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2003       

First Quarter

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  
     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003

 

OR

 

¨   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission file number 1-983

 

NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

25-0687210

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

4100 Edison Lakes Parkway,

Mishawaka, IN

 

46545-3440

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code):

 

574-273-7000

 

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, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x            No  ¨

 

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock $.01 par value, as of May 1, 2003, was 41,288,240 shares, consisting of 22,100,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 19,188,240 shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

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


NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION AS OF MARCH 6, 2002

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

PAGE


Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited) Consolidated Statements of Operations—Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

  

3

Consolidated Balance Sheets—March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002

  

4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

  

5

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and Year Ended December 31, 2002

  

6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  

7

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

  

13

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

  

18

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

  

18

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

    

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

  

18

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

  

20

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

  

20

Signatures

  

22

Certifications

  

23

 

2


 

PART 1.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION AS OF MARCH 6, 2002

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In Millions of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three Months

Ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


 

Net Sales

  

$

672.9

 

  

$

604.0

 

Cost of products sold

  

 

667.3

 

  

 

611.5

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

  

 

35.2

 

  

 

36.8

 

Depreciation

  

 

38.5

 

  

 

40.7

 

Equity income of affiliates

  

 

(0.4

)

  

 

(0.6

)

Pension curtailment

  

 

105.9

 

  

 

—  

 

Other items

  

 

0.7

 

  

 

—  

 

    


  


Loss from Operations before Reorganization Items

  

 

(174.3

)

  

 

(84.4

)

Reorganization items

  

 

12.1

 

  

 

7.2

 

Other (income) expense:

                 

Interest and other financial income

  

 

(0.1

)

  

 

(0.3

)

Interest and other financial expense

  

 

3.8

 

  

 

14.9

 

Net gain on disposal of assets and other related activities

  

 

(5.3

)

  

 

—  

 

    


  


    

 

(1.6

)

  

 

14.6

 

    


  


Loss before Income Taxes and Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle

  

 

(184.8

)

  

 

(106.2

)

Income tax expense (credit)

  

 

0.1

 

  

 

(53.0

)

    


  


Loss Before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle

  

 

(184.9

)

  

 

(53.2

)

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

  

 

(2.0

)

  

 

—  

 

    


  


Net Loss

  

$

(186.9

)

  

$

(53.2

)

    


  


Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:

                 

Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

  

$

(4.48

)

  

$

(1.29

)

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

  

 

(0.05

)

  

 

—   

 

    


  


Net loss

  

$

(4.53

)

  

$

(1.29

)

    


  


Weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands)

  

 

41,288

 

  

 

41,288

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

3


NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION AS OF MARCH 6, 2002

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (NOTE 2)

(In Millions of Dollars, Except Share Amounts)

 

    

March 31,

2003


    

December 31,

2002


 
    

(Unaudited)

        

ASSETS

                 

Current assets

                 

Cash and cash equivalents

  

$

9.2

 

  

$

1.5

 

Receivables—net

  

 

247.9

 

  

 

222.5

 

Inventories

  

 

344.9

 

  

 

405.7

 

Deferred tax assets

  

 

4.7

 

  

 

4.7

 

Other

  

 

35.3

 

  

 

41.3

 

    


  


Total current assets

  

 

642.0

 

  

 

675.7

 

Investments in affiliated companies

  

 

11.9

 

  

 

13.7

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

  

 

1,222.9

 

  

 

1,256.5

 

Deferred tax assets

  

 

43.3

 

  

 

43.3

 

Intangible pension asset

  

 

—  

 

  

 

108.8

 

Other assets

  

 

114.3

 

  

 

110.7

 

    


  


    

$

2,034.4

 

  

$

2,208.7

 

    


  


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

                 

Current liabilities

                 

Accounts payable

  

$

108.7

 

  

$

131.8

 

Debtor-in-possession financing

  

 

124.5

 

  

 

—  

 

Salaries, wages, benefits and related taxes

  

 

93.6

 

  

 

90.6

 

Property taxes

  

 

28.2

 

  

 

24.2

 

Income taxes

  

 

0.3

 

  

 

0.2

 

Other accrued liabilities

  

 

53.0

 

  

 

57.1

 

    


  


Total current liabilities

  

 

408.3

 

  

 

303.9

 

Debtor-in-possession financing

  

 

—  

 

  

 

128.5

 

Postretirement benefits other than pensions

  

 

21.6

 

  

 

21.3

 

Other long-term liabilities

  

 

18.6

 

  

 

13.4

 

Liabilities subject to compromise

  

 

2,620.1

 

  

 

2,646.4

 

Commitments and contingencies

                 

Stockholders’ deficit

                 

Common Stock—par value $.01:

                 

Class A—authorized 30,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 22,100,000

  

 

0.2

 

  

 

0.2

 

Class B—authorized 65,000,000 shares; issued 21,188,240; outstanding 19,188,240

  

 

0.2

 

  

 

0.2

 

Additional paid-in-capital

  

 

491.8

 

  

 

491.8

 

Retained deficit

  

 

(743.6

)

  

 

(556.7

)

Treasury stock, at cost: 2,000,000 shares

  

 

(16.3

)

  

 

(16.3

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss:

                 

Minimum pension liability

  

 

(766.5

)

  

 

(824.0

)

    


  


Total stockholders’ deficit

  

 

(1,034.2

)

  

 

(904.8

)

    


  


    

$

2,034.4

 

  

$

2,208.7

 

    


  


 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

4


 

NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION AS OF MARCH 6, 2002

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Millions of Dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

                 

Net loss

  

$

(186.9

)

  

$

(53.2

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

                 

Depreciation

  

 

38.5

 

  

 

40.7

 

Reorganization items

  

 

12.1

 

  

 

7.2

 

Pension curtailment

  

 

105.9

 

  

 

