================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) X QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) ___________ OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 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 33-64824 GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 22-2689817 (State of other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification Number) 90 EAST HALSEY ROAD PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY 07054 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (973) 515-0900 THE REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION I (1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-Q AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH THE REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT. 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 --- --- ================================================================================ GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 INDEX PAGE NO. -------- PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Item 1. Financial Statements Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 and 1997........... 1 Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 1996 and September 30, 1997.......................................... 2 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 and 1997........................... 3 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements............... 4-7 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.................... 8-9 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION: Item 1. Legal Proceedings...................................... 10 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K....................... 11 SIGNATURES.............................................. 12 EXHIBIT INDEX........................................... 13 EXHIBIT................................................. 14 PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED) THREE MONTHS ENDED NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30, ------------------------- ------------------------- 1996 1997 1996 1997 ---- ---- ---- ---- Net revenues............................................... $ 132,324 $ 137,563 $ 382,780 $ 384,406 Cost of sales.............................................. 90,267 96,496 262,015 266,803 Selling, general and administrative expense................ 9,832 11,373 37,440 32,193 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Operating profit........................................... 32,225 29,694 83,325 85,410 Interest expense........................................... 5,616 5,697 17,737 16,001 Interest income............................................ 301 391 859 1,181 Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses................ 26 16 (113) 530 Other (income) expense, net................................ (212) 292 143 (19) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Income before income taxes and minority interest........... 27,096 24,080 66,417 70,079 Minority interest.......................................... 8,265 6,459 23,034 18,801 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Income before income taxes................................. 18,831 17,621 43,383 51,278 Income tax provision....................................... 7,200 6,789 16,592 19,906 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net income........................................ $ 11,631 $ 10,832 $ 26,791 $ 31,372 =========== =========== =========== =========== See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 1 GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (IN THOUSANDS) ASSETS DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 1997 ------------ ------------- (UNAUDITED) Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents................................................... $ 32,742 $ 18,420 Receivables, net............................................................ 87,288 101,856 Inventories ................................................................ 34,444 31,225 Deferred income taxes....................................................... 9,323 9,384 Other current assets........................................................ 1,318 5,166 ----------- ---------- Total current assets...................................................... 165,115 166,051 Property, plant and equipment, net.......................................... 212,743 271,107 Other assets ............................................................... 30,919 47,221 ----------- ---------- Total assets.............................................................. $ 408,777 $ 484,379 =========== ========== LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT) Current Liabilities: Accounts payable............................................................ $ 46,208 $ 48,308 Accrued liabilities......................................................... 59,900 60,851 Income taxes payable........................................................ 3,033 4,292 Current portion of long-term debt........................................... 17,392 34,329 ----------- ----------- Total current liabilities............................................. 126,533 147,780 Long-term debt.............................................................. 217,217 234,218 Other liabilities........................................................... 167,591 180,343 ----------- ----------- Total liabilities..................................................... 511,341 562,341 ----------- ----------- Minority interest.............................................................. 38,572 45,763 ----------- ----------- Equity (deficit) Common stock, $.01 par value authorized: 1,000 shares issued and outstanding: 100 shares......................................... -- -- Capital deficit............................................................. (187,652) (181,319) Foreign currency translation adjustments.................................... (1,435) (1,730) Retained earnings .......................................................... 47,951 59,324 ----------- ----------- Total equity (deficit)................................................ (141,136) (123,725) ----------- ----------- Total liabilities and equity (deficit)................................ $ 408,777 $ 484,379 =========== =========== See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 2 GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED) NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, ------------------------- 1996 1997 ---------- --------- Cash flows from operating activities: Net income .............................................. $ 26,791 $ 31,372 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization ......................... 