eps3179.htm
FORM 10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For Quarter Ended September 30, 2008
Commission File Number 1-4773

AMERICAN BILTRITE INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
04-1701350
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
 

57 River Street
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts  02481-2097
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(781) 237-6655
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer  o
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer    o    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company x
 

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

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

Class
 
Outstanding at November 7, 2008
     
Common Stock
 
3,441,551 shares

 
 

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the information presented in or incorporated by reference in this report constitutes "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project" and other words of similar meaning.  In particular, these include statements relating to intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, future performance, results of operations, the outcome of contingencies, such as bankruptcy and other legal proceedings, and financial conditions.  These statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  These forward-looking statements are based on American Biltrite Inc.’s expectations and American Biltrite Inc.’s understanding of its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum Corporation’s expectations, as of the date of this report, of future events, and American Biltrite Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements, except as required by federal securities laws.  Although American Biltrite Inc. believes that these expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from its expectations.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.  Any or all of these statements may turn out to be incorrect.  By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future.  Any forward-looking statements made in this report speak only as of the date of this report unless the statement indicates that another date applies.  It is not possible to predict or identify all factors that could potentially cause actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results.  Factors that could cause or contribute to American Biltrite Inc.’s actual results differing from its expectations include those factors discussed in Item 1A of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in American Biltrite Inc.’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 
 

 

AMERICAN BILTRITE INC.

INDEX

 
PART I.
 
 
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
       
 
Item 1.
 
Financial Statements:
 
 
       
   
Consolidating Condensed Balance Sheets – Assets as of September 30, 2008 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2007
1
       
   
Consolidating Condensed Balance Sheets – Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity as of September 30, 2008 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2007
2
       
   
Consolidating Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
3
       
   
Consolidating Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
4
       
   
Consolidating Condensed Statements of Cash Flows – Operating Activities (Unaudited) For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
5
       
   
Consolidating Condensed Statements of Cash Flows – Investing & Financing Activities (Unaudited) For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
6
       
   
Notes to Unaudited Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements
7
       
 
Item 2.
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
30
 
       
 
Item 4T.
 
Controls and Procedures
 
44
 
       
 
PART II.
 
 
OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
     
 
Item 1.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
45
 
       
 
Item 1A.
 
Risk Factors
 
45
 
       
 
Item 3.
 
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
54
 
       
 
Item 6.
 
Exhibits
 
55
 
       
 
Signature
 
57
 

 

 
 

 

PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements


AMERICAN BILTRITE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS – ASSETS
(In thousands of dollars)

   
ABI Consolidated
   
Eliminations
   
Congoleum
   
American Biltrite
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
   
(Unaudited)
         
(Unaudited)
         
(Unaudited)
         
(Unaudited)
       
Assets
                                               
Current Assets:
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 26,632     $ 30,185                 $ 23,757     $ 26,327     $ 2,875     $ 3,858  
Restricted cash
    29,538       6,501                   29,538       6,501                  
Accounts receivable, net
    41,091       41,345     $ (572 )   $ (316 )     15,971       14,162       25,692       27,499  
Inventories
    82,177       78,401       (107 )     (125 )     36,730       35,182       45,554       43,344  
Deferred income taxes
    992       961                                       992       961  
Prepaid expense & other current assets
    7,835       20,001                       4,490       13,138       3,345       6,863  
Total current assets
    188,265       177,394       (679 )     (441 )     110,486       95,310       78,458       82,525  
                                                                 
Property, plant & equipment, net
    91,218       99,153                       57,132       61,993       34,086       37,160  
                                                                 
Other assets:
                                                               
Insurance for asbestos-related liabilities
    11,140       11,140                                       11,140       11,140  
Goodwill, net
    11,605       11,605                                       11,605       11,605  
Other assets
    14,326       19,014       (117 )     (126 )     7,561       11,909       6,882       7,231  
      37,071       41,759       (117 )     (126 )     7,561       11,909       29,627       29,976  
                                                                 
Total assets
  $ 316,554     $ 318,306     $ (796 )   $ (567 )   $ 175,179     $ 169,212     $ 142,171     $ 149,661  

See accompanying notes to consolidating condensed financial statements.

 
1

 

AMERICAN BILTRITE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS – LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands of dollars)

   
ABI Consolidated
   
Eliminations
   
Congoleum
   
American Biltrite
 
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
   
(Unaudited)
         
(Unaudited)
         
(Unaudited)
         
(Unaudited)
       
Liabilities
                                               
Current liabilities:
                                               
Accounts payable
  $ 20,269     $ 22,570     $ (572 )   $ (316 )   $ 9,294     $ 10,715     $ 11,547     $ 12,171  
Accrued expenses
    33,890       37,035                       17,135       20,742       16,755       16,293  
Asbestos-related liabilities
    53,254       31,207                       53,254       31,207                  
Deferred income taxes
    3,005       7,725                       3,005       7,725                  
Notes payable
    27,885       30,309                       12,637       10,551       15,248       19,758  
Current portion of long-term debt
    2,134       2,376                                       2,134       2,376  
Liabilities subject to compromise
    4,997       4,997                       4,997       4,997                  
Total current liabilities
    145,434       136,219       (572 )     (316 )     100,322       85,937       45,684       50,598  
                                                                 
Long-term debt, less current portion
    5,649       6,725                                       5,649       6,725  
Asbestos-related liabilities
    12,880       12,600                                       12,880       12,600  
Other liabilities
    11,881       12,195                                       11,881       12,195  
Noncontrolling interests
    913       1,093                                       913       1,093  
Liabilities subject to compromise
    129,416       129,605       (117 )     (126 )     129,533       129,731                  
Total liabilities
    306,173       298,437       (689 )     (442 )     229,855       215,668       77,007       83,211  
                                                                 
Stockholders’ equity
                                                               
Common stock
    46       46       (93 )     (93 )     93       93       46       46  
Additional paid-in capital
    19,700       19,607       (49,382 )     (49,368 )     49,382       49,368       19,700       19,607  
Retained earnings
    21,384       30,835       35,444       35,413       (73,651 )     (65,417 )     59,591       60,839  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (15,617 )     (15,487 )     6,111       6,110       (22,687 )     (22,687 )     959       1,090  
Less treasury shares
    (15,132 )     (15,132 )     7,813       7,813       (7,813 )     (7,813 )     (15,132 )     (15,132 )
Total stockholders’ equity
    10,381       19,869       (107 )     (125 )     (54,676 )     (46,456 )     65,164       66,450  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 316,554     $ 318,306     $ (796 )   $ (567 )   $ 175,179     $ 169,212     $ 142,171     $ 149,661  

See accompanying notes to consolidating condensed financial statements.

 
2

 

AMERICAN BILTRITE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
(In thousands of dollars, except number of shares and per share amounts)

   
ABI Consolidated
   
Eliminations
   
Congoleum
   
American Biltrite
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
                                                 
Net sales
  $ 97,351     $ 107,403     $ -     $ -     $ 46,085     $ 53,588     $ 51,266     $ 53,815  
                                                                 
Cost of products sold
    75,330       79,240       (377 )     (125 )     37,765       39,365       37,942       40,000  
Selling, general & administrative expenses
    21,269       23,625                       7,768       9,829       13,501       13,796  
Asbestos-related reorganization charges
    11,491       -                       11,491       -                  
(Loss) income from operations
    (10,739 )     4,538       377       125       (10,939 )     4,394       (177 )     19  
Other income (expense)
                                                               
Interest income
    64       212                       49       185       15       27  
Interest expense
    (360 )     (3,675 )                     (43 )     (3,146 )     (317 )     (529 )
Other (expense) income
    (945 )     (109 )     (360 )     (146 )     (377 )     (213 )     (208 )     250  
      (1,241 )     (3,572 )     (360 )     (146 )     (371 )     (3,174 )     (510 )     (252 )
(Loss) income before taxes and other items
    (11,980 )     966       17       (21 )     (11,310 )     1,220       (687 )     (233 )
                                                                 
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
    (1,631 )     212                       (1,185 )     20       (446 )     192  
Noncontrolling interests
    (17 )     (79 )                                     (17 )     (79 )
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (10,366 )     675       17       (21 )     (10,125 )     1,200       (258 )     (504 )
Discontinued operation
    -       -                                       -       -  
                                                                 
Net (loss) income
  $ (10,366 )   $ 675     $ 17     $ (21 )   $ (10,125 )   $ 1,200     $ (258 )   $ (504 )
                                                                 

   
Basic
   
Diluted
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
(Loss) income per common share from continuing operations
  $ (3.01 )   $ 0.20     $ (3.01 )   $ 0.20  
Discontinued operation
    -       -       -       -  
 
                               
Net (loss) income per common share
  $ (3.01 )   $ 0.20     $ (3.01 )   $ 0.20  
 
                               
Weighted average number of common and equivalent shares outstanding
    3,441,551       3,441,551       3,441,551       3,441,796  

See accompanying notes to consolidating condensed financial statements.

 
3

 

AMERICAN BILTRITE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
(In thousands of dollars, except number of shares and per share amounts)

   
ABI Consolidated
   
Eliminations
   
Congoleum
   
American Biltrite
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
                                                 
Net sales
  $ 294,347     $ 322,992     $ -     $ -     $ 140,948     $ 160,444     $ 153,399     $ 162,548  
                                                                 
Cost of products sold
    225,600       239,493       (1,077 )     (679 )     111,866       120,478       114,811       119,694  
Selling, general & administrative expenses
    67,234       71,854                       26,138       29,243       41,096       42,611  
Asbestos-related reorganization charges
    11,491       -                       11,491       -                  
(Loss) income from operations
    (9,978 )     11,645       1,077       679       (8,547 )     10,723       (2,508 )     243  
Other income (expense)
                                                               
Interest income
    1,427       548                       1,241       439       186       109  
Interest expense
    (1,679 )     (10,910 )                     (240 )     (9,204 )     (1,439 )     (1,706 )
Other (expense) income
    (858 )     39       (1,059 )     (695 )     (791 )     (247 )     992       981  
      (1,110 )     (10,323 )     (1,059 )     (695 )     210       (9,012 )     (261 )     (616 )
(Loss) income before taxes and other items
    (11,088 )     1,322       18       (16 )     (8,337 )     1,711       (2,769 )     (373 )
                                                                 
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
    (549 )     153                       (103 )     27       (446 )     126  
Noncontrolling interests
    50       (104 )                                     50       (104 )
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (10,489 )     1,065       18       (16 )     (8,234 )     1,684       (2,273 )     (603 )
Discontinued operation
    1,025       -                                       1,025       -  
 
                                                               
Net (loss) income
  $ (9,464 )   $ 1,065     $ 18     $ (16 )   $ (8,234 )   $ 1,684     $ (1,248 )   $ (603 )
                                                                 

   
Basic
   
Diluted
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
(Loss) income per common share from continuing operations
  $ (3.05 )   $ 0.31     $ (3.05 )   $ 0.31  
Discontinued operation
    0.30       -       0.30       -  
 
                               
Net (loss) income per common share
  $ (2.75 )   $ 0.31     $ (2.75 )   $ 0.31  
 
                               
Weighted average number of common and equivalent shares outstanding
    3,441,551       3,441,551       3,441,551       3,442,149  

See accompanying notes to consolidating condensed financial statements.

 
4

 

AMERICAN BILTRITE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS – OPERATING ACTIVITIES (Unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
(In thousands of dollars)

   
ABI Consolidated
   
Eliminations
   
Congoleum
   
American Biltrite
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Operating activities
                                               
Net (loss) income
  $ (9,464 )   $ 1,065     $ 18     $ (16 )   $ (8,234 )   $ 1,684     $ (1,248 )   $ (603 )
Net income from discontinued operation
    (1,025 )     -                                       (1,025 )     -  
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (10,489 )     1,065       18       (16 )     (8,234 )     1,684       (2,273 )     (603 )
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used) provided by operating activities:
                                                               
Depreciation and amortization
    11,686       12,146                       7,781       8,003       3,905       4,143  
Asbestos-related reorganization charges
    11,491       -                       11,491       -                  
Stock compensation expense
    107       22                       14       14       93       8  
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
                                                               
Accounts and notes receivable
    34       (4,341 )     247       242       (1,809 )     (1,600 )     1,596       (2,983 )
Inventories
    (4,447 )     (1,336 )     (18 )     16       (1,548 )     (1,181 )     (2,881 )     (171 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (1,499 )     2,450                       (946 )     2,114       (553 )     336  
Proceeds from legal fees disgorgement
    9,168       -                       9,168       -                  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (4,318 )     8,081       (247 )     (242 )     (5,209 )     8,574       1,138       (251 )
Asbestos-related expenses
    (12,519 )     (10,752 )                     (12,519 )     (10,752 )                
Noncontrolling interests
    (180 )     (21 )                                     (180 )     (21 )
Other
    (228 )     (2,635 )                     (137 )     (2,227 )     (91 )     (408 )
Net cash (used) provided by operating activities of continuing operations
  $ (1,194 )   $ 4,679     $ -     $ -     $ (1,948 )   $ 4,629     $ 754     $ 50  

See accompanying notes to consolidating condensed financial statements.

 
5

 

 AMERICAN BILTRITE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS – INVESTING & FINANCING ACTIVITIES (Unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
(In thousands of dollars)

   
ABI Consolidated
   
Eliminations
   
Congoleum
   
American Biltrite
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Investing activities
                                               
Investments in property, plant and equipment
  $ (3,749 )   $ (3,569 )   $ -     $ -     $ (2,746 )   $ (2,263 )   $ (1,003 )   $ (1,306 )
Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations
    (3,749 )     (3,569 )     -       -       (2,746 )     (2,263 )     (1,003 )     (1,306 )
                                                                 
Financing activities
                                                               
Net short-term (repayments) borrowings
    (2,162 )     5,222                       2,086       1,364       (4,248 )     3,858  
Payments on long-term debt
    (1,320 )     (1,227 )                                     (1,320 )     (1,227 )
Collection on Janus note receivable
    4,034       -                                       4,034       -  
Net change in restricted cash
    38       3,231                       38       3,231                  
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities of continuing operations
    590       7,226       -       -       2,124       4,595       (1,534 )     2,631  
Effect of foreign exchange rate changeson cash
    800       (1,157 )                                     800       (1,157 )
Net (decrease) increase in cash
    (3,553 )     7,179       -       -       (2,570 )     6,961       (983 )     218  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginningof period
    30,185       21,180                       26,327       18,591       3,858       2,589  
                                                                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 26,632     $ 28,359     $ -     $ -     $ 23,757     $ 25,552     $ 2,875     $ 2,807  

See accompanying notes to consolidating condensed financial statements.


 
6

 

AMERICAN BILTRITE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2008
(Unaudited)

Note A - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidating condensed financial statements which include the accounts of American Biltrite Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (and including, unless the context otherwise indicates, its majority-owned subsidiary K&M Associates L.P., are referred to herein as "ABI", "American Biltrite" or the "Company") as well as entities over which it has voting control have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information, 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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments, provisions for discontinued operations and provisions to effect a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") of Congoleum Corporation ("Congoleum"), a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company, to settle asbestos liabilities) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for future periods, including the year ending December 31, 2008.  For further information, refer to the consolidating financial statements and the notes to those financial statements included in American Biltrite Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The consolidating balance sheet at December 31, 2007 has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date but does not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.

