Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

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

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009

or

 

¨ 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 1-5667

 

 

Cabot Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   04-2271897
(State of Incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

Two Seaport Lane

Boston, Massachusetts

  02210-2019
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 345-0100

 

 

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  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if smaller reporting company)  ¨

Smaller reporting company  ¨

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of Common Stock, as of the latest practicable date.

As of August 5, 2009 the Company had 65,382,796 shares of Common Stock, par value $1 per share, outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

INDEX

 

              Page
Part I.   Financial Information   
  Item 1.  

Financial Statements (unaudited)

  
   

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

   3
   

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008

   4
   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

   6
   

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2009

   7
   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   8
  Item 2.  

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

   30
  Item 3.  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   43
  Item 4.  

Controls and Procedures

   43
Part II.   Other Information   
  Item 1.  

Legal Proceedings

   44
  Item 1A.  

Risk Factors

   45
  Item 2.  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   45
  Item 6.  

Exhibits

   46

 

2


Table of Contents

Part I.    Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

CABOT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

UNAUDITED

 

     Three Months
Ended June 30
    Nine Months
Ended June 30
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (In millions, except per share amounts)  

Net sales and other operating revenues

   $ 511      $ 840      $ 1,633      $ 2,337   

Cost of sales

     443        703        1,478        1,966   
                                

Gross profit

     68        137        155        371   

Selling and administrative expenses

     50        67        160        190   

Research and technical expenses

     16        20        53        55   
                                

Income (loss) from operations

     2        50        (58     126   

Interest and dividend income

     —          —          2        3   

Interest expense

     (6     (9     (23     (28

Other income (expense)

     2        (2     (13     (5
                                

(Loss) income from operations before income taxes, equity in net income of affiliated companies and minority interest

     (2     39        (92     96   

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

     (7     (8     23        (13

Equity in net income of affiliated companies, net of tax

     —          2        2        6   

Minority interest in net (income) loss, net of tax

     (3     (6     1        (15
                                

(Loss) income from continuing operations

     (12     27        (66     74   

(Loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

     —          —          —          —     

Net (loss) income

   $ (12   $ 27      $ (66   $ 74   
                                

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     63        62        63        62   
                                

Diluted

     63        64        63        64   
                                

(Loss) income per common share:

        

Basic:

        

(Loss) income from continuing operations

   $ (0.19   $ 0.44      $ (1.04   $ 1.18   

(Loss) from discontinued operations

     (0.01     —          (0.01     —     
                                

Net (loss) income per share—basic

   $ (0.20   $ 0.44      $ (1.05   $ 1.18   
                                

Diluted:

        

(Loss) income from continuing operations

   $ (0.19   $ 0.43      $ (1.04   $ 1.16   

(Loss) from discontinued operations

     (0.01     —          (0.01     —     
                                

Net (loss) income per share—diluted

   $ (0.20   $ 0.43      $ (1.05   $ 1.16   
                                

Dividends per common share

   $ 0.18      $ 0.18      $ 0.54      $ 0.54   
                                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

ASSETS

UNAUDITED

 

     June 30,
2009
    September 30,
2008
 
     (In millions)  

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 177      $ 129   

Short-term marketable securities

     1        1   

Accounts and notes receivable, net of reserve for doubtful accounts of $7 and $5

     417        646   

Inventories:

    

Raw materials

     121        193   

Work in process

     53        58   

Finished goods

     141        246   

Other

     31        26   
                

Total inventories

     346        523   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     45        72   

Deferred income taxes

     35        30   

Assets held for sale

     —          7   
                

Total current assets

     1,021        1,408   
                

Investments:

    

Equity affiliates

     57        53   

Long-term marketable securities and cost investments

     1        1   
                

Total investments

     58        54   
                

Property, plant and equipment

     2,928        2,921   

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (1,913     (1,839
                

Net property, plant and equipment

     1,015        1,082   
                

Other assets:

    

Goodwill

     35        34   

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $11 and $11

     3        3   

Assets held for rent

     46        45   

Deferred income taxes

     196        173   

Other assets

     97        59   
                

Total other assets

     377        314   
                

Total assets

   $ 2,471      $ 2,858   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

UNAUDITED

 

     June 30,
2009
    September 30,
2008
 
    

(In millions, except share

and per share amounts)

 

Current liabilities:

    

Notes payable to banks

   $ 19      $ 91   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     316        426   

Income taxes payable

     23        38   

Deferred income taxes

     4        7   

Current portion of long-term debt

     5        39   
                

Total current liabilities

     367        601   
                

Long-term debt

     551        586   

Deferred income taxes

     10        18   

Other liabilities

     286        294   

Commitments and contingencies (Note F)

    

Minority interest

     98        110   

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock:

    

Authorized: 2,000,000 shares of $1 par value

Issued and Outstanding : None and none

     —          —     

Common stock:

    

Authorized: 200,000,000 shares of $1 par value

Issued: 64,109,606 and 65,403,100 shares

Outstanding: 64,015,510 and 65,277,715 shares

     64        65   

Less cost of 94,096 and 125,385 shares of common treasury stock

     (3     (4

Additional paid-in capital

     13        21   

Retained earnings

     1,042        1,143   

Deferred employee benefits

     (26     (30

Notes receivable for restricted stock

     —          (21

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     69        75   
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     1,159        1,249   
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 2,471      $ 2,858   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

UNAUDITED

 

     Nine Months Ended
June 30
 
     2009     2008  
     (In millions)  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    

Net (loss) income

   $ (66   $ 74   

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

    

Depreciation and amortization

     124        123   

Deferred tax provision

     (35     (20

Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment

     8        (13

Equity in net income of affiliated companies

     (2     (6

Minority interest in net (loss) income

     (1     15   

Non-cash compensation

     20        23   

Other non-cash items, net

     2        (4

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts and notes receivable

     230        (56

Inventories

     183        (73

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (9     (16

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (117     (12

Income taxes payable

     (11     1   

Other liabilities

     (6     5   

Cash dividends received from equity affiliates

     1        2   

Other

     (4     1   
                

Cash provided by operating activities

     317        44   
                

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

    

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (75     (125

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

     —          18   

Increase in assets held for rent

     (1     (3

Investment in equity affiliate

     (3     7   
                

Cash used in investing activities

     (79     (103
                

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    

Borrowings under financing arrangements

     25        106   

Repayments under financing arrangements

     (65     (80

Repayments of long-term debt

     (89     (12

Proceeds from long-term debt

     14        7   

(Decrease) increase in notes payable to banks, net

     (30     60   

Proceeds from sales of common stock

     —          1   

Purchases of common stock

     (2     (35

Proceeds from cash contribution received from minority interest shareholders

     —          8   

Cash dividends paid to minority interest stockholders

     (9     (19

Cash dividends paid to stockholders

     (35     (35

Proceeds from restricted stock loan payments

     —          2   
                

Cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (191)        3   
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     1        9   
                

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     48        (47

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     129        154   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 177      $ 107   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Nine Months Ended June 30, 2009

(In millions, except shares in thousands)

UNAUDITED

 

    Common Stock,
Net of Treasury
Stock
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Deferred
Employee
Benefits
    Notes
Receivable
for
Restricted
Stock
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
    Total
Comprehensive
Loss
 
    Shares     Cost                

Balance at September 30, 2008

  65,278      $ 61      $ 21      $ 1,143      $ (30   $ (21   $ 75      $ 1,249     

Net (loss)

          (66           $ (66

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                (4       (4

Change in employee benefit plans

                (1       (1

Change in unrealized gain on derivative instruments

                (1       (1
                       

Other comprehensive loss

                    (6
                       

Comprehensive loss

                  (72     $(72
                       

Common dividends paid

          (35           (35  

Issuance of stock under employee compensation plans, net of forfeitures

  112        2        1                3     

Application of stock option accounting for restricted stock awards

  (1,288     (1     (23         19          (5  

Amortization of share-based compensation

        16                16     

Purchase and retirement of common and treasury stock

  (86     (1     (2             (3  

Principal payment by Employee Stock Ownership Plan under guaranteed loan

            4            4     

Notes receivable for restricted stock—payments and forfeitures

              2          2     
                                                               

Balance at June 30, 2009

  64,016      $ 61      $ 13      $ 1,042      $ (26   $ —        $ 69      $ 1,159     
                                                               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

7


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

A. Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cabot Corporation (“Cabot” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and majority-owned and controlled U.S. and non-U.S. subsidiaries. Additionally, Cabot considers consolidation of entities over which control is achieved through means other than voting rights, of which there were none in the periods presented. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all disclosures required by Form 10-K. Additional information may be obtained by referring to Cabot’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 (“2008 10-K”).

The financial information submitted herewith is unaudited and reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to provide a fair statement of the results for the interim periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year.

Cabot evaluated all subsequent events through August 10th, the issuance date of these financial statements, to determine if such events should be reflected in these financial statements as of June 30, 2009. No significant subsequent events were noted during this evaluation.

The amounts included in the caption (Loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax in the consolidated statements of operations represent legal settlements in connection with the Company’s discontinued operations. These settlement amounts were less than $1 million for each of the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009.

As of September 30, 2008, the Company classified $7 million of land as held for sale in current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. As of June 30, 2009, the Company has determined that this land, while not impaired, is unlikely to be sold within the next twelve months and, therefore, has reclassified the balance from assets held for sale in current assets to other assets in non-current assets in the consolidated balance sheet.

B. Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

Cabot’s revenue recognition policies are in compliance with Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 104, “Revenue Recognition,” which establishes criteria that must be satisfied before revenue is realized or realizable and earned. Cabot recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is probable. Cabot generally is able to ensure that products meet customer specifications prior to shipment. If the Company is unable to determine that the product has met the specified objective criteria prior to shipment, the revenue is deferred until product acceptance has occurred.

The following table shows the relative size of the revenue recognized in each of the Company’s reportable segments. Other operating revenues, which are included in the percentages below, represent less than two percent of total revenues and include tolling, servicing and royalties for licensed technology.

 

     Three months ended
June 30
    Nine months ended
June 30
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Core Segment

        

Rubber Blacks Business

   55   61   60   60

Supermetals Business

   8   5   6   6

Performance Segment

   30   30   28   30

New Business Segment

   3   2   3   2

Specialty Fluids Segment

   4   2   3   2

As indicated above, Cabot derives a substantial majority of its revenues from the sale of products in the Rubber Blacks Business and Performance Segment. Revenue from these products is typically recognized when the product is shipped and title and risk of loss have passed to the customer. The Company offers certain of its customers cash discounts and volume rebates as sales incentives. The discounts and volume rebates are recorded as a reduction in sales at the time revenue is recognized and are estimated based on

 

8


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

historical experience and contractual obligations. Cabot periodically reviews the assumptions underlying its estimates of discounts and volume rebates and adjusts its revenues accordingly. Certain Rubber Blacks Business and Performance Segment customer contracts contain price protection clauses that provide for the potential reduction in past or future sales prices under specific circumstances. Cabot analyzes these contract provisions to determine if an obligation related to these clauses exists and records revenue net of any estimated protection commitments.

Revenues from the Supermetals Business also are generally recognized when the product is shipped and title and risk of loss have passed to the customer.

The majority of the revenue in the Specialty Fluids Segment arises from the rental of cesium formate. This revenue is recognized throughout the rental period based on the contracted rental terms. Customers are also billed and revenue is recognized, typically at the end of the job, for cesium formate product that is not returned.

Shipping and handling charges related to sales transactions are recorded as sales revenue when billed to customers or included in the sales price. The costs related to shipping and handling are included in cost of sales.

Cabot maintains allowances for doubtful accounts based on an assessment of the collectibility of specific customer accounts, the aging of accounts receivable and other economic information on both an historical and prospective basis. Customer account balances are charged against the allowance when it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. Changes in the allowance were not material to any period presented. There is no off-balance sheet credit exposure related to customer receivable balances.

Goodwill

Goodwill is comprised of the cost of business acquisitions in excess of the fair value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is reviewed for impairment at least annually. The annual review consists of the comparison of each reporting unit’s carrying value to its fair value, which is performed as of March 31. The fair value of a reporting unit is based on discounted estimated future cash flows. The assumptions used to estimate fair value include management’s best estimates of future growth rates, operating cash flows, capital expenditures, discount rates and market conditions over an estimate of the remaining operating period. If an impairment exists, a loss is recorded to write-down the value of goodwill to its implied fair value.

Financial Instruments

Cabot’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term debt, and derivative instruments. The carrying values of Cabot’s financial instruments approximate fair value with the exception of certain long-term debt that has not been designated with a fair value hedge. This portion of long-term debt is recorded at face value. The fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments are based on quoted market prices, if such prices are available. In situations where quoted market prices are not available, the Company relies on valuation models to derive fair value. Such valuation takes into account the ability of the financial counterparty to perform. Cabot uses derivative financial instruments primarily for purposes of hedging exposures to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, which exist as part of its on-going business operations. Cabot does not enter into contracts for speculative purposes, nor does it hold or issue any financial instruments for trading purposes.

All derivatives are recognized on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded in either earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether or not the instrument is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if designated as part of a hedge transaction, the type of hedge transaction. The gains or losses on derivative instruments reported in other comprehensive income are reclassified to earnings in the period in which earnings are affected by the underlying hedged item. The ineffective portion of all hedges is recognized in earnings.

