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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended March 30, 2003

or

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

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-3295

--

MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE

25-1190717

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10174-1901
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(212) 878-1800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

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 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 the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

CLASS
Common Stock, $0.10 par value

OUTSTANDING AT April 25, 2003
20,085,688

 

 

 


 

MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

Page No.

PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

 

                   Financial Statements:

 
   

                        Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the three-month
                        periods ended March 30, 2003 and March 31, 2002

3

   

                        Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 30, 2003
                        and December 31, 2002

4

   

                        Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three-month
                        periods ended March 30, 2003 and March 31, 2002

5

   

                        Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6

   

                   Independent Auditors' Review Report

12

   

Item 2.

 

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

13

   

Item 3.

 

                   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

16

   

Item 4.

 

                   Controls and Procedures

17

   

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

 

                   Legal Proceedings

17

   

Item 6.

 

                   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

18

   

Signature and Certifications

19


 

 

PART 1.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  Financial Statements

 

MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended


(in thousands, except per share data)

March 30,
2003


March 31,
2002


Net sales

$201,450 

$179,000

Operating costs and expenses:

   

   Cost of goods sold

151,683 

133,424

   Marketing and administrative expenses

21,137 

18,436

   Research and development expenses

   6,085 

   5,704

     

Income from operations

22,545 

21,436

Non-operating deductions, net

   1,027 

   1,938

Income before provision for taxes
      on income and minority interests

21,518 

19,498

Provision for taxes on income

6,134 

5,635

Minority interests

      467 

     320

     

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

14,917 

 13,543

Cumulative effect of accounting change

    3,433 

          --

Net income

$  11,484 
====== 

$  13,543
====== 

Earnings per share:

   

      Basic:

   

         Before cumulative effect of accounting change

$      0.74 

$      0.68

         Cumulative effect of accounting change

   (0.17)

          --

               Basic earnings per share

$      0.57 
====== 

$     0.68 
====== 

      Diluted:

   

         Before cumulative effect of accounting change

$      0.74 

$      0.66

         Cumulative effect of accounting change

   (0.17)

         --

               Diluted earnings per share

$      0.57 
====== 

$     0.66 
====== 

Cash dividends declared per common share

$    0.025 

$    0.025

     

Shares used in the computation of earnings per share:

   

      Basic

20,117 

19,984

      Diluted

20,223 

20,564

See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3

 


 

 

MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

ASSETS

(thousands of dollars)

March 30,
2003* 


December 31,
2002**


Current assets

   Cash and cash equivalents

$  37,295

$  31,762

   Accounts receivable, net

152,566

129,608

   Inventories

85,392

82,909

   Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  43,139

  46,686

      Total current assets

318,392

290,965

Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation
   and depletion -- March 30, 2003 - $600,911;

   December 31, 2002 - $578,580

533,394

537,424

Goodwill

51,061

51,291

Other assets and deferred charges

   20,759

  20,197

      Total assets

$923,606
======

$899,877
======

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

   Short-term debt

$  30,000 

$  30,000 

   Current maturities of long-term debt

1,438 

1,331 

   Accounts payable

42,058 

37,435 

   Other current liabilities

  56,417 

  55,171 

      Total current liabilities

129,913 

123,937 

Long-term debt

88,863 

89,020 

Other non-current liabilities

  98,502 

  92,763 

      Total liabilities

317,278 

305,720 

Shareholders' equity:

   Common stock

2,699 

2,694 

   Additional paid-in capital

191,531 

190,144 

   Retained earnings

689,722 

678,740 

   Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(30,521)

(35,034)

853,431 

836,544 

   Less treasury stock

247,103 

242,387 

      Total shareholders' equity

606,328 

594,157 

      Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$923,606 
====== 

$899,877 
====== 

 

* Unaudited
** Condensed from audited financial statements.

