Item 1. Business
Overview
Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. (GSM, the Company, we, us, or our) is one of the world’s largest and most efficient producers of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys, with approximately 100,000 metric tons (MT) of silicon metal capacity (excluding Dow Corning Corporation’s portion of the capacity of our Alloy, West Virginia and Becancour, Quebec plants) and 175,000 MT of silicon-based alloys capacity. Silicon metal, our principal product, is used as a primary raw material in making silicone compounds, aluminum and polysilicon. Our silicon-based alloys are used as raw materials in making steel, automotive components and ductile iron. We control the supply of most of our raw materials, and we capture, recycle and sell most of the by-products generated in our production processes.
Our products are currently produced in seven principal operating facilities located in the United States, Canada and Argentina, and we hold a currently idled facility in South Africa. Additionally, we operate facilities in Poland and China. Our flexible manufacturing capabilities allow us to optimize production and focus on products that enhance profitability. We also benefit from the lowest average operating costs of any large producer of silicon metal in the world, according to CRU International Limited (CRU), a leading metals industry consultant.
Fiscal 2014 was a year of record shipments and a near-record for net sales as demand for silicon metal and silicon-based alloys continues to improve. Despite our record shipments, we faced a tougher pricing environment due to weakness in the European economy and aggressive import competition in the U.S. market. As a result, our average selling prices in fiscal 2014 decreased for both silicon metal and silicon-based alloys. The May 3, 2013 lockout of unionized employees at the Becancour, Canada plant concluded on December 27, 2013 with the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement. The Becancour, Canada plant became fully operational in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. We remain committed to pursuing opportunistic acquisitions and on November 21, 2013 completed the acquisition of Silicon Technology (Pty) Ltd. (Siltech), located in South Africa. This acquisition increases the Company’s current silicon-based alloy capacity by approximately 30% and will facilitate access to the large and improving European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets. We also continue to realize the benefits of maintenance outages taken in fiscal 2013 as our cost per pound decreased in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013.
Average selling prices decreased 6% from the prior year, with a 2% decrease in silicon metal and a 7% decrease in silicon-based alloys. Average selling prices declined as our annual 2014 silicon contracts renewed at lower prices than 2013 and 2012 calendar year annual contracts. Volumes increased 5% year over year, driven by a 22% increase in silicon-based alloys tons sold offset by a 9% decrease in silicon metal tons sold. We experienced a decline in silicon metal tons sold due to the labor dispute at our Becancour, Canada plant. Silicon-based alloys prices decreased primarily as a result of aggressive pricing of ferrosilicon imports, primarily from Russia and Venezuela.
Demand for silicon metal is improving based on end user demand for silicones, which are additives to hundreds of products such as cosmetics, textiles, paints and coatings, and growing demand for polysilicon, which is used to produce photovoltaic (solar) cells and semiconductors. Demand for silicon-based alloys is largely driven by the end user requirements of steel producers and iron foundries.
Business segments
GMI
GMI currently operates six principal production facilities in the United States located in Beverly, Ohio, Alloy, West Virginia, Selma, Alabama, Niagara Falls, New York and Bridgeport, Alabama and one production facility in Canada located in Becancour, Quebec. GMI also operates coal mines and coal preparation plants in Kentucky and open-pit quartzite mines in Alabama.
Globe Metales
Globe Metales operates a production facility in Mendoza, Argentina and a cored-wire fabrication facility in San Luis, Argentina. Globe Metales specializes in producing silicon-based alloy products, either in lump form or in cored-wire, a delivery method preferred by some manufacturers of steel, ductile iron, machine and auto parts and industrial pipe.
Solsil
Solsil is continuing to develop its technology to produce upgraded metallurgical grade silicon metal (UMG) manufactured through a proprietary metallurgical process, which is primarily used in silicon-based photovoltaic (solar) cells. Solsil is located in Beverly, Ohio and is currently focused on research and development projects and is not producing material for commercial sale. We own a 97.25% interest in Solsil, Inc. (Solsil).
Corporate
The corporate office, located in Miami, Florida, includes general expenses, investments, and related investment income.
Other
Ningxia Yonvey Coal Industrial Co., Ltd. (Yonvey). Yonvey produces carbon electrodes, an important input in our production process, at a production facility in Shizuishan in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. We currently consume internally all of Yonvey’s output of electrodes. We hold a 98% ownership interest in Yonvey.
Ultracore Polska Sp.z.o.o (UCP). UCP produces cored-wire silicon-based alloy products. The fabrication facility is located in Police in northern Poland.
Silicon Technology (Pty) Ltd. (Siltech). Siltech is a silicon-based alloy producer with a facility located in the village of Ballengeich, South Africa. The facility is currently idled. We intend to restart operations at the facility in the second half of calendar year 2014.
See our June 30, 2014 consolidated financial statements for financial information with respect to our segments.
Products and Operations
The following chart shows the location of our primary facilities, the products produced at each facility and each facility’s production capacity.
Customers and Markets
The following table details our shipments and average selling price per MT over the last eight quarters through June 30, 2014. See note 22 (Operating Segments) to our June 30, 2014 consolidated financial statements for additional information.
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Shipments and average selling price exclude coal, silica fume, other by-products and electrodes.
During the year ended June 30, 2014, our customers engaged primarily in the manufacture of silicone chemicals and polysilicon (31% of revenue), foundry alloys (19% of revenue), aluminum (17% of revenue) and steel (18% of revenue). Our customer base is geographically diverse, and includes North America, Europe, Asia and South America, which for the year ended June 30, 2014, represented 89%, 7%, 1% and 4% of our revenue, respectively.
For the year ended June 30, 2014, one customer accounted for more than 10% of revenues: Dow Corning, represented approximately 18% of revenues (approximately 75% of which was a result of the manufacturing joint ventures at our Alloy, West Virginia and Becancour, Quebec plants). Our ten largest customers account for approximately 48% of our revenue. These percentages include sales made under our joint venture agreements to Dow Corning.
Silicon Metal
We are among the world’s largest and most efficient producers of silicon metal. Silicon-based products are classified by the approximate percentage of silicon contained in the material and the levels of trace impurities. We produce specialty-grade, high quality silicon metal with silicon content generally greater than 99.25%. We produce the majority of this high-grade silicon metal for three industries: (i) the aluminum industry; (ii) the chemical industry; and (iii) polysilicon producers in the photovoltaic (solar)/semiconductor industry.
We market to primary and secondary aluminum producers who require silicon metal with certain purity requirements for use as an alloy, as well as to the secondary aluminum industry where specifications are not as stringent. Aluminum is used to manufacture a variety of automobile and truck components, including engine pistons, housings, and cast aluminum wheels and trim, as well as uses in high tension electrical wire, aircraft parts, beverage containers and other products which require optimal aluminum properties. The addition of silicon metal reduces shrinkage and the hot cracking tendencies of cast aluminum and improves the castability, hardness, corrosion resistance, tensile strength, wear resistance and weldability of the end products.
Purity and quality control are important. For instance, the presence of iron in aluminum alloys, in even small quantities, tends to reduce its beneficial mechanical properties as well as reduce its lustrous appearance, an important consideration when producing alloys for aluminum wheels. We have the ability to produce silicon metal with especially low iron content as a result of our precisely controlled production processes and use of metallurgical grade coal.
We market to all the major silicone chemical producers. Silicone chemicals are used in a broad range of applications, including personal care items, construction-related products, health care products and electronics. In construction and equipment applications, silicones promote adhesion, act as a sealer and have insulating properties. In personal care and health care products, silicones add a smooth texture, protect against ultra violet rays and provide moisturizing and cleansing properties. Silicon metal is an essential component of the manufacture of silicones, accounting for approximately 20% of the cost of production.
We market to producers of polysilicon and solar cells who utilize silicon metal as the core ingredient of their product. These manufacturers employ processes to further purify the silicon metal and then use the material to grow crystals. These crystals are then cut into wafers, which are capable of converting sunlight to electricity. The individual wafers are then soldered together to make solar cells.
Silicon-Based Alloy Products
We make ferrosilicon by combining silicon dioxide (quartzite) with iron in the form of scrap steel and iron oxides. To produce our high-grade silicon-based alloys, we combine ferrosilicon with other additions that can include precise measured quantities of other metals and rare earths to create alloys with specific metallurgical characteristics. Our silicon-based alloy products can be divided into four general categories: (i) ferrosilicon, (ii) magnesium-ferrosilicon-based alloys, (iii) ferrosilicon-based alloys and (iv) calcium silicon.
Magnesium-ferrosilicon-based alloys are known as “nodularizers” because, when combined with molten grey iron, they change the graphite flakes in the iron into spheroid particles, or “nodules,” thereby increasing the iron’s strength and resilience. The resulting product is commonly known as ductile iron. Ductile iron is employed in numerous applications, such as the manufacture of automobile crankshafts and camshafts, exhaust manifolds, hydraulic valve bodies and cylinders, couplings, sprockets and machine frames, as well as in commercial water pipes. Ductile iron is lighter than steel and provides better castability (i.e., intricate shapes are more easily produced) than untreated iron.
Ferrosilicon-based alloys (without or with very low concentrations of magnesium) are known as “inoculants” and can contain any of a large number of combinations of metallic elements. Inoculants act to evenly distribute the graphite particles found in both grey and ductile iron and refine other microscopic structures, resulting in a product with greater strength and improved casting and machining properties.
Calcium silicon is widely used to improve the quality, castability and machinability of steel. Calcium is a powerful modifier of oxides and sulfides. It improves the castability of the steel in a continuous casting process by keeping nozzles from clogging. Calcium also improves the machinability of steel, increasing the life of cutting tools.
By-Products
We capture, recycle and sell most of the by-products generated in our production processes. The largest volume by-product not recycled into the manufacturing process is silica fume. This dust-like material, collected in our air filtration systems, is sold to end users or to companies that process, package and market it for use as a concrete additive, refractory material or oil well conditioner. The other major by-products of our manufacturing processes are “fines,” the fine material resulting from crushing, and dross, which results from the purification process during smelting. The fines and dross that are not recycled into our own production processes are generally sold to customers who utilize these products in other manufacturing processes, including steel production.
Raw Material Supply
We control the supply of most of our raw materials. All of our products require coal or charcoal, quartzite, woodchips and electrodes in their manufacture. Alden Resources provides a stable and long-term supply of low ash metallurgical grade coal supplying a substantial portion of our requirements to our operations in the U.S. and Canada. We have reduced our use of charcoal because of the increased coal supply from Alden Resources. We also obtain low ash metallurgical grade coal from other sources in the U.S. We use charcoal from South American suppliers for our Argentine operations. We have quartzite mining operations located in Billingsley, Alabama and Saint-Urbain, Québec. These mines supply our U.S. operations with a substantial portion of our requirements for quartzite, the principal raw material used in the manufacturing of all of our products. We believe that these mines, together with additional leasing opportunities in the vicinity, should cover our needs well into the future. We also obtain quartzite from other sources in the U.S. The quartzite is mined, washed and screened to our specifications by our suppliers. Woodchips are sourced locally by each plant, and we maintain a wood chipping operation at certain plants in the U.S and Canada, which allows us to either buy logs or chips based on market pricing and availability. Carbon electrodes are supplied by Yonvey and are also purchased from several other suppliers on annual contracts and spot purchases. Most of our metal purchases are made on the spot market or from scrap dealers, with the exception of magnesium, which is purchased under a fixed duration contract for our U.S. business. Our principal iron source for producing ferrosilicon-based alloys has been scrap steel. Magnesium and other additives are obtained from a variety of sources producing or dealing in these products. We also obtain raw materials from a variety of other sources. Rail and truck are our principal transportation methods for gravel and coal. We have rail spurs at all of our plants. Other materials arrive primarily by truck. We require our suppliers, whenever feasible, to use statistical process control procedures in their production processes to conform to our own processes.
We enter into long-term electric power supply contracts. Our power supply contracts result in stable, favorably priced, long-term commitments of power at reasonable rates, and we believe that most of our long-term power supply contracts provide us with a cost advantage. In West Virginia, we have a contract with Brookfield Energy to provide approximately 45% of our power needs, from a dedicated hydroelectric facility, at a fixed rate through December 2021. The remainder of our power needs in West Virginia, Ohio and Alabama are sourced through contracts that provide tariff rates at historically competitive levels. In connection with the reopening of our Niagara Falls, New York plant, and as an incentive to reopen the plant, we obtained a public-sector package including 40 megawatts of hydropower through 2013, which was subsequently extended to 2020. We have entered into power hedge agreements, the most recent of which ended in June 2013, for approximately 20% of the total power required by our Niagara Falls, New York plant.
Mining Information
The following table provides a summary of our coal operations as of June 30, 2014:
Net sales for the twelve months ended June 30:
As of June 30, 2014, we had six active coal mines (three surface mines and three underground mines), located in Kentucky. We also had three inactive permitted coal mines available for extraction located in Kentucky and Tennessee. All of our coal mines are leased and the remaining term of the leases range from 2 to 40 years. The majority of the coal production is consumed internally in the production of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys. Reserves are defined by SEC Industry Standard Guide 7 as a mineral deposit that could be economically and legally extracted and produced at the time of the reserve determination. The estimate of proven and probable reserves is of recoverable tons, which represents the tons of product that can be used internally or delivered to the customer. At June 30, 2014, we estimate our proven and probable reserves to be approximately 16,600,000 tons with an average permitted life of approximately 37 years at present operating levels. Present operating levels are determined based on a three-year annual average production rate. Reserve estimates were made by our geologists, engineers and third parties based primarily on drilling studies performed. These estimates are reviewed and reassessed from time to time. Reserve estimates are based on various assumptions, and any material changes in these assumptions could have a material impact on the accuracy of our reserve estimates.
The average mining recovery rate is approximately 60 %.
We currently have two coal processing facilities, one of which is inactive. The active facility processes approximately 720,000 tons of coal annually, with a capacity of 2,500,000 tons. The average coal processing recovery rate is approximately is 75 %.
Sales and Marketing Activities
Our silicon metal and silicon-based alloys are sold to a diverse base of customers worldwide. Our products are typically sold on annual and quarterly contracts, with some capacity for spot sales. These contracts are fixed price or priced based on index, generally with firm volume commitments from the customers.
Our marketing strategy is to maximize profitability by varying the balance of our product mix among the various silicon-based alloys and silicon metal. Our products are sold directly by our own sales staff located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Police, Poland, and at various locations in the United States and Canada, who work together to optimize the sales efforts.
We also employ customer service representatives. Order receiving, entry, shipment coordination and customer service is handled primarily from the Beverly, Ohio facility for our U.S. operations, and in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Police, Poland for our non U.S. operations. In addition to our direct sales force, we sell through distributors in various U.S. regions, Canada, Southern and Northern Mexico, Australia, South America and Europe.
We maintain credit insurance for the majority of our customer receivables to mitigate collection risk.
Competition
The silicon metal and silicon-based alloy markets are capital intensive and competitive. Our primary competitors are Elkem AS, owned by China National Bluestar Group Co. Ltd., and Grupo FerroAtlantica, S.A. In addition, we also face competition from other companies, such as, Rima Industrial SA and Ligas de Alumino SA, as well as producers in China and the former republics of the Soviet Union. We have historically proven to be a highly efficient, low cost producer, with competitive pricing and manufacturing processes that capture most of our production by-products for reuse or resale. We also have the flexibility to adapt to current market demands by switching certain furnaces between silicon-based alloy and silicon metal production with economical switching costs. We face continual threats from existing and new competition. Nonetheless, certain factors can affect the ability of competition to enter or expand. These factors include (i) lead time of three to five years to obtain the necessary governmental approvals and construction completion; (ii) construction costs; (iii) the need to situate a manufacturing facility proximate to raw material sources, and (iv) energy supply for manufacturing purposes.
Competitive Strengths
We believe that we possess a number of competitive strengths that position us well to continue as one of the leading global suppliers of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys.
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Leading Market Positions. We hold leading market shares in our primary geography, North America, and in a majority of our products. According to data from CRU, we believe our silicon metal capacity of approximately 100,000 MT annually (excluding Dow Corning’s portion of the capacity of our Alloy, West Virginia and Becancour, Quebec plants), represents approximately 15% of the total merchant Western World capacity, including approximately 56% of total capacity and 100% of merchant capacity in North America. We estimate that we have approximately 20% total Western World capacity for magnesium ferrosilicon, including 50% capacity in North America, and are one of only six suppliers of calcium silicon in the Western World (with estimated 18% of total Western World capacity).
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Low Cost Producer. We are the lowest cost large silicon metal producer in the world. Our low operating costs are primarily a result of our access to attractively priced power, proximity to, and ownership of, raw materials, and our efficient production process and skilled labor.
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Highly Variable Cost Structure. We operate with a largely variable cost of production and have the ability to rapidly turn furnaces on and off to react to changes in customer demand. During global economic recession, we are able to quickly idle certain furnaces as demand declined and then quickly re-start them at minimal cost as demand returned.
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Long-Term Power Contracts. Electricity is the largest component of our production costs. Electricity accounted for approximately 21% of our total cost of production for the fiscal year 2014. Our power supply contracts result in stable, favorably priced, long-term commitments of power at reasonable rates.
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Vertically Integrated Business Model. To further enhance our cost position and increase operational and financial stability, we have increased our vertical integration over time through strategic acquisitions of providers of our principal raw materials. We now have captive sources for a majority of our raw material inputs on a cost basis, including each of our three primary inputs: Coal, woodchips and quartz, each in close proximity to our production facilities. Through our acquisition of Alden Resources, we are the only significant North American supplier of specialty low ash metallurgical coal which is used in the production of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys. We believe that the only other available alternatives for low ash metallurgical coal are charcoal, which is more expensive, and Colombian coal, which is less reactive with quartz, not as pure, requires additional handling and is more costly to ship to North American production facilities. We believe our integrated business model and ownership of raw materials provides us with an advantage over our competitors. We have stable, long-term access to critical raw materials for our production processes and do not have to compete with our competitors for supply. We also supply low ash metallurgical coal to our competitors. In addition, we are not reliant on any single supplier for our raw materials providing our business model with stability.
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Efficient and Environmentally Sensitive By-Product Usage. We utilize or sell most of our manufacturing processes’ by-products, which reduces costs and limits environmental impact.
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Diverse Customers and End Markets. Our wide range of customers, products, and end markets provides significant diversity and stability to our business. Our products are used in a wide range of end products spanning a broad variety of industries, including personal care and healthcare products, aluminum, automobiles, carbon and stainless steel, water pipe, solar, semiconductor, oil and gas, infrastructure and construction. We are also diversified geographically and sell our products to customers in over 30 countries. While our largest customer concentration is in the United States, we also have customers in Europe and South America. Although some of our end markets have similar growth drivers, others are less correlated and offer diversification benefits. We have the flexibility to adapt to current market demands by switching furnaces between silicon-based alloys and silicon metal production with low switching costs. This allows us to capitalize on our diversity and serve markets with the largest growth prospects. We have considerable diversification of customers across our primary end-markets. While our largest end-market is silicones, there is significant diversity within the silicones sector. Silicone chemicals are included in applications across a variety of industries, including healthcare, personal care, paints and coatings, sealants and adhesives, construction, electronics, transportation sectors, sports and fashion. Similarly, within each of our other primary end-markets, we observe considerable diversity in the end-use of our product. We believe that the variety of industries which our product ultimately serves results in revenue stability and insulation from significant changes in demand or product pricing within any particular industry.
