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, 2005

OR

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

For the transition period from                    to                   

Commission file number 1-9753

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

58-1563799
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

115 Perimeter Center Place, Suite 460, Atlanta, Georgia
(Address of principal executive offices)

30346
(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (770) 395-4500

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

 

 

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

 

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

 

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x   No o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o   No x

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

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 the registrant’s 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 a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer x      Accelerated filer o      Non-accelerated filer o

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

Aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed using the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange for the registrant’s common stock on June 30, 2005 was $1,059,121,275.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of the latest practicable date.

Class

 

 

Outstanding at February 27, 2006

 

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

 

34,238,653 shares

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
(To the Extent Indicated Herein)

Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 16, 2006, in Part III of this Form 10-K.

 




TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Item

 

 

 

Page
Number

 

1)

 

Business

 

 

1

 

 

1A)

 

Risk Factors

 

 

7

 

 

1B)

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

 

 

12

 

 

2)

 

Properties

 

 

12

 

 

3)

 

Legal Proceedings

 

 

13

 

 

4)

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

 

15

 

 

PART II

 

5)

 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

 

16

 

 

6)

 

Selected Financial Data

 

 

17

 

 

7)

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

 

19

 

 

7A)

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

 

32

 

 

8)

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

 

34

 

 

9)

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

 

74

 

 

9A)

 

Controls and Procedures

 

 

74

 

 

9B)

 

Other Information

 

 

76

 

 

PART III

 

10)

 

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

 

77

 

 

11)

 

Executive Compensation

 

 

78

 

 

12)

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

 

78

 

 

13)

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

 

78

 

 

14)

 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

 

78

 

 

PART IV

 

15)

 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

 

79

 

 

 

 

Signatures

 

 

84

 

 

 

 

Certifications

 

 

 

 

 

 




PART I

Item 1.   BUSINESS.

General

We are a leading North American manufacturer and an international marketer of two integrated chemical product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatics. In our chlorovinyls business, we are:

·       the third largest North American producer of vinyl chloride monomer (“VCM”),

·       the third largest North American producer of vinyl suspension resins, and

·       the second largest North American producer of vinyl compounds.

In our aromatics business, we are:

·       the second largest worldwide producer of cumene, and

·       one of the largest North American producers and marketers of phenol and acetone.

Our manufacturing processes also include the production of caustic soda and chlorine. The primary products we sell externally include vinyl resins, vinyl compounds and caustic soda in our chlorovinyls business and phenol, acetone and cumene in our aromatics business. These products are used globally in a wide variety of end-use applications, including construction and renovation, engineering plastics, pulp and paper production, chemical intermediates, pharmaceuticals and consumer products. We believe our vertical integration, world scale facilities, operating efficiencies, facility locations and the productivity of our employees provide us with a competitive cost position in our primary markets.

For selected financial information concerning our chlorovinyls and aromatics product segments and our domestic and international sales, see note 14 and note 17 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8.

Plant Shutdowns

On November 29, 2004, we ceased production at our Tiptonville, Tennessee vinyl compounds plant, which was in our chlorovinyls segment. Customers were not impacted as a result of this plant closure due to increased efficiencies and capacity from our other compound manufacturing locations. The Tiptonville long-lived assets were written down to their estimated net realizable value and were sold for approximately this amount in May 2005. The cost associated with closing the facility, writing down the long-lived assets and removing equipment was immaterial.

At the end of 2001 we determined that the sodium chlorate plant was technologically obsolete by industry standards and could not comply with Louisiana environmental regulations. In the fourth quarter of 2001, we incurred impairment-related charges in our chlorovinyls segment of $4.9 million and accrued $0.5 million for post-closure related items. We ceased production of sodium chlorate in the third quarter of 2002.

Temporary Plant Idlings

The phenol industry suffered from industry-wide supply and demand imbalance primarily as a result of capacity that was brought online in 1999 and 2000. Rather than continue running both of our phenol/acetone plants of our aromatics segment at lower capacity utilization rates, management temporarily idled the Pasadena, Texas phenol/acetone plant in the second quarter of 2002. Subsequently, we have been able to continue to meet all of our customers’ needs with phenol/acetone production from our Plaquemine, Louisiana plant. We intend to restart the Pasadena, Texas phenol/acetone plant when market conditions warrant. The net book value of our idled Pasadena, Texas phenol/acetone plant was

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approximately $1.7 million as of December 31, 2005, and is included in property, plant and equipment on our consolidated balance sheet. We estimate we will incur costs of approximately $3.0 million to restart the plant.

Products and Markets

The following table shows our total annual production capacities as of December 31, 2005, in each of our product lines:

Product Line

 

 

 

Capacity

Chlorovinyls Products:

 

 

Vinyl Compounds

 

960 million pounds

Vinyl Resins

 

2.7 billion pounds

VCM

 

3.1 billion pounds

Caustic Soda

 

500,000 tons

Chlorine

 

450,000 tons

Aromatics Products:

 

 

Phenol*

 

660 million pounds

Acetone*

 

408 million pounds

Cumene

 

1.8 billion pounds


*                    Capacity includes our plant in Pasadena (160 million pounds of phenol and 100 million pounds of acetone), which has been temporarily idled.

Chlorovinyls

Vinyl Compounds.   Vinyl compounds are formulated to provide specific end-use properties that allow vinyl compounds to be processed directly into our customers’ finished products. All of our vinyl compounds production is sold to third parties. We produce flexible and rigid compounds, which are used in many different applications, including wire and cable insulation and jacketing, electrical outlet boxes and pipe fittings, window and furniture profiles and food-grade and general-purpose bottles. We also supply chlorinated vinyl compounds, or CPVC, to the extrusion and injection molding markets, mainly for production of hot water pipe and pipe fittings.

Vinyl Resins.   Vinyl resins are among the most widely used plastics in the world today, and we supply numerous grades of vinyl resins to a broad number of end-use markets. During 2005, 81 percent of our vinyl resins production was sold to third parties who use our resins to formulate vinyl compounds which are then heated and shaped utilizing various extrusion, calendaring and molding processes to create finished products. In 2005 the largest end-uses of our products were pipe and pipe fittings and home siding and windows. We used about 19 percent of our production of vinyl resins internally during 2005 in the manufacture of our vinyl compounds.

VCM.   During 2005 we used about 99 percent of our VCM production in the manufacture of our vinyl resins. VCM production not used internally is sold to other vinyl resins producers in domestic and international markets.

Chlor-alkali Products.   All of the chlorine we produce is used internally in the production of VCM. As a co-product of chlorine, caustic soda further diversifies our revenue base. We sell substantially all of our caustic soda domestically and overseas to customers in numerous industries, with the chemical (28 percent), pulp and paper (32 percent) and alumina (16 percent) industries constituting our largest markets. Other markets for our caustic soda include soap and detergents and the water treatment industry.

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Aromatics

Phenol.   Our phenol is primarily sold to producers of phenolic resins and to manufacturers of engineering plastics. Phenolic resins are used as adhesives for wood products such as plywood and Oriented Strand Board, or OSB. Engineering plastics are used in compact discs, digital video discs, automobiles, household appliances, electronics and protective coating applications. We also sell phenol for use in insulation, electrical parts, oil additives and pharmaceuticals. In 2005 the majority of our phenol was sold to phenolic resins manufacturers.

Acetone.   As a co-product of phenol, acetone further diversifies our revenue base. Acetone is a chemical used primarily in the production of acrylic resins, engineering plastics and industrial solvents. We sell the majority of our acetone (70 percent in 2005) into the acrylic resins market, where it is used in the manufacture of various plastics and coatings used for signage, automotive parts, household appliances, paints and industrial coatings. Other uses range from solvents for automotive and industrial applications to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Cumene.   Cumene is used as an intermediate to make phenol and acetone. About 35 percent of our cumene was consumed internally during 2005 to produce phenol and acetone. Cumene production not used internally is sold to other phenol and acetone manufacturers in domestic and international markets.

Production, Raw Materials and Facilities

Our operations are vertically integrated as a result of our production of some of the key raw materials and intermediates used in the manufacture of our products. Our operational integration enhances our control over production costs and capacity utilization rates, as compared to our non-integrated competitors.

In our chlorovinyls product line, we produce chlorine and its co-product caustic soda by electrolysis of salt brine. We produce VCM by reacting purchased ethylene with chlorine, which is both produced internally and purchased from third parties; our internal production of VCM slightly exceeds our internal demand requirements. We produce vinyl resins by polymerization of our internally supplied VCM in a batch reactor process. We formulate our vinyl compounds by blending our vinyl resins with various additives such as plasticizers, impact modifiers, stabilizers and pigments, most of which are purchased. We also have the capacity to produce ethylene dichloride, an intermediate in the manufacture of VCM, for external sales. In our aromatics product line, we produce cumene utilizing benzene and propylene purchased from third parties. Cumene is then oxidized to produce cumene hydroperoxide, which is split into the co-products phenol and acetone.

The important raw materials we purchase from third parties include ethylene, benzene, natural gas, refinery grade propylene (“propylene”), compound additives and chlorine. The majority of our purchases of ethylene and chlorine are made under long-term agreements, and we purchase natural gas, benzene and propylene in both the open market and under long-term contracts. We believe we have reliable sources of supply under normal market conditions. We cannot, however, predict the likelihood or impact of any future raw material shortages. Any shortages could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

Plaquemine, Louisiana Facilities.   Our operations at these facilities include the production of chlorine, caustic soda, VCM, vinyl resins, phenol and acetone. We produce chlorine and its co-product caustic soda at our chlor-alkali facility by electrolysis of salt brine. We have a long-term lease on a nearby salt dome with reserves in excess of twenty years from which we supply our salt brine requirements. We use all of our chlorine production in the manufacture of VCM at this facility and we sell substantially all of our caustic soda production externally. All of the ethylene requirements for our VCM production are supplied by pipeline. Most of our Plaquemine VCM production is consumed on-site in our vinyl resins production

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or shipped to our other vinyl resins facilities with the remainder sold to third parties. Our cumene requirements for the production of phenol and its co-product acetone are shipped from our Pasadena, Texas facility by dedicated barges.

Our 250-megawatt cogeneration facility supplies all of the electricity and steam needs at our Plaquemine facilities. We also own an on-site air separation unit operated by a third party that provides all of the Plaquemine facility’s nitrogen and oxygen gas requirements.

We have applied for a permit, which, if granted, would permit us to modify our vinyl resins facility to increase capacity by approximately 450 million pounds annually beginning in 2008. There can be no assurance that the permit will be granted. If it is granted we will incur approximately $100 million to complete the project. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Lake Charles, Louisiana Facilities.   We produce VCM at our Lake Charles, Louisiana facility and through our manufacturing joint venture, PHH Monomers, LLC, which is located in close proximity to our Lake Charles VCM facility. PHH Monomers is a joint venture with PPG Industries, Inc. which entitles us to 50 percent of the VCM production. Virtually all of the chlorine and ethylene needs of our Lake Charles VCM facility and PHH Monomers facility are supplied by pipeline. VCM from these facilities supplies our Aberdeen, Mississippi and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma vinyl resins facilities. On occasion, a small portion of VCM produced at the Lake Charles facilities is sold to third parties.

Aberdeen, Mississippi and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Facilities.   We produce vinyl resins at our Aberdeen, Mississippi and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma facilities from VCM supplied by railcar from our various VCM facilities. In addition, the Aberdeen facility produces plasticizers, which are consumed internally for flexible vinyl compound production.

Vinyl Compounds Facilities.   We operate four compounds facilities: Aberdeen, Gallman, Madison and Prairie, Mississippi. All of our vinyl compounds facilities are supplied from our vinyl resins facilities by railcar, truck or in the case of Aberdeen, pipeline. These operations consumed about 19 percent of our annual vinyl resins production during 2005. We purchase our compounds additive needs from various sources at market prices.

Pasadena, Texas Facilities.   At our Pasadena, Texas facilities we have the capability to produce cumene, phenol and acetone. We produce cumene utilizing purchased benzene and propylene. Our cumene facility is integrated by pipeline with our phenol and acetone facility at Pasadena. Currently, due to the temporary idling of phenol and acetone production at Pasadena (discussed above), all of the cumene production at this facility is either shipped to the Plaquemine phenol and acetone facility or sold to third parties. We purchase propylene and benzene at market prices from various suppliers connected by multiple transportation modes to our cumene facility. A portion of the benzene is supplied under contracts at market prices, and the propylene is provided from numerous refineries at market prices. Based on current industry capacity, we believe we have adequate access to benzene and propylene under normal conditions.

Seasonality

Operating income for both our chlorovinyls and aromatics segments is somewhat affected by the seasonality of the construction industry, which experiences its highest level of activity during the spring and summer months. Therefore, our second and third quarter operating income is typically the strongest. Our first and fourth quarter operating income usually reflects a decrease in construction activity due to colder weather and holidays.

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Sales and Marketing

Our sales and marketing program is aimed at supporting our existing customers and expanding and diversifying our customer base. Our sales and marketing force consists of 31 employees. In addition, we use distributors to market products to smaller customers. This sales force is organized by product line and region. We have a product development and technical service staff that primarily supports our vinyl resins and vinyl compounds businesses. This staff works closely with customers to qualify existing Georgia Gulf products for use by our customers. They also work to develop new products for the customers’ existing and new requirements. Our products are sold primarily to domestic industrial companies, and no single customer accounted for more than 10 percent of our consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003. In addition to our domestic sales, we export some of our products, including our VCM, vinyl resins, vinyl compounds, caustic soda and aromatics products. Export sales accounted for about 15 percent of total sales for 2005, 17 percent for 2004, and 12 percent for 2003. Based on destination, the principal international markets we serve are Europe, Canada, and South and Central America. No export sales to any one country were greater than five percent of total net sales.

Competition

We experience competition from numerous manufacturers in all of our product lines. Some of our competitors have substantially greater financial resources and are more highly diversified than us. We compete on a variety of factors such as price, product quality, delivery and technical service. We believe that we are well-positioned to compete as a result of integrated product lines, the operational efficiency of our plants and the location of our facilities near major water and/or rail transportation terminals.

Environmental Regulation

Our operations are subject to increasingly stringent federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental quality. These regulations, which are enforced principally by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) and comparable state agencies, govern the management of solid hazardous waste, emissions into the air and discharges into surface and underground waters, and the manufacture of chemical substances.

In October 2004 the USEPA notified us that we have been identified as a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) for a Superfund site in Galveston, Texas. The site is a former industrial waste recycling, treatment and disposal facility. Over one thousand PRPs have been identified by the USEPA. We contributed a relatively small proportion of the total amount of waste shipped to the site. In the notice, the USEPA informed us of the agency’s willingness to settle with us and other PRPs that contributed relatively small proportions of the total quantity of waste shipped to the Superfund site. We believe that we can reach a settlement with the USEPA in this matter, and although there can be no assurance, we expect the amount of the settlement to be less than $100,000.

There are several serious environmental issues concerning the VCM facility at Lake Charles, Louisiana we acquired from CONDEA Vista Company (“CONDEA Vista” is now Sasol North America, Inc.) on November 12, 1999. Substantial investigation of the groundwater at the site has been conducted, and groundwater contamination was first identified in 1981. Groundwater remediation through the installation of groundwater recovery wells began in 1984. The site currently contains about 90 monitoring wells and 18 recovery wells. Investigation to determine the full extent of the contamination is ongoing. It is possible that offsite groundwater recovery will be required, in addition to groundwater monitoring. Soil remediation could also be required.

Investigations are currently underway by federal environmental authorities concerning contamination of an estuary near the Lake Charles VCM facility we acquired known as the Calcasieu Estuary. It is likely that this estuary will be listed as a Superfund site and be the subject of a natural resource damage recovery

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claim. It is estimated that there are about 200 PRPs associated with the estuary contamination. CONDEA Vista is included among these parties with respect to its Lake Charles facilities, including the VCM facility we acquired. The estimated cost for investigation and remediation of the estuary is unknown and could be quite costly. Also, Superfund statutes may impose joint and several liability for the cost of investigations and remedial actions on any company that generated the waste, arranged for disposal of the waste, transported the waste to the disposal site, selected the disposal site, or presently or formerly owned, leased or operated the disposal site or a site otherwise contaminated by hazardous substances. Any or all of the responsible parties may be required to bear all of the costs of cleanup regardless of fault, legality of the original disposal or ownership of the disposal site. Currently, we discharge our wastewater to CONDEA Vista, which has a permit to discharge treated wastewater into the estuary.

CONDEA Vista has agreed to retain responsibility for substantially all environmental liabilities and remediation activity relating to the vinyls business we acquired from it, including the Lake Charles, Louisiana VCM facility. For all matters of environmental contamination that were currently known at the time of acquisition (November 1999), we may make a claim for indemnification at any time; for environmental matters that were then unknown, we must generally make claims for indemnification before November 12, 2009. Further, Georgia Gulf’s agreement with CONDEA Vista provides that CONDEA Vista will be subject to the presumption that all later discovered on-site environmental contamination arose before closing, and is therefore CONDEA Vista’s responsibility; this presumption may only be rebutted if CONDEA Vista can show that we caused the environmental contamination by a major, unaddressed release.

At our Lake Charles VCM facility, CONDEA Vista will continue to conduct the ongoing remediation at its expense until November 12, 2009. After November 12, 2009, we will be responsible for remediation costs up to about $150,000 of expense per year, as well as costs in any year in excess of this annual amount up to an aggregate one-time amount of about $2.3 million. In the first quarter of 2004, as part of our ongoing assessment of our environmental contingencies, we determined these remediation costs to be probable and estimable and therefore recorded a $2.7 million accrual to other non-current liabilities.

The property owned by CONDEA Vista in Mansfield, Massachusetts, for which we negotiated an early lease termination, has been the subject of ongoing environmental investigations under an order with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Groundwater investigations continue at the Mansfield property to address identified on-site groundwater contamination and investigate the possible off-site migration of contaminated groundwater. It is also possible that the USEPA may list the property as a Superfund site. The environmental investigations and actions are associated with the past operations at the property and were not assumed in our lease of the property. In addition, CONDEA Vista has indemnified us for claims related to this environmental contamination beyond an aggregate threshold amount of about $0.3 million, including coverage for potential joint and several liabilities under the environmental statutes. Upon removal of manufacturing equipment and termination of the lease, the site with buildings and infrastructure equipment reverted to CONDEA Vista.

As for employee and independent contractor exposure claims, CONDEA Vista is responsible for exposures before November 12, 2009, and we are responsible for exposures after November 12, 2009, on a pro rata basis determined by years of employment or service before and after November 12, 1999, by any claimant. There is, however, a presumption for claims brought before November 12, 2004, by current or former CONDEA Vista employees and contractors that, absent a showing of new acute exposure after November 12, 1999, all responsibility will be deemed to have arisen before November 12, 1999, and will be solely CONDEA Vista’s.

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We believe that we are in material compliance with all current environmental laws and regulations. We estimate that any expenses incurred in maintaining compliance with these requirements will not materially affect earnings or cause us to exceed our level of anticipated capital expenditures. However, there can be no assurance that regulatory requirements will not change, and it is not possible to accurately predict the aggregate cost of compliance resulting from any such changes.

Employees

As of December 31, 2005, we had 1,123 full-time employees. We employ approximately 118 employees under a collective bargaining agreement that expires in 2008. We believe our relationships with our employees are good.

Available Information

We make available free of charge on our website at http://www.ggc.com 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) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 1A.   RISK FACTORS.

Risk Factors

Our business and financial results and condition may be adversely affected by the risk factors described below, as well as the other risks discussed in this Form 10-K.

The chemical industry is cyclical and volatile, which affects our profitability. Our industry experiences alternating periods of tight supply and overcapacity.

Our historical operating results tend to reflect the cyclical and volatile nature of the chemical industry. Historically, periods of tight supply have resulted in increased prices and profit margins and have been followed by periods of substantial capacity addition, resulting in oversupply and declining prices and profit margins. As a result of changes in demand for our products, our earnings fluctuate significantly, not only from year to year but also from quarter to quarter. Capacity expansions or the announcement of these expansions have generally led to a decline in the pricing of our products in the affected product line. We cannot assure that future growth in product demand will be sufficient to utilize any additional capacity.

Natural gas and raw materials costs and other external factors beyond our control can cause wide fluctuations in our margins.

The cost of our natural gas and raw materials and other costs may not correlate with changes in the prices we receive for our products, either in the direction of the price change or in absolute magnitude. Natural gas and raw materials costs represent a substantial part of our manufacturing costs. Most of the raw materials we use are commodities and the price of each can fluctuate widely for a variety of reasons, including changes in availability because of major capacity additions or significant facility operating problems. Other external factors beyond our control can cause volatility in raw materials prices, demand for our products, product prices, sales volumes and margins. These factors include general economic conditions, the level of business activity in the industries that use our products, competitors’ actions, international events and circumstances, and governmental regulation in the United States and abroad. These factors can also magnify the impact of economic cycles on our business. A number of our products are highly dependent on markets that are particularly cyclical, such as the construction, paper and pulp, and automotive markets.

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The cyclicality and volatility of the chemical industry affects our capacity utilization and causes fluctuations in our results of operations.

The operating rates at our facilities will impact the comparison of period-to-period results. Different facilities may have differing operating rates from period to period depending on factors such as feedstock costs, transportation costs, and supply and demand for the product produced at the facility during that period. As a result, individual facilities may operate below or above rated capacities in any period. We may idle a facility for an extended period of time because an oversupply of a certain product or a lack of demand for that product makes production uneconomical. Facility shutdown and subsequent restart expenses may adversely affect quarterly results when these events occur. In addition, a temporary shutdown may become permanent, resulting in a write-down or write-off of the related assets.

The chemical industry is highly competitive, with some of our competitors having greater financial resources than we have; competition may adversely affect our results of operations.

The chemical industry is highly competitive. Many of our competitors are larger and have greater financial resources than Georgia Gulf. Moreover, barriers to entry, other than capital availability, are low in most product segments of our business. Capacity additions or technological advances by existing or future competitors also create greater competition, particularly in pricing. We cannot provide assurance that we will have access to the financing necessary to upgrade our facilities in response to technological advances or other competitive developments.

Extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations impact our operations and assets; compliance with these regulations could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our operations on and ownership of real property are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety regulation at both the national and local level. The nature of the chemical industry exposes Georgia Gulf to risks of liability under these laws and regulations due to the production, storage, transportation and sale of materials that can cause contamination or personal injury if released into the environment. Environmental laws may have a significant effect on the costs of transportation and storage of raw materials and finished products, as well as the costs of the storage and disposal of wastes. We may incur substantial costs, including fines, damages, criminal or civil sanctions, remediation costs, or experience interruptions in our operations for violations arising under these laws.

