GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD - Quarter Report: 2011 September (Form 10-Q)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD.

Date: October 27, 2011

/s/ Lindon G. Robertson

Lindon G. Robertson

Vice President and Chief Financial

Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

¨	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

LOGO

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

27-2496053

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)


12900 Snow Road		44130
Parma, OH		(Zip code)
(Address of principal executive offices)

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

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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large Accelerated Filer 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

As of October 17, 2011, 145,442,455 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, were outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

*Item 1. Financial Statements*

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011 (unaudited)			Page 3

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Months and Nine Months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011 (unaudited)			Page 4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011 (unaudited)			Page 5

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)			Page 6

*Introduction to Part I, Item 2, and Part II, Item 1 and Item 1A*			Page 29

*Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations*			Page 35

*Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk*			Page 54

*Item 4. Controls and Procedures*			Page 56

*PART II. OTHER INFORMATION:*

*Item 1. Legal Proceedings*			Page 57

*Item 1A. Risk Factors*			Page 57

*Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds*			Page 57

*Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities*			Page 58

*Item 4. [Removed and Reserved]*			Page 58

*Item 5. Other Information*			Page 58

*Item 6. Exhibits*			Page 58

SIGNATURE			Page 60

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)


	At December 31, 2010			At September 30, 2011
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	13,096		$	11,340
Accounts and notes receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,892 at December 31, 2010 and $3,772 at September 30, 2011		179,755			239,376
Inventories		340,418			408,327
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		12,615			23,494

Total current assets		545,884			682,537

Property, plant and equipment		1,328,004			1,388,108
Less: accumulated depreciation		635,530			652,579

Net property, plant and equipment		692,474			735,529
Deferred income taxes		6,746			5,806
Goodwill		499,238			498,656
Other assets		168,700			152,267
Restricted cash		141			0

Total assets	$	1,913,183		$	2,074,795


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	69,930		$	64,193
Short-term debt		155			18,193
Accrued income and other taxes		30,019			27,672
Supply chain financing liability		24,959			22,002
Other accrued liabilities		95,580			98,356

Total current liabilities		220,643			230,416

Long-term debt		275,799			336,122
Other long-term obligations		114,728			111,915
Deferred income taxes		72,287			77,850
Contingencies – Note 14
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued		0			0
Common stock, par value $.01, 225,000,000 shares authorized, 149,063,197 shares issued at December 31, 2010 and 149,699,415 shares issued at September 30, 2011		1,491			1,497
Additional paid-in capital		1,782,859			1,796,193
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(235,758	)		(254,640	)
Accumulated deficit		(203,941	)		(107,812	)
Less: cost of common stock held in treasury, 4,081,134 shares at December 31, 2010 and 4,191,075 at September 30, 2011		(113,942	)		(115,784	)
Less: common stock held in employee benefit and compensation trusts, 76,259 shares at December 31, 2010 and 74,549 shares at September 30, 2011		(983	)		(962	)

Total stockholders’ equity		1,229,726			1,318,492

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	1,913,183		$	2,074,795

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011			2010			2011
Net sales	$	255,236		$	345,832		$	725,754		$	972,200
Cost of sales		179,013			253,088			504,319			731,362

Gross profit		76,223			92,744			221,435			240,838
Research and development		3,435			2,852			8,961			8,856
Selling and administrative expenses		30,315			32,401			84,578			97,276

Operating income		42,473			57,491			127,896			134,706

Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliate		(1,416	)		0			(2,326	)		0
Other expense (income), net		10,111			5,321			(1,744	)		5,134
Interest expense		861			4,792			3,063			13,780
Interest income		(160	)		(119	)		(1,228	)		(363	)


Income before provision for income taxes		33,077			47,497			130,131			116,155
Provision for income taxes		7,040			7,200			28,394			20,026

Net income	$	26,037		$	40,297		$	101,737		$	96,129


Basic income per common share:
Net income per share	$	0.22		$	0.28		$	0.84		$	0.66

Weighted average common shares outstanding		120,559			145,413			120,484			145,293

Diluted income per common share:
Net income per share	$	0.21		$	0.28		$	0.84		$	0.66

Weighted average common shares outstanding		121,355			146,181			121,242			146,113

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	$	101,737		$	96,129
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization		29,175			60,682
Deferred income tax provision		3,137			4,820
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliate		(2,326	)		0
Post-retirement and pension plan		2,754			3,122
Currency gains		(4,286	)		(886	)
Stock-based compensation		4,953			6,054
Non-cash interest expense		1,420			8,659
Other charges (credits), net		1,065			(6,921	)
Increase in working capital*		(79,167	)		(139,819	)
Increase in long-term assets and liabilities		(4,435	)		(2,544	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		54,027			29,296
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(51,455	)		(102,018	)
Proceeds from repayment of loan to non-consolidated affiliate		6,000			0
Net proceeds from derivative instruments		978			7,772
Net change in restricted cash		(529	)		141
Cash paid for acquisition		0			(6,500	)
Other		275			287

Net cash used in investing activities		(44,731	)		(100,318	)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Short-term debt (reductions) borrowings, net		(868	)		18,030
Revolving Facility borrowings		0			177,000
Revolving Facility reductions		0			(124,000	)
Principal payments on long-term debt		(56	)		(178	)
Supply chain financing		11,056			(2,957	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		1,134			1,917
Purchase of treasury shares		(1,182	)		(683	)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation		959			1,105
Long-term financing obligations		(857	)		(436	)
Revolver Facility refinancing cost		(4,510	)		0

Net cash provided by financing activities		5,676			69,798
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		14,972			(1,224	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		1,350			(532	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		50,181			13,096

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	66,503		$	11,340

* Net change in working capital due to the following components:
(Increase) decrease in current assets:
Accounts and notes receivable, net	$	(42,309	)	$	(54,914	)
Effect of factoring of accounts receivable		(1,115	)		0
Inventories		(38,974	)		(76,207	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(2,854	)		(5,350	)
Restructuring payments		(624	)		0
Increase (decrease) in accounts payables and accruals		6,737			(3,259	)
Decrease in interest payable		(28	)		(89	)

Increase in working capital	$	(79,167	)	$	(139,819	)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(1)

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Organization

GrafTech International Ltd. is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and providers of high quality synthetic and natural graphite and carbon based products. References herein to “GTI,” “we,” “our,” or “us” refer collectively to GrafTech International Ltd. and its subsidiaries. We have five major product categories: graphite electrodes, refractory products, needle coke products, advanced graphite materials and natural graphite, which are reported in the following segments:

Industrial Materials includes graphite electrodes, refractory products, and needle coke products, and primarily serves the steel industry.

Engineered Solutions includes advanced graphite materials products for the transportation, solar, and oil and gas exploration industries, as well as natural graphite thermal management products used in electronics.

B. Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, they have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in audited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted or condensed. These interim Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements, including the accompanying Notes, contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010 (the “Annual Report”).

The unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (all of which are of a normal, recurring nature) which management considers necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim period presented. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results which may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year.

C. Significant Accounting Policies

Change in Accounting Policy Regarding Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Effective January 1, 2011, we elected to change our method of recognizing actuarial gains and losses for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. Previously, we recognized the actuarial gains and losses as a component of Stockholders’ Equity on our consolidated balance sheets on an annual basis and amortized them into our operating results to the extent such gains and losses were outside of a corridor. In addition, we used a calculated market-related value of plan assets for purposes of calculating the expected return on plan assets. We have elected to immediately recognize the change in the fair value of

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

plan assets and net actuarial gains and losses annually in the fourth quarter of each year (MTM Adjustment) and whenever a plan is remeasured (e.g. due to a significant curtailment, settlement, etc.). The remaining components of pension and other postretirement benefits expense will be recorded on a quarterly basis (On-going Pension Expense). While our historical policy of recognizing pension and other postretirement benefit expense was considered acceptable, we believe that the new policy is preferable as it eliminates the delay in recognizing gains and losses in our operating results. This change will also improve transparency in our operating results by more quickly recognizing the effects of economic and interest rate conditions on plan obligations and assets.

We have applied these changes retrospectively, adjusting all prior periods.

Effective January 1, 2011, we also elected to change our method of accounting for certain costs included in inventory. We have elected to exclude the inactive participant portion of our pension and other postretirement benefit costs as a component of inventoriable costs. While our historical policy of including all pension and other postretirement benefit costs as components of inventoriable costs was acceptable, we believe that the new policy is preferable, as it only includes costs that are directly attributable to current inventory production.

Applying this change retrospectively, in connection with the change in accounting for pension and other postretirement benefit costs, did not have a material impact on previously reported inventory and cost of sales in any prior period presented.

The impacts of all adjustments made to the financial statements are summarized below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

Consolidated Statement of Income


	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
	Previously Reported		Revised		Effect of Change
Cost of sales	$	180,204	$	179,013	($	1,191	)
Research and development		3,535		3,435		(100	)
Selling and administrative expense		30,593		30,315		(278	)
Income before provision for income taxes		31,508		33,077		1,569
Provision for income taxes		6,896		7,040		144
Net income		24,612		26,037		1,425
Earnings per share of common stock-basic		0.20		0.22		0.02
Earnings per share of common stock-diluted		0.20		0.21		0.01

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Consolidated Statement of Income


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
	Previously Reported		Revised		Effect of Change
Cost of sales	$	507,892	$	504,319	($	3,573	)
Research and development		9,261		8,961		(300	)
Selling and administrative expense		85,412		84,578		(834	)
Income before provision for income taxes		125,424		130,131		4,707
Provision for income taxes		27,962		28,394		432
Net income		97,462		101,737		4,275
Earnings per share of common stock-basic		0.81		0.84		0.03
Earnings per share of common stock-diluted		0.80		0.84		0.04

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
	Previously Reported		Revised		Effect of Change
Net income	$	97,462	$	101,737	$	4,275
Deferred income tax provision		2,526		3,137		611
Postretirement and pension plan		7,640		2,754		(4,886	)

Had these changes not been made in 2011, net income would have been $39.1 million compared to the $40.3 million actually recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and $92.5 million compared to the $96.1 million actually recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Diluted earnings per share would have been $0.27 compared to $0.28 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and $0.63 compared to $0.66 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Major Maintenance and Repair Costs

We perform scheduled major maintenance of the storage and processing units at our Seadrift plant (referred to as “overhaul”). Time periods between overhauls vary by unit. We also perform an annual scheduled significant maintenance and repair shutdown of the plant (referred to as “turnaround”).

Costs of overhauls and turnarounds include plant personnel, contract services, materials, and rental equipment. We defer these costs when incurred and use the straight-line method to amortize them over the period of time estimated to lapse until the next scheduled

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

overhaul of the applicable storage or processing unit or over one year for our turnaround. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we deferred $1.0 million and $6.4 million, respectively under this policy. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we amortized $1.4 million and $1.9 million of these costs, respectively.

Our turnaround, normally scheduled during the spring or early summer of each year, was completed during the three months ended June 30, 2011.