During 2003, the Company decided to discontinue the operations of its Janus Flooring Corporation subsidiary ("Janus"), a manufacturer of pre-finished hardwood flooring, and sell the related assets.  Historical financial results were restated to reflect the classification of Janus as a discontinued operation in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets.  Results of Janus, including charges resulting from the shutdown, are being reported as a discontinued operation.  In April 2006, the Company completed the sale of Janus’ remaining building and land (see Note C).  As a result of the sale of property, the discontinued operation was effectively dissolved during 2006.  As of December 31, 2006, the Company merged Janus with and into American Biltrite Inc.’s subsidiary, American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd. ("AB Canada"), primarily for the purposes of utilizing Janus’ prior years’ net operating losses against future taxable income.

 
7

 

Note A - Basis of Presentation (continued)

As discussed more fully below and elsewhere in these notes to consolidating condensed financial statements, the Company's subsidiary Congoleum filed for bankruptcy protection on December 31, 2003 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (the "Bankruptcy Court").  The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the results for Congoleum for all periods presented.  Congoleum’s results include losses (including other comprehensive losses) of $54.7 million and $46.5 million in excess of the value of ABI’s investment in Congoleum at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  ABI owns a majority of the voting stock of Congoleum, and expects to continue doing so until Congoleum’s reorganization proceedings are concluded, at which time ABI expects its ownership interests in Congoleum will be eliminated and no longer included in the consolidated results of the Company.  The Company has elected to continue to consolidate the financial statements of Congoleum in its consolidated results because it believes that is the appropriate presentation given its current voting control of Congoleum.  However, the accompanying financial statements also present the details of consolidation to separately show the financial condition, operating results and cash flows of ABI (including its non-debtor subsidiaries) and Congoleum (and its debtor subsidiaries), which may be more meaningful for certain analyses.

For more information regarding Congoleum’s asbestos liability and plan for resolving that liability, please refer to Note K.

The financial statements of Congoleum have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.  Accordingly, the financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should Congoleum be unable to continue as a going concern.  In light of Congoleum’s substantial asbestos liabilities, which are further described in Note K, there is substantial doubt about Congoleum’s ability to continue as a going concern unless it timely obtains relief from those liabilities through a successful reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of Position 90-7, Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy Code ("SOP 90-7"), provides financial reporting guidance for entities that are reorganizing under the Bankruptcy Code.  Congoleum has implemented this guidance in its consolidated financial statements for periods commencing after December 31, 2003.  Pursuant to SOP 90-7, companies in reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code are required to segregate pre-petition liabilities that are subject to compromise and report them separately on the balance sheet. Liabilities that may be affected by a plan of reorganization are recorded at the amount of the expected allowed claims, even if they may be settled for lesser amounts.  Liabilities for asbestos claims are recorded based upon the minimum amount Congoleum expects to spend for its contribution to, and costs to settle asbestos liabilities through, the Plan Trust (as described in Note K). Obligations arising post-petition and pre-petition obligations that are secured or that the Bankruptcy Court has authorized Congoleum to pay, are not classified as liabilities subject to compromise.  Other pre-petition claims (which would be classified as liabilities subject to compromise) may arise due to the rejection by


 
8

 

Note A - Basis of Presentation (continued)

Congoleum of executory contracts or unexpired leases pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or as a result of the allowance by the Bankruptcy Court of contingent or disputed claims related to pre-petition matters.

Recently Issued Accounting Principles

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements ("SFAS No. 157").  SFAS No. 157 provides a common fair value hierarchy for companies to follow in determining fair value measurements in the preparation of financial statements and expands disclosure requirements relating to how such fair value measurements were developed.  SFAS No. 157 clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions that the marketplace would use when pricing an asset or liability, rather than company-specific data.  SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  However, on February 12, 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position 157-2 which delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis.  For items within its scope, this Staff Position defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.  The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 157 for its non-financial assets and liabilities, effective January 1, 2009, will have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 157 effective January 1, 2008 for its financial assets and liabilities.  The adoption has not had a material impact to the consolidated financial statements (See Notes E and F).

In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 ("FIN 48").  FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in financial statements in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes ("FAS 109").  This interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition of tax benefits, classification on the balance sheet, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.  The Company adopted FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007.  As a result of the adoption, the Company determined that no cumulative effect adjustment was necessary to the opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2007.  The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1, 2007 were immaterial, and recognition of such tax benefits is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s income tax provision in future periods.  Changes in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were immaterial.  Furthermore, the Company does not expect such changes in the next twelve months to be material to the Company’s financial position or results of operation.


 
9

 

Note A - Basis of Presentation (continued)

For tax return purposes, ABI and Congoleum are not part of a consolidated group and, consequently, file separate federal and state tax returns. ABI’s and Congoleum’s federal income tax returns are open and subject to examination from the 2004 and 2003 tax return years and forward, respectively.  ABI’s and Congoleum’s various state income tax returns are generally open from the 2002 and later tax return years based on individual state statute of limitations.  Congoleum’s tax return net operating loss carryforwards are significant.  The tax years in which losses arose may be subject to audit when such carryforwards are utilized to offset taxable income in future periods.  AB Canada’s federal and provincial tax returns are open and subject to examination from 2002 and later.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company recorded a tax benefit it expects to recover from carrying back current year losses against prior year taxable income.  The Company also recorded a benefit of approximately $200 thousand for a change in valuation allowance against foreign tax credits.  Congoleum recorded a tax benefit of $1.2 million and $103 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively.  The benefit Congoleum recorded during the third quarter of 2008 was due to a reversal of the provision recorded through the second quarter of 2008.  Due to uncertainty in Congoleum’s future utilization of net operating losses, Congoleum did not record a tax benefit on its loss in the third quarter of 2008 beyond the reversal of the provision recorded during the first six months of 2008.

The Company records tax penalties and interest as a component of income tax expense.

Note B - Inventories
 
Inventories at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 consisted of the following (in thousands):

   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
             
Finished goods
  $ 55,928     $ 55,478  
Work-in-process
    14,087       10,327  
Raw materials and supplies
    12,162       12,596  
                 
    $ 82,177     $ 78,401  


 
10

 

Note C – Sale of Property

In April 2006, the Company completed the sale of a building and land owned by Janus, a discontinued operation (see Note A).  The building and land were sold for $5.0 million Canadian dollars ("C$").  The Company received C$1.0 million in cash and a C$4.0 million note.  The note was paid in full in May 2008 subsequent to the receipt of an environmental certification on the land sold.  The Company recognized a gain of approximately C$1.0 million on the sale of the building and land in May 2008.  The gain has been recorded as a gain from the discontinued operation.

Note D – Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 consisted of the following (in thousands):

   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
             
Accrued advertising and sales promotions
  $ 15,827     $ 20,906  
Employee compensation and related benefits
    9,178       7,581  
Interest
    305       7  
Environmental matters
    849       849  
Royalties
    1,100       828  
Income taxes
    (116 )     477  
Other
    6,747       6,387  
                 
    $ 33,890     $ 37,035  

See Note H for Liabilities Subject to Compromise.


 
11

 

Note E – Financing Arrangements

American Biltrite Inc.’s primary source of borrowings are the revolving credit facility (the "Revolver") and the term loan ("Term Loan") it has with Bank of America, National Association ("BofA") and BofA acting through its Canada branch (the "Canadian Lender") pursuant to an amended and restated credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement").  The Credit Agreement provides American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiary K&M Associates L.P. ("K&M") with (i) a $30.0 million commitment under the Revolver with a $12.0 million borrowing sublimit (the "Canadian Revolver") for American Biltrite Inc.’s subsidiary AB Canada and (ii) a $10.0 million Term Loan.  The Credit Agreement also provides for domestic and Canadian letter of credit facilities with availability of up to $5.0 million and $1.5 million, respectively, subject to availability under the Revolver and the Canadian Revolver, respectively.

On August 14, 2008, American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiaries, K&M and AB Canada, entered into an amendment, effective as of June 30, 2008, to the Credit Agreement with BofA and BofA acting through its Canada branch, each in their respective capacities as lenders and administrative agents under the Credit Agreement.  The amendment permits the Company to include the principal proceeds it received from the payoff of a note (see Note C) to its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (as defined under the Credit Agreement, which includes the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization on a consolidated basis, as adjusted under the Credit Agreement), as determined under the Credit Agreement, for the periods ending June 30, 2008, September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2008.  The Credit Agreement includes a financial covenant that requires the Company's Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ending to exceed 100% of the Company's Consolidated Fixed Charges for the 12-month period ending on such date, as determined under the Credit Agreement (the "Fixed Charge Covenant").  Further, under the amendment, the lenders waived defaults that may have otherwise existed as of June 30, 2008 with respect to the Consolidated Fixed Charges covenant.  ABI paid BofA a fee of $50 thousand in connection with this amendment.  On March 12, 2008, the same parties entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement to revise a financial covenant to remove the financial covenant that required the Company not to have any consecutive quarterly net losses from continuing operations (reporting Congoleum on the equity method of accounting).  In addition, for purposes of determining the Company's compliance with the financial covenant requiring its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to exceed 100% of the Company's Consolidated Fixed Charges (in each case, as determined under the Credit Agreement), the amendment permits the Company to add certain amounts to its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to the extent those amounts are deducted in determining the Company's Consolidated Net Income (as determined under the Credit Agreement).  Further, under the amendment, the lenders waived defaults that may have otherwise existed as of December 31, 2007 with respect to the financial covenants that were amended by the amendment.  ABI paid BofA a fee of $50 thousand in connection with this amendment.  On May 14, 2007, the same parties entered into an amendment, effective as of March 31, 2007, to the Credit Agreement to revise a financial covenant to provide that for each of the two


 
12

 

Note E – Financing Arrangements (continued)

consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company ending December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007, the Company may not have a quarterly net loss from continuing operations in excess of $400 thousand.  As a result of the amendments, the Company was in compliance with the Credit Agreement as of each quarter end for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  The Company may not be able to comply with financial covenants involving the Company's Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for future periods after December 31, 2008 and may need to obtain a waiver from BofA for any resulting failure to satisfy those financial covenants or seek an amendment to the Credit Agreement to address any such failure so that the Company would not be in breach of the Credit Agreement.  Although the Company expects that it would be able to obtain any such amendment or waiver, if necessary, there can be no assurances that it would be successful in obtaining the amendment or waiver. 

On September 29, 2006, American Biltrite Inc. entered into swap agreements to convert the interest rates on the Term Loan and $6.0 million of borrowings under the Revolver from floating rates to fixed rates of interest.  The swap agreement for the Term Loan (the "Term Loan Swap") has a five year term with the same quarterly payment dates as the Term Loan and reduces proportionately in line with the amortization of the Term Loan.  The swap agreement for the $6.0 million outstanding under the Revolver (the "Revolver Swap") has a three year term with quarterly settlement dates beginning December 31, 2006.  The Company expects its borrowings under the Revolver to remain above $6.0 million through September 30, 2009, the termination date of the Revolver Swap and the Revolver.  The Term Loan Swap and the Revolver Swap are carried at fair value.  Changes in the fair value of the swap agreements are recorded in Other Income (Expense).  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company recorded a gain and a loss of $61 thousand and $20 thousand, respectively, for the adjustment of the fair values of the swap agreements.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company recorded a loss of $192 thousand and $102 thousand, respectively.


 
13

 

Note F – Fair Value Measurements

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, which defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  SFAS No. 157 establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value.  This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

 
§
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 
§
Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

 
§
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The Company’s only financial assets or liabilities subject to SFAS No. 157 are its interest rate swap agreements (see Note E).  Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 157, the Company recorded the swap agreements at fair value.  The fair value of the swap agreements is based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets (Level 2).  As of September 30, 2008, the Company had recorded an unrealized loss of $347 thousand for its interest rate swap agreements.

Note G – Other Liabilities

Other Liabilities at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 consisted of the following (in thousands):

   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
             
Pension benefits
  $ 3,174     $ 2,817  
Environmental remediation and product related liabilities
    4,799       5,336  
Deferred income taxes
    1,339       1,337  
Other
    2,569       2,705  
                 
    $ 11,881     $ 12,195  

See Note H for Liabilities Subject to Compromise.


 
14

 

Note H – Liabilities Subject to Compromise

As a result of Congoleum’s Chapter 11 filing (see Notes A and K), pursuant to SOP 90-7, Congoleum is required to segregate pre-petition liabilities that are subject to compromise and report them separately on the consolidated balance sheet.  Liabilities that may be affected by a plan of reorganization are recorded at the amount of the expected allowed claims, even if they may be settled for lesser amounts.  Substantially all of Congoleum’s pre-petition debt is recorded at face value and is classified within liabilities subject to compromise.  Prior to the fourth quarter of 2007, Congoleum’s accrued interest expense on its 8.625% Senior Notes due August 2008 was also recorded in liabilities subject to compromise.  In the fourth quarter of 2007, Congoleum recorded a $41.0 million interest expense credit to reverse post-petition interest accrued on its Senior Notes.  Terms of previously proposed reorganization plans had provided, among other things, for the payment of post-petition interest on the Senior Notes, and therefore Congoleum had continued to accrue such interest.  Under the terms of the Joint Plan (described in Note K), as well as the New Plan (described in Note K), the Senior Note holders would not receive any post-petition interest.

Liabilities subject to compromise at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 and included in ABI’s consolidated balance sheet at each such date were as follows (in thousands):

   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
Current liability
           
Pre-petition other payables and accrued interest
  $ 4,997     $ 4,997  
Non-current
               
Debt (at face value)
    100,000       100,000  
Pension liability
    10,942       10,772  
Other post-retirement benefit obligation
    9,687       9,337  
Pre-petition other liabilities
    8,904       9,622  
      129,533       129,731  
Elimination – Payable to American Biltrite
    (117 )     (126 )
Total non-current liability
    129,416       129,605  
                 
Total liabilities subject to compromise
  $ 134,413     $ 134,602  

Additional pre-petition claims (which would be classified as liabilities subject to compromise) may arise due to the rejection by Congoleum of executory contracts or unexpired leases pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code, or as a result of the allowance by the Bankruptcy Court of contingent or disputed claims.


 
15

 

Note I – Pension Plans

The Company and Congoleum sponsor several noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering most of their employees.  Benefits under the plans are based on years of service and employee compensation.  Amounts funded annually by the Company and Congoleum are actuarially determined using the projected unit credit and unit credit methods and are equal to or exceed the minimum required by government regulations.  Congoleum also maintains health and life insurance programs for retirees (reflected in the table below under the columns entitled "Other Benefits").