Also, Superfund statutes may impose joint and several liability for the cost of investigations and remedial actions on any company that generated the waste, arranged for disposal of the waste, transported the waste to the disposal site, selected the disposal site, or presently or formerly owned, leased or operated the disposal site or a site otherwise contaminated by hazardous substances. Any or all of the responsible parties may be required to bear all of the costs of cleanup, regardless of fault, legality of the original disposal or ownership of the disposal site. A number of environmental liabilities have been associated with the facilities at Lake Charles, Louisiana and Mansfield, Massachusetts that we acquired or leased as part of the acquisition of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista Company and which may be designated as Superfund sites as described in “Environmental Regulation” above. Any or all responsible parties, including us, may be required to bear all of the costs of cleanup regardless of fault, legality of the original disposal, or ownership of the disposal site. Although CONDEA Vista retained substantially all financial responsibility for environmental liabilities that relate to the facilities we acquired from them and which arose before the closing of the acquisition of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista in November 1999, we cannot assure you that CONDEA Vista will be able to satisfy its obligations in this regard, particularly in light of the long period of time in which environmental liabilities may arise under the environmental laws. If CONDEA Vista fails to fulfill their obligation regarding environmental liabilities, then we could be held responsible.

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Our policy is to accrue costs relating to environmental matters when it is probable that these costs will be required and can be reasonably estimated. However, estimated costs for future environmental compliance and remediation may be too low or we may not be able to quantify the potential costs. We expect to be continually subjected to increasingly stringent environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. It is exceedingly difficult to predict the future interpretation and development of these laws and regulations or their impact on our future earnings and operations. We anticipate continued compliance will require increased capital expenditures and increased operating costs. Any increase in these costs could adversely affect our financial performance.

Hazards associated with chemical manufacturing may occur, which would adversely affect our results of operations.

Hazards associated with chemical manufacturing and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes may occur in Georgia Gulf’s operations. These hazards could lead to an interruption or suspension of operations and have an adverse effect on the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility or on Georgia Gulf as a whole. These hazards include:

·       pipeline and storage tank leaks and ruptures;

·       explosions and fires;

·       inclement weather and natural disasters;

·       mechanical failure;

·       unscheduled downtime;

·       labor difficulties;

·       transportation interruptions;

·       remediation complications;

·       terrorist acts; and

·       chemical spills and other discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases.

These hazards may cause personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment, and environmental damage: any of these could lead to claims under the environmental laws. Additionally, individuals could seek damages for alleged personal injury or property damage due to exposure to chemicals at our facilities or to chemicals otherwise owned, controlled or manufactured by Georgia Gulf. Georgia Gulf is also subject to present and future claims with respect to workplace exposure, workers’ compensation and other matters. Although we maintain property, business interruption and casualty insurance of the types and in the amounts that we believe are customary for the industry, we are not fully insured against all potential hazards incident to our business.

We rely heavily on third party transportation, which subjects us to risks that we cannot control; these risks may adversely affect our operations.

We rely heavily on railroads and shipping companies to transport raw materials to our manufacturing facilities and to ship finished product to our customers. Rail and shipping operations are subject to various hazards, including extreme weather conditions, work stoppages and operating hazards. If we are delayed or unable to ship finished product or unable to obtain raw materials as a result of the railroads’ or shipping companies’ failure to operate properly, or if there were significant changes in the cost of these services, we may not be able to arrange efficient alternatives and timely means to obtain raw materials or ship our goods, which could result in an adverse effect on our revenues and costs of operations.

9




Our indebtedness could limit our business and operations.

At December 31, 2005, we had approximately $278.6 million of indebtedness outstanding and $141.0 million of financing from the sale of our trade receivables under our asset securitization program. Our level of indebtedness could have important consequences to our operations, including:

·       we may have difficulty borrowing money in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes;

·       we will need to use a portion of our available cash for debt service, which will reduce the amount of money available to finance our operations and other business activities;

·       some of our debt, including the debt under our senior credit facility, has variable rates of interest, which exposes us to the risk of increased interest rates; and

·       we may have a higher level of debt than some of our competitors, which could put us at a competitive disadvantage; make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse developments in our business; and reduce our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions.

We expect to obtain the money to pay our expenses and to pay principal and interest on our debt from our operating cash flow and from additional loans under our revolving credit facility. Our ability to meet these requirements will depend on our future financial performance. We cannot be sure that our cash flow will be sufficient to allow us to pay principal and interest on our debt as well as meet our other obligations. If we do not have enough money to do so, we may be required to refinance all or part of our debt, sell assets or borrow more money. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. In addition, the terms of our existing or future debt agreements, including our senior credit facility and the indenture related to our 7.125 percent notes, may restrict us from pursuing any of these alternatives.

We may encounter difficulties in integrating the assets of businesses we acquire, which may adversely affect our results of operations.

We cannot be sure that we will be able to integrate successfully any acquisitions into our operations without substantial costs, delays or other problems. The integration of any business we acquire may be disruptive to our business and may result in a significant diversion of management attention and operational resources. Additionally, we may suffer a loss of key employees, customers or suppliers, loss of revenues, increases in costs or other difficulties.

Our participation in joint ventures exposes us to risks of shared control.

We own a 50 percent interest in a manufacturing joint venture, the remainder of which is controlled by PPG Industries, Inc., which also supplies chlorine to the facility operated by the joint venture. We may enter into additional joint ventures in the future. The nature of a joint venture requires us to share control with unaffiliated third parties. If our joint venture partners do not fulfill their obligations, the affected joint venture may not be able to operate according to its business plan. In that case, our operations may be adversely affected or we may be required to increase our level of commitment to the joint venture. Also, differences in views among joint venture participants may result in delayed decisions or failure to agree on major issues. Any differences in our views or problems with respect to the operations of our joint ventures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

10




We rely on outside suppliers for specified feedstocks and services.

In connection with our acquisition of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista Company, we entered into agreements with CONDEA Vista to provide specified feedstocks for the Lake Charles facility. Moreover, this facility is dependent upon CONDEA Vista’s infrastructure for services such as wastewater and ground water treatment, site remediation, and fire water supply. Any failure of CONDEA Vista to perform those agreements could adversely affect the operation of the affected facilities and our results of operations. The agreements relating to these feedstocks and services had initial terms of one to ten years. Although most of these agreements provide for automatic renewal, they may be terminated after specified notice periods. If we were required to obtain an alternate source for these feedstocks or services, we may not be able to obtain pricing on as favorable terms. Additionally, we may be forced to pay additional transportation costs or to invest in capital projects for pipelines or alternate facilities to accommodate railcar or other delivery or to replace other services.

We also obtain a significant portion of our other raw materials from a few key suppliers. If any of these suppliers is unable to meet its obligations under present supply agreements, we may be forced to pay higher prices to obtain the necessary raw materials. Any interruption of supply or any price increase of raw materials could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Sales made in international markets expose us to risks that may adversely affect our operations or financial condition.

During 2005, 15 percent of our revenues were generated in international markets. Substantially all of our international sales are made in U.S. dollars and, as a result, any change in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies will affect the price of our products in international markets. Our international sales are also subject to other risks, including differing and changing legal and regulatory requirements in local jurisdictions; export duties and import quotas; domestic and foreign customs and tariffs or other trade barriers; potentially adverse tax consequences, including withholding taxes or taxes on other remittances; and foreign exchange restrictions. We cannot provide any assurance that these factors will not have an adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Our senior credit facility and the indenture for our 7.125 percent senior notes impose significant operating and financial restrictions, which may prevent us from capitalizing on business opportunities and taking some actions.

The terms of our senior credit facility and our indenture impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions will limit our ability to:

·       incur additional indebtedness and liens;

·       make capital expenditures;

·       make investments and sell assets, including the stock of subsidiaries;

·       make payments of dividends and other distributions;

·       purchase Georgia Gulf stock;

·       use the proceeds of the sale of specified assets;

·       engage in business activities unrelated to our current business;

·       enter into transactions with affiliates; or

·       consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets.

11




In addition, our senior credit facility and 7.125 percent senior notes require us to maintain specified financial ratios. We cannot assure you that these covenants will not adversely affect our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs or to pursue available business opportunities. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default in respect of the related indebtedness. If a default occurs, the relevant lenders could elect to declare the indebtedness, together with accrued interest and other fees, to be due and payable immediately and proceed against any collateral securing that indebtedness. Also, any acceleration of indebtedness under our senior credit facility will constitute a default under some of our other indebtedness.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Form 10-K and other communications to stockholders may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, our outlook for future periods, supply and demand, pricing trends and market forces within the chemical industry, cost reduction strategies and their results, planned capital expenditures, long-term objectives of management and other statements of expectations concerning matters that are not historical facts.

Predictions of future results contain a measure of uncertainty. Actual results could differ materially due to various factors. Factors that could change forward-looking statements are, among others, those contained in the “Risk Factors” section above as well as changes in the general economy, changes in demand for our products or increases in overall industry capacity that could affect production volumes and/or pricing, changes and/or cyclicality in the industries to which our products are sold, availability and pricing of raw materials, technological changes affecting production, difficulty in plant operations and product transportation, governmental and environmental regulations and other unforeseen circumstances. A number of these factors are discussed in this Form 10-K and in our other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

Item 2.   PROPERTIES.

Our asset base was established from 1971 to the present with the construction of the Plaquemine, Louisiana complex, the construction of the Pasadena, Texas cumene plant, and the purchase of the rigid vinyl compounds plants. There was also the purchase of the Bound Brook, New Jersey, phenol/acetone facility, which was subsequently relocated to Pasadena, Texas, and modernized in 1990. In 1997 we completed construction of cogeneration and air separation plants in Plaquemine, Louisiana, in order to supply all of our requirements for electricity, oxygen and nitrogen at that location. In 1998 we purchased North American Plastics, Inc., a manufacturer of flexible vinyl compounds with production facilities in Prairie and Madison, Mississippi. In 1999 we purchased substantially all of the assets of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista Company, an integrated producer of VCM, vinyl resins and compounds with production facilities in Aberdeen, Mississippi, Lake Charles, Louisiana, Jeffersontown, Kentucky, Mansfield, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We have ceased production in Mansfield, Massachusetts, Jeffersontown, Kentucky and Tiptonville, Tennessee. During 2004 we completed the expansion of our Gallman, Mississippi facility, which added 170 million pounds of capacity and made this facility the largest merchant vinyl compound manufacturing facility in North America.

We believe current and additional planned capacity will adequately meet anticipated demand requirements. Average capacity utilization of our production facilities was 80 percent in 2005. Our chlorovinyls and aromatics facilities average capacity utilization was 85 percent and 65 percent, respectively.

12




The following table sets forth the location of each manufacturing facility we own, the products manufactured at each facility and the approximate production capacity of each, assuming normal plant operations, as of December 31, 2005:

 

 

Location

 

Products

 

Annual Capacity

Chlorovinyls Segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plaquemine, LA

 

Chlorine

 

450 thousand tons

 

 

Plaquemine, LA

 

Caustic Soda

 

500 thousand tons

 

 

Plaquemine, LA

 

VCM

 

1.6 billion pounds

 

 

Lake Charles, LA (two locations)

 

VCM

 

1.5 billion pounds (1)

 

 

Plaquemine, LA

 

Vinyl Resins

 

1.2 billion pounds

 

 

Aberdeen, MS

 

Vinyl Resins

 

1.0 billion pounds

 

 

Oklahoma City, OK

 

Vinyl Resins

 

500 million pounds

 

 

Aberdeen, MS

 

Vinyl Compounds

 

135 million pounds

 

 

Gallman, MS

 

Vinyl Compounds

 

500 million pounds

 

 

Madison, MS

 

Vinyl Compounds

 

230 million pounds

 

 

Prairie, MS

 

Vinyl Compounds

 

95 million pounds

 

 

Aberdeen, MS

 

Plasticizers

 

22 million pounds

Aromatics Segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pasadena, TX

 

Cumene

 

1.8 billion pounds

 

 

Plaquemine, LA

 

Phenol

 

500 million pounds

 

 

Pasadena, TX

 

Phenol

 

160 million pounds (2)

 

 

Plaquemine, LA

 

Acetone

 

308 million pounds

 

 

Pasadena, TX

 

Acetone

 

100 million pounds (2)


(1)          Reflects 100 percent of the production at our owned facility in Lake Charles and our 50 percent share of PHH Monomers’ 1.15 billion pounds of total VCM capacity.

(2)          This phenol/acetone plant is temporarily idled. See Item 1. Business.

Our manufacturing facilities are located near major water and/or rail transportation terminals, facilitating efficient delivery of raw materials and prompt shipment of finished products. In addition, we have a fleet of about 3,980 railcars of which about 597 are owned and the remainder leased pursuant to operating leases with varying terms through the year 2014. The total lease expense for these railcars and other transportation equipment was approximately $17.9 million for 2005, $17.4 million for 2004 and $16.6 million for 2003.

We lease office space for our principal executive offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and for information services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Additionally, space is leased for sales and marketing offices in Houston, Texas and for numerous storage terminals throughout the United States and also one storage terminal in the Netherlands.

Item 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are a party to numerous individual and several class-action lawsuits filed against us, among other parties, arising out of an incident that occurred in September 1996 in which workers were exposed to a chemical substance on our premises in Plaquemine, Louisiana. The substance was later identified to be a form of mustard agent, which occurred as a result of an unforeseen chemical reaction. All of the actions claim one or more forms of compensable damages, including past and future wages, past and future physical and emotional pain and suffering. The lawsuits were originally filed in Louisiana state court in Iberville Parish.

13




In September 1998 the state court trial judge granted the plaintiffs’ motion permitting the filing of amended petitions that added the additional allegations that we had engaged in intentional conduct against the plaintiffs. Amended petitions making such allegations were filed. Our two insurers notified us that they were reserving their rights to deny coverage to the extent liability could be established due to such intentional conduct in accordance with their insurance policies. We disputed the insurers’ reservation of rights. In December 1998 as required by the terms of the insurance policies, each insurer demanded arbitration of the issue of the insurers’ duties relating to the intentional conduct allegations. As a result of the arbitrations relating to the insurance issue, as permitted by federal statute, the insurers removed the cases to United States District Court in December 1998.

Following the above removal of these actions and unsuccessful attempts by plaintiffs to remand the cases, we were able to settle the claims of all but two worker plaintiffs (and their collaterals) who had filed suit prior to removal. These settlements included the vast majority of those claimants believed to be the most seriously injured. No further legal proceedings are required relating to these settled cases. Negotiations regarding the remaining claims of the two worker plaintiffs are ongoing.

Following these settlements, we were sued by approximately 400 additional plaintiff workers (and their collaterals) who claim that they were injured as a result of the incident. After negotiation, including a mediation, we reached an agreement for the settlement of these additional claims. This court approved settlement, which is on a class basis, will resolve the claims of all workers who claim to have been exposed and injured as a result of the incident other than those workers who opt out of the class settlement. We are aware of two worker plaintiffs and several collaterals who have filed suit in state court who have opted not to participate in the class settlement, as well as the two worker plaintiffs and collaterals whose claims are pending in federal court (see discussion above). Based on the present status of the proceedings, we believe the liability ultimately imposed on us will not have a material effect on our financial position or on our results of operations.

Many of the workers injured in this accident were employed by contractors we hired to perform various services on our site. Under the contracts for services, the contractors agreed to hold us harmless and indemnify us for amounts we were required to pay for personal injuries to their workers. During the course of this litigation, we had made demands for the contractors to reimburse us for damage amounts we had paid to their employees. In August 2003 we recovered $3.1 million as reimbursement for amounts paid by us to one contractor’s employees. We continue to pursue additional repayments from other contractors, but we do not believe any future recoveries will be material.

In October 2004 the USEPA notified us that we have been identified as a PRP for a Superfund site in Galveston, Texas. The site is a former industrial waste recycling, treatment and disposal facility. Over one thousand PRPs have been identified by the USEPA. We contributed a relatively small proportion of the total amount of waste shipped to the site. In the notice, the USEPA informed us of the agency’s willingness to settle with us and other PRPs that contributed relatively small proportions of the total quantity of waste shipped to the Superfund site. We believe that we can reach a settlement with the USEPA in this matter, and although there can be no assurance, we expect the amount of the settlement to be less than $100,000.

As of October 8, 2004, we concluded a global settlement with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality that combines several pending enforcement matters relating to the operation of production facilities in Lake Charles and Plaquemine, Louisiana. These proceedings allege unauthorized episodic releases, exceedences of permitted emission rates, exceedences of authorized emissions limitations, and allege violation of leak detection and repair requirements. Under the terms of the settlement, we have paid $50,000 to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and have expended $220,000 for the implementation and performance of certain beneficial environmental projects. Further, we voluntarily undertook additional projects to reduce emissions and protect air quality at a cost

14




of approximately $1.3 million. These payments and expenditures did not have a material effect on our financial position or on our results of operations.

In August 2004 and January and February 2005, the USEPA conducted environmental investigations of our manufacturing facilities in Aberdeen, Mississippi and Plaquemine, Louisiana, respectively. The USEPA has informed us that it has identified several “areas of concern,” and has indicated that such areas of concern may, in its view, constitute violations of applicable requirements, thus warranting monetary penalties and possible injunctive relief. In lieu of pursuing such relief through its traditional enforcement process, the USEPA has proposed that the parties enter into negotiations in an effort to reach a global settlement of the areas of concern and that such a global settlement cover our manufacturing facilities at Lake Charles, Louisiana and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as well. It is likely that any such global settlement, if achieved, will result in the imposition of monetary penalties, capital expenditures for installation of environmental controls, and/or other relief. We do not know the total cost of monetary penalties, environmental projects, or other relief that would be imposed in any settlement or order. While we expect that such costs will exceed $100,000, we do not expect that they will have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In addition, we are subject to other claims and legal actions that may arise in the ordinary course of business. We believe that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these other claims and legal actions will not have a material effect on our financial position or on our results of operations.

Item 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2005.

15




PART II

Item 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

Georgia Gulf Corporation’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GGC.”  At February 27, 2006, there were 532 stockholders of record. The following table sets forth the New York Stock Exchange high, low and closing stock prices and dividend payments for Georgia Gulf’s common stock for the periods indicated.

 

 

High

 

Low

 

Close

 

Dividends

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First quarter

 

$

55.90

 

$

45.74

 

$

45.98

 

 

$

0.08

 

 

Second quarter

 

47.18

 

29.47

 

31.05

 

 

0.08

 

 

Third quarter

 

36.31

 

22.81

 

24.08

 

 

0.08

 

 

Fourth quarter

 

31.50

 

21.40

 

30.42

 

 

0.08

 

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First quarter

 

$

30.95

 

$

24.68

 

$

30.15

 

 

$

0.08

 

 

Second quarter

 

35.99

 

29.47

 

35.86

 

 

0.08

 

 

Third quarter

 

46.75

 

33.20

 

44.59

 

 

0.08

 

 

Fourth quarter

 

58.75

 

42.95

 

49.80

 

 

0.08

 

 

 

We intend, from time to time, to pay cash dividends on our common stock as our board of directors deems appropriate. Our ability to pay dividends may be limited by covenants in our senior credit facility (see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources”).

16




Item 6.   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

Five-Year Selected Financial Data

In Thousands, Except Per Share Data,

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Percentages and Employees                  

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

Results of Operations*:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

2,273,719

 

$

2,206,239

 

$

1,444,483

 

$

1,230,751

 

$

1,205,896

 

Cost of sales

 

2,049,510

 

1,955,095

 

1,319,094

 

1,086,746

 

1,125,439

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

61,444

 

60,721

 

55,691

 

45,685

 

44,665

 

Asset write-off and other related charges

 

 

 

 

 

5,438

 

Operating income

 

162,765

 

190,423

 

69,698

 

98,320

 

30,354

 

Interest expense

 

(20,527

)

(23,778

)

(38,195

)

(49,739

)

(57,500

)

Cost related to early retirement of debt

 

 

 

(13,816

)

 

 

Interest income

 

120

 

115

 

53

 

160

 

185

 

Income (loss) before taxes

 

142,358

 

166,760

 

17,740

 

48,741

 

(26,961

)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes (1)

 

46,855

 

60,868

 

5,245

 

17,546

 

(14,918

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

95,503

 

$

105,892

 

$

12,495

 

$

31,195

 

$

(12,043

)

Basic earnings (loss) per share

 

$

2.82

 

$

3.21

 

$

0.39

 

$

0.98

 

$

(0.38

)

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

 

2.79

 

3.17

 

0.38

 

0.97

 

(0.38

)

Dividends per common share

 

0.32

 

0.32

 

0.32

 

0.32

 

0.32

 

Financial Highlights:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working capital (2)

 

$

62,330

 

$

(69,358

)

$

65,742

 

$

57,996

 

$

87,560

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

401,412

 

425,734

 

460,808

 

493,494

 

537,506

 

Total assets

 

1,000,953

 

963,830

 

856,785

 

875,559

 

942,821

 

Total debt

 

278,639

 

318,483

 

427,872

 

476,986

 

624,092

 

Asset securitization (2)

 

141,000

 

165,000

 

100,000

 

75,000

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities (2)

 

71,145

 

135,967

 

85,077

 

168,246

 

41,245

 

Depreciation and amortization (3)

 

63,101

 

64,554

 

63,932

 

68,068

 

72,579

 

Capital expenditures

 

32,044

 

23,441

 

24,046

 

17,471

 

17,848

 

Maintenance expenditures

 

79,584

 

79,750

 

67,131

 

64,049

 

59,701

 

Other Selected Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) (4)

 

$

224,469

 

$

252,398

 

$

130,534

 

$

162,971

 

$

104,577

 

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

 

33,867

 

32,965

 

32,267

 

31,988

 

31,716

 

Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted

 

34,193

 

33,439

 

32,502

 

32,193

 

31,716

 

Common shares outstanding

 

34,238

 

33,925

 

32,736

 

32,319

 

31,915

 

Return on sales

 

4.2

%

4.8

%

0.9

%

2.5

%

(1.0

)%

Employees

 

1,123

 

1,207

 

1,198

 

1,216

 

1,232

 


*                    Our results include the impact of plant shutdowns and plant idlings discussed in Item 1. Business.

17




(1)          Provision (benefit) for income taxes for 2003 and 2001 include the effect of the favorable settlement of tax audits.

(2)          Reclassification from long-term debt to current liabilities had the effect of decreasing “working capital.”  In addition, increases in the “asset securitization” decrease “working capital” and increase “net cash provided by operations.”  Decreases have the opposite effect.

(3)          Does not include 2001 sodium chlorate asset write-off of $4.9 million.

