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): January 30, 1997
NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
New Jersey 1-640 13-5267260
(State or other (Commission File No.) (Employer ID No.)
jurisdiction of
incorporation)
16825 Northchase Dr., Suite 1200, Houston, Texas 77060
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (713) 423-3300
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5. Other Events.
On January 30, 1997, the Registrant issued the press release attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein in its entirety by this
reference.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
(i) Exhibit 99.1. Press Release dated January 30, 1997.
* * * * *
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.
NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Registrant)
/s/ Dennis G. Newkirk
Dennis G. Newkirk
Vice President & Controller
Dated: February 3, 1997
Dennis G. Newkirk
(281) 423-3332
EXHIBIT 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NL REPORTS 1996 RESULTS
HOUSTON, TEXAS -- January 30, 1997 -- NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) announced
net income for 1996 of $10.8 million, or $.21 per share, on sales of $986
million compared to net income for 1995 of $85.6 million, or $1.66 per share. NL
reported a net loss for the fourth quarter of 1996 of $10.3 million, or $.20 per
share, on sales of $234 million compared to net income in the fourth quarter of
1995 of $34.1 million, or $.66 per share. The 1996 operating results as compared
to 1995 were adversely impacted by lower titanium dioxide pigments ("TiO2")
selling prices.
Operating income of Kronos' TiO2 business in 1996 was $71.6 million, an $89.6
million decrease compared to 1995 on a 5% decrease in net sales. Kronos'
operating income in the fourth quarter of 1996 of $7.1 million was $33.7 million
lower than the 1995 period. Average TiO2 selling prices for the fourth quarter
of 1996 were 17% lower than the same period in 1995 and 3% lower than the third
quarter of 1996. Selling prices at the end of 1996 were 17% below year-end 1995
levels, 8% below the average for 1996 and were 1% below the average selling
prices during the fourth quarter of 1996. Kronos continued to experience strong
demand in the fourth quarter as sales volumes were 17% higher than the same
period in 1995, and volumes for full-year 1996 increased 6% compared to 1995.
Looking ahead, J. Landis Martin, President and CEO, stated, "We anticipate our
TiO2 operating margins will begin to improve in the second quarter of 1997 as
the impact of recently-announced TiO2 price increases take effect. However, we
expect 1997's operating income at Kronos to be below that of 1996, primarily
because we anticipate average TiO2 prices for 1997 will be below average prices
for 1996. Demand for TiO2 in 1996 increased over 1995 and we expect demand to
remain strong in 1997. We believe continued growth in demand should result in
significant improvement in average selling prices over the longer term."
Rheox's operating income for 1996 rose $3.3 million from the year-earlier period
to a record $41.8 million due to 5% higher sales volumes and a first-quarter
1996 $2.7 million gain related to the reduction of certain U.S. employee pension
benefits.
Income tax expense in 1996 differs from a normally-expected rate primarily
because of losses in certain countries for which no benefit is currently
available.
On January 30, 1997, the Company refinanced its Rheox indebtedness, obtaining a
net $125 million of new long-term financing. The net proceeds, along with other
available funds, will be used to prepay DM 207 million ($127 million) of the
Company's Deutsche mark-denominated term loan and to repay DM 43 million ($26
million) outstanding under the Company's DM-denominated revolving credit
facility, leaving DM 130 million ($80 million) available for borrowing. In
connection with the prepayment, the Company and its lenders are modifying
certain financial covenants of the DM credit agreement.
NL Industries, Inc. is a major international producer of titanium dioxide
pigments and specialty chemicals. The Company's 1996 results are subject to
final audit.
The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts
are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including,
but not limited to, future global economic conditions, global TiO2 productive
capacity, competitive products and prices and other risks and uncertainties
detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Quarter ended Year ended
December 31, December 31,
------------------- ---------------------
1995 1996 1995 1996
--------- --------- --------- ----------
Net sales
Kronos ............................ $ 204.7 $ 201.5 $ 894.1 $ 851.2
Rheox ............................. 29.6 32.5 129.8 134.9
--------- --------- --------- ---------
$ 234.3 $ 234.0 $ 1,023.9 $ 986.1
========= ========= ========= =========
Operating income
Kronos ............................ $ 40.8 $ 7.1 $ 161.2 $ 71.6
Rheox ............................. 8.8 8.8 38.5 41.8
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating income ................ 49.6 15.9 199.7 113.4
General corporate income (expense):
Securities earnings ............... 1.5 1.1 7.4 4.7
Expenses, net ..................... (6.6) (5.1) (26.6) (17.5)
Interest expense .................. (19.6) (18.9) (81.6) (75.0)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income (loss) before income taxes 24.9 (7.0) 98.9 25.6
Income tax benefit (expense) ........ 9.5 (3.3) (12.7) (14.8)
Minority interest ................... (.3) -- (.6) --
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income (loss) ............... $ 34.1 $ (10.3) $ 85.6 $ 10.8
========= ========= ========= =========
Per share of common stock ........... $ .66 $ (.20) $ 1.66 $ .21
========= ========= ========= =========
Weighted average common shares
and common share equivalents
outstanding ........................ 51.5 51.1 51.5 51.3
========= ========= ========= =========
