EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO - Annual Report: 2016 (Form 10-K)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One) | |
[X] | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 | |
OR | |
[ ] | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ______________ to ______________ |
Commission file number 1-12626
EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 62-1539359 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization) | identification no.) |
200 South Wilcox Drive | |
Kingsport, Tennessee | 37662 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (423) 229-2000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | New York Stock Exchange | |
1.50% Notes Due 2023 | New York Stock Exchange | |
1.875% Notes Due 2026 | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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Yes | No | |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. | [X] | |
Yes | No | |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. | [X] | |
Yes | No | |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. | [X] | |
Yes | No | |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). | [X] | |
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the 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. | [X] | |
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 definition of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer [X] Accelerated filer [ ] Non-accelerated filer [ ] Smaller reporting company [ ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | ||
Yes | No | |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). | [X] |
The aggregate market value (based upon the $67.90 closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2016) of the 145,850,452 shares of common equity held by non-affiliates as of December 31, 2016 was $9,903,245,691 using beneficial ownership rules adopted pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to exclude common stock that may be deemed beneficially owned as of December 31, 2016 by Eastman Chemical Company's ("Eastman" or the "Company") directors and executive officers and charitable foundation, some of whom might not be held to be affiliates upon judicial determination. A total of 146,488,924 shares of common stock of the registrant were outstanding at December 31, 2016.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are incorporated by reference in Part III, Items 10 to 14 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this "Annual Report") as indicated herein.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements made or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are all statements, other than statements of historical fact, that may be made by Eastman Chemical Company ("Eastman" or the "Company") from time to time. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "will," "would," and similar expressions or expressions of the negative of these terms. Forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, such matters as planned and expected capacity increases and utilization; anticipated capital spending; expected depreciation and amortization; environmental matters; exposure to, and effects of hedging of, raw material and energy costs; foreign currencies and interest rates; disruption of raw material or energy supply; global and regional economic, political, and business conditions; competition; growth opportunities; supply and demand, volume, price, cost, margin and sales; pending and future legal proceedings; earnings, cash flow, dividends and other expected financial results, events, and conditions; expectations, strategies, and plans for individual assets and products, businesses, and operating segments, as well as for the whole of Eastman; cash requirements and uses of available cash; financing plans and activities; pension expenses and funding; credit ratings; anticipated and other future restructuring, acquisition, divestiture, and consolidation activities; cost reduction and control efforts and targets; the timing and costs of, and benefits from, the integration of, and expected business and financial performance of, acquired businesses; strategic initiatives and development, production, commercialization and acceptance of new products, services and technologies and related costs; asset, business, and product portfolio changes; and expected tax rates and net interest costs.
Forward-looking statements are based upon certain underlying assumptions as of the date such statements were made. Such assumptions are based upon internal estimates and other analyses of current market conditions and trends, management expectations, plans, and strategies, economic conditions, and other factors. Forward-looking statements and the assumptions underlying them are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties inherent in projecting future conditions and results. Actual results could differ materially from expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements if one or more of the underlying assumptions and expectations proves to be inaccurate or is unrealized. The most significant known factors, risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are identified and discussed under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Risk Factors" in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report. Other factors, risks or uncertainties of which we are not aware, or presently deem immaterial, could also cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.
The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made. Except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or alter these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM | PAGE |
PART I
PART II
5. | ||
6. | ||
7. | ||
7A. | ||
8. | ||
9. | ||
9A. | ||
9B. |
PART III
10. | ||
11. | ||
12. | ||
13. | ||
14. |
PART IV
SIGNATURES
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS |
5
CORPORATE OVERVIEW |
Eastman Chemical Company ("Eastman" or the "Company") is a global advanced materials and specialty additives company that produces a broad range of advanced materials, specialty additives, chemicals, and fibers found in items people use every day. Eastman began business in 1920 for the purpose of producing chemicals for Eastman Kodak Company's photographic business and became a public company, incorporated in Delaware, on December 31, 1993. Eastman has 49 manufacturing sites and equity interests in six manufacturing joint ventures in 14 countries that supply products to customers throughout the world. The Company's headquarters and largest manufacturing site are located in Kingsport, Tennessee. Eastman's businesses are managed and reported in four operating segments: Additives & Functional Products ("AFP"), Advanced Materials ("AM"), Chemical Intermediates ("CI"), and Fibers. See "Business Segments".
Eastman is focused on consistent earnings growth through a market-driven approach that takes advantage of the Company's existing technology platforms, global market and manufacturing presence, and leading positions in key end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. Eastman management believes that the Company's end-market diversity is a source of strength, and that many of the markets into which the Company's products are sold are benefiting from longer-term global trends such as energy efficiency, a rising middle class in emerging economies, and an increased focus on health and wellness. Management believes that these trends, combined with the diversity of the Company's end markets, facilitate more consistent demand for the Company's products over time.
On July 2, 2012, the Company acquired Solutia Inc., a global leader in performance materials and specialty chemicals. The Company completed four acquisitions in 2014. On June 2, 2014, the Company acquired BP plc's global aviation turbine engine oil business. On August 6, 2014, the Company acquired Knowlton Technologies, LLC, a leader in the design, accelerated prototyping, and manufacture of wet-laid nonwovens in filtration, friction, and custom designed composite webs. On December 5, 2014, Eastman acquired Taminco Corporation, a global specialty chemical company. On December 11, 2014, Eastman acquired Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc. ("Commonwealth"), a specialty films business. Results of the acquired businesses are included in Eastman results as of the date of acquisitions.
In 2016, the Company reported sales revenue of $9.0 billion, operating earnings of $1.4 billion, and net earnings attributable to Eastman of $854 million. Earnings per diluted share attributable to Eastman were $5.75. Cash provided by operating activities were $1.4 billion. For Company sales revenue by end-market, see Exhibit 99.01 "2016 Company and Segment Sales Revenue by End-Use Market" of this Annual Report.
Business Strategy
Eastman's objective is to be an outperforming specialty chemical company with consistent earnings growth and strong cash flow. The Company sells differentiated products into diverse markets and geographic regions. Eastman works with customers to meet their needs in existing and new markets through the development of innovative products and technologies. Management believes that the Company can deliver consistent financial results by leveraging the Company's world class technology platforms, improving product mix through innovation and increasing emphasis on specialty businesses and products, sustaining and expanding advantaged market positions, and leveraging advantaged cost positions. A consistent increase in earnings is expected to result from both organic (internal) growth initiatives and strategic inorganic (external growth through acquisitions complementary or additive to existing products and joint ventures) initiatives.
Innovation and market development initiatives are expected to add one to two percent on a compounded basis to revenue from 2016 through 2018. In 2016, the Company:
• | In the AFP segment: |
• | Completed retrofit of part of an existing manufacturing facility in Nienburg, Germany and continued construction of an expansion of the Crystex® insoluble sulfur rubber additives manufacturing facility in Kuantan, Malaysia, expected to be operational in second half 2017. These actions are expected to allow the Company to capitalize on recent enhancements of technology for the manufacture of Crystex® insoluble sulfur by improving the Company's cost position and allowing for the introduction of new products for the tire markets. |
• | Commercialized Eastman Tetrashield™ performance polyester resins based on proprietary monomer technology. These polyester resins provide a combination of improved performance and sustainability, particularly for the automotive coatings, industrial, and food packaging markets. |
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• | In the AM segment: |
• | Continued an additional 60,000 metric ton expansion of Eastman Tritan® copolyester capacity at the Kingsport, Tennessee manufacturing facility expected to be operational in first half 2018 to meet expected future demand in the durable goods and health and wellness markets. |
• | Continued construction of a manufacturing facility for polyvinyl butyral ("PVB") resin at the Kuantan, Malaysia site expected to be operational in second half 2017. This manufacturing capacity will support global growth in the transportation and building and construction markets and allow the Company to better serve customers in the Asia Pacific region. |
• | Completed integration of the acquired Commonwealth business to strengthen the window film product portfolio, add industry leading protective film technology, and increase scale cost efficiencies. |
In 2016, the Company announced that as part of its strategy to increase emphasis on specialty businesses and products:
• | it is pursuing strategic options to divest or otherwise monetize its excess ethylene capacity position and certain commodity olefin intermediates product lines, while retaining its cost-advantaged integrated position to propylene which supports specialty derivatives throughout the Company, and |
• | it changed its organizational and management structure following completion of the integration of recently acquired businesses to better align similar strategies and business models. |
Management continues to pursue additional opportunities to leverage the Company's innovation and world class technology platforms for continued near-term and long-term growth both sustaining our leadership in existing markets and expanding into new markets. Examples of these technologies include Eastman Tetrashield™ performance polyester resins, cellulose esters for tires, next generation Crystex® insoluble sulfur technology, and Eastman microfibers technology.
The Company benefits from proprietary technologies and advantaged feedstocks, and focuses on sustainability as a source of competitive strength for growth. Eastman has developed new products and technologies that enable customers' development and sales of sustainable products. Examples of Eastman's leading position in providing sustainable solutions are Eastman Tritan® copolyester, Saflex® acoustic interlayers and acoustic interlayers head up displays ("HUD"), Eastman Impera® high performance resins for tires, and Eastman's Visualize® Material for optical compensation films in liquid crystal displays.
Financial Strategy
In addition to managing its businesses and growth initiatives, the Company remains committed to maintaining a strong financial position with appropriate financial flexibility and liquidity. Eastman management believes maintaining a financial profile that supports an investment grade credit rating is important to its long-term strategic and financial flexibility. The Company employs a disciplined and balanced approach to capital allocation and deployment of cash. The priorities for uses of available cash include payment of the quarterly dividend, repayment of debt, funding targeted growth initiatives, and repurchasing shares. Management expects that the combination of strong cash flow generation and liquidity and a solid balance sheet will continue to provide flexibility to pursue organic and inorganic growth initiatives.
BUSINESS SEGMENTS |
As a result of changes in the Company's organizational structure and management, beginning first quarter 2016 the Company's products and operations are managed and reported in four operating segments: Additives & Functional Products ("AFP"), Advanced Materials ("AM"), Chemical Intermediates ("CI"), and Fibers. This organizational structure is based on the management of the strategies, operating models, and sales channels that the various businesses employ and supports the Company's strategy to transform towards a specialty portfolio by better aligning similar businesses in a more streamlined structure. All financial information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this "Annual Report") is presented on the new operating segment basis. For additional financial and product information for each operating segment, see the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 18, 2016.
Sales revenue and costs related to growth initiatives, research and development ("R&D") costs, certain components of pension and other postretirement benefits, and other expenses and income not identifiable to an operating segment are not included in segment operating results for any of the periods presented and are included in "Other". For identification of manufacturing sites, see Item 2, "Properties". For additional information concerning the Company's operating segments, see Note 20, "Segment Information", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
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ADDITIVES & FUNCTIONAL PRODUCTS SEGMENT
• | Overview |
In the AFP segment, the Company manufactures chemicals for products in the coatings, tires, consumables, building and construction, industrial applications including solar energy markets, animal nutrition, care chemicals, crop protection, and energy markets. In 2016, the AFP segment had sales revenue of $3.0 billion, 33 percent of Eastman's total sales. Key technology platforms in this segment are cellulose esters, polyester polymers, insoluble sulfur, hydrocarbon resins, alkylamine derivatives, and propylene derivatives.
AFP sales growth is typically similar to or slightly above global gross domestic product growth due to the segment's sales to diversified end markets. The segment is focused on producing high-value additives that provide critical functionality but which comprise a small percentage of total customer product cost. The segment principally competes on the unique performance characteristics of its products and through leveraging its strong customer base and long-standing customer relationships to promote substantial recurring business and product development.
• | Principal Products |
Product | Description | Principal Competitors | Key Raw Materials | End-Use Applications |
Coatings and Inks Additives | ||||
Polymers cellulosics Eastman Tetrashield™ polyesters polyolefins Additives and Solvents Texanol® Optifilm™ ketones esters glycol ethers oxo alcohols | specialty coalescents, specialty solvents, and commodity solvents paint additives and specialty polymers | BASF SE The Dow Chemical Company Oxea Celanese Corporation Alternative technologies | wood pulp propane propylene | building and construction (architectural coatings) transportation (OEM) and refinish coatings durable goods (wood, industrial coatings and applications) consumables (graphic arts, inks, and packaging) |
Adhesives Resins | ||||
Piccotac® Regalite® Eastotac® Eastoflex® | hydrocarbon resins and rosin resins mainly for hot-melt and pressure sensitive adhesives | Exxon Mobil Corporation Kolon Industries, Inc. | C9 resin oil piperylene gum rosin | consumables (resins used in hygiene and packaging adhesives) building and construction (resins for construction adhesives and interior flooring) |
Tire Additives | ||||
Crystex® | insoluble sulfur rubber additive | Oriental Carbon & Chemicals Limited Shikoku Chemicals Corporation | sulfur naphthenic process oil | transportation (tire manufacturing) other rubber products (such as hoses, belts, seals, and footwear) |
Santoflex® | antidegradant rubber additive | Jiangsu Sinorgchem Technology Co, Ltd. Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co. Ltd. Lanxess AG | nitrobenzene aniline methyl isobutyl ketone | transportation (tire manufacturing) other rubber products (such as hoses, belts, seals, and footwear) |
Impera™ | performance resins | Cray Valley Hydrocarbon Specialty Chemicals Exxon Mobil Corporation Kolon Industries Incorporated | alpha methylstyrene piperylene styrene | transportation (tire manufacturing) |
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Product | Description | Principal Competitors | Key Raw Materials | End-Use Applications |
Care Chemicals Additives | ||||
Alkylamine Derivatives | amine-derivative-based building blocks for production of flocculants intermediates for surfactants | BASF SE The Dow Chemical Company Huntsman Corporation | alkylamines ammonia alcohols ethylene oxide | water treatment personal and home care |
Specialty Fluids | ||||
Therminol® Eastman Turbo Oils Skydrol® Eastman SkyKleen® | heat transfer and aviation fluids | The Dow Chemical Company Exxon Mobil Corporation | benzene phosphorous neo-polyol esters | industrial chemicals and processing (heat transfer fluids for chemical processes) renewable energy commercial aviation |
Animal Nutrition | ||||
Formic acid solutions | formic-acid based solutions | BASF SE Perstorp Luxi Chemical Group Feicheng Acid Chemicals | sulfuric acid formic acid | animal nutrition de-icing |
Crop Protection | ||||
Alkylamine derivatives | metam based soil fumigants thiram and ziram based fungicides plant growth regulator | The Dow Chemical Company Argo-Kanesho Co Ltd Bayer BASF SE | alkylamines CS2 caustic soda | agriculture crop protection |
Percentage of Total Segment Sales | |||
Product Lines | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Coatings and Inks Additives | 24% | 24% | 31% |
Adhesives Resins | 21% | 21% | 27% |
Tire Additives | 17% | 17% | 22% |
Other | 38% | 38% | 20% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Percentage of Total Segment Sales | |||
Sales by Customer Location | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
United States and Canada | 37% | 38% | 41% |
Asia Pacific | 21% | 21% | 24% |
Europe, Middle East, and Africa | 35% | 35% | 29% |
Latin America | 7% | 6% | 6% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
See Exhibit 99.01 for AFP segment revenue by end-use market.
9
• | Strategy |
A key element of the AFP segment's strategy is to leverage proprietary technologies for the continued development of innovative product offerings and to focus growth efforts on further expanding end markets such as coatings, tires, consumables, building and construction, industrial applications, animal nutrition, care chemicals, crop protection, and energy. Eastman management believes that the ability to leverage the AFP segment's research, application development, and production capabilities across multiple markets makes the segment uniquely positioned to meet evolving needs to improve the quality and performance of its customers' products. For example, tire performance labeling regulations in various parts of the world and competitive pressure favoring performance over cost are causing tire manufacturers to simultaneously improve conflicting tire attributes. Eastman's tire additives technology helps tire manufacturers overcome common compromises often observed between wet grip and rolling resistance. In order to address identified market needs, the Company is also developing new technologies such as polyester resins for coatings, sustainable solvents, and cellulose esters and hydrocarbon resins for tires.
In 2016, the Company continued expansion of the Crystex® insoluble sulfur rubber additives manufacturing facility in Kuantan, Malaysia, expected to be operational in second half 2017, and retrofitted part of an existing manufacturing facility in Nienburg, Germany. These actions are expected to allow the Company to capitalize on recent enhancements of technology for the manufacture of Crystex® insoluble sulfur by improving the Company's cost position and introducing new products for the tire markets.
