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TABLE OF CONTENTS
HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-125652
PROSPECTUS
Huntsman International LLC
Exchange Offer for
$175,000,000 73/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015
and
€135,000,000 71/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015
This exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City Time,
on August 26, 2005, unless extended.
Terms of the exchange offer:
See the "Description of New Notes" section on page 127 for more information about the new notes to be issued in this exchange offer.
This investment involves risks. See the section entitled "Risk Factors" that begins on page 13 for a discussion of the risks that you should consider prior to tendering your old notes for exchange.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or the accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is July 28, 2005
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the new notes it receives. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes where such old notes were acquired by the broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 120 days after the consummation of the exchange offer, we will make this prospectus, as amended and supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
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In this prospectus, the terms "we," "us," "our" and the "Company" refer to Huntsman International LLC, the issuer of the new notes, and its subsidiaries. The following summary highlights selected information from this prospectus and may not contain all the information that is important to you. This prospectus contains information regarding our business and detailed financial information. You should carefully read this entire document.
Our Business
We are a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and commodity chemicals. We manage our business through four segments: Polyurethanes, Performance Products, Pigments and Base Chemicals. We manufacture our products at facilities located primarily in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa and sell our products throughout the world.
Our Products and Segments
Our business is organized around our four segments: Polyurethanes, Performance Products, Pigments and Base Chemicals. These segments can be divided into two broad categories: differentiated and commodity. We produce differentiated products primarily in our Polyurethanes and Performance Products segments. These products serve diverse end markets and are generally characterized by historical growth in excess of GDP growth resulting from product substitution and new product development, proprietary manufacturing processes and product formulations and a high degree of customer loyalty. Demand for these products tends to be driven by the value-added attributes that they create in our customers' end-use applications. While the demand for these differentiated products is also influenced by worldwide economic conditions and GDP growth, our differentiated products have tended to produce more stable profit margins and higher demand growth rates than our commodity products.
In our commodity chemical businesses, we produce titanium dioxide derived from titanium-bearing ores in our Pigments segment and petrochemical-based olefins, aromatics and polyolefins products in our Polymers and Base Chemicals segments. Since the coatings industry consumes a substantial portion of titanium dioxide production, seasonal demand patterns in the coatings industry drive the profitability of our Pigments segment; profitability is also driven by industry-wide operating rates, with a lag of up to twelve months due to the effects of stocking and destocking by customers and suppliers. The profitability of our Base Chemicals products is cyclical and has been experiencing a down cycle for the last several years, resulting primarily from significant new capacity additions, a decrease in demand reflecting weak global economic conditions and high raw material costs. Certain industry fundamentals have recently improved and, we believe, point to increased profitability in the markets for the major commodity products that we manufacture.
Our Company
History
Our Company, Huntsman International LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company. It was formed in 1999 in connection with a transaction between Huntsman International Holdings, LLC ("HIH"), Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corporation ("Huntsman Specialty") and Imperial Chemical Industries PLC ("ICI"). In that transaction, on June 30, 1999, HIH acquired ICI's polyurethane chemicals, selected petrochemicals and titanium dioxide ("TiO2" or "Tioxide") businesses and Huntsman Specialty's propylene oxide ("PO") business. HIH also acquired the 20% ownership interest of BP Chemicals Limited in an olefins facility located at Wilton, U.K. and certain related assets. HIH then transferred the acquired businesses to us and to our subsidiaries. In August 2000, we completed our acquisition of the Morton global TPU business from The Rohm and Haas Company; in
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February 2001, we completed our acquisition of the global ethyleneamines business of Dow Chemical Company; and, in April 2001, we completed our acquisition of the Albright & Wilson European surfactants business from Rhodia S.A.
Recent Developments
Sale of TDI Business
On July 1, 2005, we entered into a binding agreement with BASF Corporation to sell our toluene di-isocyanate ("TDI") business. Pursuant to the agreement, we agreed to transfer our TDI customer list, customer sales contracts and other related assets. Our Geismar, Louisiana-based TDI manufacturing plant will not be sold but will be closed and dismantled. The sale closed on July 6, 2005.
We expect to incur aggregate charges of approximately $39 million in connection with the sale, including a $37 million loss in the second quarter of 2005, with the remaining $2 million to be recorded by the second quarter of 2006.
Proposed Merger of Huntsman LLC and Huntsman International
On June 17, 2005, Huntsman Corporation announced that it was soliciting consents from the holders of the outstanding senior secured and unsecured notes of Huntsman LLC ("HLLC") in connection with a proposed merger of HLLC with and into us. Both HLLC and we are currently direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Huntsman Corporation, are financed as separate entities and have separate SEC reporting obligations. The merger will simplify Huntsman Corporation's financing and SEC reporting structure and will facilitate cost reductions for Huntsman Corporation's bank credit facilities and other financing arrangements and other organizational efficiencies.
Huntsman Corporation received the necessary consents in early July and is now seeking to obtain a new secured credit facility for HLLC and us (the "Combined Company"). Huntsman Corporation would expect to obtain the new credit facility and complete the proposed merger during the third quarter of 2005. However, no assurance can be given that the new credit facility will be obtained on terms acceptable to Huntsman Corporation, or at all. If the new credit facility is not obtained, the proposed merger will not occur.
Huntsman Corporation's 90%-owned subsidiary Huntsman Advanced Materials LLC ("AdMat") is not involved in the proposed merger and will remain a separately financed subsidiary of Huntsman Corporation. However, the consents that Huntsman Corporation received in connection with the proposed merger would also facilitate the merger of AdMat into the Combined Company under certain conditions, should Huntsman Corporation choose to pursue such a merger in the future.
Voluntary Prepayment on Senior Secured Credit Facilities
On June 6, 2005, we made a $100 million dollar equivalent voluntary prepayment to the term B loan under our senior secured credit facilities. The balance outstanding on our senior secured credit facilities as of March 31, 2005 was $1,235.9 million. After application of this prepayment, the pro forma balance as of March 31, 2005 would have been $1,135.9 million.
Huntsman Corporation Initial Public Offering
On February 16, 2005, Huntsman Corporation, our ultimate parent corporation, completed an initial public offering of 55,681,819 shares of its common stock sold by Huntsman Corporation and 13,579,546 shares of its common stock sold by a selling stockholder, in each case at a price to the public of $23 per share, and 5,750,000 shares of its 5% mandatory convertible preferred stock sold by Huntsman Corporation at a price to the public of $50 per share. Net proceeds to Huntsman Corporation from the offering were approximately $1,500 million, substantially all of which was used to
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repay outstanding indebtedness of certain of Huntsman Corporation's subsidiaries, including HMP Equity Holdings Corporation ("HMP"), HLLC and HIH.
Dividend to HIH
On February 28, 2005, we paid a dividend in the amount of $35 million to HIH. The dividend was used together with proceeds from the Huntsman Corporation initial public offering to redeem the HIH senior discount notes due 2009.
MDI Initiative
On March 14, 2005, we announced an initiative designed to significantly increase our global capacity for the manufacture of diphenylmethane diisocyanate ("MDI"). The initiative involves expansions at our two major MDI manufacturing facilities located in Geismar, Louisiana and Rozenburg, Netherlands. We expect that the capacity of our Geismar plant will be expanded by 130 million pounds per year to 990 million pounds per year, while the capacity of the Rozenburg plant will be expanded by 220 million pounds per year to 880 million pounds per year. The capacity expansions will be completed in increments beginning in the first quarter of 2005, with final completion expected by late 2006. These expansions are in addition to our previously announced investments in our Chinese MDI joint ventures.
Ownership
All of our membership interests are owned by HIH. Initially in 1999, HIH was owned 60% by Huntsman Specialty, 30% by ICI and 10% by institutional investors. In 2002, HMP purchased approximately 1% of the HIH membership interests held by an institutional investor. On May 9, 2003, HMP exercised an option and purchased the ICI subsidiary ("Alta One") that held ICI's 30% membership interest in HIH. At that time, HMP also purchased the remaining approximately 9% of the HIH membership interests held by institutional investors. As a result, HMP owned directly, and indirectly through its ownership of Huntsman Specialty and Alta One, 100% of the HIH membership interests.
In connection with Huntsman Corporation's initial public offering, Huntsman Corporation and certain affiliates completed a series of reorganization transactions. As a result of these reorganization transactions, our Company now is owned 58% by Huntsman Corporation and 42% by Huntsman LLC. The chart below shows our current organizational structure:
Our principal executive offices are located at 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, and our telephone number is (801) 584-5700.
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The Exchange Offer
Securities Offered | $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of new dollar notes and €135,000,000 aggregate principal amount of new euro notes, all of which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The terms of the new notes offered in the exchange offer are substantially identical to those of the old notes, except that certain transfer restrictions, registration rights and liquidated damages provisions relating to the old notes do not apply to the new registered notes. | |||
The Exchange Offer |
We are offering to issue registered notes in exchange for a like principal amount and like denomination of our old notes. We are offering to issue these registered notes to satisfy our obligations under an exchange and registration rights agreement that we entered into with the initial purchasers of the old notes when we sold them in a transaction that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. You may tender your old notes for exchange by following the procedures described under the heading "The Exchange Offer." |
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Tenders; Expiration Date; Withdrawal |
The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 26, 2005, unless we extend it. If you decide to exchange your old notes for new notes, you must acknowledge that you are not engaging in, and do not intend to engage in, a distribution of the new notes. You may withdraw any notes that you tender for exchange at any time prior to August 26, 2005. If we decide for any reason not to accept any old notes you have tendered for exchange, those notes will be returned to you without cost promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer. See "The Exchange OfferTerms of the Exchange Offer" and "Withdrawal Rights" for a more complete description of the tender and withdrawal provisions. |
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Conditions to the Exchange Offer |
The exchange offer is subject to customary conditions and we may terminate or amend the exchange offer if any of these conditions occur prior to the expiration of the exchange offer. These conditions include any change in applicable law or legal interpretation or governmental or regulatory actions that would impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer, any general suspension or general limitation relating to trading of securities on any national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market or a declaration of war or other hostilities involving the United States. We may waive any of these conditions in our sole discretion. |
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Procedures for Tendering Old Notes |
A holder who wishes to tender old dollar notes in the exchange offer must transmit to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (the "dollar exchange agent") an agent's message, transmitted by a book-entry transfer facility, which agent's message must be received by the dollar exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. In addition, the dollar exchange agent must receive a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of the old notes into the dollar exchange agent's account at The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, under the procedures for book-entry transfers described in "The Exchange OfferHow to Tender Old Notes for Exchange." |
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Old dollar notes may be tendered by electronic transmission of acceptance through DTC's Automated Tender Offer Program, which we refer to as ATOP. Custodial entities that are participants in DTC must tender old notes through ATOP. A letter of transmittal need not accompany tenders effected through ATOP. Please carefully follow the instructions contained in this document on how to tender your securities. See "The Exchange OfferDTC Book Entry Transfers." |
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To tender book-entry interests in old euro notes in the exchange offer, the holder of the old euro notes on the records of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg must contact either Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg to arrange to block such holder's account. In lieu of delivering a letter of transmittal to Citibank, N.A. (the "euro exchange agent"), you must, unless otherwise instructed by Euroclear or Clearstream Luxembourg, notify Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, to deliver to the euro exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, a computer-generated message, in which the holder of the old euro notes acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal. In all other cases, a letter of transmittal must be manually executed and received by the euro exchange agent before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. |
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U.S. Federal Tax Consequences |
Your exchange of old notes for new notes in the exchange offer will not result in any gain or loss to you for United States federal income tax purposes. See "Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences." |
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Use of Proceeds |
We will not receive any cash proceeds from the exchange offer. We will pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer. See "Use of Proceeds" for a discussion of the use of proceeds from the issuance of the old notes. |
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Dollar Exchange Agent |
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Euro Exchange Agent |
Citibank, N.A. |
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Consequences of Failure to Exchange |
Old notes that are not tendered or that are tendered but not accepted will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer that are described in the legend on those notes. In general, you may offer or sell your old notes only if they are registered under, or offered or sold under an exemption from, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We, however, will have no further obligation to register the old notes. If you do not participate in the exchange offer, the liquidity of your notes could be adversely affected. |
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Consequences of Exchanging Your Old Notes |
Based on interpretations of the SEC set forth in certain no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that you may offer for resale, resell or otherwise transfer the new notes that we issue in the exchange offer without complying with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act if you: |
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acquire the new notes issued in the exchange offer in the ordinary course of your business; |
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are not participating, do not intend to participate, and have no arrangement or understanding with anyone to participate, in the distribution of the new notes issued to you in the exchange offer; and |
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are not an "affiliate" of our Company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. |
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If any of these conditions are not satisfied and you transfer any new notes issued to you in the exchange offer without delivering a proper prospectus or without qualifying for a registration exemption, you may incur liability under the Securities Act. We will not be responsible for, or indemnify you against, any liability you may incur. |
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Any broker-dealer that acquires new notes in the exchange offer for its own account in exchange for old notes which it acquired through market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus when it resells or transfers any new notes. See "Plan of Distribution" for a description of the prospectus delivery obligations of broker-dealers in the exchange offer. |
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The New Notes
The terms of the new notes and those of the outstanding old notes are identical in all material respects, except:
A brief description of the material terms of the new notes follows:
Issuer | Huntsman International LLC. | |||
Notes Offered |
$175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 73/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015. |
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€135,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 71/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015. |
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Maturity |
January 1, 2015. |
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Interest Rate |
The new dollar notes bear interest at a rate of 73/8% per annum. The new euro notes bear interest at a rate of 71/2% per annum. |
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Interest Payment Dates |
We will pay interest on the notes each January 1 and July 1, beginning on July 1, 2005. |
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Guarantee |
The notes are guaranteed by our subsidiaries. If we cannot make payments on the notes when they are due, then our subsidiary guarantors are required to make payments on our behalf. |
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Optional Redemption |
Prior to January 1, 2008, we may, at our option and subject to certain requirements, use the net proceeds from (i) one or more offerings of qualified capital stock or (ii) capital contributions to our equity, to redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes of either series at a redemption price equal to 107.375% (for dollar notes) or 107.500% (for euro notes) of their face amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. See "Description of New NotesOptional Redemption." |
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On or after January 1, 2010, we may redeem some or all of the notes of either series, at our option, at any time at the redemption prices listed in "Description of New NotesOptional Redemption." |
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Prior to January 1, 2010, we may redeem some or all of the notes of either series, at our option, at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of their face amount plus a "make whole" premium. See "Description of New NotesOptional Redemption." |
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Ranking |
The notes will be: |
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our general unsecured senior subordinated obligations; |
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subordinated in right of payment to all our existing and future senior indebtedness and structurally subordinated to all liabilities (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries which are not guarantors (except with respect to indebtedness owed to us or other guarantors); |
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equal in right of payment to all our existing and future senior subordinated indebtedness; and |
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unconditionally guaranteed by the guarantors on a senior subordinated basis. |
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Since the notes are unsecured, in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency, our secured lenders will have a prior secured claim to any collateral securing the debt owed to them. |
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The guarantees will be: |
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the general unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the guarantors; |
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subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness of the guarantors; and |
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equal in right of payment to all existing and future senior subordinated indebtedness of the guarantors. |
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Since the guarantees are unsecured obligations of each guarantor, in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency, such guarantor's secured lenders will have a prior secured claim to any collateral securing the debt owed to them. |
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As of March 31, 2005, we and the guarantors had approximately $1,701.2 million of senior indebtedness outstanding (of which approximately $1,245.5 million is secured indebtedness), and our subsidiaries which are not guarantors had approximately $30.6 million of indebtedness outstanding, excluding intercompany indebtedness due to us or the guarantors. |
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Change of Control Offer |
If we undergo a change of control, we will be required to make an offer to purchase each holder's notes at a price equal to 101% of their face amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. See "Description of New NotesRepurchase at the Option of Holders upon a Change of Control." |
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Asset Sales |
We may have to use the net proceeds from asset sales to offer to repurchase the notes under certain circumstances at their face amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. See "Description of New NotesCertain CovenantsLimitation on Asset Sales." |
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Covenants |
The indenture governing the notes contains covenants that limit our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to: |
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incur additional indebtedness; |
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pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem, repurchase or issue our capital stock; |
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issue capital stock; |
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make certain investments; |
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create liens; |
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engage in transactions with affiliates; |
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enter into sale and leaseback transactions; |
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merge or consolidate; and |
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transfer or sell assets. |
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These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications, which are described in "Description of New NotesCertain Covenants." |
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Exchange Offer; Registration Rights |
Under the registration rights agreement, we have agreed to consummate the exchange offer within 45 days after the date on which the exchange offer registration statement is declared effective. In addition, we have agreed to file a "shelf registration statement" that would allow some or all of the old notes to be offered to the public if we are unable to complete the exchange offer or a change in applicable laws or legal interpretation occurs that would limit the intended effects or availability of the exchange offer. |
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If we fail to fulfill our obligations with respect to registration of the notes (a "registration default"), the annual interest rate on the notes will increase by 0.25% during the first 90-day period during which the registration default continues, and will increase by an additional 0.25% for each subsequent 90-day period during which the registration default continues, up to a maximum increase of 1.00% over the interest rate that would otherwise apply to the notes. As soon as we cure a registration default, the interest rates on the notes will revert to their original levels. |
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If we must pay additional interest, we will pay it to holders in cash on the same dates that we make other interest payments on the notes, until we correct the registration default. See "Description of New NotesRegistration Covenant; Exchange Offer." |
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Use of Proceeds |
We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the new notes. In consideration for issuing the new notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange old notes in like principal amount, which will be cancelled and as such will not result in any increase in our indebtedness. See "Use of Proceeds." |
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Risk Factors |
You should carefully consider all the information set forth in this prospectus and, in particular, should evaluate the specific risk factors set forth under "Risk Factors," beginning on page 13, before participating in this exchange offer. |
For additional information regarding the notes, see "Description of New Notes."
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Failure to Exchange Your Old Notes
The old notes which you do not tender or we do not accept will, following the exchange offer, continue to be restricted securities. Therefore, you may only transfer or resell them in a transaction registered under or exempt from the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws. We will issue the new notes in exchange for the old notes under the exchange offer only following the satisfaction of the procedures and conditions described under the caption "The Exchange Offer."
Because we anticipate that most holders of the old notes will elect to exchange their old notes, we expect that the liquidity of the markets, if any, for any old notes remaining after the completion of the exchange offer will be substantially limited. Any old notes tendered and exchanged in the exchange offer will reduce the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the old notes.
Other Debt
As of March 31, 2005, we had $2,939.2 million in debt outstanding other than the old notes.
The indenture governing the notes limits our ability to incur additional debt. Consequently, we would be required to obtain an amendment of the indenture before we incurred any additional debt, other than the types of debt specifically identified in the indenture as permitted. For more information, see "Other Indebtedness and Certain Financing Arrangements" below.
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Summary Historical Financial Data
The summary historical financial data below presents the historical financial data of our Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated. The summary financial and other data as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and for the three months ended March 31, 2004 has been derived from the unaudited financial statements of our Company included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary financial and other data as of March 31, 2004 has been derived from the unaudited financial statements of our Company. The summary financial and other data as of December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, and for each of the three years and the period ended December 31, 2004 has been derived from the audited financial statements of our Company included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The summary financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Data," and "Selected Historical Financial Data" included elsewhere in this prospectus and, in each case, any related notes thereto.
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Summary Historical Financial Data |
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Three Months Ended March 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
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2004 |
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2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
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(Dollars in Millions) |
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Statements of Operations Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 1,961.9 | $ | 1,498.1 | $ | 6,503.4 | $ | 5,245.5 | $ | 4,518.1 | $ | 4,575.2 | $ | 4,447.9 | |||||||||
Cost of goods sold | 1,605.5 | 1,350.0 | 5,678.5 | 4,661.1 | 3,902.7 | 3,990.1 | 3,705.4 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross profit | 356.4 | 148.1 | 824.9 | 584.4 | 615.4 | 585.1 | 742.5 | ||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | 130.7 | 100.0 | 394.2 | 351.8 | 379.6 | 378.6 | 331.4 | ||||||||||||||||
Restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs | 7.0 | 8.7 | 249.5 | 56.7 | 7.7 | 46.6 | | ||||||||||||||||
Operating income | 218.7 | 39.4 | 181.2 | 175.9 | 228.1 | 159.9 | 411.1 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest expensenet | (63.8 | ) | (69.0 | ) | (254.2 | ) | (251.5 | ) | (245.4 | ) | (228.3 | ) | (222.4 | ) | |||||||||
Loss on accounts receivable securitization program | (3.2 | ) | (3.5 | ) | (15.6 | ) | (32.4 | ) | (5.5 | ) | (12.8 | ) | (1.9 | ) | |||||||||
Other (expense) income | (1.3 | ) | (0.2 | ) | (19.5 | ) | (1.3 | ) | 1.3 | (2.0 | ) | (3.2 | ) | ||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect of accounting change | 150.4 | (33.3 | ) | (108.1 | ) | (109.3 | ) | (21.5 | ) | (83.2 | ) | 183.6 | |||||||||||
Income tax (expense) benefit | (23.5 | ) | (3.6 | ) | 58.6 | (21.6 | ) | 41.5` | 26.0 | (30.1 | ) | ||||||||||||
Minority interest in subsidiaries (income) loss | (0.1 | ) | | | | 0.1 | (2.2 | ) | (2.8 | ) | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting changes | 126.8 | (36.9 | ) | (49.5 | ) | (130.9 | ) | 20.1 | (59.4 | ) | 150.7 | ||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting changes | | | | | | (1.5 | ) | | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | 126.8 | (36.9 | ) | (49.5 | ) | (130.9 | ) | 20.1 | (60.9 | ) | 150.7 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 75.8 | 77.0 | 312.4 | 277.9 | 256.2 | 240.5 | 216.2 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net | 63.8 | 69.0 | 254.2 | 251.5 | 245.4 | 228.3 | 222.4 | ||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 23.5 | 3.6 | (58.6 | ) | 21.6 | (41.5 | ) | (26.0 | ) | 30.1 | |||||||||||||
EBITDA(1) | $ | 289.9 | $ | 112.7 | $ | 458.5 | $ | 420.1 | $ | 480.2 | $ | 381.9 | $ | 619.4 | |||||||||
Other Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | $ | 33.5 | $ | 38.2 | $ | 141.3 | $ | 127.4 | $ | 190.5` | $ | 291.0 | $ | 204.5 | |||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(2) | 3.3 | | | | | | 1.7 | ||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data (at period end): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 6,013.8 | 5,848.9 | 5,492.7 | 5,079.8 | 4,862.1 | 4,815.4 | |||||||||||||||||
Total debt | 2,939.2 | 3,054.8 | 2,927.1 | 2,773.8 | 2,637.9 | 2,350.5 |
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satisfy principal and interest obligations with respect to our indebtedness. However, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or viewed as a substitute for net income, cash flow from operations or other measures of performance as defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP"). Moreover, EBITDA as used herein is not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies due to potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation. Our management uses EBITDA to assess financial performance and debt service capabilities. In assessing financial performance, our management reviews EBITDA as a general indicator of economic performance compared to prior periods. Because EBITDA excludes interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, EBITDA provides an indicator of general economic performance that is not affected by debt restructurings, fluctuations in interest rates or effective tax rates, or levels of depreciation and amortization. Accordingly, our management believes this type of measurement is useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period and making certain related management decisions. EBITDA is also used by securities analysts, lenders and others in their evaluation of different companies because it excludes certain items that can vary widely across different industries or among companies within the same industry. For example, interest expense can be highly dependent on a company's capital structure, debt levels and credit ratings. Therefore, the impact of interest expense on earnings can vary significantly among companies. In addition, the tax positions of companies can vary because of their differing abilities to take advantage of tax benefits and because of the tax policies of the various jurisdictions in which they operate. As a result, effective tax rates and tax expense can vary considerably among companies. Finally, companies employ productive assets of different ages and utilize different methods of acquiring and depreciating such assets. This can result in considerable variability in the relative costs of productive assets and the depreciation and amortization expense among companies. Our management also believes that our investors use EBITDA as a measure of our ability to service indebtedness as well as to fund capital expenditures and working capital requirements. Nevertheless, our management recognizes that there are material limitations associated with the use of EBITDA in the evaluation of our Company as compared to net income, which reflects overall financial performance, including the effects of interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA excludes interest expense. Because we have borrowed money in order to finance our operations, interest expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes interest expense has material limitations. EBITDA also excludes taxes. Because the payment of taxes is a necessary element of our operations, any measure that excludes tax expense has material limitations. Finally, EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization expense. Because we use capital assets, depreciation and amortization expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes depreciation and amortization expense has material limitations. Our management compensates for the limitations of using EBITDA by using it to supplement GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone. Our management also uses other metrics to evaluate capital structure, tax planning and capital investment decisions. For example, our management uses credit ratings and net debt ratios to evaluate capital structure, effective tax rate by jurisdiction to evaluate tax planning, and payback period and internal rate of return to evaluate capital investments. Our management also uses trade working capital to evaluate its investment in accounts receivable and inventory, net of accounts payable.
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You should carefully consider the risks described below in addition to all other information provided to you in this prospectus before participating in this exchange offer. Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Business
Our available cash and access to additional capital may be limited by our substantial leverage, which could restrict our ability to grow our businesses.
We have a substantial amount of indebtedness outstanding. As of March 31, 2005, we had total consolidated outstanding indebtedness of approximately $2,939.2 million (including the current portion of long-term debt) and a debt to total capitalization ratio of approximately 70%. We may incur substantial additional debt from time to time for a variety of purposes. Our outstanding debt could have important consequences for our businesses, including:
We require substantial capital to finance our operations and continued growth, and we may incur substantial additional debt from time to time for a variety of purposes, including acquiring additional businesses. However, the indentures governing the notes and our outstanding senior notes and senior subordinated notes and our senior secured credit facilities all contain restrictive covenants. Among other things, these covenants limit or prohibit our ability to incur more debt; make prepayments of other debt, including our outstanding senior notes and our senior subordinated notes; pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions; issue capital stock; make investments; create liens; enter into transactions with affiliates; enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and merge or consolidate and transfer or sell assets. Additionally, our senior secured credit facilities provide that we will not, and will not permit any of our subsidiaries to, amend, modify or terminate any provisions of the notes or our outstanding senior notes or senior subordinated notes. Also, if we undergo a change of control, the indentures governing the notes and our outstanding senior notes and senior subordinated notes may require us to make an offer to purchase such notes. Under these circumstances, we may also be required to repay indebtedness under our senior secured credit facilities prior to the notes. In this event, we may not have the financial resources necessary to purchase such notes, which would result in an event of default under the indentures governing such notes. See "Description of New Notes."
We have no scheduled principal payments under our senior secured credit facilities until the second quarter of 2006. Our annual scheduled principal payments under our senior secured credit facilities will be approximately $12.5 million per year. Our $375 million revolving facility matures in September 2008. Our ability to make scheduled payments of principal and interest on, or to refinance, our debt (including the notes) depends on our future performance, which, to a certain extent, is subject to economic, competitive, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. We cannot guarantee that
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we will have sufficient cash from our operations or other sources to service our debt (including the notes). If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets or seek to obtain additional equity capital or restructure or refinance our debt. We cannot guarantee that such alternative measures would be successful or would permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. In the absence of operating results and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service obligations. We cannot guarantee our ability to consummate any asset sales or that any proceeds from an asset sale would be sufficient to meet the obligations then due.
If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow or are otherwise unable to obtain the funds required to meet payments of principal and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants in the instruments governing our indebtedness, we could be in default under the terms of those instruments. In the event of a default, a holder of the indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed under those instruments to be due and payable together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under our senior secured credit facilities could elect to terminate their commitments thereunder and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. Any of the foregoing consequences could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
If our subsidiaries do not make sufficient distributions to us, then we will not be able to make payment on our debt, including the notes.
The notes are the exclusive obligations of our company and the guarantors of the notes and not of any of our other subsidiaries. Because a significant portion of our operations are conducted by our subsidiaries, our cash flow and our ability to service indebtedness, including our ability to pay the interest on and principal of the notes at maturity, are dependent to a large extent upon cash dividends and distributions or other transfers from our subsidiaries. In addition, we must first pay amounts due on our senior indebtedness, including our outstanding senior notes, prior to making payments on the notes. Any payment of dividends, distributions, loans or advances by our subsidiaries to us could be subject to restrictions on dividends or repatriation of earnings under applicable local law, monetary transfer restrictions and foreign currency exchange regulations in the jurisdictions in which our subsidiaries operate, and any restrictions imposed by the current and future debt instruments of our subsidiaries. In addition, payments to us by our subsidiaries are contingent upon our subsidiaries' earnings.
Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and, except for the guarantors of the notes, have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due on the notes or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans, distributions or other payments, and do not guarantee the payment of interest on, or principal of, the notes. Any right that we have to receive any assets of any of our subsidiaries that are not guarantors upon the liquidation or reorganization of any such subsidiary, and the consequent right of holders of notes to realize proceeds from the sale of their assets, will be structurally subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary's creditors, including trade creditors and holders of debt issued by that subsidiary. The guarantees are unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the guarantors, subordinated to all senior indebtedness of the guarantors, and in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a guarantor, such guarantor's secured lenders will have a prior secured claim to any collateral securing the debt owed to them.
Demand for some of our products is cyclical, and we may experience prolonged depressed market conditions for our products, which may adversely affect our ability to make payments on the notes.
Historically, the markets for many of our products, particularly our commodity products, have experienced alternating periods of tight supply, causing prices and profit margins to increase, followed
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by periods of capacity additions, resulting in oversupply and declining prices and profit margins. Several of our markets have experienced conditions of oversupply, and the profitability of our products in these markets has been depressed in recent years. We cannot guarantee that future growth in demand for these products will be sufficient to alleviate any existing or future conditions of excess industry capacity or that such conditions will not be sustained or further aggravated by anticipated or unanticipated capacity additions or other events.
We derive a substantial portion of our revenue from sales of commodity products, including most of the products of our Base Chemicals and Pigments segments, which generated approximately 47% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2004. Due to the commodity nature of these products, competition in these markets is based primarily on price and to a lesser extent on performance, product quality, product deliverability and customer service. As a result, we may not be able to protect our market position for these products by product differentiation and may not be able to pass on cost increases to our customers. Historically, the prices for our commodity products have been cyclical and sensitive to relative changes in supply and demand, the availability and price of feedstocks and general economic conditions. Our other products may be subject to these same factors, but, typically, the impact of these factors is greatest on our commodity products.
We depend on several key customers in our Base Chemicals segment, the loss of whom could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
Sales of certain of our products, particularly ethylene and propylene in our Base Chemicals segment, are, and historically have been, dependent upon the continued demand from several key customers. This is a common characteristic in the Base Chemicals business. Six customers are expected to account for approximately 73% of our ethylene sales in 2005, and four customers are expected to account for approximately 93% of our propylene sales in 2005. Accordingly, the loss of any of our key Base Chemicals customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
A major customer of our Base Chemicals segment has indicated that, upon termination of our existing contract as of December 31, 2005, it will discontinue purchasing ethylene and propylene from us. We expect this customer to purchase approximately 18% of our 2005 ethylene production and approximately 19% of our 2005 propylene production pursuant to such contract. We believe the expected market conditions in Europe for ethylene and propylene will be such that we will be able to sell, upon expiration of the contract, a substantial portion of the ethylene and propylene such customer historically purchased at prices that generate margins comparable to those historically obtained on sales to such customer. However, if market demand for ethylene or propylene in Europe is weaker than expected, we may experience difficulty in selling the ethylene and propylene historically purchased by such customer, or we may have difficulty selling such ethylene and propylene at comparable margins. Failure to sell such ethylene or propylene, or the failure to receive comparable margins for such ethylene and propylene, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
We have announced plans to construct a low-density polyethylene facility at our Wilton, U.K. site with annual production capacity of 900 million pounds. We expect this facility to be operational in late 2007, and, when completed, we expect that it will consume approximately 50% of our annual ethylene output, although we can give you no assurance that it will do so.
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Significant price volatility or interruptions in supply of our raw materials may result in increased costs that we may be unable to pass on to our customers, which could negatively affect our ability to make payments on the notes.
The prices of the raw materials that we purchase from third parties are cyclical and volatile. We purchase a substantial portion of these raw materials from third party suppliers, and the cost of these raw materials represents a substantial portion of our operating expenses. The prices for a number of these raw materials generally follow price trends of, and vary with market conditions for, crude oil and natural gas feedstocks, which are highly volatile and cyclical. In recent periods, we have experienced significantly higher crude oil prices, which have resulted in increased raw material prices.
Although we frequently enter into supply agreements to acquire these raw materials, these agreements typically provide for market-based pricing and provide us only limited protection against price volatility. While we attempt to match cost increases with corresponding product price increases, we are not always able to raise product prices immediately or at all. Timing differences between raw material prices, which may change daily, and contract product prices, which in many cases are negotiated only monthly or less often, have had and may continue to have a negative effect on our cash flow. If any of our suppliers is unable to meet its obligations under present supply agreements, we may be forced to pay higher prices to obtain the necessary raw materials from other sources and we may not be able to increase prices for our finished products to recoup the higher raw materials cost. In addition, if any of the raw materials that we use become unavailable within the geographic area from which they are now sourced, then we may not be able to obtain suitable and cost effective substitutes. Any cost increase that we are not able to pass on to our customers or any interruption in supply of raw materials could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
The industries in which we compete are highly competitive, and we may not be able to compete effectively with our competitors that have greater financial resources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
The industries in which we operate are highly competitive. Among our competitors are some of the world's largest chemical companies and major integrated petroleum companies that have their own raw material resources. Some of these companies may be able to produce products more economically than we can. In addition, some of our competitors have greater financial resources, which may enable them to invest significant capital into their businesses, including expenditures for research and development. If any of our current or future competitors develops proprietary technology that enables them to produce products at a significantly lower cost, our technology could be rendered uneconomical or obsolete. Moreover, certain of our businesses use technology that is widely available. Accordingly, barriers to entry, apart from capital availability, are low in certain product segments of our business, and the entrance of new competitors into the industry may reduce our ability to capture improving profit margins in circumstances where capacity utilization in the industry is increasing. Further, petroleum-rich countries have become more significant participants in the petrochemical industry and may expand this role significantly in the future. Increased competition in any of our businesses could compel us to reduce the prices of our products, which could result in reduced profit margins and loss of market share and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
Our operations involve risks that may increase our operating costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
Although we take precautions to enhance the safety of our operations and minimize the risk of disruptions, our operations are subject to hazards inherent in the manufacturing and marketing of
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differentiated and commodity chemical products. These hazards include: pipeline leaks and ruptures; explosions; fires; severe weather and natural disasters; mechanical failures; unscheduled downtimes; labor difficulties; transportation interruptions; remediation complications; chemical spills; discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases; storage tank leaks; and other risks. Some of these hazards can cause bodily injury and loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment and environmental damage, and may result in suspension of operations and the imposition of civil or criminal penalties and liabilities. Furthermore, we are subject to present and future claims with respect to workplace exposure, exposure of contractors on our premises as well as other persons located nearby, workers' compensation and other matters.
We maintain property, business interruption and casualty insurance policies which we believe are in accordance with customary industry practices, but we are not fully insured against all potential hazards and risks incident to our business. As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies can increase substantially and, in some instances, certain insurance may become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. If we were to incur a significant liability for which we were not fully insured, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
In addition, we are subject to various claims and litigation in the ordinary course of business. We maintain insurance to cover many of our potential losses, but we are subject to various self-retentions and deductibles under our insurance. In conjunction with many of our past acquisitions, we have obtained indemnity agreements from the prior owners addressing liabilities that may arise from operations and events prior to our ownership. We are a party to several pending lawsuits and proceedings. It is possible that a judgment could be rendered against us in these cases or others in which we could be uninsured or not covered by indemnity and beyond the amounts that we currently have reserved or anticipate incurring for such matters.
