Company to date
(including the nature of the antitrust claims against the Company and its
defenses), the Company presently believes the Antitrust Charge should be
appropriate under the present assumptions to address the resolution of the civil
suits and other claims and costs associated with the antitrust investigations.
The Company understands that defendants UCAR and Showa Denko recently reached
settlements at substantially higher amounts with the class action plaintiffs and
certain individual purchasers. In light of these and other future developments
and other factors, the actual liabilities, costs and expenses resulting from the
antitrust matters (including the European Commission antitrust investigation)
could differ materially from the current estimate which could adversely affect
the Company's financial condition and its ability to service its currently
planned liquidity needs. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below.
Net interest expense for fiscal 1998 was $5.1 million, including $5.2
million of interest expense associated with the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility,
$1.5 million in interest expense associated with the Senior Notes and $0.4
million in amortization and bank fees. These interest expense items were reduced
by $1.7 million in capitalized interest associated with the Company's
Modernization Program projects and $0.3 million in interest income. Net interest
expense
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for fiscal 1997 was $7.9 million, including $9.4 million in interest expense
associated with the Senior Notes and $0.3 million in amortization. These
interest expense items were reduced by $0.5 million in capitalized interest and
$1.5 million in interest income in fiscal 1997.
The Company's effective income tax rate for fiscal 1998 was a benefit
of 25.4% versus a provision of 36.8% for fiscal 1997. The benefit for fiscal
1998 was unusually low relative to the federal statutory rate of 35% due to
state income tax expenses, the write-off of certain state net operating loss tax
benefits, the effect of non-deductible expenses incurred throughout fiscal 1998
and the impact of adjustments to the Company's prior year tax estimates.
As a result of the Tender and revolving credit facility refinancing,
the Company recorded a $6.4 million net extraordinary loss on the early
retirement of debt during fiscal 1998. This extraordinary charge represents the
premium paid to Senior Note holders in connection with the Tender and the write
off of unamortized deferred financing fees associated with the Senior Notes
tendered and the 1995 Revolving Credit Facility.
FISCAL 1997 VERSUS FISCAL 1996
Net sales for fiscal 1997 were $289.6 million versus $259.4 million in fiscal
1996, an 11.6% increase. Graphite electrode product sales increased 16.7% over
the prior year to $210.0 million, while calcium carbide product sales were
unchanged at $79.5 million.
Within the graphite electrode products segment, graphite electrode net
sales for fiscal 1997 were $147.2 million, a 9.9% increase over fiscal 1996 as a
result of a 4.8% increase in shipments and a 4.7% increase in the average net
sales price of graphite electrodes. Graphite electrode shipments in fiscal 1997
totaled 110.3 million pounds. Domestic and foreign electrode shipments as a
percentage of total electrode shipments for fiscal 1997 were 53.2% and 46.8%,
respectively, versus 49.6% and 50.4% in fiscal 1996. A domestic price increase
during fiscal 1997 resulted in the increase in the average net sales price of
graphite electrodes. The majority of foreign electrode sales are denominated in
local currencies, most of which were weaker in relation to the U.S. dollar. As a
result, net price realizations on foreign sales were lower for fiscal 1997
versus fiscal 1996, partially offsetting the benefits of the domestic price
increase. Needle coke sales for fiscal 1997 were $28.6 million versus $16.5
million in fiscal 1996. Needle coke sales were up substantially over fiscal 1996
due to increased production capacity at Seadrift. In addition, the average net
price for needle coke was 14.6% higher during fiscal 1997 as compared to fiscal
1996. Graphite specialty product sales during fiscal 1997 totaled $34.2 million
versus $29.5 million for fiscal 1996. Included in graphite specialty product
sales for fiscal 1997 and 1996 were $16.7 million and $15.6 million,
respectively, of sales of large graphite rods and plates and other processing
sales under the SGL Supply Agreement. The SGL Supply Agreement was entered into
in connection with the Specialty Products Sale. The increase in graphite
specialty product sales during fiscal 1997 was the result of increased sales
under the SGL Supply Agreement, as well as increased shipments of bulk and
granular graphite.
Within the calcium carbide products segment, pipeline acetylene sales
were $27.6 million, a 1.8% decrease from fiscal 1996 resulting from a 1.0%
decrease in shipments and an 0.8% decrease in prices. Offsetting this decline
was a 1.4% increase in sales of calcium carbide for fuel gas applications which
totaled $21.2 million. Also, carbide lime sales were up 8.9% to $3.1 million.
The increases noted were primarily the result of increased shipments. Sales of
calcium carbide for metallurgical applications were essentially unchanged at
$24.7 million for fiscal 1997. All other calcium carbide product sales were also
unchanged at $2.9 million.
Gross profit as a percentage of graphite electrode product sales for
fiscal 1997 was 19.9% versus 16.2% in fiscal 1996. The increase in the gross
margin resulted from increased shipments and net selling prices for both needle
coke and graphite electrodes, as well as increased needle coke production during
fiscal 1997. Partially offsetting these benefits were the negative effects of
increased feedstock costs at Seadrift, which were 11.6% higher during fiscal
1997.
Gross profit as a percentage of calcium carbide product sales for
fiscal 1997 was 15.6% versus 19.9% for fiscal 1996. During fiscal 1996, the
Company received a $1.0 million favorable settlement from a utility rate dispute
with one of its electric power suppliers. The $1.0 million payment received was
reflected as a reduction in cost of goods sold for fiscal 1996. Excluding this
settlement, gross profit as a percentage of calcium carbide product sales for
fiscal 1996 was 18.6%. The decrease in the calcium carbide gross margin was due
primarily to lower sales of pipeline acetylene and higher raw material and labor
costs during fiscal 1997.
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Selling, general and administrative expenditures for fiscal 1997 were
$16.0 million versus $14.6 million in fiscal 1996. The increase was primarily
the result of the settlement of a lawsuit in the fiscal 1997 first quarter,
costs associated with the search for a new chief executive officer for the
Company and an increase in employee-related costs in fiscal 1997.
Early retirement/severance charges for fiscal 1997 represent costs
associated with the retirement of two executives of the Company during fiscal
1997.
In October 1994, the Company formally entered into the China Contract.
The China Contract is a long-term contract with an engineering design and
consulting firm to provide process design expertise and training services
related to the construction of a graphite electrode plant in the People's
Republic of China. Revenue related to the contract was recognized as services
were performed for the process design expertise portion of the contract, and
using a percentage of contract completed approach for the training services
stage of the contract. Other income in fiscal 1996 represents revenues earned
under the process design expertise portion of the contract, less applicable
expenses. Total revenues under the contract were expected to be approximately
$5.2 million, $4.1 million of which has been recognized as of July 31, 1997. At
this time, the project has been delayed by the Chinese government, and
management cannot determine whether the balance of the revenue expected under
the contract will be realized.
Net interest expense for fiscal 1997 was $7.9 million, including $9.4
million of interest expense and $0.3 million in amortization expense associated
with the Senior Notes, less $1.5 million of interest income and $0.5 million in
capitalized interest associated with the Modernization Program. The average
outstanding balance of Senior Notes during fiscal 1997 was $81.6 million. Net
interest expense for fiscal 1996 was $9.1 million, including $10.5 million of
interest expense and $0.4 million in amortization expense associated with the
Senior Notes, less $1.8 million of interest income. The average outstanding
balance of Senior Notes during fiscal 1996 was approximately $91 million.
Special financing expenses in fiscal 1996 represent charges for
accounting, legal, printing and other fees related to the Company's public stock
offerings in fiscal 1996.
The Company's effective income tax rate for fiscal 1997 was 36.8%
versus 30.9% for fiscal 1996. The Company's effective tax rate differs from the
federal statutory rate primarily due to state taxes, less the benefits of its
foreign sales corporation. Fiscal 1996's effective rate was unusually low due to
adjustments to prior year estimates of the benefit from the Company's foreign
sales corporation.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) #128,
"Earnings per Share," SFAS #129, "Disclosures of Information about Capital
Structure" and SFAS #130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" for its fiscal year
ended July 31, 1998.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued several new
financial accounting and reporting standards that the Company will be required
to adopt in the coming fiscal years. The Company is required to adopt SFAS #131,
"Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" (SFAS
#131) and SFAS #132, "Employers' Disclosure about Pensions and Other
Postretirement Benefits-an amendment to FASB Statements #87, #88 and #106" (SFAS
#132) for its fiscal year ending July 31, 1999. SFAS #131 will require the
Company to expand its disclosure of information on its reportable segments. SFAS
#132 standardizes the disclosure requirements for pensions and other
postretirement benefits.
The Company is required to adopt SFAS #133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities" (SFAS #133) for its fiscal year ending July
31, 2000. SFAS #133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for
derivatives and hedging activities. The Company has not yet evaluated the
financial accounting and reporting impact of SFAS #133.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's liquidity needs are primarily for capital expenditures, working
capital and debt service on its revolving credit facility. Capital expenditures
over fiscal 1999 and fiscal 2000 should average between $30 million and $35
million per annum, assuming the commencement of the $40 million longitudinal
graphitizing project in fiscal 1999.
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The Company believes that its cash flows from operations and availability under
its revolving credit facility will be sufficient to fund all of its currently
planned liquidity needs through at least the expiration of the 1997 Revolving
Credit Facility in September 2002. However, in the event these resources are not
sufficient to fund the Company's planned capital expenditures, service its
indebtedness and pay any other obligation including those that may arise from
pending legal proceedings and the resolution of current antitrust matters, the
Company may be required to obtain additional funding or delay certain
discretionary capital projects. If the Company were required to obtain
additional funding to satisfy its liquidity needs, there can be no assurance
that sources of funds would be available in amounts sufficient for the Company
to meet its obligations or on terms favorable to the Company.
On September 26, 1997, the Company completed the Tender. The tender
price paid to holders of the Senior Notes was $1,086.20 for each $1,000 in
Senior Note principal. Also, most holders received an additional $15.00 per
$1,000 in Senior Note principal in exchange for their consent to eliminate
substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain default provisions in
the Senior Note Indenture other than the covenants to pay interest on and
principal of the Senior Notes and the default provisions related to such
covenants. Consents were received by holders of more than a majority of the
outstanding Senior Notes, resulting in the elimination of such restrictive
covenants and default provisions. After the Tender, $0.1 million in Senior Notes
were outstanding. Subsequent to July 31, 1998, the Company notified the trustee
of the Senior Notes that it intended to exercise an option to redeem early the
remaining Senior Notes at a price of $1,057.50 for each $1,000 in Senior Note
principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The early redemption of the
remaining Senior Notes outstanding was completed during the first quarter of the
Company's fiscal year ending July 31, 1999 and will not have a material impact
on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In connection with the Tender, the Company entered into the 1997
Revolving Credit Facility, as amended. The 1997 Revolving Credit Facility
replaced the 1995 Revolving Credit Facility. Interest under the 1997 Revolving
Credit Facility is based on, at the option of the Company, either PNC Bank's
prime rate or a floating LIBOR rate plus a spread (currently 0.75%) based on a
leverage calculation (specifically, the Consolidated Total Indebtedness to
EBITDA Ratio). As of July 31, 1998, the interest rate on borrowings outstanding
under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility was 6.6%. Repayment of funds borrowed
under the new credit agreement is not required until the expiration of the
facility on September 25, 2002. The most restrictive covenants under the 1997
Revolving Credit Facility include a minimum Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.5 to
1.0, a maximum Consolidated Total Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio of 3.0 to 1.0 and
a minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth Ratio, all as defined in the 1997
Revolving Credit Facility agreement. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998,
the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility was amended to incorporate the Antitrust
Charge. The financial covenants in the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility agreement
were generally amended to exclude the effects of the Antitrust Charge, although
the cash flow impact associated with any future settlements of pending antitrust
claims will effectively reduce EBITDA in the computation of the Consolidated
Total Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio computed for pricing purposes in the future.
