GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD - Annual Report: 2011 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

for the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number: 1-13888

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (216) 676-2000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes  ¨    No  x

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  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “non-accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer  x Accelerated Filer  ¨ Non-Accelerated Filer  ¨ Smaller reporting company  ¨

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

The aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates, computed by reference to the closing price of our common stock on June 30, 2011, was approximately $2,792 million. On January 31, 2012, 144,083,966 shares of our common stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain information required under Part III is incorporated by reference from the GrafTech International Ltd. Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 15, 2012, which will be filed on or about April 3, 2012.

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PART I

Preliminary Notes

Important Terms. We use the following terms to identify various matters. These terms help to simplify the presentation of information in this Report.

“Common stock” means GTI common stock, par value $.01 per share.

“Credit Agreement” refers to the credit agreement providing for our senior secured credit facilities, as amended, or amended and restated at the relevant time. “Revolving Facility” refers to the revolving credit facility provided under the Credit Agreement, at the relevant time. On October 7, 2011, the Credit Agreement was amended and restated to, among other things, extend the maturity of the Revolving Facility to October 7, 2016, and add provisions to permit establishment of additional credit facilities thereunder.

“GrafTech Finance” refers to GrafTech Finance Inc. only. GrafTech Finance is an indirect wholly-owned, special purpose finance subsidiary of GTI and the borrower under the Revolving Facility. GrafTech Finance was the issuer of the Senior Notes.

“GrafTech Global” refers to GrafTech Global Enterprises Inc. only. GrafTech Global is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of GTI and the direct or indirect holding company for all of our operating subsidiaries. GrafTech Global is a guarantor of the Revolving Facility.

“GTI” refers to GrafTech International Ltd. only. GTI is our public parent company and the issuer of our publicly traded common stock registered under the Exchange Act and listed on the NYSE. GTI is a guarantor of the Revolving Facility.

“Senior Notes” means our 10.25% senior notes due 2012 issued under an Indenture dated February 15, 2002 (as supplemented, the “Senior Note Indenture”). On September 28, 2009, we redeemed all of the remaining outstanding Senior Notes.

“Senior Subordinated Notes” means our senior subordinated promissory notes issued on November 30, 2010, in connection with the Seadrift Coke L.P. (“Seadrift”) and C/G Electrodes LLC (“C/G”) acquisitions, for an aggregate total face amount of $200 million. These senior subordinated notes are non-interest bearing and will mature in 2015. Because the Senior Subordinated Notes are non-interest bearing, we were required to record them at their present value (determined using an interest rate of 7.00%).

“MTM Adjustment” refers to our accounting policy regarding pension and other postretirement benefits plans (“OPEB”) whereby we immediately recognize the change in the fair value of plan assets and net actuarial gains and losses annually in the fourth quarter of each year (referred to as “mark-to-market”).

“Subsidiaries” refers to those companies that, at the relevant time, are or were majority owned or wholly-owned directly or indirectly by GTI or its predecessors to the extent that those predecessors’ activities related to the graphite and carbon business.

“We,” “us” or “our” refers to GTI and its subsidiaries collectively or, if the context so requires, GTI, GrafTech Global, GrafTech Finance or GrafTech International Holdings Inc., individually. In November 2010, we completed the reorganization of our holding company structure pursuant to which we formed a new parent holding company, GrafTech Holdings Inc., which had been renamed GrafTech International Ltd. (“new parent”). Our former parent holding company, which had been named GrafTech International Ltd. (“former parent”) as part of the reorganization, was renamed GrafTech Holdings Inc. and became a direct wholly owned subsidiary of a new parent. Our new parent adopted the same certificate of incorporation (except for certain technical matters) and by-laws of our former parent; each share of common stock of our former parent was converted into one share of common stock of

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our new parent; and our new parent common stock was listed on the NYSE under our former parent’s ticker symbol “GTI.”

Presentation of Financial, Market and Legal Data. References to cost in the context of our low cost advantages and strategies do not include the impact of special charges, expenses or credits, such as those related to investigations, lawsuits, claims, restructurings or impairments, or the impact of changes in accounting principles.

Unless otherwise noted, when we refer to “dollars”, we mean U.S. dollars. Unless otherwise noted, all dollars are presented in thousands.

References to spot prices for graphite electrodes mean prices under individual purchase orders (not part of an annual or other extended purchase arrangement) for near term delivery for standard size graphite electrodes used in large electric arc steel melting furnaces (sometimes called “melters” or “melter applications”) as distinct from, for example, a ladle furnace or a furnace producing non-ferrous metals.

Neither any statement made in this Report nor any charge taken by us relating to any legal proceedings constitutes an admission as to any wrongdoing.

Unless otherwise noted, market and market share data in this Report are our own estimates. Market data relating to the steel, electronics, semiconductor, solar, thermal management, transportation, petrochemical and other metals industries, our general expectations concerning such industries and our market position and market share within such industries, both domestically and internationally, are derived from trade publications relating to those industries and other industry sources as well as assumptions made by us, based on such data and our knowledge of such industries. Market and market share data relating to the graphite and carbon industry as well as information relating to our competitors, our general expectations concerning such industry and our market position and market share within such industry, both domestically and internationally, are derived from the sources described above and public filings, press releases and other public documents of our competitors as well as assumptions made by us, based on such data and our knowledge of such industry. Our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under “Risk Factors-Risks Relating to Us” and “Risk Factors – Forward Looking Statements” in this Report. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this market and market share data and have not independently verified it. None of the sources mentioned above has consented to the disclosure or use of data in this Report.

Unless otherwise noted, references to “market shares” are based on sales volumes for the relevant year and references to “natural graphite products” do not include mined natural graphite flake.

The GRAFTECH logo, GRAFCELL^®, GRAFOAM^®, GRAFIHX™ and eGraf^® are our trademarks and trade names used in this report. This Report also contains trademarks and trade names belonging to other parties.

We make available, free of charge, on or through our web site, copies of our proxy statements, our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with, or furnish them to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We maintain our website at http://www.graftech.com. The information contained on our web site is not part of this Report. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. Please see http://www.sec.gov for more information.

We have a code of ethics (which we call our Code of Conduct and Ethics) that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officers and controller, and persons performing similar functions, as well as our other employees, and which is intended to comply, at a minimum, with the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) as well as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the SEC rules adopted thereunder. A copy of our Code of Conduct and Ethics is available on our web site at http://www.graftech.com/getdoc/fd25921b-07b1-429f-86fa-397f0d0cb30d/Code-of-Conduct-and-Ethics.aspx. We intend to report timely on our website any disclosures

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concerning amendments or waivers of our Code of Conduct and Ethics that would otherwise require the filing of a Form 8-K with the SEC.

We also have corporate governance guidelines (which we call the Charter of the Board of Directors) which is available on our website at http://www.graftech.com/getdoc/6b8a3b4d-967c-4bdd-ab04-ea0011de0c91/GRAFTECH-INTERNATIONAL- LTD-Corp-Gov-Guide.aspx as required by the NYSE.

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Introduction

Our vision is to enable customer leadership, better and faster than our competition, through the creation, innovation and manufacture of graphite and carbon material science-based solutions. We have over 125 years of experience in the research and development of graphite and carbon-based solutions and our intellectual property portfolio is extensive. Our business was founded in 1886 by the National Carbon Company.

We are one of the world’s largest manufacturers of the broadest range of high quality graphite electrodes, products essential to the production of electric arc furnace (“EAF”) steel and various other ferrous and nonferrous metals. We also produce needle coke products. Needle coke is the primary raw material needed in the manufacture of graphite electrodes. We also manufacture carbon, graphite and semi-graphite refractory products, which protect the walls of blast furnaces and submerged arc furnaces. We are one of the largest manufacturers of high quality natural graphite products enabling thermal management solutions for the electronics industry and fuel cell solutions for the transportation and power generation industries. We are one of the world’s largest manufacturers and providers of advanced graphite and carbon materials for the transportation, solar, and oil and gas exploration industries. We service customers in over 70 countries.

We currently manufacture our products in 19 manufacturing facilities strategically located on four continents. We believe our Industrial Materials network has the largest manufacturing capacity and the lowest manufacturing cost structures of all of our major competitors and delivers the highest-level quality products. We currently have the operating capability, depending on product mix, to manufacture approximately 255,000 metric tons of graphite electrodes sellable capacity. We believe that our global manufacturing network provides us with competitive advantages in product quality, proximity to customers, timely and reliable product delivery, and product costs. Given our global network, we are well positioned to serve the growing number of consolidated, global, multi-plant steel customers as well as certain smaller, regional customers and segments.

We operate one of the premier research, development and testing facilities in the graphite and carbon industry, and we believe we are an industry leader in graphite and carbon material science and high temperature processing know-how. We believe our technological capabilities for developing products with superior thermal, electrical and physical characteristics provide us with a competitive advantage. These capabilities have enabled us to accelerate development and commercialization of our technologies to exploit markets with high growth potential.

Products. We have five major product categories: graphite electrodes, refractory products, needle coke products, advanced graphite materials and natural graphite products.

Reportable Segments. Our businesses are reported in the following reportable segments: Industrial Materials, which include graphite electrodes, refractory products and needle coke products; and Engineered Solutions, which include advanced graphite materials and natural graphite products. We discuss our reportable segments and geographic areas in more detail in Note 3, “Segment Reporting” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Industrial Materials. Our Industrial Materials segment manufactures and delivers high quality graphite electrodes, refractory products and needle coke products.

We are one of the world’s largest manufacturers of the broadest range of high quality graphite electrodes, refractory products, and needle coke products. Electrodes are key components of the conductive power systems used to produce steel and other non-ferrous metals. Approximately 70% of our graphite electrodes sold is consumed in the EAF steel melting process, the steel making technology used by all “mini-mills,” typically at a rate of one graphite electrode every eight to ten operating hours. We believe that mini-mills constitute the higher long-term growth sector of the steel industry and that there is currently no commercially viable substitute for graphite electrodes in EAF steel making. Therefore, graphite electrodes are essential to EAF steel production. The remaining approximately 30% of our graphite electrodes sold is primarily used in various other ferrous and non-ferrous melting applications, including steel

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refining (that is, ladle furnace operations for both EAF and basic oxygen furnace steel production), fused materials, chemical processing, and alloy metals. We are a producer of petroleum needle coke. Needle coke is a key raw material in the manufacture of the graphite electrodes used in the EAF steel production process.

GrafTech is also a leading global supplier of carbon, semigraphite and graphite refractory hearth linings for blast and submerged arc furnaces used to produce iron and ferroalloys. Refractory products are used to protect the walls of blast furnaces and submerged arc furnaces due to their high thermal conductivity and the ease with which they can be machined to large or complex shapes. Among the major refractory product suppliers, GrafTech has one of the most complete offerings, including a full range of brick, block, ramming paste, cement and grout products.

