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Koppers Holdings Inc

For the period ended Jun 30, 2024. Filed Aug 8, 2024.

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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.

Jun 30, 2024 · Filed Aug 8, 2024

KOP$29.33-2.1%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

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Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(Dollars in millions, except share and per share amounts)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Net sales$563.2$577.2$1,060.8$1,090.6
Cost of sales441.6464.7843.0874.0
Depreciation and amortization18.214.434.328.4
Selling, general and administrative expenses45.943.791.485.3
(Gain) on sale of assets0.00.00.0(1.8)
Operating profit57.554.492.1104.7
Other income, net0.10.20.00.0
Interest expense20.620.337.734.3
Income before income taxes37.034.354.470.4
Income tax provision10.29.914.619.8
Net income26.824.439.850.6
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests0.0(0.1)0.00.6
Net income attributable to Koppers$26.8$24.5$39.8$50.0
Earnings per common share attributable to Koppers common shareholders:
Basic$1.29$1.17$1.90$2.40
Diluted$1.25$1.15$1.83$2.34
Weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic20,90120,84320,98320,842
Diluted21,55921,35121,70921,366

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(Dollars in millions)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Net income$26.8$24.4$39.8$50.6
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss):
Currency translation adjustment0.5(2.2)(13.4)0.5
Cash flow hedges, net of tax of $(1.3), $1.5, $(4.0) and $(0.4)3.4(3.8)10.40.9
Pension adjustments, net of tax of $0.1, $0.0, $0.1 and $0.10.30.30.70.6
Comprehensive income31.018.737.552.6
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests0.0(0.3)0.00.4
Comprehensive income attributable to Koppers$31.0$19.0$37.5$52.2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

June 30,2024December 31,2023
(Dollars in millions, except share and per share amounts) · (Unaudited)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents$48.9$66.5
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $6.9 and $6.5224.1202.4
Inventories, net402.3395.7
Derivative contracts16.07.1
Other current assets30.127.3
Total current assets721.4699.0
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $493.0 and $473.2671.3631.7
Goodwill319.0294.4
Intangible assets, net127.2102.2
Operating lease right-of-use assets89.090.5
Deferred tax assets9.410.4
Other assets10.77.3
Total assets$1,948.0$1,835.5
Liabilities
Accounts payable$184.0$202.9
Accrued liabilities72.195.1
Current operating lease liabilities23.822.9
Current maturities of long-term debt5.05.0
Total current liabilities284.9325.9
Long-term debt986.7835.4
Operating lease liabilities65.267.4
Accrued postretirement benefits27.631.6
Deferred tax liabilities28.925.9
Other long-term liabilities41.446.3
Total liabilities1,434.71,332.5
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 13)
Equity
Senior Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued0.00.0
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share; 80,000,000 shares authorized; 25,695,602 and 25,163,238 shares issued0.30.3
Additional paid-in capital306.1291.1
Retained earnings480.7444.0
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(91.1)(88.8)
Treasury stock, at cost, 5,176,306 and 4,302,996 shares(186.8)(147.7)
Total Koppers shareholders’ equity509.2498.9
Noncontrolling interests4.14.1
Total equity513.3503.0
Total liabilities and equity$1,948.0$1,835.5

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Six Months Ended June 30,
20242023
(Dollars in millions)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income$39.8$50.6
Adjustments to reconcile net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization34.328.4
Stock-based compensation10.97.8
Change in derivative contracts(3.0)0.0
Non-cash interest expense1.63.3
(Gain) on sale of assets(0.1)(1.8)
Insurance proceeds(1.0)(0.1)
Deferred income taxes0.50.9
Change in other liabilities(5.6)(0.9)
Other - net0.80.7
Changes in working capital:
Accounts receivable(20.7)(41.8)
Inventories3.1(17.2)
Accounts payable(17.1)(7.5)
Accrued liabilities(25.0)(18.7)
Other working capital(3.6)(5.8)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities14.9(2.1)
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities:
Capital expenditures(43.4)(62.6)
Insurance proceeds received1.00.1
Acquisitions(99.8)0.0
Cash provided by sale of assets0.61.9
Net cash (used in) investing activities(141.6)(60.6)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities:
Borrowings of credit facility475.7764.3
Repayments of credit facility(421.9)(561.2)
Borrowings of long-term debt100.0388.0
Repayments of long-term debt(3.2)(501.0)
Issuances of Common Stock4.11.8
Repurchases of Common Stock(39.1)(5.9)
Payment of debt issuance costs(0.9)(4.9)
Dividends paid(3.1)(2.5)
Net cash provided by financing activities111.678.6
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash(2.5)(1.0)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents(17.6)14.9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period66.533.3
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$48.9$48.2
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities$9.0$8.6
Accrued capital expenditures3.56.0
Acquisition non-cash consideration2.70.0

