UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002
OR
| ¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Commission file number 1-5112
ETHYL CORPORATION
Incorporated pursuant to the Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Internal Revenue Service Employer Identification No. 54-0118820
330 South Fourth Street P. O. Box 2189
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2189
804-788-5000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered | |
| COMMON STOCK, $1 Par Value |
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE PACIFIC STOCK EXCHANGE |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for at least the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes x No ¨
Aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 28, 2002: $54,975,573.75.*
Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 28, 2003: 16,689,009
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of Ethyl Corporations definitive Proxy Statement for its 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Proxy Statement) are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
| * | In determining this figure, an aggregate of 2,028,856 shares of Common Stock reported in the registrants Proxy Statement for the 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders as beneficially owned by Bruce C. Gottwald and members of his immediate family have been excluded and treated as shares held by affiliates. See Item 12. The aggregate market value has been computed on the basis of the closing price in the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions on June 28, 2002 as reported by The Wall Street Journal. |
FORM 10-K
| Form 10-K Cover Page |
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| PART I |
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| Item 1. |
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| Item 2. |
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| Item 3. |
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| Item 4. |
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| PART II |
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| Item 5. |
Market for Registrants Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters |
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| Item 6. |
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| Item 7. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation |
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| Item 7a. |
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| Item 8. |
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| Item 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
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| PART III |
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| Item 10. |
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| Item 11. |
65 | |||
| Item 12. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
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| Item 13. |
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| Item 14. |
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| PART IV |
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| Item 15. |
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K |
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| 70 | ||||
PART I
We are a specialty chemicals company that provides highly formulated packages of lubricant and fuel additives. We develop, manufacture and blend fuel and lubricant additive products and market and sell those products worldwide. We are one of the largest producers of lubricant additives worldwide and offer the broadest line of fuel additives worldwide. Through our marketing agreements with The Associated Octel Company Limited and its affiliates (Octel), we are the only marketer of tetraethyl lead (TEL) outside of North America and one of the primary marketers within North America. Lubricant and fuel additives are necessary products for the maintenance and operation of vehicles and machinery. From additive components to custom-formulated chemical blends, we provide customers with products and solutions that make fuels burn cleaner, engines run smoother and machines last longer.
We have developed long-term relationships with our customers in every major region of the world whom we serve through our six manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, and South America. We have more than 200 employees dedicated to research and development who work closely with our customers to develop chemical formulations that are tailored to our customers and the end-users specific needs. Our portfolio of more than 950 technologically advanced, value added products allows us to provide a full line of products and services to our customers.
We were incorporated in 1887 and shares of our common stock have been traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 1965. Our directors, officers and employees own more than 18% of our outstanding shares of common stock. We employed approximately 1,100 people at year-end 2002.
Business Segments
We report our business in two distinct segments: petroleum additives and tetraethyl lead. We divide our business this way due to the operational differences between the two business units. The petroleum additives business operates in a market that we actively review for opportunities, while TEL is a mature product marketed primarily through third-party agreements.
Petroleum AdditivesPetroleum additives are used in lubricating oils and fuels to enhance their performance in machinery, vehicles and other equipment. We manufacture component chemicals that are selected to perform one or more specific functions and blend those chemicals with other components to form packages for use in specified end-user applications. The petroleum additives market is an international marketplace, with customers including oil companies and refineries, automobile original equipment manufacturers (OEM), and other specialty chemical companies.
We view the petroleum additives marketplace as being comprised of two product lines: lubricant additives and fuel additives. Lubricant additives are highly formulated chemical products that improve the performance, durability and functionality of oils, thereby enhancing the performance of machinery and engines. Fuel additives are chemical components and products that improve the refining process and performance of gasoline, diesel and other fuels, resulting in lower fuel costs, better fuel performance, and better fuel emissions.
