AZZ INC

1. The Company and Basis of Presentation

AZZ Inc. ("AZZ", the "Company", "our" or "we") was established in 1956 and incorporated under the laws of the state of Texas. We are a provider of hot-dip galvanizing and coil coating solutions to a broad range of end-markets in North America. We have three distinct operating segments: the AZZ Metal Coatings segment, the AZZ Precoat Metals segment, and the AZZ Infrastructure Solutions segment. Our AZZ Metal Coatings segment is a leading provider of metal finishing solutions for corrosion protection, including hot-dip galvanizing, spin galvanizing, powder coating, anodizing and plating to the North American steel fabrication industry and other industries. The AZZ Precoat Metals segment provides aesthetic and corrosion protective coatings and related value-added services for steel and aluminum coil, primarily serving the construction; appliance; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); container; transportation and other end markets in North America. The AZZ Infrastructure Solutions segment represents our 40% non-controlling interest in AIS Investment Holdings LLC (the "AVAIL JV"). AIS Investment Holdings LLC is primarily dedicated to delivering safe and reliable transmission of power from generation sources to end customers, and automated weld overlay solutions for corrosion and erosion mitigation to critical infrastructure in markets worldwide.

Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of February 29, 2024 was derived from audited financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K covering such period which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 22, 2024. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

Our fiscal year ends on the last day of February and is identified as the fiscal year for the calendar year in which it ends. For example, the fiscal year ending February 28, 2025 is referred to as fiscal 2025.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of August 31, 2024, the results of its operations and cash flows for the three and six months ended August 31, 2024 and 2023. The interim results reported herein are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures("ASU 2023-09"), which expands disclosures in an entity’s income tax rate reconciliation table and regarding cash taxes paid both in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. The update will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. We expect to adopt ASU 2023-09 for the annual period ending February 28, 2025 and the adoption will not affect our financial position or our results of operations, but will result in additional disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures("ASU 2023-07"), which expands disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and requires more enhanced information about a reportable segment’s expenses, interim segment profit or loss, and how a public entity’s chief operating decision maker uses reported segment profit or loss information in assessing segment performance and allocating resources. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2023-07 to affect our financial position or our results of operations, but will result in additional disclosures for our annual reporting period ending February 28, 2025 and interim reporting periods in fiscal 2026.

2. Inventories

The following table summarizes the components of inventory (in thousands):

Our inventory reserves were $3.5 million and $4.5 million as of August 31, 2024 and February 29, 2024, respectively. Inventory cost is determined principally using the first-in-first-out (FIFO) method for the AZZ Metal Coatings segment and the specific identification method for the Precoat Metals segment.

3. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by giving effect to the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common shares were exercised and converted into common shares during the year.

On April 30, 2024, we completed a secondary public offering in which we issued 4.6 million common shares. The weighted average number of shares for the period outstanding for the six months ended August 31, 2024 are included in weighted average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share. See Note 14. As of August 31, 2024, there were 29.9 million common shares outstanding, which includes the shares from the secondary public offering.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):

For the three months ended August 31, 2024 and 2023, there were 76,068 and 126,882 shares, respectively, related to employee equity awards that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the six months ended August 31, 2024 and 2023,70,455 and 125,793 shares, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as their effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the six months ended August 31, 2024, all shares related to the Series A Preferred Stock (1.6 million weighted average shares) were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share, as their effect would be anti-dilutive. These shares could be dilutive in future periods.

4. Disaggregated Sales

The following table presents disaggregated sales by customer industry (in thousands):

See also Note 6 for sales information by operating segment.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in accounts receivable, contract assets (unbilled receivables), and contract liabilities (customer advances and deposits) on the consolidated balance sheets. Our contract assets and contract liabilities are primarily related to the AZZ Precoat Metals segment. Customer billing can occur subsequent to revenue recognition, resulting in contract assets. In addition, we can receive advances from our customers, before revenue is recognized, resulting in contract liabilities. These assets and liabilities are reported on the consolidated balance sheets on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period.

The increases or decreases in contract assets and contract liabilities during the six months ended August 31, 2024 were primarily due to normal timing differences between AZZ's performance and customer payments. As of August 31, 2024 and February 29, 2024, the balance for contract assets was $94.0 million and $79.3 million, respectively, primarily related to the AZZ Precoat Metals segment. The increase was primarily due to the timing differences noted above, as well as the increase in the volume of coil coated for the six months ended August 31, 2024. Contract liabilities of $0.7 million and $1.0 million as of August 31, 2024 and February 29, 2024, respectively, are included in "Other accrued liabilities" in the consolidated balance sheets.