—  

 

Other items

  

 

0.7

 

  

 

—  

 

Net gain on disposal of assets

  

 

(5.3

)

  

 

—  

 

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

  

 

2.0

 

  

 

—  

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                 

Receivables—trade

  

 

(23.0

)

  

 

(20.0

)

Receivables—allowance

  

 

(2.4

)

  

 

5.4

 

Inventories

  

 

60.8

 

  

 

67.5

 

Accounts payable

  

 

(26.6

)

  

 

81.1

 

Pension liability (net of change in intangible pension asset)

  

 

20.0

 

  

 

9.0

 

Postretirement benefits

  

 

14.3

 

  

 

8.1

 

Accrued liabilities

  

 

4.4

 

  

 

27.2

 

Other

  

 

9.2

 

  

 

(1.0

)

    


  


Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities Before Reorganization Items

  

 

23.7

 

  

 

172.0

 

Reorganization items (excluding non-cash charges of $4.8 million)

  

 

(7.3

)

  

 

(3.6

)

    


  


Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

  

 

16.4

 

  

 

168.4

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

                 

Purchases of property and equipment

  

 

(4.7

)

  

 

(3.8

)

Net proceeds from settlement

  

 

—  

 

  

 

5.3

 

Net proceeds from disposal of assets

  

 

8.3

 

  

 

—  

 

    


  


Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities

  

 

3.6

 

  

 

1.5

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

                 

Debt repayment

  

 

(8.0

)

  

 

(4.6

)

Credit facility borrowings—net

  

 

(4.0

)

  

 

(148.8

)

Debt issuance costs

  

 

(0.3

)

  

 

(2.7

)

    


  


Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

  

 

(12.3

)

  

 

(156.1

)

    


  


Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

  

 

7.7

 

  

 

13.8

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

  

 

1.5

 

  

 

1.4

 

    


  


Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

  

$

9.2

 

  

$

15.2

 

    


  


Supplemental Cash Payment (Receipt) Information

                 

Interest and other financing costs

  

$

2.1

 

  

$

10.9

 

Income taxes, net

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(53.3

)

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5


NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION AS OF MARCH 6, 2002

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(In Millions of Dollars, Except Share Amounts)

 

    

Common Stock—

Class A


  

Common Stock—

Class B


  

Additional Paid-In Capital


  

Retained Earnings

(Deficit)


    

Treasury

Stock


      

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss


    

Total

Stockholders’

Equity

(Deficit)


 

Balance at January 1, 2002

  

$

0.2

  

$

0.2

  

$

491.8

  

$

(408.0

)

  

$

(16.3

)

    

$

(378.6

)

  

$

(310.7

)

Comprehensive loss:

                                                          

Net loss

                       

 

(148.7

)

                      

 

(148.7

)

Other comprehensive income (loss):

                                                          

Minimum pension liability

                                           

 

(447.7

)

  

 

(447.7

)

Net activity relating to derivative instruments

                                           

 

2.3

 

  

 

2.3

 

                                                      


Comprehensive loss

                                                    

 

(594.1

)

    

  

  

  


  


    


  


Balance at December 31, 2002

  

 

0.2

  

 

0.2

  

 

491.8

  

 

(556.7

)

  

 

(16.3

)

    

 

(824.0

)

  

 

(904.8

)

Comprehensive loss:

                                                          

Net loss

                       

 

(186.9

)

                      

 

(186.9

)

Other comprehensive income:

                                                          

    Minimum pension liability

                                           

 

57.5

 

  

 

57.5

 

                                                      


Comprehensive loss

                                                    

 

(129.4

)

    

  

  

  


  


    


  


Balance at March 31, 2003 (Unaudited)

  

$

0.2

  

$

0.2

  

$

491.8

  

$

(743.6

)

  

$

(16.3

)

    

$

(766.5

)

  

$

(1,034.2

)

    

  

  

  


  


    


  


 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

6


NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION AS OF MARCH 6, 2002

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2003 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1—REORGANIZATION UNDER CHAPTER 11 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE

 

On March 6, 2002, National Steel Corporation and forty-one of its domestic subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (the “Court”). Certain majority owned subsidiaries of National Steel Corporation have been excluded from the Chapter 11 filings. The case was assigned to the Hon. John H. Squires and is being jointly administered under case number 02-08699. The Debtors also obtained Court approval of a $450 million Secured Super Priority Debtor In Possession Credit Agreement (“DIP Facility”) with the existing senior secured bank group which combined with other actions is being used to fund post-petition operating expenses as well as supplier and employee obligations.

 

Under bankruptcy law, actions by creditors to collect amounts owed by us at the filing date are stayed and other pre-petition contractual obligations may not be enforced against us, without approval by the Court to settle these claims. We received approval from the Court to pay certain of our pre-petition claims, including employee wages and certain employee benefits. In addition, we have the right, subject to Court approval and other conditions, to assume or reject any pre-petition executory contracts and unexpired leases. Parties affected by these rejections may file claims with the Court. The amounts of claims filed by creditors could be significantly different from the recorded amounts.

 

On April 16, 2003, in accordance with procedures previously approved by the Court, we held an auction for the sale of substantially all of our steelmaking and finishing assets, as well as the assets of our iron ore pellet operation in Keewatin, Minnesota. At the conclusion of the auction, United States Steel Corporation (“US Steel”) was determined to be the bidder who had submitted the highest and best offer for the assets. On April 21, 2003 the Court approved the sale to US Steel pursuant to the terms of an asset purchase agreement (“APA”) between the parties which provides for the payment of $850 million in cash at closing and the assumption of certain liabilities of approximately $200 million. Completion of the transaction remains subject to certain conditions with a final closing expected by the end of May 2003. The assets subject to the APA have not been classified as “held for sale” at March 31, 2003 since the Court did not approve the sale until April 21, 2003. We will recognize a significant loss on the sale of these assets at closing of the transactions contemplated by the APA.