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Common Stock
Balance at beginning and end of period$0.3$0.2$0.3$0.2
Additional paid-in capital
Balance at beginning of period300.0269.2291.1263.9
Employee stock plans5.53.910.97.9
Issuance of common stock0.60.64.11.9
Balance at end of period306.1273.7306.1273.7
Retained earnings
Balance at beginning of period455.4384.2444.0360.2
Net income attributable to Koppers26.824.539.850.0
Common Stock dividends ($0.07, $0.06, $0.14 and $0.12 per share)(1.5)(1.4)(3.1)(2.9)
Balance at end of period480.7407.3480.7407.3
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Balance at beginning of period(95.3)(89.6)(88.8)(97.3)
Currency translation adjustment0.5(2.0)(13.4)0.7
Cash flow hedges, net of tax(1)3.4(3.8)10.40.9
Pension adjustments, net of tax(2)0.30.30.70.6
Balance at end of period(91.1)(95.1)(91.1)(95.1)
Treasury stock
Balance at beginning of period(154.6)(133.4)(147.7)(127.6)
Purchases(32.2)(0.1)(39.1)(5.9)
Balance at end of period(186.8)(133.5)(186.8)(133.5)
Noncontrolling interests
Balance at beginning of period4.14.34.13.6
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests0.0(0.1)0.00.6
Currency translation adjustment0.0(0.2)0.0(0.2)
Balance at end of period4.14.04.14.0
Total equity – beginning of period$509.9$434.9$503.0$403.0
Total equity – end of period$513.3$456.6$513.3$456.6

(1)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income related to derivative financial instruments, net of tax, were $5.2 million and $0.6 million during thethree months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $6.3 million and $2.3 million during thesix months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

(2)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income consist of amounts shown for pension adjustments. This component of accumulated other comprehensive income is included in the computation of net periodic pension cost as disclosed in Note 10 – Pensions and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Unaudited)

  1. Basis of Presentation and New Accounting Pronouncements

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applicable to interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of Koppers Holdings Inc.’s and its subsidiaries’ (Koppers, Koppers Holdings, the Company, we or us) financial position and interim results as of and for the periods presented have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless disclosed otherwise. Because our business is seasonal, results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those that may be expected for a full year. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023 has been summarized from the audited balance sheet contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023. Certain prior period amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.

The financial information included herein should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. This ASU updates reportable segment disclosures by expanding the frequency and extent of segment disclosures. ASU No. 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. We are currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on our disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This ASU updates income tax disclosures by requiring annual disclosures of consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. ASU No. 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. We are currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on our disclosures.

  1. Acquisition

On April 1, 2024, we completed our acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Brown Wood Preserving Company, Inc. and certain of its affiliates (Brown Wood) for approximately $100 million in cash, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment to be determined. We financed the acquisition with cash and available borrowings under our Credit Facility (as defined in Note 11 – Debt). Brown Wood is a utility pole treating business with principal operating locations in Alabama and Mississippi. The business we acquired, as well as the sales function, has been operationally integrated into our existing network of utility pole plants and distribution yards. We believe the acquisition, which is included in our RUPS segment, increased our presence in existing markets and offers an attractive entry point to new geographic markets for our utility pole business. Transaction costs, revenue and profit related to the acquisition were not material for the three months ended June 30, 2024.

We accounted for the transaction as a business combination. The following table summarizes the preliminary purchase price and estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of April 1, 2024. Certain information necessary to complete the purchase price allocation is not yet available, including, but not limited to, final appraisals of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We expect to finalize the purchase price allocation once we have received all necessary information, at which time the value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed will be revised, if necessary. Accordingly, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include a preliminary fair value determination based on assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable, are subject to changes, which may be material.

(Dollars in millions)
Cash consideration(1)$102.5
Accounts receivable5.2
Inventories14.4
Property, plant and equipment28.0
Customer relationship intangible assets32.3
Operating lease right-of-use assets2.4
Fair value of assets acquired82.3
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities3.1
Current operating lease liabilities1.1
Operating lease liabilities1.3
Fair value of liabilities assumed5.5
Goodwill$25.7

(1)

The difference between total cash consideration and cash paid on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows relates to the settlement of pre-existing relationships with our PC segment and Brown Wood, as the settlement was deemed additional consideration.

The customer relationship intangible assets have a useful life of 15 years and areamortized on a straight-line basis. Goodwill has been allocated to the Company’s RUPS segment. The Company expects the goodwill recognized will be deductible for tax purposes. Recognized goodwill is attributable to the expected synergies and other intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition.

  1. Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents the estimated fair values and the related carrying amounts of our financial instruments:

June 30, 2024December 31, 2023
Fair ValueCarryingValueFair ValueCarryingValue
(Dollars in millions)
Financial assets:
Investments and other assets$1.3$1.3$1.3$1.3
Financial liabilities:
Long-term debt (including current portion)$1,010.9$1,000.6$860.4$849.4

Investments and other assets – Represents the broker-quoted cash surrender value on universal life insurance policies. This asset is classified as Level 2 in the valuation hierarchy.

Debt – The fair value of our long-term debt is estimated based on the market prices for the same or similar issuances or on the current rates offered to us for debt of the same remaining maturities (Level 2). The fair value of our Credit Facility approximates carrying value due to the variable rate nature of this instrument.

See Note 12 – Derivative Financial Instruments, for the fair value of our derivative financial instruments.