Engineered Solutions. Engineered Solutions include advanced graphite materials and natural graphite products. Advanced graphite materials are highly engineered synthetic graphite products used in many areas due to their unique properties and the ability to tailor them to specific solutions. These products are used in the transportation, defense, solar, metallurgical, chemical, oil and gas exploration, and various other industries as further described below. Our natural graphite products consist of electronic thermal management solutions, fuel cell components, and sealing materials.

Industrial Materials Segment

Our Industrial Materials segment, which had net sales of $538.1 million in 2009, $833.9 million in 2010, and $1,132 million in 2011, manufactures and delivers high quality graphite electrodes, refractory products and needle coke products, as well as provides customer technical services. Industrial Materials sales represented approximately 82%, 83% and 86% of consolidated net sales for 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. We estimate that the worldwide demand for our industrial materials products was approximately $6.6 billion in 2010 (excluding needle coke products) and approximately $6.8 billion in 2011. Customers for these products are located in all major geographic regions.

Graphite Electrode Products. Graphite electrodes are consumed primarily in EAF steel production, the steel making technology used by all “mini-mills.” Graphite electrodes are also consumed in the refining of steel in ladle furnaces and in other smelting processes such as production of titanium dioxide.

Electrodes act as conductors of electricity in the furnace, generating sufficient heat to melt scrap metal, iron ore or other raw materials used to produce steel or other metals. The electrodes are consumed in the course of that production.

Electric arc furnaces operate using either alternating electric current or direct electric current. The vast majority of electric arc furnaces use alternating current. Each of these alternating current furnaces typically uses nine electrodes (in three columns of three electrodes each) at one time. The other electric arc furnaces, which use direct current, typically use one column of three electrodes. The size of the electrodes varies depending on the size of the furnace, the size of the furnace’s electric transformer and the planned productivity of the furnace. In a typical furnace using alternating current and operating at a typical number of production cycles per day, one of the nine electrodes is fully consumed (requiring the addition of a new electrode), on average, every eight to ten operating hours. The actual rate of consumption and addition of electrodes for a particular furnace depends primarily on the efficiency and productivity of the furnace. Therefore, demand for graphite electrodes is directly related to the amount and efficiency of electric arc furnace steel production.

Electric arc furnace steel production requires significant heat (as high as 5,000° F) to melt the raw materials in the furnace, primarily scrap metal. Heat is generated as electricity (as much as 150,000 amps) passes through the electrodes and creates an electric arc between the electrodes and the raw materials.

Graphite electrodes are currently the only known commercially available products that have the high levels of electrical conductivity and the capability of sustaining the high levels of heat generated in an electric arc furnace producing steel. Therefore, graphite electrodes are essential to the production of steel in electric arc

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furnaces. We believe there is currently no commercially viable substitute for graphite electrodes in electric arc furnace steel making. We estimate that, on average, the cost of graphite electrodes represents about 2 – 3% of the cost of producing steel in a typical electric arc furnace.

Electric arc furnace steel production was estimated to be approximately 424 million metric tons in 2011, representing approximately 28% of the world’s steel production. As global economic conditions continue to improve, we expect EAF production to increase approximately 2% in 2012. We are aware of approximately 25 million metric tons of new EAF capacity projects in the planning or construction phases due to come online over the next two years. However, given increased market uncertainty, these new EAF projects may be postponed or cancelled. We believe the EAF utilization rate in 2011 was approximately 76%, compared to approximately 73% in 2010.

Relationship Between Graphite Electrode Demand and EAF Steel Production. The improved efficiency of electric arc furnaces has resulted in a decrease in the average rate of consumption of graphite electrodes per metric ton of steel produced in electric arc furnaces (called “specific consumption”). We estimate that the average EAF melter specific consumption is approximately 1.7 kilograms of graphite electrodes per metric ton produced.

Over the long term, specific consumption will continue to decrease at a gradual pace, as the EAF steel makers investment cost (relative to the benefits) increases to achieve further efficiencies in specific consumption. Another contributing factor is the ongoing electrode quality improvements of graphite electrode manufacturers.

We further believe that the rate of decline in the future will be impacted by the addition of modern EAF steel making capacity which tends to have lower specific consumption than the average. To the extent that this new capacity replaces old capacity, it has the accelerated effect of reducing industry wide specific consumption due to the efficiency of new electric arc furnaces relative to the old. However, to the extent that this new capacity increases industry wide EAF steel production capacity and that capacity is utilized, it creates additional demand for graphite electrodes. As an example, the approximately 25 million metric tons of new EAF capacity start ups and projects that we expect will be added over the next 2 years will result in approximately 40,000 metric tons of potentially new graphite electrode demand, depending on steel industry utilization rates.

Increases in EAF steel production, offset by declines in specific consumption, resulted in corresponding changes in demand for graphite electrodes. Due to expected modest growth of EAF production, we are projecting similar modest growth for graphite electrode demand in 2012.

Over the long term, graphite electrode demand is estimated to grow at an average annual net growth rate of approximately 2%, based on the anticipated growth of EAF steel production (average historical growth rate of 3%), partially offset by the decline in future specific consumption.

Production Capacity. We believe that the worldwide total graphite electrode manufacturing capacity was approximately 1.6 million metric tons for 2009 and approximately 1.7 million metric tons for 2010 and 2011. We believe that the graphite electrode industry manufacturing capacity utilization rate worldwide was approximately 60% for 2009 and approximately 80% for 2010 and 2011.

We have the capability, depending on product demand and mix, to manufacture approximately 255,000 metric tons of graphite electrodes annually from our existing assets.

Industrial Materials Demand. We estimate that the worldwide demand for graphite electrodes, needle coke, refractories and other products was approximately $6.8 billion in 2011.

Refractory Products. We manufacture carbon, semi-graphitic, and graphite refractory bricks which are used primarily for their high thermal conductivity. Common applications in blast furnace and submerged arc furnaces include cooling courses in the hearth bottoms for heat distribution and removal, backup linings in hearth walls for improved heat transfer and safety, and lintels over copper cooling plates where a single brick cannot span the cooling plate.

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GrafTech has one of the most unique carbon making processes in the world, called the hot-press process. By using various carbon and other sources and utilizing electricity, a baked refractory brick can be created in minutes as opposed to a month for the traditional block process. After cooling, the bricks are sent to an automated grinder and machined to the required size and shape to fill a customer’s order.

Needle Coke Products. We are currently producing petroleum needle coke. Needle coke is the key raw material in the manufacture of graphite electrodes which are consumed in EAF steel production. Petroleum needle coke, a crystalline form of carbon derived from decant oil is used primarily in the production of graphite electrodes. Graphite electrode producers combine petroleum or pitch needle coke with pitch adhesives and other ingredients to form graphite electrodes.

Petroleum needle and pitch needle coke, relative to other varieties of coke, is distinguished by its needle-like structure and its quality, which is measured by the presence of impurities, principally sulfur, nitrogen and ash. The needle-like structure of petroleum needle and pitch needle coke encourages expansion along the length of the electrode, rather than the width, which reduces the likelihood of fractures. Impurities reduce quality because they increase the coefficient of thermal expansion and electrical resistivity of the graphite electrode, which can lead to uneven expansion and a build-up of heat and cause the graphite electrode to oxidize rapidly and break. Petroleum needle and pitch needle coke is typically low in these impurities. In order to minimize fractures caused by disproportionate expansion over the width of an electrode, and minimize the effect of impurities, large-diameter graphite electrodes (18 inches to 32 inches) employed in high-intensity electric arc furnace applications are comprised almost exclusively of petroleum needle and pitch needle coke.

Engineered Solutions Segment

Our Engineered Solutions segment had sales of $120.9 million in 2009, $173.1 million in 2010, and $188.0 million in 2011. Engineered Solutions represented approximately 18% of consolidated net sales for 2009, approximately 17% for 2010 and approximately 14% for 2011. We estimate that our addressable worldwide demand for engineered solutions was $716 million in 2009, $1,100 million in 2010, and $1,200 million in 2011.

Advanced Graphite Materials. Our advanced graphite materials include products in a variety of shapes and grades, weighing up to ten metric tons, for diverse applications. Our products are used in many applications including metallurgy, high-temperature industrial, and solar silicon applications. In addition, certain of our materials, when combined with advanced flexible graphite, provide superior heat management solutions for insulation packages, induction furnaces, high temperature vacuum furnaces and direct solidification furnaces. In addition, we manufacture highly engineered advanced carbon composites serving the aerospace and defense industries.

Natural Graphite Products. We manufacture natural graphite products, consisting of flexible graphite. Applications include thermal management solutions used for the electronics, automotive, petrochemical, and transportation industries. We are one of the world’s largest manufacturers of natural graphite products for these uses and applications.

Business Strategies

We believe that, by growing our revenues and operating income, successfully implementing LEAN initiatives, and maximizing our cash flows, we will deliver enhanced financial performance and return on shareholder value. We believe this strategy will position us to capitalize on growth opportunities that may arise. We have transformed our operations, building competitive advantages to enable us to compete successfully in our major product lines, to realize enhanced performance as economic conditions improve and to exploit growth opportunities from our intellectual property portfolio. Our business strategies are designed to expand upon our competitive advantages by:

Leveraging Our Unique Global Manufacturing Network. We believe that our global manufacturing network provides us with competitive advantages in product quality, product costs, timely and reliable delivery, and operational flexibility to adjust product mix to meet the diverse needs of a wide range of segments and customers.

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We continue to leverage our network to seek to achieve significant increases in throughput generated from our existing assets, through productivity improvements, capital expenditures, and other efficiency initiatives. We believe we can further exploit our network by focusing our technical and customer service capabilities on:

We sell our products in every major geographic region. Sales of our products to buyers outside the U.S. accounted for about 82% of net sales in 2009, 80% of net sales in 2010, and about 73% of net sales in 2011. No single customer or group of affiliated customers accounted for more than 10% of our total net sales in 2009, 2010 or 2011.

Driving Continuous Improvement with LEAN and Six Sigma. We believe a consistent focus on our customers and diligence towards aligning our processes to satisfy these customers is essential in today’s global market. We have undertaken a comprehensive launch of LEAN and Six Sigma with dedicated resources at all of our key manufacturing plants intended to create a common language and tool set centering around LEAN and Six Sigma.

Our focus on waste reduction using a team approach creates knowledge at all levels of the organization. Concentrating on creating flow within processes enables us to capitalize on lower inventories while still maintaining high on-time-delivery. Our metric driven behavior and instituting solid corrective actions to anomalies drives us towards customer centric solutions.