 

Currently, it is not possible to predict with certainty the effect of the sale of our assets on the interests of the various creditors and stakeholders. Under the priority scheme established by the Bankruptcy Code, certain post-petition liabilities and pre-petition liabilities need to be satisfied before shareholders can receive any distribution. There will not be a recovery by our stockholders under any Chapter 11 plan.

 

NOTE 2—BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of National Steel Corporation and its majority owned subsidiaries (the “Company”) presented herein have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the ordinary course of business and do not reflect adjustments that might result if the Debtors are unable to continue as a going concern. As a result of the Debtors’ Chapter 11 filings and the pending sale of assets to US Steel, such matters are subject to significant uncertainty. The Debtors intend to file a plan of reorganization or liquidation with the Court. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not reflect (a) the realizable value of assets on a liquidation basis or their availability to satisfy liabilities, (b) aggregate prepetition liability amounts that may be allowed for claims or contingencies, or their status or priority, (c) the effect of any changes to the Debtors’ capital structure or in the Debtors’ business

 

7


operations as the result of an approved plan of reorganization, or (d) adjustments to the carrying value of assets or liability amounts that may be necessary as the result of actions by the Court.

 

Our financial statements as of March 31, 2003, have been presented in conformity with the AICPA’s Statement of Position No. 90-7, Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy Code, issued November 19, 1990 (“SOP 90-7”). SOP 90-7 requires a segregation of liabilities subject to compromise by the Court as of the filing date and identification of all transactions and events that are directly associated with the reorganization. Certain majority owned subsidiaries reported in the Company’s consolidated results were not included in the Chapter 11 filings. Total assets for these entities were $6.5 million as of March 31, 2003, and their net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 was $0.4 million.

 

In the opinion of management the consolidated financial statements presented herein include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation on a going concern basis of the results for the periods indicated. All such adjustments made were of a normal recurring nature except for the items discussed in Notes 4, 5, 6 and 10. The financial results presented for the three-month period ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the full year. The Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (the “2002 Form 10-K”) contains additional information and should be read in conjunction with this report.

 

We have engaged Ernst & Young LLP to conduct a review of the consolidated financial statements presented herein, in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Their review report is included as an exhibit to this Form 10-Q.

 

Certain amounts in the 2002 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to current presentation.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation (“SFAS 123”), we have elected to continue to apply Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (“APB 25”) and related interpretations in accounting for our employee stock options. Under APB 25, because the exercise price of employee stock options equals or exceeds the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is recorded. We have adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS 123 and SFAS 148, Accounting for Stock-Based compensation—Transition and Disclosure (“SFAS 148”).

 

Had compensation cost for the option plans been determined based on the fair value at the grant date for awards in 2003 and 2002 consistent with the provisions of SFAS 148 and 123, there would have been no impact on earnings per share and the impact on the net loss would have been immaterial.

 

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In August 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 143 “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” SFAS No. 143 established a new accounting model for the recognition and measurement of retirement obligations associated with tangible long-lived assets. SFAS No. 143 requires that an asset retirement obligation be capitalized as part of the cost of the related long-lived asset and subsequently allocated to expense using a systematic and rational method. We adopted this Statement as required effective January 1, 2003. The transition adjustment of $2.0 million, resulting from the adoption of SFAS No. 143 was recorded as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the first quarter of 2003. For the three months ended March 31, 2003, loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle increased $0.1 million or $0.01 per share as a result of the change in accounting. The pro-forma effect of this change as if it had been made retroactively for the three months ended March 31, 2002 would be to decrease the loss before cumulative effect in change of accounting principle by $0.2 million or $0.01 per share.

 

Postemployment Benefits

 

We provide workers’ compensation, disability, and other medical benefits for certain salaried and represented employees. We account for those costs in accordance with SFAS No. 112, Employers’ Accounting for Postemployment Benefits (“SFAS 112”). In the first quarter of 2003, a change was made in our estimate of future obligations for workers’ compensation costs. The effect of this change was to increase the net loss by $9.1 million and increase liabilities subject to compromise respectively.

 

8


NOTE 3—INVENTORIES

 

Inventories are as follows:

 

Dollars in millions

  

March 31,

2003


    

December 31,

2002


 

Inventories

                 

Finished and semi-finished

  

$

328.0

 

  

$

352.8

 

Raw materials and supplies

  

 

143.6

 

  

 

178.7

 

    


  


    

 

471.6

 

  

 

531.5

 

Less LIFO reserve

  

 

(126.7

)

  

 

(125.8

)

    


  


    

$

344.9

 

  

$

405.7

 

    


  


 

NOTE 4—REORGANIZATION ITEMS

 

Reorganization items are comprised of items of income, expense and loss that were realized or incurred by us as a result of our decision to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The following summarizes the reorganization charges during the first quarter of 2003 and 2002:

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


Dollars in millions

  

2003


  

2002


Professional and other fees

  

$

8.8

  

$

2.9

Write-down of deferred financing costs

  

 

—  

  

 

2.3

Provision for rejected derivative contract

  

 

—  

  

 

1.3

Provision for potential additional costs on long-term agreements

  

 

2.9

  

 

—  

Other

  

 

0.4

  

 

0.7

    

  

    

$

12.1

  

$

7.2

    

  

 

NOTE 5—INTEREST EXPENSE

 

Interest at the stated contractual amount on unsecured debt that was not charged to earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 was approximately $12.2 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

 

NOTE 6—INCOME TAXES

 

On March 9, 2002, President Bush signed the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 (the “Act”). The Act, among other provisions, provides for an expansion of the carryback of net operating losses (“NOLs”) from two years to five years for NOLs arising in 2001 and 2002. We were able to carryback our loss recorded during 2001 to the 1996 through 1998 tax years when we paid an alternative minimum tax. This carryback allowed us to recover the entire amount of alternative minimum taxes paid during those prior taxable years. During the first quarter of 2002, we received a refund of $53.2 million.