  1. Common Stock

The following table presents changes in common stock and treasury stock:

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(Shares in thousands)
Common Stock:
Balance at beginning of period25,63024,78525,16324,547
Issued for employee stock plans6653533291
Balance at end of period25,69624,83825,69624,838
Treasury Stock:
Balance at beginning of period(4,442)(3,962)(4,303)(3,784)
Shares repurchased(734)(3)(873)(181)
Balance at end of period(5,176)(3,965)(5,176)(3,965)
Common Stock Outstanding20,52020,87320,52020,873
  1. Earnings and Dividends per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(Dollars in millions, except share and per share amounts)
Net income attributable to Koppers$26.8$24.5$39.8$50.0
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic20,90120,84320,98320,842
Effect of dilutive securities658508726524
Diluted21,55921,35121,70921,366
Earnings per common share:
Basic$1.29$1.17$1.90$2.40
Diluted1.251.151.832.34
Other data:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted earnings per common share7649452619

On August 8, 2024, we declared a quarterly dividend of$0.07 per common share, payable on September 16, 2024 to shareholders of record as of August 30, 2024.

  1. Stock-based Compensation

The board of directors granted restricted stock units and performance stock units (collectively, the stock units) to certain employee participants in January 2024. No stock options were granted in 2024. Starting in 2023, most grants of restricted stock units vest inthree years. Performance stock units have vesting based upon either a performance condition or a market condition. Performance stock units granted with a performance condition have a cumulative three-year performance objective based on adjusted EBITDA (see Note 7 – Segment Information). For performance stock units granted with a market condition, the applicable objective is based on our total shareholder return relative to the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Materials Index and has multi-year performance objectives. Both types of performance stock units have athree-year period for vesting, if the applicable performance objectives are achieved.

The number of performance stock units granted represents the target award and participants have the ability to earn between zero and 200 percent of the target award based upon actual performance. If minimum performance criteria are not achieved, no performance stock units will vest. For the awards granted in January 2024, target shares for units with a market condition totaled 56,796 and target shares for units with a performance condition totaled 125,174.

We calculated the fair value of the restricted stock units and performance stock units with a performance condition using the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. We calculated the fair value of the performance stock units with a market condition on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo valuation model and the assumptions listed below:

January 2024 Grant
Grant date price per share of performance award$46.68
Expected volatility38.14%
Risk-free interest rate4.14%
Look-back period in years3.00
Grant date fair value per share$59.41

The following table shows a summary of the status and activity of non-vested stock units:

RestrictedStock UnitsPerformanceStock UnitsTotalStock UnitsWeighted AverageGrant Date FairValue per Unit
Non-vested at December 31, 2023531,339580,7631,112,102$33.62
Granted145,627182,196327,823$48.95
Credited from dividends1900190$43.52
Vested(222,736)(136,560)(359,296)$30.99
Forfeited(6,842)(2,629)(9,471)$33.54
Non-vested at June 30, 2024447,578623,7701,071,348$39.19

The following table shows a summary of the status and activity of stock options:

OptionsWeighted AverageExercise Priceper OptionWeighted AverageRemainingContractual Term(in years)Aggregate IntrinsicValue (in millions)
Outstanding at December 31, 2023706,868$27.51
Exercised(145,131)$25.97
Outstanding at June 30, 2024561,737$27.914.67$5.7
Exercisable at June 30, 2024489,962$27.394.30$5.3

The following table presents total stock-based compensation expense recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of operations:

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(Dollars in millions)
Selling, general and administrative expenses$5.5$3.8$10.9$7.8
Less related income tax benefit1.51.13.02.2
Decrease in net income attributable to Koppers$4.0$2.7$7.9$5.6
  1. Segment Information

We have three reportable segments: Railroad and Utility Products and Services (RUPS), Performance Chemicals (PC) and Carbon Materials and Chemicals (CMC). Our reportable segments contain multiple aggregated business units since management believes the long-term financial performance of these business units is affected by similar economic conditions. The reportable segments are each managed separately because they manufacture and distribute distinct products with different production processes.

Our RUPS segment primarily sells pressure-treated railroad ties to the railroad industry and treated utility poles to utility markets. Railroad products and services include procuring and treating items such as crossties, switch ties and various types of lumber used for railroad bridges and crossings. Utility products include the pressure treatment of transmission and distribution poles for electric, telephone and broadband utilities. In addition, we provide untreated wood products and rail joint bars, which are steel bars used to join rails together for railroads, to the railroad markets and inspection services to the utility markets. We also operate a railroad services business that conducts engineering, design, repair and inspection services for railroad bridges and a business related to the recovery of used crossties, serving the same customer base as our North American railroad business.

Our PC segment develops, manufactures, and markets wood preservation chemicals and wood treatment technologies and services to a diverse range of end-markets including residential, industrial, commercial construction and agricultural applications.

Our CMC segment is primarily a manufacturer of creosote, carbon pitch, naphthalene, phthalic anhydride and carbon black feedstock. Creosote is used in the treatment of wood and carbon black feedstock is used in the production of carbon black. Carbon pitch is a critical raw material used in the production of aluminum and steel. Naphthalene is used for the production of phthalic anhydride and as a surfactant in the production of concrete. Phthalic anhydride is used in the production of plasticizers, polyester resins and alkyd paints.

