eps2914.htm
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

Commission File Number 1-4773

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


Delaware
04-1701350
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)
 


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


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

 
Name of Exchange on
Title of Each Class
Which Registered
   
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
American Stock Exchange


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE


 
 
 

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  YES o  NO x

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  YES o  NO x

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

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

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

Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o  Smaller reporting company x

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

The aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates as of June 29, 2007 was $13.5 million.

The number of shares of the registrant's common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding as of March 14, 2008 was 3,441,551.

Documents Incorporated by Reference Portions of the proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 6, 2008, which will be filed by the registrant within 120 days after December 31, 2007, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Factors That May Affect Future ResultsSome of the information presented in or incorporated by reference in this report constitutes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  These forward-looking statements are based on the registrant's expectations, as of the date of this report, of future events.  Except as required by applicable law, the registrant undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.  Although the registrant believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from its expectations.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause or contribute to the registrant's actual results differing from its expectations include those factors discussed elsewhere in this report, including in Item 1A (Risk Factors).

 
 
 

PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

General Development of Business

American Biltrite Inc. (together with, unless the context otherwise indicates, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and K&M Associates L.P., "ABI" or the "Company") was organized in 1908 and is a Delaware corporation.  ABI's major operations include its Tape Division, a controlling interest in K&M Associates L.P., a Rhode Island limited partnership ("K&M"), and ownership of a Canadian subsidiary, American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd. ("AB Canada").  ABI also presently owns 55.4% of the outstanding common stock of Congoleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Congoleum").  Congoleum filed a voluntary petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (the “Bankruptcy Court”) (Case No. 03-51524) seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") in 2003.  ABI expects its ownership interest in Congoleum to be eliminated pursuant to the terms of the plan of reorganization for Congoleum pending in the Bankruptcy Court.

The Tape Division produces adhesive-coated, pressure-sensitive papers and films used to protect material during handling or storage or to serve as a carrier for transferring decals or die-cut lettering.  The Tape Division also produces pressure sensitive tapes and adhesive products used for applications in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), footwear, automotive, electrical and electronic industries.

In 1995, ABI acquired a controlling interest in K&M, a designer, supplier, distributor and servicer of a wide variety of adult, children's and specialty items of fashion jewelry and related accessories throughout the U.S. and Canada.  ABI, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, owns an aggregate 95.5% interest (7% as sole general partner and 88.5% in limited partner interests) in K&M.  K&M wholesales its products to mass merchandisers, specialty stores and department stores.

Congoleum is a leading manufacturer of resilient sheet and tile flooring.  In 1993, ABI acquired an ownership position in Congoleum in exchange for its U.S. tile business (the "Tile Division").  In 1995, ABI acquired voting control of Congoleum when Congoleum sold a new issue of shares of its Class A common stock to the public which had one vote per share and used the proceeds to redeem most of the two-vote-per-share Class B shares held by the then majority shareholder.  ABI's interest has increased further since then as a result of Congoleum's repurchases of its common stock combined with open market purchases of Congoleum common stock by ABI.  As of December 31, 2007, ABI's ownership of 151,100 shares of Congoleum's Class A common stock and 4,395,605 shares of Congoleum's Class B common stock represented 69.4% of the outstanding equity voting interests of Congoleum.


 
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Congoleum is a defendant in a large number of asbestos-related lawsuits.  On December 31, 2003, Congoleum filed a voluntary petition with the Bankruptcy Court seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code as a means to resolve claims asserted against it related to the use of asbestos in its products decades ago.  During 2003, Congoleum had obtained the requisite votes of asbestos personal injury claimants necessary to seek approval of a proposed, pre-packaged Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.  In January 2004, Congoleum filed its proposed plan of reorganization and disclosure statement with the Bankruptcy Court.  From that filing through 2007, several subsequent plans were negotiated with representatives of the Asbestos Claimants’ Committee (the “ACC”), the Future Claimants’ Representative (the “FCR”) and other asbestos claimant representatives.  In addition, an insurance company, Continental Casualty Company, and its affiliate, Continental Insurance Company (collectively, “CNA”), filed a plan of reorganization and the Official Committee of Bondholders (the “Bondholders’ Committee”) (representing holders of Congoleum’s 8 5/8% Senior Notes due August 1, 2008 (the “Senior Notes”)) also filed a plan of reorganization.  In May 2006, the Bankruptcy Court ordered the principal parties in interest in Congoleum’s reorganization proceedings to participate in reorganization plan mediation discussions.  Several mediation sessions took place during 2006, culminating in two competing plans, one which Congoleum filed jointly with the ACC in September 2006 (the “Tenth Plan”) and the other filed by CNA, both of which the Bankruptcy Court subsequently ruled were not confirmable as a matter of law.    In March 2007, Congoleum resumed global plan mediation discussions with the various parties seeking to resolve the issues raised in the Bankruptcy Court’s ruling with respect to the Tenth Plan.  In July 2007, the FCR filed a plan of reorganization and proposed disclosure statement.   After extensive further mediation sessions, on February 5, 2008, the FCR, the ACC, the Bondholders’ Committee and Congoleum jointly filed a plan of reorganization (the “Joint Plan”).  The Bankruptcy Court approved the disclosure statement for the Joint Plan in February 2008, and a confirmation hearing is scheduled for June 26, 2008.  Under the terms of the Joint Plan, ABI's ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated.  ABI expects that its ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated under any alternate plan or outcome in Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case.  See Notes 1 and 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Outside the United States, the Tape Division operates production facilities in Belgium, Italy and Singapore, where bulk tape products are converted into various sizes.  Sales offices at the Singapore and Italy locations and sales representative offices in Shanghai, China, Bangkok Thailand and Seoul, South Korea enable quicker response to customer demands in the European and Asian markets.  The Company’s wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd., produces resilient floor tile, rubber tiles and rolled rubber flooring and industrial products (including conveyor belting, truck and trailer splash guards and sheet rubber material) and imports certain rubber and tile products from China for resale.  K&M maintains a purchasing office in China, from which it sources the majority of the products it sells.

ABI owns 50% of Compania Hulera Sula, S.A. de C.V. ("Hulera Sula"), a Honduran corporation, which produces soles, heels, sandals and other footwear products under license from ABI.  Hulera Sula in turn owns 100% of Hulera Sacatepequez, S.A., a Guatemalan corporation which manufactures products in Guatemala similar to those of Hulera Sula.  Hulera Sula also owns 60% of Fomtex, S.A., a Guatemalan corporation, which manufactures foam mattresses, beds and other foam products.

 
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In October 2003, ABI discontinued the operations of its wholly owned subsidiary Janus Flooring Corporation (“Janus Flooring”), which manufactured pre-finished hardwood flooring in Canada.  Results from Janus Flooring, including charges resulting from the shutdown, are reported as a discontinued operation in the Company's consolidated financial statement set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  During 2006, the remaining assets of Janus Flooring were sold, and the discontinued operation was effectively dissolved.  As of December 31, 2006, the Company merged Janus Flooring with and into American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd.

For financial reporting purposes, ABI operates in four industry segments:  flooring products, the Tape Division, jewelry and the Canadian division, which produces flooring and rubber products.  See Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


Narrative Description of Business

Marketing, Distribution and Sales  The Tape Division's protective papers and films are sold domestically and throughout the world, principally through distributors, but also directly to certain manufacturers.  Other tape products are marketed through the Tape Division's own sales force and by third-party sales representatives and distributors throughout the world.  ABI's Belgian, Italian and Singapore facilities sell these products throughout Europe and the Far East.

The products of K&M are sold domestically and in Canada through its own direct sales force and through third-party sales representatives.  K&M's business and operations experience seasonal variations.  In general, fashion jewelry supply, distribution and service businesses respond to the seasonal demands of mass merchandisers and other major retailers, which typically peak in preparation for end-of-year holiday shopping.  Accordingly, K&M's working capital needs tend to be greatest in the second and third fiscal quarters as it increases inventories in advance of its peak selling season, while its revenues tend to be greater toward the end of each fiscal year, especially in the latter part of the third quarter and the first half of the fourth quarter.

AB Canada's floor tile, rubber products and industrial products are marketed principally through distributors.  Seasonal variations in the sales and working capital requirements of this division are not significant.

Congoleum currently sells its products through approximately 13 distributors providing approximately 51 distribution points in the United States and Canada, as well as directly to a limited number of mass market retailers.  Congoleum considers its distribution network to be very important to maintaining a competitive position.  Although Congoleum has more than one distributor in some of its distribution territories and actively manages its credit exposure to its customers, the loss of a major customer could have a materially adverse impact on Congoleum's business, results of operations and financial condition, at least until a suitable replacement is in place.  The sales pattern for Congoleum's products is seasonal, with peaks in retail sales typically occurring during March/April/May and September/October.  Orders are generally shipped as soon as a truckload quantity has been accumulated, and backorders can be canceled without penalty.


 
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Hulera Sula's footwear and foam products are marketed and distributed in certain Central American countries.

Financial information about products that contributed more than 10% of the Company's consolidated revenue during the last two fiscal years is included in Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Working Capital and Cash Flow  In general, ABI's working capital requirements are not affected by accelerated delivery requirements of major customers or by obtaining a continuous allotment of raw material from suppliers.  ABI does not provide special rights for customers to return merchandise and does not provide special seasonal or extended terms to its customers.  K&M does provide pre-approved allowances in the form of markdowns and return authorizations as required.

Congoleum produces goods for inventory and sells on credit to customers.  Generally, Congoleum's distributors carry inventory as needed to meet local or rapid delivery requirements.  Congoleum’s typical credit terms generally require payment on invoices within 31 days, with a discount available for earlier payment.  These practices are typical within the industry.

During 2007, Congoleum paid $13.1 million in fees and expenses (net of recoveries) related to implementation of its planned reorganization under Chapter 11 and litigation with certain insurance companies. Congoleum expects to spend an additional $24.7 million in 2008 on these matters. At December 31, 2007, Congoleum had incurred but not paid approximately $9.0 million in additional fees and expenses for services rendered through that date with respect to these matters.  Congoleum anticipates that its debtor-in-possession financing facility (including anticipated extensions thereof), together with cash from operations, will provide it with sufficient liquidity to operate during 2008 while under Chapter 11 protection.  There can be no assurances that Congoleum will continue to be in compliance with the required covenants under this facility or that the debtor-in-possession facility (as extended) will be renewed prior to its expiration if a plan of reorganization is not confirmed before that time.  For a plan of reorganization to be confirmed, Congoleum will need to obtain and demonstrate the sufficiency of financing needed to effectuate the plan and emerge from its Chapter 11 case.  Congoleum cannot presently determine the terms of any such financing it might obtain, nor can there be any assurances of its success obtaining it.

In connection with Congoleum’s plan of reorganization, ABI expects to spend $400 thousand in 2008, which is not expected to have a material adverse effect on ABI’s working capital or cash flow.  ABI and Congoleum have separate credit facilities which are governed by independent credit agreements, and ABI is generally not otherwise liable for the separate obligations of Congoleum.

