Current Report

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 30, 2010

 

 

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware   1-13888   27-2496053

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

12900 Snow Road

Parma, Ohio 44130

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: 216-676-2000

 

GrafTech Holdings Inc.

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

  ¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

  ¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off- Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On November 30, 2010 (the “Closing Date”), the transactions contemplated by (i) that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 28, 2010, by and among GrafTech International Ltd., GrafTech Holdings Inc., GrafTech Delaware I Inc., GrafTech Delaware II Inc., Seadrift Coke L.P. (“Seadrift”) and certain partners of Seadrift (the “Seadrift Merger Agreement”), and (ii) that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 28, 2010, by and among GrafTech International Ltd., GrafTech Holdings Inc., GrafTech Delaware III Inc., C/G Electrodes LLC (“C/G”) and certain members of C/G (the “C/G Merger Agreement”) were consummated. The entry by GrafTech International Ltd. and GrafTech Holdings Inc. into the Seadrift Merger Agreement and the C/G Merger Agreement was previously reported in Item 5 “Other Information” of Part II of GrafTech International Ltd.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, filed on April 29, 2010. The terms of the Seadrift Merger Agreement and the C/G Merger Agreement are also more thoroughly described in the Prospectus, dated November 19, 2010, which is a part of Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-167446) filed by GrafTech Holdings Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “S-4 Registration Statement”).

The Reorganization

Immediately prior to effectuating the reorganization of its holding company structure, on November 30, 2010, GrafTech International Ltd. (“Old GTI”) amended its existing Restated Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate the previously designated 1,000,000 shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. No shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred stock were ever issued by Old GTI. A copy of the Certificate of Elimination of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Elimination”) as filed by Old GTI with the Secretary of State of Delaware as filed as Exhibit 3.1.0 to this Current Report on Form
8-K.

Following the filing of the certificate of Elimination, on the Closing Date, Old GTI and GrafTech Holdings Inc. (“New GTI”) reorganized their holding company structure (the “Reorganization”) pursuant to Section 251(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) and the provisions of the Seadrift Merger Agreement. In connection with the Reorganization, New GTI became the parent public reporting company and changed its name to GrafTech International Ltd. In addition, the former public reporting company, Old GTI, changed its name to GrafTech Holdings Inc. and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of New GTI.

As part of the Reorganization, each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Old GTI was converted into one share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of New GTI having the same rights, powers, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as the common stock of Old GTI.

The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of New GTI immediately following consummation of the Reorganization are identical to those of Old GTI immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization (other than provisions regarding certain technical matters, as permitted by Section 251(g) of the DGCL), and the directors and officers of New GTI immediately following consummation of the Reorganization are identical to the directors and officers of Old GTI immediately prior to consummation of the Reorganization. Copies of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of New GTI and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of New GTI as effective immediately following consummation of the Reorganization are filed as Exhibits 3.2.0 and 3.3.0, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The shares of common stock of New GTI have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange in lieu of the shares of common stock of Old GTI and will continue to trade under the same “GTI” symbol and the same CUSIP Number (384313201).

 

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New GTI is deemed the successor to Old GTI pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and the common stock of New GTI is deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. New GTI will be deemed a large accelerated filer for purposes of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act. New GTI has succeeded to Old GTI’s Commission file number and will continue to file reports thereunder.

In connection with the Reorganization, all outstanding equity awards, including options, restricted stock, performance-based units or other rights to receive shares of common stock of Old GTI under the GrafTech International Ltd. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, the GrafTech International Ltd. Management Stock Incentive Plan (Senior Management Version), the GrafTech International Ltd. Management Stock Incentive Plan (Mid-Management Version) and the GrafTech International Ltd. Management Stock Incentive Plan (Original Version), each as amended (collectively, the “Equity Compensation Plans”), were converted into equity awards, including options, restricted stock, performance-based units or other rights, respectively, for the same number of shares of common stock of New GTI upon the same terms and conditions as the existing equity awards. New GTI also assumed all of old GTI’s obligations with respect to shares registered on Form S-8 for distribution pursuant to outstanding awards, and awards to be granted, under the Equity Compensation Plans.

New GTI assumed all obligations of Old GTI under each of the Severance Compensation Agreements with certain executives of Old GTI and its subsidiaries (the “Severance Agreements”) as well as the GrafTech International Ltd. Incentive Compensation Plan and the GrafTech International Ltd. Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (collectively, the “Cash Incentive Plans”). Each outstanding award under the Cash Incentive Plans was converted into the right to receive the same benefit from New GTI under the same terms and conditions as the existing awards. Each executive who was a party to a Severance Agreement consented to the assumption of the agreement by New GTI and the clarifications made under the agreements relating to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

New GTI also assumed all obligations of Old GTI under each of the Indemnification Agreements entered into between Old GTI and certain directors and officers of Old GTI.

Acquisitions of Seadrift and C/G

Immediately following the consummation of the Reorganization, New GTI consummated the acquisitions of Seadrift and C/G pursuant to the Seadrift Merger Agreement and the C/G Merger Agreement, respectively.

Pursuant to the Seadrift Merger we acquired from the equity holders of Seadrift the 81.1% of the equity interests in Seadrift that we did not already own. Seadrift is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of petroleum-based needle coke and owns the world’s only known stand-alone petroleum-based needle coke plant, located in Port Lavaca, Texas. The plant’s capacity in 2009 was approximately 150,000 metric tons per year. In addition to calcined needle coke, the plant produces naphtha, gas oil and electricity as by-products. We believe that Seadrift produces approximately 17% of the world’s needle coke supply. Needle coke is the key raw material used to make graphite electrodes, including premium UHP graphite electrodes, which are critical consumables in electric arc furnace (“EAF”) steel production. Seadrift shipped approximately 144,000 metric tons and 148,000 metric tons of needle coke in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In 2009, shipments declined dramatically in light of the global economic crisis to 39,000 metric tons. Seadrift’s manufacturing facility is located on approximately 450 acres of land. The plant occupies approximately 80 of those acres. At December 31, 2009, Seadrift had approximately 150 employees.

Pursuant to the C/G Merger we acquired from the equity holders of C/G 100% of the equity interests in C/G. C/G is a manufacturer of large diameter UHP graphite electrodes used in the EAF steel making process.

 

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The principal products produced by C/G are UHP graphite electrodes ranging in diameter from 18 to 30 inches, in length from 72 to 120 inches and in weight from 1,200 to over 5,000 pounds. C/G ships graphite electrodes to more than 55 EAF steel mills worldwide. C/G estimates that it supplied approximately 1% of all graphite electrodes purchased worldwide in 2009. While graphite electrodes comprise 95% of C/G’s net revenues, C/G also sells various other graphite-related products, including specialty graphite blocks, granular graphite and partially processed electrodes. C/G’s production facility is located in St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania. It is comprised of 20 buildings located on approximately 150 acres and has a current shipment capacity of 26,500 metric tons of electrodes per year. At December 31, 2009, C/G had 155 employees.

For financial information concerning Seadrift and C/G, see Item 9.01, “Financial Statements and Exhibits” of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The consideration paid for Seadrift consisted of $90.0 million in cash (including working capital adjustments), approximately 12,000,000 shares of New GTI common stock and $100 million in aggregate face amount of non-interest bearing senior subordinated promissory notes of New GTI due 2015. The consideration paid for C/G consisted of $160.6 million in cash (including working capital adjustments), approximately 12,000,000 shares of New GTI common stock and $100 million in aggregate face amount of non-interest bearing senior subordinated promissory notes of New GTI due 2015. Of the aggregate cash consideration, approximately $165 million was funded through borrowings under New GTI’s principal revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”). The balance of the cash portion of the purchase price, approximately $86 million, was paid from cash on hand.

Promissory Notes

The senior subordinated promissory notes issued to holders of equity in Seadrift and C/G on the Closing Date (the “Promissory Notes”) as part of the consideration for the acquisitions of Seadrift and C/G are substantially identical. Each Promissory Note will mature on the fifth anniversary the Closing.

The Promissory Notes are non-interest bearing and are subordinated on a senior subordinated basis to senior debt of New GTI and certain of its subsidiaries (including Seadrift and C/G). Senior debt includes: (i) indebtedness, obligations and guarantees under the Revolving Facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $390 million; (ii) indebtedness and obligations under foreign liquidity facilities in an aggregate principal amount of up to $145 million; and (iii) other indebtedness for borrowed money (and related guarantees of subsidiaries) if, on the date of incurrence (or, if earlier, the date of entry into the agreement with respect to such indebtedness or guarantee) and after giving pro forma effect thereto, New GTI’s leverage ratio (its ratio of consolidated net debt to consolidated EBITDA) would not exceed 4:00 to 1:00. If any indebtedness for borrowed money described in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence is incurred and after giving pro forma effect thereto New GTI’s leverage ratio would exceed 4:00 to 1:00, New GTI and its subsidiaries will grant the holders of the Promissory Notes a security interest on a pari passu basis with any security interest granted to the holders of such indebtedness.

New GTI’s significant U.S. subsidiaries (“Subsidiary Guarantors”), including Seadrift and C/G, have provided senior subordinated guarantees of the Promissory Notes, which are subordinated and secured to the same extent as New GTI’s obligations under the Promissory Notes.

New GTI may redeem the Promissory Notes at any time, upon 30 days’ notice, at 100% of the principal amount of the Promissory Notes.

The Promissory Notes may be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain events of default, and the Promissory Notes will be automatically accelerated upon an insolvency event of default with respect to New GTI or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors. The holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of the Promissory Notes may accelerate the Promissory Notes upon the occurrence of the following events of default:

 

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the failure of New GTI or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors to comply with any term under the Promissory Notes for 30 days after written notice of default; the acceleration of senior debt of New GTI, any significant subsidiary or any Subsidiary Guarantor in excess of $50 million; or a change in control.

For purposes of the Promissory Notes, a change in control generally occurs on the date on which:

 

   

any person or group becomes the beneficial owner of more than 35% of New GTI’s outstanding common stock or voting securities (not including securities held by its employee benefit plans or related trusts);

 

   

any person or group acquires the right to vote on any matter, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to more than 35% of New GTI’s outstanding common stock or voting securities (not including securities held by its employee benefit plans or related trusts);

 

   

New GTI’s stockholders approve a plan of dissolution or complete or substantially complete liquidation or its Board approves such a plan other than in connection with a reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction following which all or a majority of the business of New GTI and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) are continued by New GTI or any successor thereto;

 

   

any consummation of a merger or other business combination unless, following such business combination, the beneficial owners of the common stock and the voting securities of New GTI prior to such business combination beneficially own more than 50% of the common equity and voting securities of the surviving entity in substantially the same proportions as prior to such business combination, no person or group (excluding its employee benefit plans or related trusts) beneficially owns more than 50% of the common equity or voting securities of the surviving entity and at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the surviving entity were members of New GTI’s Board prior to such business combination; or

 

   

any consummation of a sale, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of New GTI, whether held directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries (excluding a grant of security interest, sale-leaseback or similar transaction in the ordinary course of business, or in connection with a credit facility or other financing, but including any foreclosure sale).

A change in control will not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the Promissory Notes, however, to the extent that the Milikowsky Holders (as defined under “Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement” below) and their related parties initiate or participate in an event or circumstance prescribed by the standstill provisions of the Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement, regardless of whether it would be permitted thereby.

The holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of the Promissory Notes have the sole right to waive any default and any such waiver is binding on all holders. No holder of a Promissory Note may institute against New GTI, or join with or assist any person in instituting against New GTI, any bankruptcy or similar action.

The foregoing description of the Promissory Notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Promissory Note filed as Exhibit 10.1.0 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Issuance of Unregistered Shares of New GTI Common Stock

In connection with the Closing of the Seadrift Merger and the C/G Merger, New GTI issued to the equity holders of Seadrift and the equity holders of C/G an aggregate of approximately 24,000,000 shares of New GTI common stock as part of the merger consideration. The shares were issued in reliance on the exemption set forth

 

5


in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Regulation D promulgated thereunder. No cash proceeds were received from the issuance of these shares of common stock.

Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement

On the Closing Date, New GTI entered into a Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, with certain of the equity holders of Seadrift and C/G who received shares of common stock of New GTI as part of the consideration for their equity interests in Seadrift and C/G. The Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement contains lock-up and standstill provisions, transfer restrictions, director nomination rights and registration rights with respect to the shares of New GTI common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued to the equity holders of Seadrift and C/G. As used herein, the term “Milikowsky Holders” means Nathan Milikowsky, Daniel Milikowsky, The Rebecca and Nathan Milikowsky Family Foundation, The Daniel and Sharon Milikowsky Family Foundation, Inc., NMDM Investments LLC, Rebecca Milikowsky, Brina Milikowsky, Shira Milikowsky, Daniel Milikowsky Family Holdings, LLC and Seadrift Coke LLC.

Lock-up and Standstill Provisions

Each of the Milikowsky Holders agreed, for two (2) years following consummation of the Seadrift Merger and thereafter until six (6) months after the later of (i) the termination of the Milikowsky Holders’ right to nominate an individual for election as a director of New GTI (see, “Board Nomination Rights”, below) and (ii) the date on which any such nominated director ceases to be a member of New GTI’s Board, that:

 

   

it will not enter into, and will not permit any of its controlled affiliates or related parties to enter into, any contract to purchase, sell, borrow, lend, pledge, or otherwise acquire or transfer, directly or indirectly, any securities of New GTI; and

 

   

it will not enter into, and will not permit any of its controlled affiliates or related parties to enter into, any economic or voting derivative, swap or other contract that transfers to, or acquires from, any other person any of the voting rights or economic consequences of ownership of any securities of New GTI or the value of which is measured or determined by, or with respect to, the value of any securities of New GTI.

The foregoing lock-up terminates upon (i) a change in control as described below (except that the percentage thresholds in the first two bullets of the definition of change in control shall be 50% (and not 35%)); (ii) bankruptcy of New GTI or any of its significant subsidiaries; (iii) New GTI’s failure to comply in any material respect with the board nomination rights; (iv) the delisting of New GTI’s common stock from the New York Stock Exchange (other than in connection with relisting on another national or international exchange); or (v) the transfer by the Milikowsky Holders and their related parties of at least 90% of the New GTI common stock owned by them to persons other than related parties.

Each of the Milikowsky Holders agreed not to take any of the following actions for a period of two (2) years following consummation of the Seadrift Merger and thereafter until six (6) months after the later of (i) the termination of the Milikowsky Holders’ right to nominate an individual for election as a director of New GTI and (ii) the date on which any such nominated director ceases to be a member of New GTI’s Board (the “standstill”):

 

   

initiate or participate in any solicitation of proxies to vote any securities of New GTI;

 

   

advise or influence any person (other than a related party) with respect to the voting of any securities of New GTI;

 

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take any action to change, control or influence the management (including the composition of New GTI’s Board) or policies of New GTI (except in connection with the exercise of the fiduciary duties of the board nominee of the Milikowsky Holders if he is then serving as a member of New GTI’s Board) or to obtain representation on the Board (except for the board designation rights in the Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement);

 

   

make any public announcement with respect to, submit a public proposal for or make any public offer as to any extraordinary transaction involving New GTI;

 

   

form, assist or participate in a group in connection with any of the foregoing;

 

   

enter into any discussions, arrangements or contracts with any other person regarding any of the foregoing; or

 

   

take any action that would require New GTI under applicable laws, due to fiduciary duties, or otherwise, to make any public announcement relating to any of the foregoing or any extraordinary transaction.

The standstill provisions terminate upon (i) a change in control as described below (except that the percentage thresholds in the first two bullets of the definition of change in control shall be 50% (and not 35%)); (ii) bankruptcy of New GTI or any of its significant subsidiaries; (iii) New GTI’s failure to comply in any material respect with the board nomination rights; or (iv) the delisting of New GTI’s common stock from the New York Stock Exchange (other than in connection with relisting on another national or international exchange).

Notwithstanding the lock-up and standstill provisions, Nathan Milikowsky and Rebecca Milikowsky may transfer up to an aggregate of 1,600,000 shares (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination or other recapitalization or reclassification transactions by us) of New GTI common stock to The Rebecca and Nathan Milikowsky Family Foundation and Daniel Milikowsky and Daniel Milikowsky Family Holdings LLC may transfer up to an aggregate of 1,600,000 shares (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination or other recapitalization or reclassification transactions by us) of New GTI common stock to The Daniel and Sharon Milikowsky Family Foundation, Inc. Following the transfer of any such shares to one of such foundations (“Exempt Shares”), the applicable foundation may transfer such shares without restriction under the lock-up and standstill provisions.

Notwithstanding the lock-up and standstill provisions, at any time after six (6) months following the consummation of the Seadrift Merger, each of Nathan Milikowsky (and his affiliates and related parties) and Daniel Milikowsky (and his affiliates and related parties) may sell New GTI common stock in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act under Rule 144, or otherwise, or in a public offering; provided, that the aggregate number of shares each such group may sell in any three (3) month period may not exceed one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of New GTI common stock (but excluding Exempt Shares for these purposes).

Notwithstanding the lock-up and standstill provisions, (a) if New GTI issues additional shares of its common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of its common stock, each of the Milikowsky Holders has the right to purchase, in connection with the offering thereof or thereafter in the open market, up to such additional number of shares of New GTI common stock or such securities so that its relative percentage of beneficial ownership of New GTI common stock is the same, after giving effect to such purchase, as it was immediately prior to such issuance and (b) each Seadrift equity holder and C/G equity holder who received shares of New GTI common stock in the Seadrift Merger or C/G Merger, respectively, has the right to transfer shares of New GTI common stock (i) in connection with the consummation of, or otherwise pursuant to, a merger, tender offer, exchange offer or other business combination, so long as such transaction has been approved or recommended by New GTI’s Board, (ii) as required pursuant to any law or order, or (iii) two (2) years following consummation of the Seadrift Merger.

For purposes of the Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement, a change in control generally occurs on the date on which:

 

   

any person or group becomes the beneficial owner of more than 35% of the then outstanding common stock or voting securities of New GTI (not including securities held by its employee benefit plans or related trusts);

 

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any person or group acquires the right to vote on any matter, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to more than 35% of the then outstanding common stock or voting securities of New GTI (not including securities held by its employee benefit plans or related trusts);

 

   

stockholders approve a plan of dissolution or complete or substantially complete liquidation of New GTI or its Board approves such a plan other than in connection with a reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction following which all or a majority of the business of New GTI and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) shall be continued by New GTI or any successor thereto;

 

   

any consummation of a merger or other business combination unless, following such business combination, the beneficial owners of the common stock and the voting securities of New GTI prior to such business combination beneficially own more than 50% of the common equity and voting securities of the surviving entity in substantially the same proportions as prior to such business combination, no person or group (excluding its employee benefit plans or related trusts) beneficially owns more than 50% of the common equity or voting securities of the surviving entity and at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the surviving entity were members of New GTI’s Board prior to such business combination; or

 

   

any consummation of a sale, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of New GTI, whether held directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries (excluding a grant of security interest, sale-leaseback or similar transaction in the ordinary course of business or in connection with a credit facility or other financing, but including any foreclosure sale).

Registration Rights

New GTI granted customary registration rights to the Seadrift equity holders and C/G equity holders, which include up to four (4) demand registrations (two (2) of which may be underwritten offerings) exercisable at any time after sixty (60) days prior to the second anniversary of the Closing and piggyback rights on certain registrations by New GTI (whether for its own account or for the account of other stockholders). New GTI agreed to (a) within five (5) days following the Closing, include in any shelf registration statement which it may file to register resales of New GTI common stock by directors and officers of New GTI, shares of New GTI common stock issued in connection with the Seadrift Merger to the Milikowsky Holders (and their related parties and affiliates), (b) within five (5) days following the Closing, file a registration statement covering the shares of New GTI common stock issued in connection with the Seadrift Merger to the other equity holders of Seadrift, and each such other equity holder agreed to use its best efforts to limit sales under such registration statement to not more than (i) 50,000 shares per week (to the extent such equity holder holds less than 200,000 shares of New GTI common stock) and (ii) 125,000 shares per week (to the extent such equity holder holds at least 200,000 shares of New GTI common stock) and (c) within five (5) days following the Closing, file a registration statement covering the shares of New GTI common stock issued in connection with the C/G Merger to the other equity holders of C/G, and each such other equity holders agreed to use best efforts to limit sales under such registration statement to not more than (i) 50,000 shares per week (to the extent such equity holder holds less than 200,000 shares of New GTI common stock) and (ii) 125,000 shares per week (to the extent such equity holder holds at least 200,000 shares of New GTI common stock). The Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement contains customary registration procedures and indemnification provisions relating to the registration rights, and New GTI agreed to pay all expenses (other than commissions, discounts and stock transfer taxes) relating to such registrations. The registration rights provisions (other than the indemnification provisions) terminate on the earlier of (a) the date that the Seadrift equity holders and the C/G equity holders no longer beneficially own any registrable securities and (b) the consummation of a change in control unless New GTI (or any successor thereto as a result of the change in control) is a reporting company under the Exchange Act.