D. New Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition

We adopted a new revenue recognition standard that applies to sales arrangements entered into or materially modified in the year beginning January 1, 2011. The guidance:

•

Provides principles and application guidance on whether multiple deliverables exist, how the arrangement should be separated and consideration allocated;

•

Eliminates the residual method of allocating revenue;

•

Requires the allocation of consideration received in a bundled revenue arrangement among the separate deliverables by introducing an estimated selling price method for valuing elements if vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence of a selling price is not available; and

•

Expands related disclosure requirements.

The adoption of this standard had no material effect on our consolidated financial statements or on existing revenue recognition policies.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Accounting guidance issued by various standard setting and governmental authorities that have not yet become effective with respect to our Consolidated Financial Statements are described below, together with our assessment of the potential impact they may have on our results of operation and financial position.

Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure

In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (“ASU 2011-04”). The new guidance results in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. While disclosure requirements have been enhanced, most amendments clarify existing guidance in U.S. GAAP.

ASU 2011-04 becomes effective for us in the first quarter of 2012, with early adoption prohibited. All amendments are to be applied prospectively. We are currently assessing its impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Presentation of Other Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”) which eliminates the option of presenting other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of shareholders’ equity. ASU 2011-05 requires an entity to present components of net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. The guidance will require us to change the presentation of other comprehensive income in our Form 10-K effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011.

Testing Goodwill for Impairment

In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other: Testing Goodwill for Impairment (“ASU 2011-08”) which simplifies how we test goodwill for impairment. ASU 2011-08 allows us an option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. Under that option, we no longer would be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless we determine, based on the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value.

ASU 2011-08 becomes effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2011 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

Acquisitions

Seadrift Coke L.P. and C/G Electrodes LLC

On November 30, 2010, we acquired from the equity holders of Seadrift Coke L.P. (“Seadrift”) the 81.1% of the equity interests of Seadrift that we did not already own and from the equity holders of C/G Electrodes LLC (“St. Marys facility”) 100% of the equity interests of the St. Marys facility. Because Seadrift and the St. Marys facility meet the SEC definition of common control, we have treated the transactions as the acquisition of one business. Seadrift and the St. Marys facility (collectively referred to as the “Acquisitions”) are included in our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning as of December 1, 2010.

Seadrift is one of the largest producers of petroleum-based needle coke in the world and owns the world’s only known stand-alone petroleum-based needle coke plant. Needle coke is the key raw material used to make graphite electrodes, including premium UHP graphite electrodes, which are critical consumables in electric arc furnace (“EAF”) steel production. We believe the acquisition of Seadrift will assure us of a stable supply of a portion of our requirements for needle coke, the primary raw material in the production of graphite electrodes.

The St. Marys facility is a U.S.-based producer of large diameter premium UHP graphite electrodes used in the EAF steel making process. The St. Marys facility also sells various other

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

graphite-related products, including specialty graphite blocks, granular graphite and partially processed electrodes. The acquisition of the St. Marys facility provides us with a large diameter graphite electrode manufacturing facility in the U.S. which we believe will allow us to respond to customer orders more quickly and reduce freight cost and transit time for North American shipments.

Consideration transferred: The consideration paid to the equity holders of Seadrift consisted of $90.0 million in cash (including working capital adjustments), approximately 12 million shares of GTI common stock and $100 million in aggregate face amount of Senior Subordinated Notes of GTI due 2015. The consideration paid to the equity holders of the St. Marys facility consisted of $159.5 million in cash (including working capital adjustments), approximately 12 million shares of GTI common stock and $100 million in aggregate face amount of Senior Subordinated Notes of GTI due 2015.

The computation of the fair value of the total consideration at the date of acquisition follows (in thousands, except share price):


GTI common shares issued		24,000
Price per share of GTI common stock	$	19.47

Fair value of consideration attributable to common stock	$	467,280
Fair value of Senior Subordinated Notes		142,597
Cash		249,444

Total consideration paid to equity holders		859,321
Fair value of our previously held 18.9% equity interest in Seadrift		77,342

Total consideration	$	936,663

The volume weighted average price of a share of GTI common stock on November 30, 2010 was used to determine the fair value of the stock issued as consideration in connection with the Acquisitions. The fair value of the non-interest bearing senior subordinated notes was determined using an interest rate of 7%. Accounting guidance required us to remeasure the book value of our previously held 18.9% equity interest in Seadrift at November 30, 2010 to its fair value and recognize the resulting gain of $9.6 million in our 2010 earnings.

Recording of assets acquired and liabilities assumed: The Acquisitions are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). Under the acquisition method, the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are assigned a new basis of accounting reflecting their estimated fair values. The information included herein has been prepared based on the preliminary allocation of purchase price using estimates of the fair values and useful lives of assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on the best available information determined with the assistance of independent valuations, quoted market prices and management estimates. The purchase price allocations are subject to further adjustment until all pertinent information regarding the property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, other long-term assets, goodwill, long-term debt, other long-term liabilities, and deferred income tax liabilities are fully evaluated by us and independent valuations are complete.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date (in thousands):


Cash	$	8,240
Accounts receivable		23,079
Inventories		82,665
Property, plant and equipment		280,710
Intangible assets		158,200
Other assets		988
Accounts payable		14,130
Other accrued liabilities		6,830
Debt obligations		1,197
Other long-term liabilities		1,000
Deferred tax liability		83,306

Net identifiable assets acquired		447,419
Goodwill		489,244

Net assets acquired	$	936,663

Intangible assets: The following table is a summary of the fair values of the identifiable intangible assets and their estimated useful lives (dollars in thousands):


	Fair Value		Weighted Average Amortization Period
Customer relationships	$	107,500		13.4 years
Technology and know-how		42,800		8.1 years
Tradenames		7,900		7.7 years

Total intangible assets	$	158,200		11.6 years

Goodwill: Goodwill of approximately $489.2 million was recognized for the Acquisitions and is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets acquired and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Specifically, the goodwill recorded as part of the Acquisitions includes:

•

the expected synergies and other benefits that we believe will result from combining the operations of Seadrift and the St. Marys facility with the operations of GrafTech;

•

any intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition such as the assembled workforce; and

•

the value of the going-concern element of Seadrift’s and the St. Marys facility’s existing businesses (the higher rate of return on the assembled collection of net assets versus acquiring all of the net assets separately).

We have assigned the goodwill to our Industrial Materials segment. Approximately $168.2 million of the goodwill is deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Debt: We repaid $80.6 million of debt and interest rate swaps and assumed an additional

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

$1.2 million of debt. The recorded amount of the debt assumed approximated its fair value. The following is a summary of the third-party debt assumed and not repaid in connection with the close of the Acquisitions (dollars in thousands):


Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority mortgage note due 2018, interest rate of 3%	$	1,020
Secured promissory note due 2014, interest rate of 6.25%		177

Total debt assumed	$	1,197

Previously held 18.9% equity interest in Seadrift: On June 30, 2008, we acquired 100% of Falcon-Seadrift Holding Corp., now named GrafTech Seadrift Holding Corp. (“GTSD”), which held approximately 18.9% of the equity interests in Seadrift. The substance of the transaction was the acquisition of an asset, the limited partnership units, rather than a business combination. Because the amount we paid for the limited partnership interests exceeded their tax basis accounting guidance required us to recognize a deferred tax liability for this difference and increase our purchase price. We also had a deferred tax asset valuation allowance at the time we acquired the limited partnership units. Accounting guidance required us to reduce the valuation allowance and decrease the purchase price because the deferred tax liability recorded for the purchase was expected to reverse during the same period that our deferred tax assets were expected to reverse.

We accounted for our investment in Seadrift using the equity method of accounting because we had the ability to exercise significant influence, but not exercise control. In 2008 and 2009, we determined that the fair value of our investment was less than our carrying amount and that the losses in value were other than temporary. We recorded non-cash impairments of $34.5 million and $52.8 million in 2008 and 2009, respectively, to recognize these other than temporary losses in value. Summarized financial information for Seadrift, including adjustments for material intervening events, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2010
Net sales	$	54,087	$	116,787
Gross profit		14,292		31,229
Net income		10,084		20,121

Loan to Seadrift: In late June 2009 and July 2009, Seadrift entered into agreements to borrow up to $17.0 million from certain of its shareholders, which included up to $8.5 million from us. In early July the shareholder group loaned Seadrift $12.0 million which included $6.0 million from us. Each loan was evidenced by a demand note with an interest rate of 10%.

We recorded our $6.0 million loan at its face amount, which reasonably approximated its present value. Seadrift repaid the total borrowing of $12.0 million on March 31, 2010.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Acquisition costs: Acquisition costs (i.e., advisory, legal, valuation, other professional fees, etc.) were expensed in the periods the costs were incurred. Total acquisition costs incurred of $5.7 million and $12.3 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, are included in Selling and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Micron Research Corporation

On February 9, 2011, we purchased substantially all of the assets and assumed certain trade liabilities of Micron Research Corporation (“Micron Research”), a subsidiary of E. Holdings, Inc, for $6.5 million of cash. Micron Research manufactures super fine grain graphite materials and primarily services Electrical Discharge Machining customers. We intend to utilize their technology and capability to service other applications including solar, electronics and medical. The substance of the transaction is the acquisition of a business and we accounted for the transaction following the guidance in ASC 805. Tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values of $5.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively. The estimated fair values of finite-lived intangible assets acquired of $1.3 million related to technology and know-how and customer relationships are being amortized over their estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 15 years. Goodwill of $0.4 million represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets acquired and has been assigned to our Engineered Solutions segment.

(3)

Stock-Based Compensation

In the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, we recognized $1.5 million and $2.2 million, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense. A majority of the expense, $1.4 million and $1.9 million, respectively, was recorded as selling and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income, with the remaining expenses incurred as cost of sales and research and development.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, we recognized $4.9 million and $6.2 million, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense. A majority of the expense, $4.5 million and $5.4 million, respectively, was recorded as selling and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income, with the remaining expenses incurred as cost of sales and research and development.

As of September 30, 2011, the total compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock and performance shares and stock options not yet recognized was $15.0 million, which will be recognized over the weighted average life of 1.3 years.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Restricted Stock and Performance Shares

Restricted stock and performance share awards activity under the plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was:


	Number of Shares			Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding unvested at January 1, 2011		1,338,053		$	15.91
Granted		283,086			20.46
Vested		(155,696	)		16.77
Forfeited/canceled/expired		(238,331	)		17.87

Outstanding unvested at September 30, 2011		1,227,112		$	16.48

Stock Options

Stock option activity under the plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was:


	Number of Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2011		1,274,107		$	11.96
Granted		33,800			19.58
Forfeited/canceled/expired		(48,069	)		18.22
Exercised		(306,412	)		9.09

Outstanding at September 30, 2011		953,426		$	12.84

(4)

Earnings per Share

The following table shows the information used in the calculation of our share counts for basic and diluted earnings per share:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010		2011		2010		2011
Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic calculation		120,559,244		145,412,661		120,483,832		145,293,165
Add: Effect of stock options and restricted stock		795,570		768,292		758,241		819,884

Weighted average common shares outstanding for diluted calculation		121,354,814		146,180,953		121,242,073		146,113,049

Basic earnings per common share are calculated by dividing net income by the weighted

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share are calculated by dividing net income by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive securities had been issued.