Material weaknesses in our internal controls could result in material misstatements in our financial statements, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and result in a lower trading price of our securities.
In connection with the audit of the financial statements of our parent and its subsidiaries (the "Huntsman Companies" or "Group") for the year ended December 31, 2003, the Group's independent registered public accounting firm, or auditors, identified several matters that they deemed to be "material weaknesses" in the Group's internal controls as defined in standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The principal material weakness identified by the auditors was that the Group's controllership function did not have an adequate formal process in place to gather the data required to prepare the financial statements and disclosures required for the numerous financial reporting requirements of the Huntsman Companies. The auditors noted that these material weaknesses had led to restatements of the financial statements of certain of the Huntsman Companies, including us, in recent periods.
In connection with the audit of the Group's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, the auditors did not identify any matters that they deemed to be material weaknesses. In conducting their audit, however, the auditors did not undertake to audit the Group's internal controls, and thus we cannot give any assurance that they would not have noted additional material weaknesses, or reiterated the material weaknesses described above, had they done so. Nor can we give any assurance that the auditors will not note additional material weaknesses, or reiterate the material weaknesses described above, in future audits of the Group's financial statements. Any such material weaknesses could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or result in material misstatements in our financial statements.
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The Group has engaged Ernst & Young LLP to assist the Group's management in its evaluation of the Group's internal controls in preparation for the periodic management evaluations and annual auditor attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of its "internal control over financial reporting" that will be required when the SEC's rules under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 become applicable to the Group beginning with its Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2006 to be filed in the first quarter of 2007. We cannot give any assurance, however, that the Group's internal controls will be effective when Section 404 becomes applicable to it. Ineffective internal controls could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and could result in a lower trading price for our securities.
Our ability to repay our debt may be adversely affected if our joint venture partners do not perform their obligations or we have disagreements with them.
We conduct a substantial amount of our operations through our joint ventures. Our ability to meet our debt service obligations depends, in part, upon the operation of our joint ventures. If any of our joint venture partners fails to observe its commitments, that joint venture may not be able to operate according to its business plans or we may be required to increase our level of commitment to give effect to those plans. In general, joint venture arrangements may be affected by relations between the joint venture partners. Differences in views among the partners may, for example, result in delayed decisions or in failure to agree on significant matters. Such circumstances may have an adverse effect on the business and operations of the joint ventures, adversely affecting the business and operations of our company. If we cannot agree with our joint venture partners on significant issues, we may experience a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
If we are unable to maintain our relationships with Huntsman LLC then we may not be able to replace on favorable terms our contracts with them or the services and facilities that they provide, if at all.
We have entered and will continue to enter into certain agreements, including service, supply and purchase contracts with Huntsman LLC. If Huntsman LLC or any of its affiliates fails to perform its obligations under any of these agreements, or if any of these agreements terminate or we are otherwise unable to obtain the benefits thereunder for any reason, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on our ability to make payments on the notes if we are unable to obtain similar service, supply or purchase contracts on the same terms from third parties. For example, we have only one operating facility for our production of propylene oxide, which is located in Port Neches, Texas. The facility is dependent on the existing infrastructure and adjacent facilities of Huntsman LLC for certain utilities, raw materials, product distribution systems and safety systems. In addition, we depend upon employees of Huntsman LLC to operate our Port Neches facility. We purchase all of the propylene used in the production of propylene oxide through Huntsman LLC's pipeline, which is the only existing propylene pipeline connected to our propylene oxide facility. If we were required to obtain propylene from another source, we would need to make a substantial investment in an alternative pipeline. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
We are subject to many environmental and safety regulations that may result in unanticipated costs or liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
We are subject to extensive federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, rules and ordinances relating to pollution, protection of the environment and the generation, storage, handling, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials. Actual or alleged violations of environmental laws or permit requirements could result in restrictions or
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prohibitions on plant operations, substantial civil or criminal sanctions, as well as, under some environmental laws, the assessment of strict liability and/or joint and several liability. Moreover, changes in environmental regulations could inhibit or interrupt our operations, or require us to modify our facilities or operations. Accordingly, environmental or regulatory matters may cause us to incur significant unanticipated losses, costs or liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
In addition, we could incur significant expenditures in order to comply with existing or future environmental or safety laws. Capital expenditures and costs relating to environmental or safety matters will be subject to evolving regulatory requirements and will depend on the timing of the promulgation and enforcement of specific standards which impose requirements on our operations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that capital expenditures and costs beyond those currently anticipated will not be required under existing or future environmental or safety laws.
Furthermore, we may be liable for the costs of investigating and cleaning up environmental contamination on or from our properties or at off-site locations where we disposed of or arranged for the disposal or treatment of hazardous materials or from disposal activities that pre-dated the purchase of our businesses. We cannot assure you that additional costs and expenditures beyond those currently anticipated will not be incurred to address all such known and unknown situations under existing and future environmental law.
For additional information, see "BusinessEnvironmental, Health and Safety Matters" below.
Existing or future litigation or legislative initiatives restricting the use of MTBE in gasoline may subject us or our products to environmental liability or materially adversely affect our sales and costs.
We produce methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE, an oxygenate that is blended with gasoline to reduce vehicle air emissions and to enhance the octane rating of gasoline. The use of MTBE is controversial in the U.S. and elsewhere and may be substantially curtailed or eliminated in the future by legislation or regulatory action. For example, California, New York and Connecticut have adopted rules that prohibit the use of MTBE in gasoline sold in those states as of January 1, 2004. Overall, states that have taken some action to prohibit or restrict the use of MTBE in gasoline account for a substantial portion of the "pre-ban" U.S. MTBE market. Additional phase-outs or other future regulation of MTBE may result in a significant reduction in demand for our MTBE, a material loss in revenues or material increase in compliance costs or expenditures. In addition, a number of lawsuits have been filed, primarily against gasoline manufacturers, marketers and distributors, by persons seeking to recover damages allegedly arising from the presence of MTBE in groundwater. While we have not been named as a defendant in any litigation concerning the environmental effects of MTBE, we cannot provide assurances that we will not be involved in any such litigation or that such litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity or on our ability to make payments on the notes.
For additional information, see "BusinessEnvironmental, Health and Safety MattersMTBE Developments."
Our results of operations may be adversely affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates and international business risks.
We conduct a significant portion of our business outside the U.S. Our operations outside the U.S. are subject to risks normally associated with international operations. These risks include the need to convert currencies which may be received for our products into currencies required to pay our indebtedness or into currency in which we purchase raw materials or pay for services, which could result in a gain or loss depending on fluctuations in exchange rates. In addition, we translate our local currency financial results into U.S. dollars based on average exchange rates prevailing during the
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reporting period or the exchange rate at the end of that period. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar, our reported international sales and earnings may be reduced because the local currency may translate into fewer U.S. dollars.
Other risks of international operations include trade barriers, tariffs, exchange controls, national and regional labor strikes, social and political risks, general economic risks and required compliance with a variety of foreign laws, including tax laws and the difficulty of enforcing agreements and collecting receivables through foreign legal systems. The occurrence of these risks could adversely affect the businesses of our international subsidiaries, which could significantly affect their ability to make distributions to us.
Our business is dependent on our intellectual property. If our patents are declared invalid or our trade secrets become known to our competitors, our ability to compete may be adversely affected.
Proprietary protection of our processes, apparatuses and other technology is important to our business. Consequently, we may have to rely on judicial enforcement of our patents and other proprietary rights. While a presumption of validity exists with respect to patents issued to us in the U.S., there can be no assurance that any of our patents will not be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable. Furthermore, if any pending patent application filed by us does not result in an issued patent, or if patents are issued to us, but such patents do not provide meaningful protection of our intellectual property, then our ability to compete may be adversely affected. Additionally, our competitors or other third parties may obtain patents that restrict or preclude our ability to lawfully produce or sell our products in a competitive manner, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
We also rely upon unpatented proprietary know-how and continuing technological innovation and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position. While it is our policy to enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and third parties to protect our intellectual property, these confidentiality agreements may be breached, may not provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets or proprietary know-how, or adequate remedies may not be available in the event of an unauthorized use or disclosure of such trade secrets and know-how. In addition, others could obtain knowledge of such trade secrets through independent development or other access by legal means. The failure of our patents or confidentiality agreements to protect our processes, apparatuses, technology, trade secrets or proprietary know-how could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
Loss of key members of our management could adversely affect our business.
We depend on the continued employment and performance of our senior executives and other key members of management. If any of these individuals resigns or becomes unable to continue in his present role and is not adequately replaced, our business operations could be materially adversely affected. In addition, the achievement of our financial goals requires significant management time and, to the extent that members of senior management are unavailable, for any reason, including allocation of management time to other companies, such as Huntsman LLC and Huntsman Advanced Materials LLC ("AdMat"), that are now or may become part of the Huntsman organization, our business could be adversely affected. We generally do not have employment agreements with, and we do not maintain any "key man" life insurance for, any of our executive officers.
Certain events could result in a change of control or default under our existing indebtedness or the notes.
Huntsman LLC indirectly owns approximately 42% of the equity interests in our parent HIH. Huntsman LLC issued its senior secured notes, which are secured by, among other things, a pledge of
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approximately 42% of the equity interests of HIH. Huntsman LLC's credit facilities are also secured by, among other things, a pledge of apprximately 42% of the equity interests of HIH. In the case of an event of default under Huntsman LLC's senior secured notes or its credit facilities, the trustee under the indenture governing the Huntsman LLC senior secured notes, acting on behalf of the holders of the Huntsman LLC senior secured notes, or the lenders under the Huntsman LLC credit facilities, could exercise remedies against the collateral securing the Huntsman LLC senior discount notes or the Huntsman LLC credit facilities, as the case may be, including the pledged equity interests. Sale of the pledged equity interests, whether as a result of foreclosure or in connection with bankruptcy or similar proceedings or otherwise, could result in an event of default under our senior secured credit facilities and a change of control under the indentures governing our senior notes, our senior subordinated notes and the notes offered hereby. In such case, the lenders under our senior secured credit facilities could exercise their rights thereunder, including the acceleration of all amounts outstanding. In addition, the holders of our senior notes and our senior subordinated notes and the notes offered hereby would have the right to require us to repurchase their notes at 101% of the aggregate principal amount. There can be no assurance that we will have funds available to pay all amounts outstanding under our senior secured credit facilities in the event of acceleration or to complete repurchases of such notes.
Terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, the continuing military action in Iraq, general instability in various OPEC member nations, the threat of other attacks or acts of war in the U.S. and abroad and increased security regulations related to our industry could adversely affect our business.
The attacks of September 11, 2001, and subsequent events, including the continuing military action in Iraq, have caused instability in the U.S. and other financial markets and have led, and may continue to lead, to further armed hostilities, prolonged military action in Iraq, or further acts of terrorism in the U.S. or abroad, which could cause further instability in financial markets. Current regional tensions and conflicts in various OPEC member nations, including the continuing military action in Iraq, have caused, and may cause further, increases in raw material costs, particularly crude oil and natural gas feedstocks, which are used in our operations. The uncertainty surrounding the continuing military action in Iraq and the threat of further armed hostilities or acts of terrorism may impact any or all of our physical facilities and operations, which are located in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East, or those of our customers. Furthermore, the terrorist attacks, subsequent events and future developments in any of these areas may result in reduced demand from our customers for our products. In addition, local, state and federal governments have begun a regulatory process that could lead to new regulations impacting the security of chemical plant locations and the transportation of hazardous chemicals, which could result in higher operating costs. These developments will subject our worldwide operations to increased risks and, depending on their magnitude, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
Future acquisitions, partnerships and joint ventures may require significant resources and/or result in unanticipated adverse consequences that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and on our ability to make payments on the notes.
In the future we may seek to grow our company and businesses by making acquisitions or entering into partnerships and joint ventures. Any future acquisition, partnership or joint venture may require that we make a significant cash investment, issue stock or incur substantial debt. In addition, acquisitions, partnerships or investments may require significant managerial attention, which may be diverted from our other operations. These capital, equity and managerial commitments may impair the operation of our businesses. Furthermore, any future acquisitions of businesses or facilities could entail a number of additional risks, including:
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We have incurred indebtedness to finance past acquisitions. We may finance future acquisitions with additional indebtedness. We could face the financial risks associated with incurring additional indebtedness such as reducing our liquidity and access to financing markets and increasing the amount of cash flow required to service such indebtedness, which could adversely affect our ability to make payments on the notes.
Risks Related to the Notes
Despite our current levels of indebtedness, we may incur substantially more debt, which could further increase the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness.
Although the agreements governing our outstanding indebtedness contain, and the indenture governing the notes contains, restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness by us and our restricted subsidiaries, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions, and the indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. As of March 31, 2005, we had approximately $367.8 million available for additional revolving borrowings, or, within limits, issuances of letters of credit under our senior secured credit facilities. In addition to amounts that may be borrowed under our senior secured credit facilities, the indenture governing the notes also will allow us and our restricted subsidiaries to borrow significant amounts of money from other sources and will place no restrictions on borrowings by our unrestricted subsidiaries. Also, these restrictions do not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not constitute "indebtedness" as defined in the relevant agreement. If new debt is added to the current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify.
We may incur substantial amounts of additional senior secured and unsecured indebtedness as a result of guarantees of such indebtedness of our direct or indirect parent following an initial public offering of common stock of such parent. Our guarantee of such indebtedness which is secured will be effectively senior to the notes to the extent of the value of the property or assets securing such indebtedness. Our guarantee of unsecured indebtedness will rank pari passu with the notes. The indenture does not contain restrictions on such parent company and in certain circumstances the guarantees that we and the guarantors are permitted to issue in respect of such parent company's debt that may be senior in right of payment to the notes or the guarantees of the notes, as the case may be.
The indenture provides that we and the guarantors of the notes may provide guarantees of indebtedness of our direct or indirect parent following an initial public offering of common stock of such parent if, among other things, the proceeds of such parent's indebtedness are used to refinance our indebtedness. The amount of such guarantees by us and the guarantors shall be limited to the amount of our indebtedness that is so refinanced plus the amount of premiums and expenses to be paid, in each case in connection with such refinancing of our debt. Furthermore, if our indebtedness that is refinanced ranks senior in right of payment to the notes, then the guarantees that we and the guarantors will be permitted to issue may rank senior in right of payment to the notes or the guarantees of the notes to the same extent. The parent company whose indebtedness we and the guarantors so guarantee will not be governed by the covenants in the indenture governing the notes relating to, among other things, restricted payments and incurrence of indebtedness. There is a significant risk that such parent company's indebtedness, including our and our subsidiaries' guarantees of such parent indebtedness, may be satisfied from the assets of our company and the guarantors. If
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our or our subsidiaries' guarantees of parent indebtedness rank senior in right of payment to the notes and the guarantees and our parent becomes insolvent, our parent's creditors may assert claims against us or our subsidiaries that are senior in right of payment to claims of holders of the notes. See "Description of New NotesCertain CovenantsLimitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness," "Limitation on Restricted Payments," "Limitation on Liens" and "Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates."
The instruments governing our debt contain cross default provisions that may cause all of the debt issued under such instruments to become immediately due and payable as a result of a default under an unrelated debt instrument.
The indentures governing our outstanding senior notes and senior subordinated notes and the notes contain numerous covenants, and the agreements governing our senior secured credit facilities contain numerous covenants and require us to meet certain financial ratios and tests. Our failure to comply with the obligations contained in the indentures governing our outstanding senior notes and senior subordinated notes and the notes, our senior secured credit facilities or other instruments governing our indebtedness could result in an event of default under the applicable instrument, which could result in the related debt and the debt issued under other instruments becoming immediately due and payable. In such event, we would need to raise funds from alternative sources, which funds may not be available to us on favorable terms, on a timely basis or at all. Alternatively, such a default could require us to sell our assets and otherwise curtail operations in order to pay our creditors.
The notes and the subsidiary guarantees are subordinated to our and the subsidiary guarantors' senior debt.
The notes are our senior subordinated obligations. Accordingly, the notes are subordinated to all of our existing and future senior debt. We expect to incur additional senior debt from time to time in the future. The indenture governing the notes limits, but does not prohibit, the incurrence of other debt by us, including senior debt. As a result of such subordination, upon any distribution to our creditors in a liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy, reorganization or any similar proceeding by or relating to us or our property, the holders of our senior debt would be entitled to receive payment in full before the holders of the notes would be entitled to receive any payment. In addition, all payments on the notes could be blocked in the event of a default on our senior debt. See "Description of New NotesSubordination."
The notes are not secured. The borrowings under our senior secured credit facilities are secured by liens on our assets. If we or any of our subsidiary guarantors liquidates, dissolves or declares bankruptcy, or if payment under the credit agreement or any of our other secured debt is accelerated, our secured lenders would be entitled to exercise the remedies available to a secured lender under applicable law and will have a claim on those assets before the holders of the notes. The guarantees are unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the guarantors, subordinated to all senior indebtedness of the guarantors, and in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a guarantor, such guarantor's secured lenders will have a prior secured claim to any collateral securing the debt owed to them. As of March 31, 2005, we and the subsidiary guarantors have approximately $1,701.2 million of senior debt outstanding to which the notes and the subsidiary guarantees are subordinated, and approximately $367.8 million of additional debt is available for borrowing under our senior secured credit facilities.
The notes are structurally subordinated to all indebtedness of our subsidiaries that are not guarantors of the notes.
We derive substantially all of our revenue from our consolidated subsidiaries. While certain of our subsidiaries will guarantee the notes, other subsidiaries are not guaranteeing the notes. You will not have any claim as a creditor against our other subsidiaries that are not guarantors of the notes.
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Accordingly, all obligations of our non-guarantor subsidiaries will have to be satisfied before any of the assets of such subsidiaries would be available for distribution, upon a liquidation or otherwise, to us or a guarantor of the notes. As of March 31, 2005, our non-guarantor subsidiaries had approximately $36.6 million of total indebtedness, excluding intercompany indebtedness owed to us or the guarantors.
We may not have the ability to repurchase notes upon a change of control as required by the indenture.
Upon the occurrence of certain change of control events, each holder of notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of its notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of their principal amount plus accrued interest to the date of purchase. Our ability to repurchase the notes upon a change of control is prohibited by our senior secured credit facilities. In any event, we cannot assure you that we will have sufficient funds to repurchase the notes upon a change of control. Our failure to repurchase the notes upon a change of control would result in a default under the indenture governing the notes, which would, in turn, result in a default under our senior secured credit facilities and our outstanding senior notes and senior subordinated notes.
The notes and guarantees may be void, avoided or subordinated under laws governing fraudulent transfers and insolvency.
We have incurred substantial debt, including our outstanding senior notes and senior subordinated notes and our senior secured credit facilities. Various fraudulent conveyance laws enacted for the protection of creditors may apply to our issuance of the notes and the guarantors' issuance of the guarantees. To the extent that a court were to find that:
(1) the notes were issued or a guarantee was incurred with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any present or future creditor; or
(2) we or a guarantor did not receive fair consideration or reasonably equivalent value for issuing the notes or guarantees;
and that we or a guarantor
(A) was insolvent;
(B) was rendered insolvent by reason of the issuance of the notes or a guarantee;
(C) was engaged or about to engage in a business or transaction for which our or its remaining assets or those of a guarantor constituted unreasonably small capital; or
(D) intended to incur, or believed that we or it would incur, debts beyond our or its ability to pay those debts as they matured;
then the court could void the notes and the guarantees or subordinate the notes or the guarantees in favor of our or the guarantor's other creditors. Furthermore, to the extent that the notes or a guarantee were voided as a fraudulent conveyance or held unenforceable for any other reason:
There is no established trading market for the new notes, and any market for the new notes may be illiquid.
The new notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We cannot assure you that a liquid market will develop for the new notes, that you will be able to sell your new notes at
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a particular time or that the prices that you will receive when you sell will be favorable. We do not intend to apply for listing of the new notes on any U.S. securities exchange or for quotation through an automated dealer quotation system. We do intend to list the euro notes on the Luxemborg Stock Exchange. The liquidity of the trading market in the new notes and the market price quoted for the new notes may be adversely affected by changes in the overall market for high yield securities generally or the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the new notes and by changes in our financial performance or prospects or in the prospects for companies in the chemical industry generally. As a result, you cannot be sure that an active trading market will develop for the new notes. This offer to exchange the new notes for the old notes does not depend upon any minimum amount of old notes being tendered for exchange.
Unless you are an affiliate of our Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, you may offer for resale, resell or otherwise transfer new notes without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, so long as you acquired the new notes in the ordinary course of business and have no arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the new notes to be acquired in the exchange offer. If you tender your old notes for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the new notes, you must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.
If you do not exchange your old notes, they may be difficult to resell.
It may be difficult for you to sell old notes that are not exchanged in this exchange offer, since any old notes not exchanged will remain subject to the restrictions on transfer provided for in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. These restrictions on transfer of your old notes exist because we issued the old notes pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Generally, the old notes that are not exchanged for new notes in this exchange offer will remain restricted securities and, unless registered under the Securities Act, may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Other than in this exchange offer, we do not intend to register the old notes under the Securities Act.
To the extent any old notes are tendered and accepted in this exchange offer, the trading market, if any, for the old notes that remain outstanding after this exchange offer would be adversely affected due to a reduction in market liquidity.
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DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this prospectus, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "except", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurances that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus, including, without limitation, in conjunction with the forward-looking statements included in this prospectus.
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Purpose of the Exchange Offer
When we sold the old notes on December 17, 2004, we entered into an exchange and registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of those notes. Under the exchange and registration rights agreement, we agreed to file the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part regarding the exchange of the old notes for notes which are registered under the Securities Act. We also agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to cause the registration statement to become effective with the SEC, and to conduct this exchange offer after the registration statement was declared effective. We will use our best efforts to keep the registration statement effective until the exchange offer is completed. The exchange and registration rights agreement provides that we will be required to pay liquidated damages to the holders of the old notes if the exchange offer has not been completed within 45 days after the effective date of the registration statement. A copy of the exchange and registration rights agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.
Terms of the Exchange Offer
This prospectus and the accompanying letters of transmittal together constitute the exchange offer. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letters of transmittal, we will accept for exchange old notes that are properly tendered on or before the expiration date and are not withdrawn as permitted below. The expiration date for this exchange offer is 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 26, 2005, or such later date and time to which we, in our sole discretion, extend the exchange offer. The exchange offer, however, will be in effect no longer than 45 days from the date of this prospectus.
The form and terms of the new notes being issued in the exchange offer are the same as the form and terms of the old notes, except that:
Old dollar notes tendered in the exchange offer must be in denominations of the principal amount of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. Old euro notes tendered in the exchange offer must be in denominations of the principal amount of €1,000 or any integral multiple thereof.
We expressly reserve the right, in our sole discretion:
We will give oral or written notice of any extension, delay, non-acceptance, termination or amendment as promptly as practicable by a public announcement, and in the case of an extension, no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.
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During an extension, all old notes previously tendered will remain subject to the exchange offer and may be accepted for exchange by us. Any old notes not accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned without cost to the holder that tendered them promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.
How to Tender Old Notes for Exchange
We have forwarded to you, along with this prospectus, letters of transmittal relating to this exchange offer. Because all of the old notes are held in book-entry accounts maintained by the relevant exchange agent at DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, a holder need not submit a letter of transmittal if the holder tenders old notes in accordance with the procedures mandated by DTC's Automated Tender Offer Program ("ATOP") or by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be. To tender old notes without submitting a letter of transmittal, the electronic instructions sent to DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg and transmitted to the relevant exchange agent must contain your acknowledgment of receipt of, and your agreement to be bound by and to make all of the representations contained in, the letter of transmittal. In all other cases, a letter of transmittal must be manually executed and delivered as described in this prospectus.
We have appointed two separate exchange agents in connection with this exchange offer. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A (the "dollar exchange agent") has been appointed as the exchange agent with responsibility for the tender and exchange of all old dollar notes for new dollar notes. Citibank, N.A. (the "euro exchange agent" and, together with the dollar exchange agent, the "exchange agents") has been appointed as the exchange agent with responsibility for the tender and exchange of all old euro notes for new euro notes. Holders of old notes are responsible for knowing which exchange agent is responsible for the type of notes such holder wishes to tender. Any letters of transmittal or other instructions sent by a holder to the wrong exchange agent may be delayed or rejected.
Only a holder of record of old notes may tender old notes in the exchange offer. To tender in the exchange offer, a holder must comply with the procedures of DTC or Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as applicable, and either:
In addition, either:
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on which the confirmation is delivered to the euro exchange agent and that no transfers will be effected in relation to such old euro notes at any time after such date.
To be tendered effectively, the appropriate exchange agent must receive any physical delivery of the letter of transmittal and other required documents at such exchange agent's address set forth below under the caption "Exchange Agents" before expiration of the exchange offer. To receive confirmation of valid tender of old notes, a holder should contact the relevant exchange agent at the corresponding telephone number listed under the caption "Exchange Agents".
The tender by a holder that is not withdrawn before expiration of the exchange offer will constitute an agreement between that holder and us in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal. Only a registered holder of old notes may tender the old notes in the exchange offer. If a holder completing a letter of transmittal tenders less than all of the old notes held by such holder, such tendering holder should fill in the applicable box of the letter of transmittal. The amount of old notes delivered to the exchange agent will be deemed to have been tendered, unless otherwise indicated.
If old notes, the letter of transmittal or any other required documents are physically delivered to an exchange agent, the method of delivery is at the holder's election and risk. Rather than mail these items, we recommend that holders use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, holders should allow sufficient time to assure delivery to such exchange agent before expiration of the exchange offer. Holders should not send the letter of transmittal or old notes to us. Holders may request their respective brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or other nominees to effect the above transactions for them.
Any beneficial owner whose old notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender should contact the registered holder promptly and instruct it to tender on the owner's behalf. If the beneficial owner wishes to tender on its own behalf, it must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering its old notes, either:
The transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time and may not be completed prior to the expiration date.
If the applicable letter of transmittal is signed by the record holder(s) of the old notes tendered, the signature must correspond with the name(s) written on the face of the old note without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever. If the applicable letter of transmittal is signed by a participant in DTC or Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as applicable, the signature must correspond with the name as it appears on the security position listing as the holder of the old notes.
Signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed unless the old notes surrendered for exchange are tendered:
(1) by a holder of old notes who has not completed the box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or "Special Delivery Instructions" on the letter of transmittal; or
(2) for the account of an "eligible institution."
An "eligible institution" is a financial institution, including most banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses, that is a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program or the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program.
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If signatures on a letter of transmittal or notice of withdrawal are required to be guaranteed, the guarantor must be an eligible institution. If old notes are registered in the name of a person other than the signer of the letter of transmittal, the old notes surrendered for exchange must be endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer or exchange, in satisfactory form as determined by us in our sole discretion, duly executed by the registered holder with the holder's signature guaranteed by an eligible institution.
If a person or persons other than the registered holder or holders of the old notes tendered for exchange signs the letter of transmittal, the tendered notes must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate powers of attorney, in either case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered holder or holders that appear on the old notes.
If trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity sign the letter of transmittal or any old notes or any power of attorney, such persons should so indicate when signing, and you must submit proper evidence satisfactory to us of such person's authority to so act unless we waive this requirement.
We will determine all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of old notes tendered for exchange in our sole discretion. Our determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to:
(1) reject any and all tenders of any old note improperly tendered;
(2) refuse to accept any old note if, in our judgment or the judgment of our counsel, acceptance of the old note may be deemed unlawful; and
(3) waive any defects or irregularities or conditions of tender as to any particular old note either before or after the expiration date, including the right to waive the ineligibility of any holder who seeks to tender old notes in the exchange offer.
Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of tender as to any particular old note either before or after the expiration date, including the letter of transmittal and the instructions to it, will be final and binding on all parties. Holders must cure any defects and irregularities in connection with tenders of old notes for exchange within such reasonable period of time as we will determine, unless we waive such defects or irregularities. Neither we, the exchange agents nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity with respect to any tender of old notes for exchange, nor shall any of us incur any liability for failure to give such notification.
By tendering, each holder will represent to us, among other things, that the person acquiring new notes in this exchange offer is obtaining them in the ordinary course of its business, whether or not such person is the holder, and that neither the holder nor such other person has any arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the new notes issued in this exchange offer. If any holder or any such other person is an "affiliate," as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of our company, or is engaged in or intends to engage in or has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of such new notes to be acquired in this exchange offer, such holder or any such other person:
(1) may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC; and
(2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.
Each broker-dealer who acquired its old notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and thereafter receives new notes issued for its own account in this exchange offer, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes issued in this exchange offer. The letters of transmittal state that by so acknowledging and by delivering
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a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. See "Plan of Distribution" for a discussion of the exchange and resale obligations of broker-dealers in connection with this exchange offer.
Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange; Delivery of New Notes
Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to this exchange offer, we will accept, promptly after the expiration date, all old notes properly tendered and will issue the new notes registered under the Securities Act. For purposes of this exchange offer, we shall be deemed to have accepted properly tendered old notes for exchange when, as and if we have given oral or written notice to the exchange agent, with written confirmation of any oral notice to be given promptly thereafter. See "Conditions to the Exchange Offer" for a discussion of the conditions that must be satisfied before we accept any old notes for exchange.
For each old note accepted for exchange, the holder will receive a new note registered under the Securities Act having a principal amount equal to, and in the denomination of, that of the surrendered old note. Accordingly, registered holders of new notes on the relevant record date for the first interest payment date following the consummation of this exchange offer will receive interest accruing from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on the old notes, from December 17, 2004. Old notes that we accept for exchange will cease to accrue interest from and after the date of consummation of this exchange offer. Under the exchange and registration rights agreement, we may be required to make additional payments in the form of liquidated damages to the holders of the old notes under circumstances relating to the timing of this exchange offer.
In all cases, we will issue new dollar notes in this exchange offer for old dollar notes that are accepted for exchange only after the dollar exchange agent timely receives:
(1) certificates for such old dollar notes or a timely book-entry confirmation of such old dollar notes into the dollar exchange agent's account at the book entry transfer facility;
(2) a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof, with any required signature guarantees, or an agent's message; and
(3) all other required documents.
In all cases, we will issue new euro notes in this exchange offer for old euro notes that are accepted for exchange only after the euro exchange agent timely receives:
(1) a timely confirmation from Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg that the securities account to which the old euro notes are credited has been blocked;
(2) a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof, with any required signature guarantees, or an agent's message; and
(3) all other required documents.
If for any reason set forth in the terms and conditions of this exchange offer we do not accept any tendered old notes, or if a holder submits old notes for a greater principal amount than the holder desires to exchange, we will return such unaccepted or non-exchanged notes without cost to the tendering holder. In the case of old dollar notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the dollar exchange agent's account at DTC, such non-exchanged old dollar notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC promptly after the expiration or termination of this exchange offer. In the case of old euro notes tendered in accordance with the blocking procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, the old euro notes will be returned to their holder by cancellation of the blocking instruction in accordance with the standard operating procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg promptly after the expiration or termination of this exchange offer.
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DTC Book Entry Transfers
The dollar exchange agent will make a request to establish an account at DTC with respect to old dollar notes for purposes of this exchange offer promptly upon receipt of this prospectus. Any financial institution that is a participant in DTC's systems must make book-entry delivery of old dollar notes by causing DTC to transfer those old dollar notes into the dollar exchange agent's account at DTC in accordance with DTC's electronic Automated Tender Offer Program procedures for such transfer. Such participant should transmit its acceptance to DTC on or prior to the expiration date or comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below. DTC will verify such acceptance, execute a book-entry transfer of the tendered old dollar notes into the dollar exchange agent's account at DTC and then send to the dollar exchange agent confirmation of such book-entry transfer. The confirmation of such book-entry transfer will include an agent's message confirming that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from such participant that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the letter of transmittal and that we may enforce the letter of transmittal against such participant. Delivery of new dollar notes may be effected through book-entry transfer at DTC, as applicable. However, the letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof, with any required signature guarantees, or an agent's message, and any other required documents, must be transmitted to and received by the dollar exchange agent at the address set forth below under "The Exchange Agents" on or prior to the expiration date or comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.
Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg Procedures for Blocking Instructions
The registered holder of the old euro notes on the records of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg must, unless otherwise instructed by Euroclear or Clearstream Luxembourg, instruct Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg to block the securities in the account in Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg to which such old euro notes are credited. In order for the exchange offer to be accepted, the euro exchange agent must have received, prior to the expiration date, a confirmation from Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg that the securities account of old euro notes tendered has been blocked from and including the day on which the confirmation is delivered to the euro exchange agent and that no transfers will be effected in relation to the old euro notes at any time after such date. Old euro notes should be blocked in accordance with the procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be. The exchange of the old euro notes so tendered will only be made after a timely receipt by the euro exchange agent of an agent's message and any other documents required by the letter of transmittal. The term "agent's message" means a message, transmitted by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg and received by the euro exchange agent which states that Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg has received an express acknowledgment from a participant tendering old euro notes that the participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal, and that we may enforce that agreement against the participant.
These instructions are subject to the rules and procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, which are subject to change. Holders of old euro notes must comply with any and all instructions received from Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg.
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures
If a registered holder of old dollar notes desires to tender the old dollar notes, and the old dollar notes are not immediately available, or time will not permit the holder's old dollar notes or other required documents to reach the dollar exchange agent before the expiration date, or the procedure for book-entry transfer described above cannot be completed on a timely basis, a tender may nonetheless be made if:
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(1) stating the name and address of the holder of old dollar notes and the amount of old dollar notes tendered;
(2) stating that the tender is being made; and
(3) guaranteeing that within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date, the certificates for all physically tendered old dollar notes, in proper form for transfer, or a book-entry confirmation, as the case may be, and any other documents required by the letter of transmittal will be deposited by the eligible institution with the dollar exchange agent; and
Withdrawal Rights
You may withdraw tenders of your old notes at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.
For a withdrawal to be effective, you must send a written notice of withdrawal to the appropriate exchange agent at such exchange agent's corresponding address set forth below under "The Exchange Agents." Any such notice of withdrawal must:
(1) specify the name of the person having tendered the old notes to be withdrawn;
(2) identify the old notes to be withdrawn, including the principal amount of such old notes; and
(3) where certificates for old notes are transmitted, specify the name in which old notes are registered, if different from that of the withdrawing holder.
If certificates for old notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to an exchange agent, then, prior to the release of such certificates the withdrawing holder must also submit the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn and signed notice of withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an eligible institution unless such holder is an eligible institution. If old notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer or the blocking instructions described above, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC or Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as applicable, to be credited with the withdrawn old notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of such facility. We will determine all questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of such notices and our determination will be final and binding on all parties. Any tendered old notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of this exchange offer. Any old notes tendered for exchange that are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to the holder without cost to such holder. In the case of old notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the exchange agent's account at DTC, such old notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for the old notes as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of this exchange offer. In the case of old euro notes tendered in accordance with the blocking procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, the old euro notes will be returned to their holder by cancellation of the blocking instruction in accordance with the standard operating procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg as soon as practicable after
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withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of this exchange offer. Properly withdrawn old notes may be re-tendered by following one of the procedures described under "How to Tender Old Notes for Exchange" above at any time on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.