The table below summarizes the components of the net periodic benefit cost for the Company's and Congoleum's pension and other benefit plans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
Pension
   
Other
Benefits
   
Pension
   
Other
Benefits
 
Service cost
  $ 642     $ 56     $ 618     $ 53  
Interest cost
    1,652       144       1,615       142  
Expected return on plan assets
    (1,719 )     -       (1,627 )     -  
Recognized net actuarial loss
    384       15       337       18  
Amortization of prior service cost
    31       -       29       3  
                                 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 990     $ 215     $ 972     $ 216  

   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
Pension
   
Other
Benefits
   
Pension
   
Other
Benefits
 
Service cost
  $ 1,926     $ 168     $ 1,832     $ 159  
Interest cost
    4,956       432       4,816       426  
Expected return on plan assets
    (5,157 )     -       (4,838 )     -  
Recognized net actuarial loss
    1,152       45       1,012       54  
Amortization of prior service cost
    93       -       83       9  
                                 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 2,970     $ 645     $ 2,905     $ 648  


 
16

 

Note I – Pension Plans (continued)

The weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 were as follows:

 
2008
 
2007
 
Pension
 
Other
Benefits
 
Pension
 
Other
Benefits
               
Discount rate
5.50% - 6.00%
 
6.00%
 
5.20% - 6.00%
 
6.00%
Expected long-term return on plan assets
7.00% - 7.50%
 
 
7.00% - 7.50%
 
Rate of compensation increase
4.00% - 5.00%
 
 
4.00% - 5.00%
 

Note J - Commitments and Contingencies

The Company and Congoleum are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, and certain legal and administrative claims are pending or have been asserted against the Company and Congoleum.  Among these claims, the Company and Congoleum are separately a named party in several actions associated with waste disposal sites. These actions include possible obligations to remove or mitigate the effects on the environment of wastes deposited at various sites, including Superfund sites and certain of the Company’s and Congoleum’s owned and previously owned facilities.  The contingencies also include claims for personal injury and/or property damage.  The exact amount of such future cost and timing of payments are indeterminable due to such unknown factors as the magnitude of cleanup costs, the timing and extent of the remedial actions that may be required, the determination of the Company’s and Congoleum’s liability in proportion to other potentially responsible parties, the financial viability of other potentially responsible parties, and the extent to which costs may be recoverable from insurance.  Provisions in the financial statements have been recorded for the estimated probable loss associated with all known general and environmental contingencies for the Company and Congoleum. While the Company and Congoleum believe their estimate of the future amount of these liabilities is reasonable, and that they will be paid over a period of five to ten years, the timing and amount of such payments may differ significantly from the Company’s and Congoleum’s assumptions.  Although the effect of future government regulation could have a significant effect on the Company’s and Congoleum’s costs, the Company and Congoleum are not aware of any pending legislation that would have such an effect.  There can be no assurances that the costs of any future government regulations could be passed along to their customers.  Estimated insurance recoveries related to these liabilities are reflected in other non-current assets.

The Company and Congoleum record a liability for environmental remediation claims when it becomes probable that the Company or Congoleum, as applicable, will incur costs relating to a clean-up program or will have to make claim payments, and the costs or payments can be reasonably estimated. As assessments are revised and clean-up programs progress, these liabilities are adjusted as appropriate to reflect such revisions and progress.


 
17

 

Note J - Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

Liabilities of Congoleum comprise the substantial majority of the environmental and other liabilities reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.  Due to the relative magnitude and wide range of estimates of these liabilities and the fact that recourse related to these liabilities is generally limited to Congoleum, these matters are discussed separately following matters for which ABI has actual or potential liability.  However, since ABI includes Congoleum in ABI’s consolidating financial statements, to the extent that Congoleum incurs a liability or expense, it will be reflected in ABI's consolidating financial statements.

American Biltrite Inc.

ABI is a co-defendant with many other manufacturers and distributors of asbestos containing products in approximately 1,281 pending claims involving approximately 1,836 individuals as of September 30, 2008.  The claimants allege personal injury or death from exposure to asbestos or asbestos-containing products.  Activity related to ABI's asbestos claims is as follows:

   
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2008
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2007
 
             
Beginning claims
    1,360       1,332  
New claims
    303       523  
Settlements
    (8 )     (20 )
Dismissals
    (374 )     (475 )
                 
Ending claims
    1,281       1,360  

The total indemnity costs incurred to settle claims during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and the year ended December 31, 2007 were $0.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively, all of which were paid by ABI's insurance carriers, as were the related defense costs.  In June 2008, ABI’s primary layer insurance carriers advised ABI that coverage limits under the February 1996 coverage-in-place agreement had exhausted.  In August 2008, ABI and its applicable first-layer umbrella carriers reached an understanding on the coverage under ABI’s applicable first-layer excess umbrella policies (the “Umbrella Coverage”), including defense and indemnity obligations, allocation of claims to specific policies, and other matters. There was no gap in coverage following the exhaustion of the primary layer insurance coverage.

In addition to coverage available under the Umbrella Coverage, ABI has additional excess liability insurance policies that should provide further coverage if and when limits of certain policies within the Umbrella Coverage exhaust.  While ABI expects the Umbrella Coverage will result in the substantial majority of defense and indemnity for asbestos claims against ABI being paid by its insurance carriers for the foreseeable future, ABI may incur uninsured costs related to


 
18

 

Note J - Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

asbestos claims, and those costs could be material.  If ABI were to incur significant uninsured costs for asbestos claims, or its insurance carriers failed to fund insured costs for asbestos claims, such costs could have a material adverse impact on its liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

In general, governmental authorities have determined that asbestos-containing sheet and tile products are nonfriable (i.e., cannot be crumbled by hand pressure) because the asbestos was encapsulated in the products during the manufacturing process.  Thus, governmental authorities have concluded that these products do not pose a health risk when they are properly maintained in place or properly removed so that they remain nonfriable.  The Company has issued warnings not to remove asbestos-­containing flooring by sanding or other methods that may cause the product to become friable.

The Company estimates its liability to defend and resolve current and reasonably anticipated future asbestos-related claims (not including claims asserted against Congoleum) based upon a strategy to actively defend against or strategically seek settlement for those claims on a case by case basis in the normal course of business.  Factors such as recent and historical settlement and trial results, the incidence of past and recent claims, the number of cases pending against it and asbestos litigation developments that may impact the exposure of the Company were considered in performing these estimates.  In 2007, the Company utilized an actuarial study to assist it in developing estimates of the Company’s potential liability for resolving present and possible future asbestos claims.  At December 31, 2007, the estimated range of liability for settlement of current claims pending and claims anticipated to be filed through 2013 was $12.6 million to $41.4 million.  The Company believed no amount within this range is more likely than any other, and accordingly, recorded the minimum liability estimate of $12.6 million in its consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2007.  At September 30, 2008, the Company has recorded $12.9 million for the estimated minimum liability.  The Company has also recorded, based on this minimum liability estimate, an estimate of the amount of insurance probable of recovery is $11.1 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, which has been included in other assets in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.  The same factors that affect developing forecasts of potential indemnity costs for asbestos-related liabilities also affect estimates of the total amount of insurance that is probable of recovery, as do a number of additional factors.  These additional factors include the financial viability of some of the insurance companies, the method in which losses will be allocated to the various insurance policies and the years covered by those policies, how legal and other loss handling costs will be covered by the insurance policies, and interpretation of the effect on coverage of various policy terms and limits and their interrelationships.  These amounts were based on currently known facts and a number of assumptions made prior to the completion of the umbrella/first-layer excess policies arrangement.  The Company intends to engage an actuary in the fourth quarter of 2008 to estimate the amount of insurance probable of recovery taking that arrangement into consideration.  However, projecting future events, such as the number of new claims to be filed each year, the average cost of disposing of each such claim, and the continuing solvency of various insurance companies, as well as numerous uncertainties surrounding asbestos legislation in the United States, could cause the actual liability and insurance recoveries for the Company to be higher or lower than those projected or recorded.

 
19

 

Note J - Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

Due to the numerous variables and uncertainties, including the effect of Congoleum's Chapter 11 case and any plan of reorganization for Congoleum on the Company's liabilities, the Company does not believe that reasonable estimates can be developed of liabilities for asbestos-related claims against the Company (not including claims asserted against Congoleum) beyond a six year horizon.  The Company will continue to evaluate its range of future exposure, and the related insurance coverage available, and when appropriate, record future adjustments to those estimates, which could be material.

ABI and one of its subsidiaries, Ideal Tape Co., Inc., (“Ideal”), were named Potential Responsible Parties (“PRP”) under the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (“CERCLA”), with respect to a site located in Southington, Connecticut (the “Site”).  The PRP group in August 2008 offered to settle all claims with all of the Site’s PRPs.  ABI settled as a de minimus party while Ideal settled as a performing party.  Both companies accepted and paid their share of the settlement offers.  ABI’s and Ideal’s aggregate settlement was $842 thousand.  Under a preexisting agreement with the former owner of Ideal’s assets, Ideal shared a percentage of this cost with the former owner.  Under a preexisting agreement between ABI and The Biltrite Corporation (“TBC”), TBC is liable for 37.5% of the remediation costs incurred by ABI.  ABI’s and Ideal’s combined share of the settlement for the Site, net of the amounts paid by Ideal’s former owner and TBC, was $655 thousand.  As of June 30, 2008, ABI had provided reserves for the aggregate liability as well as a receivable for the amounts payable by the former owner of Ideal’s assets and TBC.

There have been no other material developments relating to the environmental sites or the other environmental matters described in ABI's Annual Report on Form 10-K during the nine month period ended September 30, 2008.

Congoleum

Congoleum is a defendant in a large number of asbestos-related lawsuits and on December 31, 2003, filed a petition commencing a voluntary reorganization case under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code for purposes of resolving its asbestos-related liabilities.  See Note K.

Congoleum is named, together with a large number (in most cases, hundreds) of other companies, as a PRP in pending proceedings under CERCLA and similar state laws.  In addition, in four other instances, although not named as a PRP, Congoleum has received a request for information.  The pending proceedings in which Congoleum is a named PRP currently relate to eight disposal sites in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland in which recovery from generators of hazardous substances is sought for the cost of cleaning up the contaminated waste sites.  Congoleum’s ultimate liability and funding obligations in connection with those other sites depends on many factors, including the volume of material contributed to the site by Congoleum, the number of other PRP’s and their financial viability, the remediation methods and technology to be used and the extent to which costs may be recoverable by Congoleum from relevant insurance policies.  However, under CERCLA and certain other laws, Congoleum, as a PRP, can be held jointly and severally liable for all environmental costs associated with a site.

 
20

 

Note J - Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

The most significant exposure for which Congoleum has been named a PRP relates to a recycling facility site in Elkton, Maryland (the "Galaxy/Spectron Superfund Site").  The PRP group at this site is made up of 81 companies, substantially all of which are large, financially solvent entities.  Two removal actions were substantially complete as of December 31, 1998, and a groundwater treatment system was installed thereafter.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency has selected a remedy for the soil and shallow groundwater (Operable Unit 1 or OU-1); however, the remedial investigation/feasibility study related to the deep groundwater (Operational Unit 2 or OU-2) has not been completed.  The PRP group, of which Congoleum is a part, has entered into a consent decree to perform the remedy for OU-1 and resolve natural resource damage claims. The consent decree also requires the PRP group to perform the OU-2 remedy, assuming that the estimated cost of the remedy is not more than $10.0 million.  If the estimated cost of the OU-2 remedy is more than $10.0 million, the PRP group may decline to perform it or they may elect to perform it anyway. Cost estimates for the OU-1 and OU-2 work combined (including natural resource damages) range between $22 million and $34 million, with Congoleum’s share ranging between approximately $1.0 million and $1.6 million.  This assumes that all parties participate and that none cash-out and pay a premium; those two factors may account for some fluctuation in Congoleum’s share of the costs. Fifty percent (50%) of Congoleum’s share of the costs is presently being paid by one of its insurance carriers, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, whose remaining policy limits for this claim are expected to cover approximately $300 thousand in additional costs.  Congoleum expects to fund the balance to the extent further insurance coverage is not available.

Congoleum filed a motion before the Bankruptcy Court seeking authorization and approval of the consent decree and related settlement agreements for the Galaxy/Spectron Superfund Site, as well as authorization for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Congoleum to make certain payments that have been invoiced to Congoleum with respect to the consent decree and related settlement agreements.  An order authorizing and approving the consent decree and settlement agreements was issued by the Bankruptcy Court in August 2006.

Congoleum also accrues remediation costs for certain of Congoleum’s owned facilities on an undiscounted basis.  Congoleum has entered into an administrative consent order with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and has established a remediation trust fund of $100 thousand as financial assurance for certain remediation funding obligations.  Estimated total clean-up costs of $1.3 million for Congoleum’s expected portion of those remediation funding obligations, including capital outlays and future maintenance costs for soil and groundwater remediation, are primarily based on engineering studies.  Of this amount, $300 thousand was included in current liabilities subject to compromise and $1.0 million was included in non-current liabilities subject to compromise in ABI’s consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

 
21

 

Note J - Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, Congoleum recorded a total of $4.4 million for estimated environmental liabilities, which liabilities were not reduced by the amount of expected insurance recoveries.  At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, such estimated insurance recoveries are approximately $2.2 million.  Receivables for expected insurance recoveries are recorded if the related carriers are solvent and paying claims under a reservation of rights or under an obligation pursuant to coverage in place or a settlement agreement.  Substantially all of Congoleum’s recorded insurance assets for environmental matters are collectible from a single carrier.

Congoleum anticipates that these matters will be resolved over a period of years, and that after application of expected insurance recoveries, funding of the costs by Congoleum will not have a material adverse impact on Congoleum’s liquidity or financial position.  However, unfavorable developments in these matters could result in significant expenses or judgments that could have a material adverse effect on Congoleum’s and the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

Other

In addition to the matters referenced above and in Note K, in the ordinary course of their businesses, the Company and Congoleum become involved in lawsuits and administrative proceedings in connection with product liability claims and other matters.  In some of these proceedings, plaintiffs may seek to recover large and sometimes unspecified amounts, and the matters may remain unresolved for several years.

Note K – Congoleum Asbestos Liabilities and Reorganization

On December 31, 2003, Congoleum filed a voluntary petition with the Bankruptcy Court seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code as a means to resolve claims asserted against it related to the use of asbestos in its products decades ago.  During 2003, Congoleum had obtained the requisite votes of asbestos personal injury claimants necessary to seek approval of a proposed, pre-packaged Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.  In January 2004, Congoleum filed its proposed plan of reorganization and disclosure statement with the Bankruptcy Court.  From that filing through 2007, several subsequent plans were negotiated with representatives of the Asbestos Claimants’ Committee (the "ACC"), the Future Claimants’ Representative (the "FCR") and other asbestos claimant representatives.  In addition, an insurance company, Continental Casualty Company, and its affiliate, Continental Insurance Company (collectively, "CNA"), filed a plan of reorganization and the Official Committee of Bondholders (the “Bondholders’ Committee”) (representing holders of Congoleum’s 8.625% Senior Notes due August 1, 2008) also filed a plan of reorganization.  In May 2006, the Bankruptcy Court ordered the principal parties in interest in Congoleum’s reorganization proceedings to participate in global mediation discussions.  Numerous mediation sessions took place during 2006, culminating in two competing plans, one which Congoleum filed jointly with the ACC in September 2006 (the "Tenth Plan") and the other filed by CNA, both of which the Bankruptcy Court subsequently ruled were not confirmable as a matter of law.

 
22

 

Note K – Congoleum Asbestos Liabilities and Reorganization (continued)

In March 2007, Congoleum resumed global plan mediation discussions with the various parties seeking to resolve the issues raised in the Bankruptcy Court’s ruling with respect to the Tenth Plan.  In July 2007, the FCR filed a plan of reorganization and proposed disclosure statement.   After extensive further mediation sessions, on February 5, 2008, the FCR, the ACC, the Bondholders’ Committee and Congoleum jointly filed a plan of reorganization (the "Joint Plan"). The Bankruptcy Court approved the disclosure statement for the Joint Plan in February 2008, and the Joint Plan was solicited in accordance with court-approved voting procedures.  Various objections to the Joint Plan were filed, and on May 12, 2008 the Bankruptcy Court heard oral argument on summary judgment motions relating to certain of those objections.  On June 6, 2008, the Bankruptcy Court issued a ruling that the Joint Plan was not legally confirmable, and issued an Order to Show Cause why the case should not be converted or dismissed pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1112.  Following a further hearing on June 26, 2008, the Bankruptcy Court issued an opinion that vacated the Order to Show Cause and instructed the parties to submit a confirmable plan by the end of calendar year 2008.  Following further negotiations, the Bondholders’ Committee, the ACC, the FCR, representatives of holders of pre-petition settlements and Congoleum reached an agreement in principle which the Company understands that Congoleum believes addresses the issues raised by the Bankruptcy Court in the ruling on the Joint Plan and in the court's prior decisions.  A term sheet describing the proposed material terms of a contemplated new plan of reorganization (the “New Plan”) and a settlement of avoidance litigation with respect to pre-petition claim settlements (the “Litigation Settlement”) was entered into by those parties and was filed with the Bankruptcy Court on August 14, 2008.  Certain insurers and a large bondholder have filed objections to the Litigation Settlement and/or reserved their rights to object to confirmation of the New Plan.  The Bankruptcy Court approved the Litigation Settlement following a hearing on October 20, 2008, but the court reserved certain issues, including whether any plan of reorganization embodying the settlement meets the standards required for confirmation of a plan of reorganization.