An example of the Company's continuing innovation and market development efforts is the recently commercialized Eastman Tetrashield™ performance polyester resins. These polyester resins provide a combination of improved performance and sustainability, particularly for the automotive coatings, industrial, and food packaging markets. Additional examples where the Company is pursuing innovation through other technologies include next generation Crystex® and resins and cellulose esters for tires.
The Company's global manufacturing presence is a key element of the AFP segment's growth strategy. For example, the segment expects to capitalize on industrial growth in Asia from its manufacturing capacity expansion in Kuantan, Malaysia and cellulose ester products sourced from our low cost cellulose and acetyl manufacturing stream in North America.
ADVANCED MATERIALS SEGMENT
• | Overview |
In the AM segment, the Company produces and markets its polymers, films, and plastics with differentiated performance properties for value-added end uses in transportation, consumables, building and construction, durable goods, and health and wellness markets. In 2016, the AM segment had sales revenue of $2.5 billion, 28 percent of Eastman's total sales. Key technology platforms for this segment include cellulose esters, copolyesters, and PVB and polyester films.
Eastman has strong technical and market development capabilities that enable the segment to modify its polymers, films, and plastics to control and customize their final properties for development of new applications with enhanced functionality. For example, Eastman Tritan® copolyesters are a leading solution for food contact applications due to their performance and processing attributes and Bisphenol A ("BPA") free properties. The Saflex® Q Series product line is a leading solution for sound reduction in the cabin of an automobile. The Company maintains what management believes is a leading solar control technology position in the window film market through the use of high performance sputter coatings which enhance solar heat rejection while maintaining superior optical properties. The segment principally competes on differentiated technology and application development capabilities. Management believes the AM segment's competitive advantages also include long-term customer relationships, vertical integration and scale in manufacturing, and leading market positions.
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• | Principal Products |
Product | Description | Principal Competitors | Key Raw Materials | End-Use Applications |
Specialty Plastics | ||||
Eastman Tritan® copolyester Eastar® copolyesters Eastman Spectar® copolyester Eastman Embrace® copolyester Eastman Visualize® Material Eastman Aspira™ family of resins Flexvue® | copolyesters cellulose esters | Covestro Trinseo Evonik Industries AG Saudi Basic Industries Corporation Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation S.K. Chemical Industries Sichuan Push Acetati Company Limited Daicel Chemical Industries Ltd | paraxylene ethylene glycol cellulose purified terephthalic acid ("PTA") | consumables (consumer packaging, consumables and cosmetics packaging, in-store fixtures and displays) durable goods (consumer housewares and appliances) health and wellness (medical) electronics (displays) |
Advanced Interlayers | ||||
Saflex® Saflex® Q Series | PVB sheet specialty PVB intermediates | Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Kuraray Co., Ltd | polyvinyl alcohol vinyl acetate monomer butyraldehyde 2-ethyl hexanol ethanol triethylene gylcol | transportation (automotive safety glass, automotive acoustic glass, and HUD) building and construction (PVB for architectural interlayers) |
Performance Films | ||||
LLumar® SunTek® V-KOOL® Gila® | window film and protective film products for aftermarket applied films | 3M Company Saint-Gobain S.A. Garware Chemicals Limited | polyethylene terephthalate film | transportation (automotive after-market window film and paint protection film) building and construction (residential and commercial window films) |
Percentage of Total Segment Sales | |||
Product Lines | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Specialty Plastics | 50% | 51% | 54% |
Advanced Interlayers | 34% | 33% | 34% |
Performance Films | 16% | 16% | 12% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Percentage of Total Segment Sales | |||
Sales by Customer Location | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
United States and Canada | 37% | 38% | 36% |
Asia Pacific | 32% | 31% | 30% |
Europe, Middle East, and Africa | 26% | 26% | 28% |
Latin America | 5% | 5% | 6% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
See Exhibit 99.01 for AM segment revenue by end-use market.
11
• | Strategy |
Management believes that the AM segment has significant opportunities to leverage innovation and technology platforms into new products and applications, accelerate its growth, and further leverage its manufacturing capacity. The segment continues to expand its portfolio of higher margin products in attractive end markets. Through Eastman's advantaged asset position and expertise in applications development, management believes that the AM segment is well positioned for future growth. The advanced interlayers product lines, including acoustic PVB sheet and HUD, leverage Eastman's global presence to supply industry leading innovations to automotive and architectural end markets by collaborating with global and large regional customers. In the automotive end market, the performance films product line has industry leading technologies, recognized brands, and what management believes is one of the largest distribution and dealer networks which, when combined, position Eastman for further growth, particularly in leading automotive markets such as North America and Asia. The segment's product portfolio is aligned with underlying energy efficiency trends in both automotive and architectural markets. Additionally, increased demand for BPA-free products has created new opportunities for various copolyester applications.
The AM segment expects to continue to improve product mix from increased sales of premium products, including Eastman Tritan® copolyester, Eastman Visualize® Material, advanced interlayers with acoustic properties, LLumar®, V-KOOL®, and SunTek® window and protective films.
The acquisition of Commonwealth in December 2014 further expanded the AM segment's product portfolio and channel network in the diverse window film markets, enabled further manufacturing and distribution efficiencies, and added industry leading paint protection film technology to expand AM segment offerings in after-market automotive and protective film markets.
The Company is continuing an additional 60,000 metric ton expansion of Eastman Tritan® copolyester capacity at the Kingsport, Tennessee manufacturing facility expected to be operational in first half 2018 to meet expected future demand in the durable goods and health and wellness markets. Through recent debottlenecks and working capital management, management expects to have adequate Eastman Tritan® copolyester manufacturing capacity to meet demand growth in advance of the capacity expansion in 2018.
Construction of a manufacturing facility for PVB resin at the Kuantan, Malaysia site is expected to be operational in second half 2017. This manufacturing capacity will support expected global growth in the transportation and building and construction markets and allow the Company to better serve customers in the Asia Pacific region.
CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES SEGMENT
• | Overview |
The CI segment leverages large scale and vertical integration from the cellulose and acetyl, olefins, and alkylamines streams to support our specialty operating segments with advantaged cost positions. The CI segment sells excess intermediates beyond our specialty needs for use in markets such as industrial chemicals and processing, building and construction, health and wellness, and agrochemicals. Certain products are also used internally by other operating segments of the Company. In 2016, the CI segment had sales revenue of $2.5 billion, 28 percent of Eastman's total sales. Key technology platforms include acetyls, oxos, plasticizers, polyesters, and alkylamines.
The CI segment product lines benefit from competitive cost positions primarily resulting from the use of and access to lower cost raw materials, the Company's scale, technology, and operational excellence. Examples include coal used in the production of cellulose and acetyl stream product lines, feedstocks used in the production of olefin derivative product lines such as oxo alcohols and plasticizers, and ammonia and methanol used to manufacture methylamines. In addition to a competitive cost position, the plasticizers business should continue to benefit from the growth in relative use of non-phthalate rather than phthalate plasticizers in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Several CI segment product lines are affected by cyclicality, most notably in the olefin and acetyl-based businesses. See "Eastman Chemical Company General Information - Manufacturing Streams". This cyclicality is caused by periods of supply and demand imbalance, when either incremental capacity additions are not offset by corresponding increases in demand, or when demand exceeds existing supply. While management continues to take steps to reduce the impact of the trough of these cycles, future results are expected to occasionally fluctuate due both to general economic conditions and industry supply and demand.
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• | Principal Products |
Product | Description | Principal Competitors | Key Raw Materials | End-Use Applications |
Intermediates | ||||
oxo alcohols and derivatives acetic acid and derivatives acetic anhydride ethylene glycol ethers esters | Olefin derivatives, acetyls, ethylene, commodity solvents | Lyondell Bassell, BASF SE The Dow Chemical Company Oxea BP plc Celanese Corporation Lonza Flint Hills Resources | propane ethane propylene coal natural gas paraxylene metaxylene | industrial chemicals and processing building and construction (paint/coating applications, construction chemicals, building materials) pharmaceuticals and agriculture health and wellness packaging |
Plasticizers | ||||
Eastman 168® Eastman® DOP Benzoflex® Eastman TXIB® Eastman Effusion™ | primary non- phthalate and phthalate plasticizers and a range of niche non- phthalate plasticizers | BASF SE Exxon Mobil Corporation LG Chem, Ltd. Emerald Performance Materials | propane propylene paraxylene | building and construction (non-phthalate plasticizers used in interior surfaces) consumables (food packaging, packaging adhesives, and glove applications) health and wellness (medical devices) |
Functional Amines | ||||
alkylamines | methylamines and salts higher amines and solvents | BASF SE Chemours U.S. Amines Oxea | methanol ammonia acetone ethanol butanol | agrochemicals energy consumables water treatment animal nutrition industrial intermediates |
Percentage of Total Segment Sales | |||
Product Lines | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Intermediates | 65% | 65% | 78% |
Plasticizers | 20% | 20% | 21% |
Functional Amines | 15% | 15% | 1% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Percentage of Total Segment Sales | |||
Sales by Customer Location | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
United States and Canada | 69% | 69% | 72% |
Asia Pacific | 12% | 12% | 13% |
Europe, Middle East, and Africa | 13% | 13% | 10% |
Latin America | 6% | 6% | 5% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
See Exhibit 99.01 for CI segment revenue by end-use market.
13
• | Strategy |
To maintain and enhance its status as a low cost producer and optimize earnings, the CI segment continuously focuses on cost control, operational efficiency, and capacity utilization. This includes focusing on products used internally by other downstream operating segments, thereby supporting growth in specialty product lines throughout the Company. Through the CI segment, the Company has leveraged the advantage of its highly integrated manufacturing facilities. For example, the Kingsport, Tennessee manufacturing facility allows for the production of acetic anhydride and other acetyl derivatives from coal rather than natural gas or other petroleum feedstocks. At the Longview, Texas manufacturing facility, Eastman uses its proprietary oxo-technology in one of the world's largest single-site, oxo butyraldehyde manufacturing facilities to produce a wide range of alcohols and other derivative products utilizing local propane and ethane supplies, as well as purchased propylene. The Pace, Florida manufacturing facility using ammonia and methanol feedstocks is the largest methylamine production site in the world. These integrated facilities, combined with large scale production processes and a continuous focus on additional process improvements, allow the CI segment product lines to remain cost competitive and, for some products, cost-advantaged over competitors.
In 2016, the Company announced that as part of its strategy to increase emphasis on specialty businesses and products it is pursuing strategic options to divest or otherwise monetize its excess ethylene capacity position and certain commodity olefin intermediates product lines. Eastman will retain its cost-advantaged integrated position to propylene which supports specialty derivatives throughout the Company. This process is expected to continue through first half 2017.
In 2012, the Company entered into an agreement with Enterprise Products Partners L.P. to purchase propylene from a planned propane dehydrogenation plant to further improve the Company's long-term competitive cost position. This plant is expected to be operational in 2017. Prior to completion of the plant, the Company continues to benefit from a propylene market contract with an advantaged cost position for purchased propylene.
FIBERS SEGMENT
• | Overview |
In the Fibers segment, Eastman manufactures and sells Estron® acetate tow and Estrobond® triacetin plasticizers for use primarily in the manufacture of cigarette filters; Estron® natural (undyed) and Chromspun® solution-dyed acetate yarns for use in apparel, home furnishings, and industrial fabrics; and cellulose acetate flake and acetyl raw materials for other acetate fiber producers. Eastman is one of the world's two largest suppliers of acetate tow and has been a market leader in the manufacture and sale of acetate tow since it began production in the early 1950s. The Company is the world's largest producer of acetate yarn and has been in this business for over 75 years. In 2016, the Fibers segment had sales revenue of $1.0 billion, 11 percent of Eastman's total sales.
The largest 12 Fibers segment customers account for approximately 80 percent of the segment's 2016 sales revenue and include multinational as well as regional cigarette producers, fabric manufacturers, and other acetate fiber producers.
The Company's long history and experience in the fibers markets are reflected in the Fibers segment's operating expertise, both within the Company and in support of its customers' processes. The Fibers segment's knowledge of the industry and of customers' processes allows it to assist its customers in maximizing their processing efficiencies, promoting repeat sales, and mutually beneficial, long-term customer relationships.
The Company's fully integrated fiber manufacturing process employs unique technology that allows it to use a broad range of high-purity wood pulps for which the Company has dependable sources of supply.
Contributing to profitability in the Fibers segment is the limited number of competitors and significant barriers to entry. These barriers include, but are not limited to, high capital costs for integrated manufacturing facilities.
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The Fibers segment's competitive strengths include a reputation for high-quality products, technical expertise, large scale vertically-integrated processes, reliability of supply, balanced acetate flake supply for Fibers products, a reputation for customer service excellence, and a customer base characterized by strategic long-term customer relationships. The Company continues to capitalize and build on these strengths to further improve the strategic position of its Fibers segment. The principal methods of competition include maintaining the Company's large-scale vertically integrated manufacturing process from acetyl raw materials, reliability of supply, product quality, and sustaining long-term customer relationships. Despite continued challenging acetate tow market conditions, including additional industry capacity and lower capacity utilization rates, management expects continued strong Fibers segment cash flow.
• | Principal Products |
Product | Description | Principal Competitors | Key Raw Materials | End-Use Applications |
Acetate Tow | ||||
Estron® | cellulose acetate tow | Celanese Corporation Solvay S.A. Daicel Corporation Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd. | wood pulp methanol high sulfur coal | tobacco (manufacture of cigarette filters) |
Acetate Yarn | ||||
Estron® Chromspun® Cosilva™ | natural (undyed) acetate yarn solution dyed acetate yarn | UAB Dirbtinis Pluostas Industrias del Acetato de Celulosa S.A. Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd. | wood pulp methanol high sulfur coal | consumables (apparel, home furnishings, and industrial fabrics) health and wellness (medical tape) |
Acetyl Chemical Products | ||||
Estrobond® | triacetin cellulose diacetate flake acetic acid acetic anhydride | Jiangsu Ruijia Chemistry Co., Ltd. Polynt SPA Daicel Corporation Celanese Corporation Solvay S.A. | wood pulp methanol high sulfur coal | tobacco (manufacture of cigarette filters) |
Percentage of Total Segment Sales | |||
Product Lines | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Acetate Tow | 80% | 78% | 79% |
Acetate Yarn and Acetyl Chemical Products | 20% | 22% | 21% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Percentage of Total Segment Sales | |||
Sales by Customer Location | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
United States and Canada | 21% | 21% | 19% |
Asia Pacific | 44% | 49% | 53% |
Europe, Middle East, and Africa | 29% | 26% | 24% |
Latin America | 6% | 4% | 4% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
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• | Strategy |
In the Fibers segment, Eastman continues to leverage its strong customer relationships and industry knowledge to maintain a leading industry position in the global market. Eastman's Fibers segment benefits from a state-of-the-art, world class, acetate flake production facility at the Kingsport, Tennessee site which is supplied from Eastman's vertically integrated coal gasification facility. Eastman's total global acetate tow capacity is approximately 180,000 metric tons, not including the Company's participation in an acetate tow joint venture manufacturing facility in China. The Company also benefits from the Kingsport, Tennessee tow production facility being the largest and most integrated acetate tow site in the world. The Company supplies 100 percent of the acetate flake raw material to the China manufacturing joint venture from the Company's manufacturing facility in Kingsport, Tennessee which the Company recognizes in sales revenue. The Company recognizes earnings in the joint venture through its equity investment, reported in "Other (income) charges, net" in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Comprehensive Income and Retained Earnings in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
The Company intends to continue to make use of its capabilities in fibers technology to maintain a strong focus on incremental product and process improvements, with the goals of meeting customers' evolving needs and further improving the segment's manufacturing process efficiencies.
The Fibers segment R&D efforts focus on serving existing customers, developing new applications and markets, and reducing cost. These R&D efforts assist acetate tow customers in the effective use of the segment's products and customers' product development efforts. Additionally, these efforts are focused on developing new products and exploring new market applications, leveraging experience innovating cellulosics products to offset declining demand in the tobacco industry, optimizing asset productivity, and working with suppliers to reduce costs.
As a result of challenging market conditions for acetate tow, the Company closed its Workington, UK acetate tow manufacturing facility in 2015. Following an increase in flake capacity at the Kingsport, Tennessee site in 2015, the Fibers segment could supply all its acetate tow and yarn spinning capacity from this low cost flake asset. In order to fully utilize the increased capacity and reduce fixed costs, the Company sold its 50 percent interest in Primester, which manufactures cellulose acetate at the Company's Kingsport, Tennessee site in June 2016.
EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY GENERAL INFORMATION |
Financial Information About Geographic Areas
Eastman operates as a global business with approximately 55 percent of its sales revenue generated from outside the United States and Canada region in 2016. The United States and Canada region contains the highest concentration of the Company's long-lived assets with approximately 75 percent located in the United States. The Company has expanded its international manufacturing presence and is also able to transport products globally to meet demand. While all regions continue to be affected by ongoing uncertainty and volatility in the global economy, the degree of the impact on the various regions is dependent on the mix of the Company's operating segments and products in each region. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Risk Factors" in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report. For sales by customer location by business segments, see "Business Segments". For sales revenue by geographic areas, see Note 20, "Segment Information", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Sales by Customer Location" in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report. For long-lived assets by geographic areas, see Note 20, "Segment Information", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
Seasonality and Cyclicality
The Company's earnings are typically higher in second and third quarters, and cash flows from operations are typically highest in the second half of the year due to seasonal demand based on general economic activity in the Company's key markets as described in "Business Segments". Results in the AM segment are typically weaker in fourth quarter due to seasonal downturns in key markets.
The intermediates product lines of the CI segment and the coatings and inks product lines of the AFP segment are impacted by the cyclicality of key end products and markets, while other operating segments are more sensitive to global economic conditions. Supply and demand dynamics determine profitability at different stages of business cycles and global economic conditions affect the length of each cycle.
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Despite sensitivity to global economic conditions, many of the products of each operating segment are expected to continue to provide an overall stable foundation for earnings growth.
Sales, Marketing, and Distribution
The Company markets and sells products primarily through a global marketing and sales organization which has a presence in the United States and approximately 30 other countries selling into more than 100 countries around the world. Eastman's strategy is to target industries and applications where the Company can develop products and service offerings to provide differentiated value that address current and future customer needs. Management considers both customer-facing capabilities and technical expertise to be critical for success. Our strategic marketing approach and capabilities leverage the Company's insights about trends, markets, and customers to drive development of specialty product and service offerings. Through a highly skilled and specialized sales force that is capable of providing differentiated product solutions, Eastman strives to be the preferred supplier in the Company's targeted markets.
The Company's products are also marketed through indirect channels, which include distributors and contract representatives. Sales outside the United States tend to be made more frequently through distributors and contract representatives than sales in the United States. The combination of direct and indirect sales channels, including sales online through its Customer Center website, allows Eastman to reliably serve customers throughout the world.
The Company's products are shipped to customers directly from Eastman's manufacturing plants and from distribution centers worldwide.
Sources and Availability of Raw Material and Energy
Eastman purchases approximately 75 percent of its key raw materials and energy through different contract mechanisms, generally of two to five years in initial duration with renewal or cancellation options for each party. Most of these agreements do not require the Company to purchase materials or energy if its operations are reduced or idle. The cost of raw materials and energy is generally based on market price at the time of purchase, and Eastman uses derivative financial instruments for certain of its key raw materials to mitigate the impact of market price fluctuations. Key raw materials include cellulose, propane, paraxylene, propylene, methanol, polyvinyl alcohol, and a wide variety of precursors for specialty organic chemicals. Key purchased energy sources include natural gas, coal, and electricity. The Company has multiple suppliers for most key raw materials and energy and uses quality management principles, such as the establishment of long-term relationships with suppliers and on-going performance assessment and benchmarking, as part of its supplier selection process. When appropriate, the Company purchases raw materials from a single source supplier to maximize quality and cost improvements, and has developed contingency plans designed to minimize the potential impact of any supply disruptions from single source suppliers.
While temporary shortages of raw materials and energy may occasionally occur, these items are generally sufficiently available to cover current and projected requirements. However, their continuous availability and cost are subject to unscheduled plant interruptions occurring during periods of high demand, domestic and world market conditions, changes in government regulation, natural disasters, war or other outbreak of hostilities or terrorism or other political factors, or breakdown or degradation of transportation infrastructure. Eastman's operations or products have in the past, and may in the future, be adversely affected by these factors. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Risk Factors" in Part II Item 7 of this Annual Report. The Company's raw material and energy costs as a percent of total cost of operations were approximately 40 percent in 2016. For additional information about raw materials, see Exhibit 99.02 "Product and Raw Material Information" of this Annual Report.
Manufacturing Streams
Integral to Eastman's strategy for growth is leveraging its heritage of expertise and innovation in cellulose and acetyl, olefins, polyester, and alkylamine chemistries in key markets, including transportation, building and construction, consumables, tobacco, and agriculture. For each of these chemistries, Eastman has developed and acquired a combination of assets and technologies that are operated within four manufacturing "streams".
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• | In the cellulose and acetyl stream, the Company begins with coal which is gasified in the presence of oxygen in its coal gasification facility. The resulting synthesis gas is converted into a number of chemicals including methanol, methyl acetate, acetic acid, and acetic anhydride. In the long-term, the Company's ability to use coal is considered to be a raw material cost advantage. Cellulose derivative manufacturing at the Company begins with natural polymers, sourced from managed forests, which, when combined with acetyl and olefin chemicals, provide differentiated product lines. Cellulose and acetyl stream products include but are not limited to, cellulose fibers, plastics, and esters. The major end markets for products from the cellulose and acetyl stream include coatings, displays, and tobacco. |
• | In the olefins stream, the Company begins primarily with propane and ethane, which are cracked into the "olefin" chemicals ethylene and propylene in three cracking units at its facility in Longview, Texas. The Company purchases additional propylene for use at its Longview facility and other facilities outside the United States. Propylene derivative products are used in a variety of items such as paints and coatings, automotive safety glass, and non-phthalate plasticizers. Ethylene derivative products are converted for end uses in the food industry, health and beauty products, detergents, and automotive products. Historically, periodic additions of large blocks of capacity have caused profit margins of light olefins to expand and contract, resulting in "ethylene" or "olefins" cycles. The Company believes it is positioned to be less impacted by these cycles than more commodity based producers due to its diverse derivatives products and focus on more specialty markets. |
• | In the polyester stream, the Company begins with purchased paraxylene and produces purified terephthalic acid ("PTA") and dimethyl terephthalate ("DMT") for polyesters and copolyesters. PTA or DMT is then reacted with various glycols, which the Company either makes or purchases, along with other raw materials (some of which the Company makes and are proprietary) to produce copolyesters. The Company believes that this backward integration of polyester manufacturing is a competitive advantage, giving Eastman a low cost position, as well as a more reliable intermediate supply. In addition, Eastman can add specialty monomers to copolyesters to provide clear, tough, chemically resistant product characteristics. As a result, the Company's copolyesters effectively compete with materials such as polycarbonate and acrylic. |
• | In the alkylamines stream, the Company begins with ammonia and alcohols (C1 - C6) to produce methylamines and higher alkylamines, which can then be further reacted with other chemicals to produce alkylamine derivatives. The Company's alkylamines products are primarily used in agriculture, water treatment, consumables, animal nutrition and oil and gas end markets. The Company is recognized as one of the leading global producers of alkylamines. Methylamines are manufactured by reacting methanol with ammonia in a catalytic reactor. Three different methylamines are produced: mono methylamine ("MMA"), di methylamine ("DMA") and tri methylamine ("TMA"). The reaction circumstances (pressure, temperature, catalysts, etc.) and reactant ratios determine the ratio of the three products which are purified by distillation and used as building blocks to produce downstream derivatives or sold externally to merchant customers. The term higher alkylamines refers to amines produced with C2-C6 alcohols (ethyl, n butyl, n propyl, isopropyl and cyclohexyl amines). The manufacturing process for higher alkylamines is similar to that for methylamines, as ammonia is combined with various alcohols in catalytic reactors and subsequently distilled. The use of different alcohols results in the creation of different higher alkylamines which are used both internally to produce derivatives or sold externally to the merchant market. |
The Company leverages its expertise and innovation in cellulose and acetyl, olefins, polyester and alkylamine chemistries, and technologies, to meet demand and create new uses and opportunities for the Company's products in key markets. Through integration and optimization across these streams, the Company is able to create unique and differentiated products that have a performance advantage over competitive materials.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures were $626 million, $652 million, and $593 million in 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Capital expenditures in 2016 were primarily for AFP and AM segment expansions in Kuantan, Malaysia, an AM segment expansion of Eastman Tritan® copolyester capacity in Kingsport, Tennessee, and Longview, Texas site modernization projects. The Company expects that 2017 capital spending will be approximately $575 million.
Employees
Eastman employs approximately 14,000 men and women worldwide. Approximately 10 percent of the total worldwide labor force is represented by collective labor agreements, mostly outside the United States.
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Customers
Eastman has an extensive customer base and, while it is not dependent on any one customer, loss of certain top customers could adversely affect the Company until such business is replaced. The top 100 customers accounted for approximately 55 percent of the Company's 2016 sales revenue. No single customer accounted for 10 percent or more of the Company's consolidated sales revenue during 2016.
Intellectual Property and Trademarks
While the Company's intellectual property portfolio is an important Company asset which it expands and vigorously protects globally through a combination of patents that expire at various times, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, neither its business as a whole nor any particular operating segment is materially dependent upon any one particular patent, trademark, copyright, or trade secret. As a producer of a broad range of advanced materials, specialty additives, chemicals, and fibers, Eastman owns over 700 active United States patents and more than 1,800 active foreign patents, expiring at various times over several years, and also owns over 5,000 active worldwide trademark applications and registrations. Eastman continues to actively protect its intellectual property. As the laws of many countries do not protect intellectual property to the same extent as the laws of the United States, Eastman cannot ensure that it will be able to adequately protect its intellectual property assets outside the United States. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Risk Factors" in Part II Item 7 of this Annual Report.
The Company pursues opportunities to license proprietary technology to third parties in areas where it has determined competitive impact to its businesses will be minimal. These arrangements typically are structured to require payments at significant project milestones such as signing, completion of design, and start-up.
Research and Development
For 2016, 2015, and 2014, Eastman's R&D expenses totaled $219 million, $242 million, and $227 million, respectively. The Company manages certain growth initiatives and costs at the corporate level, including certain R&D costs not allocated to any one operating segment. The Company uses a stage-gating process, which is a disciplined decision making framework for evaluating targeted opportunities, with a number of projects at various stages of development. As projects meet milestones, additional amounts are spent on those projects. The Company continues to explore and invest in R&D initiatives that are aligned with macro trends in sustainability, consumerism, and energy efficiency such as high performance materials and advanced cellulosics. An example of such an initiative is the Eastman microfiber technology platform which leverages the Company's core competency in polyesters, spinning capability, and in-house application expertise, for use in a wide range of applications including liquid and air filtration, high strength packaging in nonwovens, and performance apparel in textiles. In 2016, the Company shifted some R&D resources from process technology efforts into application development efforts which focused on new product introductions and increased growth related spend. Plans have been developed to increase future spending on select R&D programs.
Environmental
The Company's cash expenditures related to environmental protection and improvement were $267 million, $290 million, and $319 million, in 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, and include operating costs associated with environmental protection equipment and facilities, engineering costs, and construction costs. These cash expenditures include environmental capital expenditures of approximately $45 million, $52 million, and $69 million in 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
Eastman is subject to significant and complex laws, regulations, and legal requirements relating to the use, storage, handling, generation, transportation, emission, discharge, disposal, and remediation of, and exposure to, hazardous and non-hazardous substances and wastes in all of the countries in which it does business. These health, safety, and environmental considerations are a priority in the Company's planning for all existing and new products and processes. The Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee of Eastman's Board of Directors oversees the Company's policies and practices concerning health, safety, and the environment and its processes for complying with related laws and regulations, and monitors related matters.
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The Company's policy is to operate its plants and facilities in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations such that it protects the environment and the health and safety of its employees and the public. The Company intends to continue to make expenditures for environmental protection and improvements in a timely manner consistent with its policies and with the technology available. In some cases, applicable environmental regulations such as those adopted under the Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, and related actions of regulatory agencies, determine the timing and amount of environmental costs incurred by the Company. Likewise, any new legislation or regulations related to greenhouse gas emissions and energy could impact the timing and amount of environmental costs incurred by the Company.
The Company accrues environmental costs when it is probable that the Company has incurred a liability at a contaminated site and the amount can be reasonably estimated. In some instances, the amount cannot be reasonably estimated due to insufficient information, particularly as to the nature and timing of future expenditures. In these cases, the liability is monitored until such time that sufficient information exists. With respect to a contaminated site, the amount accrued reflects liabilities expected to be paid out within approximately 30 years and the Company's assumptions about remediation requirements at the contaminated site, the nature of the remedy, the outcome of discussions with regulatory agencies and other potentially responsible parties at multi-party sites, and the number and financial viability of other potentially responsible parties. Changes in the estimates on which the accruals are based, unanticipated government enforcement action, or changes in health, safety, environmental, and chemical control regulations, and testing requirements could result in higher or lower costs.
The Company does not currently expect near term environmental capital expenditures arising from requirements of environmental laws and regulations to materially impact the Company's planned level of annual capital expenditures for environmental control facilities. Other matters concerning health, safety, and the environment are discussed in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II Item 7 and in Note 1, "Significant Accounting Policies" Note 13, "Environmental Matters and Asset Retirement Obligations" and Note 22, "Reserve Rollforwards" to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
Backlog
On December 31, 2016 and 2015, Eastman's backlog of firm sales orders represented less than 10 percent of the Company's total consolidated revenue for the year. These orders are primarily short-term and all orders are expected to be filled in the following year. The Company manages its inventory levels to control the backlog of products depending on customers' needs. In areas where the Company is the single source of supply, or competitive forces or customers' needs dictate, the Company may carry additional inventory to meet customer requirements.
Available Information - SEC Filings
The Company makes available free of charge, through the "Investors - SEC Information" section of its Internet website (www.eastman.com), its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such material with, or furnishing it to, the SEC.
The Company is required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The public may read and copy any materials that the Company files with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS |
For identification and discussion of the most significant risks applicable to the Company and its business, see Part II - Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Risk Factors" of this Annual Report.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS |
None.
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY |
Certain information about the Company's executive officers is provided below:
Mark J. Costa, age 50, is Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Eastman Chemical Company Board of Directors. Mr. Costa joined the Company in June 2006 as Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Marketing; was appointed Executive Vice President, Polymers Business Group Head and Chief Marketing Officer in August 2008; was appointed Executive Vice President, Specialty Polymers, Coatings and Adhesives, and Chief Marketing Officer in May 2009; and became President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Company in May 2013. Prior to joining Eastman, Mr. Costa was a senior partner with Monitor Group ("Monitor"). He joined Monitor, a global management consulting firm, in 1988, and his experience included corporate and business unit strategies, asset portfolio strategies, innovation and marketing, and channel strategies across a wide range of industries. Mr. Costa was appointed Chief Executive Officer in January 2014 and was named Board Chair effective July 2014.
Curtis E. Espeland, age 52, is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Espeland joined Eastman in 1996, and has served in various financial management positions of increasing responsibility, including Director of Internal Auditing; Director of Finance, Asia Pacific; Director of Corporate Planning and Forecasting; Vice President and Controller; Vice President, Finance, Eastman Division; Vice President, Finance, Polymers; and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2008 until December 2013. He served as the Company's Chief Accounting Officer from December 2002 to 2008. Prior to joining Eastman, Mr. Espeland was an audit and business advisory manager with Arthur Andersen LLP in the United States, Eastern Europe, and Australia. Mr. Espeland was appointed to his current position effective January 2014.
Brad A. Lich, age 49, is Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, with responsibility for the Advanced Materials ("AM") and Fibers segments, outside U.S. regional business leadership, and the marketing, sales, pricing, and procurement organizations. Mr. Lich joined Eastman in 2001 as Director of Global Product Management and Marketing for the Coatings business. Other positions of increasing responsibility followed, including General Manager of Emerging Markets of the former Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers, and Inks ("CASPI") segment. In 2006, Mr. Lich became Vice President of Global Marketing with direct responsibility for company-wide global marketing functions. In 2008, Mr. Lich was appointed Vice President and General Manager of the CASPI segment, and in 2012 was appointed Vice President and General Manager of the Additives & Functional Products ("AFP") segment. In January 2014, Mr. Lich was appointed Executive Vice President, with responsibility for the AFP and AM segments and the marketing, sales, and pricing organizations. In March 2016, Mr. Lich assumed executive responsibility for outside U.S. regional business leadership. Mr. Lich was appointed to his current position effective July 2016.
Lucian Boldea, age 45, is Senior Vice President with responsibility for the AFP segment. Mr. Boldea joined Eastman in 1997 as a chemist. During his career at Eastman, he has held various positions in R&D, licensing, business management, and corporate growth platforms leadership. These positions included Technology Director for the former Performance Chemicals and Intermediates ("PCI") segment and Director of Corporate Growth Platforms. In 2015, he was Group Vice President and General Manager of the AFP segment. Mr. Boldea was appointed to his current position effective July 2016.