Conditions to the Exchange Offer
Notwithstanding any other provision of this exchange offer, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue new notes in this exchange offer for any old notes, and we may terminate or amend this exchange offer, if at any time before the expiration of this exchange offer:
(1) any federal law, statute, rule or regulation shall have been adopted or enacted which, in our judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair our ability to proceed with this exchange offer;
(2) any stop order shall be threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;
(3) there shall occur a change in the current interpretation by the staff of the SEC which permits the new notes issued in this exchange offer in exchange for the old notes to be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by such holders, other than broker-dealers and any such holder which is an "affiliate" of our company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such new notes acquired in this exchange offer are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder's business and such holder has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such new notes issued in this exchange offer;
(4) there has occurred any general suspension of or general limitation on prices for, or trading in, securities on any national exchange or in the over-the-counter market;
(5) any governmental agency creates limits that adversely affect our ability to complete this exchange offer; or
(6) there shall occur any declaration of war, armed hostilities or other similar international calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States, or the worsening of any such condition that existed at the time that we commence this exchange offer.
The non-occurrence of each of the preceding events is a condition to this exchange offer. We expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate this exchange offer upon the occurrence of any of these events. The conditions are for our sole benefit and we may assert them regardless of the circumstances giving rise to them. We may waive the preceding conditions in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in our sole discretion prior to the expiration of this exchange offer. If we do so, this exchange offer will remain open for at least three (3) business days following any waiver of the preceding conditions and, if we determine that any waiver constitutes a material change to the terms of this exchange offer, this exchange offer will remain open for at least five (5) business days following any such waiver. Our failure at any time to exercise the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which we may assert at any time and from time to time, except that all conditions to this exchange offer must be satisfied or waived by us prior to the expiration of this exchange offer. We will give oral or written notice or public announcement of any waiver by us of any condition and any related amendment, termination or extension of this exchange offer. In the case of any extension, such oral or written notice or public announcement will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.
34
The Exchange Agents
As explained above, we have appointed two separate exchange agents in connection with this exchange offer. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A has been appointed as the dollar exchange agent and is responsible for the tender and exchange of all old dollar notes for new dollar notes. Citibank, N.A. has been appointed as the euro exchange agent and is responsible for the tender and exchange of all old euro notes for new euro notes. All executed letters of transmittal should be directed to the appropriate exchange agent at the address set forth below corresponding to such exchange agent. You should direct questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the letter of transmittal and requests for notices of guaranteed delivery to the relevant exchange agent addressed as follows:
The Dollar Exchange Agent | The Euro Exchange Agent | |
By registered mail or certified mail: |
For all deliveries: |
|
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
Citibank, N.A. |
|
Corporate Trust Operations | 5 Carmelite Street | |
MAC N9303-121 | London EC 4Y 0PA | |
P.O. Box 1517 | Attn: Debt Exchanges | |
Minneapolis, MN 55480 | ||
Attn: Huntsman Administrator | For information or to confirm by telephone, call: | |
(44) 20-7508-3867 | ||
By regular mail or overnight courier: |
By facsimile transmission: |
|
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
(for eligible institutions only) |
|
Corporate Trust Operations | (44) 20-7508-3866 | |
MAC N9303-121 | ||
6th Street and Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55479 Attn: Huntsman Administrator |
||
By hand delivery before 4:30 p.m.: |
||
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Northstar East Building 608 2nd Avenue South 12th FloorCorporate Trust Services Minneapolis, MN 55402 Attn: Huntsman Administrator |
||
For information, call: (800) 344-5128 |
||
By facsimile transmission: (for eligible institutions only) (612) 667-4927 |
||
Confirm by telephone: (612) 667-9764 |
Delivery of the letter of transmittal to the wrong exchange agent, to an address other than as set forth above, or transmission of such letter of transmittal via facsimile other than as set forth above, does not constitute a valid delivery of such letter of transmittal.
35
Fees and Expenses
We will not make any payment to brokers, dealers or others soliciting acceptance of this exchange offer, except for reimbursement of mailing expenses.
Accounting Treatment
We will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes upon the consummation of this exchange offer. We will amortize the expense of this exchange offer over the term of the new notes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Transfer Taxes
You will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in connection with the tender of your old notes in this exchange offer. If, however, new notes are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the holder of the old notes tendered, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of old notes in connection with this exchange offer, then you must pay any such transfer taxes, whether imposed on the registered holder or on any other person. If satisfactory evidence of payment of, or exemption from, such taxes is not submitted with the letter of transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to you.
Consequences of Failing to Exchange Old Notes
Holders who desire to tender their old notes in exchange for new notes registered under the Securities Act should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery. Neither of the exchange agents nor our Company is under any duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the tenders of old notes for exchange.
Old notes that are not tendered or are tendered but not accepted will, following the consummation of this exchange offer, continue to be subject to the provisions in the indenture regarding the transfer and exchange of the old notes and the existing restrictions on transfer set forth in the legend on the old notes and in the offering memorandum dated December 3, 2004, relating to the old notes. Except in limited circumstances with respect to specific types of holders of old notes, we will have no further obligation to provide for the registration under the Securities Act of such old notes. In general, old notes, unless registered under the Securities Act, may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We do not currently anticipate that we will take any action to register the untendered old notes under the Securities Act or under any state securities laws.
Upon completion of this exchange offer, holders of the old notes will not be entitled to any further registration rights under the exchange and registration rights agreement, except under limited circumstances.
Holders of the new notes and any old notes which remain outstanding after consummation of this exchange offer will vote together as a single class for purposes of determining whether holders of the requisite percentage of the class have taken certain actions or exercised certain rights under the indenture.
Consequences of Exchanging Old Notes
Based on interpretations of the staff of the SEC, as set forth in no-action letters to third parties, we believe that the new notes may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by holders of such notes, other than by any holder which is a broker-dealer or an "affiliate" of our Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The new notes may be offered for resale, resold or
36
otherwise transferred without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, if:
(1) the new notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder's business; and
(2) such holder has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the new notes.
However, the SEC has not considered this exchange offer in the context of a no-action letter and we cannot guarantee that the staff of the SEC would make a similar determination with respect to this exchange offer as in such other circumstances.
Each holder, other than a broker-dealer, must furnish a written representation, at our request, that:
(1) it is not an affiliate of ours;
(2) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of the new notes and has no arrangement or understanding to participate in a distribution of the new notes;
(3) it is acquiring the new notes in the ordinary course of its business; and
(4) it is not acting on behalf of a person who could not make representations (1)-(3).
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes in this exchange offer for its own account in exchange for old notes must acknowledge that it acquired such old notes as a result of market-making or other trading activities and that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the new notes. See "Plan of Distribution" for a discussion of the exchange and resale obligations of broker-dealers in connection with this exchange offer.
In addition, to comply with state securities laws of certain jurisdictions, the new notes may not be offered or sold in any state unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and complied with by the holders selling the new notes. We have agreed in the exchange and registration rights agreement that, prior to any public offering of transfer restricted securities, we will register or qualify the transfer restricted securities for offer or sale under the securities laws of any jurisdiction requested by a holder. Unless a holder requests, we currently do not intend to register or qualify the sale of the new notes in any state where an exemption from registration or qualification is required and not available. "Transfer restricted securities" means each old note until:
(1) the date on which such old note has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer or an affiliate for a new note;
(2) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in this exchange offer of an old note for a new note, the date on which the new note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of this prospectus;
(3) the date on which such old note has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with a shelf registration statement that we file in accordance with the exchange and registration rights agreement; or
(4) the date on which such old note is distributed to the public in a transaction under Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the new notes. In consideration for issuing the new notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange old notes in like
37
principal amount, which will be cancelled and as such will not result in any increase in our indebtedness.
The aggregate net proceeds received by us from the sale of the old notes, after deducting the initial purchasers' discounts and commissions and offering expenses, were approximately 355 million U.S. dollar equivalents in cash. We used all of the net proceeds to redeem part of our outstanding 10.125% senior subordinated notes due 2009.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table shows our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 |
Year Ended December 31, 2004 |
Year Ended December 31, 2003 |
Year Ended December 31, 2002 |
Year Ended December 31, 2001 |
Year Ended December 31, 2000 |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(a) | 3.3 | | | | | | 1.7 |
38
The following table sets forth our cash and capitalization as of March 31, 2005. The information presented below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, "Use of Proceeds," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Selected Historical Financial Data" included in this prospectus and, in each case, any related notes thereto. We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the new notes. In consideration for issuing the new notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange old notes in like principal amount, which will be cancelled and as such will not result in any increase in our capitalization.
|
As of March 31, 2005 |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in millions) |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 121.1 | |||
Long-term debt (including current portion)(a): | |||||
HI credit facilities: | |||||
Revolving loan facility | $ | | |||
Term Loan B | 1,235.9 | ||||
Senior Notes | 455.7 | ||||
Senior Subordinated Notes | 1,203.2 | ||||
Other | 44.4 | ||||
Total long-term debt | 2,939.2 | ||||
Members' equity | 1,245.3 | ||||
Total capitalization | $ | 4,184.5 | |||
39
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The summary financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and "Selected Historical Financial Data" included elsewhere in this prospectus and, in each case, any related notes thereto.
The following condensed consolidating financial statements present, in separate columns, financial information for the following: Huntsman International LLC (on a parent only basis), with our investment in subsidiaries recorded under the equity method; the HI Guarantors on a combined, and where appropriate, consolidated basis; and the non-guarantors on a combined, and where appropriate, consolidated basis. Additional columns present eliminating adjustments and consolidated totals as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 and for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. There are no contractual restrictions limiting transfers of cash from guarantor subsidiaries to us. Each of the HI Guarantors is 100% owned by us and has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the notes, the HI Senior Notes and the HI Subordinated Notes on a joint and several basis. We have not presented separate financial statements and other disclosures for each of the HI Guarantors because management believes that such information is not material to investors.
40
HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
AS OF MARCH 31, 2005
(Dollars in Millions)
|
Parent Only Huntsman International |
Guarantors |
Non- Guarantors |
Eliminations |
Consolidated Huntsman International |
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ASSETS | |||||||||||||||||
Current Assets: | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 5.7 | $ | (0.4 | ) | $ | 115.8 | $ | | $ | 121.1 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net | 81.6 | 99.2 | 1,005.4 | (173.1 | ) | 1,013.1 | |||||||||||
Inventories | 84.4 | 87.2 | 651.4 | | 823.0 | ||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses | 1.5 | 0.9 | 31.1 | | 33.5 | ||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | | | 10.2 | | 10.2 | ||||||||||||
Other current assets | 81.4 | 435.6 | 161.7 | (614.2 | ) | 64.5 | |||||||||||
Total current assets | 254.6 | 622.5 | 1,975.6 | (787.3 | ) | 2,065.4 | |||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 482.7 | 309.2 | 2,276.8 | | 3,068.7 | ||||||||||||
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates | 3,790.8 | 881.0 | 26.2 | (4,548.6 | ) | 149.4 | |||||||||||
Intangible assets, net | 224.5 | 2.4 | 18.4 | | 245.3 | ||||||||||||
Other noncurrent assets | 56.0 | 1,812.4 | 402.4 | (1,785.8 | ) | 485.0 | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 4,808.6 | $ | 3,627.5 | $ | 4,699.4 | $ | (7,121.7 | ) | $ | 6,013.8 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 96.9 | $ | 82.5 | $ | 991.9 | $ | (173.0 | ) | $ | 998.3 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities | 514.6 | 28.1 | 386.5 | (614.4 | ) | 314.8 | |||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 0.3 | | 9.3 | | 9.6 | ||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 611.8 | 110.6 | 1,387.7 | (787.4 | ) | 1,322.7 | |||||||||||
Long-term debt | 2,921.0 | | 1,794.4 | (1,785.8 | ) | 2,929.6 | |||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | | | 161.2 | | 161.2 | ||||||||||||
Other noncurrent liabilities | 30.6 | 0.5 | 305.7 | | 336.8 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 3,563.4 | 111.1 | 3,649.0 | (2,573.2 | ) | 4,750.3 | |||||||||||
Minority interests | | | 18.2 | | 18.2 | ||||||||||||
Equity: | |||||||||||||||||
Member's equity | 1,026.1 | | | | 1,026.1 | ||||||||||||
Subsidiary equity | | 2,151.4 | 1,078.5 | (3,229.9 | ) | | |||||||||||
Retained earnings | 97.9 | 897.0 | (41.3 | ) | (855.7 | ) | 97.9 | ||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 121.2 | 468.0 | (5.0 | ) | (462.9 | ) | 121.3 | ||||||||||
Total equity | 1,245.2 | 3,516.4 | 1,032.2 | (4,548.5 | ) | 1,245.3 | |||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 4,808.6 | $ | 3,627.5 | $ | 4,699.4 | $ | (7,121.7 | ) | $ | 6,013.8 | ||||||
41
HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004
(Dollars in Millions)
|
Parent Only Huntsman International |
Guarantors |
Non- Guarantors |
Eliminations |
Consolidated Huntsman International |
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ASSETS | |||||||||||||||||
Current Assets: | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7.4 | $ | (0.4 | ) | $ | 131.0 | $ | | $ | 138.0 | ||||||
Accounts and notes receivables, net | 72.2 | 102.8 | 731.2 | (100.2 | ) | 806.0 | |||||||||||
Inventories | 81.3 | 85.0 | 569.3 | | 735.6 | ||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses | 2.4 | 1.8 | 26.6 | | 30.8 | ||||||||||||
Deferred tax asset | | | 10.2 | | 10.2 | ||||||||||||
Other current assets | 59.5 | 401.6 | 71.5 | (482.1 | ) | 50.5 | |||||||||||
Total current assets | 222.8 | 590.8 | 1,539.8 | (582.3 | ) | 1,771.1 | |||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 494.0 | 313.9 | 2,375.8 | | 3,183.7 | ||||||||||||
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates | 3,814.7 | 788.2 | 18.9 | (4,475.6 | ) | 146.2 | |||||||||||
Intangible assets, net | 230.6 | 2.9 | 20.5 | | 254.0 | ||||||||||||
Notes receivableaffiliates | 10.8 | 1,889.9 | | (1,889.9 | ) | 10.8 | |||||||||||
Other noncurrent assets | 65.2 | 28.0 | 389.9 | | 483.1 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 4,838.1 | $ | 3,613.7 | $ | 4,344.9 | $ | (6,947.8 | ) | $ | 5,848.9 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 70.2 | $ | 105.4 | $ | 612.9 | $ | (100.2 | ) | $ | 688.3 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities | 456.4 | 32.9 | 412.5 | (482.1 | ) | 419.7 | |||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 1.6 | | 8.9 | | 10.5 | ||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 528.2 | 138.3 | 1,034.3 | (582.3 | ) | 1,118.5 | |||||||||||
Long-term debt | 3,046.5 | | 1,887.7 | (1,889.9 | ) | 3,044.3 | |||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | | | 179.2 | | 179.2 | ||||||||||||
Notes payableaffiliates | 29.9 | | | | 29.9 | ||||||||||||
Other noncurrent liabilities | 34.8 | 0.2 | 234.5 | | 269.5 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 3,639.4 | 138.5 | 3,335.7 | (2,472.2 | ) | 4,641.4 | |||||||||||
Minority interests | | | 8.8 | | 8.8 | ||||||||||||
Equity: | |||||||||||||||||
Member's equity | 1,026.1 | | | | 1,026.1 | ||||||||||||
Subsidiary equity | | 2,198.3 | 1,128.0 | (3,326.3 | ) | | |||||||||||
Retained earnings | 6.1 | 736.0 | (146.6 | ) | (589.4 | ) | 6.1 | ||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 166.5 | 540.9 | 19.0 | (559.9 | ) | 166.5 | |||||||||||
Total equity | 1,198.7 | 3,475.2 | 1,000.4 | (4,475.6 | ) | 1,198.7 | |||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 4,838.1 | $ | 3,613.7 | $ | 4,344.9 | $ | (6,947.8 | ) | $ | 5,848.9 | ||||||
42
HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2005
(Dollars in Millions)
|
Parent Only Huntsman International |
Guarantors |
Non- Guarantors |
Eliminations |
Consolidated Huntsman International |
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||
Trade sales, services, and fees | $ | 228.9 | $ | 220.6 | $ | 1,446.2 | $ | | $ | 1,895.7 | ||||||||
Related party sales | 85.2 | 60.6 | 249.8 | (329.4 | ) | 66.2 | ||||||||||||
Total revenue | 314.1 | 281.2 | 1,696.0 | (329.4 | ) | 1,961.9 | ||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold | 238.1 | 249.0 | 1,447.8 | (329.4 | ) | 1,605.5 | ||||||||||||
Gross profit | 76.0 | 32.2 | 248.2 | | 356.4 | |||||||||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 29.3 | 4.3 | 53.0 | | 86.6 | |||||||||||||
Research and development | 8.9 | 0.4 | 1.2 | | 10.5 | |||||||||||||
Other operating expense | 9.7 | 7.5 | 16.4 | | 33.6 | |||||||||||||
Restructuring and plant closing costs | | | 7.0 | | 7.0 | |||||||||||||
Total expenses | 47.9 | 12.2 | 77.6 | | 137.7 | |||||||||||||
Operating income | 28.1 | 20.0 | 170.6 | | 218.7 | |||||||||||||
Interest (expense) income, net | (64.5 | ) | 36.7 | (36.0 | ) | | (63.8 | ) | ||||||||||
Gain (loss) on accounts receivable securitization program | 3.3 | (0.7 | ) | (5.8 | ) | | (3.2 | ) | ||||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates | 161.3 | 105.0 | | (266.3 | ) | | ||||||||||||
Other expense | (1.3 | ) | | | | (1.3 | ) | |||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 126.9 | 161.0 | 128.8 | (266.3 | ) | 150.4 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | | | (23.5 | ) | | (23.5 | ) | |||||||||||
Minority interest | (0.1 | ) | | | | (0.1 | ) | |||||||||||
Net income | 126.8 | 161.0 | 105.3 | (266.3 | ) | 126.8 | ||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | (45.2 | ) | (72.9 | ) | (24.0 | ) | 96.9 | (45.2 | ) | |||||||||
Comprehensive income | $ | 81.6 | $ | 88.1 | $ | 81.3 | $ | (169.4 | ) | $ | 81.6 | |||||||
43
HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2004
(Dollars in Millions)
|
Parent Only Huntsman International |
Guarantors |
Non- Guarantors |
Eliminations |
Consolidated Huntsman International |
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||
Trade sales, services, and fees | $ | 186.0 | $ | 141.4 | $ | 1,134.2 | $ | | $ | 1,461.6 | ||||||||
Related party sales | 46.5 | 49.3 | 25.7 | (85.0 | ) | 36.5 | ||||||||||||
Total revenue | 232.5 | 190.7 | 1,159.9 | (85.0 | ) | 1,498.1 | ||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold | 184.8 | 190.3 | 1,059.9 | (85.0 | ) | 1,350.0 | ||||||||||||
Gross profit | 47.7 | 0.4 | 100.0 | | 148.1 | |||||||||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 31.9 | 3.6 | 57.5 | | 93.0 | |||||||||||||
Research and development | 7.0 | 0.5 | 4.7 | | 12.2 | |||||||||||||
Other operating (income) expense | (0.1 | ) | 0.9 | (6.0 | ) | | (5.2 | ) | ||||||||||
Restructuring and plant closing costs | | | 8.7 | | 8.7 | |||||||||||||
Total expenses | 38.8 | 5.0 | 64.9 | | 108.7 | |||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 8.9 | (4.6 | ) | 35.1 | | 39.4 | ||||||||||||
Interest (expense) income, net | (69.0 | ) | 38.3 | (38.3 | ) | | (69.0 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss on accounts receivable securitization program | (0.2 | ) | (0.3 | ) | (3.0 | ) | | (3.5 | ) | |||||||||
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates | 23.6 | (10.1 | ) | | (13.5 | ) | | |||||||||||
Other expense | (0.2 | ) | | | | (0.2 | ) | |||||||||||
(Loss) income before income taxes | (36.9 | ) | 23.3 | (6.2 | ) | (13.5 | ) | (33.3 | ) | |||||||||
Income tax expense | | | (3.6 | ) | | (3.6 | ) | |||||||||||
Net (loss) income | (36.9 | ) | 23.3 | (9.8 | ) | (13.5 | ) | (36.9 | ) | |||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | 1.8 | (5.6 | ) | (31.7 | ) | 37.3 | 1.8 | |||||||||||
Comprehensive (loss) income | $ | (35.1 | ) | $ | 17.7 | $ | (41.5 | ) | $ | 23.8 | $ | (35.1 | ) | |||||
44
HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW (UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2005
(Dollars in Millions)
|
Parent Only Huntsman International |
Guarantors |
Non- Guarantors |
Eliminations |
Consolidated Huntsman International |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | $ | (61.1 | ) | $ | 8.3 | $ | 183.5 | $ | | $ | 130.7 | |||||
Investing activities: | ||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | (2.7 | ) | (0.5 | ) | (30.3 | ) | | (33.5 | ) | |||||||
Proceeds from sale of fixed asset | 4.6 | | | | 4.6 | |||||||||||
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate | | | (8.1 | ) | | (8.1 | ) | |||||||||
Advances to unconsolidated affiliates | (0.8 | ) | | | | (0.8 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 1.1 | (0.5 | ) | (38.4 | ) | | (37.8 | ) | ||||||||
Financing activities: | ||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid to parent | (35.0 | ) | | | | (35.0 | ) | |||||||||
Repayment of long term debt | (75.2 | ) | | | | (75.2 | ) | |||||||||
Repayments of senior notes | (4.1 | ) | | | | (4.1 | ) | |||||||||
Cash contributions by parent | | | 898.6 | (898.6 | ) | | ||||||||||
Cash distributions from subsidiaries | 1,000.9 | | | (1,000.9 | ) | | ||||||||||
Cash distributions to parent | | (46.9 | ) | (954.0 | ) | 1,000.9 | | |||||||||
Cash distributions to subsidiaries | (898.6 | ) | | | 898.6 | | ||||||||||
Shares issued to minority shareholders for cash | | | 3.6 | | 3.6 | |||||||||||
Other | 2.5 | | | | 2.5 | |||||||||||
Intercompany advancesnet of repayments | 67.8 | 39.1 | (106.9 | ) | | | ||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 58.3 | (7.8 | ) | (158.7 | ) | | (108.2 | ) | ||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | | | (1.6 | ) | | (1.6 | ) | |||||||||
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (1.7 | ) | | (15.2 | ) | | (16.9 | ) | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 7.4 | (0.4 | ) | 131.0 | | 138.0 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 5.7 | $ | (0.4 | ) | $ | 115.8 | $ | | $ | 121.1 | |||||
45
HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW (UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2004
(Dollars in Millions)
|
Parent Only Huntsman International |
Guarantors |
Non- Guarantors |
Eliminations |
Consolidated Huntsman International |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | $ | (88.7 | ) | $ | 27.3 | $ | 0.1 | $ | | $ | (61.3 | ) | ||||
Investing activities: | ||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | (1.5 | ) | (2.1 | ) | (34.6 | ) | | (38.2 | ) | |||||||
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate | | | (11.9 | ) | | (11.9 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash received from unconsolidated affiliates | | 1.8 | | | 1.8 | |||||||||||
Advances to unconsolidated affiliates | (0.6 | ) | | | | (0.6 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (2.1 | ) | (0.3 | ) | (46.5 | ) | | (48.9 | ) | |||||||
Financing activities: | ||||||||||||||||
Borrowings under revolving loan facilities | 88.0 | | | | 88.0 | |||||||||||
Net borrowings under overdraft facility | 4.9 | | | | 4.9 | |||||||||||
Cash contributions by parent | | 129.1 | 1,102.2 | (1,231.3 | ) | | ||||||||||
Cash distributions from subsidiaries | 1,174.1 | | | (1,174.1 | ) | | ||||||||||
Cash distributions to parent | | (65.9 | ) | (1,108.2 | ) | 1,174.1 | | |||||||||
Cash distributions to subsidiaries | (1,231.3 | ) | | | 1,231.3 | | ||||||||||
Intercompany advancesnet of repayments | 38.8 | (89.0 | ) | 50.2 | | | ||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 74.5 | (25.8 | ) | 44.2 | | 92.9 | ||||||||||
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (16.3 | ) | 1.2 | (2.2 | ) | | (17.3 | ) | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 16.6 | (0.3 | ) | 81.5 | | 97.8 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 0.3 | $ | 0.9 | $ | 79.3 | $ | | $ | 80.5 | ||||||
46
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA
The selected financial data set forth below presents the historical financial data of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated. The selected financial data as of March 31, 2005 and for the three-month period ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 have been derived from the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected financial data as of March 31, 2004 has been derived from the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company. The selected financial data as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected financial data as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company. You should read the selected financial data in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of the Company included elsewhere in this prospectus.
|
Three months ended March 31, |
Year ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2005 |
2004 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
||||||||||||||
|
(Dollars in Millions) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Statement of Operations Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 1,961.9 | $ | 1,498.1 | $ | 6,503.4 | $ | 5,245.5 | $ | 4,518.1 | $ | 4,575.2 | $ | 4,447.9 | |||||||
Gross profit | 356.4 | 148.1 | 824.9 | 584.4 | 615.4 | 585.1 | 742.5 | ||||||||||||||
Operating income | 218.7 | 39.4 | 181.2 | 175.9 | 228.1 | 159.9 | 411.1 | ||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change | 126.8 | (36.9 | ) | (49.5 | ) | (130.9 | ) | 20.1 | (59.4 | ) | 150.7 | ||||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change | | | | | | (1.5 | ) | | |||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 126.8 | $ | (36.9 | ) | $ | (49.5 | ) | $ | (130.9 | ) | $ | 20.1 | $ | (60.9 | ) | $ | 150.7 | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 75.8 | 77.0 | 312.4 | 277.9 | 256.2 | 240.5 | 216.2 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net | 63.8 | 69.0 | 254.2 | 251.5 | 245.4 | 228.3 | 222.4 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 23.5 | 3.6 | (58.6 | ) | 21.6 | (41.5 | ) | (26.0 | ) | 30.1 | |||||||||||
EBITDA(1) | $ | 289.9 | $ | 112.7 | $ | 458.5 | $ | 420.1 | $ | 480.2 | $ | 381.9 | $ | 619.4 | |||||||
Other Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | $ | 33.5 | $ | 38.2 | $ | 141.3 | $ | 127.4 | $ | 190.5 | $ | 291.0 | $ | 204.5 | |||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(2) | 3.3 | | | | | | 1.7 | ||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data (at period end): | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 6,013.8 | 5,468.0 | 5,848.9 | 5,492.7 | 5,079.8 | 4,862.1 | 4,815.4 | ||||||||||||||
Total debt | 2,939.2 | 2,999.0 | 3,054.8 | 2,927.1 | 2,773.8 | 2,637.9 | 2,350.5 |
47
expense on earnings can vary significantly among companies. In addition, the tax positions of companies can vary because of their differing abilities to take advantage of tax benefits and because of the tax policies of the various jurisdictions in which they operate. As a result, effective tax rates and tax expense can vary considerably among companies. Finally, companies employ productive assets of different ages and utilize different methods of acquiring and depreciating such assets. This can result in considerable variability in the relative costs of productive assets and the depreciation and amortization expense among companies. Our management also believes that our investors use EBITDA as a measure of our ability to service indebtedness as well as to fund capital expenditures and working capital requirements. Nevertheless, our management recognizes that there are material limitations associated with the use of EBITDA in the evaluation of our Company as compared to net income, which reflects overall financial performance, including the effects of interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA excludes interest expense. Because we have borrowed money in order to finance our operations, interest expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes interest expense has material limitations. EBITDA also excludes taxes. Because the payment of taxes is a necessary element of our operations, any measure that excludes tax expense has material limitations. Finally, EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization expense. Because we use capital assets, depreciation and amortization expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes depreciation and amortization expense has material limitations. Our management compensates for the limitations of using EBITDA by using it to supplement GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone. Our management also uses other metrics to evaluate capital structure, tax planning and capital investment decisions. For example, our management uses credit ratings and net debt ratios to evaluate capital structure, effective tax rate by jurisdiction to evaluate tax planning, and payback period and internal rate of return to evaluate capital investments. Our management also uses trade working capital to evaluate its investment in accounts receivable and inventory, net of accounts payable.
48
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and other financial information appearing elsewhere in the prospectus, including "Prospectus SummarySummary Historical Financial Data," "Capitalization" and "Selected Historical Financial Data."
Forward-looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this prospectus are forward-looking in nature. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates" or "intends" or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. You are cautioned that our business and operations are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, and, consequently, our actual results may materially differ from those projected by any forward-looking statements. Some of the risks and uncertainties are discussed below in "Cautionary Statement for Forward Looking Information" and elsewhere in this prospectus.
Certain Defined Terms
In this prospectus, "HI," the "Company," "we," "us" or "our" refer to Huntsman International LLC and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries. In this prospectus, "HIH" refers to Huntsman International Holdings LLC, "Huntsman LLC" or "HLLC" refers to Huntsman LLC and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries, "Huntsman Holdings" refers to Huntsman Holdings LLC, "MatlinPatterson" refers to MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Partners L.P. and, unless the context otherwise requires, its affiliates, and "ICI" refers to Imperial Chemical Industries PLC and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries.
Recent Developments
For information with respect to recent developments concerning our Company, see "BusinessRecent Developments" below.
Overview
We derive our revenues, earnings and cash flow from the sale of a wide variety of differentiated and commodity chemicals. We manage our operations through our four principal operating segments: Polyurethanes, Performance Products, Pigments and Base Chemicals. We manufacture products at facilities located in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, and our products are sold throughout the world. The major products of each reportable operating segment are as follows:
Segment |
Products |
|
---|---|---|
Polyurethanes | MDI, TDI, TPU, polyols, aniline, PO and MTBE | |
Performance Products | Surfactants, ethyleneamines and other performance chemicals | |
Pigments | Titanium dioxide ("TiO2") | |
Base Chemicals | Ethylene, propylene, benzene, cyclohexane and paraxylene |
Our products are divided into two broad categoriesdifferentiated and commodity chemicals. Our Polyurethanes and Performance Products businesses mainly produce differentiated products and our Pigments and Base Chemicals businesses mainly produce commodity chemicals. Among our commodity products, our Pigments business, while cyclical, tends to follow different trends and is not influenced by the same factors as our petrochemical-based commodity products. In addition, there are a limited
49
number of significant competitors in our Pigments business, relatively high barriers to entry and strong customer loyalty. Each of our four operating segments is impacted to varying degrees by economic conditions, prices of raw materials and global supply and demand pressures.
Growth in our Polyurethanes segment has been driven by the continued substitution of our products for other materials across a broad range of applications as well as the level of global economic activity. Historically, demand for many of these products has grown at rates in excess of GDP growth. In Polyurethanes, this growth, particularly in Asia, has recently resulted in even stronger demand and higher industry capacity utilization rates for many of our key products, including MDI. In the first quarter of 2005, the profitability of our Polyurethanes segment improved on continued strong demand in many of our key industrial end markets. We have further restored value to the business through increased selling prices, which more than offset increases in the cost of our primary raw materials.
The global PO market is influenced by supply and demand imbalances. PO demand is largely driven by growth in the polyurethane industry, and, as a result, growth rates for PO have generally exceeded GDP growth rates. As a co-product of our PO manufacturing process, we also produce MTBE. MTBE is an oxygenate that is blended with gasoline to reduce harmful vehicle emissions and to enhance the octane rating of gasoline. See "Environmental, Health and Safety MattersMTBE Developments" for more information on the legal and regulatory developments that may curtail or eliminate the use of MTBE in gasoline in the U.S.
In our Performance Products segment, demand for our ethyleneamines has generally continued to grow at rates in excess of GDP as overall demand is significantly influenced by new product and application development. In the first quarter of 2005, excess surfactants manufacturing capacity in Europe continued to limit our ability to fully recover the impact of higher raw material costs through increased selling prices.
Historically, demand for titanium dioxide pigments has grown at rates approximately equal to global GDP growth. Pigment prices have historically reflected industry-wide operating rates but have typically lagged behind movements in these rates by up to twelve months due to the effects of product stocking and destocking by customers and producers, contract arrangements and seasonality. The industry experiences some seasonality in its sales because sales of paints, the largest end use for titanium dioxide, generally peak during the spring and summer months in the northern hemisphere. This results in greater sales volumes in the second and third quarters of the year.
The profitability of our Base Chemicals segment has historically been cyclical in nature. The industry has recently operated in a down cycle that resulted from significant new capacity additions, weak demand reflecting soft global economic conditions and high crude oil and natural gas-based raw material costs. Despite continued high feedstock costs, the profitability of our Base Chemicals segment improved in the first quarter of 2005 as demand strengthened and average selling prices and profit margins increased in most of our product lines.
50
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 (Dollars in Millions)
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 |
Percent Change 2005 vs 2004 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenues | $ | 1,961.9 | $ | 1,498.1 | 31 | % | |||
Cost of goods sold | 1,605.5 | 1,350.0 | 19 | % | |||||
Gross profit | 356.4 | 148.1 | 141 | % | |||||
Operating expenses (including expenses of selling, general, and administrative, research and development and other operating costs) | 130.7 | 100.0 | 31 | % | |||||
Restructuring and plant closing costs | 7.0 | 8.7 | (20 | )% | |||||
Operating income | 218.7 | 39.4 | 455 | % | |||||
Interest expense, net | (63.8 | ) | (69.0 | ) | (8 | )% | |||
Loss on accounts receivable securitization program | (3.2 | ) | (3.5 | ) | (9 | )% | |||
Other expense | (1.3 | ) | (0.2 | ) | NM | ||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | 150.4 | (33.3 | ) | NM | |||||
Income tax expense | (23.5 | ) | (3.6 | ) | 553 | % | |||
Minority interests in subsidiaries' income | (0.1 | ) | | NM | |||||
Net income (loss) | 126.8 | (36.9 | ) | NM | |||||
Interest expense, net | 63.8 | 69.0 | (8 | )% | |||||
Income tax expense | 23.5 | 3.6 | 553 | % | |||||
Depreciation and amortization | 75.8 | 77.0 | (2 | )% | |||||
EBITDA(1) | $ | 289.9 | $ | 112.7 | 157 | % | |||
NMNot meaningful
Included in EBITDA are the following unusual items of expense:
|
March 31, 2005 |
March 31, 2004 |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss on sale of accounts receivable securitization program | $ | (3.2 | ) | $ | (3.5 | ) | |||
Loss on early extinguishment of debt | (1.3 | ) | | ||||||
Restructuring and plant closing costs: | |||||||||
Polyurethanes | (1.9 | ) | (4.8 | ) | |||||
Pigments | (2.9 | ) | (3.9 | ) | |||||
Base Chemicals | (2.2 | ) | | ||||||
Total restructuring and plant closing costs | (7.0 | ) | (8.7 | ) | |||||
Total unusual items of expense included in EBITDA | $ | (11.5 | ) | $ | (12.2 | ) | |||
51
indebtedness. However, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or viewed as a substitute for net income, cash flow from operations or other measures of performance as defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP"). Moreover, EBITDA as used herein is not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies due to potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation. Our management uses EBITDA to assess financial performance and debt service capabilities. In assessing financial performance, our management reviews EBITDA as a general indicator of economic performance compared to prior periods. Because EBITDA excludes interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, EBITDA provides an indicator of general economic performance that is not affected by debt restructurings, fluctuations in interest rates or effective tax rates, or levels of depreciation and amortization. Accordingly, our management believes this type of measurement is useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period and making certain related management decisions. EBITDA is also used by securities analysts, lenders and others in their evaluation of different companies because it excludes certain items that can vary widely across different industries or among companies within the same industry. For example, interest expense can be highly dependent on a company's capital structure, debt levels and credit ratings. Therefore, the impact of interest expense on earnings can vary significantly among companies. In addition, the tax positions of companies can vary because of their differing abilities to take advantage of tax benefits and because of the tax policies of the various jurisdictions in which they operate. As a result, effective tax rates and tax expense can vary considerably among companies. Finally, companies employ productive assets of different ages and utilize different methods of acquiring and depreciating such assets. This can result in considerable variability in the relative costs of productive assets and the depreciation and amortization expense among companies. Our management also believes that our investors use EBITDA as a measure of our ability to service indebtedness as well as to fund capital expenditures and working capital requirements. Nevertheless, our management recognizes that there are material limitations associated with the use of EBITDA in the evaluation of our Company as compared to net income, which reflects overall financial performance, including the effects of interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA excludes interest expense. Because we have borrowed money in order to finance our operations, interest expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes interest expense has material limitations. EBITDA also excludes taxes. Because the payment of taxes is a necessary element of our operations, any measure that excludes tax expense has material limitations. Finally, EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization expense. Because we use capital assets, depreciation and amortization expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes depreciation and amortization expense has material limitations. Our management compensates for the limitations of using EBITDA by using it to supplement GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone. Our management also uses other metrics to evaluate capital structure, tax planning and capital investment decisions. For example, our management uses credit ratings and net debt ratios to evaluate capital structure, effective tax rate by jurisdiction to evaluate tax planning, and payback period and internal rate of return to evaluate capital investments. Our management also uses trade working capital to evaluate its investment in accounts receivable and inventory, net of accounts payable.