 

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Board Nomination Rights

Following the acquisitions of Seadrift and C/G, and pursuant to the Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement, we agreed to (i) increase the size of our Board of Directors by one (1) and elect a representative of the Milikowsky Holders (and their related parties and affiliates) to our Board of Directors and (ii) nominate such representative for re-election in subsequent years, provided the Milikowsky Holders (and their related parties and affiliates) continue to hold in the aggregate at least twelve million shares of our common stock (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, or other recapitalization or reclassification transactions by us). If at least three years have passed since the initial representative (or a then prior designee) was elected to our Board of Directors or, if prior to such three year period, such initial representative (or prior designee) ceases to serve due to death, disability or mandatory retirement, the Milikowsky Holders (and their related parties and affiliates) may designate a different representative to be nominated to our Board of Directors, provided, that such replacement representative is reasonably acceptable to our Board of Directors. The representative of the Milikowsky Holders (and their related parties and affiliates) must meet the requirements of an “independent director” under the listing rules of the New York Stock Exchange and must otherwise satisfy the requirements of our corporate policies relating to directors. Mr. Nathan Milikowsky will be elected to our Board of Directors as the initial representative of the Milikowsky Holders. Our obligations with respect to the board nomination rights shall terminate upon the consummation of a change in control (except that the percentage thresholds in the first two bullets of the definition of change in control shall be 67% (and not 35%)).

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.2.0 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

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(a)     Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired. The following financial statements of Seadrift Coke L.P. and C/G Electrodes LLC are filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K:

  

(1)    Seadrift Coke L.P.

  

(A)   Audited Financial Statements

  

(i)      Independent Auditors’ Report

     10   

(ii)     Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2008 and 2007

     11   

(iii)    Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

     12   

(iv)    Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

     13   

(v)     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

     14   

(vi)    Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     16   

(vii)  Independent Auditors’ Report

     26   

(viii) Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2009 and 2008

     27   

(ix)    Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

     28   

(x)     Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

     29   

(xi)    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

     30   

(xii)  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     32   

(B)   Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

  

(i)      Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009

     42   

(ii)     Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

     43   

(iii)   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

     44   

(iv)    Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     45   

(2)    C/G Electrodes LLC

  

(A)   Audited Financial Statements

  

(i)      Independent Auditors’ Report

     48   

(ii)     Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2008 and 2007

     49   

(iii)   Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

     50   

(iv)    Consolidated Statements of Members’ Equity(Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

     51   

(v)     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

     52   

(vi)    Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     54   

(vii)  Independent Auditors’ Report

     64   

(viii) Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2009 and 2008

     65   

(ix)    Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

     66   

(x)     Consolidated Statements of Members’ Deficit for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

     67   

(xi)    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

     68   

(xii)  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     70   

(B)   Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

  

(i)      Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009

     79   

(ii)     Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

     80   

(iii)   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009

     81   

(iv)    Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     82   

(b)    Pro Forma Financial Information. The following Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information of GrafTech, Seadrift and C/G is filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K:

  

(1)    GrafTech, Seadrift and C/G Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.

  

(A)   Introduction

     86   

(B)   Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2009

     88   

(C)   Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

     89   

(D)   Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2010

     90   

(E)   Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information

     91   

(c)    Shell company transactions.

  

Not applicable.

  

(d)    Exhibits.

  

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K:

 

Exhibit 2.1.0    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 28, 2010, by and among GrafTech International Ltd., GrafTech Holdings Inc., GrafTech Delaware I Inc., GrafTech Delaware II Inc., Seadrift Coke L.P. and certain partners of Seadrift Coke L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.9.0 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by GrafTech Holdings Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10, 2010 (Registration No. 333-167446)).
Exhibit 2.2.0    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 28, 2010, by and among GrafTech International Ltd., GrafTech Holdings Inc., GrafTech Delaware III Inc., C/G Electrodes LLC and certain members of C/G Electrodes LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.10.0 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by GrafTech Holdings Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10, 2010 (Registration No. 333-167446)).
Exhibit 3.1.0    Certificate of Elimination of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of GrafTech International Ltd.
Exhibit 3.2.0    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of GrafTech International Ltd.
Exhibit 3.3.0    Amended and Restated Bylaws of GrafTech International Ltd.
Exhibit 10.1.0    Form of Senior Subordinated Promissory Note.
Exhibit 10.2.0    Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2010, by and among GrafTech International Ltd. and each of the stockholders party thereto.
Exhibit 23.1.0    Consent of Alpern Rosenthal for report relating to consolidated financial statements of Seadrift Coke L.P. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for two years then ended.
Exhibit 23.2.0    Consent of Alpern Rosenthal for report relating to consolidated financial statements of Seadrift Coke L.P. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for two years then ended.
Exhibit 23.3.0    Consent of Alpern Rosenthal for report relating to consolidated financial statements of C/G Electrodes LLC and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for two years then ended.
Exhibit 23.4.0    Consent of Alpern Rosenthal for report relating to consolidated financial statements of C/G Electrodes LLC and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for two years then ended.
Exhibit 99.1.0    Press release issued by GrafTech International Ltd. on November 30, 2010, relating to the acquisitions of Seadrift Coke L.P. and C/G Electrodes LLC. Such press release shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and shall not be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

9


Independent Auditors’ Report

To the Partners

Seadrift Coke, L.P.

Port Lavaca, Texas

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Seadrift Coke, L.P. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in partners’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Seadrift Coke, L.P. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Alpern Rosenthal

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

March 17, 2009

 

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SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

December 31

   2008      2007  

ASSETS

     

Current Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 354,000       $ 7,308,151   

Accounts receivable (includes related party accounts receivable of $2,027,157 in 2007—Note 9)

     26,838,531         16,297,200   

Inventories—Note 2

     21,626,725         28,100,063   

Prepaid inventory

     —           3,122,902   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     541,249         591,392   
                 

Total Current Assets

     49,360,505         55,419,708   

Property, Plant and Equipment—Net of accumulated depreciation—Note 3

     76,174,301         41,044,482   

Other Assets—Note 4

     362,958         594,345   
                 

Total Assets

   $ 125,897,764       $ 97,058,535   
                 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY

     

Current Liabilities

     

Current portion of long-term debt—Note 5

   $ 22,216       $ 6,036,861   

Line of credit—Note 5

     —           —     

Accounts payable

     5,402,371         6,673,038   

Accrued maintenance costs

     —           3,600,000   

Accrued manufacturing costs

     557,019         603,818   

Accrued property taxes

     1,093,805         945,928   

Accrued vacation

     619,670         425,809   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     1,048,196         978,555   
                 

Total Current Liabilities

     8,743,277         19,264,009   

Long-term Liabilities

     

Line of credit—Note 5

     31,343,470         210,529   

Long-term debt—net of current portion—Note 5

     —           20,272,216   

Interest rate swap liability—Note 10

     1,288,483         662,100   

Commitments and contingent liabilities—Note 12

     800,000         800,000   

Other long-term liabilities

     242,204         —     
                 

Total Liabilities

     42,417,434         41,208,854   
                 

Partners’ Equity—Note 6

     

Partners’ capital

     9,781,100         9,780,100   

Retained earnings

     73,699,230         46,731,681   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     —           (662,100
                 

Total Partners’ Equity

     83,480,330         55,849,681   
                 

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Equity

   $ 125,897,764       $ 97,058,535   
                 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

11


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2008      2007  

Net Sales

     

Net sales (Includes related party net sales of $37,936,198 in 2008 and $23,419,750 in 2007—Note 9)

   $ 329,681,560       $ 239,203,121   

Cost of Sales (Includes related party cost of sales of $26,614,198 in 2008 and $15,962,229 in 2007—Note 9)

     269,061,424         163,033,978   
                 

Gross Profit

     60,620,136         76,169,143   

Operating Expenses

     13,171,965         11,839,778   
                 

Income From Operations

     47,448,171         64,329,365   
                 

Other Expenses

     

Interest expense—net

     1,198,983         3,621,246   

Fair value adjustment—interest rate swap—Note 10

     1,288,483         —     

Loss on extinguishment of debt—Note 5

     —           1,543,318   
                 

Total Other Expenses

     2,487,466         5,164,564   
                 

Net Income

   $ 44,960,705       $ 59,164,801   
                 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

12


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Equity

For the Years Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

 

     Partners’
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total  

Balance—January 1, 2007

   $ 9,889,200      $ 4,332,572      $ —          $ 14,221,772   

Partner distributions

     —          (15,642,692     —            (15,642,692

Partner units issued for services—Note 6

     16,000        160,000        —            176,000   

Purchase of partnership units—Note 6

     (125,100     (1,283,000     —            (1,408,100

Comprehensive income

          

Change in fair value of interest rate swap—Note 10

     —          —          (662,100   $ (662,100     (662,100

Net income

     —          59,164,801        —          59,164,801        59,164,801   
                      

Comprehensive income

     —          —          —        $ 58,502,701     
                                  

Balance—December 31, 2007

     9,780,100        46,731,681        (662,100       55,849,681   

Partner distributions

     —          (18,065,156     —            (18,065,156

Partner units issued for services—Note 6

     1,000        72,000        —            73,000   

Comprehensive income

          

Amount reclassified to income—unrealized loss on interest rate swap—Note 10

         662,100      $ 662,100        662,100   

Net income

     —          44,960,705        —          44,960,705        44,960,705   
                      

Comprehensive income

     —          —          —        $ 45,622,805     
                                  

Balance—December 31, 2008

   $ 9,781,100      $ 73,699,230      $ —          $ 83,480,330   
                                  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

13


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2008     2007  

Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities

    

Net income

   $ 44,960,705      $ 59,164,801   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Depreciation and amortization

     3,522,274        3,641,972   

LIFO inventory reserves

     5,327,796        7,385,682   

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —          1,543,318   

Unrealized losses on interest rate swap

     1,288,483        —     

Noncash line-of-credit fees

     96,664        239,399   

Partnership units issued for services

     73,000        176,000   

Accretion of debt discount

     —          95,240   

Changes in

    

Accounts receivable

     (10,541,331     (4,661,686

Inventories

     1,145,542        (14,051,386

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (4,263,883     8,955,183   

Other assets

     3,213,005        (1,306,275
                

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     44,822,255        61,182,248   
                

Cash Used for Investing Activities

    

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (37,263,536     (10,228,790

Capitalized interest on machinery under construction

     (1,107,439     (126,879
                

Net Cash Used for Investing Activities

     (38,370,975     (10,355,669
                

Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities

    

Net proceeds (payments) on line of credit

     6,382,941        (19,952,941

Proceeds from long-term debt

     14,903,336        —     

Payments on long-term debt

     (16,536,861     (6,504,601

Loan acquisition fees

     (89,691     (49,475

Purchase of partnership units

     —          (1,408,100

Partner distributions

     (18,065,156     (15,642,692
                

Net Cash Used for Financing Activities

     (13,405,431     (43,557,809
                

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

14


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2008     2007  

Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (6,954,151     7,268,770   

Cash and Cash Equivalents—Beginning of year

     7,308,151        39,381   
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents—End of year

   $ 354,000      $ 7,308,151   
                
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information   

Cash paid during the year for interest

   $ 2,132,676      $ 3,399,870   
                
Supplemental Disclosures of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities   

Proceeds from note payable—line of credit

   $ 24,750,000      $ 1,333,889   
                

Proceeds from note payable—bank

   $ —        $ 19,500,000   
                

Payment of note payable—bank

   $ 24,750,000      $ —     
                

Payment of subordinated note payable

   $ —        $ 19,071,440   
                

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

15


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Organization and Basis of Consolidation

Seadrift Coke, L.P. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Seadrift Coke Export, Inc., a Delaware limited partnership (collectively the Partnership) is primarily engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of needle coke for sale to customers in the steel and aluminum manufacturing industries. The Partnership’s principal operating location is in Port Lavaca, Texas. The Partnership sells to customers primarily in North America, Europe and Asia.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Seadrift Coke, L.P and its wholly owned subsidiary, Seadrift Coke Export Inc., an Interest Charge Domestic International Sales Corporation (IC-DISC). All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

B. Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

C. Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Partnership considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than three months as cash equivalents. All of the Partnership’s cash is maintained in one financial institution located in Texas.

D. Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are stated at the amount management expects to collect from outstanding balances at year end. Based on management’s assessment of the credit history with customers having outstanding balances and current relationships with them, it believes that realization losses on balances outstanding at year end will be immaterial. Accordingly, no allowance for doubtful accounts is deemed necessary.

Six customers accounted for approximately 83% of gross sales in 2008 and four customers accounted for approximately 64% of gross sales in 2007. Accounts receivable relating to these customers represented approximately 64% of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2008 and 77% at December 31, 2007.

Total sales to customers located in foreign countries were approximately 36% of 2008 sales and 42% of 2007 sales. Needle coke sales to customers in foreign countries were approximately 49% of 2008 needle coke sales and 57% of 2007 needle coke sales.

E. Revenue Recognition

Sales and related costs of sales are generally recorded when goods are shipped and title, ownership and risk of loss has passed to the customer, all of which occurs upon shipment or delivery of the product based upon the applicable shipping terms. The shipping terms may vary depending on the nature of the customer, domestic or foreign, and the type of transportation used. Shipping and handling costs are recognized as a component of cost of sales as sales occur.

 

16


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

F. Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. For all of the Partnership’s inventory, except certain by-products and its supplies inventory, costs have been determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. The remainder of the Partnership’s inventory cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

G. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost including expenditures for additions and major improvements. Maintenance and repairs which are not considered to extend the useful lives of assets are charged to operations as incurred. The cost of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gains or losses are reflected in other (income) expenses for the year.

For financial reporting, depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed using the straight-line method at rates calculated to amortize costs over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The ranges of estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

     Years  

Buildings and leasehold improvements

     5 - 25   

Machinery and equipment

     5 - 20   

Computer software

     5 - 10   

Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The Partnership has determined there is no impairment at December 31, 2008 and 2007.

H. Other Assets

Loan acquisition fees are capitalized and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related debt (Note 4).

Non-compete and licensing agreements are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related agreements (Note 4).

I. Financial Instruments

The Partnership accounts for its derivative activity in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 (SFAS 133), Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended, which establishes accounting and financial reporting standards for certain derivative instruments and certain hedging activities. The Partnership’s derivative instrument, an interest rate swap, is recognized as an asset or liability in the consolidated balance sheets at its fair value with subsequent changes in fair value reported in net income or other comprehensive income based on the effectiveness of the hedged transaction. Changes in fair value are also reflected as an adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

During 2007, the Partnership elected hedge accounting for its derivative financial instrument and, therefore, changes in fair value were recorded in other comprehensive income (loss).

During 2008, substantive amendments were made to the Partnership’s credit agreement (Note 5) and, as a result of the amendments, hedge accounting was not elected for the derivative financial instrument and changes

 

17


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

in fair value were recorded in the consolidated statements of income. Amounts previously accounted for in other comprehensive income (loss) during 2007 related to the prior credit agreement have been reclassified to the consolidated statements of income as a component of other expense.

J. Income Taxes

As a limited partnership, the Partnership is not subject to income taxes. The taxable income or loss of the Partnership is includible in the individual income tax returns of its partners based upon their percentage of ownership. The IC-DISC is not subject to Federal or state income taxes. Consequently, no provision for income taxes is provided in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

K. Stock-based Compensation

The Partnership has a unit award plan and has accounted for the award plan in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) (SFAS 123(R)), Share-based Payment. SFAS 123(R) requires companies to measure the cost of employee services rendered in exchange for unit awards based on a fair value calculation at the grant date. Stock-based compensation represents the cost related to stock-based awards granted to employees. The Partnership measures compensation expense at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and recognizes the cost as expense on a straight-line basis over the employee requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period, as required by SFAS 123(R). The Partnership estimates the fair value of its unit awards using a market approach for transactions involving identical unit awards.

L. Planned Major Maintenance Expenses

The Partnership accounts for their planned major maintenance expenses using the direct expensing method where actual costs incurred are expensed directly when maintenance is performed. The Partnership recognized planned major maintenance expenses, which are included in cost of sales, of approximately $14,500,000 during 2008 and $3,100,000 during 2007.

M. Fair Value Measurements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (SFAS 157), Fair Value Measurements. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Certain provisions of SFAS 157 were effective for the Partnership in 2008 and the remaining provisions are effective in 2009. The Partnership does not expect that the provisions of SFAS 157 will have a significant impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

SFAS 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under SFAS 157 are described below:

 

   

Level 1—Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets.

 

18


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

 

   

Level 2—Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly.

 

   

Level 3—Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which requires the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

The Partnership’s financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy as prescribed by SFAS 157 are more fully disclosed in Note 10 of the consolidated financial statements.

N. Recent Pronouncements

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an entity’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. This Interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. In addition, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.

The Interpretation was originally effective for nonpublic entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. FASB Staff Position No. FIN 48-3 permits nonpublic entities to defer the effective date of FIN 48 until fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Partnership has elected to defer the application of FIN 48 and is evaluating the impact of the provisions of FIN 48 on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161 (SFAS 161), Disclosure About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures regarding an entity’s derivative and hedging activities. SFAS 161 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2008. The Partnership is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 161 on its consolidated financial statements.

O. Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2007 financial statements to conform with the 2008 presentation.

Note 2—Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2008      2007  

Raw materials

   $ 18,632,045       $ 18,950,415   

Work-in-process

     10,586,412         3,310,637   

Finished goods

     7,076,231         15,458,752   

Supplies

     2,721,873         2,442,299   
                 
     39,016,561         40,162,103   

Less: Amount to reduce certain inventories to LIFO value

     17,389,836         12,062,040   
                 

Total inventories

   $ 21,626,725       $ 28,100,063   
                 

 

19


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

The use of LIFO decreased net income by approximately $5,328,000 in 2008 and $7,386,000 in 2007.

Approximately 91% and 81% of the Partnership’s inventories at December 31, 2008 and 2007 are costed at the lower of LIFO cost or market.

Note 3—Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2008      2007  

Land

   $ 207,388       $ 207,388   

Buildings and leasehold improvements

     1,679,491         1,183,487   

Machinery and equipment

     43,750,904         36,539,740   

Computer software

     1,513,559         127,750   

Machinery under construction

     39,432,640         10,154,642   
                 
     86,583,982         48,213,007   

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     10,409,681         7,168,525   
                 
   $ 76,174,301       $ 41,044,482   
                 

Depreciation expense, included in cost of sales and operating expenses, amounted to approximately $3,241,000 for 2008 and $2,894,000 for 2007. Capitalized interest on machinery under construction amounted to approximately $1,107,000 in 2008 and $127,000 in 2007.

Note 4—Other Assets

Other assets consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2008      2007  

Intangible assets

   $ 129,617       $ 129,617   

Deferred loan origination costs

     947,847         858,156   

Other—non-amortizable

     53,280         93,240   
                 
     1,130,744         1,081,013   

Less: Accumulated amortization

     767,786         486,668   
                 
   $ 362,958       $ 594,345   
                 

Intangible assets consist of non-compete, licensing agreements and other intangibles. Amortization expense of intangibles, included in operating expenses, amounted to approximately $26,000 in 2008 and 2007.

Amortization of debt-related costs, included in interest expense, amounted to approximately $255,000 in 2008 and $722,000 in 2007. Included in the amortization of debt-related costs in 2007 is approximately $497,000 relating to the write off of deferred loan origination costs in connection with the payoff of the subordinated notes payable (Note 5) and the write off of capitalized costs related to an interest rate cap (Note 10).

 

20


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

The estimated amortization expense for intangible assets and deferred loan origination costs subsequent to December 31, 2008 is as follows:

 

Year Ending

   Amount  

2009

   $ 238,000   

2010

     72,000   
        

Total

   $ 310,000   
        

Note 5—Line of Credit and Long-term Debt

The Partnership has a credit agreement (the agreement) with a bank which provides for a working capital revolving line of credit and provided for a term loan. The agreement grants the bank a first lien security interest in substantially all of the Partnership’s assets.

Line of Credit

Prior to February 1, 2008, the agreement provided for maximum borrowings on the line of credit of $25,000,000.

On February 1, 2008, the existing agreement was amended and restated to refinance the previously existing line of credit and term loan (see below). The amended and restated agreement (the new agreement) provides for maximum borrowings of $60,000,000 on a line of credit through January 15, 2011. Borrowings under the line cannot exceed $30,000,000 plus 85% of eligible accounts receivable and 65% of the eligible inventory less reserves. The maximum borrowing commitment has been reduced by $7,500,000 at December 31, 2008 and will be reduced by an additional $7,500,000 at December 31, 2009.

The Partnership has the option of selecting a base interest rate plus an applicable margin or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus an applicable margin for the revolving line of credit. The Partnership elected LIBOR, which is 1.423% at December 31, 2008, plus the applicable margin of 1.375%. For 2007, the Partnership elected the base rate which is prime, 7 1/4% at December 31, 2007 minus 1 3/4%.