The 1997 Revolving Credit Facility is collateralized with receivables and
inventory.
As of July 31, 1998, the Company had approximately $32 million of
availability under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility. As of July 31, 1998,
borrowings under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility totaled $110.1 million and
letters of credit outstanding totaled approximately $8 million.
On March 4, 1998, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the
expenditure of up to $10 million to repurchase the Company's Common Stock.
Subject to price and market considerations and applicable securities laws, such
purchases may be made from time to time in open market, privately negotiated or
other transactions. No time limit was placed on the duration of the repurchase
program. The extent and timing of any repurchases will depend on market
conditions and other corporate considerations. During fiscal 1998, the Company
repurchased 53,000 shares of its Common Stock for $1.5 million under its stock
repurchase program. As of September 25, 1998, the Company had repurchased
235,200 shares of its Common Stock for $3.6 million under its stock repurchase
program.
During fiscal 1998, total assets increased $53.2 million to $289.1
million. The increase resulted primarily from capital expenditures of $64.3
million, less $14.0 million of depreciation and amortization. Total liabilities
increased $64.6 million during fiscal 1998 to $204.3 million. The increase
resulted primarily from the Antitrust Charge as well as a $30 million increase
in long-term debt. Stockholders' equity decreased $11.4 million during fiscal
1998 to $84.9 million. The decrease resulted primarily from the Company's net
loss of $11.4 million during fiscal 1998.
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Net cash provided by operations for fiscal 1998 was $18.2 million
versus $32.2 million for fiscal 1997. Operating cash inflows for fiscal 1998
included $22.6 million in net income before adjustments to reconcile net loss to
cash provided by operations and the net effect of the Antitrust Charge. These
cash inflows were partially offset by a $4.4 million net cash outflow from
changes in other working capital items, including a $9.4 million increase in
inventories. Interest and income taxes paid during fiscal 1998 were $10.2
million and $6.6 million, respectively.
The Company's investing activities have historically included
short-term investments and capital expenditures ranging from $15.7 million in
fiscal 1996 to $64.3 million in fiscal 1998. The substantial increase in capital
expenditures since fiscal 1995 is due primarily to the Modernization Program and
other significant capital projects initiated in fiscal 1997. The Company
believes that most of its future investing activity cash flow requirements will
be for capital expenditures.
The Company's financing activities have principally represented
short-term draw downs and repayments on its revolving credit facilities, as well
as periodic repurchases of Senior Notes in open market transactions and cash
inflows from exercises of stock options. Other financing activities during
fiscal 1998 also included the effects of the Tender and the repurchase of
treasury shares of Common Stock for $1.9 million. Other financing activities
during fiscal 1996 also included the effects of the sale of 5,375,750 shares of
Common Stock to the public in a secondary underwritten offering (the Initial
Offering) and a redemption of $9.0 million in Senior Notes.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE INFORMATION ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is exposed to financial, market and economic risks in many areas of
its business. The Company utilizes several financial instruments and risk
management programs in an effort to mitigate much of this exposure. The
following is a summarization of the programs utilized by the Company in an
attempt to mitigate these risks.
Foreign Currency Risks
Approximately 30% of the Company's net sales during each of the fiscal years
ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 were to customers located in foreign
countries. The majority of these foreign sales were denominated in local
currencies, subjecting the Company to foreign currency exchange rate risk. The
Company regularly enters into forward foreign currency contracts to help
mitigate foreign currency exchange rate exposure on customer accounts receivable
and sales commitments denominated in foreign currencies. These contracts require
the Company to deliver foreign currencies in the future in order to receive U.S.
dollars owed to it under the contracts at settlement. In the past, the Company
has been generally successful in fulfilling its obligations to deliver the
foreign currencies due under its forward foreign currency contracts. These
contracts generally mature within 12 months and are principally unsecured
contracts with commercial banks. Gains and losses related to forward foreign
currency contracts are deferred and recognized in income at the time of the sale
of the product.
As of July 31, 1998 and 1997, the Company had $39.4 million and $35.1
million, respectively, in forward foreign currency contracts outstanding. A
hypothetical 10% change in forward rates would result in a pretax gain or loss
of approximately $3.9 million related to the contracts outstanding as of July
31, 1998, although any gain or loss would be substantially offset by an inverse
change in the value of future collections on foreign accounts receivable or
sales commitments. For purposes of this sensitivity analysis, October 1998
forward rates as of July 31, 1998 were adjusted by the 10% hypothetical change
and applied to the notional value of the contracts outstanding. The average
maturity of the Company's forward foreign currency contracts is October 1998.
The cash flows from these contracts are classified in a manner
consistent with the underlying nature of the transactions. See Note 3 to the
consolidated financial statements for a detailed description of the Company's
foreign currency exposure, including customer accounts receivable denominated in
foreign currencies and forward foreign currency contracts outstanding.
Commodity Price Risks
The Company's affiliate, Seadrift, purchases approximately 2 million barrels of
low sulfur decant oil each year to produce needle coke, the key raw material in
the production of graphite electrodes. The cost of refinery decant oil is pegged
to the U.S. Gulf Coast spot cargo barge prices and, in some cases, West Texas
Intermediate crude oil. The Company regularly
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enters into crude oil and low sulfur fuel oil futures and swap agreements in
order to help mitigate exposure to fluctuations in the cost of decant oil. These
futures and swap contracts are financial hedges; the Company never actually
takes delivery of the oil product that is the subject of the contracts.
In the case of futures contracts, the Company agrees to purchase crude
oil in the future at a set price, then liquidates the contract prior to
settlement. The difference between the price of crude oil on the date the
Company enters into the contract and the price on the settlement date represents
the financial gain or loss on that contract. In the case of swap contracts, the
Company agrees to pay a fixed price for low sulfur fuel oil and a counter party
agrees to pay the variable market price for a particular month. The difference
between the fixed price and the average market price for the applicable month
represents the financial gain or loss on the contract. Gains and losses
associated with these contracts, when settled, are deferred as an adjustment to
Seadrift's oil inventory values and, ultimately, the carrying cost of needle
coke.
As of July 31, 1998, the Company had $4.8 million and $1.8 million in
crude oil futures and low sulfur fuel oil swap contracts, respectively, and $3.6
million and $2.4 million, respectively, as of July 31, 1997. A 10% change in the
futures rates for crude oil and low sulfur fuel oil would result in a $0.5
million gain or loss related to these contracts, although any gain or loss would
be substantially offset by an inverse change in the purchase price of low sulfur
decant oil expected to be purchased in the future. This hypothetical computation
assumes a parallel shift in the applicable commodity futures prices. For
purposes of this sensitivity analysis, forward crude oil and low sulfur fuel oil
prices for the months of August 1998 through December 1998 were adjusted by the
10% hypothetical change and applied to the notional number of barrels being
hedged per the contracts outstanding.
See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for a detailed
description of the consolidated financial statement impact of the Company's oil
hedging activities during the fiscal years presented therein.
Interest Rate Risks
The Company's indebtedness as of July 31, 1998 is comprised primarily of $110
million in borrowings outstanding under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility.
Interest cost under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility is based on either PNC
Bank's prime rate or a floating LIBOR rate plus a spread (currently 0.75%) based
on a leverage calculation. The Company uses interest rate swap and cap
agreements to hedge a portion of its debt cost in an attempt to strike a
favorable balance between fixed and variable rate debt and keep financing costs
as low as possible. In conjunction with the revolving credit facility
refinancing completed in September 1997, the Company entered into several
interest rate swap and cap agreements. The interest rate swap agreements
effectively fix the Company's interest rate at approximately 6.3% for a
decreasing level of borrowings outstanding ranging from $50.0 million in fiscal
1999 to $30.0 million in fiscal 2002. The interest rate swap agreements did not
have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements during
the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998. The interest rate cap agreements
effectively cap the Company's base LIBOR rate at 7.5% on borrowings ranging from
$30.0 million in fiscal 1999 to $20.0 million in fiscal 2001. The interest rate
cap agreements did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998.
The Company's effective interest rate, which includes actual interest
costs as well as bank fees and amortization of debt transaction costs, for its
fiscal year ended July 31, 1998 was 7.8%. This effective interest rate includes
$1.5 million in interest costs associated with the Senior Notes, as the Tender
was not completed until the end of September 1997. The Company's blended
effective interest rate on borrowings outstanding as of July 31, 1998 was 6.6%.
A hypothetical 10% change in the blended effective interest rate assuming debt
levels as of July 31, 1998 would result in a $0.7 million increase or decrease
in interest costs.
LEGAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
In May 1997, the Company was served with a subpoena issued by a Grand Jury
empanelled by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania. The Company was advised by attorneys for the DOJ that the Grand
Jury is investigating price fixing by producers of graphite products in the
United States and abroad during the past five years. The Company is cooperating
with the DOJ in the investigation. The DOJ has granted the Company and certain
former
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and present senior executives the opportunity to participate in its Corporate
Leniency Program and the Company has entered into an agreement with the DOJ
under which the Company and such executives who cooperate will not be subject to
criminal prosecution with respect to the investigation if charges are issued by
the Grand Jury. Under the agreement, the Company has agreed to use its best
efforts to provide for restitution to its domestic customers for actual damages
if any conduct of the Company which violated the Federal Antitrust Laws in the
manufacture and sale of such graphite products caused damage to such customers.
Subsequent to the initiation of the DOJ investigation, four civil cases
were filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia asserting claims on behalf of a class of purchasers
for violations of the Sherman Act. These cases, which have been consolidated,
name the Company, UCAR, SGL Corp. and SGL as defendants and seek treble damages.
On March 30, 1998, a number of purchasers who were previously included in the
purported class of plaintiffs covered by the consolidated case initiated a
separate action in the same District Court which asserts substantially the same
claims and seeks the same relief as the consolidated case and names the Named
Defendants as well as Showa Denko. Thereafter, five additional purchasers who
were previously included in the purported class of plaintiffs covered by the
consolidated case instituted their own actions against the Named Defendants,
Showa Denko and, in several cases, certain present or former related parties of
UCAR asserting substantially the same claims and seeking the same relief as in
the consolidated cases. Three such actions were filed in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on April 3, 1998, April
17, 1998 and May 14, 1998, respectively. One action was filed in the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on April 17, 1998 but
has been transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for pre-trial
proceedings. One such action was filed in the United States District Court for
the Western District of Pennsylvania on June 17, 1998; the Company is seeking to
have this case transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for pre-trial
proceedings.
The Company understands that defendants UCAR and Showa Denko have
reached settlement agreements with the class action plaintiffs, which are
subject by law to court approval, and have also settled claims brought by some
of the individual purchasers. The Company further understands that UCAR and
Showa Denko have pleaded guilty to antitrust conspiracy charges filed by the DOJ
and have been ordered to pay fines in connection with those guilty pleas.
The Company has also advised the Commission of the European Communities
that it wishes to invoke the Commission's Leniency Notice. Generally under these
guidelines, the European Commission may substantially reduce fines and other
penalties if a company cooperates with the European Commission and in the
judgment of the European Commission provides significant information. The
Company understands that the European Commission will determine any fines at the
completion of its proceedings that may not be concluded for a year or more.
On June 18, 1998, a group of Canadian purchasers filed a lawsuit in the
Ontario Court (General Division) claiming a conspiracy and violations of the
Canadian Competition Act. The Canadian lawsuit names the Named Defendants as
well as several present or former parents, subsidiaries and/or affiliates of
UCAR, SGL and Showa Denko. The Canadian Competition and Consumer Law Division
has initiated an inquiry and the Company is cooperating fully with the
authorities conducting that inquiry.