Our success in the petroleum additives segment is due to our strong technical capabilities, our formulation expertise, our close relationships with our customers, our broad differentiated product offerings and our global distribution capabilities. We invest significantly in research and development in order to anticipate our customers needs and meet the rapidly changing environment for new and improved products and services.
Lubricant Additives
Lubricant additives are essential ingredients for lubricating oils. Lubricant additives are used in a wide variety of automotive and industrial applications including engine oil, automatic transmission fluids, gear oils, hydraulic oils, turbine oils and in virtually any other application where metal-to-metal moving parts are utilized. Lubricant additives are organic and synthetic chemical components that enhance wear protection, prevent
deposits, and protect against the hostile operating environment of an engine, transmission, axle, hydraulic pump or industrial machine.
Lubricants are used in nearly every piece of operating machinery from heavy industrial equipment to automobiles. Lubricants provide a layer of insulation and protection between moving mechanical parts. Without this layer of protection, the normal functioning of machinery would not occur. Effective lubricants reduce downtime, prevent accidents, and increase efficiency. Specifically, lubricants serve the following main functions:
| | Friction reductionFriction is reduced by maintaining a thin film of lubricant between moving surfaces, preventing them from coming into direct contact with one another and reducing wear on moving machinery. |
| | Heat removalLubricants act as coolants by removing heat resulting from either friction or through contact with other, higher temperature materials. |
| | Containment of contaminantsLubricants can be contaminated in many ways and generally require characteristics to prevent degradation of the machinery. These lubricants function by carrying contaminants away from the machinery and neutralizing the deleterious impact on the machinery. |
The functionality of lubricants is created through an exact balance between a base oil and performance enhancing additives. This balance is the goal of effective formulations achieved by experienced research professionals. We offer a full line of lubricant additive products, each of which is composed of component chemicals specially selected to perform desired functions. We manufacture most of the chemical components and blend these components to create products designed to meet industry and customer specifications. Lubricant additive components are generally classified based upon their intended functionality, including:
| | viscosity index modifiers, which improve the viscosity and temperature characteristics of lubricants and help the lubricant flow evenly to all parts of an engine or machine; |
| | detergents, which clean moving parts of engines and machines, suspend oil contaminants and combustion byproducts, and absorb acidic combustion products; |
| | dispersants, which serve to inhibit the formation of sludge and particulates; |
| | extreme pressure/antiwear agents, which reduce wear on moving engine and machinery parts; and |
| | antioxidants, which prevent oil from degrading over time. |
We are one of the leading global suppliers of specially formulated lubricant additives that combine some or all of the components described above, and support a line of more than 750 lubricant additive products and formulations. Our products are highly formulated, complex chemical compositions derived from extensive research and testing to ensure all additive components work together to provide the intended results. Our products are engineered to meet specifications prescribed by either the industry generally or a specific customer. Purchasers of lubricant additives tend to be oil companies, distributors and refineries.
Lubricant additives are used in a wide variety of automotive and industrial applications including engine oil, automatic transmission fluids, gear oils, hydraulic oils, and turbine oils and virtually any other application where metal-to-metal moving parts are utilized.
Key drivers of lubricant additives demand include total vehicle miles driven, vehicle production, equipment production, the average age of vehicles on the road, new engine and driveline technologies, and drain/refill intervals.
We view the lubricant marketplace as being broken down into two primary components: engine oils and specialty applications.
Engine Oil Additives
The largest submarket within the lubricant additives marketplace is automotive engine oils, which we estimate represents 75% of the overall lubricant additive market volume, yet a much lower percentage of the
2
overall market profitability. The engine oil market customers include consumers, service stations and automotive OEMs. The primary functions of engine oil additives are to reduce friction, prevent wear, control formation of sludge and oxidation, and prevent rust. Engine oil additives are typically sold to lubricant manufacturers who combine them with a base oil product to meet internal, industry and OEM specifications.