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Experienced, Highly Qualified Management Team. We have assembled a highly qualified management team with over 50 years of combined experience in the metals industry among our top two executives, Alan Kestenbaum, our Executive Chairman, and Jeff Bradley, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Alan Kestenbaum has over 25 years of experience in metals trading, distribution, finance and manufacturing, including as the founder of leading international metals trader Marco International. Jeff Bradley was formerly the CEO of Claymont Steel before joining GSM in 2008. Joe Ragan, our CFO, brings significant experience as the CFO of Boart Longyear, with over 10 years of experience in the metals and manufacturing industry. Our Chief Legal Officer, Stephen Lebowitz, brings deep private practice and in-house experience, spending seven years as part of BP plc’s in-house legal department prior to joining GSM. We believe that our management team has operational and technical skills to continue to operate our business at world class levels of efficiency and to consistently produce silicon metal and silicon-based alloys at the lowest costs. Additionally, our Board of Directors, led by Alan Kestenbaum, is comprised of six seasoned executives with strong management, metals, finance and international experience.
Business Strategy
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Focus on Core Businesses. We differentiate ourselves on the basis of our technical expertise and high product quality and use these capabilities to retain existing accounts and cultivate new business. As part of this strategy, we are focusing our production and sales efforts on our silicon metal and silicon-based alloys end markets where we may achieve the highest profitability. We continue to evaluate our core business strategy and may divest certain non-core and lower margin businesses to improve our financial and operational results.
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Maintain Low Cost Position While Controlling Inputs. We intend to maintain our position as one of the lowest cost producers of silicon metal in the world by continuing to control the cost of our raw material inputs through our captive sources and long-term supply contracts. We continue to focus on reducing our fixed costs in order reduce unit costs of silicon metal and silicon-based alloy sold.
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Focus on financial metrics and conservative balance sheet. Reported and Adjusted EBITDA are pertinent non-GAAP financial metrics we utilize to measure our success and are included in our quarterly press releases. These financial metrics are used to provide supplemental measures of our performance which we believe are important because they eliminate items that have less bearing on our current and future operating performance and highlights trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of these measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures are provided elsewhere in this report.
Reported and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not rely upon them or consider them in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP measures, such as net income and other consolidated income or other cash flows statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Because of these limitations, Reported and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business.
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Continue Pursuing Strategic Acquisition Opportunities. We continue to pursue complementary acquisitions at appropriate valuations. We are actively reviewing several possible transactions to expand our strategic capabilities and leverage our products and operations. We intend to build on our history of successful acquisitions by continuing to evaluate attractive acquisition opportunities for the purpose of increasing our capacity, increasing our access to raw materials and other inputs and acquiring further refined products for our customers. In particular, we will consider acquisitions or investments that will enable us to leverage our expertise in silicon metal and silicon-based alloy products and to grow in these markets, as well as enable us to enter new markets or sell new products. We believe our overall metallurgical expertise and skills in lean production technologies position us well for future growth.
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Leverage Flexible Manufacturing and Expand Other Lines of Business. We plan to leverage our flexible manufacturing capabilities to optimize the product mix produced while expanding the products we offer. Additionally, we intend to leverage our broad geographic manufacturing reach to ensure that production of specific metals is in the most appropriate facility/region. In addition to our principal silicon metal products, we have the capability to produce silicon-based alloys, such as silicomanganese, using the same facilities. Our business philosophy is to allocate our furnace capacity to the products which we expect will maximize profitability.
Employees
As of June 30, 2014, we had 1,569 employees. We have 1,059 employees in the United States, 166 employees in Canada, 148 employees in Argentina, 70 employees in South Africa, 29 employees in Poland and 97 employees in China. Our total employees consist of 541 salaried employees and 1,028 hourly employees. We are a party to several collective bargaining agreements. We believe that relations with our employees are satisfactory.
Our hourly employees at our Selma, Alabama facility are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Industrial Division of the Communications Workers of America, under a contract running through April 2, 2017. Our hourly employees at our Alloy, West Virginia, Niagara Falls, New York and Bridgeport, Alabama facilities are covered by collective bargaining agreements with The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union under contracts running through April 27, 2017, July 30, 2017, and March 31, 2015, respectively. Union employees in Argentina are working under a contract running through April 30, 2015. Our operations in Poland and China are not unionized. Our union employees in Canada work at the Bécancour, Québec, plant and are covered by a Union Certification held by the Communications, Energy and Paper Workers Union of Canada (“CEP”), Local 184. The corresponding collective bargaining agreement at our Bécancour facility expired on April 30, 2013 and by effect of a “bridging clause” continued to apply until the union or the Company exercised its right to strike a lockout. We exercised such a right and declared a lockout on May 3, 2013. The lockout remained in effect until December 27, 2013. The CEP, Local 184 and the Company continued bargaining throughout this period with the assistance of a conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour. On December 21, 2013, the parties reached an agreement in principle on the new terms of a collective agreement which was put to a ratification vote of the union membership on December 27, 2013. The proposed collective agreement was ratified with a vote of 76%. The collective agreement was executed by the parties on January 3, 2014 with retroactive effect to January 1, 2014. The lockout was lifted by the Company upon the date of ratification of the collective agreement. On January 3, 2014, the plant began to normalize operations, according to the terms of a back-to-work protocol agreed to by the parties. Since that time, the new collective agreement has been in place and will run through April 30, 2017.
Proprietary Rights and Licensing
The majority of our intellectual property relates to process design and proprietary know-how. Our intellectual property strategy is focused on developing and protecting proprietary know-how and trade secrets, which are maintained through employee and third-party confidentiality agreements and physical security measures. Although we have some patented technology, our businesses or profitability does not rely fundamentally upon such technology.
Regulatory Matters
We operate facilities in the U.S. and abroad, which are subject to foreign, federal, national, state, provincial and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including, among others, those governing the discharge of materials into the environment, hazardous substances, land use, reclamation and remediation and the health and safety of our employees. These laws and regulations require us to obtain from governmental authorities permits to conduct certain regulated activities, which permits may be subject to modification or revocation by such authorities.
We are subject to the risk that we have not been or will not be at all times in complete compliance with such laws, regulations and permits. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and permits may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties or other sanctions by regulators, the imposition of remedial obligations, the issuance of injunctions limiting or preventing our activities and other liabilities. Under these laws, regulations and permits, we could also be held liable for any and all consequences arising out of human exposure to hazardous substances or environmental damage we may cause or that relates to our operations or properties. Environmental, health and safety laws are likely to become more stringent in the future. Our costs of complying with current and future environmental, health and safety laws, and our liabilities arising from past or future releases of, or exposure to, hazardous substances, may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
There are a variety of laws and regulations in place or being considered at the international, federal, regional, state, provincial and local levels of government that restrict or are reasonably likely to restrict the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. These legislative and regulatory developments may cause us to incur material costs to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from our operations (through additional environmental control equipment or retiring and replacing existing equipment) or to obtain emission allowance credits, or result in the incurrence of material taxes, fees or other governmental impositions on account of such emissions. In addition, such developments may have indirect impacts on our operations, which could be material. For example, they may impose significant additional costs or limitations on electricity generators, which could result in a material increase in our energy costs.
Certain environmental laws assess liability on current or previous owners or operators of real property for the cost of removal or remediation of hazardous substances. In addition to cleanup, cost recovery or compensatory actions brought by foreign, federal, state, provincial and local agencies, neighbors, employees or other third parties could make personal injury, property damage or other private claims relating to the presence or release of hazardous substances. Environmental laws often impose liability even if the owner or operator did not know of, or was not responsible for, the release of hazardous substances. Persons who arrange for the disposal or treatment of hazardous substances also may be responsible for the cost of removal or remediation of these substances. Such persons can be responsible for removal and remediation costs even if they never owned or operated the disposal or treatment facility. In addition, such owners or operators of real property and persons who arrange for the disposal or treatment of hazardous substances can be held responsible for damages to natural resources.
Soil or groundwater contamination resulting from historical, ongoing or nearby activities is present at certain of our current and historical properties, and additional contamination may be discovered at such properties in the future. Based on currently available information, we do not believe that any costs or liabilities relating to such contamination will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Under current federal black lung benefits legislation, each coal mine operator is required to make certain payments of black lung benefits or contributions to:
• current and former coal miners totally disabled from black lung disease (pneumoconiosis);
• certain survivors of a miner who dies from black lung disease or pneumoconiosis; and
• a trust fund for the payment of benefits and medical expenses to claimants whose last mine employment was before January 1, 1970, where no responsible coal mine operator has been identified for claims (where a miner's last coal employment was after December 31, 1969), or where the responsible coal mine operator has defaulted on the payment of such benefits. The trust fund is funded by an excise tax on U.S. production of up to $1.10 per ton for deep mined coal and up to $0.55 per ton for surface-mined coal, neither amount to exceed 4.4% of the gross sales price.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which was implemented in 2010, made two changes to the Federal Black Lung Benefits Act. First, it provided changes to the legal criteria used to assess and award claims by creating a legal presumption that miners are entitled to benefits if they have worked at least 15 years in underground coal mines, or in similar conditions, and suffer from a totally disabling lung disease. To rebut this presumption, a coal company would have to prove that a miner did not have black lung or that the disease was not caused by the miner's work. Second, it changed the law so black lung benefits will continue to be paid to dependent survivors when the miner passes away, regardless of the cause of the miner's death. In addition to the federal legislation, we are also liable under various state statutes for black lung claims. Based on currently available information, we do not believe that any costs or liabilities relating to such matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Other Information
Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. was incorporated in December 2004 pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware under the name “International Metal Enterprises, Inc.” for the initial purpose to serve as a vehicle for the acquisition of companies operating in the metals and mining industries. In November 2006, we changed our name to “Globe Specialty Metals, Inc.”
Our internet website address is www.glbsm.com. Copies of the following reports are available free of charge through the internet website, as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: the Annual Report on Form 10-K; quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; current reports on Form 8-K; any amendments to such reports; and proxy statements. Information on the website does not constitute part of this or any other report filed with or furnished to the SEC. The public may read and copy any materials we have filed with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains our reports, proxy and information statements, and our other SEC filings. The address of the SEC's web site is www.sec.gov.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should consider and read carefully all of the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and the related notes to consolidated financial statements. If any of the following events actually occur, our business, business prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially affected. In any such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
The metals industry, including silicon-based metals, is cyclical and has been subject in the past to swings in market price and demand which could lead to volatility in our revenues.
Our business has historically been subject to fluctuations in the price of our products and market demand for them, caused by general and regional economic cycles, raw material and energy price fluctuations, competition and other factors. Historically, our subsidiary, Globe Metallurgical, Inc., has been particularly affected by recessionary conditions in the end-markets for its products, such as automotive and construction. In April 2003, Globe Metallurgical, Inc. sought protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code following its inability to restructure or refinance its indebtedness in light of the confluence of several negative economic and other factors, including an influx of low-priced, dumped imports, which caused it to default on then-outstanding indebtedness. A recurrence of such economic factors could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) and results of operations.
In calendar 2009, the global silicon metal and silicon-based alloys industries suffered from unfavorable market conditions. The weakened economic environment of national and international metals markets that occurred during that time may return; any decline in the global silicon metal and silicon-based alloys industries could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise), and results of operations. In addition, our business is directly related to the production levels of our customers, whose businesses are dependent on highly cyclical markets, such as the automotive, residential and nonresidential construction, consumer durables, polysilicon, steel, and chemical markets. In response to unfavorable market conditions, customers may request delays in contract shipment dates or other contract modifications. If we grant modifications, these could adversely affect our anticipated revenues and results of operations. Also, many of our products are internationally traded products with prices that are significantly affected by worldwide supply and demand. Consequently, our financial performance will fluctuate with the general economic cycle, which could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) and results of operations.
Our business is particularly sensitive to increases in energy costs, which could materially increase our cost of production.
Electricity is one of our largest production cost components, comprising approximately 21% of cost of goods sold. The level of power consumption of our submerged electric arc furnaces is highly dependent on which products are being produced and typically fall in the following ranges: (i) silicon-based alloys require between 3.5 and 8 megawatt hours to produce one MT of product and (ii) silicon metal requires approximately 11 megawatt hours to produce one MT of product. Accordingly, consistent access to low cost, reliable sources of electricity is essential to our business.
Electrical power to our U.S. and Canada facilities is supplied mostly by AEP, Alabama Power, Brookfield Power, Hydro Quebec, Tennessee Valley Authority and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation through dedicated lines. Our Alloy, West Virginia facility obtains approximately 45% of its power needs under a fixed-price contract with a nearby dedicated hydroelectric facility. This facility is over 70 years old and any breakdown could result in the Alloy facility having to pay much higher rates for electric power from third parties. Our energy supply for our facilities located in Argentina is supplied through the Edemsa hydroelectric facilities located in Mendoza, Argentina. Our contract expired in October 2009; we are currently operating under a month-to-month arrangement. Because energy constitutes such a high percentage of our production costs, we are particularly vulnerable to cost fluctuations in the energy industry. Accordingly, the termination or non-renewal of any of our energy contracts, or an increase in the price of energy could materially adversely affect our future earnings, if any, and may prevent us from effectively competing in our markets.
Losses caused by disruptions in the supply of power would reduce our profitability.
Our operations are heavily dependent upon a reliable supply of electrical power. We may incur losses due to a temporary or prolonged interruption of the supply of electrical power to our facilities, which can be caused by unusually high demand, blackouts, equipment failure, natural disasters or other catastrophic events, including failure of the hydroelectric facilities that currently provide power under contract to our West Virginia, New York, Quebec and Argentina facilities. Large amounts of electricity are used to produce silicon metal and silicon-based alloys, and any interruption or reduction in the supply of electrical power would adversely affect production levels and result in reduced profitability. Our insurance coverage does not cover all events and may not be sufficient to cover any or all losses. Certain of our insurance policies will not cover any losses that may be incurred if our suppliers are unable to provide power during periods of unusually high demand.
Investments in Argentina’s electricity generation and transmission systems have been lower than the increase in demand in recent years. If this trend is not reversed, there could be electricity supply shortages as the result of inadequate generation and transmission capacity. Given the heavy dependence on electricity of our manufacturing operations, any electricity shortages could adversely affect our financial results.
Government regulations of electricity in Argentina give priority access of hydroelectric power to residential users and subject violators of these restrictions to significant penalties. This preference is particularly acute during Argentina’s winter months due to a lack of natural gas. We have previously successfully petitioned the government to exempt us from these restrictions given the demands of our business for continuous supply of electric power. If we are unsuccessful in our petitions or in any action we take to ensure a stable supply of electricity, our production levels may be adversely affected and our profitability reduced.
Any decrease in the availability, or increase in the cost, of raw materials or transportation could materially increase our costs.
Principal components in the production of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys include metallurgical-grade coal, charcoal, carbon electrodes, quartzite, wood chips, steel scrap, and other metals, such as magnesium. We buy some raw materials on a spot basis. We are dependent on certain suppliers of these products, their labor union relationships, mining and lumbering regulations and output and general local economic conditions, in order to obtain raw materials in a cost efficient and timely manner. An increase in costs of raw materials or transportation, or the decrease in their production or deliverability in a timely fashion, or other disruptions in production, could result in increased costs to us and lower productivity levels. We may not be able to obtain adequate supplies of raw materials from alternative sources on terms as favorable as our current arrangements or at all. Any increases in the price or shortfall in the production and delivery of raw materials, could materially adversely affect our business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operation.
Cost increases in raw material inputs may not be passed on to our customers, which could negatively impact our profitability.
The availability and prices of raw material inputs may be influenced by supply and demand, changes in world politics, unstable governments in exporting nations and inflation. The market prices of our products and raw material inputs are subject to change. We may not be able to pass a significant amount of increased input costs on to our customers. Additionally, we may not be able to obtain lower prices from our suppliers should our sale prices decrease.
Compliance with and changes in environmental laws, including proposed climate change laws and regulations, could adversely affect our performance.
The principal environmental risks associated with our operations are emissions into the air and releases into the soil, surface water, or groundwater. Our operations are subject to extensive foreign, federal, state, provincial and local environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to the discharge of materials into the environment, waste management, pollution prevention measures and greenhouse gas emissions. If we violate or fail to comply with these laws and regulations, we could be fined or otherwise sanctioned. Because environmental laws and regulations are becoming more stringent and new environmental laws and regulations are continuously being enacted or proposed, such as those relating to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, the level of expenditures required for environmental matters could increase in the future. Future legislative action and regulatory initiatives could result in changes to operating permits, additional remedial actions, material changes in operations, increased capital expenditures and operating costs, increased costs of the goods we sell, and decreased demand for our products that cannot be assessed with certainty at this time.
Some of the proposed federal cap-and-trade legislation would require businesses that emit greenhouse gases to buy emission credits from the government, other businesses, or through an auction process. As a result of such a program, we may be required to purchase emission credits for greenhouse gas emissions resulting from our operations. Although it is not possible at this time to predict the final form of a cap-and-trade bill (or whether such a bill will be passed), any new restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions - including a cap-and-trade program - could result in material increased compliance costs, additional operating restrictions for our business, and an increase in the cost of the products we produce, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and liquidity.
Several Canadian provinces have implemented cap-and-trade programs. Our facility in Canada may be required to purchase emission credits in the future which could result in material increased compliance costs, additional operating restrictions for our business, and an increase in the cost of the products we produce, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and liquidity.
We make a significant portion of our sales to a limited number of customers, and the loss of a portion of the sales to these customers could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and profits.
In the year ended June 30, 2014, we made approximately 48% of our consolidated net sales to our top ten customers and approximately 27% to our two top customers (10%, excluding sales made under our joint venture agreements with Dow Corning). We expect that we will continue to derive a significant portion of our business from sales to these customers. If we were to experience a significant reduction in the amount of sales we make to some or all of these customers and could not replace these sales with sales to other customers, it could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and profits.
On April 13, 2014, one of our customers, Momentive Performance Materials (“MPM”), filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal Bankruptcy Code. There is a risk, as part of the bankruptcy process, that MPM will not pay its accounts payable to us in whole or that its payments to us may be delayed. This would increase our exposure to losses from bad debts and could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity. In addition, if MPM were to significantly reduce its business, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our U.S.-based businesses benefit from U.S. antidumping duties and laws that protect U.S. companies by taxing unfairly traded imports from foreign companies. If these duties or laws change, foreign companies will be able to compete more effectively with us. Conversely, our foreign operations may be adversely affected by these U.S. duties and laws.
Antidumping duties are currently in place in the United States covering silicon metal imports from China and Russia. In addition, antidumping and countervailing duties are in place in Canada covering imports of Chinese silicon metal into that country. Antidumping orders normally benefit domestic producers by reducing the volume of unfairly traded imports and increasing market prices and sales of the domestic product. In the United States, rates of duty can change as a result of “administrative reviews” of antidumping orders. These orders can also be revoked as a result of periodic “sunset reviews,” which determine whether the orders will continue to apply to imports from particular countries. Antidumping and countervailing duties in Canada also are subject to periodic reviews. A sunset review of the U.S. order covering imports from China completed in 2012 resulted in that order remaining in place for an additional five years. However, the current orders may not remain in effect and continue to be enforced from year to year, the goods and countries now covered by antidumping and countervailing duty orders may no longer be covered, and duties may not continue to be assessed at the same rates. Changes in any of these factors could adversely affect our business and profitability. Finally, at times, in filing trade actions, we find ourselves acting against the interests of our customers. Some of our customers may not continue to do business with us because of our having filed a trade action. Antidumping and countervailing duty rules may, conversely, also adversely impact our foreign operations.
We may be unable to successfully integrate and develop our prior and future acquisitions.
We acquired six private companies between November 2006 and June 2011, entered into business combinations in May 2008 and November 2013, and entered into joint venture agreements in November 2009 and June 2012. In addition, we purchased the remaining 50% interest in an existing equity investment to become the sole owner in December 2012. We expect to acquire additional companies in the future. Integration of our prior and future acquisitions with our existing business is a complex, time-consuming and costly process requiring the employment of additional personnel, including key management and accounting personnel. Additionally, the integration of these acquisitions with our existing business may require significant financial resources that would otherwise be available for the ongoing development or expansion of existing operations. Unanticipated problems, delays, costs or liabilities may also be encountered in the development of these acquisitions. Failure to successfully and fully integrate and develop these businesses and operations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The difficulties of combining the acquired operations include, among other things:
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operating a significantly larger combined organization;
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coordinating geographically disparate organizations, systems and facilities;
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consolidating corporate technological and administrative functions;
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integrating internal controls and other corporate governance matters;
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the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;
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unexpected customer or key employee loss from the acquired businesses;
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hiring additional management and other critical personnel;
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negotiating with labor unions;
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a significant increase in our indebtedness; and
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potential environmental or regulatory liabilities and title problems.
