Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number 001-12515
OM GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  52-1736882
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
127 Public Square
1500 Key Tower
Cleveland, Ohio

(Address of principal executive offices)
  44114-1221
(Zip Code)
216-781-0083
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 the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ     No o
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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer þAccelerated filer o 
Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of Act). Yes o     No þ
As of October 31, 2008 there were 30,470,674 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding.
 
 

 


 

OM Group, Inc.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
             
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION        
  Unaudited Financial Statements     2  
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     23  
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk     35  
  Controls and Procedures     35  
 
           
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION        
  Risk Factors     36  
  Exhibits     36  
 
  Signatures     37  
 EX-3.1
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32

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Part I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Unaudited Financial Statements
OM Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
(In thousands, except share data)   2008     2007  
ASSETS
               
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 144,566     $ 100,187  
Accounts receivable, less allowances
    201,758       178,481  
Inventories
    453,353       413,434  
Other current assets
    70,559       60,655  
Interest receivable from joint venture partner
          3,776  
 
           
Total current assets
    870,236       756,533  
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
    258,053       288,834  
Goodwill
    303,936       322,172  
Intangible assets
    74,463       46,454  
Notes receivable from joint venture partner, less allowance of $5,200 in 2008 and 2007
    19,665       24,179  
Other non-current assets
    31,986       31,038  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 1,558,339     $ 1,469,210  
 
           
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Short-term debt
  $     $ 347  
Current portion of long-term debt
    88       166  
Accounts payable
    149,357       214,244  
Accrued income taxes
    3,211       32,040  
Accrued employee costs
    30,224       34,707  
Other current liabilities
    30,453       25,435  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    213,333       306,939  
 
               
Long-term debt
    26,080       1,136  
Deferred income taxes
    27,725       29,645  
Minority interests
    58,524       52,314  
Other non-current liabilities
    49,606       50,790  
 
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $.01 par value:
               
Authorized 2,000,000 shares, no shares issued or outstanding
           
Common stock, $.01 par value:
               
Authorized 90,000,000 shares in 2008 and 60,000,000 shares in 2007; issued 30,314,343 shares in 2008 and and 30,122,209 shares in 2007
    303       301  
Capital in excess of par value
    563,559       554,933  
Retained earnings
    635,251       467,726  
Treasury stock (136,328 and 61,541 shares in 2008 and 2007, respectively, at cost)
    (5,490 )     (2,239 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (10,552 )     7,665  
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,183,071       1,028,386  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 1,558,339     $ 1,469,210  
 
           
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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OM Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income
                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
(In thousands, except per share data)   2008     2007     2008     2007  
Net sales
  $ 448,630     $ 264,640     $ 1,440,250     $ 712,134  
Cost of products sold
    362,369       191,502       1,091,300       483,075  
 
                       
Gross profit
    86,261       73,138       348,950       229,059  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    40,902       31,674       125,378       88,276  
 
                       
Operating profit
    45,359       41,464       223,572       140,783  
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest expense
    (385 )     (238 )     (1,292 )     (7,523 )
Interest income
    535       5,041       1,409       15,643  
Loss on redemption of Notes
                      (21,733 )
Foreign exchange gain
    121       4,178       869       5,962  
Other expense, net
    (371 )     (501 )     (565 )     (999 )
 
                       
 
    (100 )     8,480       421       (8,650 )
 
                       
Income from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and minority partners’ share of income
    45,259       49,944       223,993       132,133  
Income tax (expense) benefit
    14,533       (7,926 )     (34,918 )     (57,715 )
Minority partners’ share of income, net of tax
    (4,046 )     (2,511 )     (21,146 )     (9,320 )
 
                       
Income from continuing operations
    55,746       39,507       167,929       65,098  
Discontinued operations:
                               
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
    520       (1,412 )     (211 )     61,511  
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax
                      72,270  
 
                       
Total income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
    520       (1,412 )     (211 )     133,781  
 
                       
Net income
  $ 56,266     $ 38,095     $ 167,718     $ 198,879  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss) per common share — basic:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ 1.85     $ 1.32     $ 5.58     $ 2.18  
Discontinued operations
    0.01       (0.05 )     (0.01 )     4.47  
 
                       
Net income
  $ 1.86     $ 1.27     $ 5.57     $ 6.65  
 
                       
Net income (loss) per common share — assuming dilution:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ 1.84     $ 1.30     $ 5.53     $ 2.15  
Discontinued operations
    0.01       (0.04 )           4.43  
 
                       
Net income
  $ 1.85     $ 1.26     $ 5.53     $ 6.58  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted average shares outstanding
                               
Basic
    30,183       30,031       30,087       29,902  
Assuming dilution
    30,350       30,350       30,352       30,235  
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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OM Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows
                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
(In thousands)   2008     2007  
Operating activities
               
Net income
  $ 167,718     $ 198,879  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
(Income) loss from discontinued operations
    211       (61,511 )
Gain on sale of discontinued operations
          (72,270 )
Loss on redemption of Notes
          21,733  
Depreciation and amortization
    41,636       24,652  
Share-based compensation expense
    6,645       5,180  
Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation
    (1,111 )     (1,045 )
Foreign exchange gain
    (869 )     (5,962 )
Minority partners’ share of income
    21,146       9,320  
Gain on cobalt forward purchase contracts
    (4,002 )      
Interest income received from consolidated joint venture partner
    3,776        
Other non-cash items
    (6,473 )     (7,500 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
               
Accounts receivable
    (22,322 )     (45,456 )
Inventories
    (42,631 )     (98,019 )
Accounts payable
    (64,887 )     56,611  
Accrued income taxes
    (28,829 )     17,915  
Other, net
    (17,547 )     (13,769 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    52,461       28,758  
 
               
Investing activities
               
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment
    (23,282 )     (12,833 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
          461  
Proceeds from loans to consolidated joint venture partner
    4,514        
Proceeds from loans to non-consolidated joint ventures
          7,568  
Net proceeds from the sale of the Nickel business
          490,036  
Payments related to acquisitions made in prior periods
    (5,288 )      
Proceeds from settlement of cobalt forward purchase contracts
    10,736        
Investments in and advances to non-consolidated joint ventures
    (790 )     (2,000 )
Expenditures for software
    (1,286 )     (3,263 )
 
           
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
    (15,396 )     479,969  
 
               
Financing activities
               
Payments of revolving line of credit and long-term debt
    (45,485 )     (400,000 )
Borrowings from revolving line of credit
    70,000        
Premium for redemption of Notes
          (18,500 )
Distributions to joint venture partners
    (14,934 )     (1,350 )
Payment related to surrendered shares
    (3,251 )      
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    872       10,489  
Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation
    1,111       1,045  
 
           
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
    8,313       (408,316 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (999 )     5,718  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents
               
Increase from continuing operations
    44,379       106,129  
Discontinued operations — net cash provided by operating activities
          48,575  
Discontinued operations — net cash used for investing activities
          (1,540 )
Balance at the beginning of the period
    100,187       282,288  
 
           
Balance at the end of the period
  $ 144,566     $ 435,452  
 
           
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

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OM Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity
                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
(In thousands)   2008     2007  
Common Stock — Shares Outstanding, net of Treasury Shares
               
Beginning balance
    30,061       29,740  
Shares issued under share-based compensation plans
    117       291  
 
           
 
    30,178       30,031  
 
           
Common Stock — Dollars
               
Beginning balance
  $ 301     $ 297  
Shares issued under share-based compensation plans
    2       4  
 
           
 
    303       301  
 
           
Capital in Excess of Par Value
               
Beginning balance
    554,933       533,818  
Shares issued under share-based compensation plans — employees
    870       10,485  
Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation
    1,111       1,045  
Share-based compensation — non-employee directors
    274        
Share-based compensation — employees
    6,371       5,847  
 
           
 
    563,559       551,195  
 
           
Retained Earnings
               
Beginning balance
    467,726       221,310  
Adoption of EITF No. 06-10 in 2008 and FIN No. 48 in 2007
    (193 )     (450 )
Net income
    167,718       198,879  
 
           
 
    635,251       419,739  
 
           
Treasury Stock
               
Beginning balance
    (2,239 )     (2,239 )
Value of surrendered shares
    (3,251 )      
 
           
 
    (5,490 )     (2,239 )
 
           
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
               
Beginning balance
    7,665       28,893  
Foreign currency translation
    (18,595 )     (11,548 )
Reclassification of hedging activities into earnings, net of tax benefit of $185 and $3,452 in 2008 and 2007, respectively
    (526 )     (9,824 )
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges, net of tax expense of $318
    904        
 
           
 
    (10,552 )     7,521  
 
           
Total Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 1,183,071     $ 976,517  
 
           
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
OM Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(In thousands, except as noted and per share amounts)
Note 1 — Basis of Presentation
OM Group, Inc. (“OMG” or the “Company”) is a diversified global developer, producer and marketer of value-added specialty chemicals and advanced materials that are essential to complex chemical and industrial processes.
The consolidated financial statements include OMG and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has a 55% interest in a joint venture that has a smelter in the Democratic Republic of Congo (the “DRC”). The joint venture is consolidated because the Company has a controlling interest in the joint venture. Minority interest is recorded for the remaining 45% interest.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of the Company at September 30, 2008 and the results of its operations, its cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, have been included. The balance sheet at December 31, 2007 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information or notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Past operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results which may occur in future periods, and the interim period results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
On October 1, 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of Borchers GmbH (“Borchers”). On December 31, 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of the Electronics businesses (“REM”) of Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. The financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Borchers are included in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements from the date of acquisition. The financial position of REM is included in the Company’s balance sheet at December 31, 2007. The results of operations and cash flows of REM are included in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements from January 1, 2008.
Unless otherwise indicated, all disclosures and amounts in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements relate to the Company’s continuing operations.
Note 2 — Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Accounting Standards adopted in 2008:
SFAS No. 157: In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This Statement clarifies the definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands the disclosures on fair value measurements but does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 only applies to accounting pronouncements that already require or permit fair value measures, except for standards that relate to share-based payments (SFAS No. 123R “Share Based Payment”).
SFAS No. 157’s valuation techniques are based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect market assumptions. SFAS No. 157 classifies these inputs into the following hierarchy:
Level 1 Inputs — Quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets to which the Company has access at the date of measurement.
     Level 2 Inputs — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in