Key drivers of the engine oils market are the number of vehicles on the road, drain intervals for engine oils, engine and crankcase size, changes in engine design, temperature and specification changes driven by the OEMs. Customer and supplier dynamics have created a difficult marketplace for engine oil additives in recent years. This has resulted in significant pricing pressure felt by engine oil additive companies.
Specialty Additives
The specialty additive submarket is comprised of additives designed for products such as automatic transmission fluids (ATF), gear oils and industrial fluids, which serve both driveline and industrial applications. This submarket comprises approximately 25% of our overall lubricant additives market volume, but a much larger percentage of its overall profitability. Of this submarket, ATFs accounted for approximately 50% of our demand. ATFs primarily serve as the power transmission and heat transfer medium in the area of the transmission where the torque of the drive shaft is transferred to the gears of the automobile. Gear additives lubricate gears, bearings, clutches and bands in the gear-box and are used in automobiles, off-highway, hydraulic and marine equipment. Other products in this area consist of hydraulic transmission fluids, universal tractor fluids, power steering fluids, shock absorber fluids, gear oils, lubricants for heavy machinery and automotive greases. These products must conform to highly prescribed specifications developed by vehicle OEMs for specific models or designs. These additives are generally sold to oil companies and often ultimately to vehicle OEMs for new vehicles (factory-fill). End-products are also sold to service stations for aftermarket servicing (service-fill).
Key drivers of the specialty additives marketplace are the number of vehicles, drain intervals for ATF and gear applications, changes in engine and transmission design / temperatures and specification changes driven by the OEMs.
Fuel Additives
Fuel additives are chemical compounds that are used to improve both the oil refining process and the performance of gasoline, diesel and other fuels. Benefits of fuel additives in the oil refining process include reduced use of crude oil, lower processing costs and improved fuel storage properties. Fuel performance benefits include ignition improvements, emission reductions, fuel economy improvements, and engine cleanliness, and protection against deposits in fuel injectors, intake valves and the combustion chamber. Our fuel additives are extensively tested and designed to meet stringent industry, government and OEM requirements.
Many different types of additives are used in fuels. Their use is generally determined by customer, industry, OEM and government specifications and often differs from country to country. The different types of fuel additives we offer include:
| | gasoline performance additives, which clean and maintain key elements of the fuel delivery systems, including fuel injectors and intake valves, in gasoline engines; |
| | diesel fuel performance additives, which perform similar cleaning functions in diesel engines; |
| | cetane improvers, which increase cetane (ignition quality) in diesel fuel by reducing the delay between injection and ignition; |
| | stabilizers, which reduce or eliminate oxidation in fuel; |
| | corrosion inhibitors, which minimize the corrosive effects of chemical additives and prevent rust; |
3
| | lubricity additives, which restore lubricating properties lost in the refining process; |
| | cold flow improvers, which improve the pumping and flow of diesel in cold temperatures; and |
| | octane enhancers, which increase octane ratings and decrease emissions. |
We offer the broadest line of fuel additives worldwide and sell our products to major fuel marketers and refiners, as well as independent terminals and other fuel blenders.
One of our most notable fuel additives is Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl (MMT). Albemarle Corporation manufactures MMT for us through a long-term, exclusive supply arrangement, and we are the only marketer of MMT worldwide. Since 1995, the number of countries in which we sell MMT has increased from 4 to 25. When used in the refining process, MMT provides octane enhancement while reducing the amount of crude oil necessary to produce gasoline. We believe MMT is 2-3 times more cost-effective for enhancing octane (per unit of octane) of unleaded gasoline than the next best product on the market today. When MMT is used in unleaded gasoline, it reduces tailpipe emissions that are known contributors to urban smog. As a result, MMT is an attractive solution to enhance otherwise low octane levels and to reduce vehicle generated pollution.
Key drivers in the fuel additive marketplace include total vehicle miles driven, the introduction of more sophisticated engines, regulations on emissions (both gasoline and diesel), quality of crude oil slate and performance standards and marketing programs of major oil companies.