We believe we will be able to continue to leverage our stream-lined processes as a sustainable competitive advantage with shorter lead times, lower costs, higher quality products, and exceptional service. We are applying these methodologies and tools to not only our manufacturing processes; but also to our transactional and business processes such as Accounts Receivable, New Product Introduction, and Cash Forecasting in order to develop a high-performing value stream.

Accelerating Commercialization of Advantaged Technologies. We believe that our technological capabilities for developing products with superior thermal, electrical and physical characteristics provide us with a potential growth opportunity as well as a competitive advantage. We seek to exploit these capabilities and our intellectual property portfolio to accelerate development and commercialization of these technologies across all of our businesses, to improve existing products, and to develop and commercialize new products for higher growth rate areas such as electronic thermal management technologies. We received R&D Magazine’s prestigious R&D 100 Award in seven of the past nine years. The R&D 100 Award honors the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace each year. We received this award in 2003 and 2004 for our achievements in electronic thermal management products, in 2005 for our large-diameter pinless graphite electrodes, in 2006 for GRAFOAM^® carbon foam, a unique high strength, light weight carbon foam, in 2007 for GrafCell^® flow field plates, a key component to the commercialization of fuel cells, in 2009 for our GRAFIHX™ Flexible Heat Exchangers, a graphite solution uniquely suited for radiant floor heating systems, and in 2011, for the eGRAF^® Spreadershield SS1500, the world’s thinnest heatspreader, enabling the world’s most powerful smart phones.

Delivering Exceptional and Consistent Quality. We believe that our products are among the highest quality products available in our industry. We have been recognized as a preferred or certified supplier by many major steel companies and have received numerous technological innovation and other awards by industry groups, customers and others. Using our technological capabilities, we continually seek to improve the

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consistent overall quality of our products and services, including the performance characteristics of each product, the uniformity of the same product manufactured at different facilities and the expansion of the range of our products. We believe that improvements in overall quality create significant efficiencies and opportunities for us, provide us the opportunity to increase sales volumes and potential demand share, and create production efficiencies for our customers.

Providing Superior Technical Service. We believe that we are recognized as one of the industry leaders in providing value added technical services to customers for our major product lines. We believe that we have one of the largest customer technical service and related supporting engineering and scientific organizations in our industry, with more than 250 engineers, scientists and specialists around the world. A portion of these employees assist key steel and other metals customers in furnace applications, operations and upgrades to reduce energy consumption, improve raw material costs and increase output.

Maintaining Liquidity and Building Stockholder Value. We believe that our business strategies support our goal of growing revenues and operating income and maximizing the cash generated from operations. Maintaining liquidity remains a priority for us. At December 31, 2011, we had outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Facility of $232.0 million, $153.4 million carrying value outstanding related to Senior Subordinated Notes, and cash and cash equivalents of $12.4 million. At December 31, 2010, we had outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Facility of $130.0 million, $143.4 million outstanding related to Senior Subordinated Notes, and cash and cash equivalents of $13.1 million.

We continually review our assets, product lines and businesses to seek out opportunities to maximize value, through re-deployment, merger, acquisition, divestiture or other means, which could include taking on more debt or issuing more equity. We may at any time buy or sell assets, product lines or businesses.

Production Planning

We plan and source production of our products globally. We have evaluated virtually every aspect of our global supply chain, and we have redesigned and implemented changes to our global manufacturing, marketing and sales processes to leverage the strengths of our repositioned manufacturing network. Among other things, we have reduced manufacturing bottlenecks, improved product and service quality and delivery reliability, expanded our range of products, and improved our global sourcing for our customers.

We deploy synchronous work processes at most of our manufacturing facilities. We have also installed and continue to install and upgrade proprietary process technologies at our manufacturing facilities, and use statistical process controls in our manufacturing processes for all products, and employ LEAN processing improvement techniques.

Our global manufacturing network also helps us to minimize risks associated with dependence on any single economic region.

Manufacturing

Graphite Electrode. The manufacture of a graphite electrode takes, on average, about two months. We manufacture graphite electrodes ranging in size up to 30 inches in diameter and over 11 feet in length, and weighing as much as 5,900 pounds (2.6 metric tons). The manufacture of graphite electrodes includes six main processes: forming the electrode, baking the electrode, impregnating the electrode with a special pitch that improves the strength, rebaking the electrode, graphitizing the electrode using electric resistance furnaces, and machining.

We manufacture graphite electrodes in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, France and Spain. We have an electrode machining center in Russia.

Refractory Products. Refractory bricks are manufactured in the United States, using a proprietary “hot press” process. We have two primary grades of refractory products. The manufacture of a refractory

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block begins with the mixing and blending of the raw materials. The raw materials are fed into molds and pressed into shape. Intense heat and pressure are then applied. The bricks are cooled and then cut into the desired shapes. Our bricks are generally smaller than our competitors’ products. We believe our smaller brick size creates an easier installation process compared to larger bricks. We manufacture refractory bricks into sizes up to 18 inches, although we can manufacture bricks into a multitude of sizes and shapes to meet the needs of our customers.

Petroleum Needle and Coke Products. Petroleum needle coke is produced through a manufacturing process very similar to a refinery. The production process converts decant oil into petroleum needle coke shaped in a needle-like structure. Pitch needle coke is produced using coal-tar pitch. We produce petroleum needle coke at one manufacturing facility in the U.S.

Advanced Graphite Materials. Advanced graphite materials are manufactured using processes and technologies similar to those of graphite electrodes. Manufacturing lead times range between four to twelve months for most products and depend on the specific material properties that are needed to be imparted in the final billet. After the forming, baking, impregnation, rebaking and graphitization steps, the billets are either dressed and sold as raw stock or are machined into custom parts against proprietary specifications supplied by our customers. We produce advanced graphite materials in the United States, South Africa, Brazil, France and Italy.

Natural Graphite Products. We use a proprietary process to convert mined natural graphite flake into expandable graphite, an intermediate product. We manufacture flexible graphite by subjecting expandable graphite to additional proprietary processing. Our natural graphite business operates two manufacturing facilities in the U.S. We believe that we operate one of the world’s most technologically sophisticated advanced natural graphite production lines.

Quality Standards and Maintenance. Most of our global manufacturing facilities are certified and registered to ISO 9001-2008 international quality standards and some are certified to QS 9001-2008. Natural graphite has a quality assurance system designed to meet the most stringent requirements of its customers and is ISO TS 16949:2009 certified. Maintenance at our facilities is conducted on an ongoing basis.

Raw Materials and Suppliers. The primary raw materials for electrodes are engineered by-products and residues of the petroleum and coal industries. We use these raw materials because of their high carbon content. The primary raw materials for graphite electrodes are calcined needle coke and pitch. We purchase raw materials from a variety of sources and believe that the quality and cost of our raw materials on the whole is competitive with those available to our competitors.

We are parties to contracts with ConocoPhillips through December 2013 for the supply of petroleum needle coke, our primary raw material used in the manufacture of graphite electrodes. The agreements provide for quantities of needle coke which we believe, together with needle coke that we source from Seadrift and other sources, are sufficient for our requirements as currently forecast. These supply agreements also contain customary terms and conditions including annual price negotiations, dispute resolution and termination provisions. In July 2011, ConocoPhillips announced that its board approved separating its refining and marketing and exploration and production businesses by spinning off the refining and marketing segment to shareholders. We do not believe that such separation will have an adverse impact on these needle coke supply agreements.

We have firm price contracts for the substantially all of our 2012 needle coke requirements. We may purchase up to 70,000 metric tons of our needle coke requirements from Seadrift.

Raw materials for refractory products are primarily sourced internally and from a variety of third parties. The primary raw material used in refractory products is crushed graphite.

The primary raw material used by Seadrift to make petroleum needle coke is decant oil, a by-product of the gasoline refining process. Seadrift is not dependent on any single refinery for decant oil. While Seadrift has purchased a substantial majority of its raw material inventory from two or three suppliers in recent

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years, we believe that there is an abundant supply of decant oil in the United States available from a variety of sources on similar terms.

We purchase energy from a variety of sources. Electric power used in manufacturing processes is purchased from local suppliers under contracts with pricing based on rate schedules or price indices. Our electric costs can vary significantly depending on these rates and usage. Natural gas used in manufacturing processes is purchased from local suppliers primarily under annual volume contracts with pricing based on various natural gas price indices.

Distribution

We deploy various demand management and inventory management techniques to seek to ensure we can meet our customers’ delivery requirements while still maximizing the utilization of our production capacity. We can experience significant variation in our customers’ delivery requirements as their specific needs vary and change through the year. We generally seek to maintain appropriate inventory levels, taking into account these factors as well as the significant differences in manufacturing cycle times for graphite electrode products and our customers’ products.

Finished products are usually stored at our manufacturing facilities. Limited quantities of some finished products are also stored at local warehouses around the world to meet customer needs.

Sales and Customer Service

Our product quality, our global manufacturing network and our low cost structure allow us to deliver a broad range of product offerings across various segments. We differentiate and sell the value of our product offerings, depending on the segment or specific product application, primarily based on product quality and performance, delivery reliability, price, and customer technical service.

We price our products based on the value that we believe we deliver to our customers. Pricing may vary within any given industry, depending on the segment within that industry and the value of the offer to a specific customer. We believe that we can achieve increased competitiveness, customer demand, and profitability through our value added offerings to customers. In certain segments where the product is less differentiated, these value added offerings have less impact on our competitiveness. Historically, our graphite electrode customers generally seek to negotiate to secure the reliable supply of their anticipated volume requirements on an annual basis, sometimes called the “graphite electrode book building process”. These orders are subject to renegotiation or adjustment to meet changing conditions. The remainder of our graphite electrode customers purchase their electrodes as needed at then current market prices (i.e., at the spot price).

We believe that we are one of the recognized industry leaders in providing value added technical services to customers for our major product lines, and that we have one of the largest customer technical service and related supporting engineering and scientific organizations in our industry, with more than 250 engineers, scientists and specialists around the world.

We deploy these selling methods and our customer technical service to address the specific needs of all products. Our direct sales force operates from 15 sales offices located around the world.

Industrial Materials. We sell our Industrial Materials segment products primarily through our direct sales force, independent sales representatives and distributors, all of whom are trained and experienced with our products.

We have customer technical service personnel based around the world to assist customers to maximize their production and minimize their costs. We employ about 140 engineers and technicians in our Industrial Materials segment, a portion of who provide technical service and advice to key steel and other metals customers. These services include furnace applications and operation, as well as furnace upgrades to reduce energy consumption, improve raw material costs and increase output.