The weighted average common shares outstanding for the diluted calculation excludes consideration of stock options covering 227,000 shares and 210,897 shares in the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and 232,000 shares and 229,497 shares in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively, because the exercise prices were greater than the weighted average market price of our common stock for each of those periods.

(5)

Segment Reporting

Our businesses are reported in the following reportable segments:

Industrial Materials. Our Industrial Materials segment manufactures and delivers 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. Refractory products are used in 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. Needle coke is a key raw material in the manufacture of the graphite electrodes used in the EAF steel production process.

Engineered Solutions. Engineered Solutions include advanced graphite materials products for the transportation, solar, and oil and gas exploration industries, as well as natural graphite thermal management products used in electronics.

We continue to evaluate the performance of our segments based on segment operating income. Intersegment sales and transfers are not material and the accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those for our Consolidated Financial Statements as a whole. Corporate expenses are allocated to segments based on each segment’s percentage of consolidated net sales.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The following tables summarize financial information concerning our reportable segments:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011			2010			2011
	*(Dollars in thousands)*						*(Dollars in thousands)*
Net sales to external customers:
Industrial Materials	$	208,248		$	302,355		$	599,394		$	835,591
Engineered Solutions		46,988			43,477			126,360			136,609

Total net sales	$	255,236		$	345,832		$	725,754		$	972,200

Segment operating income:
Industrial Materials	$	35,711		$	54,130		$	113,985		$	120,465
Engineered Solutions		6,762			3,361			13,911			14,241

Total segment operating income		42,473			57,491			127,896			134,706

Reconciliation of segment operating income to income before provision for income taxes
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliate		(1,416	)		0			(2,326	)		0
Other expense (income), net		10,111			5,321			(1,744	)		5,134
Interest expense		861			4,792			3,063			13,780
Interest income		(160	)		(119	)		(1,228	)		(363	)

Income before provision for income taxes	$	33,077		$	47,497		$	130,131		$	116,155

(6)

Other Expense (Income), Net

The following table presents an analysis of other income, net:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,					For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011		2010			2011
	*(Dollars in thousands)*					*(Dollars in thousands)*
Currency losses (gains)	$	9,656		$	1,228	$	(3,027	)	$	1,700
Bank and other financing fees		562			389		1,558			1,368
Other		(107	)		3,704		(275	)		2,066

Total other expense (income), net	$	10,111		$	5,321	$	(1,744	)	$	5,134

The remeasurement of non-dollar denominated inter-company loans is the primary driver of Other Expense (Income), net. This remeasurement resulted in $9.7 million of expense in the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to expense of $1.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, currency

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

gains totaled $3.0 million, compared to currency losses of $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

(7)

Benefit Plans

As discussed in Note 1, “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” effective January 1, 2011, we changed our method of recognizing actuarial gains and losses for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefits. This change was applied retrospectively and all prior period amounts have been adjusted accordingly. See Note 1 for further details.

The components of our consolidated net pension cost are set forth in the following table:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011			2010			2011
	*(Dollars in thousands)*						*(Dollars in thousands)*
Service cost	$	164		$	164		$	492		$	492
Interest cost		2,446			2,446			7,338			7,338
Expected return on plan assets		(2,138	)		(2,138	)		(6,414	)		(6,414	)
Amortization of prior service cost		13			13			39			39

Net Cost	$	485		$	485		$	1,455		$	1,455

The components of our consolidated net postretirement cost are set forth in the following table:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011			2010			2011
	*(Dollars in thousands)*						*(Dollars in thousands)*
Service cost	$	41		$	41		$	123		$	123
Interest cost		440			440			1,320			1,320
Amortization of prior service benefit		(48	)		(48	)		(144	)		(144	)

Net Cost	$	433		$	433		$	1,299		$	1,299

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(8)

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying value of goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 are as follows:


	Total
	(Dollars in Thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2010		499,238
Currency translation effect		(1,701	)
Business acquisition (a)		1,119

Balance as of September 30, 2011	$	498,656

(a)	Includes adjustment to preliminary assignment of fair value to net assets acquired.

The following table summarizes intangible assets with determinable useful lives by major category as of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011:


	At December 31, 2010							At September 30, 2011
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
	*(Dollars in Thousands)*
Patents	$	3,520	$	(1,168	)	$	2,352	$	3,520	$	(1,336	)	$	2,184
Trade name		7,900		(124	)		7,776		7,900		(1,229	)		6,671
Technological know-how		42,800		(497	)		42,303		43,349		(5,015	)		38,334
Customer –related intangible		107,500		(1,258	)		106,242		108,267		(12,589	)		95,678

Total finite-lived intangible assets	$	161,720	$	(3,047	)	$	158,673	$	163,035	$	(20,169	)	$	142,866

Amortization expense of intangible assets was $0.1 million and $5.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and $0.2 million and $17.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively.

(9)

Long-Term Debt and Liquidity

The following table presents our long-term debt:


	At December 31,		At September 30,
	2010		2011
	*(Dollars in thousands)*
Revolving Facility	$	130,000	$	183,000
Senior Subordinated Notes		143,404		150,868
Other debt		2,395		2,254

Total	$	275,799	$	336,122

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Revolving Facility

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:


	Amended and Restated Facility	Facility-September 30, 2011
Availability	$570 million	$260 million

Maturity date	October 7, 2016	April 29, 2013

Interest rate^a	Either LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.25% or, in the case of dollar denominated loans, the alternate base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.25%.	Either LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 2.50% to 3.50% or, in the case of dollar denominated loans, the alternate base rate plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.50%.

Commitment fee	Per annum fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.40% on the undrawn portion of the commitments under the Revolving Facility.	Per annum fee ranging from 0.375% to 0.750% on the undrawn portion of the commitments under the Revolving Facility.

Financial Covenants	Maximum senior secured leverage ratio of 2.25 to 1.00; Minimum cash interest coverage of 3.00 to 1.00.	Maximum net senior secured leverage ratio of 2.25 to 1.00; Minimum cash interest coverage of 1.75 to 1.00.

The interest rate applicable to the Revolving Facility is at GrafTech’s option. The alternate base rate is the highest of (i) the prime rate announced by JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., (ii) the federal effective fund rate plus ¹/2 of 1% and (iii) the London interbank offering rate(as adjusted) for a one-month interest period plus 1%.

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.

We were in compliance with all financial and other covenants contained in the Revolving Facility, as applicable.

Senior Subordinated Notes

On November 30, 2010, in connection with the Acquisitions, 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”.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

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 using the interest method over the life of the promissory notes. The loan balance, net of unamortized discount, was $150.9 million at September 30, 2011.

Other Debt

On September 30, 2009, our Spanish subsidiary received a $1.8 million economic stimulus loan from the Ministry of Industry, Government of Spain. The loan is non-interest bearing and matures in October 2024. Repayment in 10 annual installments commences in October 2015. Because the loan is non-interest bearing, we were required to record the loan at its present value (determined using an interest rate of 4.33%). The difference between the proceeds received and the present value of debt is recorded as debt discount and deferred expense. The discount is amortized to income using the interest method; the deferred charge is amortized using the same basis and over the same period as the capital projects are depreciated. The loan balance, net of unamortized discount, was $1.2 million at September 30, 2011.

Also included in other debt is a mortgage note due 2018, payable to the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority. The mortgage requires monthly payments of $12 thousand including interest at 3% and is collateralized by our St. Marys facility. The balance of this debt was $0.9 million at September 30, 2011.

(10)

Inventories

Inventories are comprised of the following:


	At December 31,			At September 30,
	2010			2011
	(Dollars in thousands)
Inventories:
Raw materials and supplies	$	118,691		$	159,387
Work in process		160,368			186,281
Finished goods		64,075			67,597

		343,134			413,265
Reserves		(2,716	)		(4,938	)

	$	340,418		$	408,327

We recognize abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted materials (spoilage) as current period charges. We are required to allocate fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion based on normal capacity of the production facilities. The unabsorbed costs were attributable to adjustments of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion based on normal capacity versus actual levels, due to production levels at certain facilities being below normal capacity for the quarters ended September 30,

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

2010 and 2011. Costs in excess of normal absorption at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011 were $1.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

(11)

Interest Expense

The following table presents an analysis of interest expense:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010		2011		2010		2011
	(Dollars in thousands)				(Dollars in thousands)
Interest incurred on debt	$	87	$	1,735	$	388	$	4,335
Amortization of discount on Senior Subordinated Notes		0		2,531		0		7,465
Amortization of debt issuance costs		375		386		1,377		1,158
Supply chain financing mark-up		399		130		1,250		792
Interest incurred on other items		0		10		48		30

Total interest expense	$	861	$	4,792	$	3,063	$	13,780

(12)

Other comprehensive Income

Other comprehensive income consisted of the following:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011			2010			2011
	(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
Net Income	$	26,037		$	40,297		$	101,737		$	96,129
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments		45,159			(41,667	)		(2,726	)		(25,472	)
Commodities and foreign currency derivatives, net of tax $123, $1,857, $303, $(3,226)		(2,709	)		(894	)		(2,237	)		6,590

Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	68,487		$	(2,264	)	$	96,774		$	77,247

(13)

Supply Chain Financing

We are party to a supply chain financing arrangement with a third party. Under this arrangement, we essentially assign our rights to purchase needle coke from our supplier to the financing party. The financing party purchases the product from our supplier under the standard payment terms and then immediately resells it to us under longer payment terms. The financing party pays the supplier the purchase price for the product and then we pay the financing party. Our payment to the financing party for this needle coke includes a mark up (the “Mark-

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Up”). The Mark-Up is a premium expressed as a percentage of the purchase price. For the first nine months of 2011 the Mark-Up was based on 2 month LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75%. The Mark-Up is subject to quarterly reviews. This arrangement helps us to maintain a balanced cash conversion cycle between inventory payments and the collection of receivables. Based on the terms of the arrangement, the total amount that we owe to the financing party may not exceed $49.3 million at any point in time.

We record the inventory once title and risk of loss transfers from the supplier to the financing party. The amount recorded as a liability to the financing party was $25.0 million and $22.0 million at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011, respectively.

For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, the financing party invoiced us $47.1 million and $35.6 million, respectively, for purchases of inventory under this arrangement. For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, we recognized a Mark-Up of $0.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively, as interest expense.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, the financing party invoiced us $153.8 million and $127.1 million, respectively, for purchases of inventory under this arrangement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, we recognized a Mark-Up of $1.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, as interest expense.