The new agreement provides for the issuance of letters of credit, which are not to exceed certain amounts as defined in the agreement. At December 31, 2008, the Partnership has $2,000,000 of letters of credit outstanding.

The Partnership must pay an unused line fee on each payment date at a rate of  1/8% per annum on the daily average unused amount. The new agreement contains various covenants which, among other things, require the Partnership to maintain minimum financial ratios including a fixed coverage ratio, debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) ratio, and tangible net worth.

Long-term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2008      2007  

Term loan

   $ —         $ 26,250,000   

Capital lease payable

     22,216         59,077   
                 
     22,216         26,309,077   

Less: Current portion

     22,216         6,036,861   
                 
   $ —         $ 20,272,216   
                 

 

21


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Term Loan

The Partnership had a term loan which required a quarterly payment of $750,000 on April 1, 2007. The term loan agreement required payments of $1,500,000, plus interest, commencing on July 1, 2007. The remaining principal balance was due on April 1, 2010. On February 1, 2008, the term loan was paid off as part of the new agreement (see above).

On July 2, 2008, the new agreement was further amended and restated to provide for a new term loan in the amount of $15,000,000. The new term loan required three equal installments of $5,000,000, commencing on August 31, 2008. The final unpaid principal balance, including accrued and unpaid interest, was due and paid on December 31, 2008. The new term loan incurred interest at 2%.

Subordinated Note Payable

The Partnership had a subordinated note payable that was prepaid in full, including a prepayment fee of $600,000, on May 1, 2007 with proceeds from an increase in the Partnership’s term loan of $19,500,000 and an additional draw on the Partnership’s line of credit of $1,333,889.

The subordinated note was issued with 15,000 units representing limited partnership interests in the Partnership. The units were valued at $1,500,000 at the date of issuance. The subordinated note, in the face amount of $20,000,000, was discounted for the fair value of these units. The note was being accreted to its face value over its term. The subordinated note was accreted to its face value at the date of prepayment of the note. The loss on extinguishment of the debt includes approximately $929,000 related to the accretion, $600,000 related to prepayment fees and other costs of approximately $14,000.

In addition, 3,500 units were purchased by the issuer of the subordinated debt as an equity interest in the Partnership interest in 2005. The Partnership entered into a put option, which was exercisable by the subordinated debt issuer beginning May 1, 2011. The put option provided for purchase of each unit based on fair value at the date of the put notice; however, in July 2008, the subordinated debt issuer sold their ownership interest in the Partnership to a third party at a price of $7,300 per unit.

Note 6—Partners’ Equity

Partners’ equity consisted of the following at December 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

     Partners’
Capital
     Retained
Earnings
 

At December 31, 2008

     

General Partner

   $  92,700       $  698,439   

Limited Partners

     9,688,400         73,000,791   
                 

Total

   $ 9,781,100       $ 73,699,230   
                 

At December 31, 2007

     

General Partner

   $  92,700       $  451,705   

Limited Partners

     9,687,400         45,617,876   
                 

Total

   $ 9,780,100       $ 46,069,581   
                 

 

22


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Employee Unit Purchase Plan

During January 2006, the Partnership established an employee unit purchase plan (the Employee Plan) for certain employees, selected at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Partnership. Under the terms of the Employee Plan, employees had options to purchase up to 3,000 limited partnership units at a price of $100 per unit, the estimated fair value of a unit at the grant date. The employees exercised options to purchase 1,392 units before the Employee Plan and the unexercised partnership units expired on January 31, 2006.

The Employee Plan has a call option which provides for the Partnership to acquire the units upon the employees’ termination. The Employee Plan also contains a put option that provides, at the discretion of the employee, at termination of employment for other than cause as defined, to require the Partnership to purchase all of the units held by the employee. The call option and the put option provide for the purchase of each unit based on fair value as determined by the Partnership at the date of the put notice.

Employee Equity Award Plan

During January 2007, the Partnership established an employee equity award plan (the Equity Plan). The Equity Plan awarded 160 partnership units to selected employees as compensation for service. The employees were immediately vested in the award. As a condition for receiving the awards, the employees entered into a non-compete agreement with the Partnership. The partnership units were valued by the Partnership at the grant date at $1,100 per unit using a market approach for transactions involving identical unit awards.

During July 2008, the Partnership issued an additional 10 units to an employee under the Equity Plan. The employee was immediately vested in the award. As a condition for receiving the award, the employee entered into a non-compete agreement with the Partnership. The partnership units were valued by the Partnership at the grant date at $7,300 per unit using a market approach for transactions involving identical unit awards.

The Equity Plan has a call option which provides for the Partnership to acquire the units upon the employees’ termination. The Equity Plan also contains a put option that provides, at the discretion of the employee, at termination of employment for other than cause as defined, to require the Partnership to purchase all of the units held by the employee. The call option and the put option provide for the purchase of each unit based on a fair value as determined by the Partnership at the date of the put notice.

Other

The Partnership purchased 931 partnership units at a price of $1,100 per unit from the majority partner in January 2007 and 320 partnership units at a price of $1,200 per unit from a partner in June 2007.

Note 7—Retirement Plan

The Partnership maintains a defined contribution profit sharing plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan covers substantially all employees. The plan provides for employee elective contributions and Partnership matching contributions. Partnership matching contributions were approximately $708,000 for 2008 and $659,000 for 2007.

Note 8—Profit Sharing Plan

On January 1, 2007, the Partnership established a bonus profit sharing plan. The Partnership is required to contribute to the profit sharing plan if various pre-established goals are achieved. Partnership contributions relating to the bonus profit sharing plan were approximately $861,000 for 2008 and $825,000 for 2007.

 

23


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Note 9—Related Party Transactions

The Partnership has sales to C/G Electrodes LLC (C/G), a related party through common ownership and control. Sales to C/G were approximately $37,936,000, excluding freight revenue of approximately $3,857,000, in 2008 and $23,420,000 in 2007. There were no outstanding receivables from C/G at December 31, 2008. Accounts receivable from C/G amounted to approximately $2,027,000 at December 31, 2007.

Note 10—Fair Value of Financial Instruments

In management’s opinion, the carrying value of the Partnership’s financial instruments, primarily accounts receivable, accounts payable and bank debt, approximates fair value. The carrying values of the Partnership’s variable rate credit facilities approximate fair value given that the interest rates of the debt reset periodically based on market interest rates.

On May 1, 2007, the Partnership entered into an interest rate swap (the swap) with the intent of managing its exposure to fluctuations in the Partnership’s variable rate debt instrument. The swap fixed the interest rate on a portion of the Partnership’s variable rate debt from LIBOR to a fixed rate of 5.125%. The swap expires on May 1, 2012.

The swap is measured at fair value as determined on a discounted cash flow method using the applicable inputs from forward interest rate yield curves (Level 2—significant other observable inputs) with the differential between the forward rate and the original stated interest rate of the swap discounted back from the settlement date of the swap contract to December 31, 2008. The fair value of the swap is a liability at December 31, 2008 and 2007. The fair value of the swap resulted in unrealized losses of approximately $626,000 in 2008 and $662,100 in 2007. During 2007, unrealized losses related to the fair value of the swap were recorded in other comprehensive income (loss).

During 2008, as a result of substantive amendments to the Partnership’s credit agreement (Note 5), hedge accounting was not elected for the derivative financial instrument and changes in fair value were recorded in the consolidated statements of income. Amounts previously accounted for in other comprehensive income (loss) during 2007 have been reclassified as a component of interest expense in the consolidated statements of income.

Note 11—Major Suppliers

The Partnership purchased approximately $127,380,000 in 2008 and $104,137,000 in 2007 of its raw material inventory through two brokers. Management believes that there are alternative sources that could provide these raw materials on similar terms without any interruption in business operations.

Note 12—Product Supply Agreement

In October 2006, the Partnership and one of its customers entered into a product supply agreement to provide 17,000 metric tons of needle coke during 2008 and 19,000 metric tons of needle coke during 2009 for a fixed-base price plus annual adjustment. In addition, the supply agreement contains a calculation for oil surcharges based on changes in commodity prices underlying the Partnership’s raw materials.

Note 13—Commitments and Contingencies

The operations of the Partnership generate both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. The treatment, storage, transportation and disposals of these materials are subject to various local, state and Federal laws relating to the protection of the environment.

 

24


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

The Partnership accounts for its environmental remediation expenses in accordance with Statement of Position 96-1, Environmental Remediation Liabilities. Environmental remediation expenses are accrued as period costs and included in results from operations when the Partnership’s liability is probable and costs are reasonably estimable.

During 2007, the Partnership identified contaminated soil within their production facility. The Partnership is currently in the process of investigating the impact of this contamination and is developing a remediation plan for the affected locations at the Partnership’s production facility. The Partnership has incurred costs of approximately $408,000 in 2008 and $177,000 in 2007, which are included in operating expenses, related to the investigation of the oil contamination. At this stage, the Partnership estimates the total loss that will result from remediation to be approximately $1,000,000 to be incurred over a period of up to 10 years. The Partnership has discounted the estimated liability at 6 1/2% over the estimated period. The discounted amount of $800,000 is recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.

 

25


Independent Auditors’ Report

To the Partners

Seadrift Coke, L.P. and Subsidiary

Port Lavaca, Texas

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Seadrift Coke, L.P. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in partners’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Seadrift Coke, L.P. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Alpern Rosenthal

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

March 15, 2010, except for Note 13, as to which the date is May 21, 2010

 

26


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

December 31

  2009     2008  

ASSETS

   

Current Assets

   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 3,329      $ 354,000   

Accounts receivable (includes related party accounts receivable of $3,686,063 in 2009—Note 9)

    14,253,160        26,838,531   

Inventories—Note 2

    15,970,063        21,626,725   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    470,554        541,249   
               

Total Current Assets

    30,697,106        49,360,505   

Property, Plant and Equipment—Net of accumulated depreciation—Note 3

    70,999,630        76,174,301   

Other Assets—Note 4

    217,387        362,958   
               

Total Assets

  $ 101,914,123      $ 125,897,764   
               

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY

   

Current Liabilities

   

Current portion of long-term debt—Note 5

  $ 12,039,578      $ 22,216   

Line of credit—Note 5

    2,985,928        —     

Accounts payable

    778,580        5,402,371   

Accrued property taxes

    1,180,580        1,093,805   

Accrued vacation

    466,833        619,670   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    774,479        1,605,215   
               

Total Current Liabilities

    18,225,978        8,743,277   

Long-term Liabilities

   

Line of credit—Note 5

    —          31,343,470   

Long-term debt—net of current portion—Note 5

    172,464        —     

Interest rate swap liability—Note 10

    686,947        1,288,483   

Commitments and contingent liabilities—Note 12

    800,000        800,000   

Other long-term liabilities

    726,613        242,204   
               

Total Liabilities

    20,612,002        42,417,434   
               

Partners’ Equity—Note 6

   

Partners' capital

    9,781,100        9,781,100   

Retained earnings

    71,521,021        73,699,230   
               

Total Partners’ Equity

    81,302,121        83,480,330   
               

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Equity

  $ 101,914,123      $ 125,897,764   
               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

27


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2009     2008  

Net Sales

    

Net sales (Includes related party net sales of $7,003,489 in 2009 and $37,936,198 in 2008—Note 9)

   $ 74,309,395      $ 329,681,560   

Cost of Sales (Includes related party cost of sales of $5,208,831 in 2009 and $26,614,198 in 2008—Note 9)

     55,631,682        269,061,424   
                

Gross Profit

     18,677,713        60,620,136   

Operating Expenses

     7,044,743        13,171,965   
                

Income From Operations

     11,632,970        47,448,171   
                

Other (Income) Expenses

    

Loss on abandonment of machinery under construction—Note 3

     11,640,190        —     

Interest expense—net

     1,955,591        1,198,983   

Fair value adjustment—interest rate swap—Note 10

     (601,536     1,288,483   
                

Total Other Expenses

     12,994,245        2,487,466   
                

Net Income (Loss)

   $ (1,361,275   $ 44,960,705   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

28


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Equity

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

     Partners’
Capital
     Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total  

Balance—January 1, 2008

   $ 9,780,100       $ 46,731,681      $ (662,100     $ 55,849,681   

Partner distributions

     —           (18,065,156     —            (18,065,156

Partner units issued for services—Note 6

     1,000         72,000        —            73,000   

Comprehensive income

           

Amount reclassified to income—unrealized loss on interest rate swap—Note 10

     —           —          662,100      $ 662,100        662,100   

Net income

     —           44,960,705        —          44,960,705        44,960,705   
                       

Comprehensive income

     —           —          —        $ 45,622,805     
                                   

Balance—December 31, 2008

     9,781,100         73,699,230        —            83,480,330   

Partner distributions

     —           (816,934     —            (816,934

Comprehensive loss

           

Net loss

     —           (1,361,275     —        $ (1,361,275     (1,361,275
                       

Comprehensive loss

     —           —          —        $ (1,361,275  
                                   

Balance—December 31, 2009

   $ 9,781,100       $ 71,521,021      $ —          $ 81,302,121   
                                   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

29


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2009     2008  

Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities

    

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,361,275   $ 44,960,705   

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Loss on abandonment of machinery under construction

     11,640,190        —     

Depreciation and amortization

     4,167,896        3,522,274   

LIFO inventory reserves

     2,330,919        5,327,796   

(Gains) losses on interest rate swap

     (601,536     1,288,483   

Noncash line-of-credit fees

     —          96,664   

Partnership units issued for services

     —          73,000   

Changes in

    

Accounts receivable

     12,585,371        (10,541,331

Inventories

     3,325,743        1,145,542   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (5,036,180     (4,263,883

Other assets

     110,656        3,213,005   
                

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     27,161,784        44,822,255   
                

Cash Used for Investing Activities

    

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (9,744,359     (37,263,536

Capitalized interest on machinery under construction

     (305,141     (1,107,439
                

Net Cash Used for Investing Activities

     (10,049,500     (38,370,975
                

Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities

    

Net proceeds (payments) on line of credit

     (28,357,542     6,382,941   

Proceeds from long-term debt

     12,000,000        14,903,336   

Payments on long-term debt

     (31,731     (16,536,861

Loan acquisition fees

     (256,748     (89,691

Partner distributions

     (816,934     (18,065,156
                

Net Cash Used for Financing Activities

     (17,462,955     (13,405,431
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

30


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2009     2008  

Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (350,671     (6,954,151

Cash and Cash Equivalents—Beginning of year

     354,000        7,308,151   
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents—End of year

   $ 3,329      $ 354,000   
                
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information   

Cash paid during the year for interest

   $ 1,878,410      $ 2,132,676   
                
Supplemental Disclosures of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities   

Capital lease obligation incurred for the acquisition of equipment

   $ 221,557      $ —     
                

Proceeds from note payable—line of credit

   $ —        $ 24,750,000   
                

Payment of note payable—bank

   $ —        $ 24,750,000   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

31


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Organization and Basis of Consolidation

Seadrift Coke, L.P. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Seadrift Coke Export, Inc., a Delaware limited partnership (collectively, the Partnership), is primarily engaged in the manufacture and distribution of needle coke for sale to customers in the graphite electrode manufacturing industry. The Partnership’s principal operating location is in Port Lavaca, Texas. The Partnership sells to customers in North America, Europe and Asia.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Seadrift Coke, L.P and its wholly owned subsidiary, Seadrift Coke Export, Inc., an Interest Charge Domestic International Sales Corporation (IC-DISC). All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

B. Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

C. Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Partnership considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than three months as cash equivalents. All of the Partnership’s cash is maintained in one financial institution located in Texas.

D. Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are stated at the amount expected to be collected from outstanding customer balances at year end. Based on management’s assessment of the credit history with the Partnership’s customers, it believes that realization losses on balances outstanding at year end will not be material. Accordingly, no allowance for doubtful accounts is deemed necessary.

Four customers accounted for approximately 80% of gross sales in 2009 and six customers accounted for approximately 80% of gross sales in 2008. Accounts receivable relating to these customers represented approximately 98% of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2009 and 65% at December 31, 2008.

Sales to customers located in foreign countries were approximately 52% of 2009 total sales and 36% of 2008 total sales.

E. Revenue Recognition

Sales and related costs of sales are generally recorded when goods are shipped and title, ownership and risk of loss have passed to the customer, all of which occurs upon shipment or delivery of the product based on applicable shipping terms. The shipping terms may vary depending on the nature of the customer, domestic or foreign, and the type of transportation used. Shipping and handling costs are recognized as a component of cost of sales.

 

32


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

F. Taxes on Revenue Producing Transactions

Taxes assessed by governmental authorities on revenue producing transactions, including sales, excise and use taxes, are recorded on a net basis (excluded from revenue) in the consolidated statements of operations.

G. Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Elements of cost in inventories include raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. For all of the Partnership’s inventory, except certain by-products and its supplies inventory, costs have been determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. The remainder of the Partnership’s inventory cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

H. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost including expenditures for additions and major improvements. Maintenance and repairs which are not considered to extend the useful lives of assets are charged to operations as incurred. The cost of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gains or losses are reflected in other (income) expenses for the year.

For financial reporting, depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed using the straight-line method at rates calculated to amortize costs over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The ranges of estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

     Years  

Buildings and leasehold improvements

     5 - 25   

Machinery and equipment

     5 - 20   

Computer software

     5 - 10   

Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The Partnership has determined there is no impairment at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

I. Other Assets

Loan acquisition fees are capitalized and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related debt (Note 4).

Non-compete and licensing agreements are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related agreements (Note 4).

J. Derivative Financial Instruments

During 2009, the Partnership adopted new accounting standards which require additional disclosures about the Partnership’s objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments, how the derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for, and how the derivative instruments and related hedged item affect the consolidated financial statements.

The Partnership holds an interest rate swap for the purpose of managing risks related to the variability of future earnings and cash flows caused by changes in interest rates.

 

33


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

The Partnership accounts for its interest rate swap as either an asset or a liability in the consolidated balance sheets and carries it at fair value. Derivatives that are not defined as hedges are adjusted to fair value through earnings. For derivative instruments that hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in partners’ equity and reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in current earnings. To receive hedge accounting treatment, cash flow hedges must be highly effective in offsetting changes to expected future cash flows on hedged transactions.

Prior to 2008, the Partnership elected hedge accounting for its interest rate swap with the effective portion of the interest rate swap accounted for and reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

During 2008, substantive amendments were made to the Partnership’s credit agreement and, as a result of the amendments, management did not redesignate hedge accounting for the related interest rate swap. Changes in fair value of the interest rate swap were recorded in the consolidated statements of operations in 2009 and 2008 as a component of other (income) expense and as an adjustment to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Amounts previously accounted for in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) prior to 2008 were reclassified to the 2008 statement of operations.

K. Income Taxes

As a limited partnership, the Partnership is not subject to income taxes. The taxable income or loss of the Partnership is includible in the individual income tax returns of its partners based upon their percentage of ownership. The IC-DISC is not subject to Federal or state income taxes. Consequently, no provision for income taxes is provided in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

The Partnership adopted the accounting standard for uncertain tax positions as of January 1, 2009. The standard requires a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance with the asset and liability method. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining whether evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that a position will be sustained if examined by a taxing authority. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is 50% likely of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority. The adoption of this accounting standard did not have an effect on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

L. Stock-based Compensation

The Partnership has established employee unit award plans for certain employees of the Partnership. Under the plans, employees are either awarded units at the discretion of the Board of Directors or are granted options to purchase partnership units. The fair value of the units is determined using a market approach for transactions involving similar unit awards at the grant date. The Partnership recognizes the fair value of the unit award’s compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the employee’s requisite service period which is generally the vesting period.

M. Planned Major Maintenance Expenses

The Partnership accounts for planned major maintenance activities by recognizing costs as incurred. The Partnership recognized approximately $14,500,000 in its consolidated statement of operations as a component of cost of sales in 2008. There were no planned major maintenance activities during 2009.

 

34


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

N. Fair Value Measurements

The Partnership applies fair value accounting for all financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis. The Partnership defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, which are required to be recorded at fair value, the Partnership considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Partnership would transact and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions and credit risk.

The Partnership applies the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement:

 

   

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 2—Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 3—Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

O. Recently Issued Accounting Standards

On September 15, 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) became the single source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The Codification changed the referencing of financial standards but did not change or alter existing generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The Codification became effective for the Partnership at that date.

P. Subsequent Events

Management evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements through May 21, 2010, the day the consolidated financial statements were approved and authorized for issue.

Note 2—Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2009      2008  

Raw materials

   $ 8,267,306       $ 18,632,045   

Work-in-process

     14,566,573         10,586,412   

Finished goods

     9,561,921         7,076,231   

Supplies

     3,295,018         2,721,873   
                 
     35,690,818         39,016,561   

Less: Amount to reduce certain inventories to LIFO value

     19,720,755         17,389,836   
                 

Total inventories

   $ 15,970,063       $ 21,626,725   
                 

 

35


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

The use of LIFO increased net loss by approximately $2,331,000 in 2009 and decreased net income by approximately $5,328,000 in 2008.