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markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
Level 3 Inputs — Model-derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. Unobservable inputs are those inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions that market participants would use to price the asset or liability based on the best available information.
In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-2, “The Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, which provides a one-year deferral of the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually).
In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active,” which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 in determining the fair values of assets or liabilities in a market that is not active. This FSP became effective upon issuance, including prior periods for which financial statements have not been issued. The adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or related disclosures.
As of January 1, 2008, in accordance with FSP 157-2, the Company has adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157 with respect to financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value within the financial statements. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position. The provisions of FAS 157 have not been applied to non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities. The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities on its results of operations, financial position and related disclosures. See Note 8.
SFAS No. 159: In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.” SFAS No. 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other assets and liabilities at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis (the fair value option). Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are to be recognized in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS No. 159 does not affect any existing pronouncements that require assets and liabilities to be carried at fair value, and does not eliminate disclosure requirements included under existing pronouncements. The Company adopted SFAS No. 159 on January 1, 2008 and did not elect to report any additional assets or liabilities at fair value that were not already reported at fair value. Therefore, the adoption of SFAS No. 159 did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or related disclosures.
EITF No. 06-4: In September 2006, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on EITF No. 06-4, “Accounting for Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefit Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements,” which requires the application of the provisions of SFAS No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions,” to endorsement split-dollar life insurance arrangements. SFAS No. 106 requires the Company to recognize a liability for the discounted future benefit obligation that the Company will have to pay upon the death of the underlying insured employee. An endorsement-type arrangement generally exists when the Company owns and controls all incidents of ownership of the underlying policies. The Company adopted EITF No. 06-4 on January 1, 2008. The adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or related disclosures.
EITF No. 06-10: In November 2006, the FASB issued EITF Issue No. 06-10, “Accounting for Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefits Aspects of Collateral Assignment Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements.” This Statement establishes that an employer should recognize a liability for the postretirement benefit related to a collateral assignment split-dollar life insurance arrangement in accordance with either FASB Statement No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions,” or “Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 12, Omnibus Opinion,” if, based on the substantive agreement with the employee, the employer has agreed to maintain a life insurance policy during the postretirement period or provide a death benefit. The EITF also concluded that an employer should recognize and measure an associated asset based on the nature and substance of the collateral assignment split-dollar life insurance arrangement. The Company has one arrangement with a former executive under which the Company has agreed to fund a life insurance policy during the former executive’s retirement. The insurance policy is a collateral assignment split-dollar agreement owned by a trust established by the former executive. The collateral assignment provides the Company with an interest in the policy equal to its cumulative premium payments. The Company adopted EITF No. 06-10 on January 1, 2008. The effect of adoption was a $0.2 million cumulative effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings at January 1, 2008.
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

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SFAS No. 158: In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans— an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R).” The Company adopted the requirement to recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2006. The additional requirement to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the employer’s fiscal year-end consolidated balance sheet is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. The Company currently uses October 31 as the measurement date and will change to December 31st, the date of its fiscal year-end, during the fourth quarter of 2008.
SFAS No. 158 allows employers to choose one of two transition methods to adopt the measurement date requirement. The Company chose to adopt the measurement date requirement in 2008 using the 14-month approach. Under this approach, an additional two months of net periodic benefit cost, covering the period between the previous measurement date and the December 31st measurement date will be recognized as an adjustment to equity in the fourth quarter of 2008. The adoption of this measurement date requirement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or related disclosures.
SFAS No. 160: In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51”. SFAS No. 160 requires (i) that noncontrolling (minority) interests be reported as a component of shareholders’ equity, (ii) that net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest be separately identified in the consolidated statement of operations, (iii) that changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling interest be accounted for as equity transactions, (iv) that any retained noncontrolling equity investment upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary be initially measured at fair value and (v) that sufficient disclosures are provided that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2008 and should be applied prospectively. However, the presentation and disclosure requirements of the statement shall be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. Upon adoption, the Company will change the presentation of its noncontrolling interests to comply with the requirements of SFAS No. 160. The Company has not determined the effect, if any, the adoption of SFAS No. 160 will have on its results of operations or financial position.
SFAS No. 141R: In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations”. SFAS No. 141R will change how business acquisitions are accounted for and will impact financial statements both on the acquisition date and in subsequent periods. SFAS No. 141R establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree and the goodwill acquired. SFAS 141R requires restructuring and acquisition-related costs to be recognized separately from the acquisition and establishes disclosure requirements to enable the evaluation of the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. SFAS No. 141R must be applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the adoption date. Early adoption is not permitted.
SFAS No. 161: On March 19, 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities — an Amendment of FASB Statement 133.” SFAS No. 161 enhances required disclosures regarding derivatives and hedging activities, including how: (a) an entity uses derivative instruments; (b) derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No.133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities;” and (c) derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 will change the disclosures related to derivative instruments held by the Company.
FSP No. 142-3: In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets.” This FSP amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” FSP No. 142-3 allows the Company to use its historical experience in renewing or extending the useful life of intangible assets, is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years and shall be applied prospectively to intangible assets acquired after the effective date. The Company has not determined the effect, if any, the adoption of FSP No. 142-3 will have on its results of operations, financial position and related disclosures.

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Note 3 — Acquisitions
On December 31, 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of REM. The REM businesses, which had combined sales of approximately $200 million in 2007 and employ approximately 700 people worldwide, include the Printed Circuit Board (“PCB”) business, the Ultra-Pure Chemicals (“UPC”) business, and the Photomasks business. The acquired REM businesses supply customers with chemicals used in the manufacture of semiconductors and printed circuit boards as well as photo-imaging masks primarily for semiconductor and photovoltaic manufacturers and have locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Taiwan, Singapore and China. The acquisition of REM also provides new products and expanded distribution channels for the Company’s Electronic Chemicals offerings.
PCB produces specialty and proprietary chemicals used in the manufacture of printed circuit boards widely used in computers, communications, military/aerospace, automotive, industrial and consumer electronics applications. UPC develops and manufactures a wide range of ultra-pure chemicals used in the manufacture of electronic and computer components such as semiconductors, silicon chips, wafers and liquid crystal displays. Photomasks manufactures photo-imaging masks (high-purity quartz or glass plates containing precision, microscopic images of integrated circuits) and reticles for the semiconductor, optoelectronics and microelectronics industries under the Compugraphics brand name.
The total purchase price of $321.0 million, net of cash acquired and including $4.9 million of transaction fees, was funded with existing cash.
Under SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” the cost of the acquired business is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. In connection with this allocation, the Company recorded a step-up to fair value related to acquired inventories of $1.7 million to reflect manufacturing profit in inventory at the date of the acquisition. This amount was charged to cost of products sold in the first quarter of 2008 as the acquired inventory was sold in the normal course of business.
The excess of the total purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired has been allocated to goodwill and is estimated to be approximately $179.3 million, as of September 30, 2008. The allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is preliminary and reflects adjustments from the original allocation reported in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. The adjustments, which are preliminary, are based on management’s current estimates and assumptions. When the Company completes its evaluation of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including the valuation of specifically identifiable intangible assets, the allocation will be adjusted accordingly. Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.
The preliminary allocation at September 30, 2008 is summarized below:
         
Accounts receivable
  $ 45,973  
Inventory
    20,409  
Other current assets
    23,612  
Property, plant and equipment
    67,509  
Other intangibles
    62,913  
Other assets
    269  
Goodwill
    179,310  
 
     
Total assets acquired
    399,995  
 
     
 
       
Accounts payable
    24,446  
Other current liabilities
    12,017  
Other liabilities
    26,747  
 
     
Total liabilities assumed
    63,210  
 
     
Net assets acquired
    336,785  
 
     
Cash acquired
    15,754  
 
     
Purchase price, net of cash acquired
  $ 321,031  
 
     

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On October 1, 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of Borchers, a European-based specialty coatings additive supplier with locations in France and Germany, for approximately $20.7 million, net of cash acquired. The Company incurred fees of approximately $1.2 million associated with this transaction.
Note 4 — Discontinued Operations and Disposition of Nickel Business
On November 17, 2006, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Nickel business to Norilsk. The Nickel business consisted of the Harjavalta, Finland nickel refinery; the Cawse, Australia nickel mine and intermediate refining facility; a 20% equity interest in MPI Nickel Pty. Ltd.; and an 11% ownership interest in Talvivaara Mining Company, Ltd. The transaction closed on March 1, 2007 and at closing the Company received cash proceeds of $413.3 million. In addition, the agreement provided for a final purchase price adjustment (primarily related to working capital for the net assets sold), which was determined to be $83.2 million, and was received by the Company in the second quarter of 2007.
The following table sets forth the components of the proceeds from the sale of the Nickel business:
         
Initial proceeds
  $ 413.3  
Final purchase price adjustment
    83.2  
Transaction costs
    (6.5 )
 
     
 
  $ 490.0  
 
     
The agreement also provided for interest on the working capital adjustment from the transaction closing date. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company recorded interest income of $1.2 million which is included in Interest income on the Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income.
In the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company recognized a pretax and after-tax gain on the sale of the Nickel business of $77.0 million and $72.3 million, respectively.
Discontinued operations includes share-based incentive compensation expense related to Nickel management that previously had been included in corporate expenses. No interest expense has been allocated to discontinued operations.
Income (loss) from discontinued operations consisted of the following for the three months ended September 30:
                 
    2008     2007  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes
  $ 520     $ (319 )
Income tax expense
          (1,093 )
 
           
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
  $ 520     $ (1,412 )
 
           
The income from discontinued operations before income taxes in the three months ended September 30, 2008 is primarily due to remeasuring Euro-denominated liabilities to U.S. dollars.
Income (loss) from discontinued operations consisted of the following for the nine months ended September 30:
                 
    2008     2007  
Net sales
  $     $ 193,091  
 
           
 
               
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes
  $ (211 )   $ 83,289  
Income tax expense
          (21,778 )
 
           
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (211 )     61,511  
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax
          72,270  
 
           
Total income (loss) from discontinued operations
  $ (211 )   $ 133,781  
 
           
The loss from discontinued operations before income taxes in the nine months ended September 30, 2008 is primarily due to an

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additional contingency accrual for non-income taxes related to the Company’s former Precious Metals Group (“PMG”), partially offset by remeasuring Euro-denominated liabilities to U.S. dollars.
Note 5 — Inventories
Inventories consist of the following:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2008     2007  
Raw materials and supplies
  $ 218,342     $ 199,901  
Work-in-process
    40,082       32,565  
Finished goods
    194,929       180,968  
 
           
 
  $ 453,353     $ 413,434  
 
           
Note 6 — Debt
The Company has a Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Revolver”) with availability of up to $100.0 million, including up to the equivalent of $25.0 million in Euros or other foreign currencies. The Revolver includes an “accordion” feature under which the Company may increase the availability by $50.0 million, to a maximum of $150.0 million, subject to certain conditions. Obligations under the Revolver are guaranteed by each of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries and are secured by a lien on the assets of the Company and such subsidiaries. The Company has the option to specify that interest be calculated based either on LIBOR plus a calculated margin amount or a base rate. The margin for the LIBOR rate ranges from 0.50% to 1.00%. The Revolver also requires the payment of a fee of 0.125% to 0.25% per annum on the unused commitment. The margin and unused commitment fees are subject to quarterly adjustment based on a certain debt to adjusted earnings ratio. During the first nine months of 2008, the Company borrowed under the Revolver, and the outstanding Revolver balance was $25.0 million at September 30, 2008 at an interest rate of 3.3%. The Revolver provides for interest-only payments during its term, with principal due at maturity on December 20, 2010.
The Company has two term loans outstanding that expire in 2008 and 2019 and require monthly principal and interest payments. The balance of these term loans was $1.2 million and $1.3 million, at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. The Company also had a $0.3 million short-term note payable at December 31, 2007 which was repaid during the second quarter of 2008.
Debt consists of the following:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2008     2007  
Revolving credit agreement
  $ 25,000     $  
Notes payable — bank
    1,168       1,649  
 
           
 
    26,168       1,649  
Less: Short-term debt
          347  
Less: Current portion of long-term debt
    88       166  
 