Although there can be no assurances as to the terms of any future plan, the proposed terms for the New Plan provide that if the New Plan is approved by the Bankruptcy Court and accepted by the requisite creditor constituencies, it would permit Congoleum to exit Chapter 11 free of liability for existing and future asbestos claims as provided in the New Plan.  Under the proposed terms for the New Plan, it is contemplated that a Plan Trust would be created that would assume the liability for Congoleum’s current and future asbestos claims.  That Plan Trust would receive the proceeds of various settlements Congoleum has reached with a number of insurance carriers and would be assigned Congoleum’s rights under its remaining insurance policies covering asbestos product liability.  The Plan Trust also would receive 70% of the newly issued common stock in reorganized Congoleum when the New Plan takes effect (the “Trust Shares”) and $5 million in new 9.75% senior secured notes maturing five years from issuance.

Holders of Congoleum’s $100 million in 8.625% Senior Notes due in August 2008 would receive on a pro rata basis $70 million in new 9.75% senior secured notes maturing five years from issuance.  The new senior secured notes would be subordinated to the working capital facility providing Congoleum’s financing upon exiting reorganization.  In addition, holders of


 
23

 

Note K – Congoleum Asbestos Liabilities and Reorganization (continued)

Congoleum’s $100 million in 8.625% Senior Notes due in August 2008 would receive 30% of the common stock in reorganized Congoleum.  Congoleum’s obligations for the $100 million in 8.625% Senior Notes due in August 2008, including accrued pre-petition interest (which amounted to $3.6 million) would be satisfied in full by the new senior secured notes and the common stock of reorganized Congoleum to be issued if the New Plan takes effect.

Under the proposed terms for the New Plan, existing Class A and Class B common shares of Congoleum would be cancelled if the New Plan takes effect and holders of those shares including ABI, would not receive anything on account of their eliminated shares.  ABI expects its ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated under any alternate plan or outcome in Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case.

The proposed terms for the New Plan presently provide for the Plan Trust and holders of Congoleum’s $100 million in 8.625% Senior Notes due in August 2008 who elect to participate to enter into a put agreement (the “Put Agreement”).  Pursuant to the term sheet for the New Plan, for the first 60 days after the date the New Plan becomes effective (the “Effective Date”), the Plan Trust would have the right, at its sole option, to elect to cause participating holders of Congoleum’s $100 million in 8.625% Senior Notes (the “Backstop Participants”) to purchase either (i) all of the Trust Shares issued to the Plan Trust upon consummation of the New Plan representing 70% of the newly issued common stock in reorganized Congoleum for an aggregate purchase price equal to $8.75 million or (ii) a portion of the Trust Shares issued to the Plan Trust upon consummation of the New Plan representing 45% of the newly issued common stock in reorganized Congoleum for an aggregate purchase price equal to $5.75 million.  It is not known at this time whether any holders of Congoleum’s $100 million in 8.625% Senior Notes will elect to participate in the Put Agreement and it is uncertain whether the Put Agreement will become part of the New Plan.

The New Plan is expected to include certain terms that would govern an intercompany settlement among ABI and its non-debtor subsidiaries and Congoleum and ongoing intercompany arrangements among American Biltrite and its subsidiaries and reorganized Congoleum which would be effective when the New Plan takes effect and would have a term of two years.  Those intercompany arrangements include the provision of management services by American Biltrite to reorganized Congoleum and other business relationships substantially consistent with their traditional relationships.  The New Plan is expected to provide that the final terms of the intercompany arrangements among American Biltrite and its subsidiaries and reorganized Congoleum would be memorialized in a new agreement to be entered into by reorganized Congoleum and American Biltrite in form and substance mutually agreeable to the FCR, the official committee of bondholders, the ACC and American Biltrite. Expiration or termination of these existing arrangements, failure to reach definitive agreement on final terms of future arrangements, or failure to consummate such arrangements in connection with the effectiveness of a plan of reorganization for Congoleum could have a material adverse impact on the business


 
24

 

Note K – Congoleum Asbestos Liabilities and Reorganization (continued)

relationships between ABI and Congoleum, and ABI’s business, operations and financial condition.  The existing arrangements currently in effect among ABI and its non-debtor subsidiaries and Congoleum expire on June 30, 2009 unless renewed.

There can be no assurance that the New Plan or any subsequent plan of reorganization, if proposed, will receive the acceptances necessary for confirmation, that any plan will not be modified further, that any other plan will receive necessary court approvals from the Bankruptcy Court and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (the "District Court"), or that such approvals will be received in a timely fashion, that any plan will be confirmed, that any plan, if confirmed, will become effective, or that Congoleum will continue to earn sufficient funds to pay for continued litigation over any plan of reorganization and the state court insurance coverage litigation.  It also is unclear whether any other person might successfully propose a plan that gets confirmed or what any such plan, if confirmed, would ultimately provide, and whether the Bankruptcy Court would approve such a plan.  Any plan of reorganization pursued by Congoleum will be subject to numerous conditions, approvals and other requirements, including Bankruptcy Court and District Court approvals, and there can be no assurance that such conditions, approvals and other requirements will be satisfied or obtained.

In anticipation of Congoleum's commencement of the Chapter 11 cases, Congoleum entered into a Claimant Agreement, which provides for an aggregate settlement value of at least $466 million.  The Claimant Agreement, along with a number of individually negotiated trial listed settlements entered into prior to the commencement of Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case with an aggregate value of approximately $25 million, amount to settlements in excess of $491 million.  As contemplated by the Claimant Agreement, Congoleum also entered into agreements establishing a Collateral Trust to distribute funds in accordance with the terms of the Claimant Agreement and granting the Collateral Trust a security interest in Congoleum’s rights under its applicable insurance coverage and payments from Congoleum’s insurers for asbestos claims.  In December 2005, Congoleum commenced the Avoidance Actions seeking to void the security interest granted to the Collateral Trust and avoid the Claimant Agreement and certain other pre-petition settlements.  Following summary judgment hearings, the Bankruptcy Court has rendered decisions that the grant of the security interest was not valid but denying motions to avoid the settlements; certain of these decisions are under appeal.  The terms of the Litigation Settlement provide for a settlement of the Avoidance Actions, but it is not possible to determine if the New Plan or any future plan will ultimately include such a settlement or how any such settlement may affect the nominal liability.  In connection with soliciting acceptance of the Joint Plan, the voting agent distributed ballots to approximately 146 thousand personal injury claimants, which included holders of claims under the Claimant Agreement and the individual trial listed settlements discussed above, as well as holders of additional alleged claims.  Approximately 71 thousand valid ballots were returned indicating claims with a value of $1.46 billion based on the settlement values applicable in the Joint Plan.  It is also possible that additional new claims may be asserted in connection with any solicitation of acceptances of the New Plan or any other future plan.  Congoleum does not believe it can reasonably estimate the liability associated with asbestos-related claims that may be pending.


 
25

 

Note K – Congoleum Asbestos Liabilities and Reorganization (continued)

During the first nine months of 2008, Congoleum paid $12.5 million in fees and expenses related to implementation of a proposed plan of reorganization for Congoleum under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and the Coverage Action. Based on its reorganization plans, Congoleum has made provision in its financial statements for the minimum estimated cost to effect its plan to settle asbestos liabilities through confirmation of a plan of reorganization that complies with section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code. Congoleum recorded charges aggregating approximately $51.3 million in years prior to 2007.  Based on the terms of the Joint Plan, in the fourth quarter of 2007 Congoleum recorded an additional $41.3 million charge.  Of this charge, $14.9 million related to the write-off of certain insurance litigation costs receivable that would not have been collected under the terms of the Joint Plan and $26.4 million was an additional provision for estimated costs for the reorganization proceedings and the Coverage Action.  In the fourth quarter of 2007 Congoleum also recorded a $41.0 million interest expense credit to reverse post-petition interest accrued on its Senior Notes.  Terms of previous reorganization plans had provided, among other things, for the payment of post-petition interest on the Senior Notes and therefore Congoleum had continued to accrue such interest.  Under the terms of the Joint Plan, the Senior Note holders would not have received any post-petition interest.  Following the ruling that the Joint Plan was unconfirmable and based on the anticipated terms and timing of effectiveness of the New Plan, Congoleum recorded an additional charge of $11.5 million in the third quarter of 2008 for costs to effect a proposed plan of reorganization for Congoleum.

In February 2006, the Bankruptcy Court ordered Congoleum’s former counsel, Gilbert, Heintz & Randolph LLP (currently known as Gilbert Oshinsky LLP) ("GHR") to disgorge all fees and certain expenses it was paid by Congoleum.  In October 2006, Congoleum and GHR entered into a settlement pursuant to which GHR was to pay Congoleum approximately $9.2 million plus accrued interest in full satisfaction of the disgorgement order.  The obligation was secured by assets of GHR and was to be made over time according to a formula based on GHR’s earnings.  The Bankruptcy Court approved that settlement with GHR in April 2007.  Congoleum received $9.2 million plus $1.0 million of accrued interest in full satisfaction of that settlement in March 2008.


 
26

 

Note L - Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table presents total comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
                         
Net (loss) income
  $ (10,366 )   $ 675     $ (9,464 )   $ 1,065  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    110       1,400       (130 )     3,108  
                                 
Total comprehensive (loss) income
  $ (10,256 )   $ 2,075     $ (9,594 )   $ 4,173  

Note M - Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed in accordance with FASB Statement No. 128, Earnings per Share ("SFAS 128").  SFAS 128 requires both basic earnings per share, which is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, and diluted earnings per share, which is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and all dilutive potential common share equivalents outstanding.  The dilutive effect of options is determined under the treasury stock method using the average market price for the period.  Common equivalent shares are included in the per share calculations when the effect of their inclusion would be dilutive.


 
27

 

Note N - Industry Segments

Description of Products and Services

The Company has four reportable segments:  flooring products, tape division, jewelry and a Canadian division. The flooring products segment consists of Congoleum, a manufacturer of resilient floor coverings, which are sold primarily through floor covering distributors to retailers and contractors for commercial and residential use. The tape division segment manufactures paper, film, HVAC, electrical, shoe and other tape products for use in industrial and automotive markets in two production facilities in the United States, and in finishing and sales facilities in Belgium and Singapore.  The jewelry segment consists of the Company's majority-owned subsidiary K&M Associates L.P., a national costume jewelry supplier to mass merchandisers and department stores.  The Company's Canadian division produces flooring, rubber and other industrial products.

Net sales by segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 were as follows (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Net sales to external customers:
                       
Flooring products
  $ 46,085     $ 53,588     $ 140,948     $ 160,444  
Tape products
    21,835       23,901       70,320       73,823  
Jewelry
    14,587       16,025       39,043       46,758  
Canadian division
    14,844       13,889       44,036       41,967  
Total net sales to external customers
    97,351       107,403       294,347       322,992  
Intersegment net sales:
                               
Flooring products
    -       -       -       -  
Tape products
    -       -       -       -  
Jewelry
    -       -       -       -  
Canadian division
    954       1,231       3,170       3,830  
Total intersegment net sales
    954       1,231       3,170       3,830  
Reconciling items
    -       -       -       -  
Intersegment net sales
    (954 )     (1,231 )     (3,170 )     (3,830 )
 
                               
Total consolidated net sales
  $ 97,351     $ 107,403     $ 294,347     $ 322,992  


 
28

 

Note N - Industry Segments (continued)

Segment profit or loss is before income tax expense or benefit, noncontrolling interests, and net income (loss) from discontinued operations.  Profit (loss) by segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 was as follows (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Segment profit (loss)
                       
Flooring products
  $ (11,310 )   $ 1,220     $ (8,337 )   $ 1,711  
Tape products
    (1,875 )     (304 )     (2,106 )     (967 )
Jewelry
    320       487       (1,636 )     1,023  
Canadian division
    380       (564 )     936       (182 )
Total segment profit
    (12,485 )     839       (11,143 )     1,585  
Reconciling items
                               
Corporate expenses
    489       148       37       (247 )
Intercompany profit
    16       (21 )     18       (16 )
Total consolidated (loss) income before income taxes and other items
  $ (11,980 )   $ 966     $ (11,088 )   $ 1,322  

Assets by segment as of the end of the quarter and the end of the prior year were as follows (in thousands):

   
September 30,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
Segment assets
           
Flooring products
  $ 175,179     $ 169,212  
Tape products
    56,418       52,287  
Jewelry
    35,606       38,046  
Canadian division
    34,107       37,907  
Total segment assets
    301,310       297,452  
Reconciling items
               
Corporate items
    34,482       31,523  
Intersegment accounts receivable
    (19,013 )     (10,417 )
Intersegment profit in inventory
    (108 )     (126 )
Intersegment other asset
    (117 )     (126 )
                 
Consolidated assets
  $ 316,554     $ 318,306  

 
29

 

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

Global and financial markets have recently been experiencing substantial disruption.  Economic conditions in the United States have been challenging, including in the industries in which the Company and Congoleum conduct business.  The downturn in the housing industry has resulted in reduced demand for the Company's and Congoleum's products.  The slowdown in manufacturing, including in the automotive and industrial sectors, has resulted in reduced demand for the Tape division's products.  In addition, the decline in consumer and retailer, especially mid-tier retailer, spending has resulted in reduced demand for K&M's products.  Forecasts generally call for a slowing economy or an economic recession in the United States, including in the industries in which the Company and Congoleum conduct business.  The Company expects the current and forecasted economic conditions to continue to negatively impact the Company's and Congoleum's businesses and operations and that the extent of that impact will depend on the duration and depth of the economic slowdown or recession.

In addition, raw material and energy costs have increased sharply over the past year, which has negatively impacted the Company's and Congoleum's businesses and operating results.  Although raw material and energy costs have recently declined, it is not known whether raw material and energy prices will remain lower or will revert to increasing price levels.  In light of the current and forecasted economic conditions in the United States and the industries in which the Company and Congoleum conduct business, the Company and Congoleum may be unable to pass increased raw material and energy costs on to their respective customers.

Although the Company and Congoleum intend to implement reductions in their expenses, there can be no assurance that they will be able to reduce their respective expenses, that any reductions they may implement will have any meaningful positive impact on their businesses, results of operations or financial condition, or that they will be able to sustain any expense reductions that they may implement.