(4)          EBITDA is commonly used by us and our investors to measure our ability to service our indebtedness. EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of performance or to net cash flows provided by operations as a measure of liquidity. In addition, our calculation of EBITDA may be different from the calculation used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited. For 2001 the sodium chlorate asset write-off has been included as depreciation expense for the computation of EBITDA. We believe that the closest GAAP measure of financial performance to EBITDA is net cash provided by operating activities. The following is a reconciliation of EBITDA to net cash provided by operating activities. Note that “Tax benefit related to stock plans” and “Stock based compensation” are included in change in operating assets, liabilities and other.

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

EBITDA

 

$

224,469

 

$

252,398

 

$

130,534

 

$

162,971

 

$

104,577

 

Interest expense, net

 

(20,407

)

(23,663

)

(38,142

)

(49,579

)

(57,315

)

Provision for income tax

 

(46,855

)

(60,868

)

(5,245

)

(17,546

)

14,918

 

Provision for deferred income tax

 

(15,067

)

3,686

 

(6,344

)

6,822

 

2,469

 

Other non-recurring charges

 

 

 

 

 

5,438

 

Amortization of debt issuance costs

 

1,397

 

2,579

 

3,096

 

3,417

 

3,261

 

Change in operating assets, liabilities and other

 

(72,392

)

(38,165

)

1,178

 

62,161

 

(32,103

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

71,145

 

$

135,967

 

$

85,077

 

$

168,246

 

$

41,245

 

 

 

18




Item 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Overview

We are a leading North American manufacturer and an international marketer of two integrated chemical product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatics. Our primary chlorovinyls products include chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl chloride monomer (“VCM”), vinyl resins and vinyl compounds. For the year ended December 31, 2005, we consumed all of our chlorine production in making VCM, consumed 7 percent of our caustic soda production, consumed 99 percent of our VCM production in manufacturing vinyl resins and used about 19 percent of our vinyl resins in the manufacture of vinyl compounds. The remainder of our caustic soda, VCM and vinyl resins and all of our vinyl compounds were sold to third parties. Our primary aromatic products include cumene, phenol and acetone. For the year ended December 31, 2005, approximately 65 percent of our cumene was sold to third parties with the remainder used internally to manufacture phenol and acetone. All of our phenol and acetone was sold to third parties. All of our products are used primarily by customers as raw materials to manufacture a diverse range of products, which serve numerous consumer markets for durable and non-durable goods and construction.

Our business, and the chemical industry in general, is cyclical in nature and is affected by domestic and, to a lesser extent, worldwide economic conditions. Cyclical price swings, driven by changes in supply and demand, can lead to significant changes in our overall profitability. The demand for our chemicals tends to reflect fluctuations in downstream markets that are affected by consumer spending for durable and non-durable goods as well as construction.

Global capacity also materially affects the prices of chemical products. Generally, in periods of high operating rates, prices rise, and as a result new capacity is announced. Since world-scale size plants are generally the most cost-competitive, new increases in capacity tend to be on a large scale and are often undertaken by existing industry participants. Usually, as new capacity is added, prices decline until increases in demand improve operating rates and the new capacity is absorbed, or in some instances, until less efficient producers withdraw from the market. As the additional supply is absorbed, operating rates rise, prices increase and the cycle repeats. As an example, significant phenol capacity added in 1999 and 2000 was only absorbed enough by demand and plant closures to allow for improved industry margins in 2004.

Purchased raw materials and natural gas costs account for the majority of our cost of sales and can also have a material effect on our profitability and margins. Some of our primary raw materials, including ethylene, benzene and propylene, are crude oil and natural gas derivatives and therefore follow the oil and gas industry price trends. Chemical Market Associates, Incorporated (“CMAI”) reported annual U.S. industry prices for crude oil and natural gas increased 36 percent and 35 percent, respectively, from 2004 to 2005. However, Chemical Data, Inc. (“CDI”) reported during 2005 that the benzene industry price was flat compared to 2004. During the time period from 2003 to 2004, CMAI reported U.S. industry prices for crude oil and natural gas increased 33 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

In 2005 our chlorovinyls segment experienced decreased demand compared to 2004, primarily as a result of a decrease in demand for vinyl resins. According to CDI, North American vinyl resins industry operating rates decreased from 95 percent in 2004 to 90 percent in 2005, reflecting an overall production decrease of 5 percent with no significant vinyl resins capacity being added during 2005. In comparing 2005 to 2004, primarily as a result of declines in exports and the end-use markets of siding, film, sheet, wire and cable, which represent about 50 percent of total North American industry vinyl resins sales, sales into those markets decreased 9 percent. These decreases were partially offset by a 3 percent increase in the end-use markets for pipe, windows and doors, which account for the other 50 percent of the total industry vinyl resins sales. CMAI reported industry price increases for our feedstocks ethylene, chlorine and natural gas of 31 percent, 29 percent and 35 percent, respectively, from 2004 to 2005. Operating rates in the

19




90 percentile combined with increased feedstock costs enabled the industry to increase vinyl resins sales prices by 24 percent from 2004 to 2005, according to CMAI.

Our aromatics segment demand also decreased in 2005 compared to 2004. According to CDI, North American phenol and acetone industry operating rates decreased from about 92 percent in 2004 to about 82 percent in 2005, with no significant North American capacity additions to either product. This phenol and acetone operating rate decrease of 10 percent was due primarily to decreased demand in the end-use markets of polycarbonates. In addition, CDI reported that although industry prices for our feedstock benzene was flat, propylene prices increased 31 percent from 2004 to 2005. Increased feedstock costs enabled the industry to increase sales prices for phenol, acetone and cumene by 13, 9 and 9 percent, respectively, from 2005 to 2004.

Results of Operations—Georgia Gulf

The following table sets forth our consolidated statement of operations data for the three years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, and the percentage of net sales of each line item for the years presented.

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Dollars in Millions

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net sales

 

$

2,273.7

 

100.0

%

$

2,206.2

 

100.0

%

$

1,444.5

 

100.0

%

Cost of sales

 

2,049.5

 

90.1

%

1,955.1

 

88.6

%

1,319.1

 

91.3

%

Gross margin

 

224.2

 

9.9

%

251.1

 

11.4

%

125.4

 

8.7

%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

61.4

 

2.7

%

60.7

 

2.8

%

55.7

 

3.8

%

Operating income

 

162.8

 

7.2

%

190.4

 

8.6

%

69.7

 

4.8

%

Net interest expense

 

20.4

 

0.9

%

23.6

 

1.0

%

38.2

 

2.6

%

Cost related to early retirement of debt (1)

 

 

 

 

 

13.8

 

1.0

%

Provision for income taxes

 

46.9

 

2.1

%

60.9

 

2.8

%

5.2

 

0.4

%

Net income

 

$

95.5

 

4.2

%

$

105.9

 

4.8

%

$

12.5

 

0.9

%


(1)          See retirement of 10.375 percent notes discussed in note 7 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

The following table sets forth certain financial data by segment for the three years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, and the percentage of total of each line item for the years presented.

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Dollars in Millions

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chlorovinyls

 

$

1,592.7

 

70.0

%

$

1,452.4

 

65.8

%

$

1,159.0

 

80.2

%

Aromatics

 

681.0

 

30.0

%

753.8

 

34.2

%

285.5

 

19.8

%

Total net sales

 

$

2,273.7

 

100.0

%

$

2,206.2

 

100.0

%

$

1,444.5

 

100.0

%

Gross margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chlorovinyls

 

$

229.9

 

102.5

%

$

196.1

 

78.1

%

$

119.3

 

95.1

%

Aromatics

 

(5.7

)

(2.5

)%

55.0

 

21.9

%

6.1

 

4.9

%

Total gross margin

 

$

224.2

 

100.0

%

$

251.1

 

100.0

%

$

125.4

 

100.0

%

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005, Compared With Year Ended December 31, 2004

Net Sales.   For the year ended December 31, 2005, net sales were $2.3 billion, an increase of 3 percent compared to $2.2 billion for the same period last year as a result of a 21 percent increase in sales prices partially offset by a 15 percent decrease in sales volumes. Overall average sales prices increased by

20




28 percent in the chlorovinyls segment and 7 percent in the aromatics segment. Significantly increased feedstock costs enabled us to increase our sales prices. Our overall sales volume decrease of 15 percent from last year is mainly attributable to lower spot export sales during 2005, increased Asian phenol capacity during 2005, planned and unplanned plant outages in our chloralkali plant during the second quarter of 2005 and hurricane-related plant outages during the third and fourth quarters of 2005.

Chlorovinyls segment net sales totaled $1.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of 10 percent compared with net sales of $1.5 billion for last year. Our overall average sales prices increased by 28 percent, primarily as a result of increases in the prices of vinyl resins of 19 percent, vinyl compounds of 17 percent and caustic soda of 140 percent. These vinyl resins and compound price increases reflect higher prices for the feedstocks ethylene and chlorine during 2005. Our overall chlorovinyls sales volumes were down 14 percent from 2004 due to lower spot export sales during 2005, planned and unplanned plant outages in our chloralkali plant during the second quarter of 2005 and the hurricane-related plant outages during the third and fourth quarters of 2005.

Aromatics segment net sales were $681.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, a decrease of 10 percent compared to $753.8 million for 2004. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in our overall aromatics sales volumes of 15 percent as a result of cumene, phenol and acetone sales volume decreases of 9 percent, 26 percent and 18 percent, respectively. These decreases were due primarily to a 46 percent decrease in our phenol export sales volumes from last year as a result of increased Asian phenol capacity during 2005 and a 25 percent decrease in our cumene domestic sales volumes as a result of lower spot sales, which we had a higher level of during the third quarter of 2004 due to a competitor’s unscheduled cumene plant outage. The North American phenol and acetone industry operating rates were all in the low eighty percentiles for 2005, or down about 10 percent from 2004. Our overall average selling price increased as a result of increases in the prices of cumene of 12 percent, phenol of 6 percent and acetone of 9 percent. These sales price increases reflect higher prices for the feedstocks benzene and propylene.

Gross Margin.   Total gross margin decreased from 11 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2004, to 10 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2005. This $26.9 million decrease was due to higher raw materials costs and lower sales and production volumes outpacing higher sales prices. Some of our primary raw materials and natural gas costs normally track crude oil and natural gas industry prices, which experienced increases of 36 percent and 35 percent, respectively, from 2004 to 2005.

Chlorovinyls segment gross margin increased slightly from 13 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2004, to 14 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2005. This $33.8 million increase primarily reflects increases in sales prices for all of our chlorovinyls products, which more than offset increases in our raw materials prices and lower sales and production volumes for all of our chlorovinyls products. Our overall raw materials and natural gas prices increased 31 percent compared to 2004. Our chlorovinyls operating rate decreased from about 97 percent in 2004 to about 85 percent in 2005 primarily as a result of planned and unplanned outages in our chloralkali plants during the second quarter of 2005 and the hurricane-related outages during the third and fourth quarters of 2005.

Aromatics segment gross margin decreased from 7 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2004, to negative 1 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2005. This $60.7 million decrease from last year is due primarily to the overall raw materials and energy price increase of 15 percent and lower sales and production volumes outpacing higher sales prices in 2005. Our aromatics operating rate decreased from about 90 percent for 2004 to about 65 percent for 2005 due primarily to increased Asian phenol capacity during 2005, lower spot sales, which we had a higher level of during the third quarter of last year due to a competitor’s unscheduled cumene plant outage, and the hurricane-related outages during the third and fourth quarters of 2005.

21




Impact from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Third and Fourth Quarters.   The devastating hurricanes experienced by the U.S. Gulf Coast region in the last weeks of August and September of 2005 resulted in the disruption of our operations and minor property damage at our Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas facilities. Certain manufacturing plants were shut down in an orderly manner just prior to the hurricanes and were down or running at reduced rates during the third and fourth quarters of 2005 as a result of the hurricanes. As of October 19, 2005, all of our plants returned to near normal operations. The financial impact of these events resulted in charges of approximately $25.0 million during the last half of 2005 involving repairs and maintenance costs, unabsorbed fixed costs and lost sales resulting from the hurricanes. In addition, based on current projections of costs related to the hurricanes, we believe it is unlikely that we will be able to recover any material amount under our commercial insurance policies.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.   Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $61.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $0.7 million from $60.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase was primarily due to an increase in bad debt expense of $1.2 million, an increase in legal and professional fees of $3.0 million and an increase in the discount on sale of interests in our trade receivables of $3.0 million due to more receivables being sold during the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004. These increases in selling, general and administrative expenses were offset by the reversal of an allowance for a doubtful note receivable of $2.1 million originally recorded in the fourth quarter of 2003 for a specific chlorovinyls customer, a decrease in profit share incentive of $1.3 million and the reduction in executive retirement bonus of $2.5 million related to the transfer of insurance cash surrender values and the related tax withholdings for executives as part of the termination of our split dollar life insurance plan in the third quarter of 2004. The aromatics segment selling, general and administrative expenses remained relatively flat compared to the same period last year while the chlorovinyls segment selling, general and administrative expenses decreased due to the reversal of an allowance for a doubtful note receivable of $2.1 million in 2005.

Net Interest Expense.   Net interest expense decreased to $20.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $23.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. This decrease of $3.2 million was attributable to lower overall debt balances during 2005. During November 2005, we repaid all $100 million of our senior secured 7.625 percent notes. We repaid the notes with borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Provision for Income Taxes.   The provision for income taxes was $46.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared with $60.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease of $14.0 million in income taxes resulted from a $24.4 million decrease in pre-tax income and a 3.6 percent decrease in the effective tax rate when comparing periods. The decrease in the effective tax rate is due to the estimated tax deductions created by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, the favorable impact from changes to the income apportionment rules of various states and the benefits of certain tax credits.

Year Ended December 31, 2004, Compared With Year Ended December 31, 2003

Net Sales.   For the year ended December 31, 2004, net sales were $2.2 billion, an increase of 53 percent compared to $1.4 billion for 2003 as a result of a 29 percent increase in sales prices and an 18 percent increase in sales volumes. The sales volume increase is mainly attributable to a 153 percent increase in cumene, a 16 percent increase in vinyl resins and a 10 percent increase in vinyl compounds, due to strong demand in the durable goods and construction industries. We increased our cumene market share due to a competitor’s cumene plant shut down during the second half of 2003. Overall average sales prices changed primarily as a result of increases in the prices of cumene of 82 percent, vinyl resins of 19 percent and phenol of 69 percent. These sales price increases reflected strong demand for vinyl resins and compounds and cumene. High industry operating rates and significantly increased feedstock costs enabled us to increase our sales prices.

22




Chlorovinyls segment net sales totaled $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of 25 percent compared with net sales of $1.2 billion for 2003. Our overall sales volumes were up 9 percent as vinyl resins and compounds volumes increased by 16 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Strong demand from the construction industry accounted for the increase in volume as the North American vinyl resins industry operating rate was 96 percent for 2004, or 8 percent greater than 2003. Our overall average sales prices increased by 15 percent, primarily as a result of increases in the prices of vinyl resins of 19 percent and vinyl compounds of 5 percent.

Aromatics segment net sales were $753.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of 164 percent compared to $285.4 million for 2003. This increase was primarily the result of a 153 percent greater sales volume for cumene primarily as a result of our increased cumene market share due to a competitor’s unscheduled plant outage during 2004 and an industry cumene producer shutdownduring the second half of 2003 of one billion pounds of capacity, which represented a reduction in North American industry capacity of about 11 percent. Overall average sales prices increased by 75 percent as a result of increases in the price of cumene of 82 percent, phenol of 69 percent and acetone of 48 percent. These price increases reflect higher prices for the feedstocks benzene and propylene and strong demand for our phenol and acetone products as North American operating rates for both were about 92 percent or 8 percent greater than in 2003.

Gross Margin.   Total gross margin increased from 9 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2003, to 11 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2004. This $125.7 million increase was due to higher sales volumes and sales prices, which outpaced higher raw materials costs. Some of our primary raw materials and natural gas costs in both segments are crude oil and natural gas derivatives the prices of which normally track crude oil and natural gas industry prices, which experienced increases of 33 percent and 12 percent, respectively. However, strong demand for benzene and propylene resulted in increases in industry prices outpacing the increase in crude oil pricing.

Chlorovinyls segment gross margin increased from 10 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2003, to 13 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2004. This $76.8 million increase primarily reflects higher sales volumes for vinyl resins and compounds and higher sales prices for vinyl resins outpacing higher raw materials costs. Our ethylene and chlorine prices increased 20 percent and 26 percent, respectively, compared to 2003.

Aromatics segment gross margin increased from 2 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2003, to 7 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2004. This $48.9 million improvement over 2003 is due primarily to higher aromatics sales prices and cumene sales volume. These sales price and volume increases more than offset higher benzene and propylene price increases of 84 percent and 67 percent, respectively.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.   Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $60.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $5.0 million from $55.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The change was primarily due to an increase in profit share incentive of $2.9 million, the transfer of insurance cash surrender values and the related tax withholdings of $3.4 million for executives from the termination of our executive retirement plan, which was funded by a split dollar life insurance plan, as well as the reduction in 2003 expense due to a $3.1 million favorable lawsuit settlement in the third quarter of 2003. The increases in selling, general and administrative expenses were offset partially by a reduction in the bad debt expense from 2003 of $4.1 million related primarily to establishing a $3.0 million reserve for a specific chlorovinyls customer during the fourth quarter of 2003. The aromatics segment selling, general and administrative expenses remained relatively flat compared to last year while the chlorovinyls segment expense decreased due to the reduction from the prior year’s bad debt expense of $3.9 million.

23




Net Interest Expense.   Net interest expense decreased to $23.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, from $38.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. This decrease was attributable to lower interest rates, which was primarily the result of the refinancing of our 10.375 percent notes during December 2003 and lower overall debt balances during 2004.

Prior Year Cost Related to Early Retirement of Debt.   During December 2003 we retired $200 million of unsecured 10.375 percent notes. We financed the retirement of the notes by replacing our senior credit facility $134.3 million tranche C term loan with a $200.0 million tranche D term loan, issuing $100.0 million of senior unsecured 7.125 percent notes and increasing our permitted receivables transactions by $25.0 million. As a result of the refinancing, we incurred a $13.8 million expense, which was comprised of a redemption premium and related professional fees of $10.8 million and a write-off of unamortized debt issuance cost of $3.0 million.

Provision for Income Taxes.   The provision for income taxes was $60.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared with $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase in income taxes resulted from a $149.0 million increase in pre-tax income when comparing periods. In addition, our overall effective income tax rate increased from 30 percent for 2003 to 37 percent for 2004. The effective income tax rate for 2003 included the effects of favorable settlement of various tax audits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our financial condition in 2005 continued to improve as total debt was reduced by $40.6 million with cash provided by our operations. On October 17, 2005, we amended our senior credit agreement to increase the available borrowings under the revolving credit facility from $170 million to $240 million. On November 15, 2005, we repaid all $100.0 million of our secured 7.625 percent notes with proceeds from our revolving credit facility.

Operating Activities.   For the year ended December 31, 2005, we generated $71.1 million of cash flow from operating activities as compared with $136.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease in cash flow from operations of $64.9 million in 2005 from 2004 was due primarily to a $79.0 million advance payment for a long-term raw materials supply contract in 2005 and a reduction of $24.0 million in the interests sold in our trade receivables in 2005 as a result of a decrease in eligible receivables under our securitization program. These decreases in cash flows from operations were offset partially by a $40.7 million decrease in trade receivables in 2005. The major sources of cash flow for 2005 were net income of $95.5 million, the $40.7 million decrease in receivables and the non-cash provision of $63.1 million for depreciation and amortization. Total working capital at December 31, 2005, was a surplus of $62.3 million versus a deficit of $69.4 million at December 31, 2004. Significant changes in working capital for 2005 included a decrease in trade receivables and an increase in inventories and prepaid expenses. The decrease in trade receivables was primarily attributable to a sales volume decrease offset partially by the reduction in the interests sold in our trade receivables.

For the year ended December 31, 2004, we generated $136.0 million of cash flow from operating activities as compared with $85.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase in cash flow from operations of $50.9 million in 2004 from 2003 is due primarily to the following in 2004: a $93.4 million increase in net income, a $40.0 million increase in sales of interests in our trade receivables and a $41.9 million increase in accounts payable, partially offset by a $60.6 million increase in trade receivables and a $51.7 million increase in inventory.  The major sources of cash flow for 2004 were net income of $105.9 million, the $69.7 million increase in accounts payable, the sale of an additional $65.0 million interest in our trade receivables and the non-cash provision of $64.6 million for depreciation and amortization. Total working capital at December 31, 2004, was a deficit of $69.4 million versus a surplus of $65.7 million at December 31, 2003. Significant changes in working capital for 2004 included an increase in trade receivables, an increase in inventories, an increase in the current portion of long-term

24




debt and an increase in accounts payable. The increase in trade receivables was primarily attributable to sales price increases offset partially by the sale of an additional $65.0 million interest sold in our trade receivables. Inventories increased as a result of higher prices, most significantly for vinyl resins. The increase in the current portion of long-term debt was due to the anticipated pay down of the revolving credit facility balance of $89.9 million and the scheduled maturity of the $100.0 million 7.625 percent notes. The accounts payable increase was attributable to higher trade payable balances related primarily to increased raw materials prices.

Investing Activities.   Net cash used in investing activities was $30.7 million, $23.4 million and $24.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and was related primarily to reinvestment in equipment and improving our operating efficiencies. In addition to our capital expenditures, we incurred maintenance expense for our production facilities of $79.6 million, $79.8 million and $67.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively. We estimate total capital expenditures for 2006 will be about $100.0 million of which we expect to spend approximately two thirds on a vinyl resins modernization project at our Plaquemine, Louisiana facility. We have applied for a permit for this modernization project, which, if granted, would permit us to increase capacity by approximately 450.0 million pounds annually beginning in 2008. If the permit is granted, we will spend approximately $100 million to complete the project, which we will fund through borrowings under our revolving credit facility and cash flows from operating activities.

Financing Activities.   Cash used in financing activities was $47.3 million, $93.4 million and $67.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The cash was primarily used to reduce total debt by $40.6 million in 2005, $110.1 million in 2004 and $49.1 million in 2003. The debt reduction in 2005 was funded by cash provided by operations while the debt reduction in 2004 consisted of $45.1 million from cash provided by operations and $65.0 million from selling an additional interest in our trade receivables. Proceeds from the issuance of common stock were $22.0 million higher in 2004 than in both 2005 and 2003 due to a significant increase in the exercise of stock options during 2004.

On October 17, 2005, we entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 12, 1999 and amended and restated as of November 23, 2004. The amendment increased our availability under the revolving credit facility from $170.0 million to $240.0 million. We used proceeds from the revolving credit facility to repay our $100.0 million of secured 7.625 percent notes, which matured in November 2005.

