11-K 1 d11k.htm FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004
Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 11-K

 


 

(Mark One)

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission file number 1-1070

 

A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

 

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

 

Olin Corporation

190 Carondelet Plaza, Suite 1530

Clayton, MO 63105

 



Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

 

Financial Statements and Schedules

 

December 31, 2004 and 2003


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Table of Contents

 

     Page

Financial Statements:

    

Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits at December 31, 2004 and 2003

   3

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits for the Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

   4

Notes to Financial Statements

   5

Supplementary Information Required by Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations:*

    

Schedule H, Line 4i—Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year), December 31, 2004

   12

* Schedules of party-in-interest transactions, obligations in default, and leases in default (as required by Section 103 (c)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) are not applicable.

 


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Pension and CEOP Administrative Committee of

Olin Corporation

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits of the Olin Corporation Contributing Employee Ownership Plan as of December 31, 2004 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Olin Corporation Contributing Employee Ownership Plan as of December 31, 2004, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Our audit was performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule of assets held for investment purposes as of December 31, 2004 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

 

/s/ Amper, Politziner & Mattia, P.C.

Amper, Politziner & Mattia, P.C.

 

New York, New York

June 23, 2005

 

1


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Pension and CEOP Administrative Committee of

Olin Corporation:

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for plan benefits of the Olin Corporation Contributing Employee Ownership Plan as of December 31, 2003, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for plan benefits of the Olin Corporation Contributing Employee Ownership Plan as of December 31, 2003, and the changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

LOGO

 

Stamford, Connecticut

June 21, 2004

 

2


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits

 

December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

     2004

   2003

Assets:

             

Investments, at fair value:

             

Common stock

   $ 169,592,207    $ 173,941,305

Mutual funds

     264,894,633      245,451,372

Self-directed brokerage

     6,319,904      5,101,122

Participant loans

     11,111,326      10,459,400
    

  

       451,918,070      434,953,199

Employer contribution receivable

     287,093      519,875

Employee contribution receivable

     412,429      68,545

Due from broker for securities sold

     —        193,451
    

  

Net assets available for plan benefits

   $ 452,617,592    $ 435,735,070
    

  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits

 

Years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

     2004

    2003

 

Investment income:

                

Dividends and interest

   $ 6,975,135     $ 10,781,406  

Interest on loans receivable

     477,417       522,055  

Net appreciation in fair value of investments

     35,076,238       73,757,074  
    


 


Net investment income

     42,528,790       85,060,535  

Contributions:

                

Employee

     13,052,344       12,678,224  

Employer

     3,089,376       3,305,240  
    


 


Total contributions

     16,141,720       15,983,464  

Administrative expenses

     (376,797 )     (314,335 )

Distributions to participants

     (41,411,191 )     (32,460,914 )
    


 


Net increase

     16,882,522       68,268,750  

Net assets available for plan benefits at beginning of year

     435,735,070       367,466,320  
    


 


Net assets available for plan benefits at end of year

   $ 452,617,592     $ 435,735,070  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

  (a) Basis of Presentation

 

The Olin Corporation (Olin or Employer) Contributing Employee Ownership Plan (the Plan or CEOP) operates as an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), and is designed to comply with Section 4975(e)(7) and the regulations thereunder of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC). The Plan is subject to the applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA).

 

  (b) Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

  (c) Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

 

The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value. When available, quoted market prices are used to value investments. Where independent prices are not available, investments are valued by the issuing investment advisor or broker.

 

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

  (d) Distributions to Participants

 

Distributions to participants are recorded when paid.

 

  (e) Administrative Expenses

 

All expenses of maintaining the Plan are paid by the Plan. Certain administrative functions of the Plan are performed by officers or employees of Olin. No such officer or employee receives compensation from the Plan.

 

  (f) Trust Fund Management

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank (the Trustee) is the trustee of the Plan. Under the terms of the Trust Agreement between the Trustee and Olin, the Trustee is responsible for the safekeeping of Plan assets in the trust fund and the maintenance of records relating to receipts and disbursements from the trust fund. The Trustee invests funds in accordance with the terms of the Plan and makes payments from the trust fund as directed by participants and Olin.