During fiscal 1998, the Company recorded the Antitrust Charge. Based on
the information currently available to the Company to date (including the nature
of the antitrust claims against the Company and its defenses), the Company
presently believes the Antitrust Charge should be appropriate under the present
assumptions to address the resolution of the civil suits and other claims and
costs associated with the antitrust investigations. The Company understands that
defendants UCAR and Showa Denko recently reached settlements at substantially
higher amounts with the class action plaintiffs and certain individual
purchasers. In light of these and other future developments and other factors,
the actual liabilities, costs and expenses resulting from the antitrust matters
(including the European Commission antitrust investigation) could differ
materially from the current estimate which could adversely affect the Company's
financial condition and its ability to service its currently planned liquidity
needs.
During fiscal 1995, the Company was named as a third-party defendant in
the Sayreville Litigation. Recently, three of the seven third-party plaintiffs
have agreed with the Company to dismiss their third-party claims. A stipulation
of dismissal is being circulated and will shortly be submitted to the Court for
approval. The remaining four third-party plaintiffs have recently entered into
settlement agreements directly with the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs report that those
settlement agreements include a provision requiring the settlors to dismiss all
claims made in the lawsuit, which includes the third-party claims made against
the Company. The plaintiffs expect the stipulations of dismissal relating to the
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settlements to be submitted for court approval shortly. Upon approval of the
foregoing stipulations by the Court, all claims against the Company will be
dismissed. Carbon/Graphite Group, Inc. was named as successor to Airco-Speer.
Since this landfill was closed prior to the organization of the Company in 1988,
the Company's only possible connection with the Sayreville Litigation would be
if it were a successor to Airco-Speer, a claim which it disputes. Furthermore,
in the purchase agreement by which the Company acquired its operating assets
(the Asset Purchase Agreement) from BOC, BOC agreed to provide an
indemnification for certain environmental matters. BOC has assumed and commenced
the defense of the Sayreville Litigation and has agreed to indemnify the Company
for certain losses associated therewith in accordance with the terms of the
Asset Purchase Agreement. BOC in turn is being indemnified by certain plaintiffs
in the litigation pursuant to a 1992 agreement. In addition, BOC asserts that
the liability in this matter was settled by the 1992 agreement with the
plaintiffs in the present case. As a result of a motion for summary judgment,
the Court has substantially reduced the scope of claims which may be asserted
against the Company. Based on the above, management does not believe that the
Company will incur a material loss with respect to the Sayreville Litigation.
The Company is also party to various legal proceedings considered
incidental to the conduct of its business or otherwise not material in the
judgment of management. Management does not believe that its loss exposure
related to these cases is materially greater than amounts provided in the
consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 1998. As of July 31, 1998, a $0.1
million reserve has been recorded to provide for estimated exposure on claims
for which a loss is deemed probable.
YEAR 2000
The Company is in the process of modifying, upgrading and replacing certain
components of its computer software and operating systems to accommodate the
"Year 2000" changes required for correct recording of dates in the Year 2000 and
beyond. The Company believes that its current plan will adequately address the
"Year 2000" issue and the Company does not expect to experience significant
operational problems associated with "Year 2000" compliance once its program is
complete. The costs of system conversions and software upgrades, which are
expected to be completed by mid-1999, are not expected to be material. The
Company is also evaluating the "Year 2000" compliance programs of its critical
customers, suppliers and service providers in an attempt to determine the
adequacy of their programs in addressing the "Year 2000" issue.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current
expectations, estimates and projections about the industries in which the
Company operates, management's beliefs and assumptions made by management. Words
such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates"
and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify
such forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and
are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. These statements are based on a
number of assumptions that could ultimately prove inaccurate and, therefore,
there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate.
Factors which could affect actual future results include the developments
relating to the antitrust investigations by the DOJ, the antitrust enforcement
authorities of the European Union or related civil lawsuits as well as the
assertion of other claims relating to such investigations or lawsuits or the
subject matter thereof. Such factors also include the possibility that increased
demand or prices for the Company's products may not occur or continue, changing
economic and competitive conditions (including currency exchange rate
fluctuations), technological risks and other risks, costs and delays associated
with the start-up and operation of major capital projects (including the
Company's Modernization Program), changing governmental regulations (including
environmental rules and regulations) and other risks and uncertainties,
including those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Neither the statements contained in this report nor any
reserve or charge recorded by the Company relating to civil lawsuits or claims
shall be deemed to constitute an admission as to any liability in connection
with the subject matter thereof. The Company does not undertake to publicly
update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
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ITEM 8 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors of
The Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc.:
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The
Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) at July 31, 1998 and
1997, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended July 31, 1998, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our
audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes 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, and
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
September 15, 1998
23
<PAGE> 25
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1998 1997 1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except share and per share information)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales $293,751 $289,586 $259,394
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold 242,535 235,401 214,396
Selling, general and administrative 14,884 16,031 14,609
Early retirement/severance charge (Note 13) - 1,100 -
Other expense (income) (Note 13) 38,000 - (308)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss) (1,668) 37,054 30,697
Other costs and expenses:
Interest expense, net (Note 7) 5,130 7,894 9,073
Special financing expenses (Note 2) - - 889
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) before income taxes
and extraordinary loss (6,798) 29,160 20,735
Provision (benefit) for taxes on income from operations (Note 5) (1,729) 10,732 6,416
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) before extraordinary loss (5,069) 18,428 14,319
Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt,
net of tax benefit of $3,769 in 1998, $84 in 1997
and $1,451 in 1996 (Note 7) (6,417) (126) (2,177)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) $(11,486) $ 18,302 $ 12,142
=============================================================================================================================
EARNINGS PER SHARE INFORMATION (Note 1)
Income (loss) before extraordinary loss:
Basic $ (0.58) $ 2.16 $ 1.90
Diluted $ (0.58) $ 2.09 $ 1.67
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt, net:
Basic (0.74) (0.01) (0.29)
Diluted (0.74) (0.02) (0.25)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss):
Basic $ (1.32) $ 2.15 $ 1.61
Diluted $ (1.32) $ 2.07 $ 1.42
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common and common equivalent shares:
Basic 8,699,304 8,517,022 7,545,334
Diluted 8,699,304 8,822,706 8,577,451
=============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
24
<PAGE> 26
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JULY 31, 1998 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except share and per share information)
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 1) - $ 7,935
Commercial paper (Note 3) - 15,912
Accounts receivable-trade, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts: $2,025 in 1998 and $2,029 in 1997 (Note 3) $ 50,469 49,088
Inventories (Note 4) 68,839 59,445
Deferred income taxes (Note 5) 18,189 4,687
Other current assets 6,884 6,269
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets 144,381 143,336
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 6) 137,603 87,653
Other assets 7,115 4,871
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $289,099 $235,860
=====================================================================================================================
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Overdrafts $ 2,457 -
Accounts payable, trade 15,525 $ 21,036
Income taxes payable (Note 5) 1,002 610
Accrued expenses:
Antitrust claims reserve (Note 8) 36,538 -
Interest (Note 7) 250 3,835
Vacation 3,826 3,780
Workers' compensation 5,782 4,769
Other 8,872 8,481
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities 74,252 42,511
Long-term debt (Notes 3 and 7) 110,232 80,035
Deferred income taxes (Note 5) 6,561 7,161
Retirement benefit plans and other (Note 9) 10,725 7,294
Deferred revenue (Note 1) 2,515 2,650
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities 204,285 139,651
=====================================================================================================================
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued - -
Common Stock, $0.01 par value; 18,000,000 shares authorized;
shares issued: 9,884,542 in 1998 and 9,752,272 in 1997 (Note 2) 99 97
Additional paid-in capital, net of equity issue costs of $1,398 (Note 2) 36,243 34,163
Retained earnings 55,197 66,683
Common Stock to be issued under options (Note 10) 100 161
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
91,639 101,104
Common Stock held in treasury at cost (Note 15):
1,185,000 shares in 1998 and 1,120,000 shares in 1997 (6,825) (4,895)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total stockholders' equity 84,814 96,209
=====================================================================================================================
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $289,099 $235,860
=====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
25
<PAGE> 27
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended July 31, 1998 1997 1996
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net income (loss) $(11,486) $18,302 $12,142
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss)
to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization 14,012 10,882 8,853
Amortization of debt issuance costs 190 341 422
Amortization of intangible assets 364 318 318
Provision for Common Stock to be issued under options - 47 86
Adjustments to deferred taxes (14,102) (1,656) 2,870
Provision for loss-accounts receivable - 120 120
Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt 10,186 210 3,628
Increase (decrease) in cash from changes in:
Accounts receivable (1,381) (3,816) (265)
Inventories (9,394) (4,666) (3,758)
Income taxes 1,796 6,755 (45)
Other current assets (936) (926) (1,099)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 28,892 6,467 (3,729)
Net change in other non-current assets and liabilities 50 (172) (2,072)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operations 18,191 32,206 17,471
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures (64,306) (33,765) (15,670)
Proceeds from (purchases of) short-term investments 15,750 (5,550) (10,000)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used for investing activities (48,556) (39,315) (25,670)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financing activities:
Payments on revolving credit facilities (75,400) - -
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities 185,550 - -
Repurchase or redemption of Senior Notes,
including premiums of $8,077 in 1998,
$168 in 1997 and $2,604 in 1996 (88,030) (1,896) (30,841)
Net change in cash overdraft 2,457 - -
Proceeds from exercise of stock options under benefit plans 619 354 1,864
Purchase of treasury stock (1,930) - -
Issuance of Common Stock, net of equity issue costs of $990 - - 11,106
Other (836) - -
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities 22,430 (1,542) (17,871)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (7,935) (8,651) (26,070)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 7,935 16,586 42,656
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period - $ 7,935 $ 16,586
============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
26
<PAGE> 28
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Common
Stock to
Common Stock Additional be Issued Unfunded
Comprehensive ---------------- Paid-In Retained Under Pension Treasury
Income (Loss) Shares Amount Capital Earnings Options Obligation Stock
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except
share information)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at July 31, 1995 7,249,375 $72 $ 7,560 $36,239 $4,501 $(465) $(4,895)
Net income $ 12,142 12,142
Decrease in unfunded
pension obligation 389 389
- ----------------------------------------
Comprehensive income $ 12,531
========================================
Stock option compensation 86
Issuance of Common Stock 806,363 8 11,098
Exercise of stock options 1,341,932 14 6,650 (3,436)
Tax benefit on exercise
of stock options 4,845
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at July 31, 1996 9,397,670 94 30,153 48,381 1,151 (76) (4,895)
Net income $ 18,302 18,302
Decrease in unfunded
pension obligation 76 76
- ----------------------------------------
Comprehensive income $ 18,378
========================================
Stock option compensation 47
Exercise of stock options 354,602 3 2,093 (1,037)
Tax benefit on exercise
of stock options 1,917
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at July 31, 1997 9,752,272 97 34,163 66,683 161 - (4,895)
Net loss $(11,486) (11,486)
========================================
Exercise of stock options 132,270 2 678 (61)
Tax benefit on exercise
of stock options 1,402
Purchase of treasury stock (1,930)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE AT JULY 31, 1998 9,884,542 $99 $36,243 $ 55,197 $ 100 - $(6,825)
===============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
27
<PAGE> 29
FINANCIAL NOTES
THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC.
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The
Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries and affiliates.
Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make certain
estimates and assumptions. These may affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the
date of the consolidated financial statements. They may also affect the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts
could differ from those estimates upon resolution of certain matters.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
The Company adopted SFAS #128, "Earnings per Share," SFAS #129, "Disclosures of
Information about Capital Structure" and SFAS #130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income" for its fiscal year ended July 31, 1998.