 

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4


 

 

MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended 


(thousands of dollars)

March 30,
2003


March 31,
2002


     

Operating Activities

   

Net income

$  11,484 

$  13,543 

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

   

      Cumulative effect of accounting change

3,433 

-- 

      Depreciation, depletion and amortization

17,627 

16,549 

      Write-down of impaired assets

-- 

750 

      Other non-cash items

1,620 

2,573 

      Net changes in operating assets and liabilities

(16,730)

(16,681)

Net cash provided by operating activities

  17,434 

 16,734 

     

Investing Activities

   

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(7,709)

(9,060)

Acquisition of business

          -- 

(10,175)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (7,709)

(19,235)

     

Financing Activities

   

Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt

5,318 

38,223 

Repayment of debt

(5,318)

(49,720)

Purchase of common shares for treasury

(4,716)

-- 

Proceeds from issuance of stock under option plan

1,391 

22,253 

Cash dividends paid

    (502)

      (505)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 (3,827)

  10,251 

     

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and
      cash equivalents

    (365)

       (15)

     

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

5,533 

7,735 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

31,762 

 13,046 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$  37,295 
====== 

$  20,781 
====== 

     

Interest paid

$    2,648 
======

$    2,439 
====== 

     

Income taxes paid

$    1,726 
====== 

$    2,651 
======

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

5

 


MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1 -- Basis of Presentation

     The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information for the periods indicated, have been included. The results for the three-month period ended March 30, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2003.

 

Note 2 -- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

     Property, Plant and Equipment

     Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Significant improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to operations as incurred. The Company capitalizes interest cost as a component of construction in progress. In general, the straight-line method of depreciation is used for financial reporting purposes and accelerated methods are used for U.S. and certain foreign tax reporting purposes. The annual rates of depreciation are 4%-6.67% for buildings, 6.67%-12.5% for machinery and equipment, 8%-12.5% for furniture and fixtures and 12.5%-25% for computer equipment and software-related assets.

     Property, plant and equipment are amortized over their useful lives. Useful lives are based on management's estimates of the period that the assets can generate revenue, which does not necessarily coincide with the remaining term of a customer's contractual obligation for use of those assets. The Company's sales of PCC are predominantly pursuant to long-term arrangements, generally ten years in length, with paper mills at which the Company operates satellite PCC plants. The terms of many of these agreements have been extended, often in connection with an expansion of the satellite PCC plant. The Company also continues to supply PCC to three locations at which the PCC contract has expired. Failure of a PCC customer to renew an agreement or continue to purchase PCC from the Company could result in an impairment of assets charge at such facility.

     In the third quarter of 2002, the Company reduced the useful lives of satellite PCC plants at International Paper Company's ("IP") mills due to an increased risk that some or all of these PCC contracts would not be renewed. As a result of this, the Company also reviewed the useful lives of the assets at its remaining satellite PCC facilities and merchant plants. During the first quarter of 2003, the Company revised the estimated useful lives of machinery and equipment pertaining to its natural stone mining and processing plants and chemical processing plants from 12.5 years (8%) to 15 years (6.67%) and reduced the useful lives of buildings at certain satellite PCC facilities from 25 years (4%) to 15 years (6.67%). The Company also reduced the estimated useful lives of certain software-related assets due to implementation of a new global system. The net effect of the changes in estimated useful lives, including the accelerated depreciation at the IP mills, was a reduction to diluted earnings per share of $0.01 in the first quarter of 2003.

     Depletion of mineral and quarry properties is determined, for financial reporting purposes, on a unit-of-extraction basis as the related materials are mined and for tax purposes on a percentage depletion basis.

     Mining costs associated with waste gravel and rock removal in excess of the expected average life of mine stripping ratio are deferred. These costs are charged to production on a unit-of-production basis when the ratio of waste to ore mined is less than the average life of mine stripping ratio.

     Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

     In December 2002, The FASB issued SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of SFAS No. 123." This statement amends SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation, and requires additional disclosures in interim and

 

 

6

 


 

MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

annual financial statements. The disclosure in interim periods requires pro forma net income and net income per share as if the Company adopted the fair value method of accounting for stock-based awards. The fair value of stock-based awards to employees was calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, modified for dividends. Pro forma net income and earnings per share reflecting compensation cost for the fair value of stock options were as follows:

 

Three Months Ended


(millions of dollars, except per share amounts)

March 30,
2003


March 31,
2002


Income before cumulative effect of accounting change,
as reported

$  14.9

$  13.5

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

    0.4

     0.5

Pro forma income before cumulative effect of
accounting change

14.5

13.0

Cumulative effect of accounting change

    3.4

       --

     Pro forma net income

$  11.1
====

$  13.0
====

     Net income, as reported

$  11.5
====

$  13.5
====

Basic EPS

   

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change,
as reported

$  0.74

$  0.68

Pro forma income before cumulative effect of
accounting change

$  0.72

$  0.65

Pro forma net income

$  0.55

$  0.65

Net income, as reported

$  0.57

$  0.68

Diluted EPS

   

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change,
as reported

$  0.74

$  0.66

Pro forma income before cumulative effect of
accounting change

$  0.72

$  0.63

Pro forma net income

$  0.55

$  0.63

Net income, as reported

$  0.57

$  0.66

 

 

Note 3 -- Inventories

     The following is a summary of inventories by major category:

(thousands of dollars)

March 30, 
2003 


December 31,
2002


 

Raw materials

$36,470

$32,967

Work-in-process

7,011

7,153

Finished goods

24,963

25,459

Packaging and supplies

16,948

17,330

Total inventories

$85,392
=====

$82,909
=====

 

 

 

7

 


MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 4 -- Long-Term Debt and Commitments

     The following is a summary of long-term debt:

(thousands of dollars)

March 30,
2003 


December 31,
2002


 

7.49% Guaranteed Senior Notes Due July 24, 2006

$50,000

$50,000

Yen-denominated Guaranteed Credit Agreement
   Due March 31, 2007

8,907

8,957

Variable/Fixed Rate Industrial
   Development Revenue Bonds Due 2009

4,000

4,000

Economic Development Authority Refunding
   Revenue Bonds Series 1999 Due 2010

4,600

4,600

Variable/Fixed Rate Industrial
   Development Revenue Bonds Due August 1, 2012

8,000

8,000

Variable/Fixed Rate Industrial
   Development Revenue Bonds Series 1999
      Due November 1, 2014

8,200

8,200

Variable/Fixed Rate Industrial
   Development Revenue Bonds Due March 31, 2020

  5,000

  5,000

Other borrowings

  1,594

  1,594

 

90,301

90,351

Less: Current maturities

  1,438

  1,331

Long-term debt

$88,863
=====

$89,020
=====

 

Note 5 -- Earnings Per Share (EPS)

     Basic earnings per share are based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share are based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period assuming the issuance of common shares for all dilutive potential common shares outstanding. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

Three Months Ended


Basic EPS
(in thousands, except per share data)

March 30,
2003 


March 31,
2002 


Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

$14,917 

$13,543

Cumulative effect of accounting change

(3,433)

        --

Net income

$11,484 
===== 

$13,543
=====

Weighted average shares outstanding

20,117 

19,984

Basic earnings per share before cumulative effect of accounting change

$    0.74 

$    0.68

Cumulative effect of accounting change

       (0.17)

        --

Basic earnings per share

$    0.57 
=======

$    0.68
======

Diluted EPS

   

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

$14,917 

$13,543

Cumulative effect of accounting change

(3,433)

        --

Net income

$11,484 
=====

$13,543
=====

Weighted average shares outstanding

20,117 

19,984

Dilutive effect of stock options

     106 

    580

Weighted average shares outstanding, adjusted

20,223 

20,564

Diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of accounting change

$    0.74 

$    0.66

Cumulative effect of accounting change

  (0.17)

        --

Diluted earnings per share

$    0.57 
====== 

$    0.66
======

 

 

8

 


MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 6 -- Comprehensive Income (Loss)

     The following are the components of comprehensive income (loss):

 

Three Months Ended


(thousands of dollars)

March 30,
2003


March 31,
2002 


     

Net income

$  11,484

$  13,543 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

   

   Foreign currency translation adjustments

4,513

(3,543)

   Cash flow hedges:

   

      Net derivative gains

--

28 

      Reclassification adjustment

          --

       (34)

Comprehensive income

$  15,997
======

$    9,994 
====== 

     The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of related tax, are as follows:

 

