As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2007

Registration No. 333-141730

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 1 to
Form S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Chart Industries, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

 

One Infinity Corporate Centre Drive

Suite 300

Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125-5370

Tel.: (440) 753-1490

Fax: (440) 753-1491

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

Matthew J. Klaben, Esq.

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

One Infinity Corporate Centre Drive

Suite 300

Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125-5370

Tel.: (440) 753-1490

Fax: (440) 753-1491

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

 

With copies to:

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public:  As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this form are being offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box.  o

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion)

Issued          , 2007

 

12,612,648 Shares

 

 

Chart Industries, Inc.

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

The selling stockholders, consisting of FR X Chart Holdings LLC and certain of our executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, and other employees are selling 12,612,648 shares of our common stock. We will grant the underwriters an option to purchase up to 1,891,897 additional shares of newly issued common stock to cover over-allotments. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders. We intend to use the proceeds we receive from any shares sold pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option for general corporate purposes, including reduction of our indebtedness.

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “GTLS.” On May 17, 2007, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $20.54 per share.

 

Investing in the common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 11.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares to purchasers on or about          , 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

          , 2007

Darwin LNG liquefaction facility in Northern Territory, Australia,

including Chart vacuum-insulated pipe and

vacuum-insulated pipe riser modules for large storage tanks

 

Chart brazed aluminum heat exchanger core

for use in an air separation cold box

 

Atlantic LNG Company plant, Point Fortin, Trinidad & Tobago, including Chart liquefaction

cold boxes and vacuum-insulated pipe for jetty cool-down lines

(Photo courtesy Atlantic LNG Company, Point Fortin, Trinidad & Tobago)

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus. We are offering to sell shares of common stock and seeking offers to buy shares of common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the shares of common stock.

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

	•	increasing demand for natural gas and the geographic dislocation of supply and consumption, which is resulting in the need for a global network for liquefied natural gas, or LNG;
	•	increasing demand for natural gas processing, particularly in the Middle East, as crude oil producers look to utilize the gas portions of their reserves; and
	•	increased demand for natural and industrial gases resulting from rapid economic growth in developing areas, particularly Central and Eastern Europe and China.

Selling Stockholders		FR X Chart Holdings LLC, certain of our executive officers, including Messrs. Thomas and Biehl, and other employees. Our executive officers and other employees are selling 236,434 shares in the aggregate.

Shares of common stock offered by the selling stockholders		12,612,648 shares.

Shares of common stock outstanding after this offering		25,636,713 shares (including shares currently subject to options that are expected to be exercised in connection with this offering).

Over-allotment option		1,891,897 shares.

Use of proceeds		We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders will receive all the net proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock offered by this prospectus.
		In the event the underwriters exercise any part of their over-allotment option, we intend to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including reduction of our indebtedness. See “Use of Proceeds.”
Nasdaq Global Market		“GTLS”

	•	assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares; and

	•	excludes 2,352,938 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under stock options granted before the date of this prospectus that we expect to continue to be outstanding under our plans after this offering, which options would be exercisable at a weighted average exercise price of $7.13.

		Predecessor Company									Company
						January 1,					October 17,								Three Months				Three Months
		Year Ended				2005 to					2005 to				Year Ended				Ended				Ended
		December 31,				October 16,					December 31,				December 31,				March 31,				March 31,
		2004				2005					2005				2006				2006				2007
		(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)																	(Unaudited)
Statement of Operations Data:
Sales		$	305,576			$	305,497				$	97,652			$	537,454			$	120,840			$	152,463
Cost of sales(1)			211,770				217,284					75,733				382,535				83,853				112,604
Gross Profit			93,806				88,213					21,919				154,919				36,987				39,859
Selling, general and administrative expenses(2)			53,374				59,826					16,632				87,652				21,039				22,473
Restructuring and other operating expenses, net(3)			3,353				7,528					217				396				162				99
			56,727				67,354					16,849				88,048				21,201				22,572
Operating income			37,079				20,859					5,070				66,871				15,786				17,287
Interest expense, net(4)			4,712				4,164					5,556				25,461				6,545				6,346
Other expense (income)			(465	)			659					409				1,003				222				50
			4,247				4,823					5,965				26,464				6,767				6,396
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes and minority interest			32,832				16,036					(895	)			40,407				9,019				10,891
Income tax expense (benefit)			10,134				7,159					(441	)			13,044				2,980				3,713
Income (loss) from operations before minority interest			22,698				8,877					(454	)			27,363				6,039				7,178
Minority interest, net of taxes and other			(98	)			(19	)				(52	)			(468	)			(6	)			—
Net income (loss)		$	22,600			$	8,858				$	(506	)		$	26,895			$	6,045			$	7,178
Earnings (loss) per share data:
Basic earnings (loss) per share		$	4.22			$	1.65				$	(0.06	)		$	1.70			$	0.76			$	0.28
Diluted earnings (loss) per share(5)(6)		$	4.10			$	1.57				$	(0.06	)		$	1.65			$	0.73			$	0.28
Weighted average shares — basic			5,351				5,366					7,952				15,835				7,952				25,604
Weighted average shares — diluted			5,516				5,649					7,952				16,269				8,285				25,810
Cash flow data:
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	35,059			$	15,641				$	14,635			$	36,398			$	11,895			$	1,037
Net cash (used in) investing activities		$	(3,317	)		$	(20,799	)			$	(362,250	)		$	(38,664	)		$	(2,566	)		$	(6,646	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		$	(35,744	)		$	1,708				$	348,489			$	9,235			$	(5,839	)		$	(928	)
Other financial data:
Depreciation and amortization(7)		$	8,490			$	6,808				$	4,396			$	22,449			$	5,194			$	4,991
EBITDA(8)		$	45,936			$	26,989				$	9,005			$	87,849			$	20,764			$	22,228
Capital expenditures		$	9,379			$	11,038				$	5,601			$	22,253			$	2,566			$	5,024
Backlog		$	129,278			$	206,215				$	233,639			$	319,153			$	237,033			$	342,182

		As of December 31,				As of March 31,
		2006				2007
		(In thousands)				(Unaudited)
Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	18,854			$	12,359
Working capital(9)		$	73,290			$	84,286
Total assets(10)		$	724,875			$	736,316
Debt:
Short-term debt		$	750			$	—
Long-term debt		$	290,000
Total debt		$	290,750			$	290,000
Shareholder’s equity		$	219,734			$	226,963

(1)		The period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 includes non-cash inventory valuation charges of $8.9 million related to purchase accounting.

(2)		Includes amortization expense related to intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2004, the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, the year ended December 31, 2006, the three months ended March 31, 2006 and the three months ended March 31, 2007 of $2.8 million, $2.7 million, $3.0 million, $15.4 million, $3.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively. Includes charges (income), net of insurance recoveries, related to Hurricane Rita of $1.1 million, $0.4 million and ($2.3 million) for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and the year ended December 31, 2006, respectively.