As of August 31, 2023 and February 28, 2023, the balance for contract assets was $76.8 million and $79.3 million, respectively, primarily related to the AZZ Precoat Metals segment. Contract liabilities were $1.1 million and $1.3 million as of August 31, 2023 and February 28, 2023, respectively.

5. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

To arrive at net cash provided by operating activities, net income is adjusted by, among other things, changes in current assets and current liabilities as follows (in thousands):

Cash flows related to interest and income taxes were as follows (in thousands):

Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities were as follows (in thousands):

6. Operating Segments

Segment Information

Our Chief Executive Officer, who is the chief operating decision maker ("CODM"), reviews financial information presented on an operating segment basis for purposes of making operating decisions and assessing financial performance. Sales and operating income are the primary measures used by the CODM to evaluate segment operating performance and to allocate resources to the AZZ Metal Coatings and the AZZ Precoat Metals segments, and net income is the primary measure used by the CODM to evaluate performance and allocate resources to the AZZ Infrastructure Solutions segment. Expenses related to certain centralized administration or executive functions that are not specifically related to an operating segment are included in Corporate.

A summary of each of our operating segments is as follows:

AZZ Metal Coatings — provides hot-dip galvanizing, spin galvanizing, powder coating, anodizing and plating, and other metal coating applications to the steel fabrication industry and other industries through facilities located throughout North America. Hot-dip galvanizing is a metallurgical manufacturing process in which molten zinc reacts with steel, which provides corrosion protection and extends the lifecycle of fabricated steel for several decades.

AZZ Precoat Metals —provides coil coating application of protective and decorative coatings and related value-added downstream processing for steel and aluminum coils. Primarily serving the construction, appliance, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), container, transportation, and other end markets, the coil coating process emphasizes sustainability and enhanced product lifecycles. It involves cleaning, treating, painting, and curing metal coils as a flat material before they are cut, formed, and fabricated into finished products. This highly efficient method optimizes waste through tight film control and improves final product performance by painting and curing the substrates under conditions unmatched by other application processes.

AZZ Infrastructure Solutions — consists of the equity in earnings of our 40% investment in the AVAIL JV, as well as other expenses directly related to AIS receivables and liabilities that were retained following the divestiture of the AIS business. The AVAIL JV is a global provider of application-critical equipment, highly engineered technologies, and specialized services to the power generation, transmission, distribution, oil and gas, and industrial markets.

The following tables contain operating segment data for thethree and six months ended August 31, 2024 and 2023 by segment, for the Company's corporate operations and on a consolidated basis (in thousands):

(1) Infrastructure Solutions segment includes the equity in earnings from our investment in the AVAIL JV as well as other expenses related to

Asset balances by operating segment for each period were as follows (in thousands):

Financial Information About Geographical Areas

Financial information about geographical areas for the periods presented was as follows (in thousands). The geographic area is based on the location of the operating facility and no customer accounted for 10 percent or more of consolidated sales.

7. Investments in Unconsolidated Entity

AVAIL JV

We account for our 40% interest in the AVAIL JV under the equity method of accounting and include our equity in earnings as part of the AZZ Infrastructure Solutions segment. We record our equity in earnings in the AVAIL JV on a one-month lag, and we recorded $5.3 million in equity in earnings for the six months ended August 31, 2024. As of August 31, 2024, our investment in the AVAIL JV was $97.8 million, which includes an excess of $10.2 million over the underlying value of the net assets of the AVAIL JV. The excess is accounted for as equity method goodwill.

8. Derivative Instruments

Interest Rate Swap Derivative

As a policy, we do not hold, issue or trade derivative instruments for speculative purposes. We periodically enter into forward sale contracts to purchase a specified volume of zinc and natural gas at fixed prices. These contracts are not accounted for as derivatives because they meet the criteria for the normal purchases and normal sales scope exception in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 815, Derivatives and Hedging.

We manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on our floating-rate debt by entering into interest rate swap agreements to convert a portion of our variable-rate debt to a fixed rate. On September 27, 2022, we entered into a fixed-rate interest rate swap agreement, which was subsequently amended on October 7, 2022 (the "2022 Swap"), with banks that are parties to the 2022 Credit Agreement, to change the SOFR-based component of the interest rate. The 2022 Swap converts the SOFR portion to 4.277%. On March 20, 2024, we repriced our Term Loan B to SOFR plus 3.25%, resulting in a total fixed rate of 7.527%. See Note 17 for information related to the repricing of the Company's Term Loan B on September 24, 2024. The 2022 Swap had an initial notional amount of $550.0 million and a maturity date of September 30, 2025. The notional amount of the interest rate swap decreases by a pro-rata portion of any quarterly principal payments made on the Term Loan B, and the current notional amount is $539.0 million as of August 31, 2024. The objective of the 2022 Swap is to eliminate the variability of cash flows in interest payments attributable to changes in benchmark one-month SOFR interest rates, for a portion of our variable-rate debt. The hedged risk is the interest rate risk exposure to changes in interest payments, attributable to changes in benchmark one-month SOFR interest rates over the interest rate swap term. The changes in cash flows of the 2022 Swap exactly offset changes in cash flows of the variable-rate debt. We designated the 2022 Swap as a cash flow hedge at inception. Cash payments or receipts to settle the 2022 Swap are recognized in interest expense.

At August 31, 2024, changes in fair value attributable to the effective portion of the 2022 Swap were included on the condensed consolidated balance sheets in accumulated other comprehensive income. For derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the fair value is recognized on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as derivative assets or liabilities with offsetting changes in fair value, to the extent effective, recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income until reclassified into earnings when the interest expense on the underlying debt is reflected in earnings. The portion of a cash flow hedge that does not offset the change in the fair value of the transaction being hedged, which is commonly referred to as the ineffective portion, is immediately recognized in earnings. During the six months ended August 31, 2024, we reclassified $2.9 million before income tax, or $2.2 million net of tax, from other comprehensive income to earnings.

9. Debt

Our long-term debt instruments and balances outstanding for each of the periods presented (in thousands):

2022 Credit Agreement and Term Loan B

We have a credit agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions that was entered into on May 13, 2022, and was subsequently amended on August 17, 2023, December 20, 2023 and March 20, 2024 (collectively referred to herein as the "2022 Credit Agreement"). See Note 17 for information related to the repricing of the Company's Term Loan B on September 24, 2024.

The 2022 Credit Agreement includes the following significant terms:

i. provides for a senior secured initial term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $1.3 billion (the "Term Loan B"), due May 13, 2029, which is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company; as of August 31, 2024, the outstanding balance of the Term Loan B was $890.3 million;

ii. provides for a maximum senior secured Revolving Credit Facility in the aggregate principal amount of $400.0 million (the "Revolving Credit Facility"), which matures on May 13, 2027;

iii. includes a letter of credit sub-facility of up to $100.0 million, which is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility;

iv. borrowings under the Term Loan B bear a tiered interest rate of Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") plus 3.25% (following the repricing on March 20, 2024 as described below) and the Revolving Credit Facility bears a leverage-based rate with various tiers between 2.75% and 3.50%; as of August 31, 2024, the interest rate was SOFR plus 2.75%;

v. includes customary affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default; including restrictions on the incurrence of non-ordinary course debt, investment and dividends, subject to various exceptions; and,

vi. includes a maximum quarterly leverage ratio financial covenant, with reporting requirements to our banking group at each quarter-end.

On March 20, 2024, we entered the term loan market and repriced our existing Term Loan B. The repricing reduced the Term Loan B spread from a rate of SOFR plus 3.75% to SOFR plus 3.25%.

On September 24, 2024, we completed our third repricing of the Term Loan B, for which $890.3 million was outstanding as of August 31, 2024. The repricing reduced the margin from SOFR plus 3.25% to SOFR plus 2.50%, for a total reduction of 75 basis points.

We primarily utilize proceeds from the Revolving Credit Facility to finance working capital needs, capital improvements, quarterly cash dividends, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes.

As defined in the 2022 Credit Agreement, quarterly prepayments were due against the outstanding principal of the Term Loan B and were payable on the last business day of each May, August, November and February, beginning August 31, 2022, in a quarterly aggregate principal amount of $3.25 million, with the entire remaining principal amount due on May 13, 2029, the maturity date. Additional prepayments made against the Term Loan B contribute to these required quarterly payments. Due to prepayments made against the Term Loan B since August 31, 2022, the quarterly mandatory principal payment requirement has been met, and the quarterly payments of $3.25 million are no longer required.