March 30,
2003


December 31,
2002


(millions of dollars)

     

Foreign currency translation adjustments

$(28.3)

$(32.8)

Minimum pension liability adjustment

(1.3)

(1.3)

Net gain on cash flow hedges

  (0.9)

  (0.9)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

$(30.5)
====

$(35.0)
====

 

Note 7 -- Segment and Related Information

     Segment information for the three months ended March 30, 2003 and March 31, 2002 was as follows:

(thousands of dollars)

Net Sales


Three Months Ended 


 

March 30,
2003


March 31,
2002


Specialty Minerals

$137,775

$124,315

Refractories

  63,675

  54,685

   Total

$201,450
======

$179,000
======

 
(thousands of dollars)

Income from Operations


Three Months Ended 


 

March 30, 
2003


March 31,
2002


Specialty Minerals

$15,544

$  15,219

Refractories

  7,001

   6,217

   Total

$22,545
=====

$  21,436
======

     Included in income from operations of the Specialty Minerals segment for the three months ended March 30, 2003 was a charge for one-time termination benefits of $660,000. Included in income from operations of the Specialty Minerals segment for the three months ended March 31, 2002, was a write-down of impaired assets of $750,000.

 

 

9

 


MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     The carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment as of March 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002 was as follows:

 

Goodwill


(thousands of dollars)

March 30,
2003


December 31,
2002


Specialty Minerals

$14,471

$14,637

Refractories

36,590

36,654

   Total

$51,061
=====

$51,291
=====

     A reconciliation of the totals reported for the operating segments to the applicable line items in the consolidated financial statements is as follows:

(thousands of dollars)

 
 

Three Months Ended


Income before provision for taxes on
income and minority interests

March 30, 
2003


March 31,
2002


     

Income from operations for reportable segments

$  22,545

$  21,436

Non-operating deductions, net

   1,027

    1,938

Income before provision for taxes on income
      and minority interests

$  21,518
======

$  19,498
======

 

Note 8 -- Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

     The Company accounts for goodwill and other tangible assets in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are no longer amortized, but instead are tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142.

     The carrying amount of goodwill was $51.1 million and $51.3 million as of March 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively. The net change in goodwill since January 1, 2003 was attributable to the effects of foreign exchange rates.

     Acquired intangible assets subject to amortization as of March 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002 were as follows:

 

March 30, 2003


 

December 31, 2002


(millions of dollars)

Gross Carrying Amount


Accumulated Amortization


Gross Carrying Amount


Accumulated Amortization


Patents and trademarks

$ 5.8

 

$ 0.7

 

$ 5.8

 

$ 0.7

Customer lists

1.4

 

0.2

 

1.4

 

0.1

Other

 0.2

 

   --

 

 0.2

 

   --

 

$ 7.4
===

 

$ 0.9
===

 

$ 7.4
===

 

$ 0.8
===

     The weighted average amortization period for acquired intangible assets subject to amortization is approximately 16 years. Estimated amortization expense is $0.4 million for each of the next five years through 2007.

 

 

 

10

 


MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 9 -- Accounting for Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

     The Company accounts for impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." SFAS No. 144 establishes a uniform accounting model for long-lived assets to be disposed. This Statement also requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. During the first quarter of 2002, the Company recorded a write-down of impaired assets of $750,000 for a precipitated calcium carbonate plant at a paper mill that has ceased operations. Such charge was included in cost of goods sold. There was no charge for impairment during the first quarter of 2003.

 

Note 10 -- Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations

     Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations." SFAS No. 143 establishes the financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. This statement requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset.

     Upon adoption, the Company recorded a non-cash, after-tax charge to earnings of approximately $3.4 million for the cumulative effect of this accounting change related to retirement obligations associated with the Company's PCC satellite facilities and its mining properties, both within the Specialty Minerals segment. As a result of this pronouncement, the Company recorded additional depreciation and accretion expenses of approximately $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2003. Such charge is included in cost of goods sold. The pro forma effect on results, assuming that SFAS No. 143 were applied retroactively, would be a non-cash, after-tax charge to earnings of approximately $0.1 million for the first quarter of 2002.