Competition
We compete in two distinct segments petroleum additives and TEL. The petroleum additives segment is further divided into the lubricant additives submarket and the fuel additives submarket. In lubricant additives, the four top suppliers in 2002 supplied over 90% of the market. These suppliers include Lubrizol, Infineum (a joint venture between ExxonMobil and Shell), Oronite (an affiliate of ChevronTexaco) and Ethyl. Several other suppliers comprise the remaining market share. The fuel additives market is fragmented and characterized by more competitors. While we participate in many facets of the fuels market, our competitors tend to be more narrowly focused. In the gasoline detergent market, we compete mainly against BASF, Oronite and Lubrizol; in the cetane improver market, we compete against SNPE of France and Exchem of the U.K; and in the diesel markets, we compete against Lubrizol, Infineum and Octel.
The competition among the participants in these industries is characterized by the need to provide customers with cost effective, technologically capable products that meet industry specifications. The need to continually lower cost through formulation technology and cost improvement programs is vital for success in this environment.
Tetraethyl LeadTEL is a distinct business segment. TEL is used as an octane enhancer in leaded gasoline to improve ignition qualities and operating performance of fuel. Since the 1920s, TEL has been used to prevent engine knock, a condition of poor combustion timing causing loss of engine power. In the 1970s, U.S. automobile manufacturers began including emissions control technology in vehicles to comply with the Federal Clean Air Act. When the surface metal of a catalytic converter in emissions control systems was deemed incompatible with lead, unleaded gasoline became the fuel standard in the United States with other countries following. Octel is now the only manufacturer of TEL worldwide. Through our agreements with Octel, we receive 32% of the net proceeds from the sale of TEL by Octel in all regions of the world except North America. In North America, we continue to purchase a small quantity of TEL from Octel and sell it to selected customers for aviation and racing fuel. Our agreements with Octel expire in 2010, but contain provisions for extensions thereafter.
We expect the market for TEL to continue to decline. The rate of decline will vary from year to year and an exact year on year decline rate is difficult to project. The decline rate will be determined in a large part by major
4
customers plans to cease using the product. Our marketing agreements with Octel should help us manage this declining market by providing efficiencies of operation while maximizing cash flow.
Raw Materials and Product Supply
We use a variety of raw materials in our manufacturing processes. Base oil, poly isobutylene, olefin copolymers, antioxidants, and alcohols are the most significant of these raw materials. Generally, we purchase major raw materials under long-term contracts with multi-source suppliers and believe the availability of the raw materials is sufficient for our operations. Certain products are obtained through single-source suppliers.
We have the following long-term supply agreements for raw materials and finished products:
| | DSM Copolymer, Inc. supplies olefin copolymer viscosity index improvers pursuant to a supply agreement that was recently extended to 2012. |
| | Octel supplies TEL for our North American sales of that product under an agreement expiring in 2010, with extensions subject to certain terms and conditions. |
| | Albemarle Corporation supplies MMT under a supply agreement expiring in 2014. |
| | Albemarle Corporation supplies certain antioxidants under a supply agreement expiring in 2014. |
Research, Development, and Testing
Our R&D provides the basis for our global petroleum additives technology. Through product development and performance testing, our R&D provides our customers with technology and support to achieve desired product performance.
R&D expenditures, which totaled $51 million in 2002, are expected to grow modestly in 2003 in support of our core technology areas. We are committed to providing some of the most advanced products and comprehensive testing programs in the industry to support our customers worldwide. Our internal mechanical testing and development efforts in our core research areas reached record efficiency levels in 2002. This has allowed us to significantly increase the efficiency of our R&D test spending.