American Biltrite’s consolidated financial statements include its majority-owned subsidiary, Congoleum.  However, under the terms of the Joint Plan, ABI’s ownership interest in Congoleum would have been eliminated and would be eliminated under the terms of the New Plan. ABI expects its ownership interest in Congoleum to be eliminated under any alternate plan or outcome in Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case.  On December 31, 2003, Congoleum filed a voluntary petition with the Bankruptcy Court seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code as a means to resolve claims asserted against it related to the use of asbestos in its products decades ago.  During 2003, Congoleum had obtained the requisite votes of asbestos personal injury claimants necessary to seek approval of a proposed, pre-packaged Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.  In January 2004, Congoleum filed its proposed joint plan of reorganization and disclosure statement with the Bankruptcy Court.  From that filing through 2007, several subsequent plans were negotiated with representatives of the ACC, the FCR and other asbestos claimant representatives.  In addition, an insurance company, CNA, filed a plan of reorganization and the Bondholders’ Committee also filed a plan of reorganization.  In May 2006, the Bankruptcy Court ordered the principal parties in interest in Congoleum’s reorganization proceedings to participate in global mediation discussions.  Numerous mediation

 
30

 

sessions took place during 2006, culminating in two competing plans, one which Congoleum filed jointly with the ACC in September 2006 and the other filed by CNA, both of which the Bankruptcy Court subsequently ruled were not confirmable as a matter of law. In March 2007, Congoleum resumed global plan mediation discussions with the various parties seeking to resolve the issues raised in the Bankruptcy Court’s ruling with respect to the Tenth Plan.  In July 2007, the FCR filed a plan of reorganization and proposed disclosure statement.  After extensive further mediation sessions, on February 5, 2008, the FCR, the ACC, the Bondholders’ Committee and Congoleum jointly filed the Joint Plan.  The Bankruptcy Court approved the disclosure statement for the Joint Plan in February 2008, and the Joint Plan was solicited in accordance with court-approved voting procedures.  Various objections to the Joint Plan were filed, and on May 12, 2008 the Bankruptcy Court heard oral argument on summary judgment motions relating to certain of those objections. On June 6, 2008, the Bankruptcy Court issued a ruling that the Joint Plan was not legally confirmable, and issued an Order to Show Cause why the case should not be converted or dismissed pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1112.  Following a further hearing on June 26, 2008, the Bankruptcy Court issued an opinion that vacated the Order to Show Cause and instructed the parties to submit a confirmable plan by the end of calendar year 2008. Following further negotiations, the Bondholders’ Committee, the ACC, the FCR, representatives of holders of pre-petition settlements and Congoleum reached an agreement in principle which the Company understands that Congoleum believes addresses the issues raised by the Bankruptcy Court in the ruling on the Joint Plan and in the court's prior decisions.  A term sheet describing the proposed material terms of a contemplated new plan of reorganization (the “New Plan”) and a settlement of avoidance litigation with respect to pre-petition claim settlements (the “Litigation Settlement”) was entered into by those parties and was filed with the Bankruptcy Court on August 14, 2008.  Certain insurers and a large bondholder have filed objections to the Litigation Settlement and/or reserved their rights to object to confirmation of the New Plan.  The Bankruptcy Court approved the Litigation Settlement following a hearing on October 20, 2008, but the court reserved certain issues, including whether any plan of reorganization embodying the settlement meets the standards required for confirmation of a plan of reorganization.

There can be no assurance that the New Plan or any subsequent plan of reorganization, if proposed, will receive the acceptances necessary for confirmation, that any plan will not be modified further, that any other plan will receive necessary court approvals from the Bankruptcy Court and the District Court, or that such approvals will be received in a timely fashion, that any plan will be confirmed, that any plan, if confirmed, will become effective, or that Congoleum will continue to have sufficient funds to pay for continued proceedings with respect to any plan of reorganization and the state court insurance coverage litigation.  It also is unclear whether any other person might successfully propose a plan that gets confirmed or what any such plan, if confirmed, would ultimately provide, and whether the Bankruptcy Court would approve such a plan.  Any plan of reorganization pursued by Congoleum will be subject to numerous conditions, approvals and other requirements, including Bankruptcy Court and District Court approvals, and there can be no assurance that such conditions, approvals and other requirements will be satisfied or obtained.


 
31

 

ABI estimates that it will spend $325 thousand for legal fees in 2008, which it has accrued, in connection with Congoleum’s reorganization plan.  Actual costs for pursuing and implementing any plan of reorganization could be materially higher, and Congoleum and the Company may record significant additional charges should the applicable minimum estimated cost increase.

Due to Congoleum’s reorganization and separate capital structure, as well as the anticipated elimination of ABI’s ownership interest in Congoleum, the Company believes that presenting the results of operations of ABI and its non-debtor subsidiaries separately from those of Congoleum is the most meaningful way to discuss and analyze its financial condition and results of operations.

Please refer to "Risk Factors – The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum have significant asbestos liability and funding exposure, and the Company’s and Congoleum’s strategies for resolving this exposure may not be successful.  Any plan of reorganization for Congoleum is expected to result in elimination of the interests of Congoleum's equity holders, including the Company" and "Elimination of the Company’s equity interests in Congoleum could have a material adverse impact on the business relationships between ABI and Congoleum, and ABI’s business, operations and financial condition" included in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of certain factors that could cause actual results to differ from the Company’s and Congoleum’s goals for resolving their asbestos liabilities.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s consolidating financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the Company’s financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company’s actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that reflect significant judgments and uncertainties, and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions.  The Company believes that its most critical accounting policies, upon which its financial condition depends and which involve the most complex or subjective decisions or assessments, are those described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

There have been no material changes in what the Company considers to be its critical accounting policies or the applicability of the disclosure the Company provided regarding those policies in that Form 10-K.


 
32

 

Results of Operations

ABI and Non-Debtor Subsidiaries

   
Three Months Ended September 30
   
Nine Months Ended September 30
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                                                 
Net sales
  $ 51,266           $ 53,815           $ 153,399           $ 162,548        
Cost of sales
    37,942             40,000             114,811             119,694        
Gross profit
    13,324     26.0 %     13,815     25.7 %     38,588     25.2 %     42,854     26.4 %
Selling, general & administrative expenses
    13,501     26.3 %     13,796     25.6 %     41,096     26.8 %     42,611     26.2 %
Operating (loss)  income
    (177 )           19             (2,508 )           243        
 
                                                       
Interest expense, net
    (302 )           (502 )           (1,253 )           (1,597 )      
Other (expense) income, net
    (208 )           250             992             981        
Loss before taxes and other items
    (687 )           (233 )           (2,769 )           (373 )      
Benefit from income taxes
    (446 )           192             (446 )           126        
Noncontrolling interests
    (17 )           (79 )           50             (104 )      
Loss from continuing operations
    (258 )           (504 )           (2,273 )           (603 )      
Discontinued operation
    -             -             1,025             -        
 
                                                       
Net (loss) income
  $ (258 )         $ (504 )         $ (1,248 )         $ (603 )      

Net sales in the third quarter of 2008 were $51.3 million compared to $53.8 million in the third quarter of 2007, a decrease of $2.5 million or 4.7%.  This sales decrease was due to lower sales at the Tape division and K&M, partly offset by higher sales at the Canadian division.  Tape division sales decreased $2.1 million or 8.6% from the third quarter of 2007 primarily due to lower sales of pre-mask and application tapes and HVAC tapes used in construction applications.  K&M’s sales declined $1.4 million or 9% due to weak demand for costume jewelry, particularly at mid-tier retailers.  Canadian division sales improved from the third quarter of 2007 on improved sales of industrial products.

Net sales for the first nine months of 2008 decreased $9.1 million (5.6%) to $153.4 million from $162.5 million for the first nine months of 2007.  This decrease was primarily due to lower jewelry sales as a result of weak retail conditions and lower sales of paper, HVAC and film products at the Tape division.

Gross profit increased from 25.7% of net sales for the third quarter of 2007 to 26.0% for the third quarter of 2008.  The increase in gross profit as a percent of sales was primarily due to significant margin improvements at the Canadian division as a result of pricing increases, cost reductions, and sales mix improvements, which more than offset gross margin percentage decreases at the Tape Division resulting from raw material cost increases and at K&M due to higher allowances.

 
33

 

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was 25.2% compared to 26.4% for the first nine months of 2007.  For the 2008 nine month period, the Canadian division realized margin improvements, for the reasons cited above.  These improvements were exceeded by the decline in margins at Tape and K&M, which declines occurred for the same reasons Tape and K&M realized margin declines in the third quarter.

The Company includes the cost of purchasing and finished goods inspection in selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses.  Some companies also record such costs in operating expenses while others record them in cost of goods sold.  Consequently, the Company’s gross profit margins may not be comparable to other companies.  Had the Company recorded these expenses in cost of sales, the gross profit margins for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 would have been 25.3% and 25.2%, respectively.  The gross profit margins for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 would have been 24.5% and 26.0%, respectively.

SG&A expenses in the third quarter of 2008 decreased by $293 thousand or 2.1% compared to the third quarter of 2007.  This decrease was due to lower costs at K&M as a result of expense reduction initiatives, partly offset by higher expenses at the Canadian and Tape division due to inflation and the effect of translation.  As a percentage of net sales, SG&A increased from 25.6% for the third quarter of 2007 to 26.3% for the third quarter of 2008.  SG&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $41.1 million (26.8% of net sales) versus $42.6 million (26.2% of net sales) for the first nine months of 2007, a decrease of $1.5 million, due to expense reductions at K&M and the Tape division, partly offset by the effect of currency translation on Canadian division expenses.

Net interest expense for the third quarter and first nine months of 2008 was lower compared to the same periods in 2007 due to lower average borrowings.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company recorded a tax benefit it expects to recover from carrying back current year losses against a prior year’s taxable income. The Company also recorded a benefit of approximately $200 thousand for a change in valuation allowance against foreign tax credits.

The loss from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2008 was $258 thousand compared to a loss of $504 thousand in the corresponding prior year period.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the loss from continuing operations was $2.3 million compared to a loss of $603 thousand for the same period last year.

In April 2006, the Company entered into an agreement to sell a building and land owned by Janus, a discontinued operation.  The gain on the sale was deferred and then recognized in May 2008 subsequent to the receipt of an environmental certification on the land sold and receipt of payment of the $4 million principal amount of the note previously issued by the buyer as part of the consideration for that sale.  The gain of approximately $1 million was recorded as a gain from a discontinued operation during the second quarter of 2008.


 
34

 

Congoleum

   
Three Months Ended September 30
   
Nine Months Ended September 30
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                                                 
Net sales
  $ 46,085           $ 53,588           $ 140,948           $ 160,444        
Cost of sales
    37,765             39,365             111,866             120,478        
Gross profit
    8,320     18.1 %     14,223     26.5 %     29,082     20.6 %     39,966     24.9 %
Selling, general & administrative expenses
    7,768     16.9 %     9,829     18.3 %     26,138     18.5 %     29,243     18.2 %
Asbestos-related reorganization charges
    11,491             -             11,491             -        
Operating (loss) income
    (10,939 )           4,394             (8,547 )           10,723        
Interest income (expense), net
    6             (2,961 )           1,001             (8,765 )      
Other expense, net
    (377 )           (213 )           (791 )           (247 )      
(Loss) income before taxes
    (11,310 )           1,220             (8,337 )           1,711        
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
    (1,185 )           20             (103 )           27        
 
                                                       
Net (loss) income
  $ (10,125 )         $ 1,200           $ (8,234 )         $ 1,684        

Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2008 were $46.1 million as compared to $53.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, a decrease of $7.5 million or 14% of net sales. The major factors driving the decrease in sales were weak builder product sales reflecting ongoing weakness in the new construction housing market, lower sales in the residential remodeling product category and sharp declines in manufactured housing product volume reflecting weak recreational vehicle and manufactured housing shipments, partially offset by selling price increases instituted.

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 total $140.9 million as compared to $160.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, a decrease of $19.5 million or 12.2%. The decrease in sales is largely attributable to the same factors impacting the third quarter comparisons.

Gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2008 totaled $8.3 million, or 18% of net sales, compared to $14.2 million, or 26.5% of net sales, for the same period last year. The decrease in gross margin dollars primarily reflects lower sales, with the decrease in margin percent a result of sharply higher raw material costs coupled with unabsorbed overhead expense related to lower production volumes.

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 totaled $29.1 million, or 20.6% of net sales, compared to $40.0 million, or 24.9% of net sales, for the same period last year. Lower sales dollars accounted for most of the decline in gross margin dollars, with higher raw material costs and unabsorbed overhead expense related to lower production volumes driving the reduction in gross margin percentage.


 
35

 

SG&A expenses were $7.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to $9.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, a decrease of $2.0 million. Lower compensation and benefits expense reflecting workforce reductions accounted for most of the decline. Congoleum booked an $11.5 million charge in the quarter for projected expenses related to completing its most recent reorganization plan.

SG&A expenses were $26.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 compared to $29.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, a decrease of $3.1 million.  Lower compensation and benefits expense related to workforce reductions coupled with other cost reduction programs accounted for most of the decrease.

Loss from operations totaled $10.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to income of $4.4 million for three months ended September 30, 2007, reflecting lower gross margin dollars coupled with the asbestos-related reorganization charge. Loss from operations was $8.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 compared to income of $10.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, reflecting lower gross margin dollars as a result of lower sales and the asbestos-related reorganization charges.

Congoleum reported a tax benefit from income taxes of $103 thousand for the nine months ending September 30, 2008.  The full year effective tax rate is expected to approximate 1.24%. Congoleum recorded a minimal provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

ABI & Non-Debtor Subsidiaries

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $983 thousand in the nine months ended September 30, 2008 to $2.9 million. Working capital at September 30, 2008 was $32.8 million compared to $31.9 million at December 31, 2007.  The ratio of current assets to current liabilities at September 30, 2008 was 1.72 compared to 1.63 at December 31, 2007.  Cash from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 exceeded requirements for working capital and capital expenditures, and the excess, together with the $4.0 million in proceeds from the Janus note receivable, were used to reduce short term borrowings.  Net cash provided by operating activities was $754 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to cash provided by operating activities of $50 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, which increase was primarily due to lower investment in accounts receivable.

Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2008 were $1.0 million compared to $1.3 million for the first nine months of 2007.  It is anticipated that capital spending for the full year 2008 will be approximately $2.5 million.

The Company has recorded provisions which it believes are adequate for environmental remediation, including provisions for testing and potential remediation of conditions at its own facilities, and non-asbestos product-related liabilities.  While the Company believes its estimate of the future amount of these environmental liabilities is reasonable, that most of such amounts will be paid over a period of five to ten years and that the Company expects to have sufficient resources to fund such amounts, the actual timing and amount of such payments may differ significantly from the Company's assumptions.  Although the effect of future government regulation could have a significant effect on the Company's costs, the Company is not aware of any pending legislation or regulation relating to these matters that would have a material adverse effect on its consolidated results of operations or financial position.  There can be no assurances that any such costs could be passed along to its customers.


 
36

 

American Biltrite Inc.’s primary source of borrowings are the revolving credit facility (the "Revolver") and the term loan ("Term Loan") it has with Bank of America, National Association ("BofA"), and BofA acting through its Canada branch (the "Canadian Lender") pursuant to an amended and restated credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement").  The Credit Agreement provides American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiary K&M with (i) a $30.0 million commitment under the Revolver with a $12.0 million borrowing sublimit (the "Canadian Revolver") for American Biltrite Inc.’s subsidiary AB Canada and (ii) the $10.0 million Term Loan.  The Credit Agreement also provides for domestic and Canadian letter of credit facilities with availability of up to $5.0 million and $1.5 million, respectively, subject to availability under the Revolver and the Canadian Revolver, respectively.

