Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

Commission file number 1-32737

LOGO

KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Pennsylvania   20-1878963
(State of incorporation)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

436 Seventh Avenue

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219

(Address of principal executive offices)

(412) 227-2001

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ¨  Accelerated filer x  Non-accelerated filer ¨  Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding at October 31, 2008 amounted to 20,373,919 shares.

 


PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,    Nine Months Ended September 30,
                      2008                  2007                    2008                  2007
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)    (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)

Net sales

   $ 369.4      $ 329.1    $ 1,075.9      $ 946.4

Cost of sales (excluding items below)

     295.2        267.6      877.0        769.2

Depreciation and amortization

     6.4        7.1      19.7        21.6

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     16.2        15.4      49.8        47.3
                                 

Operating profit

     51.6        39.0      129.4        108.3

Other income (loss)

     (0.2 )      0.2      (0.5 )      0.3
                                 

Income before interest expense, income taxes and minority interest

     51.4        39.2      128.9        108.6

Interest expense

     10.7        11.3      32.1        34.7
                                 

Income before income taxes and minority interest

     40.7        27.9      96.8        73.9

Income taxes

     15.5        10.5      36.1        27.7

Minority interest

     0.6        0.8      1.6        2.1
                                 

Income from continuing operations

     24.6        16.6      59.1        44.1

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $(1.0), $(0.9), $(3.0) and $(2.2)

     0.9        2.2      3.9        7.5

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $—, $4.3, $— and $4.3

            6.7             6.7
                                 

Net income

   $ 25.5      $ 25.5    $ 63.0      $ 58.3
                                 

Earnings per common share:

           

Basic –

           

Continuing operations

   $ 1.21      $ 0.81    $ 2.85      $ 2.13

Discontinued operations

     0.04        0.42      0.19        0.68
                                 

Earnings per basic common share

   $ 1.25      $ 1.23    $ 3.04      $ 2.81
                                 

Diluted –

           

Continuing operations

   $ 1.20      $ 0.80    $ 2.84      $ 2.11

Discontinued operations

     0.04        0.42      0.19        0.68
                                 

Earnings per diluted common share

   $ 1.24      $ 1.22    $ 3.03      $ 2.79
                                 

Weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands):

           

Basic

     20,535        20,773      20,735        20,748

Diluted

     20,617        20,883      20,812        20,864

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.22      $ 0.17    $ 0.66      $ 0.51

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

 

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KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

     

September 30,

2008

   

December 31,

2007

 
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)    (Unaudited)        

Assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 12.6     $ 16.9  

Short-term investments

     8.5       2.1  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $0.2 and $0.2

     160.3       140.0  

Inventories, net

     181.6       171.9  

Deferred tax benefit

     18.5       18.5  

Assets of discontinued operations held for sale

     22.8       21.6  

Other current assets

     13.4       22.4  
                  

Total current assets

     417.7       393.4  

Equity in non-consolidated investments

     5.7       4.2  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     148.1       145.2  

Goodwill

     60.8       62.5  

Deferred tax benefit

     29.9       38.7  

Other assets

     22.3       25.3  
                  

Total assets

   $ 684.5     $ 669.3  
                  

Liabilities

    

Accounts payable

   $ 86.7     $ 103.6  

Dividends payable

     4.5       3.5  

Accrued liabilities

     69.0       63.7  

Liabilities of discontinued operations held for sale

     8.4       6.8  

Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt

     13.0       21.3  
                  

Total current liabilities

     181.6       198.9  

Long-term debt

     437.7       418.9  

Other long-term liabilities

     59.3       65.4  
                  

Total liabilities

     678.6       683.2  

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 17)

    

Minority interest

     8.9       9.4  

Stockholders’ Deficit

    

Senior Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued

            

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 20,997,945 and 20,971,456 shares issued

     0.2       0.2  

Additional paid-in capital

     125.6       124.4  

Receivable from Director for purchase of Common Stock

           (0.6 )

Retained deficit

     (108.3 )     (157.6 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     1.7       12.6  

Treasury stock, at cost, 624,026 and 144,905 shares

     (22.2 )     (2.3 )
                  

Total stockholders’ deficit

     (3.0 )     (23.3 )
                  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit

   $ 684.5     $ 669.3  
                  

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

 

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KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
                      2008                      2007  
(Dollars in millions)    (Unaudited)  

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     

Net income

   $ 63.0      $ 58.3  

Adjustments to reconcile net cash provided by operating activities:

     

Depreciation and amortization

     20.8        25.6  

(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets

     0.1        (10.8 )

Deferred income taxes

     8.2        2.5  

Equity income of affiliated companies, net of dividends received

     0.7        0.3  

Stock-based compensation

     2.8        1.5  

Change in other liabilities

     (0.9 )      (10.7 )

Minority interest

     1.7        0.7  

Non-cash interest expense

     12.7        11.5  

Other

     3.1        (2.2 )

(Increase) decrease in working capital:

     

Accounts receivable

     (24.1 )      (26.6 )

Inventories

     (16.7 )      (27.5 )

Accounts payable

     (14.1 )      6.7  

Accrued liabilities and other working capital

     1.0        20.2  
                   

Net cash provided by operating activities

     58.3        49.5  

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities:

     

Capital expenditures

     (26.5 )      (15.6 )

Acquisitions

            (3.9 )

Net cash proceeds from divestitures and asset sales

     0.3        12.0  
                   

Net cash used in investing activities

     (26.2 )      (7.5 )

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities:

     

Borrowings of revolving credit

     201.3        224.5  

Repayments of revolving credit

     (195.5 )      (243.3 )

Repayments of long-term debt

     (9.0 )      (17.8 )

Purchases of Common Stock

     (19.9 )       

Payment of deferred financing costs

            (0.2 )

Excess tax benefit from employee stock plans

            1.2  

Dividends paid

     (12.7 )      (10.6 )
                   

Net cash used in financing activities

     (35.8 )      (46.2 )

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     0.1        0.4  
                   

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (3.6 )      (3.8 )

Add: Cash of assets held for sale at beginning of year

     0.6        1.2  

Less: Cash of assets held for sale at end of period

     (1.3 )      (3.6 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     16.9        23.2  
                   

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 12.6      $ 17.0  
                   

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

 

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KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applicable to interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of Koppers Holdings Inc.’s and its subsidiaries’ (“Koppers”, “Koppers Holdings” or the “Company”) financial position and interim results as of and for the periods presented have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless disclosed otherwise. Because the Company’s business is seasonal, results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those that may be expected for a full year. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet for December 31, 2007 has been summarized from the audited balance sheet contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The financial information included herein should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

2. New Accounting Guidance

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 changes the classification of noncontrolling, or minority, interests on the balance sheet and the accounting for and reporting of transactions between the reporting entity and holders of such noncontrolling interests. Under the new standard, noncontrolling interests are considered equity and are to be reported as an element of stockholders’ deficit rather than within the mezzanine or liability sections of the balance sheet. In addition, the current practice of reporting minority interest expense or benefit also will change. Under the new standard, net income will encompass the total income before minority interest expense or benefit. The income statement will include separate disclosure of the attribution of income between controlling and noncontrolling interests. Increases and decreases in the noncontrolling ownership interest amount are to be accounted for as equity transactions. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and earlier application is prohibited. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 160 on our financial statements.

3. Accounting Changes

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 for financial assets and liabilities, and for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 for other non-recurring non-financial assets and liabilities. The Company adopted SFAS 157 as of January 1, 2008, with the exception of the application of the statement to non-recurring nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities. Non-recurring nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities for which we have not applied the provisions of SFAS 157 include those measured at fair value in goodwill impairment testing, indefinite lived intangible assets measured at fair value for impairment testing, asset retirement obligations initially measured at fair value, and those initially measured at fair value in a business combination.

SFAS 157 establishes a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to valuation used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on our own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value. A financial asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

At September 30, 2008, the Company had an interest rate swap valued at $(0.3) million and cash surrender values on insurance policies totaling $1.3 million. Both assets are classified as Level 2 in the valuation hierarchy and are measured from quotes and values received from financial institutions.

 

5


4. Dividends and Share Repurchases

On November 5, 2008, the Company’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of 22 cents per common share, payable on January 5, 2009 to shareholders of record as of November 17, 2008.

On February 6, 2008, the Company’s board of directors approved a common stock repurchase program. This program allows for the repurchase of up to $75.0 million of common stock from time to time in the open market. The program is scheduled to expire in February 2010. The timing of such purchases will be determined by management based on a number of factors including the market price of the Company’s common stock; the availability and pursuit of strategic initiatives including investment and acquisition opportunities; operating cash flow and internal capital requirements; and general economic conditions. As of September 30, 2008, 477,918 shares have been repurchased under this program totaling $19.9 million. Additionally, orders were placed in September 2008 to purchase 19,768 shares totaling $0.8 million which had not settled by September 30, 2008. Accordingly, these shares are not included in treasury stock as of September 30, 2008.

5. Discontinued Operations

In June 2008, the board of directors authorized management to pursue the sale of Koppers Monessen Partners LP (“Monessen”). Monessen is a metallurgical furnace coke facility that is 95 percent-owned by Koppers Inc. (which serves as the general partner) and five percent owned by a limited partner. Effective as of the end of the second quarter of 2008, Monessen was classified as a discontinued operation in the Company’s statement of operations and its assets and liabilities were reclassified as “held for sale” in the balance sheet. Accordingly, the Company’s financial statements and earnings per share have been restated for prior periods.

On August 3, 2008, Koppers Inc. and a limited partner signed a definitive agreement to sell Monessen to ArcelorMittal S.A. for cash of $160.0 million plus working capital of $10.7 million, subject to post-closing adjustments for changes in working capital. Net cash proceeds, after deduction for the limited partner interest, taxes and transaction costs, are estimated to be approximately $90.0 million. The transaction subsequently closed on October 1, 2008. The Company expects to recognize, before post-closing adjustments, an after-tax gain of approximately $85.0 million.

On July 5, 2007, the Company sold its 51 percent interest in Koppers Arch Investments Pty Limited and its subsidiaries (“Koppers Arch”) to Arch Chemicals Inc. Effective as of this date, Koppers Arch was classified as a discontinued operation in the Company’s statement of operations and earnings per share and the Company’s financial statements have been accordingly restated for prior periods.