In addition, we may not realize all of the anticipated benefits from any prior and future acquisitions, such as increased earnings, cost savings and revenue enhancements, for various reasons, including difficulties integrating operations and personnel, higher than expected acquisition and operating costs, unknown liabilities, inaccurate reserve estimates and fluctuations in markets. If these benefits do not meet the expectations of financial or industry analysts, the market price of our shares may decline.
We are subject to the risk of union disputes and work stoppages at our facilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our hourly employees at our Selma, Alabama facility are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Industrial Division of the Communications Workers of America, under a contract running through April 2, 2017. Our hourly employees at our Alloy, West Virginia, Niagara Falls, New York and Bridgeport, Alabama facilities are covered by collective bargaining agreements with The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union under contracts running through April 27, 2017, July 30, 2017, and March 31, 2015, respectively. Our union employees in Argentina are working under a contract running through April 30, 2015. Our union employees in Canada work at the Bécancour, Québec, plant and are covered by a Union Certification held by the Communications, Energy and Paper Workers Union of Canada (“CEP”), Local 184. The corresponding collective bargaining agreement at our Bécancour facility expired on April 30, 2013 and by effect of a “bridging clause” continued to apply until the union or the Company exercised its right to strike a lockout. We exercised such a right and declared a lockout on May 3, 2013. The lockout remained in effect until December 27, 2013. The CEP, Local 184 and the Company continued bargaining throughout this period with the assistance of a conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour. On December 21, 2013, the parties reached an agreement in principle on the new terms of a collective agreement which was put to a ratification vote of the union membership on December 27, 2013. The proposed collective agreement was ratified with a vote of 76%. The collective agreement was executed by the parties on January 3, 2014 with retroactive effect to January 1, 2014. The lockout was lifted by the Company upon the date of ratification of the collective agreement. On January 3, 2014, the plant began to normalize operations, according to the terms of a back-to-work protocol agreed to by the parties. Since that time, the new collective agreement has been in place and will run through April 30, 2017.
New labor contracts will have to be negotiated to replace expiring contracts from time to time. If we are unable to satisfactorily renegotiate those labor contracts on terms acceptable to us or without a strike or work stoppage, the effects on our business could be materially adverse. Any strike or work stoppage could disrupt production schedules and delivery times, adversely affecting sales. In addition, existing labor contracts may not prevent a strike or work stoppage, and any such work stoppage could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are dependent on key personnel.
Our operations depend to a significant degree on the continued employment of our core senior management team. In particular, we are dependent on the skills, knowledge and experience of Alan Kestenbaum, our Executive Chairman, Jeff Bradley, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Joseph Ragan, our Chief Financial Officer, and Stephen Lebowitz, our Chief Legal Officer. If these employees are unable to continue in their respective roles, or if we are unable to attract and retain other skilled employees, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. We currently have employment agreements with Alan Kestenbaum, Jeff Bradley, Joseph Ragan and Stephen Lebowitz, each of which contains non-compete provisions. Such provisions may not be enforceable by us. Additionally, we are substantially dependent upon key personnel in our financial and information technology staff that enables us to meet our regulatory, contractual and financial reporting obligations, including reporting requirements under our credit facilities.
Metals manufacturing is an inherently dangerous activity.
Metals manufacturing generally, and smelting, in particular, is inherently dangerous and subject to fire, explosion and sudden major equipment failure. This can and has resulted in accidents resulting in the serious injury or death of production personnel and prolonged production shutdowns. We have experienced fatal accidents and equipment malfunctions in our manufacturing facilities in recent years, including a fire at our Bridgeport, Alabama facility in November 2011 and a fatality at our Selma, Alabama facility in October 2012, and may experience fatal accidents or equipment malfunctions again, which could materially affect our business and operations.
Our mining operations are subject to risks that are beyond our control, which could result in materially increased expenses and decreased production levels.
We mine coal and quartzite at underground and surface mining operations. Certain factors beyond our control could disrupt our mining operations, adversely affect production and shipments and increase our operating costs, such as: a major incident at the mine site that causes all or part of the operations of the mine to cease for some period of time; mining, processing and plant equipment failures and unexpected maintenance problems; changes in reclamation costs; and, adverse weather and natural disasters, such as heavy rains or snow, flooding and other natural events affecting operations, transportation or customers. For example, the recent installation of additional capacity at our quartz mine in Alabama took longer and was more costly than expected. Federal or state regulatory agencies have the authority under certain circumstances following significant health and safety incidents, such as fatalities, to order a mine to be temporarily or permanently closed. If this occurred, we may be required to incur capital expenditures to re-open the mine. Environmental regulations could impose costs on our mining operations, and future regulations could increase those costs or add new costs or limit our ability to produce and sell coal. Our failure to obtain and renew permits necessary for our mining operations could negatively affect our business.
Equipment failures may lead to production curtailments or shutdowns.
Many of our business activities are characterized by substantial investments in complex production facilities and manufacturing equipment. Because of the complex nature of our production facilities, any interruption in manufacturing resulting from fire, explosion, industrial accidents, natural disaster, equipment failures or otherwise could cause significant losses in operational capacity and could materially and adversely affect our business and operations.
We depend on proprietary manufacturing processes and software. These processes may not yield the cost savings that we anticipate and our proprietary technology may be challenged.
We rely on proprietary technologies and technical capabilities in order to compete effectively and produce high quality silicon metals and silicon-based alloys. Some of these proprietary technologies that we rely on are:
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computerized technology that monitors and controls production furnaces;
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production software that monitors the introduction of additives to alloys, allowing the precise formulation of the chemical composition of products; and
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flowcaster equipment, which maintains certain characteristics of silicon-based alloys as they are cast.
We are subject to a risk that:
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we may not have sufficient funds to develop new technology and to implement effectively our technologies as competitors improve their processes;
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if implemented, our technologies may not work as planned; and
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our proprietary technologies may be challenged and we may not be able to protect our rights to these technologies.
Patent or other intellectual property infringement claims may be asserted against us by a competitor or others. Our intellectual property may not be enforceable, and it may not prevent others from developing and marketing competitive products or methods. An infringement action against us may require the diversion of substantial funds from our operations and may require management to expend efforts that might otherwise be devoted to operations. A successful challenge to the validity of any of our proprietary intellectual property may subject us to a significant award of damages, or we may be enjoined from using our proprietary intellectual property, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
We also rely on trade secrets, know-how and continuing technological advancement to maintain our competitive position. We may not be able to effectively protect our rights to unpatented trade secrets and know-how.
We are subject to environmental, health and safety regulations, including laws that impose substantial costs and the risk of material liabilities.
We are subject to extensive foreign, federal, national, state, provincial and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations governing, among other things, the generation, discharge, emission, storage, handling, transportation, use, treatment and disposal of hazardous substances; land use, reclamation and remediation; and the health and safety of our employees. We are also required to obtain permits from governmental authorities for certain operations. We may not have been and may not be at all times in complete compliance with such laws, regulations and permits. If we violate or fail to comply with these laws, regulations or permits, we could be subject to penalties, fines, restrictions on operations or other sanctions. Under these laws, regulations and permits, we could also be held liable for any and all consequences arising out of human exposure to hazardous substances or environmental damage we may cause or that relates to our operations or properties. For example, we are subject to federal and state regulations that require payment of benefits related to black lung disease in coal miners, and our exposure may significantly increase if new or additional legislation is enacted at the federal or state level.
Under certain environmental laws, we could be required to remediate or be held responsible for all of the costs relating to any contamination at our or our predecessors’ past or present facilities and at third party waste disposal sites. We could also be held liable under these environmental laws for sending or arranging for hazardous substances to be sent to third party disposal or treatment facilities if such facilities are found to be contaminated. Under these laws we could be held liable even if we did not know of, or were not responsible for, such contamination, or even if we never owned or operated the contaminated disposal or treatment facility.
There are a variety of laws and regulations in place or being considered at the international, federal, regional, state and local levels of government that restrict or are reasonably likely to restrict the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. These legislative and regulatory developments may cause us to incur material costs if we are required to reduce or offset greenhouse gas emissions and may result in a material increase in our energy costs due to additional regulation of power generators.
Environmental laws are complex, change frequently and are likely to become more stringent in the future. Therefore, our costs of complying with current and future environmental laws, and our liabilities arising from past or future releases of, or exposure to, hazardous substances may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We operate in a highly competitive industry.
The silicon-based alloy and silicon metal markets are capital intensive and competitive. Our primary competitors are Elkem AS, owned by China National Bluestar Group Co. Ltd., Grupo Ferroatlantica S.L. and various producers in China. Our competitors may have greater financial resources, as well as other strategic advantages to maintain, improve and possibly expand their facilities; and as a result, they may be better positioned to adapt to changes in the industry or the global economy. The advantages that our competitors have over us could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, new entrants may increase competition in our industry, which could materially adversely affect our business. An increase in the use of substitutes for certain of our products also could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations.
We have historically operated at near the maximum capacity of our operating facilities. Because the cost of increasing capacity may be prohibitively expensive, we may have difficulty increasing our production and profits.
Our facilities are able to manufacture, collectively, approximately 100,000 MT of silicon metal (excluding Dow Corning’s portion of the capacity of our Alloy, West Virginia and Becancour, Quebec plants) and 175,000 MT of silicon-based alloys on an annual basis. Our ability to increase production and revenues will depend on expanding existing facilities or opening new ones. Increasing capacity is difficult because:
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adding new production capacity to an existing silicon plant to produce approximately 30,000 MT of metallurgical grade silicon would cost approximately $120,000,000 and take at least 12 to 18 months to complete once permits are obtained, which could take more than a year;
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a greenfield development project would take at least three to five years to complete and would require significant capital expenditure and environmental compliance costs; and
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obtaining sufficient and dependable power at competitive rates near areas with the required natural resources is difficult to accomplish.
We may not have sufficient funds to expand existing facilities or open new ones and may be required to incur significant debt to do so, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are subject to restrictive covenants under credit facilities. These covenants could significantly affect the way in which we conduct our business. Our failure to comply with these covenants could lead to an acceleration of our debt.
We entered into credit facilities that contain covenants that at certain levels, among other things, restrict our ability to sell assets; incur, repay or refinance indebtedness; create liens; make investments; engage in mergers or acquisitions; pay dividends, including to us; repurchase stock; or make capital expenditures. These credit facilities also require compliance with specified financial covenants, including minimum interest coverage and maximum leverage ratios. We cannot borrow under the credit facilities if the additional borrowings would cause a breach to the financial covenants. Further, a significant portion of our assets are pledged to secure the indebtedness.
Our ability to comply with the applicable covenants may be affected by events beyond our control. The breach of any of the covenants contained in the credit facilities, unless waived, would be a default. This would permit the lenders to terminate their commitments to extend credit under, and accelerate the maturity of, the facility. The acceleration of debt could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and liquidity. If we were unable to repay our debt to the lenders and holders or otherwise obtain a waiver from the lenders and holders, the lenders and holders could proceed against the collateral securing the credit facilities and exercise all other rights available to them. We may not have sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments and may not be able to obtain any such waiver on acceptable terms or at all.
The issuance of dividends may or may not occur in the foreseeable future
The decision to pay dividends is at the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, financial covenants and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant. In the future, we intend to continue to consider declaring dividends on an annual basis, subject to reviewing our earnings and then current circumstances, but there is no guarantee that we will continue to issue dividends.
Our insurance costs may increase, and we may experience additional exclusions and limitations on coverage in the future.
We have maintained various forms of insurance, including insurance covering claims related to our properties and risks associated with our operations. Our existing property and liability insurance coverage contains exclusions and limitations on coverage. From time-to-time, in connection with renewals of insurance, we have experienced additional exclusions and limitations on coverage, larger self-insured retentions and deductibles and significantly higher premiums. For example, as a result of the fire at our facility in Bridgeport, Alabama, our business interruption insurance premium has increased significantly. As a result, in the future, our insurance coverage may not cover claims to the extent that it has in the past and the costs that we incur to procure insurance may increase significantly, either of which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We have operations and assets in the U.S., Argentina, Canada, South Africa, China and Poland, and may have operations and assets in other countries in the future. Our international operations and assets may be subject to various economic, social and governmental risks.
Our international operations and sales will expose us to risks that could negatively impact our future sales or profitability. Our operations may not develop in the same way or at the same rate as might be expected in a country with an economy similar to the United States. The additional risks that we may be exposed to in these cases include, but are not limited to:
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tariffs and trade barriers;
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currency fluctuations, which could decrease our revenues or increase our costs in U.S. dollars;
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regulations related to customs and import/export matters;
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tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws;
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limited access to qualified staff;
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inadequate infrastructure;
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cultural and language differences;
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inadequate banking systems;
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different and/or more stringent environmental laws and regulations;
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restrictions on the repatriation of profits or payment of dividends;
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crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks or wars;
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nationalization or expropriation of property;
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law enforcement authorities and courts that are weak or inexperienced in commercial matters; and
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deterioration of political relations among countries.
Our competitive strength as a low-cost silicon metal producer is partly tied to the value of the U.S. dollar compared to other currencies. The U.S. dollar has fluctuated significantly in value in comparison to major currencies in recent years. Should the value of the U.S. dollar rise in comparison to other currencies, we may lose this competitive strength.
Exchange controls and restrictions on transfers abroad and capital inflow restrictions have limited, and can be expected to continue to limit, the availability of international credit. Argentina continues to impose exchange controls and transfer restrictions substantially limiting the ability of companies to buy foreign currency and to make dividends payments abroad. In response to capital flight and important losses of foreign currency reserves at the Central Bank, Argentina has imposed stringent import controls and restrictions, which are affecting the ability of many firms to adequately obtain raw materials and parts for their production. On July 30, 2014, Argentina entered into a selective default of its restructured debt. These recent events and additional controls could have a negative effect on the economy and our Argentine business if imposed in an economic environment where access to local capital is substantially constrained. Moreover, in such event, restrictions on the transfers of funds abroad may impede our ability to receive more dividend payments from our Argentine subsidiaries.
Our stock price may be volatile, and purchasers of our common stock could incur substantial losses.
Our stock price may be volatile. The stock market in general has experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result of this volatility, you may not be able to sell your common stock at or above the price at which you purchase the shares. The market price for our common stock may be influenced by many factors, including:
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the success of competitive products or technologies;
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regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;
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developments or disputes concerning patents or other proprietary rights;
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the recruitment or departure of key personnel;
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quarterly or annual variations in our financial results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us;
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market conditions in the industries in which we compete and issuance of new or changed securities analysts’ reports or recommendations;
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the failure of securities analysts to cover our common stock or changes in financial estimates by analysts;
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the inability to meet the financial estimates of analysts who follow our common stock;
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investor perception of our company and of the industry in which we compete; and
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general economic, political and market conditions.
The concentration of our capital stock ownership among our largest stockholders, and their affiliates, may limit your ability to influence corporate matters.
To the best of our knowledge, our four largest stockholders, including our Executive Chairman, together beneficially own approximately 41% of our outstanding common stock. Consequently, these stockholders have significant influence over all matters that require approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may limit your ability to influence corporate matters, and as a result, actions may be taken that you may not view as beneficial.
Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could deter or prevent a change in control.
Some provisions in our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as well as Delaware statutes, may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control. These provisions, including those providing for the possible issuance of shares of our preferred stock and the right of our Board of Directors to amend the bylaws, may make it more difficult for other persons, without the approval of the Board of Directors, to make a tender offer or otherwise acquire a substantial number of shares of our common stock or to launch other takeover attempts that a stockholder might consider to be in his or her best interest. These provisions could limit the price that some investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Item 2.
Properties
We believe our facilities are suitable and adequate for our business and current production requirements. The following tables describe our primary office space, manufacturing facilities and mining properties:
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*
Excludes Solsil’s seven smaller furnaces used to produce UMG for solar cell applications.
**
We own the long-term land use rights for the land on which this facility is located. We own the building and equipment forming part of this facility.
Item 3.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to periodic lawsuits, investigations, claims and proceedings, including, but not limited to, contractual disputes, employment, environmental, health and safety matters, as well as claims associated with our historical acquisitions and divestitures. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations, claims and proceedings asserted against us, we do not believe any currently pending legal proceeding to which we are a party will have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, cash flows, results of operations or liquidity.
Item 4.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosure
This information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulations S-K (17 CFR 229.104) is included in exhibit 95 to this report.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Shares of our common stock are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “GSM.”
Price Range of Common Stock
Our shares began trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on July 30, 2009. The price range per share of common stock presented below represents the highest and lowest sales prices for our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market during each quarter of the last two fiscal years.
Holders
As of August 25, 2014, there were approximately 18 holders of record of our common stock. The number of record holders does not include holders of shares in “street names” or persons, partnerships, associations, corporations or other entities identified in security position listings maintained by depositories.
Dividends and Dividend Policy
On August 19, 2014, our Board of Directors approved an annual dividend per common share of $0.30.
On August 20, 2013, our Board of Directors approved an annual dividend per common share of $0.275, payable quarterly in September 2013, December 2013, March 2014 and June 2014. On February 10, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase to the annual dividend to $0.30 per common share, payable quarterly in March 2014, June 2014, September 2014, and December 2014.
On August 17, 2012, our Board of Directors approved an annual dividend of $0.25 per common share, payable quarterly in September 2012, December 2012, March 2013 and June 2013. The Board of Directors approved an accelerated payment of the remaining annual quarterly dividends, and thus a dividend of $0.125 per share was paid in December 2012. On February 4, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.0625 per common share, which was paid in March 2013.
The table presented below represents the dividends declared per common share during each quarter of the last two fiscal years.
The decision to pay dividends is at the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant.
In the future, we intend to continue to consider declaring dividends on an annual basis, subject to reviewing our earnings and then current circumstances.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchaser
We purchase shares of our common stock in the open market and through block purchases pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan. The table below sets forth information regarding our purchases of common stock during the quarter ended June 30, 2014:
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Item 6.
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
The following tables summarize certain selected consolidated financial data, which should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected consolidated financial data presented below for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements.
Item 7.
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis together with “Selected Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about us and our industry. These forward-looking statements involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, as more fully described in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.
Introduction
We are one of the leading manufacturers of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys. As of June 30, 2014, we owned and operated seven principal manufacturing facilities, in two primary operating segments: GMI, our North American operations and, Globe Metales, our Argentine operations.
Business Segments
We operate in five reportable segments:
•
GMI - a manufacturer of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys located in North America with plants in Beverly, Ohio, Alloy, West Virginia, Niagara Falls, New York, Selma, Alabama, Bridgeport, Alabama and Bécancour, Quebec and a provider of specialty metallurgical coal for the silicon metal and silicon-based alloys industries located in Corbin, Kentucky;
•
Globe Metales - a manufacturer of silicon-based alloys located in Argentina with a silicon-based alloys plant in Mendoza and a cored-wire fabrication facility in San Luis;
•
Solsil - a developer and manufacturer of upgraded metallurgical grade silicon metal located Beverly, Ohio;
•
Corporate - a corporate office including general expenses, investments, and related investment income; and
•
Other - includes an electrode production operation in China (Yonvey) and a cored-wire production facility located in Poland and a manufacturer of silicon-based alloys located in South Africa (the facility is currently idled). These operations do not fit into the above reportable segments and are immaterial for purposes of separate disclosure.