Approximately 88% and 91% of the Partnership’s inventories at December 31, 2009 and 2008 are costed at the lower of LIFO cost or market.

Note 3—Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2009      2008  

Land

   $ 207,388       $ 207,388   

Buildings and leasehold improvements

     1,679,491         1,679,491   

Machinery and equipment

     57,186,408         43,750,904   

Computer software

     1,535,896         1,513,559   

Machinery under construction

     24,605,666         39,432,640   
                 
     85,214,849         86,583,982   

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     14,215,219         10,409,681   
                 
   $ 70,999,630       $ 76,174,301   
                 

During 2009, management chose to abandon two projects that were being constructed and classified as machinery under construction in 2008. The abandonment of machinery under construction resulted in a loss of approximately $11,640,000, included in other expenses.

Depreciation expense, included in cost of sales and operating expenses, amounted to approximately $3,806,000 for 2009 and $3,241,000 for 2008. Capitalized interest on machinery under construction amounted to approximately $305,000 in 2009 and $1,107,000 in 2008.

Note 4—Other Assets

Other assets consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2009      2008  

Intangible assets

   $ 129,617       $ 129,617   

Loan acquisition fees

     1,204,595         947,847   

Other—non-amortizable

     13,319         53,280   
                 
     1,347,531         1,130,744   

Less: Accumulated amortization

     1,130,144         767,786   
                 
   $ 217,387       $ 362,958   
                 

Intangible assets consist of non-compete, licensing agreements and other intangibles. Amortization expense of intangibles, included in operating expenses, amounted to approximately $26,000 in 2009 and 2008.

During 2009, the Partnership incurred approximately $137,000 of loan acquisition fees related to amending its credit agreement and $120,000 of fees related to the issuance of subordinated notes (Note 5). Amortization of loan acquisition fees, included in interest expense, amounted to approximately $336,000 in 2009 and $255,000 in 2008.

 

36


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

The estimated remaining amortization expense for intangible assets and loan acquisition fees subsequent to December 31, 2009 is approximately $204,000 for the year ending December 31, 2010.

Note 5—Line of Credit and Long-term Debt

Line of Credit and Term Loan

The Partnership has a credit agreement (the agreement) with a bank which provides for a working capital revolving line of credit and a term loan. The agreement grants the bank a first lien security interest in substantially all of the Partnership’s assets.

The agreement provided for maximum borrowings on the line of credit of $25,000,000. On February 1, 2008, the agreement was amended to refinance the line of credit and term loan. As of February 1, 2008, the term loan had an outstanding balance of $24,750,000, which was paid off with proceeds from the line of credit. The amended agreement provided for maximum borrowings on the line of credit of $60,000,000 and a term loan in the amount of $15,000,000. The term loan was paid off on December 31, 2008.

On July 10, 2009, the agreement was amended in connection with the Partnership’s issuance of subordinated notes (see below). The amended agreement provides for maximum borrowings of $20,000,000 on a line of credit through June 30, 2010. Borrowings under the line of credit cannot exceed 85% of eligible accounts receivable and 65% of eligible inventory less reserves.

The Partnership has the option of selecting a base interest rate plus an applicable margin or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus an applicable margin for the line of credit. The Partnership elected LIBOR which is  1/4% at December 31, 2009, plus the applicable margin of 4%. For 2008, the Partnership elected LIBOR, which was 1.423% at December 31, 2008, plus the applicable margin of 1.375%.

The agreement provides for the issuance of letters of credit, which are not to exceed certain amounts as defined in the agreement. There are no letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2009. The Partnership had $2,000,000 of letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2008.

The Partnership must pay an unused line fee on each payment date at an annual rate of  1/8% on the daily average unused amount. The agreement contains various covenants which, among other things, require the Partnership to maintain minimum financial ratios including a fixed coverage ratio, debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) ratio, and tangible net worth.

Long-term debt consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2009      2008  

Subordinated notes

   $ 12,000,000       $ —     

Capital lease payable

     212,042         22,216   
                 
     12,212,042         22,216   

Less: Current portion

     12,039,578         22,216   
                 
   $ 172,464       $ —     
                 

Subordinated Notes

On July 2, 2009, the Partnership issued $12,000,000 of notes to three partners of the Partnership. The notes are subordinate to the line of credit. The proceeds from the notes were used to pay down the line of credit. The notes bear interest, which is payable quarterly, at 10% and are due upon demand subject to approval of the senior debt holder.

 

37


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Capital Lease Payable

During 2009, the Partnership entered into an equipment lease agreement which is payable in monthly installments, including interest at 6 1/4%, through July 2014 and is collateralized by equipment with a net book value of approximately $218,000.

Approximate future maturities of long-term debt are as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31

   Amount  

2010

   $ 40,000   

2011

     43,000   

2012

     45,000   

2013

     48,000   

2014

     36,000   
        
   $ 212,000   
        

Note 6—Partners’ Equity

Partners’ equity consisted of the following at December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

     Partners’
Capital
     Retained
Earnings
 

At December 31, 2009

     

General Partner

   $  92,700       $  677,319   

Limited Partners

     9,688,400         70,843,702   
                 

Total

   $ 9,781,100       $ 71,521,021   
                 

At December 31, 2008

     

General Partner

   $  92,700       $  698,439   

Limited Partners

     9,688,400         73,000,791   
                 

Total

   $ 9,781,100       $ 73,699,230   
                 

Employee Unit Purchase Plan

During January 2006, the Partnership established an employee unit purchase plan (the Employee Plan) for certain employees, selected at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Under the terms of the Employee Plan, employees were granted options to purchase up to 3,000 limited partnership units at a price of $100 per unit, the estimated fair value of a unit at the grant date. The employees exercised their options and purchased 1,392 units before the partnership units expired on January 31, 2006.

The Employee Plan has a call option providing for the Partnership to acquire the outstanding units upon an employee’s termination. The Employee Plan also contains a put option that requires, at the discretion of the employee, at termination of employment for other than cause, the Partnership to purchase the units held by the employee. The call option and the put option provide for the purchase of each outstanding unit based on the unit’s fair value as determined by the Partnership.

 

38


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Employee Equity Award Plan

During January 2007, the Partnership established an employee equity award plan (the Equity Plan). The Equity Plan awarded 160 partnership units to selected employees as compensation for services rendered. The employees were immediately vested in their awards. As a condition for receiving the awards, the employees entered into a non-compete agreement with the Partnership. The partnership units were valued by the Partnership at the grant date at $1,100 per unit using a market approach for transactions involving similar unit awards.

During July 2008, the Partnership issued an additional 10 units to an employee under the Equity Plan. The employee was immediately vested in the award. As a condition for receiving the award, the employee entered into a non-compete agreement with the Partnership. The partnership units were valued by the Partnership at the grant date at $7,300 per unit using a market approach for transactions involving similar unit awards.

The Equity Plan has a call option providing for the Partnership to acquire the outstanding units upon an employee’s termination. The Equity Plan also contains a put option that requires, at the discretion of the employee, at termination of employment for other than cause, the Partnership to purchase the units held by the employee. The call option and the put option provide for the purchase of each outstanding unit based on the unit’s fair value as determined by the Partnership.

There were no units issued during 2009.

Other

The Partnership has issued 18,500 units that provide for a put option that is exercisable beginning May 1, 2011. The put option provides for the purchase of each outstanding unit based on the unit’s fair value at the date of the put notice.

Note 7—Retirement Plan

The Partnership maintains a defined contribution profit sharing plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan covers substantially all employees. The plan provides for employee elective contributions and Partnership matching contributions. On May 1, 2009, the plan was amended to allow the Partnership’s matching contribution to be a discretionary percentage, determined by the Partnership, of the participant’s elective deferrals. As of the amendment date, the Partnership suspended its matching contribution until further notice. Partnership matching contributions were approximately $247,000 for 2009 and $708,000 for 2008.

Note 8—Profit Sharing Plan

On January 1, 2007, the Partnership established a bonus profit sharing plan. The Partnership is required to contribute to the profit sharing plan if various pre-established goals are achieved. There were no Partnership contributions relating to the bonus profit sharing plan for 2009. Partnership contributions relating to the bonus profit sharing plan were approximately $861,000 for 2008.

Note 9—Related Party Transactions

The Partnership has sales to C/G Electrodes LLC (C/G), a related party through common ownership and control. Sales to C/G, excluding freight revenue, were approximately $7,003,000 in 2009 and $37,936,000 in 2008. Accounts receivable from C/G amounted to approximately $3,686,000 at December 31, 2009. There were no outstanding receivables from C/G at December 31, 2008.

 

39


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Note 10—Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Partnership’s liability for its interest rate swap is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 2 inputs at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

On May 1, 2007, the Partnership entered into an interest rate swap (the swap) with the intent of managing its cash flow exposure to fluctuations in the Partnership’s variable rate line of credit. The notional amount of the swap was $30,000,000 which is reduced by $1,500,000 at the end of each fiscal quarter. The swap provides for the Partnership to receive interest based on a variable LIBOR interest rate and pay interest at a fixed rate of 5.125%. The swap expires on May 1, 2012.

The fair value of the swap is determined on a recurring basis by using a discounted cash flow method using the applicable inputs from forward interest rate yield curves with the differential between the forward rate and the original stated interest rate of the swap discounted back from the settlement date of the swap contract to December 31, 2009 and 2008. The fair value of the swap liability amounted to approximately $687,000 as of December 31, 2009 and $1,288,000 as of December 31, 2008, and resulted in a gain of approximately $601,000 in 2009 and loss of approximately $626,000 in 2008. Changes in fair value of the swap previously accounted for in other comprehensive income (loss) prior to 2008 were reclassified in the 2008 consolidated statement of operations in other (income) expenses.

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of those instruments.

The fair value of the Partnership’s debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Partnership for debt of the same remaining maturities. The carrying value of the Partnership’s debt approximates fair value.

Note 11—Major Suppliers

The Partnership purchased approximately 75% of its raw material inventory through two suppliers in 2009 and 80% through three suppliers in 2008. Management believes that there are alternative sources that could provide these raw materials on similar terms without any interruption in business operations.

Note 12—Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

The operations of the Partnership generate both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. The treatment, storage, transportation and disposals of these materials are subject to various local, state and Federal laws relating to the protection of the environment.

Environmental remediation expenses are accrued as period costs and included in results from operations when the Partnership’s liability is probable and costs are reasonably estimable.

During 2007, the Partnership identified contaminated soil within its production facility. The Partnership is currently in the process of investigating the impact of this contamination and is developing a remediation plan for the affected locations at the Partnership’s production facility. The Partnership has incurred costs of approximately $273,000 in 2009 and $408,000 in 2008, which are included in operating expenses, related to the investigation of the oil contamination. At this stage, the Partnership estimates the total costs of remediation to be approximately $1,000,000 to be incurred over a period of 10 years. The Partnership has discounted the estimated liability at 6 1/2% over the estimated period. The estimated liability is included in long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets since management has estimated no substantial costs will be incurred during 2010.

 

40


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Note 13—Subsequent Events

On March 31, 2010, the Partnership’s credit agreement was amended to provide for prepayment of its subordinated notes. Concurrent with the amendment, the subordinated notes were paid in full.

During April, 2010, the Partnership’s credit agreement was amended to provide for an extension on the line of credit through March 15, 2011 along with certain other provisions adjusting the borrowing base for the Partnership’s trade accounts receivable and inventory.

On April 28, 2010, the Partnership entered into an agreement and plan of merger with GrafTech International, Ltd. and certain of its subsidiaries (GTI) that currently holds a 18.9% ownership interest in the Partnership, to sell its remaining equity interests to GTI.

The consideration expected to be received by Seadrift will consist of $78.5 million in cash less debt (subject to working capital adjustments), 12 million new GTI shares, and non-interest, senior subordinated promissory notes for $100 million.

The acquisition is subject to certain anti-trust regulatory provisions which are currently pending. The financial statements have not been adjusted to reflect this transaction.

 

41


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     September 30,
2010
(Unaudited)
     December 31,
2009

(Derived From
Audited
Statements)
 

ASSETS

     

Current Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,408,250       $ 3,329   

Accounts receivable (includes related party accounts receivable of $1,301,170 in 2010 and $3,686,063 in 2009)

     22,252,136         14,253,160   

Inventories

     22,598,941         15,970,063   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     416,486         470,554   
                 

Total Current Assets

     50,675,813         30,697,106   

Property, Plant and Equipment—Net of accumulated depreciation of $17,163,452 in 2010 and $14,215,219 in 2009

     72,547,839         70,999,630   

Other Assets

     135,676         217,387   
                 

Total Assets

   $ 123,359,328       $ 101,914,123   
                 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY

     

Current Liabilities

     

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 41,472       $ 12,039,578   

Line of credit

     —           2,985,928   

Accounts payable

     1,189,115         778,580   

Accrued manufacturing costs

     6,226,306         337,094   

Accrued acquisition costs

     1,258,226         —     

Accrued property taxes

     1,091,985         1,180,580   

Accrued vacation

     628,168         466,833   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     612,082         437,385   
                 

Total Current Liabilities

     11,047,354         18,225,978   

Long-term Liabilities

     

Long-term debt—net of current portion

     141,119         172,464   

Interest rate swap liability

     —           686,947   

Commitments and contingent liabilities

     800,000         800,000   

Accrued bonuses

     1,103,968         726,613   
                 

Total Liabilities

     13,092,441         20,612,002   

Partners’ Equity

     110,266,887         81,302,121   
                 

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Equity

   $ 123,359,328       $ 101,914,123   
                 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

42


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30

   2010
(Unaudited)
     2009
(Unaudited)
 

Net Sales (Includes related party net sales of $26,675,386 in 2010 and none in 2009)

   $ 118,958,200       $ 46,339,002   

Cost of Sales (Includes related party cost of sales of $19,455,810 in 2010 and none in 2009)

     80,749,816         38,616,090   
                 

Gross Profit

     38,208,384         7,722,912   

Operating Expenses

     8,110,045         5,385,430   
                 

Income From Operations

     30,098,339         2,337,482   
                 

Other Expenses

     

Loss on disposal of assets—net

     433,381         —     

Interest expense—net

     700,192         757,052   
                 

Total Other Expenses

     1,133,573         757,052   
                 

Net Income

   $ 28,964,766       $ 1,580,430   
                 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

43


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30

   2010
(Unaudited)
    2009
(Unaudited)
 

Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities

    

Net income

   $ 28,964,766      $ 1,580,430   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Loss on disposal of assets

     205,023        —     

Depreciation and amortization

     3,295,810        2,769,110   

LIFO inventory reserves

     (4,437,522     2,613,936   

Gains on interest rate swap

     (686,947     (452,463

Changes in

    

Accounts receivable

     (7,750,023     15,911,483   

Inventories

     (2,391,377     (790,680

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     8,182,765        (2,785,602

Other assets

     127,127        259,184   
                

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     25,509,622        19,105,398   
                
    

Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities

    

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (5,134,315     (10,078,013

Proceeds from the sale of assets

     44,993        —     
                

Net Cash Used for Investing Activities

     (5,089,322     (10,078,013
                
    

Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities

    

Net payments on line of credit

     (2,985,928     (20,538,971

Proceeds from subordinated debt

     —          12,000,000   

Payments on subordinated debt

     (12,000,000     —     

Payments on long-term debt

     (29,451     (22,216

Partner distributions

     —          (816,932
                

Net Cash Used for Financing Activities

     (15,015,379     (9,378,119
                

Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     5,404,921        (350,734

Cash and Cash Equivalents—Beginning of period

     3,329        354,000   
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents—End of period

   $ 5,408,250      $ 3,266   
                

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

  

Cash paid during the period for interest

   $ 984,588      $ 1,129,016   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

44


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Interim Financial Presentation

These interim consolidated financial statements of Seadrift Coke, L.P. and Subsidiary (the Partnership) are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, they have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted or condensed. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Partnership’s audited consolidated financial statements, including the accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2009.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (all of which are of a normal, recurring nature) which management considers necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results which may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year.

B. Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the December 31, 2009 financial statements to conform with the September 30, 2010 presentation.

Note 2—Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following at:

 

     September 30,
2010
     December 31,
2009
 

Raw materials

   $ 17,864,260       $  8,267,306   

Work-in-process

     7,767,549         14,566,573   

Finished goods

     9,049,753         9,561,921   

Supplies

     3,200,612         3,295,018   
                 
     37,882,174         35,690,818   

Less: Amount to reduce certain inventories to LIFO value

     15,283,233         19,720,755   
                 

Total inventories

   $ 22,598,941       $ 15,970,063   
                 

Note 3—Property, Plant and Equipment

During February 2010, the Partnership experienced a fire in part of its production facilities. As a result of this fire, the Partnership sustained losses in certain machinery and equipment which had a net book value of approximately $249,000. The Partnership has completed the process of repairing the damage and replacing equipment. The Partnership has expensed approximately $500,000 related to its retention amounts under its insurance policies for repair and restoration activities which is included in loss on disposal of assets in the consolidated statements of income. The Partnership has currently negotiated a settlement claim with its insurance providers for approximately $521,000, which includes amounts in excess of the net book value of the sustained losses in certain machinery and equipment. At September 30, 2010, the Partnership had collected substantially all of the proceeds.

 

45


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Note 4—Line of Credit and Long-term Debt

During April 2010, the Partnership’s credit agreement was amended to provide for an extension on the line of credit through March 15, 2011. The Partnership has the option of selecting a base interest rate plus an applicable margin or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus an applicable margin for the line of credit. The Partnership elected LIBOR which is  1/4% at September 30, 2010, plus the applicable margin of 3 1/2%.

On March 31, 2010, the Partnership’s credit agreement was amended to provide for prepayment of its subordinated notes. Concurrent with the amendment, the subordinated notes were paid in full.

Note 5—Partners’ Equity

Partners’ equity consisted of the following at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

      Partners’
Capital
     Retained
Earnings
     Partners’
Equity
 
September 30, 2010         

General Partner

   $  92,700       $  952,426       $ 1,045,126   

Limited Partners

     9,688,400         99,533,361         109,221,761   
                          

Total

     9,781,100       $ 100,485,787       $ 110,266,887   
                          
December 31, 2009         

General Partner

   $  92,700       $  677,319       $ 770,019   

Limited Partners

     9,688,400         70,843,702         80,532,102   
                          

Total

   $  9,781,100       $ 71,521,021       $ 81,302,121   
                          

Note 6—Related Party Transactions

The Partnership has sales to C/G Electrodes LLC (C/G), a related party through common ownership and control. Sales to C/G, excluding freight revenue, were approximately $24,187,000 and the related cost of sales were approximately $17,575,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. There were no sales and related cost of sales to C/G for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Accounts receivable from C/G amounted to approximately $831,000 at September 30, 2010 and $3,686,000 at December 31, 2009.

The Partnership has sales to GrafTech International, Ltd. (GrafTech), a related party due to a partnership interest, of approximately $2,489,000 and related cost of sales of approximately $1,881,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. There were no sales and related cost of sales to GrafTech for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Accounts receivable from GrafTech amounted to approximately $470,000 at September 30, 2010. There were no outstanding receivables from GrafTech at December 31, 2009.

Note 7—Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments

The Partnership’s liability for its interest rate swap is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 2 (significant other observable inputs) at December 31, 2009. The interest rate swap expired in May 2010.

The Partnership held an interest rate swap for the purpose of managing its cash flow exposure to fluctuations in the Partnership’s variable rate line of credit. The notional amount of the swap was $30,000,000 at the effective date of May 1, 2007. The notional amount was reduced by $1,500,000 at the end of each fiscal quarter. The swap provided for the Partnership to receive interest based on a variable LIBOR interest rate and pay interest at a fixed rate of 5 1/8%.

 

46


SEADRIFT COKE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

The fair value of the swap was determined on a recurring basis by using a discounted cash flow method using the applicable inputs from forward interest rate yield curves with the differential between the forward rate and the original stated interest rate of the swap discounted back from the settlement date of the swap contract to December 31, 2009. The fair value of the swap liability amounted to approximately $687,000 as of December 31, 2009. The expiration of the swap and fair value adjustment resulted in a gain of approximately $687,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and $452,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 which are included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income and as adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of those instruments.

The fair value of the Partnership’s debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Partnership for debt of the same remaining maturities. The carrying value of the Partnership’s debt approximates fair value.

Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies

The operations of the Partnership generate both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. The treatment, storage, transportation and disposals of these materials are subject to various local, state and Federal laws relating to the protection of the environment.

Environmental remediation expenses are accrued as period costs and included in results from operations when the Partnership’s liability is probable and costs are reasonably estimable.