In accordance with Cabot’s risk management strategy, the Company may enter into certain derivative instruments that may not be designated as hedges for hedge accounting purposes. Although these derivatives are not designated as hedges, the Company believes that such instruments are closely correlated with the underlying exposure, thus managing the associated risk. The Company records in earnings the gains or losses from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges.

The Company carries a variety of different cash and cash equivalents on its consolidated balance sheets. Cabot continually assesses the liquidity of cash and cash equivalents and, as of June 30, 2009, has determined that they are readily convertible to cash.

 

9


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

Income Tax in Interim Periods

The Company records its tax (benefit)/provision on an interim basis using an estimated annual effective tax rate. This rate is applied to the current period ordinary income or loss to determine the income tax provision or benefit allocated to the interim period. Losses from jurisdictions for which no benefit can be recognized and the income tax effects of unusual and infrequent items are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate and are recognized in the impacted interim period as discrete items. Valuation allowances are provided against the future tax benefits that arise from the losses in jurisdictions for which no benefit can be recognized. The estimated annual effective tax rate may be significantly impacted by nondeductible expenses and the Company’s projected earnings mix by tax jurisdiction. Adjustments to the estimated annual effective income tax rate are recognized in the period when such estimates are revised.

Inventory Valuation

The cost of most raw materials, work in process and finished goods inventories in the U.S. is determined by the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. Had the Company used the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method instead of the LIFO method for such inventories, the value of those inventories would have been $115 million and $140 million higher as of June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008, respectively. The cost of other U.S. and all non-U.S. inventories is determined using the average cost method or the FIFO method.

During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009, inventory quantities were reduced in the Company’s U.S. Rubber Blacks and Performance Products Businesses. This reduction led to a liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at lower costs that were prevailing in prior years, as compared with the cost of purchases made in the current fiscal year through June 30, 2009. This resulted in a decrease of cost of goods sold of approximately $1 million and $5 million, respectively, and an increase of net income by approximately $1 million and $3 million, or $0.01 per share and $0.05 per share, respectively, for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2008, inventory quantities were reduced at the Company’s U.S Rubber Blacks and Performance Products Businesses, leading to a liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities. This resulted in a decrease of cost of goods sold of $2 million and an increase of net income by approximately $1 million, or $0.02 per share in both the three and nine months ended June 30, 2008.

For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009, there was no LIFO liquidation at the Company’s U.S. Supermetals site. During the nine months ended June 30, 2008, inventory quantities were reduced at the Company’s U.S. Supermetals site, leading to a liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities. This resulted in a decrease of cost of goods sold of $4 million and an increase of net income by approximately $3 million, or $0.04 per share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2008.

Cabot reviews inventory for potential obsolescence periodically. In this review, the Company makes assumptions about the future demand for and market value of the inventory and based on these assumptions estimates the amount of any obsolete, unmarketable or slow moving inventory. Cabot writes down the value of these obsolete, unmarketable or slow moving inventories by an amount equal to the difference between the cost of the inventory and its estimated market value.

C. Accounting Pronouncements

New and Adopted

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“FAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS 157”). FAS 157 (i) provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities; and (ii) requires additional disclosure about the use of fair value measures, the information used to measure fair value, and the effect fair-value measurements have on earnings. The primary areas in which Cabot utilizes fair value measures are in valuing pension plan assets and liabilities, valuing hedge-related derivative financial instruments, allocating purchase price to the assets and liabilities of acquired companies, and evaluating long-term assets for potential impairment. FAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 157-2, which defers the effective date of FAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis, to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. Effective October 1, 2008, Cabot adopted the portion of FAS 157 that was not deferred, which includes the disclosures in Note J, and applied the provisions of the statement prospectively to assets and liabilities measured and disclosed at fair value. The adoption of the deferred portion of FAS 157 on October 1, 2009 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“FAS 161”). FAS 161 is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative

 

10


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. Effective January 1, 2009, Cabot adopted FAS 161, which includes the disclosures in Note L, and applied the provisions of the statement prospectively.

In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position FAS 107-1 and Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (“FSP 107-1” and “APB 28-1”). FSP 107-1 amends FASB Statement No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Values of Financial Instruments,” to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim financial statements as well as in annual financial statements. APB 28-1 amends APB Opinion No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting,” to require those disclosures in all interim financial statements. Effective for the quarter ending June 30, 2009, Cabot adopted FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1, and has made the additional interim disclosures in Note K.

Not Yet Adopted

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 141 (Revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“FAS 141(R)”). FAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. The statement also provides guidance for recognizing and measuring the goodwill acquired in the business combination and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of business combinations. FAS 141(R) is effective on a prospective basis for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Accordingly, any business combination Cabot enters into after September 30, 2009 will be subject to this new standard.

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—An Amendment of ARB No. 51” (“FAS 160”). FAS 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent, the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest, changes in the parent’s ownership interest and the valuation of retained noncontrolling equity investments when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. FAS 160 also establishes disclosure requirements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. FAS 160 will be effective for Cabot for the first quarter of fiscal 2010, beginning October 1, 2009. The Company is evaluating the impact of FAS 160 on its consolidated financial statements.

D. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The carrying amount of goodwill attributable to each reportable segment with goodwill balances and the changes in those balances during the nine months ended June 30, 2009 are as follows:

 

     Rubber
Blacks
Business
   Performance
Segment
   Total
     (Dollars in millions)

Balance at September 30, 2008

   $ 23    $ 11    $ 34

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     1      —        1
                    

Balance at June 30, 2009

   $ 24    $ 11    $ 35
                    

As required by FAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangibles” (“FAS 142”), impairment tests are performed at least annually. The Company performed its annual FAS 142 impairment assessment as of March 31, 2009 and determined that there was no impairment.

Cabot does not have any indefinite-lived intangible assets. As of June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008, Cabot had $3 million of finite-lived intangible assets. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which range from ten to fourteen years, with a weighted average period of ten years. Amortization relative to these intangible assets is expected to aggregate to less than $1 million per year over the next five years.

 

11


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

E. Employee Benefit Plans

Curtailments and a settlement of employee benefit plans

As a result of the 2009 Global Restructuring Plan discussed in Note I, the Company incurred three curtailments and a settlement of certain of its employee benefit plans. For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009, the Company recognized a net gain associated with these curtailments and settlement of $2 million and $1 million, respectively.

Net periodic defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit costs

Net periodic defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit costs include the following:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30
     2009     2008     2009    2008
     Pension Benefits     Postretirement Benefits
     U.S.     Foreign     U.S.     Foreign     U.S.     Foreign    U.S.     Foreign
     (Dollars in millions)

Service cost

   $ 1      $ 1      $ 1      $ 2      $ 1      $ —      $ 1      $ —  

Interest cost

     2        3        2        3        1        1      1        1

Expected return on plan assets

     (2     (3     (2     (4     —          —        —          —  

Amortization of prior service cost

     —          —          —          —          —          —        —          —  

Amortization of actuarial loss

     —          1        —          1        —          —        —          —  
                                                             

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 1      $ 2      $ 1      $ 2      $ 2      $ 1    $ 2      $ 1
                                                             
     Nine Months Ended June 30
     2009     2008     2009    2008
     Pension Benefits     Postretirement Benefits
     U.S.     Foreign     U.S.     Foreign     U.S.     Foreign    U.S.     Foreign
     (Dollars in millions)

Service cost

   $ 3      $ 3      $ 3      $ 5      $ 2      $ —      $ 2      $ —  

Interest cost

     6        9        6        9        4        1      4        1

Expected return on plan assets

     (7     (9     (6     (11     —          —        —          —  

Amortization of prior service cost

     —          —          —          —          (1     —        (1     —  

Amortization of actuarial loss

     —          1        —          2        —          —        —          —  
                                                             

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 2      $ 4      $ 3      $ 5      $ 5      $ 1    $ 5      $ 1
                                                             

 

 

 

12


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

F. Commitments and Contingencies

Purchase Commitments

Cabot has entered into long-term purchase agreements primarily for the purchase of raw materials and natural gas. Under certain of these agreements the quantity of material being purchased is fixed, but the price paid changes as market prices change. For those commitments, the table below is quantified on the basis of market prices at June 30, 2009.

 

     Payments Due by Fiscal Year
     Remainder
of fiscal 2009
   2010    2011    2012    2013    Thereafter    Total
     (Dollars in millions)

Core Segment

                    

Rubber Blacks Business

   $ 41    $ 183    $ 158    $ 140    $ 134    $ 903    $ 1,559

Supermetals Business

     13      15      16      17      6      1      68

Performance Segment

     17      26      19      18      18      141      239

Other

     —        —        1      —        —        —        1
                                                

Total

   $ 71    $ 224    $ 194    $ 175    $ 158    $ 1,045    $ 1,867
                                                

Guarantee Agreements

Cabot has provided certain indemnities pursuant to which it may be required to make payments to an indemnified party in connection with certain transactions and agreements. In connection with certain acquisitions and divestitures, Cabot has provided routine indemnities with respect to such matters as environmental, tax, insurance, product and employee liabilities. In connection with various other agreements, including service and supply agreements, Cabot may provide routine indemnities for certain contingencies and routine warranties. Cabot is unable to estimate the maximum potential liability for these types of indemnities as a maximum obligation is not explicitly stated in most cases and the amounts, if any, are dependent upon the outcome of future contingent events, the nature and likelihood of which cannot be reasonably estimated. The durations of the indemnities vary, and in many cases are indefinite. Cabot has not recorded any liability for these indemnities in the consolidated financial statements, except as otherwise disclosed.

Contingencies

Cabot is a defendant, or potentially responsible party, in various lawsuits and environmental proceedings wherein substantial amounts are claimed or at issue.

Environmental Matters

As of June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008, Cabot had $6 million on a discounted basis ($8 million on an undiscounted basis) and $9 million on a discounted basis ($10 million on an undiscounted basis), respectively, reserved for environmental matters primarily related to divested businesses. These amounts represent Cabot’s best estimates of its share of costs likely to be incurred at those sites where costs are reasonably estimable based on its analysis of the extent of clean up required, alternative clean up methods available, abilities of other responsible parties to contribute and its interpretation of laws and regulations applicable to each site. Cabot reviews the adequacy of this reserve as circumstances change at individual sites. Cash payments related to these environmental matters were $2 million and $3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008, respectively.

Respirator Liabilities

Cabot has exposure in connection with a safety respiratory products business that a subsidiary acquired from American Optical Corporation (“AO”) in an April 1990 asset purchase transaction. The subsidiary manufactured respirators under the AO brand and disposed of that business in July 1995. In connection with its acquisition of the business, the subsidiary agreed, in certain

 

13


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

circumstances, to assume a portion of AO’s liabilities, including costs of legal fees together with amounts paid in settlements and judgments, allocable to AO respiratory products used prior to the 1990 purchase by the Cabot subsidiary. As more fully described in the 2008 10-K, the Company’s respirator liabilities involve claims for personal injury, including asbestosis, silicosis and coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, allegedly resulting from the use of AO respirators that are alleged to have been negligently designed or labeled.

As of June 30, 2009, there were approximately 53,000 claimants in pending cases asserting claims against AO in connection with respiratory products. Cabot has a reserve to cover its expected share of liability for existing and future respirator liability claims. The book value of the reserve is being accreted up to the undiscounted liability through interest expense over the expected cash flow period, which is through 2052. At June 30, 2009 the reserve was $13 million on a discounted basis ($23 million on an undiscounted basis). Cash payments related to this liability were $2 million in the first nine months of both fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008.

Beryllium Claims

Cabot is a party to several pending actions in connection with its discontinued beryllium operations in Reading, Pennsylvania. Cabot entered the beryllium industry through an acquisition in 1978. The Company ceased manufacturing beryllium products at one of the acquired facilities in 1979, and the balance of its former beryllium business was sold to NGK Metals, Inc. (“NGK”) in 1986. As more fully described in the 2008 10-K, the actions are pending in several state and federal trial and appeal courts, and involve claims for personal injury and medical monitoring relating to alleged contact with beryllium in various ways. Cabot believes it has valid defenses to all of the beryllium actions against it and will assert them vigorously in the various venues in which claims have been asserted. In addition, there is a contractual indemnification obligation running from NGK to Cabot in connection with many of these matters. While the outcome of litigation is uncertain, the Company does not believe that the ultimate disposition of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position.

AVX Contract Dispute

On March 8, 2004, AVX Corporation (“AVX”) filed an action against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The complaint alleges that Cabot violated the federal antitrust laws in connection with the parties’ January 1, 2001 tantalum supply agreement (the “Supply Agreement”) by purportedly tying AVX’s purchases of Cabot’s “flake” tantalum powder to its purchases of Cabot’s “nodular” tantalum powder. In February 2009, the court granted the Company’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed the case against Cabot. AVX has appealed the court’s order.