(14)

Contingencies

We are involved in various investigations, lawsuits, claims, demands, environmental compliance programs 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, we do not believe that their ultimate disposition will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Product Warranties

We generally sell products with a limited warranty. We accrue for known warranty claims if a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. We also accrue for estimated warranty claims incurred based on a historical claims charge analysis. Claims accrued but not yet paid amounted to $2.7 million at December 31, 2010 and $2.3 million at September 30, 2011. The following table presents the activity in this accrual for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 (dollars in thousands):


Balance at January 1, 2011	$	2,653
Product warranty adjustments		190
Payments and settlements		(527	)

Balance at September 30, 2011	$	2,316

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(15)

Income Taxes

We compute an estimated annual effective tax rate on a quarterly basis, considering ordinary income and related income tax expense. Ordinary income refers to income (loss) before income tax expense excluding significant, unusual, or infrequently occurring items. The tax effect of an unusual or infrequently occurring item is recorded in the interim period in which it occurs. These items may include the cumulative effect of changes in tax laws or rates, impairment charges, adjustments to prior period uncertain tax positions, or adjustments to our valuation allowance due to changes in judgment of the realizability of deferred tax assets.

The following table summarizes the provision for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011
	(dollars in thousands)
Tax Expense	$	7,040		$	7,200
Pretax Income	$	33,077		$	47,497
Effective Tax Rate		21.3	%		15.2	%

The current year effective tax rate differs from the U.S statutory rate of 35% primarily due to jurisdictional mix of income and changes in the utilization of attributes and related valuation allowances.

The following table summarizes the provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011.


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011
	(dollars in thousands)
Tax Expense	$	28,394		$	20,026
Pretax Income	$	130,131		$	116,155
Effective Tax Rate		21.8	%		17.2	%

Our cumulative year-to-date unrecognized tax benefits have not materially changed from the prior period. As of September 30, 2011, we had unrecognized tax benefits of $13.2 million, which would have a favorable impact on our effective tax rate. It is reasonably possible that a reduction of unrecognized tax benefits in a range of $1.5 million to $2.0 million may occur within 12 months as a result of settlements and the expiration of statutes of limitation.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal and state jurisdictions and various non-U.S. jurisdictions. All U.S. tax years prior to 2008 are closed by statute or have been audited and settled with the U.S. tax authorities. We are currently under federal audit by the Internal Revenue Service for the 2008 and 2009 tax years. We are also under audit in Switzerland for federal, cantonal, and communal taxes for the fiscal years ended 2006 – 2008, and in Italy for our 2006 tax year. All other non-U.S. jurisdictions are still open to examination beginning after 2005.

We continue to adjust the tax provision rate through the establishment, or release, of non-cash valuation allowances attributable to the U.S. and certain non-U.S. taxing jurisdictions, including U.S. foreign tax credit utilization. We weigh both positive and negative evidence in determining whether a valuation allowance is required. Examples of positive evidence would include a strong earnings history, an event or events that would increase our taxable income through a continued reduction of expenses, and tax planning strategies that would indicate an ability to realize deferred tax assets. The balance of significant positive evidence does not yet outweigh the negative evidence in regards to whether or not a valuation allowance is required.

(16)

Derivative Instruments

We use derivative instruments as part of our overall foreign currency and commodity risk management strategies to manage the risk of exchange rate movements that would reduce the value of our foreign cash flows and to minimize commodity price volatility. Foreign currency exchange rate movements create a degree of risk by affecting the value of sales made and costs incurred in currencies other than the US Dollar.

Certain of our derivative contracts contain provisions that require us to provide collateral. Since the counterparties to these financial instruments are large commercial banks and similar financial institutions, we do not believe that we are exposed to material counterparty credit risk, despite the current worldwide economic situation. We do not anticipate nonperformance by any of the counter-parties to our instruments.

Foreign currency derivatives

We enter into foreign currency derivatives from time to time to attempt to manage exposure to changes in currency exchange rates. These foreign currency instruments, which include, but are not limited to, forward exchange contracts and purchased currency options, attempt to hedge global currency exposures such as foreign currency denominated debt, sales, receivables, payables, and purchases. Forward exchange contracts are agreements to exchange different currencies at a specified future date and at a specified rate. There was no ineffectiveness on these contracts during either the three or nine months ended September 30, 2011.

In 2010 and 2011, we entered into foreign forward currency derivatives as hedges of anticipated cash flows and firm commitments denominated in the Mexican peso, Brazilian real, euro and Japanese yen. These derivatives were entered into to protect the risk that the eventual cash flows resulting from such transactions will be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates between the US dollar and the Mexican peso, Brazilian real, euro and Japanese yen. As

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

of September 30, 2011, we had outstanding Mexican peso, Brazilian real, euro, and Japanese yen currency contracts, with aggregate notional amounts of $125.7 million. The foreign currency derivatives outstanding as of September 30, 2011 have several maturity dates ranging from October 2011 to June 2012.

Commodity derivative contracts

We periodically enter into derivative contracts for natural gas and certain refined oil products. These contracts are entered into to protect against the risk that eventual cash flows related to these products will be adversely affected by future changes in prices. There was no ineffectiveness on these contracts during either the three or nine months ended September 30, 2011. As of September 30, 2011, we had outstanding derivative swap contracts for refined oil products and natural gas with aggregate notional amounts of $77.1 million and $1.0 million respectively. These contracts have maturity dates ranging from October 2011 to June 2012.

The fair value of all derivatives is recorded as assets or liabilities on a gross basis in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011, the fair values of our derivatives and their respective balance sheet locations are presented in the following table:


	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Location	Fair Value		Location	Fair Value
	(Dollars in Thousands)
As of December 31, 2010
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
Foreign currency derivatives	Other receivables	$	1,226	Other payables	$	390
Commodity derivative contracts	Other current assets		803	Other current liabilities		225

Total fair value		$	2,029		$	615


As of September 30, 2011
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
Foreign currency derivatives	Other receivables	$	3,134	Other payables	$	3,435
Commodity derivative contracts	Other current assets		3,867	Other current liabilities		148

Total fair value		$	7,001		$	3,583

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)


	Asset Derivatives			Liability Derivatives
	Location	Fair Value		Location	Fair Value
	(Dollars in Thousands)
As of December 31, 2010
Derivatives designated as fair value hedges:
Foreign currency derivatives	Other receivables	$	0	Other payables	$	0

Total fair value		$	0		$	0


As of September 30, 2011
Derivatives designated as fair value hedges:
Foreign currency derivatives	Other receivables	$	276	Other payables	$	0

Total fair value		$	276		$	0

The location and amount of realized (gains) losses on derivatives are recognized in the Statement of Income when the hedged item impacts earnings and are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011:


		Amount of (Gain)/Loss Recognized (Effective Portion)
Three Months ended September 30,	Location of (Gain)/Loss Reclassified from Other Comprehensive Income (Effective Portion)	2010			2011
Three Months ended September 30,		(Dollars in Thousands)
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
Foreign currency derivatives	Cost of goods sold/Other (income) expense / Revenue	$	(621	)	$	350
Commodity forward derivatives	Cost of goods sold / Revenue	$	405		$	(1,477	)

		Amount of (Gain)/Loss Recognized (Effective Portion)
	Location of (Gain)/Loss Recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Income	2010			2011

Three Months ended September 30,		(Dollars in Thousands)
Derivatives designated as fair value hedges:
Foreign currency derivatives	Cost of goods sold/Other (income) expense / Revenue	$	0		$	(396	)

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)



		Amount of (Gain)/Loss Recognized (Effective Portion)
Nine Months ended September 30,	Location of (Gain)/Loss Reclassified from Other Comprehensive Income (Effective Portion)	2010			2011
Nine Months ended September 30,		(Dollars in Thousands)
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
Foreign currency derivatives	Cost of goods sold/Other (income) expense / Revenue	$	(2,951	)	$	1,231
Commodity forward derivatives	Cost of goods sold / Revenue	$	2,471		$	(2,278	)

		Amount of (Gain)/Loss Recognized (Effective Portion)
Nine Months ended September 30,	Location of (Gain)/Loss Recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Income	2010			2011
Nine Months ended September 30,		(Dollars in Thousands)
Derivatives designated as fair value hedges:
Foreign currency derivatives	Cost of goods sold/Other (income) expense / Revenue	$	0		$	(68	)

Our foreign currency and commodity derivatives are treated as hedges under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging and are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. With respect to the inputs used to determine the fair value, we use observable, quoted rates that are determined by active markets and, therefore, classify the contracts as “Level 2” in accordance with the definition in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Introduction to Part I, Item 2, and Part II, Item 1 and Item 1A

Important Terms. We define various terms to simplify the presentation of information in this Report. These terms, which definitions are incorporated herein by reference, are defined in “Part I – Preliminary Notes – Important Terms” of the Annual Report.

Presentation of Financial, Market and Legal Data. We present our financial information on a consolidated basis.

Unless otherwise noted, when we refer to dollars, we mean U.S. dollars.

Unless otherwise specifically noted, market and market share data in this Report are our own estimates or derived from sources described in “Part I – Preliminary Notes – Presentation of Financial, Market and Legal Data” in the Annual Report, which description is incorporated herein by reference. Our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under “Forward Looking Statements and Risks” and “Risk Factors” in this Report and “Forward Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the Annual 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 has consented to the disclosure or use of data in this Report.

Reference is made to the Annual Report for background information on various risks and contingencies and other matters related to circumstances affecting us and our industry.

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.

Forward Looking Statements and Risks. 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 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,

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

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:

•

the possibility that additions to capacity for producing EAF steel, increases in overall EAF steel production capacity, and increases or other changes in steel production may not occur or may not occur at the rates that we anticipate or may not be as geographically disbursed as we anticipate;

•

the possibility that increases or decreases in graphite electrode manufacturing capacity (including growth by producers in developing countries), competitive pressures (including changes in, and the mix, distribution, and pricing of, their products), reduction in specific consumption rates, increases or decreases in customer inventory levels, or other changes in the graphite electrode markets may occur, which may impact demand for, prices or unit and dollar volume sales of graphite electrodes and growth or profitability of our graphite electrodes business;

•

the possible failure of changes in EAF steel production or graphite electrode production to result in stable or increased, or offset decreases in, graphite electrode demand, prices, or sales volume;

•

the possibility that a determination by that we have failed to comply with one or more export controls or trade sanctions to which we are subject with respect to products or technology exported from the United States or other jurisdictions could result in civil or criminal penalties, including imposition of significant fines, denial of export privileges and loss of revenues from certain customers;

•

the possibility that, for all of our product lines, capital improvement and expansion in our customers’ operations and increases in demand for their products may not occur or may not occur at the rates that we anticipate or the demand for their products may decline, which may affect their demand for the products we sell or supply to them;

•

the possibility that continued global consolidation of the world’s largest steel producers could impact our business or industry;

•

the possibility that average graphite electrode revenue per metric ton in the future may be different than current spot or market prices due to changes in product mix, changes in currency exchange rates, changes in competitive market conditions or other factors;

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

•

the possibility that price increases, adjustments or surcharges may not be realized or that price decreases may occur;