     The following is a reconciliation of asset retirement obligations as of March 30, 2003:

(thousands of dollars)

 
   

Asset retirement liability, beginning of period

$ 8,953

Accretion expense

    127

Asset retirement liability, end of period

$ 9,080
=====

 

Note 11 -- Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities

     Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities." This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities. During the first quarter of 2003, the Company paid approximately $660,000 of one-time termination benefits to a group of employees at the Specialty Minerals facility in the United Kingdom. Such charge is included in cost of goods sold.

 

 

11


 

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REVIEW REPORT

 

 

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Minerals Technologies Inc.:

     We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Minerals Technologies Inc. and subsidiary companies as of March 30, 2003 and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 30, 2003 and March 31, 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the company's management.

     We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

     Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

     As discussed in Note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations."

     We have previously audited, in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the consolidated balance sheet of Minerals Technologies Inc. and subsidiary companies as of December 31, 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated January 23, 2003, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2002 is fairly presented, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

KPMG LLP

 

 

New York, New York
April 24, 2003

 

 

 

 

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ITEM 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Income and Expense Items
As a Percentage of Net Sales
Three Months Ended


 

March 30,
2003


March 31,
2002


 

Net sales

100.0%

100.0%

Cost of goods sold

75.3   

74.5   

Marketing and administrative expenses

10.5   

10.3   

Research and development expenses

  3.0   

  3.2   

Income from operations

11.2   

12.0   

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

7.4   

7.6   

Cumulative effect of accounting change

  1.7   

   --   

Net income

  5.7%
===  

  7.6%
===  

 

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 30, 2003 as Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2002

     Net sales in the first quarter of 2003 increased 12.6% to $201.5 million from $179.0 million in the first quarter of 2002. Foreign exchange had a favorable impact on sales of approximately $8.2 million or 5 percentage points of growth.

    Net sales in the Specialty Minerals segment, which includes the Precipitated Calcium Carbonate ("PCC") and Processed Minerals product lines, increased 10.9% in the first quarter of 2003 to $137.8 million from $124.3 million in the prior year.

    Worldwide net sales of PCC, which is used primarily in the manufacturing process of the paper industry, increased 6.2% to $109.3 million from $102.9 million in the first quarter of 2002. Foreign exchange had a favorable impact on sales of $3.4 million or approximately 3 percentage points of growth in the first quarter. Sales volume for PCC used for filling and coating paper increased approximately 2%. The volume growth of PCC used for filling and coating paper and the favorable effect of foreign exchange more than offset the shutdown in December 2002 of the Company's satellite PCC plant at Great Northern Paper Company in Millinocket, Maine, which is in bankruptcy proceedings.

     Sales in the Specialty PCC product line, used in non-paper applications, increased 1.7% to $12.0 million from $11.8 million in the first quarter of 2002. Growth in sales for plastic and sealant applications from the Brookhaven, Mississippi, and Lifford, U.K., facilities increased but were partially offset by decreases in sales within the healthcare sector.

     Net sales of Processed Minerals products increased 33.2% in the first quarter to $28.5 million from $21.4 million in the prior year. This increase was primarily the result of the acquisition of the business and assets of Polar Minerals in the third quarter of 2002 and to continued strong residential construction. Excluding the Polar Minerals acquisition, growth of 7% was achieved in the first quarter of 2003 despite the adverse impact of severe weather in the Northeast.

     Net sales in the Refractories segment increased 16.5% to $63.7 million as compared with $54.7 million in the prior year. Approximately one-half of the sales growth in the first quarter of 2003 was attributable to the favorable impact of foreign exchange. The increase in sales was also due to higher volumes in North America and Latin America, and increased equipment sales, particularly in Europe.

     Net sales in the United States in the first quarter of 2003 increased approximately 8% as compared with the first quarter of 2002. Approximately 5 percentage points of the growth was attributable to the Polar Minerals acquisition. 

 

 

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Foreign sales increased approximately 22% in the first quarter of 2003 due to increased sales in Europe. Approximately 13 percentage points of growth was due to the favorable impact of foreign exchange.