Our primary measure of segment profitability is adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash and/or non-recurring items that do not contribute directly to management’s evaluation of our operating results (as defined by us, adjusted EBITDA). These items include impairment, restructuring and plant closure costs, mark-to-market commodity hedging, gain or loss on sale of assets and LIFO inventory effects. This presentation is consistent with how our chief operating decision maker evaluates the results of operations and makes strategic decisions about the business. In addition, adjusted EBITDA is the primary measure used to determine the level of achievement of management’s short-term incentive goals and related payout, as well as one of the measures used to determine performance and related payouts for certain performance share units granted to management. For these reasons, we believe that adjusted EBITDA represents the most relevant measure of segment profit and loss.

Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to net income on a consolidated basis, the most directly comparable financial measure determined and reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Intersegment transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Contract Balances

The timing of revenue recognition results in both billed accounts receivable and unbilled receivables, both classified as accounts receivable, net of allowance within the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Contract assets of $3.0 million and $7.8 million are recorded within accounts receivable, net of allowance within the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

The following table sets forth revenues for significant product lines, net of all intersegment transactions, for our segments:

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(Dollars in millions)
Railroad and Utility Products and Services:
Railroad treated products$155.6$138.5$297.5$266.0
Utility poles76.171.2140.6134.5
Railroad infrastructure products and services22.224.740.947.0
Total Railroad and Utility Products and Services253.9234.4479.0447.5
Performance Chemicals:
Wood preservative products162.3166.6303.4303.6
Other products14.614.323.624.2
Total Performance Chemicals176.9180.9327.0327.8
Carbon Materials and Chemicals:
Pitch and related products73.5109.9146.3215.7
Phthalic anhydride, naphthalene and other chemicals34.430.069.059.0
Carbon black feedstock and distillates24.522.039.540.6
Total Carbon Materials and Chemicals132.4161.9254.8315.3
Total$563.2$577.2$1,060.8$1,090.6
Intersegment revenues:
Performance Chemicals$8.6$7.2$16.2$12.8
Carbon Materials and Chemicals23.423.249.742.2
Total$32.0$30.4$65.9$55.0

The following table sets forth certain operating data, net of all intersegment transactions, for our segments:

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(Dollars in millions)
Depreciation and amortization expense:
Railroad and Utility Products and Services$9.5$5.8$16.4$11.7
Performance Chemicals3.53.56.97.0
Carbon Materials and Chemicals5.25.111.09.7
Total$18.2$14.4$34.3$28.4
Adjusted EBITDA:
Railroad and Utility Products and Services$22.4$22.3$40.1$38.1
Performance Chemicals44.332.374.158.6
Carbon Materials and Chemicals10.815.714.835.1
Items excluded from the determination of segment profit:
LIFO expense(1)(1.5)(0.2)(4.1)(0.4)
Impairment, restructuring and plant closure costs0.00.00.0(0.1)
Gain on sale of assets0.00.00.01.8
Mark-to-market commodity hedging gains (losses)1.3(1.1)3.00.0
Acquisition inventory step-up amortization(1.5)0.0(1.5)0.0
Interest expense(20.6)(20.3)(37.7)(34.3)
Depreciation and amortization(18.2)(14.4)(34.3)(28.4)
Income tax provision(10.2)(9.9)(14.6)(19.8)
Net income$26.8$24.4$39.8$50.6

(1)

The LIFO expense adjustment removes the entire impact of LIFO and effectively reflects the results as if we were on a FIFO inventory basis.

The following table sets forth assets and goodwill allocated to each of our segments:

June 30,2024December 31,2023
(Dollars in millions)
Segment assets:
Railroad and Utility Products and Services$860.3$743.7
Performance Chemicals535.2520.6
Carbon Materials and Chemicals512.9538.9
All other39.632.3
Total$1,948.0$1,835.5
Goodwill:
Railroad and Utility Products and Services(1)$146.2$120.6
Performance Chemicals172.8173.8
Total$319.0$294.4

(1)

See Note 2 - Acquisition for increase in goodwill due to business acquisition.

  1. Income Taxes

Effective Tax Rate

The income tax provision for interim periods is comprised of an estimated annual effective income tax rate applied to current year ordinary income and tax associated with discrete items. These discrete items generally relate to excess stock compensation deductions, changes in tax laws, adjustments to unrecognized tax benefits and changes of estimated tax liability to the actual liability determined upon filing income tax returns. To determine the annual effective tax rate, management is required to make estimates of annual pretax income in each domestic and foreign jurisdiction in which we conduct business. Entities that have historical pre-tax losses and current year estimated pre-tax losses that are not projected to generate a future benefit are excluded from the estimated annual effective income tax rate.

The estimated annual effective income tax rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate due to:

June 30,
20242023
Federal income tax rate21.0%21.0%
Foreign earnings taxed at different rates3.94.2
Nondeductible expenses1.91.3
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit1.01.4
Change in tax contingency reserves0.10.1
GILTI inclusion, net of foreign tax credits0.00.1
Estimated annual effective income tax rate27.9%28.1%

Income taxes as a percentage of pretax income were 27.6 percent and 26.8 percent for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, and 28.9 percent and 28.1 percent for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The effective income tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and the three months ended June 30, 2023 were slightly different than their respective estimated annual effective income tax rates due to various discrete items, which were not material in the aggregate or individually.