(3)		Includes gain or loss on sale of assets.
(4)		Includes derivative contract valuation income or expense for interest rate collars to manage interest exposure relative to term debt.
(5)		The basic and diluted loss or earnings per share for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 are the same because incremental shares issuable upon conversion are anti-dilutive.

(6)		Diluted earnings (loss) per share for the three months ended March 31, 2007 are not comparable to diluted earnings (loss) per share for the three months ended March 31, 2006 due to the change in our capital structure upon completion of our initial public offering in July 2006.

(7)		The period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, the year ended December 31, 2006, the three months ended March 31, 2006 and the three months ended March 31, 2007 include financing costs amortization of $0.3 million, $1.5 million, $0.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively

(8)		“EBITDA” is calculated as net income (loss) before income tax expense and interest expense plus depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA adjusted as indicated below. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to represent cash flow from operations as defined by U.S. GAAP and should not be used as an alternative to net income as an indicator of operating performance or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are included in this prospectus because they are a basis upon which our management assesses financial performance. The senior secured credit facility also includes the definition of pro forma EBITDA which is used in the calculation of certain covenants. Pro forma EBITDA is calculated based on EBITDA and is adjusted in a manner similar to that described herein. While EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are frequently used as a measure of operations and the ability to meet debt service requirements, they are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation. The following table reconciles EBITDA to net income (loss):

		Predecessor Company									Company
						January 1,					October 17,								Three Months				Three Months
		Year Ended				2005 to					2005 to				Year Ended				Ended				Ended
		December 31,				October 16,					December 31,				December 31,				March 31,				March 31,
		2004				2005					2005				2006				2006				2007
Statement of Operations Data:
Net income (loss)		$	22,600			$	8,858				$	(506	)		$	26,895			$	6,045			$	7,178
Income tax expense (benefit)			10,134				7,159					(441	)			13,044				2,980				3,713
Interest expense — net(a)			4,712				4,164					5,556				25,461				6,545				6,346
Depreciation and amortization(b)			8,490				6,808					4,396				22,449				5,194				4,991
EBITDA		$	45,936			$	26,989				$	9,005			$	87,849			$	20,764			$	22,228

(a)		Includes derivative contract valuation income or expense for interest rate collars to manage interest exposure relative to term debt.

(b)		The period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, the year ended December 31, 2006, the three months ended March 31, 2006 and the three months ended March 31, 2007 include financing costs amortization of $0.3 million, $1.5 million, $0.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

		Predecessor Company									Company
						January 1,					October 17,								Three Months				Three Months
		Year Ended				2005 to					2005 to				Year Ended				Ended				Ended
		December 31,				October 16,					December 31,				December 31,				March 31,				March 31,
		2004				2005					2005				2006				2006				2007
		(In thousands)
EBITDA		$	45,936			$	26,989				$	9,005			$	87,849			$	20,764			$	22,228
Stock-based compensation expense(a)			2,433				9,508					437				1,907				321				361
Inventory valuation charge(b)			—				—					8,903				—				—				—
Acquisition expenses(c)			—				6,602					—				—				—				—
In-process research and development charge(d)			—				2,768					—				—				—				—
Hurricane & storm costs (recoveries)(e)			—				1,057					406				(1,593	)			182				—
Offering expenses(f)			—				—					—				—				—				260
Employee separation and plant closure costs(g)			3,346				1,700					255				396				162				99
Reorganization expenses(h)			706				1,470					88				162				45				—
Appraisal rights settlement(i)			—				—					500				—				—				—
Management fees(j)			380				306					—				—				—				—
Loss (gain) on sale of assets(k)			133				(131	)				78				—				—				—
Adjusted EBITDA		$	52,934			$	50,269				$	19,672			$	88,721			$	21,474			$	22,948

(a)		Represents stock-based compensation charges for stock and stock options issued to key employees and directors, and an additional charge for the cash-out of stock options in the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 as a result of the Acquisition. Although it may be of limited relevance to holders of our debt instruments, it may be of more relevance to our equity holders, since such equity holders ultimately bear such expenses

(b)		Represents a non-cash inventory valuation charge recorded in cost of sales for the adjustment of inventory to fair value as a result of purchase accounting as of October 17, 2005, the closing date of the Acquisition. Under purchase accounting, inventory was adjusted to the fair value as of the date indicated above, and a corresponding charge was taken in the subsequent period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 cost of sales as the inventory was sold.
(c)		Represents acquisition expenses, primarily professional fees, incurred by us as a result of the Acquisition.
(d)		Represents a non-cash charge for purchased in-process research and development in conjunction with the acquisition of Changzhou CEM Cryo Equipment Co., Ltd., or CEM, in 2005.
(e)		Represents losses and costs incurred related to Hurricane Rita at our New Iberia, Louisiana facilities, net of insurance recoveries.

(f)		Represents offering expenses, primarily professional fees, incurred by us as a result of this offering.

(g)		Includes inventory valuation charges recorded in cost of sales, and severance expenses, facility exit costs and non-operating expenses related to the execution of our operational restructuring plan, which primarily included moving the Burnsville, Minnesota manufacturing operations to Canton, Georgia and closing the Plaistow, New Hampshire manufacturing facility. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for additional information.

(h)		Represents pre-bankruptcy debt restructuring-related fees, professional fees and expenses, and a claim settlement related to our 2003 bankruptcy reorganization. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for additional information.

(i)		Represents a charge for the settlement of former Predecessor Company stockholders’ appraisal rights claims as a result of the Acquisition.

(j)		Represents non-recurring management fees charged by our Predecessor Company majority stockholders, which are not charged by First Reserve.

(k)		Includes non-recurring gains and losses and charges on the sale, disposal or impairment of assets. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for additional information.

(9)		Working capital is defined as current assets, excluding cash, less current liabilities, excluding short-term debt.

(10)		Includes $247.1 million of goodwill and $146.6 million of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2006. Includes $246.8 million of goodwill and $143.6 million of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of March 31, 2007.

 

Investing in our common stock involves substantial risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below as well as the other information contained in this prospectus, prior to investing in our common stock. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In such case, you may lose all or part of your original investment.

 

Risks Related to our Business

 

The markets we serve are subject to cyclical demand, which could harm our business and make it difficult to project long-term performance.

 

Demand for our products depends in large part upon the level of capital and maintenance expenditures by many of our customers and end users, in particular those customers in the global hydrocarbon and industrial gas markets. These customers’ expenditures historically have been cyclical in nature and vulnerable to economic downturns. Decreased capital and maintenance spending by these customers could have a material adverse effect on the demand for our products and our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, this historically cyclical demand limits our ability to make accurate long-term predictions about the performance of our company.