The following table reflects the operating results of the businesses reported as discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2008    Net
Sales
   Operating
Profit
(Loss)
    Net
Income
(Dollars in millions)                

Monessen

   $ 16.9    $ (0.1 )   $ 0.9
                       
Three Months Ended September 30, 2007    Net
Sales
   Operating
Profit
    Net
Income
(Dollars in millions)                

Monessen

   $ 18.0    $ 1.2     $ 2.2
                       
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008    Net
Sales
   Operating
Profit
    Net
Income
(Dollars in millions)                

Monessen

   $ 50.2    $ 1.0     $ 3.9
                       

 

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007    Net
Sales
   Operating
Profit
   Net
Income
(Dollars in millions)               

Monessen

   $ 54.7    $ 5.0    $ 7.4

Koppers Arch

     27.1      1.0      0.1
                      

Discontinued operations

   $ 81.8    $ 6.0    $ 7.5
                      

The following table summarizes the net assets held for disposal as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

 

      September 30,
2008
   

December 31,

2007

 
(Dollars in millions)             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1.3     $ 0.6  

Accounts receivable

     7.7       8.0  

Inventories, net

     8.8       7.8  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     9.4       10.5  

Deferred tax benefit

     (4.4 )     (5.3 )
                  

Total assets of discontinued operations held for sale

   $ 22.8     $ 21.6  
                  

Accounts payable

   $ 5.7     $ 5.7  

Accrued liabilities

     2.7       1.1  
                  

Total liabilities of discontinued operations held for sale

   $ 8.4     $ 6.8  
                  

6. Comprehensive Income

Total comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is summarized in the table below:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
                      2008                     2007                     2008                     2007  
(Dollars in millions)                         

Net income

   $ 25.5     $ 25.5     $ 63.0     $ 58.3  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

        

Change in currency translation adjustment

     (23.1 )     5.5       (10.6 )     13.0  

Business divestiture

           (3.0 )           (3.0 )

Change in unrecognized pension transition asset, net of tax

           (0.1 )     (0.1 )     (0.2 )

Change in prior service cost, net of tax

           (0.1 )     0.1       (0.1 )

Change in unrecognized pension net loss, net of tax

     0.1       0.4       (0.3 )     0.9  
                                  

Total comprehensive income

   $ 2.5     $ 28.2     $ 52.1     $ 68.9  
                                  

7. Earnings per Common Share

The computation of basic earnings per common share for the periods presented is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods. The computation of diluted earnings per common share includes the effect of nonvested restricted and performance stock units assuming such stock units were outstanding common shares at the beginning of the period. The effect of antidilutive securities is excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share. For this reason, the nonqualified stock options totaling 45,712 and 36,503, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008.

 

7


The following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,
     2008    2007
      Basic    Diluted    Basic    Diluted
(Dollars in millions, except share amounts, in thousands and per share amounts)     

Income from continuing operations

   $ 24.6    $ 24.6    $ 16.6    $     16.6
                             

Shares of common stock outstanding:

           

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

     20,535      20,535      20,773      20,773

Effect of dilutive securities

          82           110
                             

Average common shares

     20,535      20,617      20,773      20,883
                             

Earnings per common share

   $ 1.21    $ 1.20    $ 0.81    $ 0.80
                             
     Nine Months Ended September 30,
     2008    2007
      Basic    Diluted    Basic    Diluted
(Dollars in millions, except share amounts, in thousands and per share amounts)     

Income from continuing operations

   $ 59.1    $ 59.1    $ 44.1    $ 44.1
                             

Shares of common stock outstanding:

           

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

     20,735      20,735      20,748      20,748

Effect of dilutive securities

          77           116
                             

Average common shares

     20,735      20,812      20,748      20,864
                             

Earnings per common share

   $ 2.85    $ 2.84    $ 2.13    $ 2.11
                             

8. Stock-based Compensation

In December 2005, the Company’s board of directors and shareholders adopted the 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”). The LTIP provides for the grant to eligible persons of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance awards, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards, which we refer to collectively as the awards.

On February 6, 2008, the board of directors awarded 23,534 restricted stock units and 47,495 performance stock units to certain employee participants (collectively, the “stock units”) with a grant date of February 25, 2008. The restricted stock units will vest ratably in February 2011, assuming continued employment by the participant. The performance stock units will vest upon the attainment of the applicable performance objective at the end of a three-year measurement period ending on December 31, 2010. The applicable performance objective is based upon a three-year cumulative value creation calculation commencing January 1, 2008. The number of performance stock units granted represents the target award and participants have the ability to earn between zero and 150 percent of the target award based upon actual performance. If minimum performance criteria are not achieved, no performance stock units will vest.

Dividends declared on the Company’s common stock during the restriction period of the stock units are credited at equivalent value as additional stock units and become payable as additional common shares upon vesting. In the event of termination of employment, other than retirement, death or disability, any non-vested stock units are forfeited, including additional stock units credited from dividends. In the event of termination of employment due to retirement, death or disability, pro-rata vesting of the stock units over the service period will result. There are special vesting provisions for the stock units related to a change in control.

In accordance with accounting standards, compensation expense for non-vested stock units is recorded over the vesting period based on the fair value at the date of grant. The fair value of stock units is the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.

 

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The following table shows a summary of the performance stock units as of September 30, 2008:

 

Performance Period    Minimum
Shares
   Target
Shares
   Maximum
Shares

2007 – 2009

      65,500    98,250

2008 – 2010

      47,495    71,243
                

The following table shows a summary of the status and activity of non-vested stock awards for the nine months ended September 30, 2008:

 

     

Restricted

Stock Units

   

Performance

Stock Units

   

Total

Stock Units

    Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value per Unit

Nonvested at January 1, 2008

   136,443     68,450     204,893     $ 14.28

Granted

   23,534     47,495     71,029     $ 39.99

Credited from dividends

   493     1,030     1,523     $ 33.47

Vested

   (6,183 )       (6,183 )   $ 25.59

Forfeited

   (5,107 )   (2,210 )   (7,317 )   $ 13.43
                      

Nonvested September 30, 2008

   149,180     114,765     263,945     $ 21.07
                      

Also on February 6, 2008, the board of directors awarded 47,712 stock options to certain executive officers which vest and become exercisable upon the completion of a three-year service period commencing on the third anniversary of the grant date of February 25, 2008. The stock options have a term of 10 years. In the event of termination of employment, all unvested stock options shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent specifically authorized by the plan administrator. There are special vesting provisions for the stock options related to a change in control.

In accordance with accounting standards, compensation expense for unvested stock options is recorded over the vesting period based on the fair value at the date of grant. The fair value of stock options on the date of grant is calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton model and the assumptions listed below:

 

      February 2008 Grant     May 2007 Grant  

Grant date price per share of option award

   $ 39.99     $ 29.97  

Expected dividend yield per share

     2.00 %     2.50 %

Expected life in years

     6.5       6.5  

Expected volatility

     40.67 %     40.39 %

Risk-free interest rate

     3.28 %     4.45 %

Grant date fair value per share of option awards

   $ 14.79     $ 11.01  
                  

The dividend yield is based on the Company’s current and prospective dividend rate which calculates a continuous dividend yield based upon the market price of the underlying common stock. The expected life in years is based on the simplified method permitted under Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 which calculates the average of the weighted vesting term and the contractual term of the option. This method was selected due to the lack of historical exercise data with respect to the Company. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock and the historical volatility of certain other similar public companies. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury bill rates for the expected life of the option.

 

9


The following table shows a summary of the status and activity of stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2008:

 

      Options    

Weighted Average
Exercise Price

per Option

  

Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Term

(in years)

   Aggregate Intrinsic
Value (in millions)

Outstanding at January 1, 2008

   60,200     $ 29.97      

Granted

   45,712     $ 39.99      

Exercised

   (806 )   $ 29.97      

Forfeited

   (1,794 )   $ 29.97      
                

Outstanding at September 30, 2008

   103,312     $ 34.40    8.95    $ 0.4
                

Exercisable at September 30, 2008

       $       $
                

Total stock-based compensation expense recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,    Nine Months Ended September 30,
                  2008                2007                2008                2007
(Dollars in millions)               

Stock-based compensation expense recognized:

           

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 0.6    $ 0.5    $ 2.8    $ 1.5

Less related income tax benefit

     0.2      0.2      1.1      0.6
                             
   $ 0.4    $ 0.3    $ 1.7    $ 0.9
                             

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, shares issued under the LTIP for board or director compensation totaled 19,500 shares. As of September 30, 2008, total future compensation expense related to non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements totaled $4.8 million and the weighted-average period over which this cost is expected to be recognized is approximately 24 months.

9. Segment Information

The Company has two reportable operating segments: Carbon Materials & Chemicals and Railroad & Utility Products. The Company’s reportable segments are business units that offer different products. The reportable segments are each managed separately because they manufacture and distribute distinct products with different production processes. The business units have been aggregated into two reportable segments since management believes the long-term financial performance of these business units is affected by similar economic conditions.

The Company’s Carbon Materials & Chemicals segment is primarily a supplier of carbon pitch, phthalic anhydride, creosote, carbon black and carbon black feedstock. Carbon pitch is used primarily by the aluminum industry as a binder in the manufacture of anodes. Phthalic anhydride is used in the manufacture of plasticizers, unsaturated polyester resins and alkyd resins. Creosote is used in the protection of timber products against insects, fungal decay and weathering. Carbon black and carbon black feedstock are used in the production of rubber tires.

The Company’s Railroad & Utility Products segment provides various products and services to railroads, including crossties (both wood and concrete), track panels and switch pre-assemblies and disposal services. The segment also supplies treated wood poles to electric and telephone utilities and provides products to, and performs various wood treating services for construction and other commercial applications.

The Company evaluates performance and determines resource allocations based on a number of factors, the primary measure being operating profit or loss from operations. Operating profit does not include equity in earnings of affiliates, other income, interest expense or income taxes. Operating profit also excludes the operating costs of Koppers Holdings Inc., the parent company of Koppers Inc. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Intersegment transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

 

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The following table sets forth certain sales and operating data, net of all intersegment transactions, for the Company’s segments for the periods indicated:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
                      2008                     2007                     2008                     2007  
(Dollars in millions)                   

Revenues from external customers:

        

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

   $ 245.0     $ 205.0     $ 718.4     $ 577.2  

Railroad & Utility Products

     124.4       124.1       357.5       369.2  
                                  

Total

   $ 369.4     $ 329.1     $ 1,075.9     $ 946.4  
                                  

Intersegment revenues:

        

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

   $ 19.7     $ 20.0     $ 54.4     $ 53.8  

Railroad & Utility Products

                        
                                  

Total

   $ 19.7     $ 20.0     $ 54.4     $ 53.8  
                                  

Depreciation and amortization expense:

        

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

   $ 4.7     $ 5.5     $ 14.6     $ 16.5  

Railroad & Utility Products

     1.7       1.6       5.1       5.1  
                                  

Total

   $ 6.4     $ 7.1     $ 19.7     $ 21.6  
                                  

Operating profit:

        

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

   $ 44.4     $ 29.3     $ 106.6     $ 74.1  

Railroad & Utility Products

     7.3       9.9       24.5       35.6  

Corporate

     (0.1 )     (0.2 )     (1.7 )     (1.4 )
                                  

Total

   $ 51.6     $ 39.0     $ 129.4     $ 108.3  
                                  

The following table sets forth certain tangible and intangible assets allocated to each of the Company’s segments as of the dates indicated:

 

      September 30,
2008
  

December 31,

2007

(Dollars in millions)          

Segment assets:

     

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

   $ 450.2    $ 444.9

Railroad & Utility Products

     161.3      144.2

Assets of discontinued operations held for sale

     22.8      21.6

All other

     50.2      58.6
               

Total

   $ 684.5    $ 669.3
               

Goodwill:

     

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

   $ 58.7      60.3

Railroad & Utility Products

     2.1      2.2
               

Total

   $ 60.8    $ 62.5
               

The decrease in goodwill is a result of changes in currency translation between periods.