On December 31, 2005, our balance sheet debt consisted of a $149.3 million senior credit facility, $100.0 million principal amount of 7.125 percent senior unsecured notes, and $29.3 million in other debt. At December 31, 2005, under our revolving credit facility we had a maximum borrowing capacity of $240.0 million, net of outstanding letters of credit for $7.8 million and current borrowings of $149.3 million for a total unused revolving credit facility of $82.9 million. Over the next twelve months, assuming adequate cash flows, we expect to pay off the $49.3 million of borrowings under our revolving credit facility, and therefore, we have classified this debt as current. Debt under the senior credit facility is secured by substantially all of our assets, including real and personal property, inventory, accounts receivable and other intangibles.

Under our senior credit facility and the indenture related to the 7.125 percent notes, we are subject to certain restrictive covenants, the most significant of which require us to maintain certain financial ratios. Our ability to comply with these covenants, satisfy our debt obligations and pay principal and interest on our debt, fund working capital, and make anticipated capital expenditures will depend on our future performance, which is subject to general macroeconomic conditions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. Management believes that based on current and projected levels of operations and conditions in our markets, cash flow from operations, together with our cash and cash equivalents of $14.3 million, and the availability to borrow an additional $82.9 million under the revolving credit facility,

25




at December 31, 2005, will be adequate for the foreseeable future to make required payments of principal and interest on our debt, comply with certain restrictive covenants which require us to maintain certain financial ratios, and fund our working capital and capital expenditure requirements. However, if our expectations regarding our business prove incorrect, we may not be able to comply with certain restrictive covenants and maintain compliance with certain financial ratios. In that event, we would attempt to obtain waivers or covenant relief from our lenders. Although we have successfully negotiated covenant relief in the past, there can be no assurance we can do so in the future. As of and for the year ended December 31, 2005, we were in compliance with all such covenants.

We declared annual dividends of $0.32 per share, or $10.9 million, $10.6 million and $10.4 million during 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

We conduct our business operations through our wholly owned subsidiaries as reflected in the consolidated financial statements. As we are essentially a holding company, we must rely on distributions, loans and other intercompany cash flows from our wholly owned subsidiaries to generate the funds necessary to satisfy the repayment of our existing debt. Provisions in the senior credit facility and the indenture related to the 7.125 percent notes limit payments of dividends, distributions, loans or advances to us by our subsidiaries.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement.   We have an agreement pursuant to which we sell an undivided percentage ownership interest in a defined pool of our trade receivables on a revolving basis through a wholly owned subsidiary to a third party (the “Securitization”). Our Securitization provides us one of our cheapest sources of funds and enables us to reduce our annual interest expense. The funded balance has the effect of reducing accounts receivable and short-term liabilities by the same amount. As collections reduce accounts receivable included in the pool, we sell ownership interests in new receivables to bring the ownership interests sold up to a maximum of $165.0 million, as permitted by the Securitization. The balance in the interest of receivables sold at December 31, 2005 and 2004, was $141.0 million and $165.0 million, respectively.

Continued availability of the Securitization is conditioned upon compliance with covenants, related primarily to operation of the Securitization set forth in the related agreements. As of December 31, 2005, we were in compliance with all such covenants. If the Securitization agreement was terminated, we would not be required to repurchase previously sold receivables, but would be prevented from selling additional receivables to the third party. In the event that the Securitization agreement was terminated, we would have to source these funding requirements with availability under our senior credit facility or obtain alternative financing.

Contractual Obligations.   Our aggregate future payments under contractual obligations by category as of December 31, 2005, were as follows:

In Millions

 

 

 

Total

 

2006

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

2010

 

2011 and
thereafter

 

Contractual obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt obligations

 

$

376

 

$

16

 

$

16

 

$

16

 

$

182

 

$

7

 

 

$

139

 

 

Operating lease obligations

 

74

 

19

 

15

 

12

 

10

 

6

 

 

12

 

 

Purchase obligations

 

5,871

 

917

 

880

 

796

 

790

 

571

 

 

1,917

 

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

Other

 

1

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

6,333

 

$

953

 

$

911

 

$

824

 

$

982

 

$

584

 

 

$

2,079

 

 

 

Long-Term Debt Obligations.   Includes principal and interest payments based upon our interest rates as of December 31, 2005. Long-term debt obligations are listed based on when they are contractually due. Therefore, the $149.3 million balance on our revolving credit facility is included in 2009.

26




Operating Lease Obligations.   We lease railcars, storage terminals, computer equipment, automobiles and warehouse and office space under non-cancelable operating leases with varying maturities through the year 2014. We did not have any capital lease obligations as of December 31, 2005.

Purchase Obligations.   The purchase obligations include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding and that specify all significant terms. We have certain long-term raw material supply contracts and energy purchase agreements with various terms extending through 2014. These commitments are designed to assure sources of supply for our normal requirements. Amounts are based upon contractual raw material volumes and market rates as of December 31, 2005.

Asset Retirement Obligations.   We have acquired certain assets that are subject to certain legal obligations upon asset retirement (i.e. removal of hazardous waste, demolition, etc.). We estimate the asset retirement obligations by capitalizing the present value of such obligations based on a credit-adjusted risk-free rate, recording an equivalent liability, and depreciating the asset and accreting the liability over the estimable life of the obligation.

Outlook

Based on current chemical industry forecasts, we believe we will have increased overall sales and earnings in 2006 as compared to 2005 due primarily to anticipated continued strong industry supply and demand fundamentals in our chlorovinyls segment. CDI is currently projecting the North American industry operating rates for vinyl resins, our primary business in this segment, to increase from 90 percent in 2005 to 95 percent in 2006. Based on the forecasted operating rates, we believe we will be able to increase sales prices and recover increased costs for feedstocks and energy.

As for our aromatics business, in 2006 we expect only modest improvements, as this segment will continue to be negatively impacted by the start-up of Asian capacity. CDI projects North American industry operating rates for phenol and acetone to increase only marginally to an average of 86 percent for 2006, which includes announced incremental capacity additions. CDI projects cumene North American industry operating rates to decrease to 83 percent largely due to the January 2006 restart of a one billion pound cumene facility that represents about 11 percent of the North American capacity.

With regard to feedstock costs, CMAI forecasts crude oil and natural gas prices to increase about 14 and 24 percent, respectively, from 2005 to 2006. This would adversely impact the cost most of our raw materials, including ethylene, benzene and propylene, which are derivatives of crude oil and natural gas.

See Item 1A. Risk Factors-Forward Looking Statements.

Inflation

The most significant component of our cost of sales is raw materials, which include basic oil-based commodities and natural gas or derivatives thereof. The costs of raw materials and natural gas are based primarily on market forces and have not been significantly affected by inflation. Inflation has not had a material impact on our sales or income from operations.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2004 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 151, Inventory Costs, an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4. SFAS No. 151 clarifies the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material, and requires that such items be recognized as current-period charges regardless of whether they meet the “so abnormal” criterion outlined in Accounting Research Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 43. SFAS No. 151 also introduces the concept of “normal capacity” and requires the allocation of fixed production overheads to inventory based on the normal capacity of the production

27




facilities. Unallocated overheads must be recognized as an expense in the period incurred. SFAS No. 151 is effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. We adopted this statement on January 1, 2006, and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, Share-Based Payment. SFAS No. 123R is a revision of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, and supersedes Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Among other items, SFAS No. 123R focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. SFAS No. 123R requires a public entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award (with limited exceptions). That cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. As permitted by SFAS No. 123, we accounted for share-based payments to employees using the intrinsic value method prescribed in APB Opinion No. 25 and, as such, generally recognized no compensation cost for employee stock options and our employee stock purchase plan, (“ESPP”). However, in note 1 we have provided pro forma net income and net income per share amounts as if we had adopted the fair-value-based method similar to the methods required under SFAS No. 123R to measure compensation expense for employee stock options and our ESPP. Pro forma disclosure of share-based compensation is no longer an alternative under SFAS No. 123R.

We utilized a closed-form option pricing model (i.e., Black-Scholes) to measure the fair value of stock options and ESPP grants to employees. While SFAS No. 123R permits entities to continue to use such a model, the standard also permits the use of a more complex binomial, or “lattice” model. Based upon our research on the various models available to value option grants, and in conjunction with the type and number of stock options and other share-based payments expected to be issued in the future, we presently intend to continue to use the Black-Scholes model for option valuation because it best meets the fair value objectives of SFAS 123R.

SFAS No. 123R generally requires public companies to adopt its requirements using the “modified prospective” method. Under the “modified prospective” method, compensation cost is recognized in the financial statements beginning with the effective date, based on the requirements of SFAS No. 123R for all share-based payments granted after that date, and based on the requirements of SFAS No. 123 for all unvested awards granted prior to the effective date of SFAS No. 123R.

We adopted SFAS No. 123R as of the required effective date for calendar year public companies, which is January 1, 2006, using the “modified prospective” method. Based on our current unvested stock options at December 31, 2005, and an estimate of stock options and ESPP to be granted to employees in 2006, we expect that the adoption of SFAS No. 123R will reduce 2006 net income in the range of $5.2 to $5.7 million. SFAS No. 123R also requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost to be reported as a financing cash flow, rather than as an operating cash flow as required under current literature. This requirement will reduce net operating cash flows and increase net financing cash flows in periods after adoption. See note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on our stock-based compensation plans.

In December 2004 the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 109-1 (“FSP FAS No. 109-1”), Application of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, to the Tax Deduction on Qualified Production Activities Provided by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 introduces a special tax deduction, when fully phased in, of up to 9 percent, of the lesser of “qualified production activities income” or taxable income. FSP FAS No. 109-1 clarifies that this tax deduction should be accounted for as a special tax deduction in accordance with SFAS No. 109. We are

28




treating the estimated tax deduction on qualified production activities as a special tax deduction in accordance with SFAS No. 109 as prescribed by FSP FAS No. 109-1 during 2005.

In May 2005 the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, which replaces APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, and FASB Statement No. 3, Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements. SFAS No. 154 requires that a voluntary change in accounting principle be applied retrospectively to all prior period financial statements presented, unless it is impracticable to do so. SFAS No. 154 also provides that a change in method of depreciating, amortizing or depleting a long-lived non-financial asset be accounted for as a change in estimate effected by a change in accounting principle. In addition, SFAS No. 154 requires a correction of an error in previously issued financial statements to be termed a “restatement.” SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes and errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005.   We will follow the provisions of this standard in the event of any future accounting changes.

On September 15, 2005, the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 04-13, Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty. The consensus states that an entity would be required to treat sales and purchases of inventory between the entity and the same counterparty as one transaction for purposes of applying APB Opinion No. 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions, when such transactions are entered into in contemplation of each other. When such transactions are legally contingent on each other, they have been entered into in contemplation of each other. The consensus also defines other factors that should be considered in determining whether transactions have been entered into in contemplation of each other. EITF Issue No. 04-13 will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after March 15, 2006. We do not expect the adoption of EITF Issue No. 04-13 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Critical accounting policies are those that are important to our financial condition and require management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments. Different amounts would be reported under different operating conditions or under alternative assumptions. We have evaluated the accounting policies used in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes and believe those policies to be reasonable and appropriate. See note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a complete listing of our accounting policies. We believe the following to be our most critical accounting policies applied in the preparation of our financial statements.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.   In our determination of the allowance for doubtful accounts and consistent with our accounting policy, we estimate the amount of accounts receivable that we believe are unlikely to be collected and we record an expense for that amount. Estimating this amount requires us to analyze the financial strength of our customers. In our analysis, we combine the use of historical collection experience, our accounts receivable aged trial balance and specific collectibility analysis. By its nature, such an estimate is highly subjective, and it is possible that the amount of accounts receivable that we are unable to collect may be different than the amount initially estimated. Our allowance for doubtful accounts on December 31, 2005 and 2004, was $2.5 million and $1.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2004, we also had a $3.2 million note receivable for a specific customer and a correlating reserve against this receivable of $2.1 million, which was in addition to our allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.9 million. This note receivable has been paid in full in December 2005 and January 2006; therefore, we have taken the $2.1 million specific reserve back into income during 2005. No individual customers account for greater than 10 percent of our trade accounts receivables as of December 31, 2005 and 2004. To the extent the actual collectibility of our accounts receivable differs from our estimated allowance by 10 percent, our net income would be higher or lower by approximately $0.2 million, on an after-tax basis, depending on whether the actual collectibility was better or worse, respectively, than the estimated allowance.

29




Environmental and Legal Accruals.   In our determination of the estimates relating to ongoing environmental costs and legal proceedings (see note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements), we consult with our advisors (consultants, engineers and attorneys). Such consultation provides us with the information on which we base our judgments on these matters and under which we accrue an expense when it has been determined that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable. While we believe that the amounts recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements related to these contingencies are based on the best estimates and judgments available to us, the actual outcomes could differ from our estimates. To the extent that actual outcomes differ from our estimates by 10 percent, our net income would be higher or lower by approximately $0.4 million, on an after-tax basis, depending on whether the actual outcomes were better or worse, respectively, than the estimates.

Valuation of Goodwill.   Goodwill is the excess of cost of an acquired entity over the amounts specifically assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in purchase accounting for business combinations. Our carrying value of our goodwill is tested for impairment annually on October 1 and is tested for impairment between annual impairment tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired.  Impairment testing for goodwill is a two-step test performed at a reporting unit level. The initial step requires the carrying value of each reporting unit to be compared with its estimated fair value. The second step to evaluate a reporting unit for impairment is only required if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value in the initial step. We use a discounted cash flow analysis approach to determine the estimated fair value of a reporting unit, which requires judgment and assumptions. An impairment loss may be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The estimated fair value of each of our reporting units exceeds the carrying value. Actual impairment losses incurred could vary significantly from amounts that we estimate if different assumptions or methods are used in the estimate for fair value of the reporting units.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets.   Our long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on legal factors, market conditions and assumptions for operational performance of our businesses. The assumptions used to estimate our future undiscounted cash flows are predominately identified from our financial forecasts. Actual impairment losses incurred could vary significantly from amounts that we estimate. Additionally, future events could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that associated long-lived assets of our businesses are impaired.

On November 29, 2004, we ceased production in our Tiptonville, Tennessee vinyl compounds plant, which was in our chlorovinyls segment. The Tiptonville long-lived assets were written down to their estimated net realizable value and reclassified to other current assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as these assets were held for sale as of December 31, 2004. The cost associated with closing the facility, writing down the long-lived assets and removing equipment was immaterial. The Tiptonville assets were sold for approximately their fair value during the second quarter of 2005.

We annually assess our idled Pasadena, Texas phenol and acetone plant assets for impairment, and we noted no impairment to date.

30




Pension Liabilities.   Accounting for employee retirement plans involves estimating the cost of benefits that are to be provided in the future and attempting to match, for each employee, that estimated cost to the period worked. To accomplish this, we make assumptions about discount rates, expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, salary increases and employee turnover and mortality, among others. We reevaluate all assumptions annually with our independent actuaries taking into consideration existing as well as forecasted economic conditions, and our policy and strategy with regard to the plans. We believe our estimates, the most significant of which are stated below, to be reasonable.

The discount rate reflects the rate at which pension benefit obligations could be effectively settled. We determined our discount rate by matching the expected cash flows of our pension obligations to a yield curve generated from a broad portfolio of high-quality fixed rate debt instruments. The discount rate assumption used for determining annual pension expense for 2005 was 6.00 percent. At December 31, 2005, we reduced this rate to 5.75 percent for determining 2006 annual pension expense. A 25 basis point increase in this discount rate would decrease our annual pre-tax pension expense by $0.5 million whereas a 25 basis point decrease in our discount rate would increase our annual pre-tax pension expense by $0.6 million.

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption is based on historical and projected rates of return for current and planned asset classes in the plan’s investment portfolio. Our weighted average asset allocation as of December 31, 2005, is 76.8 percent equity securities, 17.3 percent debt securities, 0.5 percent real estate and 5.4 percent other. Assumed projected rates of return for each of the plan’s projected asset classes were selected by us after analyzing historical experience and future expectations of the returns and volatility of the various asset classes. The expected long-term rate of return assumption used for determining annual pension expense for 2005 was 8.50 percent. At December 31, 2005, we have reduced this rate to 8.25 percent for determining 2006 annual pension expense. A 25 basis point increase or decrease in the weighted average return on plan assets assumption would decrease or increase our annual pre-tax pension expense by $0.2 million.

Income Taxes.   Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had a net deferred tax liability balance of $102.9 million and $117.9 million, respectively.

In evaluating the ability to realize our deferred tax assets we rely principally on forecasted taxable income using historical and projected future operating results and the reversal of existing temporary differences. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had deferred tax assets for state tax credit carryforwards of $4.3 million and $3.6 million, respectively, which carryforward indefinitely. We believe we will achieve taxable income in the related jurisdictions in order to realize the deferred tax assets for state tax credit carryforwards.

We accrue for tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability to a taxing authority has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated, based on past experience. The tax contingency reserve is adjusted for changes in circumstances and additional uncertainties, such as significant amendments to existing tax law. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had a tax contingency reserve of $3.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively. A change in our assumptions used to develop our tax contingency reserve could significantly impact our effective tax rate and our results of operations.

31




Environmental

Our operations are subject to increasingly stringent federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental quality. These regulations, which are enforced principally by the USEPA and comparable state agencies, govern the management of solid hazardous waste, emissions into the air and discharges into surface and underground waters, and the manufacture of chemical substances.

We believe that we are in material compliance with all the current environmental laws and regulations. We estimate that any expenses incurred in maintaining compliance with these requirements will not materially affect earnings or cause us to exceed our level of anticipated capital expenditures. However, there can be no assurance that regulatory requirements will not change, and therefore, it is not possible to accurately predict the aggregate cost of compliance resulting from any such changes.

See Item 1. Business, Item 3. Legal Proceedings, and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to environmental matters.

Item 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

We are subject to certain market risks related to long-term financing and related derivative financial instruments, foreign currency exchange rates and raw material commodity prices. These financial exposures are managed as an integral part of our risk management program, which seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effect that the volatility of the interest rate, exchange rate, raw material commodity and natural gas markets may have on our operating results. We do not engage in speculative transactions, nor do we hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.

Interest Rate Risk Management.   The following table is “forward-looking” information that provides information about our debt obligations and other significant financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. Our policy is to manage interest rates through use of a combination of fixed and floating rate debt instruments. We do not use interest rate swap agreements or any other derivatives for trading purposes. At times, we may utilize interest rate swap agreements to help manage our interest rate risk. As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had no interest rate swap agreements in place. We currently estimate that a 100 basis point change in prevailing market interest rates would impact its related annual pre-tax income by $3.1 million. The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates for the financial instruments.

 

 

Principal (Notional) Amounts by Expected Maturity Date

 

Dollars in Thousands

 

 

 

2006

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

2010

 

Thereafter

 

Total

 

Fair value
at 12/31/05

 

Financial instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed rate principal

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

112,339

 

 

$

112,339

 

 

$

114,964

 

 

Average interest rate 

 

%

 

%

 

 

%

 

%

 

%

 

 

7.06

%

 

7.06

%

 

%

 

Variable rate principal

 

$

141,000

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

166,300

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

$

307,300

 

 

$

307,300

 

 

Average interest rate 

 

5.35

%

 

%

 

 

%

 

6.00

%

 

%

 

 

%

 

5.70

%

 

%

 

 

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk Management.   Substantially all of our sales are denominated in U.S. dollars.

Raw Materials and Natural Gas Price Risk Management.   The availability and price of our raw materials and natural gas are subject to fluctuations due to unpredictable factors in global supply and demand. To reduce price risk caused by market fluctuations, from time to time, we may enter into forward swap contracts, which are generally less than one year in duration. We designate forward swap contracts with financial counter-parties as cash flow hedges. Our outstanding contracts are valued at market with the

32




offset going to other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes, and any material hedge ineffectiveness is recognized in cost of goods sold. Any gain or loss is recognized in cost of goods sold in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had no raw material or natural gas forward swap contracts outstanding. At December 31, 2003, we had natural gas contracts outstanding with an aggregate notional amount of 310,000 MMBTU’s (Million British Thermal Units) and the fair value of these contracts was an asset of $0.3 million, with the offset recorded in other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes. At December 31, 2003, there was no ineffectiveness related to this contract and $0.3 million was released to earnings in the first quarter of 2004. At December 31, 2003, we had no other forward swap contracts outstanding.

We also have other long-term supply contracts for raw materials, which are at prices not in excess of market, designed to assure a source of supply and not expected to be in excess of our normal manufacturing operations requirements. Historically, we have taken physical delivery under these contracts and we intend to take physical delivery in the future. Therefore, at inception we designate these contracts as normal purchase agreements and account for them under the normal purchase provision of SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, and related amendments.