Michael H.K. Chung, age 63, is Senior Vice President and Chief International Ventures Officer. Mr. Chung joined Eastman in 1976, and since that time has held various management positions, primarily in the Company's chemicals and fibers businesses. He was appointed Vice President, Fibers International Business in 2006, and in 2009 he was appointed Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific Region. Mr. Chung was appointed to his current position effective January 2011.
Mark K. Cox, age 51, is Senior Vice President and Chief Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Engineering Officer. Mr. Cox joined Eastman in 1986 and has served in a variety of management positions, including leadership roles within the Business Management, Manufacturing, and Technology areas. Additionally, he has held responsibility for Eastman's Corporate Six Sigma program. In August 2008, Mr. Cox was appointed Vice President, Chemicals and Fibers Technology. Beginning in May 2009, Mr. Cox served as Vice President, Chemicals, Fibers, and Performance Polymers Technology. He was appointed Vice President, Worldwide Engineering and Construction in August 2010, appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Manufacturing and Engineering Officer effective January 2014, and to his current position effective March 2016.
Stephen G. Crawford, age 52, is Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, with executive responsibility for corporate innovation. Mr. Crawford joined Eastman in 1987. Since then, he has held several leadership positions of increasing responsibility in both the manufacturing and technology organizations. Since 2007, he has served as Vice President of Global R&D in the AM and AFP segments. Mr. Crawford was appointed to his current position effective January 2014.
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David A. Golden, age 51, is Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Golden has responsibility for Eastman's Legal, Corporate Health, Safety, Environment, Security, Global Public Affairs and Policy, and Sustainability organizations, and has overall responsibility for Eastman's Ethics and Corporate Compliance program. Prior to this position, he was Vice President, Associate General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary with overall responsibility for Eastman's Legal Department. Mr. Golden joined Eastman in 1995 as an attorney and has held positions of increasing responsibility, including serving as the Company's Director of Internal Audit from October 2005 to October 2007 and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel responsible for the Company's Commercial and International Law groups from 2007 to 2010. Mr. Golden was appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary in January 2013 and to his current position including executive leadership of the Company's sustainability efforts in March 2016. Prior to joining Eastman, he worked as an attorney in the Atlanta office of the law firm of Hunton & Williams.
Perry Stuckey III, age 57, is Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer. Mr. Stuckey joined Eastman in 2011, as Vice President, Global Human Resources, and was responsible for Eastman's human resources strategy and services worldwide. Mr. Stuckey's work experience includes a variety of global human resource management positions in manufacturing, industrial automation, and bio-technology organizations, including Hill-Rom Company, Rockwell Automation, and Monsanto Company. Mr. Stuckey was appointed to his current position in January 2013.
Damon C. Warmack, age 59, is Senior Vice President, Corporate Development with executive responsibility for the Chemical Intermediates segment. Mr. Warmack joined Eastman in 1980, working in a series of sales and product management positions. He was located in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore with a range of assignments including the establishment of Eastman's commercial presence in China, joint venture development and management, and serving as Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific. In addition, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Resins, Inks, and Monomers, leading the restructure and divestiture of this business. Mr. Warmack then served as Vice President and General Manager of the former CASPI segment and then of the former PCI segment. More recently, he had responsibility for corporate development and strategic planning, playing a lead role in the Company's business portfolio transformation through acquisitions and divestitures. Mr. Warmack was appointed to his current position effective July 2016.
Scott V. King, age 48, is Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. Since joining Eastman in 1999 as Manager, Corporate Consolidations and External Reporting, Mr. King has held various positions of increasing responsibility in the financial organization. He was first appointed Corporate Controller in August 2007 and has served as Chief Accounting Officer since September 2008. Prior to joining Eastman, Mr. King was an audit and business advisory manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
ITEM 2. | PROPERTIES |
At December 31, 2016, Eastman owned or operated 49 manufacturing sites and had equity interests in six manufacturing joint ventures in a total of 14 countries. Utilization of these sites may vary with product mix and economic, seasonal, and other business conditions; however, none of the principal plants is substantially idle. The Company's plants, including approved expansions, generally have sufficient capacity for existing needs and expected near-term growth. These plants are generally well maintained, in good operating condition, and suitable and adequate for their use. Unless otherwise indicated, all of the properties are owned.
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The locations and general character of the Company's manufacturing sites are:
Segment using manufacturing location | ||||
Location | Additives & Functional Products | Advanced Materials | Chemical Intermediates | Fibers |
USA | ||||
Alvin, Texas (1) | x | |||
Anniston, Alabama | x | |||
Axton, Virginia | x | |||
Canoga Park, California (2) | x | |||
Cartersville, Georgia (1) | x | |||
Chestertown, Maryland | x | |||
Columbia, South Carolina (1)(3) | x | |||
Franklin, Virginia (1) | x | |||
Indianapolis, Indiana (2) | x | |||
Jefferson, Pennsylvania | x | |||
Kingsport, Tennessee | x | x | x | x |
Lemoyne, Alabama (1) | x | |||
Linden, New Jersey | x | |||
Longview, Texas | x | x | x | |
Martinsville, Virginia (4) | x | |||
Monongahela, Pennsylvania | x | |||
Pace, Florida | x | x | ||
Sauget, Illinois | x | |||
Springfield, Massachusetts | x | |||
St. Gabriel, Louisiana | x | x | ||
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin | x | |||
Texas City, Texas | x | |||
Trenton, Michigan | x | |||
Watertown, New York (5) | ||||
Europe | ||||
Antwerp, Belgium (1) | x | x | ||
Ghent, Belgium (4) | x | x | x | |
Kohtla-Järve, Estonia | x | x | ||
Oulu, Finland (2) | x | |||
Dresden, Germany | x | |||
Leuna, Germany | x | x | ||
Nienburg, Germany | x | |||
Middelburg, the Netherlands | x | |||
Newport, Wales | x | x |
(1) | Eastman is a guest under an operating agreement with a third party, which operates its manufacturing facilities at the site. |
(2) | Eastman leases from a third party and operates the site. |
(3) | Although nearly the entire manufacturing site was included in the first quarter 2011 divestiture of the Company's polyethylene terephthalate ("PET") business and related assets, a portion was retained subsequent to the sale. |
(4) | Eastman has more than one manufacturing site at this location. |
(5) | This location supports developing businesses of the Eastman microfiber technology platform, the financial results of which are not identifiable to an operating segment and are included in "Other". |
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Segment using manufacturing location | ||||
Location | Additives & Functional Products | Advanced Materials | Chemical Intermediates | Fibers |
Asia Pacific | ||||
Fengxian, China | x | |||
Suzhou, China (1)(2)(3) | x | x | ||
Wuhan, China (4) | x | |||
Yixing, China | x | |||
Zibo, China (5) | x | x | ||
Kashima, Japan | x | |||
Ulsan, Korea | x | |||
Kuantan, Malaysia (1) | x | x | ||
Jurong Island, Singapore (1) | x | x | ||
Latin America | ||||
Itupeva, Brazil (6) | x | |||
Mauá, Brazil | x | |||
Santo Toribio, Mexico | x | |||
Uruapan, Mexico | x |
(1) | Eastman leases from a third party and operates the site. |
(2) | Eastman has more than one manufacturing site at this location. |
(3) | Eastman holds a 60 percent share in the joint venture Solutia Therminol Co., Ltd., Suzhou in the AFP segment. |
(4) | Eastman holds a 51 percent share in the joint venture Eastman Specialties Wuhan Youji Chemical Co., Ltd. |
(5) | Eastman holds a 51 percent share in the joint venture Qilu Eastman Specialty Chemical Ltd. |
(6) | Eastman is a guest under an operating agreement with a third party, which operates its manufacturing facilities at the site. |
Eastman has 50 percent or less ownership in joint ventures at the following manufacturing sites:
Segment using manufacturing location | ||||
Location | Additives & Functional Products | Advanced Materials | Chemical Intermediates | Fibers |
USA | ||||
St. Gabriel, Louisiana | x | |||
Asia Pacific | ||||
Hefei, China | x | |||
Nanjing, China (1) | x | x | ||
Shenzhen, China | x | |||
Jurong Island, Singapore | x |
(1) | Eastman has more than one manufacturing site at this location. |
Eastman has distribution facilities at all of its plant sites. In addition, the Company owns or leases approximately 200 stand-alone distribution facilities in approximately 30 countries. Corporate headquarters are in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Company's regional headquarters are in Shanghai, China; Miami, Florida; Capelle aan den IJssel, the Netherlands; Zug, Switzerland; Singapore; and Kingsport, Tennessee. Technical service is provided to the Company's customers from technical service centers in Kingsport, Tennessee; Palo Alto, California; Canoga Park, California; Springfield, Massachusetts; Akron, Ohio; Martinsville, Virginia; Ghent, Belgium; Guangzhou, China; Middelburg, the Netherlands; Mumbai, India; and Shanghai, China.
A summary of properties, classified by type, is included in Note 4, "Properties and Accumulated Depreciation", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
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ITEM 3. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
General
From time to time, Eastman and its operations are parties to, or targets of, lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings, including product liability, personal injury, asbestos, patent and intellectual property, commercial, contract, environmental, antitrust, health and safety, and employment matters, which are being handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. While the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these matters, it does not believe, based upon currently available facts, that the ultimate resolution of any such pending matters will have a material adverse effect on its overall financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Solutia Legacy Torts Claims Litigation
Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Settlement Agreement effective February 28, 2008 between Solutia Inc. ("Solutia") and Monsanto Company ("Monsanto") in connection with Solutia's emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings (the "Monsanto Settlement Agreement"), Monsanto is responsible for the defense and indemnification of Solutia against any Legacy Tort Claims (as defined in the Monsanto Settlement Agreement) and Solutia has agreed to retain responsibility for certain tort claims, if any, that may arise from Solutia's conduct after its spinoff from Pharmacia Corporation (f/k/a Monsanto), which occurred on September 1, 1997. Solutia, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eastman on July 2, 2012, has been named as a defendant in several such proceedings, and has submitted the matters to Monsanto as Legacy Tort Claims. To the extent these matters are not within the meaning of Legacy Tort Claims, Solutia could potentially be liable thereunder. In connection with the completion of its acquisition of Solutia, Eastman guaranteed the obligations of Solutia and Eastman was added as an indemnified party under the Monsanto Settlement Agreement.
ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
Not applicable.
26
PART II
ITEM 5. | MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES |
(a)Eastman Chemical Company's ("Eastman" or the "Company") common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "EMN". The following table presents the high and low sales prices of the common stock on the NYSE and the cash dividends per share declared by the Company's Board of Directors for each quarterly period of 2016 and 2015:
High | Low | Cash Dividends Declared | ||||||||||
2016 | First Quarter | $ | 74.98 | $ | 56.03 | $ | 0.46 | |||||
Second Quarter | 78.79 | 65.19 | 0.46 | |||||||||
Third Quarter | 72.50 | 63.10 | 0.46 | |||||||||
Fourth Quarter | 77.98 | 62.70 | 0.51 | |||||||||
2015 | First Quarter | $ | 76.67 | $ | 67.13 | $ | 0.40 | |||||
Second Quarter | 83.90 | 67.74 | 0.40 | |||||||||
Third Quarter | 82.79 | 62.84 | 0.40 | |||||||||
Fourth Quarter | 73.82 | 63.84 | 0.46 |
As of December 31, 2016, there were 146,488,924 shares of the Company's common stock issued and outstanding, which shares were held by 17,198 stockholders of record. These shares include 50,798 shares held by the Company's charitable foundation. The Company's Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.51 per share during the first quarter of 2017, payable on April 3, 2017 to stockholders of record on March 15, 2017. Quarterly dividends on common stock, if declared by the Board of Directors, are usually paid on or about the first business day of the month following the end of each quarter. The payment of dividends is a business decision made by the Board of Directors from time to time based on the Company's earnings, financial position and prospects, and such other considerations as the Board considers relevant. Accordingly, while management currently expects that the Company will continue to pay a quarterly cash dividend, its dividend practice may change at any time.
See Part III, Item 12, "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters -Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this "Annual Report") for the information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K.
(b)Not applicable.
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(c) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers:
In February 2014, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $1 billion of the Company's outstanding common stock. As of December 31, 2016, a total of 6,542,190 shares have been repurchased under this authorization for a total amount of $498 million. During 2016, the Company repurchased 2,131,501 shares of common stock for a total cost of approximately $145 million. For additional information, see Note 15, "Stockholders' Equity", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) | Average Price Paid Per Share(2) | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Approximate Dollar Value (in millions) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | ||||||
October 1 - 31, 2016 | 304,943 | $ | 65.59 | 304,943 | $ | 507 | ||||
November 1 - 30, 2016 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 507 | ||||
December 1 - 31, 2016 | 65,618 | $ | 76.20 | 65,618 | $ | 502 | ||||
Total | 370,561 | $ | 67.46 | 370,561 |
(1)All shares were repurchased under a Company announced repurchase plan.
(2)Average price paid per share reflects the weighted average purchase price paid for shares.
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ITEM 6. | SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA |
Statements of Earnings Data | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 9,008 | $ | 9,648 | $ | 9,527 | $ | 9,350 | $ | 8,102 | |||||||||
Operating earnings | 1,383 | 1,384 | 1,162 | 1,862 | 800 | ||||||||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations | 859 | 854 | 755 | 1,172 | 443 | ||||||||||||||
Earnings from discontinued operations | — | — | 2 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Gain from disposal of discontinued operations | — | — | — | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings | 859 | 854 | 757 | 1,172 | 444 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to Eastman | $ | 854 | $ | 848 | $ | 751 | $ | 1,165 | $ | 437 | |||||||||
Amounts attributable to Eastman stockholders: | |||||||||||||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations, net of tax | $ | 854 | $ | 848 | $ | 749 | $ | 1,165 | $ | 436 | |||||||||
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to Eastman stockholders | $ | 854 | $ | 848 | $ | 751 | $ | 1,165 | $ | 437 | |||||||||
Basic earnings per share attributable to Eastman: | |||||||||||||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations | $ | 5.80 | $ | 5.71 | $ | 5.01 | $ | 7.57 | $ | 2.99 | |||||||||
Earnings from discontinued operations | — | — | 0.02 | — | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings | $ | 5.80 | $ | 5.71 | $ | 5.03 | $ | 7.57 | $ | 3.00 | |||||||||
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Eastman: | |||||||||||||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations | $ | 5.75 | $ | 5.66 | $ | 4.95 | $ | 7.44 | $ | 2.92 | |||||||||
Earnings from discontinued operations | — | — | 0.02 | — | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings | $ | 5.75 | $ | 5.66 | $ | 4.97 | $ | 7.44 | $ | 2.93 | |||||||||
Statements of Financial Position Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Current assets | $ | 2,866 | $ | 2,878 | $ | 3,173 | $ | 2,840 | $ | 2,699 | |||||||||
Net properties | 5,276 | 5,130 | 5,087 | 4,290 | 4,181 | ||||||||||||||
Goodwill | 4,461 | 4,518 | 4,486 | 2,637 | 2,644 | ||||||||||||||
Other intangibles | 2,469 | 2,650 | 2,905 | 1,781 | 1,870 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | 15,457 | 15,580 | 16,072 | 11,845 | 11,710 | ||||||||||||||
Current liabilities | 1,795 | 2,056 | 2,022 | 1,470 | 1,364 | ||||||||||||||
Long-term borrowings | 6,311 | 6,577 | 7,248 | 4,254 | 4,779 | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 10,849 | 11,559 | 12,482 | 7,970 | 8,682 | ||||||||||||||
Total Eastman stockholders' equity | 4,532 | 3,941 | 3,510 | 3,796 | 2,943 | ||||||||||||||
Dividends declared per share | 1.89 | 1.66 | 1.45 | 1.25 | 1.08 |
On December 5, 2014, Eastman completed its acquisition of Taminco Corporation ("Taminco"), a global specialty chemical company. The fair value of total consideration transferred was $2.8 billion, consisting of cash of $1.7 billion, net of cash acquired, and repayment of Taminco's debt of $1.1 billion. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination. Taminco's former specialty amines and crop protection businesses are managed and reported as part of the Additives & Functional Products ("AFP") segment and its former functional amines business are managed and reported as part of the Chemical Intermediates segment.
On December 11, 2014, the Company acquired Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc. ("Commonwealth") for a total purchase price of $438 million including the repayment of debt. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination and the acquired Commonwealth business is managed and reported in the Advanced Materials segment.
29
On June 2, 2014, the Company acquired BP plc's global aviation turbine engine oil business ("aviation turbine oil business") for a total cash purchase price of $283 million. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination and the acquired aviation turbine oil business is managed and reported in the AFP segment.