Engineered Solutions. Our Engineered Solutions products are sold using direct employees and independent sales representatives and distributors in all major geographic regions of the world including North and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

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The majority of our products are custom built to customer specifications after an iterative review process between the customer’s engineers and our sales and technical service employees. Our sales personnel are trained and experienced with the products they sell. We provide technical service to our customers through dedicated technical service engineers who operate out of our North American and European facilities. We believe that our technical service differentiates us from our competition and take pride in our ability to support the technical requirements of our customers.

Technology

We believe that we are an industry leader in graphite and carbon materials science and high temperature processing know-how and that we operate premier research, development and testing facilities for our industry. We have over 125 years of experience in the research and development of graphite and carbon technologies. Over the past several years, we have analyzed our intellectual property portfolio to identify new product opportunities with high growth potential for us, redirected research to enhance and exploit our portfolio and accelerated development of such products.

Research and Development. We conduct our research and development both independently and in conjunction with our strategic suppliers, customers and others. We have a dedicated technology center located at our corporate headquarters in Ohio, which focuses on all products. We also have a pilot plant that has the capability to produce small or trial quantities of new or improved graphite products, to accelerate scale-up and market entry. In addition, we have a state-of-the-art testing facility located at our headquarters capable of conducting physical and analytical testing for those products. The activities at these centers and facilities are integrated with the efforts of our engineers at our manufacturing facilities who are focused on improving manufacturing processes.

Research and development expenses amounted to $9.4 million, $12.2 million and $14.0 million in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.

We believe that our technological and manufacturing strengths and capabilities provide us with a significant growth opportunity as well as a competitive advantage and are important factors in the selection of us by industry leaders and others as a strategic partner. Our technological capabilities include developing products with superior thermal, electrical and physical characteristics that provide a differentiating advantage. We seek to exploit these strengths and capabilities across all of our businesses, to improve existing products and to develop and commercialize new products with high growth potential.

A significant portion of our research and development is focused on new product development, particularly engineered solutions for advanced energy applications such as solar silicon manufacturing, electronic thermal management, energy storage and generation. Other significant work focuses on advancements in electrode technology and raw material optimization.

Intellectual Property. We believe that our intellectual property, consisting primarily of patents and proprietary know-how, provides us with competitive advantages and is important to our growth opportunities. Our intellectual property portfolio is extensive, with close to 400 U.S. and foreign patents, as well as close to 400 pending U.S. and foreign carbon and graphite related patent applications, which we believe, is more than any of our major competitors. Among our competitors, we hold one of the largest number of patents for flexible graphite as well as the largest number of patents relating to the use of natural graphite for certain fuel cell applications. In addition, we have obtained exclusive and non-exclusive licenses to various U.S. and foreign patents relating to our technologies. These patents and licenses expire at various times over the next two decades.

We own, and have obtained licenses to, various trade names and trademarks used in our businesses. For example, the trade name and trademark UCAR are owned by Union Carbide Corporation (which has been acquired by Dow Chemical Company) and are licensed to us on a worldwide, exclusive and royalty-free basis until 2025. This particular license automatically renews for successive ten-year periods. It permits non-renewal by Union Carbide in 2025 or at the end of any renewal period upon five years’ notice of non-renewal.

We rely on patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws as well as appropriate agreements to protect our intellectual property. Among other things, we

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seek to protect our proprietary know-how and information, through the requirement that employees, consultants, strategic partners and others, who have access to such proprietary information and know-how, enter into confidentiality or restricted use agreements.

Competition

Industrial Materials. Competition in the industrial materials segment is intense and is based primarily on product differentiation and quality, delivery reliability, price, and customer service, depending on the segment or specific product application.

In the most demanding product applications (that is, graphite electrodes that can operate in the largest, most productive and demanding EAF steel mills in the world), we compete primarily on product quality, delivery reliability, and customer technical service. We believe these are prerequisite capabilities that not all producers of graphite electrodes possess or can demonstrate consistently. In this segment, we primarily compete with higher quality graphite electrode producers, although this segment of the graphite electrode demand has become increasingly competitive in recent years as graphite electrode producers have improved the quality of their offerings and become qualified suppliers to some of the largest and most sophisticated EAF customers.

In other product applications, including ladle furnaces requiring less demanding performance and certain other ferrous and non-ferrous segments, we compete based on product differentiation and product quality. Our product quality, unique global manufacturing network, proximity to regional and local customers and the related lower cost structure allows us to deliver a broad range of product offerings across these various segments.

We believe that there are no current commercially viable substitutes for graphite electrodes in EAF steel production.

Our refractory products business competes based on product quality, useful life, and technology. We believe our proprietary hot press process and the smaller shape of our refractory bricks provides a more diverse product that is easier to install than larger refractory bricks.

We believe that there are certain cost and technology barriers to entry into our industry, including the need for extensive product and process know-how and other intellectual property and a high initial capital investment. It also requires high quality raw material sources and a developed energy supply infrastructure. However, competing manufacturers, particularly Chinese manufacturers, have been able to expand their sales and manufacturing geographically.

There are a number of international graphite electrode producers, including SGL Carbon A.G. (Germany), Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd. (Japan), Showa Denko Carbon K.K. (Japan), Graphite India Limited (India), HEG Limited (India), SEC Corporation Limited (Japan), Nippon Carbon Co., Ltd. (Japan), Energoprom Group (Russia), Beijing FangDa Carbon Tech Co. Ltd. (China) and Sinosteel Corporation (China), as well as a number of others which are in China.

All graphite electrode manufacturers, even those without multinational manufacturing operations, are capable of, and many in fact are, supplying their products globally, and are experiencing increased competition from Indian, Russian and Chinese graphite electrode manufacturers. The Chinese government has strongly supported and invested heavily in industrial expansion in recent years and continues to do so. As a part of this expansion, Chinese production of graphite electrodes has increased and the quality of the electrodes produced in China has improved. The Chinese policy of maintaining a fixed rate of exchange of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar may provide Chinese producers with a competitive advantage with respect to exports of graphite electrodes.

We believe there are currently approximately ten other firms producing UHP-grade needle coke. These competitors include ConocoPhillips, Petrocokes Japan Limited (Japan), Mitsubishi Chemical Company, Baosteel Group (China), C-Chem Co., Ltd. (Japan), Indian Oil Company Limited, Hongte Chemical Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. (China), JX Holdings Inc. (Japan), Petrochina International Jinzhou Co., Ltd. (China) and Sinosteel Anshan Research Institute of Thermo-Energy Co. Ltd. (China). Competition in the needle coke industry is based primarily on service, price, reliability and efficiency of products. Our Seadrift facility competes primarily on the quality and price of its needle coke.

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Engineered Solutions. Competitors of our engineered solutions segment compete on product differentiation and innovation, quality, price, delivery reliability and customer service depending on the specific demands or product applications.

We believe we are the technology leader within the segments we participate in, and we differentiate ourselves based on our ability to provide customers with a solution that gives them one of the lowest total operational costs in meeting their product manufacturing needs. We achieve this by using our extensive product, process and application knowledge.

We believe there are certain barriers to entry into this industry, including the need for extensive product and process know-how, intellectual property and a high initial capital investment.

We compete with other major specialty graphite competitors who manufacture and sell on a global basis. These competitors include SGL Carbon A.G. (Germany), Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd. (Japan), Toyo Tanso Co., Ltd.(Japan), Mersen S.A. (France) and several other competitors, a number of which are in China.

Environmental Matters

We are subject to a wide variety of federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations that govern our properties, neighboring properties, and our current and former operations worldwide. These laws and regulations relate to the presence, use, storage, handling, generation, treatment, emission, release, discharge and disposal of wastes and other substances, including the packaging, labeling and transportation of products; that are defined as hazardous or toxic or otherwise believed to have potential to harm the environment or human health. These laws and regulations (and the enforcement thereof) are periodically changed and are becoming increasingly stringent. We have incurred costs in the past, and will continue to incur additional costs in the future, to comply with these legal requirements.

The principal U.S. laws to which our properties and operations are subject include:

Further, laws and regulations adopted or proposed in various states impose or may impose, as the case may be, reporting or remediation requirements if operations cease or property is transferred or sold.

We believe that we are currently in material compliance with the federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations to which we are subject. We have experienced some level of regulatory scrutiny at most of our current and former facilities and, in some cases, have been required to take corrective or remedial actions and incur related costs in the past, and may experience further regulatory scrutiny, and may be required to take further corrective or remedial actions and incur additional costs in the future. Although it has not been the case in the past, these costs could have a material adverse effect on us in the future.

We have received and may in the future receive notices from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“U.S. EPA”) or state environmental protection agencies, as well as claims from other parties, alleging that we are a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) under Superfund and similar state laws for past and future remediation costs at waste disposal sites and other contaminated properties. Although Superfund liability is joint and several, in general, final allocation of responsibility at sites

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where there are multiple PRPs is made based on each PRP’s relative contribution of hazardous substances to the site. Based on information currently available to us, we believe that any potential liability we may have as a PRP will not have a material adverse effect on us.

As a result of amendments to the Clean Air Act enacted in 1990, certain of our U.S. facilities have been or will be required to comply with new reporting requirements and standards for air emissions that have been or may be adopted by the U.S. EPA and state environmental protection agencies pursuant to new and revised regulations that have been or could be promulgated, including the possible promulgation of future maximum achievable control technology standards that apply to our manufacturing sector(s). Achieving compliance with the regulations that have been promulgated to date has resulted in the need for additional administrative and engineered controls, changes to certain manufacturing processes, and increased monitoring and reporting obligations. Similar foreign laws and regulations have been or may also be adopted to establish new standards for air emissions, which may also require additional controls on our manufacturing operations outside the U.S. Based on information currently available to us, we believe that compliance with these regulations will not have a material adverse effect on us.

As mentioned, our manufacturing operations located outside of the U.S. are also subject to their national and local laws and regulations related to environmental protection and product safety. Under the European Union’s (“EU”) regulations concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (commonly referred to as “REACH”), enacted in 2007, manufacturers and importers into the EU of certain chemical substances are required to register and evaluate their potential impacts on human health and the environment. Under REACH, the continued importation into the EU, manufacture and/or use of certain chemical substances may be restricted, and manufacturers and importers of certain chemicals will be required to undertake evaluations of those substances. The requirements of REACH are being phased in over a period of years, and compliance is requiring and will continue to require expenditures and resource commitments. Based on information currently available to us, we believe that compliance with these regulations will not have a material adverse effect on us.