 

9


NOTE 7—SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

    

March 31, 2003


    

March 31, 2002


 

Dollars in millions


  

Steel


  

All

Other


    

Total


    

Steel


    

All

Other


    

Total


 

Three months ended:

                                        

Revenues from external customers

  

$

668.9

  

$

4.0

 

  

$

672.9

 

  

$

598.8

 

  

$

5.2

 

  

$

604.0

 

Intersegment revenues

  

 

106.5

  

 

39.0

 

  

 

145.5

 

  

 

110.1

 

  

 

38.2

 

  

 

148.3

 

Segment income (loss) from operations before reorganization items

  

 

4.9

  

 

(179.2

)

  

 

(174.3

)

  

 

(39.9

)

  

 

(44.5

)

  

 

(84.4

)

Segment assets

  

 

1,343.2

  

 

691.2

 

  

 

2,034.4

 

  

 

1,393.0

 

  

 

836.1

 

  

 

2,229.1

 

 

NOTE 8—LIABILITIES SUBJECT TO COMPROMISE

 

The principal categories of claims classified as liabilities subject to compromise under reorganization proceedings are identified below. All amounts below may be subject to future adjustment depending on Court action, further developments with respect to disputed claims, or other events. Additional claims may arise resulting from our rejection of additional executory contracts or unexpired leases. Under an approved final plan of reorganization, these claims may be settled at amounts substantially less than their allowed amounts.

 

Recorded liabilities subject to compromise under the Chapter 11 proceedings consisted of the following:

 

Dollars in millions


  

March 31, 2003


  

December 31, 2002


Accounts payable

  

$

152.2

  

$

154.3

Short-term borrowings

  

 

100.0

  

 

100.0

Salaries, wages, benefits and related taxes

  

 

105.7

  

 

112.0

Pension liabilities, including minimum pension liabilities

  

 

1,116.2

  

 

1,156.6

Property taxes

  

 

49.7

  

 

46.3

Income taxes

  

 

1.7

  

 

1.8

Other accrued liabilities

  

 

69.5

  

 

65.1

Long-term obligations

  

 

503.6

  

 

511.6

Postretirement benefits other than pensions

  

 

417.7

  

 

403.8

Other long-term liabilities

  

 

103.8

  

 

94.9

    

  

    

$

2,620.1

  

$

2,646.4

    

  

 

NOTE 9—ENVIRONMENTAL AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Our operations are subject to numerous laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and the environment. Because these environmental laws and regulations are quite stringent and are generally becoming more stringent, we have expended, and can be expected to expend in the future, substantial amounts for compliance with these laws and regulations. Due to the possibility of future changes in circumstances or regulatory requirements, the amount and timing of future environmental expenditures could vary from those currently anticipated.

 

10


It is our policy to expense or capitalize, as appropriate, environmental expenditures that relate to current operating sites. Environmental expenditures that relate to past operations and which do not contribute to future or current revenue generation are expensed. Costs for environmental assessments or remediation activities, or penalties or fines that may be imposed for noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations, are accrued when it is probable that liability for such costs will be incurred and the amount of such costs can be reasonably estimated.

 

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), and similar state statutes generally impose joint and several liability on present and former owners and operators, transporters and generators for remediation of contaminated properties, regardless of fault. We and certain of our subsidiaries are involved as potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) at a number of off-site CERCLA and other environmental cleanup proceedings. At some of these sites, we do not have sufficient information regarding the nature and extent of the contamination, the wastes contributed by other PRPs, or the required remediation activity to estimate our potential liability.

 

We have also recorded the reclamation and other costs to restore our coal mines at our shutdown locations to their original and natural state, as required by various federal and state mining statutes.

 

Since we have been conducting steel manufacturing and related operations at numerous locations for over sixty years, we potentially may be required to remediate or reclaim any contamination that may be present at these sites. We do not have sufficient information to estimate our potential liability in connection with any potential future remediation at such sites. Accordingly, we have not accrued for such potential liabilities.

 

As these matters progress or we become aware of additional matters, we may be required to accrue charges in excess of those previously accrued. Although the outcome of any of the matters described, to the extent they exceed any applicable reserves or insurance coverages, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity for the applicable period, we have no reason to believe that such outcomes, whether considered individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. We have recorded an aggregate environmental liability of approximately $14.2 million at both March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, which as of March 31, 2003 are included in the caption “Liabilities Subject to Compromise” on our consolidated balance sheet.

 

We are involved in various non-environmental legal proceedings, most of which occur in the normal course of our business. We do not believe that these proceedings will have a material adverse effect, either individually or in the aggregate, on our financial condition. However, with respect to certain of the proceedings, if reserves prove to be inadequate and we incur a charge to earnings, such charge could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity for the applicable period.

 

NOTE 10—NON-OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

 

A number of non-operational activities are reflected in the consolidated statement of operations. A discussion of these items follows.

 

Pension Curtailment

 

On December 6, 2002 The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) began legal proceedings to terminate seven of our eight pension plans and requested to be appointed as the plan’s trustee. In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 88, Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Deferred Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits (“SFAS 88”), the PBGC’s actions triggered a curtailment. Under curtailment, unamortized prior service cost is recognized. As we report pension cost with a delayed measurement date three months in arrears, we were required to recognize a curtailment loss in the first quarter of 2003 of $105.9 million. Should the PBGC be successful in terminating the Plans, settlement accounting under SFAS 88 would also be triggered. The exact amount of the SFAS 88 settlement gain to be recognized will depend upon the timing of the actual takeover of the plans by the PBGC. It is currently estimated to be between

 

11


$280.0 and $320.0 million. Under these circumstances the PBGC will concurrently submit claims against us for the unfunded pension benefit obligations assumed. We entered into an agreement with the PBGC, which was approved by the Court, that stipulated the value of the PBGC’s claim to be approximately $1.5 billion. This would result in a net settlement loss of approximately $1.2 billion. Upon termination of the plans, we expect that the vast majority of claims asserted by the PBGC will be unsecured claims, and will be subject to a plan of reorganization.