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – ABI and Non-Debtor Subsidiaries” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Congoleum” in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


 
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Raw Materials  ABI generally designs and engineers its own products.  Most of the raw materials required by ABI for its manufacturing operations are available from multiple sources; however, ABI does purchase some of its raw materials from a single source or supplier.  Any significant delay in or disruption of the supply of raw materials could substantially increase ABI's cost of materials, require product reformulation or require qualification of new suppliers, any one or more of which could materially adversely affect the business, operations or financial condition of ABI.  Congoleum does not have readily available alternative sources of supply for specific designs of transfer print film, which are produced utilizing print cylinders engraved to Congoleum's specifications.  Although no loss of this source of supply is anticipated, replacement could take a considerable period of time and interrupt production of certain products.  Congoleum maintains a raw material inventory and has an ongoing program to develop new sources, which is designed to provide continuity of supply for its raw material requirements.  Although the Company and Congoleum have generally not had difficulty in obtaining their requirements for these materials, they have occasionally experienced significant price increases for some of these materials.  Although the Company and Congoleum have been able to obtain sufficient supplies of specialty resin and other raw materials, there can be no assurances that they may not experience difficulty obtaining supplies and raw materials in the future, particularly if global supply conditions deteriorate, which could have a material adverse effect on profit margins.

Competition  All businesses in which ABI is engaged are highly competitive, principally based upon pricing of the product, the quality of the product and service to the customer.  ABI’s tape products compete with products of some of the largest fully integrated rubber and plastic companies, as well as those of smaller producers.  Included among its competitors are 3M, Nitto Permacel, Ivex/Novasol and R-Tape.  AB Canada's flooring products compete with those of other manufacturers of rubber and resilient floor tiles and with all other types of floor covering.  AB Canada also competes with Armstrong World Industries, Inc., Flexco/Roppe, Nora and Mondo and with other manufacturers of alternate floor covering products.  In the rubber products category, AB Canada has several competitors, principally among them being GRT Division of Enpro and WARCO/Biltrite.

The market for Congoleum's products is highly competitive.  Resilient sheet and tile compete for both residential and commercial customers primarily with carpeting, hardwood, melamine laminate and ceramic tile.  In residential applications, both tile and sheet products are used primarily in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and foyers and, to a lesser extent, in playrooms and basements.  Ceramic tile is used primarily in kitchens, bathrooms and foyers.  Carpeting is used primarily in bedrooms, family rooms and living rooms.  Hardwood flooring and melamine laminate are used primarily in family rooms, foyers and kitchens.  Commercial grade resilient flooring faces substantial competition from carpeting, ceramic tile, rubber tile, hardwood flooring and stone in commercial applications.  Congoleum believes, based upon its market research, that purchase decisions are influenced primarily by fashion elements such as design, color and style, durability, ease of maintenance, price and ease of installation.  Both tile and sheet resilient flooring are easy to replace for repair and redecoration and, in Congoleum's view, have advantages over other floor covering products in terms of both price and ease of installation and maintenance.


 
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Congoleum encounters competition from three other manufacturers in North America and, to a lesser extent, foreign manufacturers.  In the resilient category, Armstrong World Industries, Inc. has the largest market share.  Some of Congoleum's competitors have substantially greater financial and other resources and access to capital than Congoleum.

K&M competes with other companies that make similar products on the basis of product pricing and the effectiveness of merchandising services offered.  In assessing K&M’s products and services, K&M's customers tend to focus on margin dollars realized from the customers’ sales of product and return on inventory investment needed to be made by the customer in order to generate sales.  In its business of supplying and servicing fashion jewelry and accessory products, K&M competes with a variety of competitors, among them are Liz Claiborne Inc., Jones Apparel Group and a number of other companies offering similar products and/or services.  K&M also competes with numerous importers and overseas suppliers of similar items.

Patents and Trademarks  ABI and its subsidiaries own many trademarks, including the Congoleum brand name, the AB® logo, TransferRite® and Ideal® at the Tape Division, Estrie®, AB Colors Plus® Dura-Shield® and Transseal® at AB Canada, and Amtico®, which is used solely in the Canadian  market.  K&M also licenses for jewelry the Panama Jack®, Guess?®, Bratz® Rocawear®, Its Happy Bunny®, Peanuts® and MUDD® trademarks as well as certain others.  These trademarks are important for the Company in maintaining its competitive position.  The licensing agreements are subject to expiration dates and other termination provisions, and the licensor or the Company may choose not to extend or renew certain agreements.  The Company has an ongoing program seeking additional or replacement licenses.  The Company also believes that patents and know-how play an important role in maintaining competitive position.

Research and Development  Research and development efforts at the Company concentrate on new product development, increasing efficiencies of the various manufacturing processes, and improving the features and performance of existing products.  Expenditures for research and development were $6.2 million, on a consolidated basis, for each of the years 2007 and 2006.

Key Customers  For the year ended December 31, 2007, two customers of Congoleum accounted for over 10% of ABI's consolidated net sales.  The two customers together accounted for 66% of Congoleum’s net sales of $204.3 million.  These customers are Congoleum’s distributor to the manufactured housing market, LaSalle-Bristol, and its largest retail distributor, Mohawk Industries, Inc.  No other customer accounted for more than 10% of ABI’s consolidated sales.

K&M’s top four customers in terms of net sales in 2007 together accounted for 58% of K&M’s net sales.  The loss of the largest of these customers would have a material adverse effect on K&M’s business, results of operations and financial condition and would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

Sales to five unaffiliated customers of the Tape Division together constitute approximately 20% of the net sales for the Tape Division.  The loss of the largest of these unaffiliated customers and/or two or more of the other four unaffiliated customers could have a material adverse effect on the Tape Division's business, results of operations and financial condition.


 
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AB Canada’s sales to Congoleum accounted for approximately 8% of AB Canada’s net sales in 2007.  The loss of Congoleum’s business would have a significant, adverse affect on AB Canada’s revenue.  These intercompany sales are eliminated from the Company’s consolidated financial statements, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  See Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Backlog  The dollar amount of backlog of orders believed to be firm as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $16.3 million and $15.4 million, respectively.  It is anticipated that all of the backlog as of December 31, 2007 will be filled within the current fiscal year.  There are no seasonal or other significant aspects of the backlog.  In the opinion of management, backlog is not significant to the business of ABI.

Environmental Compliance  Because of the nature of the operations conducted by ABI and Congoleum, each company’s facilities are subject to a broad range of federal, state, local and foreign legal and regulatory provisions relating to the environment, including those regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous substances and wastes, and the remediation of contamination associated with releases of hazardous substances at owned or leased facilities and off-site disposal locations.

ABI and its subsidiaries, including Congoleum, have historically expended substantial amounts for compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations, including those matters described in Item 3 (Legal Proceedings) and Note 8 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  ABI and Congoleum will continue to be required to expend amounts in the future, due to the nature of past activities at their facilities, to comply with existing environmental laws, and those amounts may be substantial.  Because environmental requirements have grown increasingly strict, however, ABI is unable to determine the ultimate cost of compliance with environmental laws and enforcement policies.  The Company has established accruals for matters for which management considers a loss to be probable and reasonably estimable.  ABI and Congoleum believe that compliance with existing federal, state, local and foreign provisions will not have a material adverse effect upon their financial positions nor do ABI and Congoleum expect to incur material recurring costs or capital expenditures relating to environmental matters, except as disclosed in Item 3 (Legal Proceedings) and Note 8 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  However, there can be no assurances that the ultimate liability concerning these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

Employees  As of December 31, 2007, ABI and its subsidiaries employed approximately 1,500 people.  Substantially all of the Company’s employees are employed on a full time basis.


 
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Financial Information About Foreign and Domestic Operations and Export Sales

Financial information concerning foreign and domestic operations is in Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The Company’s consolidated export sales from the United States were $28.8 million in 2007 and $28.3 million in 2006.


Available Information

The Company is subject to the reporting and other information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and files annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to those requirements.  The public may read and copy any materials that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the Securities and Exchange Commission's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549.  The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.  Also, the Securities and Exchange Commission maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including the Company, that file electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The public can obtain any documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov.

Congoleum is also subject to the reporting and other information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to those requirements.  Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by or in connection with Congoleum with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Congoleum Reports") are available from the Securities and Exchange Commission in a similar manner as are the reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company is providing this information regarding the availability of Congoleum Reports for informational purposes only.  The Congoleum Reports are expressly not incorporated into or made a part of this report or any other reports, statements or other information filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise made available by the Company.  The Company expressly disclaims any liability for information disclosed or omitted in the Congoleum Reports and, except as required by the federal securities laws, expressly disclaims any obligation to update or correct any information included in the Congoleum Reports.


 
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Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

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

As more fully set forth in Notes 1, 8 and 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company and Congoleum have significant liability and funding exposure for asbestos personal injury claims.  On December 31, 2003, Congoleum filed a voluntary petition with the Bankruptcy Court seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code as a means to resolve claims asserted against it related to the use of asbestos in its products decades ago.  A joint plan of reorganization for Congoleum proposed by the FCR, the ACC, the Bondholders’ Committee and Congoleum is pending in the Bankruptcy Court, which plan is referred to elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as the "Joint Plan."  Under the terms of the Joint Plan, ABI's ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated.  ABI expects that its ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated under any alternate plan or outcome in Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case.

The Joint Plan and any other plan of reorganization for Congoleum will be subject to numerous conditions, approvals and other requirements, including the receipt of necessary creditor, claimant and court approvals.  Certain insurers are contesting the Joint Plan in the bankruptcy court and Congoleum is involved in ongoing litigation against its insurers in a state court coverage action.  If the insurers are successful in contesting the Joint Plan or in denying coverage under the insurance policies, the Joint Plan may not receive necessary court approval or may not become effective.  Further, even if the insurers are not successful in contesting the Joint Plan or in denying coverage under the insurance policies, Congoleum may be required to incur significant time and expense litigating against the insurers, which could further delay any confirmation or effectiveness of the Joint Plan.  In order to obtain confirmation of the Joint Plan, Congoleum will need sufficient funds to pay for the continued litigation with these insurers as well the bankruptcy proceedings generally.

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

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

The Company has its own direct asbestos liability as well.  The Company's strategy remains to vigorously defend against and strategically settle its asbestos claims on a case-by-case basis.  To date, the Company's insurers have funded substantially all of the Company's liabilities and expenses related to its asbestos liability under the Company's applicable insurance policies.  The Company expects its insurance carriers will continue to defend and indemnify it for a substantial amount of its asbestos liabilities for the foreseeable future.  If, however, the Company were not able to receive such coverage from its insurers for the Company's asbestos liabilities and expenses, that would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position.  In addition, certain of the excess liability insurance policies that the Company purchased were underwritten by companies that are now insolvent, which may limit the amount of funds available to pay for any future claims covered by these policies.  It is also possible that asbestos claims may be asserted against the Company alleging exposure allocable solely to years in which the Company’s insurance policies excluded coverage for asbestos.