International accords, foreign laws and regulations, and U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations are increasingly being enacted to address concerns about the effects that carbon dioxide emissions and other identified greenhouse gases (“GHG”) may have on the environment and climate worldwide. These effects are widely referred to as Climate Change. Some members of the international community have taken actions in the past to address Climate Change issues on a global basis. The 1997 international Kyoto Protocol set binding GHG emission reduction targets for the participating industrialized countries. Members of the international community have been meeting since 2007 in the interest of negotiating a future treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which will expire at the end of 2012. Although the U.S. did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, it is possible that the U.S. would sign a future international Climate Change treaty and become subject to the provisions of such treaty. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (“EU ETS”) enacted under the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol requires certain listed energy-intensive industries to participate in an international “cap and trade” system of GHG emission allowances. As carbon and graphite manufacturing is not a covered industry sector under the current EU ETS, our European operations were not required to comply with these provisions. However, the current EU ETS will also expire in 2012 and will be replaced by similar provisions under Directive 2009/29/EC, which will also institute a number of program changes. EU Member States are required to bring into force the necessary laws, regulations and administrative provisions by December 31, 2012 to comply with this new Directive. Carbon and graphite manufacturing is not specifically listed as a covered activity in the revised Annex 1 of this new Directive. However, the post-2012 EU ETS could apply to some or all of our manufacturing operations in Europe under a general combustion of fuels category. Depending on the requirements of these EU Member State rules, our European operations could sustain additional compliance obligations and related expenses.

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In the U.S., Climate Change legislation has been proposed in the past, but has not been enacted to date. Such legislation could be passed in the future to reduce the quantity of national GHG emissions in accordance with established goals and deadlines. One or more of our U.S. facilities could be covered by such new legislation and we could incur additional compliance obligations and related expenses.

In 2009, a Final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule was issued by the U.S. EPA, which requires facilities with specified GHG sources that emit over the annual threshold quantities to monitor and report their GHG emissions annually. In addition, corporations that are large suppliers of petroleum products (including, by definition, importers and exporters that exceed the annual GHG threshold quantities) must also submit an annual activity report to the U.S. EPA. Some of our operations are covered under this Rule, and we believe that we have the necessary administrative systems in place to comply with the requirements. Under various other foreign and U.S. state regulations, we are currently required to report certain GHG emissions to the pertinent authorities. Furthermore, in December 2009, the U.S. EPA issued an “endangerment and cause or contribute finding” for GHG, under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act, allowing it to issue new rules that directly regulate GHG emissions under the existing federal New Source Review, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V Operating Permit programs. In May 2010, the U.S. EPA set GHG emissions thresholds to define when permits under these programs are required for new and existing industrial facilities. Under these programs, new or significantly modified facilities must also use best available control technologies to minimize GHG emissions. Therefore, we may incur future expenses to modify our air permits, implement additional administrative and engineered controls, invest in capital improvements, and/or make changes in certain manufacturing processes at our U.S. facilities in order for us to achieve compliance with these regulations or to expand our operations.

Based on information currently available to us, we believe that compliance with international accords, U.S. and foreign laws and regulations concerning Climate Change, which have been promulgated or that could be promulgated in the future, will not have a material adverse effect on us.

We have sold or closed a number of facilities that had operated solid waste landfills on-site. In most cases where we divested the properties, we have retained ownership of the landfills. When our landfills were or are to be sold, we obtained or seek to obtain financial assurance we believe to be adequate to protect us from any potential future liability associated with these landfills. When we have closed landfills, we believe that we have done so in material compliance with applicable laws and regulations. We continue to monitor these landfills pursuant to applicable laws and regulations. To date, the costs associated with the landfills have not been, and we do not anticipate that future costs will be, material to us.

Estimates of future costs for compliance with U.S. and foreign environmental protection laws and regulations, and for environmental liabilities, are necessarily imprecise due to numerous uncertainties, including the impact of potential new laws and regulations, the availability and application of new and diverse technologies, the extent of insurance coverage, the potential discovery of contaminated properties, or the identification of new hazardous substance disposal sites at which we may be a PRP and, in the case of sites subject to Superfund and similar state and foreign laws, the final determination of remedial requirements and the ultimate allocation of costs among the PRPs. Subject to the inherent imprecision in estimating such future costs, but taking into consideration our experience to date regarding environmental matters of a similar nature and facts currently known, we estimate that our costs and capital expenditures (in each case, before adjustment for inflation) for environmental protection regulatory compliance programs and for remedial response actions will not increase materially over the next several years.

Furthermore, we establish accruals for environmental liabilities when it is probable that a liability has been or will be incurred, and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. We adjust these accruals as new remedial actions or other commitments are made, and when new information becomes available that changes the estimates previously made.

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Insurance

We maintain insurance against civil liabilities relating to personal injuries to third parties, for loss of or damage to property, for business interruptions and for environmental matters, that provides coverage, subject to the applicable coverage limits, deductibles and retentions, and exclusions, that we believe are appropriate upon terms and conditions and for premiums that we consider fair and reasonable in the circumstances. We cannot assure you, however, that we will not incur losses beyond the limits of or outside the coverage of our insurance.

Employees

At December 31, 2011, we had 3,284 employees (excluding contractors), an increase of 369 employees compared to 2010. A total of 551 employees were in Europe (including Russia), 911 were in Mexico and Brazil, 427 were in South Africa, 1 was in Canada, 1,373 were in the U.S. and 21 were in the Asia Pacific region. At December 31, 2011, 1,908 of our employees were hourly employees.

At December 31, 2011, approximately 49% of our worldwide employees were covered by collective bargaining or similar agreements, which expire at various times in each of the next several years. At December 31, 2011, about 1,100 employees, or 33% of our employees, were covered by agreements which expire, or are subject to renegotiation, at various times through December 31, 2012. We believe that, in general, our relationships with our unions are satisfactory and that we will be able to renew or extend our collective bargaining or similar agreements on reasonable terms as they expire. We cannot assure, however, that renewed or extended agreements will be reached without a work stoppage or strike or will be reached on terms satisfactory to us.

We have not had any material work stoppages or strikes during the past decade.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The risks described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also have a material adverse effect on us. If any of the following risks actually occur, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or business could be harmed. In that case, the market price of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.

RISKS RELATING TO US

A downturn in global economic conditions may materially adversely affect our business.

While the global recovery continues, the pace of recovery remains sluggish and uneven geographically. Downside risks remain for 2012, including high unemployment, reduced consumer spending, high deficit spending from governments, turbulent financial markets (euro area) and tighter monetary policies (Emerging markets).

The International Monetary Fund reported GDP growth figures for 2011 at approximately 3.8%. We believe that in the graphite electrode markets in which we compete, the capacity utilization rate was approximately 80% in both 2010 and 2011. While improved compared to 2009 levels, these lower than pre-crisis capacity utilization rates continued to adversely affect our financial position and results of operation for 2011.

We are dependent on the global steel industry and also sell products used in the transportation, semiconductor, solar, petrochemical, electronics, and other industries which are susceptible to global and regional economic downturns.

We sell our industrial materials products, which accounted for about 86% of our total net sales in 2011, primarily to the EAF steel production industry. Many of our other products are sold primarily to the transportation, solar, oil and gas exploration industries. These are global basic industries, and they are experiencing various degrees of contraction, growth and consolidation. Customers in these industries are located in every major geographic region. As a result, our customers are affected by changes in global and regional economic conditions. This, in turn, affects overall demand and prices for our products sold to these industries. As a result of changes in economic conditions, demand and pricing for our products sold to these industries has fluctuated and in some cases declined significantly.

Demand for our products sold to these industries may be adversely affected by improvements in our products as well as in the manufacturing operations of customers, which reduce the rate of consumption or use of our products. Our customers, including major steel producers, are experiencing and may continue to experience downturns or financial distress that could adversely impact our ability to collect our accounts receivable or to collect them on a timely basis.

Sales volumes and prices of our products sold to these industries are impacted by the supply/demand balance as well as overall changes in demand, and growth of and consolidation within, the end markets for our products. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the supply/demand balance is affected by factors such as business cycles, rationalization, and increases in capacity and productivity initiatives within our industry and the end markets for our products, some of which factors are affected by decisions by us.

The steel industry, in particular, has historically been highly cyclical and is affected significantly by general economic conditions. Significant customers for the steel industry include companies in the automotive, construction, appliance, machinery, equipment and transportation industries, all of which continue to be affected by the general economic downturn and the deterioration in financial markets, including severely restricted liquidity and credit availability.

In addition, a continuation of the current difficult economic conditions may lead current or potential customers of our Engineered Solutions business to delay or reduce technology purchases or slow their adoption of new technologies. This may result in a continued reduction, or slower rate of recovery, of sales of our Engineered Solutions products and increased price competition, which could materially and adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.

We are subject to restrictive covenants under the Revolving Facility and expect to be subject to

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restrictive covenants under any renewal or refinancing thereof. These covenants could significantly affect the way in which we conduct our business. Our failure to comply with these covenants could lead to an acceleration of our debt.

The Revolving Facility contains a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to: sell assets; incur, repay or refinance indebtedness; create liens; make investments or acquisitions; engage in mergers or acquisitions; pay dividends; or repurchase stock.

The Revolving Facility also requires us to comply with specified financial covenants, including minimum interest coverage and maximum senior secured leverage ratios. We cannot borrow under the Revolving Facility if the additional borrowings would cause us to breach the financial covenants.

Our ability to continue to comply with applicable covenants may be affected by events beyond our control. The breach of any of the covenants contained in the Revolving Facility, unless waived, would be a default under the Revolving Facility. This would permit the lenders to terminate their commitments to extend credit under, and accelerate the maturity of, the Revolving Facility. The acceleration of our debt could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and liquidity. If we were unable to repay our debt to the lenders and holders or otherwise obtain a waiver from the lenders and holders, we could be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures; sell assets or businesses; limit or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, business plans regarding operations; obtain additional debt or equity financing; seek protection under applicable debtor protection statutes, or restructure or refinance debt.

We expect that any renewal or refinancing of the Revolving Facility will contain covenants that may be as restrictive, or more restrictive, than the covenants contained in the Revolving Facility and would extend to the lenders thereunder remedies, in the event of any default, similar to those provided to the lenders under the Revolving Facility described above.

Disruptions in the capital and credit markets, which may continue indefinitely or intensify, could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, or those of our customers and suppliers.

Disruptions in the capital and credit markets may adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, or those of our customers and suppliers. Disruptions in the capital and credit markets as a result of uncertainty, changing or increased regulation, reduced alternatives or failures of significant financial institutions could adversely affect our access to liquidity needed to conduct or expand our businesses or conduct acquisitions or make other discretionary investments, as well as our ability to effectively hedge our currency or interest rate risks and exposures. Such disruptions may also adversely impact the capital needs of our customers and suppliers, which, in turn, could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

We are subject to risks associated with operations in multiple countries.

A substantial majority of our net sales are derived from sales outside the U.S., and a substantial majority of our operations and our total property, plant and equipment and other long- lived assets are located outside the U.S. As a result, we are subject to risks associated with operating in multiple countries, including:

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We cannot assure you that such risks will not have a material adverse effect on us or that we would be able to mitigate such material adverse effects in the future.