 

Other Items

 

In 2002, we received stock from the conversion of Prudential Insurance Company from a mutual company owned by its policyholders to a publicly held company. In the first quarter of 2003 we sold the stock and recorded a loss on the sale of $0.7 million.

 

Gain on disposal of assets

 

In March 2003, we sold undeveloped land located at our Midwest operations for $4.4 million in cash and recognized a gain from the sale of that amount. We sold our equity interest in the National-Robinson joint venture in February 2003. We realized proceeds of $3.9 million from the sale and recorded a gain of $0.9 million.

 

NOTE 11—OTHER COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

In the fourth quarter of 2001, Bethlehem Steel Corporation (“Bethlehem”) filed for Chapter 11 protection under U.S. bankruptcy laws. We have a 50% interest in a joint venture coating facility with Bethlehem and a 13% interest in a joint venture family health care facility with Bethlehem and US Steel. In April 2003, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court overseeing the Bethlehem Chapter 11 case approved the sale of substantially all of the assets, including the aforementioned joint ventures, of Bethlehem to International Steel Group, Inc. We are uncertain what effect, if any, the Bethlehem sale will have on our future earnings and financial position. Our interests in the joint ventures are being sold to US Steel per the APA.

 

 

12


 

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

   OPERATIONS

 

This commentary should be read in conjunction with the first quarter 2003 consolidated financial statements and selected notes and the 2002 Form 10-K for a full understanding of our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Chapter 11 Proceedings

 

On March 6, 2002, National Steel Corporation (the “Company”) and forty-one of its domestic subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (the “Court”). Certain majority owned subsidiaries of the Company have been excluded from the Chapter 11 filings. The case was assigned to the Hon. John H. Squires and is being jointly administered under case number 02-08699. We continue to manage our properties and operate our businesses under Sections 1107(a) and 1108 of the Code as a debtor-in-possession.

 

On April 16, 2003, in accordance with procedures previously approved by the Court, we held an auction for the sale of substantially all of our steelmaking and finishing assets, as well as the assets of our iron ore pellet operation in Keewatin, Minnesota. At the conclusion of the auction, United States Steel Corporation (“US Steel”) was determined to be the bidder who had submitted the highest and best offer for the assets. On April 21, 2003 the Court approved the sale to US Steel pursuant to the terms of an asset purchase agreement (“APA”) between the parties which provides for the payment of $850 million in cash at closing and the assumption of certain liabilities of approximately $200 million. Completion of the transaction remains subject to certain conditions with a final closing expected by the end of May 2003. The assets subject to the APA have not been classified as “held for sale” at March 31, 2003 since the Court did not approve the sale until April 21, 2003. We will recognize a significant loss on the sale of these assets at closing of the transactions contemplated by the APA.

 

Currently, it is not possible to predict with certainty the effect of the sale of our assets on the interests of the various creditors and stakeholders. Under the priority scheme established by the Bankruptcy Code, certain post-petition liabilities and pre-petition liabilities need to be satisfied before shareholders can receive any distribution. There will not be any recovery by our stockholders under any Chapter 11 plan.

 

The accompanying consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the ordinary course of business and do not reflect adjustments that might result if we are unable to continue as a going concern. As a result of our Chapter 11 filings and the pending asset sale to US Steel, such matters are subject to significant uncertainty.

 

We expect to present a Chapter 11 liquidating plan, which will likely cause a material change to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements. The accompanying consolidated interim financial statements do not reflect (a) the realizable value of assets on a liquidation basis or their availability to satisfy liabilities, (b) aggregate prepetition liability amounts that may be allowed for claims or contingencies, or their status or priority, (c) the effect of any changes to our capital structure or in our business operations as the result of an approved plan of reorganization, or (d) adjustments to the carrying value of assets or liability amounts that may be necessary as the result of actions by the Court.

 

The matters described herein, to the extent that they relate to future events or expectations, may be significantly affected by the Chapter 11 proceedings. Those proceedings will involve, or result in, various restrictions on our activities, limitations on financing, the need to obtain Court approval for various matters and uncertainty as to relationships with vendors, suppliers, customers and others with whom we may conduct or seek to conduct business.

 

13


Results of Operations—Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales for the first quarter of 2003 increased $68.9 million, or 11.4%, compared to the first quarter of 2002. Our average selling price increased $44 per ton, or 10.8%, compared to the first quarter of 2002. This increase is due primarily to increased market prices. Market prices increased due to the reduced supply of flat rolled steel products following the Section 201 trade tariffs and the temporary idling of steelmaking capacity by some of our competitors.

 

Income from Operations before Reorganization Items

 

We reported an operating loss before reorganization items of $174.3 million for the first quarter of 2003 as compared to a loss of $84.4 million for the first quarter of 2002. Several factors contributed to our change in operating performance:

 

    The pension curtailment loss of $105.9 million recognized as a result of the PBGC’s actions to terminate our pension plans.

 

    Higher natural gas prices of $14.9 million.

 

    Higher repair and maintenance spending of $4.2 million.

 

    Increased employee benefit costs for pensions and other post-retirement benefits of $17.9 million.

 

    Increased postemployment benefit costs of $9.1 million as a result of a change in our estimate of future workers’ compensation costs.

 

These additional costs were partially offset by the favorable impact of the higher selling prices.