Overview and Recent Developments
Customer demand continues to improve for silicon metal and silicon-based alloys as our major end markets, which include chemical, aluminum, automotive, steel and solar, continue to show signs of improvement. The sales mix shifted in fiscal year 2014 as we shipped more silicon-based alloys than the prior year. The increase in silicon-based alloys tons sold was primarily due to increased demand from the steel and automotive industries in North America. Due to the increased demand for silicon-based alloys, we converted a silicon furnace to a ferrosilicon furnace at one of our U.S. plants in fiscal year 2013. We experienced lower average selling prices in fiscal year 2014 compared to the prior year, but continue to see an improving pricing environment as demand for silicon based products improves.
The May 3, 2013 lockout of unionized employees at the Becancour, Canada plant concluded on December 27, 2013 with the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement. At the time of the lockout, the plant shut down two of its three furnaces with management representatives of the plant operating the remaining furnace. The plant ramped up its operations during the third quarter and commenced full run-rate operations during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014.
Net sales for the fourth quarter increased $9,303,000 or 5% from the immediately preceding quarter as a result of a 2% increase in tons shipped and a 29% increase in silica fume and other products revenue. Silicon metal volumes increased 1% while silicon-based alloys volumes increased 3% as a result of improved demand from the steel and automotive industries in North America. Silicon metal prices and silicon-based alloys prices in the fourth quarter were essentially unchanged compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.
The start-up of our South African acquisition, Siltech, remains on-track, and we are currently ramping up production in China at our electrode facility. These initiatives are expected to drive future earnings through higher sales volumes and lower costs.
Outlook
Customer demand for silicon metal in the United States is increasing as our end markets, including steel, autos and consumer goods, continue to strengthen. We have seen improvement in the European market and expect our recent Siltech acquisition will help improve our position overseas. Index pricing has increased, and we remain optimistic about calendar 2014 pricing. We expect continued price improvement in the second half of fiscal year 2015 as a result of the November 2014 contract negotiations. As in the past, we have business that is fixed-priced and business that is priced based on indices. We will continue to sell on a fixed and an indexed basis as appropriate and leave room for spot business as well. We are seeing consistent demand and positive signs for the major end markets that use our products directly and indirectly. The continued imposition of Canadian anti-dumping and countervailing duties action against imports of silicon metal from China may have a positive impact on pricing and opportunities in the Canadian market.
We saw continued improvement in operational efficiency following the completion of the planned maintenance outages in fiscal 2013, and, as a result, we are experiencing lower costs related to maintenance and furnace downtime. We anticipate maintenance outages at five of our U.S. facilities in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.
Critical Accounting Policies
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, known or expected trends and other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates.
Business Combinations
We have completed a number of significant business acquisitions. Our business strategy contemplates that we may pursue additional acquisitions in the future. When we acquire a business, the purchase price is allocated based on the fair value of tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the residual of the excess of the consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. We generally engage independent third-party appraisal firms to assist in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Such a valuation requires management to make significant estimates, especially with respect to intangible assets. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies. These estimates are inherently uncertain and may impact reported depreciation and amortization in future periods, as well as any related impairment of goodwill or other long lived assets.
See note 3 to the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements for detailed disclosures related to our acquisitions.
Inventories
Cost of inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out method or, in certain cases, by the average cost method. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market value. Circumstances may arise (e.g., reductions in market pricing, obsolete, slow moving or defective inventory) that require the carrying amount of our inventory to be written down to net realizable value. We estimate market and net realizable value based on current and future expected selling prices, as well as expected costs to complete, including utilization of parts and supplies in our manufacturing process. We believe that these estimates are reasonable; however, future market price decreases caused by changing economic conditions, customer demand, or other factors could result in future inventory write-downs that could be material.
Long-Lived Assets
We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Impairment losses are recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets' carrying amounts. The impairment loss is measured by comparing the fair value of the asset to its carrying amount. We consider various factors in determining whether an impairment test is necessary, including among other things, a significant or prolonged deterioration in operating results and projected cash flows, significant changes in the extent or manner in which assets are used, technological advances with respect to assets which would potentially render them obsolete, our strategy and capital planning, and the economic climate in the markets we serve. When estimating future cash flows and if necessary, fair value, we make judgments as to the expected utilization of assets and estimated future cash flows related to those assets. We consider historical and anticipated future results, general economic and market conditions, the impact of planned business and operational strategies and other information available at the time the estimates are made. We believe these estimates are reasonable; however, changes in circumstances or conditions could have a significant impact on our estimates, which might result in material impairment charges in the future.
As of June 30, 2014, the carrying value of property, plant and equipment at Yonvey is approximately $15,029,000. Yonvey is currently enhancing the production process to manufacture carbon electrodes which we use in certain of our plant furnaces. If market prices decrease below our cost to produce carbon electrodes we could decide to purchase from third party producers. Such a decision would require us to assess the recoverability of Yonvey’s long-lived assets..
Income Taxes
The Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and applying enacted tax rates expected to be in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. If management determines it is more-likely-than-not that a portion of the Company’s deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recorded. The provision for income taxes is based on domestic (including federal and state) and international statutory income tax rates in the tax jurisdictions where the Company operates, permanent differences between financial reporting and tax reporting, and available credits and incentives.
Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions and tax positions. The Company may be challenged upon review by the applicable taxing authorities, and positions taken may not be sustained. All, or a portion of, the benefit of income tax positions are recognized only when the Company has made a determination that it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained based upon the technical merits of the position. For tax positions that are determined as more-likely-than-not to be sustained, the tax benefit recognized is the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The accounting for uncertain income tax positions requires consideration of timing and judgments about tax issues and potential outcomes and is a subjective estimate. In certain circumstances, the ultimate outcome of exposures and risks involves significant uncertainties. If actual outcomes differ materially from these estimates, they could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized in income tax expense. The U.S. is the Company’s most significant income tax jurisdiction.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess purchase price of acquired businesses over fair values attributed to underlying net tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets. We test the carrying value of goodwill for impairment at a “reporting unit” level (which for the Company is represented by each reported segment and Core Metals (a component of GMI that produces silicon-based alloys)), using a two-step approach, annually as of the last day of February, or whenever an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, this is an indicator that the goodwill assigned to that reporting unit may be impaired. In this case, a second step is performed to allocate the fair value of the reporting unit to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit as if it had just been acquired in a business combination, and as if the purchase price was equivalent to the fair value of the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is referred to as the implied fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is then compared to the actual carrying value of goodwill. If the implied fair value is less than the carrying value, we would be required to recognize an impairment loss for that excess. The valuation of the Company’s reporting units requires significant judgment in evaluation of, among other things, recent indicators of market activity and estimated future cash flows, discount rates and other factors. The estimates of cash flows, future earnings, and discount rate are subject to change due to the economic environment and business trends, including such factors as raw material and product pricing, interest rates, expected market returns and volatility of markets served, as well as our future manufacturing capabilities, government regulation and technological change. We believe that the estimates of future cash flows, future earnings, and fair value are reasonable; however, changes in estimates, circumstances or conditions could have a significant impact on our fair valuation estimation, which could then result in an impairment charge in the future.
As of February 28, 2014, the estimated fair value of each of our reporting units was substantially in excess of their respective carrying values and no impairment charges were recorded during the year ended June 30, 2014.
Share-Based Compensation
Stock Options
Share-based payments are measured based on fair value using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of an award is affected by our stock price as well as other assumptions, including: (i) estimated volatility over the term of the awards (which is based upon the historical volatility of our common stock or stock of similar companies), (ii) estimated period of time that we expect participants to hold their stock options, (which is calculated using the simplified method allowed by SAB 107, or a participant-specific estimate for certain options), (iii) the risk-free interest rate (which we base upon United States Treasury interest rates appropriate for the expected term of the award), and (iv) our expected dividend yield. Certain of our share-based payment arrangements are liability-classified, which require adjustments to the fair value of the award and compensation expense based, in part, on the fair value of our stock and the assumptions discussed above at the end of each reporting period. Further, we estimate forfeitures for the purposes of expensing share-based payment awards that we ultimately expect to vest. The future value of our stock, the assumptions used, and changes to our estimated forfeitures could significantly impact the amount of share-based compensation expense we recognize in future periods.
Stock Appreciation Rights
Cash-settled stock appreciation rights are settled by cash transfer, based on the difference between our stock price on the date of exercise and the grant date. We estimate the fair value of stock appreciation rights using Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires the use of the same assumptions utilized in valuing stock options. The future value of our stock and the assumptions used could significantly impact the amount of share-based compensation expense we recognize in future periods.
Results of Operations
Our results of operations are affected by our recent acquisitions. We acquired Alden Resources, Quebec Silicon and Siltech on July 28, 2011, June 13, 2012 and November 21, 2013, respectively. Results from Alden Resources for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 include results for the entire period and for the year ended June 30, 2012 include results for approximately eleven months. Results from Quebec Silicon for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 include results for the entire period and for the year ended June 30, 2012 include results for approximately seventeen days. Results from Siltech for the year ended June 30, 2014 include results for approximately seven months.
GSM Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2014 vs. 2013
Consolidated Operations:
Net Sales:
Net sales decreased $4,733,000 or 1.0% from the prior year to $752,817,000 primarily as a result of a 6% decrease in the average selling price offset by a 5% increase in sales volume. The decrease in the average selling price compared to the prior year was driven by a 2% decrease in silicon metal and a 7% decrease in silicon-based alloys, resulting in a decrease of $26,193,000. The increase in sales volume compared to the prior year was driven by a 22% increase in silicon-based alloys tons sold offset by a 9% decrease in silicon metal tons sold. The increase in silicon-based alloys tons sold was primarily due to increased demand from the steel and automotive industries in North America. Due to the increased demand for silicon-based alloys, we converted a silicon furnace to a ferrosilicon furnace at one of our U.S. plants. The decrease in silicon metal tons sold was due to lower sales volume at the Becancour, Canada facility as the sales volume for the year ended June 30, 2014 reflects the impact of a nearly eight month lockout and subsequent ramp up of production at the facility once the lockout ended in December 2013 compared to full production in the prior year period.
The average selling price of both silicon metal and silicon-based alloys decreased 2% and 7%, respectively, in fiscal year 2014 compared to the prior year period. The decrease in pricing was due to weaker pricing in the marketplace driven by import competition and end-user demand, particularly in Europe.
Other revenue increased $5,155,000 in fiscal year 2014 primarily due to increased shipments of silica fume as we realized a full year of benefit having purchased the remaining 50% interest in an existing equity investment in December 2012.
Cost of Goods Sold:
The $22,176,000 or 3% decrease in cost of goods sold was a result of a 7% decrease in cost per ton sold. The decrease in cost per ton sold is primarily due to a shift in mix from higher cost silicon products to lower cost ferrosilicon products and manufacturing cost improvement initiatives.
Gross margin represented approximately 16% of net sales in the fiscal year 2014, an increase from 13% of net sales in fiscal year 2013. This gross margin expansion was primarily a result of increased shipment volumes and manufacturing cost improvement initiatives which more than offset a 6% decline in the average selling price year-over-year.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:
The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $27,440,000, or 42%, was primarily due to an increase in stock based compensation of approximately $18,850,000. In addition, we had an increase in salaries and wages of $1,168,000 and an increase in variable-based compensation expense of $4,872,000.
Contract Acquisition Costs:
During the twelve months ended June 30, 2014, the Company acquired supply arrangements that resulted in a payment of $16,000,000.
Curtailment Gain:
The Company’s subsidiary, Quebec Silicon, sponsors a postretirement benefit plan for certain employees, based on length of service and remuneration. Postretirement benefits consist of a group insurance plan covering plan members for life insurance, disability, hospital, medical, and dental benefits. On December 27, 2013, the Communications, Energy and Paper Workers Union of Canada (“CEP”) ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, which resulted in a curtailment pertaining to the closure of the postretirement benefit plan for union employees retiring after January 31, 2016. The Company remeasured the benefit obligations reflecting the curtailment which resulted in a curtailment gain of $5,831,000.
Bargain Purchase Gain:
On November 21, 2013, we purchased 100% of the outstanding shares of Silicon Technology (Pty) Ltd. (Siltech) for $4,000,000. Siltech is a silicon-based alloy producer in South Africa with an annual production capacity of approximately 45,000 metric tons. The acquisition was made to increase the current silicon-based alloy capacity by approximately 30% and its strategic location will enable us to supplement our existing facility to service the large and improving European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, the preliminary fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired of approximately $26,243,000 exceeded the purchase price of $4,000,000, resulting in a gain on bargain purchase of $22,243,000. The initial accounting for the business combination is not complete because the evaluation necessary to assess the fair values of the net assets acquired is still in process. Environmental remediation obligation assumed is not yet finalized, pending the completion of the third-party site study report. The preliminary purchase price allocation is subject to revision until the evaluations are completed to the extent that additional information is obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. Any changes to the fair value assessments will affect the gain on bargain purchase. Therefore, the final purchase price allocation may differ significantly from what is reflected in these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Net Interest Expense:
Net interest expense increased $1,888,000 in fiscal year 2014 compared to fiscal year 2013 primarily due to the write-off of deferred financing costs of $3,354,000 in connection with the refinancing of our existing $300 million Revolving Credit Facility, offset partially by a decrease of $941,000 attributable to loan repayment at Quebec Silicon.
Other Expense:
Other loss decreased $934,000 primarily due to foreign exchange loss on holdings of the Argentine peso partially offset by the elimination of a foreign exchange loss resulting from the revaluation of a U.S. dollar denominated loan at a foreign subsidiary in the prior year.
Provision for Income Taxes:
Provision for income taxes as a percentage of pre-tax income was approximately 29.3% or $7,705,000 in fiscal year 2014 and provision for income taxes as a percentage of pre-tax loss was approximately (16.0%) or $2,734,000 in fiscal year 2013. The tax rate increased compared to the prior year, due to increase in valuation allowance of $5,214,000 attributable to change in tax law that impacted the utilization of certain state tax credits offset by the nontaxable bargain purchase gain of $22,243,000 in connection with the acquisition of Siltech. In the prior year, the tax rate was impacted by certain nondeductible impairment charges recognized offset by a net reduction in valuation allowance associated with state tax credits due to an updated assessment regarding the likelihood of realization.
Segment Operations
GMI
Net sales decreased $4,872,000 or 1% from the prior year to $697,403,000. The decrease was primarily attributable to a 6% decrease in average selling prices. Silicon metal tons sold decreased 9% due to lower sales volume at the Becancour, Canada facility as the sales volume for the year ended June 30, 2014 reflects the impact of a nearly eight month lockout and subsequent ramp up of production at the facility once the lockout ended in December 2013 compared to full production in the prior year period. Silicon-based alloys tons sold increased 27% primarily due to increased demand from the steel and automotive industries in North America and from the conversion of a silicon furnace to a ferrosilicon furnace at one of our U.S. plants. Silicon metal pricing decreased 2% and silicon-based alloys pricing decreased 7% driven by pricing pressure from imports. Other revenue increased $4,685,000 primarily due to increased shipments of silica fume as we realized a full year of benefit having purchased the remaining 50% interest in an existing equity investment in December 2012.
Cost of goods sold decreased 3% while total tons shipped increased 5%. Cost per ton sold decreased in fiscal year 2014 primarily due to a shift in mix from higher cost silicon products to lower cost ferrosilicon products and manufacturing cost improvement initiatives.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3,163,000 to $32,869,000. This increase was primarily due to increases in salaries and wages and professional fees.
During fiscal year 2014, the Company acquired supply arrangements that resulted in a payment of $16,000,000.
Our subsidiary, Quebec Silicon, sponsors a postretirement benefit plan for certain employees, based on length of service and remuneration. Postretirement benefits consist of a group insurance plan covering plan members for life insurance, disability, hospital, medical, and dental benefits. On December 27, 2013, the Communications, Energy and Paper Workers Union of Canada (“CEP”) ratified a new collective bargain agreement, which resulted in a curtailment pertaining to the closure of the postretirement benefit plan for union employees retiring after January 31, 2016. We remeasured the benefit obligations reflecting the curtailment which resulted in a curtailment gain of $5,831,000 during the second quarter of fiscal year 2014.
Operating income decreased $6,568,000 from the prior year to $67,047,000. This decrease was primarily due to a $16,000,000 expense for supply arrangements acquired offset by a $5,831,000 curtailment gain discussed above and a 6% decrease in the average selling price.
Globe Metales
Net sales were essentially the same in fiscal year 2014 compared to fiscal year 2013. Total tons shipped increased 5% while the average selling price decreased 6% primarily due to product mix. Overall demand increased due to stronger demand from the steel market and the European economy.
Operating income increased $8,134,000 from the prior year to $5,746,000. The increase was primarily due to increased volumes and lower costs due to the devaluation of the Argentine peso as well as the recognition of a goodwill impairment of $6,000,000 during fiscal year 2013.
Solsil
Solsil suspended commercial production during fiscal year 2010 as a result of a significant decline in the price of polysilicon and the decline in demand for upgraded metallurgical grade silicon. Operating loss of ($21,147,000) from the prior year was related to the write-off of equipment as a result of our decision to indefinitely take these assets out of service in response to sustained pricing declines that have rendered its production methods uneconomical and inventory write-downs due to expected lower net realizable values for certain inventories.
Corporate
The operating loss increased $6,046,000 from the prior year to $53,680,000. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $22,981,000 year over year primarily due to an increase in stock based compensation of approximately $18,850,000. The Company also had an increase in variable-based compensation of $5,147,000. These increases were offset by lower professional fees and the recognition of long-lived assets impairment of approximately $16,935,000 in the prior year.
GSM Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013 vs. 2012
Consolidated Operations:
Net Sales:
Net sales increased $52,006,000 or 7% from the prior year to $757,550,000 primarily as a result of a 14% increase in metric tons sold, offset by a 7% decrease in average selling prices. The increase in sales volume was driven by a 26% increase in silicon metal tons sold and a 2% increase in silicon-based alloys tons sold, resulting in an increase of $98,140,000. The increase in silicon metal volume was due to the acquisition of Quebec Silicon on June 18, 2012 which contributed 36,323 tons during fiscal year 2013, partially offset by a decrease from our Beverly, Ohio facility due to the conversion of a silicon furnace to a ferrosilicon furnace. The slight increase in silicon-based alloys was primarily due to increased demand from the steel and automotive industries in North America.
The average selling price of silicon metal decreased by 7% and the average selling price of silicon-based alloys decreased 10% during fiscal 2013 as compared to fiscal 2012. The decrease in silicon metal pricing was due to lower pricing on calendar 2012 and 2013 contracts, including lower pricing on index based contracts, and the effect of selling 49% of the silicon volume from the Becancour, Quebec plant joint venture at cost plus a modest margin. The decrease in silicon-based alloys pricing was due to weaker pricing in the marketplace driven by import competition and end-user demand, particularly in Europe.
Other revenue increased $11,811,000 due to an increase in third party coal sales from Alden Resources. The acquisition of Quebec Silicon and the step acquisition of a 50% interest in an existing equity investment, both resulted in an increase in silica fume sales.
Cost of Goods Sold:
The $105,038,000 or 19% increase in cost of goods sold was a result of a 14% increase in metric tons sold and a 4% increase in cost per ton sold. The increase in cost per ton sold is primarily due to the impact of planned major maintenance performed on several of our furnaces during fiscal 2013, including a 98 day outage on our largest furnace in Alloy, West Virginia, a 31 day outage on a furnace at our Niagara Falls, New York facility, and a 45 day outage on one of our two furnaces at our Argentine facility. Additionally, the acquisition of Quebec Silicon increased the mix of silicon metal sales, which has a higher production cost than silicon-based alloys, resulted in increased cost per ton sold. Cost of goods sold further increased from a write-down of $1,922,000 for certain of Solsil’s inventories to expected net realizable values. The increases in cost of goods sold were partially offset by costs associated with the fire at our Bridgeport, Alabama ferrosilicon facility in the previous year.