On August 6, 2014, the Company acquired Knowlton Technologies, LLC ("Knowlton"), for a total cash purchase price of $42 million. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination. The acquired Knowlton business is a developing business of the Eastman microfiber technology platform, the financial results of which are not identifiable to an operating segment and are included in "Other".
For additional information about the above acquired businesses, see Note 2, "Acquisitions", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report. As of the date of acquisition, results of the acquired businesses are included in Eastman results.
On July 2, 2012, the Company completed its acquisition of Solutia Inc. ("Solutia"), a global leader in performance materials and specialty chemicals. The fair value of total consideration transferred was $4.8 billion, consisting of cash of $2.6 billion, net of cash acquired; equity in the form of Eastman stock of approximately $700 million; and Solutia's debt at fair value of $1.5 billion.
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ITEM 7. | MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
Page | |
This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") is based upon the consolidated financial statements of Eastman Chemical Company ("Eastman" or the "Company"), which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted ("GAAP") in the United States, and should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K (this "Annual Report"). All references to earnings per share ("EPS") contained in this report are to diluted earnings per share unless otherwise noted.
31
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Company's management must make decisions which impact the reported amounts and the related disclosures. Such decisions include the selection of the appropriate accounting principles to be applied and assumptions on which to base estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to impairment of long-lived assets, environmental costs, pension and other postretirement benefits, litigation and contingent liabilities, and income taxes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company's management believes the critical accounting estimates described below are the most important to the fair presentation of the Company's financial condition and results. These estimates require management's most significant judgments in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Definite-lived Assets
Properties and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets to be held and used by the Company are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The review of these long-lived assets is performed at the asset group level, which is the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. If the carrying amount is not considered to be recoverable, an analysis of fair value is triggered. An impairment is recognized for the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over the fair value. Fair value is either salvage value determined through market analysis or alternative future use. The Company's assumptions related to long-lived assets are subject to change and impairments may be required in the future. If estimates of fair value less costs to sell are revised, the carrying amount of the related asset is adjusted, resulting in a charge to earnings.
Goodwill
The Company conducts testing of goodwill annually in the fourth quarter or more frequently when events and circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred. The testing of goodwill is performed at the reporting unit level which the Company has determined to be its components. Components are defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment, and in order to be a reporting unit, the component must 1) be a business as defined by applicable accounting standards (an integrated set of activities and assets that is capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose of providing a return in the form of dividends, lower costs, or other economic benefits directly to the investors or other owners, members, or participants); 2) have discrete financial information available; and 3) be reviewed regularly by Company operating segment management. The Company aggregates certain components into reporting units based on economic similarities.
The Company uses an income approach and applies a fair value methodology based on discounted cash flows in testing the carrying value of goodwill for each reporting unit. Key assumptions and estimates used in the Company's 2016 goodwill impairment testing included projections of revenues, expenses, and cash flows determined using the Company's annual multi-year strategic plan and a market participant tax rate. The most critical assumptions are the estimated discount rate and a projected long-term growth rate. The Company believes these assumptions are consistent with those of a hypothetical market participant would use given circumstances that were present at the time the estimates were made. However, actual results and amounts may be significantly different from the Company's estimates. In addition, the use of different estimates or assumptions could result in materially different determinations. In order to determine the discount rate, the Company uses a market perspective weighted average cost of capital ("WACC") approach. The WACC is calculated incorporating weighted average returns on debt and equity from market participants. Therefore, changes in the market, which are beyond the control of the Company, may have an impact on future calculations of estimated fair value.
If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is determined to be less than the carrying value of the net assets of the reporting unit including goodwill, additional steps, including a valuation of the estimated fair value to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit, would be necessary to determine the amount, if any, of goodwill impairment.
32
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
As a result of the tests performed during fourth quarter 2016, there were no impairments of the Company's goodwill. Fair values substantially exceeded the carrying values for each reporting unit tested, except for the specialty fluids reporting unit and the crop protection reporting unit (both a part of the Additives & Functional Products operating segment as described in Part I, Item 1, "Business", of this Annual Report).
As of December 31, 2016, goodwill of $541 million is allocated to the specialty fluids reporting unit. As of fourth quarter testing, specialty fluids had an estimated fair value that exceeded the carrying value including goodwill by 32 percent. Cash flows from the specialty fluids reporting unit are susceptible to changes in demand due to cyclicality and timing of customer project completions primarily in the industrial and solar markets. Two of the most critical assumptions used in the calculation of the fair value of the specialty fluids reporting unit are the target market long-term growth rate and the discount rate. The Company performed a sensitivity analysis of both of those assumptions. A one percent decrease in the target market long-term growth rate and a one percent increase in the discount rate would result in the fair value exceeding the carrying value by thirteen percent and nine percent, respectively. The business performance for 2016 was slightly below expectations for 2016 used in the previous impairment analysis. Although management believes its estimate of fair value is reasonable, if the specialty fluids reporting unit's financial performance falls below expectations or there are negative revisions to key assumptions, the Company may be required to recognize an impairment charge.
As of December 31, 2016, goodwill of $272 million is allocated to the crop protection reporting unit. As of fourth quarter testing, crop protection had an estimated fair value that exceeded the carrying value including goodwill by 25 percent. The crop protection reporting unit is directly impacted by the agricultural market. Two of the most critical assumptions used in the calculation of the fair value of the crop protection reporting unit are the target market long-term growth rate and the discount rate. The Company performed a sensitivity analysis of both of those assumptions. A one percent decrease in the target market long-term growth rate and a one percent increase in the discount rate would result in the fair value exceeding the carrying value by five percent and two percent, respectively. The business performance for 2016 did not meet expectations for 2016 used in the previous impairment analysis. Although management believes its estimate of fair value is reasonable, if the crop protection reporting unit's financial performance falls below expectations or there are negative revisions to key assumptions, the Company may be required to recognize an impairment charge.
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
The Company conducts testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets annually in the fourth quarter or more frequently when events and circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred. The carrying value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is considered to be impaired when the fair value, as established by appraisal or based on discounted future cash flows of certain related products, is less than the carrying value.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, consisting of various tradenames, are tested for potential impairment by comparing the estimated fair value to the carrying amount. The Company uses an income approach, specifically the relief from royalty method, to test indefinite-lived intangible assets. The estimated fair value of tradenames is determined based on an assumed royalty rate savings, discounted by the calculated market participant WACC plus a risk premium.
The Company had $529 million in indefinite-lived intangible assets at the time of impairment testing. There was no impairment of the Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets as a result of the tests performed during fourth quarter 2016.
The Company will continue to monitor both goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for any indication of triggering events which might require additional testing before the next annual impairment test.
33
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Environmental Costs
The Company accrues environmental remediation costs when it is probable that the Company has incurred a liability at a contaminated site and the amount can be reasonably estimated. When a single amount cannot be reasonably estimated but the cost can be estimated within a range, the Company accrues the minimum undiscounted amount. This undiscounted accrued amount reflects liabilities expected to be paid within approximately 30 years and the Company's assumptions about remediation requirements at the contaminated site, the nature of the remedy, the outcome of discussions with regulatory agencies and other potentially responsible parties at multi-party sites, and the number and financial viability of other potentially responsible parties. Changes in the estimates on which the accruals are based, unanticipated government enforcement action, or changes in health, safety, environmental, and chemical control regulations and testing requirements could result in higher or lower costs. Estimated future environmental expenditures for undiscounted remediation costs ranged from the best estimate or minimum of $295 million to the maximum of $503 million and from the best estimate or minimum of $308 million to the maximum of $516 million at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The estimated future costs are considered to be reasonably possible and include the amounts accrued at both December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
The Company also establishes reserves for closure and post-closure costs associated with the environmental and other assets it maintains. Environmental assets, as defined by GAAP, include but are not limited to waste management units, such as landfills, water treatment facilities, and surface impoundments. When these types of assets are constructed or installed, a loss contingency reserve is established for the anticipated future costs associated with the retirement or closure of the asset based on its expected life and the applicable regulatory closure requirements. The Company recognizes the asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The asset retirement obligations are discounted to expected present value and subsequently adjusted for changes in fair value. These future estimated costs are charged to earnings over the estimated useful life of the assets. Currently, the Company's environmental assets are expected to reach the end of their useful lives at different times over the next 50 years. If the Company changes its estimate of the environmental asset retirement obligation costs or its estimate of the useful lives of these assets, expenses charged to earnings will be impacted. For sites that have environmental asset retirement obligations, the best estimate for these asset retirement obligation costs accrued to date over the sites' estimated useful lives was $26 million and $28 million at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
The Company monitors conditional obligations and recognizes loss contingencies associated with them when and to the extent that more detailed information becomes available concerning applicable retirement costs.
The Company's total amount reserved for environmental loss contingencies, including the remediation and closure and post-closure costs described above, was $321 million and $336 million at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. This loss contingency reserve represents the best estimate or minimum for remediation costs (undiscounted) and the best estimate of the amount accrued to date over the regulated assets' estimated useful lives for asset retirement obligation costs (discounted).
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
The Company maintains defined benefit pension plans that provide eligible employees with retirement benefits. Additionally, Eastman provides a subsidy for life insurance, health care, and dental benefits for eligible retirees hired prior to January 1, 2007, and a subsidy for health care and dental benefits for retirees' eligible survivors. The estimated amounts of the costs and obligations related to these benefits reflect the Company's assumptions related to general economic conditions (particularly interest rates) and expected return on plan assets. For valuing the obligations and assets of the Company's U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans, the Company assumed weighted average discount rates of 3.89 percent and 2.33 percent, respectively, and a weighted average expected return on plan assets of 7.49 percent and 5.02 percent, respectively at December 31, 2016. The Company assumed a weighted average discount rate of 3.91 percent for its other postretirement benefit plans and an expected return on plan assets of 3.75 percent for its voluntary employees' beneficiary association retiree trust at December 31, 2016. The estimated cost of providing plan benefits also depends on demographic assumptions including retirements, mortality, turnover, and plan participation.
The Company performed a five-year experience study of the assumptions for the U.S. plans in 2014 which included a review of the mortality tables. As a result of the experience study, the Company continues to use the RP-2000 table with scale AA static improvement scale and no collar adjustment.
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 2016 and 2017 expense are affected by year-end 2016 assumptions. The following table illustrates the sensitivity to changes in the Company's long-term assumptions in the expected return on plan assets and assumed discount rate for all pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The sensitivities below are specific to the time periods noted. They also may not be additive, so the impact of changing multiple factors simultaneously cannot be calculated by combining the individual sensitivities shown.
Change in Assumption | Impact on 2017 Pre-tax Benefits Expense (Excludes mark-to-market impact) for Pension Plans | Impact on December 31, 2016 Projected Benefit Obligation for Pension Plans | Impact on 2017 Pre-tax Benefits Expense (Excludes mark-to-market impact) for Other Postretirement Benefit Plans | Impact on December 31, 2016 Benefit Obligation for Other Postretirement Benefit Plans | |
U.S. | Non-U.S. | ||||
25 basis point decrease in discount rate | -$3 Million | +$50 Million | +$41 Million | -$1 Million | +$17 Million |
25 basis point increase in discount rate | +$2 Million | -$48 Million | -$37 Million | +$1 Million | -$17 Million |
25 basis point decrease in expected return on plan assets | +$7 Million | No Impact | No Impact | <+$0.5 Million | No Impact |
25 basis point increase in expected return on plan assets | -$7 Million | No Impact | No Impact | <-$0.5 Million | No Impact |
The expected return on plan assets and assumed discount rate used to calculate the Company's pension and other postretirement benefit obligations are established each December 31. The expected return on plan assets is based upon prior performance and the long-term expected returns in the markets in which the trusts invest their funds, primarily in U.S. and non-U.S. fixed income, U.S. and non-U.S. public equity, private equity, and real estate. Moreover, the expected return on plan assets is a long-term assumption and on average is expected to approximate the actual return on plan assets. Actual returns will be subject to year-to-year variances and could vary materially from assumptions. The assumed discount rate is based upon a portfolio of high-grade corporate bonds, which are used to develop a yield curve. This yield curve is applied to the expected durations of the pension and other postretirement benefit obligations. Because future health care benefits under the U.S. benefit plan have been fixed at a certain contribution amount, changes in the health care cost trend assumptions do not have a material impact on the results of operations.
In 2016, the Company changed the approach used to calculate service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit costs for its significant defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The Company elected to calculate service and interest costs by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve to the plans' projected cash flows. The change does not affect the measurement of the total benefit obligation or the annual net periodic benefit cost or credit of the plans because the change in the service and interest costs will be offset in the mark-to-market ("MTM") actuarial gain or loss which, as described in the next paragraph, typically is recognized in the fourth quarter of each year or in any other quarters in which an interim remeasurement is triggered. For additional information, see Note 11, "Retirement Plans" to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The Company uses fair value accounting for plan assets. If actual experience differs from long-term assumptions for asset returns and actuarial assumptions (primarily discount rates) which were used in determining the current year expense, the difference is recognized immediately as part of the MTM net gain or loss in fourth quarter each year, and any other quarter in which an interim remeasurement is triggered. The MTM net loss applied to earnings from continuing operations in 2016, 2015, and 2014 due to the actual experience versus assumptions of returns on plan assets and actuarial assumptions (primarily discount rates) for the defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans were a net loss of $97 million, net loss of $115 million, and net loss of $304 million, respectively. The 2016 MTM net loss included an actuarial loss of approximately $170 million, resulting primarily from the Company's December 31, 2016 weighted-average assumed discount rate of 3.55 percent, down from the prior year, and changes in other actuarial assumptions. Overall asset values increased approximately $75 million due to asset values appreciating in excess of the assumed weighted-average rate of return. The actual return was approximately $250 million, or an approximately 9 percent gain, which was above the expected return of approximately $175 million, or approximately 7 percent.
While changes in obligations do not correspond directly to cash funding requirements, it is an indication of the amount the Company will be required to contribute to the plans in future years. The amount and timing of such cash contributions is dependent upon interest rates, actual returns on plan assets, retirement, attrition rates of employees, and other factors. For further information regarding pension and other postretirement benefit obligations, see Note 11, "Retirement Plans", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
Litigation and Contingent Liabilities
From time to time, the Company and its operations are parties to or targets of lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings, including product liability, personal injury, asbestos, patent and intellectual property, commercial, contract, environmental, antitrust, health and safety, and employment matters, which are handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. The Company accrues a contingent loss liability for such matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. When a single amount cannot be reasonably estimated but the cost can be estimated within a range, the Company accrues the minimum amount. The Company expenses legal costs, including those expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency, as incurred. Based upon facts and information currently available, the Company believes the amounts reserved are adequate for such pending matters; however, results of operations could be adversely affected by monetary damages, costs or expenses, and charges against earnings in particular periods.
Income Taxes
Amounts of deferred tax assets and liabilities on the Company's balance sheet are based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, applying enacted tax rates expected to be in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The ability to realize deferred tax assets is evaluated through the forecasting of taxable income, and domestic and foreign taxes, using historical and projected future operating results, the reversal of existing temporary differences, and the availability of tax planning strategies. Valuation allowances are recognized to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. In the event that the actual outcome of future tax consequences differs from management estimates and assumptions, the resulting change to the provision for income taxes could have a material adverse impact on the consolidated results of operations and statement of financial position. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, valuation allowances of $278 million and $254 million, respectively, have been provided against the deferred tax assets. The Company recognizes income tax positions that are more likely than not to be realized and accrues interest related to unrecognized income tax positions, which is included as a component of the income tax provision on the balance sheet.
A provision for U.S. income taxes has not been recognized for undistributed profits of our non-U.S. subsidiaries that we have determined to be indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. If management intentions or U.S. tax law changes in the future, there may be a significant negative impact on the provision for income taxes to recognize an incremental tax liability in the period the change occurs.
36
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Non-GAAP financial measures, and the accompanying reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures, are presented in "2016 Overview", "Results of Operations", "Summary by Operating Segment", and "Outlook" in this MD&A.