We believe that net income (loss) is the performance measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP that is most directly comparable to EBITDA and that cash provided by (used in) operating activities is the liquidity measure calculated and presented in accordance with
52
GAAP that is most directly comparable to EBITDA. The following table reconciles EBITDA to our net income (loss) and to our cash provided by (used in) operations:
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EBITDA | $ | 289.9 | $ | 112.7 | |||
Depreciation and amortization expense | (75.8 | ) | (77.0 | ) | |||
Interest expense, net | (63.8 | ) | (69.0 | ) | |||
Income tax expense | (23.5 | ) | (3.6 | ) | |||
Net income (loss) | 126.8 | (36.9 | ) | ||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 75.8 | 77.0 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 11.5 | 3.0 | |||||
Unrealized loss (gains) on foreign currency transactions | 12.6 | (20.1 | ) | ||||
Other, net | 1.8 | 4.5 | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities | (97.8 | ) | (88.8 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 130.7 | $ | (61.3 | ) | ||
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2004
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, we had net income of $126.8 million on revenues of $1,961.9 million as compared to a net loss of $36.9 million on revenues of $1,498.1 million for the same period in 2004. The increase of $163.7 million in net income was the result of the following items:
53
affected by the mix of income and losses in the tax jurisdictions in which we operate. The increase in the tax expense was largely due to changes in pre-tax income and the tax jurisdictions in which the changes to pre-tax income occurred. We are treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes and as such are generally not subject to U.S. income tax, but rather such income is taxed directly to our owners. Accordingly, the $23.5 million of expense at March 31, 2005 is attributable to non-U.S. operations.
The following table sets forth the revenues and segment EBITDA for each of our operating segments.
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 |
Percent Change |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenues | ||||||||||
Polyurethanes | $ | 906.9 | $ | 639.6 | 42 | % | ||||
Performance Products | 210.5 | 184.1 | 14 | % | ||||||
Pigments | 263.2 | 254.9 | 3 | % | ||||||
Base Chemicals | 678.6 | 473.9 | 43 | % | ||||||
Eliminations | (97.3 | ) | (54.4 | ) | (79 | )% | ||||
Total | $ | 1,961.9 | $ | 1,498.1 | 31 | % | ||||
Segment EBITDA | ||||||||||
Polyurethanes | $ | 185.7 | $ | 72.7 | 155 | % | ||||
Performance Products | 0.2 | 1.9 | (89 | )% | ||||||
Pigments | 39.3 | 7.7 | 410 | % | ||||||
Base Chemicals | 102.2 | 31.4 | 225 | % | ||||||
Corporate and other | (37.5 | ) | (1.0 | ) | NM | |||||
Total | $ | 289.9 | $ | 112.7 | 157 | % | ||||
Polyurethanes
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, Polyurethanes revenues increased by $267.3 million, or 42%, as compared to the same period in 2004, primarily on higher average selling prices for MDI. MDI revenues increased by 46%, resulting from 45% higher average selling prices and 1% higher sales volumes. In addition, average selling prices and sales volumes of propylene oxide ("PO") and the co-product, MTBE, were also higher. The increase in MDI average selling prices is a result of the combination of strong growth in higher value applications, a continued strong supply/demand position and the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar, and to higher raw material and energy costs.
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, Polyurethanes segment EBITDA increased by $113.0 million, or 155%, as compared to the same period in 2004. Restructuring and plant closing costs of $1.9 million and $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, were included in segment EBITDA. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "Liquidity and Capital ResourcesRestructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below. Excluding restructuring charges, segment EBITDA increased by $110.1 million in the first quarter of 2005, as a result of higher margins as average selling prices more than offset the increases in raw material and energy costs.
Performance Products
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, Performance Products revenues increased by $26.4 million, or 14%, as compared to the same period in 2004, primarily as a result of higher average
54
selling prices, offset somewhat by lower sales volumes. Overall, average selling prices increased by 16% in response to higher raw material costs and the strengthening of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. A 2% decrease in sales volumes resulted principally from lower surfactant sales.
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, Performance Products segment EBITDA decreased to $0.2 million from $1.9 million in the same period in 2004. This decrease was due primarily to lower margins as raw material and energy costs increased more than average selling prices.
Pigments
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, Pigments revenues increased by $8.3 million, or 3%, as compared to the same period in 2004, resulting principally from a 12% increase in average selling prices, partially offset by 9% lower sales volumes. Average selling prices increased in all regions and benefited from the strengthening of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar as well as price increase initiatives implemented during the second half of 2004 and early 2005. Sales volumes were lower following the restructuring of our Grimsby, U.K. and Umbogintwini, South Africa facilities during 2004 and due to lower end use demand.
Pigments segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2005 increased by $31.6 million, or 410%, as compared to the same period in 2004. During the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, our Pigments segment recorded restructuring and plant closing charges of $2.9 million and $3.9 million, respectively. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "Liquidity and Capital ResourcesRestructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below. Excluding restructuring charges, EBITDA increased by $30.6 million primarily as a result of higher average selling prices and lower fixed costs as a result of our restructuring activities.
Base Chemicals
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, Base Chemicals revenues increased by $204.7 million, or 43%, as compared to the same period in 2004, resulting from a 41% increase in average selling prices and a 2% increase in sales volumes. Average selling prices increased primarily in response to higher raw material and energy costs and tightening supply and demand balances.
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, Base Chemicals segment EBITDA increased by $70.8 million, or 225%, as compared to the same period in 2004, principally as a result of higher margins as higher average selling prices more than offset higher raw material costs. EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2005 included charges for restructuring and plant closing costs of $2.2 million. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "Liquidity and Capital ResourcesRestructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below.
Corporate and Other
Corporate and other items include unallocated corporate overhead, loss on our accounts receivable securitization program and unallocated foreign exchange gains and losses. For the three months ended March 31, 2005, EBITDA from corporate and other items decreased by $36.5 million to a loss of $37.5 million from a loss of $1.0 million in the same period in 2004. The decrease in EBITDA resulted primarily from a $33.9 million increase in unallocated foreign currency transaction losses.
55
Results of Operations
The following sets forth the consolidated results of operations for the three years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.
|
Year Ended December 31, 2004 |
Year Ended December 31, 2003 |
Year Ended December 31, 2002 |
Percent Change 2004 vs 2003 |
Percent Change 2003 vs 2002 |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenues | $ | 6,503.4 | $ | 5,245.5 | $ | 4,518.1 | 24 | % | 16 | % | ||||
Cost of goods sold | 5,678.5 | 4,661.1 | 3,902.7 | 22 | % | 19 | % | |||||||
Gross profit | 824.9 | 584.4 | 615.4 | 41 | % | (5 | )% | |||||||
Operating expenses (including expenses of selling, general, and administrative, research and development and other operating costs) | 394.2 | 351.8 | 379.6 | 12 | % | (7 | )% | |||||||
Restructuring and plant closing costs | 249.5 | 56.7 | 7.7 | 340 | % | 636 | % | |||||||
Operating income | 181.2 | 175.9 | 228.1 | 3 | % | (23 | )% | |||||||
Interest expense, net | (254.2 | ) | (251.5 | ) | (245.4 | ) | 1 | % | 2 | % | ||||
Loss on accounts receivable securitization program | (15.6 | ) | (32.4 | ) | (5.5 | ) | (52 | )% | 489 | % | ||||
Other (expense) income | (19.5 | ) | (1.3 | ) | 1.3 | NM | NM | |||||||
Loss before income taxes | (108.1 | ) | (109.3 | ) | (21.5 | ) | (1 | )% | 408 | % | ||||
Income tax benefit (expense) | 58.6 | (21.6 | ) | 41.5 | NM | NM | ||||||||
Minority interests in subsidiaries' income | | | 0.1 | NM | NM | |||||||||
Net (loss) income | (49.5 | ) | (130.9 | ) | 20.1 | (62 | )% | NM | ||||||
Interest expense, net | 254.2 | 251.5 | 245.4 | 1 | % | 2 | % | |||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense | (58.6 | ) | 21.6 | (41.5 | ) | NM | NM | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 312.4 | 277.9 | 256.2 | 12 | % | 8 | % | |||||||
EBITDA(1) | $ | 458.5 | $ | 420.1 | $ | 480.2 | 9 | % | (13 | )% | ||||
NMNot meaningful
56
Included in EBITDA are the following unusual items of expense:
|
Years ended December 31, |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
|||||||||
Loss on sale of accounts receivable securitization program | $ | (15.6 | ) | $ | (32.4 | ) | $ | (5.5 | ) | |||
Asset write-downs | | (5.8 | ) | | ||||||||
Legal Settlement, net of recoveries | (15.1 | ) | | | ||||||||
Loss on early extinguishment of debt | (19.5 | ) | | | ||||||||
Restructuring, impairment, and plant closing costs: | ||||||||||||
Polyurethanes | $ | (36.9 | ) | $ | (28.1 | ) | $ | | ||||
Performance Products | (73.0 | ) | (22.1 | ) | (4.6 | ) | ||||||
Pigments | (123.3 | ) | (6.5 | ) | (3.1 | ) | ||||||
Base Chemicals | (16.3 | ) | | | ||||||||
Total restructuring and plant closing costs | $ | (249.5 | ) | $ | (56.7 | ) | $ | (7.7 | ) | |||
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measure that excludes tax expense has material limitations. Finally, EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization expense. Because we use capital assets, depreciation and amortization expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes depreciation and amortization expense has material limitations. Our management compensates for the limitations of using EBITDA by using it to supplement GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone. Our management also uses other metrics to evaluate capital structure, tax planning and capital investment decisions. For example, our management uses credit ratings and net debt ratios to evaluate capital structure, effective tax rate by jurisdiction to evaluate tax planning, and payback period and internal rate of return to evaluate capital investments. Our management also uses trade working capital to evaluate its investment in accounts receivable and inventory, net of accounts payable.
We believe that net income (loss) is the performance measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP that is most directly comparable to EBITDA and that cash provided by (used in) operating activities is the liquidity measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP that is most directly comparable to EBITDA. The following table reconciles EBITDA to our net loss and to our cash provided by (used in) operations:
|
Years ended December 31, |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
|||||||
EBITDA | $ | 458.5 | $ | 420.1 | $ | 480.2 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | (312.4 | ) | (277.9 | ) | (256.2 | ) | ||||
Interest expense, net | (254.2 | ) | (251.5 | ) | (245.4 | ) | ||||
Income tax benefit (expense) | 58.6 | (21.6 | ) | 41.5 | ||||||
Net (loss) income | (49.5 | ) | (130.9 | ) | 20.1 | |||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 312.4 | 277.9 | 256.2 | |||||||
Non-cash restructuring, plant closing and asset | ||||||||||
impairment charges | 116.4 | 11.4 | 6.1 | |||||||
Loss on early extinguishment of debt | 19.5 | | | |||||||
Deferred income taxes | (75.3 | ) | | (59.8 | ) | |||||
Unrealized gains on foreign currency transactions | (61.5 | ) | (64.3 | ) | (29.5 | ) | ||||
Other, net | 18.5 | 26.4 | 16.7 | |||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities | (134.7 | ) | (22.0 | ) | (31.7 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 145.8 | $ | 98.5 | $ | 178.1 | ||||
Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2003
For the year ended December 31, 2004, we had a net loss of $49.5 million on revenues of $6,503.4 million as compared to a net loss of $130.9 million on revenues of $5,245.5 million for 2003. The decrease of $81.4 million in net loss was the result of the following items:
58
59
The following table sets forth the revenues and segment EBITDA for each of our operating segments.
|
Year Ended December 31, 2004 |
Year Ended December 31, 2003 |
Percent Change |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenues | ||||||||||
Polyurethanes | $ | 2,877.4 | $ | 2,297.5 | 25 | % | ||||
Performance Products | 751.3 | 659.6 | 14 | % | ||||||
Pigments | 1,048.1 | 1,009.9 | 4 | % | ||||||
Base Chemicals | 2,118.5 | 1,421.8 | 49 | % | ||||||
Eliminations | (291.9 | ) | (143.3 | ) | (104 | )% | ||||
Total | $ | 6,503.4 | $ | 5,245.5 | 24 | % | ||||
Segment EBITDA | ||||||||||
Polyurethanes | $ | 364.0 | $ | 233.4 | 56 | % | ||||
Performance Products | (69.1 | ) | (15.8 | ) | (337 | )% | ||||
Pigments | (30.0 | ) | 105.4 | NM | ||||||
Base Chemicals | 206.9 | 77.7 | 166 | % | ||||||
Corporate and other | (13.3 | ) | 19.4 | NM | ||||||
Total | $ | 458.5 | $ | 420.1 | 9 | % | ||||
NMNot meaningful
Polyurethanes
For the year ended December 31, 2004, Polyurethanes revenues increased by $579.9 million, or 25%, as compared to 2003, primarily from higher average selling prices and higher sales volumes for MDI. MDI revenues increased by 31%, resulting from 17% higher average selling prices and 12% higher sales volumes. The increase in MDI average selling prices resulted principally from improved market demand coupled with tighter supply, the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar and in response to higher raw material and energy costs. Higher MDI volumes reflect further extension of markets for MDI and recent improvements in global economic conditions.
For the year ended December 31, 2004, Polyurethanes segment EBITDA increased by $130.6 million, or 56%, as compared to 2003. Restructuring and plant closing costs of $36.9 million and $28.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, were included in segment EBITDA. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below. Excluding restructuring charges, segment EBITDA increased by $139.4 million in 2004, resulting mainly from higher contribution margins as average selling prices increased more than raw material and energy costs.
Performance Products
For the year ended December 31, 2004, Performance Products revenues increased by $91.7 million, or 14%, as compared to 2003, primarily as a result of higher average selling prices, offset somewhat by lower sales volumes. Overall, average selling prices increased by 17% in response to higher raw material costs and the strengthening of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. A 2% decrease in sales volumes resulted principally from lower surfactants sales.
For the year ended December 31, 2004, Performance Products segment EBITDA decreased by $53.3 million to a loss of $69.1 million from a loss of $15.8 million in 2003. This decrease was due primarily to a $50.8 million increase in restructuring and plant closing costs in 2004. Restructuring and
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plant closing costs of $73.0 million and $22.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, were included in segment EBITDA. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below. Excluding restructuring charges, 2004 EBITDA was relatively unchanged from 2003.
Pigments
For the year ended December 31, 2004, Pigments revenues increased by $38.2 million, or 4%, as compared to 2003, resulting principally from 4% higher average selling prices. Average selling prices benefited primarily from the strengthening of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar.
Pigments segment EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2004 decreased by $135.4 million to a loss of $30.0 million from income of $105.4 million in 2003. The decrease is mainly the result of an increase in restructuring and plant closing costs of $116.8 million and charges of $15.1 million relating to the payment of costs and settlement amounts relating to Discoloration Claims recorded in 2004. The remaining decrease in segment EBITDA of $3.5 million resulted principally from a $14.5 million reduction in EBITDA primarily in response to the strengthening of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar, offset somewhat by lower fixed costs resulting from cost reduction initiatives. During 2004 and 2003, our Pigments segment recorded restructuring and plant closing charges of $123.3 million and $6.5 million, respectively. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below.
Base Chemicals
For the year ended December 31, 2004, Base Chemicals revenues increased by $696.7 million, or 49%, as compared to 2003, primarily resulting from a 40% increase in average selling prices and a 6% increase in sales volumes. Average selling prices were higher primarily in response to higher raw material and energy costs and the strengthening of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. Sales volumes increased for all key products, principally as a result of increased customer demand.
For the year ended December 31, 2004, Base Chemicals segment EBITDA increased by $129.2 million, or 166%, as compared to 2003, principally as a result of higher contribution margins as higher average selling prices more than offset higher raw material costs. EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2004 included charges for restructuring and plant closing costs of $16.3 million. For further discussion of restructuring activities, see "Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" below.
Corporate and Other
Corporate and other items include unallocated corporate overhead, loss on our accounts receivable securitization program and unallocated foreign exchange gains and losses. For the year ended December 31, 2004, EBITDA from corporate and other items decreased by $32.7 million to a loss of $13.3 million from income of $19.4 million in 2003. The decrease resulted primarily from a reduction in unallocated foreign exchange gains.
Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2002
For the year ended December 31, 2003, we had a net loss of $130.9 million on revenues of $5,245.5 million, compared to net income of $20.1 million on revenues of $4,518.1 million for 2002. The increase of $151.0 million in net loss was the result of the following items:
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the U.S. dollar. Selling prices increased primarily in response to increased underlying raw material prices.
62
The following table sets forth the revenues and EBITDA for each of our operating segments.
|
Year Ended December 31, 2003 |
Year Ended December 31, 2002 |
Percent Change |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenues | ||||||||||
Polyurethanes | $ | 2,297.5 | $ | 2,066.0 | 11 | % | ||||
Performance Products | 659.6 | 574.3 | 15 | % | ||||||
Pigments | 1,009.9 | 880.3 | 15 | % | ||||||
Base Chemicals | 1,421.8 | 1,097.5 | 30 | % | ||||||
Eliminations | (143.3 | ) | (100.0 | ) | (43 | )% | ||||
Total | $ | 5,245.5 | $ | 4,518.1 | 16 | % | ||||
Segment EBITDA | ||||||||||
Polyurethanes | $ | 233.4 | $ | 365.1 | (36 | )% | ||||
Performance Products | (15.8 | ) | 27.2 | NM | ||||||
Pigments | 105.4 | 68.3 | 54 | % | ||||||
Base Chemicals | 77.7 | 13.8 | 463 | % | ||||||
Corporate and other | 19.4 | 5.8 | 234 | % | ||||||
Total | $ | 420.1 | $ | 480.2 | (13 | )% | ||||
NMNot meaningful
Polyurethanes
For the year ended December 31, 2003, Polyurethanes revenues increased by $231.5 million, or 11%, to $2,297.5 million from $2,066.0 million for 2002. MDI sales revenue increased by 11%, due to 11% higher average selling prices and relatively flat volumes. The overall lack of MDI volume growth was largely the result of a reduction in spot sales to co-producers in 2003. MDI sales volumes, excluding spot sales, rose by 6%, with increases of 20%, 6% and 2% in Asia, the Americas and Europe, respectively, driven by the improved rigid polyurethanes market in the fourth quarter 2003. MDI overall average selling prices increased by 11%, 7% of which was attributable to the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar and 4% of which was attributable to our continued efforts to increase sales prices as raw material costs increased. Polyol sales revenue increased by 16% as sales volumes increased by 4%, consistent with underlying MDI volumes, and average selling prices increased by 12%, 7% of which was attributable to the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. PO revenue decreased 8%, primarily due to the conversion of certain sales to a tolling arrangement, which affected revenues but only had a minimal impact on gross margin. MTBE sales revenue increased by 14% due to a 7% increase in volumes and a 7% increase in selling prices due to stronger crude oil and gasoline markets.
For the year ended 2003, Polyurethanes segment EBITDA decreased by $131.7 million to $233.4 million from $365.1 million for the same period in 2002. Lower EBITDA resulted mainly from a $271.9 million increase in raw material and energy costs, partly offset by a $200.5 million improvement in average selling prices. We also recorded $28.1 million in restructuring charges in connection with the integration of our global flexible products unit into our urethane specialties unit and cost reduction efforts at our Rozenburg, Netherlands site. These charges are part of an overall cost reduction program that is expected to be implemented and recorded from 2003 to 2005. We also incurred a $2.5 million charge due to the write-off of an asset formerly used in connection with our Geismar, Louisiana TDI facility. Fixed production costs increased $33.6 million, primarily due to the $18.9 million impact of the strengthening of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar, increased pension costs of $10.1 million and a $7.1 million fixed cost absorption as a result of a reduction in inventory levels.
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Operating expenses also increased by $1.5 million due to a $16.6 million adverse foreign currency exchange impact, partly offset by $15.1 million in cost savings as measured in local currencies.
Performance Products
For the year ended 2003, Performance Products revenues increased by $85.3 million, or 15%, to $659.6 million from $574.3 million in 2002. Overall, Performance Products sales volumes fell by 4% and average selling prices increased by 20%, of which 12% was due to foreign currency movements. Surfactants revenues increased by 6% as compared to 2002, resulting from a 15% increase in average selling prices and a 7% decrease in sales volumes. Average selling prices of surfactants in local currencies fell due to intense competition, but our selling prices increased by 19% due to the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. The reduction in surfactants' sales volumes was largely the result of softer European demand, competitive activity and decreased export business as a result of the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. Ethyleneamines revenues increased by 17% compared with 2002, resulting primarily from a 7% increase in average selling prices and a 9% increase in sales volumes. The increase in ethyleneamines average selling prices was due to price increases implemented to offset increased raw material costs. Sales volumes of ethyleneamines increased largely due to higher export sales. Other sales revenues, primarily amines, increased by 56% compared with 2002. This increase resulted primarily from a 19% increase in sales volumes and a 31% increase in average selling prices. These increases were primarily the result of the initiation of tolling agreements with affiliates.
For the year ended 2003, Performance Products segment EBITDA decreased by $43.0 million to a loss of $15.8 million from a profit of $27.2 million in 2002. Restructuring costs in the year ended December 31, 2003 were $17.5 million higher than in the same period in 2002, due to the $20.1 million charge taken in connection with the closure of certain units at our Whitehaven, U.K. facility in September 2003 and $2.0 million charged in respect of severance costs arising from the closure of an administrative office in London, U.K., the rationalization of our surfactants technical center in Oldbury, U.K. and the restructuring of our facility in Barcelona, Spain. Lower sales volumes negatively impacted EBITDA by approximately $3.7 million. An $89.0 million increase in selling prices was largely offset by raw material cost increases of $87.5 million. Fixed production costs were relatively unchanged as negative currency impacts of $10.0 million were offset by the effect of cost reduction programs and the operation of only one of our two ethyleneamines units at our Freeport, Texas facility for much of the year. Operating expenses increased by $22.6 million, of which $9.0 million was attributable to adverse currency movements and $9.0 million of which was due mainly to costs paid to Huntsman LLC under tolling and commercial arrangements for the sale of performance products on their behalf, which were entirely offset by the margin earned on the sale of such products.
Pigments
For the year ended December 31, 2003, Pigments revenues increased by $129.6 million, or 15%, to $1,009.9 million from $880.3 million for the same period in 2002. Average selling prices increased by 13%, of which 9% resulted from the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar, and the remainder of which resulted from improved supply and demand conditions. Average selling prices as measured in local currencies increased by 5%, 3% and 6% in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific ("APAC"), respectively, due to price increases implemented in early 2003 as a result of favorable supply and demand conditions that existed at that time. Sales volumes increased overall by 1%, with North America showing an increase of 1% and APAC showing an increase of 6%, while Europe was unchanged.
For the year ended December 31, 2003, Pigments segment EBITDA increased by $37.1 million to $105.4 million from $68.3 million in 2002. The increase in EBITDA is primarily a result of a $114.6 million increase in selling prices and the $5.3 million impact of the 1% increase in sales volume,
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partially offset by an increase in manufacturing costs of $83.1 million. The manufacturing costs increase was caused mainly by foreign currency movements of $84.6 million, which were partially offset by savings of $4.9 million, as measured in local currencies, from our cost reduction initiatives. Operating expenses increased by $1.6 million mainly due to an increase in restructuring charges of $3.4 million and a $3.2 million increase in pension costs, partially offset by the release of $2.6 million of surplus environmental provisions recorded in relation to our Tracy, Canada facility which was closed in 2000.
Base Chemicals
For the year ended December 31, 2003, Base Chemicals revenues increased by $324.3 million, or 30%, to $1,421.8 million from $1,097.5 million for 2002. The increase in revenues was caused by a 33% increase in average selling prices, partially offset by a 3% reduction in overall sales volumes. Base Chemicals average selling prices were up 21% in response to higher raw material and energy prices and favorable supply and demand conditions, and 12% due to the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. The reduction in Base Chemicals volumes was caused primarily by reduced sales of raw materials, primarily naphtha, which we sell from time to time as favorable opportunities arise. Ethylene revenues increased 39%, resulting from a 12% increase in volumes and a 24% increase in average sales prices. Propylene revenues increased 50%, resulting from a 17% increase in volumes and a 28% increase in average sales prices. Paraxylene revenues increased 28%, resulting from a 4% decrease in volumes and a 34% increase in average sales prices. Benzene revenues increased 17%, resulting from a 15% decrease in volumes and a 37% increase in average sales prices. Cyclohexane revenues increased 41%, resulting from a 7% increase in volumes and a 32% increase in average sales prices. Sales volume increases for ethylene and propylene reflected increased demand and the fact that 2002 included a turnaround at our Wilton, U.K. olefins facility.
For the year ended December 31, 2003, Base Chemicals segment EBITDA increased by $63.9 million to $77.7 million from $13.8 million in 2002. Increased segment EBITDA primarily resulted from the impact of increased selling prices of $348.4 million, offset by increased raw material costs of $258.2 million, mainly due to a 23% increase in the cost of our main feedstock, naphtha. Fixed production costs increased $37.0 million, of which $16.0 million was due to foreign currency impacts, $11.0 million due to costs reclassified from operating expenses and $7.0 million due to higher pension costs. Operating expenses decreased $11.9 million, which included $11.0 million of costs reclassified as fixed production costs, insurance claim recoveries of $2.6 million and recoveries from the sale of precious metals used in the manufacturing process amounting to $3.3 million. These operating expense decreases were partially offset by $2.4 million associated with various terminated capital projects and reduced foreign currency translation gains of $1.9 million.
Corporate and Other
Corporate and other items include unallocated corporate overhead, loss on our accounts receivable securitization program and unallocated foreign exchange gains and losses. For the year ended December 31, 2003, EBITDA from corporate and other items increased by $13.6 million to $19.4 million from $5.8 million for 2002. The increase resulted primarily from increased unallocated foreign exchange gains caused primarily by the strength of the major European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. Unallocated foreign exchange gains were $48.3 million higher, with a gain of $95.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2003 as compared to a gain of $47.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2002. In general, our unallocated foreign exchange gains and losses result primarily from movements in the foreign exchange rates used to translate the current portion of intercompany balances to the functional currency at the end of the period and from the translation of foreign currency receivable balances sold into our accounts receivable securitization program to U.S. dollars.
The increased unallocated foreign exchange gains were partially offset by increased losses on the accounts receivable securitization program, which increased by $26.9 million to a loss of $32.4 million
65
in the year ended December 31, 2003 as compared to a loss of $5.5 million in 2002. Losses on the accounts receivable securitization program include the discount on receivables sold into the program, fees and expenses associated with the program and gains (losses) on foreign currency hedge contracts mandated by the terms of the program to hedge currency exposures on the collateral supporting the off-balance sheet debt issued. The increased losses on the accounts receivable securitization program were primarily due to losses on foreign exchange hedge contracts mandated by our accounts receivable securitization program and the increase in the size of our securitization facility effective October 2002. Other cost increases were the result of a higher management fee paid to Huntsman LLC of $3.5 million, an asset valuation adjustment of $2.8 million, and the expensing of $1.1 million of abandoned transaction costs.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2005 increased by $192.0 million to $130.7 million from $61.3 million used in operating activities in the same period in 2004. The increase is primarily attributable to increased net income of $163.7 million and favorable variances in adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operations, including a favorable variance of $32.7 million in unrealized losses (gains) on foreign currency transactions.
Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2005 decreased by $11.1 million primarily as a result of proceeds from the sales of fixed assets and lower investments in our Chinese MDI joint ventures.
Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2005 increased by $201.1 million to $108.2 million, as compared to $92.9 million provided by financing activities in the same period in 2004. The increase in use is mainly a result of a voluntary repayment of indebtedness of $75 million during the first quarter of 2005 resulting from improved operating cash flow as compared to revolver borrowings experienced during the same period of 2004 to fund negative operating cash flow. In addition, in the first quarter 2005, we paid a dividend of $35 million to HIH, that together with proceeds from the Huntsman Corporation initial public offering, was used to redeem the HIH senior discount notes due 2009.
Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased by $47.3 million to $145.8 million from $98.5 million provided by operating activities in 2003. The increase is primarily attributable to a reduced net loss of $81.4 and favorable variances in adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operations, including favorable variances of $105.0 million in non-cash restructuring charges, $34.5 million in depreciation and $19.5 million on early extinguishment of debt, partially offset by a negative variance of $112.7 million in changes in operating assets and liabilities and $75.3 million in deferred income taxes.
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased by $11.4 million to $147.1 million from $135.7 million for 2003, partly as a result of increased capital expenditures and investments associated with our Chinese joint ventures.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2004 decreased by $24.4 million to $30.0 million, as compared to $54.4 million in 2003. The decrease is mainly a result of reduced net borrowings to fund operating cash requirements. The financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2003 include (i) the issuance of $205 million of additional term loans under the HI Credit Facilities, the net proceeds of which were applied to pay down a portion of outstanding borrowings under the HI revolving credit facility and other term debt under the HI Credit Facilities,
66
and (ii) the issuance of $150 million of additional senior unsecured notes, the net proceeds of which were used to repay amounts outstanding under the HI Credit Facilities. The financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2004 include (i) the refinancing of the HI Credit Facilities, (ii) the issuance of $175 million 7.50% and €135 million 7.375% HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (defined below), the net proceeds of which were used to redeem in part the HI Senior Subordinated Notes (defined below), and (iii) the repayment of $59.0 million of debt under the HI Credit Facilities with excess cash flow on December 31, 2004.
Changes in Financial Condition
|
March 31, 2005 |
December 31, 2004 |
Difference |
Percent Change |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Current assets: | ||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 121.1 | $ | 138.0 | $ | (16.9 | ) | (12 | )% | |||||
Accounts receivable | 1,013.1 | 806.0 | 207.1 | 26 | % | |||||||||
Inventories | 823.0 | 735.6 | 87.4 | 12 | % | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses | 33.5 | 30.8 | 2.7 | 9 | % | |||||||||
Deferred income taxes | 10.2 | 10.2 | | | ||||||||||
Other current assets | 64.5 | 50.5 | 14.0 | 28 | % | |||||||||
Total current assets | 2,065.4 | 1,771.1 | 294.3 | 17 | % | |||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | 998.3 | 688.3 | 310.0 | 45 | % | |||||||||
Accrued liabilities | 314.8 | 419.7 | (104.9 | ) | (25 | )% | ||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 9.6 | 10.5 | (0.9 | ) | (9 | )% | ||||||||
Total current liabilities | 1,322.7 | 1,118.5 | 204.2 | 18 | % | |||||||||
Working capital | $ | 742.7 | $ | 652.6 | $ | 90.1 | 14 | % | ||||||
As of March 31, 2005, our working capital increased by $90.1 million as a result of the net impact of the following significant changes:
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Debt and Liquidity
HI Credit Facilities
As of March 31, 2005, we had senior secured credit facilities (the "HI Credit Facilities") which consisted of a revolving loan facility of up to $375 million maturing in September 2008 (the "HI Revolving Facility"), which includes a $50 million multicurrency revolving loan facility available in euros, GBP Sterling and U.S. dollars, and a term loan B facility consisting of a $1,177.5 million term portion and a € 45.1 million (approximately $58.5 million) term portion (the "HI Term Facility"). The maturity of the HI Term Facility is December 31, 2010; provided that the maturity will be accelerated to December 31, 2008 if we have not refinanced all of the outstanding HI Senior Notes and the HI Subordinated Notes (as defined below) on or before December 31, 2008 on terms satisfactory to the administrative agent under the HI Credit Facilities. Scheduled amortization of the HI Term Facility is approximately $12.5 million per annum commencing June 30, 2006, with the remaining unpaid balance due at maturity. The HI Credit Facility allows us to borrow up to $100 million secured by letters of credit; however, the $375 million revolving credit facility is reduced dollar-for-dollar by any letters of credit outstanding. As of March 31, 2005, there were no loans outstanding on the HI Revolving Facility, and there were $7.2 million in letters of credit outstanding.
In compliance with applicable provisions in our credit facilities, on December 31, 2004, we prepaid $59 million dollar equivalents on the HI Term Facility as a result of excess cash flow. On March 24, 2005, we made a $75 million dollar equivalent voluntary repayment on the HI Term Facility. Such prepayments have been applied in accordance with the provisions of the HI Credit Facilities in such a manner that there will be no scheduled maturities under the HI Credit Facilities due until June 2006 and such that all remaining scheduled maturities under the HI Term Facility shall be reduced pro rata.
Interest rates for the amended and restated HI Credit Facilities are based upon, at our option, either a eurocurrency rate (LIBOR) or a base rate (prime) plus the applicable spread. The applicable spreads vary based on a pricing grid, depending on the loan facility and whether specified conditions have been satisfied, in the case of eurocurrency-based term loans, from 2.25% to 2.50% for term loan B dollar loans per annum and from 3.00% to 3.25% for term loan B Euro loans per annum, and, in the case of base rate term loans, from 1.00% to 1.25% for term B dollar loans per annum. The applicable spread for eurocurrency-based revolving loans ranges from 2.25% to 3.25% and for base rate revolving loans from 1.00% to 2.00%. As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the average interest rates on the HI Credit Facilities were 5.38% and 5.0%, respectively, excluding the impact of interest rate hedges.
The HI Credit Facilities are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all our assets and all the assets of our domestic subsidiaries and certain of our foreign subsidiaries. The HI Credit Facilities are also guaranteed by HIH, our domestic subsidiaries and certain of our foreign subsidiaries (the "HI Guarantors").
The agreements governing the HI Credit Facilities contain customary financial covenants; covenants relating to the incurrence of debt, the purchase and sale of assets, limitations on investments and affiliate transactions; change in control provisions; events of default provisions; and acceleration provisions. Management believes that we were in compliance with the covenants of the HI Credit Facilities as of March 31, 2005.
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Notes
In March 2002, we sold $300 million aggregate principal amount of HI Senior Notes due 2009. On April 11, 2003, we sold an additional $150 million aggregate principal amount of the HI Senior Notes at an issue price of 105.25%. Net proceeds from the sale of these notes were used to repay amounts outstanding under the HI Credit Facilities. The HI Senior Notes are unsecured obligations. Interest on the HI Senior Notes is payable semiannually in March and September of each year. The HI Senior Notes are redeemable after March 1, 2006 at 104.937% of the principal amount thereof, declining ratably to par on and after March 1, 2008.
On December 17, 2004, we completed the offering of the old notes. We used all of the net proceeds to redeem part of our outstanding 10.125% senior subordinated notes due 2009 (the "HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009" and, together with the notes, the "HI Senior Subordinated Notes"). Prior to the partial redemptions of the HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 discussed below, we had outstanding $600 million and €450 million HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009. The HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 became redeemable on July 1, 2004 at 105.063% of the principal amount thereof, which declines ratably to par on and after July 1, 2007. We redeemed $231 million and €77 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 on December 31, 2004 and $2.9 million and €1.0 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 on January 3, 2005. In connection with these redemptions, we paid approximately $17.0 million and $0.2 million in U.S. dollar equivalents in redemption premiums on December 31, 2004 and January 3, 2005, respectively.