10. Income Taxes

Effective Tax Rate

Income taxes as a percentage of pretax income was 37.9 percent and 38.1 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. There were no discrete items included in the estimated effective tax rate for either period. The

 

11


effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2008 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0 percent due to taxes on foreign earnings (+2.3 percent). With respect to the third quarter of 2007, the effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to taxes on foreign earnings (+2.3 percent).

Income taxes as a percentage of pretax income was 37.3 percent and 37.6 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, There were no discrete items included in the estimated effective tax rate for either period. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0 percent due to taxes on foreign earnings (+1.6 percent) and other permanent items (+0.8 percent). With respect to the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to taxes on foreign earnings (+2.3 percent).

The income tax provision for interim periods is based on an estimated annual effective tax rate, which requires management to make its best estimate of annual pretax income by domestic and foreign jurisdictions and other items that impact taxable income. During the year, management regularly updates estimates based on changes in various factors such as product prices, shipments, product mix, operating and administrative costs, earnings mix by taxable jurisdiction, repatriation of foreign earnings, uncertain tax positions and the ability to claim tax credits such as the non-conventional fuel tax credit. To the extent that actual results vary from the estimates at the end of the third quarter, the actual tax provision recognized for 2008 could be materially different from the forecasted annual tax provision as of the end of the third quarter.

Uncertain Tax Positions

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in U.S. federal jurisdiction, individual U.S. state jurisdictions and non-U.S. jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2003.

As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate, was approximately $2.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively. Unrecognized tax benefits totaled $3.1 million and $2.7 million as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. The Company recognizes interest expense and any related penalties from uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had accrued approximately $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively for interest and penalties.

11. Inventories

Net inventories as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are summarized in the table below:

 

     

September 30,

2008

  

December 31,

2007

(Dollars in millions)     

Raw materials

   $ 96.2    $ 92.8

Work in process

     9.9      8.3

Finished goods

     109.9      97.7
               
     216.0      198.8

Less revaluation to LIFO

     34.4      26.9
               

Net

   $ 181.6    $ 171.9
               

 

12


12. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are summarized in the table below:

 

     

September 30,

2008

  

December 31,

2007

(Dollars in millions)     

Land

   $ 6.5    $ 6.7

Buildings

     22.3      22.6

Machinery and equipment

     508.5      497.6
               
     537.3      526.9

Less accumulated depreciation

     389.2      381.7
               

Net

   $ 148.1    $ 145.2
               

13. Pensions and Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a number of defined benefit and defined contribution plans to provide retirement benefits for employees in the U.S., as well as employees outside the U.S. These plans are maintained and contributions are made in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), local statutory law or as determined by the board of directors. The defined benefit pension plans generally provide benefits based upon years of service and compensation. Pension plans are funded except for two domestic non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for certain key executives. The defined contribution plans generally provide retirement assets to employee participants based upon employer and employee contributions to the participant’s individual investment account. The Company also provides retiree medical insurance coverage to certain U.S. employees and a life insurance benefit to most U.S. employees.

The Company has frozen its U.S. qualified and corresponding non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for salaried employees effective December 31, 2006. In addition, the Company has negotiated “soft” freezes with respect to a number of hourly defined benefit pension plans. Such negotiated agreements preclude new employees from entering the defined benefit pension plans.

In lieu of the reduction in benefits under the qualified defined benefit plan for U.S. salaried employees, the Company provides, based on age and years of service, a uniform employer contribution of at least three percent and up to a maximum of nine percent of compensation to the salaried employee’s defined contribution plan. The Company also matches contributions by salaried employees at an amount equal to 50 percent of the first six percent of compensation contributed by the salaried employee.

With respect to U.S. hourly employees who are not eligible to participate in an hourly defined benefit pension plan, the Company provides a uniform employer contribution of three percent of compensation to the hourly employee’s defined contribution plan. The Company also matches contributions by hourly employees at an amount equal to 100 percent of the first one percent and 50 percent on the next two percent of compensation contributed by the hourly employee.

Expense related to the Company’s defined contribution plans, including the uniform employer contribution described above, totaled $1.0 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $3.3 million and $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

13


The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the pension plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
              2008             2007             2008             2007  
(Dollars in millions)                   

Service cost

   $ 1.0     $ 0.8     $ 2.6     $ 2.7  

Interest cost

     2.9       2.8       8.9       8.3  

Expected return on plan assets

     (3.4 )     (3.3 )     (10.4 )     (9.8 )

Settlements and curtailments

     0.2             0.1        

Amortization of prior service cost

                 0.2       0.1  

Amortization of net loss

     0.1       0.5       0.3       1.4  

Amortization of transition asset

     (0.1 )     (0.1 )     (0.3 )     (0.3 )
                                  

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 0.7     $ 0.7     $ 1.4     $ 2.4  
                                  

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the other postretirement benefits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
                      2008                    2007                    2008                     2007  
(Dollars in millions)                  

Service cost

   $    $    $ 0.2     $ 0.2  

Interest cost

     0.2      0.2      0.6       0.6  

Amortization of prior service cost

               (0.2 )     (0.2 )

Amortization of net loss

                     0.1  
                                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 0.2    $ 0.2    $ 0.6     $ 0.7  
                                

14. Debt

Debt at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 was as follows:

 

    

Weighted
Average
Interest

Rate

    Maturity   

September 30,

2008

  

December 31,

2007

(Dollars in millions)                    

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility

  4.25 %   2009    $ 26.5    $ 12.0

Other revolving credit facilities

  %             9.3

Senior Secured Term Loans

  3.99 %   2009      22.6      31.6

Senior Secured Notes

  9 7/8 %   2013      218.0      217.8

Senior Discount Notes

  9 7/8 %   2014      182.2      169.5

Other debt, including capital leases

  8.86 %   Various      1.4     
                         

Total

         450.7      440.2

Less short term debt and current maturities of long-term debt

         13.0      21.3
                         

Long-term debt

       $ 437.7    $ 418.9
                         

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility & Term Loans

The Koppers Inc. senior secured credit facility agreement, as amended, provides for a revolving credit facility of up to $125.0 million and term loans of $22.6 million at variable rates. The loans are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of Koppers Inc.’s assets, including the assets of certain significant subsidiaries. Revolving credit availability is calculated based on receivables and inventory as well as the attainment of certain financial ratios. The credit facility contains certain covenants that

 

14


limit capital expenditures by Koppers Inc. and restrict its ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens on its assets, enter into leases, pay dividends and make investments or acquisitions. In addition, such covenants give rise to events of default upon the failure by Koppers Inc. to meet certain financial ratios.

As of September 30, 2008, the Company had $80.9 million of unused revolving credit availability for working capital purposes after restrictions by various debt covenants and certain letter of credit commitments. As of September 30, 2008, $15.4 million of commitments were utilized by outstanding letters of credit. In addition, as of September 30, 2008, the Company had outstanding term loans of $22.6 million under the credit facility.

Senior Secured Notes

The 9 7/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 (the “Senior Secured Notes”) are guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior secured basis by some of the Company’s current and future subsidiaries. Interest is payable semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year. The Senior Secured Notes and subsidiary guarantees are senior obligations of Koppers Inc. and its subsidiary guarantors, respectively, and are secured by a second priority lien on and security interest in substantially all of the assets owned by Koppers Inc. and its subsidiary guarantors that secure Koppers Inc.’s obligations under its senior secured credit facilities. On or after October 15, 2008, the Company is entitled to redeem all or a portion of the Senior Secured Notes at a redemption price of 104.938 percent of principal value, declining annually in ratable amounts until the redemption price is equivalent to the principal value.

The Company has a notional $50.0 million interest rate swap to convert a portion of the Senior Secured Notes from fixed-interest rate debt to floating-interest rate debt. Accordingly, the interest rate swap is reflected at fair value in other long-term liabilities and the Senior Secured Notes subject to the notional amount of the interest rate swap is reflected at fair value at each balance sheet date. At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the impact of the interest rate swap decreased the carrying value of the Senior Secured Notes by $(0.3) million and $(0.5) million, respectively.

The indentures governing the Senior Secured Notes include customary covenants that restrict, among other things, the ability of Koppers Inc. and its subsidiaries to incur additional debt, pay dividends or make certain other restricted payments, incur liens, merge or sell all or substantially all of the assets of Koppers Inc. or its subsidiaries or enter into various transactions with affiliates.

Senior Discount Notes

Koppers Holdings’ 9 7/8% Senior Discount Notes due 2014 (the “Senior Discount Notes”) have a principal amount at maturity of $203.0 million. No cash interest is required to be paid prior to November 15, 2009. The accreted value of each Senior Discount Note increases from the date of issuance until November 15, 2009, at a rate of 9 7/8% per annum compounded semiannually such that on November 19, 2009 the accreted value will equal $203.0 million, the principal amount due at maturity. Subsequent to November 19, 2009, cash interest on the Senior Discount Notes will accrue and be payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on May 15, 2010.

The Senior Discount Notes are effectively subordinated to the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness, and are structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities and preferred equity of the Company’s subsidiaries. On or after November 15, 2009, the Company is entitled to redeem all or a portion of the Senior Discount Notes at a redemption price of 104.938 percent of principal value, declining annually in ratable amounts until the redemption price is equivalent to the principal value.

Guarantees

The Company’s 60-percent owed subsidiary in China has issued a guarantee of $17.9 million in support of the Company’s 30-percent investment in Tangshan Koppers Kailuan Carbon Chemical Company Limited (“TKK”). The guarantee relates to bank debt incurred by TKK and expires in 2013.

Subsequent Events

The Company used a portion of the estimated proceeds of $90.0 million from the Monessen sale in October 2008 to repay the term loans of $22.6 million and amounts borrowed under the senior secured revolving credit facility of $26.5 million. This

 

15


repayment increased the amount available under the senior secured credit facility to approximately $107.0 million. The Company also repurchased Senior Secured Notes with a face value of $17.5 million on October 27, 2008.

On October 31, 2008, Koppers Inc. entered into a $300.0 million revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks. The credit facility expires on October 31, 2012, has an initial interest rate of Libor plus 250 basis points, and is subject to certain covenants including maximum leverage and minimum fixed charges coverage. The agreement replaces the existing senior secured revolving credit facility.

15. Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company recognizes asset retirement obligations for the removal and disposal of residues; dismantling of certain tanks required by governmental authorities; cleaning and dismantling costs for owned rail cars; and cleaning costs for leased rail cars and barges. The following table reflects changes in the carrying values of asset retirement obligations:

 

      September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 
(Dollars in millions)       

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 18.1     $ 20.0  

Accretion expense

     1.2       1.6  

Revision in estimated cash flows, net

     (0.2 )     3.6  

Expenses incurred

     (4.7 )     (7.3 )

Currency translation

           0.2  
                  

Balance at end of period

   $ 14.4     $ 18.1  
                  

16. Deferred Revenue from Extended Product Warranty Liabilities

The Company defers revenues associated with extended product warranty liabilities based on historical loss experience and sales of extended warranties on certain products. The following table reflects changes in the carrying values of deferred revenue:

 

      September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 
(Dollars in millions)       

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 8.2     $ 8.4  

Deferred revenue for sales of extended warranties

     0.3       0.9  

Revenue earned

     (0.9 )     (1.1 )
                  

Balance at end of period

   $ 7.6     $ 8.2  
                  

17. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in litigation and various proceedings relating to environmental laws and regulations and antitrust, toxic tort, product liability and other matters. Certain of these matters are discussed below. The ultimate resolution of these contingencies could, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the consolidated financial statements.