19,431 21,521 Net loss on disposition of long-term assets ........... 363 712 Unrealized exchange loss .............................. 3 753 Restricted unit plan costs ............................ 8,615 834 (Increase) in receivables ............................. (15,648) (10,525) Decrease in inventories ............................... 5,031 5,624 (Increase) decrease in other assets ................... (3,609) 433 Increase (decrease) in accounts payable ............... 1,693 (438) (Decrease) in accrued liabilities ..................... (9,125) (4,386) Increase in income taxes payable ...................... 3,053 1,223 Increase (decrease) in other liabilities .............. 3,577 586 Increase in minority interest ......................... 12,238 7,191 -------- -------- Net cash provided by operating activities .......... 52,413 54,900 -------- -------- Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures .................................... (33,155) (37,076) Proceeds from sales or disposals of long term assets .... 312 9 Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired (Note 4)* . -- (30,131) -------- -------- Net cash used for investing activities ............. (32,843) (67,198) -------- -------- Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from long-term debt ............................ 20,000 35,000 Repayment of long-term debt ............................. (54,043) (22,251) Capital contribution from parent ........................ 35,600 5,500 Dividends ............................................... -- (20,000) -------- -------- Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities 1,557 (1,751) -------- -------- Effect of exchange rate changes on cash .................... (2) (273) -------- -------- Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents ........... 21,125 (14,322) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period ........... 13,279 32,742 -------- -------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period ................. $ 34,404 $ 18,420 ======== ======== Supplemental information: Cash paid for income taxes .............................. $ 5,543 $ 17,365 ======== ======== Cash paid for interest .................................. $ 17,877 $ 14,204 ======== ======== *Purchase of business, net of cash acquired: Working capital, other than cash ........................ $ 18,180 Plant, property and equipment ........................... (43,350) Other assets ............................................ (17,538) Noncurrent liabilities .................................. 12,577 -------- Net cash used to acquire business .................. $(30,131) ======== See the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 3 GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED) NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNT POLICIES BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by General Chemical Corporation ("General Chemical" or the "Company") pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The financial statements do not include certain information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 1997. General Chemical's financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in General Chemical's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996. NOTE 2 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Management Agreement The Company is party to the Management Agreement with New Hampshire Oak. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company was charged $2,280 and $2,347 for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1997, respectively, for general corporate supervisory services and strategic guidance. The Management Agreement expires during 1998, subject to extension. NOTE 3 - ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION The components of inventories were as follows: DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 1997 ----------- ------------ Raw materials................... $ 9,567 $ 8,617 Work in process................. 2,326 364 Finished products............... 14,506 13,086 Supplies ....................... 8,045 9,158 --------- --------- $ 34,444 $ 31,225 ========= ========= 4 GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED) FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED) NOTE 4 - ACQUISITIONS On July 1, 1997, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Peridot Holdings, Inc. ("Peridot"), a leading manufacturer and supplier of sulfuric acid and water treatment chemicals. Funding for this transaction was provided with existing cash and borrowings on the Company's revolving credit facility. The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method and accordingly, the net assets and results of operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition, based on preliminary valuation information available to the Company, which is subject to change as such information is finalized. The excess of purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net tangible assets acquired has been treated as goodwill. Goodwill will be amortized on a straight line basis over a period of 30 years. The acquisition did not have a material pro forma impact on consolidated earnings. NOTE 5 - LONG TERM DEBT Long-term debt consists of the following: DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30, MATURITIES 1996 1997 ---------- ---- ---- Bank Term Loan - floating rate......................... 1997-2001 $ 82,609 $ 69,565 Senior Subordinated Notes - 9.25%...................... 2003 100,000 100,000 Canada Senior Notes - 9.09%............................ 1999 52,000 52,045 $130,000 U.S. Revolving Credit Facility floating rate......................................... 1999 -- 30,000 Construction Loan...................................... 1998 -- 13,937 Other ................................................. 1997 -- 3,000 ---------- ---------- Total Debt............................................. 234,609 268,547 Less: Current Portion................................. 17,392 34,329 ---------- ---------- Net Long-Term Debt..................................... $ 217,217 $ 234,218 ========== ========== Aggregate maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 1996 for each of the years in the five year period ending December 31, 2001 are $17,392, $17,392, $69,392, $17,392 and $13,041, respectively. In November, 1996, Peridot entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the "Loan") which was primarily used to finance the construction of a new sulfuric acid plant. As of September 30, 1997, the outstanding balance of the loan was $13,937. If the loan is not repaid at commercial start-up of the new plant (as defined), it is converted to a term loan. The Company plans to repay the loan during the fourth quarter of 1997. The Loan bears interest at a rate generally equal to the London interbank market for dollar deposits plus 5.25 percent. 