           
Total long-term debt
  $ 26,080     $ 1,136  
 
           
On March 7, 2007, the Company redeemed the entire $400.0 million of its outstanding 9.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011 (the “Notes”) at a redemption price of 104.625% of the principal amount, or $418.5 million, plus accrued interest of $8.4 million. The loss on redemption of the Notes was $21.7 million, and consisted of the premium of $18.5 million plus related deferred financing costs of $5.7 million less a deferred net gain on terminated interest rate swaps of $2.5 million.
Note 7 — Financial Instruments
Cash Flow Hedges
The Company has certain copper forward sales contracts that are designated as cash flow hedges. The Company must assess, both at inception of the hedge transaction and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedge is highly effective in offsetting change in the cash flow of the hedged item. The effective portion of the gain or loss from the financial instrument is initially reported as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity and subsequently reclassified to earnings when the hedged item

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affects income. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, derivative gains of $0.6 million and derivative losses of $0.1 million, respectively, were recognized in net sales. These gains and losses were offset by gains and losses on the transactions being hedged. Any ineffective portions of such cash flow hedges are recognized immediately in earnings. In the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, there was no impact on earnings resulting from hedge ineffectiveness. The estimated fair value of open contracts at September 30, 2008, generated an unrealized gain of approximately $0.4 million (net of $0.1 million deferred tax liability), which is included in Accumulated other comprehensive income. At September 30, 2008, the notional quantity of open contracts designated as cash flow hedges under SFAS No. 133 was 0.7 million pounds of copper. The Company had no cash flow hedges at December 31, 2007. At September 30, 2008, the related receivable is recorded in Other current assets in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. All open contracts at September 30, 2008 mature no later than the fourth quarter of 2008.
Fair Value Hedges
Beginning in 2008, the Company entered into certain cobalt forward purchase contracts designated as fair value hedges. For fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are offset against the change in fair value of the hedged item through earnings. Any ineffective portions of such fair value hedges are recognized immediately in earnings. In the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, there was no impact on earnings resulting from hedge ineffectiveness. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, derivative losses of $3.7 million and $6.7 million, respectively, were recognized in cost of products sold. These losses were offset by gains on the transactions being hedged. The Company had no fair value hedges at September 30, 2008 or December 31, 2007.
Other Forward Contracts
During 2007, the Company entered into cobalt forward purchase contracts to establish a fixed margin and mitigate the risk of price volatility related to the sales during the second quarter of 2008 of cobalt-containing finished products that were priced based on a formula which included a fixed cobalt price component. These forward purchase contracts were not designated as hedging instruments under SFAS No. 133. Accordingly, these contracts were adjusted to fair value as of the end of each reporting period, with the gain or loss recorded in cost of products sold. The Company recorded a $6.7 million gain in the fourth quarter of 2007, a $5.8 million gain in the first quarter of 2008 and a $1.8 million loss in the second quarter of 2008, resulting in a cumulative gain of $10.7 million related to these contracts. These contracts matured in the second quarter of 2008. The Company received cash related to these contracts of $10.7 million during the first nine months of 2008. The gain on the forward purchase contracts has been partially offset by the sales in the second quarter of 2008 of cobalt-containing finished products with a fixed cobalt price component.
Note 8 — Fair Value Disclosures
The fair values of derivative liabilities based on the level of inputs are summarized below:
                                 
            Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using  
            Quoted Prices in              
            Active Markets for     Significant Other     Significant  
            Identical Assets     Observable Inputs     Unobservable Inputs  
Description   September 30, 2008     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
 
Derivative Assets
  $ 511     $     $ 511     $  
 
                       
Total
  $ 511     $     $ 511     $  
 
                       
The Company uses significant other observable inputs to value derivative instruments used to hedge copper price volatility and therefore they are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.
Cobalt forward purchase contracts are classified as Level 3, as their valuation is based on the expected future cash flows discounted to present value. Future cash flows are estimated using a theoretical forward price as quoted forward prices are not available. The following table provides a reconciliation of derivatives measured at fair value on a recurring basis which used Level 3 or significant unobservable inputs for the period of July 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008:

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    Fair Value Measurements  
    Using Significant Unobservable  
    Inputs (Level 3)  
    Derivatives  
July 1, 2008
  $ (2,988 )
Total realized or unrealized gains (losses):
       
Included in earnings
    (3,708 )
Included in other comprehensive income
     
Purchases, issuances, and settlements
    6,696  
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
     
 
     
September 30, 2008
  $  
 
     
The following table provides a reconciliation of derivatives measured at fair value on a recurring basis which used Level 3 or significant unobservable inputs for the period of January 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008:
         
    Fair Value Measurements  
    Using Significant Unobservable  
    Inputs (Level 3)  
    Derivatives  
January 1, 2008
  $ 6,734  
Total realized or unrealized gains (losses):
       
Included in earnings
    (2,694 )
Included in other comprehensive income
     
Purchases, issuances, and settlements
    (4,040 )
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
     
 
     
September 30, 2008
  $  
 
     
Note 9 — Income Taxes
The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before January 1, 2002.
The Company’s interim income tax provisions are based on the application of an estimated annual effective income tax rate applied to year-to-date income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest. In determining the estimated annual effective income tax rate, the Company analyzes various factors, including forecasts of the Company’s annual earnings, taxing jurisdictions in which the earnings will be generated, the Company’s ability to use tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards, and available tax planning alternatives. The tax effects of discrete items, including the effect of changes in tax laws, tax rates, certain circumstances with respect to valuation allowances or other unusual or non-recurring items, are reflected in the period in which they occur as an addition to, or reduction from, the income tax provision, rather than included in the estimated annual effective income tax rate.
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense and minority partners’ share of income consists of the following:

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    Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
United States
  $ (11,899 )   $ (9,855 )   $ (14,916 )   $ (48,484 )
Outside the United States
    57,158       59,799       238,909       180,617  
 
                       
 
  $ 45,259     $ 49,944     $ 223,993     $ 132,133  
 
                       
The Company’s effective income tax rates are as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Effective income tax rate
    -32.1 %     15.9 %     15.6 %     43.7 %
During the third quarter of 2008, the Company completed an initial analysis of foreign tax credit positions and recorded a $25.1 million tax benefit related to an election to take foreign tax credits on prior year U.S. tax returns. As originally filed, such returns claimed these amounts as deductions rather than foreign tax credits because the Company was in a net operating loss carryover position in the U.S. during those years. However, due to income taxes paid in the U.S. in connection with the 2007 repatriation of foreign earnings, the Company is able to utilize these foreign tax credits previously taken as deductions. The benefit related to the foreign tax credits was $0.83 per diluted share in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008. The $25.1 million tax benefit is net of a valuation allowance of $3.5 million on deferred tax assets as to which the Company believes it is more likely than not it will be unable to realize as a result of its election to claim the foreign tax credits. Excluding the tax benefit related to the foreign tax credits, the Company’s effective income tax rate would have been 23.3% and 26.8% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively.
During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company was informed by the DRC taxing authority that its tax holiday had expired. As a result, the first nine months of 2008 included income tax expense related to income earned at the Company’s joint venture in the DRC. No income tax expense was recorded by the joint venture in the first nine months of 2007.
Excluding the tax benefit related to the foreign tax credits, the effective income tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 are lower than the U.S. statutory rate due primarily to income earned in foreign tax jurisdictions with lower statutory tax rates than the U.S. (primarily Finland), a tax holiday in Malaysia, and the recognition of tax benefits for domestic losses. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, these factors were partially offset by tax expense related to planned foreign earnings repatriation during 2008.
The effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2007 included discrete items related to the repatriation of foreign earnings and the redemption of the Notes. Specifically, the Company recorded U.S. income tax expense of $38.8 million on the repatriation of foreign earnings and proceeds from the sale of the Nickel business. This expense was partially offset by a $7.6 million income tax benefit related to the $21.7 million cost to redeem the Notes. Excluding these discrete items, the Company’s effective income tax rate would have been 17.2% for the first nine months of 2007.
The Malaysian tax holiday, which results from an investment incentive arrangement and expires on December 31, 2011, reduced consolidated income tax expense as computed on an interim basis by $0.3 million and $4.3 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, and $1.3 million and $4.9 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively. The benefit of the tax holiday on net income per diluted share was approximately $0.01 and $0.14 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, and approximately $0.04 and $0.16 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively.
The Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” on January 1, 2007. As a result of the adoption, the Company recognized a $0.5 million liability, which was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. Including reserves for tax contingencies previously recorded, the Company has $10.4 million of uncertain tax positions, of which $2.4 million would affect the Company’s effective income tax rate if recognized, and are included as a component of other non-current liabilities. There were no material changes to the liability for uncertain tax positions in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008.

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The Company accrues interest related to uncertain tax positions and penalties as a component of income tax expense. The Company had $0.8 million and $0.6 million accrued at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, for the payment of interest and penalties.
There were no uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2008 for which it is reasonably possible that the liability will decrease within the next 12 months.
Note 10 — Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
The Company sponsors a defined contribution plan covering substantially all U.S. employees. Under this plan, the Company contributes 3.5% of employee compensation unconditionally and matches 100% of participants’ contributions up to the first three percent of contributions, and 50% on the next 2% of participants’ contributions. Contributions are directed by the employee into various investment options. The Company maintains additional defined contribution plans in certain locations outside the United States. The Company also sponsors an unfunded non-contributory, nonqualified executive retirement plan for certain employees, providing benefits beyond those covered in the defined contribution plan.
The Company has a funded, non-contributory, defined benefit pension plan for certain retired employees in the United States related to the Company’s divested SCM business. Pension benefits are paid to plan participants directly from pension plan assets. Certain non-U.S. employees are covered under defined benefit plans. These non-U.S. plans are not significant and relate to liabilities of the acquired Borchers entities and one REM location. The Company also has an unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) for the former Chief Executive Officer and other unfunded postretirement benefit plans (“OPEB”), primarily health care and life insurance, for certain employees and retirees in the United States. The Company currently uses October 31 as the measurement date and will change to December 31st, the date of its fiscal year-end, during the fourth quarter of 2008.
Set forth below is the detail of the net periodic expense for the pension and other postretirement defined benefit plans:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Pension Benefits
                               
Interest cost
  $ 360     $ 334     $ 1,081     $ 1,002  
Service cost
    28             85        
Amortization of unrecognized net loss
    70       75       210       227  
Expected return on plan assets
    (225 )     (197 )     (674 )     (592 )
 
                       
Total expense
  $ 233     $ 212     $ 702     $ 637  
 
                       
 
                               
Other Postretirement Benefits
                               
Service cost
  $ 28     $ 21     $ 84     $ 62  
Interest cost
    81       66       243       198  
Amortization of unrecognized net loss
    11             34        
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost
    10       10       30       30  
 
                       
Total expense
  $ 130     $ 97     $ 391     $ 290  
 
                       

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Note 11 — Earnings Per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income per common share from continuing operations:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
 
                               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 55,746     $ 39,507     $ 167,929     $ 65,098  
 
                               
Weighted average shares outstanding
    30,183       30,031       30,087       29,902  
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock
    167       319       265       333  
 
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding — assuming dilution
    30,350       30,350       30,352       30,235  
 
                       
 
                               
Income per common share from continuing operations — basic
  $ 1.85     $ 1.32     $ 5.58     $ 2.18  
 
                       
 
                               
Income per common share from continuing operations — assuming dilution
  $ 1.84     $ 1.30     $ 5.53     $ 2.15  
 