Legal Proceedings

Product Liability Cases. Koppers Inc., along with other defendants, is currently a defendant in lawsuits filed in a variety of states in which the plaintiffs claim they suffered a variety of illnesses (including cancer) as a result of exposure to coal tar pitch sold by the defendants. There are 96 plaintiffs in 53 cases pending as of September 30, 2008 as compared to 97 plaintiffs in 52 cases at December 31, 2007. As of September 30, 2008, there are a total of 47 cases pending in state court in Pennsylvania, one case each pending in state courts in Tennessee, and Texas, two cases each pending in an Indiana state court and one case pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and one case pending in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.

 

16


The plaintiffs in all 53 pending cases seek to recover compensatory damages, while plaintiffs in 43 cases also seek to recover punitive damages. The plaintiffs in the 47 cases filed in Pennsylvania state court seek unspecified damages in excess of the court’s minimum arbitration jurisdictional limit. The plaintiffs in the two cases filed in Indiana state court and the one case filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee also seek unspecified damages. The plaintiff in the Oregon case seeks damages in excess of $1.8 million. The plaintiffs in the Tennessee state court case each seek damages of $15.0 million. The plaintiffs in the one Texas state court case have agreed to dismiss their claims against Koppers Inc. pending execution of final settlement and release documents.

The other defendants in these lawsuits vary from case to case and include companies such as Beazer East, Inc., United States Steel Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Vertellus Specialties Inc., Dow Chemical Company, Rust-Oleum Corporation, UCAR Carbon Company, Inc., Exxon Mobil Corporation, Chemtura Corporation, SGL Carbon Corporation, Alcoa, Inc., and PPG Industries, Inc. Discovery is proceeding in these cases. The Company has not provided a reserve for these lawsuits because, at this time, the Company cannot reasonably determine the probability of a loss, and the amount of loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated. Although Koppers Inc. is vigorously defending these cases, an unfavorable resolution of these matters may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

Koppers Inc. is currently a defendant in several products liability lawsuits in which the plaintiffs allege exposure to products or constituents of products sold by Koppers, including benzene, oils, solvents and creosote. There are 14 plaintiffs in five cases pending as of September 30, 2008 as compared to 72 plaintiffs in ten cases at December 31, 2007. Most of these cases also involve numerous other defendants in addition to Koppers Inc. The plaintiffs in one of these cases seek compensatory damages in an unspecified amount in excess of the court’s minimum jurisdictional limit. The plaintiffs in another case seek general damages in an unspecified amount and in excess of the court’s jurisdictional limit. The plaintiffs in two other cases seek to recover compensatory and punitive exemplary damages in an unspecified amount in excess of the court’s minimum jurisdictional limit, while the plaintiff in the fifth case seeks special damages in excess of $50,000. The Company has not provided a reserve for these lawsuits because, at this time, the Company cannot reasonably determine the probability of loss, and the amount of loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated.

Somerville Cases. Koppers Inc. is currently defending four sets of state court cases in Texas (Antu, Davis, Hensen and Moses) involving approximately 150 plaintiffs who allegedly have worked or resided in Somerville, Texas, where Koppers Inc. has operated a wood treatment plant since 1995. Koppers has been named, but not served, in another case (Asselin) that has 11 more plaintiffs who allegedly worked or resided in Somerville, Texas. These cases are pending in Burleson County, Texas and in Tarrant County, Texas. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (the “BNSF”) has also been named as a defendant in these cases. The complaints allege that plaintiffs have suffered personal injuries (including death, in some cases) resulting from exposure to wood preservative chemicals used at the Somerville, Texas wood treatment plant. The complaints in the Moses, Davis and Asselin cases additionally allege that plaintiffs have suffered property damage.

The complaints seek to recover various damages for each plaintiff, including compensatory and punitive damages within the jurisdictional limits of the court for, among other things, bodily injuries, pain and mental anguish, emotional distress, medical monitoring, medical expenses, diminished earning capacity, permanent disability, physical impairment and/or disfigurement, loss of companionship and society, loss of consortium, devaluation of property, loss of use and enjoyment of personal property, loss of use and enjoyment of real property, property damage, property remediation costs, funeral and burial expenses and lost wages.

There are a total of 44 plaintiffs (six of whom have claims pending against only the BNSF) in the Moses cases. These plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages in an unspecified amount in excess of the court’s minimum jurisdictional limit for alleged personal injuries and property damages. There are a total of 10 plaintiffs in the Antu case, four of whom have claims pending against only the BNSF. These plaintiffs also seek compensatory and punitive damages in an unspecified amount in excess of the court’s minimum jurisdictional limit. The plaintiffs in the Hensen case in which Koppers Inc. was joined in May 2007 seek compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $75,000 each. This case, which is the only one that remains pending against Koppers Inc. in Tarrant County, Texas, identifies a total of 93 plaintiffs, one of whom has a claim pending against only the BNSF. The Davis case involves one plaintiff who seeks compensatory and punitive damages in an unspecified amount in excess of the court’s minimum jurisdictional limit.

Koppers Inc. was named as a defendant in a lawsuit initially filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois (Bullard), by 144 current and former residents of Somerville who claim that they have developed personal injuries and illnesses (including death,

 

17


in some cases) as a result of exposure to chemicals and contaminants which they alleged have emanated from the Somerville plant. Of these plaintiffs, 77 were named as intervenors in the Tarrant County litigation (Henson) discussed in the preceding paragraph. Plaintiffs asserted claims for negligence, trespass and willful and wanton conduct against the BNSF and Koppers Inc., and claims for negligence and strict products liability against several manufacturers and suppliers of a wood preservative to the plant. Plaintiffs sought compensatory damages in excess of the court’s minimal jurisdictional limit and unspecified punitive damages and costs. In December 2007, Koppers Inc. filed a notice of removal removing this case from the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. On August 29, 2008, this case was transferred to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division. On October 28, 2008, the plaintiffs’ claims were dismissed without prejudice by the Court.

Koppers Inc. was named as a defendant in six cases (Adams, Cummings, Hamilton, Jeffrey, More and Rucks) that were originally filed on December 27, 2007, in the 21st and 335th Judicial Districts in Burleson County, Texas. These cases also involved personal injury claims relating to the Somerville, Texas plant. The plaintiffs in these six cases sought compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $75,000 each. These cases collectively named approximately 544 plaintiffs. The personal injury claims primarily were restatements of claims that had been previously asserted in a case filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division which was voluntarily dismissed in November 2006. In February 2008, Koppers Inc. removed all six cases from the District Court of Burleson County, Texas, to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division. On October 28, 2008, the plaintiffs’ claims were dismissed without prejudice by the Court.

The Company has not provided a reserve for these matters because, at this time, it cannot reasonably determine the probability of a loss, and the amount of loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated. Although Koppers Inc. is vigorously defending these cases, an unfavorable resolution of these matters may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

Grenada – All Cases. Koppers Inc., together with various co-defendants (including Beazer East), has been named as a defendant in toxic tort lawsuits in state court in Mississippi (see “Grenada – State Court Cases” below) and in federal court in Mississippi (see “Grenada – Federal Court Cases” below) arising from the operation of the Grenada facility. The complaints allege that plaintiffs were exposed to harmful levels of various toxic chemicals, including creosote, pentachlorophenol, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxin, as a result of soil, surface water and groundwater contamination and air emissions from the Grenada facility and, in some cases, from an adjacent manufacturing facility operated by Heatcraft, Inc. Based on the experience of Koppers Inc. in defending previous toxic tort cases, the Company does not believe that the damages sought by the plaintiffs in the state and federal court cases are supported by the facts of the cases. The Company has not provided a reserve for these lawsuits because, at this time, it cannot reasonably determine the probability of a loss, and the amount of loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated. Although Koppers Inc. intends to vigorously defend these cases, there can be no assurance that an unfavorable resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. See “Environmental and Other Liabilities Retained or Assumed by Others” for additional information.

Grenada – Federal Court Cases.

Beck Case – The complaint in this case was originally filed by approximately 110 plaintiffs. Pursuant to an order granting defendants’ motion to sever, the court dismissed the claims of 98 plaintiffs in the Beck case without prejudice to their right to re-file their complaints. In December 2005, 94 of the 98 plaintiffs in the Beck case whose claims were dismissed re-filed their complaints. The plaintiffs in the 94 cases that were re-filed seek compensatory damages from the defendants of at least $5.0 million for each of eight counts and punitive damages of at least $10.0 million for each of three counts (in addition to damages in an unspecified amount for alleged trespass and nuisance). No discovery orders have been issued with respect to the 94 additional cases. The claims of the 12 plaintiffs whose claims were not dismissed are still pending. The 12 remaining plaintiffs seek compensatory damages from the defendants in an unspecified amount and punitive damages of $20.0 million for each of four counts. The court ordered that the claims of the 12 remaining Beck plaintiffs must be tried separately.

The first of these trials commenced on April 17, 2006, and the jury returned a verdict of 20 percent of $845,000 against Koppers Inc. for compensatory damages and no liability for punitive damages. Subsequent to the verdict, the court reduced the compensatory damages judgment by $60,000 to $785,000. Koppers Inc. appealed the judgment entered against it to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The Court of Appeals granted a reversal of the district court’s judgment on

 

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June 30, 2008. The plaintiff filed a petition for rehearing with the United States Court of Appeals and on October 23, 2008, the Court of Appeals denied plaintiff’s petition for rehearing. The remaining 11 trials have been stayed pending the resolution of the appeal process.

Ellis Case – There are approximately 1,180 plaintiffs in this case. Each plaintiff seeks compensatory damages from the defendants of at least $5.0 million for each of seven counts and punitive damages of at least $10.0 million for each of three counts (in addition to damages for an unspecified amount for trespass and nuisance). The Ellis complaint also requests injunctive relief. These cases have been stayed pending the completion of the trials for the 12 plaintiffs in the Beck case.

Grenada – State Court Cases. The state court cases were brought on behalf of approximately 214 plaintiffs in five counties in Mississippi. Each plaintiff seeks compensatory damages from the defendants of at least $5.0 million for each of up to eight counts and punitive damages of at least $10.0 million for each of three counts. Certain plaintiffs also seek damages for alleged trespass and private nuisance in unspecified amounts together with injunctive relief. The Mississippi Supreme Court ordered that the plaintiffs in the pending state court cases filed in counties other than Grenada County (approximately 110 cases) be severed and transferred to Grenada County. Plaintiffs’ counsel attempted to transfer ten such cases to Grenada County but all ten cases were dismissed by the Court. Motions to dismiss the remaining plaintiffs in the four non-Grenada County cases are pending.