 

Reorganization Items

 

Reorganization items are comprised of items of income, expense and loss that were realized or incurred by us as a direct result of our decision to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Such items for the first quarter of 2003 and 2002 consisted of the following:

Dollars in millions

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,


    

2003


  

2002


Professional and other fees

  

$

8.8

  

$

2.9

Write-down of deferred financing costs

  

 

—  

  

 

2.3

Provision for rejected derivative contract

  

 

—  

  

 

1.3

Provision for potential additional costs on long-term agreements

  

 

2.9

  

 

—  

Other

  

 

0.4

  

 

0.7

    

  

    

$

12.1

  

$

7.2

    

  

 

Gain on Disposal of Assets and Other Related Activities

 

In March 2003, we sold undeveloped land located at our Midwest operations for $4.4 million in cash and recognized a gain from the sale of that amount. We sold our equity interest in the National-Robinson joint venture in February 2003. We realized proceeds of $3.9 million from the sale and recorded a gain of $0.9 million.

 

Income Taxes

 

In the first quarter of 2003, we recorded a non-cash tax expense of $0.1 million due to certain state tax requirements. After reviewing our future taxable income and tax planning strategies, we determined that no change to our deferred tax asset was necessary. As a result, no additional income tax benefit or expense was recorded related to deferred tax assets.

 

 

14


Change in Accounting Principle

 

Effective January 1, 2003, as required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143 (“SFAS 143”) Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations. SFAS 143 requires that an asset retirement obligation be capitalized as part of the cost of the long-lived asset and subsequently allocated to expense using a systematic and rational method. The transition adjustment of $2.0 million resulting from the adoption of SFAS 143 was recorded as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the first quarter of 2003. For the three months ended March 31, 2003, loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle increased $0.1 million or $0.01 per share more as a result of the change in accounting. The pro-forma effect of this change as if it had been made retroactively for the three months ended March 31, 2002 would be to decrease loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle by $0.2 million or $0.01 per share.

 

Discussion of Liquidity and Sources of Capital

 

Overview

 

Our liquidity needs generally arise from working capital requirements, capital investments, principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, and retiree health care funding requirements. We have satisfied these liquidity needs with funds provided by borrowings, the sale of non-core assets and cash provided by operations. As a result of our Chapter 11 filing, we have not made principal or interest payments on substantially all secured and unsecured indebtedness incurred prior to March 6, 2002.

 

In conjunction with our Chapter 11 Filing, we obtained Court approval of a $450 million Secured Super Priority Debtor in Possession Credit Agreement (the “DIP Facility”) with our existing senior secured bank group. As part of the DIP Facility, all cash received by us or any of our subsidiaries is applied to outstanding obligations under the DIP Facility. Proceeds of loans under the DIP Facility are used solely to pay certain pre-petition claims approved by the Court, for post-petition operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and certain other costs and expenses of administration of the cases as specified and approved by the Court.

 

Availability under the DIP Facility is subject to a borrowing base calculated by applying advance rates to eligible accounts receivable and eligible inventory. Availability under the DIP Facility is subject to: (i) certain eligibility reserves and availability reserves, (ii) a reserve for certain professional and bankruptcy court expenses related to our Chapter 11 cases and (iii) a liquidity reserve of $35 million.

 

All amounts owed by us under the DIP Facility at all times constitute allowed super-priority administrative expense claims in our Chapter 11 cases, generally having priority over all our administrative expenses. In addition, all amounts owed by us under the DIP Facility are secured by valid and perfected security interests in, and liens on substantially all of our assets.

 

On March 31, 2003, cash borrowings under our DIP Facility were $124.5 million with an average annual interest rate of 5.2%.

 

Total liquidity, which includes cash balances plus available borrowing capacity under the DIP Facility, net of reserves, was $271 million at March 31, 2003 as compared to $221 million at December 31, 2002.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities before Reorganization Items

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2003, cash provided by operating activities before reorganization items amounted to $23.7 million, which is primarily attributed to our operating results, net of non-cash charges, and a decrease in net working capital levels.

 

15


Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

Capital investments for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 amounted to $4.7 million and $3.8 million, respectively. The 2003 spending relates primarily to those projects necessary to maintain our facilities in current operating status.

 

In the first quarter of 2003, we sold undeveloped land located at our Midwest operation. We received proceeds of $4.4 million which were distributed to our bondholders as debt repayment. We also sold our equity interest in our National Robinson joint venture and received proceeds of $3.9 million.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Net cash used in financing activities amounted to $12.3 million during the first quarter of 2003. This results from a net reduction in borrowings under our revolving credit agreements of $4.0 million, scheduled payments on long-term debt after our bankruptcy filing in accordance with Court orders, the distribution of the aforementioned proceeds from the sale of undeveloped land, and debt issuance costs related to the DIP Facility. As a result of our Chapter 11 filing, we have not made principal or interest payments on substantially all secured and unsecured indebtedness incurred prior to March 6, 2002.

 

Other Operational and Financial Disclosure Matters

 

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure (“SFAS 148”) an amendment of SFAS No. 123 Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS 123”), which provides alternative transition methods for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. As permitted by SFAS 123, the Company has chosen to continue accounting for stock options at their intrinsic value at the date of grant consistent with the provision of APB 25. SFAS 148 also amended the disclosure provisions, which now require the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation to be provided and the effect of the method used on reported results.