     Income from operations increased 5.1% to $22.5 million, as compared with $21.4 million for the same period last year. Operating income in the Specialty Minerals segment increased 2.1% to $15.5 million and represented 11.3% of its net sales. The Refractories segment's operating income increased 12.9% to $7.0 million and was 11.0% of its net sales. Foreign exchange had a favorable effect on operating income in both segments. During the first quarter of 2003, the Company paid approximately $660,000 of one-time termination benefits to a group of employees at the Specialty Minerals facility in the United Kingdom. In the first quarter of 2002, the Company recorded a write-down of impaired assets of $750,000 for a PCC plant at a paper mill that ceased operations.

     Non-operating deductions decreased in the first quarter of 2003 primarily due to reduced interest expense as a result of lower average borrowings, and foreign currency gains.

     Income before the cumulative effect of accounting change increased 10.4% to $14.9 million from $13.5 million in the prior year. Diluted earnings per share before the cumulative effect of accounting change was $0.74 in the first quarter of 2003 as compared with $0.66 in the prior year.

     Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations." SFAS No. 143 establishes the financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. This statement requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset.

     Upon adoption, the Company recorded a non-cash, after-tax charge to earnings of approximately $3.4 million for the cumulative effect of this accounting change related to retirement obligations associated with the Company's PCC satellite facilities and its mining properties, both within the Specialty Minerals segment. As a result of this pronouncement, the Company recorded additional depreciation and accretion expenses of approximately $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2003. Such charge is included in cost of goods sold. The pro forma effect on results, assuming that SFAS No. 143 were applied retroactively, would be a non-cash, after-tax charge to earnings of approximately $0.1 million for the first quarter of 2002.

     Net income after the cumulative effect of accounting change decreased 14.8% to $11.5 million compared with $13.5 million in the prior year. Diluted earnings per share after the cumulative effect of accounting change was $0.57 per share in the first quarter of 2003 as compared with $0.66 in the prior year.

     The Company's sales of PCC are predominantly pursuant to long-term agreements, generally ten years in length, with paper companies at whose mills the Company operates satellite PCC plants. The terms of many of these agreements have been extended, often in connection with an expansion of the satellite PCC plant. Failure of a number of the Company's customers to renew existing agreements on terms as favorable to the Company as those currently in effect could cause the future growth rate of the Company to differ materially from its historical growth rate, and could also result in impairment of the assets associated with the PCC plant.

     There are presently three satellite locations at which contracts with host mills have expired and one location, representing less than one unit of PCC production, at which the host mill has informed the Company that the contract will not be renewed upon its expiration in 2004. The Company continues to supply PCC at all of these locations. At two of the three locations at which the contracts have expired, the Company hopes to reach agreement on a long-term extension of the contract; however, there can be no assurance that these negotiations will be successful. At the third location, the customer, International Paper Company ("IP"), has informed the Company that it intended to begin negotiations with alternative suppliers. The Company continues to supply PCC at this location, and expects to do so through 2003. IP also informed the Company at the end of the second quarter of 2002 that it would negotiate with other suppliers at other satellite locations as the contracts for those locations expire over the next several years, with the last contract expiring in 2010. That decision by IP increases the risk that some or all of these contracts will not be renewed. Because these contracts have various remaining terms, the full impact of these expirations on the Company would not be felt for several years. The Company is actively pursuing its own 

 

14

 


 

negotiations with IP, and hopes to reach agreement to extend some or all of these contracts past their current expiration dates. The outcome of these negotiations cannot be predicted. The loss of a substantial amount of the Company's sales to IP would have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and projected growth rate.

     In recognition of this increased risk, during the third quarter of 2002, the Company shortened the periods over which existing satellite plants at IP mills are depreciated. In addition, during the first quarter of 2003, the Company revised the estimated useful lives of certain other long-lived assets. See "Critical Accounting Policies" below. The net effect of the change in useful lives, including the accelerated depreciation at the IP mills, was a reduction in diluted earnings of approximately $0.01 per share in the first quarter of 2003.