With respect to the state court case that was originally filed in Grenada County, the court granted the defendants’ motion to sever the claims of these plaintiffs for improper joinder. These plaintiffs then filed 104 individual complaints in Grenada County. Of these, 43 have been dismissed to date. On August 28, 2008, the Circuit Court of Grenada County granted summary judgment in favor of the Company in 39 cases. Plaintiffs filed motions to reconsider the summary judgment orders on September 5, 2008, and the motions remain under advisement before the court. Also pending before the Circuit Court are motions to dismiss for want of prosecution in three cases, and one additional motion for summary judgment.

Discontinued Operations. The Company sold its 51 percent interest in Koppers Arch on July 5, 2007 (see Note 5) to Arch Chemicals, Inc. and has provided an indemnity to Arch Chemicals for the Company’s share of liabilities, if any, arising from certain types of obligations and claims that arose prior to the Company’s sale of its interest in Koppers Arch. Koppers Inc. has received three notices from Arch Chemicals asserting claims for indemnification under the share purchase agreement. The first notice relates to environmental issues related to the condition of certain property associated with the Auckland, New Zealand operations of Koppers Arch Wood Protection (NZ) Limited. Reserving all rights, Koppers has agreed to participate in the payment of attorneys’ fees and related expenses relating to this matter until further notice. The two other notices relate to legal actions that have been filed in the High Court of New Zealand Auckland Registry against a third party and against Arch Wood Protection (NZ) Limited by a competitor of Arch Wood Protection (NZ) Limited. The competitor/plaintiff alleges, among other things, claims of defamation, injurious falsehood, conspiracy and violation of the New Zealand Fair Trading Act. Koppers Inc. is currently evaluating its indemnity obligations relating to these claims. The plaintiff seeks damages of approximately $10.8 million. The Company has not provided a reserve for these matters because, at this time, it cannot reasonably determine the probability of a loss, and the amount of loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated. An unfavorable resolution of these matters may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

Legal Reserves Rollforward. The following table reflects changes in the accrued liability for legal proceedings:

 

      September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 
(Dollars in millions)       

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 0.4     $ 1.2  

Expense

           0.9  

Reversal of reserves

     (0.3 )     (0.1 )

Cash expenditures

     (0.2 )     (1.0 )

Business divestiture

           (0.5 )

Currency translation

     0.1       (0.1 )
                  

Balance at end of period

   $     $ 0.4  
                  

Reversal of reserves in 2008 primarily relates to the reversal of the Grenada federal court verdict that was reversed by an appeals court in the second quarter. Expense accruals and cash expenditures in 2007 primarily relate to the New Zealand Commerce Commission (“NZCC”) matter and the business divestiture relates to Koppers Arch (Note 5).

 

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Environmental and Other Litigation Matters

The Company is subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations and potential liabilities relating to the protection of the environment and human health and safety including, among other things, the cleanup of contaminated sites, the treatment, storage and disposal of wastes, the discharge of effluent into waterways, the emission of substances into the air and various health and safety matters. The Company’s subsidiaries expect to incur substantial costs for ongoing compliance with such laws and regulations. The Company’s subsidiaries may also face governmental or third-party claims, or otherwise incur costs, relating to cleanup of, or for injuries resulting from, contamination at sites associated with past and present operations. The Company accrues for environmental liabilities when a determination can be made that they are probable and reasonably estimable.

Environmental and Other Liabilities Retained or Assumed by Others. The Company has agreements with former owners of certain of its operating locations under which the former owners retained, assumed and/or agreed to indemnify the Company against certain environmental and other liabilities. The most significant of these agreements was entered into at Koppers Inc.’s formation on December 29, 1988 (the “Acquisition”). Under the related asset purchase agreement between the Company and Beazer East, subject to certain limitations, Beazer East retained the responsibility for and agreed to indemnify the Company against certain liabilities, damages, losses and costs, including, with certain limited exceptions, liabilities under and costs to comply with environmental laws to the extent attributable to acts or omissions occurring prior to the Acquisition and liabilities related to products sold by Beazer East prior to the Acquisition (the “Indemnity”). Beazer Limited unconditionally guaranteed Beazer East’s performance of the Indemnity pursuant to a guarantee (the “Guarantee”). Beazer Limited became a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Hanson PLC in 1991. In 1998, Hanson PLC purchased an insurance policy under which the funding and risk of certain environmental and other liabilities relating to the former Koppers Company, Inc. operations of Beazer East (which includes locations purchased from Beazer East by the Company) are underwritten by Centre Solutions (a member of the Zurich Group) and Swiss Re. In 2007, Hanson PLC was acquired by Heidelberg Cement AG.

The Indemnity provides different mechanisms, subject to certain limitations, by which Beazer East is obligated to indemnify Koppers Inc. with regard to certain environmental, product and other liabilities and imposes certain conditions on Koppers Inc. before receiving such indemnification, including, in some cases, certain limitations regarding the time period as to which claims for indemnification can be brought. In July 2004, Koppers Inc. and Beazer East agreed to amend the environmental indemnification provisions of the December 29, 1988 asset purchase agreement to extend the indemnification period for pre-closing environmental liabilities through July 2019. As consideration for the amendment, Koppers Inc. paid Beazer East a total of $7.0 million and agreed to share toxic tort litigation defense costs arising from any sites acquired from Beazer East. The July 2004 amendment did not change the provisions of the Indemnity with respect to indemnification for non-environmental claims, such as product liability claims, which claims may continue to be asserted after July 2019.

Qualified expenditures under the Indemnity are not subject to a monetary limit. Qualified expenditures under the Indemnity include (i) environmental cleanup liabilities required by third parties, such as investigation, remediation and closure costs, relating to pre-December 29, 1988, or Pre-Closing, acts or omissions of Beazer East or its predecessors; (ii) environmental claims by third parties for personal injuries, property damages and natural resources damages relating to Pre-Closing acts or omissions of Beazer East or its predecessors; (iii) punitive damages for the acts or omissions of Beazer East and its predecessors without regard to the date of the alleged conduct and (iv) product liability claims for products sold by Beazer East or its predecessors without regard to the date of the alleged conduct. If the third party claims described in sections (i) and (ii) above are not made by July 2019, Beazer East will not be required to pay the costs arising from such claims under the Indemnity. However, with respect to any such claims which are made by July 2019, Beazer East will continue to be responsible for such claims under the Indemnity beyond July 2019. The Indemnity provides for the resolution of issues between Koppers Inc. and Beazer East by an arbitrator on an expedited basis upon the request of either party. The arbitrator could be asked, among other things, to make a determination regarding the allocation of environmental responsibilities between Koppers Inc. and Beazer East. Arbitration decisions under the Indemnity are final and binding on the parties.

Contamination has been identified at most of the Company’s manufacturing and other sites. Three sites currently owned and operated by the Company in the United States are listed on the National Priorities List promulgated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”). Currently, at the properties acquired from Beazer East (which include all of the National Priorities List sites and all but one of the sites permitted under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”)), a significant portion of all investigative, cleanup and closure activities are

 

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being conducted and paid for by Beazer East pursuant to the terms of the Indemnity. In addition, other of the Company’s sites are or have been operated under RCRA and various other environmental permits, and remedial and closure activities are being conducted at some of these sites.

To date, the parties that retained, assumed and/or agreed to indemnify the Company against the liabilities referred to above, including Beazer East, have performed their obligations in all material respects. The Company believes that, for the last three years, amounts paid by Beazer East as a result of its environmental remediation obligations under the Indemnity have averaged in total approximately $13.4 million per year. Periodically, issues have arisen between Koppers Inc. and Beazer East and/or other indemnitors that have been resolved without arbitration. Koppers Inc. and Beazer East are currently in discussions that involve, among other things, the allocation of environmental costs related to certain operating and closed facilities.

If for any reason (including disputed coverage or financial incapability) one or more of such parties fail to perform their obligations and the Company is held liable for or otherwise required to pay all or part of such liabilities without reimbursement, the imposition of such liabilities on the Company could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. Furthermore, the Company could be required to record a contingent liability on its balance sheets with respect to such matters, which could result in a negative adjustment to the Company’s net worth.

Domestic Environmental Matters. Koppers Inc. is named as a potentially responsible party (a “PRP”) at four CERCLA Superfund sites, including the Portland Harbor site located on the Willamette River in Oregon. The Company and the other PRP members are currently finalizing a formal PRP agreement and are considering appropriate allocation methodologies for past remedial investigation/feasibility studies and future costs. The Company has provided a reserve for CERCLA sites totaling $0.2 million as of September 30, 2008.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (the “IEPA”) has requested that Koppers Inc. conduct a voluntary investigation of soil and groundwater at its Stickney, Illinois carbon materials and chemicals facility. The IEPA advised Koppers Inc. that it made such request as a result of a reported release of oil-like material from Koppers Inc.’s property into an adjacent river canal. Koppers Inc. conducted such investigation in cooperation with Beazer East. The Company and Beazer East have engaged consultants to assist the Company in preparing a remediation strategy and an estimate of potential costs and has submitted a plan to conduct the remediation on this site. The Company has provided a reserve for this matter totaling $1.6 million as of September 30, 2008.

In August 2005, the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection (the “PADEP”) proposed a fine related to alleged water discharge exceedances from a storm water sewer pipe at the Company’s tar distillation facility in Clairton, Pennsylvania. In December 2006, the Company reached a preliminary settlement of the fine with the PADEP for $0.5 million, subject to the execution of a consent order that the Company is currently negotiating with the PADEP. Accordingly, the Company has reserved the amount of the settlement. The Company also proposed to undertake certain engineering and capital improvements to address this matter. In December 2007, the Company agreed to contribute the capital improvements, primarily a new sewer line, to the city of Clairton and accordingly, has provided a reserve of $1.6 million as of September 30, 2008.

In September 2007, Koppers Inc. and the EPA’s Office of Suspension and Disbarment reached an agreement to an 18-month extension to Koppers Inc.’s compliance agreement related to violations at Koppers Inc.’s Woodward Coke facility prior to its closure in January 1998. The extended compliance agreement is expected to expire in January 2009. A failure on the Company’s part to comply with the terms of the compliance agreement could lead to significant costs and sanctions, including the potential for suspension or debarment from government contracts. A suspension or debarment from government contracts may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

Australian Environmental Matters. Soil and groundwater contamination has been detected at certain of the Company’s Australian facilities. At the Company’s tar distillation facility in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, soil contamination from an abandoned underground coal tar pipeline and other groundwater contamination has been detected at a property adjacent to the facility. In December 2006 the Company and the owner of the adjacent property reached an agreement in principle pursuant to which the Company will contribute $1.6 million and the owner of the adjacent property will contribute $5.4 million toward remediation of the property. Subject to the approval of a remediation action plan by local environmental authorities, the agreement in principle provides that the Company will assume responsibility for the management of the remediation effort and will indemnify the current owner for any remediation costs in excess of its agreed contribution. At the completion of the remediation, the agreement in principle provides that the property will transfer to the Company. The Company has reserved its expected total remediation costs of $1.6 million at September 30, 2008.

 

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Other Australian environmental matters include soil and groundwater remediation at two former wood products facilities in Australia which are being prepared for future sale. With respect to the first facility in Hume, Australia, the soil remediation is substantially complete. In the fourth quarter of 2006, a Phase II environmental assessment was completed that indicated estimated groundwater remediation costs of between $0.7 million and $2.2 million. The Company is currently working with local environmental authorities to determine the preferred method of remediation.