Gross margin represented approximately 13% of net sales in fiscal 2013, a decrease from 22% of net sales in the previous year. This decrease was a result of lower silicon metal and silicon-based alloy selling prices, a higher cost per ton sold and the write-down of inventories.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:
The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $3,040,000 or 5% was primarily due to an increase in stock based compensation expense of approximately $13,796,000, of which $12,738,000 represents the remeasurement cost resulting from the change in the classification of the outstanding options from equity awards to liability awards and vesting of outstanding liability classified option awards. In addition, the acquisition of Quebec Silicon increased expenses of $2,506,000 in fiscal year 2013. This was offset by a reduction in variable-based compensation of $7,918,000, and a reduction of due diligence and transaction expenses of $3,964,000.
Business Interruption Insurance Recovery:
During fiscal year 2013, we recognized business interruption proceeds of $4,594,000, of which $4,046,000 was related to the fire at our Bridgeport, Alabama facility in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012. During fiscal year 2012, we recognized business interruption proceeds of $450,000.
Goodwill Impairment
During fiscal year 2013, we recognized an impairment of goodwill of approximately $13,130,000.
During the year ended June 30, 2013, we recognized an impairment charge to write-off goodwill associated with our electrode business in China (Yonvey) as a result of delays in our ability to develop a new production method that caused us to revise our expected future cash flows. In estimating the fair value of Yonvey, we considered cash flow projections using assumptions about, among other things, overall market conditions and successful cost rationalization initiatives (principally through the development of new production methods that will enable sustainable quality and pricing). We made a downward revision in the forecasted cash flows from our Yonvey reporting unit which resulted in an impairment of the entire goodwill balance of approximately $7,775,000 (impairment charge of $7,130,000, net of adjustments for foreign exchange rate changes). The impairment charge is recorded within the Other reporting segment. As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of the property, plant and equipment at Yonvey is expected to be recovered by the undiscounted future cash flows associated with the asset group. Yonvey is currently testing new raw materials for use in new production methods. Deterioration in overall market conditions or our inability to execute our cost rationalization initiatives (through development of new production methods or other means) could have a negative effect on these assumptions, and might result in an impairment of Yonvey’s long lived assets in the future.
During the year ended June 30, 2013, in connection with our annual goodwill impairment test, we recognized an impairment charge of $6,000,000 related to the partial impairment of goodwill at our silicon-based alloy business in Argentina (Metales) resulting from sustained sales price declines that caused us to revise our expected future cash flows. The impairment charge is recorded within the Metales reporting segment. Fair value was estimated based on discounted cash flows and market multiples. Estimates under our discounted income based approach involve numerous variables including anticipated sales price and volumes, cost structure, discount rates and long term growth that are subject to change as business conditions change, and therefore could impact fair values in the future. As of June 30, 2013, the fair value of Metales’ reporting unit exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit by less than 10%. The remaining goodwill is $8,313,000 as of June 30, 2013.
Impairment of long-lived assets:
During fiscal year 2013, we recognized an impairment of long-lived assets of approximately $35,387,000.
In recent years, Solsil has been focused on research and development projects and was not producing material for commercial sale. Although we expected to expand operations through the construction of new facilities using new technologies, the falling prices of polysilicon make further research and development pursuits commercially not viable. During the quarter ended March 31, 2013, we recognized an impairment charge of $18,452,000 to write-off equipment related to Solsil as a result of our decision to take these assets out of service which was done, in response to sustained pricing declines that have rendered our production methods uneconomical. The amount of the impairment charge was determined by comparing the estimated fair value (assumed to be zero) of the assets to their carrying amount. The impairment is recorded within the Solsil reporting segment.
In 2011, we acquired exploration licenses related to certain mines located in Nigeria, which granted us the right to explore for, among other things, manganese ore, a raw material used in the production of certain silicon and manganese based alloys. During fiscal year 2013, based upon difficulties encountered in gaining secure access to the mines, we determined that exploration of these mines is not feasible and have decided to abandon our plan to conduct exploration activities. Accordingly, we recognized an impairment charge of $16,935,000 (representing the aggregate carrying amount of the licenses). The impairment has been recorded to the Corporate segment.
Gain on Sale of Business:
The gain on sale of business in fiscal year 2012 was the result of a subsequent settlement associated with the sale of our Brazilian manufacturing operations on November 5, 2009.
Gain on Remeasurement of Equity Investment:
During fiscal year 2013, we purchased the remaining 50% interest in an existing equity investment. We recognized a gain on the fair value remeasurement on our existing 50% equity investment.
Net Interest Expense:
Net interest expense decreased by $1,300,000 mainly attributable to the write-off of deferred financing costs of approximately $1,600,000 related to the repayment and cancellation of the our senior credit facility and term loan in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012. This was partially offset by higher debt outstanding following the acquisition of Quebec Silicon on June 13, 2012.
Other (Loss) Income:
Other (loss) income decreased by $6,249,000 from a gain of $2,578,000 to a loss of ($3,716,000) primarily due to the foreign exchange loss of $1,409,000 resulting from the revaluation of a U.S. dollar loan at a foreign subsidiary, the devaluation of the Argentine peso and the mark-to-market and settlement of foreign exchange contracts, offset by the foreign exchange gains from the revaluation of long-term Brazilian reais denominated liabilities in the prior year.
Provision for Income Taxes:
Provision for income taxes as a percentage of pre-tax income was approximately (16%) or $2,734,000 in fiscal year 2013 and was approximately 33% in fiscal year 2012. For fiscal year 2013, although we recognized a pre-tax loss of $17,075,000, we recognized income tax expense of $2,734,000 primarily as a result of certain impairment charges recognized for which no tax benefit is available or is expected.
Segment Operations
GMI
Net sales increased by $70,780,000 or 11% from the prior year to $702,275,000. The increase was primarily attributable to a 17% increase in tons sold, offset by a 6% decrease in average selling prices. Silicon metal volume increased 26% primarily due to the acquisition of Quebec Silicon on June 13, 2012 which contributed 36,323 tons during fiscal 2013, partially offset by a decrease from our Beverly, Ohio facility due to the conversion of a silicon furnace to a ferrosilicon furnace. Silicon-based alloys volume increased 6% primarily due to increased demand from the steel and automotive industries in North America. Silicon metal pricing decreased by 7% primarily due to lower pricing on calendar 2012 and 2013 contracts, including lower pricing on index-based contracts, and the effect of selling 49% of the silicon metal volume from the Becancour, Quebec joint venture at cost plus a modest margin. Silicon-based alloys pricing decreased 9% due to a reduction in both ferrosilicon and magnesium ferrosilicon pricing driven by pricing pressure from imports.
Operating income decreased by $29,927,000 from the prior year to $73,615,000. The decrease was attributable to lower average selling for silicon metal and silicon-based alloys. Cost of goods sold increased by 21% while shipments increased by 17%. The increase in cost per ton sold is primarily due to the acquisition of Quebec Silicon, which increased the mix of silicon metal sales, a product with a higher cost of production, and the impact of planned major maintenance performed on several of GMI’s furnaces during fiscal 2013, including a 98 day outage on GMI’s largest furnace in Alloy, West Virginia, a 31 day outage on a furnace at GMI’s Niagara Falls, New York facility, and a 10 day outage at GMI’s furnace in Bridgeport, Alabama facility. The increases in cost of goods sold were partially offset by the impact of the fire at our Bridgeport facility during the fiscal year 2012. Additionally, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $1,162,000 primarily due to the acquisition of Quebec Silicon which contributed $2,506,000.
Globe Metales
Net sales decreased $12,797,000 or 20% from the prior year to $51,266,000. This decrease was primarily due to an 11% decrease in volume and 12% decrease in average selling price. Volume declined due to a 45 day planned major maintenance in fiscal 2013 and weak demand from Europe. Overall pricing decreased due to weaker demand from the steel market, continued weakness in Europe and a mix shift from calcium silicon to ferrosilicon with a lower selling price.
Income from operations decreased by $13,720,000 from operating income of $11,332,000 in the prior year to operating loss of ($2,338,000). The decrease was primarily due to the recognition of goodwill impairment of $6,000,000 during the third fiscal quarter of 2013. This was further impacted by a higher cost per ton sold, lower volume and lower average selling prices. Cost of goods sold decreased 9% while shipments decreased 11%. This increase in cost per ton sold was primarily due to the planned 45 day outage one of the two furnaces during fiscal 2013.
Solsil
Net sales remained constant at $0. This was attributable the Solsil suspending commercial production during fiscal year 2010 as a result of a significant decline in the price of polysilicon and the decline in demand for upgraded metallurgical silicon. We are concentrating our efforts on research and development activities focused on reducing the cost of production.
Operating loss increased by $20,163,000 from the prior year to ($21,147,000) primarily due to the write-off equipment as a result of our decision to indefinitely take these assets out of service in response to sustained pricing declines that have rendered its production methods uneconomical and inventory write-downs due to expected lower net realizable values for certain inventories.
Corporate
Operating loss increased by $20,366,000 from the prior year to ($47,634,000). Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $3,377,000 year over year was primarily due to an increase in stock based compensation of approximately $13,796,000, of which $12,738,000 represents the remeasurement cost resulting from the change in the classification of the outstanding options from equity awards to liability awards and vesting of outstanding liability classified option awards and fees related to SAP implementation. This was partially offset by a reduction in variable-based compensation of $7,278,000 and a reduction of due diligence and transaction related costs of $3,964,000.
During fiscal year 2013, we recognized an impairment of long-lived assets of approximately $16,935,000. In 2011, we acquired exploration licenses related to certain mines located in Nigeria, which granted us the right to explore for, among other things, manganese ore, a raw material used in the production of certain silicon and manganese based alloys. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, based upon difficulties encountered in gaining secure access to the mines, we determined that exploration of these mines is not feasible and have decided to abandon our plan to conduct exploration activities at these mines. Accordingly, we recognized an impairment charge of approximately $16,935,000 (representing the aggregate cost basis of the licenses).
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents balance, cash flows from operations, and unused commitments under our existing credit facilities. At June 30, 2014, our cash and cash equivalents balance was approximately $97,792,000, and we had $208,110,000 available for borrowing under our existing financing arrangements. We generated cash flows from operations totaling $62,556,000 during the year ended June 30, 2014.
As of June 30, 2014, the amount of cash and cash equivalents, included in the Company’s consolidated cash that was held by foreign subsidiaries was approximately $32,776,000. If these funds are needed for operations in the U.S., the Company will be required to accrue and pay taxes in the U.S. to repatriate these funds. However, the Company’s intent is to permanently reinvest these funds outside the U.S. and the Company’s current plans do not indicate a need to repatriate them to fund operations in the U.S.
Certain of our subsidiaries borrow funds in order to finance working capital requirements and capital expansion programs. The terms of certain of our financing arrangements place restrictions on distributions of funds to us, however, we do not expect this to have an impact on our ability to meet our cash obligations. We believe we have access to adequate resources to meet our needs for normal operating costs, capital expenditure, and working capital for our existing business. Our ability to fund planned capital expenditures and make acquisitions will depend upon our future operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions in our industry as well as financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.
On August 20, 2013, we refinanced our existing credit facility. The previous facility that was due to expire May 31, 2017, has been replaced with the new facility that extends the expiration to August 20, 2018, improves pricing and increases the flexibility we have to pursue our strategic objectives all while maintaining the capacity of the revolving credit facility at $300,000,000, plus an accordion feature of an additional $150,000,000. See note 10 (debt) to our June 30, 2014 consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our primary sources (uses) of cash during the periods presented:
Operating Activities:
Our business is cyclical and cash flows from operating activities may fluctuate during the year and from year-to-year due to economic conditions.
During fiscal year 2014, net cash provided by operating activities was $62,556,000, compared to $72,740,000 in the prior year. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities is primarily attributable to payments made to acquire supply agreements and the cash settlement of stock appreciation rights exercised during the year , offset by favorable working capital comparisons to the prior year.
Investing Activities:
During fiscal year 2014, net cash used in investing activities was $64,271,000, compared to $49,029,000 in the prior year. During the year, $13,396,000 of cash was used to purchase marketable securities. In addition, $3,800,000 of cash was used, net of cash acquired, in the acquisition of Siltech.
We expect the capital spending for fiscal year 2015 to be approximately $45,000,000, which we plan to fund primarily with cash from operations.
Financing Activities:
During fiscal year 2014, net cash used in financing activities was approximately $68,608,000, compared to $30,994,000 in the prior year. The increase in net cash used in financing activities was mainly attributable to the utilization of $28,962,000 to purchase shares of our own common stock and the net repayment of $14,250,000 under our revolving credit agreements.. These increases in cash used in financing activities were offset by a decrease in Dividend payments of $6,751,000 as a result of an additional dividend payment made during fiscal year 2013.
Exchange Rate Change on Cash:
The effect of exchange rate changes on cash was related to fluctuations in renminbi, Canadian dollars and rand, the functional currency of our Chinese, Canadian and South African subsidiaries.
Commitments and Contractual Obligations
The following tables summarize our contractual obligations at June 30, 2014 and the effects such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods:
The table above also excludes certain other obligations reflected in our consolidated balance sheet, including estimated funding for pension obligations, for which the timing of payments may vary based on changes in the fair value of pension plan assets and actuarial assumptions. We expect to contribute approximately $2,033,000 to our pension plans for the year ended June 30, 2014.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements or relationships with unconsolidated entities of financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities.
Litigation and Contingencies
We are subject to various lawsuits, claims and proceedings that arise in the normal course of business, including employment, commercial, environmental, safety and health matters, as well as claims associated with our historical acquisitions and divestitures. Although it is not presently possible to determine the outcome of these matters, in the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
At June 30, 2014, there are no significant liabilities recorded for environmental contingencies except for the $10,000 preliminary purchase price allocation recorded in connection with the acquisition of Siltech. The initial accounting for the business combination is not complete, pending the completion of the third-party site study report. The provisional amount is subject to revision until the Company’s evaluations of the purchase price allocation are completed to the extent that additional information is obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. With respect to the cost for ongoing environmental compliance, including maintenance and monitoring, such costs are expensed as incurred unless there is a long-term monitoring agreement with a governmental agency, in which case a liability is established at the inception of the agreement.
Accounting Pronouncements to be Implemented
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is not permitted. Accordingly, we will adopt this new guidance beginning in fiscal 2018. Companies may use either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach to adopt this new guidance and management is currently evaluating which transition approach to use. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.
Item 7A.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We are exposed to market risks arising from adverse changes in:
•
commodity prices,
•
interest rates, and
•
foreign exchange rates.
In the normal course of business, we manage these risks through a variety of strategies, including obtaining captive or long-term contracted raw material supplies and hedging strategies. Obtaining captive or long-term contracted raw material supplies involves the acquisition of companies or assets for the purpose of increasing our access to raw materials or the identification and effective implementation of long-term leasing rights or supply agreements. We entered into derivative instruments to hedge certain commodity price, interest rate, and foreign currency risks. We do not engage in commodity, interest rate, or currency speculation, and no derivatives are held for trading purposes.
All derivatives are accounted for using mark-to-market accounting. We believe it is not practical to designate our derivative instruments as hedging instruments as defined under ASC Subtopic 815-10, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). Accordingly, we adjust our derivative financial instruments to current market value through the consolidated statement of income based on the fair value of the agreement as of period-end. Although not designated as hedged items as defined under ASC 815, these derivative instruments serve to significantly offset our commodity, interest rate, and currency risks. Gains or losses from these transactions offset gains or losses on the assets, liabilities, or transactions being hedged. No credit loss is anticipated as the counterparties to our derivative agreements are major financial institutions that are highly rated.
Commodity Prices:
We are exposed to price risk for certain raw materials and energy used in our production process. The raw materials and energy which we use are largely commodities, subject to price volatility caused by changes in global supply and demand and governmental controls. Derivative financial instruments are not used extensively to manage our exposure to fluctuations in the cost of commodity products used in our operations. We attempt to reduce the impact of increases in our raw material and energy costs by negotiating long-term contracts and through the acquisition of companies or assets for the purpose of increasing our access to raw materials with favorable pricing terms. We have entered into long-term power supply contracts that result in stable, favorably priced long-term commitments for the majority of our power needs. Additionally, we have long-term lease mining rights in the U.S. that supply us with a substantial portion of our requirements for quartzite. We also have obtained a captive supply of electrodes through our 98% ownership interest in Yonvey.
In June 2010, we entered into a power hedge agreement on a 175,440 MWh notional amount of electricity, representing approximately 20% of the total power required by our Niagara Falls, New York plant. This hedge covers our expected needs not supplied by the facility’s long-term power contract over the term of the hedge agreement. The notional amount decreases equally per month through the duration of the agreement. Under the power hedge agreement, we fixed the power rate at $39.60 per MWh over the life of the contract. This contract expired on June 30, 2012. In October 2010, we entered into a power hedge agreement on a 87,600 MWh notional amount of electricity. The agreement is effective July 1, 2012 and the notional amount decreases equally per month with a fixed power rate at $39.95 per MWh over the life of the contract. This contract expired on June 30, 2013. At June 30, 2014, we have no outstanding power hedge agreements.
To the extent that we have not mitigated our exposure to rising raw material and energy prices, we may not be able to increase our prices to our customers to offset such potential raw material or energy price increases, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and operating cash flows.
Interest Rates:
We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on certain of our short-term and long-term debt obligations. The Company had outstanding revolving multi-currency credit facility of $125,000,000 at June 30, 2014, with weighted average interest rate of 1.66%. The Company previously entered into interest rate cap arrangement and swap agreements to mitigate the risk of interest rate fluctuations on its recently terminated senior credit facility and long-term debt. The Company settled these agreements in connection with the termination of the senior credit facility and long-term debt. The Company would consider entering into hedge agreements to mitigate the interest rate risk, if conditions warrant. At June 30, 2014, we have no outstanding interest rate derivatives.
If market interest rates were to increase or decrease by 10% for the full 2014 fiscal year as compared to the rates in effect at June 30, 2014, we estimate that the change would not have a material impact to our cash flows or results of operations.
We are also subject to interest rate risk with respect to our pension and postretirement benefit obligations, as changes in interest rates will effectively increase or decrease our liabilities associated with these benefit plans, which also results in changes to the amount of pension and postretirement benefit expense recognized each period.
Foreign Currency Risk:
We are exposed to market risk arising from changes in currency exchange rates as a result of operations outside the United States, principally in Argentina, Canada and China. A portion of our net sales generated from our non-U.S. operations is denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Most of our operating costs for our non-U.S. operations are denominated in local currencies, principally the Argentine peso and the Chinese renminbi. Consequently, the translated U.S. dollar value of our non-U.S. dollar sales, and related accounts receivable balances, and our operating costs are subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations. Derivative instruments are not used extensively to manage this risk. At June 30, 2014, we have no outstanding foreign exchange forward and option contracts at June 30, 2014.
A hypothetical uniform 10% increase or decrease in the value of the dollar relative to all the currencies in which our transactions are denominated would not have a material impact to our cash flows or results of operations.
Item 8.
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The financial statements appearing on pages 32 to 53 are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as such term is defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting and for the assessment of the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting. Our internal control system over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In connection with the preparation of our annual consolidated financial statements, management has undertaken its assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2014, based on the criteria established in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework (1992)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Management’s assessment included an evaluation of the design of our internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of those controls. Based on this assessment, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of June 30, 2014.
Management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include Siltech, which we acquired on November 21, 2013, as management concluded that it was not possible to conduct an assessment of Sitech’s internal control over financial reporting in the period between the consummation date and the date of management’s evaluation. The assets of Siltech represented approximately 6% of total assets at June 30, 2014. There was no revenue recorded by Siltech for the year ended June 30, 2014.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our consolidated financial statements included in this report, has issued its report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, a copy of which appears on page 30 of this annual report.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Other than the Siltech acquisition, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the year ended June 30, 2014, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B.
Other Information
Not applicable.