During the year, management regularly updates estimates of pre-tax income and income tax expense based on changes in pre-tax income projections by taxable jurisdiction, repatriation of foreign earnings, unrecognized tax benefits and other tax matters. Effective January 1, 2024, certain jurisdictions in which we operate have enacted legislation that is consistent with one or more Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Global Anti-Base Erosion Model Rules (commonly referred to as "Pillar Two"). These Pillar Two rules include minimum domestic top up taxes, income inclusion rules and undertaxed profit rules all aimed to ensure that multinationals pay a minimum effective corporate tax rate of 15 percent in each jurisdiction in which they operate. We do not expect these Pillar Two rules to materially impact our annual effective rate in 2024. To the extent that actual results vary from these estimates, the actual annual effective income tax rate at the end of the year could be materially different from the estimated annual effective income tax rate for thesix months ended June 30, 2024.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, individual U.S. state jurisdictions and non-U.S. jurisdictions. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal, U.S. state, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2017.

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, unrecognized tax benefits of $1.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively, would affect the effective tax rate if recognized. We do not anticipate material changes to the amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.

  1. Inventories, net
June 30,2024December 31,2023
(Dollars in millions)
Raw materials$349.7$348.4
Work in process15.217.9
Finished goods151.1139.0
Total$516.0$505.3
Less revaluation to LIFO113.7109.6
Net$402.3$395.7
  1. Pensions and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans

We maintain a number of defined benefit and defined contribution plans to provide retirement benefits for employees in the United States, as well as employees outside the United States.

We have commenced with a plan to terminate our United States qualified pension plan and are targeting the completion of this effort in the first quarter 2025. We estimate that a termination will require additional cash funding of $25 million in 2025 and will result in an estimated settlement loss of $40 million, before tax, subject to changes to certain assumptions including the discount rate, which could have a material impact on the settlement loss. Of the estimated settlement loss, we expect that $5 million, before tax, will be incurred in the fourth quarter of 2024 with the remainder being recognized in the first quarter of 2025.

In connection with the planned termination of our defined benefit pension plan in the United Kingdom, in 2021, we entered into a buy-in bulk annuity insurance policy in exchange for a premium payment of $67.8 million, which is subject to adjustment as a result of subsequent data cleansing activities. Under the terms of this buy-in insurance policy, the insurer is liable to pay the benefits of the plan, but the plan still retains full legal responsibility to pay the benefits to members using the insurance payments. The buy-in policy will be treated as a plan asset going forward until such time as the buy-in policy is converted to a buy-out policy, which is when individual insurance policies will be assigned to each member of the plan and the plan will no longer have legal responsibility to pay the benefits to the members. The data cleansing effort has been substantially completed and we expect to recognize a pre-tax pension settlement loss of approximately $20 million upon the pension obligation becoming irrevocably settled.

The timing of the conversion to a buy-out policy may be impacted by a ruling from the High Court of Justice in the United Kingdom in the case of Virgin Media Limited v NTL Pension Trustees II Limited and Others related to certain amendments to UK pension plans. On July 25, 2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of the ruling from the High Court of Justice. We are currently waiting to see if there is a further appeal to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom or if there will be legislative intervention.

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the pension plans:

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(Dollars in millions)
Service cost$0.4$0.4$0.8$0.8
Interest cost2.12.04.04.1
Expected return on plan assets(1.6)(1.8)(3.1)(3.5)
Amortization of net loss0.50.61.01.1
Net periodic benefit cost$1.4$1.2$2.7$2.5
Defined contribution plan expense$1.7$2.4$4.7$4.9
  1. Debt

The following table summarizes debt:

WeightedAverageInterest RateMaturityJune 30,2024December 31,2023
(Dollars in millions)
Credit Facility7.29%2027$515.2$461.4
Term Loan B8.33%2030485.4388.0
Debt$1,000.6$849.4
Less short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt5.05.0
Less unamortized debt issuance costs8.99.0
Long-term debt$986.7$835.4

Credit Facility

We have a credit agreement (the Credit Facility) with a consortium of banks. The Credit Facility provides for an $800.0 million revolving credit facility, a $50.0 million swingline facility and provides for the ability to incur one or more uncommitted incremental revolving or term loan facilities in an aggregate amount of at least $730.0 million, subject to applicable financial covenants. The interest rate on the Credit Facility is variable and may be based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), which is the applicable benchmark for current borrowings, or an alternative benchmark depending on the borrowing type.

Borrowings under the Credit Facility are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of the assets (excluding real property and other customary assets) of Koppers Inc., Koppers Holdings Inc. and our material domestic subsidiaries. The Credit Facility contains certain covenants that may limit Koppers Inc. and its restricted subsidiaries from taking certain actions. These limitations include, among others, restrictions on additional indebtedness, liens, dividends, investments, acquisitions, certain distributions, asset sales, transactions with affiliates and modifications to material documents, including organizational documents. In addition, such covenants may give rise to events of default upon the failure by Koppers Inc. and its restricted subsidiaries to meet certain financial ratios.

As of June 30, 2024, we had approximately $277.0 million of unused revolving credit availability after restrictions from certain letter of credit commitments and other covenants. As of June 30, 2024, $7.8 million of commitments were utilized by outstanding letters of credit.