On September 25, 2006, American Biltrite Inc., K&M and AB Canada entered into an amendment and restatement to the Credit Agreement with BofA and the Canadian Lender.  Pursuant to the amendment and restatement, the Term Loan was added to the Credit Agreement and the amount of the Revolver was increased by $10.0 million to its current $30.0 million amount.  In addition, the availability for domestic letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement was increased from $4.0 million to $5.0 million.  In connection with that amendment and restatement, American Biltrite Inc. used approximately $17.0 million of new borrowings from the proceeds of the Term Loan, which was fully drawn, and under the Revolver to fully prepay $16.0 million of aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Company’s senior notes, all of which were held by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, together with approximately $1.0 million in interest and yield maintenance fees in connection with those notes and prepayment.  A charge of approximately $860 thousand for early extinguishment of debt was recorded in connection with this prepayment, which was included in other expense.

The amount of borrowings available from time to time for American Biltrite Inc. and K&M under the Revolver may not exceed the lesser of (a) $30.0 million less the then outstanding amount of borrowings by AB Canada under the Canadian Revolver less any outstanding borrowings under the domestic letter of credit facility and (b) the applicable borrowing base.  The formula used for determining the domestic borrowing base is based upon inventory, receivables and fixed assets of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (not including, among others, AB Canada and Congoleum), reduced by amounts outstanding under the Term Loan.

The amount of borrowings available from time to time for AB Canada under the Canadian Revolver is limited to the lesser of (a) $12 million less any outstanding borrowings under the Canadian letter of credit facility, (b) AB Canada's borrowing base amount, which is based upon AB Canada's accounts receivable, inventory and fixed assets, and (c) $30.0 million less the amount of domestic borrowings outstanding under the Revolver on behalf of the Company and K&M.  AB Canada may borrow amounts under the Canadian Revolver in United States or Canadian dollar denominations; however, solely for purposes of determining amounts outstanding and borrowing availability under the Revolver, all Canadian dollar denominated amounts will be converted into United States dollars in the manner provided in the Credit Agreement.


 
37

 

Interest is payable quarterly on the Term Loan and Revolver borrowings by American Biltrite Inc. and K&M under the Credit Agreement at rates which vary depending on the applicable interest rate in effect and are generally determined based upon: (a) if a LIBOR based rate is in effect, at a rate between a LIBOR based rate plus 1.0% to a LIBOR based rate plus 2.75%, depending on the Company's leverage ratio, as determined under the Credit Agreement, (b) if a fixed rate is in effect, at a rate between the fixed rate plus 1.0% to a fixed rate plus 2.75%, depending on the Company's leverage ratio, as determined under the Credit Agreement, and (c) for loans not based on a LIBOR or fixed rate, the higher of (i) BofA's applicable prime rate and (ii) 0.50% plus the federal funds rate, as determined under the Credit Agreement.  Under the Credit Agreement, American Biltrite Inc. and K&M may generally determine whether interest on domestic revolving loans will be calculated based on a LIBOR based rate, and if BofA elects to make a fixed rate option available, whether interest on revolving loans will be calculated based on a fixed rate.

Interest is payable quarterly on revolving loans under the Canadian Revolver at rates which vary depending on the applicable interest rate in effect and are generally determined based upon: (a) if a LIBOR based rate is in effect, at a rate between a LIBOR based rate plus 1.0% to a LIBOR based rate plus 2.75%, depending on the Company's leverage ratio, as determined under the Credit Agreement, and (b) if a LIBOR based rate is not in effect, for outstanding revolving loans denominated in Canadian dollars, the higher of (i) 0.50% plus the applicable 30-day average bankers' acceptance rate as quoted on Reuters CDOR page and (ii) the Canadian Lender's applicable prime rate for loans made in Canadian dollars to Canadian customers, and for outstanding revolving loans denominated in United States dollars, the higher of (i) 0.50% plus the federal funds rate as calculated under the Credit Agreement and (ii) the applicable rate announced by the Canadian Lender as its reference rate for commercial loans denominated in United States dollars made to a person in Canada.  Under the Credit Agreement, AB Canada may generally determine whether interest on Canadian revolving loans will be calculated based on a LIBOR based rate.

American Biltrite Inc. has entered into interest rate swap agreements that effectively fix the LIBOR rate component of the Term Loan and $6.0 million of the Revolver at 5.18% and 5.15%, respectively.

The Term Loan principal is payable in 20 quarterly installments of $500 thousand beginning December 31, 2006 and ending on September 30, 2011.  All indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, other than the Term Loan, matures on September 30, 2009.


 
38

 

The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants that the Company must satisfy.  The covenants included in the Credit Agreement include certain financial tests, restrictions on the ability of the Company to incur additional indebtedness or to grant liens on its assets and restrictions on the ability of the Company to pay dividends on its capital stock.  The financial tests are required to be calculated based on the Company accounting for its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum Corporation on the equity method and include a maximum ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth, a minimum ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) less certain cash payments for taxes, debt service, and dividends to interest expense, a minimum level of tangible net worth, and a maximum level of capital spending.  Pursuant to the amendment and restatement to the Credit Agreement entered into on September 25, 2006, certain of the financial covenants under the Credit Agreement were amended to, among other things, (i) increase the permitted ratio of the Company's consolidated total liabilities to consolidated tangible net worth to 200%, (ii) to provide for a higher threshold for satisfying the consolidated tangible net worth test and (iii) to provide a higher permitted aggregate amount for capital expenditures in any fiscal year. The Credit Agreement also requires, for each fiscal quarter ending on and after March 31, 2007, the Company's Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ending to exceed 100% of the Company's Consolidated Fixed Charges for the 12-month period ending on such date, as determined under the Credit Agreement (the “Fixed Charge Covenant”).

Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries previously granted BofA and the Canadian Lender a security interest in most of the Company's and its subsidiaries' assets.  The security interest granted does not include the shares of capital stock of Congoleum or the assets of Congoleum.  In addition, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries have agreed to guarantee the Company's obligations (excluding AB Canada's obligations) under the Credit Agreement.

In the past, the Company has had to amend its debt agreements in order to avoid being in default of those agreements as a result of failing to satisfy certain financial covenants contained in those agreements.  At March 31, 2007, the Company was not in compliance with the financial covenant under the Credit Agreement that there be no consecutive quarterly net losses from continuing operations.  On May 14, 2007, American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiaries, K&M and AB Canada, entered into an amendment, effective as of March 31, 2007, to the Credit Agreement with BofA and BofA acting through its Canada branch, each in their respective capacities as lenders and administrative agents under the Credit Agreement.  The amendment revised that financial covenant to provide that for each of the two consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company ending December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007, the Company may not have a quarterly net loss from continuing operations in excess of $400 thousand.  The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants of its debt agreements at June 30 and September 30, 2007.  At December 31, 2007, the Company was not in compliance with the financial covenant under the Credit Agreement that requires a ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement) to exceed 1.0 and that there be no consecutive quarterly net losses from continuing operations.  On March 12, 2008, the same parties entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement to remove the financial covenant that required the Company not to have any consecutive quarterly net losses from continuing operations (reporting Congoleum on the equity method of accounting).  In addition, for purposes of determining the Company's compliance with the financial covenant requiring its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to exceed 100% of the Company's Consolidated Fixed Charges (in each case, as determined under the Credit Agreement), the amendment permits the Company to add certain amounts to its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to the extent those amounts are deducted in determining the Company's Consolidated Net Income (as determined under the Credit Agreement).  Further, under the amendment, the lenders waived defaults that may have otherwise existed as of December 31, 2007 with respect to the financial covenants that were amended by the amendment.


 
39

 

On August 14, 2008, American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiaries, K&M and AB Canada, entered into an amendment, effective as of June 30, 2008, to the Credit Agreement with BofA and BofA acting through its Canada branch, each in their respective capacities as lenders and administrative agents under the Credit Agreement.  The amendment permits the Company to add the principal proceeds it received from the payoff of a note (see Note C of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements, which is included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q) to its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, as determined under the Credit Agreement, for the periods ending June 30, 2008, September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2008.  Further, under the amendment, the lenders waived defaults that may have otherwise existed as of June 30, 2008 with respect to the Fixed Charge Covenant.  ABI paid BofA a fee of $50 thousand in connection with this amendment.

The Company may need to further amend the Credit Agreement or obtain waivers from the lenders under that agreement in order to avoid being in default at some future date.  For instance, as noted above, pursuant to the amendment to the Credit Agreement entered into on August 14, 2008, the principal proceeds the Company received from the payoff of the Janus note receivable may be added to the Company's Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, as determined under the Credit Agreement, for the periods ending June 30, 2008, September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2008.  Those proceeds are not allowed to be added to the Company's Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for periods after December 31, 2008.  As a result, the Company may not be able to comply with financial covenants involving the Company's Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for future periods after December 31, 2008 and may need to obtain a waiver from BofA for any resulting failure to satisfy those financial covenants or seek an amendment to the Credit Agreement to address any such failure so that the Company would not be in breach of the Credit Agreement.  Although the Company expects that it would be able to obtain any such amendment or waiver, if necessary, there can be no assurances that it would be successful in obtaining the amendment or waiver.

Under the terms of the Joint Plan, ABI’s ownership interest in Congoleum would have been eliminated and would be eliminated under the terms of the New Plan.  ABI expects that its ownership interest in Congoleum will likely be eliminated under any alternate plan or outcome in Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case. While the Company does not believe the loss of the value of its equity interest in Congoleum would have a direct material adverse effect on ABI’s liquidity, the loss of a controlling interest could have a material adverse impact on the business relationships between ABI and Congoleum, which in turn could have a material adverse impact on ABI’s business, operations and financial condition. In connection with Congoleum’s plan of reorganization, ABI expects to spend $325 thousand for legal fees in 2008, which is not expected to have a material adverse effect on ABI’s working capital or cash flow.


 
40

 

The Company has not declared a dividend subsequent to the third quarter of 2003.  Future dividends, if any, will be determined by the Company's Board of Directors based upon the financial performance and capital requirements of the Company, among other considerations.  Under the Credit Agreement, aggregate dividend payments (since June 30, 2003) are generally limited to 50% of cumulative consolidated net income (computed treating Congoleum under the equity method of accounting), as determined under the Credit Agreement, earned from June 30, 2003.

Congoleum

The consolidated financial statements of Congoleum have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.  Accordingly, Congoleum’s consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should Congoleum be unable to continue as a going concern.  In light of Congoleum’s substantial asbestos liabilities, which are further described in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there is substantial doubt about Congoleum's ability to continue as a going concern unless it obtains relief from those liabilities through a successful reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

On December 31, 2003, Congoleum filed a voluntary petition with the Bankruptcy Court (Case No. 03-51524) seeking relief under the Bankruptcy Code.  See Notes A and K of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements, contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for a discussion of Congoleum’s bankruptcy proceedings. These matters continue to have a material adverse impact on liquidity and capital resources.  During the first nine months of 2008, Congoleum paid $12.5 million in fees and expenses related to reorganization proceedings under Chapter 11 and the Coverage Action.  Furthermore, at September 30, 2008 Congoleum had incurred but not paid approximately $10.0 million in additional fees and expenses for services rendered through that date.

Based on the Joint Plan, Congoleum has made provision in its financial statements for the minimum estimated cost to effect its plan to settle asbestos liabilities through confirmation of a plan that complies with section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code. Congoleum recorded charges aggregating approximately $51.3 million in years prior to 2007.  Based on the terms of the Joint Plan, in the fourth quarter of 2007 Congoleum recorded an additional $41.3 million charge.  Of this charge, $14.9 million related to the write-off of certain insurance litigation costs receivable that would not have been collected under the terms of the Joint Plan and $26.4 million was an additional provision for estimated costs for the reorganization proceedings and the Coverage Action.  In the fourth quarter of 2007 Congoleum also recorded a $41.0 million interest expense credit to reverse post-petition interest accrued on its Senior Notes.  Terms of previous reorganization plans had provided, among other things, for the payment of post-petition interest on the Senior Notes and therefore Congoleum had continued to accrue such interest.  Under the terms of the Joint Plan, the Senior Note holders would not have received any post-petition interest.  Following the ruling that the Joint Plan was unconfirmable and based on the anticipated terms and timing of effectiveness of the New Plan, Congoleum recorded an additional charge of $11.5 million in the third quarter of 2008 for costs to effect its reorganization.

 
41

 

In February 2006, the Bankruptcy Court ordered GHR to disgorge all fees and certain expenses it was paid by Congoleum.  In October 2006, Congoleum and GHR entered into a settlement pursuant to which GHR was to pay Congoleum approximately $9.2 million plus accrued interest in full satisfaction of the disgorgement order.  The obligation was secured by assets of GHR and was to be made over time according to a formula based on GHR’s earnings.  The Bankruptcy Court approved that settlement with GHR in April 2007.  Congoleum received $9.2 million plus $1.0 million of accrued interest in full satisfaction of that settlement in March 2008.

Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, including short-term investments at September 30, 2008, were $23.8 million, a decrease of $ 2.6 million from December 31, 2007.  Under the terms of its revolving credit agreement, payments on Congoleum’s accounts receivable are deposited in an account assigned by Congoleum to its lender and the funds in that account are used by the lender to pay down any loan balance. Deposits made on the last day of the month are considered restricted cash. There were no funds deposited in this account at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.  Additionally, $6.6 million remaining from a $14.5 million settlement received in August 2004 from an insurance carrier, which is subject to a court order, is included as restricted cash at September 30, 2008. In the second quarter of 2008 Congoleum received an additional $22.7 million from other insurance carriers which is also included in restricted cash.  Congoleum expects to contribute these funds, less any amounts withheld pursuant to reimbursement arrangements, to the Plan Trust should the Bankruptcy Court confirm a plan pursuant to Section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code.  Working capital was $10.2 million at September 30, 2008, down from $9.4 million at December 31, 2007.  The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.1 to 1.0 at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.  Net cash used in operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $1.9 million, as compared to net cash provided by operations of $4.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 totaled $2.7 million.  Congoleum is currently planning capital expenditures of approximately $5.5 million in 2008 and between $5.0 million and $7.0 million in 2009, primarily for maintenance and improvement of plants and equipment, which it expects to fund with cash from operations and credit facilities.

In January 2004, the Bankruptcy Court authorized entry of a final order approving Congoleum’s debtor-in-possession financing, which replaced its pre-petition credit facility on substantially similar terms. The debtor-in-possession financing agreement (as amended and approved by the Bankruptcy Court to date) provides a revolving credit facility expiring on the earlier of (i) June 30, 2009 and (ii) the date the plan of reorganization in Congoleum's bankruptcy cases as confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court becomes effective.  Total borrowing under the facility may not exceed $30.0 million. Interest is based on 0.25% above the prime rate.  This financing agreement contains certain covenants, which include the maintenance of minimum earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Congoleum EBITDA”).  In connection with the most recent amendment and extension of the agreement, the minimum level of Congoleum EBITDA that Congoleum must maintain was reduced for quarters ending after June 30, 2008.  Congoleum paid a fee of $25 thousand for such amendment, plus an amendment fee in the amount of $15 thousand per month.  The financing agreement also includes restrictions on the incurrence of additional debt and limitations on capital expenditures. The covenants and

 
42

 

conditions under this financing agreement must be met in order for Congoleum to borrow from the facility. Congoleum was in compliance with these covenants (as amended) at September 30, 2008. Borrowings under this facility are collateralized by inventory and receivables.  At September 30, 2008, based on the level of receivables and inventory, $20.3 million was available under the facility, of which $2.2 million was utilized for outstanding letters of credit and $12.6 million was utilized by the revolving loan.  Congoleum anticipates that its debtor-in-possession financing facility (including anticipated extensions thereof) together with cash from operations will provide it with sufficient liquidity to operate during 2008 and 2009 while under Chapter 11 protection.  There can be no assurances that Congoleum will continue to be in compliance with the required covenants under this facility or that the debtor-in-possession facility (as extended) will be renewed prior to its expiration if a plan of reorganization is not confirmed before that time.  For a plan of reorganization to be confirmed, Congoleum will need to obtain and demonstrate the sufficiency of exit financing.  Congoleum cannot presently determine the terms of such financing, nor can there be any assurances of its success obtaining it, particularly in light of the recent substantial disruption in the global credit markets which has resulted in credit becoming more expensive and difficult to obtain.