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

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

For further information regarding the Company's and Congoleum's asbestos liability, insurance coverage and strategies to resolve that asbestos liability, please see Notes 1, 8 and 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


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

Under the Joint Plan, ABI's ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated.  Pursuant to the terms of the Joint Plan, the plan trust established upon effectiveness of the Joint Plan will own 50.1% of reorganized Congoleum's outstanding common stock and Congoleum’s bondholders will own the remaining 49.9% of reorganized Congoleum's outstanding common stock, with the plan trust’s share of reorganized Congoleum’s outstanding common stock being subject to a put/call agreement that ABI expects will result in the plan trust’s divestiture of its 50.1% share of reorganized Congoleum’s outstanding common stock following the effective date of the Joint Plan.  There can be no assurances how this and any other change in ownership and control may affect reorganized Congoleum’s business, operations and financial condition, or its future relationships with ABI.

ABI provides management services to Congoleum, sells and purchases products to and from Congoleum, and receives royalties from Congoleum.  Agreements for these current intercompany arrangements expire on the earlier of the effective date of the Joint Plan or September 30, 2008.  It is not known whether ABI, Congoleum and the other parties in interest would agree to extend the term of these arrangements if the Joint Plan has not become effective by September 30, 2008, and if so, for how long any extension would last or what the terms of any such extension and related intercompany arrangements would be.  The terms of the Joint Plan provide for certain intercompany arrangements continuing for a two year period ending on the second anniversary of the effective date of the Joint Plan pursuant to a new agreement to be entered into by ABI and reorganized Congoleum on the effective date of the Joint Plan.  The Joint Plan provides that the new agreement will be in form and substance mutually agreeable to the FCR, the Bondholders' Committee, the ACC and ABI.  Pursuant to that new agreement, ABI's current chief executive officer would serve as a director and the chief executive officer of reorganized Congoleum and ABI would have to make available to reorganized Congoleum substantially all of his time during normal working hours on annual basis, ABI would have to make available to reorganized Congoleum approximately 25% of the time of ABI's current president and chief operating officer during normal working hours and on an annual basis, and ABI's current chief financial officer would serve as the chief financial officer of reorganized Congoleum and ABI would have to make available to reorganized Congoleum approximately 50% of his time during normal working hours and on an annual basis.  Expiration or termination of such intercompany arrangements, failure to reach definitive agreement on final terms of future arrangements between ABI and reorganized Congoleum, or failure to consummate such arrangements in connection with the effectiveness of a plan of reorganization for Congoleum could have a material adverse impact on the business relationships between ABI and Congoleum, and ABI’s business, operations and financial condition.


 
11
 
 

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

In the past, the Company has had to amend its debt agreements in order to avoid being in default of those agreements as a result of failing to satisfy certain financial covenants contained in those agreements.  Most recently, on March 12, 2008, American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiaries, K&M and AB Canada, entered into an amendment, effective as of December 31, 2007, to the credit agreement with Bank of America, National Association and Bank of America, National Association acting through its Canada branch, each in their respective capacities as lenders and administrative agents under that credit agreement.  That credit agreement, as amended and restated, governs ABI's primary source of borrowings.  The March 12, 2008 amendment removed the financial covenant that required the Company not to have any consecutive quarterly net losses from continuing operations (reporting Congoleum on the equity method of accounting).  In addition, for purposes of determining the Company's compliance with the financial covenant requiring its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to exceed 100% of the Company's Consolidated Fixed Charges (in each case, as determined under the credit agreement), the amendment permits the Company to add certain amounts to its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to the extent those amounts are deducted in determining the Company's Consolidated Net Income (as determined under the credit agreement).  On May 14, 2007, the same parties entered into an amendment, effective as of March 31, 2007, to the Credit Agreement to revise a financial covenant to provide that for each of the two consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company ending December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007, the Company may not have a quarterly net loss from continuing operations in excess of $400 thousand.  On September 25, 2006, the Company entered into an amendment and restatement to the credit agreement it has with Bank of America, National Association and Bank of America, National Association acting through its Canada branch.  In connection with that amendment and restatement, certain financial covenants were amended under the credit agreement to enable the Company to comply with those covenants.  Although the Company does not anticipate that it will need to further amend the credit agreement to avoid being in default at some future date, there can be no assurances in that regard.  If the Company were to violate one of those covenants and not amend the agreement to address or obtain a waiver of the violation, it could breach the agreement, resulting in a default of the agreement.  If such a default were to occur, the lenders could require the Company to repay all amounts outstanding under the credit agreement.  If the Company were unable to repay those amounts due, the lenders could have its rights over the collateral (most of the Company’s and its domestic subsidiaries’ (excluding Congoleum) assets) exercised, which would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

In addition, under the terms of the credit agreement, the Company's ability to obtain additional debt financing is limited.  Moreover, since the Company and most of its domestic subsidiaries have already granted security interests in most of their assets, the Company's ability to obtain any additional debt financing may be limited.


 
12
 
 

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

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

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

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

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


 
13
 
 

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

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum generally design and engineer their own products.  Most of the raw materials required by the Company for its manufacturing operations are available from multiple sources; however, the Company does purchase some of its raw materials from a single source or supplier.  Any significant delay in or disruption of the supply of raw materials could substantially increase the Company's cost of materials, require product reformulation or require qualification of new suppliers, any one or more of which could materially adversely affect the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.  The Company's majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum, does not have readily available alternative sources of supply for specific designs of transfer print paper, which are produced utilizing print cylinders engraved to Congoleum's specifications.  Although Congoleum does not anticipate any loss of this source of supply, replacement could take a considerable period of time and interrupt production of certain products, which could have a material adverse affect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.  The Company and Congoleum have occasionally experienced significant price increases for some of its raw materials.  Although the Company has been able to obtain sufficient supplies of raw materials, there can be no assurances that it may not experience difficulty in the future, particularly if global supply conditions deteriorate, which could have a material adverse effect on profit margins.

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

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


 
14
 
 

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

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

The Company and its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum are subject to the effects of general economic conditions.  A sustained general economic slowdown could have serious negative consequences for the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.  Moreover, their businesses are affected by the economic factors that affect their respective industries.  The slowdown in the housing industry has resulted in reduced demand for the Company’s and Congoleum’s products.  These conditions could be exacerbated by contraction of the sub-prime mortgage industry.

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

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

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

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


 
15
 
 

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

The Company's Tape Division principally sells its products through distributors.  Sales to five unaffiliated customers accounted for approximately 20% of the Company's Tape Division's net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 22% of its net sales for the year ended December 31, 2006.  The loss of the largest unaffiliated customer and/or two or more of the other four unaffiliated customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company's majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum principally sells its products through distributors.  Although Congoleum has more than one distributor in some of its distribution territories and actively manages its credit exposure to its distributors, the loss of a major distributor could have a materially adverse impact on the Company's business, results of operations, or financial condition.  Congoleum derives a significant percentage of its sales from two of its distributors.  These two distributors accounted for approximately 66% and 67% of Congoleum's net sales for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Company's subsidiary K&M sells its products through its own direct sales force and, indirectly, through a wholly owned subsidiary and through third-party sales representatives.  Four of K&M's customers accounted for approximately 58% of its net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 60% of its net sales for the year ended December 31, 2006.  The loss of the largest of these customers would have a material adverse effect on K&M’s business, results of operations and financial condition and would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

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

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


Item 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

 
16
 
 

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

At December 31, 2007, ABI and its subsidiaries owned ten manufacturing plants and a jewelry distribution center (located in Providence, Rhode Island) and leased office and warehousing space as follows:

Location
Square Feet
Owned
Or
Leased
Industry Segment
For Which
Properties Used
       
Trenton, NJ
1,050,000
Owned
Flooring products
       
Marcus Hook, PA
1,000,000
Owned
Flooring products
       
Trenton, NJ
282,000
Owned
Flooring products
       
Finksburg, MD
107,000
Owned
Flooring products
     
 
Mercerville, NJ
56,000
Leased
Flooring products
       
Sherbrooke, Quebec
379,000
Owned
Canadian division
       
Moorestown, NJ
226,000
Owned
Tape products
       
Lowell, MA
57,000
Owned
Tape products
       
Billerica, MA
30,000
Leased
Tape products
       
Renaix, Belgium
84,000
Owned
Tape products
       
Singapore
32,000
Owned
Tape products
       
Providence, RI
103,000
Owned
Jewelry products
       
New York, NY, Qingdao, China, Orlando, FL and Bentonville, AK
27,200
Leased
Jewelry products

ABI knows of no material defect in the titles to any such properties or material encumbrances thereon other than mortgages on the owned properties in Renaix, Belgium, and Singapore securing outstanding debt in amounts equal to approximately 5% and 48% of the original cost of the property, respectively, and under the terms of the Company's principal debt agreement, pursuant to which the Company has granted a security interest in the properties in Moorestown, NJ, Lowell, MA and Providence, RI.  ABI believes that all of its and its subsidiaries' properties are in good condition and have been well maintained.

It is estimated that during 2007, ABI's and its subsidiaries' plants for the manufacture of floor covering products operated at approximately 58% of aggregate capacity, its plants for the manufacture of tape products operated at approximately 71% of aggregate capacity and the Canadian division operated at approximately 59% of aggregate capacity.  All estimates of aggregate capacity have been made on the basis of a five-day, three-shift operation.

 
17
 
 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

ABI has been named by the Environmental Protection Agency as a Potentially Responsible Party (“PRP”) within the meaning of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, as to six sites in five separate states.    In addition, ABI has been named a PRP by the State of Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection with regard to two sites in Maine.  See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information about these matters.

In accordance with SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, ABI has recorded a reserve of approximately $3.8 million, which represents a probable and reasonably estimable amount to cover the anticipated remediation costs at all sites, net of recoveries, based on facts and circumstances known to the Company at the present time.

ABI is a co-defendant with many other manufacturers and distributors of asbestos-containing products in approximately 1,360 pending claims involving approximately 1,946 individuals as of December 31, 2007.  These claims relate to products of the Company’s former Tile Division, which ABI contributed to Congoleum.  The claimants allege personal injury from exposure to asbestos or asbestos-containing products.  The Company utilizes an actuarial study to assist it in developing estimates of the Company’s potential liability for resolving present and possible future asbestos claims.  Projecting future asbestos claims costs requires estimating numerous variables that are extremely difficult to predict, including the incidence of claims, the disease that may be alleged by future claimants, future settlement and trial results, future court dismissal rates for claims, and possible asbestos legislation developments.  Furthermore, any predictions with respect to these variables are subject to even greater uncertainty as the projection period lengthens.  In light of these inherent uncertainties, the Company believes that six years is the most reasonable period over which to include future claims that may be brought against the Company for recognizing a reserve for future costs.  The Company believes that costs for claims that might be brought after that period are not reasonably estimable.