     In addition, a complex of two paper mills at which the Company operates a satellite PCC plant, at Millinocket and East Millinocket, Maine, owned by Great Northern Paper, Inc., ceased operations on or about December 23, 2002. Great Northern Paper filed for bankruptcy protection on January 9, 2003 and as of May 8, 2003, the Millinocket and East Millinocket mills had not resumed operations. The Bankruptcy Court appointed new management which, on April 29, 2003, sold the Millinocket and East Millinocket mills to Brascan Corporation ("Brascan"), the parent company of Nexfor Fraser Papers Inc. Brascan announced that it intends to restart the East Millinocket mill within weeks, but that it may not start the Millinocket mill, at which the Company's satellite plant is located, for a year or more. The Company would supply the East Millinocket mill from other nearby PCC production facilities until the resumption of production at the Millinocket mill. If the Millinocket mill does not resume production, the Company could incur an impairment charge of approximately $10 million.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     Cash flows in the first quarter of 2003 were provided from operations and were applied principally to fund capital expenditures and purchases of common shares for treasury. Cash provided from operating activities amounted to $17.4 million in the first quarter of 2003 as compared with $16.7 million in the first quarter of the prior year.

     The Company has available approximately $115 million in uncommitted, short-term bank credit lines, of which $30 million was in use at March 30, 2003. The Company anticipates that capital expenditures for 2003 should range between $60 million and $70 million. The Company expects to meet its financing requirements from internally generated funds, the uncommitted bank credit lines and, where appropriate, project financing of certain satellite plants.

 

Prospective Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results

     The Securities and Exchange Commission encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so that investors can better understand the companies' future prospects and make informed investment decisions. This report may contain forward-looking statements that set out anticipated results based on management's plans and assumptions. Words such as "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "will," and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance identify these forward-looking statements.

     The Company cannot guarantee that the outcomes suggested in any forward-looking statement will be realized, although it believes it has been prudent in its plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Investors should bear this in mind as they consider forward-looking statements and should refer to the discussion of certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions under the heading "Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results" in Exhibit 99 to this Quarterly Report.

 

15

 


 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

     In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123." This statement amends SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. The FASB recently indicated that they will require stock-based employee compensation to be recorded as a charge to earnings beginning in 2004. The Company will continue to monitor their progress on the issuance of this standard as well as evaluating its position with respect to current guidance.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

     The Company's discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.

     On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions, including those related to revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation of inventories, valuation of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, pension plan assumptions, income taxes, income tax valuation allowances and litigation and environmental liabilities. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that can not readily be determined from other sources. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from those estimates.

Property, Plant and Equipment

     Property, plant and equipment are amortized over their useful lives. Useful lives are based on management's estimates of the period that the assets can generate revenue, which does not necessarily coincide with the remaining term of a customer's contractual obligation for use of those assets. The Company's sales of PCC are predominantly pursuant to long-term arrangements, generally ten years in length, with paper mills at which the Company operates satellite PCC plants. The terms of many of these agreements have been extended, often in connection with an expansion of the satellite PCC plant. The Company also continues to supply PCC to three locations at which the PCC contract has expired. Failure of a PCC customer to renew an agreement or continue to purchase PCC from the Company could result in an impairment of assets charge at such facility.

     In the third quarter of 2002, the Company reduced the useful lives of satellite PCC plants at IP mills due to an increased risk that some or all of these PCC contracts would not be renewed. As a result of this, the Company also reviewed the useful lives of the assets at its remaining satellite PCC facilities and merchant plants. During the first quarter of 2003, the Company revised the estimated useful lives of machinery and equipment pertaining to its natural stone mining and processing plants and chemical processing plants from 12.5 years (8%) to 15 years (6.67%) and reduced the useful lives of buildings at certain satellite PCC facilities from 25 years (4%) to 15 years (6.67%). The Company also reduced the estimated useful lives of certain software-related assets due to implementation of a new global system. The net effect of the changes in estimated useful lives, including the accelerated depreciation at the IP mills,  was a reduction to diluted earnings per share of $0.01 in the first quarter of 2003.