We completed development of several new products during 2002 that either have been commercialized or are ready for commercialization in 2003. These include next generation fill-for-life automatic transmission fluids, new additive packages for continuously variable transmissions, high efficiency factory-fill gear oils and new gear additive formulations targeted for European markets. We also developed gasoline performance additives with enhanced effectiveness in reducing deposits across the engine fueling and combustion system, and fuel additives that improve emissions and combustion efficiency across a broad range of end uses including power generation and advanced diesel engine technologies. New product developments in the industrial fluid areas include an ashless hydraulic additive which responds to a market need for lower metals in waste water streams from manufacturing facilities, technology for environmentally friendly vegetable-based fluids, and high performance wind turbine lubricant technology. Developments for the engine oil product line focused on cost improvements and formulation optimization.
Intellectual Property
We actively protect our inventions, new technologies, and product developments. We currently own approximately 900 issued United States and foreign patents, with a significant number of additional patents pending. The use of technology covered by some of these patents is licensed to others. In addition, we have acquired the rights under patents and inventions of others through licenses. We take care to respect the intellectual property rights of others and we believe our products do not infringe upon those rights. We vigorously participate in patent opposition proceedings around the world where necessary to secure a technology
5
base free of infringement. We believe our patent position is strong, aggressively managed, and sufficient for the conduct of our business.
We also have several hundred trademark registrations throughout the world for our marks including
Ethyl®, MMT®, HiTEC®, and GREENBURN®, as well as several pending trademark applications.
Commitment to Responsible Care®
We are committed to supporting the principles of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) Responsible Care program. As part of this commitment, we have established Responsible Care goals. These goals are continuous in nature and are just a portion of the metrics we use to manage the worldwide environmental and safety aspects of our business. The goals are:
| | Goal 1: We will have zero reportable spills involving our products and all chemicals we handle. |
In 2002, we had no spills that were reportable to federal agencies. There was one minor spill, reportable to a state agency. The environmental impact of this spill was negligible.
| | Goal 2: We will have zero reportable process safety incidents. |
We had no significant process safety incidents in 2002, 2001 or 2000. Significant process safety incidents are fires, explosions and toxic releases which result in a lost-time injury, off-site consequences, or greater than $25 thousand of damages.
| | Goal 3: We will have zero recordable injuries. |
Our worldwide recordable rate (which is the number of injuries per 200,000 hours worked) in 2000 was .98. In 2001, it increased to 1.39, and we finished 2002 with a rate of .76. The 2002 performance was outstanding and represents a focused effort by all of our employees. We are pleased that the efforts we have spent to re-establish our commitment in the safety area are showing measurable improvements.
We are extremely proud of our accomplishments in the safety area, especially when compared to safety records in other industries. For example, for 2000, the worldwide recordable rates for the manufacturing industry and for the members of the ACC, respectively, were 9.0 and 2.16. We are committed to the safety of our employees and our neighbors and believe our record demonstrates that commitment.
All of our employees are responsible for environmental and safety excellence, and we accept and demonstrate the type of leadership that will ensure the continued success of our efforts. Responsible Care is a way of life at Ethyl, enhancing operations, the way we work, and the relationships we maintain with our customers and our communities.
Environmental
We operate under policies that comply with federal, state, local, and foreign requirements regarding the handling, manufacture, and use of materials. One or more regulatory agencies may classify some of these materials as hazardous or toxic. We also comply with laws, regulations, statutes, and ordinances protecting the environment, including those related to the discharge of materials. We expect to continue to comply in every material respect.
We regularly review the status of significant existing or potential environmental issues. We accrue and expense our proportionate share of environmental remediation and monitoring costs in accordance with FASB Statement No. 5 and FASB Interpretation No. 14, as clarified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of Position 96-1. As necessary, we adjust our accruals based on additional information.
Total gross liabilities accrued at year-end for environmental remediation were $23 million for 2002 and $26 million for 2001. We recorded expected insurance reimbursement assets for these amounts of $4 million in 2002
6
and $6 million in 2001. In addition to the accruals for environmental remediation, we also have accruals for dismantling and decommissioning costs of $13 million at December 31, 2002 and $12 million at December 31, 2001. As new technology becomes available, it may be possible to reduce accrued amounts. While we are currently fully accrued for known environmental issues, it is possible that unexpected future costs could have a significant impact.