The weighted average interest rate for our outstanding debt, including the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan B, was 8.03% and 8.56% for the six months ended August 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Debt Compliance, Outstanding Borrowings and Letters of Credit

Our 2022 Credit Agreement requires us to maintain a maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the loan agreement) no greater than 4.5. As of August 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all covenants and other requirements set forth in the 2022 Credit Agreement.

As of August 31, 2024, we had $965.3 million of debt outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan B, with varying maturities through fiscal 2029. We had approximately $310.7 million of additional credit available as of August 31, 2024.

As of August 31, 2024, we had total outstanding letters of credit in the amount of $14.3 million. These letters of credit are most commonly issued in lieu of customer retention withholding payments covering warranty, performance periods and insurance collateral.

Other Disclosures

Interest expense is comprised as follows (in thousands):

Capitalized interest for the three and six months ended August 31, 2024 and 2023 relates to interest cost on the construction of the greenfield aluminum coil coating facility in Washington, Missouri. The increase for the six months ended August 31, 2024 compared to the prior year period was due to the higher average construction work in process.

10. Fair Value Measurements

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. In accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement ("ASC 820"), certain of our assets and liabilities, which are carried at fair value, are classified in one of the following three categories:

•Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2: Observable market-based inputs, other than Level 1, or unobservable inputs corroborated by market data.

•Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data and reflect the Company’s own assumptions.

The carrying amount of our financial instruments (cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities) approximates the fair value of these instruments based upon either their short-term nature or their variable market rate of interest. We have not made an option to elect fair value accounting for any of our financial instruments.

Interest Rate Swap Agreement

Our derivative instrument consists of the 2022 Swap, which is considered a Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and included in "Other long-term liabilities" in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of August 31, 2024 and in "Other assets" as of February 29, 2024. The valuation of the 2022 Swap is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of the derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including swap rates, spread and/or index levels and interest rate curves. See Note 8 for more information about the 2022 Swap.

Our financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of August 31, 2024 and February 29, 2024 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

(1) The fair value of the Company's interest rate swap agreement was an asset at February 29, 2024 and a liability at August 31, 2024.

(2) The Plan was underfunded with a pension obligation of $26.0 million as of August 31, 2024, which is included in 'Other long-term liabilities' on the consolidated balance sheets.

Non-recurring Fair Value Measurements

Investment in Joint Venture

The fair value of our investment in the unconsolidated AVAIL JV was determined using the income approach at the date on which we entered into the joint venture. The income approach uses discounted cash flow models that require various observable and non-observable inputs, such as operating margins, revenues, product costs, operating expenses, capital expenditures, terminal-year values and risk-adjusted discount rates. These valuations resulted in Level 3 non-recurring fair value measurements.

We assess our investment in the unconsolidated AVAIL JV for recoverability when events and circumstances are present that suggest there has been a decline in value, and if it is determined that a loss in value of the investment is other than temporary, the investment is written down to its fair value.

Long-Term Debt

The fair values of our long-term debt instruments are estimated based on market values for debt issued with similar characteristics or rates currently available for debt with similar terms. These valuations are Level 2 non-recurring fair value measurements.

The principal amount of our outstanding debt was $965.3 million and $1,010.3 million at August 31, 2024 and February 29, 2024, respectively. The estimated fair value of our outstanding debt was $972.5 million and $1,010.3 million at August 31, 2024 and February 29, 2024, excluding unamortized debt issuance costs. The estimated fair values of our outstanding debt were determined based on the present value of future cash flows using model-derived valuations that use observable inputs such as interest rates and credit spreads.

11. Leases

We are a lessee under various leases for facilities and equipment. As of August 31, 2024, we were the lessee for 148 operating leases and 55 finance leases with terms of 12 months or more. These leases are reflected on our balance sheet in "Right-of-use assets," "Lease liability - short-term" and "Lease liability - long-term."

Our leases are primarily for (i) operating facilities, (ii) vehicles and equipment used in operations, (iii) facilities used for back-office functions, (iv) equipment used for back-office functions, and (v) temporary storage. The majority of our vehicle and equipment leases have both a fixed and variable component.

Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets and we recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We have a significant number of short-term leases, including month-to-month agreements. Our short-term lease agreements include expenses incurred hourly, daily, monthly and for other durations of time of one year or less. Our future lease commitments as of August 31, 2024 do not reflect all of our short-term lease commitments.