PART III
Certain information required by Part III is omitted from this report in that we will file a definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A with respect to our 2014 Annual Meeting (the “Proxy Statement”) no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report, and certain information included therein is incorporated herein by reference. Only those sections of the Proxy Statement which specifically address the items set forth herein are incorporated by reference.
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Except as set forth below, the information required by this Item is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
Set forth below is certain information about our executive officers:
Alan Kestenbaum has served as Executive Chairman and Director since our inception in December 2004, and served as Chief Executive Officer from our inception through May 2008. From June 2004, Mr. Kestenbaum served as Chairman of Globe Metallurgical, Inc., until its acquisition by us in November 2006. He has over 25 years of experience in metals including finance, distribution, trading and manufacturing. Mr. Kestenbaum is a founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Marco International Corp., and its affiliates, a finance trading group specializing in metals, minerals and other raw materials, founded in 1985. Mr. Kestenbaum was involved in the expansion by certain of Marco International’s affiliates into China and the former Soviet Union. He also established affiliated private equity businesses in 1999 which were involved in sourcing and concluding a number of private equity transactions, including ones relating to McCook Metals, Scottsboro Aluminum and Globe Metallurgical, Inc. Mr. Kestenbaum began his career in metals with Glencore, Inc. and Philipp Brothers in New York City. He received his B.A. in Economics cum laude from Yeshiva University, New York.
Jeff Bradley has served as our Chief Executive Officer since May 2008 and our Chief Operating Officer since August 2010. From June 2005 until February 2008, Mr. Bradley served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Claymont Steel Holdings, Inc., a company specializing in the manufacture and sale of custom-order steel plate in the United States and Canada. Mr. Bradley was not employed after his February 2008 departure from Claymont Steel until he joined us in May 2008. Prior to joining Claymont Steel, from September 2004 to June 2005, Mr. Bradley served as Vice President of strategic planning for Dietrich Industries, a construction products subsidiary of Worthington Industries. From September 2000 to August 2004, Mr. Bradley served as a vice president and general manager for Worthington Steel, a diversified metal processing company. Mr. Bradley holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland.
Joseph Ragan joined our company as Chief Financial Officer in May 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Ragan served from 2008 to 2013 as Chief Financial Officer for Boart Longyear, the world's largest drilling services contractor for the global mining sector, operating in more than 40 countries and selling its products in nearly 100 countries. Prior to joining Boart Longyear, he held the position of Chief Financial Officer for the GTSI Corporation, a leading technology solutions provider for the public sector listed on NASDAQ. Earlier in his career, he held various international and domestic finance positions for PSEG, The AES Corporation, and Deloitte and Touche. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from The University of the State of New York, his Master's degree in Accounting from George Mason University, and is a Certified Public Accountant in the commonwealth of Virginia.
Stephen Lebowitz has served as our Chief Legal Officer since July 2008. Prior to that, from 2001 to 2008, Mr. Lebowitz was in-house counsel at BP p.l.c., one of the world’s largest petroleum companies, to its jet fuel, marine and solar energy divisions. Prior to joining BP, Mr. Lebowitz was in private practice, both as a partner at the law firm Ridberg, Press and Aaronson, and as an associate with the law firm Kaye Scholer LLP. Mr. Lebowitz holds a B.A. from the University of Vermont, received a law degree from George Washington University, and while overseas as a Fulbright Scholar, obtained an L.L.M. in European law.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
(1)
Financial Statements
Page
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules
Not applicable.
(3)
Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed with this Annual Report or incorporated by reference:
_______________
†
Filed herewith.
Incorporated by reference to the exhibit with the same designation filed with the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-152513) filed on July 25, 2008.
Incorporated by reference to the exhibit with the same designation filed with Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-152513) filed on November 4, 2008.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 21, 2013.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on February 8, 2012.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on November 6, 2013.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on August 28, 2012.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 3, 2011.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on February 11, 2011.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on September 28, 2010.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on November 12, 2010.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 12, 2011.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on August 26, 2011.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on August 28, 2013
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
August 29, 2014
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
GLOBE SPECIALTY METALS, INC.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Globe Specialty Metals, Inc.
Miami, Florida
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of June 30, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the year ended June 30, 2014. We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As described in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management excluded from its assessment the internal control over financial reporting at Silicon Technology (Pty) Ltd., which was acquired on November 21, 2013 and whose financial statements constitute 6% of total assets of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of June 30, 2014. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting at Silicon Technology (Pty) Ltd. The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries as of June 30, 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year ended June 30, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Certified Public Accountants
Miami, Florida
August 29, 2014
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Globe Specialty Metals, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of June 30, 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended June 30, 2013. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries as of June 30, 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended June 30, 2013, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
August 28, 2013
GLOBE SPECIALTY METALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
(1)
Organization and Business Operations
Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries (GSM, the Company, we, or our) is among the world’s largest producers of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys, important ingredients in a variety of industrial and consumer products. The Company’s customers include major silicone chemical, aluminum and steel manufacturers, auto companies and their suppliers, ductile iron foundries, manufacturers of photovoltaic solar cells and computer chips, and concrete producers.
On November 13, 2006, the Company acquired Globe Metallurgical, Inc. (GMI), a manufacturer of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys. GMI owns and operates plants in Beverly, Ohio, Alloy, West Virginia, Niagara Falls, New York, and Selma, Alabama. GMI’s products are sold primarily to the silicone chemical, aluminum, metal casting, and solar cell industries, primarily in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. GMI also owns Norchem, Inc. (Norchem). Norchem manufactures and sells additives that enhance the durability of concrete, refractory material, and oil well conditioners. GMI sells silica fume (also known as microsilica), a by-product of its ferrosilicon metal and silicon metal production process, to Norchem, as well as other companies.
On November 20, 2006, the Company acquired Stein Ferroaleaciones S.A. (SFA), an Argentine manufacturer of silicon-based alloys, and SFA’s affiliate, UltraCore Polska Sp.z.o.o. (UCP), a Polish manufacturer of cored wire alloys. SFA was renamed Globe Metales S.A. (Globe Metales). Globe Metales is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina and operates a silicon-based alloy manufacturing plant in Mendoza province, Argentina and cored wire packing plants in San Luis province, Argentina and Police, Poland. Globe Metales’ products are important ingredients in the manufacturing of steel, ductile iron, machine and auto parts, and pipe.
On January 31, 2007, the Company acquired Camargo Correa Metais S.A. (CCM), one of Brazil’s largest producers of silicon metal and silica fume. CCM was renamed Globe Metais Indústria e Comércio S.A. (Globe Metais). On November 5, 2009, the Company sold 100% of its interest in Globe Metais. The sale of the Company’s equity interest in Globe Metais was executed in connection with the sale of a 49% membership interest in WVA Manufacturing, LLC (WVA LLC), a newly formed entity by the Company, to Dow Corning Corporation (Dow Corning).
On February 29, 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 81% of Solsil, Inc. (Solsil). Solsil is continuing to develop its technology to produce upgraded metallurgical grade silicon through a proprietary metallurgical process for use in photovoltaic (solar) cells. Solsil is not presently producing material for commercial sale. The Company owns 97.25% of Solsil.
On May 15, 2008, the Company purchased an ownership interest of approximately 58% of Ningxia Yonvey Coal Industrial Co., Ltd (Yonvey). Yonvey is a producer of carbon electrodes, an important input in the silicon metal production process. Yonvey now principally supplies its electrodes to our subsidiaries. Yonvey’s operations are located in Chonggang Industrial Park, Shizuishan in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. On November 28, 2008, the Company increased its interest by an additional 12%. In January 2013, the Company purchased an additional 28% ownership interest in Yonvey, bringing the Company’s ownership interest in Yonvey to 98%.
On April 1, 2010, the Company acquired Core Metals Group Holdings LLC (Core Metals). Core Metals is a leading producer, marketer, and distributor of ferroalloys and specialty materials for the North American steel and foundry industry. The acquisition was made to strengthen the Company’s growing ferrosilicon business and expand the line of products and services it offers to steel markets around the world.
On July 28, 2011, the Company acquired Alden Resources, LLC (Alden) and Gatliff Services, LLC (Gatliff), collectively known as Alden. Alden is North America’s leading miner, processor and supplier of specialty metallurgical coal to the silicon and silicon-based alloy industries. The acquisition was made in order to secure a stable, long-term and low-cost supply of specialty metallurgical coal, a key ingredient in the production of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys.
On June 13, 2012, the Company acquired Becancour Silicon Metal Inc.'s (BSI) 51% equity interest in Quebec Silicon Limited Partnership (QSLP), collectively known as Quebec Silicon. The Company operates Quebec Silicon’s silicon metal plant located in Becancour, Quebec with its joint venture partner Dow Corning.
On November 21, 2013, the Company purchased 100% of the outstanding shares of Silicon Technology (Pty) Ltd. (Siltech). Siltech is a silicon-based alloy producer in South Africa. The acquisition was made to increase the Company’s current silicon-based alloy capacity. The Siltech facility was in an idled status when purchased. The Company intends to restart operations at the facility in the second half of calendar year 2014.
See note 3 (Business Combinations) for additional information regarding business combinations.
(2)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
a. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and present the accounts of Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. When the Company does not have a controlling interest in an entity, but exerts significant influence over the entity, the Company applies the equity method of accounting. For investments in which the Company does not have significant influence, the cost method of accounting is used.
All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
b. Use of Estimates
The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company based its estimates and judgments on historical experience, known or expected trends and other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
c. Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized in accordance with ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition (ASC 605), when title, ownership, and risk of loss pass to the customer, all of which occurs when products are delivered to the Company’s customers or when products are picked up by a customer or a customer’s carrier. Written sales terms, including the selling price, are determined at the time of shipment or delivery. We have not experienced significant credit issues with our customers. Shipping and other transportation costs charged to buyers are recorded in both net sales and cost of goods sold. Sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis and, therefore, are excluded from net sales.
d. Foreign Currency Translation
The determination of the functional currency for the Company’s subsidiaries is made based on appropriate economic factors, including the currency in which the subsidiary sells its products, the market in which the subsidiary operates, and the currency in which the subsidiary’s financing is denominated. Based on these factors, management has determined that the U.S. dollar is the functional currency for Globe Metales. The functional currency for Yonvey is the Chinese renminbi. Yonvey’s assets and liabilities are translated using current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for income and expense accounts using average exchange rates. The functional currency for Quebec Silicon is the Canadian dollar. Quebec Silicon’s assets and liabilities are translated using current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for income and expense accounts using average exchange rates. The functional currency for Siltech is the South African rand. Siltech’s assets and liabilities are translated using current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for income and expense accounts using average exchange rates. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Translation gains and losses are recognized on transactions in currencies other than the subsidiary’s functional currency and included in the consolidated statement of operations for the period in which the exchange rates changed.
e. Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash. Securities with contractual maturities of three months or less, when purchased, are cash equivalents. The carrying amount of these securities approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.
Refer to note 3 (Business Combinations) and note 17 (Stockholders’ Equity) for supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities.
f. Marketable Securities
Marketable securities consist of trading and available-for-sale securities. Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term. Available-for-sale securities are not classified as either trading securities or as held-to-maturity securities. Unrealized holding gains and losses for trading securities are included in earnings. Unrealized holding gains and losses for available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income until realized.
g. Inventories
Cost of inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out method or, in certain cases, by the average cost method. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market value. Circumstances may arise (e.g., reductions in market pricing, obsolete, slow moving or defective inventory) that require the carrying amount of our inventory to be written down to net realizable value. The Company estimates market and net realizable value based on current and future expected selling prices, as well as expected costs to complete, including utilization of parts and supplies in the manufacturing process.
h. Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of assets. The estimated useful lives of property, plant, and equipment are as follows:
Costs that do not extend the life of an asset, materially add to its value, or adapt the asset to a new or different use are considered repair and maintenance costs and expensed as incurred.
Costs for mineral properties, which are incurred to expand capacity of operating mines, are capitalized and charged to operations based on the units-of production method over the estimated proven and probable reserve tons and based on the average useful life of the mine, respectively. Mine development costs include costs incurred for site preparation and development of the mines during the development stage, and are charged to operations on a straight-line basis over the estimated operational life of the mine.
i. Business Combinations
When the Company acquires a business, the purchase price is allocated based on the fair value of tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the residual of the excess of the consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. If the fair value of the net assets acquired exceeds the purchase price, the resulting bargain purchase is recognized as a gain in the consolidated statement of operations. Prior to the adoption of ASC Subtopic 805-10, Business Combinations (ASC 805-10), the resulting negative goodwill was allocated as a pro rata reduction of the values of acquired nonmonetary assets. The Company generally engages independent, third-party appraisal firms to assist in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Such a valuation requires management to make significant estimates, especially with respect to intangible assets. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies. These estimates are inherently uncertain. For all acquisitions, operating results are included in the consolidated statement of operations from the date of acquisition.
j. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Impairment testing for goodwill is performed at the reporting unit level. In accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (ASC 350), goodwill is tested for impairment annually during the third quarter, and will be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that more likely than not would indicate the carrying amount of a reporting unit may be impaired. Reporting units are at the reportable segment level, or one level below the reportable segment level for our GMI and Other reportable segments, and are aligned with our management reporting structure. Goodwill relates and is assigned directly to a specific reporting unit.
Impairment is the condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination. The excess of the fair value of a reporting unit over the amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. An impairment loss would be recognized when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill of the reporting unit. Refer to note 3 (Business Combinations) and note 7 (Goodwill and Other Intangibles) for additional information.
Trade names have indefinite lives and are not amortized but rather tested annually for impairment and written down to fair value as required.
k. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Impairment losses are recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets' carrying amounts. The impairment loss is measured by comparing the fair value of the asset to its carrying amount. The Company considers various factors in determining whether an impairment test is necessary, including among other things, a significant or prolonged deterioration in operating results and projected cash flows, significant changes in the extent or manner in which assets are used, technological advances with respect to assets which would potentially render them obsolete, our strategy and capital planning, and the economic climate in the markets we serve. When estimating future cash flows and if necessary, fair value, the Company makes judgments as to the expected utilization of assets and estimated future cash flows related to those assets, considering historical and anticipated future results, general economic and market conditions, the impact of planned business and operational strategies and other information available at the time the estimates are made.
l. Mineral Reserves
Mineral reserves are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. Depletion of mineral reserves is computed using the units-of-production method utilizing only proven and probable reserves (as adjusted for recoverability factors) in the depletion base. Mineral reserves are included in Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization in the consolidated balance sheets.
m. Exploration Costs
Costs incurred to maintain current production capacity at a mine and exploration expenditures are charged to operating costs as incurred, including costs related to drilling and study costs incurred.
n. Share-Based Compensation
The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense based on the estimated grant date fair value of share-based awards using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. Prior to vesting, cumulative compensation cost equals the proportionate amount of the award earned to date. The Company has elected to treat each award as a single award and recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the entire award. If the terms of an award are modified in a manner that affects both the fair value and vesting of the award, the total amount of remaining unrecognized compensation cost (based on the grant-date fair value) and the incremental fair value of the modified award are recognized over the amended vesting period.
On August 17, 2013, the Company amended certain outstanding options pursuant to the Company’s 2006 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Plan, to permit these options alternatively to be settled for cash or exercised for the issuance of shares, at the election of the option holder. This modification changed its classification from equity awards to liability awards and the fair value of the liability awards is remeasured at the end of each reporting period through settlement.
Refer to note 19 (Share-Based Compensation) for further information on the Company’s accounting for share-based compensation.
o. Income Taxes
The Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and applying enacted tax rates expected to be in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. If management determines it is more-likely-than-not that a portion of the Company’s deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recorded. The provision for income taxes is based on domestic (including federal and state) and international statutory income tax rates in the tax jurisdictions where the Company operates, permanent differences between financial reporting and tax reporting, and available credits and incentives.
Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions and tax positions. The Company may be challenged upon review by the applicable taxing authorities, and positions taken may not be sustained. All, or a portion of, the benefit of income tax positions are recognized only when the Company has made a determination that it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained based upon the technical merits of the position. For tax positions that are determined as more-likely-than-not to be sustained, the tax benefit recognized is the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The accounting for uncertain income tax positions requires consideration of timing and judgments about tax issues and potential outcomes, and is a subjective estimate. In certain circumstances, the ultimate outcome of exposures and risks involves significant uncertainties. If actual outcomes differ materially from these estimates, they could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized in income tax expense.
p. Financial Instruments
The Company accounts for derivatives and hedging activities in accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). ASC 815 requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at their respective fair values. On a historical basis, the Company has used interest rate caps and interest rate swaps to manage interest rate exposures on long-term debt, a power hedge to manage commodity price risk, and foreign exchange forward and option contracts to manage foreign currency exchange exposures as discussed in note 13 (Derivative Instruments). As of June 30, 2014, we had no outstanding derivative instruments.
q. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is not permitted. Accordingly, we will adopt this new guidance beginning in fiscal 2018. Companies may use either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach to adopt this new guidance and management is currently evaluating which transition approach to use. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
(3)
Business Combinations
Alden Resources, LLC:
On July 28, 2011, the Company, pursuant to three Membership Interest Purchase Agreements dated as of May 27, 2011 (the Purchase Agreements), purchased from NGPC Asset Holdings II, LP, NGP Capital Resources Company, and all other parties named in the Purchase Agreements 100% of the membership interest of Alden Resources, LLC (Alden) and Gatliff Services, LLC (Gatliff), as well as certain royalty interests held by NGP Capital Resources Company, for $73,200. The Company financed the acquisition with $55,000 of bank debt and $18,200 of cash. Alden is North America’s leading miner, processor and supplier of specialty metallurgical coal to the silicon and silicon-based alloy industries. The acquisition was made in order to secure a stable, long-term and low-cost supply of specialty metallurgical coal, a key ingredient in the production of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys. The Company finalized the purchase price allocation as of June 30, 2012. The results of the businesses acquired are included in the GMI operating segment.
Quebec Silicon:
On June 13, 2012, the Company closed its acquisition of Becancour Silicon Metal Inc.'s (BSI) 51% equity interest in Quebec Silicon Limited Partnership (QSLP) and other working capital assets, collectively known as Quebec Silicon. The acquisition was financed using $31,800 from the Company's $300,000 revolving credit facility discussed in note 10 (Debt) and $8,803 cash. During the year ended June 30, 2013, the purchase price was finalized based on working capital at the date of acquisition, of which resulted in the Company paying additional consideration in the amount of $1,346. The Company operates Quebec Silicon’s silicon metal plant and purchases approximately 51% of its finished goods output at a price approximately equal to the fully loaded cost of production and sells the material to third party customers. Dow Corning has the right to purchase the other 49% of the plant's output at a price approximately equal to the fully loaded cost of production. This arrangement is similar to the Company's existing joint venture with Dow Corning at its Alloy, West Virginia plant. The Company engaged a third-party valuation firm to assist in the process of determining the fair value of certain assets acquired and the noncontrolling interest. The fair value of the noncontrolling interest was determined to be 49% of the net assets acquired less a discount for lack of control and marketability based upon empirical studies and company specific factors. The Company finalized the purchase price allocation in June 2013, recording zero goodwill in connection with the acquisition. The results of the businesses acquired are consolidated in the Company’s financial statements within the GMI operating segment.
Step Acquisition:
On December 20, 2012, the Company closed its stock purchase of the remaining 50% interest in an existing equity investment. The total purchase price was $5,000, of which $4,500 was financed using cash on hand and the remaining $500 was subject to the finalization of the working capital settlement. The Company recognized a gain of approximately $1,655 on the fair value remeasurement (based on the transaction price) of its existing 50% equity investment. The Company finalized the purchase price allocation in December 2013. Total goodwill of $3,371 was recorded in connection with the acquisition, which was assigned to the GMI operating segment.