33




Item 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Georgia Gulf Corporation
Atlanta, Georgia

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Georgia Gulf Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

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

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 1, 2006, expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
March 1, 2006

34




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

14,298

 

$

21,088

 

Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,457 in 2005 and $1,874 in 2004

 

118,193

 

134,852

 

Inventories

 

195,628

 

186,313

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

13,306

 

5,186

 

Deferred income taxes

 

5,091

 

10,097

 

Total current assets

 

346,516

 

357,536

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

401,412

 

425,734

 

Goodwill

 

77,720

 

77,720

 

Other assets, net

 

175,305

 

102,840

 

Total assets

 

$

1,000,953

 

$

963,830

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

49,300

 

$

189,900

 

Accounts payable

 

202,179

 

205,365

 

Interest payable

 

1,226

 

1,557

 

Accrued compensation

 

14,986

 

18,293

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

16,495

 

11,779

 

Total current liabilities

 

284,186

 

426,894

 

Long-term debt

 

229,339

 

128,583

 

Deferred income taxes

 

107,959

 

128,032

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

16,457

 

12,052

 

Total liabilities

 

637,941

 

695,561

 

Commitments and contingencies (note 8)

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock—$0.01 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued

 

 

 

Common stock—$0.01 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding: 34,237,653 in 2005 and 33,924,619 in 2004

 

342

 

339

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

81,782

 

69,275

 

Unearned compensation

 

(5,377

)

(3,062

)

Retained earnings

 

286,464

 

201,876

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

(199

)

(159

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

363,012

 

268,269

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

1,000,953

 

$

963,830

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

35




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net sales

 

$

2,273,719

 

$

2,206,239

 

$

1,444,483

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

2,049,510

 

1,955,095

 

1,319,094

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

61,444

 

60,721

 

55,691

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

2,110,954

 

2,015,816

 

1,374,785

 

Operating income

 

162,765

 

190,423

 

69,698

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(20,527

)

(23,778

)

(38,195

)

Cost related to early retirement of debt

 

 

 

(13,816

)

Interest income

 

120

 

115

 

53

 

Income before income taxes

 

142,358

 

166,760

 

17,740

 

Provision for income taxes

 

46,855

 

60,868

 

5,245

 

Net income

 

$

95,503

 

$

105,892

 

$

12,495

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

2.82

 

$

3.21

 

$

0.39

 

Diluted

 

$

2.79

 

$

3.17

 

$

0.38

 

Weighted average common shares—basic

 

33,867

 

32,965

 

32,267

 

Weighted average common shares—diluted

 

34,193

 

33,439

 

32,502

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

36




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In Thousands)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

95,503

 

$

105,892

 

$

12,495

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

63,101

 

64,554

 

63,932

 

Cost related to early retirement of debt

 

 

 

13,816

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(15,067

)

3,686

 

(6,344

)

Tax benefit related to stock plans

 

2,172

 

5,912

 

1,107

 

Stock based compensation

 

3,761

 

3,215

 

1,779

 

Other non-cash items

 

1,759

 

711

 

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

40,659

 

(112,938

)

(52,311

)

Securitization of trade receivables

 

(24,000

)

65,000

 

25,000

 

Inventories

 

(9,315

)

(61,697

)

(10,041

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(9,369

)

1,857

 

3,350

 

Accounts payable

 

(3,186

)

69,685

 

27,737

 

Interest payable

 

(331

)

(255

)

(2,838

)

Accrued income taxes

 

1,258

 

 

(3,674

)

Accrued compensation

 

(3,307

)

3,235

 

733

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

3,458

 

2,165

 

555

 

Prepaid pension costs

 

(2,311

)

(13,398

)

2,512

 

Advance for long-term purchase contract

 

(79,000

)

 

 

Other

 

5,360

 

(1,657

)

7,269

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

71,145

 

135,967

 

85,077

 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(32,044

)

(23,441

)

(24,046

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

1,362

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(30,682

)

(23,441

)

(24,046

)

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in revolving line of credit

 

59,400

 

89,900

 

 

Long-term debt proceeds

 

 

 

300,666

 

Long-term debt payments

 

(100,000

)

(200,000

)

(349,780

)

Redemption premium and fees paid to retire notes

 

 

 

(10,760

)

Fees paid to issue debt

 

 

 

(2,239

)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

5,943

 

27,948

 

5,857

 

Purchase and retirement of common stock

 

(1,681

)

(602

)

(435

)

Dividends

 

(10,915

)

(10,649

)

(10,394

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(47,253

)

(93,403

)

(67,085

)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

(6,790

)

19,123

 

(6,054

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

21,088

 

1,965

 

8,019

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

14,298

 

$

21,088

 

$

1,965

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

37




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In Thousands)

 

 

Common Stock

 

Additional
Paid-In

 

Unearned

 

Retained

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

 

Total
Stockholders’

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Compensation

 

Earnings

 

Income (loss)

 

Equity

 

Balance, January 1, 2003

 

32,319

 

 

$

323

 

 

 

$

23,499

 

 

 

$

(2,050

)

 

 

$

104,532

 

 

 

$

(504

)

 

 

$

125,800

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,495

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,495

 

 

Unrealized gains on derivative contracts, net of taxes of $122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

204

 

 

 

204

 

 

Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of taxes of $16 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

26

 

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,725

 

 

Employee stock purchase and stock compensation plans, net of forfeitures

 

436

 

 

4

 

 

 

7,961

 

 

 

(330

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,635

 

 

Retirement of common stock

 

(19

)

 

 

 

 

(434

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(434

)

 

Tax benefit from stock purchase and stock compensation plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,107

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,107

 

 

Dividends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,394

)

 

 

 

 

 

(10,394

)

 

Balance, December 31, 2003

 

32,736

 

 

327

 

 

 

32,133

 

 

 

(2,380

)

 

 

106,633

 

 

 

(274

)

 

 

136,439

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

105,892

 

 

 

 

 

 

105,892

 

 

Unrealized gains on derivative contracts, net of taxes of $122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(204

)

 

 

(204

)

 

Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of taxes of $179

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

319

 

 

 

319

 

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

106,007

 

 

Employee stock purchase and stock compensation plans, net of forfeitures

 

1,210

 

 

12

 

 

 

31,832

 

 

 

(682

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,162

 

 

Retirement of common stock

 

(21

)

 

 

 

 

(602

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(602

)

 

Tax benefit from stock purchase and stock compensation plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,912

 

 

Dividends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,649

)

 

 

 

 

 

(10,649

)

 

Balance, December 31, 2004

 

33,925

 

 

339

 

 

 

69,275

 

 

 

(3,062

)

 

 

201,876

 

 

 

(159

)

 

 

268,269

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

95,503

 

 

 

 

 

 

95,503

 

 

Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of taxes of $24 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(40

)

 

 

(40

)

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

95,463

 

 

Employee stock purchase and stock compensation plans, net of forfeitures

 

347

 

 

3

 

 

 

12,016

 

 

 

(2,315

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,704

 

 

Retirement of common stock

 

(34

)

 

 

 

 

(1,681

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,681

)

 

Tax benefit from stock purchase and stock compensation plans 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,172

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,172

 

 

Dividends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,915

)

 

 

 

 

 

(10,915

)

 

Balance, December 31, 2005

 

34,238

 

 

$

342

 

 

 

$

81,782

 

 

 

$

(5,377

)

 

 

$

286,464

 

 

 

$

(199

)

 

 

$

363,012

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

38




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS

Principles of Consolidation.   The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Georgia Gulf Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Nature of Operations.   We are a leading North American manufacturer and an international marketer of chemical products. Our products are primarily intermediate chemicals sold for further processing into a wide variety of end-use applications, including plastic pipe and pipe fittings, siding and window frames, bonding agents for wood products, high-quality plastics, acrylic sheeting and coatings for wire and cable.

Use of Estimates.   Management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.   Marketable securities that are highly liquid with an original maturity of three months or less are considered to be the equivalent of cash for purposes of financial statement presentation.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.   We grant credit to customers under credit terms that are customary in the industry and based on the creditworthiness of the customer. We also provide allowances for cash discounts and doubtful accounts based on historical collection experience, periodic evaluations of the aging of the accounts receivable and specific collectibility analysis.

Revenue Recognition.   Revenue is recognized when the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss, collection of the relevant receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the sales price is fixed or determinable.

Sales Incentives.   We offer sales incentives, primarily in the form of volume rebates, to our customers, which are classified as a reduction of net sales and are calculated based on contractual terms of customer contracts.

Shipping Costs.   All amounts billed to a customer in a sale transaction related to shipping are classified as revenue. Shipping fees billed to customers and included in sales and cost of goods sold were $78.7 million in 2005, $71.8 million in 2004 and $63.2 million in 2003.

Inventories.   Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for the majority of inventory and the weighted average cost method for the remainder. Costs include raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. Market is based on current replacement cost for raw materials and supplies and on net realizable value for finished goods.

Property, Plant and Equipment.   Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and major renewals and improvements are capitalized. Interest expense attributable to funds used in financing the construction of major plant and equipment is capitalized. Interest expense capitalized during 2005, 2004 and 2003, was $0.4 million, $0.9 million and $0.7 million, respectively. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets for book purposes, with accelerated methods being used for income tax purposes. Depreciation expense totaled approximately $57.6 million, $57.5 million, and $56.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively. The net book value of our idled Pasadena, Texas

39




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS (Continued)

phenol/acetone plant was approximately $1.7 million as of December 31, 2005, and is included in property, plant and equipment on our consolidated balance sheet.

The estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows:

Buildings and land improvements

 

15-30 years

Machinery and equipment

 

3-15 years

 

Asset Retirement Obligation.   Effective January 1, 2005, we implemented Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the related asset retirement costs. SFAS No. 143 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred and capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. When a liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost by increasing the carrying value of the related long-lived asset. The liability is accreted to its future value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, a gain or loss is recorded. The cumulative effect of this accounting change related to prior years was a one-time non-cash charge to income of $1.3 million recognized as of January 1, 2005. The net effect of the change was $1.5 million of additional expense in the 2005 results.

Other Assets.   Other assets primarily consist of advances for long-term raw materials purchase contracts (see note 8), our investment in a joint venture (see note 9), debt issuance costs (see note 6) and prepaid pension costs (see note 12). Advances for long-term raw materials purchase contracts are being amortized as additional raw materials costs over the life of the related contracts in proportion to raw materials delivery. Debt issuance costs are being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest rate and straight-line methods over the term of the related debt instruments.

Goodwill.   Goodwill is the excess of cost of an acquired entity over the amounts specifically assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in purchase accounting for business combinations. The $77.7 million carrying value of our goodwill allocated to our chlorovinyls segment is tested for impairment annually on October 1. The carrying value will be tested for impairment between annual impairment tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at a reporting unit level. An impairment loss may be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit.

Long-Lived Assets.   Our long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, are analyzed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset. Assets to be disposed of would be recorded at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell and no longer depreciated.

40




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS (Continued)

On November 29, 2004, we ceased production at our Tiptonville, Tennessee vinyl compounds plant, which was in our chlorovinyls segment. The Tiptonville long-lived assets were written down to their estimated net realizable value and reclassified to other current assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as these assets were held for sale. The cost associated with closing the facility, writing down the long-lived assets and removing equipment was immaterial. The Tiptonville assets were sold for approximately their fair value during 2005. We noted no impairment when we performed our annual assessment of our idled Pasadena plant assets.

Pension Plans.   We have a defined contribution plan and defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all of our employees. For the defined benefit pension plans, the benefits are based on years of service and the employee’s compensation. Our policy on funding the defined benefit plans is to contribute an amount within the range of the minimum required and the maximum tax-deductible contribution.

Accounting for employee retirement plans involves estimating the cost of benefits that are to be provided in the future and attempting to match, for each employee, that estimated cost to the period worked. To accomplish this, we make assumptions about discount rates, expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, salary increases and employee turnover and mortality, among others. We reevaluate all assumptions annually with our independent actuaries taking into consideration existing as well as forecasted economic conditions, and our policy and strategy with regard to the plans.

Income Taxes.   Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

We accrue for tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability to a taxing authority has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated, based on past experience. The tax contingency reserve is adjusted for changes in circumstances and additional uncertainties, such as significant amendments to existing tax law.

Self-Insurance Accruals.   We are self-insured up to certain limits for costs associated with workers’ compensation and employee group medical coverage. Liabilities for insurance claims and reserves include accruals of estimated settlements for known claims, as well as accruals of estimates of incurred but not reported claims. These accruals are included in other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We also use information provided by independent consultants to assist in the determination of estimated accruals. In estimating these costs, we consider historical loss experience and make judgments about the expected levels of costs per claim.

Derivative Financial Instruments.   Derivatives that are not hedges must be adjusted to fair value through earnings in accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. If the derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in its fair value are either offset against the change in fair value of assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. We engage in

41




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS (Continued)

activities that expose us to market risks, including the effects of changes in interest rates and changes in commodity prices. Financial exposures are managed as an integral part of our risk management program, which seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effect that the volatility of the interest rate and commodity markets may have on operating results. We do not engage in speculative transactions nor do we hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. Long-term supply agreements that meet the appropriate criteria are accounted for under the normal purchase provisions within SFAS No. 133 and its amendments.

We formally document all hedging instruments and hedging transactions, as well as our risk management objective and strategy for undertaking hedged transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as fair value and cash flow hedges to specific assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet or to forecasted transactions. We also formally assess, both at inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows of hedged transactions. When it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective or the derivative expires or is sold, terminated, exercised, or discontinued because it is unlikely that a forecasted transaction will occur, we discontinue the use of hedge accounting for that specific hedge instrument.

Litigation.   In the normal course of business, we are occasionally involved in legal proceedings. We accrue a liability for such matters when it is probable that a material liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The accrual for a litigation loss contingency might include, for example, estimates of potential damages, outside legal fees and other directly related costs expected to be incurred.

Environmental Expenditures.   Environmental expenditures related to current operations or future revenues are expensed or capitalized consistent with our capitalization policy. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and that do not contribute to future revenues are expensed in the period incurred. Liabilities are recognized when material environmental assessments or cleanups are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated.

Comprehensive Income.   SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, requires additional disclosure and presentation of amounts comprising comprehensive income beyond net income. Our comprehensive income is comprised of net income, additional minimum pension liability and the fair value of derivative instruments, net of related income taxes. The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss—net of tax and total comprehensive income are shown as follows:

Accumulated other comprehensive loss—net of tax

 

 

December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Unrealized gains on derivative contracts

 

$

 

$

 

$

204

 

Minimum pension liability

 

(199

)

(159

)

(478

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

$

(199

)

$

(159

)

$

(274

)

 

42




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS (Continued)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net income

 

$

95,503

 

$

105,892

 

$

12,495

 

Other comprehensive income (loss) net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) gains on derivative contracts

 

 

(204

)

204

 

Minimum pension liability adjustment

 

(40

)

319

 

26

 

Total comprehensive income

 

$

95,463

 

$

106,007

 

$

12,725

 

 

Stock-Based Compensation.   We have used the intrinsic value based method of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees in our accounting for stock-based employee compensation. Our employee stock compensation costs, which presently relate to the grants of restricted stock, are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the three-year vesting period. The unamortized stock compensation costs are included in stockholders’ equity.

Pro Forma Effect of Stock Compensation Plans.   We have accounted for our stock-based compensation plans in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and comply with SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, for disclosure purposes. Under these provisions, no compensation was recognized in 2005, 2004 and 2003 for our stock option plans or our stock purchase plan. For SFAS No. 123 purposes, the fair value of each stock option and stock purchase right for 2005, 2004 and 2003 has been estimated as of the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions for 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

For stock option grants:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

3.97

%

4.00

%

3.65

%

Expected life

 

5 years

 

8 years

 

8 years

 

Expected volatility

 

39

%

40

%

44

%

Expected dividend yield

 

0.61

%

1.18

%

1.70

%

 

For stock purchase plan rights:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

2.75

%

1.29

%

1.38

%

Expected life

 

1 year

 

1 year

 

1 year

 

Expected volatility

 

33

%

29

%

44

%

Expected dividend yield

 

1.05

%

1.11

%

1.38

%

 

43




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS (Continued)

Using the above assumptions, additional compensation expense under the fair value method
would be:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

For stock option grants

 

$

3,850

 

$

3,227

 

$

3,102

 

For stock purchase plan rights

 

1,066

 

731

 

863

 

Total

 

4,916

 

3,958

 

3,965

 

Provision for income taxes

 

1,618

 

1,504

 

1,507

 

Total, net of taxes

 

$

3,298

 

$

2,454

 

$

2,458

 

 

Had compensation expense been determined in accordance with SFAS No. 123, utilizing the assumptions previously detailed, our net income and earnings per common share would have been the following pro forma amounts:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In Thousands, Except Per Share Data

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

95,503

 

$

105,892

 

$

12,495

 

Pro forma

 

92,205

 

103,438

 

10,037

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

2.82

 

$

3.21

 

$

0.39

 

Pro forma

 

2.72

 

3.14

 

0.31

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

2.79

 

$

3.17

 

$

0.38

 

Pro forma

 

2.71

 

3.11

 

0.31

 

 

Earnings Per Share.   We apply the provisions of SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share (“EPS”), which requires companies to present basic EPS and diluted EPS. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in our earnings. Dilutive common stock options and employee stock purchase plan rights are included in the diluted EPS calculation using the treasury stock method. Options to purchase 0.7 million shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2005, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share, as the exercise prices of these options were greater than the average market price of the common stock during these periods. There were no such options outstanding at December 31, 2004, and 0.9 million of such options outstanding as of December 31, 2003.

44




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS  (Continued)

Computations of basic and diluted earnings per share are presented in the following table:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In Thousands , Except Per Share Data

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net income

 

$

95,503

 

$

105,892

 

$

12,495

 

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

 

33,867

 

32,965

 

32,267

 

Plus incremental shares from assumed conversions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options and awards

 

298

 

435

 

201

 

Employee stock purchase plan rights

 

28

 

39

 

34

 

Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted

 

34,193

 

33,439

 

32,502

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

2.82

 

$

3.21

 

$

0.39

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

2.79

 

3.17

 

0.38

 

 

2.   NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In November 2004 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 151, Inventory Costs, an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4. SFAS No. 151 clarifies the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material, and requires that such items be recognized as current-period charges regardless of whether they meet the “so abnormal” criterion outlined in Accounting Research Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 43. SFAS No. 151 also introduces the concept of “normal capacity” and requires the allocation of fixed production overheads to inventory based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. Unallocated overheads must be recognized as an expense in the period incurred. SFAS No. 151 is effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. We adopted this statement on January 1, 2006, and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, Share-Based Payment. SFAS No. 123R is a revision of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Among other items, SFAS No. 123R focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. SFAS No. 123R requires a public entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award (with limited exceptions). That cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. As permitted by SFAS No. 123, we accounted for share-based payments to employees using the intrinsic value method prescribed in APB Opinion No. 25 and, as such, generally recognize no compensation cost for employee stock options and our employee stock purchase plan, (“ESPP”). However, in note 1 we have provided pro forma net income and net income per share amounts as if we had adopted the a fair-value-based method similar to the methods required under SFAS No. 123R to measure compensation expense for employee stock options and ESPP. Pro forma disclosure of share-based compensation is no longer an alternative under SFAS No. 123R.

We utilized a closed-form option pricing model (i.e., Black-Scholes) to measure the fair value of stock options and ESPP grants to employees. While SFAS No. 123R permits entities to continue to use such a model, the standard also permits the use of a more complex binomial, or “lattice” model. Based upon our research on the various models available to value option grants in conjunction with the type and number of stock options and other share-based payments expected to be issued in the future, we presently intend to

45




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2.   NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS (Continued)

continue to use the Black-Scholes model for option valuation because it best meets the fair value ofbjectives of SFAS 123R.

SFAS No. 123R generally requires public companies to adopt its requirements using the “modified prospective” method. Under the “modified prospective” method, compensation cost is recognized in the financial statements beginning with the effective date, based on the requirements of SFAS No. 123R for all share-based payments granted after that date, and based on the requirements of SFAS No. 123 for all unvested awards granted prior to the effective date of SFAS No. 123R.

We adopted SFAS No. 123R as of the required effective date for calendar year public companies, which is January 1, 2006, using the “modified prospective” method. Based on our current unvested stock options at December 31, 2005, and an estimate of stock options and ESPP to be granted to employees in 2006, we expect that the adoption of SFAS No. 123R will reduce 2006 net income in the range of $5.2 to $5.7 million. SFAS No. 123R also requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost to be reported as a financing cash flow, rather than as an operating cash flow as required under current literature. This requirement will reduce net operating cash flows and increase net financing cash flows in periods after adoption. See note 11 for further information on our stock-based compensation plans.

In December 2004 the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 109-1 (“FSP FAS No. 109-1”), Application of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, to the Tax Deduction on Qualified Production Activities Provided by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 introduces a special tax deduction, when fully phased in, of up to 9 percent, of the lesser of “qualified production activities income” or taxable income. FSP FAS No. 109-1 clarifies that this tax deduction should be accounted for as a special tax deduction in accordance with SFAS No. 109. We are treating the estimated tax deduction on qualified production activities as a special tax deduction in accordance with SFAS No. 109 as prescribed by FSP FAS No. 109-1 during 2005.

In May 2005 the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, which replaces APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, and FASB Statement No. 3, Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements. SFAS No. 154 requires that a voluntary change in accounting principle be applied retrospectively to all prior period financial statements presented, unless it is impracticable to do so. SFAS No. 154 also provides that a change in method of depreciating, amortizing or depleting a long-lived non-financial asset be accounted for as a change in estimate effected by a change in accounting principle. In addition, SFAS No. 154 requires a correction of an error in previously issued financial statements to be termed a “restatement.” SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes and errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. We will follow the provisions of this standard in the event of any future accounting changes.

On September 15, 2005, the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 04-13, Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty. The consensus states that an entity would be required to treat sales and purchases of inventory between the entity and the same counterparty as one transaction for purposes of applying APB Opinion No. 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions, when such transactions are entered into in contemplation of each other. When such transactions are legally contingent on each other, they have been entered into in contemplation of each other. The consensus also defines other factors that should be considered in determining whether transactions have been entered into in contemplation of each other. EITF Issue

46




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2.   NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS (Continued)

No. 04-13 will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after March 15, 2006. We do not expect the adoption of EITF Issue No. 04-13 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

3.   ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SECURITIZATION

We have an agreement pursuant to which we sell an undivided percentage ownership interest in a defined pool of our trade receivables on a revolving basis through a wholly owned subsidiary to two third parties (the “Securitization”). As collections reduce accounts receivable included in the pool, we sell ownership interests in new receivables to bring the ownership interests sold up to a maximum of $165.0 million, as permitted by the Securitization. The Securitization was amended and restated on September 30, 2005, to extend the agreement one year.

In conjunction with the sale of receivables, we recorded losses of $5.7 million, $2.6 million, and $1.6 million for 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, which are included as selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The losses were determined by applying a discount factor, as prescribed under the relevant Securitization, to the monthly balance in the ownership interests sold.

At December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, the uncollected balance of accounts receivable in the defined pool was approximately $277.3 million, $288.4 million and $192.3 million, respectively. We continue to service these receivables and maintain a subordinated interest in the receivables. We have not recorded a servicing asset or liability since the cost to service the receivables approximates the servicing income. The balance of receivables sold at December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, was $141.0 million, $165.0 million and $100.0 million, respectively. Our Securitization has been accounted for as a sale in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities and therefore, the receivables sold are not included in the debt and related accounts receivable accounts on our consolidated balance sheets. We continue to provide an allowance for doubtful accounts related to these receivables based on our historical experience and aging of the accounts receivable. At December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, we had a subordinated interest of approximately $136.3 million, $123.4 million and $92.3 million, respectively, in the defined pool of receivables, which represents the excess of receivables sold over the amount funded to us. The fair value of the retained interest approximates the carrying amount because of the short period of time it takes for the portfolio to be liquidated. During 2005 we reduced the balance of receivables sold from $165.0 million to $141.0 million at December 31, 2005, which resulted in a net decrease of cash flow of $24.0 million. Comparatively, during 2004 and 2003 we had increased cash flow of approximately $65.0 million and $25.0 million, respectively, from the sales of receivables under the Securitization.