 

Under JPMorgan Chase Bank, trustee fees, investment management fees, commissions, and related Plan administrative expenses are incorporated into the fees associated with the investment funds made available under the Plan. In addition, fees associated with the self-directed brokerage feature are charged directly to the affected Participant’s account. The account of each Participant applying for a Plan loan is charged an application fee ($50 per loan). No commissions are charged on purchases of Company common stock directly from Olin or from investment accounts within the Plan.

 

5


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

  (g) Recordkeeper

 

JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services is the Recordkeeper for the Plan.

 

(2) Description of Plan

 

The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

 

  (a) General

 

The Plan is a defined contribution plan consisting of the following separate investment funds:

 

American Century Premium Money Market

   Managers Special Equity Fund

PIMCO Total Return Fund

   Dreyfus Small Cap Index Fund

Gabelli Westwood Equity Fund

   American Century International Growth Fund

Barclays Global Investors Equity Index Fund

   Olin Common Stock Fund

Growth Fund of America

   Arch Common Stock Fund

Dreyfus Mid Cap Index Fund

   Self Directed Brokerage Investment

TCW Galileo Value Opportunities Fund

    

 

  (b) Eligibility and Contributions

 

An eligible employee is any person who is employed as a non-bargaining employee or a collectively bargained employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement which provides for participation in the Plan and is actively enrolled on the Employer’s payroll and is either performing services in the United States or a citizen of the United States performing services outside the United States at the request of the Employer.

 

For 2004 and 2003, the total maximum allowable employee contribution was 100% of eligible pay for non-highly compensated employees and subject to the IRS rules concerning discrimination, 18% of eligible pay for highly compensated employees.

 

The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) maximum amount of tax deferred contributions that may be made to the CEOP was $13,000 for 2004 and $12,000 for 2003. The amount of tax deferred contributions is based on eligible pay and the percentage of pay the participant has elected to contribute to the Plan.

 

Starting in 2002, participants who are age 50 and older at any time during the year are eligible to make catch-up contributions in accordance with the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (EGTRRA). Catch-up contributions are additional, tax deferred contributions that eligible participants are permitted to make in excess of the IRS tax deferred contribution limit. Catch-up contributions in excess of 6% of eligible pay are not matched with Company contributions.

 

The Employer matching contribution percentage is determined by the board of directors of the Employer and, under the Plan provisions, may amount to 100% of the participants’ contributions, up to 6% of eligible pay. Decreases in the Employer matching contribution percentage may be approved by the Company.

 

6


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

For 2004 and 2003, the Employer contribution rate was 100% on the first $25 of monthly contribution and 50% on the balance up to 6% of eligible pay for non-salaried employees. Prior to October 17, 2003, employer matching contributions had been invested in the Olin Common Stock Fund. Thereafter, the employer matching contributions are invested in the same manner as the employees’ contributions.

 

Effective January 1, 2003, the Company suspended matching contributions with respect to salaried employees and such contributions remained suspended through December 31, 2004. Effective January 1, 2005, the Plan was amended with respect to salaried employees to provide for a matching contribution based on the Company’s reported Earnings Per Share. Following is the formula for such matching contribution:

 

Reported Earnings Per Share


   Company Match on 1st 6% of Pay

Less than $0.00

   00.00%

$0.00 - $0.49

   25.00%

$0.50 - $0.99

   50.00%

$1.00 or more

   75.00%

 

  (c) Participant Accounts

 

Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and allocations of (a) the Company’s contribution and (b) Plan earnings, and charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the value of the participant’s vested account.

 

  (d) Olin Common Stock Fund

 

Employees may transfer any or all of the value of the investments purchased with their own contributions, including Olin common stock, to any one or combination of investments available in the Plan. Such transfers may be made, without limitation, at any time and as often as employees choose. Prior to October 17, 2003, the Olin common stock purchased with Employer contributions was not transferable until employees terminated employment with the Company. However, employees who were age 50 or older were and still are permitted to withdraw any or all of the value of the Olin common stock purchased with Employer contributions without the usual suspension of contribution penalty. Provided the amount of the withdrawal is rolled over to an Individual Retirement Account, tax payments would be deferred until the employee takes a distribution from the Individual Retirement Account. Effective October 17, 2003, all of the Olin common stock in an employee’s CEOP account, including shares purchased with Company contributions, became transferable.