The following table outlines the classification of right-of-use ("ROU") asset and lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets as of August 31, 2024 and February 29, 2024 (in thousands):

Supplemental information related to AZZ's leases was as follows (in thousands, except years and percentages):

The following table outlines the classification of lease expense related to operating and finance leases in the statements of operations (in thousands):

As of August 31, 2024, maturities of our lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

We sublease multiple buildings in Columbia, South Carolina to multiple subtenants. The Columbia sublease agreements are by and between AZZ Precoat Metals and multiple subtenants. Sublease income is recognized over the term of the sublease on a straight-line basis and is reported in the consolidated statement of operations as a reduction to "Cost of sales."Sublease income for the three and six months ended August 31, 2024 and 2023 was as follows (in thousands):

12. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes reflects an effective tax rate of 25.6% for the three months ended August 31, 2024, compared to 17.4% for the three months ended August 31, 2023. The increase in the effective tax rate is primarily attributable to favorable adjustments in the prior year related to uncertain tax positions.

The provision for income taxes reflects an effective tax rate of 23.9% for the six months ended August 31, 2024, compared to 21.5% for the prior year comparable period. The increase in the effective tax rate is primarily attributable to favorable adjustments in the prior year related to uncertain tax positions, partially offset by higher discrete items driven by tax deductions for stock compensation in fiscal year 2025.

13. Mezzanine Equity

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

On May 9, 2024, we fully redeemed our 240,000 shares of 6.0% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred Stock") for $308.9 million. The payment was calculated as the face value of the Series A Preferred Stock of $240.0 million, multiplied by the Return Factor (as defined below) of 1.4, less dividends paid to date of $27.1 million. The redemption premium of $75.2 million, which was calculated as the difference between the redemption amount and the book value of $233.7 million, was recorded as a deemed dividend, and reduces net income available to common shareholders. The Series A Preferred Stock was redeemed using proceeds from the April 2024 Secondary Public Offering. See Note 14.

On August 5, 2022, we exchanged our $240.0 million 6.00% convertible subordinated notes which were due June 30, 2030, for 240,000 shares of 6.0% Series A Preferred Stock, following the receipt of shareholder approval for the issuance of Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock had a $1.00 par value per share, and ranked senior to the common stock of the Company, including with respect to both income and capital, but junior to our indebtedness. The Series A Preferred Stock is classified as "Mezzanine equity" in the consolidated balance sheets and, as noted above, was fully redeemed on May 9, 2024.

Liquidation Preference

If we undergo a change of control, bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or de-listing of AZZ’s common stock (a “Fundamental Change Event”), holders of Series A Preferred Stock may have elected to (i) receive the as-converted value of AZZ’s common stock at the then-current Conversion Price, (ii) require us to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock in cash for the Redemption Amount (as defined below) or (iii) retain their shares of Series A Preferred Stock if the Fundamental Change Event is a non-cash change of control.

The Series A Preferred Stock had a liquidation preference, as defined by U.S. GAAP, equal to the Redemption Amount. Under U.S. GAAP, the liquidation preference is defined as the amount that would be required to be paid to the shareholders upon liquidation or dissolution of the Company. As of February 29, 2024, the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled to a liquidation preference of approximately $312.5 million in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company as of such year end.

The Certificate of Designation for the Series A Preferred Stock defines "liquidation preference" as $1,000 per share plus any unpaid dividends, which we refer to herein as the "Series A Base Amount."

Dividends

The Series A Preferred Stock accumulated a 6.0% dividend per annum, or $15.00 per share per quarter. Dividends were payable in cash or in kind, by accreting and increasing the Series A Base Amount (“PIK Dividends”). Dividends were payable on the sum of (i) the aggregate liquidation preference amount of $240.0 million plus (ii) any PIK Dividends. Dividends were accrued daily and paid quarterly in arrears, on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. Following the calendar quarter ending June 30, 2027, we may not elect PIK Dividends and dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock must be paid in cash. All dividends have been paid in cash through August 31, 2024. The dividend will increase annually by one percentage point, beginning with the dividend payable for the calendar quarter ending September 30, 2028. Dividends declared and paid for the six months ended August 31, 2024 and August 31, 2023 were $3.6 million and $7.2 million, respectively.