 

ITEM 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows due to adverse changes in market prices and foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company is exposed to market risk because of changes in foreign currency exchange rates as measured against the U.S. dollar. It does not anticipate that near-term changes in exchange rates will have a material impact on its future earnings or cash flows. However, there can be no assurance that a sudden and significant decline in the value of foreign currencies would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of 

 

 

16

 


 

operations. Approximately 25% of the Company's bank debt bears interest at variable rates; therefore the Company's results of operations would only be affected by interest rate changes to the variable-rate bank debt outstanding. An immediate 10 percent change in interest rates would not have a material effect on the Company's results of operations over the next fiscal year.     

     The Company is exposed to various market risks, including the potential loss arising from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company does not enter into derivatives or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. When appropriate, the Company enters into derivative financial instruments, such as forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps, to mitigate the impact of foreign exchange rate movements and interest rate movements on the Company's operating results. The counterparties are major financial institutions. Such forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps would not subject the Company to additional risk from exchange rate or interest rate movements because gains and losses on these contracts would offset losses and gains on the assets, liabilities and transactions being hedged. The Company had no open forward exchange contracts as of March 30, 2003. The Company entered into three-year interest rate swap agreements with a notional amount of $30 million that expire in January 2005. These agreements effectively convert a portion of the Company's floating-rate debt to a fixed rate basis. The fair value of these instruments was a liability of $1.5 million at March 30, 2003.

 

ITEM 4.  Controls and Procedures

     Within the 90 days prior to the date of this report, and under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company's periodic SEC filings.

     Subsequent to the date the Company carried out its evaluation, there have been no significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors which could significantly affect these controls.

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  Legal Proceedings

     On April 9, 2003, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP") issued an administrative consent order which had been agreed to by MTI, Specialty Minerals Inc. and Minteq International Inc. relating to the Canaan, Connecticut site at which both Minteq and Specialty Minerals have operations. The order settled claims relating to an accidental discharge of machine oil alleged to have contained polychlorinated biphenyls at or above regulated levels, as well as alleged violations of requirements pertaining to stormwater and water waste discharge and management of underground storage tanks. The order required payment of a civil penalty in the amount of $11,000 and funding of several supplemental environmental projects totaling $330,000. These amounts were included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 30, 2003 and were paid on April 21, 2003. Cost of remediation at the site remains uncertain.

     The Company and its subsidiaries are not party to any other pending legal proceedings, other than routine litigation incidental to their businesses.

 

 

 

17

 

 


 

ITEM 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

a)  Exhibits:

10.1   -    Company Nonfunded Deferred Compensation and Unit Award Plan for 
               Non-Employee Directors, as amended April 24, 2003.
10.2    -   Company Nonfunded Supplemental Retirement Plan, 
               as amended April 24, 2003.
10.3    -    Company Nonfunded Deferred Compensation and Supplemental Savings Plan, 
               as amended April 24, 2003.
10.4    -   Company Health and Welfare Plan, effective as of April 1, 2003.

15     -    Accountants' Acknowledgment.

99.1   -   Statement of Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results.
99.2   -   Certification under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

b)  Reports on Form 8-K.

On January 27, 2003, the Company filed a current report on Form 8-K under Item 5, reporting earnings for the fourth quarter of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18

 


 

 

SIGNATURE

 

 

 

          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.

 

Minerals Technologies Inc.

 

By:

/s/John A. Sorel


          John A. Sorel 

          Senior Vice President-Finance and

          Chief Financial Officer

         (principal financial officer)

 

 

 

May 9, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

 


 

 

CERTIFICATION

 

     I, John A. Sorel, certify that:

     1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Minerals Technologies Inc.;

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

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

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

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

  2. evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

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

     5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the Audit Committee of the registrant's Board of Directors:

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

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

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

 

 

 

May 9, 2003

 

 

By:

/s/John A. Sorel 


 

Senior Vice President - Finance and

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

20

 


 

 

CERTIFICATION

 

     I, Paul R. Saueracker, certify that:

     1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Minerals Technologies Inc.;

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

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

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

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

  2. evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

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

     5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the Audit Committee of the registrant's Board of Directors:

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

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

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

 

 

 

May 9, 2003

 

 

By:

/s/Paul R. Saueracker               

 

Chairman of the Board and

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

21