The FASB has issued several new financial accounting and reporting
standards that the Company will be required to adopt in the coming fiscal years.
The Company is required to adopt SFAS #131, "Disclosures about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information" and SFAS #132, "Employers' Disclosure about
Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits--an amendment to FASB Statements #87,
#88 and #106" for its fiscal year ending July 31, 1999. SFAS #131 will require
the Company to expand its disclosure of information on its reportable segments.
SFAS #132 standardizes the disclosure requirements for pensions and other
postretirement benefits.
The Company is required to adopt SFAS #133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities" for its fiscal year ending July 31, 2000.
SFAS #133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivatives and
hedging activities. The Company has not yet evaluated the financial accounting
and reporting impact of SFAS #133.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined
under both the actual cost and the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. The
supplies inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or market.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost and depreciated on a
straight-line basis over the estimated useful service lives of the related
assets. Interest costs associated with the construction of major capital
additions are capitalized as part of the cost of the related assets. Gains or
losses from the sale or retirement of assets are included in income.
Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.
Revenue Recognition
Net sales to customers are recognized when products are shipped.
Deferred Revenue
The Company has entered into a long-term supply contract to deliver carbide lime
to a customer for which it has received the contract amount in advance. The
Company is recognizing revenue associated with the agreement over the life of
the contract utilizing the straight-line method.
Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a
maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
28
<PAGE> 30
Environmental Expenditures
The Company expenses or capitalizes environmental expenditures that relate to
current operations, as adjusted for indemnity claims against BOC, as
appropriate. Expenditures which do not contribute to future revenues and that
relate to existing conditions caused by past operations are expensed.
Liabilities are recorded when remedial efforts are probable and the costs can be
reasonably estimated.
Earnings Per Share
The Company adopted SFAS #128 for its fiscal year ended July 31, 1998.
Previously reported amounts were restated to conform with SFAS #128. SFAS #128
requires the presentation of "basic" and "diluted" earnings per share. Basic
earnings per share was computed utilizing only the weighted average common
shares outstanding during the relevant period. Diluted earnings per share was
computed utilizing both the weighted average shares and common stock equivalents
outstanding.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the income (loss) and
share amounts for the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for
income (loss) from operations for the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and
1996 (dollar amounts in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Per Share
Income (Loss) Shares Amount
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1998
Basic earnings per share $(5,069) 8,699,304 $(0.58)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effect of dilutive securities:
Options for common stock -- --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted earnings per share $(5,069) 8,699,304 $(0.58)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997
Basic earnings per share $18,428 8,517,022 $ 2.16
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effect of dilutive securities:
Options for common stock -- 305,684
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted earnings per share $18,428 8,822,022 $ 2.09
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996
Basic earnings per share $14,319 7,545,334 $ 1.90
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ffect of dilutive securities:
Options for common stock -- 1,032,117
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted earnings per share $14,319 8,577,451 $ 1.67
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Since the Company's results were a net loss from operations for the fiscal
year ended July 31, 1998, common equivalent shares were excluded from the
diluted earnings per share computation as their effect would have been
anti-dilutive.
Intangibles and Deferred Charges
Deferred charges and intangibles are recorded at historical cost and amortized
on a straight-line basis over the estimated economic life of the agreement or
contract underlying the assets.
Reclassification
Certain amounts previously reported have been reclassified to conform with the
current year presentation.
29
<PAGE> 31
2. PUBLIC OFFERINGS OF COMMON STOCK
On September 19, 1995, the Company completed the Initial Offering during which
5,375,750 shares were sold to the public by certain selling stockholders in a
secondary underwritten offering. The initial public offering price was $15.00
per share. The underwriters also exercised an option to purchase 806,363 primary
shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments, which resulted in $11.1 million
in net proceeds to the Company. The majority of these proceeds were used to
complete a redemption of the Company's Senior Notes, with the balance being used
for general corporate purposes. In connection with the Initial Offering, 455,000
Common Stock options were exercised, resulting in $0.6 million in cash proceeds
to the Company.
On March 12, 1996, the Company completed a secondary offering, during which
1,032,236 shares of Common Stock were sold to the public by certain management
and former management stockholders in an underwritten offering. In connection
with this offering, 590,000 Common Stock options were exercised by certain
selling stockholders, resulting in $0.8 million in cash proceeds to the Company.
During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1996, the Company incurred $0.9
million in expenses for accounting, legal, printing and other fees related to
its public stock offerings. These expenses have been reflected as "special
financing expenses" in the consolidated statement of operations for fiscal 1996.
3. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company's financial instruments as of July 31, 1998 and 1997 included its
revolving credit facilities, with a carrying and estimated fair value of $110.1
million as of July 31, 1998. The Company's financial instruments as of July 31,
1998 and 1997 also included its Senior Notes, with a carrying value of $0.1
million and $80.0 million, respectively, and an estimated fair value of $0.1
million and $87.6 million, respectively, as determined by an investment banking
and trading company. As of July 31, 1997, the Company held GE Capital
Corporation commercial paper with a maturity value of $16.2 million. The
commercial paper outstanding as of July 31, 1997 had maturities ranging from
August 1997 to January 1998.
In addition, the Company purchases and currently holds certain derivative
financial instruments as hedging vehicles, as more fully described below.
The Company regularly enters into forward foreign currency contracts to
help mitigate foreign currency exchange rate exposure on customer accounts
receivable and sales commitments denominated in foreign currencies.The Company's
accounts receivable as of July 31, 1998 and 1997 included the following foreign
currency balances (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
July 31, 1998 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
German Marks $ 4,230 $ 3,134
Japanese Yen 3,761 3,354
British Sterling 2,292 3,371
French Francs 2,053 1,208
Spanish Pesata 1,946 923
Belgian Francs 836 334
Italian Lira 745 1,978
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
$15,863 $14,302
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
30
<PAGE> 32
As of July 31, 1998 and 1997, the Company held forward foreign currency
contracts in the following foreign denominations (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
----------------------- ----------------------
MARKET Market
CONTRACT VALUE Contract Value
July 31, VALUE GAIN (LOSS) Value Gain (Loss)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
German Marks $14,805 $ 193 $ 6,483 $ 581
French Francs 7,155 48 5,044 570
Japanese Yen 6,168 880 8,592 375
Italian Lira 3,910 (6) 4,350 512
Spanish Pesata 3,806 (19) 1,508 145
Belgian Francs 2,003 35 1,701 200
British Sterling 1,603 (13) 7,390 (108)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$39,450 $1,118 $35,068 $2,275
================================================================================
</TABLE>
These contracts generally mature within 12 months and are principally
unsecured exchange contracts with commercial banks. Gains and losses related to
forward foreign currency contracts are deferred and recognized in income at the
same time as the sale of the product. Gains and losses deferred as of July 31,
1998 and 1997 were not material. The cash flows from these contracts are
classified in a manner consistent with the underlying nature of the
transactions.
The Company regularly enters into crude and low sulfur fuel oil futures
contracts and swap agreements. Such contracts and agreements are accounted for
as hedges of decant oil purchases, the primary raw material in the production of
needle coke. As of July 31, 1998 and 1997, the Company held the following oil
futures and swap contracts (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
------------------------ -----------------------
MARKET Market
CONTRACT VALUE Contract Value
July 31, VALUE GAIN (LOSS) Value Gain (Loss)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
West Texas Intermediate Futures Contracts $ 4,765 $ (973) $ 3,572 $ (156)
Low Sulfur Fuel Oil Swap Contracts 1,829 (498) 2,370 47
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 6,594 $(1,471) $ 5,942 $ (109)
===================================================================================================
</TABLE>
As of July 31, 1998 and 1997, deferred losses associated with the Company's
oil hedging activities, including losses not yet recorded in the consolidated
financial statements and losses deferred as an adjustment to the Company's
inventory value totaled $2.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Losses
associated with oil hedging activities recognized as an increase to cost of
goods sold in the consolidated statements of operations were $1.0 million and
$0.3 million for the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
In conjunction with the revolving credit facility refinancing completed in
September 1997 (see Note 7), the Company entered into several interest rate swap
and cap agreements. The interest rate swap agreements effectively fix the
Company's interest rate at approximately 6.3% for a decreasing level of
borrowings outstanding ranging from $50.0 million in fiscal 1999 to $30.0
million in fiscal 2002. The interest rate swap agreements did not have a
material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements during the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1998. The interest rate cap agreements effectively
cap the Company's base LIBOR rate at 7.5% on borrowings ranging from $30.0
million in fiscal 1999 to $20.0 million in fiscal 2001. The interest rate cap
agreements did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998.
31
<PAGE> 33
4. INVENTORIES
Inventories were as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
July 31, 1998 1997
- -------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Finished Goods $15,061 $13,990
Work in Process 36,672 33,074
Raw Materials 18,545 11,256
- -------------------------------------------------
70,278 58,320
LIFO Reserve (12,545) (9,434)
- -------------------------------------------------
57,733 48,886
Supplies 11,106 10,559
- -------------------------------------------------
$68,839 $59,445
=================================================
</TABLE>
As of July 31, 1998 and 1997, approximately 66.0% and 68.7%, respectively,
of the Company's inventory was valued on a LIFO basis. If valued on a current
cost basis, total inventories would be $12.5 million and $9.4 million higher as
of July 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
During fiscal 1996, the Company received a $1.0 million favorable
settlement from a utility rate dispute with one of its electric power suppliers.
The $1.0 million payment received has been reflected as a reduction to cost of
goods sold for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1996.
5. INCOME TAXES
The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes related to operations
included the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended July 31, 1998 1997 1996
- -------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current:
Federal $ 11,523 $ 11,581 $3,360
State 850 807 186
- -------------------------------------------------------
12,373 12,388 3,546
Deferred (14,102) (1,656) 2,870
- -------------------------------------------------------
$ (1,729) $ 10,732 $6,416
=======================================================
</TABLE>
A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective
tax rate for operations follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended July 31, 1998 1997 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Federal Statutory Rate (35.0%) 35.0% 35.0%
Effect of:
State Income Taxes, Net of Federal Benefit 6.1 1.5 1.5
Foreign Sales Corporation Benefit (5.8) (2.4) (3.2)
Prior Year Return and Audit Adjustments 6.5 1.3 (1.9)
Non-Deductible Expenses 1.3 0.4 0.3
Other 1.5 1.0 (0.8)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(25.4%) 36.8% 30.9%
================================================================================
</TABLE>
32
<PAGE> 34
The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities follow (in
thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
-------------------------- --------------------------
Deferred Tax Deferred Tax Deferred Tax Deferred Tax
July 31, Assets Liabilities Assets Liabilities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Depreciation -- $9,550 -- $9,979
Antitrust Claims Reserve $12,788 -- -- --
Employee Retirement Benefits 1,591 -- $1,257 --
Inventory Adjustments 1,115 -- 1,096 --
Workers' Compensation 2,284 -- 1,885 --
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 731 -- 834 --
Vacation Reserve 1,015 -- 963 --
Other 1,654 -- 1,470 --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$21,178 $9,550 $7,505 $9,979
======================================================================================
</TABLE>
Management believes that the net deferred tax asset as of July 31, 1998
will be realized through carryback provisions and reductions to future taxable
income. All federal tax returns prior to fiscal 1997 have been settled with the
Internal Revenue Service. Management does not believe that the settlement of its
open tax years will have a material adverse effect on the Company's future
operating results.
6. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
July 31, 1998 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Buildings and Improvements $ 30,691 $ 29,862
Machinery and Equipment 250,142 210,729
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
280,833 240,591
Accumulated Depreciation (194,247) (183,840)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
86,586 56,751
Land 7,711 7,711
Construction in Progress 43,306 23,191
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
$ 137,603 $ 87,653
===============================================================
</TABLE>
7. LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
July 31, 1998 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
11.5% Senior Notes Due 2003 (a) $ 82 $ 80,035
The 1997 Revolving Credit Facility (b) 110,150 --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 110,232 $ 80,035
========================================================================
</TABLE>
(a) In fiscal 1994, the Company issued its Senior Notes. Interest payments on
the Senior Notes were due semi-annually on March 1 and September 1, with the
principal due in August 2003. On September 26, 1997, the Company completed a
tender offer for essentially all ($79.9 million of the $80.0 million then
outstanding) of its Senior Notes (the Tender). The tender price paid to
holders of the Senior Notes was $1,086.20 for each $1,000 in Senior Note
principal. Also, most holders received an additional $15.00 per $1,000 in
Senior Note principal in exchange for
33
<PAGE> 35
their consent to eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants
and certain default provisions in the Senior Note Indenture other than the
covenants to pay interest on and principal of the Senior Notes and the
default provisions related to such covenants. Consents were received by
holders of more than a majority of the outstanding Senior Notes, resulting
in the elimination of such restrictive covenants and default provisions.
After the Tender, $0.1 million in Senior Notes were outstanding. Subsequent
to July 31, 1998, the Company notified the trustee of the Senior Notes that
it intended to exercise an option to redeem early the remaining Senior Notes
at a price of $1,057.50 for each $1,000 in Senior Note principal, plus
accrued and unpaid interest. The early redemption of the remaining Senior
Notes outstanding was completed during the first quarter of the Company's
fiscal year ending July 31, 1999 and will not have a material impact on the
Company's consolidated financial statements.
(b) In connection with the Tender, the Company entered into the 1997 Revolving
Credit Facility, an agreement with a consortium of banks led by PNC Bank for
a five-year, $150 million revolving credit facility with a $15 million
sub-limit for standby letters of credit. The 1997 Revolving Credit Facility
replaces the 1995 Revolving Credit Facility. Interest under the 1997
Revolving Credit Facility is based on, at the option of the Company, either
PNC Bank's prime rate or a floating LIBOR rate plus a spread (currently
0.75%) based on a leverage calculation (specifically, the Consolidated Total
Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio). As of July 31, 1998, the interest rate on
borrowings outstanding under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility was 6.6%.
Repayment of funds borrowed under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility is not
required until the expiration of the facility on September 25, 2002. The
most restrictive covenants under the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility include
a minimum Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.5 to 1.0, a maximum Consolidated
Total Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio of 3.0 to 1.0 and a minimum Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth Ratio, all as defined in the 1997 Revolving Credit
Facility agreement. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998, the 1997
Revolving Credit Facility was amended to incorporate the Antitrust Charge
(see Note 8). The financial covenants in the 1997 Revolving Credit Facility
agreement were generally amended to exclude the effects of this provision
and reserve, although the cash flow impact associated with any future
settlements of such antitrust claims will effectively reduce EBITDA in the
computation of the Consolidated Total Indebtedness to EBITDA Ratio computed
for pricing purposes in the future. The 1997 Revolving Credit Facility is
collateralized with receivables and inventory.
As a result of the Tender and revolving credit facility refinancing, the
Company recorded a $6.4 million net extraordinary loss on the early retirement
of debt for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998. This extraordinary charge
represents the premium paid to Senior Note holders in connection with the Tender
and the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees associated with the
Senior Notes tendered and the 1995 Revolving Credit Facility. Extraordinary
losses on the early retirement of debt for the fiscal years ended July 31, 1997
and 1996 were $0.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively, and represented
premiums paid and charges for the write-off of deferred financing costs
associated with the early repurchase or redemption of Senior Notes in those
fiscal years.
Interest expense for the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996
was reduced by $0.3 million, $1.5 million and $1.8 million, respectively, of
interest income earned on cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Also, during fiscal 1998 and 1997 the Company capitalized $1.7 million and $0.5
million, respectively, in interest costs associated with capital expenditures.
The Company's effective interest rate on outstanding indebtedness for fiscal
1998 was 7.8%.
8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company leases various types of machinery, equipment and real estate, which
are accounted for as operating leases. Future minimum rental payments under
non-cancellable operating leases are as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ending July 31,
- ---------------------------------------
<S> <C>
1999 $2,279
2000 1,743
2001 1,243
2002 1,219
Thereafter 2,674
=======================================
</TABLE>
34
<PAGE> 36
Consolidated rent expense for the years ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996
amounted to approximately $2.9 million, $2.3 million and $2.4 million,
respectively.
The Company purchases electricity from various local producers under
long-term contracts which expire at various dates through 2007. These contracts
require the Company to make future minimum payments aggregating approximately
$4.0 million through the end of the contracts, whether or not the Company takes
power in the future.
In May 1997, the Company was served with a subpoena issued by a Grand Jury
empanelled by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania. The Company was advised by attorneys for the Department of Justice
(DOJ) that the Grand Jury is investigating price fixing by producers of graphite
products in the United States and abroad during the past five years. The Company
is cooperating with the DOJ in the investigation. The DOJ has granted the
Company and certain former and present senior executives the opportunity to
participate in its Corporate Leniency Program and the Company has entered into
an agreement with the DOJ under which the Company and such executives who
cooperate will not be subject to criminal prosecution with respect to the
investigation if charges are issued by the Grand Jury. Under the agreement, the
Company has agreed to use its best efforts to provide for restitution to its
domestic customers for actual damages if any conduct of the Company which
violated the Federal Antitrust Laws in the manufacture and sale of such graphite
products caused damage to such customers.
Subsequent to the initiation of the DOJ investigation, four civil cases
were filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia asserting claims on behalf of a class of purchasers
for violations of the Sherman Act. These cases, which have been consolidated,
name the Company, UCAR, SGL Corp. and SGL as defendants and seek treble damages.
On March 30, 1998, a number of purchasers who were previously included in the
purported class of plaintiffs covered by the consolidated case initiated a
separate action in the same District Court which asserts substantially the same
claims and seeks the same relief as the consolidated case and names the Named
Defendants, as well as Showa Denko. Thereafter, five additional purchasers who
were previously included in the purported class of plaintiffs covered by the
consolidated case instituted their own actions against the Named Defendants,
Showa Denko and, in several cases, certain present or former related parties of
UCAR asserting substantially the same claims and seeking the same relief as in
the consolidated cases. Three such actions were filed in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on April 3, 1998, April
17, 1998 and May 14, 1998, respectively. One action was filed in the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on April 17, 1998 but
has been transferred to the Eastern District of Pennylvania for pre-trial
proceedings. One such action was filed in the United States District Court for
the Western District of Pennsylvania on June 17, 1998; the Company is seeking to
have this case transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for pre-trial
proceedings.
The Company understands that defendants UCAR and Showa Denko have reached
settlement agreements with the class action plaintiffs, which are subject by law
to court approval, and have also settled claims brought by some of the
individual purchasers. The Company further understands that UCAR and Showa Denko
have pleaded guilty to antitrust conspiracy charges filed by the DOJ and have
been ordered to pay fines in connection with those guilty pleas.
The Company has also advised the Commission of the European Communities
that it wishes to invoke the Commission's Leniency Notice. Generally under these
guidelines, the European Commission may substantially reduce fines and other
penalties if a company cooperates with the European Commission and in the
judgment of the European Commission provides significant information. The
Company understands that the European Commission will determine any fines at the
completion of its proceedings that may not be concluded for a year or more.
On June 18, 1998, a group of Canadian purchasers filed a lawsuit in the
Ontario Court (General Division) claiming a conspiracy and violations of the
Canadian Competition Act. The Canadian lawsuit names the Named Defendants as
well as several present or former parents, subsidiaries and/or affiliates of
UCAR, SGL and Showa Denko. The Canadian Competition and Consumer Law Division
has initiated an inquiry and the Company is cooperating fully with the
authorities conducting that inquiry.
During fiscal 1998, the Company recorded a $38 million pre-tax charge ($25
million after expected tax benefits) for potential liabilities which may result
from civil lawsuits, claims, legal costs and other expenses associated with the
antitrust matters noted above and the investigations initiated by the antitrust
enforcement authorities of the European Union (the Antitrust Charge). Based on
the information currently available to the Company to date (including the nature
of the antitrust claims against the Company and its defenses), the Company
presently believes the Antitrust Charge should be appropriate under the present
assumptions to address the resolution of the civil suits and other
35
<PAGE> 37
claims and costs associated with the antitrust investigations. The Company
understands that defendants UCAR and Showa Denko recently reached settlements at
substantially higher amounts with the class action plaintiffs and certain
individual purchasers. In light of these and other future developments and other
factors, the actual liabilities, costs and expenses resulting from the antitrust
matters (including the European Commission antitrust investigation) could differ
materially from the current estimate which could adversely affect the Company's
financial condition and its ability to service its currently planned liquidity
needs.
In April 1995, the Company was named as a third-party defendant in the
Sayreville Litigation. Recently, three of the seven third-party plaintiffs have
agreed with the Company to dismiss their third-party claims. A stipulation of
dismissal is being circulated and will shortly be submitted to the Court for
approval. The remaining four third-party plaintiffs have recently entered into
settlement agreements directly with the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs report that those
settlement agreements include a provision requiring the settlors to dismiss all
claims made in the lawsuit, which includes the third-party claims made against
the Company. The plaintiffs expect the stipulations of dismissal relating to the
settlements to be submitted for court approval shortly. Upon approval of the
foregoing stipulations by the Court, all claims against the Company will be
dismissed. Carbon Graphite Group, Inc. was named as successor to Airco-Speer.
Since this landfill was closed prior to the organization of the Company in 1988,
the Company's only possible connection with the Sayreville Litigation would be
if it were a successor to Airco-Speer, a claim that it disputes. Furthermore,
pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement by which the Company acquired its
operating assets from BOC, BOC agreed to provide an indemnification for certain
environmental matters. BOC has assumed and commenced the defense of the
Sayreville Litigation and agreed to indemnify the Company for losses associated
therewith in accordance with the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement. In
addition, BOC asserts that the liability in this matter was settled by a 1992
agreement with the plaintiffs in the present case. As a result of a motion for
summary judgment, the Court has substantially reduced the scope of claims that
may be brought against the Company. Based on the above, management does not
believe that the Company will incur a material loss with respect to the
Sayreville Litigation.
The Company is also party to various legal proceedings considered
incidental to the conduct of its business or otherwise not material in the
judgment of management. Management does not believe that its loss exposure
related to these cases is materially greater than amounts provided in the
consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 1998. As of July 31, 1998, a $0.1
million reserve has been recorded to provide for estimated exposure on claims
for which a loss is deemed probable.
9. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
Pension Benefits
The Company maintains defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all
of its hourly employees. The benefits under these plans are based primarily on
years of service and benefit rates established by union contracts. The Company's
funding policy is to contribute annually the amount recommended by its
consulting actuary, subject to statutory provisions. Net periodic pension cost
included the following components (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended July 31, 1998 1997 1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Service Cost--Benefits Earned During the Year $ 829 $ 831 $ 697
Interest Cost on Projected Benefit Obligation 1,407 1,273 1,009
Actual Return on Plan Assets (859) (2,821) (797)
Deferral of Asset Gain (437) 1,946 87
Net Amortization 476 375 237
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,416 $ 1,604 $1,233
=====================================================================================
</TABLE>
36
<PAGE> 38
The funded status of the plans is reconciled to accrued pension cost as
follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
July 31, 1998 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Accumulated Benefit Obligation, Including Vested Benefits
of $18,582 for 1998 and $14,987 for 1997 $21,711 $17,643
Benefit Obligations for Estimated Future Service 2,233 1,111
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projected Benefit Obligation 23,944 18,754
Less: Plan Assets at Fair Value 17,613 15,971
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projected Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets 6,331 2,783
Unrecognized Transition Obligation (599) (710)
Unrecognized Net Actuarial (Loss) Gain (841) 1,356
Unrecognized Prior Service Cost (5,972) (4,508)
Additional Minimum Liability 5,179 2,751
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 4,098 $ 1,672
=======================================================================================
</TABLE>
Components of each plan's assets include primarily U.S. government
obligations and common stocks. Significant assumptions used in determining net
periodic pension cost and the related pension obligation as of and for the years
ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 were:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Discount Rate:
Pension Cost 7.5% 7.5% 7.5%
Benefit Obligation 7.0 7.5 7.5
Expected Long-Term Rate of Return on Plan Assets 8.0 8.0 8.0
=================================================================================
</TABLE>
The Company has recognized in the consolidated balance sheets a liability
equal to the excess of the accumulated benefit obligation over the fair value of
plan assets in accordance with SFAS #87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions".
The additional minimum liability was $5.2 million and $2.8 million at July 31,
1998 and 1997, respectively. The offset to this liability was a charge to an
intangible asset. The intangible asset has been classified within "other assets"
in the consolidated balance sheets.
Postretirement Benefits
The Company provides postretirement health care and life insurance benefits to
substantially all of its hourly employees. The plans under which these benefits
are provided are currently unfunded and require the employee to pay a portion of
the benefit cost. Postretirement benefit cost for the years ended July 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996 included the following components (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended July 31, 1998 1997 1996
- ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Service Cost $107 $105 $105
Interest Cost 239 215 187
Prior Service Cost (4) (4) (4)
Amortization of Actuarial Gain (8) (17) (37)
- ----------------------------------------------------------
$334 $299 $251
==========================================================
</TABLE>
37
<PAGE> 39
A reconciliation of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation to
accrued postretirement benefit expense follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
July 31, 1998 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Retirees $1,911 $1,400
Other Fully Eligible Plan Participants 451 782
Other Active Plan Participants 1,290 1,111
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation 3,652 3,293
Unrecognized Prior Service Cost 35 39
Unrecognized Actuarial Gains 116 342
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$3,803 $3,674
================================================================================
</TABLE>
Significant assumptions used in determining postretirement benefit cost and
the related obligation as of and for the years ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and
1996 were:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Discount Rate:
Postretirement Benefit Cost 7.5% 7.5% 7.5%
Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation 7.0 7.5 7.5
===========================================================================
</TABLE>
For estimated expense and liability measurement purposes, the health care
cost trend rate was assumed to increase 7.0% in fiscal 1999, with the rate of
increase declining evenly each year to 5% in fiscal 2002 and thereafter. If the
assumed health care cost trend rate was increased by one percent, the fiscal
1998 postretirement benefit cost would have increased 2.2%, while the
accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of July 31, 1998 would have
increased approximately 3.1%.
Savings Investment Plan
The Company has a defined contribution savings investment plan for substantially
all salaried employees. Employee contributions up to a maximum of 6% of employee
compensation are matched 50% by the Company. Additional employer contributions
may be made at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on the Company's
current year performance. The cost of these Company contributions was $1.5
million, $2.0 million and $1.6 million for the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively.
38
<PAGE> 40
10. OTHER COMPENSATION
Management Stock Option Plans
The Company has adopted several incentive or non-qualified, compensatory stock
option plans or agreements, participation in which is limited to officers,
directors and/or key employees of the Company (collectively, the MSOP). Options
granted under the MSOP generally vest over three years and expire ten years from
the date of grant. The table below summarizes option activity for the periods
indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended July 31, 1998 1997 1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Options Outstanding, Beginning of Year:
Number 446,250 617,500 1,745,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price $13.67 $ 4.52 $ 1.54
Granted:
Number 177,000 176,500 125,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price $21.69 $24.16 $15.75
Weighted-Average Fair Value* $ 9.08 $ 8.58 $ 5.57
Exercised:
Number (132,250) (311,750) (1,252,500)
Weighted-Average Exercise Price $ 4.68 $ 1.23 $ 1.49
Forfeited or Expired:
Number (12,000) (36,000) --
Weighted-Average Exercise Price $22.31 $15.75 --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options Outstanding, End of Year
Number 479,000 446,250 617,500
Weighted-Average Exercise Price $18.79 $13.67 $ 4.52
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* The weighted-average fair value disclosed was computed utilizing the
measurement alternatives suggested in SFAS #123. Such alternatives were not
adopted by the Company for compensation measurement purposes.
The following is a summary of the characteristics of the options
outstanding as of July 31, 1998:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Options Outstanding, July 31, 1998 Range 1 Range 2 Total
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Number 71,000 408,000 479,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price $2.90 $21.56 $18.79
Range of Exercise Prices $2.00-$3.50 $15.75-$34.6875 $2.00-$34.6875
Remaining Weighted-Average Contractual Life (in months) 30 110 98
Number of Options Currently Exercisable 71,000 127,666 198,666
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Options Exercisable $2.90 $20.95 $14.50
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
As of July 31, 1998, 479,000 shares were reserved for issuance under the
MSOP. Options granted under the MSOP for the fiscal years presented were granted
at the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock as quoted on the NASDAQ
National Market System on the date of grant.
The total compensation charge associated with the MSOP for the fiscal years
ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 was $0.1 million, $0.2 million and $0.5
million, respectively.
39
<PAGE> 41
The Company adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS #123, "Accounting
for Stock-Based Compensation." The measurement alternatives of SFAS #123 were
not adopted. SFAS #123 requires the disclosure of pro forma net income (loss)
and earnings per share amounts calculated as if the measurement alternatives
suggested by SFAS #123 had been adopted. The following table summarizes the
required pro forma disclosures for the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998 and 1997
(in thousands, except per share amounts):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
--------------------------- ---------------------
ACTUAL PRO FORMA Actual Pro Forma
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Income (Loss) $(11,486) $(11,848) $18,302 $18,023
Earnings (Loss) Per Share $ (1.32) $ (1.36) $ 2.07 $ 2.04
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Significant assumptions used in determining fair value and compensation
cost for stock options in accordance with SFAS #123 included the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Risk-Free Rate of Return 5.3% 6.3%
Expected Volatility 44.8% 31.1%
Expected Dividend Yield 0.0% 0.0%
Expected Life of Option 4 TO 5 YEARS 4 to 5 years
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Bonus Plans
In addition to the compensation expense recorded for the MSOP, the Company also
recorded $0.2 million and $1.4 million in compensation expense for the fiscal
years ended July 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively, associated with bonuses for
executives and certain key employees of the Company. The bonus amounts were
determined by the Company's Board of Directors.
During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1996, the Company recorded
compensation expense of $1.3 million associated with a non-qualified incentive
compensation plan for eligible employees (PUP II). All benefits under PUP II
have been paid and the plan has been canceled. In connection with the payout of
the benefits under PUP II, the Company issued 132,284 shares of Common Stock to
certain participants during the fiscal years ended July 31, 1997 and 1996.
11. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company's operations consist of two reportable segments: graphite electrode
products and calcium carbide products.
The graphite electrode products segment manufactures and markets graphite
electrodes, primarily to electric arc furnace steel producers. In addition, this
segment manufactures and markets needle coke, the principal raw material used in
the manufacture of graphite electrodes, as well as certain other graphite
specialty products. The calcium carbide products segment manufactures and
markets calcium carbide and its direct derivatives, primarily acetylene gas,
that are used in the further manufacturing of specialty chemicals, in fuel gas
applications, and in metallurgical applications such as ductile iron and steel
desulfurization.
Net sales to the Company's top ten customers as a percentage of total sales
were approximately 30% in each of the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and
1996. Sales of graphite electrodes and calcium carbide for metallurgical
applications to customers in the steel and ductile iron industries accounted for
approximately 60% of net sales in each of the fiscal years presented. Amounts
due from customers in the steel industry at July 31, 1998 and 1997 were $36.4
million and $34.0 million, respectively.
As a result of increased needle coke production capabilities achieved
throughout fiscal 1998 and 1997, the Company is currently selling a greater
amount of needle coke to its competitors in the graphite electrode industry.
Third party needle coke sales as a percentage of total net sales were 11.5%,
9.9% and 6.4% million for the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.
40
<PAGE> 42
Segment information is as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended July 31, 1998 1997 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Sales to Customers:
Graphite Electrode Products $215,767 $210,045 $179,925
Calcium Carbide Products 77,984 79,541 79,469
Intersegment Sales, at Prevailing Market Prices:
Graphite Electrode Products 338 248 308
Eliminations (338) (248) (308)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Net Sales $293,751 $289,586 $259,394
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Income (Loss):
Graphite Electrode Products* $ 32,813 $ 36,346 $ 24,026
Calcium Carbide Products 10,470 10,616 13,623
Unallocated Corporate Expenses (44,951) (9,908) (6,952)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Operating Income (Loss) $ (1,668) $ 37,054 $ 30,697
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identifiable Assets:
Graphite Electrode Products $238,399 $171,643 $141,019
Calcium Carbide Products 29,332 27,695 27,768
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
267,731 199,338 168,787
Corporate Assets 21,368 36,522 44,083
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Assets $289,099 $235,860 $212,870
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation and Amortization:
Graphite Electrode Products $ 12,459 $ 9,377 $ 7,472
Calcium Carbide Products 1,553 1,505 1,381
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Depreciation and Amortization $ 14,012 $ 10,882 $ 8,853
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Expenditures:
Graphite Electrode Products $ 62,698 $ 31,701 $ 12,883
Calcium Carbide Products 1,608 2,064 2,787
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Capital Expenditures $ 64,306 $ 33,765 $ 15,670
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales Information:
Total Net Sales to Geographic Areas:
United States $202,557 $199,895 $173,948
Europe 45,237 40,465 36,072
Other Americas 32,585 23,943 19,382
Asia/Far East 13,372 25,283 29,992
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Net Sales $293,751 $289,586 $259,394
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* Excludes the Antitrust Charge in fiscal 1998, which is included in
"Unallocated Corporate Expenses" (see Note 8).
41
<PAGE> 43
12. CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Net cash payments for interest and income taxes were as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended July 31, 1998 1997 1996
- ---------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Interest $10,196 $8,913 $10,284
Income Taxes 6,627 5,926 2,882
- ---------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
13. OTHER ITEMS
Early Retirement/Severance Charge
Early retirement/severance charges for the year ended July 31, 1997 represent
costs associated with the retirement of two executives of the Company.
Other Expense And Income
Other expense for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998 represents the Antitrust
Charge (see Note 8).
In October 1994, the Company formally entered into the China Contract.
Total revenues under the contract were expected to be approximately $5.2
million, $4.1 million of which has been recognized through July 31, 1998. Other
income for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1996 represents $0.3 million in
revenues earned under the process design expertise portion of the contract, less
applicable expenses. At this time, the project has been delayed by the Chinese
government, and management cannot determine whether the balance of the revenue
expected under the contract will be realized.