•

the possibility that current challenging economic conditions and economic demand reduction may continue to impact our revenues and costs;

•

the possibility that the current debt crisis in certain European countries could cause the value of the euro to deteriorate, reducing the purchasing power of European customers;

•

the possibility that the European debt cris could contribute to further instability in global credit markets;

•

the possibility that decreases in prices for energy and raw materials may lead to downward pressure on prices for our products and delays in customer orders for our products as customers anticipate possible future lower prices;

•

the possibility that increases in prices for our raw materials and the magnitude of such increases, global events that influence energy pricing and availability, increases in our energy needs, or other developments may adversely impact or offset our productivity and cost containment initiatives;

•

the possibility that current economic disruptions may result in idling or permanent closing of blast furnace capacity or delay of blast furnace capacity additions or replacements which may affect demand and prices for our refractory products;

•

the possibility that economic, political and other risks associated with operating globally, including national and international conflicts, terrorist acts, political and economic instability, civil unrest, and natural or nuclear calamities might interfere with our supply chains, customers or activities in a particular location;

•

the possibility that reductions in customers’ production, increases in competitors’ capacity, competitive pressures, or other changes in other markets we serve may occur, which may impact demand for, prices of or unit and dollar volume sales of, our other products, or growth or profitability of our other product lines, or change our position in such markets;

•

the possibility that we will not be able to hire and retain key personnel, maintain appropriate relations with unions, associations and employees or to renew or extend our collective bargaining or similar agreements on reasonable terms as they expire or do so without a work stoppage or strike;

•

the possibility that an adverse determination in litigation pending in Brazil involving disputes related to the proper interpretation of certain collectively bargained wage increase provisions applicable to both us and other employers in the Bahia region might result in the filing of claims against our Brazilian subsidiary;

•

the possibility of delays in or failure to achieve successful development and commercialization of new or improved engineered solutions or that such solutions could be subsequently displaced by other products or technologies;

•

the possibility that we will fail to develop new customers or applications for our engineered solutions products;

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

•

the possibility that our manufacturing capabilities may not be sufficient or that we may experience delays in expanding or fail to expand our manufacturing capacity to meet demand for existing, new or improved products;

•

the possibility that the investments and acquisitions that we make or may make in the future may not be successfully integrated into our business or provide the performance or returns expected;

•

the possibility that challenging conditions or changes in the capital markets will limit our ability to obtain financing for growth and other initiatives, on acceptable terms or at all;

•

the possibility that conditions or changes in the global equity markets may have a material impact on our future pension funding obligations and liabilities on our balance sheet;

•

the possibility that the amount or timing of our anticipated capital expenditures may be limited by our financial resources or financing arrangements or that our ability to complete capital projects may not occur timely enough to adapt to changes in market conditions or changes in regulatory requirements;

•

the possibility that the actual outcome of uncertainties associated with assumptions and estimates using judgment when applying critical accounting policies and preparing financial statements may have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position;

•

the possibility that we may be unable to protect our intellectual property or may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, resulting in damages, limitations on our ability to produce or sell products or limitations on our ability to prevent others from using that intellectual property to produce or sell products;

•

the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances or changing interpretations and enforcement agendas relating to legal proceedings or compliance programs;

•

the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances or changing interpretations and enforcement agendas relating to health, safety or environmental compliance or remediation obligations or liabilities to third parties or relating to labor relations;

•

the possibility that new or expanded regulatory initiatives with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, if implemented, could have an impact on our facilities, increase the capital intensive nature of our business, and add to our costs of production of our products;

•

the possibility that our provision for income taxes and effective income tax rate or cash tax rate may fluctuate significantly due to changes in applicable tax rates or laws, changes in the sources of our income, changes in tax planning, new or changing interpretations of applicable regulations, or changes in profitability, estimates of future ability to use foreign tax credits, and other factors;

•

the possibility of changes in interest or currency exchange rates, in competitive conditions, or in inflation or deflation;

•

the possibility that our outlook could be significantly impacted by, among other

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

things, changes in United States or other monetary or fiscal policies or regulations in response to the capital markets crisis and its impact on global economic conditions, developments in North Africa, the Middle East, North Korea, and other areas of concern, the occurrence of further terrorist acts and developments (including increases in security, insurance, data back-up, energy and transportation and other costs, transportation delays and continuing or increased economic uncertainty and weakness) resulting from terrorist acts and the war on terrorism;

•

the possibility that our outlook could be significantly impacted by changes in demand as a result of the effect on customers of the volatility in global credit and equity markets;

•

the possibility that interruption in our major raw material, energy or utility supplies due to, among other things, natural or nuclear disasters, process interruptions, actions by producers and capacity limitations, may adversely affect our ability to manufacture and supply our products or result in higher costs;

•

the possibility that our key or other raw materials become unavailable and that the magnitude of changes in the cost of key and other raw materials, including petroleum based coke, by reason of shortages, market pricing, pricing terms in applicable supply contracts, or other events may adversely affect our ability to manufacture and supply our products or result in higher costs;

•

the possibility of interruptions in production at our facilities due to, among other things, critical equipment failure, which may adversely affect our ability to manufacture and supply our products or result in higher costs;

•

the possibility that we may not achieve the earnings or other financial or operational metrics that we provide as guidance from time to time;

•

the possibility that the anticipated benefits from organizational and work process redesign, changes in our information systems, or other system changes, including operating efficiencies, production cost savings and improved operational performance, including leveraging infrastructure for greater productivity and contributions to our continued growth, may be delayed or may not occur or may result in unanticipated disruption;

•

the possibility that our disclosure or internal controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or personnel, that the degree of compliance with our policies and procedures related to those controls may deteriorate or that those controls may not operate effectively and may not prevent or detect misstatements or errors;

•

the possibility that delays may occur in the financial statement closing process due to a change in our internal control environment or personnel;

•

the possibility of changes in performance that may affect financial covenant compliance or funds available for borrowing; and

•

other risks and uncertainties, including those described elsewhere in this Report or our other SEC filings, as well as future decisions by us.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

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.

For a more complete discussion of these and other factors, see “Risk Factors,” in Part I, Item 1A of the Annual Report and Part II, Item 1A of this Report.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

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

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.

Based on current International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections and other global economic forecasts, estimated global GDP growth for 2011 has been revised downward to approximately 4.0. However, degrees of growth will continue to vary in both advanced and emerging economies. Stronger growth is projected in emerging economies, given robust internal demand.

The IMF cited a slower pace of growth in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the second quarter in making its downward revision from estimated GDP growth for 2011. The IMF indicated that it believes that the following factors have elevated risks to the stability of the global economic recovery:

•

Financial sector weakness in the United States and euro area;

•

Rising inflation in China and other emerging countries;

•

Global supply chain disruptions from the Japan earthquake/tsunami; and

•

Geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East and North Africa.

Global steel operating rates slide downward in the third quarter, after peaking in the second quarter. Reduced output levels are attributed to weakening demand in some regions from key steel markets, particularly construction.

According to published reports, global steel capacity utilization was approximately 78% and 81% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to 74% and 78% for the comparable periods in 2010. For global steel, these are increases of approximately 4 and 3 percentage points, respectively.

The United States steel industry operated at approximately 76% and 75% utilization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 respectively, compared to 71% utilization for the comparable periods in 2010. For the United States, these are increases of approximately 5 and 4 percentage points, respectively.

Demand for our Industrial Materials segment’s products is primarily linked with the global production of steel in an electric arc furnace and, to a lesser extent, with the total production of steel and certain other metals. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, global steel production, excluding China, is estimated to have increased by 6%, compared to the same periods last year. China’s steel production is estimated to have increased by 15% and 12%, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, contributing to estimated global steel production increases of 10% and 9%, respectively, in these periods compared to 2010 levels.

EAF steel production has followed a similar trend as overall steel production. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, estimated EAF steel production, excluding China, is estimated to have increased by 9%, compared to the same periods last year. China’s

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

estimated EAF steel production is estimated to have increased by 22% and 17%, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, contributing to estimated global EAF steel production increases of 11% and 10%, respectively, compared to the same periods last year. 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”). Generally, changes in graphite electrode demand have tracked changes in EAF steel production, offset by declines in specific consumption.

If in 2011 the IMF projections and other economic forecasts described above were to materialize, we would then expect the following results:

•

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization would be in the range of $275 million to $285 million, calculated as Operating Income of approximately $190 million to $200 million, plus depreciation and amortization of approximately $85 million;

•

Overhead expense (selling and administrative and research and development expenses) of $145 million;

•

Capital expenditures of approximately $145 million to $155 million;

•

The effective tax rate in the range of 18 percent to 20 percent;

•

Cash flow from operations in the range of $140 million to $155 million.

Our outlook could be significantly impacted by, among other things, factors described under “Forward Looking Statements and Risks” in this Report. For a more complete discussion of these and other factors, see “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report and in Part II, Item 1A of this Report.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Results of Operations and Segment Review

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 as Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2011.

The tables presented in our period-over-period 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 three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011. Throughout our MD&A, changes that are less than 5% or less than $1.0 million, are deemed to be not meaningful and are designated as “NM”.

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


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						Increase			%
	2010			2011			(Decrease)			Change
Net sales	$	255,236		$	345,832		$	90,596			35
Cost of sales		179,013			253,088			74,075			41

Gross profit		76,223			92,744			16,521			22
Research and development		3,435			2,852			(583	)		NM
Selling and administrative expenses		30,315			32,401			2,086			7

Operating income		42,473			57,491			15,018			35
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliate		(1,416	)		0			1,416			(100	)
Other expense , net		10,111			5,321			(4,790	)		(47	)
Interest expense		861			4,792			3,931			457
Interest income		(160	)		(119	)		(41	)		NM

Income before provision for income taxes		33,077			47,497			14,420			44
Provision for income taxes		7,040			7,200			160			NM

Net income	$	26,037		$	40,297		$	14,260			55

Basic income per common share:	$	0.22		$	0.28		$	0.06
Diluted income per common share:	$	0.21		$	0.28		$	0.07

Net sales, by operating segment for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011 were:

(in thousands, except per % change)


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				Increase			%
	2010		2011		(Decrease)			Change
Industrial materials	$	208,248	$	302,355	$	94,107			45
Engineered solutions		46,988		43,477		(3,511	)		(7	)

Total net sales	$	255,236	$	345,832	$	90,596			35

Our analysis of the percentage change in net sales for Industrial Materials and Engineered Solutions is set forth in the following table:

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)


	Volume			Price/Mix			Currency			Net Change
Industrial Materials		45	%		(3	%)		3	%		45	%
Engineered Solutions		(11	%)		2	%		2	%		(7	%)

Net sales. Net sales for our Industrial Materials segment increased significantly in the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010 due to higher graphite electrode sales volume, including increases resulting from the acquisition of the St. Marys facility, as well as additional sales resulting from the inclusion of the acquired needle coke and related by-products business in this segment. Graphite electrode demand continued to recover in 2011, however, the increase in demand was offset, in part, by a decline in the average selling price of approximately 4%, exclusive of currency impacts. Foreign currency changes in the three months ended September 30, 2011 had a positive impact on sales of $6.0 million which was offset by unfavorable changes in price/mix of $6.0 million.