                       
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per common share:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
 
                               
Net income
  $ 56,266     $ 38,095     $ 167,718     $ 198,879  
 
                               
Weighted average shares outstanding
    30,183       30,031       30,087       29,902  
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock
    167       319       265       333  
 
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding — assuming dilution
    30,350       30,350       30,352       30,235  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income per common share — basic
  $ 1.86     $ 1.27     $ 5.57     $ 6.65  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income per common share — assuming dilution
  $ 1.85     $ 1.26     $ 5.53     $ 6.58  
 
                       
Note 12 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
The following table sets forth the change in Accumulated other comprehensive income for the three months ended September 30, 2008:
                                 
            Unrealized                
            Gain (loss), Net             Accumulated  
    Foreign     on Cash Flow     Pension and     Other  
    Currency     Hedging     Post-Retirement     Comprehensive  
    Translation     Derivatives     Obligation     Income  
Balance at June 30, 2008
  $ 27,144     $ (279 )   $ (10,415 )   $ 16,450  
Current period credit (charge)
    (27,659 )     657             (27,002 )
 
                       
Balance at September 30, 2008
  $ (515 )   $ 378     $ (10,415 )   $ (10,552 )
 
                       

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The following table sets forth the change in Accumulated other comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008:
                                 
            Unrealized                
            Gain, Net             Accumulated  
    Foreign     on Cash Flow     Pension and     Other  
    Currency     Hedging     Post-Retirement     Comprehensive  
    Translation     Derivatives     Obligation     Income  
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 18,080     $     $ (10,415 )   $ 7,665  
Current period credit (charge)
    (18,595 )     378             (18,217 )
 
                       
Balance at September 30, 2008
  $ (515 )   $ 378     $ (10,415 )   $ (10,552 )
 
                       
Comprehensive income, net of related tax effects, for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 was $29.3 million and $40.0 million, respectively. Comprehensive income, net of related tax effects, for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 was $149.5 million and $177.5 million, respectively.
Note 13 — Commitments and Contingencies
The Company’s joint venture in the DRC received a letter dated February 11, 2008 from the Ministry of Mines of the DRC. The letter contained the results of an inter-ministerial review of the joint venture’s contracts, which review was undertaken as part of a broader examination of mining contracts in the DRC to determine whether any such contracts needed to be revisited and whether any adjustments were recommended to be made. The joint venture has been engaged in ongoing communications with the DRC government, the most recent of which occurred on October 6, 2008, when the joint venture partners commenced discussions regarding revisitation of the joint venture’s contracts. While the discussions have not concluded as of November 6, 2008, the Company continues to believe, based on current facts and conditions, that any potential adjustments are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse affect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
During 2007, the Company became aware of two contingent liabilities related to the Company’s former PMG operations in Brazil. The contingencies, which remain the responsibility of OMG to the extent the matters relate to the 2001-2003 period, during which the Company owned PMG, are potential assessments by Brazilian taxing authorities related to duty drawback tax for items sold by PMG and certain VAT and/or Service Tax assessments. The Company has assessed the current likelihood of an unfavorable outcome of these contingencies and concluded that it is reasonably possible but not probable. If the ultimate outcome of these contingencies is unfavorable, the loss, based on exchange rates at September 30, 2008, would be up to $23.5 million and would be recorded in discontinued operations.
The Company is a party to various other legal proceedings incidental to its business and is subject to a variety of environmental and pollution control laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which it operates. As is the case with other companies in similar industries, the Company faces exposure from actual or potential claims and legal proceedings involving environmental matters. A number of factors affect the cost of environmental remediation, including the determination of the extent of contamination, the length of time the remediation may require, the complexity of environmental regulations, and the continuing improvements in remediation techniques. Taking these factors into consideration, the Company has estimated the undiscounted costs of remediation, which will be incurred over several years. The Company accrues an amount consistent with the estimates of these costs when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an amount can be reasonably estimated. At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company has recorded environmental liabilities of $3.6 million and $4.9 million, respectively, primarily related to remediation and decommissioning at the Company’s closed manufacturing sites in Newark, New Jersey and Vasset, France.
Although it is difficult to quantify the potential impact of compliance with, or liability under, environmental protection laws, the Company believes that any amount it may be required to pay in connection with environmental matters, as well as other legal proceedings arising out of operations in the normal course of business, is not reasonably likely to exceed amounts accrued by an amount that would have a material adverse effect upon its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Note 14 — Share-Based Compensation

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On May 8, 2007, the stockholders of the Company approved the 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2007 Plan”). The 2007 Plan superseded and replaced the 1998 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (the “1998 Plan”) and the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2002 Plan”). The 1998 Plan and 2002 Plan terminated upon stockholder approval of the 2007 Plan, such that no further grants may be made under either the 1998 Plan or the 2002 Plan. The terminations did not affect awards already outstanding under the 1998 Plan or the 2002 Plan, which consist of options and restricted stock awards. All options outstanding under each of the 1998 Plan and the 2002 Plan have 10-year terms and have an exercise price of not less than the per share fair market value, measured by the average of the high and low price of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE, on the date of grant.
Under the 2007 Plan, the Company may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and phantom stock and restricted stock unit awards to selected employees and non-employee directors. The 2007 Plan also provides for the issuance of common stock to non-employee directors as all, or part of, their annual compensation for serving as directors, as may be determined by the board of directors. The total number of shares of common stock available for awards under the 2007 Plan (including any annual stock issuances made to non-employee directors) is 3,000,000. The 2007 Plan provides that no more than 1,500,000 shares of common stock may be the subject of awards that are not stock options or stock appreciation rights. In addition, no more than 250,000 shares of common stock may be awarded to any one person in any calendar year, whether in the form of stock options, restricted stock or another form of award. The 2007 Plan provides that all options granted must have an exercise price of not less than the per share fair market value on the date of grant and that no option may have a term of more than ten years.
The Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income include share-based compensation expense for option grants and restricted stock awards granted to employees as a component of Selling, general and administrative expenses of $1.9 million and $6.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, and $1.8 million and $5.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively. In connection with the sale of the Nickel business, the Company entered into agreements with certain Nickel employees that provided for the acceleration of vesting of all unvested stock options and time-based and performance-based restricted stock previously granted to those employees. The Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income include share-based compensation expense as a component of discontinued operations of $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
At September 30, 2008, there was $10.1 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based awards. That cost is expected to be recognized as follows: $1.8 million in the remaining three months of 2008, $5.6 million in 2009, $2.4 million in 2010 and $0.3 million in 2011. There is no unrecognized compensation expense related to the Nickel business. Unearned compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period for the particular grant. Total unrecognized compensation cost will be adjusted for future changes in actual and estimated forfeitures.
The Company received cash payments of $0.9 million and $10.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, in connection with the exercise of stock options. The Company issues new shares to satisfy stock option exercises and restricted stock awards. The Company does not settle share-based payment obligations for cash.
Beginning in the third quarter of 2007, non-employee directors of the Company are paid a portion of their annual retainer in unrestricted shares of common stock. For purposes of determining the number of shares of common stock to be issued, the 2007 Plan provides that shares are to be valued at the average of the high and low sale price of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE on the last trading day of the quarter. The Company issued 1,506 and 4,256 shares to non-employee directors during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively.
Stock Options
Options granted generally vest in equal increments over a three-year period from the grant date. The Company accounts for options that vest over more than one year as one award and recognizes expense related to those awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The Company granted stock options to purchase 166,675 and 184,750 shares of common stock during the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively. Upon any change in control of the Company, as defined in the applicable plan, the stock options become 100% vested and exercisable.
The fair value of options granted during the first nine months of 2008 and 2007 was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes options pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

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    2008   2007
Risk-free interest rate
    2.6 %     4.7 %
Dividend yield
           
Volatility factor of Company common stock
    0.47       0.47  
Weighted-average expected option life (years)
    6.0       6.0  
Weighted-average grant-date fair value
  $ 27.90     $ 26.24  
The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon the U.S. Treasury yield curve appropriate for the term of the options being valued. The dividend yield assumption is zero, as the Company intends to continue to retain earnings for use in the operations of the business and does not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The expected term of options granted is determined using the simplified method allowed by Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 110 as historical data was not sufficient to provide a reasonable estimate. Under this approach, the expected term is presumed to be the mid-point between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term.
The following table sets forth the number and weighted-average grant-date fair value (in thousands except weighted average fair value at grant date):
                 
            Weighted
            Average Fair
            Value at Grant
    Shares   Date
Non-vested at December 31, 2007
    364     $ 18.46  
Granted during the first nine months of 2008
    167     $ 27.90  
Granted during the first nine months of 2007
    185     $ 26.24  
Vested during the first nine months of 2008
    206     $ 15.81  
Vested during the first nine months of 2007
    169     $ 11.88  
Non-vested at September 30, 2008
    320     $ 24.99  
Non-vested at September 30, 2007
    455     $ 17.44  
The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $0.4 million and $5.8 million during the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively. The intrinsic value of an option represents the amount by which the market value of the stock exceeds the exercise price of the option.
A summary of the Company’s stock option activity for the first nine months of 2008 is as follows (in thousands except weighted average exercise price):
                                 
                    Weighted    
            Weighted   Average    
            Average   Remaining   Aggregate
            Exercise   Contractual   Intrinsic
    Shares   Price   Term (Years)   Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2008
    756     $ 34.88                  
Granted
    167     $ 58.04                  
Exercised
    (22 )   $ 40.12                  
Expired unexercised
    (2 )   $ 45.49                  
Forfeited
    (6 )   $ 48.04                  
 
                               
Outstanding at September 30, 2008
    893     $ 38.97       7.43     $ 366  
Vested or expected to vest at September 30, 2008
    885     $ 38.84       7.41     $ 366  
Exercisable at September 30, 2008
    573     $ 32.59       6.69     $ 280  
Restricted Stock — Performance-Based Awards

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During the first nine months of 2008, the Company awarded a total of 57,550 shares of performance-based restricted stock that vest subject to the Company’s financial performance. The total number of shares of restricted stock that ultimately vest is based upon the Company’s achievement of specific measurable performance criteria. A recipient of performance-based restricted stock may earn a total award ranging from 0% to 100% of the initial grant. The shares awarded during the first nine months of 2008 will vest upon the satisfaction of established performance criteria based on consolidated operating profit and average return on net assets over a three-year performance period ending December 31, 2010.
During the first nine months of 2007, the Company awarded a total of 86,854 shares of performance-based restricted stock that vest subject to the Company’s financial performance. Of such shares, 80,600 shares will vest upon the satisfaction of established performance criteria based on consolidated operating profit and average return on net assets over a three-year performance period ending December 31, 2009. The remaining 6,254 shares will vest if the Company meets an established earnings target during any one of the years in the three-year period ending December 31, 2009.
The value of the performance-based restricted stock awards was based upon the market price of an unrestricted share of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. The Company recognizes expense related to performance-based restricted stock ratably over the requisite service period based upon the number of shares that are anticipated to vest. The number of shares anticipated to vest is evaluated quarterly and compensation expense is adjusted accordingly. Upon any change in control of the Company, as defined in the applicable plan, the shares become 100% vested. In the event of death or disability, a pro rata number of shares shall remain eligible for vesting at the end of the performance period.
A summary of the Company’s performance-based restricted stock awards for the first nine months of 2008 is as follows (in thousands except weighted average grant date fair value):
                 