In September 2005, AVX filed an action in the Superior Court of Massachusetts for Suffolk County, which, in November 2005, was moved to the Business Litigation Section of the Superior Court of Massachusetts. The action alleges that Cabot improperly administered the parties’ Supply Agreement for the years 2003 through 2005. In particular, AVX claims that Cabot has not provided all of the price relief due to AVX under the “most favored customer” (“MFC”) provisions of the Supply Agreement. AVX seeks a judicial declaration of the rights of the parties to the Supply Agreement and an award of any sums not paid that should have been. Cabot filed an answer and counterclaims against AVX asserting that AVX actually underpaid for tantalum products in the period 2003 through 2005. On December 31, 2007, the court issued an order allowing AVX’s motion for partial summary judgment on one significant legal issue involving interpretation of the Supply Agreement, but denied AVX’s motion and Cabot’s cross-motion in all other respects, including AVX’s motion to dismiss Cabot’s affirmative defenses that would negate AVX’s claims. Prior to July 2008, AVX had indicated that it believed it is owed additional MFC benefits of approximately $24 million, which Cabot disputes. In July 2008, AVX attempted to assert new legal theories that increased its damage claim for additional MFC benefits to approximately $96 million. Cabot subsequently filed a motion to strike AVX’s revised claim for MFC benefits and in November 2008, the court granted Cabot’s motion and denied AVX’s additional damage claim for MFC benefits of $72 million. AVX subsequently filed a motion requesting the court to reconsider or clarify this ruling, which was denied in its entirety. Despite this ruling, AVX has most recently filed a new damage report seeking damages in excess of $24 million. Cabot filed a new motion to strike this report based on the court’s prior ruling, which was substantially allowed by the court, such that AVX’s damage claim is now limited to approximately $30 million, not including pre-judgment interest. In March 2009, the court established a trial date of October 16, 2009 for this matter.

Cabot believes that it has valid defenses to all of AVX’s claims, including the one on which partial summary judgment was granted, and will continue to assert these defenses and its counterclaims vigorously. In addition, if necessary, Cabot has the right to appeal the court’s order allowing AVX’s motion for partial summary judgment. While the outcome of litigation is uncertain, the Company does not believe that the ultimate disposition of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position.

 

14


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

Other

The Company has various other lawsuits, claims and contingent liabilities arising in the ordinary course of its business and in respect of the Company’s divested businesses. In the opinion of the Company, although final disposition of some or all of these other suits and claims may impact the Company’s financial statements in a particular period, they should not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position.

G. Income Tax Uncertainties

As of June 30, 2009, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $77 million. In addition, accruals of $5 million and $12 million have been recorded for penalties and interest, respectively, as of June 30, 2009. If the unrecognized tax benefits were recognized at a given point in time, there would be approximately a $66 million favorable impact on the Company’s tax provision.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the nine months ended June 30, 2009 is as follows:

 

     (Dollars in millions)  

Balance at September 30, 2008

   $ 80   

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     4   

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     4   

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     (11
        

Balance at June 30, 2009

   $ 77   
        

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) is currently auditing the tax years 2005 and 2006 and certain Cabot subsidiaries are under audit in jurisdictions outside of the U.S. In addition, certain statutes of limitations are scheduled to expire in the near future. It is reasonably possible that a further change in the unrecognized tax benefits may occur within the next twelve months related to the settlement of one or more of these audits or the lapse of applicable statutes of limitations; however, an estimated range of the impact on the unrecognized tax benefits cannot be quantified at this time.

Cabot files U.S. federal and state, and non-U.S. income tax returns in jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations. The 2005 through 2008 tax years generally remain subject to examination by the IRS and the 2003 through 2008 tax years remain subject to examination by most state tax authorities. In significant non-U.S. jurisdictions, the 2001 through 2008 tax years generally remain subject to examination by their respective tax authorities. Cabot’s significant non-U.S. jurisdictions include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

 

15


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

H. Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) were calculated as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Nine Months Ended
June 30
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
    

(Dollars in millions,

except per share amounts)

 

Basic EPS:

        

(Loss) income available to common shares (numerator)

   $ (12   $ 27      $ (66   $ 74   
                                

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     65        64        65        65   

Less: contingently issuable shares(1)

     (2     (2     (2     (3
                                

Adjusted weighted average common shares (denominator)

     63        62        63        62   
                                

Basic (loss) income per share

   $ (0.20   $ 0.44      $ (1.05   $ 1.18   
                                

Diluted EPS:

        

(Loss) income available to common shares (numerator)

   $ (12   $ 27      $ (66   $ 74   
                                

Adjusted weighted average common shares outstanding

     63        62        63        62   

Effect of dilutive securities:

        

Common shares issuable(2)(3)

     —          2        —          2   
                                

Adjusted weighted average shares (denominator)

     63        64        63        64   
                                

Diluted (loss) income per share

   $ (0.20   $ 0.43      $ (1.05   $ 1.16   
                                

 

(1)

Represents outstanding unvested restricted stock issued under Cabot’s equity incentive plans.

 

(2)

Represents incremental shares for the (i) assumed exercise of stock options; (ii) assumed issuance of shares pursuant to the Company’s obligations to employees under its Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans; and (iii) outstanding unvested restricted stock issued under Cabot’s equity incentive plans, net of assumed share repurchases.

 

(3)

For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009, 2,056,600 and 2,083,600 of the incremental shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as those shares would have been anti-dilutive due to the Company’s net loss position. For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2008, options to purchase approximately 411,300 shares of common stock were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because those options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of Cabot common stock during both periods.

 

16


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

I. Restructuring

Cabot’s restructuring activities were recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as follows:

 

     Three months ended
June 30
   Nine months ended
June 30
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (Dollars in millions)

Cost of sales

   $ 18    $ 4    $ 59    $ 1

Selling and administrative expenses

     1      2      5      2

Research and technical expenses

     —        —        2      —  
                           

Total

   $ 19    $ 6    $ 66    $ 3
                           

Details of these restructuring activities and the related reserves during the three months ended June 30, 2009 are as follows:

 

     Severance
and
Employee
Benefits
    Asset
Impairments and
Accelerated
Depreciation
    Other    Total  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Reserve at March 31, 2009

   $ 26      $ —        $ —      $ 26   

Charges

     1        17        1      19   

Cost charged against assets

     —          (17     —        (17

Cash paid

     (10     —          —        (10

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     1       —          —        1   
                               

Reserve at June 30, 2009

   $ 18      $ —        $ 1    $ 19   
                               

Details of these restructuring activities and the related reserves during the nine months ended June 30, 2009 are as follows:

 

     Severance
and
Employee
Benefits
    Asset
Impairments and
Accelerated
Depreciation
    Other     Total  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Reserve at September 30, 2008

   $ 2      $ —        $ 1      $ 3   

Charges

     32        31        3        66   

Cost charged against assets

     —          (31     —          (31

Cash paid

     (18     —          (3     (21

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     2        —          —          2   
                                

Reserve at June 30, 2009

   $ 18      $ —        $ 1      $ 19   
                                

As of June 30, 2009, the reserve balances are associated with the 2009 Global Restructuring Plan (which is described below) and are included in accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheet. As of June 30, 2009, there were no reserves for other previously disclosed restructuring activities.

 

17


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

2009 Global Restructuring

In accordance with the 2009 Global Restructuring Plan announced during the second quarter of fiscal 2009, Cabot has (i) closed its manufacturing operations located in Stanlow and Dukinfield, U.K. and suspended its tantalum mining operations in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba; (ii) closed its regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; (iii) mothballed or curtailed assets at its manufacturing operations in Merak, Indonesia; Sarnia, Ontario; and Tuscola, Illinois; (iv) implemented short worktime at its manufacturing operations in Rheinfelden, Germany; and (v) incurred workforce reductions across a variety of its other operations. During the remainder of calendar 2009, Cabot plans to close its manufacturing operations in Berre, France and its tantalum powder operations in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.

The Company expects this restructuring will result in a cumulative pre-tax charge to earnings of approximately $125 million, with approximately $80 million of this amount expected to be recorded during fiscal 2009. Estimates of the total amount the Company expects to incur for each major type of cost associated with the restructuring plan are: (i) severance and employee benefits of $65 million for approximately 400 employees, (ii) accelerated depreciation and impairment of facility assets of $40 million, (iii) demolition and site clearing costs of $15 million, and (iv) product requalification and other restructuring related costs of $5 million. The total after-tax charge is estimated to be approximately $105 million.

Net cash outlays related to these actions are expected to be $75 million, approximately $20 million of which is expected to be paid during fiscal 2009.

The segments impacted by this restructuring are presented in the table below.

 

     Core Segment    Performance
Segment

Location

   Rubber
Blacks
Business
   Supermetals
Business
    

Berre, France

   X       X

Stanlow, U.K.

   X       X

Dukinfield, U.K.

         X

Boyertown, PA

      X   

Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba

      X   

Merak, Indonesia

   X      

Sarnia, Ontario

   X       X

Rheinfelden, Germany

         X

Tuscola, IL

         X

Through June 30, 2009 Cabot has recorded $64 million of charges associated with this restructuring, comprised of $33 million for accelerated depreciation and asset impairments, $30 million for severance and employee benefits and $1 million for other post closing operation costs. Net cash outlays related to these actions were $14 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2009, primarily for severance and employee benefits.

Other Restructuring

In addition to the 2009 Global Restructuring Plan, for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, other restructuring activities included $4 million of costs associated with the closure of Cabot’s Waverly, West Virginia plant and the 2008 Global Restructuring Plan (“2008 Global Restructuring Plan”), partially offset by a $1 million benefit related to the previous closure of the Company’s facility in Zierbena, Spain and a $1 million benefit from the sale of assets previously written down.

Restructuring activity for the nine months ended June 30, 2008 includes the costs associated with the Waverly, West Virginia plant closure, global cost reduction initiatives, the 2008 Global Restructuring Plan, the closure of the Company’s Altona, Australia plant, and a $1 million write-down of the value of a former carbon black manufacturing facility in Hanau, Germany.

 

18


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

J. Fair Value Measurements

Effective October 1, 2008, Cabot implemented FAS 157 for financial assets and financial liabilities reported or disclosed at fair value. As permitted by FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-2, the Company elected to defer implementation of the provisions of FAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities until October 1, 2009, except for nonfinancial items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. FAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The disclosures focus on the inputs used to measure fair value. FAS 157 establishes the following hierarchy for categorizing these inputs:

 

Level 1       Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2       Significant other observable inputs (e.g., quoted prices for similar items in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar items in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rate and yield curves, and market-corroborated inputs)
Level 3       Significant unobservable inputs

The following table presents information about the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2009. The derivatives presented in the table below are presented by derivative type, net of the legal right to offset derivative settlements by each counterparty:

 

     Level 1 Inputs    Level 2 Inputs    Total
     (Dollars in Millions)

Assets at fair value:

        

Equity securities(1)

   $ 1    $ —      $ 1

Derivatives relating to:

        

Interest rates(2)

     —        3      3

Foreign currency(2)

     —        1      1
                    

Total assets at fair value

   $ 1    $ 4    $ 5
                    

Liabilities at fair value:

        

Derivatives relating to:

        

Foreign currency(2)

   $ —      $ 55    $ 55
                    

Total liabilities at fair value

   $ —      $ 55    $ 55
                    

 

(1)

The Company’s investments in equity securities are included in “Short-term marketable securities” and “Long-term marketable securities and cost investments” in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

(2)

The Company’s derivatives are included in “Other assets” and “Other liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

19


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

K. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at June 30, 2009 are as follows:

 

     Carrying
Amount
   Fair
Value
     (Dollars in millions)

Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 177    $ 177

Short-term marketable securities

     1      1

Accounts and notes receivable

     417      417

Derivative instruments

     2      2

Liabilities:

     

Notes payable to banks

     19      19

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     316      316

Long-term debt—fixed rate

     305      302

Long-term debt—floating rate

     251      251

Derivative instruments

     53      53

At June 30, 2009, the fair values of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivables, accounts payable and notes payable to banks approximated carrying values because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The estimated fair values of short-term marketable securities are based on the market price at June 30, 2009. The estimated fair values of the derivative instruments are estimated based on the amount that Cabot would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at the respective quarter-end, or on quoted prices of similar contracts traded on active markets. The fair value of Cabot’s fixed rate long-term debt is estimated based on comparable quoted market prices at the end of each quarter. The carrying amounts of Cabot’s floating rate long-term debt approximates fair value.

L. Financial Instruments

Risk Management

Cabot’s business operations are exposed to changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices because Cabot finances certain operations through long- and short-term borrowings, denominates transactions in a variety of foreign currencies and purchases certain commoditized raw materials. Changes in these rates and prices may have an impact on future cash flows and earnings. The Company manages these risks through normal operating and financing activities and, when deemed appropriate, through the use of derivative financial instruments.

The Company has policies governing the use of derivative instruments and does not enter into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. All of the derivative instruments Cabot enters into are reviewed and approved by the Financial Risk Management Committee, an internal management committee responsible for overseeing Cabot’s financial risk management policy.

By using derivative instruments, Cabot is subject to credit and market risk. If a counterparty fails to fulfill its performance obligations under a derivative contract, Cabot’s credit risk will equal the fair value of the derivative. Generally, when the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes Cabot, thus creating a payment risk for Cabot. The Company minimizes counterparty credit (or repayment) risk by entering into transactions with major financial institutions of investment grade credit rating. As of June 30, 2009, the counterparties that the Company has executed derivatives with were rated between AA and A, inclusive, by Standard and Poor’s. Cabot’s exposure to market risk is not hedged in a manner that completely eliminates the effects of changing market conditions on earnings or cash flow. No significant concentration of credit risk existed at June 30, 2009.