In addition to the provision for asbestos litigation discussed previously, Congoleum has also recorded what it believes are adequate provisions for environmental remediation and product-related liabilities (other than asbestos-related claims), including provisions for testing for potential remediation of conditions at its own facilities. Congoleum is subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations and certain legal and administrative claims are pending or have been asserted against Congoleum.  Among these claims, Congoleum is a named party in several actions associated with waste disposal sites (further described in Note J of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).  These actions include possible obligations to remove or mitigate the effects on the environment of wastes deposited at various sites, including Superfund sites and certain of Congoleum’s owned and previously owned facilities.  The contingencies also include claims for personal injury and/or property damage.  The exact amount of such future cost and timing of payments are indeterminable due to such unknown factors as the magnitude of cleanup costs, the timing and extent of the remedial actions that may be required, the determination of Congoleum’s liability in proportion to other potentially responsible parties, and the extent to which costs may be recoverable from insurance.  Congoleum has recorded provisions in its financial statements for the estimated probable loss associated with all known general and environmental contingencies. While Congoleum believes its estimate of the future amount of these liabilities is reasonable, and that they will be paid over a period of five to ten years, the timing and amount of such payments may differ significantly from Congoleum’s assumptions.  Although the effect of future government regulation could have a significant effect on Congoleum’s costs, Congoleum is not aware of any pending legislation which would reasonably have such an effect.  There can be no assurances that the costs of any future government regulations could be passed along to its customers.  Estimated insurance recoveries related to these liabilities are reflected in other non-current assets.

The outcome of these environmental matters could result in significant expenses incurred by or judgments assessed against Congoleum.


 
43

 

Congoleum's principal sources of capital are net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under its financing agreement. Congoleum believes that its existing cash (excluding restricted cash), cash generated from operations, and debtor-in-possession credit arrangements should be sufficient to provide adequate working capital for operations during 2008.  Congoleum’s ability to emerge from Chapter 11 will depend on obtaining sufficient exit financing to settle administrative expenses of the reorganization and any other related obligations, and to provide adequate future liquidity.

Item 4T:  Controls and Procedures

a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on such evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, in that they provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b)
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  There have not been any changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


 
44

 

PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

The information contained in Note J "Commitments and Contingencies" and Note K "Congoleum Asbestos Liabilities and Reorganization" of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included in Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and in "Risk Factors – The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum have significant asbestos liability and funding exposure, and the Company's and Congoleum's strategies for resolving this exposure may not be successful.  Any plan of reorganization for Congoleum is expected to result in elimination of the interests of Congoleum’s equity holders, including the Company" and "Elimination of the Company’s equity interests in Congoleum could have a material adverse impact on the business relationships between ABI and Congoleum, and ABI’s business, operations and financial condition" included in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 1A.  Risk Factors

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum have significant asbestos liability and funding exposure, and the Company's and Congoleum's strategies for resolving this exposure may not be successful.  Any plan of reorganization for Congoleum is expected to result in elimination of the interests of Congoleum's equity holders, including the Company.

As more fully set forth in Notes J and K of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company and Congoleum have significant liability and funding exposure for asbestos personal injury claims.  On December 31, 2003, Congoleum filed a voluntary petition with the Bankruptcy Court seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code as a means to resolve claims asserted against it related to the use of asbestos in its products decades ago.  A joint plan of reorganization for Congoleum proposed by the FCR, the ACC, the Bondholders’ Committee and Congoleum was filed in the Bankruptcy Court, which plan is referred to elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as the "Joint Plan."  While that plan was found to be legally unconfirmable, it had sufficient creditor support to have been confirmed and those parties have agreed to a term sheet for the New Plan that is expected to provide similar treatment to ABI’s interests as provided under the Joint Plan.  Under the terms of the Joint Plan, ABI's ownership interest in Congoleum would have been eliminated and would be eliminated under the terms of the New Plan.  ABI expects that its ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated under any alternate plan or outcome in Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case.


 
45

 

Any plan of reorganization for Congoleum, if proposed, will be subject to numerous conditions, approvals and other requirements, including the receipt of necessary creditor, claimant and court approvals.  Certain insurers have contested the reorganization plans previously filed by Congoleum in the Bankruptcy Court and Congoleum is involved in ongoing litigation against its insurers in a state court coverage action.  If the insurers are successful in contesting any future reorganization plan or in denying coverage under the insurance policies, such reorganization plan may not receive necessary court approval or may not become effective.  Further, even if the insurers are not successful in contesting any future plan that may be proposed or in denying coverage under the insurance policies, Congoleum may be required to incur significant time and expense litigating against the insurers, which could further delay any confirmation or effectiveness of any reorganization plan.  In order to obtain confirmation of any reorganization plan, Congoleum will need sufficient funds to pay for the continued litigation with these insurers as well the bankruptcy proceedings generally.  In addition, for a plan of reorganization to be confirmed, Congoleum will need to obtain and demonstrate the sufficiency of exit financing.  Congoleum cannot presently determine the terms of such financing, nor can there be any assurances of its success obtaining it, particularly in light of the recent substantial disruption in the global credit markets which has resulted in credit becoming more expensive and difficult to obtain.  Moreover, the failure of any lender under any credit facility Congoleum may have or obtain to fund requests for borrowings by Congoleum could negatively impact Congoleum's business, results of operations or financial condition and its chances of obtaining confirmation of any plan of reorganization.

Under the terms of the Joint Plan, ABI’s rights and claims to indemnification from Congoleum under the existing joint venture agreement between ABI and Congoleum that relate to ABI's contribution to Congoleum in 1993 of ABI's tile division, and the joint venture agreement itself, would have been deemed rejected and disallowed upon the effective date of the Joint Plan, and therefore eliminated.  The Joint Plan's rejection and disallowance of the joint venture agreement and ABI’s claims thereunder included any unfunded indemnification claims ABI may have had prepetition and during the pendency of Congoleum's Chapter 11 case as well as any such claims ABI might otherwise have been entitled to assert after the Joint Plan became effective.

In addition, in view of ABI’s relationships with Congoleum, ABI will be affected by Congoleum's negotiations regarding, and its pursuit of, any plan of reorganization, and there can be no assurance as to what that impact, positive or negative, might be.  In any event, the failure of Congoleum to obtain confirmation and consummation of a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization would have a material adverse effect on Congoleum's business, results of operations or financial condition and could have a material adverse effect on ABI’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company has its own direct asbestos liability as well.  The Company's strategy remains to vigorously defend against and strategically settle its asbestos claims on a case-by-case basis.  To date, the Company's insurers have funded substantially all of the Company's liabilities and expenses related to its asbestos liability under the Company's applicable insurance policies.  The Company expects its insurance carriers will continue to defend and indemnify it for a substantial amount of its asbestos liabilities for the foreseeable future pursuant to an umbrella/first-layer excess policies arrangement between the Company and the applicable insurance carriers.  It is possible that asbestos claims may be asserted against the Company alleging exposure allocable solely to years in which the Company’s insurance policies excluded coverage for asbestos, that the policies providing coverage under the umbrella/first-layer excess policies arrangement will exhaust, or that the carriers responsible for such policies may at some future date be unwilling or unable to meet their obligations under the policies or that arrangement.  If ABI were to incur significant additional asbestos liabilities for which it did not have insurance coverage or was not able to receive recoveries under its insurance policies due to the carriers which underwrote those policies being insolvent or otherwise, ABI may have to fund such liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on ABI's business, results of operations or financial condition.


 
46

 

As a result of Congoleum's significant liability and funding exposure for asbestos claims, there can be no assurance that if Congoleum were to incur any unforecasted or unexpected liability or disruption to its business or operations it would be able to withstand that liability or disruption and continue as an operating company.  Any significant increase of the Company's asbestos liability and funding exposure would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, operations and financial condition and possibly its ability to continue as a going concern.

In the past, federal legislation has been proposed which would establish a national trust to provide compensation to victims of asbestos-related injuries and channel all current and future asbestos-related personal injury claims to that trust.  In light of the numerous uncertainties surrounding this and other possible asbestos legislation in the United States, ABI does not know what effects any such legislation, if adopted, may have upon its or Congoleum's businesses, results of operations or financial conditions, or upon any plan of reorganization for Congoleum.

For further information regarding the Company's and Congoleum's asbestos liability, insurance coverage and strategies to resolve that asbestos liability, please see Notes A, J and K of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," which are included in Part I, Item 1 and Part I, Item 2, respectively, of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Elimination of the Company’s equity interests in Congoleum could have a material adverse impact on the business relationships between ABI and Congoleum and ABI’s business, operations and financial condition.

ABI expects that its ownership interest in Congoleum will be eliminated under any plan or outcome in Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case.  There can be no assurances as to the ownership structure under the terms of any new reorganization plan for Congoleum that may be proposed or how such structure and any other change in ownership and control may affect reorganized Congoleum’s business, operations and financial condition, or its future relationships with ABI.

ABI provides management services to Congoleum, sells and purchases products to and from Congoleum, and receives royalties from Congoleum.  Agreements for these current intercompany arrangements expire on June 30, 2009, or upon the effectiveness of a plan of reorganization for Congoleum, whichever comes first.  It is not known whether ABI, Congoleum and the other parties in interest will agree to extend the term of these arrangements, and if so, for how long any extension would last or what the terms of any such extension and related intercompany arrangements would be.  The terms of the Joint Plan provided for certain intercompany arrangements continuing for a two year period ending on the second anniversary of the effective date of the Joint Plan pursuant to a new agreement to be entered into by ABI and reorganized Congoleum on the effective date of the Joint Plan.  The Joint Plan provided that the new agreement would be in form and substance mutually agreeable to the FCR, the Bondholders' Committee, the ACC and ABI.  Pursuant to that new agreement, ABI's current chief executive officer would serve as a director and the chief executive officer of reorganized Congoleum and ABI would have to make available to reorganized Congoleum substantially all of his time during normal working hours on an annual basis, ABI would have to make available to reorganized Congoleum approximately 25% of the time of ABI's current president and chief operating officer during normal working hours and on an annual basis, and ABI's current chief financial officer would serve as the chief financial officer of reorganized Congoleum and ABI would have to make available to reorganized Congoleum approximately 50% of his time during normal working hours and on an annual basis.  Expiration or termination of such intercompany arrangements, failure to reach definitive agreement on final terms of future arrangements between ABI and reorganized Congoleum, or failure to consummate such arrangements in connection with the effectiveness of a plan of reorganization for Congoleum could have a material adverse impact on the business relationships between ABI and Congoleum, and ABI’s business, operations and financial condition.


 
47

 

The Company has had to amend its debt agreements in the past in order to avoid being in default of those agreements and may have to do so again in the future, and the Company's ability to obtain additional financing may be limited.

In the past, the Company has had to amend its debt agreements in order to avoid being in default of those agreements as a result of failing to satisfy certain financial covenants contained in those agreements.  Most recently, on August 14, 2008, American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiaries, K&M and AB Canada, entered into an amendment, effective as of June 30, 2008, to the Credit Agreement with BofA and BofA acting through its Canada branch, each in their respective capacities as lenders and administrative agents under the Credit Agreement.  That credit agreement, as amended and restated, governs ABI's primary source of borrowings.  The August 14, 2008 amendment permits the Company to add the principal proceeds it received from the payoff of a note to its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, as determined under the Credit Agreement, for the periods ending June 30, 2008, September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2008.  The Credit Agreement includes a financial covenant that requires the Company's Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ending to exceed 100% of the Company's Consolidated Fixed Charges for the 12-month period ending on such date, as determined under the Credit Agreement (the "Fixed Charge Covenant").  Further, under the amendment, the lenders waived defaults that may have otherwise existed as of June 30, 2008 with respect to the Fixed Charge Covenant.  ABI paid BofA a fee of $50 thousand in connection with this amendment.  On March 12, 2008, American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiaries, K&M and AB Canada, entered into an amendment, effective as of December 31, 2007, to the credit agreement with BofA and BofA acting through its Canada branch, each in their respective capacities as lenders and administrative agents under that credit agreement.  The March 12, 2008 amendment removed the financial covenant that required the Company not to have any consecutive quarterly net losses from continuing operations (reporting Congoleum on the equity method of accounting).  In addition, for purposes of determining the Company's compliance with the financial covenant requiring its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to exceed 100% of the Company's Consolidated Fixed Charges (in each case, as determined under the credit agreement), the amendment permits the Company to add certain amounts to its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to the extent those amounts are deducted in determining the Company's Consolidated Net Income (as determined under the credit agreement).  On May 14, 2007, the same parties entered into an amendment, effective as of March 31, 2007, to the Credit Agreement to revise a financial covenant to provide that for each of the two consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company ending December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007, the Company may not have a quarterly net loss from continuing operations in excess of $400 thousand.  On September 25, 2006, the Company entered into an amendment and restatement to the credit agreement it has with BofA and BofA acting through its Canada branch.  In connection with that amendment and restatement, certain financial covenants were amended under the credit agreement to enable the Company to comply with those covenants.  The Company may need to further amend the credit agreement or obtain waivers from the lenders under that agreement in order to avoid being in default at some future date.  For instance, as noted above, pursuant to the amendment to the Credit Agreement entered into on August 14, 2008, the principal proceeds the Company received from the payoff of the Janus note receivable may be added to the Company's Consolidated

 
48

 

Adjusted EBITDA, as determined under the Credit Agreement, for the periods ending June 30, 2008, September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2008.  Those proceeds are not allowed to be added to the Company's Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for periods after December 31, 2008.  As a result, the Company may not be able to comply with financial covenants involving the Company's Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for future periods after December 31, 2008 and may need to obtain a waiver from BofA for any resulting failure to satisfy those financial covenants or seek an amendment to the Credit Agreement to address any such failure so that the Company would not be in breach of the Credit Agreement.  Although the Company expects that it would be able to obtain any such amendment or waiver, if necessary, there can be no assurances that it would be successful in obtaining the amendment or waiver. If the Company were to violate one of those or other covenants or provisions under the credit agreement and not amend the credit agreement to address or obtain a waiver of the violation, it could breach the credit agreement, resulting in a default of the credit agreement.  If such a default were to occur, the lenders could require the Company to repay all amounts outstanding under the credit agreement.  If the Company were unable to repay those amounts due, the lenders could have its rights over the collateral (most of the Company’s and its domestic subsidiaries’ (excluding Congoleum) assets) exercised, which would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

In addition, under the terms of the credit agreement, the Company's ability to obtain additional debt financing is limited.  Moreover, since the Company and most of its domestic subsidiaries have already granted security interests in most of their assets, the Company's ability to obtain any additional debt financing may be limited.  Further, the global credit markets have recently been experiencing substantial disruption, and as a result, credit has become more expensive and difficult to obtain, which would further limit the availability of any additional financing for the Company.

The Company relies on its revolving credit facility to fund its business, operations and working capital needs, that revolving credit facility expires on September 30, 2009 and the Company may not be able to renew or replace that facility on satisfactory terms.