Net sales for our Engineered Solutions segment decreased in the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010, due to lower volumes in our advanced graphite materials product line, offset in part by volume increases in our natural graphite products.

Cost of sales. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, we experienced increases in cost of sales of $74.1 million as a result of increased sales volumes, primarily resulting from our acquisitions of Seadrift, St. Marys and Micron, and the related $19.2 million impact of purchase accounting adjustments. Cost of goods sold was further negatively impacted by changes in foreign currency, which increased costs by an additional $9.5 million, across both segments.

Needle coke is the primary raw material used to manufacture graphite electrodes. Although a portion of our needle coke requirements are supplied by Seadrift, our cost of needle coke for producing a graphite electrode in the third quarter of 2011 increased. Our gross margin in the third quarter of 2011 was negatively impacted by these cost increases which we were not able to pass on to our customers.

We perform an annual scheduled significant maintenance and repair shutdown (referred to as a “turnaround”) at our Seadrift facility. Costs directly related to the turnaround, including plant personnel, contract services, materials, and rental equipment, are deferred when incurred and amortized to cost of sales using the straight-line method generally over a one year term. Our 2011 turnaround was performed and completed in the second quarter and our results of operation for the three months ended September 30, 2011 include amortization of $1.4 million for these costs.

Selling and administrative expenses. The amortization of acquired intangibles resulted in $4.1 million of expense in the three months ended September 30, 2011. This was partially offset by a decrease of $2.3 million related to lower incentive compensation plan expense in the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to September 30, 2010. During the three months ended September 30, 2010 we incurred $5.7 million of acquisition costs (i.e., advisory, legal, valuation, and other professional fees, etc.) associated with our November 30, 2010 acquisitions of Seadrift and St. Marys which did not recur in 2011. Other selling and administrative expenses, including stock-based compensation, increased by $6.0 million to

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

support our higher sales volumes.

Pension and other postretirement benefit costs. In 2011, we changed our method of recognizing actuarial gains and losses for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans and our method of calculating the expected return on plan assets. We elected to immediately recognize the change in the fair value of plan assets and net actuarial gains and losses in our operating results, noting that it is generally preferable to accelerate the recognition of such gains and losses into income rather than to defer their recognition. Generally, the gains and losses are measured annually as of December 31 and will be recorded as pension and postretirement benefit costs in the fourth quarter.

Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliate. During the three months ended September 30, 2010 our equity in earnings of our non-consolidated affiliate, on a one-month lag, was $1.9 million. On November 30, 2010, we acquired from the equity holders of Seadrift the 81.1% of the equity interests of Seadrift that we did not already own, and Seadrift is now included in our consolidated results of operations.

Interest expense. Interest expense increased $3.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010, primarily due to the amortization of the discount on the Senior Subordinated Notes issued as consideration for the acquisitions of Seadrift and the St. Marys facility, as well as increased interest due to higher borrowings under our Revolving Facility used primarily to finance the acquisitions and capital expenditures.

Other (income) expense, net. Other expense, decreased from $10.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2010 to $5.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011. The primary driver of this change is the translation of non-dollar denominated intercompany loans. For the three months ended September 30, 2010, currency losses totaled $9.7 million, compared to currency losses of $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 due principally to translation rate changes. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we had insurable damages at one of our manufacturing facilities, for which we recorded other expense of $0.5 million. We are currently preparing the related insurance claims.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Segment operating income. Corporate expenses are allocated to segments based on each segment’s percentage of consolidated sales. The following table represents our operating income by segment for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2010		2011
	*(Dollars in thousands)*
Industrial Materials	$	35,711	$	54,130
Engineered Solutions		6,762		3,361

Total segment operating income	$	42,473	$	57,491

The percentage relationship of operating expenses to sales for Industrial Materials and Engineered Solutions is set forth in the following table:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	*(Percentage of sales)*
	2010			2011			Change
Industrial Materials		83	%		82	%		(1	%)
Engineered Solutions		86	%		92	%		6	%

Segment operating costs and expenses as a percentage of sales for Industrial Materials decreased 1 percentage point to 82% in the three months ended September 30, 2011. Total operating costs and expenses increased $75.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in total operating costs was a result of volume increases of $50.1 million, due in part to increased volumes as a result of our acquisitions, as well as unfavorable currency changes of $8.9 million and increases in production costs of $15.6 million, driven primarily by increased needle coke costs and other manufacturing costs.

Although total segment operating costs and expenses in our Engineered Solutions segment remained flat for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011, they increased as a percentage of sales by 6 percentage points to 92%. This was largely driven by an unfavorable product mix given weaker demand from solar manufacturers and lower oil and gas related product sales volumes. Offsetting this weakness in part was robust demand for our advanced electronics product line.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Provision for income taxes. The following table summarizes the provision for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2011:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011
	(dollars in thousands)
Tax Expense	$	7,040		$	7,200
Pretax Income	$	33,077		$	47,497
Effective Tax Rate		21.3	%		15.2	%

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 as Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011.

The tables presented in our period-over-period 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 nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011. Throughout our MD&A, changes that are less than 5% or less than $1.0 million, are deemed to be not meaningful and are designated as “NM”.

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


	For the
	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						Increase			%
	2010			2011			(Decrease)			Change
Net sales	$	725,754		$	972,200		$	246,446			34
Cost of sales		504,319			731,362			227,043			45

Gross profit		221,435			240,838			19,403			9
Research and development		8,961			8,856			(105	)		NM
Selling and administrative expenses		84,578			97,276			12,698			15

Operating income		127,896			134,706			6,810			5
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliate		(2,326	)		0			2,326			(100	)
Other (income) expense, net		(1,744	)		5,134			6,878			(394	)
Interest expense		3,063			13,780			10,717			350
Interest income		(1,228	)		(363	)		(865	)		NM

Income before provision for income taxes		130,131			116,155			(13,976	)		(11	)
Provision for income taxes		28,394			20,026			(8,368	)		(29	)

Net income	$	101,737		$	96,129		$	(5,608	)		(6	)

Basic income per common share:	$	0.84		$	0.66		$	(0.18	)
Diluted income per common share:	$	0.84		$	0.66		$	(0.18	)

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Net sales, by operating segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011 were:

(in thousands, except per % change)


	For the
	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase		%
	2010		2011		(Decrease)		Change
Industrial Materials	$	599,394	$	835,591	$	236,197		39
Engineered Solutions		126,360		136,609		10,249		8

Total net sales	$	725,754	$	972,200	$	246,446		34

Our analysis of the percentage change in net sales for Industrial Materials and Engineered Solutions is set forth in the following table:


	Volume			Price/Mix			Currency			Net Change
Industrial Materials		43	%		(7	%)		3	%		39	%
Engineered Solutions		5	%		1	%		2	%		8	%

Net sales. Net sales for our Industrial Materials segment increased significantly in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010 due to higher graphite electrode sales volume, including increases resulting from the acquisition of the St. Marys facility, as well as additional sales resulting from the inclusion of the acquired needle coke and related by-products business in this segment. Graphite electrode demand continued to recover in 2011, however, the increase in demand was offset, in part, by a decline in the average selling price of approximately 6%, exclusive of currency impacts. Changes in currency exchange rates increased sales by $17.2 million.

Net sales for our Engineered Solutions segment increased in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, due to higher volumes, particularly related to natural graphite products used to displace heat in electronics, and the impact of the decline of the U.S. dollar.

Cost of sales. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we experienced increased cost of sales of $227.0 million as a result of increased sales volumes, primarily resulting from our acquisitions, and the $112.2 million impact of purchase accounting adjustments. Our Industrial Materials segment was further negatively impacted by changes in foreign currency, which increased costs by an additional $27.5 million, and the increased cost of needle coke.

Needle coke is the primary raw material in the manufacture of graphite electrodes. Although a portion of our needle coke requirements are supplied by Seadrift, our cost of needle coke for producing a graphite electrode in 2011 increased. Our gross margin in the first nine months of 2011 was negatively impacted by these cost increases which we were not able to pass on to our customers.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

We perform an annual scheduled significant maintenance and repair shutdown (referred to as a “turnaround”) at our Seadrift facility. Costs directly related to the turnaround, including plant personnel, contract services, materials, and rental equipment, are deferred when incurred and amortized to cost of sales using the straight-line method generally over a one year term. Our 2011 turnaround was performed and completed in the second quarter. Our results of operation for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 include $1.9 of amortization for these costs.

Selling and administrative expenses. Selling and administrative expenses increased $12.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This increase was due primarily to the amortization of acquired intangibles, which resulted in $12.7 million of expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2011. General selling costs, including sales commissions and technical service, increased $5.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 in order to support our higher sales volumes. These expenses were offset by a decrease in Incentive Compensation Plan expense of $6.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to September 30, 2010. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 we incurred $12.3 million of acquisition costs (i.e., advisory, legal, valuation, and other professional fees, etc.) associated with our November 30, 2010 acquisitions of Seadrift and St. Marys which did not recur in 2011.

Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliate. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 our equity in earnings of our non-consolidated affiliate, on a one-month lag, was $3.8 million. On November 30, 2010, we acquired from the equity holders of the Seadrift the 81.1% of the equity interests of Seadrift that we did not already own, and Seadrift is now included in our consolidated results of operations.

Interest expense. Interest expense increased $10.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily due to the amortization of the discount on the Senior Subordinated Notes issued as consideration for the acquisitions of Seadrift and the St. Marys facility, as well as increased interest due to higher borrowings under our Revolving Facility, as well as increased interest due to higher borrowings under our Revolving Facility used primarily to finance the acquisitions.

Other (income) expense, net. Other (income) expense was income of $1.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to an expense of $5.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The primary driver of this change is remeasurement of non-dollar denominated inter-company loans. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, currency gains totaled $3.0 million, compared to currency losses of $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 due principally to translation rate changes. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we had insurable damages at one of our manufacturing facilities, for which we recorded other expense of $0.5 million. We are currently preparing the related insurance claims.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010		2011
	*(Dollars in thousands)*
Industrial Materials	$	113,985	$	120,465
Engineered Solutions		13,911		14,241

Total segment operating income	$	127,896	$	134,706

The percentage relationship of operating expenses to sales for Industrial Materials and Engineered Solutions is set forth in the following table:


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	*(Percentage of sales)*
	2010			2011			Change
Industrial Materials		81	%		86	%		5	%
Engineered Solutions		89	%		90	%		1	%

Segment operating costs and expenses as a percentage of sales for Industrial Materials increased 5 percentage points to 86% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Total operating costs and expenses increased $229.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in total operating costs was a result of volume increases of $153.2 million, due in part to increased volumes as a result of our acquisitions, as well as unfavorable currency changes of $27.5 million. Other production costs, including increased needle coke pricing, drove costs $36.7 million higher in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to September 30, 2010.