 

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

 

Statements made in our reports, such as this Form 10-Q, in press releases and in statements made by employees in oral discussions, that are not historical facts constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

Forward looking statements, by their nature, involve risk and uncertainty. A variety of factors could cause business conditions and our actual results and experience to differ materially from those we expect or expressed in our forward looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

General Factors:

 

  1)   changes in market prices and market demand for our products;

 

  2)   changes in our mix of products sold;

 

  3)   changes in the costs or availability of the raw materials and other supplies used by us in the manufacture of our products;

 

  4)   equipment failures or outages at our steelmaking and processing facilities;

 

  5)   losses of customers;

 

  6)   changes in the levels of our operating costs and expenses;

 

  7)   collective bargaining agreement negotiations, strikes, labor stoppages or other labor difficulties;

 

16


  8)   actions by our competitors, including domestic integrated steel producers, foreign competitors, mini-mills and manufacturers of steel substitutes, such as plastics, aluminum, ceramics, glass, wood and concrete;

 

  9)   changes in industry capacity;

 

  10)   changes in economic conditions in the United States and other major international economies, including rates of economic growth and inflation;

 

  11)   worldwide changes in trade, monetary or fiscal policies including changes in interest rates;

 

  12)   changes in the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to us;

 

  13)   the effect of trade litigation and proceedings, including tariffs imposed pursuant to Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974;

 

  14)   the effects of extreme weather conditions;

 

Bankruptcy Related Factors:

 

  15)   our ability to continue as a going concern;

 

  16)   our ability to operate pursuant to the terms of the DIP Credit Facility;

 

  17)   our ability to obtain Court approval with respect to motions in the Chapter 11 proceeding prosecuted by us from time to time;

 

  18)   our ability to develop, confirm and consummate one or more plans of reorganization with respect to the Chapter 11 cases;

 

  19)   risks associated with third parties seeking and obtaining court approval to terminate or shorten the exclusivity period that we have to propose and confirm one or more plans of reorganization, for the appointment of a Chapter 11 trustee or to convert the cases to Chapter 7 cases;

 

  20)   our ability to obtain and maintain normal terms with vendors and service providers;

 

  21)   our ability to maintain contracts that are critical to our operations;

 

  22)   the potential adverse impact of the Chapter 11 cases on our liquidity or results of operations;

 

  23)   our ability to fund and execute our business plan; and

 

  24)   our ability to consummate the sale of substantially all our assets to U.S. Steel.

 

17


 

ITEM 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

In the normal course of business, our operations are exposed to continuing fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign currency values and interest rates that can affect the cost of operating, investing and financing. Accordingly, we address a portion of these risks, primarily commodity price risk, through a controlled program of risk management that includes the use of derivative financial instruments. Our objective is to reduce earnings volatility associated with these fluctuations to allow management to focus on core business issues. Our derivative activities, all of which are for purposes other than trading, are initiated within the guidelines of a documented corporate risk-management policy. We did not enter into any derivative transactions for commodity price risk in the first quarter of 2003. Our market risk has not changed materially from that reported in the 2002 Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Within 90 days prior to the filing of this report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-14(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon the evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information regarding the Company required to be included in the Company’s periodic SEC filings. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls, subsequent to the date of this evaluation.

 

PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings

 

This matter was reported in the Company’s 2002 Form 10-K and relates to the voluntary petitions filed on March 6, 2002 by the Company and forty-one of its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (the “Bankruptcy Court”), for reorganization relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

On April 16, 2003, in accordance with procedures previously established by the Bankruptcy Court, the Company conducted an auction of substantially all of its principal steelmaking and finishing assets, as well as National Steel Pellet Company, the Company’s iron ore pellet operations in Keewatin, Minnesota. At the conclusion of the auction, United States Steel Corporation (“US Steel”) was determined to be the bidder who had submitted the highest and best offer for the assets. On April 21, 2003, the Bankruptcy Court approved the sale to US Steel pursuant to the terms of an Asset Purchase Agreement between the parties which provides for the payment of $850 million in cash at closing and the assumption of certain liabilities of approximately $200 million. Closing of the transaction with US Steel remains subject to certain conditions and is expected by the end of May 2003.

 

In connection with obtaining the consent of its secured creditors to the pending sale of its assets, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Intercreditor Settlement Term Sheet”), which was approved by the Bankruptcy Court on April 21, 2003, with such secured creditors and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors appointed in the Company’s cases. Pursuant to the Intercreditor Settlement Term Sheet, among other matters, the Company agreed to

 

18


 

(i) pay, at the closing of the transaction with US Steel, portions of the sale proceeds to certain of its secured creditors on account of their secured claims, and (ii) file a Plan of Liquidation with the Bankruptcy Court within thirty (30) days after the closing date. A copy of the Intercreditor Settlement Term Sheet is attached as Exhibit B to the order entered by the Bankruptcy Court on April 21, 2003 approving the US Steel transaction.

 

Trade Litigation

 

This matter was reported in the Company’s 2002 Form 10-K and relates to several on-going trade litigation proceedings. These proceedings generally originated with petitions filed by the Company and a number of other U.S. steel producers with the Department of Commerce (the “DOC”) and the International Trade Commission (the “ITC”).

 

Regarding the challenge to the five-year review of the antidumping duty order on corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Japan, commenced by Japan pursuant to the dispute settlement mechanism of the World Trade Organization (the “WTO”), the WTO panel issued an interim decision rejecting Japan’s challenge in its entirety on March 31, 2003. Although it is an interim decision, no WTO panel has modified the substance of such a decision in its final report. The panel is scheduled to issue its final report in May 2003.

 

Regarding the challenge to the final injury determination of the ITC with respect to dumped hot-rolled carbon steel flat products (“Hot-Rolled Steel”) commenced by several foreign steel producers in the U.S. Court of International Trade (the “CIT”) in December 2001 and January 2002, the CIT issued a decision denying the challenge and upholding the ITC’s injury determination in its entirety on March 21, 2003. In addition, regarding the challenge filed in the CIT by a steel producer in the Netherlands and several U.S. steel producers, including the Company, to the DOC’s final dumping determination on Hot-Rolled Steel from the Netherlands, the CIT issued a decision on March 7, 2003 upholding the DOC’s determination with respect to all but one minor issue. The CIT remanded that one issue to the DOC, and the DOC issued its remand determination on April 7, 2003. A decision from the CIT on the DOC’s remand determination is expected later this year.