 

7


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

  (e) Arch Common Stock Fund

 

As of February 8, 1999, the specialty chemical businesses of Olin were spun off into a new publicly traded company known as Arch Chemicals, Inc. In order to affect the spin-off, a stock dividend was issued to Olin shareholders, including the Plan, in an amount equal to one share of Arch common stock for each two shares of Olin common stock then outstanding. These shares were deposited in the Arch Common Stock Fund in the Plan.

 

As of the effective date of the spin-off, each Plan participant having an account balance containing Olin common stock was credited with an opening account balance in the Arch Common Stock Fund. The amount credited to each participant’s initial Arch Common Stock Fund account balance was calculated by (i) dividing the value of such participant’s Olin Common Stock Fund account by the total value of all participants’ accounts in the Olin Common Stock Fund, and then (ii) multiplying the percentage determined under (i) above, by the value of the Arch common stock the Plan trustee received as a stock dividend.

 

Prior to October 17, 2003, dividends paid on Arch common stock were invested in the Olin Common Stock Fund. Effective October 17, 2003, dividends on Arch common stock were allocated in accordance with investment allocation that was in effect for the employees’ contributions.

 

  (f) Vesting and Payment of Benefit Provisions

 

All participants become 100% vested in the Employer’s contributions upon the completion of five years of service or as a result of death, disability, or retirement. The Company contribution account of each participant shall be vested in accordance with the following schedule:

 

Years of service


   Percentage
vested


2

   25%

3

   50%

4

   75%

5 or more

   100%

 

On termination of service for any reason, a participant may elect to receive his or her entire vested balance in either a lump-sum amount or in annual installments up to fifteen years, or if the participant’s life expectancy exceeds fifteen years, the life expectancy of the participant.

 

All distributions shall be paid in cash, however, at the election of the distributee, distributions from the Olin and Arch Common Stock Funds may be paid in common stock with any fractional interest in a share of common stock paid in cash.

 

  (g) Transfers Among Funds

 

Participants can transfer balances among funds offered by the Plan. Prior to October 17, 2003, the transfer provision with respect to the Olin Common Stock Fund allowed active participants to transfer their investments in these funds. However, Company matching contributions invested in the Olin Common Stock Fund were not transferable to other investments while such participant was actively employed by the Company. Effective October 17, 2003, all of the Olin common stock in an employee’s CEOP account, including shares purchased with Company contributions, became transferable.

 

8


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

  (h) Loan Provision

 

All employees who are participants in the Plan are eligible to borrow from the Plan. No loan when added to the outstanding balance of all other loans from the Plan to the Eligible Borrower shall exceed the lesser of:

 

  (1) Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), reduced by the excess (if any) of the highest outstanding balance of loans from the Plan to the Eligible Borrower during the one-year period ending on the day before the date the loan is made, over the outstanding balance of loans from the Plan to the Eligible Borrower on the date the loan is made, or

 

  (2) One-half (1/2) of the Eligible Borrower’s vested Account Balance as of the valuation date coincident with or immediately preceding the date of the loan.

 

Under the Plan, employees may have up to five outstanding loans at any time. The loans are funded from the participants’ accounts, reducing the account balance by the loan amount, and are reflected as participant loans in the Plan’s financial statements. The interest rate on these loans is the prime rate at the date of loan origination. Interest rates on loans ranged from 4.00% to 4.25% and 4.00% to 4.50% in 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

  (i) Plan Termination

 

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Employer has the right under the Plan to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts.

 

(3) Forfeitures of Employer Contributions

 

Forfeitures of Employer’s contributions, equivalent to the fair value of forfeited shares plus dividends not reinvested, were used to reduce current Employer’s cash contributions by $73,242 and $68,822 for the Plan years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Unutilized forfeitures at December 31, 2004 and 2003 amounted to $2,306 and $6,092, respectively.