            Weighted
            Average
            Grant Date
    Shares   Fair Value
Non-vested at January 1, 2008
    171     $ 35.46  
Granted
    58     $ 58.41  
Vested
        $  
Forfeited
        $  
 
               
Non-vested at September 30, 2008
    229     $ 41.24  
 
               
 
               
Expected to vest at September 30, 2008
    198          
Restricted Stock — Time-Based Awards
The Company awarded 17,675 and 24,360 shares of time-based restricted stock during the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively, which vest three years from the date of grant, subject to the respective recipient remaining employed by the Company on that date. The value of the restricted stock awards, based upon the market price of an unrestricted share of the Company’s common stock at the respective dates of grant, was $1.0 million for the 2008 awards and $1.2 million for the 2007 awards. Compensation expense is being recognized ratably over the vesting period. Upon any change in control of the Company, as defined in the applicable plan, the shares become 100% vested. A pro rata number of shares will vest in the event of death or disability prior to the stated vesting date.
A summary of the Company’s time-based restricted stock awards for the first nine months of 2008 is as follows (in thousands except weighted average grant date fair value):

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            Weighted
            Average
            Grant Date
    Shares   Fair Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2008
    209     $ 28.25  
Granted
    18     $ 57.08  
Vested
    (166 )   $ 24.89  
 
               
Nonvested at September 30, 2008
    61     $ 45.76  
 
               
 
               
Expected to vest at September 30, 2008
    60          
In June 2005, the Company granted 166,194 shares of restricted stock to its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) in connection with his hiring. The restricted shares vested on May 31, 2008. Upon vesting, the CEO received 91,407 unrestricted shares of common stock and surrendered 74,787 shares of common stock to the Company to pay required taxes applicable to the vesting of restricted stock in accordance with the applicable long-term incentive plan previously approved by the stockholders of the Company and the related agreement previously approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. The surrendered shares are held by the Company as treasury stock.
Note 15 — Reportable Segments
To better align its transformation and growth strategy, which includes the two strategic acquisitions completed in 2007, the Company, effective January 1, 2008, reorganized its management structure and external reporting around two segments: Advanced Materials and Specialty Chemicals. The Advanced Materials segment consists of Inorganics, the DRC smelter joint venture and metal resale. The Specialty Chemicals segment is comprised of Electronic Chemicals, Ultra Pure Chemicals, Photomasks and Advanced Organics. The corresponding information for 2007 has been reclassified to conform to the current year reportable segment presentation.
Corporate is comprised of general and administrative expenses not allocated to the Advanced Materials or Specialty Chemicals segments.
As a result of the sale of the Nickel business on March 1, 2007, the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, accompanying notes and other information provided in this Form 10-Q, reflect the Company’s former Nickel segment as a discontinued operation for all periods presented. The Nickel business consisted of the Harjavalta, Finland nickel refinery; the Cawse, Australia nickel mine and intermediate refining facility; a 20% equity interest in MPI Nickel Pty. Ltd.; and an 11% ownership interest in Talvivaara Mining Company, Ltd.
The Company has manufacturing and other facilities in the United States, Finland and other countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Canada, and the Company markets its products worldwide. Further, approximately 24% of the Company’s investment in property, plant and equipment is located in the DRC, where the Company operates a smelter through a 55% owned joint venture.
The following table reflects the results of the Company’s reportable segments:

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    Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Business Segment Information
                               
Net Sales
                               
Advanced Materials
  $ 306,789     $ 193,281     $ 998,301     $ 499,603  
Specialty Chemicals
    142,337       71,985       443,936       216,701  
Intersegment items
    (496 )     (626 )     (1,987 )     (4,170 )
 
                       
 
  $ 448,630     $ 264,640     $ 1,440,250     $ 712,134  
 
                       
 
Operating profit
                               
Advanced Materials
  $ 44,771     $ 48,571     $ 219,570     $ 148,159  
Specialty Chemicals
    9,455       35       30,293       15,044  
Corporate
    (9,857 )     (7,379 )     (28,917 )     (24,363 )
Intersegment items
    990       237       2,626       1,943  
 
                       
 
  $ 45,359     $ 41,464     $ 223,572     $ 140,783  
 
                       
 
Interest expense
  $ (385 )   $ (238 )   $ (1,292 )   $ (7,523 )
Interest income
    535       5,041       1,409       15,643  
Loss on redemption of Notes
                      (21,733 )
Foreign exchange gain
    121       4,178       869       5,962  
Other expense, net
    (371 )     (501 )     (565 )     (999 )
 
                       
 
  $ (100 )   $ 8,480     $ 421     $ (8,650 )
 
                       
 
Income from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and minority partners’ share of income
  $ 45,259     $ 49,944     $ 223,993     $ 132,133  
 
                       
 
Expenditures for property, plant & equipment
                               
Advanced Materials
  $ 4,474     $ 3,911     $ 16,920     $ 10,534  
Specialty Chemicals
    2,296       969       6,362       2,299  
 
                       
 
  $ 6,770     $ 4,880     $ 23,282     $ 12,833  
 
                       
 
Depreciation and amortization
                               
Advanced Materials
  $ 6,530     $ 6,572     $ 19,390     $ 19,494  
Specialty Chemicals
    7,346       1,478       21,408       4,486  
Corporate
    222       204       838       672  
 
                       
 
  $ 14,098     $ 8,254     $ 41,636     $ 24,652  
 
                       
 
      
                 
 
  September 30,     December 31,  
Total assets
  2008     2007  
 
           
Advanced Materials
    842,557     $ 756,938  
Specialty Chemicals
    649,375       679,691  
Corporate
    66,407       32,581  
 
           
 
  $ 1,558,339     $ 1,469,210  
 
           

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
The Company is a diversified global developer, producer and marketer of value-added specialty chemicals and advanced materials that are essential to complex chemical and industrial processes. The Company believes it is the world’s largest refiner of cobalt and producer of cobalt-based specialty products.
The Company is executing a deliberate and aggressive strategy to grow through continued product innovation, as well as tactical and strategic acquisitions. The strategy is part of a transformational process to leverage the Company’s core strengths in developing and producing value-added specialty products for dynamic markets while reducing the impact of metal price volatility on financial results.
The strategy is designed to allow the Company to deliver sustainable and profitable volume growth in order to drive consistent financial performance and enhance the Company’s ability to continue to build long-term shareholder value. During 2007, the Company completed three important transactions in connection with this long-term strategy:
    On March 1, 2007, the Company completed the sale of its Nickel business.
 
    On October 1, 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of Borchers GmbH (“Borchers”).
 
    On December 31, 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of the Electronics businesses (“REM”) of Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc.
To better align its transformation and growth strategy, which includes the two strategic acquisitions completed in 2007, the Company, effective January 1, 2008, reorganized its management structure and external reporting around two segments: Advanced Materials and Specialty Chemicals. The Advanced Materials segment consists of Inorganics, the Democratic Republic of Congo (the “DRC”) smelter joint venture and metal resale. The Specialty Chemicals segment is comprised of Electronic Chemicals, Ultra Pure Chemicals, Photomasks and Advanced Organics.
The Advanced Materials segment manufactures inorganics products using unrefined cobalt and other metals and serves the battery, powder metallurgy, ceramic and chemical end markets by providing functional characteristics critical to the success of our customers’ products. These products improve the electrical conduction of rechargeable batteries used in cellular phones, video cameras, portable computers, power tools and hybrid electrical vehicles, and also strengthen and add durability to diamond and machine cutting tools and drilling equipment use in construction, oil and gas drilling, and quarrying.
The Specialty Chemicals segment consists of the following:
Electronic Chemicals: Electronic Chemicals develops products for the electronic packaging, memory disk, general metal finishing and printed circuit board finishing markets and includes the REM Printed Circuit Board (“PCB”) business. The acquired PCB business develops and manufactures chemicals for the printed circuit board industry, such as oxide treatments, electroplating additives, etching technology and electroless copper processes used in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards widely used in computers, communications, military/aerospace, automotive, industrial and consumer electronics applications. Memory disk products include electroless nickel solutions and preplate chemistries for the computer and consumer electronics industries and for the manufacture of hard drive memory disks used for memory and data storage applications. Memory disk applications include computer hard drives, digital video recorders, MP3 players, digital cameras and business and enterprise servers.
Ultra Pure Chemicals: Ultra Pure Chemicals (“UPC”) develops and manufactures a wide range of ultra-pure chemicals used in the manufacture of electronic and computer components such as semiconductors, silicon chips, wafers and liquid crystal displays. These products include chemicals used to remove controlled portions of silicon and metal, cleaning solutions, photoresist strippers, which control the application of certain light-sensitive chemicals, edge bead removers, which aid in the uniform application of other chemicals, and solvents. UPC also develops and manufactures a broad range of chemicals used in the manufacturing of photomasks and provides a range of analytical, logistical and development support services to the semiconductor industry. These include total chemicals management, under which the Company manages the clients’ entire

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electronic process chemicals operations, including coordination of logistics services, development of application-specific chemicals, analysis and control of customers’ chemical distribution systems and quality audit and control of all inbound chemicals.
Photomasks: Photomasks manufactures photo-imaging masks (high-purity quartz or glass plates containing precision, microscopic images of integrated circuits) and reticles for the semiconductor, optoelectronics and microelectronics industries under the Compugraphics brand name. Photomasks are a key enabling technology to the semiconductor and integrated circuit industries and perform a function similar to that of a negative in conventional photography.
Advanced Organics: Advanced Organics offers products for the tire, coating and inks, additives and chemical markets. These products promote adhesion of metal to rubber in tires and faster drying of paints, coatings, and inks. Within the additives and chemical markets, these products catalyze the reduction of sulfur dioxide and other emissions and also accelerate the curing of polyester resins found in reinforced fiberglass. The Borchers acquisition, which has been integrated into Advanced Organics, offers products to enhance the performance of coatings and ink systems from the production stage through customer end use.
The Company’s products are sold in various forms such as solutions, crystals, cathodes and powders. The Company’s business is critically connected to both the price and availability of raw materials. The primary raw material used by the Company is unrefined cobalt. Cobalt raw materials include ore, concentrate, slag and scrap. The Company attempts to mitigate changes in availability of raw materials by maintaining adequate inventory levels and long-term supply relationships with a variety of suppliers. The cost of the Company’s raw materials fluctuates due to actual or perceived changes in supply and demand of raw materials, changes in cobalt reference price and changes in availability from suppliers. The Company attempts to pass through to its customers increases in raw material prices by increasing the prices of its products. The Company’s profitability is largely dependent on the Company’s ability to maintain the differential between its product prices and product costs. Fluctuations in the price of cobalt have been significant in the past and the Company believes that cobalt price fluctuations are likely to continue in the future. Certain sales contracts and raw material purchase contracts contain variable pricing that adjusts based on changes in the price of cobalt. During periods of rapidly changing metal prices, however, there may be price lags that can impact the short-term profitability and cash flow from operations of the Company both positively and negatively. Reductions in the price of raw materials or declines in the selling prices of the Company’s finished goods could also result in the Company’s inventory carrying value being written down to a lower market value.
The Company has manufacturing and other facilities in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific, and markets its products worldwide. Although a significant portion of the Company’s raw material purchases and product sales are based on the U.S. dollar, prices of certain raw materials, non-U.S. operating expenses and income taxes are denominated in local currencies. As such, the Company’s results of operations are subject to the variability that arises from exchange rate movements (particularly the Euro). In addition, fluctuations in exchange rates may affect product demand and profitability in U.S. dollars of products provided by the Company in foreign markets in cases where payments for its products are made in local currency. Accordingly, fluctuations in currency prices affect the Company’s operating results.
Because the Company changed the structure of its internal organization in a manner that caused its reportable segments to change, the corresponding information for prior periods has been reclassified to conform to the current year reportable segment presentation.