As of December 31, 2004, following the December 31, 2004 partial redemption of the HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009, we had outstanding $369 million and €373 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 and $175 million and €135 million of the notes, for a combined total of $544 million and €508 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes plus $5.3 million of unamortized premium. As of March 31, 2005, we had outstanding $366.1 million and €372.0 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 and $175 million and €135 million of the notes, for a combined total of $541.1 million and €507.0 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes plus $4.9 million of unamortized premium. The $175 million and €135 million notes are redeemable on or after January 1, 2010 at 103.688% and 103.750%, respectively, of the principal amount thereof, which declines ratably to par on and after January 1, 2013. In addition, at any time prior to January 1, 2008, we may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the $175 million and €135 million notes at redemption prices of 107.375% and 107.5% plus accrued and unpaid interest, respectively. The HI Senior Subordinated Notes are unsecured and interest is payable semiannually in January and July of each year.
The HI Senior Notes and the HI Senior Subordinated Notes contain covenants relating to the incurrence of debt, limitations on distributions, asset sales and affiliate transactions, among other things. They also contain a change of control provision requiring us to offer to repurchase the HI Senior Notes and the HI Subordinated Notes upon a change of control. Management believes that we were in compliance with the covenants of the HI Senior Notes and the HI Senior Subordinated Notes as of March 31, 2005.
On December 10, 2004, we entered into a cross-currency swap. The cross-currency swap requires us to pay euros and receive U.S. dollars at the maturity date of January 1, 2010. The U.S. dollar notional amount is $175 million and bears interest at a fixed rate of 7.375%, payable semiannually on January 1 and July 1. The euro notional amount is approximately €132 million and bears interest at a blended fixed rate of approximately 6.63%, payable semiannually on January 1 and July 1.
Other Debt
We maintain a $25 million multicurrency overdraft facility used for working capital needs for our European subsidiaries (the "HI European Overdraft Facility"), all of which was available as of
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March 31, 2005. As of December 31, 2004, there were no borrowings outstanding under the HI European Overdraft Facility.
Included within other debt is debt associated with one of our Chinese MDI joint ventures. In January 2003, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Company, Ltd. to build MDI production facilities near Shanghai, China. We own 70% of Huntsman Polyurethanes Shanghai Ltd. ("Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV"), which is a consolidated affiliate. On September 19, 2003, the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV obtained secured financing for the construction of the production facilities, consisting of various committed loans in the aggregate amount of approximately $119 million in U.S. dollar equivalents. As of March 31, 2005, there were $10.0 million outstanding in U.S. dollar borrowings and 40.0 million in RMB borrowings ($4.8 million) under these facilities. The interest rate on these facilities is LIBOR plus 0.48% for U.S. dollar borrowings and 90% of the Peoples Bank of China rate for RMB borrowings. As of March 31, 2005, the interest rate for U.S. dollar borrowings was approximately 3.3% and 5.5% for RMB borrowings. The loans are secured by substantially all the assets of the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV and will be repaid in 16 semiannual installments, beginning no later than June 30, 2007. The financing is non-recourse to us, but is guaranteed during the construction phase by affiliates of the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV, including Huntsman Corporation, as the successor to Huntsman Holdings. Huntsman Corporation has unconditionally guaranteed 70% of any amounts due and unpaid by the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV under the loans described above (except for the VAT facility, which is not guaranteed). Huntsman Corporation's guarantees remain in effect until the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV has (i) commenced production at at least 70% of capacity for at least 30 days, and (ii) achieved a debt service cover ratio of at least 1.5:1. Our Chinese MDI joint ventures are unrestricted subsidiaries under the HI Credit Facilities and under the indentures governing the HI Senior Notes and the HI Subordinated Notes.
Short-Term and Long-Term Liquidity; Compliance with Covenants
We depend upon the HI Revolving Facility and our off-balance sheet accounts receivable securitization facility (the "HI A/R Securitization Program") to provide liquidity for our operations and working capital needs. For further discussion of the HI A/R Securitization Program, see "Off-Balance Sheet ArrangementsReceivables Securitization" below. As of March 31, 2005, we had no outstanding borrowings and approximately $7.2 million of outstanding letters of credit under the HI Revolving Facility, and we had $121.1 million in cash. We also maintain $25.0 million of short-term overdraft facilities, of which the entire amount was available at March 31, 2005. Furthermore, as of March 31, 2005, we had available capacity of approximately $51.8 million under the HI A/R Securitization Program without triggering a mandatory prepayment under the HI Credit Facilities. Our total cash and unused borrowing capacity as of March 31, 2005 was approximately $565.7 million.
On February 28, 2005, we paid a dividend to HIH of $35 million. The dividend was used together with proceeds from the Huntsman Corporation initial public offering to redeem the HIH senior discount notes due 2009. On March 24, 2005, we made a $75 million dollar equivalent voluntary prepayment on the HI Term Facility.
We believe our current liquidity, together with funds generated by our businesses, is sufficient to meet the short-term and long-term needs of our businesses, including funding operations, making capital expenditures and servicing our debt obligations in the ordinary course. We believe that we are currently in compliance with the covenants contained in the agreements governing all of our debt obligations.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Receivables Securitization
On December 21, 2000, we initiated an accounts receivable securitization program under which we grant an undivided interest in certain of our trade receivables to a qualified off-balance sheet entity (the "Receivables Trust") at a discount. This undivided interest serves as security for the issuance of commercial paper and medium-term notes by the Receivables Trust.
At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Receivables Trust had approximately $202.3 million and $208.4 million, respectively in U.S. dollar equivalents in medium-term notes outstanding and approximately $70.9 million in U.S. dollar equivalents and nil, respectively in commercial paper outstanding. The medium-term notes have a scheduled maturity date of September 15, 2006. Our commercial paper facility has a maturity date of March 31, 2007 and provides for the issuance of both euro- and U.S.-denominated commercial paper. Under the terms of the agreements, we and our subsidiaries continue to service the receivables in exchange for a fee of 1% of the outstanding receivables, and we are subject to recourse provisions.
Our retained interest in receivables (including servicing assets) subject to the program was approximately $278.3 million and $337.8 million as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. The value of the retained interest is subject to credit and interest rate risk. For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, new sales of accounts receivable sold into the program totaled approximately $1,413.3 million and $1,095.6 million, respectively, and cash collections from receivables sold into the program that were reinvested totaled $1,386.3 million and $1,086.8 million, respectively. Servicing fees received during the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 were approximately $1.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
We incur losses on the accounts receivable securitization program for the discount on receivables sold into the program and fees and expenses associated with the program. We also retain responsibility for the economic gains and losses on forward contracts mandated by the terms of the program to hedge the currency exposures on the collateral supporting the off-balance sheet debt issued. Gains and losses on forward contracts included as a component of the loss on accounts receivable securitization program are nil and a loss of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. As of each of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the fair value of the open forward currency contracts was nil.
Financing of Chinese MDI Facilities
In 2003, we entered into two related joint venture agreements to build MDI production facilities near Shanghai, China. Our Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV, with BASF AG and three Chinese chemical companies, will build three plants to manufacture MNB, aniline, and crude MDI. We effectively own 35% of the Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV. Our Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV, with Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Company, Ltd., will build a plant to manufacture pure MDI, polymeric MDI and MDI variants. We own 70% of the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV.
On September 19, 2003, the joint ventures obtained secured financing for the construction of the production facilities. The Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV is our consolidated subsidiary, and the details of its financing are described in "Debt and LiquidityOther Debt" above. The Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV is not our consolidated subsidiary. The Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV obtained various committed loans in the aggregate amount of approximately $224 million in U.S. dollar equivalents. As of March 31, 2005, there were $22.0 million outstanding in U.S. dollar borrowings and 230 million in outstanding RMB ($27.8 million) borrowings under these facilities. The interest rate on these facilities is LIBOR plus 0.48% for U.S. dollar borrowings and 90% of the Peoples Bank of China rate for RMB borrowings. The loans are secured by substantially all the
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assets of the Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV and will be paid in 16 semiannual installments, beginning no later than June 30, 2007. Huntsman Corporation, as successor to Huntsman Holdings, unconditionally guarantees 35% of any amounts due and unpaid by the Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV under the loans described above (except for a VAT facility of approximately $1.5 million which is not guaranteed). Huntsman Corporation's guarantee remains in effect until the Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV has commenced production of at least 70% of capacity for at least 30 days and achieved a debt service coverage ratio of at least 1:1.
Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
We have various purchase commitments for materials and supplies entered into in the ordinary course of business. Those commitments extend up to 13 years and the purchase price is generally based on market prices subject to certain minimum price provisions.
As of March 31, 2005, the maturity of our debt is as follows (dollars in millions):
|
2005 |
2006-2007 |
2008-2009 |
Thereafter |
Total |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Long-term debt | $ | 8.9 | $ | 25.5 | $ | 1,325.3 | $ | 1,569.5 | $ | 2,929.2 | |||||
Capital lease obligations | 1.6 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 10.0 | ||||||||||
Operating leases | 16.4 | 19.3 | 7.6 | 46.7 | 90.0 | ||||||||||
Purchase commitments(1) | 1,282.8 | 1,627.9 | 486.5 | 331.9 | 3,729.1 | ||||||||||
Interest on long-term debt (assuming December 31, 2004 interest rates on variable rate debt) | 231.6 | 451.9 | 382.5 | 239.1 | 1,305.1 | ||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,541.3 | $ | 2,127.6 | $ | 2,205.6 | $ | 2,188.9 | $ | 8,063.4 | |||||
|
2005-2007 |
2008-2009 |
Average Annual Amount for Next Five years |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pension plans | $ | 189.1 | $ | 137.7 | $ | 355.6 | |||
Other postretirement obligations | 2.4 | 1.7 | 4.4 | ||||||
Total | $ | 191.5 | $ | 139.4 | $ | 360.0 | |||
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Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs
As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, accrued restructuring and plant closing costs by type of cost and activity consist of the following (dollars in millions):
|
Workforce reductions |
Demolition and decommissionig |
Non-cancelable lease costs |
Other restructuring costs |
Total(1) |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accrued liabilities as of December 31, 2004 | $ | 82.9 | $ | 4.8 | $ | 5.1 | $ | 13.8 | $ | 106.6 | ||||||
2005 Charges for 2003 activities | 4.2 | | | 4.2 | ||||||||||||
2005 Charges for 2004 activities | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.8 | |||||||||||
2005 Payments for 2003 activities | (5.5 | ) | | | | (5.5 | ) | |||||||||
2005 Payments for 2004 activities | (14.0 | ) | | | | (14.0 | ) | |||||||||
Foreign currency effect on reserve balance | (3.0 | ) | | | | (3.0 | ) | |||||||||
Accrued liabilities as of March 31, 2005 | $ | 67.0 | $ | 5.0 | $ | 5.2 | $ | 13.9 | $ | 91.1 | ||||||
|
March 31, 2005 |
December 31, 2004 |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 activities | $ | 21.3 | $ | 22.6 | ||
2004 activities | 69.1 | 80.3 | ||||
Foreign currency effect on reserve balance | 0.7 | 3.7 | ||||
Total | $ | 91.1 | $ | 106.6 | ||
Details with respect to our reserves for restructuring and plant closing costs are provided below by segments and activity (dollars in millions):
|
Polyurethanes |
Performance Products |
Pigments |
Base Chemicals |
Total |
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accrued liabilities as of December 31, 2004 | $ | 19.0 | $ | 50.5 | $ | 22.0 | $ | 15.1 | $ | 106.6 | ||||||||
2005 Charges for 2003 activities | 1.4 | | 2.8 | | 4.2 | |||||||||||||
2005 Charges for 2004 activities | 0.5 | | 0.1 | 2.2 | 2.8 | |||||||||||||
2005 Payments for 2003 activities | (1.6 | ) | (0.2 | ) | (3.7 | ) | | (5.5 | ) | |||||||||
2005 Payments for 2004 activities | (2.1 | ) | (1.8 | ) | (5.9 | ) | (4.2 | ) | (14.0 | ) | ||||||||
Foreign currency effect on reserve balance | (0.5 | ) | (1.4 | ) | (1.0 | ) | (0.1 | ) | (3.0 | ) | ||||||||
Accrued liabilities as of March 31, 2005 | $ | 16.7 | $ | 47.1 | $ | 14.3 | $ | 13.0 | $ | 91.1 | ||||||||
Current portion of restructuring reserve | $ | 7.3 | $ | 32.6 | $ | 14.3 | $ | 13.0 | $ | 67.2 | ||||||||
Long-term portion of restructuring reserve | 9.4 | 14.5 | | | 23.9 | |||||||||||||
Estimated additional future charges for current restructuring projects: | ||||||||||||||||||
Estimated additional charges within one year | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash charges | $ | 4.0 | $ | | $ | 11.6 | $ | 1.3 | $ | 16.9 | ||||||||
Noncash charges | | | | | | |||||||||||||
Estimated additional charges beyond one year | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash charges | $ | | $ | | $ | 9.6 | $ | | $ | 9.6 | ||||||||
Noncash charges | | | | | |
As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, we had reserves for restructuring and plant closing costs of $91.1 million and $106.6 million, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, we, recorded additional charges of $7.0 million, payable in cash, for workforce reductions, demolition
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and decommissioning and other restructuring costs associated with closure or curtailment of activities at our smaller, less efficient manufacturing facilities. During the first quarter of 2005, we made cash payments against these reserves of $19.5 million. For purposes of measuring impairment charges, the fair value of the assets was determined by using the present value of expected cash flows.
As of December 31, 2004, the Polyurethanes segment reserve consisted of $19.0 million related to various restructuring programs, including the closure of its West Deptford, New Jersey site (as announced in 2004), restructuring activities, at the Rozenburg, Netherlands site (as announced in 2003), the workforce reductions throughout the Polyurethanes segment (as announced in 2003), and the closure of the Shepton Mallet, U.K. site (as announced in 2002). During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Polyurethanes segment recorded restructuring charges of $1.9 million related to these activities, all of which was payable in cash, and made cash payments of $3.7 million. These restructuring activities are expected to result in additional restructuring charges of approximately $4.0 million through 2005 and result in additional workforce reductions of approximately 65 positions. We have reduced 13 positions during the three months ended March 31, 2005. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Polyurethanes segment recorded restructuring charges of $4.8 million.
As of December 31, 2004, the Performance Products segment reserve consisted of $50.5 million related to various restructuring programs across its European surfactants business, including the closure of substantially all of its Whitehaven, U.K. surfactants facility. These restructuring activities are not expected to result in additional restructuring charges and will result in workforce reductions of approximately 300 additional positions. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Performance Products segment made cash payments of $2.0 million.
As of December 31, 2004, the Pigments segment reserve consisted of $22.0 million related to its global workforce reductions announced in 2003 and the reduction of its TiO2 production capacity announced in 2004. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Pigments segment recorded restructuring charges of $2.9 million related to these restructuring activities, all of which was payable in cash, and made cash payments of $9.6 million. These restructuring activities are expected to result in additional restructuring charges of approximately $21.3 million through 2006 and result in workforce reductions of approximately 300 positions, of which 100 positions have been reduced during the three months ended March 31, 2005. During the three months ended March 31,2004, the Pigments segment recorded restructuring charges of $3.9 million.
As of December 31, 2004, the Base Chemicals segment reserve consisted of $15.1 million related primarily to workforce reductions arising from the announced change in work shift schedules and in the engineering and support functions at the Wilton and North Tees, U.K. facilities. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Base Chemicals segment recorded restructuring charges of $2.2 million related to these activities, all of which is payable in cash, and made cash payments of $4.2 million. These restructuring activities are expected to result in additional restructuring charges of approximately $1.3 million through 2005 and result in workforce reductions of approximately 100 positions.
Capital Expenditures
During 2005, we expect to spend approximately $265 million on capital projects, including capital expenditures of approximately $80 million on our LDPE facility at Wilton, U.K. In addition, we expect to spend approximately $51 million in capital expenditures associated with our Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV and we expect to invest, as equity, approximately $14 million in the Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV.
Regarding our Chinese MDI joint ventures, during 2005 we expect to invest approximately $8.3 million (all of which was invested within the first quarter) in our Consolidated Chinese
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Splitting JV, which expects to have approximately $51 million of capital expenditures during 2005 (of which approximately $6.2 million was spent in the first quarter). The remaining funding of the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV's capital expenditures will be financed through equity investments by the other joint venture partners and loans from local Chinese lenders. During 2005, we expect to invest, as equity, approximately $14 million in the Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV (of which approximately $8.1 million was invested in the first quarter 2005). We expect that our total equity investment in the Chinese MDI joint ventures will be approximately $85 million, of which approximately $42 million will be in the Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV and approximately $43 million in the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV. We expect that the total project capital expenditures by the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV will be approximately $125 million, of which approximately $43 million will be funded from our equity investment and the remainder from equity investments by joint venture partners and loans from local Chinese lenders. We expect completion of our spending on the Chinese MDI joint ventures in 2006. Our Chinese MDI joint ventures are unrestricted subsidiaries under the HI Credit Facilities and under the indentures governing the HI Senior Notes and the HI Subordinated Notes.
We believe that the cost position of our Wilton, U.K. olefins facility uniquely positions it to be the site of a polyethylene production facility. While we export approximately one-third of our ethylene production each year to continental Europe, incurring significant shipping and handling costs, the U.K. annually imports approximately 1.9 billion pounds of polyethylene. We believe this provides an opportunity to capitalize on the low-cost operating environment and extensive petrochemical infrastructure and logistics at Wilton, as supported by a feasibility study that was conducted with respect to the construction of a world-scale LDPE facility at our Wilton site. The LDPE facility will have the capacity to produce approximately 900 million pounds of LDPE annually and is estimated to cost $300 million to construct, net of any grant proceeds obtained. We have been awarded a grant of £16.5 million (approximately $30 million) from the U.K. Government's Department of Trade and Industry to finance a portion of the construction of the LDPE facility. We expect construction of the LDPE facility to be complete in late 2007. During 2005, we expect to spend approximately $80 million in capital expenditures associated with the LDPE facility at Wilton, U.K.
We expect to finance our capital expenditure commitments through a combination of our financing arrangements and cash flow from operations.
Three months ended March 31, 2005
Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2005 were $33.5 million compared to $38.2 million for the same period in 2004. In the first quarter of 2005, we spent approximately $8.1 million to fund the Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV as an investment in unconsolidated affiliates as compared to $11.9 million in the same period of 2004.
In connection with our agreements with our Rubicon and Louisiana Pigment joint ventures, we are obligated to fund our proportionate share of capital expenditures. During the three months ended March 31, 2004 we invested $1.8 million in Rubicon. With respect to Louisiana Pigment, during the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, we received $0.8 million and $0.6 million, respectively.
Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
For a discussion of environmental health and safety matters, please see "BusinessEnvironmental, Health and Safety Matters" below.
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Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards
In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Financial Interpretation No. ("FIN") 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities." FIN 46 addresses the requirements for business enterprises to consolidate related entities, for which they do not have controlling interests through voting or other rights, if they are determined to be the primary beneficiary as a result of variable economic interests. Transfers to a qualifying special purpose entity are not subject to this interpretation. In December 2003, the FASB issued a complete replacement of FIN 46 (FIN 46R) to clarify certain complexities. We were required to adopt this financial interpretation on January 1, 2005. The adoption of the standard required us to consolidate our Rubicon LLC joint venture; however the consolidation of the joint venture was not significant to the financial statements.
In November 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 151, "Inventory Costsan amendment of ARB No. 43." SFAS No. 151 requires abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material to be recognized as current-period charges. It also requires that allocation of fixed production overhead to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The requirements of the standard will be effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. We are reviewing SFAS No. 151 to determine the statement's impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, "Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assetsan amendment of APB Opinion No. 29." SFAS No. 153 addresses the measurement of exchanges of nonmonetary assets and eliminates the exception from fair value measurement for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets in APB Opinion No. 29 and replaces it with an exception for exchanges that do not have commercial substance. SFAS No. 153 specifies that a nonmonetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. The provisions of this standard are effective for nonmonetary exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. We will apply this standard prospectively.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, "Share Based Payment." SFAS No. 123R requires entities to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. That cost will be recognized over the period during which the employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award. This standard eliminates the alternative to use the intrinsic value method of accounting for share based payments as previously provided in APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." We adopted SFAS No. 123R effective January 1, 2005, and have applied this standard prospectively to share-based awards issued to our employees in connection with Huntsman Corporation's initial public offering. In connection with Huntsman Corporation's initial public offering of common stock on February 16, 2005, certain of our employees received Huntsman Corporation stock options and restricted stock. Accordingly, we were allocated share-based compensation expense of $0.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2005. We did not have share-based awards prior to the awards issued in connection with Huntsman Corporation's initial public offering.
In March 2005, the FASB issued FIN 47, "Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations." FIN 47 clarifies the term conditional asset retirement obligation used in SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations," and clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. FIN 47 is effective no later than the end of December 2005. We are reviewing FIN 47 to determine its impact on our financial statements.
In March 2005, the Emerging Issues Task Force issued a preliminary consensus on issue 04-13, "Accounting for Purchase and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty," that, if adopted, would require companies to recognize an exchange of finished goods for raw materials or work-in-process
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within the same line of business at fair value. All other exchanges of inventory would be reflected at the recorded amount. We are evaluating the impact of this preliminary consensus to determine its impact on our results of operations.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Our significant accounting policies are summarized in "Note 2Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" to our consolidated financial statements. Summarized below are our critical accounting policies:
Revenue Recognition
We generate substantially all of our revenues through sales in the open market and long-term supply agreements. We recognize revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. Revenue for product sales is recognized when a sales arrangement exists, risk and title to the product transfer to the customer, collectibility is reasonably assured and pricing is fixed or determinable. This occurs at the time shipment is made.
Long-Lived Assets
The determination of useful lives of our property, plant and equipment is considered a critical accounting estimate. Such lives are estimated based upon our historical experience, engineering estimates and industry information and are reviewed when economic events indicate that we may not be able to recover the carrying value of the assets. The estimated lives of our property range from 3 to 30 years and depreciation is recorded on the straight-line method. Inherent in our estimates of useful lives is the assumption that periodic maintenance and an appropriate level of annual capital expenditures will be performed. Without on-going capital improvements and maintenance, the productivity and cost efficiency of our assets would decline and the useful lives of our assets would be shorter.
Management uses judgment to estimate the useful lives of our long-lived assets. If the useful life of our property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2004 were to have been estimated to be one year greater or one year less, then depreciation expense for the twelve month period ending December 31, 2004 would have been approximately $17 million less or approximately $20 million greater, respectively.
We are required to evaluate our plant assets whenever events indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable in the future or when management's plans change regarding those assets, such as idling or closing a plant. We evaluate impairment by comparing undiscounted cash flows of the related property to the carrying value. Key assumptions in determining the future cash flows include the useful life, technology, competitive pressures, raw material pricing and regulations.
Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs
We have recorded restructuring charges in recent periods in connection with closing certain plant locations, work force reductions and other cost savings programs. These charges are recorded when management has committed to a plan and incurred a liability related to the plan. Estimates for plant closing include the write-off of the carrying value of the plant, any necessary environmental and/or regulatory costs, contract termination and demolition costs. Estimates for work force reductions and other costs savings are recorded based upon estimates of the number of positions to be terminated, termination benefits to be provided and other information as necessary. While management evaluates
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the estimates on a quarterly basis and will adjust the reserve when information indicates that the estimate is above or below the initial estimate, management's estimates on a project-by-project basis have not varied to a material degree. See "Note 10Restructuring and Plant Closing Costs" to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further discussion of our restructuring activities.
Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between financial statement income and taxable income using the asset and liability approach. We have significant NOLs in various non-U.S. jurisdictions. While the majority of the NOLs have no expiration date, certain NOLs have a limited life and begin to expire in 2006. We record valuation allowances based upon our evaluation of positive and negative evidence regarding the realization of such deferred tax assets. Such evaluations require us to consider future taxable income in the related jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required due to the nature of our operations and the complexity of the numerous tax jurisdictions in which we operate.
Employee Benefit Programs
We sponsor various contributory and non-contributory defined benefit plans covering employees in the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and a number of other countries. We fund the material plans through trust arrangements (or local equivalents) where the assets are held separately from the employer. We also sponsor unfunded post-retirement plans which provide medical and life insurance benefits covering certain employees in the U.S. and Canada. Amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements are recorded based upon actuarial valuations performed by various independent actuaries. Inherent in these valuations are numerous assumptions regarding expected return on assets, discount rates, compensation increases, mortality rates and health care costs trends. These assumptions are disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
During 2004, we revised our expected return on plan assets and rate of compensation increases for our defined benefit plans to 7.26% from 7.29% and to 3.90% from 3.76% respectively, and the discount rate on our defined benefit plans to 5.03% from 5.51%, respectively, as a result of current economic conditions based upon discussions with our actuaries, the historical long-term returns of our pension assets, recent market information related to interest rates and equity performance.
Management, with the advice of its actuaries, uses judgment to make assumptions on which our employee benefit plan liabilities and expenses are based. The effect of a 1% change in three key assumptions is summarized as follows (dollars in millions):
Assumption |
Income Statement Impact(1) |
Balance Sheet Impact(2) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Discount rate | ||||||||
1% increase | $ | (20.6 | ) | $ | (86.6 | ) | ||
1% decrease | 25.7 | 165.9 | ||||||
Expected return on assets | ||||||||
1% increase | 11.6 | | ||||||
1% decrease | (11.6 | ) | | |||||
Rate of compensation increase | ||||||||
1% increase | (19.6 | ) | | |||||
1% decrease | 13.5 | |
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Environmental Reserves
Environmental remediation costs for our facilities are accrued when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of environmental reserves require evaluating government regulation, available technology, site-specific information and remediation alternatives. We accrue an amount equal to our best estimate of the costs to remediate based upon the available information. Adjustments to our estimates are made periodically based upon additional information received as remediation progresses. For further information see "BusinessEnvironmental, Health and Safety Matters" and "Note 22Environmental, Health and Safety Matters" to the consolidated financial statements.
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QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to market risk, including changes in currency exchange rates, interest rates and certain commodity prices. To manage the volatility relating to these exposures, from time to time, we enter into various derivative transactions. We hold and issue derivative financial instruments for economic hedging purposes only.
Currency Exchange Rates
Our cash flows and earnings are subject to fluctuations due to exchange rate variation. Our sales prices are typically denominated in euros or U.S. dollars. From time to time, we may enter into foreign currency derivative instruments to minimize the short-term impact of movements in foreign currency rates. Short-term exposures to changing foreign currency exchange rates at certain foreign subsidiaries are generally netted where practicable with exposures of other subsidiaries and the remaining exposures then, from time to time, may be managed through financial market transactions, principally through the purchase of spot or forward foreign exchange contracts (with maturities of nine months or less) with various financial institutions, to reflect the currency denomination of our cash flows. We do not hedge our currency exposures in a manner that would entirely eliminate the effect of changes in exchange rates on our cash flows and earnings. Our hedging activity from time to time comprises selling forward surpluses of non-dollar receivables for U.S. dollars. In addition, our accounts receivable securitization program requires in certain circumstances that we enter into certain forward foreign currency hedges intended to hedge currency exposures on the collateral supporting the off-balance sheet debt issued in the program. As of March 31, 2005, our outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts were not considered significant.
On December 10, 2004, we entered into a cross currency swap of fixed rate debt with several financial institutions in order to more effectively hedge our overall underlying euro long-term net asset and euro cash flow exposures. In this transaction, we agreed to swap $175 million of 7.375% fixed rate debt for €132.4 million of 6.63% fixed rate debt. As a result, we will pay fixed rate interest at an annual rate of 6.63% on €132.4 million of principal and will receive fixed rate interest at an annual rate of 7.375% on $175 million of principal through January 1, 2010. At maturity on January 1, 2010, we are required to pay principal of €132.4 million and will receive principal of $175 million. Interest installments are paid semiannually on January 1 and July 1 of each year beginning July 1, 2005 through maturity. The swap will receive effective treatment as a net investment hedge under GAAP.
We finance certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries with intercompany loans. In some cases, these loans are denominated in currencies other than the subsidiaries' functional currency. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses on intercompany loans that are expected to be repaid in the foreseeable future are recorded in earnings. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses on intercompany loans that are not expected to be repaid in the foreseeable future ("Permanent Loans") are recorded in other comprehensive income. As a result of our review of certain of our intercompany loans in the first quarter of 2005, we have increased the amount of our Permanent Loans. In addition, during the first quarter of 2005, we dedesignated €275 million of euro-denominated debt as a net investment hedge that had the effect of reducing our foreign currency losses recognized in earnings by $7.4 million during the first quarter of 2005. Additionally, effective April 1, 2005, we dedesignated €97 million of euro-denominated debt as a net investment hedge. We expect that this will result in less foreign currency transaction gains and losses reflected in earnings.
Interest Rates
As of March 31, 2005, the estimated fair value of our consolidated debt was approximately $2,984.4 million, and the weighted average interest rate of our combined borrowings was approximately 7.7%. As of March 31, 2005, we had combined outstanding variable rate borrowings of approximately
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$1.3 billion. The weighted average interest rate of these borrowings was approximately 5.4%. Assuming a 1.0% increase in interest rates, the effect on the annual interest expense would be an increase of approximately $13 million.
Commodity Prices
Our exposure to changing commodity prices is somewhat limited since the majority of our raw materials are acquired at posted or market related prices, and sales prices for finished products are generally at market related prices which are largely set on a monthly or quarterly basis in line with industry practice. In order to reduce overall raw material cost volatility, from time to time we enter into various commodity contracts to hedge our purchase of commodity products. We do not hedge our commodity exposure in a manner that would eliminate the effects of changes in commodity prices on our cash flows and earnings. At March 31, 2005, we had no forward purchase contracts in place and had forward sales contracts for 10,000 tonnes of naphtha and other hydrocarbons, which do not qualify for hedge accounting. Assuming a 10% increase or a 10% decrease in the price per tonne of naphtha, the impact on the forward purchase contracts would result in losses or gains of approximately $0.5 million, respectively.
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History
Our Company, Huntsman International LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company. It was formed in 1999 in connection with a transaction between HIH, Huntsman Specialty and Imperial Chemical Industries PLC ("ICI"). In that transaction, on June 30, 1999, HIH acquired ICI's polyurethane chemicals, selected petrochemicals and titanium dioxide ("TiO2" or "Tioxide") businesses and Huntsman Specialty's propylene oxide ("PO") business. HIH also acquired the 20% ownership interest of BP Chemicals Limited in an olefins facility located at Wilton, U.K. and certain related assets. HIH then transferred the acquired businesses to us and to our subsidiaries. In August 2000, we completed our acquisition of the Morton global TPU business from The Rohm and Haas Company; in February 2001, we completed our acquisition of the global ethyleneamines business of Dow Chemical Company; and, in April 2001, we completed our acquisition of the Albright & Wilson European surfactants business from Rhodia S.A.
Recent Developments
Sale of TDI Business
On July 1, 2005, we entered into a binding agreement with BASF Corporation to sell our toluene di-isocyanate ("TDI") business. Pursuant to the agreement, we agreed to transfer our TDI customer list, customer sales contracts and other related assets. Our Geismar, Louisiana-based TDI manufacturing plant will not be sold but will be closed and dismantled. The sale closed on July 6, 2005.
We expect to incur aggregate charges of approximately $39 million in connection with the sale, including a $37 million loss in the second quarter of 2005, with the remaining $2 million to be recorded by the second quarter of 2006.
Proposed Merger of Huntsman LLC and Huntsman International
On June 17, 2005, Huntsman Corporation announced that it was soliciting consents from the holders of the outstanding senior secured and unsecured notes of Huntsman LLC ("HLLC") in connection with a proposed merger of HLLC with and into us. Both HLLC and we are currently direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Huntsman Corporation, are financed as separate entities and have separate SEC reporting obligations. The merger will simplify Huntsman Corporation's financing and SEC reporting structure and will facilitate cost reductions for Huntsman Corporation's bank credit facilities and other financing arrangements and other organizational efficiencies.
Huntsman Corporation received the necessary consents in early July and is now seeking to obtain a new secured credit facility for HLLC and us (the "Combined Company"). Huntsman Corporation would expect to obtain the new credit facility and complete the proposed merger during the third quarter of 2005. However, no assurance can be given that the new credit facility will be obtained on terms acceptable to Huntsman Corporation, or at all. If the new credit facility is not obtained, the proposed merger will not occur.
Huntsman Corporation's 90%-owned subsidiary Huntsman Advanced Materials LLC ("AdMat") is not involved in the proposed merger and will remain a separately financed subsidiary of Huntsman Corporation. However, the consents that Huntsman Corporation received in connection with the proposed merger would also facilitate the merger of AdMat into the Combined Company under certain conditions, should Huntsman Corporation choose to pursue such a merger in the future.
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Voluntary Prepayment on HI Credit Facilities
On June 6, 2005, we made a $100 million dollar equivalent voluntary prepayment to the term B loan under the HI Credit Facilities. The balance outstanding under the HI Credit Facilities as of March 31, 2005 was $1,235.9 million. After application of this prepayment, the pro forma balance as of March 31, 2005 would have been $1,135.9 million.
Huntsman Corporation Initial Public Offering
On February 16, 2005, Huntsman Corporation, our ultimate parent corporation, completed an initial public offering of 55,681,819 shares of its common stock sold by Huntsman Corporation and 13,579,546 shares of its common stock sold by a selling stockholder, in each case at a price to the public of $23 per share, and 5,750,000 shares of its 5% mandatory convertible preferred stock sold by Huntsman Corporation at a price to the public of $50 per share. Net proceeds to Huntsman Corporation from the offering were approximately $1,500 million, substantially all of which is being used to repay outstanding indebtedness of certain of Huntsman Corporation's subsidiaries, including HMP, Huntsman LLC and HIH.
Dividend to HIH
On February 28, 2005, we paid a dividend in the amount of $35 million to HIH. The dividend was used together with proceeds from the Huntsman Corporation initial public offering to redeem the HIH senior discount notes due 2009.
MDI Initiative
On March 14, 2005, we announced an initiative designed to significantly increase our global capacity for the manufacture of MDI. The initiative involves expansions at our two major MDI manufacturing facilities located in Geismar, Louisiana and Rozenburg, Netherlands. We expect that the capacity of our Geismar plant will be expanded by 130 million pounds per year to 990 million pounds per year, while the capacity of the Rozenburg plant will be expanded by 220 million pounds per year to 880 million pounds per year. The capacity expansions will be completed in increments beginning in the first quarter of 2005, with final completion expected by late 2006. These expansions are in addition to our previously announced investments in our Chinese MDI joint ventures.
Ownership
All of our membership interests are owned by HIH. Initially in 1999, HIH was owned 60% by Huntsman Specialty, 30% by ICI and 10% by institutional investors. In 2002, HMP purchased approximately 1% of the HIH membership interests held by an institutional investor. On May 9, 2003, HMP exercised an option and purchased the ICI subsidiary ("Alta One") that held ICI's 30% membership interest in HIH. At that time, HMP also purchased the remaining approximately 9% of the HIH membership interests held by institutional investors. As a result, HMP owned directly, and indirectly through its ownership of Huntsman Specialty and Alta One, 100% of the HIH membership interests.
In connection with Huntsman Corporation's initial public offering, Huntsman Corporation and certain affiliates completed a series of reorganization transactions. As a result of these reorganization
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transactions, our Company now is owned 58% by Huntsman Corporation and 42% by Huntsman LLC. The chart below shows our current organizational structure:
Overview
We are a global manufacturer of differentiated and commodity chemical products. We manufacture a broad range of chemical products, which are marketed globally to a diversified group of consumer and industrial customers. Our products are used in a wide range of applications. We are a leading global producer in many of our key product lines, including MDI and titanium dioxide. We operate 35 manufacturing facilities located around the world and employ over 5,700 associates. Our businesses benefit from significant integration, large production scale and proprietary manufacturing technologies, which allow us to maintain a low-cost position.