During 2007, the Partnership had identified contaminated soil within its production facility and has developed a remediation plan and submitted its plan to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for approval. As of September 30, 2010, the Partnership has not received a response from the TCEQ indicating TCEQ’s acceptance and approval of management’s remediation plan. At this stage, based on current information available to management, management estimates total costs of remediation to be approximately $1,000,000 which will be incurred over a period of 10 years. The Partnership has discounted the estimated liability at 6 1/2% over this estimated period which is reflected in the consolidated balance sheets in the amount of $800,000 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

Note 9—Pending Sale

On April 28, 2010, the Partnership entered into an agreement and plan of merger with GrafTech and certain of its subsidiaries (GTI) that currently holds an 18.9% ownership interest in the Partnership, to sell its remaining equity interests to GTI.

The consideration expected to be received by the Partnership will consist of $78.5 million in cash subject to working capital and debt adjustments, 12 million new GTI shares, and non-interest, senior subordinated promissory notes for $100 million.

Acquisition costs are accounted for as expenses in the periods in which the costs are incurred. Total legal, accounting, regulatory and other professional costs incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were approximately $1,461,000 and are included in operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income. Approximately $1,258,000 of these costs are included in accrued acquisition costs in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010.

The acquisition is subject to certain anti-trust regulatory provisions which are currently pending. The consolidated financial statements have not been adjusted to reflect this transaction.

 

47


Independent Auditors’ Report

To the Members

C/G Electrodes LLC

St. Marys, Pennsylvania

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of C/G Electrodes LLC (a Limited Liability Company) and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, members’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of C/G Electrodes LLC and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Alpern Rosenthal

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

March 20, 2009

 

48


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

December 31

   2008     2007  

ASSETS

    

Current Assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,092,987      $ 1,005,412   

Accounts receivable

     15,147,689        13,698,077   

Inventories—Note 2

     30,629,959        19,719,520   

Other current assets—Note 3

     1,202,569        513,910   
                

Total Current Assets

     48,073,204        34,936,919   

Property, Plant and Equipment—Net of accumulated depreciation—Note 4

     39,203,951        30,314,001   

Other Assets—Note 5

     1,917,816        772,604   
                

Total Assets

   $ 89,194,971      $ 66,023,524   
                

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

    

Current Liabilities

    

Current portion of long-term debt—Note 7

   $ 176,110      $ 4,646,590   

Accounts payable (includes related party accounts payable of $2,027,157 in 2007)—Note 10

     3,383,690        6,560,737   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     7,258,693        4,549,452   

Note payable—line of credit

     —          8,393,500   
                

Total Current Liabilities

     10,818,493        24,150,279   

Long-term Debt—Net of current portion—Note 7

     113,124,116        16,802,079   
                

Total Liabilities

     123,942,609        40,952,358   

Members’ Equity (Deficit)—Note 8

     (34,747,638     25,071,166   
                

Total Liabilities and Members’ Equity (Deficit)

   $ 89,194,971      $ 66,023,524   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

49


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2008     2007  

Net Sales

   $ 142,782,801      $ 114,283,029   

Cost of Sales (Includes related party cost of sales of $37,936,198 in 2008 and $23,419,750 in 2007)—Note 10

     97,665,641        79,632,163   
                

Gross Profit

     45,117,160        34,650,866   

Operating Expenses

     8,704,832        6,644,688   
                

Income From Operations

     36,412,328        28,006,178   
                

Other Income (Expense)

    

Interest expense

     (4,898,810     (2,362,317

Scrap sales

     689,974        432,642   

Gain on EURO currency hedge settlement

     651,439        —     

Other

     565,124        249,722   
                

Total Other Expense

     (2,992,273     (1,679,953
                

Net Income

   $ 33,420,055      $ 26,326,225   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

50


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Members’ Equity (Deficit)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

 

Balance—January 1, 2007

   $ 18,741,155   

Unit awards

     102,794   

Purchase of member units

     (1,744,700

Member distributions

     (18,354,308

Net income

     26,326,225   
        

Balance—December 31, 2007

     25,071,166   

Unit awards

     940,692   

Purchase of member units

     (19,950,000

Member distributions

     (74,229,551

Net income

     33,420,055   
        

Balance—December 31, 2008

   $ (34,747,638
        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

51


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2008     2007  

Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities

    

Net income

   $ 33,420,055      $ 26,326,225   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Depreciation and amortization

     4,828,543        3,460,889   

Compensation expense—unit awards

     940,692        102,794   

LIFO inventory reserves

     5,257,906        7,029,237   

Interest rate swap

     2,852,651        421,446   

EURO hedge fair value

     (204,587     —     

Changes in

    

Accounts receivable

     (1,449,612     (5,994,205

Inventories

     (16,168,345     (8,067,123

Accounts payable

     (3,177,047     2,807,814   

Other

     (627,482     1,317,843   
                

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     25,672,774        27,404,920   
                

Cash Used for Investing Activities

    

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (13,343,228     (9,900,658
                

Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities

    

Net borrowings on line of credit

     86,999,327        6,093,500   

Proceeds from long-term debt

     —          1,150,000   

Payments on long-term debt

     (3,541,270     (8,558,993

Loan acquisition fees

     (1,520,477     —     

Purchase of units

     (19,950,000     (1,744,700

Member distributions

     (74,229,551     (18,354,308
                

Net Cash Used for Financing Activities

     (12,241,971     (21,414,501
                

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     87,575        (3,910,239

Cash and Cash Equivalents—Beginning of year

     1,005,412        4,915,651   
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents—End of year

   $ 1,092,987      $ 1,005,412   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

52


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2008      2007  
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information   

Cash paid during the year for interest

   $ 2,184,030       $ 2,386,413   
                 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

53


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Organization and Basis of Consolidation

C/G Electrodes LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary, C/G Electrodes Export, Inc., a Delaware Limited Liability Company (collectively, the Company), whose members have limited direct liability for Company operations, is engaged primarily in the manufacture, distribution and sale of electrodes for the steel industry. The Company sells to customers throughout America, Europe, Russia, the Middle East and the Peoples Republic of China.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of C/G Electrodes LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary, C/G Electrodes Export, Inc., an Interest Charge Domestic International Sales Corporation (IC-DISC). The IC-DISC commenced business on June 6, 2008. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

B. Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

C. Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than three months as cash equivalents. Substantially all of the Company’s cash is with a financial institution located in Cleveland, Ohio.

D. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are stated at the amount management expects to collect from balances outstanding at year end. Based on management’s assessment of the credit history with customers having outstanding balances and current relationships with them, it believes that realization losses on balances outstanding at year end will be immaterial. Accordingly, no allowance for doubtful accounts is deemed necessary.

Four customers accounted for approximately 27% of sales in 2008 and 28% of sales in 2007. Five customers accounted for approximately 71% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2008 and 54% at December 31, 2007.

The Company does not believe it has significant exposure to the effects of the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency on receivables denominated in other than U.S. dollars.

E. Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The raw material component of inventory costs has been determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. The remainder of the Company’s inventory cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

 

54


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

F. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost including expenditures for additions and major improvements. Maintenance and repairs which are not considered to extend the useful lives of assets are charged to operations as incurred. The cost of assets sold or retired and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gains or losses are reflected in income from operations for the year.

For financial reporting, depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed using the straight-line method at rates calculated to amortize costs over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The ranges of estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

     Years  

Buildings

     20 - 40   

Machinery and equipment

     3 - 20   

Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The Company has determined there is no impairment at December 31, 2008.

G. Other Assets

Loan acquisition fees are capitalized and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related debt.

Non-compete and licensing agreements are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 10 years.

H. Financial Instruments

The Company accounts for its derivative activity in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 (SFAS 133), Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended, which establishes accounting and financial reporting standards for certain derivative instruments and certain hedging activities. The Company’s derivative instruments are recognized as assets or liabilities at their fair value with subsequent changes in fair value reported in net income or other comprehensive income based on the effectiveness of the hedged transaction.

The Company has not elected hedge accounting treatment for its derivative financial instruments and, therefore, changes in fair value are marked to market in the statements of income.

I. Income Taxes

As a limited liability company, the Company is treated as a partnership for income tax purposes and is not subject to income taxes. The taxable income or loss of the Company is included in the individual income tax returns of its members based upon their percentage of ownership. Consequently, no provision for income taxes is required in the accompanying financial statements.

J. Foreign Currency

The Company sells to European customers. These sales are invoiced in EUROs. Foreign currency exchange gains and losses, including the effect of the translation of year-end accounts receivable balances from EUROs to dollars, are included in net income. As a result of foreign currency fluctuations of the Company’s trade accounts

 

55


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

receivables, the Company recognized a net foreign currency translation loss in net income of approximately $152,000 in 2008 and a net foreign currency translation gain in net income of approximately $157,000 in 2007.

K. Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when title, ownership, and risk of loss pass to the customer, all of which occurs upon shipment or delivery of the product based on the applicable shipping terms. The shipping terms may vary depending on the nature of the customer, domestic or foreign, and the type of transportation used.

L. Stock-based Compensation

The Company has employee unit award plans and has accounted for the award plans in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) (SFAS 123(R)), Share-based Payment. Stock-based compensation represents the cost related to stock-based awards granted to employees. The Company measures compensation expense for its member unit awards at the grant date based on the fair value of the awards and recognizes the compensation expense over the employee’s requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period, as required by SFAS 123(R). The Company estimates the fair value of the units granted using a discounted cash flow valuation model.

M. Fair Value Measurements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Certain provisions of SFAS No. 157 were effective for the Company in 2008 and the remaining provisions are effective in 2009. The Company does not expect that the provisions of SFAS No. 157 will have a significant impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under SFAS 157 are described below:

 

   

Level 1—Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets.

 

   

Level 2—Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly.

 

   

Level 3—Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

The Company’s financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy as prescribed by SFAS No. 157 are more fully disclosed in Note 11 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

56


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

N. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an entity’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. This Interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. In addition, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.

The Interpretation was originally effective for nonpublic entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. FASB Staff Position No. FIN 48-3 permits nonpublic entities to defer the effective date of FIN 48 until fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company has elected to defer the application of FIN 48 and is evaluating the impact of the provisions of FIN 48 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosure About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures regarding an entity’s derivative and hedging activities. SFAS 161 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 161 on its consolidated financial statements.

Note 2—Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2008      2007  

Raw materials

   $ 11,337,775       $ 6,653,501   

Work in process

     24,332,132         17,639,001   

Finished goods

     6,447,813         2,123,894   

Supplies

     4,556,774         4,239,753   

Inventory valuation allowance

     —           (150,000
                 
     46,674,494         30,506,149   

Less amount to reduce certain inventories to LIFO value

     16,044,535         10,786,629   
                 

Total inventories

   $ 30,629,959       $ 19,719,520   
                 

The use of LIFO decreased net income by approximately $5,258,000 in 2008 and $7,029,000 in 2007.

Approximately 73% and 69% of the Company’s inventories at December 31, 2008 and 2007 are costed at the lower of LIFO cost or market.

 

57


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Note 3—Other Current Assets

Other current assets consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2008      2007  

Value-added tax receivable

   $ 568,020       $ 291,810   

EURO hedge fair value (Note 12)

     204,587         —     

Prepaid expenses

     318,904         214,470   

Other

     111,058         7,630   
                 
   $ 1,202,569       $ 513,910   
                 

Note 4—Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2008     2007  

Land

   $ 206,801      $ 53,030   

Buildings

     6,052,187        2,993,278   

Machinery and equipment

     36,983,002        29,600,822   

Construction in progress

     7,297,933        4,549,566   
                
     50,539,923        37,196,696   

Accumulated depreciation

     (11,335,972     (6,882,695
                

Net property, plant and equipment

   $ 39,203,951      $ 30,314,001   
                

Depreciation expense, included in cost of goods sold and operating expenses, amounted to approximately $4,453,000 for 2008 and $3,160,000 for 2007.

Note 5—Other Assets

Other assets consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2008     2007  

Loan acquisition fees

   $ 1,610,795      $ 922,036   

Non-compete agreements—Note 8

     500,000        500,000   

Licensing agreement

     39,032        39,032   

Other—nonamortizable

     41,424        41,424   
                
     2,191,251        1,502,492   

Accumulated amortization

     (273,435     (729,888
                

Net other assets

   $ 1,917,816      $ 772,604   
                

Amortization expense, included in operating expenses, amounted to approximately $375,000 for 2008 and $300,000 for 2007.

 

58


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

The approximate amortization expense for other assets subject to amortization for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2008 is as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31

   Amount  

2009

   $ 364,000   

2010

     364,000   

2011

     364,000   

2012

     364,000   

2013

     288,000   

Thereafter

     132,000   
        
   $ 1,876,000   
        

Note 6—Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2008      2007  

Accrued interest rate swap (Note 12)

   $ 3,176,978       $ 324,327   

Accrued compensation

     2,485,621         1,934,249   

Accrued utilities

     777,998         1,163,485   

Other

     818,096         1,127,391   
                 
   $ 7,258,693       $ 4,549,452   
                 

Note 7—Long-term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following at December 31:

 

     2008      2007  

Revolving line of credit

   $ 112,000,000       $ —     

Notes payable—Key Bank (see below)

     

Note payable

     —           12,345,260   

Capital expenditure loan A

     —           4,083,333   

Capital expenditure loan B

     —           3,500,000   

Mortgage note payable—Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority—due in monthly payments of $12,085, including interest at 3%, matures in November 2018, collateralized by the Company’s property

     1,233,627         1,339,906   

Capital lease obligations—due in monthly installments including interest of 6.51% through 7%, maturing through October 2009

     66,599         180,170   
                 
     113,300,226         21,448,669   

Less: Current portion

     176,110         4,646,590   
                 
   $ 113,124,116       $ 16,802,079   
                 

In September 2008, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the Agreement) with various financial institutions. The Agreement provides for a revolving line of credit (the line) with maximum borrowings of $130 million, inclusive of a swingline facility of $15 million. The line includes $1 million for standby letters of credit. Borrowings under the line bear interest at a base rate. The base rate is the greater of lender’s Prime Rate

 

59


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

(3 1/4% at December 31, 2008) or the Federal funds rate (.06% at December 31, 2008) plus  1/2%. The Company has the option to lock in a fixed rate one month LIBOR (.63 at December 31, 2008) plus a margin on a qualifying portion of the borrowings at 3-month intervals, as defined in the Agreement. At December 31, 2008, $75 million of the outstanding borrowings were locked in and bear interest at 3.88%, with the remaining outstanding borrowings of $37 million bearing interest at 5.00%.

The line expires in September 2013 and is collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets along with certain of the Company’s member units. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, C/G Electrodes Export, Inc., is a guarantor of the Agreement. In addition, the Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants which, among other things, require the Company to maintain minimum financial ratios.

The notes payable - Key Bank were paid in full in September 2008 as part of the new refinancing. Noncash activities of the refinancing included payment of approximately $13.5 million on a revolving line of credit and approximately $16.6 million on term notes.

Approximate future maturities of long-term debt are as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31

   Amount  

2009

   $ 176,000   

2010

     113,000   

2011

     116,000   

2012

     120,000   

2013

     112,123,000   

Thereafter

     652,000   
        
   $ 113,300,000   
        

Note 8—Members’ Equity

The following is the number of units outstanding at December 31:

 

     2008      2007  

Series A

     37,680         5,834   

Series B

     11,991         1,713   

Series D

     6,581         868   

In October 2008, the Company split all outstanding member units 7 for 1. During 2008, the Company repurchased 3,305 Series A management units and 195 Series D units at $5,700 per unit.

Series A Units

The Series A units have full voting rights. The units contain various restrictions as to transfers and dilution.

On October 1, 2008, the Company established an employee unit award plan. The plan authorized 175 Series A units and awarded 1 unit to 147 non-management employees. The awarded units vested immediately. The fair value of the vested units at the grant date was approximately $838,000 based on the Company’s estimated fair value determined by a discounted cash flow valuation model. The Company recorded compensation expense of approximately $747,000 in cost of sales and $91,000 in operating expenses. The plan terminates December 31, 2011. There were no outstanding rights to purchase the member units under this plan.

 

60


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Series B Units

Series B units have the same rights and privileges as Series A—management units.

Series D Units

On January 1, 2006, the Company established an employee unit award plan. The plan awarded 1,000 Series D units to 11 members of the Company’s management. The units were valued at the grant date based on the underlying discounted cash flow of the Company’s enterprise fair value. As of December 31, 2008, all units were awarded. The final forfeiture restrictions, as defined in the plan, were released in 2008 and 2007 and the Company recorded compensation expense of approximately $103,000 in 2008 and 2007 which is included in operating expenses in the statements of income.

In addition, as required by the Series D unit agreement, each employee was required to sign a non-compete agreement. The non-compete agreements were valued at $500,000 based on the Company’s estimated fair value determined by a discounted cash flow valuation model and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 10 years. The non-compete agreements are included in other assets on the balance sheet (Note 5).

The Series A and Series D unit agreements include a call option that allows the Company to acquire the units upon the employees’ termination. The agreements also contain a put option which provides the employee or the estate of the employee the option at the employee’s death, permanent disability, or the retirement of the employee after the age of 60, to require the Company to purchase all of the outstanding Series A - non-management and Series D units held by the employees. The put option provides for the purchase of the units based on the fair value of the units as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors at the date of the put notice.

The Limited Liability Agreement provides for the allocation of income and distributions to the members, including distributions for the members’ income taxes. In January 2009, the Company declared and paid a distribution of approximately $3,972,000.

Note 9—Employee Benefit Plan

The Company has a 401(k) plan. The Plan generally covers al employees meeting certain age and service requirements and provides for employee and elective contributions and company contributions. The Company’s contributions to the 401(k) plan were approximately $398,000 in 2008 and $326,000 in 2007.

Note 10—Related Party Transactions

The Company purchases a major portion of its raw materials from Seadrift Coke L.P (Seadrift). Seadrift is related through common ownership and control. Total purchases from Seadrift were approximately $37,936,000 in 2008 and $23,420,000 in 2007. There were no accounts payable to Seadrift at December 31, 2008. Accounts payable to Seadrift amounted to approximately $2,027,000 at December 31, 2007.

Note 11—Major Suppliers

The Company purchases all of its premium and super premium coke from two suppliers. The management of the Company believes that these two suppliers are adequate for the Company’s requirements. The management of the Company confirms that the loss of these suppliers would interrupt business operations. One of the suppliers is a related party (Note 10).

 

61


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Note 12—Fair Value of Financial Instruments

In management’s opinion, the carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments, primarily accounts receivable, accounts payable and bank debt, approximates fair value. The carrying values of the Company’s variable rate credit facilities approximate fair value given that the interest rates of the debt reset periodically based on market interest rates.

From time to time, the Company enters into interest rate swaps that exchange floating interest rates for fixed rates with the intent of managing its exposure to interest rate risk. At December 31, 2008, the Company had the following interest rate swaps, which fixed the interest rates in the collateralized credit agreement to the extent of the notional amounts of the swap, as noted in the table below:

 

Notional
Amount

   Swap
Rate
    Exchanged
For
     Effective
Date
   Termination
Date

$  5,000,000

     4.37     LIBOR       December 1, 2004    December 1, 2009

$  2,500,000

     4.68     LIBOR       June 1, 2006    June 1, 2011

$50,000,000

     3.54     LIBOR       October 1, 2008    October 1, 2011

$  4,375,000

     5.47     LIBOR       January 1, 2006    January 1, 2013

The Company’s interest rate swaps are measured at fair value as determined on a discounted cash flow method using the applicable inputs from the forward interest rate yield curves (Level 2 - significant other observable inputs) with the differential between the forward rate and the original stated interest rate of the swap discounted back from the settlement date of the contract to December 31, 2008. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is a liability. The mark to market of the fair values of the interest rate swaps resulted in unrealized losses of approximately $2,529,000 for 2008 and $421,000 for 2007 and are included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income and as an adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

In January 2009, the Company entered into an additional interest rate swap as follows:

 

Notional
Amount

   Swap
Rate
    Exchanged
For
     Effective
Date
   Termination
Date

$40,000,000

     1.98     LIBOR       February 1, 2009    February 1, 2012

The Company has EURO currency hedge contracts that exchange floating currency rates for fixed rates with the intent of managing its exposure to EURO exchange rate risk. At December 31, 2008, the Company had the following EURO currency hedge contracts:

 

Face
 Amount 

   Contract
Rate
     Mark
Price
     Effective
Date
   Termination
Date

$2,953,309

     1.392         1.432       December 18, 2008    April 30, 2009

$2,316,955

     1.392         1.433       December 18, 2008    March 31, 2009

$   624,830

     1.392         1.433       December 18, 2008    February 27, 2009

$1,268,992

     1.392         1.434       December 18, 2008    January 30, 2009

The Company’s EURO currency hedge contracts are measured at fair value as determined by quoted market prices. The valuation of the Company’s EURO currency hedge contracts are based on quoted prices of the forward exchange rates for foreign currency contracts in effect at the time the contracts are valued (Level 1 input - quoted price in an active market). The fair value of the EURO currency hedges were approximately $205,000 at December 31, 2008 (Note 3) and is included in other income in the consolidated statement of income

 

62


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

and as an adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows. The fair value of the hedges was not material to the financial statements at December 31, 2007.