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Results of Operations
Consolidated Results of Operations
Consolidated results of operations are set forth below and are followed by a more detailed discussion of each business segment.
Third Quarter of 2008 Compared With Third Quarter of 2007
                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30,  
(thousands of dollars & percent of net sales)   2008             2007          
Net sales
  $ 448,630             $ 264,640          
Cost of products sold
    362,369               191,502          
 
                           
Gross profit
    86,261       19.2 %     73,138       27.6 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    40,902       9.1 %     31,674       12.0 %
 
                           
Operating profit
    45,359       10.1 %     41,464       15.7 %
Other income (expense), net
    (100 )             8,480          
 
                           
Income from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and minority partners’ share of income
    45,259               49,944          
Income tax (expense) benefit
    14,533               (7,926 )        
Minority partners’ share of income, net of tax
    (4,046 )             (2,511 )        
 
                           
Income from continuing operations
    55,746               39,507          
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
    520               (1,412 )        
 
                           
Net income
  $ 56,266             $ 38,095          
 
                           
Net sales increased to $448.6 million in the third quarter of 2008 from $264.6 million in the third quarter of 2007. The $184.0 million increase was primarily due to the REM and Borchers acquisitions (the “2007 Acquisitions”), completed in the fourth quarter of 2007, which contributed $72.3 million; a $67.8 million increase from higher product selling prices in the Advanced Materials segment, which resulted principally from an increase in the average cobalt reference price in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the third quarter of 2007 (see “Segment Results and Corporate Expenses”); increased volumes in the Advanced Materials segment, which contributed $27.5 million to net sales and a $19.4 million increase from the resale of cobalt metal.
Gross profit increased to $86.3 million in the third quarter of 2008, compared with $73.1 million in the third quarter of 2007. The $13.1 million increase in gross profit was primarily due to the 2007 Acquisitions, which contributed $18.4 million in gross profit in the third quarter of 2008. Improved volume in the Advanced Materials segment was offset by increased manufacturing and non-cobalt raw material costs, an unfavorable currency impact and the effect of the rapid decline in the cobalt reference price, which resulted in lower gross profit from the sale of finished goods manufactured using higher cost cobalt raw materials purchased prior to and during the price decline. The average quarterly reference price per pound of low grade cobalt decreased from $45.93 in the second quarter of 2008 to $32.54 in the third quarter of 2008. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of sales (19.2% in the third quarter of 2008 versus 27.6% in the third quarter of 2007) was primarily due to the impact of higher cost cobalt raw materials in 2008 and the effect on selling prices of the rapid decline in the cobalt reference price.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) increased to $40.9 million in the third quarter of 2008, compared with $31.7 million in the third quarter of 2007. The $9.2 million increase was primarily due to $11.7 million of REM and Borchers SG&A expenses, including amortization expense of acquired intangibles of $2.1 million. In addition, corporate expenses increased $2.5 million primarily due to an increase in employee incentive and share-based compensation expense and increased professional services fees. Specialty Chemicals had lower environmental and legal expenses as the third quarter of 2007 included a $3.5 million charge to increase the environmental remediation liability at the Company’s closed Newark, New Jersey site and $1.2 million in legal fees for a lawsuit the Company filed related to the use by a third-party of proprietary information. The lawsuit was settled in the third quarter of 2007.

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The increase in operating profit for the third quarter of 2008 as compared to the third quarter of 2007 was due to the factors discussed above. However, operating profit as a percentage of sales decreased to 10.1% in the third quarter of 2008 from 15.7% in the third quarter of 2007, also due to the factors discussed above.
Other income (expense), net decreased to expense of $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared with income of $8.5 million in the third quarter of 2007. The following table summarizes the components of Other income (expense), net:
                 
    Three Months Ended September 30,  
(In thousands)   2008     2007  
Interest expense
  $ (385 )   $ (238 )
Interest income
    535       5,041  
Foreign exchange gain
    121       4,178  
Other income, net
    (371 )     (501 )
 
           
 
  $ (100 )   $ 8,480  
 
           
The decreases in interest income and foreign exchange gain in 2008 both relate to the higher average cash balances earning interest throughout 2007, before $337 million of existing cash was used in the fourth quarter of 2007 to fund the 2007 Acquisitions. In addition, certain cash balances were held in foreign currencies during 2007, generating foreign exchange gains due primarily to the strengthening of the euro against the U.S. dollar during that period. See additional discussion below under “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.
The decrease in income from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and minority partners’ share of income for the third quarter of 2008 compared with the third quarter of 2007 was due to the factors discussed above, primarily the impact of the rapid decline in the cobalt reference price upon the sale of finished goods manufactured using raw materials that were purchased at higher prices prior to and during the price decline; increased manufacturing and non-cobalt raw material costs; and the decrease in interest income and foreign exchange gain; all partially offset by the operating results of the 2007 Acquisitions.
The third quarter of 2008 included an income tax benefit of $14.5 million on pre-tax income of $45.3 million. During the third quarter of 2008, the Company completed an initial analysis of foreign tax credit positions and recorded a $25.1 million tax benefit related to an election to take foreign tax credits on prior year U.S. tax returns. The benefit related to the foreign tax credits was $0.83 per diluted share in the three months ended September 30, 2008. As originally filed, such returns claimed these amounts as deductions rather than foreign tax credits because the Company was in a net operating loss carryover position in the U.S. during those years. However, due to income taxes paid in the U.S. in connection with the 2007 repatriation of foreign earnings, the Company is able to utilize these foreign tax credits previously taken as deductions. The $25.1 million tax benefit is net of a valuation allowance of $3.5 million on deferred tax assets as to which the Company believes it is more likely than not it will be unable to realize as a result of its election to claim the foreign tax credits. Excluding the tax benefit related to the foreign tax credits, the Company’s effective income tax rate would have been 23.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2008, compared to income tax expense in the third quarter of 2007 of $7.9 million on pre-tax income of $49.9 million, or 15.9%. The effective income tax rates, excluding the foreign tax credits, were lower than the U.S. statutory rate due primarily to income earned in foreign tax jurisdictions with lower statutory tax rates than the U. S. (primarily Finland), a tax holiday in Malaysia, and the recognition of tax benefits for domestic losses. During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company was informed by the DRC taxing authority that its tax holiday had expired. As a result, the third quarter of 2008 included income tax expense related to income earned at the Company’s joint venture in the DRC. No income tax expense was recorded by the joint venture in the third quarter of 2007.
Minority partners’ share of income relates to the Company’s 55%-owned smelter joint venture in the DRC. Minority partners’ income in the third quarter of 2008 was favorably impacted by higher cobalt prices in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the third quarter of 2007 and timing of deliveries, partially offset by income tax expense, as income earned in the DRC is now subject to income tax, as discussed above.
Income from continuing operations was $55.7 million, or $1.84 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008 compared with a $39.5 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2007. The increase was due primarily to the aforementioned factors.
Income from discontinued operations in the third quarter of 2008 of $0.5 million was primarily due to a gain on remeasuring Euro-denominated liabilities to U.S. dollars. Loss from discontinued operations of $1.4 million for the third quarter of 2007 was primarily due to $1.1 million of tax expense related to Precious Metals Group (“PMG”) upon finalization of the Company’s U.S. Federal tax return.

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Net income was $56.3 million, or $1.85 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008 compared with net income of $38.1 million, or $1.26 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2007. The increase was due primarily to the aforementioned factors.

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First Nine Months of 2008 Compared With First Nine Months of 2007
                                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
(thousands of dollars & percent of net sales)   2008             2007          
Net sales
  $ 1,440,250             $ 712,134          
Cost of products sold
    1,091,300               483,075          
 
                           
Gross profit
    348,950       24.2 %     229,059       32.2 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    125,378       8.7 %     88,276       12.4 %
 
                           
Operating profit
    223,572       15.5 %     140,783       19.8 %
Other income (expense), net
    421               (8,650 )        
 
                           
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense and minority partners’ share of income
    223,993               132,133          
Income tax expense
    (34,918 )             (57,715 )        
Minority partners’ share of income, net of tax
    (21,146 )             (9,320 )        
 
                           
Income from continuing operations
    167,929               65,098          
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (211 )             61,511          
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax
                  72,270          
 
                           
Net income
  $ 167,718             $ 198,879          
 
                           
Net sales increased to $1,440.3 million in the first nine months of 2008 from $712.1 million in the first nine months of 2007. The $728.1 million increase was due to a number of factors. Higher product selling prices in the Advanced Materials segment, which resulted principally from an increase in the average cobalt reference price in the first nine months of 2008 compared with the first nine months of 2007, contributed $267.6 million to the overall increase. In addition, the 2007 Acquisitions contributed $216.2 million in the first nine months of 2008. The remaining increase in net sales was primarily due to a $167.8 million increase from the resale of cobalt metal, increased volumes in the Advanced Materials segment, which contributed $69.4 million, and favorable pricing in the Specialty Chemicals segment, which contributed $36.7 million. These increases were partially offset by decreased volumes ($20.5 million) in the Specialty Chemicals segment.
Gross profit increased to $349.0 million in the first nine months of 2008, compared with $229.1 million in the first nine months of 2007. The $119.9 million increase in gross profit was primarily due to the impact of the higher cobalt reference price and the resulting increase in sales discussed above, partially offset by the increase in cobalt raw material costs. The 2007 Acquisitions contributed $50.0 million in gross profit in the first nine months of 2008, which included a $1.7 million charge related to the step-up to fair value of inventory acquired and sold in the ordinary course of business. Gross profit was also favorably impacted by improved volume in the Advanced Materials segment. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of sales (24.2% in the first nine months of 2008 versus 32.2% in the first nine months of 2007) was primarily due to the impact of higher cost cobalt raw materials in 2008 and the effect on selling prices of the rapid decline in the cobalt reference price discussed above.
SG&A increased to $125.4 million in the first nine months of 2008, compared with $88.3 million in the first nine months of 2007. The $37.1 million increase was primarily due to $35.2 million of REM and Borchers SG&A expenses, including amortization expense of $4.1 million on acquired intangibles. SG&A was also impacted by the unfavorable impact of the weakening U.S. dollar and increased information technology and travel costs associated with the 2007 Acquisitions integration and Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) system implementation. The first nine months of 2007 included charges totaling $4.6 million to increase the environmental remediation liability related to the Company’s closed Newark, New Jersey site and $3.2 million in legal fees incurred by Specialty Chemicals for a lawsuit the Company filed related to the use by a third-party of proprietary information. The lawsuit was settled in the third quarter of 2007. SG&A was also impacted by a $4.5 million increase in corporate expenses primarily due to an increase in employee incentive and share-based compensation expense and increased professional services fees.
The increase in operating profit for the first nine months of 2008, as compared to the first nine months of 2007, was due to the factors discussed above.
Other income (expense), net increased to income of $0.4 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared with expense of $8.7 million in the first nine months of 2007. The following table summarizes the components of Other income (expense), net:

