GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC
10-Q, 1997-05-14
INDUSTRIAL INORGANIC CHEMICALS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

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

                  FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1997

                                       OR

                TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                 For the transition period from______ to_______

                         Commission File Number 1-13404

                         THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.

             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                 DELAWARE                                     02-0423437
      (State of other jurisdiction of                     (I.R.S. Employer
      incorporation or organization)                    Identification Number)

               LIBERTY LANE
          HAMPTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE                                03842
 (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (603) 929-2606

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 [ ]

The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at May 9, 1997 was 20,925,747.

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                         THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.

                                    FORM 10-Q

                      QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1997

                                      INDEX

                                                                       PAGE NO.
                                                                       --------
PART I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

    Item 1. Financial Statements

       Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three Months

        Ended March 31, 1996 and 1997....................................   1

       Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 1996 and

        March 31, 1997...................................................   2

       Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Three Months

        Ended March 31, 1996 and 1997....................................   3

       Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements....................  4-6

    Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial

             Condition and Results of Operations.........................  7-8

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION:

    Item 1.  Legal Proceedings...........................................   9

    Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K............................  10

    SIGNATURES...........................................................  11

    EXHIBIT INDEX........................................................  12

    EXHIBITS............................................................. 13-14






<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>







                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                        THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                       (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
                                  (UNAUDITED)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                           MARCH 31,
                                                                                   ----------------------
                                                                                   1996              1997
                                                                                   ----              ----

<S>                                                                             <C>              <C>        
Net revenues................................................................    $   144,571      $   149,566
Cost of sales...............................................................        103,060          104,364
Selling, general and administrative expense.................................         13,981           15,114
                                                                                -----------      -----------
Operating profit............................................................         27,530           30,088
Interest expense............................................................          6,464            5,257
Interest income.............................................................            608              750
Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses.................................            (51)             546
Other (income) expense, net.................................................            (86)            (453)
                                                                                -----------      -----------
Income before income taxes and minority interest............................         21,811           25,488
Minority interest...........................................................          6,458            6,221
                                                                                -----------      -----------
Income before income taxes .................................................         15,353           19,267
Income tax provision........................................................          6,037            7,553
                                                                                -----------      -----------
      Net income ...........................................................    $     9,316      $    11,714
                                                                                ===========      ===========
Earnings per common and common
 equivalent share...........................................................    $       .47      $       .50
                                                                                ===========      ===========
Dividends declared per share................................................    $       --       $       .05
                                                                                ==========-      ===========
Weighted average common and common
 equivalent shares outstanding..............................................      19,736,842      23,294,662
                                                                                  ==========      ==========
</TABLE>







        See the accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       -1-






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                         THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                        (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

                                     ASSETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  DECEMBER 31,       MARCH 31,
                                                                                       1996             1997
                                                                                      ----             ----
                                                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                              <C>               <C>       
Current Assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents.................................................. $    51,700       $   63,164
     Receivables, net...........................................................     102,478          105,312
     Inventories................................................................      41,429           41,424
     Deferred income taxes......................................................      11,264           11,933
     Other current assets.......................................................       2,153            3,028
                                                                                 -----------       ----------
         Total current assets...................................................     209,024          224,861
Property, plant and equipment, net..............................................     239,819          237,182
Other assets      ..............................................................      36,294           35,591
                                                                                 -----------       ----------
     Total assets............................................................... $   485,137       $  497,634
                                                                                 ===========       ==========
</TABLE>


                        LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                              <C>               <C>   
Current Liabilities:
     Accounts payable........................................................... $    53,772       $   50,305
     Accrued liabilities........................................................      74,205           71,588
     Income taxes payable.......................................................       5,500           11,179
     Current portion of long-term debt..........................................      17,392           17,392
                                                                                 -----------       ----------
          Total current liabilities.............................................     150,869          150,464
Long-term debt..................................................................     217,217          212,869
Other liabilities...............................................................     198,232          199,370
                                                                                 -----------       ----------
          Total liabilities.....................................................     566,318          562,703
                                                                                 -----------       ----------
Minority interest...............................................................      38,572           43,844
                                                                                 -----------       ----------
Equity (deficit):