Company Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to evaluating the Company's financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows as reported in accordance with GAAP, Eastman management also evaluates Company and operating segment performance, and makes resource allocation and performance evaluation decisions, excluding the effect of transactions, costs, and losses or gains that do not directly arise from Eastman's normal, or "core", business and operations, or are otherwise of an unusual or non-recurring nature. These transactions, costs, and losses or gains relate to, among other things, cost reductions, growth and profitability improvement initiatives, and other events outside of core business operations (such as asset impairments and restructuring charges and gains, costs of and related to acquisitions, gains and losses from and costs related to dispositions of businesses, financing transaction costs, and MTM losses or gains for pension and other postretirement benefit plans). Because non-core, unusual, or non-recurring transactions, costs, and losses or gains may materially affect the Company's, or any particular operating segment's, financial condition or results in a specific period in which they are recognized, Eastman believes it is appropriate to evaluate both the financial measures prepared and calculated in accordance with GAAP and the related non-GAAP financial measures excluding the effect on our results of these non-core, unusual, or non-recurring items. In addition to using such measures to evaluate results in a specific period, management evaluates such non-GAAP measures, and believes that investors may also evaluate such measures, because such measures may provide more complete and consistent comparisons of the Company's, and its segments', operational performance on a period-over-period historical basis and, as a result, provide a better indication of expected future trends. Management discloses these non-GAAP measures, and the related reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, because it believes investors use these metrics in evaluating longer term period-over-period performance, and to allow investors to better understand and evaluate the information used by management to assess the Company's, and its operating segments', performance, make resource allocation decisions and evaluate organizational and individual performance in determining certain performance-based compensation. Non-GAAP measures do not have definitions under GAAP, and may be defined differently by, and not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies. As a result, management cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any non-GAAP measure, but to consider such measures with the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
Non-GAAP Measures in this Annual Report
The following non-core items are excluded by management in its evaluation of certain results in this Annual Report:
• | MTM pension and other postretirement benefit plans loss, net, which are actuarial gains and losses resulting from the changes in discount rates and other actuarial assumptions and the difference between actual and expected returns on plan assets during the period; |
• | Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net, of which asset impairments are non-cash transactions impacting profitability; |
• | Acquisition integration, transaction, and financing costs; |
• | Costs resulting from the sale of acquired inventories at fair value, net of the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") impact for certain of these inventories (as required by acquisition accounting, these inventories were marked to fair value); |
• | Early debt extinguishment and other related costs resulting from the repayment of borrowings; |
• | Cost of disposition of claims against operations that were discontinued by Solutia prior to the Company's 2012 acquisition of Solutia; and |
• | Gain from the sale of the Company's 50 percent interest in the Primester joint venture. |
37
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Non-GAAP Financial Measures -- Excluded Non-Core Items
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||
Non-core items impacting operating earnings: | |||||||||||
Mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefits loss, net | $ | 97 | $ | 115 | $ | 304 | |||||
Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net | 45 | 183 | 77 | ||||||||
Acquisition integration and transaction costs | 9 | 28 | 46 | ||||||||
Additional costs of acquired inventories | — | 7 | 24 | ||||||||
Non-core items impacting earnings before income taxes: | |||||||||||
Early debt extinguishment and other related costs | 85 | — | — | ||||||||
Cost of disposition of claims against discontinued Solutia operations | 5 | — | — | ||||||||
Gain from sale of equity investment in Primester joint venture | (17 | ) | — | — | |||||||
Taminco acquisition financing costs | — | — | 13 |
The non-core item "mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefits loss, net" does not include a $44 million credit, $4 million credit, and $22 million cost for defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans credits or costs for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. The calculated MTM gains and losses included expected amounts of and percentage returns on assets of approximately $175 million (7 percent), $190 million (7 percent), and $185 million (7 percent) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, compared with actual amounts of and percentage returns on plan assets of approximately $250 million (9 percent), $15 million loss (-1 percent), and $255 million (9 percent) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. For more detail about MTM pension and other postretirement benefit plans net gains and losses, including actual and expected return on plan assets and the components of the net gain or loss, see "Critical Accounting Estimates - Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits" above and Note 11, "Retirement Plans", "Summary of Changes" - Actuarial (gain) loss, Curtailment gain, Actual return on plan assets, and Reserve for third party contributions and "Summary of Benefit Costs and Other Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income" - Curtailment gain and Mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefits (gain) loss, net to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
As described under "Critical Accounting Estimates - Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits" above, in 2016, the Company elected to change its method of calculating service and interest costs components of net periodic benefit costs for pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The change in the approach for full-year 2016 pre-tax expense was an increase to service cost of approximately $2 million and a reduction in interest cost of approximately $22 million compared to the previous method. The net benefit from the change in approach of approximately $20 million is included in the $44 million credit for 2016 described in the paragraph above and was offset by a portion of the $97 million MTM net loss as part of the annual remeasurement of the plans in 2016. For additional information, see Note 11, "Retirement Plans" to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
This MD&A includes the effect of the foregoing on the following financial measures:
• | Net earnings attributable to Eastman, |
• | Gross profit, |
• | Selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses, |
• | Research and development ("R&D") expenses, |
• | Operating earnings, |
• | Net interest expense, |
• | Other (income) charges, net, |
• | Earnings from continuing operations, and |
• | Diluted earnings per share. |
38
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Other Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Alternative Non-GAAP Cash Flow Measures
In addition to the non-GAAP measures presented in this Annual Report and other periodic reports, from time to time management evaluates and discloses to investors and securities analysts the non-GAAP measure cash provided by operating activities excluding certain non-core, unusual, or non-recurring items ("cash provided by operating activities, as adjusted") when analyzing, among other things, business performance, liquidity and financial position, and performance-based compensation. Management uses this non-GAAP measure in conjunction with the GAAP measure cash provided by operating activities because it believes it is a more appropriate metric to evaluate the cash flows from Eastman's core operations that are available for organic and inorganic growth initiatives and because it allows for a more consistent period-over-period presentation of such amounts. In its evaluation, management generally excludes the impact of certain non-core activities and decisions of management because such activities and decisions are not considered core, ongoing components of operations and the decisions to undertake or not to undertake such activities may be made irrespective of the cash generated from operations. From time to time, management discloses this non-GAAP measure and the related reconciliation to investors and securities analysts to allow them to better understand and evaluate the information used by management in its decision making processes and because management believes investors and securities analysts use similar measures to assess Company performance, liquidity, and financial position over multiple periods and to compare these with other companies.
Similarly, from time to time, Eastman may disclose to investors and securities analysts an alternative non-GAAP measure of "free cash flow", which management defines as cash provided by operating activities, as adjusted, described above, less the amount of capital expenditures. Management believes such items are generally funded from available cash and, as such, should be considered in determining free cash flow. Management believes this is an appropriate metric to assess the Company's ability to fund priorities for uses of cash. The priorities for cash after funding operations include payment of quarterly dividends, additional repayment of debt, inorganic growth opportunities, and from time to time repurchasing shares. Management believes this metric is useful to investors and securities analysts in order to provide them with information similar to that used by management in evaluating financial performance and potential future cash available for various initiatives and assessing organizational performance in determining certain performance-based compensation and because management believes investors and securities analysts often use a similar measure of free cash flow to compare the results, and value, of comparable companies. In addition, Eastman may disclose to investors and securities analysts an alternative non-GAAP measure of "free cash flow yield", which management defines as annual free cash flow divided by the Company's market capitalization. Management believes this metric is useful to investors and securities analysts in comparing cash flow generation with that of peer and other companies.
Alternative Non-GAAP Earnings Measures
From time to time, Eastman may also disclose to investors and securities analysts the non-GAAP earnings measures "Adjusted EBITDA", "EBITDA Margin", and "Return on Invested Capital" (or "ROIC"). Management defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA (net earnings or net earnings per share before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) adjusted to exclude the same non-core, unusual, and non-recurring items as are excluded from the Company's other non-GAAP earnings measures for the same periods. EBITDA Margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by the GAAP measure sales revenue in the Company's income statement for the same periods. Management defines ROIC as net income plus interest expense after tax divided by average total borrowings plus average stockholders' equity for the periods presented, each derived from the GAAP measures in the Company's financial statements for the periods presented. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, and ROIC are useful as supplemental measures in evaluating the performance of and returns from Eastman's operating businesses, and from time to time uses such measures in internal performance calculations. Further, management understands that investors and securities analysts often use similar measures of Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, and ROIC to compare the results, returns, and value of the Company with those of other companies.
39
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
2016 OVERVIEW
The Company's products and operations are managed and reported in four operating segments: Additives & Functional Products ("AFP"), Advanced Materials ("AM"), Chemical Intermediates ("CI"), and Fibers. Eastman is focused on consistent earnings growth through a market-driven approach that takes advantage of the Company's existing technology platforms, global market and manufacturing presence, and leading positions in key end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. Management believes that the Company's end-market diversity is a source of strength, and that many of the markets into which the Company's products are sold are benefiting from longer-term global trends such as energy efficiency, a rising middle class in emerging economies, and an increased focus on health and wellness. Management believes that these trends, combined with the diversity of the Company's end markets, facilitate more consistent demand for the Company's products over time.
The Company generated sales revenue of $9.0 billion and $9.6 billion for 2016 and 2015, respectively. The sales revenue decrease of $640 million in 2016 is primarily due to lower selling prices in all operating segments and lower Fibers segment sales volume more than offsetting higher sales volume in the other operating segments.
Operating earnings were $1.4 billion both in 2016 and 2015. Excluding the non-core items referenced in "Non-GAAP Financial Measures", adjusted operating earnings were $1.5 billion in 2016 and $1.7 billion in 2015. Adjusted operating earnings decreased in 2016 due to increased AM segment earnings more than offset by lower earnings in the other operating segments. Operating earnings were positively impacted by cost reduction actions of approximately $100 million taken throughout 2016.
Net earnings and EPS attributable to Eastman and adjusted net earnings and EPS attributable to Eastman were as follows:
2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions, except diluted EPS) | $ | EPS | $ | EPS | |||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to Eastman | $ | 854 | $ | 5.75 | $ | 848 | $ | 5.66 | |||||||
Total non-core items, net of tax(1) | 149 | 1.01 | 243 | 1.62 | |||||||||||
Net earnings excluding non-core items | $ | 1,003 | $ | 6.76 | $ | 1,091 | $ | 7.28 |
(1) | See "Results of Operations - Earnings from Continuing Operations and Diluted Earnings per Share" for the tax effected amount of each non-core item. |
The Company generated $1.4 billion of cash from operating activities in 2016, compared to $1.6 billion of cash generated from operating activities during 2015. The decrease in cash from operating activities was primarily due to lower net earnings excluding non-core items in 2016 compared with 2015 and management's decision to contribute an additional $150 million to the Company's U.S. defined pension plans in fourth quarter 2016 rather than in future years.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The Company's results of operations as presented in the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report are summarized and analyzed below. During 2014, the Company completed four acquisitions as described in Part I, Item 1, "Business - Corporate Overview" of this Annual Report, which are referred to as the "acquired businesses". The inclusion of results of operations of each acquired business in Eastman's consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisitions may limit comparability in certain instances to prior period results.
Sales
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | Change | 2015 | 2014 | Change | |||||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 9,008 | $ | 9,648 | (7 | )% | $ | 9,648 | $ | 9,527 | 1 | % | |||||||||
Acquired business effect | — | % | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Volume / product mix effect | 1 | % | (2 | )% | |||||||||||||||||
Price effect | (7 | )% | (8 | )% | |||||||||||||||||
Exchange rate effect | (1 | )% | (2 | )% |
40
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
2016 Compared to 2015
Sales revenue decreased $640 million in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to lower selling prices in all operating segments and lower Fibers segment sales volume more than offsetting higher sales volume in the other operating segments.
2015 Compared to 2014
Sales revenue increased $121 million in 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to sales volume from acquired businesses partially offset by lower selling prices, particularly in the CI segment, primarily attributed to lower raw material prices.
Gross Profit
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | Change | 2015 | 2014 | Change | |||||||||||||||
Gross Profit | $ | 2,350 | $ | 2,580 | (9 | )% | $ | 2,580 | $ | 2,221 | 16 | % | |||||||||
Mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefit loss, net | 78 | 84 | 84 | 240 | |||||||||||||||||
Additional costs of acquired inventories | — | 7 | 7 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
Gross Profit excluding non-core items | $ | 2,428 | $ | 2,671 | (9 | )% | $ | 2,671 | $ | 2,485 | 7 | % |
2016 Compared to 2015
Gross profit in 2016 decreased compared with 2015. Gross profit included a $78 million and $84 million MTM pension and other postretirement benefit loss, net in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Gross profit in 2015 was negatively impacted $7 million in the AM segment by the sale of Commonwealth inventories, which were marked to fair value in the acquisition. Excluding these non-core items, gross profit decreased in 2016 compared with 2015 primarily due to CI and Fibers segment results. Gross profit in 2016 includes the benefit of lower labor and manufacturing costs from corporate cost reduction actions taken throughout 2016.
2015 Compared to 2014
Gross profit increased $359 million in 2015 compared with 2014, primarily due to a $156 million reduction in the MTM pension and other postretirement benefit loss, net in 2015 compared to 2014. Excluding non-core items, gross profit increased primarily due to lower raw material and energy costs exceeding lower selling prices by $255 million and gross profit from acquired businesses. Gross profit was negatively impacted $201 million by commodity hedges, particularly for propane, lower sales volume of $92 million as lower Fibers segment sales volume was partially offset by higher AM segment sales volume and improved product mix, and an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates of $66 million.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | Change | 2015 | 2014 | Change | |||||||||||||||
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses | $ | 703 | $ | 771 | (9 | )% | $ | 771 | $ | 755 | 2 | % | |||||||||
Mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefit loss, net | (14 | ) | (18 | ) | (18 | ) | (57 | ) | |||||||||||||
Acquisition integration and transaction costs | (9 | ) | (28 | ) | (28 | ) | (46 | ) | |||||||||||||
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses excluding non-core items | $ | 680 | $ | 725 | (6 | )% | $ | 725 | $ | 652 | 11 | % |
41
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
2016 Compared to 2015
SG&A expenses in 2016 were lower compared to 2015. SG&A expenses included a $14 million and $18 million MTM pension and other postretirement benefit loss, net in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Included in 2016 SG&A expenses are transaction costs for final resolution of the 2011 Sterling Chemicals, Inc. acquisition purchase price and integration costs for the Commonwealth business acquired in December 2014. Included in 2015 SG&A expenses are integration and transaction costs associated with the Taminco and Commonwealth acquisitions. Excluding these non-core items, SG&A expenses decreased in 2016 compared with 2015 primarily due to lower costs resulting from corporate cost reduction actions taken throughout 2016.
2015 Compared to 2014
SG&A expenses in 2015 were slightly higher compared to 2014. SG&A expenses included an $18 million and $57 million MTM pension and other postretirement benefit loss, net in 2015 and 2014, respectively. Excluding non-core items, SG&A expenses were higher primarily due to the additional SG&A expenses of the acquired businesses and higher variable compensation expense, partially offset by the decrease in expense due to foreign currency exchange rates.
Research and Development Expenses
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | Change | 2015 | 2014 | Change | |||||||||||||||
Research & Development Expenses | $ | 219 | $ | 242 | (10 | )% | $ | 242 | $ | 227 | 7 | % | |||||||||
Mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefit loss, net | (5 | ) | (13 | ) | (13 | ) | (7 | ) | |||||||||||||
Research & Development Expenses excluding non-core item | $ | 214 | $ | 229 | (7 | )% | $ | 229 | $ | 220 | 4 | % |
2016 Compared to 2015
R&D expenses were lower for 2016 compared to 2015. R&D expenses included a $5 million and $13 million MTM pension and other postretirement benefit adjustment loss, net in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Excluding this non-core item, R&D expenses were lower for 2016 compared to 2015 primarily due to corporate cost reduction actions taken throughout 2016. The Company continues to focus R&D resources on new product introductions and increased growth related spending.
2015 Compared to 2014
R&D expenses were higher for 2015 compared to 2014. R&D expenses included a $13 million and $7 million MTM pension and other postretirement benefit adjustment loss in 2015 and 2014, respectively. Excluding this non-core item, R&D expenses were higher in 2015 compared to 2014 primarily due to the additional R&D expenses of the acquired businesses.
Asset Impairments and Restructuring Charges, Net
For years ended December 31, | |||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||
Asset impairments | $ | 12 | $ | 85 | $ | 28 | |||||
Gain on sale of assets, net | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | (7 | ) | |||||
Intangible asset and goodwill impairments | — | 22 | 24 | ||||||||
Severance charges | 32 | 68 | 13 | ||||||||
Site closure and restructuring charges | 3 | 9 | 19 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 45 | $ | 183 | $ | 77 |
2016
In fourth quarter 2016 the Company impaired a capital project in the AFP segment that resulted in a charge of $12 million.
42
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
As part of the Company's previously announced plan to reduce costs, the Company recognized restructuring charges of $34 million primarily for severance in 2016. Management anticipates total cost savings of approximately $50 million to be recognized mostly in 2017 primarily in SG&A expenses and cost of sales.
In 2016, there was a gain of $2 million in the AFP segment for the sale of previously impaired assets at the Crystex® insoluble sulfur R&D site in France.