 

20


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

Interest Rate Risk Management

Cabot’s objective is to maintain a certain range of fixed-to-floating interest rate mix on the Company’s debt portfolio. Cabot enters into interest rate swaps as a hedge of the underlying debt instruments to effectively change the characteristics of the interest rate without changing the debt instrument. The following table provides details of the derivatives held as of June 30, 2009 used to manage interest rate risk.

 

Description

  

Borrowing

  

Notional Amount

  

FAS 133 Hedge

Designation

Interest Rate Swaps—Variable to Fixed

  

Revolving Credit

Facility

   JPY 9.3 billion    Cash Flow

Interest Rate Swaps—Fixed to Variable

   Medium Term Notes    USD 8 million    Fair Value

Interest Rate Swaps—Fixed to Variable

  

Eurobond (20% of $175

million)

   USD 35 million    Fair Value

Foreign Currency Risk Management

Cabot’s international operations are subject to certain risks, including currency exchange rate fluctuations and government actions. Cabot endeavors to match the currency in which debt is issued to the currency of the Company’s major, stable cash receipts. In some situations Cabot has issued debt denominated in U.S. dollars and then entered into cross currency swaps that exchange the dollar principal and interest payments into a currency where the Company expects long-term, stable cash receipts.

Additionally, the Company has foreign currency exposure arising from its net investments in foreign operations. Cabot enters into cross-currency swaps to mitigate the impact of currency rate changes on the Company’s net investments.

The Company also has foreign currency exposure arising from the denomination of current assets and current liabilities in foreign currencies other than the functional currency of a given subsidiary as well as the risk that currency fluctuations could affect the dollar value of future cash flows generated in foreign currencies. Accordingly, Cabot uses short-term forward contracts to minimize the exposure to foreign currency risk. These forward contracts typically have a duration of 30 days.

 

21


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

In certain situations where the Company has forecasted purchases under a long-term commitment denominated in a foreign currency, Cabot may enter into appropriate financial instruments in accordance with the Company’s risk management policy to hedge future cash flow exposures. The following table provides details of the derivatives held as of June 30, 2009 used to manage foreign currency risk.

 

Description

  

Borrowing

  

Notional Amount

  

FAS 133 Hedge

Designation

Cross Currency Swap

  

Eurobond

(80% of $175

million)

  

USD 140 million swapped

to EUR 124 million

   No designation

Cross Currency Swap

  

Eurobond

(20% of $175

million)

  

USD 35 million swapped

to EUR 31 million

   No designation

Cross Currency Swap

   N/A    USD 20 million swapped to JPY 2.5 Billion    Net investment hedge

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

   N/A    (a)    No designation

 

(a)

Cabot’s forward foreign exchange contracts are denominated primarily in the Japanese yen, British pound sterling, Euro, Canadian dollar and Australian dollar. The duration of these forwards is generally 30 days. The total net notional dollar value of these forward contracts at June 30, 2009 was $47 million.

Commodity Risk Management

Certain of Cabot’s carbon black plants in Europe are subject to mandatory greenhouse gas emission trading schemes. Cabot’s objective is to ensure compliance with the European Union (“EU”) Emission Trading Scheme, which is based upon a Cap-and-Trade system that establishes a maximum allowable emission credit for each ton of CO2 emitted. European Union Allowances (“EUAs”) originate from the individual EU state’s country allocation process and are issued by that country’s government. A company that has an excess of EUAs based on the CO2 emissions limits may sell EUAs in the Emission Trading Scheme and if they have a shortfall, a company can buy EUAs or Certified Emission Reduction (“CER”) units to comply.

In order to limit the variability in cost to Cabot’s European operations, the Company committed to current prices by entering into agreements which run from calendar years 2008 to 2012 to purchase CERs and to sell EUAs. The following table provides details of the derivatives held as of June 30, 2009 used to manage commodity risk.

 

     Notional
Amount
   Net Buyer/
Net Seller
   FAS 133
Hedge
Designation

CERs

   EUR 6 million    Net Buyer    No designation

EUAs

   EUR 5 million    Net Seller    No designation

The Company also has exposure to the prices of commodities in its procurement of certain raw materials. In order to manage the price volatility associated with forecasted inventory purchases, Cabot may enter into swap trades to buy such commodities. At June 30, 2009, the Company did not have any such open contracts outstanding.

Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company calculates the fair value of financial instruments using quoted market prices whenever available. When quoted market prices are not available for various types of financial instruments (such as forwards, options and swaps), the Company uses standard models with market-based inputs, which take into account the present value of estimated future cash flows and the ability of the financial counterparty to perform.

Fair Value Hedge

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in current period earnings.

 

22


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

Cash Flow Hedge

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is recorded in other comprehensive income and reclassified to earnings in the same period or periods that the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses on the derivative representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current period earnings. At June 30, 2009, open contracts hedge forecasted transactions until August 2010.

Net Investment Hedge

For net investment hedges, changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the derivatives’ gains or losses are reported as foreign currency translation gains or losses in other comprehensive income while changes in the ineffective portion are reported in earnings. The gains or losses on derivative instruments reported in other comprehensive income are reclassified to earnings in the period in which earnings are affected by the underlying item. At June 30, 2009 the Company had outstanding foreign currency denominated debt of $97 million designated as a nonderivative net foreign investment hedge. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009, the gain recorded in other comprehensive income was $1 million and $9 million, respectively.

 

23


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

Other Derivative Instruments

From time to time, the Company may enter into certain derivative instruments that may not be designated as hedges under FAS 133. Although these derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting, Cabot believes that such instruments are closely correlated with the underlying exposure, thus managing the associated risk. The gains or losses from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not accounted for as hedges are recognized in current period earnings.

The following table provides the fair value and consolidated balance sheet presentations of derivative instruments by each derivative type, without regard to the legal right to offset derivative settlement by each counterparty:

 

   

Consolidated Balance Sheet Caption

  June 30, 2009
    (Dollars in millions)

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

   

Asset Derivatives

   

Derivatives designated as hedges

   

Interest rate (1)

  Other assets & Other liabilities   $ 3
       

Total derivatives designated as hedges

    $ 3
       

Derivatives not designated as hedges

   

Foreign currency

  Other assets   $ 1
       

Commodity contracts

  Prepaid expenses and other current assets & Other assets     3
       

Total derivatives not designated as hedges

    $ 4
       

Total Asset Derivatives

    $ 7
       

Liability Derivatives

   

Derivatives designated as hedges

   

Interest rate

  Other liabilities   $ —  

Foreign currency

  Other liabilities     5
       

Total derivatives designated as hedges

    $ 5
       

Derivatives not designated as hedges

   

Foreign currency

  Other liabilities   $ 50

Commodity contracts (2)

  Prepaid expenses and other current assets & Other assets     3
       

Total derivatives not designated as hedges

    $ 53
       

Total Liability Derivatives

    $ 58
       

 

(1)

Interest rate contracts of $2 million presented on a gross basis in this table have the legal right to offset against other types of contracts and, therefore, are presented on a net basis in noncurrent “Other liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

(2)

Commodity contracts in an asset and liability position presented on a gross basis in this table have the legal right of offset and, therefore, are presented on a net basis in current “Other assets” and noncurrent “Other assets” in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

24


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

The following table provides detail on the impact of the derivative instruments on the consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2009:

 

     Change in Unrealized Gain
(Loss) in Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
Income (Loss) (“AOCI”)

(1) (2)
   Consolidated
Statement of
Operations
Caption
   Gain / (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI to
earnings (3)
   Additional
Gain / (Loss)
Recognized in
earnings (3) (4)
 
     (Dollars in millions)  

Derivatives designated as hedges:

           

Fair value:

           

Interest rates

   $ —      Interest expense    $ —      $ (2

Cash flow:

           

Interest rates

     —      Interest expense      —        —     

Foreign currency

     —      Cost of sales      —        —     

Commodities

     —      Cost of sales      —        —     

Net foreign investment:

           

Foreign currency

     —      N/A      —        —     
                         

Total derivatives designated as hedges

   $ —         $ —      $ (2
                         

Derivatives not designated as hedges:

           

Foreign currency

     —      Other expense      —        (14

Commodities

     —      Cost of sales      —        —     
                         

Total derivatives not designated as hedges

   $ —         $ —      $ (14
                         

Total Derivatives

   $ —         $ —      $ (16
                         

 

(1) Net unrealized gains/losses from interest rate hedges are included in “Change in unrealized gain on derivative instruments” in the consolidated statement of changes in stockholders equity.

 

(2) Net unrealized gains/losses from foreign currency hedges (net of tax) are included in “Foreign currency translation adjustment” in the consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.

 

(3) Pre-tax amounts.

 

(4) Includes immaterial amounts of hedge ineffectiveness.

See Note J “Fair Value Measurements” for classification of derivatives by input level as required by FAS 157.

The net after-tax amounts to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings within the next 12 months are expected to be immaterial.

 

25


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

M. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has historically provided loans to employees, other than executive officers, to purchase restricted stock under its 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”). These loans, secured by the purchased shares, are full recourse and have a term of approximately three years. The loans have accrued interest at market rates.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company extended the maturity date of the loans associated with the 2006 grant by thirty-six months to August 2012. After evaluating the current facts and circumstances related to these loans, the Company determined that it was appropriate to apply option accounting to all unvested purchased restricted stock awards under the 2006 Plan that had accompanying loans. Total incremental stock-based compensation expense related to this change is $4 million, to be recorded over the remaining vesting period of the underlying grants. During the quarter, the incremental expense from this change was approximately $1 million. As of June 30, 2009, total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock under the 2006 Plan was $21 million, to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years.

The Company used the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of this change. The fair value was calculated using the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

     Grant Year  
   2008     2007     2006  

Expected stock price volatility

   52   62   50

Risk free interest rate

   0.5   0.6   0.7

Expected life of options (years)

   2.33      1.33      2.9   

Expected annual dividends per share

   —        —        —     

Loan interest rate

   4.8   6.8   5.4

 

26


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

N. Financial Information by Segment

Cabot is organized into four business segments: the Core Segment, which is further disaggregated for financial reporting purposes into the Rubber Blacks and Supermetals Businesses, the Performance Segment, the New Business Segment and the Specialty Fluids Segment. During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, management changed the allocation method of its corporate costs to its segments. Under this new method, costs that are not controlled by the segments and which primarily benefit corporate interests are not allocated to the segments and are included under the caption “Unallocated and Other” in the table below. The presentation of prior period results conforms to the new allocation method.

While the Chief Operating Decision Maker uses a number of performance measures to manage the performance of the segments and allocate resources to them, income (loss) from operations before taxes is the measure that is most consistently used and is, therefore, the measure presented in the table below.

 

     Core Segment     Performance
Segment
   New
Business
Segment
    Specialty
Fluids
Segment
   Segment
Total
   Unallocated
and Other (1)
    Consolidated
Total
 
     Rubber
Blacks
Business
   Supermetals
Business
                
     (Dollars in millions)  

Three months ended June 30, 2009

                    

Net sales and other operating revenues(2)

   $ 272    $ 38      $ 149    $ 14      $ 19    $ 492    $ 19      $ 511   

Income (loss) before taxes(3)

   $ 11    $ 3      $ 10    $ (4   $ 9    $ 29    $ (31   $ (2

Three months ended June 30, 2008

                    

Net sales and other operating revenues(2)

   $ 499    $ 38      $ 247    $ 14      $ 17    $ 815    $ 25      $ 840   

Income (loss) before taxes(3)

   $ 43    $ (2   $ 32    $ (9   $ 5    $ 69    $ (30   $ 39   

Nine months ended June 30, 2009

                    

Net sales and other operating revenues(2)

   $ 943    $ 106      $ 438    $ 48      $ 45    $ 1,580    $ 53      $ 1,633   

Income (loss) before taxes(3)

   $ 18    $ (1   $ 12    $ (8   $ 17    $ 38    $ (130   $ (92

Nine months ended June 30, 2008

                    

Net sales and other operating revenues(2)

   $ 1,364    $ 147      $ 695    $ 37      $ 49    $ 2,292    $ 45      $ 2,337   

Income (loss) before taxes(3)

   $ 87    $ 2      $ 95    $ (30   $ 18    $ 172    $ (76   $ 96   

 

(1)

Unallocated and Other includes costs that are not controlled by the segments and which primarily benefit corporate interests, certain items and eliminations that are not allocated to the operating segments. Management does not consider these items necessary for an understanding of the operating results of the segments and such amounts are excluded in the segment reporting to the Chief Operating Decision Maker.

 

(2)

During the third quarter of fiscal 2008, the Company purchased additional shares of one of its Rubber Blacks equity affiliates which resulted in the consolidation of its operating results in the Company’s consolidated financial statements beginning April 1, 2008. In the first quarter of fiscal 2008 (prior to the consolidation), segment sales included 100% of the sales of this equity affiliate at market-based prices. Unallocated and other reflects an elimination for sales of this equity affiliate for this period, offset by royalties paid by other equity affiliates, other operating revenues and external shipping and handling fees.