With respect to the second facility in Thornton, Australia, an environmental assessment was completed in the second quarter of 2007 which indicated areas of soil contamination which the Company may remediate in preparation for sale. The estimated soil remediation costs range between $1.7 million and $3.4 million. The Company has reserved approximately $2.3 million for remediation costs at these sites which represents its best estimate of groundwater and remaining soil remediation.

Environmental Reserves Rollforward. The following table reflects changes in the accrued liability for environmental matters:

 

      September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 
(Dollars in millions)       

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 12.5     $ 5.6  

Expense

     0.5       7.6  

Reversal of reserves

           (0.1 )

Cash expenditures

     (1.3 )     (1.0 )

Business divestiture

           (0.2 )

Currency translation

     (0.5 )     0.6  
                  

Balance at end of period

   $ 11.2     $ 12.5  
                  

Expense for 2008 consisted primarily of accruals related to the Thornton site and cash expenditures include a $0.5 million settlement of a CWA consent decree. Expense for 2007 consisted primarily of accruals for estimated remediation costs at the Stickney, Illinois and Clairton, Pennsylvania tar distillation plants, closed facilities remediation in the U.S. and Australia, estimated remediation costs at the Newcastle tar distillation facility and soil remediation at a site in Australia.

Contingent Liabilities

In the third quarter of 2008, the Company retired from service an owned vessel used to transport carbon materials products and raw materials. In connection with this retirement and under a contractual arrangement with the vessel’s operator, the Company may be liable to reimburse the vessel’s operator for severance benefits it pays to its employees. There are a number of uncertainties regarding the obligation to fund such benefits and the extent of the liability, if any, under the contractual arrangement. To the extent the Company determines that it is liable to fund the severance arrangement, the Company has been provided an estimate by the vessel’s operator that the obligation could be as high as $2.0 million. The vessel’s operator and the union that represents the employees are currently in negotiation regarding the amount of such severance benefits.

The Company has provided a reserve for the estimated amount to settle this matter. An unfavorable resolution of this matter above this amount may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

 

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

Certain sections of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” include forward-looking statements concerning trends or events potentially affecting the businesses of Koppers. These statements typically contain words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “estimates”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “continue”, “plans”, “intends”, “likely”, or other similar words indicating that future outcomes are uncertain. In accordance with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, these statements are accompanied by cautionary language identifying important factors, although not necessarily all factors, which would cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. For additional risk factors affecting our business, see Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and related notes included in Item 1 of this Part I as well as the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Overview

Koppers is a leading integrated global provider of carbon compounds and commercial wood treatment products. The Company’s products are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end-markets, including the aluminum, railroad, specialty chemical, utility, rubber and steel industries. Koppers serves its customers through a comprehensive global manufacturing and distribution network, which includes manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Australia, China, the United Kingdom and Denmark.

The Company operates two principal businesses, Carbon Materials & Chemicals (“CM&C”) and Railroad & Utility Products (“R&UP”). Through the Company’s Carbon Materials & Chemicals business, Koppers believes it is the largest distiller of coal tar in North America, Australia, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. The Company processes coal tar into a variety of products, including carbon pitch, creosote and phthalic anhydride, which are critical intermediate materials in the production of aluminum, the pressure treatment of wood and the production of plasticizers and specialty chemicals, respectively. Through its Railroad & Utility Products business, Koppers believes it is the largest North American supplier of railroad crossties. The Company’s other commercial wood treatment products include the provision of utility poles to the electric and telephone utility industries.

The CM&C business has entered into a number of strategic transactions during the last two years to expand and focus on its core business related to coal tar distillation and derived products. In November 2007, Tangshan Koppers Kailuan Carbon Chemical Company Limited (“TKK”) was established and is constructing and will operate a new tar distillation facility in the Hebei Province near the Jingtang Port with a distillation capacity of 300,000 metric tons. The Company holds a 30 percent investment in TKK which is expected to be commissioned in early 2009. In December 2007, the Company announced the approval of a project to expand the capacity of its existing 60-percent owned tar distillation plant in Tangshan, China from 150,000 metric tons to 200,000 metric tons. The expansion is expected to become operational in late 2008.

In September 2008, the board of directors authorized management to pursue the sale of Koppers Monessen Partners LP (“Monessen”). Monessen is a metallurgical furnace coke facility that was 95 percent-owned by Koppers Inc. (which serves as the general partner) and five percent owned by a limited partner. Effective as of the end of the second quarter of 2008, Monessen was classified as a discontinued operation in the Company’s statement of operations and its assets and liabilities were reclassified as “held for sale” in the balance sheet. On August 3, 2008, Koppers Inc. signed a definitive agreement to sell Monessen to ArcelorMittal S.A. and the sale subsequently closed on October 1, 2008.

In July 2007, the Company sold its 51 percent interest in Koppers Arch Investments Pty Limited and its subsidiaries (“Koppers Arch”) to Arch Chemicals Inc. Effective as of this date, Koppers Arch was classified as a discontinued operation in the statement of operations and earnings per share and the financial statements have been accordingly restated. Koppers Arch was a manufacturer of timber presentation chemicals.

 

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Outlook

Trend Overview

The Company’s businesses and results of operations are impacted by various competitive and other factors including (i) raw materials pricing and availability, in particular the amount and quality of coal tar available in global markets, which could be negatively impacted by reductions in coke production or the relative increase in the value of coal tar as a fuel source as a result of higher energy prices; (ii) competitive conditions in global carbon pitch markets; and (iii) low margins in the utility pole business.

Raw material prices have increased over the past several years, including primary feedstocks of coal tar and lumber. Raw material pricing under current contracts and contracts expiring in the near future and currently under negotiation indicate that, in certain geographic regions, the trend of increasing raw material prices will continue. Any disruption in raw material supply or significant increases in raw material costs which are not able to be passed on to customers may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

Many of the Company’s sales contracts include provisions that allow for price increases based on increases in the price of raw materials, which has allowed the Company to generally maintain profit dollars in our core businesses. However, significant increases in raw material costs, such as those occurring during 2008 and 2007, have resulted in margin dilution because only the increased cost is passed on to the customer. The Company believes that future expansion of the aluminum (and carbon pitch) markets will be primarily in Asian and Middle Eastern countries. The Company expects to expand into these markets to the extent that the economics justify such expansion. Conditions in the U.S. economy may have an impact on the demand for certain products, particularly coal tar chemicals, which are used in various applications related to consumer products and the housing industry. Net sales over the past several years have been significantly impacted by favorable foreign exchange rates in Australia, Denmark, China and the United Kingdom. In the event this trend reverses, net sales could decline if volumes do not increase.

In addition to the normal seasonal impacts associated with crosstie procurement, the Company has seen a reduction in purchasing by the railroads in order to reduce their crosstie inventories. The reduction is due to accelerated buying by the railroads during 2007 which increased their inventories above normal levels, coupled with an uncertain economic climate thus far in 2008. Current expectations are that crosstie purchases by the railroads will return to more normalized levels for the remainder of the year; however, uncertainty associated with the North American economic climate could impact the level of purchasing activity during the remainder of 2008.

Seasonality and Effects of Weather on Operations

The Company’s quarterly operating results fluctuate due to a variety of factors that are outside its control, including inclement weather conditions, which in the past have affected operating results. Operations at several facilities have been halted for short periods of time during the winter months. Moreover, demand for some of the Company’s products declines during periods of inclement weather. As a result of the foregoing, the Company anticipates that it may experience material fluctuations in quarterly operating results. Historically, the Company’s operating results can be significantly lower in the first and fourth calendar quarters as compared to the second and third calendar quarters. The Company expects this seasonality trend to continue in future periods.

 

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Results of Operations – Comparison of Three Months Ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007

Consolidated Results

Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are summarized by segment in the following table:

 

     Three Months
Ended
September 30,
   Net
Change
 
      2008    2007   
(Dollars in millions)       

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

   $ 245.0    $ 205.0    +19 %

Railroad & Utility Products

     124.4      124.1    %
                  
   $ 369.4    $ 329.1    +12 %
                  

CM&C net sales increased by $40.0 million or 19 percent due to the following changes in volume, pricing and foreign exchange:

 

      Price     Volume     Foreign
Exchange
    Net
Change
 

Carbon Materials(a)

   +4 %   +4 %   %   +8 %

Distillates(b)

   +4 %   +2 %   +1 %   +7 %

Coal Tar Chemicals(c)

   +2 %   -2 %   %   %

Other(d)

   +3 %   +1 %   %   +4 %
                          

Total CM&C

   +13 %   +5 %   +1 %   +19 %
                          

 

(a) Includes carbon pitch and refined tar.
(b) Includes creosote and carbon black feedstock.
(c) Includes naphthalene and phthalic anhydride.
(d) Includes carbon black, benzole, freight and other products.

Carbon materials’ prices increased in the U.S. as customer prices were increased in response to substantially higher raw material costs. An increase in carbon materials sales volume was realized primarily in China of two percent and the U.S. of two percent. Volume increases in the U.S. primarily relates to increases in refined tar deliveries.

Distillate pricing improved in the quarter ended September 30, 2008 due to increases in carbon black feedstock prices in Europe totaling three percent and increases in U.S. creosote pricing totaling one percent. The increase in carbon black feedstock and creosote pricing is consistent with higher worldwide oil prices. The increase in distillate sales volume is due primarily to increased creosote sales in the U.S. totaling one percent.

For coal tar chemicals, increases in phthalic anhydride prices totaling two percent were offset by decreases in phthalic anhydride volumes of two percent. With respect to other products, carbon black prices increased two percent and specialty chemical volumes increased one percent each as compared to the prior year quarter.

R&UP net sales increased by $0.3 million due to the following changes in volume and pricing:

 

      Price     Volume     Net
Change
 

Railroad Crossties(a)

   +3 %   -2 %   +1 %

TSO Crossties(b)

   +2 %   -2 %   %

Distribution Poles

   +1 %   -1 %   %

Other(c)

   +2 %   -3 %   -1 %
                    

Total R&UP

   +8 %   -8 %   %
                    

 

(a) Includes treated and untreated railroad crossties.
(b) Includes sales from treatment services only (“TSO”).
(c) Includes transmission poles, pilings, creosote, freight and other treated and untreated lumber products.

 

25


Sales price increases for treated and untreated railroad crossties totaled four percent and sales volume increases for treated railroad crossties totaled two percent for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. These increases were partially offset by volume decreases of untreated railroad crossties totaling four percent. Volumes of untreated railroad crossties were impacted by capital purchasing reductions by the Class 1 railroads and reduced raw material availability due to weather and a weak timber market.

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales was 80 percent for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 as compared to 81 percent for the quarter ended September 30, 2007. Overall, cost of sales increased by $27.6 million when compared to the prior year period due primarily to higher raw material costs and volumes.

Depreciation and amortization for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 was $0.7 million lower when compared to the prior year period partially due to reduced amortization of intangible assets.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 were $0.8 million higher than the prior period and were unfavorably affected by higher salary expense and stock-based compensation expense.

Interest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 was $0.6 million lower when compared to the prior year period primarily due to lower average borrowings and lower average interest rates on revolving credit facilities and term debt. Lower average borrowings resulted from debt reductions funded by cash flows from operations and the net proceeds from the sale of Koppers Arch in July 2007.