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    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
(In thousands)   2008     2007  
Interest expense
  $ (1,292 )   $ (7,523 )
Interest income
    1,409       15,643  
Loss on redemption of Notes
          (21,733 )
Foreign exchange gain
    869       5,962  
Other income, net
    (565 )     (999 )
 
           
 
  $ 421     $ (8,650 )
 
           
The $6.2 million decrease in interest expense and the Loss on redemption of Notes in 2007 were primarily due to the redemption, on March 7, 2007, of $400 million of 9.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011 (the “Notes”). The decreases in interest income and foreign exchange gain in 2008 both relate to the higher average cash balances earning interest throughout 2007, before $337 million of existing cash was used in the fourth quarter of 2007 to fund the 2007 Acquisitions. In addition, certain cash balances were held in foreign currencies during 2007, generating foreign exchange gains due primarily to the strengthening of the euro against the U.S. dollar during that period. See additional discussion below under “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
The increase in income from continuing operations before income tax expense and minority partners’ share of income for the first nine months of 2008 compared with the first nine months of 2007 was due to the factors discussed above, primarily the increase in the average cobalt reference price in the first nine months of 2008 compared with the first nine months of 2007; operating results of the 2007 Acquisitions; improved volume in the Advanced Materials segment; and the 2007 loss on redemption of Notes including the resulting decrease in interest expense in 2008; all partially offset by increased manufacturing and non-cobalt raw material costs, reduced interest income from cash balances and an unfavorable currency impact.
Income tax expense in the first nine months of 2008 was $34.9 million on pre-tax income of $224.0 million, or 15.6%, compared to income tax expense in the first nine months of 2007 of $57.7 million on pre-tax income of $132.1 million, or 43.7%. During the third quarter of 2008, the Company completed an initial analysis of foreign tax credit positions and recorded a $25.1 million tax benefit related to an election to take foreign tax credits on prior year U.S. tax returns. The benefit related to the foreign tax credits was $0.83 per diluted share in the nine months ended September 30, 2008. As originally filed, such returns claimed these amounts as deductions rather than foreign tax credits because the Company was in a net operating loss carryover position in the U.S. during those years. However, due to income taxes paid in the U.S. in connection with the 2007 repatriation of foreign earnings, the Company is able to utilize these foreign tax credits previously taken as deductions. The $25.1 million tax benefit is net of a valuation allowance of $3.5 million on deferred tax assets as to which the Company believes it is more likely than not it will be unable to realize as a result of its election to claim the foreign tax credits. Excluding the tax benefit related to the foreign tax credits, the Company’s effective income tax rate would have been 26.8% for the first nine months of 2008. During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company was informed by the DRC taxing authority that its tax holiday had expired. As a result, the first nine months of 2008 included income tax expense related to income earned at the Company’s joint venture in the DRC. No income tax expense was recorded by the joint venture in the first nine months of 2007. However, the first nine months of 2007 included discrete items related to the repatriation of foreign earnings and the redemption of the Notes. Specifically, the Company recorded U.S. income tax expense of $38.8 million on the repatriation of foreign earnings and proceeds from the sale of the Nickel business. This expense was partially offset by a $7.6 million income tax benefit related to the $21.7 million cost to redeem the Notes. Excluding these discrete items, the effective income tax rate would have been 17.2% in the first nine months of 2007. Excluding the discrete items discussed above, the effective income tax rate was lower than the U.S. statutory rate in the first nine months of 2007 and 2008 due primarily to income earned in foreign tax jurisdictions with lower statutory tax rates than the U.S. (primarily Finland), a tax holiday in Malaysia, and the recognition of tax benefits for domestic losses.
Minority partners’ share of income relates to the Company’s 55%-owned smelter joint venture in the DRC. The increase in the minority partners’ income in the first nine months of 2008 compared with the first nine months of 2007 was primarily due to higher cobalt prices and timing of deliveries, partially offset by income tax expense, as income earned in the DRC is now subject to income tax, as discussed above.
Income from continuing operations was $167.9 million, or $5.53 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2008 compared with $65.1 million, or $2.15 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2007. The increase was due primarily to the aforementioned factors.

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The loss from discontinued operations in the first nine months of 2008 of $0.2 million resulted from an additional contingency accrual for non-income taxes related to PMG partially offset by the translation adjustments of retained liabilities of businesses sold denominated in a foreign currency. Total income from discontinued operations of $133.8 million for the first nine months of 2007 primarily related to the operations of the Nickel business and the $72.3 million gain on the sale of the Nickel business.
Net income was $167.7 million, or $5.53 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2008 compared with net income of $198.9 million, or $6.58 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2007. The decrease was due primarily to the aforementioned factors.
Segment Results and Corporate Expenses
Advanced Materials
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(millions of dollars)   2008     2007     2008     2007  
Net sales
  $ 306.8     $ 193.3     $ 998.3     $ 499.6  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating profit
  $ 44.8     $ 48.6     $ 219.6     $ 148.2  
 
                       
The following table reflects the volumes in the Advanced Materials segment:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Volumes
                               
Sales volume — metric tons
    8,478       6,875       24,954       18,944  
Cobalt refining volume — metric tons
    2,762       2,402       7,286       6,659  
 
*   Sales volume includes cobalt metal resale and copper by-product sales and excludes volume related to specialty nickel salts sales under the Norilsk distribution agreement, as explained below.
The following table summarizes the percentage of sales dollars by end market for the three and nine months ended September 30:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Batteries
    52 %     40 %     43 %     44 %
Chemical
    11 %     14 %     13 %     16 %
Powder Metallurgy
    10 %     12 %     11 %     13 %
Ceramics
    3 %     5 %     4 %     6 %
Other*
    24 %     29 %     29 %     21 %
 
*   Other includes cobalt metal resale and copper by-product sales.
The following table summarizes the percentage of sales dollars by region for the three and nine months ended September 30:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Americas
    7 %     15 %     9 %     10 %
Asia
    55 %     46 %     46 %     49 %
Europe
    38 %     39 %     45 %     41 %
The following table summarizes the average quarterly reference price per pound of low grade cobalt (as published in Metal Bulletin magazine):

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    2008   2007
First Quarter
  $ 46.19     $ 25.82  
Second Quarter
  $ 45.93     $ 28.01  
Third Quarter
  $ 32.54     $ 25.84  
Fourth Quarter
    n/a     $ 32.68  
Full Year
    n/a     $ 27.99  
Net Sales
Net sales increased to $306.8 million in the third quarter of 2008 from $193.3 million in the third quarter of 2007 and to $998.3 million in the first nine months of 2008 from $499.6 million in the first nine months of 2007. As discussed above, the net sales increases in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2008 were due primarily to increased product selling prices which resulted from an increase in the average cobalt reference price, increased cobalt metal resale and increased volume. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2008, copper by-product sales contributed an additional $2.7 million and $15.4 million, respectively, to net sales. Copper by-product sales increased due to both increased volume in the first nine months of 2008 and the higher average copper price in 2008 compared with 2007. The increase in copper by-product sales in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the third quarter of 2007 was driven by increased volume. The increase in cobalt metal resale in 2008 compared with 2007 reflects increased volume and the increase in the average cobalt reference price. Increased volume resulted from sales of metal received under the five-year supply agreement with Norilsk. This agreement was entered into in the first quarter of 2007; however, the Company did not receive regular deliveries of cobalt metal until the second half of 2007.
In connection with the sale of the Nickel business to Norilsk, the Company entered into two-year agency and distribution agreements for certain specialty nickel salts products. Under these agreements, the Company now acts as a distributor of these products on behalf of Norilsk and records the related commission revenue on a net basis. Prior to March 1, 2007, the Company was the primary obligor for these sales and recorded the revenue on a gross basis. This change resulted in a $15.9 million decrease in net sales in the first nine months of 2008 compared with the first nine months of 2007.
Operating Profit
The $3.8 million decrease in operating profit in the third quarter of 2008 as compared to the third quarter of 2007 was due to an unfavorable currency impact ($4.9 million) and the net effect of the rapid decline in the cobalt reference price, which resulted in lower gross profit from the sale of finished goods manufactured using higher cost cobalt raw materials purchased prior to and during the price decline ($4.4 million). The average quarterly reference price per pound of low grade cobalt decreased from $45.93 in the second quarter of 2008 to $32.54 in the third quarter of 2008. Operating profit was also impacted by increased manufacturing and non-cobalt raw material costs ($5.7 million). These decreases were partially offset by improved volume ($9.4 million).
The $71.4 million increase in operating profit in the first nine months of 2008 as compared to the first nine months of 2007 was due to a $68.7 million net impact of the higher cobalt reference price and the resulting increase in sales discussed above (including cobalt metal resale) partially offset by the increase in cobalt raw material costs. Operating profit was also favorably impacted by improved volume ($30.5 million) (including metal resale and excluding copper by-product and specialty nickel salts) and increased copper by-product sales ($6.1 million), partially offset by increased manufacturing and non-cobalt raw material costs ($15.4 million) and an unfavorable currency impact ($15.0 million).
Specialty Chemicals
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(millions of dollars)   2008     2007     2008     2007  
Net sales
  $ 142.3     $ 72.0     $ 443.9     $ 216.7  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating profit
  $ 9.5     $     $ 30.3     $ 15.0  
 
                       
The following table summarizes the percentage of sales dollars by end market for the three and nine months ended September 30:

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    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Semiconductor
    23 %     3 %     22 %     3 %
Coatings
    20 %     17 %     20 %     18 %
Tire
    16 %     24 %     15 %     23 %
PCB
    17 %     4 %     17 %     4 %
Memory Disk
    9 %     27 %     10 %     27 %
Chemical
    11 %     17 %     11 %     17 %
General Metal Finishing
    2 %     5 %     3 %     4 %
Other
    2 %     3 %     2 %     4 %
The following table summarizes the percentage of sales dollars by region for the three and nine months ended September 30:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Americas
    33 %     31 %     31 %     31 %
Asia
    36 %     45 %     38 %     43 %
Europe
    31 %     24 %     31 %     26 %
The following table reflects the volumes in the Specialty Chemicals segment for the three and nine months ended September 30,
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Volumes
                               
Advanced Organics sales volume — metric tons *
    7,706       6,797       23,830       21,692  
Electronic Chemicals sales volume — gallons (thousands)**
    1,441       1,817       4,947       5,369  
 
*   2007 sales volume amounts exclude volume related to Borchers, which was acquired on October 1, 2007.
 