In addition to the factors noted above, our results of operations and financial condition are affected by inflation, deflation and stagflation in each country in which we have a manufacturing facility. We cannot assure you that future increases in our costs will not exceed the rate of inflation or the amounts, if any, by which we may be able to increase prices for our products.

Our ability to grow and compete effectively depends on protecting our intellectual property. Failure to protect our intellectual property could adversely affect us.

We believe that our intellectual property, consisting primarily of patents and proprietary know-how and information, is important to our growth. Failure to protect our intellectual property may result in the loss of the exclusive right to use our technologies. We rely on patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws and confidentiality and restricted use agreements to protect our intellectual property. Some of our intellectual property is not covered by any patent or patent application or any such agreement.

Patents are subject to complex factual and legal considerations. Accordingly, there can be uncertainty as to the validity, scope and enforceability of any particular patent. Therefore, we cannot assure you that:

Moreover, patents, even if valid, only provide protection for a specified limited duration.

We cannot assure you that agreements designed to protect our proprietary know-how and information will not be breached, that we will have adequate remedies for any such breach, or that our strategic alliance suppliers and customers, consultants, employees or others will not assert rights to intellectual property arising out of our relationships with them.

In addition, effective patent, trademark and trade secret protection may be limited, unavailable or not applied for in the U.S. or in any of the foreign countries in which we operate.

Further, we cannot assure you that the use of our patented technology or proprietary know-how or information does not infringe the intellectual property rights of others.

Intellectual property protection does not protect against technological obsolescence due to developments by others or changes in customer needs.

The protection of our intellectual property rights may be achieved, in part, by prosecuting claims against others whom we believe have misappropriated our technology or have infringed upon our intellectual property rights, as well as by defending against misappropriation or infringement claims brought by

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others against us. Our involvement in litigation to protect or defend our rights in these areas could result in a significant expense to us, adversely affect the development of sales of the related products, and divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel, regardless of the outcome of such litigation.

If necessary, we may seek licenses to intellectual property of others. However, we can give no assurance to you that we will be able to obtain such licenses or that the terms of any such licenses will be acceptable to us. Our failure to obtain a license from a third party for its intellectual property that is necessary for us to make or sell any of our products could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and to suspend the manufacture or shipment of products or use of processes requiring the use of such intellectual property.

Our current and former manufacturing operations are subject to increasingly stringent health, safety and environmental requirements.

We use and generate hazardous substances in our manufacturing operations. In addition, both the properties on which we currently operate and those on which we have ceased operations are and have been used for industrial purposes. Further, our manufacturing operations involve risks of personal injury or death. We are subject to increasingly stringent environmental, health and safety laws and regulations relating to our current and former properties, neighboring properties, and our current raw materials, products, and operations. These laws and regulations provide for substantial fines and criminal sanctions for violations and sometimes require evaluation and registration of the installation of costly pollution control or safety equipment or costly changes in operations to limit pollution or decrease the likelihood of injuries. It is also possible that the impact of such regulations on our suppliers could affect the availability and cost of our raw materials. In addition, we may become subject to potential material liabilities for the investigation and cleanup of contaminated properties, for claims alleging personal injury or property damage resulting from exposure to or releases of hazardous substances, or for personal injury as a result of an unsafe workplace. Further, alleged noncompliance with or stricter enforcement of, or changes in interpretations of, existing laws and regulations, adoption of more stringent new laws and regulations, discovery of previously unknown contamination or imposition of new or increased requirements could require us to incur costs or become the basis of new or increased liabilities that could be material.

We may face risks related to greenhouse gas emission limitations and climate change.

There is growing scientific, political and public concern that emissions of greenhouse gases (“GHG”) are altering the atmosphere in ways that are affecting, and are expected to continue to affect, the global climate. Legislators, regulators and others, as well as many companies, are considering ways to reduce GHG emissions. GHG emissions are regulated in the European Union via an Emissions Trading Scheme (“ETS”), aka a “Cap and Trade” program. In the United States, environmental regulations issued in 2009 and 2010 will require reporting of GHG emissions by defined industries, activities and suppliers, and will regulate GHG as a pollutant covered under the New Source Review, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) and Title V Operating Permit programs of the Clean Air Act Amendments. It is possible that some form of regulation of GHG emissions will also be forthcoming in other countries in which we operate or market our products. Regulation of GHG emissions could impose additional costs, both direct and indirect, on our business, and on the businesses of our customers and suppliers, such as increased energy and insurance rates, higher taxes, new environmental compliance program expenses, including capital improvements, environmental monitoring, and the purchase of emission credits, and other administrative costs necessary to comply with current requirements and potential future requirements or limitations that may be imposed, as well as other unforeseen or unknown costs. To the extent that similar requirements and limitations are not imposed globally, such regulation may impact our ability to compete with companies located in countries that do not have such requirements or do not impose such limitations. The company may also realize a change in competitive position relative to industry peers, changes in prices received for products sold, and changes to profit or loss arising from increased or decreased demand for products produced by the company. The impact of any future GHG regulatory requirements on our global

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business will be dependent upon the design of the regulatory schemes that are ultimately adopted and, as a result, we are unable to predict their significance to our operations at this point in time.

The potential physical impacts of climate change on the company’s operations are uncertain and will likely be particular to the geographic circumstances. These physical impacts may include changes in rainfall and storm patterns, shortages of water or other natural resources, changing sea levels, and changing global average temperatures. For instance, the company’s Seadrift facility and those facilities supplying it, and the company’s Calais facility, are located in geographic areas less than 50 feet above sea level. As a result, any future rising sea levels could have an adverse impact on their operations and on their suppliers. Due to these uncertainties, any future physical effects of climate change may or may not adversely affect the operations at each of our production facilities, the availability of raw materials, the transportation of our products, the overall costs of conducting our business, and the company’s financial performance.

We face certain litigation and legal proceedings risks that could harm our business.

We are involved in various product liability, occupational, environmental, and other legal claims, demands, lawsuits and other proceedings arising out of or incidental to the conduct of our business. The results of these proceedings are difficult to predict. Moreover, many of these proceedings do not specify the relief or amount of damages sought. Therefore, as to a number of the proceedings, we are unable to estimate the possible range of liability that might be incurred should these proceedings be resolved against us. Certain of these matters involve types of claims that, if resolved against us, could give rise to substantial liability, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity and results of operations.

We are dependent on supplies of raw materials and energy. Our results of operations could deteriorate if that supply is substantially disrupted for an extended period.

We purchase raw materials and energy from a variety of sources. In many cases, we purchase them under short term contracts or on the spot market, in each case at fluctuating prices. The availability and price of raw materials and energy may be subject to curtailment or change due to:

Petroleum and coal products, including decant oil, petroleum coke and pitch, our principal raw materials, and energy, particularly natural gas, have been subject to significant price fluctuations.

We have in the past entered into, and may continue in the future to enter into, derivative contracts and short duration fixed rate purchase contracts to effectively fix a portion of our exposure to certain products.

A substantial increase in raw material or energy prices which cannot be mitigated or passed on to customers or a continued interruption in supply, particularly in the supply of decant oil, petroleum coke or energy, would have a material adverse effect on us.

Seadrift could be impacted by the availability of low sulfur decant oil and the pricing of needle coke feedstocks.

Seadrift uses low sulfur decant oil in the manufacture of needle coke. There is no assurance that Seadrift will always be able to obtain an adequate quantity of suitable feedstocks or that capital would be available to install equipment to allow for utilization of higher sulfur decant oil, which is more readily available in the United States, in the event that suppliers of lower sulfur decant oil were to become more limited in the future. Seadrift purchases approximately two million barrels of low sulfur decant oil annually. The prices paid by Seadrift for such feedstocks are governed by the market for heavy fuel oils, which prices can fluctuate widely for various reasons including, among other things, worldwide oil shortages and cold winter weather. The

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substantial majority of Seadrift’s needle coke is used in the manufacture of graphite electrodes, the price of which is subject to rigorous industry competition thus restricting Seadrift’s ability to pass through raw material price increases.

We engage in acquisitions and may encounter unexpected difficulties identifying, pricing or integrating these businesses.

We have pursued growth, in part, through strategic acquisitions that are intended to complement or expand our businesses, and expect to continue to do so in the future. The success of this strategy will depend on our ability to identify, price, finance and complete these transactions. Success will also depend on our ability to integrate the businesses acquired in these transactions. We may encounter unexpected difficulties in completing and integrating acquisitions with our existing operations, and in managing strategic investments. Furthermore, we may not realize the degree, or timing, of benefits we anticipated when we first entered into a transaction. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our financial position, liquidity and results of operations.

Our results of operations could deteriorate if our manufacturing operations were substantially disrupted for an extended period.

Our manufacturing operations are subject to disruption due to extreme weather conditions, floods, hurricanes and tropical storms and similar events, major industrial accidents, cybersecurity attacks, strikes and lockouts, adoption of new laws or regulations, changes in interpretations of existing laws or regulations or changes in governmental enforcement policies, civil disruption, riots, terrorist attacks, war, and other events. We cannot assure you that no such events will occur. If such an event occurs, it could have a material adverse effect on us.

We have non-dollar-denominated intercompany loans and have had in the past, and may in the future have, foreign currency financial instruments and interest rate swaps and caps. The related gains and losses have in the past been, and may in the future be, significant.

As part of our cash management, we have non-dollar denominated intercompany loans between our subsidiaries. These loans are deemed to be temporary and, as a result, remeasurement gains and losses on these loans are recorded as currency gains / losses in other income (expense), net, on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Additionally, we have in the past entered into, and may in the future enter into, interest rate swaps and caps to attempt to manage interest rate expense. We have also in the past entered into, and may in the future enter into, foreign currency financial instruments to attempt to hedge global currency exposures. We may purchase or sell these financial instruments, and open and close hedges or other positions, at any time. Changes in currency exchange rates or interest rates have in the past resulted, and may in the future result, in significant gains or losses with respect thereto. These instruments are marked-to-market monthly and gains and losses thereon are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

There may be volatility in our results of operations between quarters.

Sales of our products fluctuate from quarter to quarter due to such factors as changes in economic conditions, changes in competitive conditions, scheduled plant shutdowns by customers, national vacation practices, changes in customer production schedules in response to seasonal changes in energy costs, weather conditions, strikes and work stoppages at customer plants and changes in customer order patterns including those in response to the announcement of price increases or price adjustments. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, volatility with respect to demand for and prices of our industrial material products, specifically graphite electrodes, both globally and regionally. We have also experienced volatility with respect to prices of raw materials and energy, and we expect to experience volatility in such prices in the future. Accordingly, results of operations for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year.

The graphite and carbon industry is highly competitive. Our market share, net sales or net income could decline due to vigorous price and other competition.