 

Regarding the challenge to the DOC’s final dumping determination with respect to cold-rolled carbon steel flat products (“Cold-Rolled Steel”) from Taiwan commenced by several U.S. steel producers, including the Company, in December 2002 in the CIT, the CIT granted a stay of that appeal on March 11, 2003. The appeal is stayed pending a decision in the related appeal of the ITC’s negative final injury determination for Cold-Rolled Steel from Taiwan and other countries.

 

Regarding the challenges to the relief ordered by the President on steel imports pursuant to Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 brought by the governments of the European Communities, Japan, Korea, the People’s Republic of China, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, and Brazil in the WTO, the WTO panel issued an interim decision ruling against the United States on March 26, 2003. Again, although this is an interim decision, no WTO panel has modified the substance of such a decision in its final report. The panel is scheduled to issue its final report in May 2003. Additionally, a number of requests for exclusions of products from the relief were granted by the United States in March 2003 as part of the second round of such exclusion requests. These exclusions further weakened the effectiveness of the relief for certain product areas.

 

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation v. National Steel Corporation

 

This matter was reported in the Company’s 2002 Form 10-K and relates to the Complaint filed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) on December 6, 2002 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois seeking terminations of certain pension plans sponsored by the Company (the “Pension Plans”) and related relief (the “PBGC Action”). On April 21, 2003, the Company, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and the PBGC entered into a Stipulation and Order (the “PBGC Stipulation”) which was approved by the Bankruptcy Court on the same date. Pursuant to the PBGC Stipulation, the parties agreed that on the closing date of the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement between US Steel and the Company (the “Closing Date”), the Company would pay to the PBGC $30 million in exchange for the agreement of the PBGC to (a) waive with prejudice any objection to the Company’s then pending motion (the “Sale Motion”) to sell substantially all of its

 

19


assets to US Steel; (b) release any liens on any assets of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Delray Connecting Railroad Company (“Delray”) and consent to the sale of the Company’s assets pursuant to the Sale Motion; and (c) waive any claims that the PBGC may hold against Delray. In addition, the payment under the PBGC Stipulation was agreed to be in full satisfaction and release of any administrative claims held by the PBGC in the Company’s cases.

 

Under the PBGC Stipulation, the PBGC was granted an allowed general unsecured prepetition claim in the approximate amount of $1.5 billion. Furthermore, under the PBGC Stipulation, the PBGC agreed that under any plan of reorganization or liquidation filed by the Company, the PBGC would waive any distribution on account of its allowed general unsecured claim until such time as the other general unsecured creditors of the Company received a distribution equal to 1.5% of their aggregate allowed claims. After the holders of other allowed general unsecured claims had received a distribution equal to 1.5% of their allowed claims under any such plan, the PBGC will participate, on a pro rata basis, in any further distributions to general unsecured creditors.

 

Finally, under the PBGC Stipulation, the Company agreed that on the Closing Date, the Company will execute and deliver a trusteeship agreement, which will (a) terminate the Pension Plans; (b) transfer trusteeship of the Pension Plans to the PBGC; and (c) fix December 6, 2002 as the termination date of the Pension Plans. It is expected that the PBGC Stipulation will result in the dismissal of the PBGC Action.

 

ITEM 3.    DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

As a result of its Chapter 11 filing, the Company has not made principal or interest payments on substantially all secured and unsecured indebtedness incurred prior to March 6, 2002.

 

ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a) See attached Exhibit Index

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated January 10, 2003 reporting on Item 5, Other Events

and Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 7, Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K/A dated January 10, 2003 reporting on Item 5, Other Events

and Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 7, Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated January 24, 2003 reporting on Item 5, Other Events

and Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 7, Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated January 31, 2003 reporting on Item 5, Other Events

and Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 7, Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated February 7, 2003 reporting on Item 5, Other Events

and Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 7, Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated February 14, 2003 reporting on Item 7, Financial

Statements and Exhibits and Item 9, Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated February 18, 2003 reporting on Item 5, Other Events

and Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 7, Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated February 25, 2003 reporting on Item 7, Financial

Statements and Exhibits and Item 9, Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated March 3, 2003 reporting on Item 5, Other Events

and Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 7, Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated March 10, 2003 reporting on Item 5, Other Events

and Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 7, Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated March 25, 2003 reporting on Item 7, Financial

 

20


Statements and Exhibits and Item 9, Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K/A dated March 25, 2003 reporting on Item 7, Financial

Statements and Exhibits and Item 9, Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated March 31, 2003 reporting on Item 5, Other Events

and Regulation FD Disclosure and Item 7, Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

 

21


SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION

By:

 

/S/    MINEO SHIMURA        


   

Mineo Shimura

   

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

 

By:

 

/S/    KIRK A. SOBECKI        


   

Kirk A. Sobecki

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: May 14, 2003

 

22


CERTIFICATION

 

I, Mineo Shimura, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of National Steel Corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

6. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: May 14, 2003

 

/S/    MINEO SHIMURA        


Name: Mineo Shimura

Title: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

 

23


CERTIFICATION

 

I, Kirk A. Sobecki, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of National Steel Corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

6. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: May 14, 2003

 

/S/    KIRK A. SOBECKI        


Name: Kirk A. Sobecki

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

24


NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION

 

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003

 

2-A

  

Asset Purchase Agreement dated April 21, 2003 between United States Steel Corporation and the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the report of the Company on Form 8-K dated April 22, 2003, Commission File Number 1-983, is incorporated herein by reference.

15-A

  

Independent Accountants’ Review Report

15-B

  

Acknowledgment Letter on Unaudited Interim Financial Information

99-A

  

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

99-B

  

Certification of Chief Financial Officer