**   Sales volume excludes volume related to the REM PCB business.
Net Sales
Net sales increased $70.4 million, to $142.3 million in the third quarter of 2008 from $72.0 million in the third quarter of 2007. The 2007 Acquisitions contributed $72.3 million in the third quarter of 2008. Excluding the impact of the 2007 Acquisitions, the decrease in net sales was primarily due to a decrease in volume ($11.8 million) in both Advanced Organics and Electronic Chemicals and an unfavorable currency impact ($1.0 million) partially offset by increased product selling prices ($12.1 million). The increase in price was due to favorable pricing in Advanced Organics, partially offset by unfavorable pricing in Electronic Chemicals, primarily due to a decline in the price of nickel.
Net sales increased to $443.9 million in the first nine months of 2008 from $216.7 million in the first nine months of 2007. The 2007 Acquisitions contributed $216.2 million of the $227.2 million increase in the first nine months of 2008. The remaining increase in net sales was primarily due to increased product selling prices ($36.7 million) due to favorable pricing in Advanced Organics, partially offset by unfavorable pricing in Electronic Chemicals, primarily due to a decline in the price of nickel. Favorable pricing was partially offset by decreased volumes ($20.5 million) in both Advanced Organics and Electronic Chemicals.
Operating Profit
Operating profit for the third quarter of 2008 increased to $9.5 million from breakeven in the third quarter of 2007. The 2007 Acquisitions contributed $6.7 million in the third quarter of 2008. The third quarter of 2007 included a $3.5 million charge to increase the environmental remediation liability at the Company’s closed Newark, New Jersey site and $1.2 million in legal fees for a lawsuit the Company filed related to the use by a third-party of proprietary information. The lawsuit was settled in the third quarter of 2007.
In addition, operating profit was negatively impacted by decreased volume ($3.6 million); inventory adjustments ($1.5 million) primarily to reduce the carrying value of inventory to market value at September 30, 2008; increased SG&A expenses ($1.1 million), primarily due to ERP system implementation and

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increased information technology and travel costs associated with the 2007 Acquisitions integration; and increased distribution charges ($0.5 million); all partially offset by favorable pricing in 2008 ($4.2 million).
Operating profit for the first nine months of 2008 increased to $30.3 million from $15.0 million in the first nine months of 2007. In connection with the REM acquisition, the Company allocated a portion of the total purchase price to inventory to reflect manufacturing profit in inventory at the date of the acquisition. The inventory step-up to fair value totaled $1.7 million and was recognized as a charge to cost of products sold in the first nine months of 2008, as the inventory was sold in the normal course of business. The 2007 Acquisitions contributed $14.8 million to operating profit, including the inventory fair value step-up expense of $1.7 million, in the first nine months of 2008. Excluding the 2007 Acquisitions, operating profit was impacted by favorable pricing of $8.6 million offset by decreased volume ($6.5 million), higher manufacturing and distribution costs ($2.6 million), an increase in certain administrative expenses primarily due to ERP system implementation, increased information technology and travel costs associated with the 2007 Acquisition integration ($4.7 million) and a $0.9 million charge for a distributor termination. In addition, the first nine months of 2007 included charges totaling $4.6 million to increase the environmental remediation liability related to the Company’s closed Newark, New Jersey site and $3.2 million in legal fees for a lawsuit the Company filed related to the use by a third-party of proprietary information.
Corporate Expenses
Corporate expenses consist of unallocated corporate overhead supporting both segments, including legal, finance, human resources and strategic development activities, as well as share-based compensation. Corporate expenses were $9.9 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared with $7.4 million in the third quarter of 2007, and $28.9 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared with $24.4 million in the first nine months of 2007. The increase in corporate expenses in the three and nine month periods of 2008 was primarily due to an increase in employee incentive and share-based compensation expense and increased professional services fees. The increase in employee incentive and share-based compensation was primarily due to higher headcount in 2008, as a result of the 2007 Acquisitions, as well additional expense in 2008 related to performance-based incentive compensation awards granted in prior years for which the probability of achievement/vesting has increased.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected in the Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows, are summarized in the following table (in thousands):
                         
    Nine months ended        
    September 30,        
    2008     2007     Change  
Cash Flow Summary
                       
Net cash provided by (used for):
                       
Operating activities
  $ 52,461     $ 28,758     $ 23,703  
Investing activities
    (15,396 )     479,969       (495,365 )
Financing activities
    8,313       (408,316 )     416,629  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (999 )     5,718       (6,717 )
Discontinued operations-operating activities
          48,575       (48,575 )
Discontinued operations-investing activities
          (1,540 )     1,540  
 
                 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 44,379     $ 153,164     $ (108,785 )
 
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities was $52.5 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared with $28.8 million in the first nine months of 2007. This change was primarily due to income from continuing operations of $167.9 million in the 2008 period compared to $65.1 million in the corresponding period in 2007. This change was partially offset by an increased use of cash for working capital needs in 2008, primarily higher inventories and accounts receivable, which were driven by higher cobalt metal prices, and lower accounts payable.
Net cash used for investing activities was $15.4 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared with net cash provided by investing activities of $480.0 million in the first nine months of 2007. The change was primarily due to the $490.0 million of net proceeds related to the sale of the Nickel business in the 2007 period. The 2008 period included cash receipts of $10.7 million for settlement of

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cobalt forward purchase contracts, a $4.5 million receipt against the notes receivable from the Company’s joint venture partner, and net cash payments of $5.3 million for transaction-related fees for the 2007 Acquisitions.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $8.3 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared with net cash used for financing activities of $408.3 million in the first nine months of 2007, primarily due to the $418.5 million payment made by the Company to redeem the Notes in the 2007 period. The 2008 period included net borrowings of $25.0 million on the Company’s revolver to fund short-term working capital needs as described above, a $14.9 million distribution to the Company’s DRC smelter joint venture partners, and a required tax withholding payment of $3.3 million made in connection with the surrender of shares of common stock by the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), upon the vesting of restricted stock granted to the CEO in prior years.
Debt and Other Financing Activities
The Company has a Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Revolver”) with availability of up to $100.0 million, including up to the equivalent of $25.0 million in Euros or other foreign currencies. The Revolver includes an “accordion” feature under which the Company may increase the availability by $50.0 million, to a maximum of $150.0 million, subject to certain conditions. Obligations under the Revolver are guaranteed by each of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries and are secured by a lien on the assets of the Company and such subsidiaries. The Revolver provides for interest-only payments during its term, with principal due at maturity. The Company has the option to specify that interest be calculated based either on LIBOR plus a calculated margin amount, or a base rate. The applicable margin for the LIBOR rate ranges from 0.50% to 1.00%. The Revolver also requires the payment of a fee of 0.125% to 0.25% per annum on the unused commitment. The margin and unused commitment fees are subject to quarterly adjustment based on a certain debt to adjusted earnings ratio. The Revolver matures on December 20, 2010 and contains various affirmative and negative covenants. At September 30, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all covenants. Borrowings outstanding under the Revolver were $25.0 million at September 30, 2008 at an interest rate of 3.3%.
The Company has two term loans outstanding that expire in 2008 and 2019 and require monthly principal and interest payments. The balance of these term loans was $1.2 million and $1.3 million, at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. The Company also had a $0.3 million short-term note payable at December 31, 2007 that was repaid in the second quarter of 2008.
On March 7, 2007, the Company redeemed the entire $400.0 million of its outstanding Notes at a redemption price of 104.625% of the principal amount, or $418.5 million, plus accrued interest of $8.4 million. The premium amount of $18.5 million plus related deferred financing costs of $5.7 million less the deferred net gain on terminated interest rate swaps of $2.5 million is included in the Loss on redemption of Notes in the Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Income.
The Company believes that it will have sufficient cash provided by operations and available from its credit facility to provide for its working capital, debt service and capital expenditure requirements during the remainder of 2008.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2008 were $23.3 million, which were related primarily to ongoing projects to maintain current operating levels and were funded through cash flows from operations. The Company expects to incur capital spending of approximately $12.5 to $17.0 million for the remainder of 2008. The primary projects are capacity expansion in selected product lines at the Kokkola refinery, expenditures to maintain and improve throughput with outlays for sustaining operations and environmental, health and safety compliance, and other fixed asset additions at existing facilities.
During 2005, the Company initiated a multi-year ERP project that is expected to be implemented worldwide to achieve increased efficiency and effectiveness in supply chain, financial processes and management reporting. The new ERP system will replace or complement existing legacy systems and standardize the global business processes across the enterprise. The system implementation began in the first quarter of 2007, and the Company will continue to implement the ERP system at additional locations in a phased approach through 2009.

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Contractual Obligations
During the first nine months of 2008, the Company borrowed on its Revolver. The outstanding Revolver balance was $25.0 million at September 30, 2008. The Revolver provides for interest-only payments during its term, with principal due at maturity on December 20, 2010.
Since December 31, 2007, there have been no other significant changes in the total amount of contractual obligations, or the timing of cash flows in accordance with those obligations, as reported in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In preparing these financial statements, management has made its best estimates and judgments of certain amounts, giving due consideration to materiality. The application of accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates. In addition, other companies may utilize different estimates and assumptions, which may impact the comparability of the Company’s results of operations to their businesses. There have been no changes to the critical accounting policies as stated in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 other than the adoption of SFAS No. 157, SFAS No. 159 and EITF No. 06-10, as discussed in Note 2 to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.
Cautionary Statement for “Safe Harbor” Purposes Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. This report (including the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements) contains statements that the Company believes may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts and generally can be identified by use of statements that include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee” or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe the Company’s objectives, plans or goals also are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, may be beyond the Company’s control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. Significant factors affecting these expectations are set forth under Item 1A—Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
A discussion of market risk exposures is included in Part II, Item 7a, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk,” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. There have been no material changes from December 31, 2007 to September 30, 2008.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Management of the Company, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2008. As defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), disclosure controls and procedures are controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures include components of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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Based upon this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2008 solely because of the material weakness identified as of December 31, 2007 relating to accounting for income taxes, as summarized in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. In light of this material weakness, the Company performed additional analysis and post-closing procedures as deemed necessary to ensure that the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, management believes that the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2008, and the results of its operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
As of December 31, 2007, management identified inadequate controls over the Company’s accounting for income taxes. Management believes that the Company has made progress during the first nine months of 2008 in addressing this material weakness by identifying additional enhancements to the related control procedures, by searching for an additional permanent internal tax resource, by hiring a temporary tax resource, by implementing a tax software package, and by the increased use of a third-party service provider to review the Company’s tax provision. However, the improvements in controls have not all been operating effectively for a period of time sufficient for the Company to fully evaluate their design and operating effectiveness. Additionally, certain internal controls over the accounting for income taxes are annual controls associated with the preparation of the Company’s year-end financial statements and, therefore, cannot be evaluated as fully remediated until that time.
The Company completed the implementation of a new ERP system at multiple U.S. locations and its Canadian and Malaysian sites during the first nine months of 2008, which resulted in certain changes to businesses processes and related internal controls. The implementation is part of a multi-year project that is expected to be implemented worldwide to achieve increased efficiency and effectiveness in supply chain and financial processes. As currently planned, the Company will continue to implement the ERP system in a phased approach. The Company is taking steps to monitor and maintain appropriate internal controls during the implementation. The Company performed additional procedures, including performing additional verifications and testing data integrity, to ensure the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2008, and the results of its operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008.
There were no other changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, identified in connection with management’s evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting, that occurred during the third quarter of 2008 and would materially affect, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibits are as follow:
3   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of OM Group, Inc.
 
31.1   Certification by Chief Executive Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
31.2   Certification by Chief Financial Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
32   Certification by Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (18 U.S.C.

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    Section 1350)
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.
         
  OM GROUP, INC.
 
 
Dated November 6, 2008  By:   /s/ Kenneth Haber    
    Kenneth Haber   
    Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Duly Authorized Officer) 
 
 

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