4.   INVENTORIES

The major classes of inventories were as follows:

 

 

December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Raw materials and supplies

 

$

69,116

 

$

63,226

 

Finished goods

 

126,512

 

123,087

 

Inventories

 

$

195,628

 

$

186,313

 

 

47




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

5.   PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:

 

 

December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Machinery and equipment

 

$

951,649

 

$

958,162

 

Land and land improvements

 

27,034

 

26,944

 

Buildings

 

31,897

 

31,769

 

Construction-in-progress

 

26,498

 

16,804

 

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

 

$

1,037,078

 

$

1,033,679

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

635,666

 

607,945

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

$

401,412

 

$

425,734

 

 

6.   OTHER ASSETS, NET

Other assets, net of accumulated amortization, consisted of the following:

 

 

December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Advances for long-term purchase contracts

 

$

112,920

 

$

37,394

 

Investment in joint ventures

 

20,138

 

23,581

 

Debt issuance costs

 

5,516

 

6,495

 

Prepaid pension costs

 

21,041

 

18,729

 

Other

 

15,690

 

16,641

 

Total other assets, net

 

$

175,305

 

$

102,840

 

 

During 2005 we entered into a long-term raw materials supply contract, which required a $79.0 million advance payment and has been classified in advances for long-term purchase contracts.

Debt issuance costs amortized as interest expense during 2005, 2004 and 2003 were $1.4 million, $2.6 million and $3.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2004, other assets included a $3.2 million note receivable balance from one chlorovinyls segment customer, which had a $2.1 million reserve against it. This note was paid and the $2.1 million reserve was taken back into income during 2005.

7.   LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

 

 

December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Senior credit facility expires 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit facility

 

$

149,300

 

$

89,900

 

7.625% notes due 2005

 

 

100,000

 

7.125% notes due 2013

 

100,000

 

100,000

 

Other

 

29,339

 

28,583

 

Total debt

 

278,639

 

318,483

 

Less current portion

 

49,300

 

189,900

 

Long-term debt

 

$

229,339

 

$

128,583

 

 

48




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

7.   LONG-TERM DEBT (Continued)

In December 2003 we retired $200.0 million of unsecured 10.375 percent notes, which were due November 2007. As a result of the note retirement, we incurred a $13.8 million charge to income, which is comprised of a redemption premium and related professional fees of $10.8 million and a write-off of unamortized debt issuance cost of $3.0 million.

On December 3, 2003, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement amending the senior credit agreement dated as of November 12, 1999, as amended on September 26, 2003. The amendment created a new $200.0 million tranche D term loan used to repay our existing $134.3 million tranche C term loan and to retire a portion of our $200.0 million 10.375 percent notes. The tranche D term loan delayed the required principal payments and was set to mature on December 2, 2010. The credit facility amendment also modified the leverage ratio-dependent interest margin and increased the commitments under the revolving credit facility by $20.0 million to $120.0 million.  The senior credit facility was set to mature on November 12, 2005.

On December 3, 2003, we also issued $100.0 million in principal amount of our unsecured 7.125 percent senior notes, which are due December 15, 2013. The proceeds of the notes were used to retire a portion of the $200.0 million 10.375 percent notes. Interest on the notes is payable June 15 and December 15 of each year. On or after December 15, 2008, we may redeem the notes in whole or in part, initially at 103.563 percent of their principal amount, and thereafter at prices declining annually to 100 percent on or after December 15, 2011.

On November 23, 2004, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement amending the senior credit agreement dated as of November 12, 1999, as amended on December 3, 2003. The amendment increased our revolving credit commitment from $120.0 million to $170.0 million, the availability of which was used to repay our existing tranche D term loan. The amended agreement extended the term five years to November 21, 2009, and also beneficially modified certain financial covenants and definitions.

On October 17, 2005, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement amending the senior credit agreement dated as of November 12, 1999, as amended on November 23, 2004, and December 3, 2003. The amendment increased our revolving credit commitment from $170.0 million to $240.0 million.

On November 15, 2005, we repaid $100.0 million of 7.625 percent secured notes with proceeds from availability under our senior credit facility.

As of December 31, 2005, $82.9 million was available under the revolving credit facility for borrowing under the terms of the senior credit facility. An annual commitment fee, which ranges from 0.20 percent to 0.50 percent (currently 0.25 percent), is required to be paid on the undrawn portion of the commitments under the senior credit facility. Under the revolving credit facility, we may choose to pay interest based on the prime rate of the administrative agent bank plus the applicable pricing margin or the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus the applicable pricing margin. For 2005, 2004 and 2003 the average interest rates for the revolving credit facility were 4.58 percent, 4.56 percent and 4.21 percent, respectively. The interest rate for the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2005, was 6.00 percent. The senior credit facility is secured by substantially all of our assets, including real and personal property, inventory, and intangibles. For 2004 the average interest rate for the tranche D term loan was 3.49 percent.

49




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

7.   LONG-TERM DEBT (Continued)

For 2003 the average interest rates for the tranche D and C term loans were 3.81 percent and 3.57 percent, respectively.

Under the senior credit facility and the indenture related to the 7.125 percent notes, we are subject to certain restrictive covenants, the most significant of which require us to maintain certain financial ratios and limit our ability to pay dividends, make investments, grant liens, sell our assets and engage in certain other activities. As of and for the year ended December 31, 2005, we were in compliance with all such covenants.

Scheduled maturities of long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2005, are $166.3 million in 2009 and $112.3 million thereafter. However, of our long-term debt of $166.3 million scheduled to mature in 2009, $49.3 million was classified as current as a result of our ability and intent to repay such amount in the next year. Cash payments for interest during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, excluding debt issuance costs, were $19.1 million, $21.6 million, and $38.0 million, respectively.

8.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases.   We lease railcars, storage terminals, computer equipment, automobiles and warehouse and office space under non-cancelable operating leases with varying maturities through the year 2014. Future minimum payments under these non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2005, are $18.8 million in 2006, $14.7 million in 2007, $11.7 million in 2008, $9.7 million in 2009, $5.5 million in 2010 and $12.5 million thereafter. Total lease expense was approximately $23.1 million, $19.3 million and $18.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Letters of Credit.   As of December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had outstanding letters of credit totaling approximately $25.6 million and $23.1 million, respectively. Of these amounts, $7.8 million and $5.4 million reduced the availability under our revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. These letters of credit, which have terms from one month to one year, provide additional security for the payment of a loan and financial assurance to states for environmental closure, post-closure costs, and third party liability awards.

Purchase Commitments.   We have long-term raw material purchase agreements with variable and fixed payments through 2014. The variable component of future payments is based on market prices of commodities used in production. Under these contracts we were required to prepay a certain portion of the fixed and determinable costs, which we have capitalized as a prepaid manufacturing cost in other long-term assets of $112.9 million and $37.4 million as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We amortize these prepaid manufacturing costs based on the physical delivery from the manufacturer to our plants. We analyze the recoverability of these prepaid manufacturing costs based on the creditworthiness of the manufacturer and the performance under the terms of the contract. In addition, these purchase commitments are not in excess of market prices and are designed to assure a source of supply and are not in excess of our normal manufacturing requirements.  We have historically taken physical delivery of the raw materials under these purchase agreements and intend to take physical delivery over the contract term. Therefore, we account for them under the normal purchase provisions of SFAS No. 133 and its amendments. The aggregate amounts of the fixed and determinable portion of the required payments under the agreements are $11.9 million for each of the years 2006 and 2007 and $5.4 million for the year 2008. The aggregate amount of payments made under

50




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

8.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

the agreements for purchases in 2005, 2004 and 2003 were $235.5 million, $108.3 million and $89.6 million, respectively.

We also have other long-term supply contracts for raw materials, which are at prices not in excess of market, designed to assure a source of supply and not expected to be in excess of our normal manufacturing operations requirements. Historically, we have taken physical delivery under these contracts and we intend to take physical delivery in the future. Therefore, at inception we designate these contracts as normal purchase agreements and account for them under the normal purchase provisions of SFAS No. 133.

Legal Proceedings.   We are a party to numerous individual and several class-action lawsuits filed against us, among other parties, arising out of an incident that occurred in September 1996 in which workers were exposed to a chemical substance on our premises in Plaquemine, Louisiana. The substance was later identified to be a form of mustard agent, which occurred as a result of an unforeseen chemical reaction. All of the actions claim one or more forms of compensable damages, including past and future wages, past and future physical and emotional pain and suffering. The lawsuits were originally filed in Louisiana state court in Iberville Parish.

In September 1998 the state court trial judge granted the plaintiffs’ motion permitting the filing of amended petitions that added the additional allegations that we had engaged in intentional conduct against the plaintiffs. Amended petitions making such allegations were filed. Our two insurers notified us that they were reserving their rights to deny coverage to the extent liability could be established due to such intentional conduct in accordance with their insurance policies. We disputed the insurers’ reservation of rights. In December 1998, as required by the terms of the insurance policies, each insurer demanded arbitration of the issue of the insurers’ duties relating to the intentional conduct allegations. As a result of the arbitrations relating to the insurance issue, as permitted by federal statute, the insurers removed the cases to United States District Court in December 1998.

Following the above removal of these actions and unsuccessful attempts by plaintiffs to remand the cases, we were able to settle the claims of all but two worker plaintiffs (and their collaterals) who had filed suit prior to removal. These settlements included the vast majority of those claimants believed to be the most seriously injured. No further legal proceedings are required relating to these settled cases. Negotiations regarding the remaining claims of the two worker plaintiffs are ongoing.

Following these settlements, we were sued by approximately 400 additional plaintiff workers (and their collaterals) who claim that they were injured as a result of the incident. After negotiation, including a mediation, we reached an agreement for the settlement of these additional claims. This court approved settlement, which is on a class basis, will resolve the claims of all workers who claim to have been exposed and injured as a result of the incident other than those workers who opt out of the class settlement. We are aware of two worker plaintiffs and several collaterals who have filed suit in state court who have opted not to participate in the class settlement, as well as the two worker plaintiffs and collaterals whose claims are pending in federal court (see discussion above). Based on the present status of the proceedings, we believe the liability ultimately imposed on us will not have a material effect on our financial position or on our results of operations.

51




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

8.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

Many of the workers injured in this accident were employed by contractors we hired to perform various services on our site. Under the contracts for services, the contractors agreed to hold us harmless and indemnify us for amounts we were required to pay for personal injuries to their workers. During the course of this litigation, we had made demands for the contractors to reimburse us for damage amounts we had paid to their employees. In August 2003 we recovered $3.1 million as reimbursement for amounts paid by us to one contractor’s employees. We continue to pursue additional repayments from other contractors, but we do not believe any future recoveries will be material.

As of October 8, 2004, we concluded a global settlement with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality that combines several pending enforcement matters relating to the operation of production facilities in Lake Charles and Plaquemine, Louisiana. These proceedings allege unauthorized episodic releases, exceedences of permitted emission rates, exceedences of authorized emissions limitations, and allege violation of leak detection and repair requirements. Under the terms of the settlement, we have paid $50,000 to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and have expended $220,000 for the implementation and performance of certain beneficial environmental projects. Further, we voluntarily undertook additional projects to reduce emissions and protect air quality at a cost of approximately $1.3 million. These payments and expenditures did not have a material effect on our financial position or on our results of operations.

In August 2004 and January and February 2005, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) conducted environmental investigations of our manufacturing facilities in Aberdeen, Mississippi and Plaquemine, Louisiana, respectively. The USEPA has informed us that it has identified several “areas of concern,” and has indicated that such areas of concern may, in its view, constitute violations of applicable requirements, thus warranting monetary penalties and possible injunctive relief. In lieu of pursuing such relief through its traditional enforcement process, the USEPA has proposed that the parties enter into negotiations in an effort to reach a global settlement of the areas of concern and that such a global settlement cover our manufacturing facilities at Lake Charles, Louisiana and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as well. It is likely that any such global settlement, if achieved, will result in the imposition of monetary penalties, capital expenditures for installation of environmental controls, and/or other relief. We do not know the total cost of monetary penalties, environmental projects, or other relief that would be imposed in any settlement or order. While we expect that such costs will exceed $100,000, we do not expect that such costs will have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

In addition, we are subject to other claims and legal actions that may arise in the ordinary course of business. We believe that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these other claims and legal actions will not have a material effect on our financial position or on our results of operations.

Environmental Regulation.   Our operations are subject to increasingly stringent federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental quality. These regulations, which are enforced principally by the USEPA and comparable state agencies, govern the management of solid hazardous waste, emissions into the air and discharges into surface and underground waters, and the manufacture of chemical substances.

In October 2004 the USEPA notified us that we have been identified as a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) for a Superfund site in Galveston, Texas. The site is a former industrial waste recycling, treatment and disposal facility. Over one thousand PRPs have been identified by the USEPA. We contributed a relatively small proportion of the total amount of waste shipped to the site. In the notice, the USEPA

52




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

8.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

informed us of the agency’s willingness to settle with us and other PRPs that contributed relatively small proportions of the total quantity of waste shipped to the Superfund site. We believe that we can reach a settlement with the USEPA in this matter, and although there can be no assurance, we expect the amount of the settlement to be less than $100,000.

There are several serious environmental issues concerning the VCM facility at Lake Charles, Louisiana we acquired from CONDEA Vista Company (“CONDEA Vista” is now Sasol North America, Inc.) on November 12, 1999. Substantial investigation of the groundwater at the site has been conducted, and groundwater contamination was first identified in 1981. Groundwater remediation through the installation of groundwater recovery wells began in 1984. The site currently contains about 90 monitoring wells and 18 recovery wells. Investigation to determine the full extent of the contamination is ongoing. It is possible that offsite groundwater recovery will be required, in addition to groundwater monitoring. Soil remediation could also be required.

Investigations are currently underway by federal environmental authorities concerning contamination of an estuary near the Lake Charles VCM facility we acquired known as the Calcasieu Estuary. It is likely that this estuary will be listed as a Superfund site and be the subject of a natural resource damage recovery claim. It is estimated that there are about 200 PRPs associated with the estuary contamination. CONDEA Vista is included among these parties with respect to its Lake Charles facilities, including the VCM facility we acquired. The estimated cost for investigation and remediation of the estuary is unknown and could be quite costly. Also, Superfund statutes may impose joint and several liability for the cost of investigations and remedial actions on any company that generated the waste, arranged for disposal of the waste, transported the waste to the disposal site, selected the disposal site, or presently or formerly owned, leased or operated the disposal site or a site otherwise contaminated by hazardous substances. Any or all of the responsible parties may be required to bear all of the costs of cleanup regardless of fault, legality of the original disposal or ownership of the disposal site. Currently, we discharge our wastewater to CONDEA Vista, which has a permit to discharge treated wastewater into the estuary.

CONDEA Vista has agreed to retain responsibility for substantially all environmental liabilities and remediation activity relating to the vinyls business we acquired from it, including the Lake Charles, Louisiana VCM facility. For all matters of environmental contamination that were currently known at the time of acquisition, we may make a claim for indemnification at any time; for environmental matters that were then unknown, we must generally make claims for indemnification before November 12, 2009. Further, Georgia Gulf’s agreement with CONDEA Vista provides that CONDEA Vista will be subject to the presumption that all later discovered on-site environmental contamination arose before closing, and is therefore CONDEA Vista’s responsibility; this presumption may only be rebutted if CONDEA Vista can show that we caused the environmental contamination by a major, unaddressed release.

At our Lake Charles VCM facility, CONDEA Vista will continue to conduct the ongoing remediation at its expense until November 12, 2009. After November 12, 2009, we will be responsible for remediation costs up to about $150,000 of expense per year, as well as costs in any year in excess of this annual amount up to an aggregate one-time amount of about $2.3 million. In the first quarter of 2004, as part of our ongoing assessment of our environmental contingencies, we determined these remediation costs to be probable and estimable and therefore recorded an accrual to other non-current liabilities of $2.7 million.

The property owned by CONDEA Vista in Mansfield, Massachusetts, for which we negotiated an early lease termination, has been the subject of ongoing environmental investigations under an order with

53




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

8.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Groundwater investigations continue at the Mansfield property to address identified on-site groundwater contamination and investigate the possible off-site migration of contaminated groundwater. It is also possible that the USEPA may list the property as a Superfund site. The environmental investigations and actions are associated with the past operations at the property and were not assumed in our lease of the property. In addition, CONDEA Vista has indemnified us for claims related to this environmental contamination beyond an aggregate threshold amount of about $0.3 million, including coverage for potential joint and several liabilities under the environmental statutes. Upon removal of manufacturing equipment and termination of the lease, the site with buildings and infrastructure equipment reverted to CONDEA Vista.

As for employee and independent contractor exposure claims, CONDEA Vista is responsible for exposures before November 12, 2009, and we are responsible for exposures after November 12, 2009, on a pro rata basis determined by years of employment or service before and after November 12, 1999, by any claimant. There is, however, a presumption for claims brought before November 12, 2004, by current or former CONDEA Vista employees and contractors that, absent a showing of new acute exposure after November 12, 1999, all responsibility will be deemed to have arisen before November 12, 1999, and will be solely CONDEA Vista’s.

We believe that we are in material compliance with all current environmental laws and regulations. We estimate that any expenses incurred in maintaining compliance with these requirements will not materially affect earnings or cause us to exceed our level of anticipated capital expenditures. However, there can be no assurance that regulatory requirements will not change, and it is not possible to accurately predict the aggregate cost of compliance resulting from any such changes.

9.   RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

We own a 50 percent interest in PHH Monomers, LLC (“PHH”), a manufacturing joint venture with PPG Industries, Inc., (“PPG”), to produce vinyl chloride monomer (“VCM”). We receive 50 percent of the VCM production of PHH and consume the majority of the production to produce vinyl resins. Pursuant to the terms of the operating agreement and the manufacturing and services agreement, PPG is the operator of PHH. We purchase our share of the raw materials and pay 50 percent of the processing costs for the right to 50 percent of the VCM production of PHH. PHH has capacity to produce 1.15 billion pounds. The chlorine needs of the PHH facility are supplied via pipeline, under a long-term market price based contract with PPG. PHH is an integral part of our manufacturing operations. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, our investment in PHH was $18.6 million and $21.7 million, respectively, which represents 50 percent of the property, plant and equipment of the PHH production facility, and is included in other long-term assets.

10.   STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Each outstanding share of common stock is accompanied by a preferred stock purchase right, which entitles the holder to purchase from us 1/100th of a share of Junior Participating Preferred Stock for $90.00, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The rights expire on April 27, 2010, and may be redeemed by us for $0.01 per right until the earlier to occur of (1) the tenth calendar day following announcement by us that a person or group (other than us or certain related persons) beneficially owns 15  percent or more of our outstanding shares of common stock (an “Acquiring Person”) or (2) the tenth business day following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer that would result in a person or

54




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

10.   STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Continued)

group becoming an Acquiring Person (the earliest of any such date, the “Distribution Date”). The rights first become exercisable on the Distribution Date. Subject to certain conditions, if a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, each right will entitle its holder (other than the Acquiring Person) to receive, upon exercise, common stock having a market value equal to two times the right’s exercise price. In addition, subject to certain conditions, if we are involved in a merger or certain other business combination transactions, each right will entitle its holder (other than an Acquiring Person) to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a market value equal to two times the right’s exercise price.

In connection with the stock purchase rights described above, 15.0 million of the authorized shares of preferred stock are designated Junior Participating Preferred Stock. If issued, the Junior Participating Preferred Stock would be entitled, subject to the prior rights of any senior preferred stock, to a dividend equal to the greater of $0.01 or that which is paid on the common shares.

11.   RESTRICTED STOCK, STOCK OPTION AND STOCK PURCHASE PLANS

Under the 1998 and 2002 Equity and Performance Incentive Plans, we are authorized by our stockholders to grant up to 4,500,000 shares of our common stock for options and restricted stock awards to employees and non-employee directors.

Restricted Stock.   We granted restricted stock awards for 110,375, 107,625 and 117,000 shares of common stock during 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, to our key employees. The restricted shares vest over a three-year period. The weighted average grant date fair value per share of restricted stock granted during 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $52.81, $27.11 and $18.85, respectively. Compensation expense for the 2005, 2004 and 2003 restricted stock awards was $3.4 million, $2.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively. The unearned compensation related to unvested restricted stock awards was $5.4 million, $3.1 million and $2.4 million at December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively. The unearned compensation is included in stockholders’ equity and is being recognized on a straight-line basis over the three-year vesting period. During 2005, 2004 and 2003, 33,550, 21,166 and 19,196 shares of restricted stock, respectively, were surrendered in satisfaction of required minimum tax withholding obligations.

Stock Options.   Option prices are equal to the closing price of our common stock on the day prior to the date of grant. Options vest over a one or three-year period from the date of grant and expire no more than ten years after the date of grant.

55




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

11.   RESTRICTED STOCK, STOCK OPTION AND STOCK PURCHASE PLANS (Continued)

A summary of stock option activity under all plans is as follows:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

Shares

 

Exercise
Price (1)

 

Shares

 

Exercise
Price (1)

 

Shares

 

Exercise
Price (1)

 

Outstanding at beginning of year

 

1,444,941

 

 

$

24.90

 

 

2,101,414

 

 

$

24.84

 

 

2,044,549

 

 

$

25.31

 

 

Granted

 

317,200

 

 

53.38

 

 

326,533

 

 

26.95

 

 

329,500

 

 

19.12

 

 

Exercised

 

(114,867

)

 

23.28

 

 

(968,507

)

 

25.47

 

 

(171,136

)

 

16.34

 

 

Forfeited/expired

 

(14,666

)

 

32.49

 

 

(14,499

)

 

24.19

 

 

(101,499

)

 

30.06

 

 

Outstanding at year end

 

1,632,608

 

 

30.47

 

 

1,444,941

 

 

24.90

 

 

2,101,414

 

 

24.84

 

 

Exercisable at year end

 

1,020,957

 

 

$

25.10

 

 

853,090

 

 

$

25.49

 

 

1,497,428

 

 

$

26.83

 

 

Options available for grant

 

1,202,075

 

 

 

 

 

1,588,092

 

 

 

 

 

991,766

 

 

 

 

 


(1)          Weighted average.

The following table summarizes information about stock options at December 31, 2005:

 

 

Outstanding Stock Options

 

Exercisable Stock Options

 

Range of Exercise Prices

 

 

 

Shares

 

Exercise
Price (1)

 

Remaining
Contractual Life (1)

 

Shares

 

Exercise
Price (1)

 

$15.44 to $25.00

 

621,244

 

 

$

19.59

 

 

 

6.03 years

 

 

529,750

 

 

$

19.69

 

 

$25.01 to $35.00

 

533,664

 

 

28.18

 

 

 

6.12 years

 

 

328,207

 

 

28.78

 

 

$35.01 to $45.00

 

163,000

 

 

35.25

 

 

 

2.03 years

 

 

163,000

 

 

35.25

 

 

$45.01 to $53.38

 

314,700

 

 

53.38

 

 

 

9.08 years

 

 

 

 

53.38

 

 

Total $15.44 to $53.38

 

1,632,608

 

 

$

30.47

 

 

 

6.25 years

 

 

1,020,957

 

 

$

25.10

 

 


(1)          Weighted average.