Our Products and Segments
Our business is organized around our four segments: Polyurethanes, Performance Products, Pigments and Base Chemicals. These segments can be divided into two broad categories: differentiated and commodity. We produce differentiated products primarily in our Polyurethanes and Performance Products segments. These products serve diverse end markets and are generally characterized by historical growth in excess of GDP growth resulting from product substitution and new product development, proprietary manufacturing processes and product formulations and a high degree of customer loyalty. Demand for these products tends to be driven by the value-added attributes that they create in our customers' end-use applications. While the demand for these differentiated products is also influenced by worldwide economic conditions and GDP growth, our differentiated products have tended to produce more stable profit margins and higher demand growth rates than our commodity products.
In our commodity chemical businesses, we produce titanium dioxide derived from titanium-bearing ores in our Pigments segment and petrochemical-based olefins, aromatics and polyolefins products in our Polymers and Base Chemicals segments. Since the coatings industry consumes a substantial portion of titanium dioxide production, seasonal demand patterns in the coatings industry drive the profitability of our Pigments segment; profitability is also driven by industry-wide operating rates, with a lag of up to twelve months due to the effects of stocking and destocking by customers and suppliers. The profitability of our Base Chemicals products is cyclical and has been experiencing a down cycle for the last several years, resulting primarily from significant new capacity additions, a decrease in demand reflecting weak global economic conditions and high raw material costs. Certain industry fundamentals have recently improved and, we believe, point to increased profitability in the markets for the major commodity products that we manufacture.
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Polyurethanes
General
We are a leading global manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of polyurethane chemicals, including MDI, PO, polyols, PG, TDI and TPU. Polyurethane chemicals are used to produce rigid and flexible foams, as well as coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers. We focus on the higher-margin, higher-growth markets for MDI and MDI-based polyurethane systems. Growth in our Polyurethanes segment has been driven primarily by the continued substitution of MDI-based products for other materials across a broad range of applications. We operate four primary Polyurethanes manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Europe. We also operate 14 Polyurethanes formulation facilities, which are located in close proximity to our customers worldwide. We have a significant interest in a manufacturing joint venture that has recently begun construction of a low-cost, world-scale, integrated MDI production facility near Shanghai, China. We expect production at this facility to commence in 2006.
Our customers produce polyurethane products through the combination of an isocyanate, such as MDI or TDI, with polyols, which are derived largely from PO and EO. While the range of TDI-based products is relatively limited, we are able to produce over 2,000 distinct MDI-based polyurethane products by varying the proportion and type of polyol used and by introducing other chemical additives to our MDI formulations. As a result, polyurethane products, especially those derived from MDI, are continuing to replace traditional products in a wide range of end-use markets, including insulation in construction and appliances, cushioning for automotive and furniture, adhesives, wood binders, footwear and other specialized engineering applications.
We are a leading North American producer of PO. We and some of our customers process PO into derivative products such as polyols for polyurethane products, PG and various other chemical products. End uses for these derivative products include applications in the home furnishings, construction, appliance, packaging, automotive and transportation, food, paints and coatings and cleaning products industries We also produce MTBE as a co-product of our PO manufacturing process. MTBE is an oxygenate that is blended with gasoline to reduce harmful vehicle emissions and to enhance the octane rating of gasoline. See "Environmental, Health and Safety MattersMTBE Developments" for a further discussion of legal and regulatory developments that may curtail or eliminate the use of MTBE in gasoline in the U.S. and elsewhere in the future.
In 1992, we were the first global supplier of polyurethane chemicals to open a technical service center in China. We have since expanded this facility to include an integrated polyurethanes formulation facility. In January 2003, we entered into two related joint ventures to build MDI production facilities near Shanghai, China. Our MDI joint ventures will enable us to strengthen our long-standing presence in China and to further capitalize on the growth in demand for MDI in Asia.
Our Polyurethanes business accounted for 42%, 43% and 45% of net sales in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively
Industry Overview
MDI is used primarily in rigid foam applications and in a wide variety of customized higher-value flexible foam and coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers; conversely, TDI is used primarily in commodity flexible foam applications. Polyols, including polyether and polyester polyols, are used in conjunction with MDI and TDI in rigid foam, flexible foam and other non-foam applications. PO is
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one of the principal raw materials for producing polyether polyols. The following chart illustrates the range of product types and end uses for polyurethane chemicals:
Polyurethane chemicals are sold to customers who combine the chemicals to produce polyurethane products. Depending on their needs, customers will use either commodity polyurethane chemicals produced for mass sales or polyurethane systems tailored for their specific requirements. By varying the blend, additives and specifications of the polyurethane chemicals, manufacturers are able to produce and develop a breadth and variety of polyurethane products
MDI. MDI has a substantially larger market size and a higher growth rate than TDI. This is primarily because MDI can be used to make polyurethanes with a broader range of properties and can therefore be used in a wider range of applications than TDI. We believe that future growth of MDI is expected to be driven by the continued substitution of MDI-based polyurethane for fiberglass and other materials currently used in rigid insulation foam for construction. We expect that other markets, such as binders for reconstituted wood board products, specialty cushioning applications and coatings will further contribute to the continued growth of MDI.
The U.S. and European markets currently consume the largest quantities of MDI. With the recent rapid growth of the developing Asian economies, the Asian markets are becoming an increasingly important market for MDI, and we currently believe that per-capita demand for MDI in Asia will continue to increase as its less-developed economies continue to grow.
There are four major global producers of MDI: Bayer, our Company, BASF and Dow. We believe it is unlikely that any new global producers of MDI will emerge in the foreseeable future due to the substantial requirements for entry such as the limited availability of licenses for MDI technology and the substantial capital commitment and integration that is required to develop both the necessary technology and the infrastructure to manufacture and market MDI.
TDI. The consumers of TDI consist primarily of numerous manufacturers of flexible foam blocks sold for use as furniture cushions and mattresses. Flexible foam is typically the first polyurethane market to become established in developing countries because smaller local plants can be constructed using technology and intermediate chemicals that are easier to obtain than those required for MDI production. As a result, TDI production typically precedes MDI production in developing markets.
TPU. TPU is a high-quality fully formulated thermal plastic derived from the reaction of MDI or an aliphatic isocyanate with polyols to produce unique qualities such as durability, flexibility, strength, abrasion-resistance, shock absorbency and chemical resistance. We can tailor the performance characteristics of TPU to meet the specific requirements of our customers. TPU is used in injection
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molding and small components for the automotive and footwear industries. It is also extruded into films, wires and cables for use in a wide variety of applications in the coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers markets.
Polyols. Polyols are combined with MDI, TDI and other isocyanates to create a broad spectrum of polyurethane products. Demand for specialty polyols has been growing at approximately the same rate at which MDI consumption has grown.
Aniline. Aniline is an intermediate chemical used primarily to manufacture MDI. Generally, most aniline is either consumed internally by the producers of the aniline or is sold to third parties under long-term supply contracts. We believe that the lack of a significant spot market for aniline means that in order to remain competitive, MDI manufacturers must either be integrated with an aniline manufacturing facility or have a long-term cost-competitive aniline supply contract.
PO. PO is an intermediate chemical used mainly to produce a wide range of polyols and PG. Demand for PO depends largely on overall economic demand, especially that of consumer durables. The following chart illustrates the primary end markets and applications for PO.
MTBE. We currently use our entire production of TBA, a co-product of our PO production process, to produce MTBE. MTBE is an oxygenate that is blended with gasoline to reduce harmful vehicle emissions and to enhance the octane rating of gasoline. Historically, the refining industry utilized tetra ethyl lead as the primary additive to increase the octane rating of gasoline until health concerns resulted in the removal of tetra ethyl lead from gasoline. This led to the increasing use of MTBE as a component in gasoline during the 1980s. MTBE has experienced historical growth due to its ability to satisfy the oxygenation requirement of amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1990 (the "Clean Air Act") with respect to exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions from automobile engines. Some regions of the U.S. adopted this oxygenate requirement to improve air quality even though they were not mandated to do so by the Clean Air Act. The use of MTBE is controversial in the U.S. and elsewhere and may be substantially curtailed or eliminated in the future by legislation or regulatory action. See "Environmental, Health and Safety MattersMTBE Developments."
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Sales and Marketing
We manage a global sales force, with 40 locations in 35 countries, which sells our polyurethane chemicals to over 2,000 customers in more than 90 countries. Our sales and technical resources are organized to support major regional markets, as well as key end-use markets which require a more global approach. These key end-use markets include the appliance, automotive, footwear, furniture and coatings, construction products, adhesives, sealants and elastomers industries.
We provide a wide variety of polyurethane solutions as components (i.e., the isocyanate or the polyol) or in the form of "systems" in which we provide the total isocyanate and polyol formulation to our customers in ready-to-use form. Our ability to deliver a range of polyurethane solutions and technical support tailored to meet our customers' needs is critical to our long term success. We have strategically located our polyurethane formulation facilities, commonly referred to in the chemicals industry as "systems houses," close to our customers, enabling us to focus on customer support and technical service. We believe this customer support and technical service system contributes to customer retention and also provides opportunities for identifying further product and service needs of customers. We manufacture TDI and polyols primarily to support our MDI customers' requirements.
We believe that the extensive market knowledge and industry experience of our sales teams and technical experts, in combination with our strong emphasis on customer relationships, have facilitated our ability to establish and maintain long-term customer supply positions. Due to the specialized nature of our markets, our sales force must possess technical knowledge of our products and their applications. Our strategy is to continue to increase sales to existing customers and to attract new customers by providing innovative solutions, quality products, reliable supply, competitive prices and superior customer service.
Manufacturing and Operations
Our MDI production facilities are located in Geismar, Louisiana and Rozenburg, Netherlands. These facilities receive aniline, which is a primary material used in the production of MDI, from our facilities located in Geismar, Louisiana and Wilton, U.K. We believe that this relative scale and product integration of our large facilities provide a significant competitive advantage over other producers. In addition to reducing transportation costs for our raw materials, integration helps reduce our exposure to cyclical prices. Since 1996, we have invested over $600 million to significantly enhance our production capabilities through the rationalization of our older, less efficient facilities and the modernization of our newer facilities at Rozenburg and Geismar.
The following table sets forth the annual production capacity of polyurethane chemicals at each of our polyurethanes facilities:
|
MDI |
TDI |
Polyols |
TPU |
Aniline |
Nitrobenzene |
PO |
PG |
MTBE(1) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(millions of pounds) |
|||||||||||||||||
Geismar, Louisiana | 860 | 90 | 160 | 715 | (2) | 935 | (2) | |||||||||||
Port Neches, Texas | 525 | 145 | 260 | |||||||||||||||
Ringwood, Illinois | 20 | |||||||||||||||||
Rozenburg, Netherlands | 660 | 120 | ||||||||||||||||
Wilton, U.K. | 670 | 880 | ||||||||||||||||
Osnabrück, Germany | 20 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 1,520 | 90 | 300 | 50 | 1,385 | 1,815 | 525 | 145 | 260 | |||||||||
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At both our Geismar and Rozenburg facilities we utilize sophisticated proprietary technology to produce our MDI. This technology, which will be used in our world scale joint venture in Shanghai, China, contributes to our position as a low cost MDI producer. In addition to MDI, we use a proprietary manufacturing process to manufacture PO. We own or license all technology, know-how and patents developed and utilized at our PO facility. Our process combines isobutane and oxygen in proprietary oxidation (peroxidation) reactors, thereby forming TBHP and TBA, which are further processed into PO and MTBE, respectively. Because our PO production process is less expensive relative to other technologies and allows all of our PO co-products to be processed into saleable or useable materials, we believe that our PO production technology possesses several distinct advantages over its alternatives.
We also operate polyurethane systems houses in Deerpark, Australia; Shanghai, China; Cartagena, Colombia; Deggendorf, Germany; Thane (Maharashtra), India; Ternate, Italy; Tlalnepantla, Mexico; Mississauga, Ontario; Kuan Yin, Taiwan; and Samuprakam, Thailand.
We currently market approximately 95% of our MTBE to customers located in the U.S. for use as a gasoline additive. If the use of MTBE in gasoline in the U.S. is further curtailed or eliminated in the future, we believe that we will be able to export MTBE to Europe, Asia or South America, although this may produce a lower level of cash flow than the sale of MTBE in the U.S. We may also elect to use all or a portion of our precursor TBA to produce saleable products other than MTBE. If we opt to produce products other than MTBE, necessary modifications to our facilities will require us to make significant capital expenditures and the sale of such other products may produce a lower level of cash flow than the sale of MTBE.
Joint Ventures
Rubicon Joint Venture. We and Crompton Corporation own Rubicon LLC, which owns aniline, nitrobenzene and DPA manufacturing facilities in Geismar, Louisiana. We are entitled to approximately 78% of the nitrobenzene and aniline production capacity of Rubicon LLC, and Crompton Corporation is entitled to 100% of the DPA production. In addition to operating the joint venture's owned aniline, nitrobenzene and DPA facilities, Rubicon LLC also operates our wholly owned MDI, TDI and polyol facilities at Geismar and is responsible for providing other auxiliary services to the entire Geismar complex. As a result of this joint venture, we are able to achieve greater scale and lower costs for our products than we would otherwise have been able to obtain.
Chinese MDI Joint Ventures. In January 2003, we entered into two related joint venture agreements to build MDI production facilities near Shanghai, China. The manufacturing joint venture with BASF and three Chinese chemical companies (the "Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV") will build three plants to manufacture MNB, aniline, and crude MDI. We effectively own 35% of the Unconsolidated Chinese Manufacturing JV. The other joint venture with Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Company, Ltd. (the "Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV"), will build a plant to manufacture pure MDI, polymeric MDI and MDI variants. We own 70% of the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV. A feasibility study for the project has been approved by the appropriate Chinese authorities, preliminary engineering work has commenced and a business license was issued in March 2003, making the joint ventures the first entities with foreign investors to receive a license to construct an integrated MDI plant in China.
The project is funded by a combination of equity invested by the joint venture partners and borrowed funds. We anticipate that our equity investment in the joint ventures will be approximately $85 million, and of this amount approximately $42 million will be an investment in an unconsolidated affiliate. The remaining approximately $43 million will be invested in a consolidated affiliate, which we expect will have approximately $125 million of total capital expenditures through project completion.
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Upon expected completion in 2006, the production capacity of this facility will be 525 million pounds per year.
Raw Materials
The primary raw materials for MDI-based polyurethane chemicals are benzene and PO. Benzene is a widely available commodity that is the primary feedstock for the production of MDI and aniline. Historically, benzene has been the largest component of our raw material costs. We use the benzene produced in our Base Chemicals segment and purchase benzene from third parties to manufacture nitrobenzene and aniline, almost all of which we then use to produce MDI. Our vertical integration provides us with a competitively priced supply of feedstocks and reduces our exposure to supply interruption.
A major cost in the production of polyols is attributable to the costs of PO. The integration of our PO business with our polyurethane chemicals business gives us access to a competitively priced, strategic source of PO and the opportunity to develop polyols that enhance our range of MDI products. The primary raw materials used in our PO production process are butane/isobutane, propylene, methanol and oxygen, which accounted for 55%, 29%, 14% and 2%, respectively, of total raw material costs in 2004. We purchase our raw materials primarily under long-term contracts. While most of these feedstocks are commodity materials generally available to us from a wide variety of suppliers at competitive prices in the spot market, all the propylene used in the production of our PO is produced internally and delivered through a pipeline connected to our PO facility.
Competition
Our competition in the polyurethane chemicals business includes BASF, Bayer, Dow and Lyondell. While these competitors and others produce various types and quantities of polyurethane chemicals, we focus on MDI and MDI-based polyurethane systems. We compete based on technological innovation, technical assistance, customer service and product reliability. Our polyurethane chemicals business competes in two basic ways: (1) where price is the dominant element of competition, our polyurethane chemicals business differentiates itself by its high level of customer support including cooperation on technical and safety matters; and (2) elsewhere, we compete on the basis of product performance and our ability to react quickly to changing customer needs and by providing customers with innovative solutions to their needs.
Performance Products
General
Our Performance Products include surfactants and amines. We have the capacity to produce approximately 1.7 billion pounds of surfactant products annually at our six facilities located in the U.K. (at Whitehaven), France (at Lavera and St. Mihiel), Spain (at Barcelona), and Italy (at Castiglione and Patrica). Our surfactants facilities are well located throughout Europe, with broad capabilities in conversion, sulfonation and ethoxylation. To improve competitiveness we are restructuring our European surfactants business.
We have the capacity to produce approximately 190 million pounds of ethyleneamines annually at our facilities located at Freeport, Texas and Dow Chemical's facilities located at Terneuzen, Netherlands.
Our Performance Products business accounted for 11%, 12% and 12% of net sales in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
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Industry Overview
Surfactants
Surfactants or "surface active agents" are substances which combine a water-soluble component with a water insoluble component in the same molecule. While surfactants are most commonly used for their detergency in cleaning applications, they are also valued for their emulsification, foaming, dispersing, penetrating and wetting properties in a variety of industries. While growth in demand for surfactants is highly correlated with GDP due to its strong links with the household cleaning and general industrial markets, certain segments of the surfactants market, including personal care, are expected to grow faster than GDP.
The table below identifies the major surfactant product groups that we produce and some common applications.
Product Group |
Application |
|
---|---|---|
Alkoxylates |
household detergents industrial cleaners shampoos polymerization additives |
|
Sulfonates/Sulfates |
powdered detergents liquid detergents dishwashing liquids industrial cleaners emulsion polymerization concrete superplasticizers gypsum wallboard agricultural adjuvants for herbicides |
|
Esters and Derivatives |
shampoo body wash other personal care products textile and leather treatment |
|
Nitrogen Derivatives |
bleach thickeners shampoo fabric conditioners other personal care products and applications |
|
Formulated Blends |
household detergents textile and leather treatment personal care products and applications foundry catalysts concrete additives pharmaceutical intermediates |
|
EO/PO Block Co-Polymers |
automatic dishwasher detergents |
We believe that demand growth for surfactants is relatively stable and exhibits little cyclicality. The main consumer product applications for surfactants can demand new formulations with unproved performance characteristics which may require further development, and as a result life cycles for these consumer end products can often be quite short. This affords considerable opportunity for innovative surfactants manufacturers to provide surfactants and blends with differentiated specifications and
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properties. For basic surfactants, pricing tends to have a strong relationship to underlying raw material prices and usually lags petrochemical price movements.
Amines
Amines broadly refer to the family of intermediate chemicals that are produced by reacting ammonia with various ethylene and propylene derivatives. Generally, amines are valued for their properties such as reactivity, emulsification, dispersancy, detergency, and as solvents or corrosion inhibiting agents. Similar to surfactants, growth in demand for amines is highly correlated with GDP due to its strong links to general industrial and consumer products markets. However, certain segments of the amines market, including polyetheramines and carbonates, have grown at rates well in excess of GDP due to new product development, technical innovation, and substitution and replacement of competing products.
As amines are generally sold based upon the performance characteristics that they provide to customer-specific end use applications, pricing for amines tends to be stable and does not generally fluctuate with movements in underlying raw materials.
Product |
Applications |
|
---|---|---|
Ethyleneamines |
lube oil additives epoxy hardeners wet strength resins chelating agents fungicides |
The primary raw materials for ethyleneamines are ethylene dichloride and caustic soda. We have entered into long-term arrangements for the supply of ethylene dichloride and caustic soda from Dow, which produces these raw materials at facilities that are in close proximity to our Freeport, Texas manufacturing facility.
Sales and Marketing
We sell our products to customers globally through a commercial organization which has extensive market knowledge, lengthy industry experience and long-standing customer relationships. Our sales force is organized into specialized teams tailored to each market segment's specific needs, thereby enhancing customer service.
We also provide extensive pre- and post-sales technical service support to our customers. Our technical service professionals bring sophisticated skills to our customers and are well regarded within their field of expertise. Moreover, these professionals help tailor the application of our products to meet our customers' unique needs and interact closely with our cross functional business teams.
In addition to direct sales efforts, we also sell some of our products through a network of distributors. In most cases, sales through these distributors have a higher profit margin than direct sales to end users. Distributors typically promote our products to smaller end use customers who cannot cost-effectively be served by our direct sales force.
Manufacturing and Operations
We have the capacity to produce approximately 1.9 billion pounds of surfactant products annually at our six facilities located in the U.K. (at Whitehaven), France (at Lavera and St. Mihiel), Spain (at Barcelona), and Italy (at Castiglione and Patrica). Our surfactants facilities are well located in Europe, with broad capabilities in conversion, sulfonation and ethoxylation. The surfactants facilities use modern production tools that allow for flexibility in production capabilities and technical innovation. In order to
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improve the competitiveness of our European surfactants business, we have taken measures to reduce the operating costs of the business. During 2003, the Performance Products segment recorded a charge of $22.1 million relating to the closure of a number of plants at the Whitehaven, U.K. facility, the closure of an administrative office in London, U.K., the rationalization of a surfactants technical center in Oldbury, U.K., and the restructuring of a facility in Barcelona, Spain. During 2004, the Company announced a further rationalization of its European surfactants business involving the elimination of approximately 320 jobs. These reductions will occur across all of our European manufacturing locations as well as in business support and administration. This plan includes the closure of substantially all of our Whitehaven, U.K. facility. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Performance Products segment recorded additional restructuring charges of $73.0 million consisting of $48.6 million of charges payable in cash and $24.4 million of asset impairment charges.
We have the capacity to produce approximately 190 million pounds of ethyleneamines annually at our facilities located at Freeport, Texas and Dow Chemical's facilities located at Terneuzen, Netherlands. When we acquired our ethyleneamines business, we acquired a long-term supply arrangement for up to 50% of the existing production capacity of Dow Chemical's ethyleneamines plant in Terneuzen, Netherlands.
Competition
There are numerous surfactants producers in Europe and worldwide. Our main competitors include worldwide leading chemical companies such as Sasol, BASF, Shell, Cognis Group, Clariant Ltd, AKZO Nobel N.V., Dow, as well as various smaller or more local competitors. We compete on the basis of price with respect to our basic surfactant product offering and, in addition to price, on the basis of performance and service with respect to our specialty and blended surfactant products. Our main competitors in ethyleneamines include BASF, Dow and AKZO.
Pigments
General
We are a leading global manufacturer and marketer of titanium dioxide, which is a white pigment used to impart whiteness, brightness and opacity to products such as paints, plastics, paper, printing inks, fibers and ceramics. The global titanium dioxide market is characterized by a small number of large, global producers. We operate eight chloride-based and sulfate-based titanium dioxide manufacturing facilities located in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
We offer an extensive range of products that are sold worldwide to approximately 1,500 customers in all major titanium dioxide end markets and geographic regions. The geographic diversity of our manufacturing facilities allows our Pigments segment to service local customers, as well as global customers that require delivery to more than one location. Our diverse customer base includes Ampacet, A. Schulman, Akzo Nobel, Atofina, BASF, Cabot, Clariant, ICI, Jotun and PolyOne. Our pigments business has an aggregate annual nameplate capacity of approximately 550,000 tonnes at our eight production facilities. Five of our titanium dioxide manufacturing plants are located in Europe, one is in North America, one is in Asia, and one is in South Africa. Our North American operation consists of a 50% interest in a manufacturing joint venture with Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
Our Pigments segment is focused on cost control and productivity. In July 2004, we idled 15,000 tonnes of nameplate capacity at our Umbogintwini, South Africa facility, and in November 2004 we idled 40,000 tonnes of nameplate capacity at our Grimsby, U.K. facility, which together represent about 10% of our total titanium dioxide production capacity. Through these closures and other cost saving measures, we will improve our cost position and enhance our ability to compete in the global marketplace. Our other cost saving measures include the optimization of the geographic distribution of
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our sales, the consolidation of back-office functions and the continued reduction of our fixed and variable costs at each of our manufacturing facilities.
Our Pigments business accounted for 16%, 19% and 19% of net sales in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Industry Overview
Historically, global titanium dioxide demand growth rates tend to closely track global GDP growth rates. However, the demand growth rate and its relationship with the GDP growth rate varies by region. Developed markets such as the U.S. and Western Europe exhibit higher absolute consumption but lower demand growth rates, while emerging markets such as Asia exhibit much higher demand growth rates. The titanium dioxide industry experiences some seasonality in its sales because paint sales generally peak during the spring and summer months in the northern hemisphere, resulting in greater sales volumes during the second and third quarters of the year.
There are two manufacturing processes for the production of titanium dioxide, the sulfate process and the chloride process. Most recent capacity additions have employed the chloride process technology and, currently, we believe that the chloride process accounts for approximately 70% of global production capacity. However, the global distribution of sulfate- and chloride-based titanium dioxide capacity varies by region, with the sulfate process being predominant in Europe, our primary market. The chloride process is the predominant process used in North America, and both processes are used in Asia. While most end-use applications can use pigments produced by either process, market preferences typically favor products that are locally available. We believe the chloride and sulfate manufacturing processes compete effectively in the marketplace.
The global titanium dioxide market is characterized by a small number of large global producers. The titanium dioxide industry currently has five major producers. Titanium dioxide supply has historically kept pace with increases in demand as producers increased capacity through low cost incremental debottlenecks and efficiency improvements. During periods of low titanium dioxide demand, the industry experiences high stock levels and consequently reduces production to manage working capital. Because pricing in the industry is driven primarily by supply/demand balance, prices have tended to be driven down by lower capacity utilization during periods of weak demand. The last major greenfield titanium dioxide capacity addition was in 1994. Based upon current price levels and the long lead times for planning, governmental approvals and construction, we do not expect significant additional greenfield capacity in the near future.
We believe that demand has recovered in 2004. In addition, capacity additions have been limited. These factors have resulted in higher industry operating rates and lower inventory levels.
Sales and Marketing
Approximately 85% of our titanium dioxide sales are made through our direct sales and technical services network, enabling us to cooperate more closely with our customers and to respond to our increasingly global customer base. Our concentrated sales effort and local manufacturing presence have allowed us to achieve our leading market shares in a number of the countries where we manufacture titanium dioxide.
In addition, we have focused on marketing products to higher growth industries. For example, we believe that our pigments business is well-positioned to benefit from the projected growth in the plastics sector which we expect to grow faster than the overall titanium dioxide market over the next several years.
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Manufacturing and Operations
Our pigments business has eight manufacturing sites in seven countries with a total capacity of approximately 550,000 tonnes per year. Approximately 72% of our titanium dioxide capacity is located in Western Europe. The following table presents information regarding our titanium dioxide facilities:
Region |
Site |
Annual Capacity |
Process |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
(tonnes) |
|
|||
Western Europe | Greatham, U.K. | 100,000 | Chloride | |||
Calais, France | 95,000 | Sulfate | ||||
Huelva, Spain | 80,000 | Sulfate | ||||
Scarlino, Italy | 80,000 | Sulfate | ||||
Grimsby, U.K.(1) | 40,000 | Sulfate | ||||
North America | Lake Charles, Louisiana(2) | 70,000 | Chloride | |||
Asia | Teluk Kalung, Malaysia | 60,000 | Sulfate | |||
Southern Africa | Umbogintwini, South Africa(3) | 25,000 | Sulfate | |||
Total | 550,000 | |||||
We are well positioned to implement a number of low cost expansions of our Greatham, U.K. and Huelva, Spain plants. We are also well positioned to selectively invest in new plant capacity based upon our ICON chloride technology. ICON technology allows for the construction of new capacity with world-scale economics at a minimum nameplate size of 65,000 tonnes. We believe competing chloride technologies typically require a minimum capacity of 100,000 tonnes to achieve comparable economics. Our chloride additions can be more easily absorbed into the market, which provides higher investment returns than larger capacity additions.
Joint Ventures
We own a 50% interest in Louisiana Pigment Company L.P., a manufacturing joint venture located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The remaining 50% interest is held by our joint venture partner, Kronos Worldwide. We share production offtake and operating costs of the plant equally with Kronos Worldwide, though we market our share of the production independently. The operations of the joint venture are under the direction of a supervisory committee on which each partner has equal representation.
Raw Materials
The primary raw materials used to produce titanium dioxide are titanium-bearing ores. We purchase the majority of our ore under long-term supply contracts with a number of ore suppliers. The majority of titanium-bearing ores are sourced from Australia, South Africa and Canada. Ore accounts for approximately 40% of pigment variable manufacturing costs, while utilities (electricity, gas and steam), sulfuric acid and chlorine collectively account for approximately 25% of our variable manufacturing costs.
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The world market for titanium-bearing ores is dominated by Rio Tinto and Iluka, which account for approximately 55% of global supply. Both companies produce a range of ores for use in chloride and sulfate processes. We purchase approximately 75% of our ore from these two producers. New players, such as Taicor in South Africa and VV Minerals in India, have recently entered the market, however, creating an oversupply of most products. Consequently, the price of most titanium-bearing ores has declined in the last five years, and the ability of major producers to control prices has diminished. Given the small number of suppliers and end-users of titanium-bearing ores, we typically enter into longer-term supply agreements with beneficial terms. Approximately 80% of our ore purchases are made under agreements with terms of three to five years.
Titanium dioxide producers extract titanium from ores and process it into pigmentary titanium dioxide using either the chloride or sulfate process. Once an intermediate titanium dioxide pigment has been produced, it is "finished" into a product with specific performance characteristics for particular end-use applications. The finishing process is common to both the sulfate and chloride processes and is a major determinant of the final product's performance characteristics.
The sulfate process generally uses less-refined ores that are cheaper to purchase but produce more co-product than the chloride process. Co-products from both processes require treatment prior to disposal in order to comply with environmental regulations. In order to reduce our disposal costs and to increase our cost competitiveness, we have developed and marketed the co-products of our pigments business. We sell over 50% of the co-products generated by our business.
Competition
The global markets in which our pigments business operates are highly competitive. Competition is based primarily on price. In addition, we also compete on the basis of product quality and service. The major global producers against whom we compete are DuPont, Kerr McGee, Kronos and Lyondell. We believe that our competitive product offerings, combined with our presence in numerous local markets, makes us an effective competitor in the global market, particularly with respect to those global customers demanding presence in the various regions in which they conduct business.
Base Chemicals
General
We are a highly integrated European olefins and aromatics producer. Olefins, principally ethylene and propylene, are the largest volume basic petrochemicals and are the key building blocks from which many other chemicals are made. For example, olefins are used to manufacture most plastics, resins, adhesives, synthetic rubber and surfactants that are used in a variety of end-use applications. Aromatics, including paraxylene, cyclohexane and benzene, are basic petrochemicals used in the manufacture of polyurethane chemicals, nylon, polyester fibers, synthetic rubber and a variety of plastics.
Our Base Chemicals business accounted for 31%, 26% and 24% of net sales in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Olefins
We are a leading European producer of olefins. Our Wilton facility has the capacity to produce approximately 1.9 billion pounds of ethylene, 880 million pounds of propylene and 225 million pounds of butadiene per year. Our Wilton olefins facility benefits from its North Sea location and significant feedstock flexibility, which allows for processing of naphthas, condensates and NGLs. In addition, the facility benefits from extensive underground storage capacity and logistics infrastructure, including pipelines, deepwater jetties and ethylene liquefaction facilities.
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Aromatics
We produce aromatics in Europe at our two integrated manufacturing facilities located in Wilton, U.K. and North Tees, U.K. We are a leading European producer of cyclohexane with 725 million pounds of annual capacity, a leading producer of paraxylene with 800 million pounds of annual capacity and are among Europe's larger producers of benzene with 1,200 million pounds of annual capacity. We use most of the benzene produced by our aromatics business internally in the production of nitrobenzene for our Polyurethanes business and for the production of cyclohexane. The balance of our aromatics products are sold to several key customers.
Industry Overview
Petrochemical markets are global commodity markets. However, the olefins market is subject to some regional price differences due to the more limited inter-regional trade resulting from the high costs of product transportation. The global petrochemicals market is cyclical and is subject to pricing swings due to supply and demand imbalances, feedstock prices (primarily driven by crude oil and natural gas prices) and general economic conditions.
The olefins markets in Western Europe are supplied by numerous producers, none of whom has a dominant position in terms of its share of production capacity. The top three Western European producers of ethylene are AtoFina, Dow and EniChem.
The aromatics market is primarily composed of cyclohexane, benzene and paraxylene. Like the olefins market, the aromatics market is characterized by several major producers, including Dow, AtoFina, Shell, EniChem, ExxonMobil, BASF and ChevronPhillips.
Sales and Marketing
In recent years, our sales and marketing efforts have focused on developing long-term contracts with customers to minimize our selling expenses and administration costs.
Manufacturing and Operations
We produce olefins at our facility in Wilton, U.K. In addition, we own and operate integrated aromatics manufacturing facilities at Wilton U.K. and at North Tees, U.K. Information regarding these facilities is set forth below:
Location |
Product |
Annual Capacity |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
(millions of pounds) |
||
Wilton, U.K. | Ethylene | 1,900 | ||
Propylene | 880 | |||
Butadiene | 225 | |||
Paraxylene | 800 | |||
North Tees, U.K. | Benzene | 1,200 | ||
Cyclohexane | 725 |
Raw Materials
The primary raw materials that we use as feedstocks in our Base Chemicals business are hydrocarbons produced as byproducts of the refining crude oil and natural gas, such as ethane, propane and butane. These materials are actively traded on the spot and futures markets and are readily available from multiple sources. We benefit from our locations in the U.K. where we are able to take advantage of our pipeline system and our proximity to refineries located near the North Sea. Our North Tees facility, situated on the northeast coast of England, is near a substantial supply of oil,
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natural gas and chemical feedstocks. Due to our location at North Tees, we have the option to purchase feedstocks from a variety of sources. However, we have elected to procure the majority of our naphtha, condensates and NGLs from local producers as they have been the most economical sources. In order to secure the optimal mix of the required quality and type of feedstock for our petrochemical operations at fully competitive prices, we regularly engage in the purchase and sale of feedstocks.
Competition
The markets in which our Base Chemicals business operates are highly competitive. Our competitors in the olefins and aromatics business are frequently some of the world's largest chemical companies. The primary factors for competition in this business are price, service and reliability of supply. The technology used in these businesses is widely available and licensed.
Research and Development
For the years ended 2004, 2003 and 2002, we spent $40.9 million, $49.4 million and $54.6 million, respectively, on research and development of our products.
We support our business with a major commitment to R&D, technical services and process engineering improvement. Our primary R&D center is located in Everberg, Belgium. Other regional development/technical service centers are located in Billingham, England (Pigments); Auburn Hills, Michigan (Polyurethanes for the automotive industry); West Deptford, New Jersey, North Andover, Massachusetts; Shanghai, China; Deggendorf, Germany; Ternate, Italy (Polyurethanes); Oldbury, U.K. (surfactants) and Wilton, U.K. for process engineering support. We have announced that we intend to close our West Deptford and Oldbury facilities in late 2005. We intend to relocate the research and development capabilities of these facilities to a new research and development center in The Woodlands, Texas that we expect to open in 2005.
Intellectual Property Rights
Proprietary protection of our processes, apparatuses, and other technology and inventions is important to our businesses. We own approximately 180 unexpired U.S. patents, approximately 59 patent applications (including provisionals) currently pending at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and approximately 1,785 foreign counterparts, including both issued patents and pending patent applications. While a presumption of validity exists with respect to issued U.S. patents, we cannot assure that any of our patents will not be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable. Furthermore, we cannot assure the issuance of any pending patent application, or that if patents do issue, that these patents will provide meaningful protection against competitors or against competitive technologies. Additionally, our competitors or other third parties may obtain patents that restrict or preclude our ability to lawfully produce or sell our products in a competitive manner.