 

For example, certain of our core businesses underperformed in the years prior to 2004 due to a general downturn in capital spending in the global and domestic industrial gas markets. While we have experienced demand growth since late 2003 in the global hydrocarbon and industrial gas markets, this growth may not continue and our businesses’ performance may not be markedly better or may be worse in the future. For example, while we have recently experienced increased order activity for smaller LNG projects and industrial gas plants, we have experienced delay in the receipt of some large LNG liquefier and GTL projects resulting from industry cost growth, constrained resources and local political uncertainty. In addition, changing world economic and political conditions may reduce the willingness of our customers and prospective customers to commit funds to purchase our products and services. Further, in 2005, the U.S. government announced the reduction of the amount of dollars it offered as reimbursement to our customers for purchasing our medical oxygen therapy products, which has adversely affected demand for these products.

 

The loss of, or significant reduction or delay in, purchases by our largest customers could reduce our revenues and profitability.

 

Although no single customer accounted for more than 10% of our total sales for the year ended December 31, 2006, a small number of customers has accounted for a substantial portion of our historical net sales, and we expect that a limited number of customers will continue to represent a substantial portion of our sales for the foreseeable future. Approximately 35%, 33% and 39% of our sales for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, were made to Praxair, Air Liquide, Air Products, Bechtel, Airgas, Linde and JGC, which management believes are the largest producers and distributors of hydrocarbon and industrial gases, and their suppliers. The loss of any of our major customers or a decrease or delay in orders or anticipated spending by such customers could materially reduce our revenues and profitability. Our largest customers, could also engage in business combinations which could increase their size, reduce their demand for our products as they recognize synergies or rationalize assets and increase or decrease the portion of our total sales concentration to any single customer. For example, Linde and BOC, or combined known as The Linde Group, engaged in a business combination in 2006. Additionally, we currently sell all of our magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, components to GE, a leading worldwide manufacturer of MRI equipment, which accounted for $8.8 million in sales for the year ended December 31, 2006. The loss of, or significant reduction in, purchases of our MRI components by GE could reduce revenues and profitability in our BioMedical segment.

 

We may be unable to compete successfully in the highly competitive markets in which we operate.

 

Although many of our products serve niche markets, a number of our direct and indirect competitors in these markets are major corporations, some of which have substantially greater technical, financial and marketing resources than we, and other competitors may enter these markets. Any increase in competition may cause us to lose market share or compel us to reduce prices to remain competitive, which could result in reduced sales and earnings.

Companies that operate in our industry are Air Products, Kobe, The Linde Group, Nordon, Puritan-Bennett, a division of Tyco International, Ltd., Sumitomo and Taylor-Wharton, a Harsco Company. Additionally, we compete with several suppliers owned by global industrial gas producers and many smaller fabrication-only facilities around the world. Increased competition with these companies could prevent the institution of price increases or could require price reductions or increased spending on research and development and marketing and sales, any of which could materially reduce our revenues, profitability or both. In the event of an industry downturn, customers who typically outsource their need for cryogenic systems to us may use their excess capacity to produce such systems themselves. We also compete in the sale of a limited number of products with certain of our major customers.

 

We will soon be required to evaluate our internal controls under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and any adverse results from such evaluation could result in a loss of investor confidence in our financial reports and have an adverse effect on our stock price.

 

The initial public offering resulted in our becoming subject to reporting and other obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act.” Beginning with the year ending December 31, 2007, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we will be required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting, and our auditors will be required to deliver an attestation report on management’s assessment of and operating effectiveness of internal controls. The report by our management must contain, among other matters, an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and audited consolidated financial statements as of the end of our fiscal year. This assessment must include disclosure of any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting identified by management.

 

Unlike many companies whose shares are publicly traded, we are not presently required to be in compliance with Section 404’s internal control requirements. We have substantial effort ahead of us to complete documentation of our internal control system and financial processes, information systems, assessment of their design, remediation of control deficiencies identified in these efforts and management testing of the designs and operation of internal controls. We may not be able to complete the required management assessment by our reporting deadline or may not meet applicable standards in following years. An inability to complete and document this assessment or to comply in following years could result in our receiving less than an unqualified report from our auditors with respect to our internal controls. This could cause investors to lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which could decrease the price of our stock.

 

As a global business, we are exposed to economic, political and other risks in different countries which could materially reduce our revenues, profitability or cash flows, or materially increase our liabilities.

 

Since we manufacture and sell our products worldwide, our business is subject to risks associated with doing business internationally. In 2006, 52% of our sales were made in international markets. Our future results could be harmed by a variety of factors, including:

 

 

 

Our international operations also expose us to different local political and business risks and challenges. For example, we are faced with potential difficulties in staffing and managing local operations and we have to design local solutions to manage credit and legal risks of local customers and distributors. In addition, because some of our international sales are to suppliers that perform work for foreign governments, we are subject to the political risks associated with foreign government projects. For example, certain foreign governments may require suppliers for a project to obtain products solely from local manufacturers or may prohibit the use of products manufactured in certain countries.

 

International growth and expansion into emerging markets, such as China, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, may cause us difficulty due to greater regulatory barriers than in the United States, the necessity of adapting to new regulatory systems, problems related to entering new markets with different economic, social and political systems, and significant competition from the primary participants in these markets, some of which may have substantially greater resources than us.

 

Our overall success as a global business depends, in part, upon our ability to succeed in differing economic, social and political conditions. We may not succeed in developing and implementing policies and strategies to counter the foregoing factors effectively in each location where we do business and the foregoing factors may cause a reduction in our revenues, profitability or cash flows, or cause an increase in our liabilities.

 

If we are unable to successfully manage our growth, it may place a significant strain on our management and administrative resources and lead to increased costs and reduced profitability.

 

We expect to continue to expand our operations in the United States and abroad, particularly in China and the Czech Republic. Our ability to operate our business successfully and implement our strategies depends, in part, on our ability to allocate our resources optimally in each of our facilities in order to maintain efficient operations as we expand. Ineffective management of our growth could cause manufacturing inefficiencies, increase our operating costs, place significant strain on our management and administrative resources and prevent us from implementing our business plan.

 

For example, we have invested or plan to invest up to $30 million in new capital expenditures in the United States and China in 2006 and 2007 related to the expected growth of our E&C and D&S segments. If we fail to implement these capital projects in a timely and effective manner, we may lose the opportunity to obtain some customer orders. Even if we effectively implement these projects, the orders needed to support the capital expenditure may not be obtained, may be delayed or may be less than expected, which may result in sales or profitability at lower levels than anticipated. We have experienced some delay in orders related to our E&C segment expansion from the timing initially anticipated in connection with that expansion, which has resulted in the underutilization of some of our capacity, and we cannot provide assurance when those orders will be obtained, if ever. In addition, potential cost overruns, delays or unanticipated problems in any capital expansion could make the expansion more costly than originally predicted.

 

If we lose our senior management or other key employees, our business may be adversely affected.