     Preferred Stock, $.01 par value; authorized:
      10,000,000 shares; none issued or outstanding.............................         --               --
     Common Stock, $.01 par value; authorized:
      50,000,000 and 100,000,000 shares, issued
      8,009,601 and 8,009,601 shares at December 31, 1996 and
      March 31, 1997, respectively..............................................          80               80
     Class B Convertible Common Stock, $.01 par value;
      authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding:
      14,261,467 shares at December 31, 1996 and March 31, 1997.................         143              143
     Capital deficit............................................................    (185,215)        (184,862)
     Foreign currency translation adjustments...................................      (1,435)          (1,499)
     Retained earnings .........................................................      66,797           77,399
     Treasury stock, at cost:  6,325 shares at December 31, 1996
      and 8,600 shares at March 31, 1997, respectively..........................        (123)            (174)
                                                                                 -----------       ----------
          Total equity (deficit)................................................    (119,753)        (108,913)
                                                                                 -----------       ----------
          Total liabilities and equity (deficit)................................ $   485,137       $  497,634
                                                                                 ===========       ==========
</TABLE>


      See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.


                                      -2-







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                         THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                 MARCH 31,
                                                                                         ---------------------
                                                                                         1996             1997
                                                                                         ----             ----
<S>                                                                                 <C>                <C>      
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income ................................................................      $    9,316         $  11,714
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
    provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization.............................................          7,539             7,930
     Net (gain) loss on disposition of long-term assets........................             85               192
     Unrealized exchange loss..................................................             67               740
     Restricted unit plan costs................................................            --                351
     (Increase) in receivables.................................................        (10,657)           (3,071)
     (Increase) in inventories.................................................         (1,659)             (149)
     (Decrease) in accounts payable............................................           (806)           (3,405)
     (Decrease) in accrued liabilities.........................................            (94)           (2,552)
     Increase in income taxes payable..........................................          3,673             5,640
     Increase (decrease) in other liabilities and assets, net..................           (133)              186
     Increase in minority interest.............................................          5,356             5,272
                                                                                    ----------         ---------
        Net cash provided by operating activities..............................         12,687            22,848
                                                                                    ----------         ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
      Capital expenditures.....................................................         (8,622)           (5,842)
      Repayment of related party loans ........................................          2,000               --
                                                                                    ----------         --------
       Net cash used for investing activities.................................          (6,622)           (5,842)
                                                                                    ----------         ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
      Proceeds from long-term debt.............................................          5,000               --
      Repayment of long-term debt..............................................         (8,418)           (4,348)
      Payments to acquire treasury stock.......................................            --                (51)
      Dividends................................................................            --             (1,112)
                                                                                    ----------         ---------
        Net cash used for financing activities.................................         (3,418)           (5,511)
                                                                                    ----------         ---------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash........................................            (49)              (31)
                                                                                    ----------         ---------
Increase in cash and cash equivalents.........................................           2,598            11,464
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period...............................         19,025            51,700
                                                                                    ----------         ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period.....................................     $   21,623         $  63,164
                                                                                    ==========         =========

Supplemental information:

      Cash paid for income taxes...............................................     $    2,268         $   2,653
                                                                                    ==========         =========

      Cash paid for interest...................................................     $    7,299         $   6,134
                                                                                    ==========         =========
</TABLE>









      See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.


                                      -3-





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                         THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.
                 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                      FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the
accounts  of  The  General  Chemical  Group  Inc.  and  its  subsidiaries   (the
"Company").  These  unaudited  financial  statements  have been  prepared by the
Company  pursuant to the rules and  regulations  of the  Securities and Exchange
Commission.  The financial  statements do not include  certain  information  and
footnotes required by generally accepted accounting  principles.  In the opinion
of management,  all  adjustments  (consisting of normal  recurring  adjustments)
considered  necessary  for a fair  presentation  have been  included.  Operating
results for the three months ended March 31, 1997 are not necessarily indicative
of the results that may be expected for the year ending  December 31, 1997.  The
Company's financial  statements should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.

         The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Accounting
Standards No. 128,  "Earnings Per Share" ("FAS 128"). The Company is required to
adopt FAS 128 for both  interim and annual  periods  ending  after  December 15,
1997.  FAS 128  requires the Company to present  Basic  Earnings Per Share which
excludes  dilution  and  Diluted  Earnings  Per Share which  includes  potential
dilution.  The  Company  believes  that the  adoption of FAS 128 will not have a
material effect on the Company's earnings per share calculations.

NOTE 2 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Management Agreement

         The Company is party to a management  agreement with Latona  Associates
Inc. (a management and advisory  company which is controlled by a stockholder of
the  Company).  Pursuant to the  agreement,  the Company was charged  $1,406 and
$1,460 for the three  months  ended March 31, 1996 and 1997,  respectively,  for
corporate  supervisory  and  administrative  services and  strategic  advice and
guidance. The management agreement expires on December 31, 2004.