Conversion Features

Subject to a minimum conversion threshold of 1,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock per conversion and customary anti-dilution and dividend adjustments, the Series A Preferred Stock was convertible by the holder at any time into shares of AZZ's common stock for $58.30 per common share (the “Conversion Price”). In addition, after May 13, 2024, we were entitled to provide holders of Series A Preferred Stock with notice of a mandatory conversion of a portion of the Series A Preferred Stock (which may not have exceeded 25% of the amount of Series A Preferred Stock issued in any single quarter) at the Conversion Price if the closing price of our common stock exceeded 185% of the Conversion Price for 20 consecutive trading days prior to the date of such notice and so long as the shelf registration statement filed November 4, 2022 to cover resales of the converted common stock remained effective and available for use.

Participation Rights

Holders of Series A Preferred Stock participated equally and ratably with the holders of AZZ's common stock in any dividends paid on AZZ’s common stock in excess of our current $0.17 quarterly dividend when, as and if declared by the Board as if such shares of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted to shares of common stock immediately prior to the record date for the payment of such dividend.

Redemption Features

AZZ had the right to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock at a price equal to the greater of (i) the Series A Base Amount plus accrued but unpaid dividends; (ii) the initial Series A Base Amount (excluding any prior PIK dividends) multiplied by the Return Factor less all dividends paid through the redemption date; or (iii) the amount the holder of such share of convertible preferred stock would have received had such holder, immediately prior to such redemption date, converted such shares of convertible preferred stock into common shares (such greater amount, the “Redemption Amount”).

The redemption price under option (ii) contains a "Return Factor," which was equal to 1.4 until May 13, 2024 and, (a) in each of the three years thereafter, would have increased by 0.15, (b) would have increased by an additional 0.15 after May 13, 2024 (the second anniversary of the issuance date of the Series A Preferred Stock) if (i) our ratio of net debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) (as defined in the 2022 Credit Agreement) on the second anniversary of the issuance date of the Series A Preferred Stock was greater than 3.5-to-1 and (ii) prior to May 13, 2024,we had not consummated dispositions of assets that, in the aggregate, resulted in proceeds in excess of $200.0 million and (c) would have increased by an additional 0.20 on May 13, 2028, (the sixth anniversary of the issuance date of the Series A Preferred Stock) and each anniversary thereafter.

The redemption price under option (iii) was subject to provisions of the Certificate of Designation that limited our right to redeem to the period following the two year anniversary of the initial issuance, limited the quarterly conversion to up to 25% of the number of shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding, and required our market price per share of common stock to exceed 185% of the conversion price.

As of February 29, 2024, the Redemption Amount for the Series A Preferred stock was $312.5 million.

Voting Rights

Holders of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled to a number of votes on all matters presented to holders of voting capital stock of AZZ equal to the number of shares of the AZZ’s common stock then issuable upon conversion of such holders’ Series A Preferred Stock. The vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock would have been required for certain actions, including:

a. issuances by AZZ of equity securities that are senior to, or equal in priority with, the Series A Preferred Stock, including any additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock;

b. incurrence of any additional indebtedness (including refinancings of existing indebtedness) by the Company unless our ratio of net debt to EBITDA (as defined in the 2022 Credit Agreement) does not exceed 5.5 x;

c. refinancings of the 2022 Credit Agreement, subject to certain exceptions;

d. dividends or distributions upon, or redemptions of, shares of AZZ’s common stock unless our ratio of net debt to EBITDA (as defined in the 2022 Credit Agreement) does not exceed 5.5 x;

e. any acquisition, investment, sale, disposition or similar transaction (whether of an entity, business, equity interests or assets) that has total consideration (including assumption of liabilities) of at least $250.0 million (or, when our market capitalization is $2.0 billion or greater, has total consideration (including assumption of liabilities) of at least $500.0 million);

f. amendments to our organizational documents that would have an adverse effect on the holders of Series A Preferred Stock;

g. any affiliate transaction except those on arms’-length terms; and

h. any voluntary dissolution, liquidation, bankruptcy, winding up or deregistration or delisting of AZZ’s common stock.

The holders of Series A Preferred Stock also had customary information and preemptive rights, and the Series A Preferred Stock was subject to customary anti-dilution provisions. The Series A Preferred Stock, and all shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, had customary demand and piggyback registration rights pursuant to the registration rights agreement, which was entered into on May 13, 2022 with BTO Pegasus Holdings DE L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together with its assignees, “Blackstone”). Holders of Series A Preferred Stock were prohibited from transferring shares of Series A Preferred Stock to any competitor of AZZ or activist investors, subject to certain exceptions.