We spent $13 million in 2002 for environmental operating and clean-up costs, excluding depreciation of previously capitalized expenditures. We spent $12 million in 2001 and $12.4 million in 2000. Of these amounts, the ongoing costs of operations were $11 million in both 2002 and 2001, and $11.7 million in 2000. The balance represents clean-up, or remediation and monitoring costs. These environmental operating and clean-up expenses are included in cost of goods sold. In the next year, we expect environmental operating and remediation costs to be about the same as 2002.
For capital expenditures on pollution prevention and safety projects, we spent $5 million in 2002, $2 million in 2001, and $3 million in 2000. Over the next few years, we expect capital expenditures to be about the same as 2002.
Our estimate of the effects of complying with governmental pollution prevention and safety regulations is subject to:
| | potential changes in applicable statutes and regulations (or their enforcement and interpretation); |
| | uncertainty as to the success of anticipated solutions to pollution problems; |
| | uncertainty as to whether additional expense may prove necessary; and |
| | potential for emerging technology to affect remediation methods and reduce associated costs. |
We are subject to the federal Superfund law and similar state laws under which we may be designated as a potentially responsible party (PRP). As a PRP, we may be liable for a share of the costs associated with cleaning up hazardous waste sites such as a landfill to which we may have sent waste.
In de minimis PRP matters and in some minor PRP matters, we generally negotiate a consent decree to pay an apportioned settlement. This relieves us of any further liability as a PRP, except for remote contingencies. Costs for a de minimis participant are typically less than $50,000. Costs for a minor participant are typically less than $300,000.
We are also a PRP at some Superfund sites where our liability may be in excess of de minimis or minor PRP levels. Most Superfund sites where we are a PRP represent environmental issues that are quite mature. The sites have been investigated, and in many cases, the remediation methodology, as well as the proportionate shares of each PRP have been established. Other sites are not as mature, which makes it more difficult to reasonably estimate our share of the future clean-up or remediation costs. We have previously accrued the estimated expense of the remediation and monitoring of these sites. Generally, remediation and monitoring will go on for an extended period.
During 2000, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named us as a PRP under Superfund law for the clean-up of soil and groundwater contamination at the Sauget Area 2 Site in Sauget, Illinois. Without admitting any fact, responsibility, fault, or liability in connection with this site, we are participating with other PRPs in site investigations and feasibility studies. We are responsible for 6.47% of the study cost and have accrued for these estimated expenses. Because of the early stage, we cannot make a reasonable estimate of the total cost of our share of responsibilities related to any site remediation or clean-up.
At another United States site, Ethyl and the other PRPs had previously appointed a management company to facilitate the remediation and monitoring of the site. During 2000, the management company informed us of a favorable change in the necessary work at the site. As compared to 2000, this change resulted in 40% lower costs
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in 2002 and 30% lower costs in 2001. This should continue to result in significantly lower monitoring costs in the future.
We also own several other environmental sites where we are in the process of remediation and monitoring. At one of our major sites in the United States, we have substantially completed remediation and will be monitoring the site for an extended period. In addition, we substantially completed dismantling and remediation on TEL bulk storage facilities in Europe and Singapore in 2001.
Geographic Areas
We have operations in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, as well as in Australia and Canada. The economies are stable in most of the countries where we operate. In countries with more political or economic uncertainty, we generally minimize our risk of loss by utilizing U.S. dollar denominated transactions, letters of credit, and prepaid transactions. We have also participated in selective foreign currency forward contracts in previous years. Our foreign customers mainly consist of financially viable government organizations and large companies.
Venezuela, where we sell certain petroleum additive products, is currently experiencing political instability and economic problems. Venezuela also purchases TEL through our marketing agreements with Octel. We continue to closely monitor the situation in this country.