 

9


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

(4) Investments

 

The Plan’s investments which exceeded 5% of net assets available for plan benefits as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 are as follows:

 

     December 31

Description of investment


   2004

   2003

American Century Premium Money Market

   $ 57,127,168    $ 58,240,903

Barclays Global Investors Equity Index Fund

     64,614,349      61,525,075

PIMCO Total Return Fund

     55,453,705      55,722,339

Olin Corporation Common Stock

     135,386,215      137,995,045

Arch Chemicals Common Stock

     34,205,992      35,946,260

Managers Special Equity Fund

     25,307,239       

 

During 2004 and 2003, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in value as follows:

 

     2004

   2003

Mutual funds

   $ 18,224,310    $ 28,970,021

Common stock

     16,481,054      43,884,047

Self-directed brokerage

     370,874      903,006
    

  

     $ 35,076,238    $ 73,757,074
    

  

 

(5) Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market, and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.

 

(6) Tax Status

 

Olin received a determination letter dated April 3, 2003 from the Internal Revenue Service stating that the Plan is a qualified plan and the trust thereunder is exempt from Federal income taxes under the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements. The Plan was amended and restated to comply with the EGTRRA requirements as required under Notice 2001-57 on December 20, 2002. Counsel for Olin advised that an employee will not be subject to Federal income taxes on the contributions of the Employer, or on dividends, interest or profit from sales of securities received by the Trustee and credited to an employee’s account, until such account or accounts are withdrawn or made available to the employee. The tax treatment to the participant generally will depend upon the form of withdrawal.

 

10


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

(7) Party-In-Interest Transactions

 

Certain Plan investments are shares of Olin common stock and shares of mutual funds managed by American Century. American Century is a related party to the Trustee as defined by the Plan. Therefore, these transactions qualify as parties-in-interest. Investment-related fees are reflected in the statements of changes in net assets available for plan benefits.

 

11


Table of Contents

OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

 

December 31, 2004

 

Identity of issuer,
borrower, lessor,
or similar party


  

Description of investment including
maturity date, number of shares or units,
rate of interest, par, or maturity value


   Current
value


Common Stock:

           

*  Olin Corporation

  

Olin Corporation Common Stock,
6,148,329 shares, par value $1.00

   $ 135,386,215

    Arch Chemicals, Inc.

  

Arch Chemicals, Inc. Common Stock,
1,188,533 shares, par value $1.00

     34,205,992

Mutual Funds:

           

*  American Century

  

Premium Money Market,
57,130,010 shares

     57,127,168

*  Chase Manhattan Bank

  

Money Market
2,842 shares

     2,842

    PIMCO

  

Total Return Fund,
5,194,726 shares

     55,453,705

*  American Century

  

International Growth Fund,
526,474 shares

     16,641,834

    Managers

  

Special Equity Fund,
279,916 shares

     25,307,239

    TCW

  

Value Fund
665,988 shares

     14,685,040

    American Funds

  

Growth Fund
428,919 shares

     11,679,477

    Dreyfus

  

Mid Cap Fund
105,212 shares

     2,755,496

    Dreyfus

  

Small Cap Fund
151,595 shares

     3,078,885

    Gabelli

  

Westwood Equity Fund,
1,367,164 shares

     13,548,598

    Barclays

  

Global Investors Equity Index Fund,
1,795,841 shares

     64,614,349

* Participant loans

  

1,426 loans with interest rates ranging from 4.00% to 9.5% maturity ranging from January 1, 2005—December 29, 2009

     11,111,326

* American Century

  

Self-Directed Brokerage Investment

     6,319,904
         

          $ 451,918,070
* Party-in-interest to the Plan.

 

See accompanying report of independent registered public accounting firm.

 

12


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date:  June 29, 2005

          OLIN CORPORATION CONTRIBUTING
EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PLAN
            By:   Members of the Pension and
CEOP Administrative Committee
           

/s/ D. R. McGough


           

D. R. McGough

           

/s/ S. E. Doughty


           

S. E. Doughty

           

/s/ D. C. Lockwood


           

D. C. Lockwood

           

/s/ M. T. DeRosa


           

M. T. DeRosa

 

 


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description


23.1   Consent of Amper, Politziner & Mattia, P.C.
23.2   Consent of KPMG LLP