The Company relies on borrowings under its $30 million revolving credit facility which is governed by its Credit Agreement with BofA to fund its business and operations.  If the Company is not able to generate sufficient cash flows from its operations as a result of the current and forecasted economic slowdown or recession in the United States or otherwise, it may have greater reliance on the availability of borrowings under its credit facility.  The Company's credit facility is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2009.  The Company expects that it will need to renew this facility or seek replacement financing by that expiration date.  The global credit markets have recently been experiencing substantial disruption, and as a result, credit has become more expensive and difficult to obtain.  In addition, creditors have generally been imposing more stringent restrictions on the terms of credit.  If these conditions continue to exist, the Company may be unable to obtain adequate credit to renew or replace its existing credit facility and the terms of any replacement credit facility it may be able to obtain may be significantly more expensive and restrictive than the terms under its current credit facility.  If the Company were unable to renew or replace its credit facility by the time its existing credit facility expires, or the terms of any renewed or replacement facility it may obtain were significantly more expensive or restrictive, the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition would be materially adversely affected.  In addition, if a lender under the Company's credit facility fails to fund a request by the Company to borrow money under its credit facility, the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition may be materially adversely affected.


 
49

 

The Company and Congoleum sell their products on credit and their customers may fail to pay, or they may extend the payment period, for products sold to them on credit.

The Company and Congoleum sell their products on credit.  Customers purchasing goods on credit from the Company or Congoleum may default on their obligations to pay, or they may extend the payment period, for products sold to them on credit, which may result in an increased investment in accounts receivable by the Company or Congoleum.  In light of the current and forecasted economic slowdown or recession in the United States, the risk that the Company and Congoleum may realize an increased investment in accounts receivable may be greater.  To the extent the Company and Congoleum are unable to collect receivables owed to them in a timely fashion, increased demands may be placed on their respective working capital, which could have a material adverse effect on their respective businesses, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum may incur substantial liability for environmental claims and compliance matters.

Due to the nature of the Company's and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum's businesses and certain of the substances which are or have been used, produced or discharged by them, the Company's and Congoleum's operations and facilities are subject to a broad range of federal, state, local and foreign legal and regulatory provisions relating to the environment, including those regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous substances and wastes and the remediation of contamination associated with releases of hazardous substances at Company and Congoleum facilities and off-site disposal locations.  The Company and Congoleum have historically expended substantial amounts for compliance with existing environmental laws or regulations, including environmental remediation costs at both third-party sites and Company and Congoleum-owned sites.  The Company and Congoleum will continue to be required to expend amounts in the future because of the nature of their prior activities at their facilities, in order to comply with existing environmental laws, and those amounts may be substantial.  Although the Company and Congoleum believe that those amounts should not have a material adverse effect on their respective financial positions, there is no certainty that these amounts will not have a material adverse effect on their respective financial positions because, as a result of environmental requirements becoming increasingly strict, neither the Company nor Congoleum is able to determine the ultimate cost of compliance with environmental laws and enforcement policies.

Moreover, in addition to potentially having to pay substantial amounts for compliance, future environmental laws or regulations may require or cause the Company or Congoleum to modify or curtail their operations, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.


 
50

 

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum, may incur substantial liability for other product and general liability claims.

In the ordinary course of their businesses, the Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum become involved in lawsuits, administrative proceedings, product liability claims and other matters.  In some of these proceedings, plaintiffs may seek to recover large and sometimes unspecified amounts and the matters may remain unresolved for several years.  These matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition if the Company or Congoleum, as applicable, is unable to successfully defend against or settle these matters, and its insurance coverage is insufficient to satisfy any judgments against it or settlements relating to these matters, or the Company or Congoleum, as applicable, is unable to collect insurance proceeds relating to these matters.

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum are dependent upon a continuous supply of raw materials from third party suppliers and would be harmed if there were a significant, prolonged disruption in supply or increase in its raw material costs.

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum generally design and engineer their own products.  Most of the raw materials required by the Company for its manufacturing operations are available from multiple sources; however, the Company does purchase some of its raw materials from a single source or supplier.  Any significant delay in or disruption of the supply of raw materials could substantially increase the Company's cost of materials, require product reformulation or require qualification of new suppliers, any one or more of which could materially adversely affect the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.  The Company's majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum does not have readily available alternative sources of supply for specific designs of transfer print paper, which are produced utilizing print cylinders engraved to Congoleum's specifications.  Although Congoleum does not anticipate any loss of this source of supply, replacement could take a considerable period of time and interrupt production of certain products, which could have a material adverse affect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.  The Company and Congoleum have occasionally experienced significant price increases for some of its raw materials.  Although the Company has been able to obtain sufficient supplies of raw materials, there can be no assurances that it may not experience difficulty in the future, particularly if global supply conditions deteriorate, which could have a material adverse effect on profit margins.  In addition, raw material and energy costs have increased sharply over the past year, which has negatively impacted the Company's and Congoleum's businesses and operating results.  Although raw material and energy costs have recently declined, it is not known whether raw material and energy prices will remain lower or will revert to increasing price levels.  In light of the current and forecasted economic conditions in the United States and the industries in which the Company and Congoleum conduct business, the Company and Congoleum may be unable to pass increased raw material and energy costs on to their respective customers.


 
51

 

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum operate in highly competitive markets and some of their competitors have greater resources, and in order to be successful, the Company and Congoleum must keep pace with and anticipate changing customer preferences.

The market for the Company's and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum's products and services is highly competitive.  Some of their respective competitors have greater financial and other resources and access to capital. Furthermore, to the extent any of the Company's or Congoleum's competitors make a filing under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and emerge from bankruptcy as continuing operating companies that have shed much of their pre-filing liabilities, those competitors could have a cost competitive advantage over Congoleum.  In addition, in order to maintain their competitive positions, the Company and Congoleum may need to make substantial investments in their businesses, including, as applicable, product development, manufacturing facilities, distribution network and sales and marketing activities. Competitive pressures may also result in decreased demand for their products and in the loss of market share for their products. Moreover, due to the competitive nature of their industries, they may be commercially restricted from raising or even maintaining the sales prices of their products, which could result in the incurrence of significant operating losses if their expenses were to increase or otherwise represent an increased percentage of sales.

The markets in which the Company and Congoleum compete are characterized by frequent new product introductions and changing customer preferences. There can be no assurance that the Company's and Congoleum's existing products and services will be properly positioned in the market or that the Company and Congoleum will be able to introduce new or enhanced products or services into their respective markets on a timely basis, or at all, or that those new or enhanced products or services will receive customer acceptance. The Company's and Congoleum's failure to introduce new or enhanced products or services on a timely basis, keep pace with industry or market changes or effectively manage the transitions to new products, technologies or services could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum are subject to general economic conditions and conditions specific to their respective industries.

Global and financial markets have recently been experiencing substantial disruption.  Economic conditions in the United States have been challenging, including in the industries in which the Company and Congoleum conduct business.  The downturn in the housing industry has resulted in reduced demand for the Company's and Congoleum's products.  The slowdown in manufacturing, including in the automotive and industrial sectors, has resulted in reduced demand for the Tape division's products.  In addition, the decline in consumer and retailer, especially mid-tier retailer, spending has resulted in reduced demand for K&M's products.  Forecasts generally call for a slowing economy or an economic recession in the United States, including in the industries in which the Company and Congoleum conduct business.  The Company expects the current and forecasted economic conditions to continue to negatively impact the Company's and Congoleum's businesses and operations and that the extent of that impact will depend on the duration and depth of the economic slowdown or recession.

In addition, raw material and energy costs have increased sharply over the past year, which has negatively impacted the Company's and Congoleum's businesses and operating results.  Although raw material and energy costs have recently declined, it is not known whether raw material and energy prices will remain lower or will revert to increasing price levels.  In light of the current and forecasted economic conditions in the United States and the industries in which the Company and Congoleum conduct business, the Company and Congoleum may be unable to pass increased raw material and energy costs on to their respective customers.


 
52

 

Although the Company and Congoleum intend to implement reductions in their expenses, there can be no assurance that they will be able to reduce their respective expenses, that any reductions they may implement will have any meaningful positive impact on their businesses, results of operations or financial condition, or that they will be able to sustain any expense reductions that they may implement.

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum could realize shipment delays, depletion of inventory and increased production costs resulting from unexpected disruptions of operations at any of the Company's or Congoleum's facilities.

The Company's and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum's businesses depend upon their ability to timely manufacture and deliver products that meet the needs of their customers and the end users of their products.  If the Company or Congoleum were to realize an unexpected, significant and prolonged disruption of its operations at any of its facilities, including disruptions in its manufacturing operations, it could result in shipment delays of its products, depletion of its inventory as a result of reduced production and increased production costs as a result of taking actions in an attempt to cure the disruption or carry on its business while the disruption remains.  Any resulting delay, depletion or increased production cost could result in increased costs, lower revenues and damaged customer and product end user relations, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum offer limited warranties on their products which could result in the Company or Congoleum incurring significant costs as a result of warranty claims.

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum offer a limited warranty on many of their products against manufacturing defects.  In addition, as a part of its efforts to differentiate mid- and high-end products through color, design and other attributes, Congoleum offers enhanced warranties with respect to wear, moisture discoloration and other performance characteristics which generally increase with the price of such products.  If the Company or Congoleum were to incur a significant number of warranty claims, the resulting warranty costs could be substantial.

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum rely on a small number of customers and distributors for a significant portion of their sales or to sell their products.

The Company's Tape Division principally sells its products through distributors.  Sales to five unaffiliated customers accounted for approximately 20% of the Company's Tape Division's net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007.  The loss of the largest unaffiliated customer and/or two or more of the other four unaffiliated customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company's majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum principally sells its products through distributors.  Although Congoleum has more than one distributor in some of its distribution territories and actively manages its credit exposure to its distributors, the loss of a major distributor could have a material adverse impact on the Company's business, results of operations, or financial condition.  Congoleum derives a significant percentage of its sales from two of its distributors. These two distributors accounted for approximately 66% of Congoleum's net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 
53

 

The Company's subsidiary K&M sells its products through its own direct sales force and, indirectly, through a wholly owned subsidiary and through third-party sales representatives.  Four of K&M's customers accounted for approximately 58% of its net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007. The loss of the largest of these customers would have a material adverse effect on K&M’s business, results of operations and financial condition and would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum depend on key executives to run their businesses, and the loss of any of these executives would likely harm the Company's business.

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum depend on key executives to run their businesses.  In particular, three of the persons that serve as key executives at the Company also serve as key executives at Congoleum.  The Company's future success will depend largely upon the continued service of these key executives, all of whom have no employment contract with the Company or Congoleum, as applicable, and may terminate their employment at any time without notice.  Although certain key executives of the Company and Congoleum are, directly or indirectly, large shareholders of the Company or Congoleum, and thus are less likely to terminate their employment, the loss of any key executive, or the failure by the key executive to perform in his current position, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.


Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

On August 3, 1998, Congoleum issued $100 million of its 8.625% Senior Notes due in August 2008 priced at 99.505% to yield 8.70%.  The Senior Notes are redeemable at the option of Congoleum, in whole or in part, at any time on or after August 1, 2003 at predetermined redemption prices (ranging from 104% to 100%), plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.  The indenture governing the Senior Notes includes certain restrictions on additional indebtedness and uses of cash, including dividend payments.  The commencement of Congoleum’s Chapter 11 proceedings constituted an event of default under the indenture governing the Senior Notes.  During 2003, Congoleum and the trustee under the indenture governing the Senior Notes amended the indenture, and sufficient note holders consented, to explicitly permit Congoleum to take steps in connection with preparing and filing its prepackaged plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.  The amount of accrued interest on the Senior Notes that was not paid as of the bankruptcy filing on December 31, 2003 was approximately $3.6 million.  The accrued pre-petition interest and the principal amount of the Senior Notes are included in “Liabilities Subject to Compromise” as of September 30, 2008 (see Note H of the Notes to the Unaudited Consolidating Condensed Financial Statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).   During 2007, Congoleum reversed all accrued post-petition interest on the Senior Notes to reflect the terms of the Joint Plan.

 
54

 

Item 6.  Exhibits

Exhibit No.
Description
   
3.1  I
Restated Certificate of Incorporation
   
3.2  II
By-Laws, amended and restated as of November 7, 2007
   
4.1  III
Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2008, among American Biltrite Inc., K&M Associates L.P., and American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd., Bank of America, National Association, both in its capacity as a domestic lender and as a domestic administrative agent, Bank of America, National Association, acting through its Canada branch, both in its capacity as a Canadian lender and as Canadian administrative agent, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto
   
10.1  III
Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2008, among American Biltrite Inc., K&M Associates L.P., and American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd., Bank of America, National Association, both in its capacity as a domestic lender and as a domestic administrative agent, Bank of America, National Association, acting through its Canada branch, both in its capacity as a Canadian lender and as Canadian administrative agent, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto
   
10.2  IV
Amendment to Business Relations Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2008, by and between American Biltrite Inc. and Congoleum Corporation
   
10.3  IV
Sixth Amendment to Personal Service Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2008, by and between American Biltrite Inc. and Congoleum Corporation
   
31.1
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer of the Registrant Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
   
31.2
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
   
32
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


 
55

 


Exhibit No.
Description
   
99.1  V
Term Sheet between Congoleum Corporation and its debtor subsidiaries, the Official Committee of Bondholders, the Asbestos Claimants’ Committee, the Futures Representative, the Claimants’ Counsel and Arthur J. Pergament, as Collateral Trustee
   
99.2
Press release dated November 5, 2008

___________________________

I
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 1997  (1-4773)
   
II
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2007
   
III
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2008
   
IV
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 24, 2008
   
V
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2008
   

 
56

 




SIGNATURE

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

 
   
AMERICAN BILTRITE INC.
   
              (Registrant)
     
     
Date:   November 7, 2008
BY:
 /s/  Howard N. Feist III
   
Howard N. Feist III
   
Vice President-Finance
   
(Duly Authorized Officer and
   
Principal Financial and Chief
   
Accounting Officer)


 
57

 

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
Description
   
3.1  I
Restated Certificate of Incorporation
   
3.2  II
By-Laws, amended and restated as of November 7, 2007
   
4.1  III
Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2008, among American Biltrite Inc., K&M Associates L.P., and American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd., Bank of America, National Association, both in its capacity as a domestic lender and as a domestic administrative agent, Bank of America, National Association, acting through its Canada branch, both in its capacity as a Canadian lender and as Canadian administrative agent, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto
   
10.1  III
Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2008, among American Biltrite Inc., K&M Associates L.P., and American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd., Bank of America, National Association, both in its capacity as a domestic lender and as a domestic administrative agent, Bank of America, National Association, acting through its Canada branch, both in its capacity as a Canadian lender and as Canadian administrative agent, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto
   
10.2  IV
Amendment to Business Relations Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2008, by and between American Biltrite Inc. and Congoleum Corporation
   
10.3  IV
Sixth Amendment to Personal Service Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2008, by and between American Biltrite Inc. and Congoleum Corporation
   
31.1
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer of the Registrant Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
   
31.2
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
   
32
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   


 
 

 


Exhibit No.
Description
   
99.1  V
Term Sheet between Congoleum Corporation and its debtor subsidiaries,  the Official Committee of Bondholders, the Asbestos Claimants’ Committee, the Futures Representative, the Claimants’ Counsel and Arthur J. Pergament, as Collateral Trustee
   
99.2
Press release dated November 5, 2008

___________________________

I
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 1997  (1-4773)
   
II
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2007
   
III
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2008
   
IV
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 24, 2008
   
V
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2008