 

Our ability to successfully operate and grow our business and implement our strategies is largely dependent on the efforts, abilities and services of our senior management and other key employees. Our future success will also depend on, among other factors, our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, such as engineers and other skilled labor, either through direct hiring or the acquisition of other businesses employing such professionals. Our products, many of which are highly engineered, represent specialized applications of cryogenic or low temperature technologies and know-how, and many of the markets we serve represent niche markets for these specialized applications. Accordingly, we rely heavily on engineers, salespersons, business unit leaders, senior management and other key employees who have experience in these specialized applications and are knowledgeable about these niche markets, our products, and our company. Additionally, we may modify our management structure from time to time. We recently named a new president to lead our E&C segment, and the change of leadership in that segment may create marketing, operational and other business risks. The loss of the services of these senior managers or other key employees, any modification of our management structure or the failure to attract or retain other qualified personnel could reduce the competitiveness of our business or otherwise impair our business prospects.

 

Fluctuations in the prices and availability of raw materials and our exposure to fixed-price contracts, including exposure to fixed pricing on long-term customer contracts, could negatively impact our financial results.

 

The pricing and availability of raw materials for use in our businesses can be volatile due to numerous factors beyond our control, including general, domestic and international economic conditions, labor costs, production levels, competition, consumer demand, import duties and tariffs and currency exchange rates. This volatility can significantly affect the availability and cost of raw materials for us, and may, therefore, increase the short-term or long-term costs of raw materials.

 

The commodity metals we use, including aluminum and stainless steel, have experienced significant upward fluctuations in price. On average, over half of our cost of sales is represented by the cost of commodities metals. We have generally been able to recover the cost increases through price increases to our customers; however, during periods of rising prices of raw materials, such as in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, we may be unable to pass a portion of such increases on to our customers. Conversely, when raw material prices decline, customer demands for lower prices could result in lower sale prices and, to the extent we have existing inventory, lower margins. As a result, fluctuations in raw material prices could result in lower revenues and profitability.

 

In addition, a substantial portion of our sales is derived from fixed-price contracts for large system projects, which may involve long-term fixed price commitments to customers. Among our long-term fixed-price contracts, we presently are executing two large projects each involving over $20 million of revenue on which our margins have deteriorated significantly, as previously disclosed. On one of these projects, we have experienced significant cost overruns, and the other was disrupted by a storm and related damage. The customer for one of these projects made the decision in the first quarter of 2007 to repair the damage through costly purchases of new replacement materials and has asserted we are responsible for other repairs. We may be required to pay for some of these or other repair costs in the future to the extent the customer successfully asserts that we are responsible for the damage occurring, which we would contest vigorously. To the extent that any of our fixed-price contracts are delayed, contract counterparties successfully assert claims against us, the original cost estimates in these or other contracts prove to be inaccurate or the contracts do not permit us to pass increased costs on to our customers, profitability from a particular contract may decrease, which, in turn, could decrease our revenues and overall profitability. The uncertainties associated with our fixed-price contracts make it more difficult to predict our future results and exacerbate the risk that our results will not match expectations, which has happened in the past.

 

We may fail to successfully acquire or integrate companies that provide complementary products or technologies.

 

A component of our business strategy is the acquisition of businesses that complement our existing products and services. Such a strategy involves the potential risks inherent in assessing the value, strengths, weaknesses, contingent or other liabilities and potential profitability of acquisition candidates and in integrating the operations

of acquired companies. In addition, any acquisition of a foreign business may increase our exposure to certain risks inherent in doing business outside the United States.

 

From time to time, we may have acquisition discussions with potential target companies. If a large acquisition opportunity arises and we proceed, a substantial portion of our surplus borrowing capacity could be used for the acquisition or we may seek additional debt or equity financing.

 

We are not presently engaged in any negotiations concerning any acquisition which may be material in size and scope to our business. We anticipate, however, that one or more potential acquisition opportunities could become available in the future. If and when appropriate acquisition opportunities become available, we may pursue them actively. Any acquisition may or may not occur and, if an acquisition does occur, it may not be successful in enhancing our business for one or more of the following reasons:

 

 

Inherent in any future acquisition is the risk of transitioning company cultures and facilities. The failure to efficiently and effectively achieve such transitions could increase our costs and decrease our profitability.

 

If we are unable to continue our technological innovation in our business and successful introduction of new commercial products, our profitability could be adversely affected.

 

The industries we serve, particularly the energy and biomedical industries, experience periodic technological change and product improvement. Manufacturers periodically introduce new generations of products or require new technological capacity to develop customized products or respond to industry developments or needs. Our future growth will depend on our ability to gauge the direction of the commercial and technological progress in our markets, as well as our ability to acquire new product technology or fund and successfully develop, manufacture and market products in this constantly changing environment. We must continue to identify, develop, manufacture and market innovative products on a timely basis to replace existing products in order to maintain our profit margins and competitive position. We may not be successful in acquiring and developing new products or technology and any of our new products may not be accepted by our customers. If we fail to keep pace with evolving technological innovations in the markets we serve, our profitability may decrease.

 

We carry significant goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets on our balance sheet, which are subject to impairment testing and could subject us to significant charges to earnings in the future if impairment occurs.

 

As of March 31, 2007, we had goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets of $281.3 million, which represented approximately 38% of our total assets. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually or more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment may exist. Factors that could indicate that our goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired include a decline in stock price and market capitalization, lower than projected operating results and cash flows, and slower growth rates in our industry. To test for impairment, a model to estimate the fair market value of our reporting segments has been developed. This fair market value model incorporates our estimates of future operating results and cash flows, estimates of allocations of certain assets and cash flows among reporting segments, estimates of future growth rates and our judgment regarding the applicable discount rates to use to discount those estimated operating results and cash flows. If an impairment is determined to exist, we are required to record a charge to earnings in our financial statements, which may be significant, as in 2002 when we recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $92.4 million to write off non-deductible goodwill of the D&S segment. While we do not presently anticipate that any of our goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets will be impaired in the

foreseeable future, if an impairment is determined to exist and we are required to record a charge to earnings, it may result in significantly decreased profitability and shareholders’ equity.

 

We may be required to make material expenditures in order to comply with environmental, health and safety laws, or incur additional liabilities under these laws.

 

We are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that impose various environmental controls on us or otherwise relate to environmental protection and various health and safety matters, including the discharge of pollutants in the air and water, the handling, use, treatment, storage and clean-up of solid and hazardous materials and wastes, the investigation and remediation of soil and groundwater affected by hazardous substances, and the requirement to obtain and maintain permits and licenses. These laws and regulations often impose strict, retroactive and joint and several liability for the costs of, and damages resulting from, cleaning up our, or our predecessors’, past or present facilities and third party disposal sites. Compliance with these laws generally increases the costs of transportation and storage of raw materials and finished products, as well as the costs of storing and disposing waste, and could decrease our liquidity and profitability and increase our liabilities. Health and safety and other laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate, impose various requirements on us including state licensing requirements that may benefit our customers. If we are found to have violated any of these laws, we may become subject to corrective action orders and fines or penalties, and incur substantial costs, including substantial remediation costs and commercial liability to our customers. For example, in a project involving over $20 million in total revenue, we were subject to an investigation that commenced in the fourth quarter of 2006 by state regulators concerning whether one of our subsidiaries is required to have a license to install our manufactured equipment. Although we do not believe we are required to be licensed, if we were formally found to be in violation of the licensing requirement, we could owe substantial penalties to the state or be required to return job revenues to the customer. Further, we also could be subject to future liability resulting from conditions that are currently unknown to us that could be discovered in the future.