42
<PAGE> 44
14. QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)
The following table sets forth certain unaudited consolidated quarterly
operating information of the Company (in millions, except per share
information):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1998: 1ST QUARTER 2ND QUARTER 3RD QUARTER 4TH QUARTER FISCAL YEAR
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Sales $73.4 $74.8 $72.8 $72.8 $293.8
Gross Profit 14.1 14.5 10.7 11.9 51.2
Operating Income (Loss) 10.3 10.1 (31.1)* 9.0 (1.7)
Income (Loss) Before Extraordinary Loss 5.7 5.8 (21.3) 4.7 (5.1)
Extraordinary Loss** (6.4) -- -- -- (6.4)
Net Income (Loss) (0.7) 5.8 (21.3) 4.7 (11.5)
Per Diluted Share:
Income (Loss) Before Extraordinary Loss 0.64 0.66 (2.44) 0.54 (0.58)
Net (Loss) Income (0.09) 0.66 (2.44) 0.54 (1.32)
================================================================================================================
Year Ended July 31, 1997:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Sales $67.7 $75.1 $74.9 $71.9 $289.6
Gross Profit 11.8 13.3 14.3 14.8 54.2
Operating Income 7.5 9.2 9.5*** 10.9 37.1
Income Before Extraordinary Loss 3.5 4.6 4.7 5.6 18.4
Extraordinary Loss** -- -- -- 0.1 0.1
Net Income 3.5 4.6 4.8 5.4 18.3
Per Diluted Share:
Income Before Extraordinary Loss 0.40 0.53 0.54 0.63 2.09
Net Income 0.40 0.53 0.54 0.61 2.07
================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
* Includes a $38.0 million pre-tax charge for the Antitrust Charge (see Note
8).
** Represents net charges associated with the early retirement of Senior Notes
(see Note 7).
*** Includes a $1.1 million pre-tax charge for early retirement/severance
benefits (see Note 13).
15. SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
On March 4, 1998, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the expenditure of
up to $10 million to repurchase the Company's Common Stock. Subject to price and
market considerations and applicable securities laws, such purchases may be made
from time to time in open market, privately negotiated or other transactions. No
time limit was placed on the duration of the repurchase program. The extent and
timing of any repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate
considerations. During fiscal 1998 the Company repurchased 53,000 shares of its
Common Stock for $1.5 million under its stock repurchase program.
43
<PAGE> 45
ITEM 9 CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
This item is not applicable to the Registrant for this Annual Report on Form
10-K.
PART III
ITEM 10 DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Information required by this item will be furnished in the Company's Proxy
Statement to be dated October 28, 1998 and to be filed within 120 days of July
31, 1998 and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information required by this item will be furnished in the Company's Proxy
Statement to be dated October 28, 1998 and to be filed within 120 days of July
31, 1998 and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Information required by this item will be furnished in the Company's Proxy
Statement to be dated October 28, 1998 and to be filed within 120 days of July
31, 1998 and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Information required by this item will be furnished in the Company's Proxy
Statement to be dated October 28, 1998 and to be filed within 120 days of July
31, 1998 and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
ITEM 14 EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a)(1) List of Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements, including the notes
thereto, of the Company and the Report of Independent Accountants set forth on
pages 24 through 43 and page 23, respectively, of this Annual Report on Form
10-K, are incorporated by reference into this Item 14 of Form 10-K by Item 8
hereof:
* Consolidated Balance Sheets as of July 31, 1998 and 1997.
* Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended July 31, 1998, 1997
and 1996.
* Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended
July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.
* Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended July 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996.
* Report of Independent Accountants dated September 15, 1998.
(a)(2) List of Financial Statement Schedules
The following financial statement schedule of the Company and the Report of
Independent Accountants are included on pages 50 and 49, respectively, of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K and are incorporated by reference into this Item 14
on Form 10-K:
* Report of Independent Accountants dated September 15, 1998.
* Schedule II--Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the Years Ended July 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996.
All other financial statement schedules are not required, are not
applicable or the information called for therein is included elsewhere in the
consolidated financial statements or related notes thereto.
44
<PAGE> 46
(a)(3) List of Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1* Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-31408)
3.2* Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-31408)
3.3* Restated Stockholders' Agreement dated as of September 19, 1995
among the Company and the Management Stockholders (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-31408)
4.1* Specimen Certificate for Common Stock of the Company
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-91102)
4.2* Indenture dated August 26, 1993 between the Company and State
Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, relating to 111/2%
Senior Notes Due 2003, including the form of Senior Note included
therein (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No.
33-91102)
4.3* Supplemental Indenture No. 2 dated as of September 15, 1997
between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
trustee, related to the elimination of substantially all of the
restrictive covenants and certain default provisions in the
Senior Note Indenture (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.1* Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of September 25, 1991
between the Company and BOC (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
Registration No. 33-65150)
10.2* Asset Transfer Agreement dated as of July 9, 1988 among the
Company, BOC and Centre Capital Investors, L.P. (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-65150)
10.3* Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of January 17, 1995 among the
Company, The C/G Specialty Products Business Trust, Materials
Technology Corporation and SGL Carbon Corporation (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current
Report on Form 8-K dated January 17, 1995)
10.4* Share Purchase Agreement dated as of January 17, 1995 between the
Company and 9012-9677 Quebec Inc. (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form
8-K dated January 17, 1995)
10.5* Revolving Credit Agreement and Letter of Credit Issuance dated
September 25, 1997 by and among the Company, PNC Bank, N.A. and
the Financial Institutions party thereto (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for its fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, Commission File No.
0-20490)
10.6* Second Amendment to Revolving Credit and Letter of Credit
Issuance Agreement and Waiver between the Company and PNC Bank,
National Association dated April 30, 1998 (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 30, 1998,
Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.7* Office Lease dated August 30, 1991 between the Company and The
Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No.
33-65150)
45
<PAGE> 47
Exhibit No. Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.8* Revised Employment Agreement dated March 31, 1997 between the
Company and Nicholas T. Kaiser (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
its fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.9* Employment Agreement dated as of April 1, 1997 between the
Company and Walter B. Fowler (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.19 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.10 Employment Agreement dated February 1, 1998 between the Company
and Stephen D. Weaver
10.11* Separation Agreement dated April 25, 1997 between the Company and
Walter E. Damian (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.21 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal
year ended July 31, 1997, Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.12* Separation Agreement dated April 25, 1997 between the Company and
Jim J. Trigg (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22
to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year
ended July 31, 1997, Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.13* Stock Option Agreement dated as of August 1, 1993 between the
Company and James G. Baldwin (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.23 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1, Registration No. 33-91102)
10.14* Stock Option Agreement dated as of March 8, 1994 between the
Company and James G. Baldwin (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.24 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1, Registration No. 33-91102)
10.15* 1995 Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plan of the Company
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No.
33-31408)
10.16* Amendment to 1995 Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plan of the
Company dated August 26, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
its fiscal year ended July 31, 1996, Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.17* Agreement under the 1995 Stock-Based Incentive Plan (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-91102)
10.18* Non-Employee Director Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plan of
the Company dated August 26, 1996 (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for its fiscal year ended July 31, 1996, Commission File No.
0-20490)
10.19* Incentive Bonus Plan of the Company (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for its fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, Commisssion File
No. 0-20490)
10.20* Supplemental Executive Savings Plan of the Company (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended July 31, 1996,
Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.21* Replacement Power Agreement between the Power Authority of the
State of New York and the Company dated October 17, 1994
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No.
33-91102)
46
<PAGE> 48
Exhibit No. Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.22* Acetylene Purchase Agreement dated as of January 1, 1985 between
BOC (as predecessor to the Company) and GAF Corporation
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No.
33-91102)
10.23* Amendment to the Acetylene Supply Agreement between Air Products
& Chemicals and the Company dated as of October 21, 1994
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No.
33-91102)
10.24* Acetylene Agreement dated January 1, 1975, as amended June 12,
1978 and February 10, 1982, between Airco, Inc. and DuPont
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No.
33-91102)
10.25* Subcontract dated as of July, 1994 between the Company and Brown
& Root, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.35
to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration
No. 33-91102)
10.26* Agreement between the Company (Carbide Unit), Calvert City,
Kentucky, and the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers, International
Union, AFL-CIO Local 3-556, dated February 1, 1996 (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended July 31, 1996,
Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.27* Agreement between the Company (Electrode Unit) and International
Union of Electrical, Technical Salaried Machine and Furniture
Workers, AFL-CIO Local Union 502, dated June 3, 1996
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
July 31, 1996, Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.28* Agreement by and between the Company (Carbide Division),
Louisville, Kentucky Plant, and International Brotherhood of
Firemen and Oilers Local No. 320, Affiliated with the AFL-CIO,
dated July 1, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.40 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal
year ended July 31, 1996, Commission File No. 0-20490)
10.29* Agreement between the Company (Electrode Unit) and Oil, Chemical
and Atomic Workers International Union and Local Union Number
8-23516, dated January 23, 1994 (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.40 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1, Registration No. 33-91102)
10.30* Carbide Supply Agreement dated August 1, 1988 between the Company
and BOC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No.
33-65150)
10.31* Master Lease between the Company and PNC Leasing Corp. dated
January 27, 1997 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.43 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarterly period ended April 30, 1997, Commission File No.
0-20490)
21.1* Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Company (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, Commission
File No. 0-20490)
23.1 Consent of Independent Accountants
27.1 Financial Data Schedule
* Exhibit has previously been filed with the Commission and is herein
incorporated by reference.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
On July 29, 1998, the Company filed on Form 8-K its press release dated
July 27, 1998 which announced the Company's expected earnings for its fiscal
fourth quarter ended July 31, 1998.
47
<PAGE> 49
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on October 23,
1998.
THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Walter B. Fowler
- ----------------------------------------------
(WALTER B. FOWLER)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the
following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated on
October 23, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
/s/ Walter B. Fowler Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and
- ----------------------------------------- Director (Principal Executive Officer)
(WALTER B. FOWLER)
/s/ Stephen D. Weaver Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer
- ----------------------------------------- (Principal Financial Officer)
(STEPHEN D. WEAVER)
/s/ Jeffrey T. Jones Controller-Corporate Finance (Principal Accounting Officer)
- -----------------------------------------
(JEFFREY T. JONES)
/s/ Ararat Hacetoglu Vice President and General Manager, Carbide Products
- -----------------------------------------
(ARARAT HACETOGLU)
/s/ Michael F. Supon Vice President and General Manager, Electrodes and
- ----------------------------------------- Graphite Specialty Products
(MICHAEL F. SUPON)
/s/ Jim J. Trigg Vice President and General Manager, Seadrift Coke, L.P.
- -----------------------------------------
(JIM J. TRIGG)
/s/ James G. Baldwin Director
- -----------------------------------------
(JAMES G. BALDWIN)
/s/ James R. Ball Director
- -----------------------------------------
(JAMES R. BALL)
/s/ Paul F. Balser Director
- -----------------------------------------
(PAUL F. BALSER)
/s/ Robert M. Howe Director
- -----------------------------------------
(ROBERT M. HOWE)
/s/ Ronald B. Kalich Director
- -----------------------------------------
(RONALD B. KALICH)
/s/ Nicholas T. Kaiser Director
- -----------------------------------------
(NICHOLAS T. KAISER)
/s/ Charles E. Slater Director
- -----------------------------------------
(CHARLES E. SLATER)
</TABLE>
48
<PAGE> 50
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors of
The Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc.:
In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements of The
Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of July 31, 1998
and 1997 and for each of the three years in the period ended July 31, 1998,
which financial statements are included in this Form 10-K, we have also audited
the financial statement schedule listed in Item 14 herein.
In our opinion, this financial statement schedule, when considered in relation
to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents
fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be included
therein.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- -------------------------------
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
September 15, 1998
49
<PAGE> 51
SCHEDULE II
THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
For the Years Ended July 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 (in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Col. A Col. B Col. C Col. D Col. E Col. F
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additions
----------------------------
Balance at
Beginning Charged Charged to Balance at
of Period to Expense Other Accounts Deductions* End of Period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
Year Ended July 31, 1998 $2,029 -- -- $ (4) $2,025
Year Ended July 31, 1997 1,896 $120 $13 -- 2,029
Year Ended July 31, 1996 5,152 120 -- (3,376) 1,896
=================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
* Represents uncollectible accounts written off and recoveries of customer
accounts previously reserved for.