14. Equity

April 2024 Secondary Public Offering

On April 30, 2024, we completed a secondary public offering in which we sold 4.6 million shares of our common stock at $70.00 per share (the "April 2024 Secondary Public Offering"). We received gross proceeds of $322.0 million, and paid offering expenses of $13.3 million, for net proceeds of $308.7 million. The proceeds from the April 2024 Offering were used to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock. See Note 13.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI"), after tax, for the three and six months ended August 31, 2024 and 2023 consisted of the following (in thousands):

15. Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Pension and Employee Benefit Obligations

In our Precoat Metals segment, certain current or past employees participate in a defined benefit pension plan (the "Plan"). Prior to the Precoat Acquisition, benefit accruals were frozen for all participants. After the freeze, participants no longer accrued benefits under the Plan, and new hires of AZZ Precoat Metals are not eligible to participate in the Plan. As of August 31, 2024, the Plan was underfunded, and we have a pension obligation of $26.0 million, which is included in "Other long-term liabilities" in the consolidated balance sheets and represents the underfunded portion of the Plan.

The components of net benefit cost other than the employer service cost are included in "Selling, general and administrative" expense. The following table outlines the net benefit cost and its components (in thousands):

We paid employer contributions of $5.6 million into the Plan during the six months ended August 31, 2024. We expect to pay $2.2 million of contributions into the Plan during the remainder of fiscal 2025.

16. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal

The Company and its subsidiaries are named defendants and plaintiffs in various routine lawsuits incidental to our business. These proceedings include labor and employment claims, various commercial disputes, worker’s compensation and environmental matters, all arising in the normal course of business. As discovery progresses on all outstanding legal matters, the Company continues to evaluate opportunities to either mediate the case or settle the disputes for nuisance value or the cost of defense as a way to resolve the disputes prior to trial. As the pending cases progress through additional discovery and potential mediation, our assessment of the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome on the pending lawsuits may change. Although the outcome of these lawsuits or other proceedings cannot be predicted with any certainty, and the amount of any potential liability that could arise with respect to such lawsuits or other matters cannot be predicted at this time, management, after consultation with legal counsel believes it has strong defenses to all of its legal matters and does not expect liabilities, if any, from these claims or proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In 2017, Southeast Texas Industries, Inc. (“STI”) filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the Company in the 1st District Court of Jasper County, Texas (the “Court”). In 2020, we filed a counter suit against STI for amounts due to AZZ for work performed. The parties unsuccessfully mediated the case in November 2021. On October 16, 2023, the case went to trial, and on October 27, 2023, the jury rendered a verdict in favor of STI and against AZZ Beaumont in the amount of $5.5 million in damages for breach of contract and breach of express warranty. A final judgment amount was entered by the Court on February 14, 2024, and we are still waiting on the trial transcript from the court reporter which is not expected to be made available to the parties until December 31, 2024. We believe we have strong grounds for an appeal, and will pursue all available appellate options. The appeal process is expected to take two years. As of August 31, 2024, we have recorded a legal accrual of $5.5 million, which is included in "Other accrued liabilities" on our consolidated balance sheets, reflecting our best estimate of the probable loss. Our estimate of the probable loss may change throughout the appellate process. We have purchased a supersedeas bond to cover the final judgment amount throughout the duration of the appellate process.

A litigation matter between AZZ, as Plaintiff, and a previous customer of an affiliate of the AIS business, which was retained following the disposition of the AIS business, is scheduled to go to trial in fiscal 2026. As of August 31, 2024, we have a receivable due from the Defendant, net of allowance, of $5.2 million, which is included in "Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses" in the consolidated balance sheets. This receivable balance represents our best estimate of the amount we expect to collect, which may change following completion of the trial.

Prior to AZZ's acquisition of Precoat Metals on May 13, 2022, Precoat Metals sold its Armorel Arkansas facility to Nucor Coatings Corporation ("Nucor") via a purchase agreement dated October 27, 2020 ("2020 Agreement"). Nucor subsequently filed a lawsuit against Precoat Metals for indemnification for breach of environmental representations and warranties made in the 2020 Agreement. In the lawsuit, Nucor asserted that it has sustained certain damages resulting from Precoat Metal’s breach of its indemnification obligations that were set forth in the 2020 Agreement. The parties attended a mediation on March 18, 2024, and although the Company believed Nucor’s case was deficient and it had very strong defenses to the allegations asserted by Nucor, management determined that it was still in the best interest of the Company to settle all matters for the estimated cost of defense in an effort to retain and fortify its current commercial relationships with Nucor, who is both a customer and supplier to the Company. The parties mutually agreed to resolve all disputed matters for $5.25 million. The $5.25 million settlement amount was included in "Other accrued liabilities" in the consolidated balance sheet as of August 31, 2024 and February 29, 2024. The settlement amount was paid by the Company to Nucor on September 9, 2024.