Stock Purchase Plan.   Our stockholders have approved a qualified employee stock purchase plan, which allows employees to acquire shares of common stock through payroll deductions over a twelve-month period. The purchase price is equal to 85 percent of the fair market value of the common stock on either the first or last day of the subscription period, whichever is lower. Purchases under the plan are limited to 15 percent of an employee’s base salary. In connection with this stock purchase plan, 231,440 shares of common stock are reserved for future issuances. Under this plan 125,075, 131,198 and 154,819 shares of common stock were issued at $25.95, $24.71 and $19.77 per share during 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

12.   EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS

We have certain employee retirement plans that cover substantially all of our employees. The expense incurred for these plans was approximately $7.8 million, $10.6 million, and $7.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, respectively.

Most employees are covered by defined contribution plans under which we make contributions to individual employee accounts and by defined benefit plans for which the benefits are based on years of service and the employee’s compensation or for which the benefit is a specific monthly amount for each

56




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

12.   EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS (Continued)

year of service. We use a measurement date of December 31 for our pension plans. We do not provide post-retirement health care benefits to our employees.

Benefit Obligations.   The reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the projected benefit obligation for defined benefit plans were as follows:

 

 

December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Change in projected benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

Net benefit obligation at beginning of year

 

$

83,871

 

$

72,119

 

Service cost

 

3,396

 

3,021

 

Interest cost

 

5,292

 

4,852

 

Actuarial loss

 

3,413

 

3,634

 

Plan amendments

 

 

2,637

 

Curtailments

 

 

(87

)

Settlements

 

 

(287

)

Gross benefits paid

 

(2,208

)

(2,018

)

Net projected benefit obligation at end of year

 

$

93,764

 

$

83,871

 

 

The accumulated benefit obligation at the end of 2005 and 2004 was $83.9 million and $77.6 million, respectively. The accumulated benefit obligation is defined as the actuarial present value of pension benefits (whether vested or unvested) attributed to employee service rendered before December 31, 2005, and based on employee service and compensation prior to that date. The accumulated benefit obligation differs from the projected benefit obligation in that it includes no assumption about future compensation levels.

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine end of year benefit obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

Discount rate

 

5.75

%

6.00

%

Rate of compensation increase

 

4.26

%

4.31

%

 

Plan Assets.   The reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the fair value of plan assets were as follows:

 

 

December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Change in plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

$

84,811

 

$

63,750

 

Actual return on plan assets

 

6,748

 

6,508

 

Employer contributions

 

5,097

 

16,571

 

Settlements

 

 

 

Gross benefits paid

 

(2,208

)

(2,018

)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

$

94,448

 

$

84,811

 

 

57




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

12.   EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS (Continued)

Employer contributions include direct benefits paid under all pension plans of $0.6 million from employer assets in both 2005 and 2004.

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was changed from 8.50 percent to 8.25 percent as of December 31, 2005. The asset allocations for our pension plans at the end of 2005 and 2004 and the target allocation for 2006, by asset category, are as follows:

 

 

Target
Allocation

 

Percentage of  Plan
Assets at Year
End

 

Asset Category

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Equity Securities

 

 

58 to 90

%

 

76.8

%

78.0

%

Debt Securities

 

 

15 to 35

%

 

17.3

%

14.9

%

Real Estate

 

 

0 to 7

%

 

0.5

%

 

Other

 

 

0 to 10

%

 

5.4

%

7.1

%

 

 

 

100

%

 

100

%

100

%

 

Equity securities include none of our common stock at the end of both 2005 and 2004.

Our investment committee establishes investment policies and strategies and regularly monitors the performance of the plan’s funds. Our investment strategy with respect to pension assets is to invest the assets in accordance with the “prudent investor” guidelines contained in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and fiduciary standards. Our policy on funding is to contribute an amount within the range of the minimum required and the maximum tax-deductible contribution.

Funded Status.   The funded status of the plans, reconciled to the amounts reported on the statements of financial position, follows:

 

 

December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Fair value of plan assets

 

$

94,448

 

$

84,811

 

Net projected benefit obligation

 

93,764

 

83,871

 

Funded status at end of year

 

684

 

940

 

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

 

12,917

 

9,452

 

Unrecognized prior service cost

 

2,114

 

2,419

 

Unrecognized net transition obligation

 

295

 

509

 

Net amount recognized at end of year

 

$

16,010

 

$

13,320

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Amounts recognized in the statement of financial position:

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid benefit cost

 

$

21,041

 

$

18,729

 

Accrued benefit cost

 

(5,030

)

(5,409

)

Additional minimum liability

 

(357

)

(314

)

Intangible asset

 

44

 

67

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

312

 

247

 

Net amount recognized at end of year

 

$

16,010

 

$

13,320

 

 

58




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

12.   EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS (Continued)

At the end of 2005 and 2004 the projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation, and fair value of plan assets for pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets, and pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets, were as follows:

 

 

Accumulated Benefit
Obligation Exceeds the
Fair Value of Plan Assets
December 31,

 

Projected Benefit
Obligation Exceeds the
Fair Value of Plan Assets
December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

End of year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Projected benefit obligation

 

$

4,790

 

$

4,958

 

$

4,790

 

$

4,958

 

Accumulated benefit obligation

 

4,790

 

4,958

 

4,790

 

4,958

 

Fair value of plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expected Cash Flows.   We do not expect to make any contributions to the plan trust for all pension plans during 2006 but reserve the right to do so. Our expected contribution in the form of direct benefit payments for 2006 is $0.5 million for all pension plans. Expected benefit payments for all pension plans are $2.5 million in 2006, $2.7 million in 2007, $3.0 million in 2008, $3.5 million in 2009, $4.0 million in 2010 and $28.5 million from 2011 to 2015.

Net Periodic Cost.   The amount of net periodic benefit cost recognized includes the following components:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Components of periodic benefit cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

3,396

 

$

3,021

 

$

2,702

 

Interest cost

 

5,292

 

4,852

 

4,270

 

Expected return on assets

 

(7,133

)

(5,535

)

(4,620

)

Amortization of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transition obligation

 

214

 

223

 

223

 

Prior service cost

 

305

 

278

 

80

 

Actuarial gain

 

333

 

34

 

371

 

Curtailment charge

 

 

68

 

 

Settlement credit

 

 

(287

)

 

Total net periodic benefit cost

 

$

2,407

 

$

2,654

 

$

3,026

 

 

Our major assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for pension plans are presented as weighted-averages:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Discount rate

 

6.00

%

6.25

%

6.75

%

Expected return on plan assets

 

8.50

%

8.75

%

8.75

%

Rate of compensation increase

 

4.31

%

4.31

%

6.15

%

 

59




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

12.   EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS (Continued)

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption is based on historical and projected rates of return for current and planned asset classes in the plan’s investment portfolio. Projected rates of return for each of the plan’s projected asset classes were selected after analyzing historical experience and future expectations of the returns and volatility of the various asset classes. Based on the target asset allocation for each asset class, the overall expected rate of return for the portfolio was developed and adjusted for historical and expected experience of active portfolio management results compared to the benchmark returns and for the effect of expenses paid from plan assets.

13.   INCOME TAXES

The provision for (benefit from) income taxes was as follows:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

52,829

 

$

49,556

 

$

10,830

 

State

 

9,093

 

6,742

 

614

 

 

 

61,922

 

56,298

 

11,444

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

(9,560

)

4,034

 

(5,585

)

State

 

(5,507

)

536

 

(614

)

Provision for income taxes

 

(15,067

)

4,570

 

(6,199

)

 

 

$

46,855

 

$

60,868

 

$

5,245

 

 

The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and our effective income tax rate is summarized as follows:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Statutory federal income tax rate

 

35.0

%

35.0

%

35.0

%

State income taxes, net of federal benefit

 

2.8

 

2.8

 

2.7

 

Effect of favorable settlement of tax audits

 

 

 

(4.1

)

Extraterritorial income exclusion

 

(1.0

)

(1.0

)

(2.1

)

American Jobs Creation Act of 2004

 

(1.2

)

 

 

Non-deductible compensation

 

0.4

 

0.7

 

 

Percentage depletion

 

(0.4

)

(0.4

)

(3.4

)

State legislation changes

 

(1.5

)

 

 

Other

 

(1.2

)

(0.6

)

1.5

 

Effective income tax rate

 

32.9

%

36.5

%

29.6

%

 

Cash payments for income taxes during 2005, 2004, and 2003 were $51.8 million, $61.3 million and $14.9 million, respectively.

60




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

13.   INCOME TAXES (Continued)

Our overall effective income tax rate decreased from 36.5 percent for the year ended December 31, 2004, to 32.9 percent for 2005 primarily due to the estimated tax deductions created by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and state legislation changes during 2005.

Our net deferred tax liability consisted of the following major items:

 

 

December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

$

914

 

$

721

 

Inventories

 

1,673

 

2,867

 

Vacation

 

1,685

 

1,578

 

State tax credits

 

3,550

 

4,252

 

Spare parts inventories

 

1,764

 

 

Environmental

 

1,700

 

 

Other

 

2,646

 

679

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

13,932

 

10,097

 

Deferred tax liability:

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

(98,279

)

(116,760

)

Intangible assets

 

(13,047

)

(11,272

)

Employee compensation

 

(4,558

)

 

Other

 

(916

)

 

Total deferred tax liability

 

(116,800

)

(128,032

)

Net deferred tax liability

 

$

(102,868

)

$

(117,935

)

 

We believe, based on our history of operating results and expectations for the future, that future taxable income will be sufficient to fully utilize the deferred tax assets at December 31, 2005. Furthermore, our state income tax credits can be carried forward indefinitely. In addition, we are subject to certain tax claims that may arise in the ordinary course of business. We believe with respect to these tax claims the ultimate resolution will not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

We accrue for tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability to a taxing authority has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated, based on past experience. The tax contingency reserve is adjusted for changes in circumstances and additional uncertainties, such as significant amendments to existing tax law. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had a tax contingency reserve of $3.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively. A change in our assumptions used to develop our tax contingency reserve could significantly impact our effective tax rate and our results of operations.

14.   EXPORT SALES

Export sales were approximately 15 percent, 17 percent and 12 percent of our sales for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Based on destination, the principal international markets we serve are Europe, Canada, and South and Central America. No sales to any one country were greater than five percent of total net sales.

61




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

15.   DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Raw Materials and Natural Gas Price Risk Management.   The availability and price of our raw materials and natural gas are subject to fluctuations due to unpredictable factors in global supply and demand. To reduce price risk caused by market fluctuations, from time to time, we may enter into forward swap contracts, which are generally less than one year in duration. We designate forward swap contracts with financial counter-parties as cash flow hedges. Our outstanding contracts are valued at market with the offset going to other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes and any hedge ineffectiveness. Any gain or loss is recognized in cost of goods sold in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had no raw material or natural gas forward swap contracts outstanding. At December 31, 2003, we had natural gas contracts outstanding with an aggregate notional amount of 310,000 MMBTU’s (Million British Thermal Units) and the fair value of these contracts was an asset of $0.3 million, with the offset recorded in other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes. At December 31, 2003, there was no ineffectiveness related to this contract and $0.3 million was released to earnings in the first quarter of 2004. At December 31, 2003, we had no other forward swap contracts.

Interest Rate Risk Management.   We maintain floating rate debt, which exposes us to changes in interest rates. Our policy is to manage our interest rate risk through the use of a combination of fixed and floating rate instruments and interest rate swap agreements. We do not use interest rate swap agreements for trading or speculative purposes. As of December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, we did not have any interest rate swap agreements outstanding.

16.   FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and long-term debt. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value because of the short-term maturity of such instruments. The carrying amounts of our senior credit facility, revolving credit facility and other financial instruments approximate the fair value due to the floating market interest rates to which the respective agreements are subject. The fair values of the 7.625 percent notes are, and the fair values of the 7.125 percent notes were, based on quoted market interest rates that are or were currently available to us for issuance of long-term debt with similar terms and remaining maturities. The 7.625 percent notes were repaid on November 15, 2005.

The following is a summary of our long-term debt where the fair values differ from the recorded amounts as of December 31, 2005 and 2004:

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Fair
Value

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Fair
Value

 

Long-term debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.625% notes due 2005

 

$

 

$

 

$

100,000

 

$

103,250

 

7.125% notes due 2013

 

100,000

 

102,625

 

100,000

 

108,000

 

 

62




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

17.   SEGMENT INFORMATION

We have identified two reportable segments through which we conduct our operating activities: chlorovinyls and aromatics. These two segments reflect the organization used by our management for internal reporting. The chlorovinyls segment is a highly integrated chain of products, which includes chlorine, caustic soda, VCM and vinyl resins and compounds. The aromatics segment is also integrated and includes cumene and the co-products phenol and acetone.

Earnings of our segments exclude interest income and expense, unallocated corporate expenses and general plant services, provision for income taxes, and income and expense items reflected as “other income (expense)” on our consolidated statements of income. Intersegment sales and transfers are insignificant.

Identifiable assets consist of plant and equipment used in the operations of the segment as well as inventory, receivables and other assets directly related to the segment. Corporate and general plant service assets include cash, certain corporate receivables, data processing equipment and prepaid pension costs. We have no significant assets located outside of the United States.

Segments

In Thousands

 

 

 

Chlorovinyls

 

Aromatics

 

Corporate and
General Plant
Services

 

Total

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

1,592,749

 

$

680,970

 

 

$

 

 

$

2,273,719

 

Operating income (loss)

 

202,555

 

(10,453

)

 

(29,337

)(1)

 

162,765

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

52,584

 

6,967

 

 

3,550

 

 

63,101

 

Capital expenditures

 

28,311

 

2,635

 

 

1,098

 

 

32,044

 

Total assets

 

807,873

 

99,386

 

 

93,694

 

 

1,000,953

 

Year Ended December 31, 2004:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

1,452,404

 

$

753,835

 

 

$

 

 

$

2,206,239

 

Operating income (loss)

 

165,910

 

50,556

 

 

(26,043

)(1)

 

190,423

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

51,345

 

7,408

 

 

5,801

 

 

64,554

 

Capital expenditures

 

18,326

 

3,138

 

 

1,977

 

 

23,441

 

Total assets

 

725,712

 (2)

135,105

 (2)

 

103,013

 (2)

 

963,830

 (2)

Year Ended December 31, 2003:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

1,159,035

 

$

285,448

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,444,483

 

Operating income (loss)

 

86,289

 

1,673

 

 

(18,264

)(1)

 

69,698

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

50,072

 

7,916

 

 

5,944

 

 

63,932

 

Capital expenditures

 

22,596

 

724

 

 

726

 

 

24,046

 

Total assets

 

715,368

 

87,052

 

 

54,365

 

 

856,785

 


(1)          Includes shared services, administrative and legal expenses, along with the cost of our receivables securitization program.

(2)          Includes adjustment to reduce previously reported assets in the Chlorovinyls and Aromatics segments by $11.3 million and $21.3 million,  respectively, and increase previously reported assets in the Corporate and General Plant Services segment by $32.6 million.

63




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

17.   SEGMENT INFORMATION

Geographic Areas

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

In Thousands

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic

 

$

1,939,832

 

$

1,822,822

 

$

1,266,993

 

Foreign

 

333,887

 

383,417

 

177,490

 

Total

 

$

2,273,719

 

$

2,206,239

 

$

1,444,483

 

 

18.   QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

The following table sets forth certain quarterly financial data for the periods indicated:

In Thousands, Except Per Share Data*

 

 

 

First
Quarter

 

Second
Quarter (1)

 

Third
Quarter (2)

 

Fourth
Quarter (3)

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

645,409

 

 

$

584,162

 

 

 

$

525,223

 

 

 

$

518,925

 

 

Gross margin

 

82,310

 

 

35,109

 

 

 

60,339

 

 

 

46,451

 

 

Operating income

 

66,460

 

 

20,494

 

 

 

43,422

 

 

 

32,390

 

 

Net income

 

38,743

 

 

10,169

 

 

 

27,933

 

 

 

18,658

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

1.15

 

 

0.30

 

 

 

0.82

 

 

 

0.55

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

1.13

 

 

0.30

 

 

 

0.82

 

 

 

0.55

 

 

Dividends per common share

 

0.08

 

 

0.08

 

 

 

0.08

 

 

 

0.08

 

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

496,687

 

 

$

522,272

 

 

 

$

596,373

 

 

 

$

590,907

 

 

Gross margin

 

50,900

 

 

67,589

 

 

 

76,071

 

 

 

56,585

 

 

Operating income

 

36,129

 

 

53,598

 

 

 

58,889

 

 

 

41,808

 

 

Net income

 

18,738

 

 

29,733

 

 

 

33,365

 

 

 

24,058

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

0.57

 

 

0.91

 

 

 

1.01

 

 

 

0.72

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

0.57

 

 

0.90

 

 

 

1.00

 

 

 

0.71

 

 

Dividends per common share

 

0.08

 

 

0.08

 

 

 

0.08

 

 

 

0.08

 

 


*                    Totaling quarterly data for 2005 and 2004 may differ from the annual audited consolidated income statements due to rounding.

(1)          The Second Quarter of 2005 includes an unfavorable impact of $0.50 per diluted share due to both our planned and unplanned plant outages.

(2)          The Third Quarter of 2005 includes favorable income tax adjustments of $0.09 per diluted share as well as a negative impact of $0.24 per diluted share related to the operational disruptions caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

(3)          The Fourth Quarter of 2005 includes an unfavorable impact of approximately $0.22 per diluted share due to operational disruptions caused by Hurricane Rita early in the fourth quarter.

64




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

19.   SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR INFORMATION

Our payment obligations under our 7.125 percent unsecured senior subordinated notes are guaranteed by Great River Oil & Gas Corporation, Georgia Gulf Lake Charles, LLC and Georgia Gulf Chemicals & Vinyls, LLC, some of our wholly owned subsidiaries (the Guarantor Subsidiaries). The guarantees are full, unconditional and joint and several. The following condensed consolidating balance sheets, statements of income and statements of cash flows present the combined financial statements of the parent company, Guarantor Subsidiaries and our remaining subsidiaries (the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries). Separate financial statements of the Guarantor Subsidiaries are not presented because we have determined that they would not be material to investors.

In connection with the acquisition of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista on November 12, 1999, we essentially became a holding company by transferring our operating assets and employees to our wholly owned subsidiary, Georgia Gulf Chemicals & Vinyls, LLC. Provisions in our senior credit facility limit payment of dividends, distributions, loans and advances to us by our subsidiaries.

65




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
December 31, 2005

In Thousands

 

 

 

Parent
Company

 

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

 

$

14,296

 

 

$

2

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

14,298

 

 

Receivables, net

 

139,077

 

53,571

 

 

134,081

 

 

 

(208,536

)

 

 

118,193

 

 

Inventories

 

 

195,628

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

195,628

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

13,272

 

 

34

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,306

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

5,091

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,091

 

 

Total current assets

 

139,077

 

281,858

 

 

134,117

 

 

 

(208,536

)

 

 

346,516

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

173

 

401,239

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

401,412

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

77,720

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77,720

 

 

Other assets, net

 

15,657

 

159,648

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

175,305

 

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

419,400

 

116,230

 

 

 

 

 

(535,630

)

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

574,307

 

$

1,036,695

 

 

$

134,117

 

 

 

$

(744,166

)

 

 

$

1,000,953

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

 

$

49,300

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

49,300

 

 

Accounts payable

 

73,258

 

319,561

 

 

17,896

 

 

 

(208,536

)

 

 

202,179

 

 

Interest payable

 

597

 

629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,226

 

 

Accrued compensation

 

 

14,986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,986

 

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

16,495

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,495

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

73,855

 

400,971

 

 

17,896

 

 

 

(208,536

)

 

 

284,186

 

 

Long-term debt

 

129,339

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

229,339

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

107,959

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

107,959

 

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

8,101

 

8,356

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,457

 

 

Total liabilities

 

211,295

 

617,286

 

 

17,896

 

 

 

(208,536

)

 

 

637,941

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

342

 

5

 

 

19

 

 

 

(24

)

 

 

342

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

81,782

 

7,940

 

 

107,349

 

 

 

(115,289

)

 

 

81,782

 

 

Unearned compensation

 

(5,377

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,377

)

 

Retained earnings

 

286,265

 

411,464

 

 

8,853

 

 

 

(420,317

)

 

 

286,265

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

363,012

 

419,409

 

 

116,221

 

 

 

(535,630

)

 

 

363,012

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

574,307

 

$

1,036,695

 

 

$

134,117

 

 

 

$

(744,166

)

 

 

$

1,000,953

 

 

 

66




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
December 31, 2004

In Thousands

 

 

 

Parent
Company

 

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

 

 

$

21,082

 

 

 

$

6

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

21,088

 

 

Receivables, net

 

177,264

 

 

14,443

 

 

 

121,657

 

 

 

(178,512

)

 

 

134,852

 

 

Inventories

 

 

 

186,313

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

186,313

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

 

5,090

 

 

 

96

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,186

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

10,097

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,097

 

 

Total current assets

 

177,264

 

 

237,025

 

 

 

121,759

 

 

 

(178,512

)

 

 

357,536

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

217

 

 

425,517

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

425,734

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

 

77,720

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77,720

 

 

Other assets, net

 

14,502

 

 

88,338

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

102,840

 

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

317,433

 

 

112,355

 

 

 

 

 

 

(429,788

)

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

509,416

 

 

$

940,955

 

 

 

$

121,759

 

 

 

$

(608,300

)

 

 

$

963,830

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

100,000

 

 

$

89,900

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

189,900

 

 

Accounts payable

 

3,967

 

 

370,507

 

 

 

9,403

 

 

 

(178,512

)

 

 

205,365

 

 

Interest payable

 

1,520

 

 

37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,557

 

 

Accrued compensation

 

 

 

18,293

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18,293

 

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

 

11,779

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,779

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

105,487

 

 

490,516

 

 

 

9,403

 

 

 

(178,512

)

 

 

426,894

 

 

Long-term debt

 

128,583

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

128,583

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

128,032

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

128,032

 

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

7,077

 

 

4,975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,052

 

 

Total liabilities

 

241,147

 

 

623,523

 

 

 

9,403

 

 

 

(178,512

)

 

 

695,561

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

339

 

 

6

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

(25

)

 

 

339

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

69,275

 

 

7,940

 

 

 

107,349

 

 

 

(115,289

)

 

 

69,275

 

 

Unearned compensation

 

(3,062

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,062

)

 

Retained earnings

 

201,717

 

 

309,486

 

 

 

4,988

 

 

 

(314,474

)

 

 

201,717

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

268,269

 

 

317,432

 

 

 

112,356

 

 

 

(429,788

)

 

 

268,269

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

509,416

 

 