NOTE 3 - ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

         The components of inventories were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              DECEMBER 31,        MARCH 31,
                                                                              ------------        ---------
                                                                                  1996              1997
                                                                                  ----              ----
                                                                                                 (unaudited)

            <S>                                                                <C>             <C>      
             Raw materials..................................................     $11,022         $   9,772
             Work in process................................................       4,900             6,772
             Finished products..............................................      17,403            16,664
             Supplies and containers.......................................        8,104             8,216
                                                                                --------         ---------
                                                                                 $41,429         $  41,424
                                                                                 =======         =========
</TABLE>


                                       -4-








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                         THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.
          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)

                      FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 4 - LONG-TERM DEBT

         Long-term debt consists of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      MATURITIES     DECEMBER 31,      MARCH 31,
                                                                      ----------     ------------      ---------
                                                                                         1996            1997
                                                                                         ----            ----
                                                                                                      (UNAUDITED)
       <S>                                                           <C>           <C>              <C>      
         GCC Debt:
            Bank Term Loan - floating rate..........................   1997-2001     $    82,609     $    78,261
            Senior Subordinated Notes - 9.25%.......................     2003            100,000         100,000
            Canada Senior Notes - 9.09%.............................     1999             52,000          52,000
                                                                                          ------          ------
            Total Debt..............................................                     234,609         230,261
            Less:  Current Portion..................................                      17,392          17,392
                                                                                     -----------     -----------
            Net Long-Term Debt......................................                 $   217,217     $   212,869
                                                                                     ===========     ===========
</TABLE>

NOTE 5 - DIVIDENDS

         On March  15,  1997,  the  Company's  Board  of  Directors  declared  a
quarterly  cash  dividend  of  $.05  per  share,  payable  April  15,  1997,  to
shareholders of record on April 1, 1997.

NOTE 6 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

         Richmond  Works  July 26,  1993  Incident.  On July  26,1993 a pressure
relief device on a railroad tank car containing oleum that was being unloaded at
the  Company's  Richmond,  California,  facility  ruptured  during the unloading
process,  causing  the  release  of a  significant  amount of  sulfur  trioxide.
Approximately  150 lawsuits  seeking  substantial  amounts of damages were filed
against the Company on behalf of in excess of 60,000  claimants in municipal and
superior courts of California  (Contra Costa and San Francisco  Counties) and in
federal  court  (United  States  District  Court for the  Northern  District  of
California).  All state court cases were coordinated before a coordination trial
judge (In Re GCC  Richmond  Works Cases,  JCCP No.  2906) and the federal  court
cases were stayed until completion of the state court cases.

         After  several  months  of  negotiation  under  the  supervision  of  a
settlement  master,  the Company  and a  court-approved  plaintiffs'  management
committee  executed a  comprehensive  settlement  agreement  which  resolved the
claims of  approximately  95 percent of the claimants who filed lawsuits arising
out the July 26th  incident,  including the federal  court cases.  After a final
settlement  approval hearing on October 27, 1995, the  coordination  trial judge
approved  the  settlement  on November  22,  1995.  Pursuant to the terms of the
settlement  agreement,  the  Company,  with funds to be provided by its insurers
pursuant to the terms of its insurance policies,  has agreed to make available a
maximum of $180,000 to implement the  settlement.  In addition,  the  settlement
agreement  provides,  among other things,  that while claimants may "opt out" of
the  compensatory  damages  portion of the settlement and pursue their own cases
separate and apart from the class  settlement  mechanism,  they have no right to
opt out of the punitive damages portion of the settlement.  Consequently,  under
the terms of the settlement, no party may seek punitive damages from the Company
outside of those provided by the settlement.

