At December 31, 2002 and 2001, Other current assets included deferred income tax benefits of $29.4 million and $32.8 million, respectively. At December 31, 2002, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries had total available net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) of approximately $16.5 million, of which approximately $12.8 million may be carried forward indefinitely and $3.7 million have varying expiration dates. Included in the total are $4.0 million of preacquisition NOLs. During 2002 and 2001, $0.6 million and $1.0 million, respectively, of preacquisition NOLs were utilized by the Company, resulting in tax benefits of $0.2 million and $0.3 million respectively. The valuation allowance of $2.7 million and $8.0 million at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, relates principally to cumulative unrelieved foreign tax credits and tax losses which are uncertain as to realizability. To the extent that the preacquisition NOLs are utilized in the future and the associated valuation allowance reduced, the tax benefit will be allocated to reduce goodwill. The change in the valuation allowances for 2002 and 2001 results primarily from the utilization of international tax loss carryforwards and foreign tax credit carryforwards and the release of valuation allowances in certain international jurisdictions based on the Company’s revaluation of the realizability of future benefits. The release of valuation allowances in certain jurisdictions was allocated to reduce goodwill by $0 and $23 thousand in 2002 and 2001, respectively. 10. Commitments and ContingenciesFederal Excise Tax and Other Matters Related to the Five-Ton Truck Contract In 1995, the Company, the United States Army (“Army”), and the United States Department of Justice concluded a settlement of Harsco’s previously reported claims against the Army relating to Federal Excise Tax (“FET”) arising under a completed 1986 contract for the sale of five-ton trucks to the Army. On September 27, 1995, the Army paid the Company $49 million in accordance with the settlement terms. The Company released the Army from any further liability for those claims, and the Department of Justice released the Company from a threatened action for damages and civil penalties based on an investigation conducted by the Department’s Commercial Litigation Branch that had been pending for several years. The settlement preserves the rights of the parties to assert claims and defenses under the Internal Revenue Code, and rights of the Army and the Company to claim certain amounts that may be owed by either party to reconcile possible underpayments or overpayments on the truck contract as part of the formal contract close-out process. 51
The settlement does not resolve the claim by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that, contrary to the Company’s position, certain cargo truck models sold by the Company should be considered to have gross vehicle weights in excess of the 33,000 pound threshold under FET law, are not entitled to an exemption from FET under any other theory, and therefore are taxable. In 1999, the IRS assessed an increase in FET of $30.4 million plus penalties and applicable interest currently estimated to be $12.4 million and $65.4 million, respectively. In October 1999, the Company posted an $80 million bond required as security by the IRS. This increase in FET takes into account offsetting credits of $9.2 million, based on a partial allowance of the Company’s $31.9 million claim that certain truck components are exempt from FET. The IRS disallowed in full the Company’s additional claim that it is entitled to the entire $52 million of FET (plus applicable interest currently estimated by the Company to be $58.2 million) the Company has paid on the five-ton trucks, on the grounds that such trucks qualify for the FET exemption applicable to certain vehicles specially designed for the primary function of off-highway transportation. In the event that the Company ultimately receives from the IRS a refund of tax (including applicable interest) with respect to which the Company has already received reimbursement from the Army, the refund would be allocated between the Company and the Army. In August 2000, the Company filed legal action against the Government in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims challenging the assessment and seeking a refund of all FET that the Company has paid on five-ton trucks. That action is proceeding and management expects the trial to be scheduled to commence prior to the end of the third quarter of 2003. Although there is risk of an adverse outcome, both the Company and the Army believe that the cargo trucks are not taxable. No recognition has been given in the accompanying financial statements for the Company’s claims for refund from the IRS. The settlement agreement with the Army preserved the Company’s right to seek reimbursement of after-imposed tax from the Army in the event that the cargo trucks are determined to be taxable, but the agreement limited the reimbursement to a maximum of $21 million. Additionally, in an earlier contract modification, the Army accepted responsibility for $3.6 million of the potential tax, bringing its total potential responsibility up to $24.6 million. As of September 30, 2000, the Army paid the Company this entire amount and the Company paid those funds to the IRS, subject to its pending refund claim. Thus, the Company has satisfied a portion of the disputed tax assessment. If the Company succeeds in its refund claim against the IRS, it will owe the Army the amount recovered that corresponds to the $24.6 million. Even if the cargo trucks are ultimately held to be taxable, the Army’s contribution of $24.6 million toward payment of the tax (but not interest or penalty, if any), would result in a net maximum liability for the Company of $5.8 million plus penalties and applicable interest currently estimated to be $12.4 million and $65.4 million, respectively. The Company believes it is unlikely that resolution of this matter will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position; however, it could have a material effect on quarterly or annual results of operations and cash flows. Environmental The Company is involved in a number of environmental remediation investigations and clean-ups and, along with other companies, has been identified as a “potentially responsible party” for certain waste disposal sites. While each of these matters is subject to various uncertainties, it is probable that the Company will agree to make payments toward funding certain of these activities and it is possible that some of these matters will be decided unfavorably to the Company. The Company has evaluated its potential liability, and its financial exposure is dependent upon such factors as the continuing evolution of environmental laws and regulatory requirements, the availability and application of technology, the allocation of cost among potentially responsible parties, the years of remedial activity required and the remediation methods selected. The Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001 includes an accrual of $3.2 million and $3.0 million, respectively, for environmental matters. The amounts charged against pre-tax earnings related to environmental matters totaled $1.2 million, $1.5 million and $1.8 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The liability for future remediation costs is evaluated on a quarterly basis. Actual costs to be incurred at identified sites in future periods may vary from the estimates, given inherent