Note 13—Contingency and Commitment

The Company is, from time to time, involved in lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, resolution of these lawsuits will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

63


Independent Auditors’ Report

To the Members

C/G Electrodes LLC

St. Marys, Pennsylvania

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of C/G Electrodes LLC (a Limited Liability Company) and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income, members’ deficit and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of C/G Electrodes LLC and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Alpern Rosenthal

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

March 2, 2010, except for Note 14, as to

    which the date is May 21, 2010

 

64


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

December 31

   2009     2008  

ASSETS

    

Current Assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 175,030      $ 1,092,987   

Accounts receivable—trade

     9,281,658        15,147,689   

Notes receivable—trade

     1,152,480        —     

Inventories—Note 2

     20,574,193        30,629,959   

Other current assets

     232,787        1,202,569   
                

Total Current Assets

     31,416,148        48,073,204   

Property, Plant and Equipment—Net of accumulated depreciation—Note 3

     37,776,624        39,203,951   

Other Assets—Note 4

     1,863,201        1,917,816   
                

Total Assets

   $ 71,055,973      $ 89,194,971   
                

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ DEFICIT

    

Current Liabilities

    

Current portion of long-term debt—Note 6

   $ 112,842      $ 176,110   

Accounts payable (includes related party accounts payable of $3,686,063 in 2009)—Note 9

     4,996,491        3,383,690   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities—Note 5

     6,066,850        7,258,693   
                

Total Current Liabilities

     11,176,183        10,818,493   

Long-term Debt—Net of current portion—Note 6

     86,393,284        113,124,116   
                

Total Liabilities

     97,569,467        123,942,609   

Members’ Deficit—Note 7

     (26,513,494     (34,747,638
                

Total Liabilities and Members’ Deficit

   $ 71,055,973      $ 89,194,971   
                

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

65


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2009     2008  

Net Sales

   $ 76,420,082      $ 142,782,801   

Cost of Sales (Includes related party cost of sales of $7,003,489 in 2009 and $37,936,198 in 2008)—Note 9

     47,859,564        97,665,641   
                

Gross Profit

     28,560,518        45,117,160   

Operating Expenses

     5,830,515        8,704,832   
                

Income From Operations

     22,730,003        36,412,328   
                

Other Income (Expense)

    

Interest expense

     (5,989,605     (4,898,810

Scrap sales

     13,825        689,974   

Gain on EURO currency hedge settlement

     —          651,439   

Other

     517,241        565,124   
                

Total Other Expense

     (5,458,539     (2,992,273
                

Net Income

   $ 17,271,464      $ 33,420,055   
                

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

66


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Members’ Deficit

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

Balance—January 1, 2008

   $ 25,071,166   

Unit awards

     940,692   

Purchase of member units

     (19,950,000

Member distributions

     (74,229,551

Net income

     33,420,055   
        

Balance—December 31, 2008

     (34,747,638

Unit awards

     5,400   

Purchase of member units

     (5,600

Member distributions

     (9,037,120

Net income

     17,271,464   
        

Balance—December 31, 2009

   $ (26,513,494
        

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

67


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended December 31

   2009     2008  

Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities

    

Net income

   $ 17,271,464      $ 33,420,055   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Depreciation and amortization

     5,412,779        4,828,543   

Compensation expense—unit awards

     5,400        940,692   

LIFO inventory reserves

     (428,035     5,257,906   

Interest rate swap

     (275,540     2,852,651   

EURO hedge fair value

     204,587        (204,587

Changes in

    

Accounts and notes receivable

     4,713,551        (1,449,612

Inventories

     10,483,801        (16,168,345

Accounts payable

     1,612,801        (3,177,047

Other

     (151,108     (627,482
                

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     38,849,700        25,672,774   
                

Cash Used for Investing Activities

    

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (3,572,256     (13,343,228
                

Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities

    

Line of credit—net

     (26,617,990     86,999,327   

Payments on long-term debt

     (176,110     (3,541,270

Loan acquisition fees

     (358,581     (1,520,477

Purchase of units

     (5,600     (19,950,000

Member distributions

     (9,037,120     (74,229,551
                

Net Cash Used for Financing Activities

     (36,195,401     (12,241,971
                

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (917,957     87,575   

Cash and Cash Equivalents—Beginning of year

     1,092,987        1,005,412   
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents—End of year

   $ 175,030      $ 1,092,987   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

68


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)

 

 

For the Years Ended December 31

   2009      2008  
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information   

Cash paid during the year for interest

   $ 4,873,607       $ 2,184,030   
                 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

69


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Organization and Basis of Consolidation

C/G Electrodes LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary, C/G Electrodes Export, Inc., a Delaware Limited Liability Company (collectively, the Company), whose members have limited direct liability for Company operations, is engaged primarily in the manufacture, distribution and sale of graphite electrodes for the steel industry. The Company sells to customers throughout America, Europe, Russia, the Middle East and the Peoples Republic of China.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of C/G Electrodes LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary, C/G Electrodes Export, Inc., an Interest Charge Domestic International Sales Corporation (IC-DISC). All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

B. Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

C. Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than three months as cash equivalents. Substantially all of the Company’s cash is with a financial institution located in Cleveland, Ohio.

D. Accounts and Note Receivable

Accounts receivable are stated at the amount management expects to collect from balances outstanding at year end. Based on management’s assessment of the credit history with the Company’s customers it believes that realization losses on balances outstanding at year end will not be material. Accordingly, no allowance for doubtful accounts is deemed necessary.

Five customers accounted for approximately 52% of sales in 2009 and four customers accounted for approximately 27% of sales in 2008. Five customers accounted for approximately 45% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2009 and 71% at December 31, 2008.

Included in accounts receivable at December 31, 2009 is a note receivable due from a customer totaling approximately $1,152,000. The note bears interest at 12% with payments to be received monthly through December 31, 2010.

E. Revenue Recognition

Sales and related costs of sales are generally recorded when goods are shipped and title, ownership and risk of loss have passed to the customer, all of which occurs upon shipment or delivery of the product based on applicable shipping terms. The shipping terms may vary depending on the nature of the customer, domestic or foreign, and the type of transportation used. Shipping and handling costs are recognized as a component of cost of sales.

 

70


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

F. Taxes on Revenue Producing Transactions

Taxes assessed by governmental authorities on revenue producing transactions, including sales, value added, excise and use taxes, are recorded on a net basis (excluded from revenue) in the income statement.

G. Inventories

The Company’s inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The raw material component of inventory costs has been determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. The remainder of the Company’s inventory costs are determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

H. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost including expenditures for additions and major improvements. Maintenance and repairs which are not considered to extend the useful lives of assets are charged to operations as incurred. The cost of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gains or losses are reflected in income from operations for the year.

For financial reporting, depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed using the straight-line method at rates calculated to amortize costs over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The ranges of estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

     Years  

Buildings

     20 - 40   

Machinery and equipment

     5 - 15   

Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable.

I. Other Assets

Loan acquisition fees are capitalized and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related debt.

Non-compete and licensing agreements are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 10 years.

J. Derivative Financial Instruments

During 2009, the Company adopted new accounting standards which require additional disclosures about the Company’s objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments, how the derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for, and how the derivative instruments and related hedged items affect the consolidated financial statements.

The Company accounts for its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities and carries them at fair value. Derivatives that are not defined as hedges are adjusted to fair value through earnings. For derivative instruments that hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity and reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in current

 

71


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

earnings. To receive hedge accounting treatment, cash flow hedges must be highly effective in offsetting changes to expected future cash flows on hedged transactions. The Company has determined that its interest rate swaps do not qualify for hedge accounting.

K. Income Taxes

As a limited liability company, the Company is treated as a partnership for income tax purposes and is not subject to income taxes. The taxable income or loss of the Company is included in the individual income tax returns of its members based upon their percentage of ownership. The IC-DISC is not subject to Federal or state income taxes. Consequently, no provision for income taxes is required in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

The Company adopted the accounting standard for uncertain tax positions as of January 1, 2009. The standard requires a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance with the asset and liability method. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining whether evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that a position will be sustained if examined by a taxing authority. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is 50% likely of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority. The adoption of this accounting standard did not have an effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

L. Foreign Currency

The Company sells to European customers. These sales are invoiced in EUROs. Foreign currency exchange gains and losses, including the effect of the translation of the year-end accounts receivable balances from EUROs to U.S. dollars, are included in net income. As a result of foreign currency fluctuations of the Company’s trade accounts receivable, the Company recognized a net foreign currency translation loss in net income of approximately $36,000 in 2009 and $152,000 in 2008.

The Company does not believe it has significant exposure to the effects of the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency on receivables denominated in other than U.S. dollars.

M. Stock-based Compensation

The Company has employee unit award plans. The Company measures compensation expense for its member unit awards at the grant date based on the fair value of the awards and recognizes the compensation expense over the employee’s requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The Company estimates the fair value of the units granted using a discounted cash flow valuation model.

N. Fair Value Measurements

The Company applies fair value accounting for all financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, which are required to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would transact and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions and credit risk.

 

72


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

The Company applies the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement:

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2—Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3—Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

O. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On September 15, 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) became the single source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The Codification changed the referencing of financial standards but did not change or alter existing generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The Codification became effective for the Company at that date.

P. Subsequent Events

Management evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements through May 21, 2010, the day the consolidated financial statements were approved and authorized for issue.

Note 2—Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2009      2008  

Raw materials

   $ 7,808,250       $ 11,337,775   

Work in process

     20,955,393         24,332,132   

Finished goods

     2,750,089         6,447,813   

Supplies

     4,676,961         4,556,774   
                 
     36,190,693         46,674,494   

Less amount to reduce certain inventories to LIFO value

     15,616,500         16,044,535   
                 

Total inventories

   $ 20,574,193       $ 30,629,959   
                 

The use of LIFO increased net income by approximately $428,000 in 2009 and decreased net income by approximately $5,258,000 in 2008.

Approximately 65% and 73% of the Company’s inventories at December 31, 2009 and 2008 are costed at the lower of LIFO cost or market.

 

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C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Note 3—Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:

 

     2009     2008  

Land

   $ 206,801      $ 206,801   

Buildings

     7,344,600        6,052,187   

Machinery and equipment

     40,042,257        36,983,002   

Construction in progress

     6,518,521        7,297,933   
                
     54,112,179        50,539,923   

Accumulated depreciation

     (16,335,555     (11,335,972
                

Net property, plant and equipment

   $ 37,776,624      $ 39,203,951   
                

Depreciation expense, included in cost of goods sold and operating expenses, amounted to approximately $5,000,000 for 2009 and $4,453,000 for 2008.

Note 4—Other Assets

Other assets consisted of the following at December 31:

 

      2009     2008  

Loan acquisition fees

   $ 1,969,377      $ 1,610,795   

Non-compete agreements

     500,000        500,000   

Licensing agreement

     39,032        39,032   

Other—nonamortizable

     41,424        41,424   
                
     2,549,833        2,191,251   

Accumulated amortization

     (686,632     (273,435
                

Net other assets

   $ 1,863,201      $ 1,917,816   
                

Amortization expense, included in operating expenses, amounted to approximately $413,000 for 2009 and $375,000 for 2008.

The approximate amortization expense for other assets subject to amortization for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2009 is as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31

   Amount  

2010

   $ 448,000   

2011

     448,000   

2012

     448,000   

2013

     346,000   

2014

     59,000   

Thereafter

     73,000   
        
   $ 1,822,000   
        

 

74


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Note 5—Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following at December 31:

 

      2009      2008  

Interest rate swap

   $ 2,901,438       $ 3,176,978   

Accrued interest

     1,102,303         —     

Accrued compensation

     745,610         2,485,621   

Accrued utilities

     581,695         777,998   

Other accrued expenses

     735,804         818,096   
                 
   $ 6,066,850       $ 7,258,693   
                 

Note 6—Long-term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following at December 31:

 

      2009      2008  

Revolving line of credit

   $ 85,382,010       $ 112,000,000   

Mortgage note payable—Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority—due in monthly payments of $12,085, including interest at 3%, matures in November 2018, collateralized by the Company’s property

     1,124,116         1,233,627   

Capital lease obligations—paid in full in 2009

     —           66,599   
                 
     86,506,126         113,300,226   

Less: Current portion

     112,842         176,110   
                 
   $ 86,393,284       $ 113,124,116   
                 

The Company has a credit agreement (the Agreement) with various financial institutions. The Agreement provides for a revolving line of credit (the line) with maximum borrowings of $100 million, and includes a swingline facility of $10 million and $1 million for standby letters of credit.

Borrowings under the line bear interest at a base rate. The base rate is the greater of lender’s Prime Rate (3 1/4% at December 31, 2009) plus a margin or the Federal funds rate (.05% at December 31, 2009) plus  1/2%. The Company has the option to lock in a fixed rate three-month LIBOR (.31% at December 31, 2009) plus a margin on a qualifying portion of the borrowings, as defined in the Agreement. At December 31, 2009, $75 million of the outstanding borrowings were locked in and bear interest at 4.31%, with the remaining outstanding borrowings bearing interest at 6 1/4%.

The line expires in September 2012 and is collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets along with certain of the Company’s member units. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, C/G Electrodes Export, Inc., is a guarantor of the Agreement. In addition, the Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants which, among other things, require the Company to maintain minimum financial ratios.

 

75


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Approximate future maturities of long-term debt are as follows:

 

Year Ending December 31

   Amount  

2010

   $ 113,000   

2011

     116,000   

2012

     85,502,000   

2013

     123,000   

2014

     127,000   

Thereafter

     525,000   
        
   $ 86,506,000   
        

Note 7—Members’ Deficit

The Company’s amended and restated limited liability agreement provides for the allocation of income and distributions to the members, including distributions for the members’ income taxes. In January 2010, the Company declared and paid a distribution of approximately $934,000.

Series A Units

On October 1, 2008, the Company established the Series A employee unit award plan. The plan authorized 175 Series A units to be issued to non-management employees. The awarded units vested immediately. The units were valued at the grant date based on the underlying discounted cash flow of the Company’s enterprise fair value. The plan terminates December 31, 2011. There were no outstanding rights to purchase the member units under this plan.

The Series A units have full voting rights. The units contain various restrictions as to transfers and dilution.

Series B Units

Series B units have the same rights and privileges as Series A.

Series D Units

The Company has a Series D employee unit award plan. The units were valued at the grant date based on the underlying discounted cash flow of the Company’s enterprise fair value. As of December 31, 2009, all units were awarded. The final forfeiture restrictions, as defined in the plan, were released in 2008 and the Company recorded compensation expense of approximately $103,000 which is included in operating expenses in the statements of income.

In addition, as required by the Series D unit agreement, each employee was required to sign a non-compete agreement. The non-compete agreements were valued at $500,000 based on the Company’s estimated fair value determined by a discounted cash flow valuation model and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 10 years. The non-compete agreements are included in other assets on the balance sheet.

The Series A and Series D unit agreements include a call option that allows the Company to acquire the units upon the employees’ termination. The agreements also contain a put option which provides the employee or the estate of the employee the option at the employee’s death, permanent disability, or the retirement of the

 

76


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

employee after the age of 60, to require the Company to purchase all of the outstanding Series A—non-management and Series D units held by the employees. The put option provides for the purchase of the units based on the fair value of the units as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors at the date of the put notice.

In August 2009, the Company entered into agreements to purchase 1,190 of Series D units from four former members. Payments for the units will be made starting June 30, 2010 for five consecutive years.

Note 8—Retirement Plan

The Company has a 401(k) plan. The plan generally covers all employees meeting certain age and service requirements and provides for employee elective contributions and Company contributions. The Company’s contributions to the 401(k) plan were approximately $265,000 in 2009 and $398,000 in 2008.

Note 9—Related Party Transactions

The Company purchases a major portion of its raw materials from Seadrift Coke L.P (Seadrift). Seadrift is related through common ownership and control. Total purchases from Seadrift were approximately $7,003,000 in 2009 and $37,936,000 in 2008. Accounts payable to Seadrift amounted to approximately $3,686,000 at December 31, 2009. There were no accounts payable to Seadrift at December 31, 2008.

Note 10—Major Suppliers

The Company purchases all of its premium and super premium coke from two suppliers. Management of the Company believes these two suppliers are adequate for the Company’s production requirements; however, the loss of either supplier would interrupt business operations in the short term. One of the suppliers is Seadrift.

Note 11—Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company holds derivative financial instruments for the purpose of managing risks related to the variability of future earnings and cash flows caused by changes in interest rates. The Company enters into interest rate swap agreements to manage interest rate risk associated with the Company’s variable-rate borrowings. The Company’s interest rate swap agreements involve agreements to pay a fixed rate and receive a variable rate, at specified intervals, calculated on an agreed-upon notional amount. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, all derivative instruments are designated as hedges of underlying exposures. The Company does not use any of these instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

At December 31, 2009, the Company had the following interest rate swaps, which fixed the interest rates in the collateralized credit agreement to the extent of the notional amounts of the swap, as noted in the table below:

 

Notional
Amount

   Swap Rate     Exchanged For      Effective Date    Termination Date

$  1,500,000

     4.68     LIBOR       June 1, 2006    June 1, 2011

$  3,303,572

     5.47     LIBOR       January 1, 2006    January 1, 2013

$50,000,000

     3.54     LIBOR       October 1, 2008    October 1, 2011

$40,000,000

     2.19     LIBOR       January 1, 2009    February 1, 2012

The fair value of the swap liability included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities amounted to approximately $2,901,000 as of December 31, 2009 and $3,177,000 as of December 31, 2008. This resulted in a

 

77


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

gain of approximately $276,000 in 2009 and a loss of approximately $3,177,000 in 2008 which is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income and as an adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Note 12—Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the interest rate swap contracts is determined on a recurring basis by using a discounted cash flow method using the applicable inputs from the forward interest rate yield curves with the differential between the forward rate and the original stated interest rate of the swap discounted back from the settlement date of the contract to December 31, 2009 within the fair value hierarchy (Level 2 - significant other observable inputs).

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and note receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of those instruments.

The fair value of the Company’s debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities. The carrying value of debt approximates fair value.

Note 13—Contingency and Commitment

The Company is, from time to time, involved in lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, resolution of these lawsuits will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Note 14—Subsequent Event

On April 28, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger with GrafTech International, Ltd. and certain of its subsidiaries (GTI) to sell all of the Members’ interests of the Company. GTI also entered into a similar agreement to purchase Seadrift.

Members of the Company will receive $152.5 million in cash less debt (subject to working capital adjustments), 12 million new GTI Shares and non-interest bearing, senior subordinated promissory notes of $100 million. The acquisition by GTI is also subject to the consummation of the Seadrift acquisition and certain anti-trust regulatory provisions which are currently pending. The financial statements have not been adjusted to reflect this transition.

 

78


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     September 30,
2010
(Unaudited)
    December 31,
2009

(Derived  From
Audited
Statements)
 

ASSETS

    

Current Assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 773,968      $ 175,030   

Accounts receivable—trade

     12,032,785        9,281,658   

Note receivable—trade

     235,136        1,152,480   

Inventories

     19,687,191        20,574,193   

Other current assets

     288,074        232,787   
                

Total Current Assets

     33,017,154        31,416,148   

Property, Plant and Equipment—Net of accumulated depreciation of $20,029,576 in 2010 and $16,335,555 in 2009

     36,421,709        37,776,624   

Other Assets

     1,526,910        1,863,201   
                

Total Assets

   $ 70,965,773      $ 71,055,973   
                

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' DEFICIT

    

Current Liabilities

    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 115,406      $ 112,842   

Accounts payable (includes related party accounts payable of $831,468 in 2010 and $3,686,063 in 2009)

     5,372,159        4,996,491   

Interest rate swap liabilities

     2,681,386        2,901,438   

Accrued payroll

     1,414,467        845,265   

Accrued utilities

     1,078,604        581,695   

Accrued interest

     712,138        1,102,303   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     373,489        636,149   
                

Total Current Liabilities

     11,747,649        11,176,183   

Long-term Debt—Net of current portion

     75,978,675        86,393,284   
                

Total Liabilities

     87,726,324        97,569,467   

Members' Deficit

     (16,760,551     (26,513,494
                

Total Liabilities and Members' Deficit

   $ 70,965,773      $ 71,055,973   
                

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

79


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30

   2010
(Unaudited)
    2009
(Unaudited)
 

Net Sales

   $ 95,115,556      $ 59,107,310   

Cost of Sales (Includes related party cost of sales of $24,187,036 in 2010 and none in 2009)

     66,924,411        35,835,589   
                

Gross Profit

     28,191,145        23,271,721   

Operating Expenses

     6,673,078        4,230,972   
                

Income From Operations

     21,518,067        19,040,749   
                

Other Income (Expense)

    

Interest expense

     (4,223,694     (4,763,604

Other income

     658,171        586,691   
                

Total Other Expense

     (3,565,523     (4,176,913
                

Net Income

   $ 17,952,544      $ 14,863,836   
                

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

80


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30

   2010
(Unaudited)
    2009
(Unaudited)
 

Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities

    

Net income

   $ 17,952,544      $ 14,863,836   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Depreciation and amortization

     4,030,312        4,040,813   

LIFO inventory reserves

     (285,510     (428,035

Interest rate swap

     (220,052     (84,784

EURO hedge fair value

     —          204,587   

Changes in

    

Accounts and note receivable

     (1,833,783     8,225,147   

Inventories

     1,172,512        13,532,702   

Accounts payable

     375,668        (2,711,068

Accrued expense and other current liabilities

     413,286        (749,293

Other

     (55,287     826,746   
                

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     21,549,690        37,720,651   
                

Cash Used for Investing Activities

    

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (2,339,106     (3,400,413
                

Cash Used for Financing Activities

    

Line of credit—net

     (10,327,732     (25,728,256

Payments on long-term debt

     (84,313     (139,470

Loan acquisition fees

     —          (358,582

Purchase of units

     (1,800     (3,600

Member distributions

     (8,197,801     (9,034,310
                

Net Cash Used for Financing Activities

     (18,611,646     (35,264,218
                

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     598,938        (943,980

Cash and Cash Equivalents—Beginning of period

     175,030        1,092,987   
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents—End of period

   $ 773,968      $ 149,007   
                

 

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

 

  

Cash paid during the period for interest

   $ 4,223,694      $ 4,763,604   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

81


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Interim Financial Presentation

These interim consolidated financial statements of C/G Electrodes LLC and Subsidiary (the Company) are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, they have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted or condensed. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements, including the accompanying notes, for the year ended December 31, 2009.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (all of which are of a normal, recurring nature) which management considers necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results which may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year.