 

27


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

 

(3)

Income (loss) before taxes for Unallocated and Other includes:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Nine Months Ended
June 30
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Interest expense

   $ (6   $ (9   $ (23   $ (28

Certain items(a)

     (19     (8     (67     (10

Equity in net income of affiliated companies(b)

     —          (2     (2     (6

Unallocated corporate costs(c)

     (7     (8     (22     (25

Other income (expense), net and foreign currency transaction losses(d)

     1        (3     (16     (7
                                

Total

   $ (31   $ (30   $ (130   $ (76
                                

 

  (a)

Certain items consist of amounts that are not included in segment profit before taxes (“PBT”). Certain items for the three months ended June 30, 2009 relate entirely to the 2009 Global Restructuring Plan discussed in Note I. Certain items for the first nine months of fiscal 2009 include charges of $64 million for the 2009 Global Restructuring Plan, $1 million for the write-down of impaired investments, and $2 million, net, relating to the other restructuring plans discussed in Note I. Certain items for the three months ended June 30, 2008 include $6 million for restructuring initiatives and $2 million for environmental reserves and legal settlements. Certain items for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 include a gain of $18 million from the sale of the land in Altona, Australia, offset by charges of $21 million for restructuring initiatives, $4 million for CEO transition costs and $3 million for environmental reserves and legal settlements.

 

  (b)

Equity in net income of affiliated companies is included in segment PBT and is removed from Unallocated and Other to reconcile to income (loss) from operations before taxes.

 

  (c)

During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, management changed the allocation method of its corporate costs to its segments. The Company has recast prior periods to conform to the new allocation method. Under this new method, costs that are not controlled by the segments and which primarily benefit corporate interests are not allocated to the segments.

 

  (d)

Other income (expense), net and foreign currency transaction losses consists of investment income that is not included in segment PBT and foreign currency transaction losses net of other foreign currency risk management activities.

The Performance Segment is comprised of the Performance Products and Fumed Metal Oxides Businesses. The net sales from each of these businesses for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

 

     Three months ended
June 30
   Nine months ended
June 30
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (Dollars in millions)

Performance Products Business

   $ 98    $ 175    $ 293    $ 481

Fumed Metal Oxides Business

     51      72      145      214
                           

Total Performance Segment Sales

   $ 149    $ 247    $ 438    $ 695
                           

 

28


Table of Contents

CABOT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2009

UNAUDITED

The New Business Segment is comprised of the Inkjet Colorants and the Aerogel Businesses and the business development activities of Cabot Superior MicroPowders (“CSMP”). The net sales from each of these businesses for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

 

     Three months ended    Nine months ended
   June 30    June 30
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (Dollars in millions)

Inkjet Colorants Business

   $ 10    $ 11    $ 32    $ 30

Aerogel Business

     2      2      11      5

Superior MicroPowders

     2      1      5      2
                           

Total New Business Segment Sales

   $ 14    $ 14    $ 48    $ 37
                           

 

29


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

I. Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We consider an accounting estimate to be critical to the financial statements if 1) the estimate is complex in nature or requires a high degree of judgment and 2) different estimates and assumptions were used, the results could have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our policies and estimates. We base our estimates on historical experience, current conditions and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The estimates that we believe are critical to the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements as of June 30, 2009 are presented below. We have other critical accounting policies that are discussed under the “Critical Accounting Policies” heading in management’s discussion and analysis in our Fiscal 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K (“2008 10-K”).

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

Our revenue recognition policies are in compliance with Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 104, “Revenue Recognition,” which establishes criteria that must be satisfied before revenue is realized or realizable and earned. We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is probable. We generally are able to ensure that products meet customer specifications prior to shipment. If we are unable to determine that the product has met the specified objective criteria prior to shipment, the revenue is deferred until product acceptance has occurred.

The following table shows the relative size of the revenue recognized in each of our reportable segments. Other operating revenues, which are included in the percentages below, represent less than two percent of total revenues and include tolling, servicing and royalties for licensed technology.

 

     Three months ended
June 30
    Nine months ended
June 30
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Core Segment

        

Rubber Blacks Business

   55   61   60   60

Supermetals Business

   8   5   6   6

Performance Segment

   30   30   28   30

New Business Segment

   3   2   3   2

Specialty Fluids Segment

   4   2   3   2

As indicated above, we derive a substantial majority of revenues from the sale of products in our Rubber Blacks Business and Performance Segment. Revenue from these products is typically recognized when the product is shipped and title and risk of loss have passed to the customer. We offer certain customers cash discounts and volume rebates as sales incentives. The discounts and volume rebates are recorded as a reduction in sales at the time revenue is recognized and are estimated based on historical experience and contractual obligations. We periodically review the assumptions underlying the estimates of discounts and volume rebates and adjust revenues accordingly. Certain Rubber Blacks Business and Performance Segment customer contracts contain price protection clauses that provide for the potential reduction in past or future sales prices under specific circumstances. We analyze these contract provisions to determine if an obligation related to these clauses exists and record revenue net of any estimated protection commitments.

Revenues from the Supermetals Business also are generally recognized when the product is shipped and title and risk of loss have passed to the customer.

The majority of the revenue in the Specialty Fluids Segment arises from the rental of cesium formate. This revenue is recognized throughout the rental period based on the contracted rental terms. Customers are also billed and revenue is recognized, typically at the end of the job, for cesium formate product that is not returned.

Shipping and handling charges related to sales transactions are recorded as sales revenue when billed to customers or included in the sales price. The costs related to shipping and handling are included in cost of sales.

We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts based on an assessment of the collectibility of specific customer accounts, the aging of accounts receivable and other economic information on both an historical and prospective basis. Customer account

 

30


Table of Contents

balances are charged against the allowance when it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. In the current economic environment there could be significant changes in the allowance due to events such as customer liquidity matters or customer bankruptcies. Such changes could impact our results of operations and cash flows. Changes in the allowance were not material to any period presented.

Inventory Valuation

The cost of most raw materials, work in process and finished goods inventories in the U.S. is determined by the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. Had we used the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method instead of the LIFO method for such inventories, the value of those inventories would have been $115 million and $140 million higher as of June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008, respectively. The cost of other U.S. and all non-U.S. inventories is determined using the average cost method or the FIFO method. In periods of rapidly rising or declining raw material costs, the inventory method we employ can have a significant impact on our profitability. Under our current LIFO method, when raw material costs are rising, our most recent higher priced purchases are the first to be charged to cost of sales. If, however, we were using a FIFO method, our purchases from earlier periods, which were at lower prices, would instead be the first charged to cost of sales.

At certain times, we may decrease inventory levels to the point where layers of inventory recorded under the LIFO method that were purchased in preceding years are liquidated. The inventory in these layers may be valued at an amount that is different than our current costs. If there is a liquidation of an inventory layer, there may be an impact to our cost of sales and net income for that period. If the liquidated inventory is at a cost lower than our current cost, there would be a reduction in our cost of sales and an increase to our net income during the period. Conversely, if the liquidated inventory is at a cost higher than our current cost, there would be an increase in our cost of sales and a reduction to our net income during the period.

We review inventory for potential obsolescence periodically. In this review, we make assumptions about the future demand for and market value of the inventory and based on these assumptions estimate the amount of any obsolete, unmarketable or slow moving inventory. We write down the value of these obsolete, unmarketable or slow moving inventories by an amount equal to the difference between the cost of the inventory and its estimated market value.

Goodwill

We account for goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with FAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” (“FAS 142”). We perform an impairment test for goodwill at least annually and when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. To test whether an impairment exists, the fair value of the applicable reporting unit is estimated based on discounted future cash flows. The calculation of fair value is sensitive to both the estimated future cash flows and the discount rate applied to those cash flows. The assumptions used to estimate the discounted cash flows are based on management’s best estimates about selling prices, production and sales volumes, costs, future growth rates, capital expenditures and market conditions over an estimate of the remaining operating period at the reporting unit. The discount rate is based on the weighted average cost of capital that is determined by evaluating the risk-free rate of return, cost of debt and expected equity premiums. If an impairment exists, a loss to write down the value of goodwill to its implied fair value is recorded. While this would have no direct impact on our cash flows, it would reduce our earnings. We performed our annual impairment test as of March 31, 2009 and determined that no impairment existed.

Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term debt, and derivative instruments. The carrying values of our financial instruments approximate fair value with the exception of certain long-term debt that has not been designated with a fair value hedge. This portion of long-term debt is recorded at face value. The fair values of our derivative instruments are based on quoted market prices, if such prices are available. In situations where quoted market prices are not available, we rely on valuation models to derive fair value. Such valuation takes into account the ability of the financial counterparties to perform. We use derivative financial instruments primarily for purposes of hedging exposures to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, which exist as part of our on-going business operations. We do not enter into contracts for speculative purposes, nor do we hold or issue any financial instruments for trading purposes.

All derivatives are recognized on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded in either earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether or not the instrument is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if designated as part of a hedge transaction, the type of hedge transaction. The gains or losses on derivative instruments reported in other comprehensive income are reclassified to earnings in the period in which earnings are affected by the underlying hedged item. The ineffective portion of all hedges is recognized in earnings.

In accordance with our risk management strategy, we may enter into certain derivative instruments that may not be designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Although these derivatives are not designated as hedges, we believe that such instruments are

 

31


Table of Contents

closely correlated with the underlying exposure, thus managing the associated risk. We record in earnings the gains or losses from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges.

We carry a variety of different cash and cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheets. We continually assess the liquidity of cash and cash equivalents and as of June 30, 2009, we have determined that they are readily convertible to cash.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified in the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used for valuation. Assets that are traded on an exchange with a quoted price are classified as Level 1. Assets and liabilities that are valued based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or standard pricing models using observable inputs are classified as Level 2. As of June 30, 2009, we have no assets or liabilities that are valued using unobservable inputs and, therefore, no assets or liabilities that are classified as Level 3. The sensitivity of fair value estimates is immaterial relative to the assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as well as to our total equity, as of June 30, 2009.

Litigation and Contingencies

We are involved in litigation in the ordinary course of business, including personal injury and environmental litigation. After consultation with counsel, as appropriate, we accrue a liability for litigation when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The estimated reserves are recorded based on our best estimate of the liability associated with such matters or the low end of the estimated range of liability if we are unable to identify a better estimate within that range. Our best estimate is determined through the evaluation of various information, including claims, settlement offers, demands by government agencies, estimates performed by independent third parties, identification of other responsible parties and an assessment of their ability to contribute, and our prior experience. Litigation is highly uncertain and there is always the possibility of an unusual result in any particular case that may reduce our earnings and cash flows.

The most significant reserves that we have established are for environmental remediation and respirator litigation claims. The amount accrued for environmental matters reflects our assumptions about remediation requirements at the contaminated sites, the nature of the remedies, the outcome of discussions with regulatory agencies and other potentially responsible parties at multi-party sites, and the number and financial viability of other potentially responsible parties. A portion of the reserve for environmental matters is recognized on a discounted basis, which requires the use of an estimated discount rate and estimates of future cash flows associated with the liability. These liabilities can be affected by the availability of new information, changes in the assumptions on which the accruals are based, unanticipated government enforcement action or changes in applicable government laws and regulations, which could result in higher or lower costs.

Our current estimate of the cost of our share of existing and future respirator liability claims is based on facts and circumstances existing at this time. Developments that could affect our estimate include, but are not limited to, (i) significant changes in the number of future claims, (ii) changes in the rate of dismissals without payment of pending silica and non-malignant asbestos claims, (iii) significant changes in the average cost of resolving claims, (iv) significant changes in the legal costs of defending these claims, (v) changes in the nature of claims received, (vi) changes in the law and procedure applicable to these claims, (vii) the financial viability of other parties which contribute to the settlement of respirator claims, (viii) a change in the availability of insurance coverage maintained by the entity from which we acquired the safety respiration products business, (ix) changes in the allocation of costs among the various parties paying legal and settlement costs and (x) a determination that our interpretation of the contractual obligations on which we have estimated our share of liability is inaccurate. We cannot determine the impact of these potential developments on our current estimate of our share of liability for these existing and future claims. Accordingly, the actual amount of these liabilities for existing and future claims could be different than the reserved amount. Further, if the timing of our actual payments made for respirator claims differs significantly from our estimated payment schedule, and we could no longer reasonably predict the timing of such payments, we could then be required to record the reserve amount on an undiscounted basis on our consolidated balance sheets, causing an immediate impact to earnings.

Income Taxes

Our business operations are global in nature, and we are subject to taxes in numerous jurisdictions. Tax laws and tax rates vary substantially in these jurisdictions and are subject to change based on the political and economic climate in those countries. We file our tax returns in accordance with our interpretations of each jurisdiction’s tax laws.

Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes and recording the related tax assets and liabilities. In the ordinary course of our business, there are operational decisions, transactions, facts and circumstances, and calculations which make the ultimate tax determination uncertain. Furthermore, our tax positions are periodically subject to challenge by taxing authorities throughout the world. We have recorded reserves for taxes and associated interest and penalties that may become payable in future years as a result of audits by tax authorities. Any significant impact as a result of changes in underlying facts, law, tax rates, tax audit, or review could lead to adjustments to our income tax expense, our effective tax rate, and/or our cash flow.