The estimated range of liability for settlement of current claims pending and claims anticipated to be filed through 2013 was $12.6 million to $41.4 million as of December 31, 2007.  The Company believes no amount within this range is more likely than any other and, accordingly, has recorded a liability of $12.6 million in its financial statements, which represents the minimum probable and reasonably estimable amount for the future liability at the present time. The Company also believes that based on this liability estimate, the corresponding amount of insurance probable of recovery is $11.1 million at December 31, 2007, which has been included in other assets.  The estimated amount of insurance that is probable of recovery depends on the liability estimate as well as a number of additional factors, including the financial viability of some of the insurance companies, the method in which losses will be allocated to the various insurance policies and the years covered by those policies, how legal and other loss handling costs will be covered by the insurance policies, and interpretation of the effect on coverage of various policy terms and limits and their interrelationships.  The recorded liability and related insurance asset do not include any related defense costs.  Defense costs are typically paid in addition to the indemnity limits under the primary layer insurance policies, while certain excess layer policies pay them within policy limits and other excess layer policies pay them in addition to policy limits.  Defense costs historically paid by ABI’s carriers have been approximately 156% of the related indemnity costs.

 
18
 
 

The recorded amounts were based on facts currently known by ABI and a number of assumptions.  However, projecting future events, such as the number of new claims to be filed each year, the average cost of disposing of each such claim, the allocation of claims to specific insurance policies, and the continuing solvency of various insurance companies, as well as numerous uncertainties surrounding asbestos legislation in the United States, could cause the actual liability and insurance recoveries for the Company to be higher or lower than those projected or recorded.

There can be no assurance that the Company’s actual asbestos-related settlement and defense costs will not exceed its accrued asbestos liabilities, or that it will receive the insurance recoveries which it has accrued.  It is reasonably possible that the Company will incur charges for resolution of asbestos claims in the future, which could exceed the Company’s existing reserves.  The Company’s strategy remains to vigorously defend against and strategically settle its asbestos claims on a case-by-case basis.  The Company believes it has substantial insurance coverage to mitigate future costs related to this matter.

See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information about these claims.

Congoleum is a defendant in a large number of asbestos-related lawsuits.  On December 31, 2003, Congoleum filed a voluntary petition with the Bankruptcy Court seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code as a means to resolve claims asserted against it related to the use of asbestos in its products decades ago.  During 2003, Congoleum had obtained the requisite votes of asbestos personal injury claimants necessary to seek approval of a proposed, pre-packaged Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.  In January 2004, Congoleum filed its proposed plan of reorganization and disclosure statement with the Bankruptcy Court.  From that filing through 2007, several subsequent plans were negotiated with representatives of the ACC, the FCR and other asbestos claimant representatives.  In addition, an insurance company, CNA, filed a plan of reorganization and the Bondholders’ Committee also filed a plan of reorganization.  In May 2006, the Bankruptcy Court ordered the principal parties in interest in Congoleum’s reorganization proceedings to participate in reorganization plan mediation discussions.  Several mediation sessions took place during 2006, culminating in two competing plans, one which Congoleum filed jointly with the ACC in September 2006 and the other filed by CNA, both of which the Bankruptcy Court subsequently ruled were not confirmable as a matter of law.    In March 2007, Congoleum resumed global plan mediation discussions with the various parties seeking to resolve the issues raised in the Bankruptcy Court’s ruling with respect to the Tenth Plan.  In July 2007, the FCR filed a plan of reorganization and proposed disclosure statement.   After extensive further mediation sessions, on February 5, 2008, the FCR, the ACC, the Bondholders’ Committee and Congoleum jointly filed the Joint Plan.  The Bankruptcy Court approved the disclosure statement for the Joint Plan in February 2008, and a confirmation hearing is scheduled for June 26, 2008.  Under the terms of the Joint Plan, ABI's ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated.  ABI expects its ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated under any alternate plan or outcome in Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case.  See Notes 1 and 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
19
 
 

There can be no assurance that the Joint Plan or any other plan will receive the acceptances necessary for confirmation, that the Joint Plan will not be modified further, that the conditions to the Joint Plan or any other plan will be satisfied or waived, that the Joint Plan or any other plan will timely receive necessary court approvals from the Bankruptcy Court and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (the “District Court”), that the Joint Plan or any other plan will be confirmed, that the Joint Plan or any other plan, if confirmed, will become effective, or that Congoleum will have sufficient funds to pay for continued litigation over any plan of reorganization and the state court insurance coverage litigation.  Any other plan of reorganization that may be proposed for Congoleum may contain terms substantially different from those contained in the Joint Plan.

Congoleum, pursuant to administrative consent orders signed in 1986 and in connection with a prior restructuring, is in the process of implementing cleanup measures at its Trenton sheet facility.  ABI had also signed a similar consent order with regard to its former Trenton tile facility.  Congoleum agreed to be financially responsible for the clean-up of the Trenton tile facility as part of ABI’s contribution to Congoleum of ABI’s former Tile Division.  See Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information about these matters.

Together with a large number (in most cases, hundreds) of other companies, Congoleum is named as a PRP in pending proceedings under CERCLA and similar state laws.  See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information about these matters.

Congoleum also accrues remediation costs for certain of its owned facilities on an undiscounted basis.  Estimated total cleanup costs, including capital outlays and future maintenance costs for soil and groundwater remediation are primarily based on engineering studies.  In the ordinary course of its business, ABI and its consolidated entities become involved in lawsuits, administrative proceedings, product liability and other matters.  In some of these proceedings, plaintiffs may seek to recover large and sometimes unspecified amounts and the matters may remain unresolved for several years.

Notes 1, 8 and 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to the extent addressing matters reportable under this Item 3, are incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Not applicable.

 
20
 
 

PART II

ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS

American Biltrite Inc.'s Common Stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: ABL).  At the close of business on March 14, 2008, the closing price of ABI's Common Stock was $6.50 per share and the approximate number of record holders was 266.  High and low sales prices for ABI’s Common Stock for each quarter over the last two years were:

   
Sale Prices of Common Shares
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
Quarter Ended
 
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
 
                         
March 31
  $ 9.75     $ 7.98     $ 11.60     $ 9.08  
June 30
    9.89       8.07       11.72       9.25  
September 30
    8.82       5.75       11.00       9.41  
December 31
    7.25       4.05       10.99       8.01  

No dividends on the Common Stock were declared during 2007 or 2006.  The Company’s debt agreement restricts the ability of the Company to declare and pay dividends.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – ABI and Non-Debtor Subsidiaries” set forth in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
21
 
 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table sets forth information regarding the Company's equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2007.
 
Plan Category
 
Number of Securities to Be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
 
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in Column (a))
     
(a)
     
(b)
     
(c)
 
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders
   
266,500
    $
10.06
     
266,520
 
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders
   
35,500
 
   
12.19
     
14,500
 
     
 
                 
Total
   
302,000
     
10.31
     
281,020(1)
 

(1)
Includes 266,520 shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Company's 1993 Stock Award and Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of March 4, 1997.  In addition to stock options, awards under the Company's 1993 Stock Award and Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of March 4, 1997, may take the form of stock appreciation rights (SARs), limited SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock awards specified in the Plan.  If such awards are granted, they will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance pursuant to future stock option awards.

On July 1, 1999 the Company established its 1999 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (as amended, the "1999 Plan"), under which non-employee directors may be granted non-qualified options (the "Options") to purchase shares of Common Stock.  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the 1999 Plan is 50,000 shares.  The 1999 Plan was not submitted to stockholders for approval.  Under the 1999 Plan, each new non-employee member of the Board who has not previously been a non-employee member of the Board during the term of the 1999 Plan will be granted on the date he or she is elected to the Board during the term of the 1999 Plan an Option to purchase 1,000 shares of Common Stock.  In addition, under the 1999 Plan, each non-employee member of the board receives each year on July 1 an Option to purchase 500 shares of Common Stock.  The options granted under the 1999 Plan have ten-year terms and fully vest 6 months from the grant date.  The exercise price for each Option is 100% of the fair market value on the date of the grant.  No Options may be granted under the 1999 Plan on or after July 1, 2009.  As of December 31, 2007 an aggregate of 31,500 shares of common stock were issuable upon the exercise of vested and outstanding Options.  An additional 4,000 options vested on January 1, 2008.

Congoleum maintains separate equity compensation plans.

 
22
 
 

 ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 
Not applicable.
 


ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

American Biltrite’s consolidated financial statements include its majority-owned subsidiary, Congoleum.  However, under the terms of the Joint Plan, ABI’s ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated.  ABI expects its ownership interest in Congoleum to be eliminated under any alternate plan or outcome in Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case.  On December 31, 2003, Congoleum filed a voluntary petition with the Bankruptcy Court seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code as a means to resolve claims asserted against it related to the use of asbestos in its products decades ago.  During 2003, Congoleum had obtained the requisite votes of asbestos personal injury claimants necessary to seek approval of a proposed, pre-packaged Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.  In January 2004, Congoleum filed its proposed joint plan of reorganization and disclosure statement with the Bankruptcy Court.  From that filing through 2007, several subsequent plans were negotiated with representatives of the ACC, the FCR and other asbestos claimant representatives.  In addition, an insurance company, CNA, filed a plan of reorganization and the Bondholders’ Committee also filed a plan of reorganization.  In May 2006, the Bankruptcy Court ordered the principal parties in interest in Congoleum’s reorganization proceedings to participate in reorganization plan mediation discussions.  Several mediation sessions took place during 2006, culminating in two competing plans, one which Congoleum filed jointly with the ACC in September 2006 and the other filed by CNA, both of which the Bankruptcy Court subsequently ruled were not confirmable as a matter of law.  In March 2007, Congoleum resumed global plan mediation discussions with the various parties seeking to resolve the issues raised in the Bankruptcy Court’s ruling with respect to the Tenth Plan.  In July 2007, the FCR filed a plan of reorganization and proposed disclosure statement.  After extensive further mediation sessions, on February 5, 2008, the FCR, the ACC, the Bondholders’ Committee and Congoleum jointly filed the Joint Plan.  The Bankruptcy Court approved the disclosure statement for the Joint Plan in February 2008, and a confirmation hearing is scheduled for June 26, 2008.

There can be no assurance that the Joint Plan or any other plan will receive the acceptances necessary for confirmation, that the Joint Plan will not be modified further, that the conditions to the Joint Plan or any other plan will be satisfied or waived, that the Joint Plan or any other plan will timely receive necessary court approvals from the Bankruptcy Court and the District Court, that the Joint Plan or any other plan will be confirmed, that the Joint Plan or any other plan, if confirmed, will become effective, or that Congoleum will have sufficient funds to pay for continued litigation over any plan of reorganization and the state court coverage litigation.  Any other plan of reorganization that may be proposed for Congoleum may contain terms substantially different from those contained in the Joint Plan.


 
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ABI estimates that it will spend an additional $400 thousand for legal fees in 2008, which it has accrued, in connection with Congoleum’s reorganization plan.  Actual costs for pursuing and implementing the Joint Plan or any plan of reorganization could be materially higher, and Congoleum and the Company may record significant additional charges should the minimum estimated cost increase.

In addition, ABI is also a defendant in a number of asbestos-related lawsuits in addition to those brought against Congoleum.  See Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.  These matters could have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial position and results of operations.

During 2003, the Company decided to discontinue the operations of its Janus Flooring Corporation subsidiary, a manufacturer of pre-finished hardwood flooring, and sell the related assets.  Results of Janus Flooring, including charges resulting from the shutdown, are being reported as a discontinued operation.  During 2006, the remaining assets of Janus Flooring were sold, and the discontinued operation was effectively dissolved.  As of December 31, 2006, the Company merged Janus Flooring with and into American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd.