B. Foreign Currency

The Company sells to European customers. These sales are invoiced in EUROs. Foreign currency exchange gains and losses, including the effect of the translation of the September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 year-end accounts receivable balances from EUROs to U.S. dollars, are included in net income as a component of sales. As a result of foreign currency fluctuations on the Company’s trade accounts receivable, the Company recognized a net foreign currency translation loss in net income of approximately $221,000 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 and a net foreign currency translation gain in net income of approximately $6,000 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009.

The Company does not believe it has significant exposure to the effects of the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency on receivables denominated in other than U.S. dollars.

C. Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the December 31, 2009 financial statements to conform with the September 30, 2010 presentation.

Note 2—Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following at:

 

     September 30,
2010
     December 31,
2009
 

Raw materials

   $ 5,995,111       $ 7,808,250   

Work-in-process

     21,727,589         20,955,393   

Finished goods

     2,531,249         2,750,089   

Supplies

     4,764,232         4,676,961   
                 
     35,018,181         36,190,693   

Less: Amount to reduce certain inventories to LIFO value

     15,330,990         15,616,500   
                 

Total inventories

   $ 19,687,191       $ 20,574,193   
                 

 

82


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Cost of sales was decreased by approximately $286,000 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 and $428,000 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 as a result of LIFO liquidations.

Interim LIFO liquidations expected to be replaced at year end have been reflected in the cost of sales as the difference between the LIFO cost and replacement cost for the periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.

Note 3—Long-term Debt

Long-term debt at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 primarily consists of a line of credit. Borrowings under the line bear interest at a base rate. The base rate is the greater of lender’s Prime Rate (3 1/4% at September 30, 2010) plus a margin or the Federal funds rate (.09% at September 30, 2010) plus  1/2%. The Company has the option to lock in a fixed rate at LIBOR rate plus a margin (4.0% at September 30, 2010) on a qualifying portion of the borrowings, as defined in the agreement. At September 30, 2010, the Company has the following outstanding borrowings interest rate locked:

 

Outstanding
Borrowings

   LIBOR     Rate Locked
Through

$70,000,000

     .31   October 6, 2010

The remaining outstanding borrowings on the line bear interest at 6 1/4%.

Note 4—Members’ Deficit

The Company has declared and paid distributions of approximately $8,198,000 during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010.

Note 5—Related Party Transactions

The Company purchases a major portion of its raw materials from Seadrift Coke, L.P. (Seadrift). Seadrift is related through common ownership and control. Total purchases from Seadrift were approximately $24,187,000 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010. There were no purchases for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009. Accounts payable to Seadrift amounted to approximately $831,000 at September 30, 2010 and $3,686,000 at December 31, 2009.

Note 6—Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company holds derivative financial instruments for the purpose of managing risks related to the variability of future earnings and cash flows caused by changes in interest rates. The Company enters into interest rate swap agreements to manage interest rate risk associated with the Company’s variable-rate borrowings. The Company’s interest rate swap agreements involve agreements to pay a fixed rate and receive a variable rate, at specified intervals, calculated on an agreed-upon notional amount. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, all derivative instruments are designated as hedges of underlying exposures. The Company does not use any of these instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

 

83


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

At September 30, 2010, the Company had the following interest rate swaps, which fixed the interest rates in the collateralized credit agreement to the extent of the notional amounts of the swap, as noted in the table below:

 

Notional
Amount

   Swap
Rate
    Exchanged
For
     Effective
Date
   Termination
Date

$  1,000,000

     4.68     LIBOR       June 1, 2006    June 1, 2011

$  2,500,000

     5.47     LIBOR       January 1, 2006    January 1, 2013

$50,000,000

     3.54     LIBOR       October 1, 2008    October 1, 2011

$40,000,000

     2.19     LIBOR       January 1, 2009    February 1, 2012

The fair value of the swap liability included in interest rate swap liabilities amounted to approximately $2,681,000 as of September 30, 2010 and $2,901,000 as of December 31, 2009. The fair value adjustments for the interest rate swaps resulted in gains of approximately $220,000 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 and losses of approximately $85,000 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009. These adjustments offset interest expense in the consolidated statements of income and as an adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Note 7—Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the interest rate swap contracts is determined on a recurring basis by using a discounted cash flow method using the applicable inputs from the forward interest rate yield curves with the differential between the forward rate and the original stated interest rate of the swap discounted back from the settlement date of the contract to September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 within the fair value hierarchy (Level 2 - significant other observable inputs).

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, note receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of those instruments.

The fair value of the Company’s debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities. The carrying value of debt approximates fair value.

Note 8—Contingency and Commitment

The Company is, from time to time, involved in lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, resolution of these lawsuits will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Note 9—Potential Sale

On April 28, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger with GrafTech International, Ltd. and certain of its subsidiaries (GTI) to sell all of the members’ interests of the Company. GTI also entered into a similar agreement to purchase Seadrift Coke, L.P.

Members of the Company will receive $152.5 million in cash less debt (subject to working capital adjustments), 12 million new GTI shares and non-interest bearing, senior subordinated promissory notes of $100 million. The acquisition by GTI is also subject to the consummation of the Seadrift Coke, L.P. acquisition and certain anti-trust regulatory provisions which are currently pending. The consolidated financial statements have not been adjusted to reflect this transition.

 

84


C/G ELECTRODES LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

 

Acquisition costs are accounted for as expense in the periods in which the costs are incurred. Total legal, accounting, regulatory and other professional costs incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were approximately $1,583,000 and are included in operating expense in the consolidated statements of income. Approximately $1,258,000 of these costs are included in accounts payable in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010.

 

85


GRAFTECH, SEADRIFT AND C/G UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet combines the historical consolidated balance sheets of GrafTech, Seadrift, and C/G as if the merger took place on September 30, 2010.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2009 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 combine the historical consolidated statements of operations for GrafTech, Seadrift and C/G as if the merger took place on January 1, 2009.

The historical consolidated financial information has been adjusted in the unaudited condensed combined financial statements to give effect to pro forma events that are (1) directly attributable to the merger; (2) factually supportable; and (3) with respect to the statements of operations, expected to have a continuing impact on the combined company’s results. The pro forma adjustments are described in the accompanying footnotes.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was based on and should be read in conjunction with the following historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of GrafTech, Seadrift, and C/G for the applicable periods, which are included in this document:

 

   

Separate unaudited financial statements of GrafTech as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010;

 

   

Separate historical financial statements of GrafTech as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009;

 

   

Separate unaudited financial statements of Seadrift as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010;

 

   

Separate historical financial statements of Seadrift as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009;

 

   

Separate unaudited financial statements of C/G as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010; and

 

   

Separate historical financial statements of C/G as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for information purposes only and is not intended to represent or be indicative of the combined results of operations or financial position that we would have reported had the acquisitions been completed as of the date and for the periods presented, and should not be taken as representative of our consolidated results of operations or financial condition following completion of the acquisitions. In addition, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is not intended to project the future financial position or

 

86


results of operations of the combined company. Transactions between Seadrift and either GrafTech or C/G during the periods presented have been eliminated in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. There were no material transactions between GrafTech and C/G during the periods presented that are required to be eliminated. In the future, to the extent the combined company uses Seadrift coke to manufacture any products, Seadrift’s profit will not be recognized until the coke is used to produce a finished product and the associated finished product is delivered to our end customer. Given the manufacturing process time for graphite electrodes, for example, this could result in Seadrift’s profits being delayed 3 to 6 months versus Seadrift product sales to third parties.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was prepared using the acquisition method of accounting under existing U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). GrafTech has been treated as the acquirer. The acquisition accounting is dependent upon certain valuations and other studies that have yet to commence or progress to a stage where there is sufficient information for a definitive measurement. Accordingly, the pro forma adjustments are preliminary and have been made solely for the purpose of providing unaudited condensed combined financial information. Differences between these preliminary management estimates (for example estimates as to value of acquired property and equipment and intangibles) and the final acquisition accounting will occur and these differences could have a material impact on the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and the combined company’s future results of operations and financial position.

The unaudited pro forma combined financial information does not reflect any cost savings, operational synergies or revenue enhancements that the combined company may achieve as a result of the merger or the costs to combine the operations or the costs necessary to achieve cost savings, operating synergies and revenue enhancements.

 

87


GrafTech International Ltd., Seadrift Coke L.P. and C/G Electrodes LLC

Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Combined Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

    GrafTech     Seadrift     CG     Pro Forma
Adjustments
    Pro Forma
Combined
 
    (dollars in thousands, except per share information)  

Net sales

  $ 659,044      $ 74,309      $ 76,420      $ (7,003 )(a)    $ 802,770   

Cost of sales

    467,939        55,632        47,860        13,783 (b)      585,214   
                                       

Gross profit

    191,105        18,677        28,560        (20,786     217,556   

Research and development

    10,168        0        0        0        10,168   

Selling and administrative expenses

    82,325        7,045        5,831        (439 )(c)      94,762   
                                       

Operating income

    98,612        11,632        22,729        (20,347     112,626   

Equity in losses of non-consolidated affiliates

    55,488            (55,488 )(d)      0   

Other (income), net

    1,868        11,038        (531     878 (e)      13,253   

Interest expense

    5,609        1,956        5,990        7,802 (f)      21,357   

Interest income

    (1,047     0        0        0        (1,047
                                       

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

    36,694        (1,362     17,270        26,461        79,063   

Provision for income taxes

    24,144        0        0        (26,035 )(g)      (1,891
                                       

Net income (loss)

  $ 12,550      $ (1,362   $ 17,270      $ 52,496      $ 80,954   
                                       

Basic income per common share:

         

Net income per share

  $ 0.10            $ 0.56   

Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands)

    119,707            24,000 (h)      143,707   

Diluted income per common share:

         

Net income per share

  $ 0.10            $ 0.56   

Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands)

    120,733            24,000 (h)      144,733   

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements which are an integral part of these statements. The pro forma adjustments are explained in Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2009 and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010.

 

88


GrafTech International Ltd., Seadrift Coke L.P. and C/G Electrodes LLC

Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Combined Statement of Operations

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

    GrafTech     Seadrift      CG     Pro Forma
Adjustments
    Pro Forma
Combined
 
    (dollars in thousands, except per share information)  

Net sales

  $ 725,754      $ 118,958       $ 95,116      $ (26,676 )(a)    $ 913,152   

Cost of sales

    507,892        80,750         66,924        (19,100 )(b)      636,466   
                                        

Gross profit

    217,862        38,208         28,192        (7,576     276,686   

Research and development

    9,261        0         0        0        9,261   

Selling and administrative expenses

    85,412        8,110         6,673        (15,457 )(c)      84,738   
                                        

Operating income

    123,189        30,098         21,519        7,881        182,687   

Equity in (earnings) of non-consolidated affiliates

    (2,326     0         0        2,326 (d)      0   

Other (income), net

    (1,744     433         (658     0        (1,969

Interest expense

    3,063        700         4,224        6,809 (f)      14,796   

Interest income

    (1,228     0         0        0        (1,228
                                        

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

    125,424        28,965         17,953        (1,254     171,088   

Provision for income taxes

    27,962        0         0        15,520 (g)      43,482   
                                        

Net income (loss)

  $ 97,462      $ 28,965       $ 17,953      $ (16,774   $ 127,606   
                                        

Basic income per common share:

          

Net income per share

  $ 0.81             $ 0.88   

Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands)

    120,484             24,000 (h)      144,484   

Diluted income per common share:

          

Net income per share

  $ 0.80             $ 0.88   

Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands)

    121,242             24,000 (h)      145,242   

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements which are an integral part of these statements. The pro forma adjustments are explained in Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2009 and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010.

 

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GrafTech International Ltd., Seadrift Coke L.P. and C/G Electrodes LLC

Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Combined Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2010

 

    GrafTech     Seadrift     C/G     Pro Forma
Adjustments
    Pro Forma
Combined
 
    (dollars in thousands)  

Assets

         

Current assets

         

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 66,503      $ 5,408      $ 774      $ (66,000 )(A)    $ 6,685   

Accounts and notes receivable

    158,687        22,252        12,268        (831 )(B)      192,376   

Inventories, net

    283,337        22,599        19,687        25,529 (C)      351,152   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    13,371        417        288        4,067 (D)      18,143   
                                       

Total current assets

    521,898        50,676        33,017        (37,235     568,356   

Property, plant and equipment, net

    392,899        72,547        36,422        237,505 (E)      739,373   

Deferred income taxes

    11,125        0        0        (7,023 )(F)      4,102   

Goodwill

    9,524        0        0        393,351 (G)      402,875   

Other assets

    11,998        136        1,527        176,007 (H)      189,668   

Investment in nonconsolidated affiliate

    65,641        0        0        (65,641 )(I)      0   

Restricted cash

    1,161        0        0        0        1,161   
                                       

Total assets

  $ 1,014,246      $ 123,359      $ 70,966      $ 696,964      $ 1,905,535   
                                       

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

         

Current liabilities

         

Accounts payable

  $ 41,941      $ 1,189      $ 5,372      $ (831 )(B)    $ 47,671   

Short-term debt

    9        41        115          165   

Accrued income and other taxes

    34,484        1,092        0        9,589 (J)      45,165   

Supply chain financing liability

    25,460        0        0        0        25,460   

Other current liabilities

    0        0        0        20,000 (A)      20,000   

Other accrued liabilities

    92,965        8,725        6,260        (2,681 )(K)      105,269   
                                       

Total current liabilities

    194,859        11,047        11,747        26,077        243,730   

Long-term debt

    1,383        141        75,979        232,109 (L)      309,612   

Other long-term obligations

    104,492        1,104        0        0        105,596   

Deferred income taxes

    29,097        0        0        51,440 (M)      80,537   

Contingencies

    0        800        0        0        800   

Stockholders’ equity

         

Preferred stock

    0        0        0        0        0   

Common stock/capital

    1,247        9,781        7,913        (17,454 )(N)      1,487   

Additional paid-in capital

    1,309,170        0        0        440,880 (N)      1,750,050   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (303,597     0        0        0        (303,597

Accumulated (deficit) earnings

    (207,740     100,486        15,012        (75,773 )(O)      (168,015

Common stock/capital held in treasury and in employee trusts

    (114,665     0        (39,685     39,685 (P)      (114,665
                                       

Total stockholders’ equity

    684,415        110,267        (16,760     387,338        1,165,260   
                                       

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 1,014,246      $ 123,359      $ 70,966      $ 696,964      $ 1,905,535   
                                       

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements which are an integral part of these statements. The pro forma adjustments are explained in Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2010.

 

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GRAFTECH, SEADRIFT AND C/G NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Description of Transaction

On April 28, 2010, we, and certain of our subsidiaries, entered into an agreement and plan of merger with Seadrift Coke, L.P. (“Seadrift”), a Delaware limited partnership, and certain of its partners, to acquire all of the equity interests of Seadrift that we do not already own. We owned limited partnership units constituting approximately 18.9% of the equity interests in Seadrift at the time of the agreement. At the same time, we, and certain of our subsidiaries, entered into an agreement and plan of merger with C/G Electrodes, LLC (“C/G”), a Delaware limited liability company, and certain of its members.

In connection with the acquisitions, GrafTech reorganized into a new holding company structure pursuant to the agreements and plans of merger and Section 251(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The new holding company (“New GTI”) was identical to our then existing holding company, GrafTech (“Old GTI”), in all material respects, including its Board of Directors, management and capital structure. At the closing of the mergers, all outstanding shares of our common stock were automatically converted into identical common stock representing the same percentage ownership of and voting rights in the New GTI, which is also a Delaware corporation. Each Old GTI Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the reorganization was converted into and exchanged for one share, par value $0.01 per share, of common stock of the New GTI (each, a “New GTI Share”), having the same rights, powers, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as the Old GTI Shares. Immediately after the merger, the new holding company was renamed GrafTech International Ltd. and the name of Old GTI was changed to GrafTech Holdings Inc.

The consideration paid for Seadrift consisted of $90.0 million in cash (including working capital adjustments), approximately 12 million New GTI Shares and non-interest bearing, senior subordinated promissory notes in an aggregate face amount of $100 million due in 2015. The consideration paid for C/G consisted of $160.6 million in cash (including working capital adjustments), approximately 12 million New GTI Shares and non-interest bearing, senior subordinated promissory notes in an aggregate face amount of $100 million due in 2015. Approximately $165 million of the cash consideration paid in connection with the acquisitions was funded through borrowings under our principal revolving credit facility, as amended and restated on April 28, 2010. The balance of the cash portion of the purchase price, approximately $86 million, was paid from cash on hand. The New GTI Shares were delivered on November 30, 2010, the date that the acquisitions of Seadrift and C/G were completed. GrafTech stockholders did not have dissenters’ rights or appraisal rights in connection with this reorganization.

The consummation of the Seadrift and C/G mergers was simultaneous.

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was prepared using the acquisition method of accounting and was based on the historical financial statements of GrafTech, Seadrift and C/G. The acquisition method of accounting is based on Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations, which GrafTech adopted on January 1, 2009 and uses the fair value concepts defined in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which GrafTech has adopted as required.

The acquisition method of accounting requires, among other things, that most assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their fair values as of the acquisition date. Financial statements of GrafTech issued after completion of the merger will reflect such fair values, measured as of the acquisition date, which may be different than the estimated fair values included in these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements. The financial statements of GrafTech issued after the completion of the merger will not be retroactively restated to reflect the historical financial position or results of operations of Seadrift and C/G. In addition, the consideration to be transferred is to be measured at the closing date of the merger at the then-current market price, which will likely result in the per share equity and debt components that are different from the amount reflected in these in these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

 

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ASC Topic 820 defines the term “fair value”, sets forth the valuation requirements for any asset or liability measured at fair value, expands related disclosure requirements and specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on the nature of the inputs used to develop the fair value measures. Fair value is defined as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.” In addition, market participants are assumed to be unrelated buyers and sellers in the principal (or most advantageous) market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements for an asset assume the highest and best use by these market participants. As a result of these standards, GrafTech may be required to record assets which are not intended to be used or may be sold and/or to value assets at fair value measures that do not reflect GrafTech’s intended use of those assets. Many of these fair value measurements can be highly subjective and it is possible that other professionals, applying reasonable judgment to the same facts and circumstances, could develop and support a range of alternative estimated amounts.

Acquisition costs (i.e., advisory, legal, valuation, other professional fees, etc.) are accounted for as expenses in the periods in which the costs are incurred. Total advisory, legal, regulatory and valuation costs expected to be incurred by GrafTech are estimated to be approximately $16 million, of which $12.3 million was expensed in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and an immaterial amount in the year ended December 31, 2009. Total advisory, legal, and other professional fees expensed by Seadrift in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $1.5 million; none were expensed in the year ended December 31, 2009. Total advisory, legal, and other professional fees expensed by C/G in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $1.6 million; none were expensed in the year ended December 31, 2009.

Accounting Policies

Upon completion of the merger, GrafTech will perform a detailed review of Seadrift’s and C/G’s accounting policies. As a result of that review, GrafTech may identify differences between the accounting policies of the three companies that, when conformed, could have a material impact on the combined financial statements. At this time, GrafTech has identified that Seadrift and C/G use the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for costing its raw material inventory. The unaudited pro forma financial information has been adjusted to reflect the assumption that Seadrift and C/G will use the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method of valuing inventory.