                                       -5-






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                         THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.
          NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONCLUDED)

                      FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)

         Notices of appeal of all or portions of the settlement  approved by the
court were filed by five law firms representing  approximately  2,750 claimants,
with  approximately  2,700 of these claimants  represented by the same law firm.
Virtually all of these  claimants  have not specified the amount of their claims
in court  documents,  although the Company  believes that their alleged injuries
are no  different  in  nature or  extent  than  those  alleged  by the  settling
claimants. On May 8, 1996, the California Court of Appeals dismissed each of the
appeals that had been filed  challenging the trial court's approval of the class
action  settlement.  The Court of Appeals  dismissed the appeal  relating to the
trial  court's  rulings on  plaintiffs'  attorney's  fees on the ground that the
appealing  attorneys  lacked  standing  to  appeal.  The Court of  Appeals  also
dismissed  each of the other  pending  appeals,  ruling  that the trial  court's
orders and rulings approving the settlement were not presently appealable, if at
all,  by the  appealing  claimants  since they had all elected to opt out of the
settlement.  The appealing  attorneys and some of the appealing  claimants  then
filed a petition for review with the  California  Supreme  Court which on August
15, 1996 elected not to review the Court of Appeals' decision.

         On March 11, 1997, the coordination judge dismissed the claims of 1,269
of the approximately 2,750 opt-out claimants, primarily on the grounds that they
had failed to comply with  previous  pre-trial  orders.  On April 18, 1997,  the
California Court of Appeals denied a petition for review of the dismissals filed
by attorneys for the dismissed opt-out claimants, thereby electing not to review
the  decision.  The same  attorneys  have  recently  filed a  petition  with the
California  Supreme Court for review of the California  Court of Appeals' denial
of their prior petition.

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

         The Company has  insurance  coverage  relating to this  incident  which
totals $200,000.  The first two layers of coverage total $25,000 with a sublimit
of $12,000  applicable to the July 26, 1993  incident,  and the Company also has
excess  insurance  policies of $175,000  over the first two layers.  The Company
reached an  agreement  with the  carrier  for the first two layers  whereby  the
carrier  paid the Company  $16,000 in  settlement  of all claims the Company had
against  that  carrier.  In the third  quarter of 1994,  the Company  recorded a
$9,000 charge to earnings for costs which the Company  incurred  related to this
matter.  The  Company's  excess  insurance  policies,  which are  written by two
Bermuda-based  insurers,  provide  coverage for compensatory as well as punitive
damages.  Both  insurers have executed  agreements  with the Company  confirming
their  respective  commitments  to fund  the  settlement  as  required  by their
insurance  policies  with  the  Company  and  as  described  in  the  settlement
agreement.  In  addition,  these same  insurers  currently  continue  to provide
substantially the same insurance coverage to the Company.

                                       -6-








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

March 31, 1997 Compared with December 31, 1996

Financial Condition

          Cash and cash  equivalents  were $63.2  million  at March 31,  1997 as
compared with $51.7 million at December 31, 1996.  During the first three months
of 1997 the  Company  generated  cash flow from  operating  activities  of $22.8
million, and used cash of $4.3 million for net repayment of long-term debt, $5.8
million for capital expenditures and paid a cash dividend of $1.1 million.

          The Company had working  capital of $74.4 million at March 31, 1997 as
compared  with $58.2  million at December  31,  1996.  This  increase in working
capital reflects higher cash and accounts receivable coupled with lower accounts
payable  and  accrued  liabilities,  partially  offset  by higher  income  taxes
payable.

           On April 23, 1997, the Company  purchased  1,343,046 shares of common
stock at $20 per share for a total of $26.9  million.  The  purchase  was funded
from the Company's cash and cash equivalents balance.

Results of Operations

         Net revenues for the three month period ended March 31, 1997  increased
4 percent to $149.6  million,  from $144.6 million for the comparable  period in
1996.  This  increase  is due to  higher  sales  in the  Manufacturing  Segment,
partially  offset by lower sales in the  Chemical  Segment.  The increase in the
Manufacturing  Segment  primarily  reflects higher volumes.  The decrease in the
Chemical  Segment  is due  primarily  to  weaker  pricing  of soda ash and lower
calcium  chloride  volumes caused by the mild winter weather in the northeastern
United States,  partially offset by volume  improvements  across the majority of
all other product lines.

         Gross profit for the three month period ended March 31, 1997  increased
9 percent to $45.2  million  from $41.5  million for the  comparable  prior year
period.

         Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased 1 percent to 30 percent
for the three  months ended March 31, 1997 versus 29 percent for the three month
period ended March 31, 1996 primarily due to higher volumes in the Manufacturing
Segment

         Selling,  general and  administrative  expense as a  percentage  of net
revenues was 10 percent for the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997.

         Interest  expense for the three month  period  ended March 31, 1997 was
$5.3 million,  which was $1.2 million lower than the comparable prior year level
as a result of lower outstanding debt balances.

         Interest income for the three month period ended March 31, 1997 was $.7
million, which approximated the prior year levels.