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

Results of Operations

ABI and Non-Debtor Subsidiaries

   
2007
         
2006
       
   
(In thousands of dollars)
 
                         
Net sales
  $ 216,463           $ 216,063        
Cost of sales
    160,034             159,009        
Gross profit
    56,429       26.1 %     57,054       26.4 %
Selling, general & administrative expenses
    57,820       26.7 %     54,873       25.4 %
Operating (loss) income
    (1,391 )             2,181          
                                 
Interest expense, net
    (2,297 )             (2,324 )        
Other income, net
    1,380               426          
(Loss) income before taxes and other items
    (2,308 )             283          
 
                               
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
    (1,033 )             235          
Noncontrolling interests
    (57 )             (47 )        
                                 
(Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (1,332 )           $ 1          


 
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Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 were $216.5 million, an increase of $400 thousand from sales of $216.1 million in 2006.  Tape segment sales decreased $5.1 million or 4.9% due to lower sales volume, partly offset by $1.2 million in selling price increases.  In 2007, a large automotive film customer switched their business to a competitor, and a large HVAC tape customer produced for itself certain tapes previously supplied by the Tape division; these two matters accounted for the majority of the lower sales volume.  Canadian segment sales increased $1.4 million or 2.4% due to the result of foreign currency translation, as well as increased sales of luxury tile and cured rubber products.  Jewelry segment sales improved $3.4 million or 5.6% due to higher sales to mass merchandisers.

Gross profit was 26.1% of net sales in 2007 compared to 26.4% in 2006.  Tape segment gross margins improved by 0.5 percentage points of net sales primarily due to the impact of $1.2 million in costs incurred for a product recall necessitated by defective material from a supplier on 2006 gross margins.  Excluding the impact of the product recall, margins decreased by 0.6 percentage points of net sales as the impact of lower production volumes more than offset the benefit of manufacturing efficiency improvements.  Canadian division gross margins declined by 0.6 percentage points of net sales due to the strengthening of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar during the year.  Although the Canadian division’s US dollar sales and purchases are approximately the same, the Canadian division uses a first-in, first-out method of costing inventory, and as a result, exchange rate fluctuations are reflected in sales more quickly than in cost of sales.  Jewelry segment margins decreased by 1.3 percentage points of net sales due to higher costs for goods and freight, partly offset by lower royalty costs.

The Company includes the cost of purchasing and finished goods inspection in selling, general and administrative expenses.  Some companies also record such costs in operating expenses while others record them in cost of goods sold.  Consequently, the Company’s gross profit margins may not be comparable to other companies.  Had the Company recorded these expenses in cost of sales, the gross profit margins for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 would have been 25.6% and 26.0%, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2007 were $57.8 million, up from $54.9 million in 2006.  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased at Canadian division due to the impact of foreign currency exchange on these expenses and increased at the Tape division due to additional selling expenses.  Canadian division segment selling, general and administrative expenses also benefitted from receipt of a $0.6 million class action settlement in 2006.  Jewelry segment selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $0.7 million from 2006 to 2007 due to cost reduction programs.  During 2007, ABI increased the estimate of its share of the environmental remediation costs for a previously owned property and recorded a $1.4 million charge, which also contributed to the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses over 2006.

Net interest expense of $2.3 million for 2007 was approximately the same compared to 2006.

Other income increased from $0.4 million in 2006 to $1.4 million in 2007 as a result of a charge of $860 thousand in other expense in 2006 for prepayment costs in connection with refinancing a note.


 
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The effective tax rates of 45% and 83% for 2007 and 2006, respectively, are due primarily to the effect of combining various segments with differing statutory rates applied to pretax losses in certain locations and pretax income in other locations.  American Biltrite’s U.S. operations and foreign branches incurred a pretax loss of $1.2 million for 2007 and $0.4 million in 2006.  The tax benefits recorded for the losses were $358 thousand (30%) and $74 thousand (16%) for 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The Company’s Canadian operation had a pretax loss of $1.1 million for 2007 and pretax income of $0.7 million for 2006.  A benefit of $675 thousand (61%) and a provision of $309 thousand (42%) were recorded by the Canadian operations for 2007 and 2006, respectively.  During 2007, the Canadian operations recognized a benefit as a result of a change in valuation allowance against net operating loss carryforwards from Janus.  The combined pretax loss of $2.3 million and net tax benefit of $1.0 million for 2007 resulted in an effective tax rate of 45%.  The combined pretax income and net tax provision of $283 thousand and $235 thousand, respectively, resulted in an effective rate of 83% for 2006.

The Company incurred a loss of $1.3 million from continuing operations for 2007 compared with income of $0.1 million in 2006 as a result of the lower income from operations in 2007 versus 2006, partly offset by the increase in other income and the tax benefit recognized in 2007.

Congoleum

   
2007
         
2006
       
   
(In thousands of dollars)
 
                         
Net sales
  $ 204,262           $ 219,474        
Cost of sales
    153,809             169,023        
Gross profit
    50,453       24.7 %     50,451       23.0 %
 
                               
Selling, general & administrative expenses
    37,469       18.3 %     39,906       18.2 %
Asbestos-related reorganization expenses
    41,315               -          
Operating (loss) income
    (28,331 )             10,545          
 
                               
Bond interest reversal (expense)
    29,603               (10,612 )        
Interest income (expense), net
    197               (260 )        
Other (expense) income, net
    (447 )             162          
Income (loss) before taxes
    1,022               (165 )        
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
    1,713               (844 )        
                                 
Net (loss) income
  $ (691 )           $ 679          

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 totaled $204.3 million as compared to $219.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, a decrease of $15.2 million or 6.9%. The decrease in sales was primarily attributable to declines in new home construction, softness in the remodeling market and lower production of homes in the manufactured housing segment. The impact of these sales decreases were partially mitigated by continued sales growth in the Duraproduct category and the impact of price increases instituted in mid-2007.


 
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Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2007 totaled $50.5 million, or 24.7% of net sales, compared to $50.5 million or 23.0% of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2006. Gross profit for the year was essentially the same year over year, as raw material costs and the unfavorable impact of unabsorbed manufacturing overhead due to lower volumes were offset by price increases and manufacturing cost reduction programs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $37.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 as compared to $39.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, a decrease of $2.4 million. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses reflects cost reduction programs, including headcount reductions, instituted in early 2007.  As a percent of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 18.3% and 18.2% for the years ended December 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Given the terms of the proposed Joint Plan, in the fourth quarter of 2007 Congoleum recorded an additional $41.3 million charge.  Of this charge, $14.9 million related to the write off of certain insurance litigation costs receivable that will not be collected by Congoleum under the terms of the Joint Plan if it is confirmed and effective, and $26.4 million was an additional provision for estimated costs for the reorganization proceedings and coverage litigation.  In the fourth quarter of 2007 Congoleum also recorded a $41.0 million interest expense credit to reverse post-petition interest accrued on its 8 5/8% Senior Notes.

Income from operations, excluding the special charge above, was $13.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to $10.5 million for the same period in the prior year, an increase of $2.4 million. This increase in operating income primarily reflects the reduction in operating expenses.  Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2006 included a $1.3 million gain, included in selling, general and administrative expenses, on the replacement of a damaged production line that was covered by insurance.

Interest income was $1.2 million and $.5 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively, with the increase of $.07 million versus the prior year reflecting interest earned on federal income tax refunds and higher cash balances.   Interest expense, excluding interest on the Senior Notes, for 2007 was $1.0 million as compared to interest expense of $0.8 million for 2006.  Bond interest reversal on the Senior Notes in 2007 was $29.6 million as compared to interest expense on Senior Notes in 2006 of $10.6 million.

Congoleum recorded a provision for income taxes of $1.7 million in 2007, reflecting an increase in non-deductible expenses for tax return purposes.  For 2006, Congoleum recorded a benefit of $0.8 million, reflecting the reversal of previously established reserves in connection with a closing agreement with the Internal Revenue Service for tax return years 2000 to 2003.


 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources – ABI and Non-Debtor Subsidiaries

Cash and cash equivalents, including short term investments, increased by $1.3 million to $3.9 million at December 31, 2007 as compared to December 31, 2006.  Working capital at December 31, 2007 was $31.9 million, compared with $29.6 million at December 31, 2006.  The ratio of current assets to current liabilities at December 31, 2007 was 1.63 compared to 1.62 at December 31, 2006, consistent with the increased amount of working capital at December 31, 2006.

Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $6.7 million compared with $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006.  This increase was due to a $5.9 million reduction in inventory during 2007 compared with an increase in inventory of $3.4 million in 2006, as well as less cash used to settle payables and accrued liabilities in 2007 versus 2006.  These factors were partly offset by lower net income and a greater increase in accounts receivable in 2007 versus 2006.

Capital expenditures for 2007 were $1.7 million compared to $1.8 million for 2006.  During the second quarter of 2006, the Company completed the sale of a building and land owned by the Company’s former subsidiary, Janus Flooring, a discontinued operation, for $5.0 million Canadian dollars.  The Company received net cash proceeds of $800 thousand (Canadian), which was used to reduce borrowings, and a note for $4.0 million (Canadian).  Payment of the note is due within 60 days of receipt of an environmental certification on the land sold, which the Company received on March 20, 2008.

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

American Biltrite Inc.’s primary source of borrowings are the revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) and the term loan (“Term Loan”) it has with Bank of America, National Association (“BofA”) and BofA acting through its Canada branch (the “Canadian Lender”) pursuant to an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”).  The Credit Agreement provides American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiary K&M with (i) a $30.0 million commitment under the Revolver with a $12.0 million borrowing sublimit (the “Canadian Revolver”) for American Biltrite Inc.’s subsidiary AB Canada and (ii) a $10.0 million Term Loan.  The Credit Agreement also provides for domestic and Canadian letter of credit facilities with availability of up to $5.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively, subject to availability under the Revolver and the Canadian Revolver, respectively.


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

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

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

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

Interest is payable quarterly on revolving loans under the Canadian Revolver at rates which vary depending on the applicable interest rate in effect and are generally determined based upon: (a) if a LIBOR based rate is in effect, at a rate between a LIBOR based rate plus 1.0% to a LIBOR based rate plus 2.75%, depending on the Company's leverage ratio, as determined under the Credit

 
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Agreement, and (b) if a LIBOR based rate is not in effect, for outstanding revolving loans denominated in Canadian dollars, the higher of (i) 0.50% plus the applicable 30-day average bankers' acceptance rate as quoted on Reuters CDOR page and (ii) the Canadian Lender's applicable prime rate for loans made in Canadian dollars to Canadian customers, and for outstanding revolving loans denominated in United States dollars, the higher of (i) 0.50% plus the federal funds rate as calculated under the Credit Agreement and (ii) the applicable rate announced by the Canadian Lender as its reference rate for commercial loans denominated in United States dollars made to a person in Canada.  Under the Credit Agreement, AB Canada may generally determine whether interest on Canadian revolving loans will be calculated based on a LIBOR based rate.