Siltech:
On November 21, 2013, the Company purchased 100% of the outstanding shares of Silicon Technology (Pty) Ltd. (Siltech) for $4,000. The Company paid for the acquisition from available cash. Siltech is a silicon-based alloy producer in South Africa with an annual production capacity of approximately 45,000 metric tons. The acquisition was made to increase the Company’s current silicon-based alloy capacity by approximately 30% and its strategic location will enable the Company to supplement its existing facility to service the large and improving European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets. The Siltech facility was in an idled status when purchased. The Company intends to restart operations at the facility in the second half of calendar year 2014.
The Siltech acquisition was recorded as a business combination under Accounting Standards Codification 805 (“ASC 805”), Business Combinations, with identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed provisionally recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date while costs associated with the acquisition are expensed as incurred. The Company utilized the services of third-party valuation consultants, along with estimates and assumptions provided by the Company, to estimate the initial fair value of the assets acquired. The third-party valuation consultants utilized several appraisal methodologies including income, market and cost approaches to estimate the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired.
Based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, the following table summarizes the estimated preliminary fair value amounts of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:
The preliminary fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired of approximately $26,243 exceeded the purchase price of $4,000, resulting in a gain on bargain purchase of $22,243, which was recorded in the consolidated income statement for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014. ASC 805 requires that when the fair value of the net assets acquired exceeds the purchase price, resulting in a bargain purchase of a business, the acquirer must reassess the reasonableness of the values assigned to all of the net assets acquired, liabilities assumed and consideration transferred. The Company performed such reassessment and initially concluded that the preliminary values assigned for the Siltech acquisition are reasonable. The results of the acquired business are included within the Other operating segment.
The gain on bargain purchase was primarily attributable to the fact that Siltech was considered an ancillary business to the seller (Siltech being the seller’s only silicon-based alloys operation), coupled with the previous weaker silicon-based alloys pricing in the marketplace driven by end-user demand (which resulted in the idling of the facility by the seller in 2012).
The initial accounting for the business combination is not complete because the evaluation necessary to assess the fair values of the net assets acquired is still in process. Environmental remediation obligation assumed is not yet finalized, pending the completion of the third-party site study report. The Company is reviewing the valuation and confirming the results to determine the final purchase price allocations during the measurement period. The provisional amounts are subject to revision until the evaluations are completed to the extent that additional information is obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. Any changes to the fair value assessments will affect the gain on bargain purchase. Therefore, the final purchase price allocations may differ significantly from what is reflected in these consolidated financial statements.
For the year ended June 30, 2014, Siltech had no net sales as the facility was idled and incurred $1,665 of selling, general and administrative expenses. Of the acquired property, plant and equipment of $46,500, $4,599 has been allocated to land and the remaining $41,901 has been allocated to construction in progress as the assets have not been put into service.
Pro forma results of operations and other disclosures for the Siltech acquisition have not been presented as they are not material in relation to the Company’s reported results.
(4) Inventories
Inventories comprise the following at June 30:
At June 30, 2014, $73,894 in inventory is valued using the first-in, first-out method and $7,030 using the average cost method. At June 30, 2013, $93,320 in inventory is valued using the first-in, first-out method and $7,877 using the average cost method. During the year ended June 30, 2014, the Company did not record any inventory write-downs. During the year ended June 30, 2013, the Company recorded inventory write-downs totaling $1,922 due to expected lower net realizable values for certain Solsil inventories. These write-downs were recorded in cost of goods sold.
(5) Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets comprise the following at June 30:
(6)
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment, net is comprised of the following at June 30:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense for the year ended June 30, 2014 was $44,973, of which $43,902 is recorded in cost of goods sold and $1,071 is recorded in selling, general, and administrative expenses, respectively. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense for the year ended June 30, 2013 was $46,621, of which $45,543 is recorded in cost of goods sold and $1,078 is recorded in selling, general, and administrative expenses, respectively. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense for the year ended June 30, 2012 was $34,848, of which $34,083 is recorded in cost of goods sold and $765 is recorded in selling, general, and administrative expenses, respectively.
Capitalized interest for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 was $103, $9, and $24, respectively.
(7)
Goodwill and Other Intangibles
Goodwill and other intangibles presented below have been allocated to the Company’s operating segments.
a. Goodwill
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by reportable segment, during the years ended June 30 are as follows:
b. Other Intangible Assets
There were no changes in the value of the Company’s indefinite lived intangible assets during the years ended June 30, 2014 or 2013. The trade name balance is $477 at June 30, 2014 and 2013.
c. Annual Impairment Tests
The Company performed its annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset tests as of February 28, 2014. In accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, goodwill is tested for impairment annually and is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that more likely than not would indicate the carrying amount of a reporting unit may be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at a reporting unit level. The valuation of the Company’s reporting units requires significant judgment in evaluation of overall market conditions, estimated future cash flows, discount rates and other factors. For the year ended June 30, 2014, all reporting units had fair values that exceeded carrying values and an impairment charge was not required.
Yonvey Goodwill
During the year ended June 30, 2013, the Company recognized an impairment charge to write-off goodwill associated with its electrode business in China (Yonvey) as a result of delays in the Company’s ability to develop a new production method that caused it to revise its expected future cash flows. In estimating the fair value of Yonvey, the Company considered cash flow projections using assumptions about, among other things, overall market conditions and successful cost rationalization initiatives (principally through the development of new production methods that will enable sustainable quality and pricing). The Company made a downward revision in the forecasted cash flows from its Yonvey reporting unit which resulted in an impairment of the entire goodwill balance of approximately $7,775 (impairment charge of $7,130, net of adjustments for foreign exchange rate changes). The impairment charge is recorded within the Other reporting segment.
Metales Goodwill
During the year ended June 30, 2013, in connection with our annual goodwill impairment test, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $6,000 related to the partial impairment of goodwill at its silicon-based alloy business in Argentina (Metales) resulting from sustained sales price declines that caused the Company to revise its expected future cash flows. The impairment charge is recorded within the Metales reporting segment. Fair value was estimated based on discounted cash flows and market multiples. Estimates under the Company’s discounted income based approach involve numerous variables including anticipated sales price and volumes, cost structure, discount rates and long term growth that are subject to change as business conditions change, and therefore could impact fair values in the future. No impairment was recognized for the year ended June 30, 2014. The remaining goodwill is $8,313 as of June 30, 2014.
(8) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
In accordance with ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant and Equipment, the Company reviews the recoverability of its long-lived assets, such as plant and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets, when events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying value of the asset or asset group may not be recoverable. The assessment of possible impairment is based on the Company’s ability to recover the carrying value of the asset or asset group from the expected future undiscounted cash flow of the related operations. The Company assesses the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. If these cash flows are less than the carrying value of such asset or asset group, an impairment loss is measured based on the difference between estimated fair value and carrying value. No impairment charges were recorded during the year ended June 30, 2014.
Solsil Long-Lived Assets
In recent years, Solsil has been focused on research and development projects and was not producing material for commercial sale. Although the Company expected to expand operations through the construction of new facilities using new technologies, the falling prices of polysilicon make further research and development pursuits commercially not viable. During the year ended June 30, 2013, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $18,452 to write-off equipment related to Solsil as a result of its decision to indefinitely take these assets out of service which was done, in response to sustained pricing declines that have rendered its production methods uneconomical. The amount of the impairment charge was determined by comparing the estimated fair value of the assets using an in-exchange premise (assumed to be zero) to their carrying amount. The impairment is recorded within the Solsil reporting segment.
Nigeria Exploration Licenses
In 2011, the Company acquired exploration licenses related to certain mines located in Nigeria, which granted it the right to explore for, among other things, manganese ore, a raw material used in the production of certain silicon and manganese based alloys. During the year ended June 30, 2013, based upon difficulties encountered in gaining secure access to the mines, the Company determined that exploration of these mines is not feasible and has decided to abandon its plan to conduct exploration activities. Accordingly, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $16,935 (representing the aggregate carrying amount of the licenses). The impairment has been recorded to the Corporate segment.
(9) Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates comprise the following at June 30:
(10) Debt
a. Short-Term Debt
Short-term debt comprises the following:
Export Financing Agreements - The Company’s Argentine subsidiary maintains various short-term export financing agreements. Generally, these arrangements are for periods ranging between seven and eleven months, and require the Company to pledge as collateral certain export accounts receivable.
b. Revolving Credit Agreements
A summary of the Company’s revolving credit agreements at June 30, 2014 is as follows:
On August 20, 2013, the Company entered into a $300,000 five-year revolving multi-currency credit facility, which includes a $10,000 sublimit for swing line loans and a $25,000 sublimit letter of credit facility. The credit facility refinanced existing debt under the revolving multi-currency credit agreement dated May 31, 2012 and closing costs. The credit facility currently provides up to an additional $174,060 of borrowing capacity as of June 30, 2014. At the Company’s election, the credit facility may be increased by an amount up to $150,000 in the aggregate; such increase may be in the form of term loans or increases in the revolving credit line, subject to lender commitments and certain conditions as described in the credit agreement. The agreement contains provisions for adding domestic and foreign subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers under the credit facility. The agreement terminates on August 20, 2018 and requires no scheduled prepayments before that date. The Company classifies borrowings under this credit facility as long-term liabilities. For the year ended June 30, 2014, approximately $3,354 of deferred financing costs were expensed as a result of the cancellation of the revolving multi-currency credit agreement.
Interest on borrowings under the multi-currency credit facility is payable, at the Company’s election, at either (a) a base rate (the higher of (i) the U.S. federal funds rate plus 0.50% per annum, (ii) the Administrative Agent’s prime rate or (iii) a Eurocurrency Rate for loans with a one month interest period plus 1.00% per annum plus a margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.50% per annum (such margin determined by reference to the leverage ratio set forth in the credit agreement), or (b) the Eurocurrency Rate plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.50% per annum (such margin determined by reference to the leverage ratio set forth in the credit agreement). Certain commitment fees are also payable under the credit agreement. The credit agreement contains various covenants. They include, among others, a maximum net debt to earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortization ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio. The credit facility is guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries (the “Guarantors”). Borrowings under the credit agreement are collateralized by the assets of the Company and the Guarantors, including certain real property, equipment, accounts receivable, inventory and the stock of certain of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ subsidiaries. The Company was in compliance with its financial loan covenants at June 30, 2014.
At June 30, 2014, there was a $125,000 balance outstanding on the revolving multi-currency credit facility. The total commitment outstanding on this credit facility includes $640 outstanding letters of credit associated with landlord guarantees and $300 outstanding letters of credit associated with economic development.
On October 1, 2010, the Company entered into a revolving credit facility, which was amended on March 5, 2012 and further amended on June 30, 2013. The amended agreement provides for a $20,000 revolving credit facility. As of June 30, 2014, there was no outstanding balance under the facility. Interest on advances under the revolving credit facility accrues at LIBOR plus an applicable margin percentage or, at the Company’s option, prime plus an applicable margin percentage. The credit facility is subject to certain restrictive and financial covenants, which include limits on additional debt, a maximum ratio of debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and a minimum net worth. The Company was in compliance with the loan covenants at June 30, 2014. The Company classifies borrowings under this revolving credit facility as current liabilities as the arrangement is payable in full upon the earlier of 10 business days following written demand by the lender or the agreement’s expiration on December 31, 2014.
The Company’s subsidiary, Quebec Silicon, entered into a revolving credit agreement dated October 1, 2010, amended on November 23, 2011 and further amended and restated on September 20, 2012, which provides for up to $15,000 Canadian Dollars to fund Quebec Silicon’s working capital requirements. Funding under the revolving credit agreement is available upon request at any time, up to the full amount of the unused credit commitment and subject to continued compliance with the terms of the agreement. Interest on borrowings under the credit agreement is payable at a variable rate of Canadian prime plus 2.00% (5.00% at June 30, 2014), payable quarterly. The credit agreement expires on September 20, 2015, and may be terminated earlier, at the lender’s discretion subject to certain change in ownership conditions being met. All of Quebec Silicon’s assets, properties and revenues have been pledged as security for Quebec Silicon’s obligations under the revolving credit agreement. As of June 30, 2014, there was no outstanding balance under the facility.
c. Other Long-Term Debt
Other long-term debt comprises the following:
d. Fair Value of Debt
The recorded carrying values of our debt balances approximate fair value given our debt is at variable rates tied to market indicators.
(11) Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities comprise the following at June 30:
(12) Other Long-Term Liabilities
Other long-term liabilities comprise the following at June 30:
(13) Derivative Instruments
The Company enters into derivative instruments to hedge certain interest rate, currency, and commodity price risks. The Company does not engage in interest rate, currency, or commodity speculation, and no derivatives are held for trading purposes. All derivatives are accounted for using mark-to-market accounting. The Company believes it is not practical to designate its derivative instruments as hedging instruments as defined under ASC Subtopic 815-10, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). Accordingly, the Company adjusts its derivative financial instruments to current market value through the consolidated statement of operations based on the fair value of the agreement as of period-end. Although not designated as hedged items as defined under ASC 815, these derivative instruments serve to offset the Company’s interest rate, currency, and commodity risks. Gains or losses from these transactions offset gains or losses on the assets, liabilities, or transactions being hedged. No credit loss is anticipated as the counterparties to these agreements are major financial institutions that are highly rated.
Interest Rate Risk:
The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on certain of its short-term and long-term debt obligations. The Company has historically utilized interest rate swaps and interest rate cap agreements to reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. All interest rate derivatives were settled when the Company closed on the $300,000 revolving multi-currency credit facility discussed in note 10 (Debt). The Company currently has no interest rate derivatives to reduce exposure to interest rate fluctuations.
Foreign Currency Risk:
The Company is exposed to market risk arising from changes in currency exchange rates as a result of its operations outside the United States, principally in Argentina, China and Canada. A portion of the Company’s net sales generated from its non-U.S. operations is denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Most of the Company’s operating costs for its non-U.S. operations are denominated in local currencies, principally the Canadian dollar, Argentine peso and the Chinese renminbi. Consequently, the translated U.S. dollar value of the Company’s non-U.S. dollar net sales, and related accounts receivable balances, and its operating costs are subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations. Derivative instruments are not used extensively to manage this risk. At June 30, 2013, the Company had foreign exchange option contracts covering approximately 8,000 Euros, expiring at dates ranging from July 2013 to October 2013, at an average exchange rate of 1.35 Canadian dollar to 1.00 Euro, and foreign exchange forward contracts covering approximately 5,362 Euros, expiring at dates ranging from July 2013 to October 2013, at an average exchange rate of 1.33 US dollar to 1.00 Euro. At June 30, 2014, the Company had no outstanding foreign exchange forward or options contracts.
Commodity Price Risk:
The Company is exposed to price risk for certain raw materials and energy used in its production process. The raw materials and energy that the Company uses are largely commodities subject to price volatility caused by changes in global supply and demand and governmental controls. Derivative financial instruments are not used extensively to manage the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in the cost of commodity products used in its operations. The Company attempts to reduce the impact of increases in its raw material and energy costs by negotiating long-term contracts and through the acquisition of companies or assets for the purpose of increasing its access to raw materials with favorable pricing terms.
In June 2010, the Company entered into a power hedge agreement on a 175,440 MWh notional amount of electricity, representing approximately 20% of the total power required by our Niagara Falls, New York plant. This hedge covered our expected needs not supplied by the facility’s long-term power contract over the term of the hedge agreement. The notional amount decreased equally per month through the agreement’s expiration on June 30, 2012. Under the power hedge agreement, the Company fixed the power rate at $39.60 per MWh over the life of the contract. In October 2010, the Company entered into a power hedge agreement on an 87,600 MWh notional amount of electricity, also for power required at our Niagara Falls, New York plant. The notional amount decreased equally per month from the agreement’s July 1, 2012 effective date through its expiration on June 30, 2013. Under this power hedge agreement, the Company fixed the power rate at $39.95 per MWh over the life of the contract. At June 30, 2014, the Company had no outstanding power hedge agreements.
The effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of operations is summarized in the following table:
The fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments at June 30, 2013 are summarized in note 20 (Fair Value Measures). There are no derivative instruments outstanding at June 30, 2014.
(14) Benefit Plans
a. Defined Benefit Retirement and Postretirement Plans
The Company’s subsidiary, GMI, sponsors three noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering certain employees. These plans were frozen in 2003. The Company’s subsidiary, Core Metals, sponsors a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering certain employees. This plan was closed to new participants in April 2009.
The Company’s subsidiary, Quebec Silicon, sponsors a contributory defined benefit pension plan and postretirement benefit plan for certain employees, based on length of service and remuneration. Postretirement benefits consist of a group insurance plan covering plan members for life insurance, disability, hospital, medical, and dental benefits. The contributory defined benefit pension plan was closed to new participants in December 2013. On December 27, 2013, the Communications, Energy and Paper Workers Union of Canada (“CEP”) ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, which resulted in a curtailment pertaining to the closure of the postretirement benefit plan for union employees retiring after January 31, 2016. The Company remeasured the benefit obligations reflecting the curtailment which resulted in a curtailment gain of $5,831. The curtailment gain is included in operating income for the year ended June 30, 2014.
The Company’s funding policy has been to contribute, as necessary, an amount in excess of the minimum requirements in order to achieve the Company’s long-term funding targets. During the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company made contributions of $2,971 and $3,561, respectively, to the pension and other benefit plans.
The Company uses a June 30 measurement date for these defined benefit plans.
Benefit Obligations and Funded Status - The following provides a reconciliation of the benefit obligations, plan assets, and funded status of the plans at June 30, 2014 and 2013:
At June 30, 2014 and 2013, the accumulated benefit obligations were $59,888 and $59,542, respectively, for the defined benefit pension plans.
All of our pension and postretirement plans are underfunded, and have been underfunded for all years presented. The amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consist primarily of net actuarial loss as well as a component related to prior service cost, which is not material. Reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which totaled ($1,862) for the year ended June 30, 2014, are recognized as components of net periodic pension expense.
Net Periodic Pension Expense - The components of net periodic pension expense for the Company’s defined benefit pension and postretirement plans are as follows:
In fiscal year 2015, net actuarial losses of approximately $1,254 are expected to be recognized into net periodic pension expense from accumulated other comprehensive income. The amount of prior service cost we expect to recognize in 2015 as a component of net periodic pension expense is not material.
Assumptions and Other Data - The assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at June 30, 2014 and 2013 follow:
The discount rate used in calculating the present value of our pension plan obligations is developed based on the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve for both the GMI plans and Core Metals plan, and the Mercer Yield Curve for Quebec Silicon pension and postretirement benefit plans and the expected cash flows of the benefit payments.
The assumptions used to determine net periodic expense for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans for years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 are as follows:
Expected return on plan assets is determined based on management’s expectations of long-term average rates of return on funds invested to provide for benefits included in the projected benefit obligations. In determining the expected return on plan assets, the Company takes into account historical returns, plan asset allocations and related investment strategies, as well as the outlook for inflation and overall fixed income and equity returns.
The Company expects to make discretionary contributions of approximately $2,033 to the defined benefit pension and postretirement plans for the year ending June 30, 2015.
The following reflects the gross benefit payments that are expected to be paid for the benefit plans for the years ended June 30:
The accumulated nonpension postretirement benefit obligation has been determined by application of the provisions of the Company’s health care and life insurance plans including established maximums, relevant actuarial assumptions and health care cost trend rates projected at 6.2% for fiscal 2014 and decreasing to an ultimate rate of 4.3% in fiscal 2033. The effect of a 1% increase in health care cost trend rate on nonpension postretirement net periodic benefit costs and the benefit obligations is $305 and $1,780, respectively. The effect of a 1% decrease in health care cost trend rate on nonpension postretirement net periodic benefit costs and the benefit obligation is ($227) and ($1,383), respectively.