We also rely upon unpatented proprietary know-how and continuing technological innovation and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position. There can be no assurance, however, that confidentiality agreements into which we enter and have entered will not be breached, that they will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets or proprietary know-how, or that adequate remedies will be available in the event of an unauthorized use or disclosure of such trade secrets and know-how. In addition, there can be no assurance that others will not obtain knowledge of these trade secrets through independent development or other access by legal means.
In addition to our own patents and patent applications and proprietary trade secrets and know-how, we have entered into certain licensing arrangements that authorize us to use certain trade secrets, know-how and related technology and/or operate within the scope of certain patents owned by other entities. We also license and sub-license certain intellectual property rights to affiliates and to third parties. In connection with our transaction with HIH, ICI and Huntsman Specialty (under the
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terms of a technology transfer agreement and a PO/MTBE technology transfer agreement), we have licensed back to ICI and Huntsman LLC (on a non-exclusive basis) certain intellectual property rights for use in their respective retained businesses, and ICI and Huntsman LLC have each licensed certain retained intellectual property to us.
We have associated brand names with a number of our products, and we have approximately 35 U.S. trademark registrations (including applications for registration currently pending at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), and approximately 1,979 foreign counterparts, including both registrations and applications for registration. However, there can be no assurance that the trademark registrations will provide meaningful protection against the use of similar trademarks by competitors, or that the value of our trademarks will not be diluted.
Employees
As of December 31, 2004, we employed approximately 5,700 people in our operations around the world. Approximately 250 of these employees are located in the U.S., while approximately 5,450 are located in other countries. We believe our relations with our employees are good.
Huntsman LLC provides management and administrative services to us and also provides operating services for our PO business. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions."
Properties
We own or lease chemical manufacturing and research facilities in the locations indicated in the list below, which we currently believe are adequate for our short-term and anticipated long-term needs. We own or lease office space and storage facilities throughout the U.S. and many foreign countries. Our principal executive offices, which are leased from Huntsman LLC, are located at 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108. Our operational headquarters, which are leased, are located at 10003 Woodloch Forest Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77380. The following is a list of our material owned or leased properties where manufacturing, research and main office facilities are located.
Location |
Description of Facility |
|
---|---|---|
Geismar, Louisiana(1) | MDI, TDI, Nitrobenzene(1), Aniline(1) and Polyols Manufacturing Facilities | |
Rozenburg, Netherlands(2) | MDI Manufacturing Facility, Polyols Manufacturing Facilities and Systems House | |
Wilton, U.K. | Aniline and Nitrobenzene Manufacturing Facilities | |
Peel, Canada(2) | Polyurethane Systems House | |
West Deptford, New Jersey(3) | Polyurethane Systems House, Research Facility and U.S. Regional Headquarters | |
Auburn Hills, Michigan(2) | Polyurethane Office Space and Research Facility | |
Deerpark, Australia(2) | Polyurethane Systems House | |
Cartagena, Colombia | Polyurethane Systems House | |
Deggendorf, Germany | Polyurethane Systems House | |
Ternate, Italy | Polyurethane Systems House | |
Shanghai, China(2) | Polyurethane Systems House | |
Thane (Maharashtra), India(2) | Polyurethane Systems House | |
Samuprakam, Thailand(2) | Polyurethane Systems House | |
Kuan Yin, Taiwan(2) | Polyurethane Systems House | |
Tlalnepantla, Mexico | Polyurethane Systems House | |
Everberg, Belgium | Polyurethane Research Facility, Global Headquarters and European Headquarters | |
Gateway West, Singapore(2) | Polyurethane Regional Headquarters | |
Ringwood, Illinois(2) | TPU Manufacturing Facility | |
Osnabrück, Germany | TPU Manufacturing Facility | |
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Port Neches, Texas | PO Manufacturing Facility and MTBE Manufacturing Facility | |
Wilton, U.K. | Olefins and Aromatics Manufacturing Facilities, Base Chemicals Headquarters | |
North Tees, U.K.(2) | Aromatics Manufacturing Facility and Logistics/Storage Facility | |
Grimsby, U.K. | TiO2 Manufacturing Facility | |
Greatham, U.K. | TiO2 Manufacturing Facility | |
Calais, France | TiO2 Manufacturing Facility | |
Huelva, Spain | TiO2 Manufacturing Facility | |
Scarlino, Italy | TiO2 Manufacturing Facility | |
Teluk Kalung, Malaysia | TiO2 Manufacturing Facility | |
Lake Charles, Louisiana(4) | TiO2 Manufacturing Facility | |
Umbogintwini, South Africa | TiO2 Manufacturing Facility | |
Billingham, U.K. | TiO2 Research and Technical Facility, and Pigments Headquarters | |
Warrenville, Illinois(1) | Titanium Dioxide North American Technical and Commercial Center | |
Whitehaven, U.K.(5) | Surfactants Manufacturing Facility | |
St Mihiel, France | Surfactants Manufacturing Facility | |
Lavera, France(2) | Surfactants Manufacturing Facility | |
Castiglione, Italy | Surfactants Manufacturing Facility | |
Patrica/Frosinone, Italy | Surfactants Manufacturing Facility | |
Barcelona, Spain | Surfactants Manufacturing Facility | |
Oldbury, U.K.(2)(6) | Surfactants Research Facility | |
Warley, U.K.(2)(6) | Surfactants Regional Headquarters | |
Freeport, Texas | Amines Manufacturing Facility |
Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
General
We are subject to extensive federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, rules and ordinances relating to pollution, protection of the environment and the generation, storage, handling, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials. In the ordinary course of business, we are subject to frequent environmental inspections and monitoring and occasional investigations by governmental enforcement authorities. In addition, our production facilities require operating permits that are subject to renewal, modification and, in certain circumstances, revocation. Actual or alleged violations of environmental laws or permit requirements could result in restrictions or prohibitions on plant operations, substantial civil or criminal sanctions, as well as, under some environmental laws, the assessment of strict liability and/or joint and several liability. Moreover, changes in environmental regulations could inhibit or interrupt our operations, or require us to modify our facilities or operations. Accordingly, environmental or regulatory matters may cause us to incur significant unanticipated losses, costs or liabilities.
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Environmental, Health and Safety Systems
We are committed to achieving and maintaining compliance with all applicable environmental, health and safety ("EHS") legal requirements, and we have developed policies and management systems that are intended to identify the multitude of EHS legal requirements applicable to our operations, enhance compliance with applicable legal requirements, ensure the safety of our employees, contractors, community neighbors and customers and minimize the production and emission of wastes and other pollutants. Although EHS legal requirements are constantly changing and are frequently difficult to comply with, these EHS management systems are designed to assist us in our compliance goals while also fostering efficiency and improvement and minimizing overall risk to us.
EHS Capital Expenditures
We may incur future costs for capital improvements and general compliance under EHS laws, including costs to acquire, maintain and repair pollution control equipment. For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, our capital expenditures for EHS matters totaled $2.7 million and $4.6 million, respectively. Since capital expenditures for these matters are subject to evolving regulatory requirements and depend, in part, on the timing, promulgation and enforcement of specific requirements, we cannot provide assurance that our recent expenditures will be indicative of future amounts required under EHS laws.
Governmental Enforcement Proceedings
On occasion, we receive notices of violation, enforcement and other complaints from regulatory agencies alleging non-compliance with applicable EHS law. By way of example, we are aware of the individual matters set out below, which we believe to be the most significant presently pending matters and unasserted claims. Although we may incur costs or penalties in connection with the governmental proceedings discussed below, based on currently available information and our past experience, we believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
In the third quarter of 2004, our Jefferson County, Texas facilities received notification from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ("TCEQ") of potential air emission violations relating to the operation of cooling towers at two of our plants, and alleged upset air emissions. TCEQ proposed penalties of $0.2 million for the alleged upset violations and $0.1 million for the alleged cooling tower violations. Negotiations are anticipated between us and TCEQ with respect to the resolution of these alleged violations. We do not believe that the final cost to resolve these matters will be material.
Remediation Liabilities
We have incurred, and we may in the future incur, liability to investigate and clean up waste or contamination at our current or former facilities or facilities operated by third parties at which we may have disposed of waste or other materials. Similarly, we may incur costs for the cleanup of wastes that were disposed of prior to the purchase of our businesses. Under some circumstances, the scope of our liability may extend to damages to natural resources. Specifically, under the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), and similar state laws, a current or former owner or operator of real property may be liable for remediation costs regardless of whether the release or disposal of hazardous substances was in compliance with law at the time it occurred, and a current owner or operator may be liable regardless of whether it owned or operated the facility at the time of the release. In addition, under the U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended ("RCRA"), and similar state laws, we may be required to remediate contamination originating from our properties as a condition to our hazardous waste permit. In many cases, our potential liability arising from historical contamination is based on operations and
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other events occurring prior to our ownership of the relevant facility. In these situations, we frequently obtained an indemnity agreement from the prior owner addressing remediation liabilities arising from pre-closing conditions. We have successfully exercised our rights under these contractual covenants for a number of sites, and where applicable, mitigated our ultimate remediation liability. We cannot assure you, however, that all of such matters will be subject to indemnity or that our existing indemnities will be sufficient to cover our liabilities for such matters.
Environmental Reserves
We have established financial reserves relating to anticipated environmental cleanup obligations, site reclamation and closure costs and known penalties. Liabilities are recorded when potential liabilities are either known or considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Our liability estimates are based upon available facts, existing technology and past experience. On a consolidated basis, we have accrued approximately $20.2 million and $21.2 million for environmental liabilities as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. Of these amounts, approximately $5.5 million and $5.7 million are classified as accrued liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, and approximately $14.7 million and $15.5 million are classified as other noncurrent liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. In certain cases, our remediation liabilities are payable over periods of up to 30 years. We may incur losses for environmental remediation in excess of the amounts accrued; however, we are not able to estimate the amount of such losses.
Regulatory Developments
Under the European Union ("EU") Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive ("IPPC"), EU member governments are to adopt rules and implement a cross-media (air, water and waste) environmental permitting program for individual facilities. While the EU countries are at varying stages in their respective implementation of the IPPC permit program, we have submitted all necessary IPPC permit applications required to date, and in some cases received completed permits from the applicable government agency. We expect to submit all other IPPC applications and related documents on a timely basis as the various countries implement the IPPC permit program. Although we do not know with certainty what each IPPC permit will require, we believe, based upon our experience with the permits received to date, that the costs of compliance with the IPPC permit program will not be material to our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
In October 2003, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new EU regulatory framework for chemicals. Under this proposed new system called "REACH" (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals), companies that manufacture or import more than one ton of a chemical substance per year would be required to register such manufacture or import in a central database. The REACH initiative, as proposed, would require risk assessment of chemicals, preparations (e.g., soaps and paints) and articles (e.g., consumer products) before those materials could be manufactured or imported into EU countries. Where warranted by a risk assessment, hazardous substances would require authorizations for their use. This regulation could impose risk control strategies that would require capital expenditures by us. As proposed, REACH would take effect in three primary stages over the eleven years following the final effective date (assuming final approval). The impacts of REACH on the chemical industry and on us are unclear at this time because the parameters of the program are still being actively debated.
MTBE Developments
The use of MTBE is controversial in the U.S. and elsewhere and may be substantially curtailed or eliminated in the future by legislation or regulatory action. The presence of MTBE in some groundwater supplies in California and other states (primarily due to gasoline leaking from
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underground storage tanks) and in surface water (primarily from recreational watercraft) has led to public concern about MTBE's potential to contaminate drinking water supplies. Heightened public awareness regarding this issue has resulted in state, federal and foreign initiatives to rescind the federal oxygenate requirements for reformulated gasoline or restrict or prohibit the use of MTBE in particular. For example, California, New York and Connecticut have adopted rules that prohibit the use of MTBE in gasoline sold in those states as of January 1, 2004. Overall, states that have taken some action to prohibit or restrict the use of MTBE in gasoline account for a substantial portion of the "pre-ban" U.S. MTBE market. Thus far, attempts by others to challenge these state bans in federal court under the reformulated gasoline provisions of the federal Clean Air Act have been unsuccessful.
The U.S. Congress has been considering legislation that would eliminate the oxygenated fuels requirements in the Clean Air Act and phase out or curtail MTBE use over a period of years. To date, no such legislation has become law. If it were to become law, it could result in a federal phase-out of the use of MTBE in gasoline in the U.S., but it would not prevent us from manufacturing MTBE in our plants. In addition, in March 2000, the EPA announced its intention, through an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, to phase out the use of MTBE under authority of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. EPA has not yet acted on this proposal, however. In Europe, the EU issued a final risk assessment report on MTBE in September 2002. No ban of MTBE was recommended, though several risk reduction measures relating to storage and handling of MTBE-containing fuel were recommended.
We currently market approximately 95% of our MTBE to customers located in the U.S. for use as a gasoline additive. Any phase-out or other future regulation of MTBE in other jurisdictions, nationally or internationally, may result in a significant reduction in demand for our MTBE and in a material loss in revenues or material costs or expenditures. In the event that there should be a complete phase-out of MTBE in the U.S., we believe we will be able to export MTBE to Europe, Asia or South America, although this may produce a lower level of cash flow than the sale of MTBE in the U.S. We may also elect to use all or a portion of our precursor TBA to produce saleable products other than MTBE. If we opt to produce products other than MTBE, necessary modifications to our facilities may require significant capital expenditures and the sale of the other products may produce a materially lower level of cash flow than the sale of MTBE.
In addition to the use limitations described above, a number of lawsuits have been filed, primarily against gasoline manufacturers, marketers and distributors, by persons seeking to recover damages allegedly arising from the presence of MTBE in groundwater. While we have not been named as a defendant in any litigation concerning the environmental effects of MTBE, we cannot provide assurances that we will not be involved in any such litigation or that such litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Legal Proceedings
Certain claims have been filed against us relating to discoloration of unplasticized polyvinyl chloride products allegedly caused by our titanium dioxide ("Discoloration Claims"). Substantially all of the titanium dioxide that is the subject of these claims was manufactured prior to our acquisition of our titanium dioxide business from ICI in 1999. Net of amounts we have received from insurers and pursuant to contracts of indemnity, we have paid approximately $15.8 million in costs and settlement amounts for Discoloration Claims as of March 31, 2005.
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The following table presents information about the number of Discoloration Claims for the period indicated. Claims include all claims for which service has been received by us, and each such claim represents a plaintiff who is pursuing a claim against us.
|
Three months ended March 31, 2005 |
|
---|---|---|
Claims filed during period | 0 | |
Claims resolved during period | 1 | |
Claims unresolved at end of period | 2 |
In March 2005, one of the Discoloration Claims that was unresolved as of December 31, 2004 was amended to assert additional damages of approximately $56 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, we settled a claim for approximately $0.9 million all of which is indemnified and for which we are currently seeking reimbursement. The two Discoloration Claims unresolved as of March 31, 2005 asserted aggregate damages of approximately $58.7 million. A liability has been accrued for these claims. Based on our understanding of the merits of these claims and our rights under contracts of indemnity and insurance, we do not believe that the net impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity will be material.
While additional Discoloration Claims may be made in the future, we cannot reasonably estimate the amount of loss related to such claims. Although we may incur additional costs as a result of future claims (including settlement costs), based on our history with Discoloration Claims to date, the fact that substantially all of the titanium dioxide that has been the subject of these Discoloration Claims was manufactured and sold more than five years ago, and the fact that we have rights under contract to indemnity, including from ICI, we do not believe that any unasserted possible Discoloration Claims, if any, will have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Based on this conclusion and our inability to reasonably estimate our expected costs with respect to these unasserted possible claims, we have made no accruals in our financial statements as of March 31, 2005 for costs associated with unasserted possible Discoloration Claims, if any.
Certain insurers have denied coverage with respect to certain Discoloration Claims. We brought suit against these insurers to recover the amounts we believe are due to us. The court found in favor of the insurers, and we lodged an application for leave to appeal that decision. Leave to appeal was granted in December 2004. We expect the appeal to be heard during the third quarter of 2005.
We are a party to various other proceedings instituted by private plaintiffs, governmental authorities and others arising under provisions of applicable laws, including various environmental, products liability and other laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in this report, we do not believe that the outcome of any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. See "Environmental, Health and Safety Matters" for a discussion of environmental proceedings.
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The current members of our board of managers and our current executive officers are listed below. The members of our board of managers are appointed by the owner of our membership interest and hold office until their successors are duly appointed and qualified. All officers serve at the pleasure of our board of managers.
Board of Managers and Executive Officers
Name |
Age |
Position |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Jon M. Huntsman* | 67 | Chairman of the Board and Manager | ||
Peter R. Huntsman* | 42 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Manager | ||
J. Kimo Esplin | 42 | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Manager | ||
Samuel D. Scruggs | 45 | Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Manager | ||
Anthony P. Hankins | 47 | Division President, Polyurethanes | ||
Paul G. Hulme | 48 | Executive Vice President | ||
Thomas J. Keenan | 52 | Division President, Pigments | ||
Kevin J. Ninow | 41 | Division President, Base Chemicals and Polymers | ||
Donald J. Stanutz | 54 | Division President, Performance Products | ||
Michael J. Kern | 55 | Senior Vice President, Environmental, Health & Safety and Chief Information Officer | ||
Don H. Olsen | 59 | Senior Vice President, Global Public Affairs | ||
Brian V. Ridd | 47 | Senior Vice President, Purchasing | ||
L. Russell Healy | 49 | Vice President and Controller |
Jon M. Huntsman is Chairman of the Board of Managers of our Company and has held this position since our Company was formed. He has been Chairman of the Board of all Huntsman companies since he founded his first plastics company in 1970. Mr. Huntsman served as Chief Executive Officer of Huntsman Corporation and its affiliated companies from 1970 to 2000. Mr. Huntsman is a director or manager, as applicable, of Huntsman Corporation, AdMat, HLLC and certain of Huntsman Corporation's other subsidiaries. In addition, Mr. Huntsman serves or has served as Chairman or as a member of numerous corporate, philanthropic and industry boards, including the American Red Cross, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Primary Children's Medical Center Foundation, the Chemical Manufacturers Association and the American Plastics Council. Mr. Huntsman was selected in 1994 as the chemical industry's top CEO for all businesses in Europe and North America. Mr. Huntsman formerly served as Special Assistant to the President of the United States and as Vice Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He is the Chairman and Founder of the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Peter R. Huntsman is President, Chief Executive Officer and a Manager of our Company. Prior to his appointment in July 2000 as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Huntsman had served as President and Chief Operating Officer since 1994. In 1987, Mr. Huntsman joined Huntsman Polypropylene Corporation as Vice President before serving as Senior Vice President and General Manager.
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Mr. Huntsman has also served as President of Olympus Oil, as Senior Vice President of Huntsman Chemical Corporation and as a Senior Vice President of Huntsman Packaging Corporation, a former subsidiary of Huntsman Corporation. Mr. Huntsman is a director or manager, as applicable, of Huntsman Corporation, AdMat, HLLC and certain of Huntsman Corporation's other subsidiaries.
J. Kimo Esplin is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and a Manager of our Company. Mr. Esplin has served as a Manager since May 2005. Mr. Esplin has served as chief financial officer of all of the Huntsman companies since 1999. From 1994 to 1999, Mr. Esplin served as Huntsman Corporation's Treasurer. Prior to joining Huntsman in 1994, Mr. Esplin was a Vice President in the Investment Banking Division of Bankers Trust Company, where he worked for seven years. Mr. Esplin also serves as a director of Nutraceutical International Corporation, a publicly traded nutrition supplements company.
Samuel D. Scruggs is Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and a Manager of our Company. Mr. Scruggs has served as a Manager since May 2005. Mr. Scruggs served as Vice President and Treasurer from 2000 to 2002 and as Vice President and Associate General Counsel from 1999 to 2000. Prior to joining Huntsman in 1995, Mr. Scruggs was an associate with the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
Anthony P. Hankins is Division President, Polyurethanes. Mr. Hankins was appointed to this position in March 2004. From May 2003 to February 2004, Mr. Hankins served as President, Performance Products, from January 2002 to April 2003, he served as Global Vice President, Rigids Division for Huntsman Corporation's Polyurethanes business, from October 2000 to December 2001, he served as Vice PresidentAmericas for Huntsman Corporation's Polyurethanes business, and from March 1998 to September 2000, he served as Vice PresidentAsia Pacific for Huntsman Corporation's Polyurethanes business. Mr. Hankins worked for ICI from 1980 to February 1998, when he joined Huntsman Corporation. At ICI, Mr. Hankins held numerous management positions in the plastics, fibers and polyurethanes businesses. He has extensive international experience, having held senior management positions in Europe, Asia and the U.S.
Paul G. Hulme is Executive Vice President. Mr. Hulme was appointed to this position in December 2004. Mr. Hulme is also Division President, Advanced Materials, of Huntsman Corporation and has served in that role since June 2003. From February 2000 to May 2003, Mr. Hulme served as Vice President, Performance Chemicals, and from December 1999 to February 2000 he served as Operations Director, Polyurethanes. Prior to joining Huntsman in 1999, Mr. Hulme held various positions with ICI in finance, accounting and information systems roles. Mr. Hulme is a Chartered Accountant.
Thomas J. Keenan is Division President, Pigments, and has served in that role since August 2003. From January 2000 to August 2003, Mr. Keenan served as President, North American Petrochemicals and Polymers, and from January 1998 to January 2000, he served as Senior Vice President of Huntsman Chemical Company LLC. Prior to joining Huntsman in 1994, Mr. Keenan was Vice President and General Manager, Olefins and Polyolefins for Mobil Chemical Company, where he worked for more than sixteen years.
Kevin J. Ninow is Division President, Base Chemicals and Polymers, and has served in that role since July 2003. From July 1999 to July 2003, Mr. Ninow served as Senior Vice President, European Petrochemicals. Mr. Ninow joined Huntsman in 1989.
Donald J. Stanutz is Division President, Performance Products. Mr. Stanutz was appointed to this position in March 2004. Mr. Stanutz served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of our Company from December 2001 to February 2004, as Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing from July 2000 to November 2001 and as Executive Vice President, Polyurethanes, PO and
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Performance Chemicals from July 1999 to June 2000. Prior to joining Huntsman in 1994, Mr. Stanutz served in a variety of senior positions with Texaco Chemical Company.
Michael J. Kern is Senior Vice PresidentEnvironmental, Health & Safety, and Chief Information Officer. Mr. Kern has held this position since December 2003. Mr. Kern has served in several senior management positions of Huntsman Corporation, including Senior Vice President, Environmental, Health & Safety from July 2001 to December 2003 and Senior Vice President, Manufacturing from December 1995 to July 2001. Prior to joining Huntsman, Mr. Kern held a variety of positions within Texaco Chemical Company, including Area ManagerJefferson County Operations from April 1993 until joining Huntsman Corporation, Plant Manager of the Port Neches facility from August 1992 to March 1993, Manager of the PO/MTBE project from October 1989 to July 1992, and Manager of Oxides and Olefins from April 1988 to September 1989.
Don H. Olsen is Senior Vice President, Global Public Affairs. Mr. Olsen served as Senior Vice President, Public Affairs from August 1993 until he was appointed to his current position in June 2003 and as Vice President, Communications from November 1988 until August 1993. Prior to joining Huntsman in 1988, Mr. Olsen had a 17-year career in broadcast journalism. He also spent three years in Washington, D.C. as Director of Communications for former U.S. Senator Jake Garn.
Brian V. Ridd is Senior Vice President, Purchasing. Mr. Ridd has held this position since July 2000. Mr. Ridd served as Vice President, Purchasing from December 1995 until he was appointed to his current position. Mr. Ridd joined Huntsman in 1984.
L. Russell Healy is Vice President and Controller. Mr. Healy is also Vice President and Controller of Huntsman Corporation, HIH, HLLC and AdMat and has served in these capacities since April 2004. From August 2001 to April 2004, Mr. Healy served as Vice President, Finance, and from July 1999 to July 2001, he served as Vice President and Finance Director for our Company. Prior to joining Huntsman in 1995, Mr. Healy was a partner with the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche, LLP. Mr. Healy is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a master's degree in accounting.
Audit Committee Financial Expert
The board of managers of our Company has determined that Mr. Esplin is an audit committee financial expert as defined by Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Mr. Esplin is not independent as defined under the standards adopted by the New York Stock Exchange.
Code of Ethics
Huntsman Corporation has adopted a code of ethics, as defined by Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller. A copy of the code of ethics is posted on our website, at www.huntsman.com. We intend to disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, our code of ethics on our website.
Summary of Compensation
The following summary compensation table sets forth information concerning compensation earned in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 by our chief executive officer and our four other most highly compensated executive officers at the end of 2004. Information is also included for the former president of our polyurethanes business, who would have been among the most highly compensated executive officers if he had not ceased to be an executive officer during 2004. We refer to these six persons collectively as the "named executive officers."
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|
Annual Compensation(1) |
|
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary |
Bonus |
Other Annual Compensation(2) |
All Other Compensation |
||||||||||
Peter R. Huntsman President, Chief Executive Officer and Manager |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
1,359,085 1,329,249 1,144,000 |
$ $ $ |
550,000 500,000 750,000 |
$ $ |
1,538,136 452,434 |
(4) (5) |
$ $ $ |
158,022 172,340 135,520 |
(3) (3) (3) |
||||
J. Kimo Esplin Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Manager |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
420,007 410,775 397,318 |
$ $ $ |
360,000 300,000 400,000 |
$ $ $ |
72,001 49,336 23,464 |
(6) (6) (6) |
|||||||
Samuel D. Scruggs Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Manager |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
350,175 342,448 332,350 |
$ $ $ |
325,000 450,000 400,000 |
$ $ $ |
42,941 37,122 22,970 |
(7) (7) (7) |
|||||||
Anthony P. Hankins Division President, Polyurethanes |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
423,466 360,630 339,446 |
$ $ $ |
350,000 200,000 157,021 |
$ $ $ |
92,564 147,518 121,597 |
(8) (10) (11) |
$ $ $ |
23,327 5,063 3,440 |
(9) (9) (9) |
||||
Paul G. Hulme Executive Vice President |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
395,605 332,040 179,942 |
$ $ $ |
300,000 329,691 167,555 |
$ $ |
84,457 91,105 107,714 |
(12) (13) (14) |
|||||||
Patrick W. Thomas(15) Former Division President, Polyurethanes |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
335,847 554,792 484,544 |
$ $ |
233,000 452,136 |
$ $ $ |
3,317,789 168,476 143,329 |
(16) (17) (18) |
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Money Purchase Plan for 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and $41,201, $27,121 and $13,464 employer's contribution to the money purchase pension plan portion of the Huntsman SERP for 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
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Cost Reduction Incentive Plan
In connection with Huntsman Corporation's Project Coronado cost reduction program, Huntsman Corporation adopted the Huntsman Cost Reduction Incentive Plan. The purpose of the plan is to encourage key employees to reduce fixed costs by providing incentive pay based upon the reduction in fixed costs for 2005 and 2006 relative to fixed costs for 2002. Fixed costs are calculated in accordance with the plan, on a constant currency basis. There are approximately 63 participants in the plan, including Huntsman Corporation's Chairman of the Board and all of Huntsman Corporation's executive officers. Plan participants will receive a bonus for 2005 if Huntsman Corporation's annualized fixed costs as measured at the end of the second half of 2005 are at least $150 million less than Huntsman Corporation's fixed costs for 2002 and will receive a bonus for 2006 if Huntsman Corporation's annualized fixed costs as measured at the end of the first half of 2006 are at least $150 million less than Huntsman Corporation's fixed costs for 2002. The aggregate bonus pool amount for each of 2005 and 2006 will be between 5% and 10% of the fixed cost reduction for the applicable period, depending on the amount of the reduction. No bonus will be paid for a period if the amount of the fixed cost reduction for that period is less than $150 million. Each participant's share of the aggregate bonus pool was determined by the compensation committee of Huntsman Corporation. In general, in order to receive a bonus for 2005 or 2006, a participant must be employed at the end of that year or either have been terminated by Huntsman Corporation other than for reasonable cause or have voluntarily terminated for good reason. Bonuses for 2005 will be payable no later than March 31, 2006, and bonuses for 2006 will be payable no later than January 7, 2007. However, Huntsman Corporation has the right to defer payments under certain circumstances. Bonuses will be payable in lump-sum cash payments, subject to Huntsman Corporation's right to pay all or part of a bonus in shares of Huntsman Corporation's common stock.
The bonuses will be taxable to the participants as ordinary income, and Huntsman Corporation will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction, for the year in which such bonuses are paid. Huntsman Corporation intends to operate the plan in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code so that the participants are not subject to the additional 20% tax imposed on certain deferred compensation.
Retirement Plans
Huntsman Pension Plan and Huntsman SERP
Huntsman Corporation sponsors the Huntsman Defined Benefit Pension Plan (the "Huntsman Pension Plan"), a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan, and a non-qualified supplemental pension plan (the "Huntsman SERP"). Effective July 1, 2004, the formula used to calculate future benefits under the Huntsman Pension Plan and the Huntsman SERP was changed to a cash balance formula. The benefits accrued under the plans as of June 30, 2004 were used to calculate opening cash balance accounts.
Huntsman Pension Plan. Of the named executive officers, Messrs. Peter Huntsman, Esplin and Scruggs were participants in the Huntsman Pension Plan in 2004. The Huntsman Pension Plan expresses benefits as a hypothetical cash balance account established in each participant's name. A participant's account receives two forms of credits: "pay credits" and "interest credits." Pay credits equal a percentage of a participant's compensation and are credited to a participant's account on an annual basis. "Compensation" for this purpose includes both salary and bonus as described in the summary compensation table, but subject to the compensation limit applicable to tax-qualified plans ($205,000 for 2004). The applicable pay credit percentage ranges between 4% and 12% depending on the participant's combined age and years of service as of the start of each plan year. "Interest credits" for a plan year are based on the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield for November of the prior year. The minimum annual interest credit rate is 5.0%. In addition, plan participants who met certain age and
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service requirements on July 1, 2004 are entitled to receive "transition credits." Transition credits are payable for up to five years and equal a percentage of a participant's compensation. The applicable transition credit percentage is from 1% to 8% depending on the participant's combined age and years of service as of July 1, 2004.
At termination of employment after having completed at least five years of service, a participant will receive the amount then credited to the participant's cash balance account in an actuarially equivalent joint and survivor annuity (if married) or single life annuity (if not married). Participants may also choose from other optional forms of benefit, including a lump-sum payment in the amount of the cash balance account. The Huntsman Pension Plan also includes a minimum benefit that guarantees that a participant's benefit will not be less than the benefit accrued under the prior formula at transition (July 1, 2004) plus the benefit attributable to pay credits, with interest credits, beginning July 1, 2004.
Huntsman SERP. The Huntsman SERP provides benefits for designated executive officers based on certain compensation amounts not included in the calculation of benefits payable under the Huntsman Pension Plan. Of the named executive officers, Messrs. Peter Huntsman, Esplin, and Scruggs were participants in the Huntsman SERP in 2004. The compensation amounts taken into account for these named executive officers under the Huntsman SERP include compensation in excess of the qualified plan limitations. The Huntsman SERP benefit is calculated as the difference between (1) the benefit determined using the Huntsman Pension Plan formula with unlimited base salary plus bonus, and (2) the benefit determined using base salary plus bonus as limited by federal regulations. Upon a change in control (as defined in the Huntsman SERP), participants will receive the present value of the benefits payable to them under the Huntsman SERP.
The number of completed years of credited service as of December 31, 2004 for Messrs. Peter Huntsman, Esplin and Scruggs under the Huntsman Pension Plan and Huntsman SERP were 21 years, 10 years and 9 years, respectively. At December 31, 2004, these named executive officers were 41, 42 and 45 years of age, respectively.
Estimated Annual Benefits Payable to Named Executive Officers. The following table provides the estimated projected annual benefits from the Huntsman Pension Plan and the Huntsman SERP, payable as a lifetime annuity, commencing at normal retirement age (age 65) for Messrs. Huntsman, Esplin and Scruggs. These projections are based on continued employment to age 65 and a 5.12% interest credit rate (the rate in effect for 2004).
Name |
Year of 65th Birthday |
Estimated Annual Benefit |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peter Huntsman | 2028 | $ | 1,585,000 | ||
Kimo Esplin | 2027 | 375,000 | |||
Sam Scruggs | 2024 | 313,000 |
The Huntsman SERP also provides benefits not available under the Huntsman Money Purchase Pension Plan (a qualified money purchase pension plan in which Messrs. Peter Huntsman, Esplin and Scruggs participate) because of limits under federal law on compensation that can be counted and amounts that can be allocated to accounts within the Huntsman Money Purchase Pension Plan. The amount of benefits accrued under the Huntsman SERP relating to the Huntsman Money Purchase Pension Plan for these named executive officers is included in the summary compensation table in the "All Other Compensation" column.
Huntsman Belgium Pension Fund
Messrs. Hulme and Thomas participate in the Huntsman Pension Fund VZW in Belgium (the "Huntsman Belgium Pension Fund"). The following table shows the estimated annual benefit payable
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under the Huntsman Belgium Pension Fund on reaching age 60 in specified final pensionable earnings and years-of-benefit service classifications.
|
Year of Benefit Service at Retirement |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Final Pensionable Compensation |
||||||||||||||||
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
|||||||||
$ 200,000 | 12,609 | 25,217 | 37,826 | 50,434 | 63,043 | 75,651 | 88,260 | 100,869 | ||||||||
250,000 | 16,364 | 32,728 | 49,092 | 65,456 | 81,820 | 98,184 | 114,548 | 130,912 | ||||||||
300,000 | 20,119 | 40,239 | 60,358 | 80,478 | 100,597 | 120,717 | 140,836 | 160,955 | ||||||||
350,000 | 23,875 | 47,750 | 71,625 | 95,499 | 119,374 | 143,249 | 167,124 | 190,999 | ||||||||
400,000 | 27,630 | 55,261 | 82,891 | 110,521 | 138,151 | 165,782 | 193,412 | 221,042 | ||||||||
450,000 | 31,386 | 62,771 | 94,157 | 125,543 | 156,929 | 188,314 | 219,700 | 251,086 | ||||||||
500,000 | 35,141 | 70,282 | 105,423 | 140,565 | 175,706 | 210,847 | 245,988 | 281,129 | ||||||||
550,000 | 38,897 | 77,793 | 116,690 | 155,586 | 194,483 | 233,379 | 272,276 | 311,173 | ||||||||
600,000 | 42,652 | 85,304 | 127,956 | 170,608 | 213,260 | 255,912 | 298,564 | 341,216 | ||||||||
650,000 | 46,407 | 92,815 | 139,222 | 185,630 | 232,037 | 278,445 | 324,852 | 371,259 | ||||||||
700,000 | 50,163 | 100,326 | 150,489 | 200,651 | 250,814 | 300,977 | 351,140 | 401,303 | ||||||||
750,000 | 53,918 | 107,837 | 161,755 | 215,673 | 269,591 | 323,510 | 377,428 | 431,346 | ||||||||
800,000 | 57,674 | 115,347 | 173,021 | 230,695 | 288,369 | 346,042 | 403,716 | 461,390 | ||||||||
850,000 | 61,429 | 122,858 | 184,287 | 245,717 | 307,146 | 368,575 | 430,004 | 491,433 | ||||||||
900,000 | 65,185 | 130,369 | 195,554 | 260,738 | 325,923 | 391,107 | 456,292 | 521,477 | ||||||||
950,000 | 68,940 | 137,880 | 206,820 | 275,760 | 344,700 | 413,640 | 482,580 | 551,520 | ||||||||
1,000,000 | 72,695 | 145,391 | 218,086 | 290,782 | 363,477 | 436,173 | 508,868 | 581,563 |
Participants in the Huntsman Belgium Pension Fund may elect a lump sum benefit equal to 8.57% of final pensionable compensation up to the Belgian Social Security earnings ceiling, plus 18.21% of pensionable compensation above the ceiling, times years of service. Final pensionable compensation is 12 times the monthly base salary for the final year of employment. Covered compensation for Messrs. Hulme and Thomas under the plan is reflected in the "Salary" column of the summary compensation table. As of December 31, 2004, Mr. Hulme had approximately 16 years of service in Belgium and was 48 years of age. On July 31, 2004, the date of his separation, Mr. Thomas had 15 years of service in Belgium (in addition to 39 months that were credited in connection with his termination) and was 47 years of age. The benefit amounts for the Huntsman Belgium Pension Fund shown in the table do not include Belgian Social Security benefits, which are payable in addition to such benefit amounts.