 

We are currently remediating or developing work plans for remediation of environmental conditions involving certain current or former facilities. For example, the discovery of contamination arising from historical industrial operations at our Clarksville, Arkansas property has exposed us, and in the future may continue to expose us, to remediation obligations. To date, our environmental remediation expenditures and costs for otherwise complying with environmental laws and regulations have not been material, but the uncertainties associated with the investigation and remediation of contamination and the fact that such laws or regulations change frequently makes predicting the cost or impact of such laws and regulations on our future operations uncertain. Stricter environmental, safety and health laws, regulations or enforcement policies could result in substantial costs and liabilities to us and could subject us to more rigorous scrutiny. Consequently, compliance with these laws could result in significant expenditures as well as other costs and liabilities that could decrease our liquidity and profitability and increase our liabilities.

 

The insolvency of our formerly consolidated subsidiary, Chart Heat Exchangers Limited, could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity and financial position.

 

On March 28, 2003, our U.K. subsidiary, Chart Heat Exchangers Limited, or CHEL, which previously operated the closed Wolverhampton, United Kingdom manufacturing facility, filed for a voluntary administration under the U.K. Insolvency Act of 1986. CHEL’s application for voluntary administration was approved on April 1, 2003 and an administrator was appointed. Additionally, we received information that indicated that CHEL’s net pension plan obligations had increased significantly, primarily due to a decline in plan asset values and interest rates, as well as increased plan liabilities, resulting in an estimated plan deficit of approximately $12 million as of March 2003. Based on our financial condition in March 2003, we determined not to advance funds to CHEL in amounts necessary to fund CHEL’s obligations. Since CHEL was unable to fund its net pension deficit, the trustees of the CHEL pension plan requested a decision to wind-up the plan from a U.K. pension regulatory board. That board approved the wind-up as of March 28, 2003. While no claims related to the CHEL insolvency presently are pending against us, persons impacted by the insolvency or others could bring pension and/or benefit related claims against us. Claims may be asserted against us for pension or other obligations of CHEL related to these matters. To

the extent we are found to have significant liability with respect to CHEL’s obligations, such liability could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, profitability and financial condition as a result of CHEL’s insolvency.

 

Due to the nature of our business and products, we may be liable for damages based on product liability and warranty claims.

 

Due to the high pressures and low temperatures at which many of our products are used and the fact that some of our products are relied upon by our customers or end users in their facilities or operations, or are manufactured for relatively broad consumer use, we face an inherent risk of exposure to claims in the event that the failure, use or misuse of our products results, or is alleged to result, in bodily injury, property damage or economic loss. We believe that we meet or exceed existing professional specification standards recognized or required in the industries in which we operate. We have been subject to claims in the past, none of which have had a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations, and we may be subject to claims in the future. Although we currently maintain product liability coverage, which we believe is adequate for the continued operation of our business, such insurance may become difficult to obtain or unobtainable in the future on terms acceptable to us and may not cover warranty claims. A successful product liability claim or series of claims against us, including one or more consumer claims purporting to constitute class actions, in excess of our insurance coverage or a significant warranty claim or series of claims against us could materially decrease our liquidity and impair our financial condition.

 

Increases in labor costs, potential labor disputes and work stoppages at our facilities could materially decrease our revenues and profitability.

 

Our financial performance is affected by the availability of qualified personnel and the cost of labor. As of March 31, 2007, we had 2,686 employees, including 906 salaried, 324 bargaining unit hourly and 1,456 non-bargaining unit hourly employees. Employees represented by a union were subject to one collective bargaining agreement in the United States that expired in February 2007. A new three-year agreement was entered into in February 2007, and expires in February 2010. In connection with negotiating this new collective bargaining agreement, we experienced a work stoppage from the time that the previous agreement expired on February 3, 2007 until the terms of the new agreement were reached on February 7, 2007. If we are unable to enter into new, satisfactory labor agreements with our unionized employees when necessary in the future or other labor controversies or union organizing efforts arise, we could experience a significant disruption to our operations, lose business or experience an increase in our operating expenses, which could reduce our profit margins.

 

We may have to make significant cash payments to our defined benefit pension plans, reducing the cash available for our business.

 

We have four defined benefit pension plans covering certain U.S. hourly and salaried employees. All of these plans have been frozen. Our current funding policy is to contribute at least the minimum funding amounts required by law. Based on current actuarial estimates, we contributed $1.3 million to our U.S. defined benefit pension plans during 2006 and expect to contribute $0.7 million during 2007. If the performance of our assets in our pension plans does not meet our expectations or if other actuarial assumptions are modified, our contributions could be higher than we expect, thus reducing the available cash for our business.

 

Fluctuations in exchange and interest rates may affect our operating results.

 

Fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar may decrease our sales or earnings. Because our consolidated financial results are reported in U.S. dollars, if we generate sales or earnings in other currencies, the translation of those results into U.S. dollars can result in a significant increase or decrease in the amount of those sales or earnings. We also bid for certain foreign projects in U.S. dollars. If the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to the value of the local currency, we may be less competitive on those projects. In addition, our debt service requirements are primarily in U.S. dollars and a portion of our cash flow is generated in euros or other foreign currencies. Significant changes in the value of the foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar could limit our ability to meet interest and principal payments on our debt and impair our financial condition.

 

In addition, fluctuations in currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may make it more difficult to perform period-to-period comparisons of our reported results of operations. For purposes of accounting, the assets and liabilities of our foreign operations, where the local currency is the functional currency, are translated using period-end exchange rates, and the revenues and expenses of our foreign operations are translated using average exchange rates during each period.

 

In addition to currency translation risks, we incur currency transaction risk whenever we or one of our subsidiaries enters into either a purchase or a sales transaction using a currency other than the local currency of the transacting entity. Given the volatility of exchange rates, we may not be able to effectively manage our currency and/or translation risks. Volatility in currency exchange rates may decrease our revenues and profitability and impair our financial condition. We have purchased and may continue to purchase foreign currency forward purchase and sales contracts to manage the risk of adverse currency fluctuations.

 

Our operations could be impacted by the effects of hurricanes, which could be more severe than the damage and impact that our New Iberia, Louisiana operations encountered from hurricanes in 2005.

 

Some of our operations, including our operations in New Iberia, Louisiana and Houston, Texas, are located in geographic regions and physical locations that are susceptible to physical damage and longer-term economic disruption from hurricanes. We also could make significant capital expenditures in hurricane-susceptible locations from time to time. These weather events can disrupt our operations, result in damage to our properties and negatively affect the local economy in which these facilities operate. In 2005, for example, our New Iberia, Louisiana operations encountered some damage from the storm surge and flooding caused by Hurricane Rita. Future hurricanes may cause production or delivery delays as a result of the physical damage to the facilities, the unavailability of employees and temporary workers, the shortage of or delay in receiving certain raw materials or manufacturing supplies and the diminished availability or delay of transportation for customer shipments, any of which may have an adverse affect on our revenues and profitability. Although we maintain insurance subject to certain deductibles, which may cover some of our losses, that insurance may become unavailable or prove to be inadequate.