Competition in the graphite and carbon products industry (other than, generally, with respect to new products) is based primarily on price, product

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differentiation and quality, delivery reliability, and customer service. Electrodes, in particular, are subject to rigorous price competition. In such a competitive market, changes in market conditions, including customer demand and technological development, could adversely affect our competitiveness, sales and/or profitability.

Competition with respect to new products is, and is expected to be, generally based primarily on product innovation, price, performance and cost effectiveness as well as customer service.

Competition could prevent implementation of price increases, require price reductions or require increased spending on research and development, marketing and sales that could adversely affect us.

We have significant deferred income tax assets in multiple jurisdictions, and we may not be able to realize any benefits from those assets.

At December 31, 2011 we had $132.9 million of gross deferred income tax assets, of which $25.5 million required a valuation allowance. In addition, we had $123.2 million of gross deferred income tax liabilities. Our valuation allowance means that we do not believe that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. Until we determine that it is more likely than not that we will generate sufficient taxable income to realize our deferred income tax assets, income tax benefits in each current period will be fully reserved.

Our valuation allowance, which is predominantly in the U.S. tax jurisdiction, does not affect our ability and intent to utilize the deferred income tax assets as we generate sufficient future profitability. We are executing current strategies and developing future strategies, to improve sales, reduce costs and improve our capital structure in order to improve U.S. taxable income of the appropriate character to a level sufficient to fully realize these benefits in future years.

Risks Relating to Our Securities

To the extent that outstanding options to purchase shares of our common stock are exercised or other equity awards are granted under our incentive plans, the ownership interests of our other stockholders will be diluted.

We have issued in the past, and expect to issue in the future, stock options, restricted stock units and performance share award units to directors, executive officers and other key employees under our 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan and other benefit plans. You may experience dilution upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of our common stock, or the issuance of future equity awards, granted under these equity incentive plans.

Our stock price may be volatile due to the nature of our business as well as the nature of the securities markets, which could affect the value of an investment in our common stock.

Companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been the subject of securities class action litigation which involves substantial costs and a diversion of those companies’ management’s attention and resources. Many factors may cause the market price for our common stock to decline or fluctuate, perhaps substantially, including:

Forward Looking Statements

This Report contains forward looking statements. In addition, we or our representatives have made or may make forward looking statements on telephone or conference calls, by webcasts or emails, in person, in presentations or written materials, or otherwise. These include statements about such matters as: expected future or targeted operational and financial

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performance; growth rates and future production and sales of products that incorporate or that are produced using our products; changes in production capacity in our operations and our competitors’ or customers’ operations and the utilization rates of that capacity; growth rates for, future prices and sales of, and demand for our products and our customers products; costs of materials and production, including anticipated increases or decreases therein, our ability to pass on any such increases in our product prices or surcharges thereon, or customer or market demand to reduce our prices due to such decreases; changes in customer order patterns due to changes in economic conditions; productivity, business process and operational initiatives, and their impact on us; our position in markets we serve; financing and refinancing activities; investments and acquisitions that we have made or may make in the future and the performance of the businesses underlying such acquisitions and investments; employment and contributions of key personnel; employee relations and collective bargaining agreements covering many of our operations; tax rates; capital expenditures and their impact on us; nature and timing of restructuring charges and payments; strategic plans and business projects; regional and global economic and industry market conditions, the timing and magnitude of changes in such conditions and the impact thereof; interest rate management activities; currency rate management activities; deleveraging activities; rationalization, restructuring, realignment, strategic alliance, raw material and supply chain, technology development and collaboration, investment, acquisition, venture, operational, tax, financial and capital projects; legal proceedings, contingencies, and environmental compliance including any regulatory initiatives with respect to greenhouse gas emissions which may be proposed; consulting projects; potential offerings, sales and other actions regarding debt or equity securities of us or our subsidiaries; and costs, working capital, revenues, business opportunities, debt levels, cash flows, cost savings and reductions, margins, earnings and growth. The words “will,” “may,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “target,” “goal,” “continue to,” “positioned to” and similar expressions, or the negatives thereof, identify some of these statements.

Our expectations and targets are not predictors of actual performance and historically our performance has deviated, often significantly, from our expectations and targets. Actual future events and circumstances (including future results and trends) could differ materially, positively or negatively, from those set forth in these statements due to various factors. These factors include:

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Occurrence of any of the events or circumstances described above could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or the market price of our common stock.

No assurance can be given that any future transaction about which forward looking statements may be made will be completed or as to the timing or terms of any such transaction.

All subsequent written and oral forward looking statements by or attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Except as otherwise required to be disclosed in periodic reports required to be filed by public companies with the SEC pursuant to the SEC’s rules, we have no duty to update these statements.

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We currently operate the following facilities, which are owned or leased as indicated.

We believe that our facilities, which are of varying ages and types of construction, are in good condition, are suitable for our operations and generally provide sufficient capacity to meet our requirements for the foreseeable future.

The information required by Item 3 is set forth in Note 14, “Contingencies” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated herein by reference.

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PART II

Market Information

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the trading symbol “GTI.” Our common stock is included in the Russell 2000 Index. The closing sale price of our common stock was $13.65 on December 30, 2011, the last trading day of our most recent fiscal year. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing sales price per share for our common stock as reported by the NYSE.

At January 31, 2012, there were 176 stockholders of record and, we estimate, 19,365 beneficial owners.

Dividend Policies and Restrictions

It is the current policy of our Board of Directors to retain earnings to finance strategic and other plans and programs, conduct business operations, fund acquisitions, meet obligations and repay debt. Any declaration and payment of cash dividends or repurchases of common stock will be subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon our financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements and future prospects, the limitations contained in the Revolving Facility and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. We did not pay any cash dividends in 2010 or 2011. We periodically review our dividend policy. At the present time, there are no plans for paying cash dividends in the near future.

GTI is a holding company that derives substantially all of its cash flow from issuances of its securities and cash flows of its subsidiaries. Accordingly, GTI’s ability to pay dividends or repurchase common stock from cash flow from sources other than issuance of its securities is dependent upon the cash flows of its subsidiaries and the advance or distribution of those cash flows to GTI.

Under the Revolving Facility, in general, GTI is permitted to pay dividends and repurchase our common stock in an aggregate amount (cumulative from October 2011) up to $75 million (or $500 million, if certain leverage ratio requirements are satisfied), plus, each year, an aggregate amount equal to 50% of the consolidated net income in the prior year.

Repurchases

On December 13, 2011 our Board of Directors authorized a new repurchase program for up to ten million shares of our common stock to replace an earlier program which had been completed. Purchases may take place from time to time in the open market, or through privately negotiated transactions, as market conditions warrant. In addition, upon the vesting or payment of stock awards, an employee may elect receipt of the full share amount and pay the resulting taxes, or have shares withheld to cover the tax obligation. We sometimes elect to purchase these withheld shares and pay the taxes on the employee’s behalf, rather than sell the withheld shares in the open market. These repurchases are outside of the programs authorized by our Board of Directors.

During 2011, we repurchased approximately 2.2 million shares of our common stock at a total cost of $32.1 million, which resulted in a weighted average cost of $14.70 per share. We did not repurchase any shares under these programs during 2010 and 2009.

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The following table provides information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of us or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of shares of our common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2011:

Performance Graph

The following graph compares the 5-year total return provided to shareholders of our common stock to the cumulative total return of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Russell 2000 Index. An investment of $100 is assumed to have been made in our common stock and in each of the indexes on December 31, 2006 and its relative performance is tracked through December 31, 2011.

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The data set forth below should be read in conjunction with “Part I. Preliminary Notes-Important Terms”, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.

For the Year Ended December 31, 2007:

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For the Year Ended December 31, 2008:

For the Year Ended December 31, 2009:

For the Year Ended December 31, 2010 (Seadrift and C/G are included in our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning as of December 1, 2010):

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For the Year Ended December 31, 2011 (Micron Research Corporation and Fiber Materials, Inc. are included in our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning as of February 10, 2011 and November 1, 2011, respectively):

Quarterly Data:

The following quarterly selected consolidated financial data have been derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements for the periods indicated which have not been audited. The selected quarterly consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with “Part I. Preliminary Notes–Presentation of Financial, Market and Legal Data,” “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.

First Quarter:

A loss of $0.6 million for currency losses due to the remeasurement of intercompany loans,

Income of $0.7 million resulting from the collection of an acquired account receivable at an amount in excess of its estimated fair value at the acquisition date, and

Amortization of acquired intangibles totaling $5.6 million,

Second Quarter:

Amortization of deferred major maintenance and repair costs totaling $0.4 million, and

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Amortization of acquired intangibles totaling $5.6 million.

Third Quarter

A loss of $1.2 million for currency losses due to the remeasurement of intercompany loans,

Amortization of deferred major maintenance and repair costs totaling $1.4 million, and

Amortization of acquired intangibles totaling $5.7 million.

Fourth Quarter:

Amortization of deferred major maintenance and repair costs totaling $1.4 million,

Amortization of acquired intangibles totaling $5.7 million,

A $26.5 million income tax benefit primarily attributable to the release of valuation allowance for foreign tax credits carryforwards which are expected to be utilized in future years

A loss of $22.3 million for the MTM Adjustment for our pension and OPEB benefit plans; driven primarily by a decrease in the discount rate due to lower interest rates.

(b) Net income by quarter for 2010 includes the following:

First Quarter:

A loss of $0.8 million from the equity in losses of our then non-consolidated affiliate, Seadrift, and

Income of $3.7 million for currency gains due to the remeasurement of intercompany loans.

Second Quarter:

A $6.6 million expense for Seadrift and C/G acquisition-related costs,

Income of $1.7 million from the equity in earnings of our then non-consolidated affiliate, Seadrift, and

Income of $9.0 million for currency gains due to the remeasurement of intercompany loans and the effect of transaction gains and losses on intercompany activities,

Third Quarter:

A $5.7 million expense for Seadrift and C/G acquisition-related cost,

Income of $1.4 million from the equity in earnings of our then non-consolidated affiliate, Seadrift, and

A loss of $9.7 million for currency gains due to the remeasurement of intercompany loans and the effect of transaction gains and losses on intercompany activities,

Fourth Quarter:

A $2.9 million expense for Seadrift and C/G acquisition-related costs,

Income of $3.2 million for currency gains due to the remeasurement of intercompany loans and the effect of transaction gains and losses on intercompany activities,

A $30.3 million benefit related to deferred tax asset valuation allowance release as a result of the acquisitions,

Income of $2.6 million from the equity in earnings of our then non-consolidated affiliate, Seadrift,

Income of $9.6 million relating to the gain recorded after the acquisition of the remaining 81.1% equity interest in our previously non-consolidated affiliate, Seadrift; and

A loss of $7.4 million for the MTM Adjustment for our pension and OPEB benefit plans.