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

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

The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants that the Company must satisfy.  The covenants included in the Credit Agreement include certain financial tests, restrictions on the ability of the Company to incur additional indebtedness or to grant liens on its assets and restrictions on the ability of the Company to pay dividends on its capital stock.  The financial tests are required to be calculated based on the Company accounting for its majority-owned subsidiary Congoleum on the equity method and include a maximum ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth, a minimum ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) less certain cash payments for taxes, debt service, and dividends to interest expense, a minimum level of tangible net worth, and a maximum level of capital spending.  Pursuant to the amendment and restatement to the Credit Agreement entered into on September 25, 2006, certain of the financial covenants under the Credit Agreement were amended to, among other things, (i) increase the permitted ratio of the Company's consolidated total liabilities to consolidated tangible net worth to 200%, (ii) to provide for a higher threshold for satisfying the consolidated tangible net worth test and (iii) to provide a higher permitted aggregate amount for capital expenditures in any fiscal year.  The Credit Agreement also requires, for each fiscal quarter ending on and after September 30, 2006, the Company's consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ending to exceed 100% of the Company's consolidated fixed charges for the 12-month period ending on such date, as determined under the Credit Agreement.

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

In the past, the Company has had to amend its debt agreements in order to avoid being in default of those agreements as a result of failing to satisfy certain financial covenants contained in those agreements. At March 31, 2007, the Company was not in compliance with the financial covenant under the Credit Agreement that there be no consecutive quarterly net losses from continuing

 
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operations.  On May 14, 2007, American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiaries, K&M and AB Canada, entered into an amendment, effective as of March 31, 2007, to the Credit Agreement with BofA and BofA acting through its Canada branch, each in their respective capacities as lenders and administrative agents under the Credit Agreement. The amendment revised that financial covenant to provide that for each of the two consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company ending December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007, the Company may not have a quarterly net loss from continuing operations in excess of $400 thousand. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants of its debt agreements at June 30 and September 30, 2007.  At December 31, 2007, the Company was not in compliance with the financial covenant under the Credit Agreement that requires a ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement) to exceed 1.0 and that there be no consecutive quarterly net losses from continuing operations.  On March 12, 2008, American Biltrite Inc. and its subsidiaries, K&M and AB Canada, entered into an amendment, effective as of December 31, 2007, to the Credit Agreement with BofA and BofA acting through its Canada branch, each in their respective capacities as lenders and administrative agents under the Credit Agreement.  The amendment removed the financial covenant that required the Company not to have any consecutive quarterly net losses from continuing operations.  In addition, for purposes of determining the Company's compliance with the financial covenant requiring its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to exceed 100% of the Company's Consolidated Fixed Charges (in each case, as determined under the Credit Agreement), the amendment permits the Company to add certain amounts to its Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to the extent those amounts are deducted in determining the Company's Consolidated Net Income (as determined under the Credit Agreement).  Further, under that amendment, the lenders waived defaults that may have otherwise existed as of December 31, 2007 with respect to the financial covenants that were amended by the amendment.  As of December 31, 2007, American Biltrite was in compliance with the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement as amended by the May 14, 2007 amendment.  ABI paid BofA a fee of $50 thousand in connection with this amendment.

While the Company does not currently anticipate that it will need to further amend its existing debt agreements to avoid being in default at some future date, there can be no assurances in that regard, and any required amendments, if obtained, could result in significant cost to the Company. If a default were to occur and the Company was unable to obtain a waiver from BofA, the Company would be required to repay all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement and the Company would need to obtain funding from another source. Otherwise, the Company would likely be unable to repay those outstanding amounts, in which case, BofA might exercise its rights over the collateral. Any default by the Company of the Credit Agreement that resulted in the Company being required to immediately repay outstanding amounts under the Credit Agreements, and for which suitable replacement financing were not timely obtained, would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

Under the terms of the Joint Plan, ABI’s ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated.  ABI expects that its ownership interest in Congoleum would be eliminated under any alternate plan or outcome in Congoleum’s Chapter 11 case.  While the Company does not believe the loss of the value of its equity interest in Congoleum would have a direct material adverse effect on ABI’s liquidity, the loss of a controlling interest could have a material adverse impact on the business relationships between ABI and Congoleum, which in turn could have a material adverse impact on


 
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ABI’s business, operations and financial condition.  In connection with Congoleum’s plan of reorganization, ABI expects to spend $400 thousand in 2008, which is not expected to have a material adverse effect on ABI’s working capital or cash flow.

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

Liquidity and Capital Resources – Congoleum

The consolidated financial statements of Congoleum, which are reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, have been prepared on a going concern basis.  A going concern basis contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.  Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements of Congoleum do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should Congoleum be unable to continue as a going concern.  As described more fully in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, there is substantial doubt about Congoleum's ability to continue as a going concern unless it obtains relief from its substantial asbestos liabilities through a successful reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

On December 31, 2003, Congoleum filed a voluntary petition with the Bankruptcy Court (Case No. 03-51524) seeking relief under the Bankruptcy Code.  See Notes 1 and 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which are set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for a discussion of Congoleum’s bankruptcy proceedings.  These matters continue to have a material adverse impact on Congoleum’s liquidity and capital resources.  During 2007, Congoleum paid $13.1 million in fees and expenses (net of recoveries) related to reorganization proceedings under Chapter 11 and litigation with certain insurance companies.  Congoleum expects to spend an additional $24.7 million in 2008 on these matters. At December 31, 2007 Congoleum had incurred but not paid approximately $9 million in additional fees and expenses for services rendered through that date.

Given the terms of the Joint Plan, Congoleum has made provision in its financial statements for the minimum estimated cost to effect its plan to settle asbestos liabilities through confirmation of a plan that complies with section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code. Congoleum recorded charges aggregating approximately $51.3 million in prior years.  Given the terms of the proposed Joint Plan, in the fourth quarter of 2007 Congoleum recorded an additional $41.3 million charge.  Of this charge, $14.9 million related to the write-off of certain insurance litigation costs receivable that will not be collected under the terms of the Joint Plan if it is confirmed and effective, and $26.4 million was an additional provision for estimated costs for the reorganization proceedings and coverage litigation.  In the fourth quarter of 2007, Congoleum also recorded a $41.0 million interest expense credit to reverse post-petition interest accrued on its Senior Notes.  Terms of previous reorganization plans had provided, among other things, for the payment of post-petition interest on the Senior Notes and therefore Congoleum had continued to accrue such interest.  Under the terms of the Joint Plan, the holders of the Senior Notes will not receive any post-petition interest.

 
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In February 2006, the Bankruptcy Court ordered Congoleum's former counsel, Gilbert, Heintz & Randolph LLP (currently known as Gilbert Randolph LLP) ("GHR") to disgorge all fees and certain expenses it was paid by Congoleum.  The amount of the disgorgement is approximately $9.6 million.  In October 2006, Congoleum and GHR entered into a settlement agreement under which GHR is to pay Congoleum approximately $9.2 million plus accruing interest in full satisfaction of the disgorgement order.  The payment is secured by assets of GHR and is to be made over time according to a formula based on GHR’s earnings.  The Bankruptcy Court approved that settlement agreement in April 2007.  Payments received by Congoleum pursuant to that settlement agreement in 2007 were not significant.

Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, including short-term investments at December 31, 2007, were $26.3 million, an increase of $7.7 million from December 31, 2006.  Under the terms of its revolving credit agreement, payments on Congoleum’s accounts receivable are deposited in an account assigned by Congoleum to its lender and the funds in that account are used by the lender to pay down any loan balance.  Funds deposited in this account but not yet applied to the loan balance, which amounted to $0.0 million and $3.6 million at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, are recorded as restricted cash.  Additionally, $6.5 million remaining from a $14.5 million settlement received in August 2004 from an insurance carrier, which is subject to a court order, is included as restricted cash at December 31, 2007.  Congoleum expects to contribute these funds, less any amounts withheld pursuant to reimbursement arrangements, to the plan trust to be established following confirmation of the Joint Plan.  Working capital was $9.4 million at December 31, 2007, down from $11.5 million one year earlier.  The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.1 at December 31, 2007 compared to 1.2 at December 31, 2006.  Net cash provided by operations during the year ended December 31, 2007 was $11.3 million, as compared to net used in operations of $8.2 million in 2006.

Capital expenditures in 2007 totaled $4.5 million.  Congoleum is currently planning capital expenditures of approximately $6.5 million in 2008 and between $5.0 million and $7.0 million in 2009, primarily for maintenance and improvement of plants and equipment, which it expects to fund with cash from operations and credit facilities.

In January 2004, the Bankruptcy Court authorized entry of a final order approving Congoleum’s debtor-in-possession financing, which replaced its pre-petition credit facility on substantially similar terms.  The debtor-in-possession financing agreement (as amended and approved by the Bankruptcy Court to date) provides a revolving credit facility expiring on (i) the earlier of June 30, 2007 and (ii) the date the plan of reorganization in Congoleum's bankruptcy cases as confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court becomes effective.  Total borrowing under the facility may not exceed $30 million.  Interest is based on 0.25% above the prime rate.  This financing agreement contains certain covenants, which include the maintenance of minimum earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”).  It also includes restrictions on the incurrence of additional debt and limitations on capital expenditures.  The covenants and conditions under this financing agreement must be met in order for Congoleum to borrow from the facility. Congoleum was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2007. Borrowings under this facility are collateralized by inventory and receivables.  At December 31, 2007, based on the level of receivables and inventory, $14.2 million was available under the facility, of which $2.2 million was utilized for outstanding letters of credit and $10.5 million was utilized by the revolving loan.  Congoleum anticipates that its debtor-in-possession financing facility (including anticipated extensions thereof) together with cash from operations, will

 
33
 
 

provide it with sufficient liquidity to operate during 2008 while under Chapter 11 protection.  There can be no assurances that Congoleum will continue to be in compliance with the required covenants under this facility or that the debtor-in-possession facility (as extended) will be renewed prior to its expiration if a plan of reorganization is not confirmed before that time.  For a plan of reorganization to be confirmed, Congoleum will need to obtain and demonstrate the sufficiency of financing needed to effectuate the plan and emerge from its Chapter 11 case.  Congoleum cannot presently determine the terms of any such financing it might obtain, nor can there be any assurances of its success obtaining it.

In addition to the provision for asbestos litigation discussed previously, Congoleum has also recorded what it believes are adequate provisions for environmental remediation and product-related liabilities (other than asbestos-related claims), including provisions for testing for potential remediation of conditions at its own facilities. Congoleum is subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations and certain legal and administrative claims are pending or have been asserted against Congoleum.  Among these claims, Congoleum is a named party in several actions associated with waste disposal sites (more fully discussed in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K). These actions include possible obligations to remove or mitigate the effects on the environment of wastes deposited at various sites, including Superfund sites and certain of Congoleum’s owned and previously owned facilities.  The contingencies also include claims for personal injury and/or property damage.  The exact amount of such future cost and timing of payments are indeterminable due to such unknown factors as the magnitude of cleanup costs, the timing and extent of the remedial actions that may be required, the determination of Congoleum’s liability in proportion to other potentially responsible parties, and the extent to which costs may be recoverable from insurance.  Congoleum has recorded provisions in its financial statements for the estimated probable loss associated with all known general and environmental contingencies. While Congoleum believes its estimate of the future amount of these liabilities is reasonable, and that they will be paid over a period of five to ten years, the timing and amount of such payments may differ significantly from Congoleum’s assumptions.  Although the effect of future government regulation could have a significant effect on Congoleum’s costs, Congoleum is not aware of any pending legislation which would reasonably have such an effect.  There can be no assurances that the costs of any future government regulations could be passed along by Congoleum to its customers.  Estimated insurance recoveries related to these liabilities are reflected in other non-current assets.