Estimate of Consideration Expected to be Transferred

The following is an estimate of the consideration expected to be transferred to effect the acquisition of the remaining 81.1% of Seadrift and C/G (dollars in thousands):

 

     Seadrift     C/G      Total  

Cash

       

Agreed amount subject to debt and working capital adjustments

   $ 78,500      $ 152,500       $ 231,000   

Debt adjustments

     (1,891        (1,891

Net working capital adjustments

     13,373        8,084         21,457   
                         

Net cash consideration

     89,982        160,584         250,566   

Fair value of common stock issued (based upon the November 23, 2010 closing price of our common stock—$18.38)

     220,560        220,560         441,120   

Fair value of non-interest bearing, five-year senior subordinated note

     71,299        71,299         142,598   
                         

Total consideration expected to be transferred

   $ 381,841      $ 452,443       $ 834,284   
                         

 

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Our acquisition of the remaining units of Seadrift results in our obtaining control. Under ASC Topic 820 we are required to remeasure our previously held equity interest (18.9% ownership) to its fair value at the effective time of the merger. Our estimate of the fair value of our previously held investment of $74.9 million at September 30, 2010 is greater than its carrying value of $65.6 million by $9.3 million. GrafTech will recognize this difference as a gain in the income statement at the effective time of the merger. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined results of operation for the year ended December 31, 2009 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 do not include this gain. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet reflects an adjustment of retained earnings for the gain—See Note (O) Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2010. Our estimates of fair value and the gain are preliminary and subject to change and could vary materially from the actual amounts on the closing date. A change in the estimated fair value would affect goodwill.

The estimated consideration expected to be transferred reflected in these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements does not purport to represent what the actual consideration that will be transferred when the merger is completed. The fair value of equity securities issued is required to be measured on November 30, 2010, the closing date of the merger, at the then-current market price. This requirement will likely result in a per share equity component different from the $18.38 assumed in these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and that difference may be material. GrafTech believes that an increase or decrease by as much as $1.00 in the GrafTech common stock price on the closing date of the merger from the common stock price assumed in these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements is reasonably possible based on the recent history of GrafTech common stock price. A change of this magnitude would increase or decrease the consideration expected to be transferred by about $24 million which would be reflected in these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements as an increase or decrease to goodwill.

In addition, the fair value of the unsecured subordinated notes issued is required to be measured using market interest rates as of the closing date. The interest rates used for pro forma purposes are based on current market rates.

Estimate of Assets to be Acquired and Liabilities to be Assumed

The following is a preliminary estimate of the assets to be acquired and the liabilities to be assumed by GrafTech in the merger, reconciled to the estimate of consideration expected to be transferred (dollars in thousands):

 

     Seadrift     C/G     Total  

Total estimated consideration expected to be transferred

   $ 381,841      $ 452,443      $ 834,284   

Fair value of our equity in Seadrift held prior to acquisition (a)

     74,870          74,870   
                        

Aggregate value to be allocated to identifiable net assets, with residual to goodwill

     456,711        452,443        909,154   

Allocation to identifiable net assets:

      

Cash

     5,408        774        6,182   

Accounts and notes receivable (b)

     21,421        12,268        33,689   

Inventories (b)

     37,882        29,933        67,815   

Other current assets

     417        288        705   

Property, plant and equipment

     250,000        96,475        346,475   

Customer relationships (c)

     39,313        81,000        120,313   

Technology and know-how

     27,300        30,000        57,300   

Other long-term assets

     0        56        56   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (b)

     (11,006     (8,120     (19,126

Debt and capital lease obligations

     (182     (1,040     (1,222

Deferred income taxes—liability

     (54,197     (40,283     (94,480

Other long-term liabilities

     (1,904     0        (1,904
                        

Total allocated to identifiable net assets

     314,452        201,351        515,803   
                        

Goodwill

   $ 142,259      $ 251,092      $ 393,351   
                        

 

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(a) Includes an estimated gain of $9.3 million resulting from remeasuring GrafTech’s previously held equity interests in Seadrift.
(b) Net of related party activity.
(c) Includes derecognition of the C/G customer relationship intangible asset of $4.4 million recognized by Seadrift; however, eliminated as a related party amount when both acquisitions are consummated.

These preliminary estimates of fair value and weighted-average useful life will likely differ from the amounts reported in the final acquisition accounting, and the difference could have a material impact on the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements. Once GrafTech and our third party valuation advisors have full access to the specifics of Seadrift’s and C/G’s long-lived assets, additional insight will be gained that could impact: (i) the estimated total value assigned to long-lived assets; (ii) the estimated allocation of value between finite-lived and indefinite-lived assets and/or (iii) the estimated weighted-average useful life of each category of long-lived assets.

Following is a discussion of the adjustments made to Seadrift’s and C/G’s assets and liabilities in connection with the preparation of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements:

Investment in Non-consolidated Affiliate: ASC Topic 820 requires that an acquirer remeasure its previously held equity interest in an acquiree at its acquisition date fair value and recognize the resulting gain or loss in earnings. The gain is calculated based on the acquisition date fair value of our 18.9% ownership of Seadrift, which will be determined by discounting the estimated cash flows of Seadrift.

Property, plant and equipment: As of the effective time of the merger, property, plant and equipment is required to be measured at fair value, unless those assets are classified as held-for-sale on the acquisition date. The acquired assets can include assets that are not intended to be used or sold, or that are intended to be used in a manner other than their highest and best use. Based on internal assessments for purposes of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements, it is assumed that all assets will be used in a manner that represents their highest and best use. This estimate of fair value is preliminary and subject to change and could vary materially from the actual adjustment on the closing date. For each $10 million change of fair value adjustment that changes property, plant and equipment, there could be an annual increase or decrease in depreciation expense of approximately $0.6 million per year, assuming a weighted-average useful life of 17.5 years.

Intangible assets: As of the effective time of the merger, identifiable intangible assets are required to be measured at fair value and these acquired assets could include assets that are not intended to be used or sold, or that are intended to be used in a manner other than their highest and best use. For purposes of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements, it is assumed that all assets will be used in a manner that represents their highest and best use.

The fair value of these intangible assets is normally determined primarily through the use of the “income approach,” which requires an estimate or forecast of all the expected future cash flows through the use of either the multi-period excess earnings method or relief-from-royalty method. At this time, GrafTech does not have sufficient information as to the amount, timing and risk of the estimated future cash flows needed to value the customer relationships/contracts and needle coke manufacturing technology and know-how. Some of the more significant assumptions in the development of estimated cash flows, from the perspective of a market participant, include: the amount and timing of projected future cash flows (including revenue, cost of goods sold, sales and marketing expenses, and working capital/contributory asset charges) and the discount rate selected to measure the risks inherent in the future cash flows. However, based on an internal revaluation of the third party valuation when we acquired our 18.9% ownership in Seadrift, as well as internal assessments, GrafTech has identified the following significant intangible assets: customer relationships/contracts and needle coke manufacturing technology and know-how. For purposes of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements, GrafTech management estimated the fair values of the intangible assets as follows: customer relationships/contracts—$120.3 million with a weighted average useful life of 15 years; and the needle coke and graphite electrode manufacturing technologies and know-how—$57.3 million with a weighted average useful life of 10 years. For each $10 million change of fair value adjustment that changes intangible assets, there could be an annual increase or decrease in amortization expense of approximately $0.8 million per year, assuming a weighted-average useful life of 13 years

 

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Debt and other long-term obligations: C/G’s bank debt and interest rate swaps will be repaid with a portion of the cash consideration at the time of the merger. We have based our pro forma calculations using the balances at September 30, 2010—bank debt of $75.0 million and interest rate swaps of $2.7 million. We will assume Seadrift’s capital lease and C/G’s indebtedness to the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority and record them at their merger date fair values.

Deferred taxes: As of the effective time of the merger, GrafTech will provide deferred taxes and other tax adjustments as part of the accounting for the acquisition, primarily related to the estimated fair value adjustments made to certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Other long-term liabilities and contingencies: As of the effective time of the merger, contingencies are required to be measured at fair value if the acquisition-date fair value of the asset or liability arising from the contingency can be determined. If the acquisition-date fair value of the asset or liability cannot be determined, the asset or liability would be recognized at the acquisition date if both of the following criteria are met: (i) it is probable that an asset existed or that a liability had been incurred at the acquisition date, and (ii) the amount of the asset or liability can be reasonably estimated. These criteria are to be applied using the guidance in ASC Topic 405, Contingencies. The acquisition method of accounting is dependent upon certain valuations and other studies that have yet to commence or progress to a stage where there is sufficient information for a definitive measurement.

Goodwill: Goodwill is calculated as the difference between (i) the sum of the acquisition-date fair value of the consideration expected to be transferred and the fair value of the previously held equity interest and (ii) the values assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized but rather subject to an annual fair value impairment test.

Related Party Transactions: Sales of product from Seadrift to C/G and to GrafTech during the periods presented have been eliminated in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements. Interest expense on the loan from GrafTech to Seadrift has also been eliminated. There were no other material transactions between GrafTech and Seadrift or C/G during the periods presented.

 

95


Adjustments to GrafTech, Seadrift and C/G Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2009 and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

(a) To record the elimination of sales of product from Seadrift to C/G and to GrafTech.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2009
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2010
 

Sales of product from Seadrift to C/G

   $ (7,003   $ (24,187

Sales of product from Seadrift to GrafTech

     0        (2,489
                
   $ (7,003   $ (26,676
                

(b) Reflects the elimination of sales from Seadrift to C/G and to GrafTech and the related party profit pertaining to C/G’s inventory; the change in accounting for inventories from the LIFO method to the FIFO method; and increased depreciation and amortization resulting due to recording property, plant and equipment and intangible assets at their fair values. The components of the adjustments to cost of sales are (dollars in thousands):

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2009
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2010
 

Related party eliminations

   $ (7,995   $ (31,761

Reversal of (expense) benefit previously recognized resulting from change in accounting for inventories from LIFO method to FIFO method

     (1,903     (4,723

Increased depreciation and amortization due to recording property, plant and equipment and intangible assets at their fair values

     23,681        17,384   
                
   $ 13,783      $ (19,100
                

(c) The components of the adjustment to selling and administrative expenses are (dollars in thousands):

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2009
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2010
 

Reversal of amortization of other assets—Seadrift

   $ (26   $ (9

Reversal of amortization of other assets—C/G

     (413     (56

Elimination of transaction fees—Seadrift

       (1,461

Elimination of transaction fees—C/G

       (1,583

Elimination of transaction fees—GrafTech

       (12,348
                
   $ (439   $ (15,457
                

 

96


(d) To eliminate equity in (earnings) losses (including non-cash write-down of investment of $52.8 million in 2009) of non-consolidated affiliate as a result of now owning 100% of Seadrift.

(e) To eliminate gains on interest rate swaps for the year ended December 31, 2009.

(f) Reflects the change in interest expense (dollars in thousands):

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2009
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2010
 

Reversal of interest on debt and interest rate swaps repaid at acquisition

   $ (8,222   $ (5,209

Interest expense on new borrowings under GrafTech credit agreement and amortization of non interest bearing note issued (1)

     16,024        12,018   
                
   $ 7,802      $ 6,809   
                

 

(1) Represents incremental interest expense related to the incurrence of additional indebtedness from (i) borrowings under our revolving credit facility of $165 million, bearing interest at our current interest rate of 2.79% and (ii) the issuance of $142.6 million of non-interest bearing notes with an effective interest rate of 7.0%. The interest rates used for pro forma purposes are based on current market rates. For each 0.125% increase or decrease in the assumed rates with respect to the credit agreement and the notes offered hereby, our annual interest expense would increase or decrease by $0.4 million.

(g) Represents the tax effect, calculated using the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 35%, of the impact of combining Seadrift’s results of operations and the adjustments to income before income taxes for the purchase accounting adjustments, primarily related to expenses associated with incremental debt to partially finance the acquisition and increased depreciation and amortization resulting from the estimated fair value adjustments for acquired property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, with the historical financial statements of GrafTech.

The pro forma statements of operations are prepared as if Seadrift were acquired as of January 1, 2009. Accordingly, the pro forma statements of operations include an adjustment to eliminate our equity in (earnings) losses and write-down of investment in non-consolidated affiliate. Because we reversed the 2009 impairment write-down of the investment in non-consolidated affiliate and the related tax effects, we were again in our original net deferred tax liability position. Therefore, we reversed the provision for valuation allowance of $41.4 million.

 

97


(h) The approximate 24 million common shares to be issued, while subject to customary standstill provisions and certain restrictions on their sale, are participating shares for the calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share.

Adjustments to GrafTech, Seadrift and C/G Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2010

 

  (A) To adjust cash and cash equivalents for amount used to fund the cash consideration paid to owners of Seadrift and C/G (dollars in thousands):

 

Cash on hand paid to owners of Seadrift and C/G at closing (November 30, 2010)

   $ 86,000   

Cash on hand available at September 30, 2010 to pay owners of Seadrift and C/G

     (66,000
        

Cash on hand paid to owners of Seadrift and C/G reclassified as current liability for pro forma presentation

   $ 20,000   
        

 

  (B) To eliminate related party balances.

 

  (C) To adjust Seadrift and C/G inventories to their estimated net realizable value. GrafTech believes that fair value approximates net realizable value, which is defined as expected sales price less costs to sell plus a reasonable margin for the selling effort. The adjustment to inventory includes an adjustment to eliminate related party profit in C/G’s inventory of $5.1 million and a $30.6 million increase to adjust LIFO inventories to a current cost basis.

 

  (D) To record the release of $4.1 million of valuation allowance for deferred tax assets—short-term. See Note (F) and footnote (2) to Note (O) below for details.

 

  (E) Reflects adjustment of Seadrift and C/G property, plant and equipment to their estimated fair values (dollars in thousands).

 

     Seadrift      C/G      Total  

Net book value of property, plant and equipment

   $ 72,547       $ 36,422       $ 108,969   

Adjustment to record property, plant and equipment at their fair values

     177,453         60,052         237,505   
                          

Estimated fair value of property, plant and equipment

   $ 250,000       $ 96,474       $ 346,474   
                          

 

  (F) Reflects adjustments for the following (dollars in thousands):

 

Reversal of valuation allowance previously recognized for GrafTech deferred tax assets

   $ 27,732   

Change in net long-term deferred tax asset position due to recording acquired assets and liabilities assumed at their fair values

     (34,755
        
   $ (7,023
        

As part of accounting for the acquisition, we recorded deferred income tax liabilities for the fair value adjustments made to certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Certain of these deferred tax liabilities are expected to reverse during the same period that certain of our deferred tax assets are expected to reverse. As a result, we reduced our preexisting valuation allowance related to such deferred tax assets. This pro forma adjustment is reflected as an adjustment to deferred income taxes (asset) and retained earnings in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet.

See Note (M) and footnote (2) to Note (O) below for additional details.

 

98


 

  (G) Reflects goodwill associated with the transaction (dollars in thousands).

 

Difference between the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired and the consideration

   $ 289,642   

Recognition of gain on adjustment to fair value of GrafTech’s 18.9% ownership of Seadrift at the effective time of the merger

     9,229   

Net deferred tax liabilities associated with the estimated fair value adjustments of net assets acquired (1)

     94,480   
        
   $ 393,351   
        

 

(1) See Note (M).

Goodwill consists of the fair value of Seadrift’s and C/G’s assembled workforces and buyer-specific synergies.

 

  (H) Reflects adjustments for the following (dollars in thousands):

 

Recognition of intangible asset—customer relationships, Seadrift

   $ 39,313   

Recognition of intangible asset—technology, Seadrift

     27,300   

Recognition of intangible asset—customer relationships, C/G

     81,000   

Recognition of intangible asset—technology, C/G

     30,000   

Write-off of Seadrift and C/G balances, primarily deferred financing costs and non-compete agreements

     (1,606
        
   $ 176,007   
        

Customer relationships represent the existing customers that are expected to continue to support the business. We estimated the fair values of customer relationships and technology and know-how using an income approach, that is, we determined the present value of the after-tax excess earnings attributable to each intangible asset using an appropriate risk-adjusted rate of return.

The amortization of these intangible assets was estimated using the straight-line method over their estimated lives: customer relationships, 15 years; technology and know-how, 10 years.

 

  (I) To eliminate carrying value of our 18.9% ownership of Seadrift at acquisition of the remaining ownership units.

 

99


 

  (J) To record the interim pro forma current tax provision.

 

  (K) Reflects the payment to terminate C/G’s interest rate swap at closing of ($2,681) (dollars in thousands).

 

  (L) Reflects adjustments for the following (dollars in thousands):

 

Repayment of C/G’s revolving line of credit

   $ (75,054

Payment to terminate C/G’s interest rate swap

     2,681   

Borrowings under our revolving credit facility at our current rate of 2.79% to fund acquisitions

     161,884   

Issuance of non-interest bearing, five-year senior subordinated note at its fair value using a current market rate of 7%

     142,598   
        
   $ 232,109   
        

 

  (M) Reflects adjustments for the following (dollars in thousands):

 

Deferred tax liability on net assets acquired

   $ 94,480   

Reclassification of change in long-term net deferred tax asset/liability position due to recording acquired assets and liabilities assumed at their fair values

     (43,040
        
   $ 51,440   
        

For purposes of this unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, the United States federal statutory tax rate of 35% has been used in the calculations of the overall tax related to the acquisitions for all periods presented. This rate does not reflect GrafTech’s effective tax rate, which includes other tax items, such as state and foreign taxes, as well as other tax charges or benefits and does not take into account any historical or possible future tax events that may impact the combined company.

 

  (N) Reflects adjustments for the following (dollars in thousands):

 

     Common
stock/

capital
    Additional
paid-in
capital
 

Issuance of 24 million shares of common stock, $0.01 par value at fair value of $18.38 per share

   $ 240      $ 440,880   

Elimination of Seadrift’s capital accounts

     (9,781  

Elimination of C/G’s capital accounts

     (7,913  
                
   $ (17,454   $ 440,880   
                

 

100


The fair value of the approximate 24 million shares of common stock to be issued is based on the closing price of our common stock on November 23, 2010. An increase or decrease in the price of our common stock on the closing date of the merger of $1.00 from the stock price of $18.38 will increase or decrease the value of the shares issued by $24 million, which would be reflected as an increase or decrease in goodwill.

 

  (O) Reflects adjustments for the following (dollars in thousands):

 

Elimination of Seadrift’s retained earnings

   $ (100,486

Elimination of C/G’s retained earnings

     (15,012

Recognition of gain on adjustment to fair value of GrafTech’s 18.9% ownership of Seadrift at the effective time of the merger (1)

     9,229   

Recognition of reversal of valuation allowance for deferred tax assets (2)

     31,799   

To reverse previously established deferred tax liability upon acquisition of Seadrift

     8,286   

Recognition of provision for current income taxes on pro forma adjustments

     (9,589
        
   $ (75,773
        

 

(1) Represents our estimated gain as a result of remeasuring our previously held equity interest in Seadrift. The gain will be impacted by transactional activity, such as equity income and distributions, up until the date the merger is completed. Because this pro forma adjustment will not have a continuing impact, it is excluded from the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations, but is reflected as an adjustment to goodwill and retained earnings in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet.
(2) In the pro forma financial statements we eliminate our investment in Seadrift, our equity in its earnings, and our 2009 write-down of the investment. Our pro forma adjustment to income taxes includes the reversal of the net change of the deferred tax liability that we recognized at the acquisition of our investment and the reversal of the provision for valuation allowance ($41.4 million) that we recorded in connection with the impairment write-down of our investment.

 

  (P) To eliminate C/G’s units held in treasury.

 

101


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

  GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD.

Date: November 30, 2010

 

By:

 

/s/ Craig S. Shular

  Name:   Craig S. Shular
  Title:   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  3.1.0    Certificate of Elimination of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of GrafTech International Ltd.
  3.2.0    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of GrafTech International Ltd.
  3.3.0    Amended and Restated Bylaws of GrafTech International Ltd.
10.1.0    Form of Senior Subordinated Promissory Note.
10.2.0    Registration Rights and Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2010, by and among GrafTech International Ltd. and each of the stockholders party thereto.
23.1.0    Consent of Alpern Rosenthal for report relating to consolidated financial statements of Seadrift Coke L.P. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for two years then ended.
23.2.0    Consent of Alpern Rosenthal for report relating to consolidated financial statements of Seadrift Coke L.P. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for two years then ended.
23.3.0    Consent of Alpern Rosenthal for report relating to consolidated financial statements of C/G Electrodes LLC and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for two years then ended.
23.4.0    Consent of Alpern Rosenthal for report relating to consolidated financial statements of C/G Electrodes LLC and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for two years then ended.
99.1.0    Press release issued by GrafTech International Ltd. on November 30, 2010, relating to the acquisitions of Seadrift Coke L.P. and C/G Electrodes LLC. Such press release shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and shall not be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.