The Company’s overall strategy is to invest in high-grade securities and other assets with a limited risk of market value fluctuation. In general, the Company’s goal is to maintain the following allocation ranges:
The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets as of June 30, 2014 are as follows:
The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets as of June 30, 2013 are as follows:
Equity securities include domestic and international equity mutual funds and commingled domestic and international equity funds. Fixed income securities include fixed income mutual funds and commingled fixed income funds. In addition, a portion of the plan assets are in real estate mutual funds. For all plan assets, fair values were based on quoted prices in active markets and were therefore classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy as of June 30, 2014. See note 20 (Fair Value Measures) for additional disclosures related to the fair value hierarchy. The Company held no level 2 or level 3 assets during the year ended June 30, 2014.
b. Other Benefit Plans
The Company administers healthcare benefits for certain retired employees through a separate welfare plan requiring reimbursement from the retirees.
The Company’s subsidiary, GMI, provides two defined contribution plans (401(k) plans) that allow for employee contributions on a pretax basis. The Company agrees to match 25% of participants’ contributions up to a maximum of 6% of compensation. Company matching contributions for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 were $393, $344, and $330, respectively. Additionally, subsequent to the acquisition of Core Metals, the Company began sponsoring the Core Metals defined contribution plan. Under the plan the Company may make discretionary payments to salaried and non-union participants in the form of profit sharing and matching funds. Company matching contributions for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 were $71, $95, and $102, respectively.
Other benefit plans offered by the Company include a Section 125 cafeteria plan for the pretax payment of healthcare costs and flexible spending arrangements.
(15) Income Taxes
The sources of income (loss) before provision for income taxes and income attributable to noncontrolling interest for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 were as follows:
The components of current and deferred income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:
The following is a reconciliation, stated in percentage, of the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to our effective tax rate for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012:
During the year ended June 30, 2014, the Company recorded a nontaxable bargain purchase gain of $22,243 in connection with the acquisition of Siltech. See note 3 for additional information regarding the acquisition. The Company operated under a tax holiday in Argentina, where the Company’s manufacturing income was taxed at a preferential rate, which varied based on production levels from the Company’s Argentine facilities, compared to a statutory rate of 35%. The tax holiday in Argentina expired in June 2012. For the year ended June 30, 2012, the foreign tax holiday in Argentina provided a benefit of $144 to net income and no impact to earnings per share.
As of June 30, 2014, the Company had approximately $79,799 of undistributed foreign earnings. We intend to reinvest earnings outside the U.S. for the foreseeable future and, therefore, have not recognized any U.S. tax expense on these earnings. It is not practicable for the Company to determine the amount of unrecognized U.S. tax expense on these reinvested foreign earnings.
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at June 30, 2014 and 2013 consist of the following:
A portion of the Company’s net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs) are subject to various limitations and expire at various dates in the future as follows:
The Company maintains valuation allowances where it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In determining whether a valuation allowance is warranted, the Company evaluates factors such as prior earnings history, expected future earnings, carry back and carry forward periods and tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of the realization of a deferred tax asset. It is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets. For the year ended June 30, 2014, the increase in the valuation allowance of $5,214 was primarily attributable to a valuation allowance placed upon certain state credits which are unlikely to be utilized due to change in tax law that resulted in a decrease in expected tax liability for those states, and for a full valuation allowance on net operating losses generated in China and South Africa. For the year ended June 30, 2013, the valuation allowance was primarily attributable to a full valuation allowance established for tax losses sustained due to the recognition of an impairment charge of $16,935 associated with exploration licenses in Nigeria and the continued maintenance of a full valuation allowance on deferred tax assets in China, net of a reduction in the valuation allowance associated with state tax credits (due to an updated assessment regarding the likelihood of realization in the future).
The total valuation allowance at June 30, 2014 and 2013 is $17,773, and $12,559, respectively, relates to the following:
The Company files a consolidated U.S. income tax return and tax returns in various state and local jurisdictions. Our subsidiaries also file tax returns in various foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s principal jurisdictions include the U.S., Canada, Argentina, and China. The number of open tax years subject to examination varies depending on the tax jurisdiction. The Company’s major taxing jurisdictions and the related open tax years subject to examination are as follows: the U.S. from 2011 to present, Canada from 2012, Argentina from 2009 to present, and China from 2010 to present.
The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the year, excluding interest and penalties:
Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized in income tax expense. Included in our liability for uncertain tax positions are interest and penalties of $138, $170, and $76 for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. For the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, we recognized ($31), $98, and $42 respectively, of interest and penalties in income tax benefit/provision. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that approximately $330 of its uncertain tax position liability at June 30, 2014 may be recognized within the next twelve months as the statutes of limitations will expire. The portion of uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2014 that would, if recognized, impact the effective tax rate was $795, $1,115, and $522 as of June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
(16) Commitments and Contingencies
a. Legal Contingencies
The Company is subject to various lawsuits, claims, and proceedings that arise in the normal course of business, including employment, commercial, environmental, safety, and health matters, as well as claims associated with our historical acquisitions and divestitures. Although it is not presently possible to determine the outcome of these matters, in the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
b. Environmental Contingencies
It is the Company’s policy to accrue for costs associated with environmental assessments, remedial efforts, or other environmental liabilities when it becomes probable that a liability has been incurred and the costs can be reasonably estimated. When a liability for environmental remediation is recorded, such amounts will be recorded without giving effect to any possible future recoveries. At June 30, 2014, there are no significant liabilities recorded for environmental contingencies except for the $10,000 preliminary purchase price allocation recorded in connection with the acquisition of Siltech. The initial accounting for the business combination is not complete, pending the completion of the third-party site study report. The provisional amount is subject to revision until the Company’s evaluations of the purchase price allocation are completed to the extent that additional information is obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. With respect to the cost for ongoing environmental compliance, including maintenance and monitoring, such costs are expensed as incurred unless there is a long-term monitoring agreement with a governmental agency, in which case a liability is established at the inception of the agreement.
c. Asset Retirement Obligations
As of June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company has recorded asset retirement obligation accruals for mine reclamation and preparation plant closure costs totaling $9,134 and $6,898, respectively. There were no assets that were legally restricted for purposes of settling asset retirement obligations at June 30, 2014 or 2013.
d. Employee Contracts
As of June 30, 2014, the Company had 1,569 employees. The Company’s total employees consist of 541 salaried employees and 1,028 hourly employees, and include 625 unionized employees. 39.8% of the workforce is covered by collective bargaining agreements and 10.1% of the workforce is covered by collective bargaining agreements expiring within one year of June 30, 2014.
e. Contractual Commitments
The Company leases certain machinery and equipment, automobiles, railcars and office space. For the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, lease expense was $5,059, $4,038, and $3,527, respectively.
The following table summarizes our contractual commitments by period:
(17) Stockholders’ Equity
a. Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue one million shares of preferred stock with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the board of directors. To date, no preferred stock has been issued by the Company.
b. Treasury Stock
On May 1, 2013 the Company’s board of directors approved a share repurchase program that authorized the Company to repurchase up to $75,000 over an eight month period. As of June 30, 2014 1,591,566 shares have been repurchased at an average of $18.20 per share under this program.
c. Noncontrolling Interest
Quebec Silicon Acquisition
As discussed in note 3, the Company recorded an increase in noncontrolling interest of $46,762 in association with the purchase of 51% interest in Quebec Silicon on June 13, 2012. The Company recorded a decrease to noncontrolling interest of $3,102 in June 2013 to reflect final purchase price adjustments in association with the acquisition.
Yonvey Share Purchase
In January 2013, the Company purchased an additional 28% ownership interest in Yonvey for $2,330, bringing the Company’s ownership interest in Yonvey to 98%.
d. Dividend
On August 20, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an annual dividend of $0.275 per common share, payable quarterly in September 2013, December 2013, March 2014 and June 2014. The September 2013 quarterly dividend of $0.06875 per share, totaling $5,178, was paid on September 24, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 10, 2013. The December 2013 quarterly dividend of $0.06875 per share, totaling $5,178, was paid on December 23, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 9, 2013. On February 10, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase to the annual dividend to $0.300 per common share, payable quarterly in March 2014, June 2014, September 2014, and December 2014. The March 2014 quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share, totaling $5,559, was paid on March 12, 2014 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 26, 2014. The June 2014 quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share, totaling $5,541, was paid on June 24, 2014 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 10, 2014.
On August 17, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an annual dividend of $0.25 per common share, payable quarterly in September 2012, December 2012, March 2013 and June 2013. The September 2012 quarterly dividend of $0.0625 per share, totaling $4,691, was paid on September 19, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 5, 2012. The December 2012 quarterly dividend of $0.0625 per share, totaling $4,691, was paid on December 14, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2012. The Board of Directors approved an accelerated payment of the remaining annual quarterly dividends, and thus a dividend of $0.125 per share, totaling $9,412, was paid on December 28, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 17, 2012. On February 4, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.0625 per common share, totaling $4,706, which was paid March 25, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business at the close of business on March 15, 2013. On May 20, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.0625 per common share, totaling $4,707, which was paid June 28, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business at the close of business on June 10, 2013.
(18) Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per common share are calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. Diluted earnings (loss) per common share assumes the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted stock grants, provided in each case the effect is dilutive.
The reconciliation of the amounts used to compute basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 is as follows:
The following potential common shares were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per common share because their effect would be anti-dilutive:
(19) Share-Based Compensation
a. Stock Plan
The Company’s share-based compensation program consists of the Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. 2006 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Plan (the Stock Plan). The Stock Plan was initially approved by the Company’s stockholders on November 10, 2006, and was amended and approved by the Company’s stockholders on December 6, 2010 to increase by 1,000,000 the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Stock Plan. The Stock Plan, as amended, provides for the issuance of a maximum of 6,000,000 shares of common stock for the granting of incentive stock options, nonqualified options, stock grants, and share-based awards. Any remaining shares available for grant, but not yet granted, will be carried over and used in the following fiscal years.
At June 30, 2014, there were 2,481,651 shares available for grant. All option grants have vesting terms of up to 3 years and maximum contractual terms ranging from 5 to 10 years. It is the Company’s policy to issue new shares to satisfy the requirements of its share-based compensation plan. The Company does not expect to repurchase shares in the future to support its share-based compensation plan.
On August 17, 2012, the Board authorized the Company to offer to amend outstanding options representing the right to purchase shares issued to directors, officers and current employees pursuant to the Stock Plan, to permit these options alternatively to be settled for cash or exercised for the issuance of shares, at the election of the option holder. This modification of the outstanding options changed its classification from equity awards to liability awards and the fair value of the liability awards is remeasured at the end of each reporting period through settlement. These outstanding options are excluded from the weighted average diluted shares outstanding calculation in note 18 (Earnings (Loss) Per Share). The Company believes the outstanding options will be settled in cash.
During the year ended June 30, 2014, share-based compensation awards were limited to the issuance of 439,211 nonqualified stock options and 6,615 restricted stock grants. There were forfeitures of 2,447,500 of nonqualified stock options as a result of certain employees and directors forfeiting their stock options for stock appreciation rights that settle exclusively in cash and are no longer part of the Stock Plan. All of the forfeited share options were fully vested. Please see below within the Stock Appreciation Rights for further detail over the forfeited stock options that have been converted to stock appreciation rights. A summary of the changes in options outstanding under the Stock Plan for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 is presented below:
The weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 was $5.27, $4.55, and $8.97, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, was $507, $6,061, and $417, respectively.
The total fair value of stock options vested during the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, was $2,186, $2,275, and $1,998, respectively. Of the unvested options as of June 30, 2014, 420,581 will vest and become exercisable as of June 30, 2015 and 316,927 will vest and become exercisable as of June 30, 2017.
The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of stock option awards granted during the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012:
The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield of zero coupon U.S. Treasury bonds with terms similar to the expected term of the options. The expected dividend yield is estimated over the expected life of the options based on our historical annual dividend activity. Volatility reflects movements in our stock price over the most recent historical period equivalent to the expected life of the options. However, since historical trading data related to the Company’s common stock does not exceed the expected life of certain options, the expected volatility over the term of those options is estimated using the historical volatilities of similar companies. The expected forfeiture rate is zero as anticipated forfeitures are estimated to be minimal based on historical data. The expected term is the average of the vesting period and contractual term.
For the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, share-based compensation expense related to stock options was $13,552 ($8,131 after tax), $15,333 ($9,200 after tax), and $2,482 ($1,338 after tax), respectively. The expense is reported within selling, general, and administrative expenses.
b. Executive Bonus Plan
In addition to share-based awards issued under the Stock Plan, the Company issues restricted stock units under the Company’s Executive Bonus Plan. The fair value of restricted stock units is based on quoted market prices of the Company’s stock at the end of each reporting period. These restricted stock units proportionally vest over three years, but are not delivered until the end of the third year. The Company will settle these awards by cash transfer, based on the Company’s stock price on the date of transfer. During the year ended June 30, 2014, there were 64,595 restricted stock units granted, and as of June 30, 2014, 663,411 restricted stock units were outstanding. For the year ended June 30, 2014, share-based compensation expense for these restricted stock units was $7,298 ($4,378 after tax). The expense is reported within selling, general, and administrative expenses. Of the $9,828 liability associated with these restricted stock units at June 30, 2014, $8,107 is included in share-based liabilities and $1,721 is included in other long-term liabilities.
c. Stock Appreciation Rights
The Company issues cash-settled stock appreciation rights as an additional form of incentivized bonus. Stock appreciation rights vest and become exercisable in one-third increments over three years. The Company settles all awards by cash transfer, based on the difference between the Company’s stock price on the date of exercise and the date of grant. The Company estimates the fair value of stock appreciation rights using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. During the year ended June 30, 2014, there were 3,828,611 stock appreciation rights issued, inclusive of the 2,447,500 stock appreciation rights granted as a result of the forfeiture of nonqualified stock options as noted above. During the year ended June 30, 2014, there were 2,447,500 and 8,523 stock appreciation rights that were exercised and forfeited, respectively. There were 1,372,588 stock appreciation rights outstanding as of June 30, 2014. For the year ended June 30, 2014, pre-tax compensation expense for these stock appreciation rights was $14,767. The expense is reported within selling, general, and administrative expenses. All of the $3,094 liability associated with these stock appreciation rights at June 30, 2014 is included in other long-term liabilities.
d. Unearned Compensation Expense
As of June 30, 2014, the Company has unearned pre-tax compensation expense of $2,089, related to nonvested liability classified stock options, which will be recognized over a weighted average term of 1.11 years. The unearned compensation expense represents the minimum expense to be recognized over the grant date vesting terms or earlier as a result of accelerated expense recognition due to remeasurement of compensation cost for liability classified awards. Future expense may exceed the unearned compensation expense in the future due to the remeasurement of liability classified awards. As of June 30, 2014, the Company has unearned pre-tax compensation expense of $1,696 and $1,281 related to nonvested equity classified stock options and restricted stock grants, which will be recognized over a weighted average term of 2.54 and 6.38 years, respectively.
(20) Fair Value Measures
ASC 820, Fair Value Measures and Disclosures, establishes a fair value hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The fair value framework requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into three levels based upon the assumptions (inputs) used to value the assets or liabilities. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, whereas Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Observable inputs other than those included in Level 1. For example, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s own assumptions about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability. For example, cash flow modeling using inputs based on management’s assumptions.
The following table summarizes assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at June 30, 2014:
The following table summarizes assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at June 30, 2013.
The Company does not have any liabilities that are required to be remeasured at fair value at June 30, 2014 or at June 30, 2013.
Marketable securities consist of corporate bonds for which fair values were based on quoted prices in active markets and were therefore classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. During the year ended June 30, 2014, we sold $3,976 of these bonds for a gain of $186. As of the balance sheet date, the cash proceeds from the sale of these bonds had not settled, and are therefore included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Derivative assets related to the foreign exchange forward and option contracts are summarized in note 13 (Derivative Instruments). Fair values are determined by independent brokers using quantitative models based on readily observable market data.
See note 10 (Debt) for information regarding the fair value of the Company’s outstanding debt.
(21) Related Party Transactions
From time to time, the Company enters into transactions in the normal course of business with related parties.
A current and a former member of the board of directors are affiliated with Marco International. During the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company:
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Entered into agreements with Marco International to purchase graphitized carbon electrodes. Purchases under these agreements totaled $19,217, $34,785, and $18,136, respectively. At June 30, 2014 and 2013, payables to Marco International under these agreements totaled $1,140 and $0, respectively.
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Entered into agreements with Marco International to purchase rare earth. Purchases under these agreements totaled $559, $0, and $1,013, respectively. At June 30, 2014 and 2013, there were no payables to Marco International outstanding under these agreements.
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Entered into agreements to sell ferrosilicon to Marco International. Net sales under these agreements totaled $641, $411, and $851, respectively. At June 30, 2014 and 2013, there were no receivables from Marco International outstanding under these agreements.
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Entered into agreements to sell calcium silicon powder to Marco International. Net sales under these agreements totaled $4,173, $1,344, and $5,611, respectively. At June 30, 2014 and 2013, there were no receivables from Marco International outstanding under these agreements.
(22) Operating Segments
Operating segments are based upon the Company’s management reporting structure and include the following five reportable segments:
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GMI - a manufacturer of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys and a provider of specialty metallurgical coal for the silicon metal and silicon-based alloys industries located in North America.
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Globe Metales - a manufacturer of silicon-based alloys located in Argentina.
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Solsil - a manufacturer of upgraded metallurgical grade silicon metal located in the United States.
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Corporate - general corporate expenses, investments, and related investment income.
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Other - operations that do not fit into the above reportable segments and are immaterial for purposes of separate disclosure. The operating segments include Yonvey’s electrode production operations as well as Siltech’s silicon alloy production and certain other distribution operations for the sale of silicon metal and silicon-based alloys.
Each of our reportable segments distributes its products in both its country of domicile, as well as to other international customers. The following presents the Company’s consolidated net sales by product line for the years ended June 30:
a. Segment Data
Summarized financial information for our reportable segments as of, and for, the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 are shown in the following tables:
1 - Net of capitalized interest.
The accounting policies of our operating segments are the same as those disclosed in note 2 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). We evaluate segment performance principally based on operating income (loss). Intersegment net sales are not material.
b. Geographic Data
Net sales are attributed to geographic regions based upon the location of the selling unit. Net sales by geographic region for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 consist of the following:
Long-lived assets by geographical region at June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012 consist of the following:
Long-lived assets consist of property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization, and goodwill and other intangible assets.
c. Major Customer Data
The following is a summary of the Company’s major customers and their respective percentages of consolidated net sales for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012:
The majority of sales to Dow Corning for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are associated with Dow Corning’s 49% ownership interest in WVA Manufacturing LLC and QSLP. Sales to Dow Corning are included in the GMI segment.
(23)
Business Interruption Insurance Recovery
In November 2011, there was a fire at the Bridgeport, Alabama ferrosilicon plant. The Company recorded and received business interruption insurance recovery payments totaling $4,046 in March 2013.
Prior to acquisition, there was a fire at the Quebec Silicon plant. The Company recorded and received a business interruption insurance recovery payment totaling $548 in March 2013.
(24)
Contract Acquisition Costs
During the twelve months ended June 30, 2014, the Company acquired a supply arrangement that resulted in a payment of $16,000,000.
(25)
Subsequent Events
On August 19, 2014, our Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend per common share of $0.075 in furtherance of an annual calendar 2014 dividend authorized of $0.30 per common share. The September 2014 quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share is payable on September 24, 2014 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 10, 2014.
(26)
Unaudited Quarterly Results
Unaudited quarterly results for the years ended June 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
Due to rounding differences, the sum of the quarterly amounts may not add precisely to the annual amounts.
Exhibit Index
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Filed herewith.
Incorporated by reference to the exhibit with the same designation filed with the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-152513) filed on July 25, 2008.
Incorporated by reference to the exhibit with the same designation filed with Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-152513) filed on November 4, 2008.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 21, 2013.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on February 8, 2012.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on November 6, 2013.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on August 28, 2012.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 3, 2011.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on February 11, 2011.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on September 28, 2010.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on November 12, 2010.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 12, 2011.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on August 26, 2011.
Incorporated by reference to exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on August 28, 2013