 

Failure to protect our intellectual property and know-how could reduce or eliminate any competitive advantage and reduce our sales and profitability.

 

We rely on a combination of internal procedures, nondisclosure agreements, intellectual property rights assignment agreements, licenses, patents, trademarks and copyright law to protect our intellectual property and know-how. Our intellectual property rights may not be successfully asserted in the future or may be invalidated, circumvented or challenged. For example, we frequently explore and evaluate potential relationships and projects with other parties, which often requires that we provide the potential partner with confidential technical information. While confidentiality agreements are typically put in place, there is a risk the potential partner could violate the confidentiality agreement and use our technical information for its own benefit or the benefit of others or compromise the confidentiality. In addition, the laws of certain foreign countries in which our products may be sold or manufactured do not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. For example, we are increasing our manufacturing capabilities and sales in China, where laws may not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as in the United States. Failure or inability to protect our proprietary information could result in a decrease in our sales or profitability.

 

We have obtained and applied for some U.S. and foreign trademark and patent registrations and will continue to evaluate the registration of additional trademarks and patents, as appropriate. We cannot guarantee that any of our pending applications will be approved. Moreover, even if the applications are approved, third parties may seek to oppose or otherwise challenge them. A failure to obtain registrations in the United States or elsewhere could limit our ability to protect our trademarks and technologies and could impede our business. The patents in our patent portfolio are scheduled to expire between 2007 and 2024.

 

In addition, we may be unable to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property rights and know-how without our authorization or from independently developing intellectual property that is the same as or similar to ours, particularly in those countries where the laws do not protect our intellectual property rights as fully as in the United States. We compete in a number of industries (for example, heat exchangers and cryogenic storage) that are

small or specialized, which makes it easier for a competitor to monitor our activities and increases the risk that ideas will be stolen. The unauthorized use of our know-how by third parties could reduce or eliminate any competitive advantage we have developed, cause us to lose sales or otherwise harm our business or increase our expenses as we attempt to enforce our rights.

 

We may be subject to claims that our products or processes infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may cause us to pay unexpected litigation costs or damages, modify our products or processes or prevent us from selling our products.

 

Although it is our intention to avoid infringing or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of others, third parties may nevertheless claim (and have in the past claimed) that our processes and products infringe their intellectual property and other rights. For example, a third party has claimed that we may infringe certain patents related to cryogenic pipe technology and may have breached an undertaking relating to same, although we believe that these claims are without merit. In addition, our BioMedical business manufactures products for relatively broad consumer use, is actively marketing these products in multiple jurisdictions internationally and risks infringing technologies that may be protected in one or more of these international jurisdictions as the scope of our international marketing efforts expands. Our strategies of capitalizing on growing international demand as well as developing new innovative products across multiple business lines present similar infringement claim risks both internationally and in the United States as we expand the scope of our product offerings and markets. We compete with other companies for contracts in some small or specialized industries, which increases the risk that the other companies will develop overlapping technologies leading to an increased possibility that infringement claims will arise. Whether or not these claims have merit, we may be subject to costly and time-consuming legal proceedings, and this could divert our management’s attention from operating our businesses. In order to resolve such proceedings, we may need to obtain licenses from these third parties or substantially re-engineer or rename our products in order to avoid infringement. In addition, we might not be able to obtain the necessary licenses on acceptable terms, or at all, or be able to reengineer or rename our products successfully.

 

We are subject to regulations governing the export of our products.

 

Due to our significant foreign sales, our export activities are subject to regulation, including the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control’s regulations. While we believe we are in compliance with these regulations, we may currently or may in the future be in violation of these regulations. Any violations may subject us to government scrutiny, investigation and civil and criminal penalties and may limit our ability to export our products.

 

Additional liabilities related to taxes could adversely impact our financial results, financial condition and cash flow.

 

We are subject to tax and related obligations in the jurisdictions in which we operate or do business, including state, local, federal and foreign taxes. The taxing rules of the various jurisdictions in which we operate or do business often are complex and subject to varying interpretations, and tax authorities may challenge tax positions that we take or historically have taken, and may assess taxes where we have not made tax filings or may audit the tax filings we have made and assess additional taxes. Some of these assessments may be substantial, and also may involve the imposition of substantial penalties and interest. For example, a state in which we operate has asserted that we may be liable for substantial state income taxes, penalties and interest related to our operations in the state from 1993 to 2000. The taxes asserted by the state pre-date the Acquisition, and we believe that if the state issued a formal assessment and was successful in pursuing that assessment against us, the amounts owed, except for penalties and interest for periods after the Acquisition, would increase our goodwill instead of being charged against our earnings, but the negative cash flow impact could be significant and there could be a negative impact on our earnings related to post-Acquisition penalties and interest. We would vigorously contest any such assessment, if issued, including through administrative and court proceedings, but we may be unsuccessful and ultimately required to pay additional taxes, penalties and interest. Also, our federal income tax returns for 2004 and 2005 are currently under routine audit by the Internal Revenue Service. These audits could possibly result in additional taxes, penalties and interest. The payment of substantial additional taxes, penalties or interest resulting from these assessments could materially and adversely impact our financial results, financial condition and cash flow.

 

As a provider of products to the U.S. government, we are subject to federal rules, regulations, audits and investigations, the violation or failure of which could adversely affect our business.

 

We sell certain of our products to the U.S. government and, therefore, we must comply with and are affected by laws and regulations governing purchases by the U.S. government. Government contract laws and regulations affect how we do business with our government customers and, in some instances, impose added costs on our business. For example, a violation of specific laws and regulations could result in the imposition of fines and penalties or the termination of our contracts or debarment from bidding on contracts. In some instances, these laws and regulations impose terms or rights that are more favorable to the government than those typically available to commercial parties in negotiated transactions.

 

Depending upon the number of shares sold by First Reserve in this offering, we may be influenced by First Reserve whose interests may not be aligned with yours or ours.

 

FR X Chart Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of First Reserve, owns a significant portion of our common stock. If FR X Chart Holdings, LLC continues to own a significant portion of our stock after this offering, First Reserve may have the ability to influence our policies and operations, including the election of directors, the appointment of management, the entering into of mergers, sales of substantially all of our assets and other extraordinary transactions, future issuances of our common stock or other securities, the implementation of stock repurchase programs, the payments of dividends, if any, on our common stock, the incurrence of debt by us and amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. In addition, if FR X Chart Holdings, LLC continues to hold 10% of our common stock, FR X Chart Holdings, LLC has the right to designate members of our board of directors as described below under the caption “Certain Related Party Transactions — Stockholders Agreement.” Additionally, First Reserve is in the business of advising investment partnerships on making investments in companies and may from time to time cause them to acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us or which may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. So long as FR X Chart Holdings, LLC continues to own a significant amount of our equity, even if it is less than 50%, First Reserve will continue to be able to strongly influence or effectively control our decisions.