Term Loan B

In April 2023, a class of senior secured term loans under the Credit Facility (the Term Loan B) was issued at 97 percent of face value, resulting in $388.0 million of net proceeds, before debt financing costs. In April 2024, the Term Loan B was upsized by issuing, at par, an additional $100.0 million of incremental term loans, before debt financing costs. The interest rate on the Term Loan B is variable and is based on, at our option, adjusted Term SOFR Rate or adjusted Daily Simple SOFR. The interest rate margins applicable to adjusted Term SOFR Rate or adjusted Daily Simple SOFR loans are 3.00 percent with a floor of 0.50 percent. The principal balance of the Term Loan B is repayable in quarterly installments on the last business day of each quarterly period in an amount equal to 0.25 percent of the principal amount, with the balance due at maturity on April 10, 2030.

Interest Rate Swaps

See Note 12 – Derivative Financial Instruments for discussion of the interest rate swap agreements, which effectively convert a portion of our variable rate debt to a fixed rate.

  1. Derivative Financial Instruments

We utilize derivative instruments to manage exposures to risks that have been identified, measured and are capable of being mitigated. The primary risks that we manage by using derivative instruments are commodity price risk associated with copper and fuel oil, foreign currency exchange risk, principally the U.S. dollar, Australian dollar and British pound sterling, and interest rate risk associated with variable rate borrowings. Generally, we enter into master netting arrangements with the counterparties and offset net derivative positions with the same counterparties. Currently, our agreements do not require cash collateral.

The Company recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value on the balance sheet. The derivative instruments are classified as current or noncurrent based upon the expected timing of cash flows and are subject to offset under our master netting arrangements. A derivative instrument's fair value is determined using significant other observable inputs, a Level 2 fair value measurement.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and is reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses on the derivative instruments representing hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in current earnings.

Swap contracts on copper are used to manage the price risk associated with forecasted purchases of materials used in our manufacturing processes. Generally, we will not hedge cash flow exposures for durations longer than 36 months and we have hedged certain volumes of copper through the end of 2025. We designate certain of our commodity swaps as cash flow hedges of forecasted purchases of commodities. For those commodity swaps where hedge accounting is not elected, the fair value of the commodity swap is recognized as an asset or liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheet and the related unrealized gain or loss on the derivative is reported in current earnings. These amounts are classified in cost of sales in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

We enter into heating oil swap contracts to manage price risk associated with fuel oil purchases for our plant operations and certain raw material requirements. The fair value associated with these swap contracts are not designated as hedges, and the related unrealized gain or loss on the derivative is reported in current earnings. These amounts are classified in cost of sales in the consolidated statement of operations. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had contracts totaling 2.8 million and 1.5 million gallons, respectively.

We enter into foreign currency forward contracts to manage foreign currency risk associated with our receivable and payable balances in addition to foreign-denominated sales. The fair value associated with forward contracts related to foreign currency that are not designated as hedges, and the related unrealized gain or loss on the derivative is reported in current earnings. These amounts are classified in cost of sales in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

We enter into interest rate swaps to effectively convert portions of our variable interest rate debt into fixed rate debt to add stability to interest expense and to manage our exposure to interest rate movements. We entered into interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional value of $400.0 million at a weighted average fixed SOFR rate of 3.97 percent for a portion of our variable rate debt. All swap agreements expire in April 2027. The interest rate swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges on interest payments involving the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in exchange for us making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.

See the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income and condensed consolidated statement of shareholders' equity for amounts recorded in other comprehensive income and for amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income.

The fair value of the outstanding derivative contracts recorded in the balance sheet are as follows:

Copper SwapContractsHeating Oil ContractsForeign CurrencyForward ContractsInterest RateSwap ContractsTotal
(Dollars in millions)
Derivative contracts$12.3$0.0$0.0$3.7$16.0
Other assets1.50.00.01.42.9
Accrued liabilities0.0(0.1)(0.1)0.0(0.2)
Other long-term liabilities(0.2)0.00.0(1.7)(1.9)
Net asset (liability) on balance sheet$13.6$(0.1)$(0.1)$3.4$16.8
Accumulated other comprehensive gain, net of tax$7.2$0.0$0.0$2.5$9.7
Copper SwapContractsHeating Oil ContractsForeign CurrencyForward ContractsInterest RateSwap ContractsTotal
(Dollars in millions)
Derivative contracts$4.1$0.0$0.2$2.8$7.1
Accrued liabilities0.0(0.3)(0.1)0.0(0.4)
Other long-term liabilities0.00.00.0(6.5)(6.5)
Net asset (liability) on balance sheet$4.1$(0.3)$0.1$(3.7)$0.2
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss), net of tax$2.0$0.0$0.0$(2.9)$(0.9)

We estimate that unrealized gains, net of tax, for commodity price hedging and interest rate swaps of $6.7 million and $2.7 million, respectively, will be reclassified from other comprehensive income into earnings over the next twelve months.