         The foreign currency  transaction loss for the three month period ended
March 31, 1997 was $.5 million versus a gain of $(.1) million for the comparable
period in 1996, principally due to the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on a
$52 million U.S.  denominated  loan of the Company's  Canadian  subsidiary.  The
impact of these foreign currency transaction gains on this loan is noncash.

                                       -7-







<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>





         Minority  interest  for the three month period ended March 31, 1997 was
$6.2 million which approximated the comparable period in 1996.

         Net income was $11.7 million for the three month period ended March 31,
1997,  versus $9.3 million for the comparable  period in 1996, for the foregoing
reasons.

                                       -8-





<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>





                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

         The  following  developments  have occurred with respect to this matter
since the filing of the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996:

         Richmond  Works  July  26,  1993  Incident.  On  March  11,  1997,  the
coordination  judge  dismissed  the claims of 1,269 of the  approximately  2,750
opt-out claimants,  primarily on the grounds that they had failed to comply with
previous  pre-trial  orders.  On April 18, 1997, the California Court of Appeals
denied a  petition  for  review of the  dismissals  filed by  attorneys  for the
dismissed opt-out  claimants,  thereby electing not to review the decision.  The
same attorneys have recently filed a petition with the California  Supreme Court
for review of the California Court of Appeals' denial of their prior petition.

                                       -9-





<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

        a) Exhibits:

          (11) Computation of Earnings per Common and Common Equivalent Share.

          (27) Financial Data Schedule

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

                                      -10-







<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                                THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.
                                                          (Registrant)


Date   May 12, 1996       /s/ Richard R. Russell
     -----------------        ------------------
                              RICHARD R. RUSSELL
                              President and Chief Executive
                              Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director

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

                                      -11-






<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.                        DESCRIPTION                        PAGE
- -----------                        -----------                        ----
    11              Computation of Net Earning per Common and          13
                    common  equivalents  shares for the three
                    months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997
    
    27              Financial Date Schedule (EDGAR filings only)       14




<PAGE>
 




<PAGE>

                                                                      EXHIBIT 11

                         THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.
                    COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNT)
                                   (UNAUDITED)

Earnings per share were calculated as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                               THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                    MARCH 31,
                                                                            ------------------------
                                                                            1996                1997
                                                                            ----                ----
<S>                                                                        <C>               <C>       
Primary

    Total income used for primary
     earnings per share................................................    $   9,316         $   11,714
                                                                           =========         ==========

    Weighted average common shares
     outstanding.......................................................       19,737             22,262

    Weighted average common
     equivalent shares.................................................          --               1,032
                                                                           ---------         ----------

    Weighted average common and
     common equivalent shares..........................................       19,737             23,294
                                                                           =========         ==========

    Primary earnings per common share
     and common equivalent share ......................................    $     .47         $      .50
                                                                           =========         ==========

Fully Diluted

    Total income used for fully diluted
     earnings per share................................................    $   9,316         $   11,714
                                                                           =========         ==========

    Weighted average common shares
     outstanding.......................................................       19,737             22,262

    Weighted average common
     equivalent shares.................................................          --               1,121
                                                                           ---------         ----------

    Weighted average common and
     common equivalent shares..........................................       19,737             23,383
                                                                           =========         ==========

    Fully diluted earnings per common share
     and common equivalent share.......................................    $     .47         $      .50
                                                                           =========         ==========
</TABLE>






                                      -13-





<PAGE>
 




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>            This schedule contains summary financial
                    information  extracted  from Form  10-Q for the  period
                    ended March 31, 1997 and is  qualified  in its entirety
                    by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>               0000929697
<NAME>              THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                         1,000
       
<S>                            <C>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                   MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        3-MOS
<CASH>                           $  63,164
<SECURITIES>                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                      109,889
<ALLOWANCES>                         4,577
<INVENTORY>                         41,424
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                   224,861
<PP&E>                             420,909
<DEPRECIATION>                     183,727
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     497,634
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              150,464
<BONDS>                            212,869
                    0
                              0
<COMMON>                               223
<OTHER-SE>                        (109,136)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       497,634
<SALES>                            149,566
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   149,566
<CGS>                              104,364
<TOTAL-COSTS>                      104,364
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   5,257
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     19,267
<INCOME-TAX>                         7,553
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 11,714
<DISCONTINUED>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0
<CHANGES>                                0
<NET-INCOME>                        11,714
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          .50
<EPS-DILUTED>                          .50

        



</TABLE>


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