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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 21, 2024
GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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Delaware | 1-13888 | 27-2496053 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No) |
982 Keynote Circle
Brooklyn Heights, OH 44131
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(216) 676-2000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share | EAF | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
On November 21, 2024, GrafTech International Ltd. (the “Company”) announced that GrafTech Finance Inc. (“GrafTech Finance”) and GrafTech Global Enterprises Inc. (“GrafTech Global” and, together with GrafTech Finance, the “Issuers”), each a subsidiary of the Company, have commenced separate offers to exchange (each an “Exchange Offer” and, together, the “Exchange Offers”) any and all of (i) GrafTech Finance’s 4.625% senior secured notes due 2028 (the “Existing 4.625% Notes”) and (ii) GrafTech Global’s 9.875% senior secured notes due 2028 (the “Existing 9.875% Notes” and, together with the Existing 4.625% Notes, the “Existing Notes”), for up to an aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000 new 4.625% second lien notes due 2029 and up to an aggregate principal amount of $450,000,000 new 9.875% second lien notes due 2029, respectively (collectively, the “New Notes”).
Simultaneously with the Exchange Offers, the Company announced that it is soliciting consents (with respect to each series of Existing Notes, a “Consent Solicitation” and, collectively, the “Consent Solicitations”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in a confidential exchange offer memorandum and consent solicitation statement (as it may be supplemented and amended from time to time, the “Offering Memorandum”) from eligible holders of such series of Existing Notes to adopt certain proposed amendments (the “Proposed Amendments”) to the indentures governing the Existing Notes (collectively, the “Existing Notes Indentures”). The Proposed Amendments for each series of Existing Notes would eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants as well as certain events of default and related provisions and definitions in the Existing Notes Indentures. Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of a series of the Existing Notes must consent (the “Indenture Consents”) to the Proposed Amendments in order for the Proposed Amendments to become effective with respect to such series of Existing Notes. The Proposed Amendments would also release all of the collateral securing a series of Existing Notes (the “Collateral Release”) if consents from the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding principal amount of such series of Existing Notes are received (the “Collateral Release Consents” and, together with the Indenture Consents, the “Requisite Consents”). If the Collateral Release Consents are obtained with respect to a series of Existing Notes and the Collateral Release becomes operative, all of the collateral securing such Existing Notes will be released.
The consummation of the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations is subject to customary conditions set forth in the Offering Memorandum.
On November 21, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing the commencement of the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, and the information contained therein is incorporated herein by reference.
No Offer or Solicitation
This Current Report on Form 8-K (“Form 8-K”) is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote, consent or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the issuance of the New Notes, the Exchange Offers, the Consent Solicitations or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. In particular, this communication is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, the Exchange Offers and the Consent Solicitations. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words such as “will,” “may,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “foresee,” “intend,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “target,” “goal,” “forecast,” “continue to,” “positioned to,” “are confident,” or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words. Any forward-looking statements contained in this Form 8-K are based upon our historical performance and on our current plans, estimates and expectations considering information currently available to us. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us that the future plans, estimates, or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. Our expectations and targets are not predictions of actual performance and historically our performance has deviated, often significantly, from our expectations and targets. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, financial results, financial condition, business, prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to: our ability to complete the Exchange Offers, Consent Solicitations and other related transactions on the terms contemplated or at all; our ability to satisfy the required conditions for the consummation of the Exchange Offers, Consent Solicitations and other related transactions; our dependence on the global steel industry generally and the electric arc furnace steel industry in particular; the cyclical nature of our business and the selling prices of our products,
which may continue to decline in the future, and may lead to prolonged periods of reduced profitability and net losses or adversely impact liquidity; the sensitivity of our business and operating results to economic conditions, including any recession, and the possibility others may not be able to fulfill their obligations to us in a timely fashion or at all; the possibility that we may be unable to implement our business strategies in an effective manner; the possibility that global graphite electrode overcapacity may adversely affect graphite electrode prices; the competitiveness of the graphite electrode industry; our dependence on the supply of raw materials, including decant oil and petroleum needle coke, and disruptions in supply chains for these materials; our primary reliance on one facility in Monterrey, Mexico for the manufacturing of connecting pins; the cost of electric power and natural gas, particularly in Europe; our manufacturing operations are subject to hazards; the legal, compliance, economic, social and political risks associated with our substantial operations in multiple countries; the possibility that fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates could materially harm our financial results; the possibility that our results of operations could further deteriorate if our manufacturing operations were substantially disrupted for an extended period, including as a result of equipment failure, climate change, regulatory issues, natural disasters, public health crises, such as a global pandemic, political crises or other catastrophic events; the risks and uncertainties associated with litigation, arbitration, and like disputes, including disputes related to contractual commitments; our dependence on third parties for certain construction, maintenance, engineering, transportation, warehousing and logistics services; the possibility that we are subject to information technology systems failures, cybersecurity attacks, network disruptions and breaches of data security; the possibility that we are unable to recruit or retain key management and plant operating personnel or successfully negotiate with the representatives of our employees, including labor unions; the sensitivity of long-lived assets on our balance sheet to changes in the market; our dependence on protecting our intellectual property and the possibility that third parties may claim that our products or processes infringe their intellectual property rights; the impact of inflation and our ability to mitigate the effect on our costs; the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical events on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and the disruptions and inefficiencies in our supply chain that may occur as a result of such events; the possibility that our indebtedness could limit our financial and operating activities or that our cash flows may not be sufficient to service our indebtedness; past increases in benchmark interest rates and the fact that any future borrowings may subject us to interest rate risk; risks and uncertainties associated with our ability to access the capital and credit markets could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; the possibility that disruptions in the capital and credit markets could adversely affect our customers and suppliers; the possibility that restrictive covenants in our financing agreements could restrict or limit our operations; changes in, or more stringent enforcement of, health, safety and environmental regulations applicable to our manufacturing operations and facilities; the possibility that the cash dividends on our common stock, which are currently suspended, will remain suspended and we may not pay cash dividends on our common stock in the future; our ability to continue to meet NYSE continued listing standards; and the ability to satisfy the conditions precedent with respect to the new financings.
These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the Risk Factors and other cautionary statements that are included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, there could be no assurances that the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations will be successfully consummated as they remain subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent. The forward-looking statements made in this Form 8-K relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from what we may have expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution that you should not place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. You should specifically consider the factors identified in this Form 8-K that could cause actual results to differ before making an investment decision to purchase our common stock. Furthermore, new risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us.
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Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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| | GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. |
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Date: | November 21, 2024 | By: | /s/ Rory O'Donnell |
| | | Rory O'Donnell |
| | | Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President |