Copper Swap Contracts

As of the periods presented, we had outstanding copper swap contracts of the following amounts:

Units Outstanding (in Pounds)Net Fair Value – Asset
June 30,2024December 31,2023June 30,2024December 31,2023
(Amounts in millions)
Cash flow hedges17.531.7$9.4$2.6
Contracts where hedge accounting was not elected10.79.54.21.5
Total28.241.2$13.6$4.1

The unrealized gain from copper swap contracts where hedge accounting was not elected is as follows:

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
(Dollars in millions)
Gain (loss) from contracts where hedge accounting was not elected$1.3$(1.1)$2.8$0.0

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts

The net currency units outstanding for contracts were:

June 30,2024December 31,2023
(In millions)
United States DollarsUSD 9.0USD 10.3
British Pound SterlingGBP 0.9GBP 0.0
Australian DollarsAUD 0.0AUD 3.0
  1. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

We are involved in litigation and various proceedings relating to environmental laws and regulations, product liability and other matters. Certain of these matters are discussed below. The ultimate resolution of these contingencies is subject to significant uncertainty and should we fail to prevail in any of these legal matters or should several of these legal matters be resolved against us in the same reporting period, these legal matters could, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Legal Proceedings

Coal Tar Pitch Cases. Koppers Inc. is one of several defendants in lawsuits filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in which the plaintiffs claim they suffered a variety of illnesses (including cancer) as a result of exposure to coal tar pitch sold by the defendants and have sought compensatory and punitive damages. There were 50 plaintiffs in 26 cases pending as of June 30, 2024. Given the current status, we no longer consider these cases to be material.

Environmental and Other Litigation Matters

We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations and potential liabilities relating to the protection of the environment and human health and safety including, among other things, the cleanup of contaminated sites, the treatment, storage and disposal of wastes, the discharge of effluent into waterways, the emission of substances into the air and various health and safety matters. We expect to incur substantial costs for ongoing compliance with such laws and regulations. We may also face governmental or third-party claims, or otherwise incur costs, relating to cleanup of, or for injuries resulting from, contamination at sites associated with past and present operations. We accrue for environmental liabilities when a determination can be made that a liability is probable and reasonably estimable.

Environmental and Other Liabilities Retained or Assumed by Others. We have agreements with former owners of certain of our operating locations under which the former owners retained, assumed and/or agreed to indemnify us against certain environmental and other liabilities. The most significant of these agreements was entered into at Koppers Inc.’s formation on December 29, 1988 (the Acquisition). Under the related asset purchase agreement between Koppers Inc. and Beazer East, subject to certain limitations, Beazer East retained the responsibility for and agreed to indemnify Koppers Inc. against certain liabilities, damages, losses and costs, including, with certain limited exceptions, liabilities under and costs to comply with environmental laws to the extent attributable to acts or omissions occurring prior to the Acquisition and liabilities related to products sold by Beazer East prior to the Acquisition (the Indemnity). Beazer Limited, the parent company of Beazer East, unconditionally guaranteed Beazer East’s performance of the Indemnity pursuant to a guarantee.

The Indemnity provides different mechanisms, subject to certain limitations, by which Beazer East is obligated to indemnify Koppers Inc. with regard to certain environmental, product and other liabilities and imposes certain conditions on Koppers Inc. before receiving such indemnification, including, in some cases, certain limitations regarding the time period as to which claims for indemnification can be brought. In July 2004, Koppers Inc. and Beazer East agreed to amend the environmental indemnification provisions of the December 29, 1988 asset purchase agreement to extend the indemnification period for pre-closing environmental liabilities, subject to the following paragraph, and agreed to share toxic tort litigation defense arising from any sites acquired from Beazer East.

Qualified expenditures under the Indemnity are not subject to a monetary limit. Qualified expenditures under the Indemnity include (i) environmental cleanup liabilities required by third parties, such as investigation, remediation and closure costs, relating to pre-December 29, 1988 (Pre-Closing) acts or omissions of Beazer East or its predecessors; (ii) environmental claims by third parties for personal injuries, property damages and natural resources damages relating to Pre-Closing acts or omissions of Beazer East or its predecessors; (iii) punitive damages for the acts or omissions of Beazer East and its predecessors without regard to the date of the alleged conduct and (iv) product liability claims for products sold by Beazer East or its predecessors without regard to the date of the alleged conduct. The indemnification period ended July 14, 2019 (the Claim Deadline) and Beazer East may now tender certain third-party claims described in sections (i) and (ii) above to Koppers Inc. However, to the extent the third-party claims described in sections (i) and (ii) above were tendered to Beazer East by the Claim Deadline, Beazer East will continue to be required to pay the costs arising from such claims under the Indemnity. Furthermore, the Claim Deadline did not change the provisions of the Indemnity with respect to indemnification for non-environmental claims, such as product liability claims, which claims may continue to be tendered by Koppers Inc. to Beazer East.

The Indemnity provides for the resolution of issues between Koppers Inc. and Beazer East by an arbitrator on an expedited basis upon the request of either party. The arbitrator could be asked, among other things, to make a determination regarding the allocation of environmental responsibilities between Koppers Inc. and Beazer East. Arbitration decisions under the Indemnity are final and binding on the parties.

Contamination has been identified at most manufacturing and other sites of our subsidiaries. One site currently owned and operated by Koppers Inc. in the United States is listed on the National Priorities List promulgated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA). Currently, at the properties acquired from Beazer East (which includes the National Priorities List site and all but one of the sites permitted under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)), a significant portion of all investigative, cleanup and closure activities are being conducted and paid for by Beazer East pursuant to the terms of the Indemnity. In addition, other of Koppers Inc.’s sites are or have been operated under RCRA and various other environmental permits, and remedial and closure activities are being conducted at some of these sites.