The table below reports net sales and long-lived assets by geographic area. No transfers occurred between segments during the three years shown. Except for the United States and Canada, no country exceeded 10% of net sales. The United States was the only country that exceeded 10% of long-lived assets in any year. We allocated revenues to geographic areas based on the location to which the product was shipped. The reduction in net sales in the United States in 2001 is primarily the result of the loss of our engine oil additives position with three major customers, which is discussed more fully in Item 7.
Geographic Areas
| 2002 |
2001 |
2000 | |||||||
| (in millions of dollars) | |||||||||
| Net Sales (a) |
|||||||||
| United States |
$ |
216 |
$ |
272 |
$ |
403 | |||
| Canada |
|
81 |
|
73 |
|
71 | |||
| Other foreign |
|
359 |
|
363 |
|
351 | |||
| Consolidated net sales |
$ |
656 |
$ |
708 |
$ |
825 | |||
| Long-lived assets (b) |
|||||||||
| United States |
$ |
238 |
$ |
264 |
$ |
333 | |||
| Foreign |
|
70 |
|
55 |
|
77 | |||
| Total long-lived assets |
$ |
308 |
$ |
319 |
$ |
410 | |||
| (a) | All periods presented exclude the net sales of the phenolic antioxidant business which was sold in January 2003, and is reported as a discontinued operation. |
| (b) | Long-lived assets include property, plant, and equipment, net of depreciation, as well as intangible assets and prepayments for services, both net of amortization. |
Other Matters
On January 21, 2003, we completed the sale of our phenolic antioxidant business to Albemarle Corporation. Following an extensive assessment, we concluded this business was not part of our future core business or
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growth goals. This is another strategic step in fulfilling our goals of reducing debt, strengthening our balance sheet and allowing us to focus more closely on our core businesses.
During the third quarter 2002, we received a copy of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) fleet test report on manganese-based gasoline additives (MMT), which we market. The report alleges that MMT significantly raises vehicle emissions, increases fuel consumption, and impairs the proper operation of vehicle emission control systems. We responded to this allegation at a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) meeting in October 2002 in San Diego. The AAM fleet test was designed as a durability test under extremely severe conditions. There was not a single failure on any emission control device on the fleet. The MMT fleet met EPA in-use emission requirements. Our belief was that the test was not designed as a fuel economy test and the test protocol was not stringent enough to yield meaningful results on fuel economy. Discussions with customers and automakers continue. The EPA and the Canadian government have extensively studied the product and have determined that MMT does not harm vehicle emission systems. The additive is an environmentally beneficial product that has proven its effectiveness in real-world use.
On June 4, 2002, our shareholders approved a 1-for-5 reverse stock split of our common stock. This action had been unanimously approved and recommended by our Board of Directors.
In February 2002, our Board of Directors terminated the existing bonus plan. The Board further directed the Bonus, Salary and Stock Option Committee to implement an interim bonus arrangement for 2002 and develop a new bonus plan for future years. In April 2002, Ethyls Bonus, Salary and Stock Option Committee approved an interim bonus pool arrangement for officers and other key employees pursuant to which the Committee approved lump sum payments in the aggregate amount of $1.4 million. Bonus payments were made in May 2002 and expensed to operations. A new bonus plan has been developed and is included in this filing as Exhibit 10.9.
In March 2002, our Board of Directors, as permitted under the terms of the Incentive Stock Option Plan, approved an amendment to the Incentive Stock Option Plan to extend the duration of this plan to March 2, 2004. As amended, no option or stock appreciation right may be granted under the Incentive Stock Option Plan after March 2, 2004; however, options and stock appreciation rights granted before this date will remain valid in accordance with their terms.
Availability of Reports Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
Our Internet website address is www.ethyl.com. We make available, free of charge through our website, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this report or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.