Segment operating costs and expenses as a percentage of sales for Engineered Solutions increased 1 percentage point to 90% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. In total, operating costs increased $9.9 million, drive primarily by volume increases in our advanced electronic product line.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Provision for income taxes. The following table summarizes the provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011
	*(dollars in thousands)*
Tax Expense	$	28,394		$	20,026
Pretax Income	$	130,131		$	116,155
Effective Tax Rate		21.8	%		17.2	%

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Effects of Changes in Currency Exchange Rates

When the currencies of non-U.S. countries in which we have a manufacturing facility decline (or increase) in value relative to the U.S. dollar, this has the effect of reducing (or increasing) the U.S. dollar equivalent cost of sales and other expenses with respect to those facilities. In certain countries where we have manufacturing facilities, and in certain instances where we price our products for sale in export markets, we sell in currencies other than the dollar. Accordingly, when these currencies increase (or decline) in value relative to the dollar, this has the effect of increasing (or reducing) net sales. The result of these effects is to increase (or decrease) operating profit and net income.

Many of the non-U.S. countries in which we have a manufacturing facility have been subject to significant economic and political changes, which have significantly impacted currency exchange rates. We cannot predict changes in currency exchange rates in the future or whether those changes will have net positive or negative impacts on our net sales, cost of sales or net income.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the average exchange rates for the Japanese yen, Brazilian real, Mexican peso, the euro, the British pound and the South African rand compared to the U.S. dollar increased by approximately 11.1%, 9.2%, 5.9%, 6.9%, 5.2% and 6.9%, respectively, compared to their average exchange rates compared to the U.S. dollar for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

For net sales of Industrial Materials, the impact of changes in the average exchange rates was an increase of $17.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011. For the cost of Industrial Materials, the impact of these events was an increase of $27.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

As part of our cash management, we also have 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. Our Switzerland location is party to many of these loans. Effective January 1, 2011, the functional currency of this location was changed to the U.S. dollar, as the majority of these loans and the purchases made are denominated in the U.S. dollar. This change minimizes our exposure to exchange rate changes related to our intercompany loans.

We had a net total currency gain of $3.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to a net total currency loss of $1.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, primarily due to the remeasurement of intercompany loans and the effect of transaction gains and losses on intercompany activities.

We have in the past and may in the future use various financial instruments to manage certain exposures to specific financial market risks caused by changes in currency exchange rates, as described under “Part I, Item 3–Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Global capital markets have been, and may continue to be, disrupted and volatile. The cost and availability of funding has been and may continue to be adversely affected by illiquid credit markets. We believe that we have adequate liquidity, including availability under our Revolving Facility, to meet all of our present operating needs. Continued turbulence in the U.S. and international financial markets, however, could adversely affect the cost and availability of additional financing to us in the future.

Our financing obligations are as follows:


	At December 31, 2010		At September 30, 2011
	*(Dollars in thousands)*
Short-term debt	$	155	$	18,193
Supply chain financing liability		24,959		22,002

Total current financing liabilities		25,114		40,195


Long-term debt		275,799		336,122

Total financing liabilities	$	300,913	$	376,317

At September 30, 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents of $11.3 million, short-term debt of $18.2 million, long-term debt of $336.1 million and stockholders’ equity of $1,318.5 million. We also had $65.2 million available through our Revolving Facility. As part of our cash management activities, we manage accounts receivable credit risk, collections, and accounts payable vendor terms to maximize our free cash at any given time and minimize accounts receivable losses.

Our sources of funds have consisted principally of cash flow from operations, debt including our Revolving Facility, equity financings, and supply chain financings. Our uses of those funds (other than for operations) have consisted principally of capital expenditures, payment of pension and post-retirement contributions, debt reductions, purchases of treasury shares and other obligations. As of September 30, 2011, we had accrued liabilities for several future significant cash expenditures including $1.3 million of required pension plan contributions, which were paid in October 2011.

We have an accounts receivable factoring arrangement in place that provides additional working capital liquidity of up to $25.0 million. We did not sell any receivables under this arrangement during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 or 2011.

Accounts receivable are sold without recourse under this arrangement. Lower sales volumes for our products and reduced credit quality of our customers may limit the amount of receivables that we sell in the future. This accounts receivable factoring facility renewed for a one year term that expires June 30, 2012.

We are party to a supply chain financing arrangement with a third party that provides additional working capital liquidity of up to $50 million. Under this arrangement, we essentially assign our rights to purchase needle coke from our supplier to the financing party. The financing

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

party purchases the product from our supplier under the standard payment terms and then immediately resells it to us under longer payment terms. The financing party pays the supplier the purchase price for the product and then we pay the financing party. Our payment to the financing party for this needle coke includes a mark up (the “Mark-Up”). For the first nine months of 2011 the Mark-Up was based on 2 month LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75%. The Mark-Up is subject to quarterly reviews. In effect, we have a longer period of time to pay the financing party than by purchasing directly from the supplier which helps us maintain a balanced cash conversion cycle between inventory payments and the collection of receivables. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the financing party invoiced us $127.1 million and we had net payments of $3.0 million for purchases of inventory under this arrangement, including a Mark-Up of $0.8 million.

In the event that operating cash flow, the sales of receivables and the financing of needle coke purchases fail to provide sufficient liquidity to meet our business needs, including capital expenditures, any such shortfall would be made up by borrowings under our Revolving Facility.

We use cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations, funds from receivable and payable factoring arrangements, supply chain financing, and funds available under the Revolving Facility (subject to continued compliance with the financial covenants and representations under the Revolving Facility) as our primary sources of liquidity.

On October 7, 2011, GrafTech and certain of its subsidiaries, entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement that provids 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 the financial covenants under our Revolving Facility. The following comparison highlights the principal changes to the Revolving Facility effected by the amendment and restatement:


	Amended and Restated Facility	Facility-September 30, 2011

Availability	$570 million	$260 million

Maturity date	October 7, 2016	April 29, 2013

Interest rate^a	Either LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.25% or, in the case of dollar denominated loans, the alternate base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.25%.	Either LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 2.50% to 3.50% or, in the case of dollar denominated loans, the alternate base rate plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.50%.

Commitment fee	Per annum fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.40% on the undrawn portion of the commitments under the Revolving Facility.	Per annum fee ranging from 0.375% to 0.750% on the undrawn portion of the commitments under the Revolving Facility.

Financial Covenants	Maximum senior secured leverage ratio of 2.25 to 1.00; Minimum cash interest coverage of 3.00 to 1.00.	Maximum net senior secured leverage ratio of 2.25 to 1.00; Minimum cash interest coverage of 1.75 to 1.00.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

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 issuable under the Revolving Facility for an amount not to exceed $50 million.

At September 30, 2011, we had outstanding borrowings drawn from the Revolving Facility of $187.0 million and $65.2 million was available (after consideration of outstanding letters of credit of $7.8 million). At September 30, 2011, we were in compliance with all financial and other covenants under the Revolving Facility in effect at that time.

It is possible that our future ability to borrow under the Revolving Facility will be less because of the impact of additional borrowings upon our compliance with the maximum senior secured debt leverage ratio permitted or minimum cash interest coverage ratio required under the Revolving Facility as amended and restated on October 7, 2011.

Based on expected operating results and expected cash flows, we expect to be in compliance with the amended and restated covenants through maturity of the Revolving Facility. If we were to believe that we would not continue to comply with these covenants, we would seek an appropriate waiver or amendment from the lenders thereunder. We cannot assure you that we would be able to obtain such waiver or amendment on acceptable terms or at all.

At September 30, 2011, approximately 43% of our debt consisted of fixed rate or zero interest rate obligations compared to 53% at December 31, 2010.

Cash Flow and Plans to Manage Liquidity. Our business strategies include efforts to enhance our capital structure by further reducing our gross obligations. Our efforts include leveraging our global manufacturing network by driving higher utilization rates and more productivity from our existing assets, accelerating commercialization initiatives across all of our businesses and realizing other global efficiencies.

Typically, our cash flow from operations fluctuates significantly between quarters due to various factors. These factors include customer order patterns, fluctuations in working capital requirements, and other factors.

Certain of our obligations could have a material impact on our liquidity. Cash flow from operations and from financing activities services payment of our obligations, thereby reducing funds available to us for other purposes. At September 30, 2011, we had $65.2 million of additional borrowing capacity under the Revolving Facility. Our subsequent expansion of this facility resulted in availability to $310 million. Continued improvement, or another downturn in the global economy may require increased borrowings under our Revolving Facility, particularly if our accounts receivable and supply chain financing arrangements are terminated. An improving economy, while resulting in improved results of operations, could require significant cash requirements to purchase inventories, make capital expenditures, and pay other obligations as accounts receivable increase. A downturn could significantly negatively impact our results of operations and cash flows, which, coupled with increased borrowings, could negatively impact our credit ratings, our ability to comply with debt covenants, our ability to secure additional financing and the cost of such financing, if available.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Based on expected operating results and expected cash flows, we expect to be in compliance with our existing financial covenants in 2011, including those in the amended and restated Revolving Facility, in 2011.

In order to seek to minimize our credit risks, we limit our sales of, or refuse to sell (except for cash on delivery or under letters of credit), our products to some customers and potential customers. In the current economic environment, our customers may experience liquidity shortages or difficulties in obtaining credit, including letters of credit. Our unrecovered trade receivables worldwide have not been material during the last 3 years individually or in the aggregate. We cannot assure you that we will not be materially adversely affected by accounts receivable losses in the future. In addition, we have historically factored a portion of our accounts receivable and used the proceeds to reduce debt. Our ability to factor accounts receivable in the future may be limited by reduced credit ratings of customers or by a reduction in the amount permitted to be financed under the arrangement.

In December 2007, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the purchase of up to 3 million shares of our common stock. Share repurchases may take place from time to time in the open market, or through privately negotiated transactions, as market conditions warrant. As of September 30, 2011, we have repurchased 1 million shares under this program. We intend to fund any such share repurchases from available cash and cash flows. These share repurchases may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

Related Party Transactions. In late June and early July 2009, our then non-consolidated affiliate, Seadrift Coke L.P. (“Seadrift”), entered into agreements to borrow up to $17.0 million of Demand Notes from certain of its shareholders, which included GrafTech. We agreed to loan up to $8.5 million and on July 2, 2009, we loaned Seadrift $6.0 million.

The Demand Notes were repaid in full with interest on March 31, 2010 and the obligation to make any further loans or advances ceased and terminated.

We have not engaged in or been a party to any other material transactions with affiliates or related parties except for transactions with our current or former subsidiaries and compensatory transactions with directors and officers (including employee benefits, stock option and restricted stock grants, compensation deferral, executive employee loans and stock purchases).

Cash Flows.