 

Risks Related to our Leverage

 

Our substantial leverage and significant debt service obligations could adversely affect our financial condition, limit our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, impact the way we operate our business, expose us to interest rate risk to the extent of our variable rate debt and prevent us from fulfilling our debt service obligations.

 

We are highly leveraged and have significant debt service obligations. Our financial performance could be affected by our substantial leverage. As of March 31, 2007, our total indebtedness was $290.0 million. In addition, at that date, we had approximately $22.6 million of letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding and borrowing capacity of approximately $92.4 million under the revolving portion of our senior secured credit facility, after giving effect to the letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding. We may also incur additional indebtedness in the future. This high level of indebtedness could have important negative consequences to us and you, including:

 

 

 

Our net cash flow generated from operating activities was $1.0 million, $36.4 million, $30.3 million (on a combined basis) and $35.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and the years 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Our high level of indebtedness requires that we use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to pay principal of, and interest on, our indebtedness, which will reduce the availability of cash to fund working capital requirements, capital expenditures, research and development or other general corporate or business activities, including future acquisitions.

 

In addition, a substantial portion of our indebtedness bears interest at variable rates. If market interest rates increase, debt service on our variable-rate debt will rise, which would adversely affect our cash flow. Although our senior secured credit facility requires us to employ hedging strategies such that not less than 50% of our total debt carries a fixed rate of interest for a period of three years following consummation of the Acquisition, any hedging arrangement put in place may not offer complete protection from this risk. Additionally, the remaining portion of the senior secured credit facility may not be hedged and, accordingly, the portion that is not hedged will be subject to changes in interest rates.

 

Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations and future borrowings may not be available to us under our senior secured credit facility or otherwise in an amount sufficient to permit us to pay the principal and interest on our indebtedness or fund our other liquidity needs. We may be unable to refinance any of our debt, including our senior secured credit facility or the notes, on commercially reasonable terms. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to sell assets, seek additional capital or seek to restructure or refinance our indebtedness. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. Our senior secured credit facility and the indenture under which the notes were issued restrict our ability to use the proceeds from asset sales. We may be unable to consummate those asset sales to raise capital or sell assets at prices that we believe are fair and proceeds that we do receive may be inadequate to meet any debt service obligations then due. See “Description of Indebtedness.”

 

Despite our current leverage, we may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks that we face.

 

We may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. The terms of our debt instruments do not fully prohibit us from doing so. The revolving credit portion of our senior secured credit facility provides commitments of up to $115.0 million, approximately $92.4 million of which would have been available for future borrowings (after giving effect to letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding) as of March 31, 2007. We may also further increase the size of our senior secured credit facility. See “Description of Indebtedness — Senior Secured Credit Facility.” If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify.

 

The senior secured credit facility and the indenture governing the notes contain a number of restrictive covenants which limit our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or engage in other business activities that may be in our interest.

 

The senior secured credit facility and the indenture governing the notes impose, and the terms of any future indebtedness may impose, operating and other restrictions on us and our subsidiaries. Such restrictions affect or will

affect, and in many respects limit or prohibit, among other things, our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:

 

 

The senior secured credit facility also requires us to achieve certain financial and operating results and maintain compliance with specified financial ratios. Our ability to comply with these ratios may be affected by events beyond our control.

 

The restrictions contained in the senior secured credit facility and the indenture governing the notes could:

 

 

A breach of any of these covenants or our inability to comply with the required financial ratios could result in a default under our senior secured credit facility and/or the indenture governing the notes. If an event of default occurs under our senior secured credit facility, which includes an event of default under the indenture governing the notes the lenders could elect to:

 

 

any of which would result in an event of default under the notes. The lenders will also have the right in these circumstances to terminate any commitments they have to provide further financing.

 

If we were unable to repay or otherwise refinance these borrowings when due, our lenders could sell the collateral securing the senior secured credit facility, which constitutes substantially all of our and our domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries’ assets.

 

We are a holding company and we depend upon cash from our subsidiaries to service our debt. If we do not receive cash distributions, dividends or other payments from our subsidiaries, we may be unable to meet our obligations.

 

We are a holding company and all of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries. Accordingly, we are dependent upon the earnings and cash flows of, and cash distributions, dividends and other payments from, our subsidiaries to provide the funds necessary to meet our debt service obligations. If we do not receive such cash distributions, dividends or other payments from our subsidiaries, we may be unable to pay the principal or interest on our debt. In addition, certain of our subsidiaries are holding companies that rely on subsidiaries of their own as a source of funds to meet any obligations that might arise.

 

Generally, the ability of a subsidiary to make cash available to its parent is affected by its own operating results and is subject to applicable laws and contractual restrictions contained in its debt instruments and other agreements.

Moreover, there may be restrictions on payments by our subsidiaries to us under applicable laws, including laws that require companies to maintain minimum amounts of capital and to make payments to shareholders only from profits. As a result, although our subsidiaries may have cash, we may be unable to obtain that cash to satisfy our obligations and make payments to our stockholders, if any.

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

Future sales of our shares could depress the market price of our common stock.

 

The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of common stock in the market after the offering or the perception that such sales could occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.

 

We, the selling stockholders (except FR X Chart Holdings LLC, assuming it sells all of its shares in this offering) and each of our executive officers and directors have agreed with the underwriters not to sell, dispose of or hedge any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock, subject to specified exceptions, during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date that is 90 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters. See “Underwriting.”

 

After this offering, we will have 25,636,713 shares of common stock outstanding (including shares currently subject to options that are expected to be exercised in connection with this offering). Of those shares, the 12,500,000 shares of common stock sold in our initial public offering are freely tradeable and the 12,612,648 shares being offered hereby will be freely tradable. The approximately 450,000 shares that were not sold in our initial public offering, under the resale exemption provided by Rule 701 under the Securities Act or this offering will be eligible for resale from time to time after the expiration of the 90-day lock-up period, subject to contractual and Securities Act restrictions, including those relating to volume, manner of sale and other conditions of Rule 144. None of those shares may currently be resold under Rule 144(k). If First Reserve’s affiliates do not sell all their shares, upon the expiration of 60 days after the date of this prospectus, they will have the ability to cause us to register the resale of their remaining shares and certain other holders of our unregistered common stock will be able to participate in such registration, subject to the expiration of their 90-day lock-up period.

 

The market price of our common stock may be volatile, which could cause the value of your investment to decline.

 

Securities markets worldwide experience significant price and volume fluctuations. This market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could reduce the market price of our common stock in spite of our operating performance. In addition, our operating results could be below the expectations of securities analysts and investors, and in response, the market price of our common stock could decrease significantly. Further, the trading price of our common stock might also decline in reaction to events that affect other companies in our industry even if these events do not directly affect us. You may be unable to resell your shares of our common stock at or above the offering price. Factors affecting the trading price of our common stock may include:

 

 

 

In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, stockholders have often instituted class action securities litigation against those companies. Such litigation, if instituted, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management attention and resources, which could significantly harm our profitability and reputation.