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

Congoleum's principal sources of capital are net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under its financing agreement. Congoleum cannot presently determine the amount of fees, expenses, and trust contributions it may incur in connection with obtaining confirmation of its plan of reorganization.  Congoleum believes that its existing cash (including restricted cash), cash generated from operations, and debtor-in-possession credit arrangements should be sufficient to provide adequate working capital for operations during 2008.  Congoleum’s ability to emerge from Chapter 11 will depend on obtaining sufficient exit financing to settle administrative expenses of the reorganization and any other related obligations, and to provide adequate future liquidity.


 
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Contingencies

ABI has recorded what it believes are adequate provisions for environmental remediation and product-related liabilities, including provisions for testing for potential remediation of conditions at its own facilities.  While ABI believes its estimate of the future amount of these liabilities is reasonable and that they will be paid for the most part over a period of one to ten years, the timing and amount of such payments may differ significantly from ABI's assumptions.  Although the effect of future government regulation could have a significant effect on ABI's costs, ABI is not aware of any pending legislation which could significantly affect the liabilities ABI has established for these matters.  There can be no assurances that the costs of any future government regulations could be passed along by ABI to its customers.

Certain legal and administrative claims are pending or have been asserted against ABI.  Among these claims, ABI is a named party in several actions associated with waste disposal sites and asbestos-related claims.  These actions include possible obligations to remove or mitigate the effects on the environment of wastes deposited at various sites, including Superfund sites.  The exact amount of such future costs to ABI is indeterminable due to such unknown factors as the magnitude of cleanup costs, the timing and extent of the remedial actions that may be required, the determination of ABI's liability in proportion to other potentially responsible parties and the extent to which costs may be recoverable from insurance.  ABI has recorded provisions in its consolidated financial statements for the estimated probable loss associated with all known environmental and asbestos-related contingencies.  The contingencies also include claims for personal injury and/or property damage.  (See Notes 1, 8 and 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.)


Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion and analysis of the Company's financial condition and results of operations are based upon its consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  The preparation of these financial statements requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results and conditions may differ from these estimates and assumptions.

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that entail significant judgments and uncertainties, and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions.  The Company believes that its most critical accounting policies upon which its financial condition depends, and which involve the most complex or subjective decisions or assessments, are those described below.  For a discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 1 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Asbestos Liabilities – As discussed previously, the Company is party to a significant number of lawsuits stemming from their previous manufacture of asbestos-containing products.  ABI has recorded in its consolidated balance sheet a liability and corresponding insurance receivable based on its estimates of the future costs and related insurance recoveries to settle asbestos litigation and

 
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pay for related legal and loss handling costs.  These estimates are based on a number of subjective assumptions, including the anticipated costs to settle claims, the claims dismissal rate, the cost to litigate claims, the number of claims expected to be received, and the applicability and allocation of insurance coverage to these costs.  Additionally, due to the numerous uncertainties related to future asbestos litigation trends and costs, the Company does not believe reasonable estimates can be developed for claim developments beyond a six year horizon.  Accordingly, the Company’s estimated liability is based on claims currently filed as well as claims anticipated to be filed over the next six years.  A change in assumptions could have a material effect on the Company’s estimated liability.  For example, it is estimated that a 1% decrease in the Company’s dismissal rate would result in a 26% increase in liability assuming all other variables remained constant.

Due to the highly subjective nature of these assumptions, the Company has estimated a wide range of potential future costs and insurance recoveries and, because management believes that no amount within the range is more likely than any other, has recorded a liability and insurance receivable based on the low end of the range in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  As such, the selection of a different amount within the range could have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements, as could future developments, which may differ from those assumed in developing the Company's estimates.  The same factors that affect developing forecasts of potential indemnity costs for asbestos-related liabilities also affect estimates of the total amount of insurance that is probable of recovery, as do a number of additional factors.  These additional factors include the financial viability of some of the insurance companies, the method in which losses will be allocated to the various insurance policies and the years covered by those policies, how legal and other loss handling costs will be covered by the insurance policies, and interpretation of the effect on coverage of various policy terms and limits and their interrelationships.  The Company analyzes these estimates on an annual basis and reassesses the assumptions used as additional information becomes available over the course of time.

Congoleum is a party to a significant number of lawsuits stemming from its manufacture of asbestos-containing products.  During 2007, Congoleum paid $13.1 million (net of recoveries) in fees and expenses related to implementation of its planned reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and litigation with certain insurance companies.  Given the terms of the proposed Joint Plan, Congoleum has made provision in its financial statements for the minimum estimated cost to effect its plan to settle asbestos liabilities through confirmation of a plan that complies with section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code.  Congoleum recorded charges aggregating approximately $51.3 million in prior years.  Given the terms of the proposed Joint Plan, in the fourth quarter of 2007 Congoleum recorded an additional $41.3 million charge.  Of this charge, $14.9 million related to the write-off of certain insurance litigation costs receivable that will not be collected by Congoleum under the terms of the Joint Plan if it is confirmed and effective, and $26.4 million was an additional provision for estimated costs for the reorganization proceedings and coverage litigation.  In the fourth quarter of 2007 Congoleum also recorded a $41.0 million interest expense credit to reverse post-petition interest accrued on its Senior Notes.  Terms of previous reorganization plans had provided, among other things, for the payment of post-petition interest on the Senior Notes and therefore Congoleum had continued to accrue such interest.  Under the terms of the Joint Plan, the holders of the Senior Notes will not receive any post-petition interest.


 
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In anticipation of Congoleum's commencement of the Chapter 11 cases, Congoleum entered into the Claimant Agreement, which provides for settlement of certain prepetition asbestos claims against Congoleum and provides for an aggregate settlement value of at least $466 million as well as an additional number of individually negotiated trial listed settlements with an aggregate value of approximately $25 million, for total settlements in excess of $491 million.  Participants in the Claimant Agreement signed releases limiting their recourse against Congoleum to what they would receive from the Plan Trust and Congoleum has therefore estimated its liability under the Claimant Agreement as the cost of effecting the settlement through confirmation of a plan of reorganization.  In addition, as a result of tabulating ballots on a previous plan, Congoleum is also aware of claims by claimants whose claims were not determined under the Claimant Agreement but who have submitted claims with a value of approximately $512 million based on the settlement values applicable in a previous plan.  It is also likely that additional new claims will be asserted in connection with solicitation of acceptances of the Joint Plan.  Congoleum does not believe it can reasonably estimate the liability associated with claims that may be pending.

ABI understands that Congoleum expects that insurance will provide the substantial majority of the recovery available to claimants, due to the amount of insurance coverage it purchased and the comparatively limited resources and value of Congoleum itself.  Congoleum does not have the necessary financial resources to litigate and/or settle asbestos claims in the ordinary course of business.

While Congoleum has provided for the anticipated costs to effect the Joint Plan, costs for pursuing and implementing the Joint Plan and any plan of reorganization could be materially higher than recorded amounts and previous estimates.

Congoleum will update its estimates, if appropriate, as additional information becomes available during the reorganization process, which could result in potentially material adjustments to Congoleum’s earnings in future periods.

Consolidation of Congoleum – The Company's subsidiary Congoleum filed for bankruptcy protection on December 31, 2003.   The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the results for Congoleum for all periods presented.  ABI expects to continue to own a majority of the voting stock of Congoleum until Congoleum’s reorganization proceedings are concluded, at which time ABI expects it shares of Congoleum will be cancelled.  The Company has elected to continue to consolidate the financial statements of Congoleum in its consolidated results because it believes that is the appropriate presentation given its current voting control of Congoleum.  However, the accompanying financial statements also present the details of consolidation to separately show the financial condition, operating results and cash flows of ABI (including its non-debtor subsidiaries) and Congoleum, which may be more meaningful for certain analyses.  ABI’s reported consolidated financial condition, operating results and cash flows results would be materially different if they did not include Congoleum.  The Company anticipates its equity interest in Congoleum will be eliminated in connection with the effectiveness of any future Congoleum plan of reorganization, at which time it will no longer include Congoleum in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.


 
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Environmental Contingencies – As discussed previously, the Company has incurred liabilities related to environmental remediation costs at both third party sites and Company owned sites.  The Company accrues for its estimate of future remediation activities when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated.  The most likely cost to be incurred is accrued based on an evaluation of currently available facts with respect to each individual site, including the extent of clean-up activities to be performed, the methods employed in the clean-up activities, the Company's relative share in costs at sites where other parties are involved, existing technology, current laws and regulations and prior remediation experience.  Where no amount within a range of estimates is more likely to occur than another, the minimum is accrued.  For sites with multiple potentially responsible parties, the Company considers its likely proportionate share of the anticipated remediation costs and the ability of the other parties to fulfill their obligations in establishing a provision for those costs.  When future liabilities are determined to be reimbursable by insurance coverage or payment from third parties, an accrual is recorded for the potential liability and a receivable is recorded related to the expected recovery.  A receivable reserve is recorded when recoveries are disputed or are not highly probable.  These estimates are based on certain assumptions such as the Company's relative share in costs at sites where other parties are involved, and the ultimate insurance coverage available.  These projects tend to be long-term in nature, and assumptions are subject to refinement as facts change.  As such, it is possible that the Company may need to revise its recorded liabilities and receivables for environmental costs in future periods resulting in potentially material adjustments to the Company's earnings in future periods.  The Company closely monitors existing and potential environmental matters to consider the reasonableness of its estimates and assumptions.

Valuation of Deferred Tax Assets – The Company provides for valuation reserves against its deferred tax assets in accordance with the requirements of SFAS 109.  In evaluating the recovery of deferred tax assets, the Company makes certain assumptions as to the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, taxable income in prior carryback years, the feasibility of tax planning strategies, and estimated future taxable income.  The valuation allowance can be affected by changes to tax laws, changes to statutory tax rates and changes to future taxable income estimates.  It is possible that the facts underlying these assumptions may not materialize as anticipated in future periods, which may require the Company to record additional deferred tax valuation allowances, or to reduce previously recorded valuation allowances.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits – The Company sponsors several noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering most of the Company’s employees.  The Company also maintains health and life insurance programs for retirees.  Benefits under the plans are based on years of service and employee compensation.  The costs and obligations associated with these plans are dependent upon various actuarial assumptions used in calculating such amounts.  These assumptions include the long-term rate of return on plan assets, discount rates and other factors.  These assumptions are evaluated and updated annually by management.  Other assumptions used include employee demographic factors such as retirement patterns, mortality, turnover and the rate of compensation increases.