50
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 10.10
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT between The Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Corporation") and Stephen D. Weaver (the "Executive")
dated as of February 1, 1998 (the "Agreement").
WHEREAS, the Corporation wishes to employ the Executive as Vice
President- Finance/Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation on the terms set
forth herein and the Executive wishes to be employed by the Corporation on such
terms;
IT IS, THEREFORE, AGREED:
1. EMPLOYMENT. The Corporation hereby agrees to employ the Executive,
and the Executive hereby agrees to be employed by the Corporation, for the
period commencing as of the date hereof and ending on January 31, 2000 as its
Vice President- Finance/Chief Financial Officer (the "Employment Period").
2. DUTIES. During the Employment Period, the Executive agrees to devote
his attention full time and during normal business hours to his responsibilities
as Vice President- Finance/Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation and to use
his best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities.
The Executive shall, subject to the supervision and control of the Chairman/CEO
of the Corporation, perform such duties and exercise such supervision and powers
over and with regar d to the business of the Corporation as are contemplated to
be performed by the Vice President-Finance/CFO pursuant to the By-laws of the
Corporation and such additional duties as may from time to time be prescribed by
the Chairman/CEO and the Board of Directors.
3. BASE COMPENSATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
receive a base salary at an annual rate of at least $190,000 with any increase
thereto to be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
from time to time. The Executive's next salary review is scheduled for June 30,
1998.
<PAGE> 2
4. ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS. Subject to the terms of the Corporation's
Annual Incentive Bonus Plan, the Executive's participation in the Plan for the
fiscal years ending July 31, 1998, July 31, 1999, and the period August 1, 1999
to January 31, 2000 shall be at a target award level equal to 30% of base pay.
5. TERMINATION. (a) Death or Disability. This Agreement shall terminate
automatically upon the Executive's death. The Corporation may terminate this
Agreement during the Employment Period after having established the Executive's
"Disability" (as defined below), by giving the Executive written notice of its
intention to terminate the Executive's employment. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Disability" means the Executive's inability to substantially perform
his duties and responsibi lities to the Corporation by reason of a physical or
mental disability or infirmity (i) for a continuous period of six months or (ii)
at such earlier time as the Executive submits medical evidence satisfactory to
the Corporation that the Executive has a~ physical or mental disability or
infirmity that will likely prevent the Executive from substantially performing
his duties and responsibilities for six months or longer. The date of Disability
shall be the day on which the Executive receives notice f rom the Corporation
pursuant to this Section 6(a).
(b) Cause. The Corporation shall have the right to terminate
the Executive's employment for "Cause" during the Employment Period. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean (i) the willful and continued
failure by the Executive to perform substantially his duties to the Corporation
or its subsidiaries (other than any such failure resulting from his Disability)
within a reasonable period of time after a written demand for substantial
performance is delivered to the Executive by the Chairman/CEO, which demand
specifically identifies the manner in which the Chairman/CEO believes that the
Executive has not substantially performed his duties, (ii) embezzlement or theft
from the Corporation or any subsidiary or affiliate by the Executive or the
commission or perpetration by the Executive of any act involving moral
turpitude, or (iii) any material and willful violation by the Executive of his
.obligations under Section 7 hereof.
2
<PAGE> 3
(c) Change of Control. The Executive shall have the right to
terminate this Agreement during the Employment Period upon thirty (30) days
prior written notice to the Corporation or a successor of the Corporation, as
the case may be, for "Good Reason" on or subsequent to the consummation of a
"Change of Control." For purposes of this Agreement, (A) "Good Reason" shall
mean (1) a change in the Executive's duties and responsibilities without his
consent such that his duties and responsibil ities are materially reduced or
altered in a manner unfavorable to him or a decrease in the Executive's salary
or a material decrease in his benefits or (2) a change in the location at which
the Executive's duties are principally carried out of more than 20 miles from
the Corporation's principal executive offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and
(B) "Change of Control" shall mean (i) a change in control of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation pursuant to which any single Person or two or more
Persons acting in concert acquires control of such Board of Directors or (ii)
the Transfer of at least 51% or more of the voting equity interests in the
Corporation (or any . parent of the Corporation), whether by sale, merger,
consolidation or otherwise, to any single Person or two or more Persons acting
in concert; provided that two or more Persons shall be considered to be acting
in concert for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) hereof only if such Persons
would have been considered to be acting in concert as a " group" for purposes of
Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, for such purposes treating
voting equity interests of the Corporation held or acquired by such Persons as
if such voting equity interests were equity securities in respect of which a
Schedule 13D would be required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and as if the requisite percentage and other threshold conditions to
such filing were satisfied. "Person" means any individual, corporation,
partnership, joint vent ure, association, joint-stock company,, unincorporated
organization or governmental body. "Transfer" means, sell, transfer, convey,
lease and/or deliver (other tenses of the term have similar meaning) or sale,
transfer, assignment, conveyance, lease and/or delivery, as indicated by the
context.
3
<PAGE> 4
6. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. (a) Upon termination of the Executive's
employment during the Employment Period, because of death or Disability as
provided in subsection 6(a), following termination of the Executive's
employment, the Corporation shall continue to pay the Executive or his estate or
other personal representative as severance (x) the amount of the Executive's
salary as provided in Section 3 at the rate in effect immediately prior to
termination of his employment for a period of twen ty-four months less the
amount of any disability payments made by the Corporation or any Corporation
plan and (y) in the case of a Disability termination will afford to the
Executive at the Corporation's expense, health insurance benefits (including
medical and dental) and life insurance equivalent to the benefits enjoyed by the
Executive at the date of termination (the "Insurance Benefits") for a period of
twenty-four months from he date of such termination.
(b) If the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Corporation during the Employment Period (other than for death, Disability or
Cause or other than by virtue of a Change of Control pursuant to subsection 5
(c)), or in the event the Corporation is unwilling to extend the Executive's
employment at the expiration of this Agreement upon terms at least as favorable
to the Executive as the terms set forth herein, the Corporation shall continue
the Executive's salary for the remainder of the Employment Period or twenty-
four (24) months, whichever is longer and shall continue to maintain the
Insurance Benefits for such period.
(c) If the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive during the Employment Period pursuant to subsection 5 (c), the
Corporation shall pay to the Executive a cash amount as severance in a lump sum
equal to a 2.99 times the Executive's base salary then in effect pursuant to
Section 3; provided that such payment under this subsection 6 (c) shall be
limited to an amount which would not constitute an "excess parachute payment"
under Section 280G of the Federal Internal Revenue C ode. Such lump sum payment
shall be paid within 45 days after the date of termination provided for in
subsection 5 (c).
4
<PAGE> 5
(d) Nothing herein shall be deemed to restrict or reduce the
Executive's vested benefits under the Compensation Deferral Plan, the Savings
Incentive Plan or the Annual Incentive Bonus Plan as determined in accordance
with the provisions of such plans.
(e) No continued salary or severance shall be paid if the
Executive's employment terminates for any reason during the Employment Period
other than as set forth above in this Section 6.
7. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; NON-COMPETITION. (a) For a three-year
period commencing on the date on which the Executive's employment with the
Corporation, or any of its affiliates, terminates for whatever reason (the "Date
of Termination"), (i) the Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the
benefit of the Corporation all secret or confidential information, knowledge or
data relating to the Corporation or its affiliates, and their respective
businesses which shall not be public knowledge (other than information which
becomes public as a result of acts of the Executive or his representatives in
violation of this Agreement), including without limitation, customer lists,
bids, proposals, contracts, matters subject to litigation, technology or
financial information of the Corporation or its subsidiaries and other know-how,
and (ii) the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Corporation, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to
anyone o ther than the Corporation and those designated by it in writing.
(b) For a three-year period commencing on the Date of
termination, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, (i) own, manage,
operate, control or participate in the ownership, management or control of, or
be connected as an officer, employee, partner, director, or consultant or
otherwise, with, or have any financial interest in (except for (A) ownership of
the date hereof, (B) any ownership in the common stock of the Corporation, or
(C) any ownership of less than 5% of th e outstanding equity interest in any
entity) (I) the manufacture of graphite electrodes, (II) the manufacture of
specialty carbon and graphite products, or (III) the refining of products
required for production of, or the production of,
5
<PAGE> 6
needle coke, or the manufacture or marketing of calcium carbide and its direct
derivatives, in each case, in any market in which the Corporation or its
affiliates conducts or solicits business or (ii) solicit or contact any employee
of the Corporation or its affiliates with a view to inducing or encouraging such
employee to leave the employ of the Corporation or its affiliates for the
purpose of being employed by the Executive, an employer affiliated with the
Executive, or any competitor of the Corporation or any affiliate thereof;
provided that the provisions of subsection (b) (i) shall be limited to a period
of two years in the event the Corporation is unwilling to extend the Executive's
employment at the expiration of this Agreement upon terms at least as favorable
to the Executive as set forth in this Agreement or the termination by the
Corporation of the Executive's employment during the Employment Period other
than for Cause or Disability.
(c) The Executive acknowledges that the provisions of this
Section 7 are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Corporation and
that the Corporation will be irrevocably damaged if such provisions are not
specifically enforced. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that, in addition to
any other relief to which the Corporation may be entitled in the form of actual
or punitive damages, the Corporation shall be entitled to seek and obtain
injunctive relief from a court of competen t jurisdiction (without the posting
of a bond therefor) for the purposes of restraining the Executive from any
actual or threatened breach of such provisions.
8. SUCCESSORS. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and
without the prior written consent of the Corporation shall not be assignable by
the Executive other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's
legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Corporation and its successors.
6
<PAGE> 7
(c) This Agreement supersedes the employment agreement dated
March 1, 1995 between the Executive and the Corporation which prior agreement is
no longer in force.
9. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:
If to the Executive:
Stephen D. Weaver
259 Trotwood Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15241
If to the Corporation:
The Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc.
One Gateway Center, 19th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Attention: Secretary
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notices and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The Corporation may withhold from any amounts payable
under this Agreement such federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to
be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
7
<PAGE> 8
(d) The Corporation's failure to insist upon strict compliance
with any provision hereof shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision
or any other provision hereof. The Executive's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision hereof shall not be deemed to be a waiver or such
provision or any other provision hereof.
(e) This Agreement embodies the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the Executive's employment, and may not be changed or
terminated orally.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set his hand and
pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Corporation has
caused these presents to be executed in its name and on its behalf, all as of
the day and year first above written.
THE CARBIDE/GRAPHITE GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ WALTER B. FOWLER
-------------------------------------------
Name: Walter B. Fowler
Title: Chairman and CEO
/s/ STEPHEN D. WEAVER
-------------------------------------------
Name: Stephen D. Weaver
Date: 4/20/98
--------------------------------------
nlf
8
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement of
The Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc. on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-570) of our
reports dated September 15, 1998, on our audits of the consolidated financial
statements and financial statement schedule of The Carbide/Graphite Group,
Inc. and Subsidiaries as of July 31, 1998 and 1997 and for each of the three
years in the period ended July 31, 1998, which reports are incorporated by
reference or included in this Form 10-K.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- ------------------------------
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
October 23, 1998
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE COMPANY INCLUDED UNDER ITEM 8 OF
THIS FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1998
<CASH> 0
<SECURITIES> 0
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<PP&E> 331,850
<DEPRECIATION> (194,247)
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<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 74,252
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0
0
<COMMON> 99
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<SALES> 293,751
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<CGS> 242,535
<TOTAL-COSTS> 257,419
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<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,130
<INCOME-PRETAX> (6,798)
<INCOME-TAX> (1,729)
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (5,069)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> (6,417)
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (11,486)
<EPS-PRIMARY> (1.32)
<EPS-DILUTED> (1.32)
</TABLE>