 

Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law may discourage a takeover attempt.

 

Provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us. Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law impose various procedural and other requirements, which could make it more difficult for stockholders to effect certain corporate actions. For example, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of unissued series of preferred stock, without any vote or action by our stockholders. Therefore, our board of directors can authorize and issue shares of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting or other rights of holders of our common stock. These rights may have the effect of delaying or deterring a change of control of our company. These provisions could limit the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. See “Description of Capital Stock.”

 

This prospectus includes “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements include statements relating to our business. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “continue” or the negative of such terms or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements contained herein (including future cash contractual obligations) or in other statements made by us are made based on management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting us and are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We believe that the following factors, among others (including those described in “Risk Factors”), could affect our future performance and the liquidity and value of our securities and cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf:

 

 

 

There may be other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

 

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf apply only as of the date of this prospectus and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

This prospectus includes industry data and forecasts that we have prepared based, in part, upon industry data and forecasts obtained from industry publications and surveys. These sources include publications by Energy Ventures Analysis, the Energy Information Administration, the International Energy Agency and Spiritus Consulting. Third-party industry publications, surveys and forecasts generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there can be no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information or whether this information reflects current market data. We have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. Forecasts are particularly likely to be inaccurate, especially over long periods of time. As an example of the unpredictable nature of these forecasts, in 1983, the U.S. Department of Energy forecast that oil would cost $74 per barrel in 1995; however, the price of oil was actually $17 per barrel. In addition, we do not know what assumptions regarding general economic growth were used in preparing the forecasts we cite. Statements made herein as to our leading positions in our industry and segments are based on our sales volumes measured against management’s estimates of our competitors’ sales volumes, coupled with management’s knowledge and experience in the markets that we serve.

 

The selling stockholders, including FR X Chart Holdings LLC, will receive all the net proceeds from the sale of our common stock in this offering. The net proceeds received by FR X Chart Holdings LLC will be distributed to affiliates of First Reserve. In addition, certain of our executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, are selling an aggregate of 140,000 shares in this offering as follows: Mr. Thomas (120,000 shares); and Mr. Biehl (20,000 shares). Assuming a sale price equal to the last reported sale price of our common stock on May 17, 2007, the proceeds to be received by certain of our executive officers (before payment of underwriting discounts) would be: Mr. Thomas ($2,464,800); and Mr. Biehl ($410,800). Other employees are selling an aggregate of 96,434 shares in this offering.

 

We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common stock in this offering. In the event the underwriters fully exercise their over-allotment option, we will issue new shares to cover the over-allotment and we will use approximately $      million of the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including reduction of our indebtedness with interest rates ranging from an average of 6.93% to 9.125% at March 31, 2007 and maturities of October 2012 and October 2015, respectively.

 

In connection with our initial public offering, we distributed approximately $150.3 million of the net proceeds to pay a dividend to our stockholders existing immediately prior to the initial public offering, consisting of affiliates of First Reserve and certain members of management. FR X Chart Holdings LLC, an affiliate of First Reserve, received approximately $142.1 million, approximately $8.2 million in the aggregate was received by certain of our executive officers and other members of our management, consisting of Mr. Thomas ($5,866,697) and Mr. Biehl ($328,493), and $1,979,953 was received by seven other employees in the aggregate. In addition, upon the expiration of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, we issued 1,733,022 shares to FR X Chart Holdings LLC, 101,978 shares to certain of our executive officers and other members of our management, consisting of Mr. Thomas (73,181 shares) and Mr. Biehl (4,097 shares), and 24,700 shares to seven other employees in the aggregate as a stock dividend.

 

We do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock, and instead intend to retain earnings, if any, for future operations and debt reduction. The amounts available to us to pay cash dividends will be restricted by our senior secured credit facility. The indenture governing the notes also limits our ability to pay dividends. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

 

Trading in our common stock commenced on the Nasdaq Global Market on July 26, 2006 under the symbol “GTLS.” Prior to that time, there was no public market for our common stock. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

 

The information in this table should be read in conjunction with “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Description of Indebtedness” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The table excludes cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2007 of $12.4 million.

 

 

 

 

The financial statements referred to as the Pre-Predecessor Company financial statements include the consolidated audited financial statements of Chart Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries prior to our Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Our emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings resulted in a new reporting entity and the adoption of Fresh-Start accounting in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of Position 90-7, “Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy Code.” The financial statements referred to as the Predecessor Company financial statements include the consolidated audited financial statements of Chart Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries after our emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and prior to the Acquisition and related financing thereof. The financial statements referred to as the Company financial statements include the consolidated audited financial statements of Chart Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries after the Acquisition and the related financing thereof.

 

The following table sets forth the selected historical consolidated financial information as of the dates and for each of the periods indicated. The Pre-Predecessor Company selected historical consolidated financial data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2002 and as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 is derived from our audited financial statements for such period, which have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP and which are not included in this prospectus. The Predecessor Company selected historical consolidated financial data as of and for the three months ended December 31, 2003, as of December 31, 2004 and October 16, 2005 are derived from our audited financial statements for such periods which have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, and which are not included in this prospectus. The Predecessor Company selected historical consolidated financial data for the year ended December 31, 2004 and for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 is derived from our audited financial statements for such periods included elsewhere in this prospectus, which have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The Company selected historical consolidated financial statements and other data as of December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2006 and for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and for the year ended December 31, 2006 is derived from our audited financial statements for such periods included elsewhere in this prospectus, which have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The Company selected historical consolidated financial data for the three months ended March 31, 2006, and as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2007, respectively, have been derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes which are included elsewhere in this prospectus, and reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal, recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and are not necessarily indicative of our results of operations for the full year.

 

You should read the following table together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes, included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations includes periods prior to the consummation of the Acquisition and periods after the consummation of the Acquisition. Accordingly, the discussion and analysis of historical periods does not reflect fully the significant impact that the Acquisition will have on us, including significantly increased leverage and liquidity requirements. You should read the following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition in conjunction with the “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data” section and our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. Actual results may differ materially from those discussed below. This discussion contains forward-looking statements. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” for a discussion of certain of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements.

 

Overview

 

We are a leading independent global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment used in the production, storage and end-use of hydrocarbon and industrial gases. We supply engineered equipment used throughout the global liquid gas supply chain. The largest portion of end-use applications for our products is energy-related. We are a leading manufacturer of standard and engineered equipment primarily used for low-temperature and cryogenic applications. We have developed an expertise in cryogenic systems and equipment, which operate at low temperatures sometimes approaching absolute zero (0 kelvin; −273^o Centigrade; −459^o Fahrenheit). The majority of our products, including vacuum-insulated containment vessels, heat exchangers, cold boxes and other cryogenic components, are used throughout the liquid gas supply chain for the purification, liquefaction, distribution, storage and end-use of hydrocarbon and industrial gases.