 
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To determine the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, the Company considers the current and expected asset allocation, as well as historical and expected returns on each plan asset class.  In 2007 and 2006, the Company assumed that the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets will be 7.0% - 7.5%.  The assumed long-term rate of return on assets is applied to a calculated value of plan assets, which recognizes changes in the fair value of plan assets in a systematic manner over four years.  This produces the expected return on plan assets that is included in pension expense.  The difference between this expected return and the actual return on plan assets is deferred.  The net deferral of past actuarial gains or losses affects the calculated value of plan assets and, ultimately, future pension expense.

At the end of each year, the Company determines the discount rate to be used to calculate the present value of plan liabilities.  The discount rate is used to determine expected future benefit payments as a present value on the measurement date, reflecting the current rate at which the pension liabilities could be effectively settled.  In estimating this rate, the Company looks to rates of return on high-quality, fixed-income investments that receive one of the two highest ratings given by a recognized ratings agency.  At December 31, 2007, the Company determined this rate to be 6.0%.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on a variety of factors that affect the potential collectibility of the related receivables, including the length of time receivables are past due, customer credit ratings, financial stability of customers, specific one-time events and past customer history.  In addition, in circumstances where the Company is made aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, a specific allowance is established.  The majority of accounts are individually evaluated on a regular basis and appropriate reserves are established as deemed appropriate based on the criteria previously noted.  The remainder of the reserve is based on management’s estimates and takes into consideration historical trends, market conditions and the composition of the Company’s customer base.  The risk associated with this estimate is that the Company would not become aware of potential collectibility issues related to specific accounts and thereby become exposed to potential unreserved losses.  Historically, the Company’s estimates and assumptions around the allowance have been reasonably accurate and the Company has processes and controls in place to closely monitor customers and potential credit issues.

Inventory Allowances – The Company maintains obsolescence and slow-moving allowances for inventory.  Products and materials that are specifically identified as obsolete are fully reserved.  The remainder of the allowance is based on management’s estimates and fluctuates with market conditions, design cycles and other economic factors.  Risks associated with this allowance include unforeseen changes in business cycles that could affect the marketability of certain products and an unforecasted decline in current production.  Management closely monitors the market place and related inventory levels and has historically maintained reasonably accurate allowance levels.  In addition, the Company values certain inventories using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method.  Accordingly, a LIFO valuation reserve is maintained to properly value these inventories.

 
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ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA


American Biltrite Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets with Consolidating Details – Assets
(In thousands of dollars)

   
December 31
   
Eliminations
   
Congoleum
   
American Biltrite
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
Assets
                                               
Current assets:
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 30,185     $ 21,180                 $ 26,327     $ 18,591     $ 3,858     $ 2,589  
Restricted cash
    6,501       9,656                   6,501       9,656                  
Accounts and notes receivable, less allowances for doubtful accounts and discounts of $2,917 in 2007 and $3,070 in 2006
        41,345           40,791     $ (316 )   $ (226 )         14,162           17,598           27,499           23,419  
Inventories
    78,401       80,471       (125 )     (143 )     35,182       34,220       43,344       46,394  
Deferred income taxes
    961       1,818                                       961       1,818  
Prepaid expenses & other current assets
    20,001       28,406                       13,138       25,610       6,863       2,796  
Total current assets
    177,394       182,322       (441 )     (369 )     95,310       105,675       82,525       77,016  
                                                                 
Property, plant & equipment, net
    99,153       106,380                       61,993       67,757       37,160       38,623  
                                                                 
Other assets:
                                                               
Insurance for asbestos-related liabilities
    11,140       9,320                                       11,140       9,320  
Goodwill, net
    11,490       11,475                                       11,490       11,475  
Other assets
    22,622       22,175       (126 )     (135 )     15,402       10,770       7,346       11,540  
      45,252       42,970       (126 )     (135 )     15,402       10,770       29,976       32,335  
                                                                 
Total assets
  $ 321,799     $ 331,672     $ (567 )   $ (504 )   $ 172,705     $ 184,202     $ 149,661     $ 147,974  

See accompanying notes.

 
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American Biltrite Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets with Consolidating Details – Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

   
December 31
   
Eliminations
   
Congoleum
   
American Biltrite
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
Liabilities
                                               
Current liabilities:
                                               
Accounts payable
  $ 22,570     $ 21,769     $ (316 )   $ (226 )   $ 10,715     $ 10,654     $ 12,171     $ 11,341  
Accrued expenses
    37,035       37,411                       20,742       22,301       16,293       15,110  
Asbestos-related liabilities
    31,207       13,950                       31,207       13,950                  
Deferred income taxes
    7,725       -                       7,725       -                  
Notes payable
    30,309       31,284                       10,551       12,715       19,758       18,569  
Current portion of long-term debt
    2,376       2,424                                       2,376       2,424  
Liabilities subject to compromise
    4,997       34,602                       4,997       34,602                  
Total current liabilities
    136,219       141,440       (316 )     (226 )     85,937       94,222       50,598       47,444  
                                                                 
Long-term debt, less current portion
    6,725       8,971                                       6,725       8,971  
Asbestos-related liabilities
    12,600       10,300                                       12,600       10,300  
Other liabilities
    12,195       15,441                                       12,195       15,441  
Noncontrolling interests
    1,093       1,087                                       1,093       1,087  
Liabilities subject to compromise
    133,098       136,398       (126 )     (135 )     133,224       136,533                  
Total liabilities
    301,930       313,637       (442 )     (361 )     219,161       230,755       83,211       83,243  
                                                                 
Stockholders’ equity
                                                               
Common stock, par value $.01, authorized 15,000,000 shares, issued 4,607,902 shares
    46       46       (93 )     (93 )     93       93       46       46  
Additional paid-in capital
    19,607       19,591       (49,368 )     (49,349 )     49,368       49,349       19,607       19,591  
Retained earnings
    30,835       32,821       35,413       35,376       (65,417 )     (64,726 )     60,839       62,171  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (15,487 )     (19,291 )     6,110       6,110       (22,687 )     (23,456 )     1,090       (1,945 )
Less cost of 1,166,351 shares of common stock in treasury
    (15,132 )     (15,132 )     7,813       7,813       (7,813 )     (7,813 )     (15,132 )     (15,132 )
Total stockholders’ equity
    19,869       18,035       (125 )     (143 )     (46,456 )     (46,553 )     66,450       64,731  
                                                                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 321,799     $ 331,672     $ (567 )   $ (504 )   $ 172,705     $ 184,202     $ 149,661     $ 147,974  

See accompanying notes.

 
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American Biltrite Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations with Consolidating Details
(In thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

   
Years Ended December 31
   
Eliminations
   
Congoleum
   
American Biltrite
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                                                 
Net sales
  $ 420,725     $ 435,537                 $ 204,262     $ 219,474     $ 216,463     $ 216,063  
                                                             
Cost of products sold
    312,814       327,585     $ (1,029 )   $ (447 )     153,809       169,023       160,034       159,009  
Selling, general & administrative expenses
    95,289       94,779       -       -       37,469       39,906       57,820       54,873  
Asbestos-related reorganization charges
    41,315       -                       41,315       -                  
(Loss) income from operations
    (28,693 )     13,173       1,029       447       (28,331 )     10,545       (1,391 )     2,181  
Other income (expense)
                                                               
Interest income
    1,338       869                       1,224       515       114       354  
Bond interest reversal (expense)
    29,603       (10,612 )                     29,603       (10,612 )                
Other interest expense
    (3,438 )     (3,453 )                     (1,027 )     (775 )     (2,411 )     (2,678 )
Other (expense) income, net
    (78 )     165       (1,011 )     (423 )     (447 )     162       1,380       426  
      27,425       (13,031 )     (1,011 )     (423 )     29,353       (10,710 )     (917 )     (1,898 )
(Loss) income before taxes and other items
    (1,268 )     142       18       24       1,022       (165 )     (2,308 )     283  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
    680       (609 )                     1,713       (844 )     (1,033 )     235  
Noncontrolling interests
    (57 )     (47 )                                     (57 )     (47 )
                                                                 
Net (loss) income from continuing operations
    (2,005 )     704       18       24       (691 )     679       (1,332 )     1  
Discontinued operation
    -       (19 )                                     -       (19 )
                                                                 
Net (loss) income
  $ (2,005 )   $ 685     $ 18     $ 24     $ (691 )   $ 679     $ (1,332 )   $ (18 )
                                                                 

   
Basic
   
Diluted
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
Net (loss) income per common share from continuing operations
  $ (0.58 )   $ 0.20     $ (0.58 )   $ 0.20  
Discontinued operation
    -       -       -       -  
                                 
Net (loss) income per common share
  $ (0.58 )   $ 0.20     $ (0.58 )   $ 0.20  
Weighted average number of common and equivalent shares outstanding
    3,442       3,442       3,442       3,457  

See accompanying notes.

 
42
 
 

American Biltrite Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows with Consolidating Details – Operating Activities
(In thousands of dollars)

   
Years Ended December 31
   
Eliminations
   
Congoleum
   
American Biltrite
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                                                 
Operating activities
                                               
Net (loss) income
  $ (2,005 )   $ 685     $ 18     $ 24     $ (691 )   $ 679     $ (1,332 )   $ (18 )
Net loss from discontinued operation
    -       19                                       -       19  
Net (loss) income from continuing operations
    (2,005 )     704       18       24       (691 )     679       (1,332 )     1  
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
                                                               
Depreciation and amortization
    16,185       16,245                       10,690       10,478       5,495       5,767  
 Provision for doubtful accounts and discounts
    2,826       3,627                                       2,826       3,627  
Deferred income taxes
    (1,901 )     (2,856 )                                     (1,901 )     (2,856 )
Asbestos-related charge
    41,315       -                       41,315       -                  
Bond interest (reversal) expense
    (29,603 )     10,612                       (29,603 )     10,612                  
Gain on replacement of property
    -       (1,266 )                     -       (1,266 )                
Charge for early extinguishment of debt
    -       860                                       -       860  
Stock compensation charge
    35       244                       19       223       16       21  
 Change in operating assets and liabilities:
                                                               
Accounts and notes receivable
    (2,068 )     (2,617 )     216       (376 )     3,436       (506 )     (5,720 )     (1,735 )
Inventories
    4,876       (3,038 )     (18 )     (24 )     (962 )     387       5,856       (3,401 )
Prepaid expenses & other current assets
    2,113       843                       1,965       (347 )     148       1,190  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (1,359 )     (8,885 )     (216 )     376       (1,097 )     (4,950 )     (46 )     (4,311 )
Asbestos-related liabilities
    (13,048 )     (22,373 )                     (13,048 )     (22,373 )                
Asbestos-related reimbursement from insurance settlement
    1,498       3,684                       1,498       3,684                  
Noncontrolling interests
    6       (278 )                                     6       (278 )
Other
    (901 )     (1,156 )                     (2,236 )     (4,784 )     1,335       3,628  
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations
    17,969       (5,650 )     -       -       11,286       (8,163 )     6,683       2,513  
Net cash used by operating activities of discontinued operation
    -       (180 )                                     -       (180 )