 

32


Table of Contents

We record our tax (benefit)/provision on an interim basis using an estimated annual effective tax rate. This rate is applied to the current period ordinary income or loss to determine the income tax provision or benefit allocated to the interim period. Losses from jurisdictions for which no benefit can be recognized and the income tax effects of unusual and infrequent items are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate and are recognized in the impacted interim period as discrete items. Valuation allowances are provided against the future tax benefits that arise from the losses in jurisdictions for which no benefit can be recognized. The estimated annual effective tax rate may be significantly impacted by nondeductible expenses and our projected earnings mix by tax jurisdiction. Adjustments to the estimated annual effective income tax rate are recognized in the period that such estimates are revised.

Additionally, we have established valuation allowances against a variety of deferred tax assets, including net operating loss carry-forwards, foreign tax credits, and other income tax credits. Valuation allowances take into consideration our ability to use these deferred tax assets and reduce the value of such items to the amount that is deemed more likely than not to be recoverable. Our ability to utilize these deferred tax assets is dependent on achieving our forecast of future taxable operating income over an extended period of time. We review our forecast in relation to actual results and expected trends on a quarterly basis. Failure to achieve our operating income targets may change our assessment regarding the recoverability of our net deferred tax assets and such change could result in a valuation allowance being recorded against some or all of our net deferred tax assets. An increase in a valuation allowance would result in additional income tax expense and lower stockholders’ equity, and could have a significant impact on our earnings in future periods. The release of valuation allowances in periods when these tax attributes become realizable would reduce our effective tax rate.

Restructuring Activities

Our consolidated financial statements detail specific charges relating to restructuring activities as well as the actual spending that has occurred against the resulting accruals. Our restructuring charges are estimates based on our preliminary assessments of (i) severance and other employee benefits to be granted to employees, which are based on known benefit formulas and identified job grades, (ii) costs to vacate certain facilities and (iii) asset impairments. Because these accruals are estimates, they are subject to change as a result of deviations from initial restructuring plans or subsequent information that may come to our attention. These deviations may lead to changes in estimates, which would then be reflected in our consolidated financial statements.

II. Results of Operations

The following discussion of results includes information on our reportable segment sales and segment (or business) operating profit (loss) before tax (“PBT”). Segment PBT is a non-GAAP financial measure and is not intended to replace income (loss) from operations before taxes, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. In calculating segment PBT we exclude certain items, meaning items that are significant and unusual or infrequent, as these amounts are not believed to reflect the true underlying business performance. In addition, in calculating segment PBT we include equity in net income of affiliated companies, royalties paid by equity affiliates and minority interest but exclude interest expense, foreign currency transaction gains and losses, interest income, dividend income and unallocated corporate costs. Our Chief Operating Decision-Maker uses segment PBT to evaluate changes in the operating results of each segment and to allocate resources to the segments. We believe that this non-GAAP measure also assists our investors in evaluating the changes in our results and performance. A reconciliation of segment PBT to income (loss) from operations is set forth below.

When discussing our business activities we use several terms. The term “operating expenses” means fixed costs, including both fixed manufacturing costs, which includes utilities, and selling, technical and administrative expenses. The term “product mix” refers to the various types and grades, or mix, of products sold in a particular Business or Segment during the period, and the positive or negative impact of that mix on the revenue or profitability of the Business or Segment. The term “LIFO” includes two factors: (i) the impact of current inventory costs being recognized immediately in cost of goods sold (“COGS”) under a last-in first-out method, compared to the older costs that would have been included in COGS under a first-in first-out method (“COGS impact”); and (ii) the impact of reductions in inventory quantities, causing historical inventory costs to flow through COGS (“liquidation impact”). The LIFO impact on PBT in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 is comprised of an unfavorable $6 million of “COGS impact”, partially offset by a $1 million benefit from “liquidation impact”. In the first nine months of fiscal 2009, the LIFO impact on PBT is comprised of $20 million of favorable “COGS impact” and $5 million of favorable “liquidation impact”. The term “contract lag” refers to the time lag of the price adjustments in certain of our rubber blacks supply contracts to account for changes in feedstock costs and, in some cases, changes in other relevant costs.

Overview

In the third quarter of fiscal 2009, our operating results decreased compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The decline was caused by weaker demand in the tire, automotive, construction and electronics markets due to the global economic slowdown and an unfavorable $10 million impact from compressed unit margins in our carbon black businesses as prices declined from lower commodity costs while weaker demand resulted in older, higher cost inventories being reflected in our results. Partially offsetting these factors was the benefit of lower operating expenses from restructuring and cost saving actions we implemented during fiscal

 

33


Table of Contents

2009 and a reduced impact from contract lag and LIFO, which unfavorably affected our carbon black businesses by $8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 as compared to an unfavorable $18 million in the same period of fiscal 2008. We ended the third quarter of fiscal 2009 with a cash balance of $177 million after reducing our gross debt by $46 million. An additional $197 million of unused credit remains available under our committed facilities. From a Segment perspective:

 

   

Profitability in the Rubber Blacks Business decreased in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 relative to the same period of fiscal 2008 due to lower volumes from weaker global demand in the tire and automotive markets and lower unit margins from older, high cost inventories. This decline was partially offset by a reduced impact from contract lag and LIFO and lower operating expenses.

 

   

In the Supermetals Business, profitability in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 increased when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Higher product prices more than offset lower volumes from weaker demand in the electronics market.

 

   

Profitability in the Performance Segment decreased in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008 largely from lower volumes due to weaker demand in the automotive, construction and electronics markets. This was partially offset by lower operating expenses.

 

   

When compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008, profitability in the Specialty Fluids Segment increased in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 principally due to higher prices and lower operating expenses from cost saving actions.

 

   

Revenue in the New Business Segment was flat in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 relative to the same period of fiscal 2008 while cash flow improved, principally from a favorable product mix and lower costs.

In the first nine months of fiscal 2009, operating results were unfavorably affected by lower volumes from weak demand in the tire, automotive, construction and electronics markets due to the global economic slowdown. Older, high cost inventories unfavorably affected operating results by $52 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2009. Partially offsetting these factors was a $52 million contract lag and LIFO benefit in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 from lower feedstock costs. This is compared to an unfavorable $55 million impact in the first nine months of fiscal 2008 as carbon black feedstock costs rose rapidly during that period.

We experienced an improvement in operating results from the second quarter to the third quarter of fiscal 2009. The improvement was driven by a trend of increasing volumes in all of our key businesses, principally in emerging markets, and the reduced impact of older higher cost inventories on our results in the third quarter relative to the second quarter of fiscal 2009.

Third Quarter and First Nine Months Fiscal 2009 versus Third Quarter and First Nine Months Fiscal 2008—Consolidated

Net Sales and Gross Profit

 

     Three months ended
June 30
   Nine months ended
June 30
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (Dollars in millions)

Net sales and other operating revenues

   511    840    1,633    2,337

Gross profit

   68    137    155    371

The $329 million decrease in net sales from the third quarter of fiscal 2008 to the third quarter of fiscal 2009 was due primarily to lower volumes ($198 million) from weaker demand in the tire, automotive and construction markets, lower selling prices ($93 million), principally related to lower raw material costs in the carbon black businesses, and the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation ($32 million). For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, the $704 million decrease in net sales when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2008 was due primarily to lower volumes ($706 million) from weaker demand in our key end markets and the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation ($66 million). These factors were partially offset by higher selling prices ($39 million).

Gross profit decreased by $69 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008, due principally to lower volumes from weaker demand in the tire, automotive, construction and electronics markets and the impact of older, high cost inventories. During the third quarter of fiscal 2009 we recorded charges of $18 million, pre-tax, associated with our restructuring activities that reduced gross profit, compared to $4 million, pre-tax, of restructuring related charges that were recorded in the same period of fiscal 2008. These factors were partially offset by lower operating expenses from restructuring and cost saving actions. For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, the $216 million decrease in gross profit when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2008 was principally due to lower global volumes from weaker demand in our end markets. During the first nine months of fiscal 2009 we recorded restructuring related charges of $59 million, pre-tax, compared to $1 million, pre-tax, in the

 

34


Table of Contents

same period of fiscal 2008. These factors were partially offset by contract lag and LIFO benefits from lower carbon black raw material costs, lower operating expenses from cost saving actions and improvement in the performance of our New Business Segment.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

 

     Three months ended    Nine months ended
   June 30    June 30
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (Dollars in millions)

Selling and administrative expenses

   50    67    160    190

Selling and administrative expenses decreased by $17 million and $30 million in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009, respectively, when compared to the same periods in fiscal 2008. The decrease in both periods is principally due to restructuring and cost saving actions implemented in fiscal 2009, including charges related to the restructuring activities. In the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009, we recorded $1 million and $6 million, pre-tax, of such charges. This is compared to $4 million, pre-tax, of charges principally related to restructuring activities and environmental reserves and legal settlements recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2008 and $9 million, pre-tax, of charges related to restructuring activities, CEO transition costs and environmental reserves and legal settlements recorded in the first nine months of fiscal 2008.

Research and Technical Expenses

 

     Three months ended    Nine months ended
   June 30    June 30
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (Dollars in millions)

Research and technical expenses

   16    20    53    55

Research and technical expenses decreased by $4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008 due to cost saving actions. In the first nine months of fiscal 2009, research and technical expenses decreased by $2 million when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2008, principally associated with cost saving actions.

Interest Expense

 

     Three months ended     Nine months ended  
   June 30     June 30  
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Interest expense

   (6   (9   (23   (28

Interest expense decreased by $3 million and $5 million in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009, respectively, when compared to the same periods of fiscal 2008. The decreases in both periods were due principally to lower levels of borrowing.

Other Income (Expense)

 

     Three months ended     Nine months ended  
   June 30     June 30  
     2009    2008     2009     2008  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Other income (expense)

   2    (2   (13   (5

The $4 million improvement in other income (expense) in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was due principally to lower losses on foreign currency transactions. For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, other expense increased by $8 million when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2008. The increase is primarily attributable to losses on foreign currency transactions, including an intercompany loan in Brazil denominated in U.S. dollars and charges related to the repatriation of a portion of our Bolivars held in Venezuela.

Effective Tax Rate

During the third quarter of fiscal 2009, we recorded a tax provision of $7 million. This amount included net tax benefits of $2 million from tax return to provision adjustments in the U.S. and China and $1 million from audit settlements. The tax provision also included charges of $2 million from a cumulative rate adjustment and $9 million primarily attributable to the timing of losses in

 

35


Table of Contents

certain locations. There remains a $6 million net tax benefit related to the timing of losses, previously recorded during fiscal 2009, that will reverse in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. In the third quarter of fiscal 2008 we recorded an $8 million tax provision. This amount included benefits of $1 million from a cumulative rate adjustment and $1 million from audit settlements.

The Company is currently under audit by the IRS for tax years 2005 and 2006 and is under audit in a number of jurisdictions outside of the U.S. It is possible that some of these audits will be resolved in fiscal 2009, which may impact our effective tax rate going forward.

Minority Interest in Net Loss (Income), net of tax

 

     Three months ended     Nine months ended  
   June 30     June 30  
     2009     2008     2009    2008  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Minority interest in net loss (income), net of tax

   (3   (6   1    (15

Minority interest in net loss (income), net of tax is the means by which the minority shareholders’ portion of the income or loss in our consolidated joint ventures is removed from our consolidated statement of operations. In the first nine months of fiscal 2009, in total, these joint ventures experienced losses, primarily driven by lower volumes and compressed unit margins. This, in turn, led to the minority shareholders in these ventures absorbing a portion of these losses, resulting in a benefit to our consolidated statement of operations. In the third quarter of both fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008 and during the first nine months of fiscal 2008, our consolidated joint ventures were profitable in total. Accordingly, our joint venture partners shared in these profits, and we removed their portion of this income from our consolidated results through minority interest in net loss (income).

Net (Loss) Income

We reported a net loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 of $12 million (a loss of $0.20 per diluted common share after-tax) compared to net income of $27 million ($0.43 per diluted common share after-tax) in the same period of fiscal 2008. For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, we reported a net loss of $66 million (a loss of $1.05 per diluted common share) compared to net income of $74 million ($1.16 per diluted common share) for the first nine months of fiscal 2008.

Third Quarter and First Nine Months Fiscal 2009 versus Third Quarter and First Nine Months Fiscal 2008—By Business Segment

Total segment PBT, certain items, other unallocated items (which includes unallocated corporate costs), and income (loss) from operations before income taxes for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 are set forth in the table below.

 

     Three months ended     Nine months ended  
   June 30     June 30  
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Total segment PBT

   $ 29      $ 69      $ 38      $ 172   

Certain items

     (19     (8     (67     (10

Other unallocated items

     (12     (22     (63     (66
                                

(Loss) income from operations before income taxes

   $ (2   $ 39      $ (92   $ 96   
                                

Total segment PBT decreased by $40 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared to the same period of fiscal 2008. The decrease was driven principally by lower volumes ($74 million) from weaker demand in the tire, automotive, construction and electronics markets, partially offset by lower operating expenses resulting from our restructuring actions and additional cost saving measures ($20 million) and the positive impact of foreign currency translation ($12 million). In the first nine months of fiscal 2009, total segment PBT decreased by $134 million when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2008. The decrease was principally due to lower volumes from weaker global demand in our end markets ($255 million) and the unfavorable impact of older, high cost inventories ($52 million). These factors were partially offset by contract lag and LIFO benefits from lower carbon black raw material costs ($107 million) as the impact in the first nine months of fiscal 2008 was an unfavorable $55 million while in the same period of fiscal 2009 we experienced a $52 million benefit. Additionally, lower operating expenses ($38 million) and the positive impact of foreign currency translation ($24 million) benefited results in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2008.