Income taxes for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 were $5.0 million higher when compared to the prior year period primarily due to the increase in pretax income of $12.8 million partially offset by a decrease in the effective income tax rate. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 was 37.9 percent as compared to the prior year period of 38.1 percent.

Segment Results

Segment operating profit for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is summarized by segment in the following table:

 

     Three Months
Ended September 30,
    % Change  
      2008     2007    
(Dollars in millions)       

Operating profit:

      

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

   $ 44.4     $ 29.3     +52 %

Railroad & Utility Products

     7.3       9.9     -26 %

Corporate

     (0.1 )     (0.2 )   +50 %
                    
   $ 51.6     $ 39.0     +32 %
                    

Operating profit as a percentage of net sales:

      

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

     18.1 %     14.3 %   +3.8 %

Railroad & Utility Products

     5.9 %     8.0 %   -2.1 %
                    
     14.0 %     11.9 %   +2.1 %
                    

 

26


Carbon Materials & Chemicals net sales and operating profit by geographic region for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is summarized in the following table:

 

     Three months
ended September 30,
    % Change  
      2008     2007    
(Dollars in millions)       

Net sales:

      

North America

   $ 116.0     $ 98.9     +17 %

Europe

     70.2       56.3     +25 %

Australia

     42.2       35.2     +20 %

China

     23.6       17.4     +36 %

Intrasegment

     (7.0 )     (2.8 )   +150 %
                    
   $ 245.0     $ 205.0     +20 %
                    

Operating profit:

      

North America

   $ 22.8     $ 18.0     +27 %

Europe

     11.0       3.5     +214 %

Australia

     9.5       5.7     +67 %

China

     1.1       2.1     -48 %
                    
   $ 44.4     $ 29.3     +52 %
                    

North American CM&C sales increased by $17.1 million due primarily to higher prices for carbon pitch and phthalic anhydride totaling $12.8 million and higher volumes of creosote and refined tar of $5.5 million. These increases were partially offset by lower volumes of phthalic anhydride of $4.7 million. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 20 percent from 18 percent between periods reflecting higher contract pricing resulting from higher raw material costs.

European CM&C sales increased by $13.9 million due primarily to higher volumes of carbon pitch and specialty chemicals totaling $4.5 million and higher prices for carbon black feedstock totaling $5.5 million. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 16 percent from six percent as a result of higher carbon pitch volumes and higher pricing for carbon black feedstock as a result of higher petroleum prices.

Australian CM&C sales increased by $7.0 million due primarily to higher prices for carbon black totaling $4.5 million. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was 23 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to 16 percent for the prior period and was favorably impacted by higher petroleum prices.

Chinese CM&C sales increased by $6.2 million due primarily to higher volumes of carbon pitch totaling $3.2 million and higher prices for carbon black feedstock totaling $1.6 million. Currency exchange rate changes contributed $1.9 million to increased sales. Partially offsetting these increases were lower prices of carbon pitch totaling $2.0 million. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was five percent for the three months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to 12 percent for the prior period. The decrease in operating margin is due primarily to mix of products and investment in sales and administrative functions in China.

Railroad & Utility Products operating profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 decreased by $2.6 million as compared to the prior period. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales decreased to six percent from eight percent between periods due to lower production and procurement levels for railroad crossties.

 

27


Results of Operations – Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007

Consolidated Results

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are summarized by segment in the following table:

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   Net
Change
 
      2008    2007   
(Dollars in millions)       

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

   $ 718.4    $ 577.2    +24 %

Railroad & Utility Products

     357.5      369.2    -3 %
                  
   $ 1,075.9    $ 946.4    +14 %
                  

CM&C net sales increased by $141.2 million or 24 percent due to the following changes in volume, pricing and foreign exchange:

 

      Price     Volume     Foreign
Exchange
    Net
Change
 

Carbon Materials(a)

   +3 %   +3 %   +2 %   +8 %

Distillates(b)

   +4 %   +2 %   +1 %   +7 %

Coal Tar Chemicals(c)

   +1 %   %   +1 %   +2 %

Other(d)

   +1 %   +5 %   +1 %   +7 %
                          

Total CM&C

   +9 %   +10 %   +5 %   +24 %
                          

 

(a) Includes carbon pitch and refined tar.
(b) Includes creosote and carbon black feedstock.
(c) Includes naphthalene and phthalic anhydride.
(d) Includes carbon black, benzole, freight and other products.

Carbon materials’ prices increased a total of three percent in the U.S. as customer prices were increased in response to substantially higher raw material costs. An increase in carbon materials sales volume totaling three percent was realized primarily in Europe and Australia. Increases in Europe resulted primarily from sales to a new anode facility in Scandinavia.

Distillate pricing improved in the nine months ended September 30, 2008 due to price increases in carbon black feedstock prices in Europe and creosote prices in the U.S. totaling four percent. The increase in carbon black feedstock pricing is consistent with higher worldwide oil prices. The increase in distillate sales volume is due primarily to increased creosote sales in the U.S. totaling one percent.

For coal tar chemicals, increases in phthalic anhydride prices of two percent were partially offset by lower naphthalene prices in Europe. With respect to other products, carbon black volumes, freight, benzole, specialty chemicals and other carbon products increased six percent as compared to the prior year and were partially offset by lower commercial roofing sales.

R&UP net sales decreased by $11.7 million or three percent due to the following changes in volume and pricing:

 

      Price     Volume     Foreign
Exchange
    Net
Change
 

Railroad Crossties(a)

   +2 %   -5 %   %   -3 %

TSO Crossties(b)

   +2 %   -2 %   %   %

Distribution Poles

   %   %   +1 %   +1 %

Other(c)

   +2 %   -3 %   %   -1 %
                          

Total R&UP

   +6 %   -10 %   +1 %   -3 %
                          

 

(a) Includes treated and untreated railroad crossties.
(b) Includes sales from treatment services only (“TSO”).
(c) Includes transmission poles, pilings, creosote, freight and other treated and untreated lumber products.

 

28


Sales volume decreases of untreated railroad crossties totaled five percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 due to capital purchasing reductions by the Class 1 railroads and reduced raw material availability due to weather and a weak timber market. Treated railroad crossties pricing increased by two percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as raw material price increases were passed on to customers.

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales was 82 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to 81 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Overall, cost of sales increased by $107.8 million when compared to the prior year period due primarily to higher raw material costs and volumes and foreign exchange.

Depreciation and amortization for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $1.9 million lower when compared to the prior year period partially due to reduced amortization of intangible assets.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $2.5 million higher than the prior period due to higher stock-based compensation expense, legal and consulting costs and employment costs partially offset by insurance recoveries for previously incurred legal expenses related to product liability litigation.

Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $2.6 million lower when compared to the prior year period due primarily to lower average borrowings and lower average interest rates on revolving credit facilities and term debt. Lower average borrowings resulted from debt reductions funded by cash flows from operations and the net proceeds from the sale of Koppers Arch in July 2007.

Income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $8.4 million higher when compared to the prior year period due primarily to the increase in pretax income of $22.9 million partially offset by a decrease in the effective income tax rate. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was 37.3 percent as compared to the prior year period of 37.6 percent.

Segment Results

Segment operating profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are summarized by segment in the following table:

 

     Nine Months
Ended September 30,
    % Change  
      2008     2007    
(Dollars in millions)             

Operating profit:

      

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

   $ 106.6     $ 74.1     +44 %

Railroad & Utility Products

     24.5       35.6     -31 %

Corporate

     (1.7 )     (1.4 )   +21 %
                    
   $ 129.4     $ 108.3     +19 %
                    

Operating profit as a percentage of net sales:

      

Carbon Materials & Chemicals

     14.8 %     12.8 %   +2.0 %

Railroad & Utility Products

     6.9 %     9.6 %   -2.7 %
                    
     12.0 %     11.4 %   +0.6 %
                    

 

29


Carbon Materials & Chemicals net sales and operating profit by geographic region for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is summarized in the following table:

 

     Nine months
ended September 30,
    % Change  
      2008     2007    
(Dollars in millions)       

Net sales:

      

North America

   $ 315.3     $ 272.9     +16 %

Europe

     212.0       163.7     +30 %

Australia

     133.3       97.4     +37 %

China

     66.1       51.4     +29 %

Intrasegment

     (8.3 )     (8.2 )   +1 %
                    
   $ 718.4     $ 577.2     +24 %
                    

Operating profit:

      

North America

   $ 53.5     $ 43.9     +22 %

Europe

     24.9       9.0     +177 %

Australia

     24.5       15.1     +62 %

China

     3.7       6.1     -39 %
                    
   $ 106.6     $ 74.1     +44 %
                    

North American CM&C sales increased by $42.4 million due primarily to higher prices for carbon pitch, creosote and phthalic anhydride totaling $31.6 million and higher volumes of creosote and refined tar totaling $8.4 million. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 17 percent from 16 percent for the prior period.

European CM&C sales increased by $48.3 million due primarily to higher volumes of carbon pitch, benzole and specialty chemicals totaling $17.8 million and higher prices for carbon black feedstock totaling $15.7 million. In addition, currency exchange rate changes contributed $8.2 million to increased sales. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 12 percent from five percent as a result of higher carbon pitch volumes and higher pricing for carbon black feedstock as a result of higher petroleum prices.

Australian CM&C sales increased by $35.9 million due primarily to higher volumes for carbon pitch and carbon black which totaled $10.7 million. The increase in volume for carbon black is a result of the plant expansion project at the Company’s carbon black plant becoming fully operational. Increases in carbon black prices contributed higher sales of $5.8 million. Currency exchange rate changes contributed $12.8 million to increased sales. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was 18 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to 16 percent for the prior period.

Chinese CM&C sales increased by $14.7 million due primarily to higher volumes of carbon pitch and other products, principally distillates, totaling $8.9 million. Currency exchange rate changes contributed $5.5 million to increased sales. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was six percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to 12 percent for the prior period. The decrease in operating margin is due primarily to mix of products and investment in sales and administrative functions in China.

Railroad & Utility Products operating profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 decreased by $11.1 million as compared to the prior period primarily as a result of lower sales of untreated railroad crossties and TSO crossties and lower operating profit margins. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales decreased to seven percent from ten percent between periods due to lower production and procurement levels for railroad crossties and the increased operating costs due to a boiler outage at one of the Company’s wood treatment plants.

 

30


Cash Flow

Net cash provided by operating activities was $58.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $49.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The increase of $8.8 million in net cash provided by operations is due primarily to higher net income as compared to the prior period.

Net cash used in investing activities was $26.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to net cash used in investing activities of $7.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Cash flows in 2007 were favorably impacted by net cash proceeds from the sale of Koppers Arch of $12.0 million. Capital expenditures in 2008 are expected to total approximately $35.0 million, including expenditures for the Company’s 30 percent interest in the new coal tar distillation joint venture in China but excluding acquisitions.

Net cash used in financing activities was $35.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to net cash used in financing activities of $46.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Repurchases of common stock totaled $19.9 million and net repayment of debt totaled $3.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

Dividends paid were $12.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to dividends paid of $10.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Dividends paid in the nine months ended September 30, 2008 reflect a quarterly dividend rate of 22 cents per common share.