uncertainties in evaluating environmental exposures. The Company does not expect that any sum it may have to pay in connection with environmental matters in excess of the amounts recorded or disclosed above would have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations or cash flows. In January 2002, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued Notices of Civil Administrative Penalty Assessment to the Company for violations of the New Jersey Air Pollution Control Act. The Notices allege that the Company operated a slag processing plant in violation of the emission permit for control of slag dust. The Agency has assessed civil administrative penalties totaling approximately $298,000 and the Company has filed an appeal with the Agency. The Company ceased operations at the plant in the fourth quarter of 2001 for unrelated reasons. Other The Company has been named as one of many defendants (approximately 90 or more in most cases) in legal actions alleging personal injury from exposure to airborne asbestos. In their suits, the plaintiffs have named as defendants many manufacturers, distributors and repairers of numerous types of equipment or products that involved any asbestos. 52
The Company believes that the claims against it are without merit. The Company has never been a producer, manufacturer or processor of asbestos fibers. Any component within a product of the Company which might be alleged to cause asbestos exposure would have been purchased from a supplier. Based on scientific evidence, the Company believes that its products have never presented any harmful airborne asbestos exposure, and moreover, the type of asbestos contained in any component that was used in those products is protectively encapsulated in other materials and is not associated with the types of injuries alleged. Finally, in almost all of the complaints and depositions to date, the plaintiffs have failed to identify any contact that they have had with any products of the Company that might include an asbestos containing component. As of December 31, 2002, the Company has obtained dismissal by stipulation, or summary judgment prior to trial, in all cases that have proceeded to trial (approximately 648 dismissals). The Company has not paid any amounts in settlement of these cases, with the exception of two settlements totaling less than $10,000 paid by the insurance company prior to 1998. The Company’s insurance carrier has paid all legal costs and expenses to date. The Company has liability insurance coverage available under various primary and excess policies that the Company believes will be available if necessary to substantially cover any liability that might ultimately be incurred on these claims. As of December 31, 2002, there were approximately 32,220 open personal injury claims of which approximately 7,520 were filed in the quarter ended December 31, 2002. Approximately 24,995 of these cases are filed in the New York state court for New York County. Almost all of these complaints contain a standard claim for damages of $20 million or $25 million against the approximately 90 defendants, regardless of the individual’s alleged medical condition, and without identifying any product of the Company. Approximately 6,925 of these cases are filed in the state courts of various counties in Mississippi. Almost all of these complaints contain a standard claim for an unstated amount of damages against the numerous defendants (typically 240 to 270), without identifying any product of the Company. The other claims totaling approximately 300 are filed in various counties in a number of state courts, and in U.S. Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the complaints assert lesser amounts than the New York County cases or do not state any amount claimed. In view of the current litigation climate, which as of yet has not been sufficiently addressed either politically or legally, the Company expects to continue to receive further claims. However, there were developments during the fourth quarter of 2002 that could have a favorable effect for the Company regarding pending and future claims in New York County, and future claims in Mississippi. In December 2002, the court in New York County issued an order which created a Deferred Docket for all pending and future asbestos claims of plaintiffs who do not meet minimum criteria for discernible physical impairment, and an Active Docket for plaintiffs who meet the minimum criteria. Each claim on the Deferred Docket will remain inactive unless the plaintiff can show to the court impairment which meets the minimum criteria for placement on the Active Docket. The list of claims placed on the Deferred Docket is scheduled to be issued in May 2003. The Company expects that a substantial majority of the 24,995 claims against it in New York County will be placed on the Deferred Docket. Also, in the fourth quarter of 2002, Mississippi enacted tort reform legislation that made changes in the law favorable to the Company’s defense, which will apply to all cases filed on or after January 1, 2003. Almost all of the approximately 6,925 claims pending against the Company in Mississippi were filed in the fourth quarter of 2002, in advance of this more restrictive legislation taking effect. The Company intends to continue its practice of vigorously defending these cases as they are listed for trial and expects the insurance carriers to continue to pay the legal costs and expenses. Management believes that the outcome of these cases will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The Company is subject to various other claims and legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters that arose in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, all such matters are adequately covered by insurance or by accruals, and if not so covered, are without merit or are of such kind, or involve such amounts, as would not have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Company. 11. Capital StockThe authorized capital stock consists of 150,000,000 shares of common stock and 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock, both having a par value of $1.25 per share. The preferred stock is issuable in series with terms as fixed by the Board of Directors. None of the preferred stock has been issued. On June 24, 1997, the Company adopted a revised Shareholder Rights Plan. Under the new Plan, the Board declared a dividend to shareholders of record on September 28, 1997, of one right for each share of common stock. The rights may only be exercised if, among other things, a person or group has acquired 15% or more, or intends to commence a tender offer for 20% or more, of the Company’s common stock. Each right entitles the holder to purchase 1/100th share of a new Harsco Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock 53
at an exercise price of $150. Once the rights become exercisable, if any person acquires 20% or more of the Company’s common stock, the holder of a right will be entitled to receive common stock calculated to have a value of two times the exercise price of the right. The rights, which expire on September 28, 2007, do not have voting power, and may be redeemed by the Company at a price of $.05 per right at any time until the 10th business day following public announcement that a person or group has accumulated 15% or more of the Company’s common stock. At December 31, 2002, 750,000 shares of $1.25 par value preferred stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of the rights. The Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of shares as follows: |