2015
The Company took actions during fourth quarter 2015 to reduce non-operations workforce resulting in restructuring charges of $51 million for severance. These actions were taken to offset the impacts of low oil prices, a strengthened U.S. dollar, and the continued weak worldwide economic and business conditions. Management expected total cost savings of approximately $55 million, which were realized in 2016, primarily in SG&A expenses and cost of sales.
As a result of the annual impairment testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets in 2015, the Company recognized intangible asset impairments of $18 million in the AM segment primarily to reduce the carrying value of the V-KOOL® window films products tradename to the estimated fair value. The estimated fair value was determined using an income approach, specifically, the relief from royalty method. The impairment resulted from a decrease in projected revenues since the tradename was acquired from Solutia in 2012. The decrease in projected revenues was primarily due to the Asian economic downturn impacting car sales growth in those geographic markets.
In 2015, net asset impairments and restructuring charges included $81 million of asset impairments and $17 million of restructuring charges, including severance, in the Fibers segment due to the closure of the Workington, UK acetate tow manufacturing site. Management expected annual cost savings in the Fibers segment of approximately $20 million as a result of the closure which cost savings have been realized as of the end of 2016. Additionally, in 2015, management decided not to continue a growth initiative that was reported in "Other". This resulted in the Company recognizing asset impairments of $8 million and restructuring charges of $3 million.
Additionally, during 2015, net asset impairments and restructuring charges included $4 million of restructuring charges primarily for severance associated with the integration of Taminco.
2014
In 2014, asset impairments of $18 million and restructuring charges, including severance, of $24 million were recognized in the AFP segment for costs of the closure of a Crystex® insoluble sulfur R&D facility in France.
As a result of the annual impairment testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets in 2014, the Company recognized an intangible asset impairment of $22 million in the AFP segment to adjust the carrying value of the Crystex® tradename to the estimated fair value. This impairment resulted from a decrease in projected revenue since the tradename was acquired as part of the Solutia acquisition. The estimated fair value was determined using an income approach, specifically the relief from royalty method.
In addition, during 2014, a change in estimate of certain costs for the 2012 termination of the operating agreement for the São Jose dos Campos, Brazil site resulted in a restructuring charge of $5 million to previously recognized asset impairments and restructuring charges.
During 2014, the Company recognized gains from the sales of previously impaired assets at the former Photovoltaics production facility in Germany and a former polymers production facility in China of $5 million and $2 million, respectively.
In 2014, charges in the AM segment included $10 million of asset impairments, including intangible assets, and $2 million of restructuring charges primarily due to the closure of a production facility in Taiwan for the Flexvue® product line. In addition, there were $5 million of restructuring charges for severance associated with the integration of Solutia.
43
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Operating Earnings
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | Change | 2015 | 2014 | Change | |||||||||||||||
Operating earnings | $ | 1,383 | $ | 1,384 | — | % | $ | 1,384 | $ | 1,162 | 19 | % | |||||||||
Mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefit loss, net | 97 | 115 | 115 | 304 | |||||||||||||||||
Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net | 45 | 183 | 183 | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
Acquisition integration and transaction costs | 9 | 28 | 28 | 46 | |||||||||||||||||
Additional costs of acquired inventories | — | 7 | 7 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings excluding non-core items | $ | 1,534 | $ | 1,717 | (11 | )% | $ | 1,717 | $ | 1,613 | 6 | % |
Net Interest Expense
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | Change | 2015 | 2014 | Change | |||||||||||||||
Gross interest costs | $ | 288 | $ | 286 | $ | 286 | $ | 210 | |||||||||||||
Less: Capitalized interest | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 281 | 279 | 1 | % | 279 | 203 | 37 | % | |||||||||||||
Less: Interest income | 26 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |||||||||||||||||
Net interest expense | $ | 255 | $ | 263 | (3 | )% | $ | 263 | $ | 187 | 41 | % | |||||||||
Less: Taminco acquisition financing costs | — | — | — | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
Net interest expense excluding non-core item | $ | 255 | $ | 263 | (3 | )% | $ | 263 | $ | 184 | 43 | % |
Net interest expense decreased $8 million in 2016 compared to 2015 as a result of the Company refinancing certain outstanding public debt with proceeds of the sale of new euro-denominated debt securities and term loan borrowings. These transactions will result in an estimated net reduction of interest expense of approximately $20 million in 2017.
Net interest expense increased $76 million in 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to interest on the additional $3 billion of debt incurred in fourth quarter 2014 to finance the Taminco acquisition.
Early Debt Extinguishment and Other Related Costs
In November 2016, the Company sold additional euro-denominated 1.50% notes due May 2023 in the principal amount of €200 million ($213 million) and euro-denominated 1.875% notes due November 2026 in the principal amount of €500 million ($534 million). In December 2016, the Company borrowed $300 million under a second five-year term loan agreement ("2021 Term Loan"). Proceeds from the notes and 2021 Term Loan borrowings were used for the early repayment of the 2.4% notes due June 2017 ($500 million principal) and 6.30% notes due November 2018 ($160 million principal) and partial redemptions of 4.5% notes due January 2021 ($65 million principal), 3.6% notes due August 2022 ($150 million principal), 7 1/4% debentures due January 2024 ($47 million principal), 7 5/8% debentures due June 2024 ($11 million principal), 3.8% notes due March 2025 ($100 million principal), and 7.60% debentures due February 2027 ($28 million principal). The early repayments resulted in a charge of $76 million for early debt extinguishment costs and related derivatives and hedging items.
44
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
On May 26, 2016, the Company sold euro-denominated 1.50% notes due 2023 in the principal amount of €550 million ($614 million). Proceeds from the sale of the notes, net of transaction costs, were used for the early repayment of $500 million of 2.4% notes due June 2017 and repayment of other borrowings. The early repayment resulted in a charge of $9 million for early debt extinguishment costs primarily attributable to the early redemption premium and related unamortized costs.
For additional information regarding the early debt extinguishment costs, see Note 9, "Borrowings", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
Other (Income) Charges, Net
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net | $ | 27 | $ | 6 | $ | (7 | ) | ||||
Financing costs related to the acquisition of Taminco | — | — | 10 | ||||||||
(Income) loss from equity investments and other investment (gains) losses, net | (15 | ) | (15 | ) | (13 | ) | |||||
Gain from sale of equity investment in Primester joint venture | (17 | ) | — | — | |||||||
Other, net | (1 | ) | 1 | (5 | ) | ||||||
Other (income) charges, net | $ | (6 | ) | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (15 | ) | ||
Financing costs related to the acquisition of Taminco | — | — | (10 | ) | |||||||
Cost of disposition of claims against discontinued Solutia operations | (5 | ) | — | — | |||||||
Gain from sale of equity investment in Primester joint venture | 17 | — | — | ||||||||
Other (income) charges, net excluding non-core items | $ | 6 | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (25 | ) |
Included in other (income) charges, net are losses or gains on foreign exchange transactions, equity investments, business venture investments, and non-operating assets. Net losses from foreign exchange non-qualifying derivatives were partially offset by foreign currency transaction gains, net, which include the revaluation of foreign entity assets and liabilities, both items impacted primarily by the euro in 2016. See Note 10, "Derivative and Non-Derivative Financial Instruments", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
Included in 2016 other (income) charges, net is a gain of $17 million from the sale of the Company's interest in the Primester joint venture equity investment. For additional information, see Note 6, "Equity Investments", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report. Also included in 2016 other charges (income), net is cost of disposition of claims against operations that were discontinued by Solutia prior to the Company's acquisition of Solutia in 2012.
Provision for Income Taxes from Continuing Operations
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | Change | 2015 | 2014 | Change | |||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes from continuing operations | $ | 190 | $ | 275 | (31 | )% | $ | 275 | $ | 235 | 17 | % | |||||||||
Effective tax rate | 18 | % | 24 | % | 24 | % | 24 | % |
The 2016 effective tax rate was lower than 2015 due to a benefit in the foreign rate variance as a result of higher earnings in foreign jurisdictions partially offset by a reduction in the U.S. federal tax manufacturing deduction due to a decrease in domestic taxable income. The 2016 effective tax rate includes a tax benefit of $16 million related to foreign tax credits as a result of the amendment of prior year income tax returns, a $16 million one-time benefit for the restoration of tax basis for which depreciation deductions were previously limited, and a $9 million tax benefit primarily due to adjustments to the tax provision to reflect the finalization of 2014 foreign income tax returns.
45
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The effective tax rate was 24 percent for both 2015 and 2014. The 2015 effective tax rate reflected a benefit from both the U.S. federal tax manufacturing deduction due to an increase in domestic taxable income and increased U.S. federal tax credits, compared to 2014. This was offset by a reduction in the foreign rate variance as a result of an unfavorable shift in foreign income to higher tax jurisdictions and limited benefit from the asset impairment of the Workington, UK acetate tow manufacturing facility. Both years reflect a benefit from the extension of favorable U.S. federal tax provisions, which resulted in a net benefit of approximately $15 million primarily related to R&D credits, and deferral of certain earnings of foreign subsidiaries from U.S. income taxes.
Earnings from Continuing Operations and Diluted Earnings per Share
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | $ | EPS | $ | EPS | $ | EPS | |||||||||||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations, net of tax | $ | 854 | $ | 5.75 | $ | 848 | $ | 5.66 | $ | 749 | $ | 4.95 | |||||||||||
Mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefit loss, net of tax (1) | 68 | 0.46 | 70 | 0.47 | 202 | 1.34 | |||||||||||||||||
Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net of tax (1) | 28 | 0.19 | 151 | 1.00 | 63 | 0.42 | |||||||||||||||||
Acquisition transaction, integration, and financing costs, net of tax (2) | 5 | 0.04 | 18 | 0.12 | 39 | 0.26 | |||||||||||||||||
Additional costs of acquired inventories, net of tax (2) | — | — | 4 | 0.03 | 15 | 0.10 | |||||||||||||||||
Early debt extinguishment and other related costs, net of tax (2) (3) | 56 | 0.37 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of disposition of claims against discontinued Solutia operations, net of tax (2) | 3 | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Gain from sale of equity investment in Primester joint venture, net of tax (2) | (11 | ) | (0.07 | ) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations excluding non-core items, net of tax | $ | 1,003 | $ | 6.76 | $ | 1,091 | $ | 7.28 | $ | 1,068 | $ | 7.07 |
(1) | Blended tax rates for the tax jurisdictions where the expenses are deductible were used. |
(2) | A U.S. corporate tax rate comprised of the U.S. federal rate plus a blended state rate was used. |
(3) | For more information, see Note 9, "Borrowings", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report. |
Net Earnings and Diluted Earnings per Share
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | $ | EPS | $ | EPS | $ | EPS | |||||||||||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations, net of tax | $ | 854 | $ | 5.75 | $ | 848 | $ | 5.66 | $ | 749 | $ | 4.95 | |||||||||||
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0.02 | |||||||||||||||||
Net earnings | $ | 854 | $ | 5.75 | $ | 848 | $ | 5.66 | $ | 751 | $ | 4.97 |
In 2014, the Company recognized $2 million, net of tax, in earnings from discontinued operations from final settlement of commercial litigation related to the previously discontinued polyethylene terephthalate ("PET") business.
SUMMARY BY OPERATING SEGMENT
The Company's products and operations are managed and reported in four operating segments: Additives & Functional Products ("AFP"), Advanced Materials ("AM"), Chemical Intermediates ("CI"), and Fibers. For additional financial and product information for each operating segment, see "Business - Business Segments" in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report and Note 20, "Segment Information", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
46
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Additives & Functional Products Segment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Change | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | $ | % | 2015 | 2014 | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 2,979 | $ | 3,159 | $ | (180 | ) | (6 | )% | $ | 3,159 | $ | 2,640 | $ | 519 | 20 | % | |||||||
Acquired business effect | — | — | % | 750 | 29 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Volume / product mix effect | 46 | 1 | % | (43 | ) | (2 | )% | |||||||||||||||||
Price effect | (214 | ) | (7 | )% | (97 | ) | (4 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Exchange rate effect | (12 | ) | — | % | (91 | ) | (3 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings | 601 | 660 | (59 | ) | (9 | )% | 660 | 462 | 198 | 43 | % | |||||||||||||
Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net | 10 | — | 10 | — | 62 | (62 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Additional costs of acquired inventories | — | — | — | — | 15 | (15 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings excluding non-core items | 611 | 660 | (49 | ) | (7 | )% | 660 | 539 | 121 | 22 | % |
2016 Compared to 2015
Sales revenue in 2016 decreased compared to 2015, due to lower selling prices primarily attributed to lower raw material prices and competitive pressure across the segment, particularly in Asia Pacific. The impact of lower selling prices was partially offset by higher sales volume across the segment.
Operating earnings in 2016 included $10 million of asset impairment and restructuring charges, net including the impairment of a capital project resulting in a charge of $12 million partially offset by a $2 million gain for the sale of previously impaired assets at the Crystex® insoluble sulfur R&D site in France. Excluding these non-core items, operating earnings decreased in 2016 compared to 2015 primarily due to lower selling prices more than offsetting lower raw material and energy costs by $74 million, partially offset by higher sales volumes of $20 million.
2015 Compared to 2014
Sales revenue in 2015 increased compared to 2014, primarily due to sales of products of the acquired Taminco specialty amines and crop protection businesses and aviation turbine oil business. These revenues were partially offset by lower coatings and inks products selling prices, primarily attributed to lower raw material prices, and an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates.
Operating earnings in 2015 increased compared to 2014. Operating earnings in 2014 included $62 million of asset impairments and restructuring charges, net, primarily $42 million for the closure of a Crystex® insoluble sulfur R&D facility in France and a $22 million intangible asset impairment of the Crystex® tradename. The impairment of the Crystex® tradename was a result of a decrease in projected revenue since the tradename was acquired. Operating earnings in 2014 included $7 million of additional costs of the acquired Taminco specialty amines and crop protection business inventories and $8 million of additional costs of the acquired aviation turbine oil business inventories.
Excluding non-core items, operating earnings increased in 2015 compared to 2014 primarily due to earnings of the acquired businesses, and lower raw material and energy costs exceeding lower selling prices. These items were partially offset by the negative impact of commodity hedges, primarily for propane and an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates.
47
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Growth Initiatives
In 2016, the Company continued expansion of the Crystex® insoluble sulfur rubber additives manufacturing facility in Kuantan, Malaysia, expected to be operational in second half 2017, and retrofitted part of an existing manufacturing facility in Nienburg, Germany. These actions are expected to allow the Company to capitalize on recent enhancements of technology for the manufacture of Crystex® insoluble sulfur by improving the Company's cost position and introducing new products for the tire markets.
An example of the Company's continuing innovation and market development efforts is the recently commercialized Eastman Tetrashield™ performance polyester resins. These polyester resins provide a combination of improved performance and sustainability, particularly for the automotive coatings, industrial, and food packaging markets. Additional examples where the Company is pursuing innovation through other technologies include next generation Crystex® and resins and cellulose esters for tires.
The Company's global manufacturing presence is a key element of the AFP segment's growth strategy. For example, the segment expects to capitalize on industrial growth in Asia from its manufacturing capacity expansion in Kuantan, Malaysia and cellulose ester products sourced from our low cost cellulose and acetyl manufacturing stream in North America.
Advanced Materials Segment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Change | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | $ | % | 2015 | 2014 | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 2,457 | $ | 2,414 | $ | 43 | 2 | % | $ | 2,414 | $ | 2,378 | $ | 36 | 2 | % | ||||||||
Acquired business effect | — | — | % | 123 | 5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Volume / product mix effect | 119 | 5 | % | 88 | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Price effect | (67 | ) | (3 | )% | (84 | ) | (3 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Exchange rate effect | (9 | ) | — | % | (91 | ) | (4 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings | 471 | 384 | 87 | 23 | % | 384 | 276 | 108 | 39 | % | ||||||||||||||
Additional costs of acquired inventories | — | 7 | (7 | ) | 7 | 1 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net | — | 18 | (18 | ) | 18 | 16 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings excluding non-core items | 471 | 409 | 62 | 15 | % | 409 | 293 | 116 | 40 | % |
2016 Compared to 2015
Sales revenue in 2016 increased compared to 2015 due to higher sales volume of premium products, including Eastman Tritan® copolyester, Saflex® acoustic interlayers, and automotive performance films, partially offset by lower selling prices, primarily for other copolyesters, primarily attributed to lower raw material prices.
Operating earnings in 2015 included $18 million of indefinite-lived intangible asset impairments, primarily to reduce the carrying value of trade names in the window films market to their estimated current fair value. Operating earnings in 2015 also included additional costs of acquired Commonwealth inventories of $7 million.