On November 5, 2008, the Company’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of 22 cents per common share, payable on January 5, 2009 to shareholders of record as of November 17, 2008.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Restrictions on Dividends to Koppers Holdings

Koppers Holdings depends on the dividends from the earnings of Koppers Inc. and its subsidiaries to generate the funds necessary to meet its financial obligations, including payments of principal, interest and other amounts on the 9 7/8% Senior Discount Notes due 2014 (the “Senior Discount Notes”). The terms of Koppers Inc.’s senior secured credit facility as well as the terms of the indenture governing the 9 7/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 (the “Senior Secured Notes”) significantly restrict Koppers Inc. from paying dividends and otherwise transferring assets to Koppers Holdings. The amount of permitted dividends under both debt facilities is governed by a formula based on 50 percent of consolidated net income, among other things. Cash equity contributions from the sale of Koppers Holdings’ common stock increase the amount available for dividends. At the time of the payment of the dividend, no event of default shall have occurred or be continuing under the indenture or the senior secured credit facility.

Under the indenture relating to the Senior Secured Notes, Koppers Inc. must have an EBITDA (as defined in the indenture) to consolidated interest expense ratio of at least 2.0 to 1.0. Additionally the senior secured credit facility requires compliance with all financial covenants and availability of at least $15.0 million under the revolving credit facility after giving effect to any proposed dividend. Significant reductions in net income or increases to indebtedness affecting compliance with financial covenants or availability under the senior secured credit facility would restrict Koppers Inc.’s ability to pay dividends. As of September 30, 2008, dividends available to be declared based on covenant restrictions under the Senior Discount Notes amounted to $164.5 million. As of September 30, 2008, dividends available to be declared based on covenant restrictions under the Senior Secured Notes amounted to $135.8 million.

Liquidity

The Koppers Inc. senior secured credit facility agreement, as amended, provides for a revolving credit facility of up to $125.0 million and term loans of $22.6 million at variable rates. The senior secured credit facility expires in December 2009. Amounts outstanding under the senior secured credit agreement are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of Koppers Inc.’s assets, including the assets of certain significant subsidiaries. Revolving credit availability is calculated based on receivables and inventory as well as the attainment of certain financial ratios. The revolving credit facility contains certain covenants that limit capital expenditures by Koppers Inc. and restrict its ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens on its assets, enter into leases, pay dividends and make investments or acquisitions. In addition, such covenants give rise to events of default upon the failure by Koppers Inc. to meet certain financial ratios.

 

31


As of September 30, 2008, the Company had $80.9 million of unused revolving credit availability for working capital purposes after restrictions by various debt covenants and certain letter of credit commitments. As of September 30, 2008, $15.4 million of commitments were utilized by outstanding letters of credit. In addition, as of September 30, 2008, the Company had outstanding term loans of $22.6 million under the credit facility.

The following table summarizes Koppers estimated liquidity as of September 30, 2008:

 

        
(Dollars in millions)   

Cash and cash equivalents (including cash of discontinued operations held for sale)

   $ 13.9

Amount available under senior secured credit facility

     80.9

Amount available under other credit facilities

     6.1
        

Total estimated liquidity

   $ 100.9
        

The Company’s estimated liquidity was $116.3 million at December 31, 2007. The decrease in estimated liquidity from that date is primarily due to a reduction in cash and cash equivalents and the expiration of a European-based credit facility.

The Company used a portion of the estimated proceeds of $90.0 million from the Monessen sale (Note 5) in October 2008 to repay the Senior Secured Term Loans of $22.6 million and amounts borrowed under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility of $26.5 million. This repayment increased the amount available under the senior secured credit facility to approximately $107.0 million. The Company also repurchased Senior Secured Notes with a face value of $17.5 million on October 27, 2008.

On October 31, 2008, Koppers Inc. entered into a $300.0 million revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks. The credit facility expires on October 31, 2012, has an initial interest rate of Libor plus 250 basis points, and is subject to certain covenants including maximum leverage and minimum fixed charges coverage. The agreement replaces the existing senior secured revolving credit facility.

As of September 30, 2008, the Company has $200.0 million aggregate amount of common stock, debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares and warrants (or a combination of these securities) available to be issued under its $200.0 million universal shelf registration statement filed in 2006.

On February 6, 2008, the Company’s board of directors approved a common stock repurchase program. This program allows for the repurchase of up to $75.0 million of common stock from time to time in the open market. The program is scheduled to expire in February 2010. The timing of such purchases will be determined by management based on a number of factors including the market price of the Company’s common stock; the availability and pursuit of strategic initiatives including investment and acquisition opportunities; operating cash flow and internal capital requirements; and general economic conditions. As of September 30, 2008, 477,918 shares have been repurchased under this program totaling $19.9 million. Additionally, orders were placed in September 2008 to purchase 19,768 shares totaling $0.8 million which had not settled by September 30, 2008.

The Company’s need for cash in the next twelve months relates primarily to contractual obligations which include debt service, purchase commitments and operating leases, as well as for working capital, capital maintenance programs and mandatory defined benefit plan funding. The Company may also use cash to pursue potential strategic acquisitions or potential repurchase of long-term debt that may be available on the open market or exercise of our call option. The Company believes that its cash flow from operations and available borrowings under the senior secured credit facility will be sufficient to fund its anticipated liquidity requirements for at least the next twelve months. In the event that the foregoing sources are not sufficient to fund the Company’s expenditures and service its indebtedness, the Company would be required to raise additional funds and there is no assurance that the Company could raise such additional funds.

Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations

The cash flows related to Monessen and Koppers Arch for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 have not been restated in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. The net cash inflows of discontinued operations were $0.7 million and $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In connection with the sale of our 51 percent interest in Koppers Arch, we have provided an indemnity to the buyer for our share of liabilities, if any, arising from certain litigation and claims existing at July 5, 2007. Our financial exposure pursuant to this indemnity is capped at a monetary limit and is subject to time limitations.

 

32


Debt Covenants

The covenants that affect availability of the revolving credit facility and which may restrict the ability of Koppers Inc. to pay dividends include the following financial ratios:

 

  ¡  

The fixed charge coverage ratio, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended, shall not be less than 1.05 to 1.0. The fixed charge coverage ratio at September 30, 2008 was 2.95 to 1.0.

 

  ¡  

The total leverage ratio, calculated as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters then ended, shall not exceed the ratios set forth below for the periods as specified in the table below. The total leverage ratio at September 30, 2008 was 1.62 to 1.0:

 

Fiscal Quarters Ended    Ratio

August 15, 2005 through September 30, 2008

   5.0 to 1.0

September 30, 2008 and thereafter

   4.5 to 1.0
      

The Company is currently in compliance with all covenants in the credit agreement governing the senior secured revolving credit facility.

At September 30, 2008, Koppers Inc. had $218.3 million outstanding of Senior Secured Notes (excluding adjustment for related interest rate swap) and Koppers Holdings had $182.2 million outstanding of Senior Discount Notes. The Senior Secured Notes and Senior Discount Notes include customary covenants that restrict, among other things, the ability to incur additional debt, pay dividends or make certain other restricted payments, incur liens, merge or sell all or substantially all of the assets or enter into various transactions with affiliates. The Company is currently in compliance with all covenants in the indentures governing the Senior Secured Notes and the Senior Discount Notes.

Legal Matters

The information set forth in Note 17 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Koppers Holdings Inc. included in Item 1 of this Part I is incorporated herein by reference.

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

The information set forth in Note 2 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Koppers Holdings Inc. is hereby incorporated by reference.

Critical Accounting Policies

There have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Environmental and Other Matters

The information set forth in Note 17 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Koppers Holdings Inc. included in Item 1 of Part I is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There are no material changes to the disclosure on this matter made in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

33


PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The information set forth in Note 17 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Koppers Holdings Inc. included in Item 1 of Part I of this report is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors previously disclosed in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. However, we wish to reiterate that we sell products to mature markets which historically have been cyclical, such as the aluminum, specialty chemical and utility industries, which have been and could continue to be adversely impacted by declining economic conditions. Our profitability could also be impacted by fluctuations in the price, quality and availability of our primary raw materials such as coal tar for our Carbon Materials & Chemicals business and softwood and hardwood lumber for our Railroad & Utility Products business. Finally, our post-retirement obligations are, have been and continue to be underfunded. Over the past nine months, declines in market prices for equity and debt securities held in our pension plans has caused our post-retirement plans to be underfunded to a greater extent.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table sets forth information regarding Koppers Holdings’ repurchases of shares of its common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2008:

 

Period    Total Number of
Common Shares
Purchased
  

Average Price

paid per

Common

Share

   Total Number of
Common Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly announced
Plans or Programs
   Maximum
Number of
Common Shares
that May Yet be
Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs (1)

July 1 – July 31

   318,742    $ 41.41    318,742   

August 1 – August 31

      $      

September 1 – September 30

   139,551    $ 41.71    139,551   
                       

 

  (1) On February 6, 2008, the board of directors approved a common stock repurchase program which was announced on February 20, 2008. This program allows for the repurchase of up to $75.0 million of common stock from time to time in the open market. The total amount remaining under the program totals $55.1 million at September 30, 2008. The program is scheduled to expire in February 2010.

See description of the limitations on the payment of dividends in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations: Liquidity and Capital Resources.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

On October 31, 2008, Koppers Inc. entered into a $300.0 million revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks led by PNC Capital Markets LLC and co-led by RBS Citizens Bank and Bank of America as joint book runners. The credit facility matures on October 31, 2012, has an initial interest rate of Libor plus 250 basis points, and is subject to certain covenants including, among others, maximum leverage and minimum fixed charges coverage, limitations on Koppers’ ability to incur liens or become liable with respect to a guaranty, limitations on Koppers’ ability to consummate a merger, consolidation, acquisition or dispose of certain assets and limitations on Koppers’ ability to change the nature of its business. The agreement amends and restates the existing credit agreement and replaces the $125.0 million revolver and term loan bank facilities, which were to expire in late 2009.

The obligation of Koppers to pay amounts outstanding under the credit facility may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an “Event of Default’ as defined in the agreement. Such Events of Default include, among others, (1) Koppers’ failure to pay the principal of, or interest on, borrowings under the credit facility, (2) any representation or warranty of Koppers in the agreement proving to be materially false or misleading, (3) Koppers’ breach of any of its covenants contained in the credit agreement, (4) the bankruptcy or insolvency of Koppers and (5) the failure of certain third-party indemnitors to perform their obligations to a certain extent.

 

34


The foregoing description of the credit facility does not purport to be a complete statement of the parties’ rights and obligations under the agreement and the transactions contemplated by the agreement. The foregoing description of the agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

10.49*    Purchase Agreement dated as of August 3, 2008 by and among Koppers Inc., Carbon Investments, Inc., and ArcelorMittal S.A.
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

* Schedules and exhibits to the agreement have been omitted. The Company will furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the Commission upon request.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

           

KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC.

(REGISTRANT)

Date: November 6, 2008

    By:   /S/    BRIAN H. MCCURRIE        
         
        Brian H. McCurrie,
        Chief Financial Officer
        (Principal Financial Officer,
        Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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