Our principal operating properties are shown below. Unless indicated, we own the research, development, and testing facilities and manufacturing properties, which primarily support the petroleum additives business segment.
| Research, Development, and Testing |
Richmond, Virginia | |
| Bracknell, England | ||
| Tsukuba, Japan (leased) | ||
| Ashland, Virginia (leased) | ||
| Manufacturing |
Feluy, Belgium (lubricant additives) | |
| Houston, Texas (lubricant and fuel additives; also TEL storage and distribution) |
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| Natchez, Mississippi (idled facility) | ||
| Orangeburg, South Carolina (idled facility; leased land; sold January 2003) | ||
| Port Arthur, Texas (lubricant additives) | ||
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (lubricant additives) | ||
| Sarnia, Ontario, Canada (fuel additives) | ||
| Sauget, Illinois (lubricant and fuel additives) |
We own our corporate headquarters located in Richmond, Virginia, and generally lease our regional and sales offices located in a number of areas worldwide.
Production Capacity
We believe our plants and supply agreements are sufficient to meet expected sales levels. Operating rates of the plants vary with product mix and normal sales swings. Our facilities are well maintained and in good operating condition.
In February 2001, we announced a new business strategy related to our engine oil additives business. As part of this business plan, we idled engine oil additive units in our Houston, Texas plant and one of the units at our plant in Brazil. We also idled a smaller plant in Natchez, Mississippi. We evaluated all engine oil additive assets for impairment. The positive cash flows being generated by these assets continue to support their value on our balance sheet. The assets that were idled in 2001 were fully depreciated by their closure date.
During 2000, we permanently idled a facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina and wrote its value down to zero. We concluded that the market for the product that was produced at the facility had not grown as anticipated and that available supply and production facilities were adequate for demand of the product. This facility was sold in January, 2003.
We were served as a defendant in two cases filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, in September 1999. Both cases claimed damages attributable to lead. One case was dismissed in its entirety, the plaintiffs did not appeal, and the case has ended. The other, Smith, et al. v. Lead Industries Association, Inc., et al., alleged personal injuries for seven children from lead exposure arising from lead paint and dust from tailpipe emissions due to leaded gasoline. The Court dismissed Ethyl and some other defendants from the case in February 2002 and granted summary judgment to other defendants in November 2002. The plaintiffs have appealed both decisions. We believe we have strong defenses and will continue to vigorously defend the case.
Ethyl and our subsidiaries are involved in other legal proceedings. These legal proceedings are incidental to our business and include administrative or judicial actions seeking remediation under environmental laws such as Superfund. These proceedings also include product liability cases.
Like many other companies, Ethyl is also a defendant in personal injury lawsuits involving exposure to asbestos. These cases involve exposure to asbestos in premises owned or operated, or formerly owned or operated, by Ethyl. Ethyl has never manufactured, sold or distributed products that contain asbestos. Nearly all of these cases are pending in Texas or Louisiana and involve multiple defendants. We maintain a reserve for these proceedings. In addition, Ethyl believes that Albemarle Corporation is responsible for certain premises asbestos liabilities pursuant to an indemnification agreement between the companies dated as of February 28, 1994.
While it is not possible to predict or determine the outcome of any legal proceeding, it is our opinion that Ethyl and our subsidiaries have adequate reserves and insurance coverage such that the outcome of these legal proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a material adverse effect on Ethyl.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There were no issues submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2002.
10
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKE T FOR REGISTRANTS EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Our common stock is traded on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol EY.
Effective July 1, 2002, there was a 1-for-5 reverse stock split of our common stock and the number of authorized shares of common stock was reduced from 400 million to 80 million. There were 16,689,009 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2002. The registered shareholders were 10,265 at December 31, 2002 and 10,945 at December 31, 2001.
The following table shows the high and low prices of our common stock each quarter. The prices prior to July 1, 2002 have been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-5 reverse stock split.
| 2002 | ||||||||||||
| First Quarter |
Second Quarter |
Third Quarter |
Fourth Quarter | |||||||||
| High |
$ |
7.40 |
$ |
7.00 |
$ |
4.50 |
$ |
6.49 | ||||
| Low |
||||||||||||