To date, the parties that retained, assumed and/or agreed to indemnify us against the liabilities referred to above, including Beazer East, have performed their obligations in all material respects. Periodically, issues have arisen between Koppers Inc. and Beazer East and/or other indemnitors that have been resolved without arbitration. Koppers Inc. and Beazer East engage in discussions from time to time that involve, among other things, the allocation of environmental costs related to certain operating and closed facilities.

If for any reason (including disputed coverage or financial incapability) one or more of such parties fail to perform their obligations and we are held liable for or otherwise required to pay all or part of such liabilities without reimbursement, the imposition of such liabilities on us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. Furthermore, we could be required to record a contingent liability on our balance sheet with respect to such matters, which could result in a negative impact to our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

Domestic Environmental Matters. Koppers Inc. has been named as one of the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) at the Portland Harbor CERCLA site located on the Willamette River in Oregon. Koppers Inc. operated a coal tar pitch terminal near the site. Koppers Inc. has responded to an EPA information request and has executed a PRP agreement which outlines a private process to develop an allocation of past and future costs among more than 80 parties to the site. Koppers Inc. believes it is ade minimis contributor at the site.

The EPA issued its Record of Decision (ROD) in January 2017 for the Portland Harbor CERCLA site. The selected remedy includes a combination of sediment removal, capping, enhanced and monitored natural recovery and riverbank improvements. The ROD does not determine who is responsible for remediation costs. At that time, the net present value and undiscounted costs of the selected remedy as estimated in the ROD were approximately $1.1 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively. These costs are likely to increase given recent submissions to EPA regarding remedy design and because the remedy will not be implemented for several years. Responsibility for implementing and funding that work is yet to be determined. The funding of that work amongst the PRPs is the subject of a separate private allocation process which is ongoing.

Additionally, Koppers Inc. is involved in two separate matters involving natural resource damages at the Portland Harbor site. One matter involves claims by the trustees to recover damages based upon an assessment of damages to natural resources caused by the releases of hazardous substances to the Willamette River. The assessment serves as the foundation to estimate liabilities for settlements of natural resource damages claims or litigation to recover from those who do not settle with the trustee groups. Koppers Inc. has been engaged in a process to resolve its natural resource damage liabilities for the assessment area. A second matter involves a lawsuit filed in January 2017 by the Yakama Nation in Oregon federal court. Yakama Nation seeks recovery for response costs and the costs of assessing injury to natural resources in waterways beyond the current assessment area. Following the most recent court rulings, the Yakama Nation case has been stayed pending completion of the private allocation process for the Portland Harbor CERCLA site.

In September 2009, Koppers Inc. received a general notice letter stating that it may be a PRP at the Newark Bay CERCLA site. In January 2010, Koppers Inc. submitted a response to the general notice letter asserting that Koppers Inc. is ade minimis party at this site.

We have accrued the estimated costs of participating in the PRP group at the Portland Harbor and Newark Bay CERCLA sites and estimatedde minimis contributor settlement amounts at the sites totaling $3.9 million as of June 30, 2024. The actual cost could be materially higher as there has not been a determination of how those costs will be allocated among the PRPs at the sites. Accordingly, an unfavorable resolution of these matters may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

There aretwo plant sites related to the Performance Chemicals business andone plant site related to the Utility and Industrial Products business in the United States where we have recorded environmental remediation liabilities for soil and groundwater contamination which occurred prior to our acquisition of the businesses. As of June 30, 2024, our estimated environmental remediation liability for these acquired sites totals $3.7 million.

In June 2024, Koppers Inc. received a letter stating that the Illinois Attorney General’s Office (IL AGO) received an enforcement referral from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency relating to certain alleged air emissions violations at our Stickney, IL facility. We are cooperating with IL AGO in connection with this matter.

We have not provided a reserve for the Stickney, IL enforcement matter because, at this time, we cannot reasonably determine the probability of a loss, and the amount of loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated. The timing of resolution of this matter cannot be reasonably determined. Although Koppers Inc. is vigorously defending this matter, an unfavorable resolution of this matter may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

Foreign Environmental Matters. There is one plant site related to the Performance Chemicals business located in Australia where we have recorded an environmental remediation liability for soil and groundwater contamination which occurred prior to the acquisition of the business. As of June 30, 2024, our estimated environmental remediation liability for the acquired site totals $1.2 million.

Environmental Reserves Rollforward. The following table reflects changes in the accrual for environmental remediation. A total of $2.2 million was classified ascurrent liabilities as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Period ended
June 30,2024December 31,2023
(Dollars in millions)
Balance at beginning of period$10.6$10.9
Expense0.10.2
Cash expenditures(0.2)(0.4)
Currency translation0.0(0.1)
Balance at end of period$10.5$10.6
  1. Subsequent Events

Koppers (China) Carbon & Chemical Company Limited (KCCC), which ceased operations in 2015, is owned 60 percent by a wholly owned subsidiary of Koppers and 40 percent by Tangshan Iron & Steel Group Co. Ltd. (TISCO). In July 2024, Koppers and TISCO signed an agreement to effectuate the ultimate liquidation of KCCC later in 2024 whereby TISCO will assume the remaining assets, including land, and liabilities of KCCC. As a result, we will record a loss of approximately $6 million, net of non-controlling interest, in the three months ending September 30, 2024.

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