 

36


Table of Contents

Certain Items:

Details of the certain items for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

 

     Three months ended     Nine months ended  
   June 30     June 30  
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Environmental reserves and legal settlements

   $ —        $ (2   $ —        $ (3

CEO Transition Costs

     —          —          —          (4

Write-down of impaired investments

     —          —          (1     —     

Restructuring initiatives:

        

Fiscal 2009 Global

     (19     —          (64     —     

Fiscal 2008 Global

     —          (5     (1     (5

Altona, Australia

     —          —          —          18   

North America

     —          (1     (2     (14

Europe

     —          —          1        (2
                                

Total certain items, pre-tax

   $ (19   $ (8   $ (67   $ (10
                                

In the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009, $19 million and $67 million, respectively, pre-tax, of charges principally related to restructuring initiatives were recorded as certain items. In the same periods of fiscal 2008, $8 million and $10 million, respectively, pre-tax, of charges from restructuring activities, CEO transition costs and environmental and legal settlements were recorded as certain items.

Other Unallocated Items:

 

     Three months ended     Nine months ended  
   June 30     June 30  
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Interest expense

   $ (6   $ (9   $ (23   $ (28

Equity in net income of affiliated companies

     —          (2     (2     (6

Unallocated corporate costs

     (7     (8     (22     (25

Other expense, net and foreign currency transaction losses

     1        (3     (16     (7
                                

Total

   $ (12   $ (22   $ (63   $ (66
                                

 

37


Table of Contents

Core Segment

Sales and PBT for the Rubber Blacks and Supermetals Businesses, which together comprise the Core Segment, for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

 

     Three months ended     Nine months ended
   June 30     June 30
     2009    2008     2009     2008
     (Dollars in millions)

Rubber Blacks Business Sales

   $ 272    $ 499      $ 943      $ 1,364

Supermetals Business Sales

     38      38        106        147
                             

Segment Sales

   $ 310    $ 537      $ 1,049      $ 1,511

Rubber Blacks Business PBT

   $ 11    $ 43      $ 18      $ 87

Supermetals Business PBT

     3      (2     (1     2
                             

Segment PBT

   $ 14    $ 41      $ 17      $ 89
                             

Rubber Blacks Business

Sales in the Rubber Blacks Business decreased by $227 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared to the same period of fiscal 2008. The results were driven by lower volumes ($118 million) from weaker demand in the tire and automotive markets, lower pricing ($89 million) driven by lower feedstock costs and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation ($20 million) principally from the Brazilian Real and the Euro. For the first nine months of fiscal 2009 sales decreased by $421 million when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2008 principally due to lower volumes ($366 million), unfavorable foreign currency translation ($43 million), principally from the Brazilian Real and the Euro, and an unfavorable product mix ($20 million).

Rubber Blacks PBT decreased by $32 million and $69 million in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009, respectively, when compared to the same periods of fiscal 2008. In the third quarter of fiscal 2009, volumes were 24% lower than the third quarter of fiscal 2008 due to weaker global demand in the tire and automotive markets, unfavorably affecting results by $34 million. Additionally, the Business was unfavorably affected by $5 million from older, high cost inventories. These factors were partially offset by lower operating expenses ($7 million). For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, Business PBT was unfavorably affected by lower volumes from weaker global tire and automotive demand ($105 million) and older, high cost inventories ($36 million). Volumes in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 were 27% below the same period of fiscal 2008. These factors more than offset contract lag and LIFO benefits ($28 million), relative to an unfavorable impact in the same period of fiscal 2008 ($30 million) and the benefit of lower operating expenses ($14 million).

Historically, our rubber blacks supply contracts have provided for a price adjustment on the first day of each quarter to account for changes in feedstock costs and, in some cases, changes in other relevant costs. These feedstock adjustments have been based upon the average of a relevant index over a three-month period. Because of the need to communicate these adjustments to our customers in a timely manner, the contracts typically provided for the adjustments to be calculated in the month preceding the quarter. Accordingly, the calculation has been typically based upon the average of the three months preceding the month in which the calculation is made. In periods of rapidly fluctuating feedstock costs this time lag can have a significant impact on the results of the Rubber Blacks Business. For contracts using this methodology, the contract price adjustment applicable to sales made in the quarter ended June 30, 2009 was calculated using the relevant index average during the months of December, January and February while actual raw material costs were from February, March and April. We have been reducing this time delay in our contracts and, while approximately 50% of the total volume of our Rubber Blacks Business continues to be sold under contract, only half of these contracted volumes are now sold under agreements containing a four month lag in the time when prices are adjusted for feedstock costs, while the remainder are calculated on a monthly basis. For the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009, the contract lag impact was an unfavorable $3 million and a benefit of $28 million, respectively. This is compared to unfavorable impacts of $4 million and $30 million in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2008, respectively. The LIFO impacts in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009 were an unfavorable $2 million and a benefit of $11 million, respectively. This is compared to an unfavorable $6 million and $10 million in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2008, respectively.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2009, we completed the expansion of our carbon black facility in Tianjin, China, increasing our capacity at that facility by 150,000 metric tons. We expect to operate this capacity beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

Supermetals Business

Sales in the Supermetals Business were flat in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008 as lower volumes ($7 million) from weaker demand in the electronics market were offset by higher prices ($7 million). For the

 

38


Table of Contents

first nine months of fiscal 2009, sales decreased by $41 million as lower volumes ($65 million) from weaker electronics demand more than offset higher prices and a favorable product mix ($19 million) and the benefit of foreign currency translation ($4 million).

PBT in the Supermetals Business in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 increased by $5 million when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The increase was due principally to higher prices ($7 million), partially offset by lower volumes from weaker demand in the electronics industry ($1 million). For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, PBT decreased by $3 million when compared to the same period of fiscal 2008. The decrease was driven principally by lower volumes from weaker demand in the electronics industry ($23 million), partially offset by higher prices ($18 million) and lower operating expenses ($3 million). During the third quarter of fiscal 2009, the Supermetals Business generated $6 million in cash, on a constant currency basis, principally from improving operating results. In the first nine months of fiscal 2009, the Business generated $26 million in cash, principally from a reduction in working capital.

Performance Segment

Sales and PBT for the Performance Segment for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

 

     Three months ended    Nine months ended
   June 30    June 30
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (Dollars in millions)

Performance Products Business Sales

   $ 98    $ 175    $ 293    $ 481

Fumed Metal Oxides Business Sales

     51      72      145      214
                           

Segment Sales

   $ 149    $ 247    $ 438    $ 695
                           

Segment PBT

   $ 10    $ 32    $ 12    $ 95
                           

Sales in the Performance Segment decreased by $98 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The decrease was driven principally by lower volumes ($71 million) from weaker global demand in the automotive, construction and electronics markets, the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation ($13 million) and lower prices ($13 million) driven by lower raw material costs. For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, the $257 million decrease in sales when compared to the same period of fiscal 2008 was due principally to lower volumes ($268 million) from weaker demand in our key end markets and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation ($28 million), partially offset by higher pricing ($35 million).

PBT in the Performance Segment in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 decreased by $22 million when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Volumes in the Performance Products and Fumed Metal Oxides Businesses decreased by 29% and 26%, respectively, in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared to the same period of fiscal 2008. These lower volumes from weaker global demand in the automotive, construction and electronics markets unfavorably affected PBT by $37 million. Additionally, older, high cost inventories unfavorably affected PBT by $5 million. Partially offsetting these factors were lower operating expenses ($6 million) and the favorable effect of foreign currency translation ($5 million). In the third quarter of fiscal 2009, LIFO had an unfavorable impact of $3 million as compared to an unfavorable $8 million impact in the same period of fiscal 2008. This difference benefited results by $5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008. For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, PBT decreased by $83 million. The decrease was driven principally by lower volumes from weaker demand in our key end markets ($120 million). For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, volumes in the Performance Products and Fumed Metal Oxides Businesses decreased by 34% and 33%, respectively, when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2008. Margins expanded by $22 million as the unfavorable impact of older, high cost inventories ($16 million) was more than offset by margin management and a $13 million LIFO benefit, compared to an unfavorable $15 million LIFO impact in the first nine months of fiscal 2008. Additionally, lower operating expenses ($8 million) and favorable foreign currency translation ($8 million) each benefited results during the period.

 

39


Table of Contents

New Business Segment

Sales and PBT for the New Business Segment for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

 

     Three months ended     Nine months ended  
   June 30     June 30  
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (Dollars in millions)  

Inkjet Colorants Business Sales

   $ 10      $ 11      $ 32      $ 30   

Aerogel Business Sales

     2        2        11        5   

Superior MicroPowders Sales

     2        1        5        2   
                                

Segment Sales

   $ 14      $ 14      $ 48      $ 37   
                                

Segment PBT

   $ (4   $ (9   $ (8   $ (30
                                

Sales in the New Business Segment were flat in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and increased by $11 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 when compared to the same periods of fiscal 2008. The loss in the New Business Segment for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 was $4 million, which is a $5 million improvement from the third quarter of fiscal 2008. For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, the improvement in performance was $22 million over the first nine months of fiscal 2008. Results for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 benefited from lower operating expenses while the improvement in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 was driven by a combination of increased sales and lower operating expenses, both from the improved discipline of our business development process, when compared to the same periods of fiscal 2008.

Specialty Fluids Segment

Sales and PBT for the Specialty Fluids Segment for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

 

     Three months ended    Nine months ended
   June 30    June 30
     2009    2008    2009    2008
     (Dollars in millions)

Segment Sales

   $ 19    $ 17    $ 45    $ 49
                           

Segment PBT

   $ 9    $ 5    $ 17    $ 18
                           

Sales in the Specialty Fluids Segment increased by $2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The improvement was driven principally by higher prices. During the first nine months of fiscal 2009, sales decreased by $4 million, when compared to the same period of fiscal 2008. The decrease was due principally to a slowdown in drilling activity in the North Sea that was not fully offset by equivalent jobs in other regions.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2009, PBT increased by $4 million when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2008 due principally to higher prices and lower operating expenses. For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, PBT was $1 million lower than the first nine months of fiscal 2008 as lower drilling activity in the North Sea was not fully offset by favorable pricing, increased activity in regions outside of the North Sea and lower operating expenses.

 

40


Table of Contents

III. Cash Flow and Liquidity

Overview

Our liquidity position improved during the third fiscal quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009 primarily driven by lower receivables balances from lower sales volumes and decreasing carbon black feedstock costs, which resulted in reduced working capital requirements. At June 30, 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents of $177 million, and current availability under our revolving and other committed credit facilities of approximately $197 million. While the availability of our credit facilities is dependent upon the financial viability of our lenders, we have no reason to believe that such liquidity will be unavailable or decreased. Our revolving credit facility contains financial covenants relating to our debt to total capitalization ratio and the level of subsidiary debt. At June 30, 2009 we were in compliance with these covenants and expect to remain so. All available cash is on deposit with banking institutions or invested in money market funds that we continue to believe are financially sound.

We expect cash on hand, cash from operations and present financing arrangements, including our unused lines of credit, to be sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the foreseeable future. This includes our anticipated debt repayments, capital expenditures and cash restructuring costs to be made during the next twelve months. Our revolving credit facility is set to expire on August 3, 2010.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash generated by operating activities, which consists of net (loss) income adjusted for the various non-cash items included in earnings, changes in working capital and changes in certain other balance sheet accounts, totaled $317 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 compared to $44 million of cash generated from operating activities during the first nine months of fiscal 2008. The principal drivers of the cash generated from operations in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 were (i) a $230 million decrease in receivables due to lower pricing as a result of lower carbon black feedstock costs, lower sales volumes, and receivables collections, and (ii) a $183 million decrease in inventories due to reductions in inventory levels and declines in carbon black feedstock costs. These sources of cash were partially offset by the use of cash for accounts payable and accrued liabilities due to the timing of certain payments. In the first nine months of fiscal 2008 there was a $56 million and a $73 million increase in receivables and inventories, respectively, principally due to rising carbon black feedstock costs. These uses of cash were offset by stronger net income from operations in that period.

Restructurings

A significant portion of the restructuring charges we have or will incur are non-cash in nature. Specifically, of the anticipated $125 million charge for the 2009 Global Restructuring Plan, $75 million is expected to require a cash outlay. As of June 30, 2009, we had $19 million of total restructuring costs in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet related to the 2009 Global Restructuring Plan. During fiscal 2009, we have made cash payments of $21 million related to restructuring activities, of which $14 million related to the 2009 Global Restructuring Plan. We expect to make additional cash payments related to these restructuring activities of $6 million during the remainder of fiscal 2009 and $55 million in 2010 and thereafter.