Excluding these non-core items, operating earnings in 2016 increased compared to 2015 primarily due to the combined impact of higher sales volume and improved product mix of premium products and lower unit costs due to higher capacity utilization of $71 million.
48
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
2015 Compared to 2014
Sales revenue in 2015 increased compared to 2014, due to sales of products of the acquired Commonwealth performance films business and increased sales volume, partially offset by an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates and lower selling prices, primarily for copolyesters, primarily attributed to lower raw material prices.
Operating earnings in 2015 increased compared to 2014. Operating earnings in 2015 included $18 million of indefinite-lived intangible asset impairments, primarily to reduce the carrying value of tradenames in the window films market to their estimated current fair value. Operating earnings in 2015 also included additional costs of acquired Commonwealth inventories of $7 million. Included in 2014 operating earnings are asset impairments, including intangible assets, and restructuring charges of $12 million primarily for the closure of a production facility in Taiwan for the Flexvue® product line and $4 million of asset impairments related to a change in estimate of certain costs for the fourth quarter 2012 termination of the operating agreement for the São Jose dos Campos, Brazil site.
Excluding these non-core items, operating earnings in 2015 increased compared to 2014 due to lower raw material and energy costs exceeding lower selling prices by $76 million and higher sales volume and improved product mix, especially relative increased sales of optical film solutions and premium interlayers products, of $46 million. Operating earnings also benefited from earnings of the acquired business. These items were partially offset by the negative impact of commodity hedges of $22 million and an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates of $13 million.
Growth Initiatives
The acquisition of Commonwealth in December 2014 further expanded the AM segment's product portfolio and channel network in the diverse window film markets, enabled further manufacturing and distribution efficiencies, and added industry leading paint protection film technology to expand AM segment offerings in after-market automotive and protective film markets.
The Company is continuing an additional 60,000 metric ton expansion of Eastman Tritan® copolyester capacity at the Kingsport, Tennessee manufacturing facility expected to be operational in first half 2018 to meet expected future demand in the durable goods and health and wellness markets. Through recent debottlenecks and working capital management, management expects to have adequate Eastman Tritan® copolyester manufacturing capacity to meet demand growth in advance of the capacity expansion in 2018.
The Company continued construction of a manufacturing facility for polyvinyl butyral ("PVB") resin at the Kuantan, Malaysia site expected to be operational in second half 2017. This manufacturing capacity will support expected global growth in the transportation and building and construction markets and allow the Company to better serve customers in the Asia Pacific region.
49
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Chemical Intermediates Segment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Change | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | $ | % | 2015 | 2014 | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 2,534 | $ | 2,811 | $ | (277 | ) | (10 | )% | $ | 2,811 | $ | 3,034 | $ | (223 | ) | (7 | )% | ||||||
Acquired business effect | — | — | % | 373 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Volume / product mix effect | 48 | 2 | % | (47 | ) | (1 | )% | |||||||||||||||||
Price effect | (317 | ) | (11 | )% | (527 | ) | (17 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Exchange rate effect | (8 | ) | (1 | )% | (22 | ) | (1 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings | 171 | 294 | (123 | ) | (42 | )% | 294 | 352 | (58 | ) | (16 | )% | ||||||||||||
Additional costs of acquired inventories | — | — | — | — | 8 | (8 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings excluding non-core items | 171 | 294 | (123 | ) | (42 | )% | 294 | 360 | (66 | ) | (18 | )% |
2016 Compared to 2015
Sales revenue in 2016 decreased compared to 2015, due to lower selling prices partially offset by higher sales volume of olefin-based and functional amines products. The lower selling prices were primarily attributed to the lower raw material prices and competitive pressures due to lower oil prices for most of the year.
Operating earnings decreased in 2016 compared to 2015 primarily due to lower selling prices more than offsetting lower raw material and energy costs by $181 million, partially offset by the reduced impact of commodity hedge losses on raw material costs of $28 million and higher sales volume of $16 million.
2015 Compared to 2014
Sales revenue in 2015 decreased compared to 2014, primarily due to lower selling prices more than offsetting sales of products of the acquired Taminco functional amines business. The lower selling prices were primarily in response to lower raw material prices and competitive pressures resulting from weakened demand in Asia Pacific.
Operating earnings in 2014 included $8 million of additional costs of the acquired Taminco functional amines product lines inventories. Excluding this non-core item, operating earnings decreased in 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to the negative impact of commodity hedges, primarily for propane, partially offset by earnings from the acquired Taminco functional amines businesses and lower raw material and energy costs exceeding lower selling prices.
Cost and Strategic Initiatives
In 2016, the Company announced that as part of its strategy to increase emphasis on specialty businesses and products it is pursuing strategic options to divest or otherwise monetize its excess ethylene capacity position and certain commodity olefin intermediates product lines. Eastman will retain its cost-advantaged integrated position to propylene which supports specialty derivatives throughout the Company. This process is expected to continue through first half 2017.
In 2012, the Company entered into an agreement with Enterprise Products Partners L.P. to purchase propylene from a planned propane dehydrogenation plant to further improve the Company's long-term competitive cost position. This plant is expected to be operational in 2017. Prior to completion of the plant, the Company continues to benefit from a propylene market contract with an advantaged cost position for purchased propylene.
50
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Fibers Segment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 Compared to 2015 | 2015 Compared to 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | Change | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | $ | % | 2015 | 2014 | $ | % | |||||||||||||||||
Sales | $ | 992 | $ | 1,219 | $ | (227 | ) | (19 | )% | $ | 1,219 | $ | 1,457 | $ | (238 | ) | (16 | )% | ||||||
Volume / product mix effect | (150 | ) | (13 | )% | (219 | ) | (15 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Price effect | (74 | ) | (6 | )% | (10 | ) | (1 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Exchange rate effect | (3 | ) | — | % | (9 | ) | — | % | ||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings | 310 | 292 | 18 | 6 | % | 292 | 474 | (182 | ) | (38 | )% | |||||||||||||
Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net | — | 98 | (98 | ) | 98 | — | 98 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings excluding non-core item | 310 | 390 | (80 | ) | (21 | )% | 390 | 474 | (84 | ) | (18 | )% |
2016 Compared to 2015
Sales revenue in 2016 decreased compared to 2015, primarily due to lower sales volume and lower selling prices, particularly for acetate tow. Lower acetate tow sales volume was primarily due to reduced sales in China attributed to weaker demand and customer backward integration and inventory destocking. Lower acetate tow selling prices were primarily due to lower industry capacity utilization rates.
Excluding the non-core item, operating earnings in 2016 decreased compared to 2015 due primarily to approximately $90 million of lower sales volume and lower selling prices exceeding lower raw material and energy costs, partially offset by lower operating costs resulting from changes in segment business operations and assets.
2015 Compared to 2014
Sales revenue in 2015 decreased compared to 2014, primarily due to lower acetate tow sales volume attributed to customer inventory destocking, especially in China, and lower acetyl chemicals sales volume due to decreased sales to the cellulose acetate flake joint venture in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Operating earnings in 2015 included asset impairments and restructuring charges, net of $98 million for the closure of the Workington, UK acetate tow manufacturing site. Excluding this non-core item, operating earnings in 2015 decreased compared to 2014 primarily due to $112 million of lower acetate tow and acetyl chemicals sales volume, partially offset by approximately $10 million of cost savings resulting from closure of the Workington, UK acetate tow manufacturing facility in 2015.
Cost Initiatives
As a result of challenging market conditions for acetate tow, the Company closed its Workington, UK acetate tow manufacturing facility in 2015. Management expected annual cost savings in the Fibers segment of approximately $20 million as a result of the closure, which cost savings have been realized as of the end of 2016. Following an increase in flake capacity at the Kingsport, Tennessee site in 2015, the Fibers segment could supply all its acetate tow and yarn spinning capacity from this low cost flake asset. In order to fully utilize the increased capacity and reduce fixed costs, in June 2016, the Company sold its 50 percent interest in Primester, which manufactures cellulose acetate at the Company's Kingsport, Tennessee site.
51
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Other
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Sales | $ | 46 | $ | 45 | $ | 18 | ||||||
Operating loss | ||||||||||||
Growth initiatives and businesses not allocated to operating segments | $ | (82 | ) | $ | (87 | ) | $ | (58 | ) | |||
Pension and other postretirement benefits expenses, net not allocated to operating segments | (44 | ) | (76 | ) | (293 | ) | ||||||
Restructuring and acquisition integration and transaction costs | (44 | ) | (83 | ) | (51 | ) | ||||||
Operating loss before non-core items | (170 | ) | (246 | ) | (402 | ) | ||||||
Mark-to-market pension and other postretirement benefit plans loss, net | 97 | 115 | 304 | |||||||||
Acquisition integration and transaction costs | 9 | 28 | 46 | |||||||||
Asset impairments and restructuring charges, net | 35 | 67 | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Operating loss excluding non-core items | $ | (29 | ) | $ | (36 | ) | $ | (53 | ) |
Sales revenue and costs related to growth initiatives, R&D costs, certain components of pension and other postretirement benefits, and other expenses and income not identifiable to an operating segment are not included in segment operating results for any of the periods presented and are included in "Other". Sales revenue in 2016 and 2015 is primarily sales from the microfiber technology platform. Sales revenue in 2015 increased compared to 2014, primarily due to sales of products of the acquired Knowlton business, part of the Eastman microfiber technology platform.
Included in 2016 operating losses are restructuring costs of $34 million primarily for severance resulting from the Company's previously announced plan to reduce costs, primarily in 2017. Also included in 2016 operating losses were transaction costs for final resolution of the 2011 Sterling Chemicals, Inc. acquisition purchase price and integration costs for the Commonwealth business acquired in December 2014.
Included in 2015 operating losses are integration and transaction costs of $28 million, primarily for the acquired Taminco and Commonwealth businesses. Included in 2015 operating losses are $51 million of severance costs for a corporate reduction in force, $11 million of asset impairments and restructuring charges resulting from management's decision not to continue a growth initiative, and $4 million of severance associated with the integration of Taminco.
Included in 2014 operating losses were transaction costs of $22 million for the acquisitions of Taminco, Commonwealth, the aviation turbine oil business, and Knowlton. Also included in 2014 operating losses were integration costs of $24 million for the acquired Solutia, aviation turbine oil, Commonwealth, Knowlton, and Taminco businesses. Included in 2014 operating losses were $4 million for severance related to the integration of Solutia. Included in 2014 was a $5 million gain for sales of previously impaired assets at the former Photovoltaics production facility in Germany.
The Company continues to explore and invest in R&D initiatives that are aligned with macro trends in sustainability, consumerism, and energy efficiency such as high performance materials and advanced cellulosics. An example of such an initiative is the Eastman microfiber technology platform which leverages the Company's core competency in polyesters, spinning capability, and in-house application expertise, for use in a wide range of applications including liquid and air filtration, high strength packaging in nonwovens, and performance apparel in textiles.
52
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
SALES BY CUSTOMER LOCATION
Sales Revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | $ | % | 2015 | 2014 | $ | % | |||||||||||||||||||
United States and Canada | $ | 4,025 | $ | 4,350 | $ | (325 | ) | (7 | )% | $ | 4,350 | $ | 4,384 | $ | (34 | ) | (1 | )% | |||||||||
Asia Pacific | 2,163 | 2,333 | (170 | ) | (7 | )% | 2,333 | 2,540 | (207 | ) | (8 | )% | |||||||||||||||
Europe, Middle East, and Africa | 2,305 | 2,422 | (117 | ) | (5 | )% | 2,422 | 2,091 | 331 | 16 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Latin America | 515 | 543 | (28 | ) | (5 | )% | 543 | 512 | 31 | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||||
$ | 9,008 | $ | 9,648 | $ | (640 | ) | (7 | )% | $ | 9,648 | $ | 9,527 | $ | 121 | 1 | % |
2016 Compared to 2015
Sales revenue in United States and Canada decreased in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to lower selling prices in all operating segments, particularly in the CI and AFP segments.
Sales revenue in Asia Pacific decreased in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to lower selling prices in all operating segments and lower Fibers segment sales volume partially offset by higher sales volume in the other operating segments.
Sales revenue in Europe, Middle East, and Africa decreased in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to lower selling prices in all operating segments.
Sales revenue in Latin America decreased in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to lower selling prices in all operating segments, particularly in the CI and AFP segments, partially offset by higher CI, Fibers, and AFP segments sales volume.
2015 Compared to 2014
Sales revenue in United States and Canada decreased slightly in 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to lower selling prices in all operating segments, particularly in the CI segment, mostly offset by sales of products of the acquired Taminco, Commonwealth, Knowlton, and aviation turbine oil businesses.
Sales revenue in Asia Pacific decreased in 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to lower Fibers segment sales volume, particularly for acetate tow, and lower selling prices, partially offset by sales of products of the acquired Taminco, Commonwealth and aviation turbine oil businesses.
Sales revenue in Europe, Middle East, and Africa increased in 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to sales of products of the acquired Taminco businesses, partially offset by an unfavorable shift in foreign currency exchange rates.
Sales revenue in Latin America increased slightly in 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to sales of products of the acquired Taminco and Commonwealth businesses, partially offset by lower sales volume and lower selling prices in all operating segments.
See "Business - Business Segments" in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report for regional segment sales revenues by customer location.
53
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES, AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Cash Flows
(Dollars in millions) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in): | |||||||||||
Operating activities | $ | 1,385 | $ | 1,624 | $ | 1,433 | |||||
Investing activities | (655 | ) | (693 | ) | (4,091 | ) | |||||
Financing activities | (838 | ) | (844 | ) | 2,639 | ||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (4 | ) | (8 | ) | (4 | ) | |||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | (112 | ) | 79 | (23 | ) | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 293 | 214 | 237 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 181 | $ | 293 | $ | 214 |
2016 Compared to 2015
Cash provided by operating activities decreased $239 million in 2016 compared with 2015. The decrease in cash from operating activities was primarily due to lower net earnings excluding non-core items in 2016 compared with 2015 and management's decision to contribute an additional $150 million to the Company's U.S. defined pension plans in fourth quarter 2016 rather than in future years.
Cash used in investing activities decreased $38 million in 2016 compared with 2015. The decrease was primarily due to $37 million higher proceeds primarily from the sale of Primester, $26 million less additions to properties and equipment, and $19 million less cash used for acquisitions partially offset by $44 million of cash used for the December 2016 settlement of a 2017 forward starting interest rate swap in connection with early debt repayment, which was included in "Other items, net" in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Total financing cash used in 2016 was similar to that of 2015 with $77 million less used in the net repayment of borrowings offset by increases in share repurchases and dividend payments of $42 million and $34 million, respectively. Cash used in financing activities in 2016 included cash used in repayment of $1.6 billion of outstanding debt (including $67 million early redemption premium and related fees), $400 million total repayments of accounts receivable securitization agreement (the "A/R Facility") borrowings, repayment of $100 million of the first five-year term loan agreement ("2019 Term Loan") borrowings, and $150 million net decrease in commercial paper borrowings partially offset by proceeds from the $1.3 billion sale of public debt securities due 2023 and 2026, $298 million of 2021 Term Loan borrowings net of issuance fees, and $200 million of A/R Facility borrowings. For additional information, see Note 9, "Borrowings", to the Company's consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
2015 Compared to 2014
Cash provided by operating activities increased $191 million in 2015 compared with 2014. The increase in cash from operating activities was primarily due to higher earnings and lower working capital requirements partially offset by higher interest payments. The decrease in working capital requirements was primarily due to the impact of declining raw material and energy costs in 2015 compared with 2014. Interest payments were higher in 2015 as compared with 2014 primarily due to a full year of interest payments on borrowings for the 2014 acquisitions.
Cash used in investing activities decreased $3.4 billion in 2015 compared with 2014. The decrease was primarily due to cash used for acquisitions in 2014. Cash used for additions to properties and equipment was $652 million in 2015 and $593 million in 2014.
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Cash used in financing activities was $844 million in 2015 compared with cash provided by financing activities of $2.6 billion in 2014. The increase in cash used is primarily due to the repayment of borrowings in 2015 compared to proceeds from borrowings in 2014 used for acquisitions. During 2015, the Company repaid $650 million of borrowings under the 2019 Term Loan agreement and the $250 million 3% notes due 2015 using available cash and $200 million borrowings under the A/R Facility and $195 million commercial paper borrowings. During 2014, the Company had net proceeds of $3.4 billion from new debt and repaid $190 million of commercial paper borrowings. Share repurchases totaled $103 million in 2015 compared with $410 million in 2014. Dividend payments were $238 million in 2015 and $210 million in 2014.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company had cash and cash equivalents as follows:
(Dollars in millions) | December 31, | ||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 181 | $ | 293 |