The following is a discussion of our cash flow activities:


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2010			2011
	*(Dollars in millions)*
Cash flow provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	54.0		$	29.3
Investing activities		(44.7	)		(100.3	)
Financing activities		5.7			69.8

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Operating Activities

Cash flow from operating activities represents cash receipts and cash disbursements related to all our activities other than to investing and financing activities. Operating cash flow is derived by adjusting net income for:

•

Non-cash items such as depreciation and amortization; post retirement obligations, severance and pension plan changes; stock-based compensation charges

•

Gains and losses attributed to investing and financing activities such as gains and losses on the sale of assets and unrealized currency transaction gains

•

Changes in operating assets and liabilities which reflect timing differences between the receipt and payment of cash associated with transactions and when they are recognized in results of operations

The net impact of the changes in working capital (operating assets and liabilities), which are discussed in more detail below, include the impact of changes in: receivables, inventories, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, interest payable, and payments of other current liabilities.

We continue to attempt to maximize our operating cash flows by continuing to improve those working capital items that are most directly affected by changes in sales volume, such as accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, changes in working capital resulted in a net use of funds of $79.2 million which was impacted by:

•

use of funds of $42.3 million from the increase in accounts receivable, including the effect of factoring for $1.1 million, which are due primarily to increased sales for the period and the limited use of factoring;

•

use of funds for inventories of $39.0 million primarily due to the increased sales volume; and

•

sources of funds of $6.7 million from an increase in accounts payable and accruals through normal operations and inventory purchases.

Other items that affected our cash balance during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 included payment of incentive compensation of $19.6 million, payments of acquisition costs of $8.5 million, Federal income tax payments in the United States of $4.1 million, and income tax payments in Mexico, South Africa and Switzerland of $2.6 million, $2.7 million, and $9.5 million, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, changes in working capital resulted in a net use of funds of $139.8 million which was impacted by:

•

use of funds of $54.9 million from the increase in accounts receivable, which were due primarily to increased sales for the period and the temporary suspension of factoring;

•

use of funds for inventories of $76.2 million primarily due to the increased sales volume and the acquisitions of Seadrift and the St. Marys facility;

•

use of $5.4 million related to increased prepaid expenses primarily due to the deferral of $4.0 million of turnaround costs at Seadrift, net of amortization, as well as

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

net prepaid insurance premiums; and

•

use of funds of $3.3 million from an increase in accounts payable and accruals through normal operations and inventory purchases.

Investing Activities.

Net cash used in investing activities was $44.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and included capital expenditures of $51.5 million, which was partially offset by proceeds received on the repayment of our loan to our non-consolidated affiliate of $6.0 million.

Net cash used in investing activities was $100.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and included capital expenditures of $102.0 million and cash paid for the acquisition of Micron Research of $6.5 million, partially offset by proceeds from derivative instruments of $7.8 million.

Financing Activities.

Net cash flow provided by financing activities was $5.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and included net borrowings under our supply chain financing arrangement of $11.1 million, partially offset by bank fees and charges to amend and restate our credit agreement of $4.5 million and purchases of treasury shares of $1.2 million.

Net cash flow provided by financing activities was $69.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, due primarily to net borrowings under our Revolving Facility of $53.0 million, $18.0 million of short term debt borrowings for working capital requirements and proceeds from exercise options of $1.9 million, partially offset by net payments under our supply chain financing arrangement of $3.0 million. The cash from these borrowings was used primarily to fund capital expenditures and working capital additions during the period.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Restrictions on Dividends and Stock Repurchases

A description of the restriction in our Revolving Facility on our ability to pay dividends and our ability to repurchase common stock is set forth under “Item 5 – Dividend Policies and Restrictions” in the Annual Report and such description is incorporated herein by reference. Effective October 7, 2011, however, the final paragraph of such description is replaced with the following in order to reflect changes to that restriction effected by the amendment and restatement of the Revolving Facility as of that date:

Under the Revolving Facility, in general, GTI is permitted to pay dividends and repurchase 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 (50% of 2010 net income is $87.3 million).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

We discuss recently adopted accounting standards on page 9 in Note 1, “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Description of Our Financing Structure

We discuss our financing structure in more detail on page 20 in Note 9, “Long-Term Debt and Liquidity” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to market risks primarily from changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, energy commodity rates and commercial energy rates. We, from time to time, routinely enter into various transactions that have been authorized according to documented policies and procedures to manage these well-defined risks. These transactions relate primarily to financial instruments described below. Since the counterparties, if any, to these financial instruments are large commercial banks and similar financial institutions, we do not believe that we are exposed to material counterparty credit risk. We do not use financial instruments for trading purposes.

Our exposure to changes in interest rates results primarily from floating rate long-term debt tied to LIBOR or Euro LIBOR. Our exposure to changes in currency exchange rates results primarily from:

•

sales made by our subsidiaries in currencies other than local currencies;

•

raw material purchases made by our foreign subsidiaries in currencies other than local currencies; and

•

investments in and intercompany loans to our foreign subsidiaries and our share of the earnings of those subsidiaries, to the extent denominated in currencies other than the dollar.

Our exposure to changes in energy costs results primarily from the purchase of natural gas and electricity for use in our manufacturing operations.

Currency Rate Management. We enter into foreign currency derivatives from time to time to attempt to manage exposure to changes in currency exchange rates. These foreign currency derivatives, which include, but are not limited to, forward exchange contracts and purchased currency options, attempt to hedge global currency exposures, net, relating to non-dollar denominated debt and identifiable foreign currency receivables, payables and commitments held by our foreign and domestic subsidiaries. Forward exchange contracts are agreements to exchange different currencies at a specified future date and at a specified rate. Purchased foreign currency options are instruments which give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to exchange different currencies at a specified rate at a specified date or over a range of specified dates. Forward exchange contracts and purchased currency options are carried at market value.

The outstanding foreign currency derivatives at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011 represented a net unrealized gain of $0.8 million and a net unrealized loss of $0.1 million, respectively.

Commodity Management. We periodically enter into commodity derivative contracts and short duration fixed rate purchase contracts to effectively fix some or all of our natural gas, and refined oil product exposure. The outstanding contracts at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011 represented a net unrealized gain of $0.6 million and $3.7 million, respectively.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Interest Rate Risk Management. We periodically implement interest rate management initiatives to seek to minimize our interest expense and the risk in our portfolio of fixed and variable interest rate obligations. We currently do not have any such contracts outstanding.

We periodically enter into agreements with financial institutions that are intended to limit, or cap, our exposure to incurrence of additional interest expense due to increases in variable interest rates. These instruments effectively cap our interest rate exposure.

Sensitivity Analysis. We used a sensitivity analysis to assess the potential effect of changes in currency exchange rates on gross margin and changes in interest rates on interest expense. Based on this analysis, a hypothetical 10% weakening or strengthening in the dollar across all other currencies would have changed our reported gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 by approximately $2.2 million. Based on this analysis, a hypothetical increase in interest rates of 1,000 basis points (10%) would have increased our interest expense by $15.1 million for the for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

PART I (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate disclosure controls and procedures at the reasonable assurance level. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a reporting company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by it in the reports that it files under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2011. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer have concluded that these controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level as of September 30, 2011.

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. We acquired Seadrift and St. Marys during the fourth quarter of 2010. We have extended the Section 404 compliance program under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable rules and restrictions under the Act to include Seadrift and St. Marys. We will report on the assessment of the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting for the combined operations at December 31, 2011. There have been no other changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2011 that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal controls over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The information required by this Item is set forth on page 23 in Note 14, “Contingencies” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following additional Risk Factor should be read in conjunction with the Risk Factors set forth in Item 1A of the Annual Report.

Risks related to our defined benefit pension plans may adversely impact our results of operations and cash flow.

Significant changes in actual investment return on pension assets, discount rates, and other factors could adversely affect our results of operations and pension contributions in future periods. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that we calculate income or expense for the plans using actuarial valuations. These valuations reflect assumptions about financial markets and interest rates, which may change based on economic conditions. Funding requirements for our U.S. pension plans may become more significant. However, the ultimate amounts to be contributed are dependent upon, among other things, interest rates, underlying asset returns and the impact of legislative or regulatory changes related to pension funding obligations. For a discussion regarding the significant assumptions used to estimate pension expense, including discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets see Note 12 in our Annual Report.

For a more complete discussion of these and other factors, see “Risk Factors,” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

In December 2007, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a share repurchase program authorizing the purchase of up to 3 million shares of our common stock. 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 into the open market. These repurchases are outside of the program authorized in December 2007.


Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased*		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs		Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1 through July 31, 2011		1,396	$	20.37		0		2,051,905
August 1 through August 31, 2011		0		0.00		0		2,051,905
September 1 through September 30, 2011		67,283		14.60		0		2,051,905

*	Represents purchases of vested restricted stock shares from employees as payment for the withholding taxes due upon the vesting or payment of stock awards.

PART II (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

Item 4. [Removed and Reserved.]

Item 5. Other Information.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the following table have been filed as part of this Report.


Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit

10.1.0		Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 7, 2011 among GrafTech International Ltd., GrafTech Finance Inc., GrafTech Switzerland S.A., the LC Subsidiary from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Issuing Bank.

10.1.1		Amendment and Restatement Agreement dated as of October 7, 2011 in respect of the Credit Agreement dated as of April 28, 2010 among GrafTech International Ltd., GrafTech Global Enterprises Inc., GrafTech Finance Inc., GrafTech Switzerland, S.A. the LC Subsidiaries from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

10.1.2		Reaffirmation Agreement dated as of October 7, 2011 among GrafTech International Ltd., GrafTech Finance Inc., GrafTech Switzerland, S.A., the Subsidiaries party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent.

10.1.3		Confirmation and Amendment Agreement dated 7 October 2011 relating to the Swiss Security Agreement dated April 28, 2010 between Graftech Switzerland SA as Assignor and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Assignee.

31.1		Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act by Craig S. Shular, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer)

31.2		Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act by Lindon G. Robertson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

32.1		Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Craig S. Shular, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer)

PART II (CONT’D)

GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES



32.2		Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Lindon G. Robertson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

101.INS		XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

SIGNATURE

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

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit

*10.1.0		Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 7, 2011 among GrafTech International Ltd., GrafTech Finance Inc., GrafTech Switzerland S.A., the LC Subsidiary from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Issuing Bank.

*10.1.1		Amendment and Restatement Agreement dated as of October 7, 2011 in respect of the Credit Agreement dated as of April 28, 2010 among GrafTech International Ltd., GrafTech Global Enterprises Inc., GrafTech Finance Inc., GrafTech Switzerland, S.A. the LC Subsidiaries from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

*10.1.2		Reaffirmation Agreement dated as of October 7, 2011 among GrafTech International Ltd., GrafTech Finance Inc., GrafTech Switzerland, S.A., the Subsidiaries party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent.

*10.1.3		Confirmation and Amendment Agreement dated 7 October 2011 relating to the Swiss Security Agreement dated April 28, 2010 between Graftech Switzerland SA as Assignor and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Assignee.

*31.1		Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act by Craig S. Shular, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board.

*31.2		Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act by Lindon G. Robertson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

*32.1		Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Craig S. Shular, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board.

*32.2		Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Lindon G. Robertson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

*Filed herewith



101.INS		XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document