Repatriation of Foreign Currency

Beginning in fiscal 2007, we began repatriating portions of our cash balance in Venezuela denominated in Bolivars. During the first nine months of fiscal 2009, we recognized a foreign exchange loss as a result of this repatriation. As of June 30, 2009, we had cash denominated in Bolivars of approximately $10 million in Venezuela, which has been translated at the official exchange rate. We continue to be concerned about the amount that we will be able to receive when we repatriate some or all of this cash as we have not received approval to exchange the Bolivars at the official rate. If we are unable to repatriate this cash at the official exchange rate or if the official exchange rate devalues, we may incur additional reductions to our earnings and translated cash balances would be reduced.

Environmental and Litigation

We have recorded a $6 million reserve on a discounted basis ($8 million on an undiscounted basis) as of June 30, 2009, for environmental remediation costs at various sites. These sites are primarily associated with businesses divested in prior years. Additionally, as of June 30, 2009, we have recorded a $13 million reserve on a discounted basis ($23 million on an undiscounted basis) for respirator claims. We anticipate that these expenditures will be made over a number of years, and will not be concentrated in any one year. We also have other litigation costs associated with lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business including claims filed against us in connection with certain discontinued operations.

 

41


Table of Contents

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Cash flows from investing activities consumed $79 million of cash in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 compared to $103 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2008. During the first nine months of fiscal 2009, cash consumption included capital expenditures of $75 million comprised of residual spending to complete rubber blacks capacity expansion at an existing facility in China and energy centers at other rubber blacks facilities and an investment of $3 million in a joint venture located in China. In the first nine months of fiscal 2008, capital expenditures of $125 million were partially offset by the proceeds of $18 million received from the sale of the land on which our Altona, Australia carbon black plant was located.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Financing activities used $191 million of cash during the first nine months of fiscal 2009 and provided $3 million of cash during the same period of fiscal 2008. In the first nine months of fiscal 2009 financing cash flows were primarily driven by the net reduction in debt of $145 million and dividend payments of $35 million. During the first nine months of fiscal 2008, our financing cash flows reflected an increase in net borrowings of $81 million, partially offset by dividend payments of $35 million and aggregate payments of $35 million to purchase shares of our common stock.

Contractual Obligations

Purchase Commitments

We have entered into long-term purchase agreements primarily for the purchase of raw materials and natural gas. Under certain of these agreements the quantity of material being purchased is fixed, but the price we pay changes as market prices change. For these commitments, the table below is quantified on the basis of market prices at June 30, 2009.

 

     Payments Due by Fiscal Year
     Remainder
of fiscal
2009
   2010    2011    2012    2013    Thereafter    Total
     (Dollars in millions)

Core Segment

                    

Rubber Blacks Business

   $ 41    $ 183    $ 158    $ 140    $ 134    $ 903    $ 1,559

Supermetals Business

     13      15      16      17      6      1      68

Performance Segment

     17      26      19      18      18      141      239

Other

     —        —        1      —        —        —        1
                                                

Total

   $ 71    $ 224    $ 194    $ 175    $ 158    $ 1,045    $ 1,867
                                                

Off-balance sheet arrangements

Cabot has no material transactions that meet the definition of an off-balance sheet arrangement.

Forward-Looking Information

This report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” under the Federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements address expectations or projections about the future, including our expectations concerning the amount and timing of the charge to earnings we will record and the cash outlays we will make in connection with our recent restructuring initiative; the amount and timing of charges and payments associated with restructurings and cost reduction initiatives we have previously undertaken; when we expect to begin using our recently completed rubber blacks manufacturing capacity to manufacture product; the amount and timing of payments associated with environmental remediation and respirator claims; the amount of previously recorded tax benefits we expect to reverse in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009; the outcome of pending litigation; cash requirements and uses of available cash; our ability to remain in compliance with the financial covenants in our revolving credit facility; and our ability to meet cash requirements for the foreseeable future.

Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about Cabot’s businesses and strategies, market trends and conditions, economic conditions and other factors. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, potentially inaccurate assumptions, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control or difficult to predict. If known or unknown risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, our actual results could differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.

In addition to factors described elsewhere in this report, the following are some of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: changes in raw material costs; lower than expected demand for our products; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; patent rights of others; stock and credit market conditions; the timely commercialization of products under development (which may be disrupted or delayed by technical

 

42


Table of Contents

difficulties, market acceptance, competitors’ new products, as well as difficulties in moving from the experimental stage to the production stage); our ability to successfully implement our cost reduction initiatives and organizational restructurings; demand for our customers’ products; competitors’ reactions to market conditions; the accuracy of the assumptions we used in establishing a reserve for our share of liability for respirator claims; and the outcome of pending litigation. Other factors and risks are discussed in our 2008 10-K.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Investors are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in future 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

IV. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements – Not Yet Adopted

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 141 (Revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“FAS 141(R)”). FAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. The statement also provides guidance for recognizing and measuring the goodwill acquired in the business combination and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of business combinations. FAS 141(R) is effective on a prospective basis for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Accordingly, any business combination we enter into after September 30, 2009 will be subject to this new standard.

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—An Amendment of ARB No. 51” (“FAS 160”). FAS 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent, the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest, changes in the parent’s ownership interest and the valuation of retained noncontrolling equity investments when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. FAS 160 also establishes disclosure requirements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. FAS 160 will be effective for us for the first quarter of fiscal 2010, beginning October 1, 2009. We are evaluating the impact of FAS 160 on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Information about market risks for the period ended June 30, 2009 does not differ materially from that discussed under Item 7A of our fiscal 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of June 30, 2009, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based upon that evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of that date.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

43


Table of Contents

Part II.    Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Respirator Liabilities

We have exposure in connection with a safety respiratory products business that a subsidiary acquired from American Optical Corporation (“AO”) in an April 1990 asset purchase transaction. The subsidiary manufactured respirators under the AO brand and disposed of that business in July 1995. In connection with its acquisition of the business, the subsidiary agreed, in certain circumstances, to assume a portion of AO’s liabilities, including costs of legal fees together with amounts paid in settlements and judgments, allocable to AO respiratory products used prior to the 1990 purchase by the Cabot subsidiary. As more fully described in our 2008 10-K, our respirator liabilities involve claims for personal injury, including asbestosis, silicosis and coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, allegedly resulting from the use of AO respirators that are alleged to have been negligently designed or labeled. As of June 30, 2009, there were approximately 53,000 claimants in pending cases asserting claims against AO in connection with respiratory products. We have a reserve to cover our expected share of liability for existing and future respirator liability claims. The book value of the reserve at June 30, 2009 is approximately $13 million on a discounted basis (or approximately $23 million on an undiscounted basis).

AVX

In September 2005, AVX Corporation (“AVX”) filed an action in the Superior Court of Massachusetts for Suffolk County, which, in November 2005, was moved to the Business Litigation Section of the Superior Court of Massachusetts. The action alleges that Cabot improperly administered the parties’ January 1, 2001 tantalum supply agreement (the “Supply Agreement”) for the years 2003 through 2005. In particular, AVX claims that we have not provided all of the price relief due to AVX under the “most favored customer” (“MFC”) provisions of the Supply Agreement. AVX seeks a judicial declaration of the rights of the parties to the Supply Agreement and an award of any sums not paid that should have been. We filed an answer and counterclaims against AVX asserting that AVX actually underpaid for tantalum products in the period 2003 through 2005. On December 31, 2007, the court issued an order allowing AVX’s motion for partial summary judgment on one significant legal issue involving interpretation of the Supply Agreement, but denied AVX’s motion and our cross-motion in all other respects, including AVX’s motion to dismiss Cabot’s affirmative defenses that would negate AVX’s claims. Prior to July 2008, AVX had indicated that it believed it is owed additional MFC benefits of approximately $24 million, which we dispute. In July 2008, AVX attempted to assert new legal theories that increased its damage claim for additional MFC benefits to approximately $96 million. We subsequently filed a motion to strike AVX’s revised claim for MFC benefits and in November 2008, the court granted our motion and denied AVX’s additional damage claim for MFC benefits of $72 million. AVX subsequently filed a motion requesting the court to reconsider or clarify this ruling, which was denied in its entirety. Despite this ruling, AVX has most recently filed a new damage report seeking damages in excess of $24 million. We filed a new motion to strike this report based on the court’s prior ruling, which was substantially allowed by the court, such that AVX’s damage claim is now limited to approximately $30 million, not including pre-judgment interest. A trial date of October 16, 2009 has been set for this matter.

We believe that we have valid defenses to all of AVX’s claims, including the one on which partial summary judgment was granted, and will continue to assert these defenses and our counterclaims vigorously. In addition, if necessary, we have the right to appeal the court’s order allowing AVX’s motion for partial summary judgment.

Carbon Black Antitrust Litigation

Cabot was one of several carbon black manufacturer defendants in federal and state class actions initially filed in 2003 alleging that the defendants violated federal and state antitrust laws in connection with the sale of carbon black. As of June 30, 2009, the only pending state action was in Florida, with all of the other federal and state class actions having been previously settled. In November 2008, the parties in the Florida action entered into a settlement agreement for less than $1 million in total, which received the required preliminary court approval. In February 2009, the court declined to grant final approval of the settlement and vacated the settlement on several grounds. The parties have since entered into a modified settlement, also for less than $1 million in total, which received preliminary court approval in July 2009. Final court approval of this modified settlement is pending. We deny any wrongdoing of any kind in these cases and strongly believe we have good defenses to the claims, but agreed to the settlements to avoid further expense, inconvenience, risk and the distraction of burdensome and protracted litigation.

Beryllium Claims

We are a party to several pending actions in connection with our discontinued beryllium operations in Reading, Pennsylvania. We entered the beryllium industry through an acquisition in 1978. We ceased manufacturing beryllium products at one of the acquired facilities in 1979, and the balance of our former beryllium business was sold to NGK Metals, Inc. (“NGK”) in 1986. As more fully described in the 2008 10-K, the actions are pending in several state and federal trial and appeal courts and involve claims for personal injury and medical monitoring relating to alleged contact with beryllium in various ways. During the third quarter of fiscal 2009, one of the personal injury claims pending against us in state trial court in Pennsylvania was settled, leaving one personal injury claim pending against us in that court as of June 30, 2009.

 

44


Table of Contents

We believe we have valid defenses to all of the beryllium actions and will assert them vigorously in the various venues in which claims have been asserted. In addition, there is a contractual indemnification obligation running from NGK to Cabot in connection with many of these matters.

Environmental Matters

In June 2009, Cabot received an information request from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) regarding Cabot’s carbon black manufacturing facility in Pampa, Texas. The information request relates to the Pampa facility’s compliance with certain regulatory and permitting requirements under the Clean Air Act, including the so-called New Source Review construction permitting requirements. EPA has indicated that this information request is part of an EPA national initiative focused on the carbon black manufacturing sector. Cabot is in the process of responding to EPA’s June 2009 information request.

Other Matters

We have various other lawsuits, claims and contingent liabilities arising in the ordinary course of our business, including a number of claims asserting premises liability for asbestos exposure, and in respect of our divested businesses. In our opinion, although final disposition of some or all of these other suits and claims may impact our financial statements in a particular period, they should not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The table below sets forth information regarding the Company’s purchases of its equity securities during the quarter ended June 30, 2009.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

   Total Number
of Shares
Purchased(1)
   Average
Price Paid
per Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
   Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs

April 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009

   11,050    $ 10.94    —      4,311,557

May 1, 2009 – May 30, 2009

   80,757    $ 15.86    —      4,311,557

June 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009

   3,060    $ 15.32    435    4,311,122
               

Total

   94,867       435   

 

(1) On May 11, 2007, we announced publicly that our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase five million shares of our common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. On September 14, 2007, our Board of Directors increased the share repurchase authorization to 10 million shares (the “2007 Authorization”). The 2007 Authorization does not have a set expiration date.

In addition to the 2007 Authorization, the Board has authorized us to repurchase shares awarded to participants in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Long-Term Incentive Programs at any date on or after such shares vest to satisfy tax withholding obligations that arise on the vesting of such shares and to satisfy associated loan repayment liabilities. The shares are repurchased from employees at fair market value. During the third quarter of fiscal 2009, we repurchased 68,317 shares from employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations and loan repayment liabilities.

From time to time, we also repurchase shares of unvested restricted stock from employees whose employment is terminated before such shares vest. These shares are repurchased pursuant to the terms of our equity incentive plans and are not included in the shares repurchased under the authorizations described above. During the third quarter of fiscal 2009, we repurchased 26,550 forfeited shares pursuant to the terms of our equity incentive plans.

 

45


Table of Contents
Item 6. Exhibits

The following Exhibits are filed herewith:

 

Exhibit 31.1    Certification of Principal Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
Exhibit 31.2    Certification of Principal Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
Exhibit 32    Certifications of the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

46


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

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

 

  CABOT CORPORATION
Date: August 10, 2009   By:   /s/ EDUARDO E. CORDEIRO
    Eduardo E. Cordeiro
   

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Duly Authorized Officer)

Date: August 10, 2009   By:   /s/ JAMES P. KELLY
    James P. Kelly
   

Vice President and Controller

(Chief Accounting Officer)

 

47


Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

Exhibit 31.1    Certification of Principal Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
Exhibit 31.2    Certification of Principal Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
Exhibit 32    Certifications of the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

48