On July 29, 2024, Gainesville Associates, LLC (“Gainesville Associates”) filed a complaint (the “Complaint”) in the Circuit Court of Prince William County, Virginia against AZZ, Atlantic Research, LLC (“ARC”), Precoat Metals Corporation, and Chromalloy Corporation (collectively “Defendants”), asserting claims for breach of contract against ARC and unjust enrichment against all Defendants. The Complaint arises out of a lease, dated January 1, 1976, between Gainesville Associates as landlord and ARC as tenant (as subsequently amended in 1982, 2012, 2013 and 2017, the “Lease”) for property in Gainesville, Virginia (the “Property”). ARC ceased using the property in 2005 after which point ARC remained in the Lease to complete its obligations on the property pursuant to a consent decree entered into between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and ARC in 1992. ARC satisfied its obligations under the consent decree in 2018 (other than ongoing well water monitoring and testing) and terminated the Lease in 2019. In its Complaint, Gainesville Associates alleges that ARC breached certain provisions of the Lease. On September 3, 2024, Defendants removed the action to the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia. On September 24, 2024, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Complaint in its entirety, arguing that the complaint failed to adequately allege any claim against any Defendant. Plaintiff has not yet filed its response to the Defendant’s motion to dismiss. Management disputes the merits of the allegations and will continue to pursue dismissal of the action. As of August 31, 2024, we have not recognized a legal accrual on our consolidated balance sheets, as we do not currently have enough information available to generate a reliable estimate of a probable loss on this matter. As more information becomes available, we will continue to evaluate whether it is possible to disclose a range of potential losses in the future.

Environmental

As of August 31, 2024, the reserve balance for our environmental liabilities was $20.4 million, of which $2.8 million is classified as current. Environmental remediation liabilities include costs directly associated with site investigation and clean up, such as materials, external contractor costs, legal and consulting expenses and incremental internal costs directly related to ongoing remediation plans. Estimates used to record environmental remediation liabilities are based on the Company's best estimate of probable future costs based on site-specific facts and circumstances known at the time of the estimate and these estimates are updated on a quarterly basis. Estimates of the cost for the potential or ongoing remediation plans are developed using internal resources and third-party environmental engineers and consultants.

The Company accrues the anticipated cost of environmental remediation when the obligation is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. If a range of amounts can be reasonably estimated and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, then the minimum of the range is accrued. While any revisions to the Company's environmental remediation liabilities could be material to the operating results of any fiscal quarter or fiscal year, the Company does not expect such additional remediation expenses to have an adverse material effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Capital Commitments—Greenfield Aluminum Coil Coating Facility

We are expanding our coatings capabilities by constructing a new 25-acre aluminum coil coating facility in Washington, Missouri that is expected to be operational in calendar year 2025 (the Company's fiscal year 2026). The new greenfield facility will be included in the AZZ Precoat Metals segment and is supported by a take-or-pay contract for approximately 75% of the output from the new plant. We expect to spend approximately $124.0 million in capital payments over the life of the project, of which $60.8 million was paid prior to fiscal 2025 and $35.6 million was paid during the six months ended August 31, 2024. The remaining balance of $27.6 million is to occur prior to the end of fiscal 2025, of which we have capital commitments of $17.4 million.

Commodity pricing

As of August 31, 2024, we had non-cancelable forward contracts to purchase approximately $37.9 million of zinc at various volumes and prices between March 2024 and December 2024. We also had non-cancelable forward contracts to purchase approximately $9.3 million of natural gas at various volumes and prices between June 2024 and August 2025. All such contracts expire by the first quarter of fiscal 2026. We had no other contracted commitments for any other commodities including steel, aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel-based alloys, natural gas, except for those entered into under the normal course of business.

17. Subsequent Events

Debt repricing

On September 24, 2024, we completed our third repricing of the Term Loan B, for which $890.3 million was outstanding as of August 31, 2024 . The repricing reduced the margin from SOFR plus 3.25% to SOFR plus 2.50%, for a total reduction of 75 basis points.