$

940,955

 

 

 

$

121,759

 

 

 

$

(608,300

)

 

 

$

963,830

 

 

 

67




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Year Ended December 31, 2005

In Thousands

 

 

 

Parent
Company

 

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
 Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Net sales

 

$

12,491

 

$

2,273,718

 

 

$

12,174

 

 

$

(24,664

)

 

$

2,273,719

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

 

2,049,510

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,049,510

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

18,685

 

59,114

 

 

8,309

 

 

(24,664

)

 

61,444

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

18,685

 

2,108,624

 

 

8,309

 

 

(24,664

)

 

2,110,954

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

(6,194

)

165,094

 

 

3,865

 

 

 

 

162,765

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

(3,440

)

(16,967

)

 

 

 

 

 

(20,407

)

 

Equity in income of subsidiaries

 

101,966

 

3,876

 

 

 

 

(105,842

)

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

92,332

 

152,003

 

 

3,865

 

 

(105,842

)

 

142,358

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

(3,171

)

50,026

 

 

 

 

 

 

46,855

 

 

Net income

 

$

95,503

 

$

101,977

 

 

$

3,865

 

 

$

(105,842)

 

 

$

95,503

 

 

 

68




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Year Ended December 31, 2004

In Thousands

 

 

 

Parent
Company

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Net sales

 

$

10,830

 

$

2,206,239

 

 

$

10,066

 

 

 

$

(20,896

)

 

 

$

2,206,239

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

 

1,955,095

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,955,095

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

19,481

 

56,993

 

 

5,143

 

 

 

(20,896

)

 

 

60,721

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

19,481

 

2,012,088

 

 

5,143

 

 

 

(20,896

)

 

 

2,015,816

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

(8,651

)

194,151

 

 

4,923

 

 

 

 

 

 

190,423

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

(5,617

)

(18,046

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23,663

)

 

Equity in income of subsidiaries

 

114,953

 

4,935

 

 

 

 

 

(119,888

)

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

100,685

 

181,040

 

 

4,923

 

 

 

(119,888

)

 

 

166,760

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

(5,207

)

66,075

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60,868

 

 

Net income

 

$

105,892

 

$

114,965

 

 

$

4,923

 

 

 

$

(119,888

)

 

 

$

105,892

 

 

 

 

69




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Year Ended December 31, 2003

In Thousands

 

 

 

Parent
Company

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Net sales

 

$

10,795

 

$

1,444,483

 

 

$

3,495

 

 

 

$

(14,290

)

 

 

$

1,444,483

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

 

1,319,094

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,319,094

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

14,629

 

51,905

 

 

3,447

 

 

 

(14,290

)

 

 

55,691

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

14,629

 

1,370,999

 

 

3,447

 

 

 

(14,290

)

 

 

1,374,785

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

(3,834

)

73,484

 

 

48

 

 

 

 

 

 

69,698

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

(6,237

)

(31,905

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(38,142

)

 

Cost related to early retirement of debt

 

(13,816

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13,816

)

 

Equity in income of subsidiaries

 

28,021

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

(28,064

)

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

4,134

 

41,622

 

 

48

 

 

 

(28,064

)

 

 

17,740

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

(8,361

)

13,606

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,245

 

 

Net income

 

$

12,495

 

$

28,016

 

 

$

48

 

 

 

$

(28,064

)

 

 

$

12,495

 

 

 

70




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31, 2005

In Thousands

 

 

 

Parent
Company

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

95,503

 

 

$

101,977

 

 

 

$

3,865

 

 

 

$

(105,842

)

 

 

$

95,503

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities, net of acquired amounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

604

 

 

62,400

 

 

 

97

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,101

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

(15,067

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(15,067

)

 

Tax benefit related to stock plans

 

2,172

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,172

 

 

Stock based compensation

 

3,761

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,761

 

 

Other non-cash items

 

779

 

 

980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,759

 

 

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

 

(101,967

)

 

(3,875

)

 

 

 

 

 

105,842

 

 

 

 

 

Change in operating assets, liabilities and other

 

105,801

 

 

(181,920

)

 

 

(3,965

)

 

 

 

 

 

(80,084

)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

106,653

 

 

(35,505

)

 

 

(3

)

 

 

 

 

 

71,145

 

 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

 

(32,044

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(32,044

)

 

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

1,362

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,362

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

 

(30,682

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(30,682

)

 

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in revolving line of credit

 

 

 

59,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

59,400

 

 

Long-term debt payments

 

(100,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(100,000

)

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

5,943

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,943

 

 

Purchase and retirement of common stock

 

(1,681

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,681

)

 

Dividends

 

(10,915

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,915

)

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(106,653

)

 

59,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(47,253

)

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents 

 

 

 

(6,787

)

 

 

(3

)

 

 

 

 

 

(6,790

)

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

 

 

21,082

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,088

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

 

 

$

14,295

 

 

 

$

3

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

14,298

 

 

 

 

71




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31, 2004

In Thousands

 

 

 

Parent
Company

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

105,892

 

 

$

114,965

 

 

 

$

4,923

 

 

 

$

(119,888

)

 

 

$

105,892

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities, net of acquired amounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

705

 

 

63,706

 

 

 

143

 

 

 

 

 

 

64,554

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

3,686

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,686

 

 

Tax benefit related to stock plans

 

5,912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,912

 

 

Stock based compensation

 

3,215

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,215

 

 

Other non-cash items

 

711

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

711

 

 

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

 

(114,953

)

 

(4,935

)

 

 

 

 

 

119,888

 

 

 

 

 

Change in operating assets, liabilities and other

 

(18,007

)

 

(24,926

)

 

 

(5,070

)

 

 

 

 

 

(48,003

)

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

(16,525

)

 

152,496

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

135,967

 

 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(172

)

 

(23,269

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23,441

)

 

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in revolving line of credit

 

 

 

89,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

89,900

 

 

Long-term debt payments

 

 

 

(200,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(200,000

)

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

27,948

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27,948

 

 

Purchase and retirement of common stock

 

(602

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(602

)

 

Dividends

 

(10,649

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,649

)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

16,697

 

 

(110,100

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(93,403

)

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

19,127

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

19,123

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

 

 

1,955

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,965

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

 

 

$

21,082

 

 

 

$

6

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

21,088

 

 

 

 

72




Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31, 2003

In Thousands

 

 

 

Parent
Company

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

12,495

 

 

$

28,015

 

 

 

$

49

 

 

 

$

(28,064

)

 

 

$

12,495

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, net of acquired amounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,278

 

 

62,436

 

 

 

218

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,932

 

 

Cost related to early retirement of debt 

 

13,816

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,816

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

(6,344

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,344

)

 

Tax benefit related to stock plans

 

1,107

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,107

 

 

Stock based compensation

 

1,779

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,779

 

 

Other non-cash items

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

 

(28,021

)

 

(43

)

 

 

 

 

 

28,064

 

 

 

 

 

Change in operating assets, liabilities and other

 

114,858

 

 

(116,298

)

 

 

(268

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,708

)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

117,312

 

 

(32,234

)

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

85,077

 

 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(7

)

 

(24,039

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(24,046

)

 

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt proceeds

 

100,666

 

 

200,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

300,666

 

 

Long-term debt payments

 

(200,000

)

 

(149,780

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(349,780

)

 

Redemption premium and fees paid to retire notes

 

(10,760

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,760

)

 

Fees paid to issue debt

 

(2,239

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,239

)

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock 

 

5,857

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,857

 

 

Purchase and retirement of common stock

 

(435

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(435

)

 

Dividends

 

(10,394

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,394

)

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(117,305

)

 

50,220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(67,085

)

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

(6,053

)

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

(6,054

)

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

 

 

8,008

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,019

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

 

 

$

1,955

 

 

 

$

10

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

1,965

 

 

 

 

73




Item 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

None.

Item 9A.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Controls and Procedures.   We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of Georgia Gulf management, including the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2005, to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the company in reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

There have not been any changes in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2005, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

To the Stockholders of Georgia Gulf Corporation:

Management of the company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to the company’s management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our internal controls over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. Internal controls, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the internal controls are met. Because of the inherent limitations of internal controls, internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements or fraud. Therefore, no evaluation of internal control can provide absolute assurance that all control issues or instances of fraud will be prevented or detected.

Management assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, the company’s management concluded that, as of December 31, 2005, the company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, the company’s independent registered public accounting firm, which also audited the company’s consolidated financial statements included in this annual report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of the company’s internal control over financial reporting, which is included below.

/s/ EDWARD A. SCHMITT

 

/s/ JAMES T. MATTHEWS 

Edward A. Schmitt

 

James T. Matthews

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Vice President—Finance, Treasurer and

      

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

March 1, 2006

74




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Georgia Gulf Corporation
Atlanta, Georgia

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Report of Managementt on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that Georgia Gulf Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, management’s assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

75




We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2005 of the Company and our report dated March 1, 2006, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
March 1, 2006

Item 9B.   OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

76




PART III

Item 10.   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

The information set forth under the captions “Election of Directors,” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 16, 2006, are hereby incorporated by reference in response to this item.

We have adopted the Georgia Gulf Code of Ethics, which applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. The Code of Ethics is publicly available on our website at http://www.ggc.com under Investor Relations. If we make any substantive amendments to our Code of Ethics or we grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Ethics, that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, we will disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on our website. Also, we may elect to also disclose the amendment or waiver in a report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

In addition, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters for our audit committee, equity compensation committee and nominating and governance committee are available on our website at http://www.ggc.com under Investor Relations and are available in print to any stockholder who requests them from the Corporate Secretary of Georgia Gulf Corporation, 115 Perimeter Center Place, Suite 460, Atlanta, GA  30346.

Our President and Chief Executive Officer certified to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on May 18, 2005, pursuant to Section 303A.12 of the NYSE’s listing standards, that he was not aware of any violation by Georgia Gulf of the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards as of that date.

The following is additional information regarding our executive officers who are not directors, as of February 27, 2006:

Joel I. Beerman, 55, has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since February 1994.

Paul D. Carrico, 55, has served as Vice President, Polymer Group since May 2005. Before then, Mr. Carrico held the position of Business Manager, Resin Division, since joining Georgia Gulf in 1999 when it acquired the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista.

William H. Doherty, 51, has served as Vice President, Vinyl Compounds Group since December 1999. Before then, Mr. Doherty served as General Manager Vinyl Compounds since May 1998 and as Business Manager Vinyl Compounds from May 1992 until May 1998.

James T. Matthews, 52, has served as Vice President-Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer since December 2003 and as Treasurer since December 2002. Mr. Matthews served as Corporate Controller from March 2001 until August 2003. From 1996 to 2001 Mr. Matthews served as Vice President of Finance of the containerboard division of The Mead Corporation.

Mark J. Seal, 54, has served as Vice President, Chemicals Group since May 2005. Before then, Mr. Seal had served as Vice President, Polymer Group since August 1993.

C. Douglas Shannon, 54, has served as Vice President, Chemicals Group Procurement since May 2005 and served as Vice President, Chemicals Group from December 1999 until May 2005. Before then, Mr. Shannon served as Director of Business Area Management Commodity Chemicals from July 1998 until December 1999. Since September 1993, Mr. Shannon has also served as Business Manager Electrochemicals and managed feedstock purchasing.

Executive officers are elected by, and serve at the pleasure of, the board of directors.

77




Item 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

The information set forth under the captions “Election of Directors—Compensation of Directors” and “Executive Compensation” in our proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 16, 2006, is hereby incorporated by reference in response to this item.

Item 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

The information set forth under the caption “Security Ownership of Principal Stockholders and Management” in our proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 16, 2006, is hereby incorporated by reference in response to this item.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table provides information with respect to compensation plans under which equity securities of Georgia Gulf Corporation are authorized for issuance to employees as of December 31, 2005:

 

 

Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

 

Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

 

Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))

 

Plan category

 

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

 

1,632,608

 

 

 

$

30.47

 

 

 

1,202,075

 

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

1,632,608

 

 

 

$

30.47

 

 

 

1,202,075

 

 

 

Item 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

We have not had any transactions required to be reported under this item for the calendar year 2005, or for the period from January 1, 2006 to the date of this report.

Item 14.   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

The information contained in the section entitled “Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in our proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 16, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

78




PART IV

Item 15.   EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

a)     The following documents are filed as a part of this Form 10-K:

(1)   Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2005 and 2004

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

(2)   Financial Statement Schedules:

The following consolidated financial statement schedule is for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003:

Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Schedules other than the one listed above are omitted because they are not required and are not applicable or the information is otherwise shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or related notes.

(3)          Exhibits. Each management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement is preceded by an asterisk.

(b)   The following exhibits are filed as part of this Form 10-K:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

*

10

 

Description of the 2006 Management Incentive Bonus Plan

 

21

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 

23

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

31

 

Rule 13a - 14(a) / 15d - 14(a) Certifications

 

32

 

Section 1350 Certifications

 

The following exhibit is incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

*10

 

Description of the 2005 Management Incentive Bonus Plan

 

The following exhibit is incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-K dated October 21, 2005:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Amendment No. 1 dated as of October 17, 2005 to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 12, 1999 and amended and restated as of November 23, 2004, among Georgia Gulf Corporation, the Eligible Subsidiaries party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

79




The following exhibit is incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-K dated October 4, 2005:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated September 30, 2005 to the Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 12, 2004 Among GGRC Corp., as Seller and Georgia Gulf Corporation and Georgia Gulf Chemicals and Vinyls, LLC as Initial Servicers and Blue Ridge Asset Funding Corporation as a Purchaser and Victory Receivables Corporation as a Purchaser and Wachovia Bank, National Association as Administrative Agent and Blue Ridge Purchaser Agent and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., New York Branch as Victory Purchaser Agent.

 

The following exhibit is incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-K dated May 23, 2005:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws.

 

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-K dated November 30, 2004:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Credit Agreement, dated as of November 12, 1999 and amended and restated as of November 23, 2004, among Georgia Gulf Corporation, the Eligible Subsidiaries referred to therein, the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as JPMorgan Chase Bank and as the Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent and Collateral Agent, and Bank of America, N.A., as Documentation Agent.

10.2

 

First Amendment to Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2004, by and among GGRC Corp.,Georgia Gulf Corporation, Georgia Gulf Chemicals and Vinyls, LLC, Blue Ridge Asset Funding Corporation, Victory Receivables Corporation, Wachovia Bank, National Association and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., New York Branch.

 

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-K dated November 18, 2004:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2004, among GGRC Corp., as Seller, Georgia Gulf Corporation and Georgia Gulf Chemicals and Vinyls, LLC, as Initial Servicers, Blue Ridge Asset Funding Corporation, as a Purchaser, Victory Receivables Corporation, as a Purchaser, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent and Blue Ridge Purchaser Agent, and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., New York Branch, as Victory Purchaser Agent.

10.2

 

First Amendment to Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2004, by and among Georgia Gulf Corporation, as a seller, Georgia Gulf Chemicals and Vinyls, LLC, as a seller, Georgia Gulf Lake Charles, LLC, as a seller, GGRC Corp. and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as the administrative agent.

 

80




The following exhibits are incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, filed November 1, 2004:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

*10.1

 

Form of Georgia Gulf Corporation Termination of Split Dollar Agreement and Implementation of Bonus Policy

*10.2

 

Form of Executive Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement.

*10.3

 

Form of Non-Employee Director Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement.

*10.4

 

Form of Executive Restricted Shares Agreement.

*10.5

 

Form of Deferred Shares Agreement.

 

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-K Report dated June 2, 2004:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Second Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated May 27, 2004, to the Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 15, 2002 among GGRC Corp., as Seller, Georgia Gulf Corporation and Georgia Gulf Chemicals and Vinyls, LLC, as Initial Servicers, Blue Ridge Asset Funding Corporation, as Purchaser, and Wachovia Bank, National Association as Administrative Agent.

99.2

 

Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 28, 2004 to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 12, 1999, and amended and restated as of December 3, 2003, among Georgia Gulf Corporation, the eligible subsidiaries party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JP Morgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent.

 

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference to Appendices B and C to Georgia Gulf’s proxy statement, filed April 13, 2004:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

*10.1

 

Georgia Gulf Corporation Amended and Restated 2002 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan.

*10.2

 

Georgia Gulf Corporation Senior Executive Bonus Plan.

 

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-K Report dated December 3, 2003:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 3, 2003 among Georgia Gulf Corporation, the eligible subsidiaries party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JP Morgan Chase Bank, as administrative Agent.

99.2

 

Indenture dated as of December 3, 2003, among Georgia Gulf Corporation and its subsidiary guarantors and SunTrust Bank, as Trustee, for the issuance of 7.125 percent senior notes due 2013.

 

The following exhibit is incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-K Report dated September 30, 2003:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

The Amendment dated as of September 26, 2003 to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 12, 1999 and amended and restated as of August 9, 2002, among Georgia Gulf Corporation (the “Company”), the eligible subsidiaries party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JP Morgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”).

 

81




The following exhibit is incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-K Report dated November 17, 2003:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

First Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated November 14, 2003 to the Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 15, 2002. Among GGRC Corp., as Seller and Georgia Gulf Corporation and Georgia Gulf Chemicals & Vinyls, LLC as Initial Servicers and Blue Ridge Asset Funding Corporation as Purchaser and Wachovia Bank, National Association as Administrative Agent.

 

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-K Report dated December 10, 2002, filed on December 11, 2002:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Receivables Purchase Agreement Dated as of November 15, 2002 Among GGRC Corp., as Seller and Georgia Gulf Corporation and Georgia Gulf Chemicals & Vinyls, LLC as Initial Servicers and Blue Ridge Asset Funding Corporation as Purchaser and Wachovia Bank, National Association as Administrative Agent.

99.2

 

Receivables Sale Agreement Dated as of November 15, 2002 Among Georgia Gulf Corporation as a Seller, Georgia Gulf Chemicals & Vinyls, LLC as a Seller and Georgia Gulf Lake Charles LLC as a Seller and GGRC Corp., as the Company.

 

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed August 13, 2002:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 9, 2002, amending the Credit Agreement dated as of November 12, 1999, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of April 17, 2000 and Amendment No. 2 dated as of June 30, 2001, among Georgia Gulf Corporation, the Eligible Subsidiaries party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JP Morgan Chase Bank (formerly known as the Chase Manhattan Bank), as Administrative Agent.

 

The following exhibit is incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Georgia Gulf’s proxy statement filed April 10, 2002.

Exhibit No.

 

Description

*10

 

2002 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan

 

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 10-Q Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2001, filed August 14, 2001:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Amendment No. 2, dated June 30, 2001 to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 12, 1999, among Georgia Gulf Corporation, the eligible subsidiaries party thereto and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent.

10.2

 

Letter Agreement dated as of July 20, 2001, among GGRC Corp., as Seller, and Georgia Gulf Corporation and Georgia Gulf Chemicals & Vinyls, LLC, as Initial Servicers, and Blue Ridge Asset Funding Corporation, as Purchaser, and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

82




The following exhibit is incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Georgia Gulf’s proxy statement filed March 10, 2001.

Exhibit No.

 

Description

*10

 

Second Amendment to Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

The following exhibit is incorporated by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form 8-A amendment filed December 13, 2000:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

4.1

 

Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2000, between Georgia Gulf and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A.

 

The following exhibits are incorporated herein by reference to Georgia Gulf’s 1999 Form 8-K Current Report dated November 18, 1999, filed November 19, 1999:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Credit Agreement dated as of November 12, 1999 between Georgia Gulf Corporation, the Eligible Subsidiaries referred to therein, the Lenders party thereto, and The Chase Manhattan Bank as Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent and Collateral Agent

 

The following exhibit is incorporated herein by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form S-8 (File No. 33-59433) filed July 20, 1998:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

*4

 

Georgia Gulf Corporation 1998 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan

 

The following exhibit is incorporated herein by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Form S-8 (File No. 33-64749) filed December 5, 1995:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

*10

 

Georgia Gulf Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

The following exhibit is incorporated herein by reference to Georgia Gulf’s 1991 Form 10-K Annual Report filed March 30, 1992:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

3(a)

 

Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation

 

The following exhibits are incorporated herein by reference to Georgia Gulf’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-9902) declared effective on December 17, 1986:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

3

(a)

 

Certificate of Agreement of Merger, with Certificate of Incorporation of Georgia Gulf as Exhibit A thereto, dated December 31, 1984, and amendments thereto

 

10

(g)

 

Agreement re: Liabilities among Georgia-Pacific, Georgia-Pacific Chemicals, Inc., and others dated, December 31, 1984

*

10

(u)

 

Executive Retirement Agreements

 

10

(v)

 

Salt Contract

 

83




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION

 

(Registrant)

Date: March 1, 2006

By:

 

/s/ EDWARD A. SCHMITT

 

 

 

Edward A. Schmitt,

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

 

 

Title

 

 

 

Date

 

/s/ EDWARD A. SCHMITT

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

March 1, 2006

Edward A. Schmitt

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

/s/ JAMES T. MATTHEWS

 

Vice President—Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial

 

March 1, 2006

James T. Matthews

 

Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

/s/ JOHN E. AKITT

 

Director

 

March 1, 2006

John E. Akitt

 

 

 

 

/s/ CHARLES L. HENRY

 

Director

 

March 1, 2006

Charles L. Henry

 

 

 

 

/s/ DENNIS M. CHORBA

 

Director

 

March 1, 2006

Dennis M. Chorba

 

 

 

 

/s/ PATRICK J. FLEMING

 

Director

 

March 1, 2006

Patrick J. Fleming

 

 

 

 

/s/ JERRY R. SATRUM

 

Director

 

March 1, 2006

Jerry R. Satrum

 

 

 

 

/s/ YOSHI KAWASHIMA

 

Director

 

March 1, 2006

Yoshi Kawashima

 

 

 

 

 

 

84




GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(In Thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

Balance at
beginning of 
period

 

Charged to
costs and
expenses, net
of recoveries

 

Charged to
other accounts

 

Deductions (2)

 

Balance at
end of period

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

$

1,785

 

 

 

$

4,118

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

(1,453

)

 

 

$

4,450

 

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

$

4,450

 

 

 

$

294

 

 

 

$

(2,065

)

 

 

$

(805

)

 

 

$

1,874

 

 

Note receivable reserve (1)

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

2,065

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

2,065

 

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

$

1,874

 

 

 

$

1,482

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

(899

)

 

 

$

2,457

 

 

Note receivable reserve (1)

 

 

$

2,065

 

 

 

$

(2,065

) (3)

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 


NOTES:

(1)          Portion of allowance for doubtful accounts transferred to note receivable reserve upon conversion of related receivables to note.

(2)          Accounts receivable balances written off during the period, net of recoveries.

(3)          This note receivable has been fully collected and as a result, the previously established reserve was reversed.

85