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General

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is designed to provide information that is supplemental to, and should be read together with, our Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes. Information in this Item is intended to assist the reader in obtaining an understanding of our Consolidated Financial Statements, the changes in certain key items in those financial statements from year-to-year, the primary factors that accounted for those changes, any known trends or uncertainties that we are aware of that may have a material effect on our future performance, as well as how certain accounting principles affect our Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, this Item provides information about our business segments and how the results of those segments impact our financial condition and results of operation as a whole.

Executive Summary

On November 30, 2010, we acquired Seadrift and C/G. As a result of these acquisitions, our results of operations and MD&A analysis for 2010 include one month of activity of Seadrift and C/G, compared to a full year of operations for 2011. In February 2011 and October 2011 we acquired Micron Research Corporation and Fiber Materials, Inc., respectively. They are included in our results of operations and MD&A analysis for 2011 from their respective acquisition dates.

We have five major product categories: graphite electrodes, refractory products, needle coke products, advanced graphite materials, and natural graphite products.

Reportable Segments. Our businesses are reported in the following categories:

Reference is made to the information under “Part I” for background information on our businesses, industry and related matters.

Global Economic Conditions and Outlook

We are impacted in varying degrees, both positively and negatively, as global, regional or country conditions fluctuate. Our discussions about market data and global economic conditions below are based on or derived from published industry accounts and statistics.

2012 Outlook. Global economic forecasts for 2012 were recently downgraded for the second consecutive time since June 2011 due to the slowdown in global output which began to emerge in the third quarter of 2011. The slower pace was largely attributed to the ongoing Eurozone debt crisis and its impact on other advanced and emerging countries. Also, slower growth in several emerging countries (especially China) occurred in reaction to domestic policy tightening.

Based on current projections from the International Monetary Fund and other global economic forecasts, world output is projected to expand by an average of 3.25 percent in 2012. Downside risks remain to the stability of the global recovery.

Despite the slower pace of economic growth, global steel demand is expected to grow at a moderate rate in 2012. However, operating rates in the primary markets we serve are anticipated to remain below pre-crisis levels. According to the World Steel Association’s published reports, global steel operating rates decreased by four percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2011 to 74 percent capacity utilization, as compared to the third quarter of 2011. For the full year 2011, global steel operating rates were 79 percent given stronger first half production levels relative to the second half of 2011. 

In the energy market, solar segment demand is anticipated to soften due to high inventories and government funding support restrictions, and is not expected to recover until 2013. However, industrial and advanced electronic segments continue to be driven by global industrialization and electronics technology expansion.

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For the full year 2012, we are targeting:

Our outlook could be significantly impacted by, among other things, factors described under “Item 1A – Risk Factors” and “Item 1A – Forward Looking Statements” in this Report.

Financing Transactions

On October 7, 2011, GrafTech and certain of its subsidiaries, entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement that provides for, among other things, an increase in the line of credit, an extension of the maturity date, a decrease in the cost of borrowings, and changes in financial covenants under our principal revolving credit facility (“Revolving Facility”). The following comparison highlights the principal changes to the Revolving Facility effected by the amendment and restatement:

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Under the Revolving Facility we now have additional flexibility for investments, capital expenditures, acquisitions and restricted payments. We are permitted to pay dividends and repurchase our common stock in an aggregate amount (cumulative from October 2011) up to $75 million (or $500 million, if certain leverage ratio requirements are satisfied), plus, each year, an aggregate amount equal to 50% of the consolidated net income in the prior year and issue letters of credit under the Revolving Facility in an amount not to exceed $50 million.

At December 31, 2011, we had outstanding borrowings of $232.0 million and outstanding letters of credit of $8.4 million under this Revolving Facility.

On November 30, 2010, in connection with the acquisitions of Seadrift and C/G, we issued Senior Subordinated Notes for an aggregate total face amount of $200 million. These Senior Subordinated Notes are non-interest bearing and mature in 2015, see Note 2 “Acquisitions”. Because the promissory notes are non-interest bearing, we were required to record them at their present value (determined using an interest rate of 7%). The difference between the face amount of the promissory notes and their present value is recorded as debt discount. The debt discount will be amortized to income using the interest method, over the life of the promissory notes. The loan balance, net of unamortized discount, was $153.4 million at December 31, 2011.

During 2008, we entered into a supply chain financing arrangement, as discussed in more detail under “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” below. Our purchases of inventory under this arrangement were $186.7 million in 2010 and $169.1 million in 2011.

On occasion we sell accounts receivable without recourse to a third party. We did not sell any receivables during 2010 or 2011. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for further discussion.

Proceedings Against Us

We are involved in various investigations, lawsuits, claims, demands, environmental compliance programs, labor disputes and other legal proceedings arising out of or incidental to the conduct of our business. While it is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of each of these matters and proceedings, we do not believe that their ultimate disposition will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

There is litigation pending in Brazil involving disputes arising out of the interpretation of certain collectively bargained wage increase provisions applicable in 1989 and 1990 to employers (including our subsidiary in Brazil) in the Bahia region of Brazil. We are not currently party to any of the litigation involving the interpretation of the wage increase provisions at issue; however, litigation is pending against other employers in the region and we have learned that several companies in Brazil have recently settled claims arising out of these provisions. While the most recent ruling on the subject by the Supreme Court of Brazil has held that such provisions are not enforceable, and thus employers are not liable for the wage increases claimed on behalf of employees, further proceedings are pending seeking to reverse that ruling and there have been changes in the composition of the Supreme Court in the interim. While we cannot predict the outcome of the pending proceedings, if the Supreme Court reverses its prior decision and declares the wage increase provisions enforceable, claims could be filed against our Brazilian subsidiary which could become substantial.

Realizability of Net Deferred Tax Assets and Valuation Allowances

At December 31, 2011 we had $132.9 million of gross deferred income tax assets, of which $25.5 million required a valuation allowance. In addition, we had $123.2 million of gross deferred income tax liabilities. Our valuation allowance means that we do not believe that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. Until we determine that it is more likely than not that we will generate sufficient taxable income to realize our deferred income tax assets, income tax benefits in each current period will be fully reserved.

Our valuation allowance, which is predominately in the U.S. tax jurisdiction, does not affect our ability and intent to utilize the deferred income tax assets as we generate sufficient future profitability. We are executing current strategies and developing future strategies, to improve sales, reduce costs and improve our capital structure in order to improve U.S. taxable income of the appropriate character to a level sufficient to fully realize these benefits in future years.

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Customer Base

We are a global company and sell our products in every major geographic market. Sales of these products to buyers outside the U.S. accounted for about 82% of net sales in 2009, 80% in 2010, and 73% in 2011. In 2011, four of our ten largest customers were based in the United States, two in Europe, and one each Korea, China, Africa, and Turkey.

In 2011, nine of our ten largest customers were purchasers of our Industrial Materials products. No single customer or group of affiliated customers accounted for more than 10% of our net sales in 2011.

Results of Operations and Segment Review

2011. Total steel production in 2011 peaked mid-year while the latter half of the year saw significant slowdowns. The World Steel Association reported fourth quarter 2011 total world steel production declined approximately 5 percent versus the third quarter of 2011, with Europe accounting for much of this slowdown. Beginning in the third quarter of 2011, there was a significant drop off in solar production which negatively impacted our Engineered Solutions segment.

2010. For most of 2010, companies across the world demonstrated, to varying degrees, a gradual recovery from the reduced production levels experienced during the 2009 global economic downturn. In 2010 we achieved our second highest net sales in our Engineered Solutions segment in our Company’s history as demand for our products increased. The graphite electrode restocking initiative, which began in the second half of 2009 continued throughout much of the year in our Industrial Materials segment. Further, EAF capacity utilization rates increased in 2010.

On November 30, 2010, we consummated the acquisitions of Seadrift, a needle coke supplier, and C/G, a producer of graphite electrodes and related products, pursuant to the April 28, 2010 agreements and plans of merger, as described further in Note 2, “Acquisitions” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The consideration paid to the former owners of Seadrift and C/G aggregated $936.7 million and consisted of cash, shares of our common stock and Senior Subordinated Notes. These businesses are now incorporated into our existing Industrial Materials segment. With the acquisition of Seadrift we have added another major product category, needle coke products, to the Industrial Materials segment. The analysis below includes the results of operations for Seadrift and C/G for the month of December 2010.

Pursuant to the Seadrift Merger, we acquired from the equity holders of Seadrift the 81.1% of the equity interests in Seadrift that we did not already own. Seadrift is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of petroleum-based needle coke and owns the world’s only known stand-alone petroleum-based needle coke plant, located in Port Lavaca, Texas. In addition to calcined needle coke, the plant produces naphtha, gas oil and electricity as by-products.

For further discussion on the acquisitions see Note 2, “Acquisitions” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

2009. For most of 2009 companies across the world experienced the deepest global downturn in recent history. We weathered the 2009 economic recession despite declines in shipments in both our Industrial Materials and Engineered Solutions segments. We remained profitable by adjusting our production to meet customer orders and aggressively controlling costs. We used existing supplies of raw materials which allowed us to conserve cash and reduce our debt.

In September 2009 signs of a slow recovery in the steel industry began to emerge. Government stimulus programs around the world resulted in modest growth in several economies resulting in our customers replenishing inventories in order to meet slightly higher utilization rates for steel production. In the second half of 2009 customers restocked their depleted inventories of graphite electrodes in order to meet increasing demand.

The World Steel Association estimates that worldwide steel production was about 1.2 billion metric tons in 2009, an 8.1% decrease compared to 2008. China, which accounted for 47% of the total, increased 21.5% compared to 2008. Non-Chinese steel production rose from an average of about 45 million tons per month in the first few months of 2009 to about 60 million tons per month by the end of 2009. While production levels rose in the last half of 2009 compared to the first half, they did not reach the levels of the first half of 2008.

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We believe that the worldwide total graphite electrode manufacturing capacity for 2009 was 1.57 million metric tons and that the graphite electrode industry manufacturing capacity utilization rate worldwide was approximately 50% for 2009.

Demand for our engineered solutions products decreased in 2009 as a result of the global recession. We experienced lower sales volume across multiple product lines. We expect our Engineered Solutions segment to begin to recover in the second half of 2010.

The tables presented in our year-over-year comparisons summarize our consolidated statements of income and illustrate key financial indicators used to assess the consolidated financial results. Financial information is presented for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Throughout our MD&A, percentage changes that are less than 5% or less than $1.0 million, are deemed to be not meaningful and are designated as “NM”.

Results of Operations for 2011 as Compared to 2010

(in thousands, except per share data and % change)