5 GENERAL CHEMICAL COPRORATION NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED) FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED) 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 of 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. Notices of appeal of all or portions of the settlement approved by the court were filed by five law firms representing approximately 2,800 claimants, with approximately 2,600 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, and on June 8, 1997, the California Supreme Court denied the same attorneys' petition for review of the California Court of Appeals' denial of their prior petition. 6 GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONCLUDED) FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED) 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. 7 ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. September 30, 1997 Compared with December 31, 1996 Financial Condition Cash and cash equivalents were $18.4 million at September 30, 1997 as compared with $32.7 million at December 31, 1996. During the first nine months of 1997 the Company generated cash flow from operating activities of $54.9 million and $12.7 million of net proceeds from long-term debt, which was offset by $37.1 million used for capital expenditures, $20.0 million in dividend payments and $30.1 million used for the acquisition of a business. The Company had working capital of $18.3 million at September 30, 1997 as compared with $38.6 million at December 31, 1996. This decrease in working capital reflects higher current portion of long-term debt coupled with lower cash balances, partially offset by higher accounts receivable. Nine Months Ended September 30, 1997, Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 Results of Operations The following table sets forth the results of operations and percentage of net revenues represented by the components of operating income and expense for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1997 (dollars in millions). NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, ------------------------------------- 1996 1997 --------------- ------------ Net revenues............................................... $382.8 100% $384.4 100% Cost of sales.............................................. 262.0 68 266.8 69 ------ --- ------ --- Gross profit............................................... 120.8 32 117.6 31 Selling, general and administrative expense................ 37.5 10 32.2 8 ------ --- ------ --- Operating profit..................................... $ 83.3 22% $ 85.4 22% ====== === ====== === Net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 were $1.6 million higher than the prior year level due primarily to sales of Peridot Holdings, Inc. which was acquired on July 1, 1997 offset by weaker pricing of soda ash. Gross profit for the first nine months of 1997 was $117.6 million compared with $120.8 million for the comparable period in 1996 reflecting the aforementioned sales changes. Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues was 32 percent and 31 percent for the first nine months of 1996 and 1997, respectively. This decrease is primarily due to the weaker pricing of soda ash. Selling, general and administrative expense was 8 percent of net revenues for the first nine months of 1997, versus 10 percent for the first nine months of 1996. This decrease from prior year is primarily due to a one-time charge recorded in 1996 related to a restricted unit plan created by the Company's parent which satisfied the Company's liability under its former Phantom Equity Plan. Interest expense for the first nine months of 1997 was $16.0 million which was $1.7 million lower than the first nine months of 1996 due to lower outstanding debt balances for the majority of the year. 8 Interest income for the first nine months of 1997 was $1.2 million which was $.3 million higher than the first nine months of 1996 due to higher cash balances during the early part of 1997. The foreign currency transaction loss for the first nine months of 1997 was $.5 million versus a gain of $(.1) million for the first nine months of 1996. This is principally due to the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on a U.S. dollar denominated loan of the Company's Canadian subsidiary. The impact of foreign currency transaction (gains) losses on this loan is noncash. Minority interest for the first nine months of 1997 was $18.8 million which was $4.2 million lower than the first nine months of 1996, due to lower earnings of General Chemical (Soda Ash) Partners. Net income for the nine months of 1997 was $31.4 million compared with $26.8 million for the same period in 1996, due to the foregoing. 9 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The following developments have occurred with respect to this matter since the filing of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1997: On June 6, 1997, General Chemical Canada Ltd. ("GCCL"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, received a summons issued by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy alleging that a release of ammoniated material into the Detroit River from GCCL's Amherstburg, Ontario facility on August 22, 1995, violated certain provisions of the Environmental Protection Act and Ontario Water Resources Act. On October 20, 1997, GCCL entered into a settlement, approved by the Ontario Court (Provincial Division), Provincial Offences Court, Central Region, whereby GCCL agreed to perform certain environmental projects at the Amherstburg facility and, to the extent the projects are completed within one year from the settlement, pay a penalty of CDN $90,000. In the event the projects are not completed within one year, the penalty would increase to CDN $150,000. GCCL intends and expects to complete the projects within the one-year time frame. 10 ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K a) (27) Financial Data Schedule. b) No report on Form 8-K has been filed by the Company during the period covered by this report. 11 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION ---------------------------- (Registrant) Date October 29, 1997 /s/ Michael R. Herman ------------------- ---------------------------------------- MICHAEL R. HERMAN Vice President and General Counsel Date October 29, 1997 /s/ Ralph M. Passino -------------------- ----------------------------------------- RALPH M. PASSINO Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration (Principal Financial Officer) 12 EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION PAGE - -------------- ----------- ---- 27 Financial Data Schedule 14 (EDGAR Filings Only) 13