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Huntsman Pension Scheme
Messrs. Hankins, Hulme and Thomas participate in the Huntsman Pension Scheme in the U.K. The following table shows the estimated annual benefit payable under the Huntsman Pension Scheme on reaching age 62 in specified final pensionable earnings and years-of-service classifications.
|
Years of Benefit Service at Retirement |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Final Pensionable Compensation |
||||||||||||||||
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
|||||||||
$ 200,000 | 17,920 | 35,840 | 53,760 | 71,680 | 89,599 | 107,519 | 125,439 | 133,333 | ||||||||
250,000 | 22,495 | 44,990 | 67,485 | 89,980 | 112,474 | 134,969 | 157,464 | 166,667 | ||||||||
300,000 | 27,070 | 54,140 | 81,210 | 108,280 | 135,349 | 162,419 | 189,489 | 200,000 | ||||||||
350,000 | 31,645 | 63,290 | 94,935 | 126,580 | 158,224 | 189,869 | 221,514 | 233,333 | ||||||||
400,000 | 36,220 | 72,440 | 108,660 | 144,880 | 181,099 | 217,319 | 253,539 | 266,667 | ||||||||
450,000 | 40,795 | 81,590 | 122,385 | 163,180 | 203,974 | 244,769 | 285,564 | 300,000 | ||||||||
500,000 | 45,370 | 90,740 | 136,110 | 181,480 | 226,849 | 272,219 | 317,589 | 333,333 | ||||||||
550,000 | 49,945 | 99,890 | 149,835 | 199,780 | 249,724 | 299,669 | 349,614 | 366,667 | ||||||||
600,000 | 54,520 | 109,040 | 163,560 | 218,080 | 272,599 | 327,119 | 381,639 | 400,000 | ||||||||
650,000 | 59,095 | 118,190 | 177,285 | 236,380 | 295,474 | 354,569 | 413,664 | 433,333 | ||||||||
700,000 | 63,670 | 127,340 | 191,010 | 254,680 | 318,349 | 382,019 | 445,689 | 466,667 | ||||||||
750,000 | 68,245 | 136,490 | 204,735 | 272,980 | 341,224 | 409,469 | 477,714 | 500,000 | ||||||||
800,000 | 72,820 | 145,640 | 218,460 | 291,280 | 364,099 | 436,919 | 509,739 | 533,333 | ||||||||
850,000 | 77,395 | 154,790 | 232,185 | 309,580 | 386,974 | 464,369 | 541,764 | 566,667 | ||||||||
900,000 | 81,970 | 163,940 | 245,910 | 327,880 | 409,849 | 491,819 | 573,789 | 600,000 | ||||||||
950,000 | 86,545 | 173,090 | 259,635 | 346,180 | 432,724 | 519,269 | 605,814 | 633,333 | ||||||||
1,000,000 | 91,120 | 182,240 | 273,360 | 364,480 | 455,599 | 546,719 | 637,839 | 666,667 |
The Huntsman Pension Scheme provides benefits equal to 2.2% (1/45th) of final pensionable compensation up to $20,072 (£11,250), plus 1.83% of final pensionable compensation above $20,072 (£11,250), minus 1/50th of the current State pension benefit, times actual years of service; subject to a maximum limit of 2/3rd of final pensionable compensation times actual years of service, divided by total possible service to retirement. Final pensionable compensation is gross salary received during the 12 months prior to retirement less any profit sharing payments. These benefits include U.K. social security benefits. As of December 31, 2004, Mr. Hankins had approximately 25 years of service in the U.K. and Mr. Hulme had approximately 5 years of service in the U.K. As of July 31, 2004, Mr. Thomas had approximately 10 years of service in the U.K.
International Pension Plan
Messrs. Hulme and Thomas also participate in the International Pension Plan (the "IPP"), which is a nonregistered plan designed to protect the pension benefits of employees whose service involves participation in pension plans in more than one country. Through the IPP, each of Messrs. Hulme and Thomas at retirement can elect to receive a total pension benefit (which includes retirement benefits being provided by the Huntsman Belgium Pension Fund and the Huntsman Pension Scheme) that is the greater of (1) the benefit under the Huntsman Pension Scheme (with slight modifications if he has less than 10 years of actual U.K. service) based upon his combined service in Belgium and the U.K. and his U.K. notional salary, or (2) the benefit under the Huntsman Belgium Pension Fund based upon his combined service in Belgium and the U.K. Currently, the benefit under the IPP using the Huntsman Belgium Pension Fund is the most beneficial for both Mr. Hulme, who had 21 years of total service as of December 31, 2004, and Mr. Thomas, who had approximately 25 total years of service (in addition to 39 months that were credited in connection with his termination) as of July 31, 2004.
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Stock Incentive Plan
The following contains a summary of the material terms of the Huntsman Stock Incentive Plan (the "Stock Incentive Plan"), which was adopted by Huntsman Corporation's Board of Directors and approved by Huntsman Corporation's stockholders.
The Stock Incentive Plan permits the grant of non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, phantom stock, performance awards and other stock-based awards ("Awards") to Huntsman Corporation's employees, directors and consultants and to employees and consultants of Huntsman Corporation's subsidiaries, provided that incentive stock options may be granted solely to employees. A maximum of 21,590,909 shares of common stock may be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Stock Incentive Plan. The number of shares deliverable pursuant to the Awards under the Stock Incentive Plan is subject to adjustment on account of mergers, consolidations, reorganizations, stock splits, stock dividends and other dilutive or enlarging changes in Huntsman Corporation's common stock. Shares of common stock used to pay exercise prices and to satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to Awards as well as shares covered by Awards that expire, terminate or lapse will again be available for Awards under the Stock Incentive Plan.
Administration
The Stock Incentive Plan is administered by a committee, which will be Huntsman Corporation's board of directors or a committee of Huntsman Corporation's board of directors designated by Huntsman Corporation's board of directors to serve as the committee, which will satisfy independence requirements under applicable law. The committee has the sole discretion to determine the employees, directors and consultants to whom Awards may be granted under the Stock Incentive Plan and the manner in which such Awards will vest, although the committee may delegate to officers of Huntsman Corporation the authority to grant Awards to employees and consultants who are not, and whose family members are not, subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Awards are granted by the committee to employees, directors and consultants in such numbers and at such times during the term of the Stock Incentive Plan as the committee shall determine. The committee is authorized to interpret the Stock Incentive Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Stock Incentive Plan, and to make any other determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Stock Incentive Plan. The committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Stock Incentive Plan in the manner and to the extent the committee deems necessary or desirable.
Options
The committee determines the exercise price for each option. However, options must generally have an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date the option is granted. An option holder may exercise an option by written notice and payment of the exercise price:
In connection with Huntsman Corporation's initial public offering, Huntsman Corporation granted to certain of Huntsman Corporation's employees options to purchase an aggregate of 2,372,740 shares of common stock at an exercise price per share equal to the initial public offering price per share of common stock. Huntsman Corporation granted a portion of such options to Huntsman Corporation's
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named executive officers. The options will vest one-third on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. The options will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.
Stock Appreciation Rights
The exercise price per share of a stock appreciation right will be an amount determined by the committee. However, stock appreciation rights must generally have an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date the stock appreciation right is granted. Generally, each stock appreciation right will entitle a participant upon exercise to an amount equal to (i) the excess of (1) the fair market value on the exercise date of one share of common stock over (2) the exercise price, times (ii) the number of shares of common stock covered by the stock appreciation right. The committee will determine whether payment will be made in cash, shares of common stock, or a combination of both, provided however that recipients who are subject to U.S. tax will not receive cash in either full or partial payment.
Performance Awards
The committee may grant performance awards denominated in dollars or other currencies that vest upon such terms and conditions as the committee may establish, including the achievement of performance criteria. To the extent earned, performance awards may be paid in common stock or in cash or any combination thereof as determined by the committee.
Other Stock-Based Awards
The committee may grant Awards of restricted stock, phantom stock and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on the fair market value of, shares of common stock, including shares of stock in lieu of cash compensation. Other stock-based awards will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the committee.
In connection with Huntsman Corporation's initial public offering, Huntsman Corporation granted an aggregate of 749,513 shares of restricted stock to certain of its employees. Huntsman Corporation granted a portion of such restricted stock to the named executive officers. The restrictions will lapse with respect to one-third of the restricted shares on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.
Transferability
Unless otherwise determined by the committee, Awards granted under the Stock Incentive Plan are not transferable other than, in some cases, by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Change of Control
In the event of a change of control of Huntsman Corporation, the committee may provide for:
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Amendment and Termination
The board of directors or the committee may amend, alter or discontinue the Stock Incentive Plan in any respect at any time, but no such action may be taken without stockholder approval to the extent required by applicable law or stock exchange regulations, and no amendment may materially adversely affect the rights of a participant under any Awards previously granted without his or her consent, except as may be necessary to comply with applicable laws, or advisable in order to preserve or achieve the intended tax treatment, provided that such amendments shall result in substantially equivalent value to the affected participants.
Compliance with New Deferred Compensation Law
The recently enacted American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 has added legislation concerning deferred compensation, which may require amendments to the Stock Incentive Plan to comply with this legislation. In addition, it is unclear how this legislation and future guidance will change the tax consequences set forth below. In this regard, it is Huntsman Corporation's intent that the Stock Incentive Plan and Awards granted thereunder avoid adverse tax consequences by reason of the application of this legislation and it is likely that Awards will be structured to comply with this legislation.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of Awards Under the Stock Incentive Plan
The discussion set forth below is a general description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of Awards under the Stock Incentive Plan applicable to participants that are U.S. citizens or residents but does not address the recently enacted deferred compensation legislation. It is unclear how this legislation and future guidance will affect the tax consequences discussed below. Participants in the Stock Incentive Plan should consult their tax adviser about the tax consequences of such legislation. Non-U.S. participants in the Stock Incentive Plan should consult their tax adviser about the tax consequences of participation in the Stock Incentive Plan. In addition, U.S. citizens that reside in foreign jurisdictions may also be subject to tax in such jurisdictions as a result of participation in the Stock Incentive Plan and should consult their tax adviser about the tax consequences of participation in the Stock Incentive Plan.
When a non-qualified stock option is granted, there are no U.S. federal income tax consequences for the option holder or Huntsman Corporation. When a non-qualified stock option is exercised, the option holder recognizes compensation equal to the excess of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price multiplied by the number of shares of common stock subject to the option that was exercised. In general, Huntsman Corporation is entitled to a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the compensation recognized by the option holder for Huntsman Corporation's taxable year that ends with or within the taxable year in which the option holder recognized the compensation.
When an incentive stock option is granted, there are no U.S. federal income tax consequences for the option holder or Huntsman Corporation. When an incentive stock option is exercised, the option holder does not recognize income and Huntsman Corporation does not receive a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The option holder, however, must treat the excess of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price as an item of adjustment for purposes of the alternative minimum tax.
If the option holder disposes of the common stock received upon exercise after the option holder has held the common stock for at least two years after the incentive stock option was granted and one year after the incentive stock option was exercised, the amount the option holder receives upon the disposition over the exercise price is treated as long-term capital gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the option holder. Huntsman Corporation is not entitled to a deduction. If the option
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holder makes a "disqualifying disposition" of the common stock by disposing of the common stock before it has been held for at least two years after the date the incentive option was granted and one year after the date the incentive option was exercised, the option holder recognizes compensation income for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the common stock on the date the incentive option was exercised or, if less, the amount received on the disposition over (ii) the exercise price. In general, if an option holder makes a disqualifying disposition, Huntsman Corporation is entitled to a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the compensation recognized by the option holder for Huntsman Corporation's taxable year that ends with or within the taxable year in which the option holder recognized the compensation.
When a stock appreciation right is granted, there are no U.S. federal income tax consequences for the participant or Huntsman Corporation. When a stock appreciation right is exercised, the participant recognizes compensation equal to the cash and/or the fair market value of the shares received upon exercise. In general, Huntsman Corporation is entitled to a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the compensation recognized by the participant with respect to a stock appreciation right.
Generally, when phantom stock, a share of restricted stock, a performance award or other stock-based award (other than unrestricted stock in lieu of cash compensation) is granted, there are no U.S. federal income tax consequences for the participant or Huntsman Corporation. Upon the payment to the participant of common shares and/or cash in respect of the Award or the release of restrictions on restricted stock, the participant recognizes compensation equal to the fair market value of the cash and/or shares as of the date of delivery or release. Upon the grant of unrestricted stock, a participant will recognize compensation for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the fair market value of the shares as of the grant date. In general, Huntsman Corporation is entitled to a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the compensation recognized by the participant with respect to other stock-based awards.
Executive Severance Plan
The following contains a summary of the material terms of the Huntsman Executive Severance Plan (the "Severance Plan"), which was adopted by Huntsman Corporation's Board of Directors.
Under the Severance Plan, if Huntsman Corporation terminates a participant's employment without reasonable cause, or the participant terminates employment for good reason, Huntsman Corporation will provide the participant with severance benefits in the form of a cash payment, medical coverage, and outplacement services. "Participants" in the Severance Plan include such employees as may be designated as participants by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, provided that, unless the Compensation Committee provides otherwise with respect to a particular employee, officers with a title of Vice President or higher will be participants. Under the Severance Plan, termination for "reasonable cause" means termination on account of gross negligence, fraud, dishonesty, willful violation of any law or material violation of any significant company policy, or on account of failure to substantially perform (whether as a result of a medically determinable disability or otherwise) the duties reasonably assigned or appropriate to the position, consistent with prior practice. Termination for "good reason" means a voluntary termination of employment by a participant as a result of Huntsman Corporation's making a significant detrimental reduction or change to the job responsibilities or in the current base compensation of the participant, which action is not remedied within ten days of written notice to Huntsman Corporation.
The amount of the cash payment will be: (a) for a participant with a title of Senior Vice President or higher, an amount equal to two times the participant's base compensation at termination; and (b) for a participant with a title of Vice President or below, an amount equal to one and one-half times the participant's base compensation at termination. Medical coverage will continue for the participant
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and his or her dependents for the period of time determined by dividing the cash payment received by the participant by the participant's base compensation at termination. Outplacement services will be provided: (y) for a period of 12 months following termination, for participants with a title of Senior Vice President or higher; and (z) for a period of six months following termination, for participants with a title of Vice President or below.
The Severance Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Huntsman Corporation may amend or terminate the Severance Plan at any time. Any such amendment or termination will not affect benefits payable to a participant whose termination of employment occurred prior to the amendment or termination of the Severance Plan.
Employment Agreements
Mr. Hulme is party to an employment agreement with Huntsman Advanced Materials (Europe) BVBA, which is subject to annual renewal. This agreement provides for customary expatriation arrangements. For 2003, this agreement entitled Mr. Hulme to an annual U.K. base salary of £210,000 or an annual Belgian base salary of €260,000 and a bonus of up to €130,000. The actual amounts paid to Mr. Hulme in 2004, 2003 and 2002 are disclosed above in the summary compensation table.
Effective November 1, 2000, Mr. Hankins entered into an agreement with Huntsman Polyurethanes Americas detailing the terms of his secondment from Huntsman Polyurethanes (UK) Ltd. The agreement, which Huntsman may terminate at any time with two months' notice, expires on October 31, 2005. This agreement provides for customary expatriation arrangements. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Hankins' compensation included an initial U.S. base salary of $300,000, subject to annual review, and a performance-based bonus of up to 50% of his U.S. salary. The actual amounts paid to Mr. Hankins in 2004, 2003 and 2002 are disclosed above in the summary compensation table.
There are no employment agreements with any of the other named executive officers.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
As of March 31, 2005, information with respect to each of the persons or groups known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of any class of our common units, which is our only class of voting securities, is as follows:
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huntsman International Holdings LLC(1) 500 Huntsman Way Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 |
1,000 | 100 | % | ||
Huntsman Corporation(1) 500 Huntsman Way Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 |
1,000 | 100 | % |
As of March 31, 2005, information with respect to each of the persons or groups known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the common stock of Huntsman Corporation, which is the only class of voting securities of Huntsman Corporation, is as follows:
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class(2) |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jon M. Huntsman(3) | 129,776,387 | 58.7 | % | ||
Peter R. Huntsman(3)(4) | 130,139,230 | 58.8 | % | ||
David J. Matlin(3)(5) | 129,776,387 | 58.7 | % | ||
Christopher R. Pechock(3)(5) | 129,776,387 | 58.7 | % | ||
HMP Equity Trust(3) | 129,776,387 | 58.7 | % | ||
Huntsman Family Holdings(3) | 129,776,387 | 58.7 | % | ||
MatlinPatterson(3) | 129,776,387 | 58.7 | % |
Security Ownership of Management
As of March 31, 2005, information with respect to common stock of Huntsman Corporation (which is the only class of equity securities of Huntsman Corporation beneficially owned by our managers and
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executive officers) beneficially owned by our managers, named executive officers, and managers and executive officers as a group is as follows:
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class(2) |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Jon M. Huntsman(3) | 129,776,387 | 58.7% | ||
Peter R. Huntsman(3)(4) | 130,139,230 | 58.8% | ||
J. Kimo Esplin(4) | 158,323 | Less than 1% | ||
Samuel D. Scruggs(4) | 172,323 | Less than 1% | ||
Anthony P. Hankins(4) | 54,469 | Less than 1% | ||
Paul G. Hulme(4) | 58,569 | Less than 1% | ||
Patrick W. Thomas(6) | | | ||
All managers and executive officers as a group (13 persons)(4) | 130,866,704 | 59.2% |
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Hankins51,969; Paul G. Hulme51,969; and all executive officers and directors as a group575,125. Does not include shares that may be acquired through the exercise of options to purchase shares of common stock granted pursuant to Huntsman Corporation's stock incentive plan in connection with its initial public offering as follows: Peter R. Huntsman454,950; James A. Huffman17,498; David H. Huntsman17,498; Paul C. Huntsman17,498; James H. Huntsman24,497; David S. Parkin24,497; J. Kimo Esplin157,483; Samuel D. Scruggs157,483; Anthony P. Hankins157,483; Paul G. Hulme157,483; and all executive officers and directors as a group1,742,810. None of such options are exercisable within 60 days of the date hereof.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Consulting Agreement with Jon M. Huntsman
We entered into an agreement with Jon M. Huntsman on June 3, 2003, pursuant to which Mr. Huntsman provides consulting services to us at our request. Mr. Huntsman, who is the Chairman of the Board of our Company but is not our employee, provides advice and other business consulting services at our request regarding our products, customers, commercial and development strategies, financial affairs, and administrative matters based upon his experience and knowledge of our business, the industry, and the markets within which we compete. Mr. Huntsman's services are utilized both with respect to the conduct of our business in the ordinary course and with respect to strategic development and specific projects. Under the terms of the agreement, which renews automatically for successive one-year terms and which may be terminated by either party at any time, Mr. Huntsman receives $950,000 annually in exchange for his services.
Salt Lake City Office Building
Huntsman Corporation has agreed with the Jon and Karen Huntsman Foundation, a private charitable foundation established by Jon M. and Karen H. Huntsman to further the charitable interests of the Huntsman family, that Huntsman Corporation will donate Huntsman Corporation's Salt Lake City office building and Huntsman Corporation's option to acquire an adjacent undeveloped parcel of land to the foundation free of debt. Huntsman Corporation has agreed to complete this donation on the earlier of November 30, 2009 or the date on which Huntsman Corporation occupies less than 20% of the two main floors of the Salt Lake City office building. Under certain circumstances, after Huntsman Corporation makes this donation Huntsman Corporation will have the right, but not the obligation, to lease space in the Salt Lake City office building from the foundation. As of March 31, 2005, Huntsman Corporation's Salt Lake City office building had a net book value of approximately $11.3 million.
Other Transactions with the Huntsman Family
The following table shows the compensation in excess of $60,000 paid to members of the Huntsman family (other than Peter R. Huntsman, whose compensation is included in "Executive
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CompensationSummary Compensation Table" above) for services as officers or employees of Huntsman Corporation or Huntsman Corporation's subsidiaries in each of the last three fiscal years.
Name(1) |
Year |
Salary |
Bonus |
Other Compensation |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jon M. Huntsman | 2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
|
$ $ $ |
|
$ $ $ |
|
||||
Karen H. Huntsman |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
190,211 186,049 182,000 |
$ $ $ |
20,000 20,000 |
$ $ $ |
34,145 36,437 29,329 |
||||
Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
355,250 262,500 |
$ $ $ |
357,000 75,000 |
$ $ $ |
133,532 125,202 416,000 |
||||
James H. Huntsman(2) |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
235,176 230,024 208,000 |
$ $ $ |
150,000 105,000 100,000 |
$ $ $ |
47,734 619,442 642,052 |
||||
David H. Huntsman(2) |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
299,019 292,449 286,000 |
$ $ $ |
125,000 75,000 100,000 |
$ $ $ |
51,043 53,975 73,011 |
||||
Paul C. Huntsman(2) |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
193,202 178,900 162,500 |
$ $ $ |
125,000 75,000 100,000 |
$ $ $ |
57,102 58,971 61,044 |
||||
James A. Huffman(2) |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
271,817 265,850 260,000 |
$ $ $ |
125,000 75,000 100,000 |
$ $ $ |
135,668 117,342 124,100 |
||||
David S. Parkin(2) |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
235,176 230,025 208,000 |
$ $ $ |
150,000 115,000 100,000 |
$ $ $ |
54,697 157,132 183,660 |
||||
Robert P. Haight |
2004 2003 2002 |
$ $ $ |
101,500 |
$ $ $ |
|
$ $ $ |
|
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In addition, Huntsman Financial Consulting, L.C., of which Jon M. Huntsman is the sole member, received compensation from us in the amounts of $320,814, $314,094 and $475,456 in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These amounts and the amounts shown in the "Other Compensation" column in the table above include some or all of the following: contributions to employee benefit plans, housing and education allowances for overseas assignments, travel allowances, automobile and aircraft usage, administrative and security services, and perquisites and personal benefits.
Through May 2002, we paid the premiums on various life insurance policies for Jon M. Huntsman. These policies have been liquidated, and the cash values have been paid to Mr. Huntsman. Mr. Huntsman is indebted to us in the amount of approximately $1.4 million, which represents the insurance premiums paid on his behalf through May 2002.
Other Important Commercial Transactions
While we were HLLC's consolidated subsidiary effective May 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004, we are separately financed from HLLC, our debt is non-recourse to HLLC, and HLLC is not obligated to make cash contributions to, or investments in, our Company. Accordingly, because HLLC shares numerous services and resources with us and because we rely on HLLC to supply some of its raw materials and to purchase a portion of our products, HLLC has entered into the agreements with us discussed below. During the year ended December 31, 2004, our purchases from and sales to HLLC and its subsidiaries were $204.3 million and $138.4 million, respectively.
Administrative
HLLC entered into an agreement with us under which HLLC provides us with administrative support and a range of services, including treasury and risk management, human resources, technical and legal services for its businesses in the U.S. and elsewhere. In 2004, we paid $84.6 million for these services. We also participate in HLLC's worldwide insurance program. Furthermore, we provide a limited range of services to HLLC and certain of its subsidiaries, including treasury, human resources, technical and legal services for HLLC's businesses in Europe and elsewhere. These arrangements provide for fees based on an equitable allocation of the general and administrative costs and expenses.
Polyurethanes
Integration of Polyols Businesses
HLLC produces certain polyols. Polyols are reacted with isocyanates, primarily MDI and TDI, to produce finished polyurethane products. We manage certain aspects of HLLC's polyols businesses. We purchase from HLLC and resell polyols produced by HLLC to be sold outside the Americas. HLLC has also entered into certain related technology licensing arrangements with us.
Supply Contracts
HLLC is interdependent with us with respect to the supply of certain feedstock, utilities and products. Under a supply agreement that expires in 2012, we are required to sell, and HLLC is required to purchase, a portion of the steam that we purchase from outside parties. HLLC reimburses us for the cost of the steam that it purchases. Under separate supply agreements, we have agreed to purchase our requirements of MEG and TEG from HLLC at market prices for use in our PO operations. Furthermore, in exchange for HLLC's PG tolling services, we pay to HLLC a reservation fee, adjusted annually for inflation, plus a variable toll fee equal to HLLC's cost of operating the PG plant.
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PO Supply Agreement
Pursuant to an agreement with us that expires in 2012, we are obligated to sell, and HLLC is obligated to buy, all PO produced at our PO facility in Port Neches, Texas that is not purchased by other customers. We are entitled to receive market prices for the PO purchased by HLLC.
Propylene Supply Agreement
Pursuant to an agreement that expires in 2012, HLLC is obligated to provide 100% of the propylene required by us for operation of our PO facility, up to a maximum of 350 million pounds per year. We pay market prices for the propylene supplied by HLLC.
Services Contracts
In order to operate our PO business, we have entered into a series of contracts with HLLC that expire in 2012 under which HLLC operates and maintains the PO facility, including the provision of management, personnel, transportation, information systems, accounting, tax and legal services, and research and development. Generally, under these agreements, we pay HLLC an amount equal to HLLC's actual costs for providing us with each of these services.
Performance Products
Integration with HLLC's Amines Businesses
HLLC produces certain amines. Amines are used to make products used in agricultural herbicides, personal care products, polyurethane foams, fuel and lubricant additives and paints and coatings. We manage certain aspects of HLLC's amines businesses. We purchase from HLLC and resell amines produced by HLLC to be sold outside the Americas. HLLC has also entered into certain related technology licensing arrangements with us.
Integration with Our Surfactants Business
Certain of HLLC's subsidiaries, including Huntsman Petrochemical and Huntsman Corporation Australia Pty Limited, produce surfactants. We provide global management services for those surfactants businesses, and have entered into agreements with those companies covering marketing, technical support, technology licenses, and product purchase and sales agreements.
Ethylene and Ethylene Oxide Supply
Currently, HLLC supplies ethylene and EO required by us for the operation of our ethyleneamines facility. We pay market prices for the ethylene supplied by HLLC.
Services Contracts
In order to operate our ethyleneamines business, we have entered into a series of contracts with HLLC that expire in 2012 under which HLLC operates and maintains our ethyleneamines facility, including the provision of management, personnel, transportation, information systems, accounting, tax and legal services, and research and development. Generally, under these agreements, we pay HLLC an amount equal to HLLC's actual costs for providing us with each of these services.
Huntsman Advanced Materials LLC
We have entered into contractual arrangements with AdMat regarding management, technology and commercial matters, and certain of our employees have assumed senior positions at AdMat. We believe that these transactions have been made on terms that are no less favorable to us than would be expected from an unaffiliated third-party.
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OTHER INDEBTEDNESS AND CERTAIN FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
HI Credit Facilities
As of March 31, 2005, the HI Credit Facilities consisted of the HI Revolving Facilty of up to $375 million maturing in September 2008, which includes a $50 million multicurrency revolving loan facility available in euros, GBP Sterling and U.S. dollars, and the HI Term Facility consisting of a $1,177.5 million term loan and a € 45.1 million (approximately $58.5 million) term loan. The maturity of the HI Term Facility is December 31, 2010; provided that the maturity will be accelerated to December 31, 2008 if we have not refinanced all of the outstanding HI Senior Notes and the HI Subordinated Notes on or before December 31, 2008 on terms satisfactory to the administrative agent under the HI Credit Facilities. Scheduled amortization of the HI Term Facility is approximately $12.5 million per annum commencing June 30, 2006, with the remaining unpaid balance due at maturity. The HI Credit Facility allows us to borrow up to $100 million secured by letters of credit; however, the $375 million revolving credit facility is reduced dollar-for-dollar by any letters of credit outstanding. As of March 31, 2005, there were no loans outstanding on the HI Revolving Facility, and there were $7.2 million in letters of credit outstanding.
In compliance with applicable provisions in our credit facilities, on December 31, 2004, we prepaid $59 million dollar equivalents on the HI Term Facility as a result of excess cash flow. On March 24, 2005, we made a $75 million dollar equivalent voluntary repayment on the HI Term Facility. Such prepayments have been applied in accordance with the provisions of the HI Credit Facilities in such a manner that there will be no scheduled maturities under the HI Credit Facilities due until June 2006 and such that all remaining scheduled maturities under the HI Term Facility shall be reduced pro rata.
Interest rates for the amended and restated HI Credit Facilities are based upon, at our option, either a eurocurrency rate (LIBOR) or a base rate (prime) plus the applicable spread. The applicable spreads vary based on a pricing grid, depending on the loan facility and whether specified conditions have been satisfied, in the case of eurocurrency-based term loans, from 2.25% to 2.50% for term loan B dollar loans per annum and from 3.00% to 3.25% for term loan B Euro loans per annum, and, in the case of base rate term loans, from 1.00% to 1.25% for term B dollar loans per annum. The applicable spread for eurocurrency-based revolving loans ranges from 2.25% to 3.25% and for base rate revolving loans from 1.00% to 2.00%. As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the average interest rates on the HI Credit Facilities were 5.38% and 5.0%, respectively, excluding the impact of interest rate hedges.
The HI Credit Facilities are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all our assets and all the assets of our domestic subsidiaries and certain of our foreign subsidiaries. The HI Credit Facilities are also guaranteed by the HI Guarantors.
Notes
In March 2002, we sold $300 million aggregate principal amount of HI Senior Notes due 2009. On April 11, 2003, we sold an additional $150 million aggregate principal amount of the HI Senior Notes at an issue price of 105.25%. Net proceeds from the sale of these notes were used to repay amounts outstanding under the HI Credit Facilities. The HI Senior Notes are unsecured obligations. Interest on the HI Senior Notes is payable semiannually in March and September of each year. The HI Senior Notes are redeemable after March 1, 2006 at 104.937% of the principal amount thereof, declining ratably to par on and after March 1, 2008.
On December 17, 2004, we completed the offering of the old notes. We used all of the net proceeds to redeem part of our outstanding HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009. Prior to the partial redemptions of the HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 discussed below, we had outstanding $600 million and €450 million HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009. The HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 became redeemable on July 1, 2004 at 105.063% of the principal amount
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thereof, which declines ratably to par on and after July 1, 2007. We redeemed $231 million and €77 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 on December 31, 2004 and $2.9 million and €1.0 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 on January 3, 2005. In connection with these redemptions, we paid approximately $17.0 million and $0.2 million in U.S. dollar equivalents in redemption premiums on December 31, 2004 and January 3, 2005, respectively.
As of December 31, 2004, following the December 31, 2004 partial redemption of the HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009, we had outstanding $369 million and €373 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 and $175 million and €135 million of the notes, for a combined total of $544 million and €508 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes plus $5.3 million of unamortized premium. As of March 31, 2005, we had outstanding $366.1 million and €372.0 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 and $175 million and €135 million of the notes, for a combined total of $541.1 million and €507.0 million of HI Senior Subordinated Notes plus $4.9 million of unamortized premium. The HI Senior Subordinated Notes are unsecured and interest is payable semiannually in January and July of each year.
On December 10, 2004, we entered into a cross-currency swap. The cross-currency swap requires us to pay euros and receive U.S. dollars at the maturity date of January 1, 2010. The U.S. dollar notional amount is $175 million and bears interest at a fixed rate of 7.375%, payable semiannually on January 1 and July 1. The euro notional amount is approximately €132 million and bears interest at a blended fixed rate of approximately 6.63%, payable semiannually on January 1 and July 1.
Other Debt
We maintain the $25 million HI European Overdraft Facility, a multicurrency overdraft facility used for working capital needs for our European subsidiaries. All of the HI European Overdraft Facility was available as of March 31, 2005. As of December 31, 2004, there were no borrowings outstanding under the HI European Overdraft Facility.
Included within other debt is debt associated with one of our Chinese MDI joint ventures. In January 2003, we entered into the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV, a joint venture agreement with Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Company, Ltd. to build MDI production facilities near Shanghai, China. We own 70% of the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV, which is a consolidated affiliate. On September 19, 2003, the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV obtained secured financing for the construction of the production facilities, consisting of various committed loans in the aggregate amount of approximately $119 million in U.S. dollar equivalents. As of March 31, 2005, there were $10.0 million outstanding in U.S. dollar borrowings and 40.0 million in RMB borrowings ($4.8 million) under these facilities. The interest rate on these facilities is LIBOR plus 0.48% for U.S. dollar borrowings and 90% of the Peoples Bank of China rate for RMB borrowings. As of March 31, 2005, the interest rate for U.S. dollar borrowings was approximately 3.3% and 5.5% for RMB borrowings. The loans are secured by substantially all the assets of the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV and will be repaid in 16 semiannual installments, beginning no later than June 30, 2007. The financing is non-recourse to us, but is guaranteed during the construction phase by affiliates of the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV, including Huntsman Corporation, as the successor to Huntsman Holdings. Huntsman Corporation has unconditionally guaranteed 70% of any amounts due and unpaid by the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV under the loans described above (except for the VAT facility, which is not guaranteed). Huntsman Corporation's guarantees remain in effect until the Consolidated Chinese Splitting JV has (i) commenced production at at least 70% of capacity for at least 30 days, and (ii) achieved a debt service cover ratio of at least 1.5:1. Our Chinese MDI joint ventures are unrestricted subsidiaries under the HI Credit Facilities and under the indentures governing the HI Senior Notes and the HI Subordinated Notes.
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You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this description under the subheading "Certain Definitions." In this description, the phrase "Huntsman International" refers only to Huntsman International LLC and not to any of its subsidiaries, and "HIH" refers only to Huntsman International Holdings LLC, our parent company. Additionally, the word "guarantors" refers to Eurofuels LLC, Eurostar Industries LLC, Huntsman EA Holdings LLC, Huntsman Ethyleneamines Ltd., Huntsman International Financial LLC, Huntsman International Fuels, L.P., Huntsman Propylene Oxide Holdings LLC, Huntsman Propylene Oxide Ltd., Huntsman Texas Holdings LLC, Tioxide Americas Inc. and Tioxide Group, and any other Restricted Subsidiary of Huntsman International that in the future agrees to become a guarantor.
The old dollar notes and the old euro notes were, and the new dollar notes and new euro notes will be, issued under an indenture dated December 17, 2004 (the "Indenture") among Huntsman International, the guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (the "Trustee"). The dollar notes and the euro notes are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. As a result, among other things, holders of each series of notes will not have separate and independent rights to give notice of a Default or to direct the Trustee to exercise remedies in the Event of a Default or otherwise. References herein to the notes include the dollar notes and the euro notes. The terms of the notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act").
In addition to the $175 million aggregate principal amount of dollar notes outstanding under the Indenture and the €135 million aggregate principal amount of euro notes outstanding under the Indenture, which we refer to in this description as the initial notes, the Indenture also provides for unlimited additional issuances of notes, which we refer to in this description as the additional notes. Additional notes can only be issued in compliance with the covenant described below under "Certain CovenantsLimitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness" and provided that no Default or Event of Default exists under the Indenture at the time of issuance or would result therefrom. References herein to the notes include the initial notes and any additional notes subsequently issued under the Indenture. The initial notes and the additional notes will constitute a part of the same series, including with respect to redemption and matters requiring approval of holders.
The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture and the exchange registration rights agreement, dated December 17, 2004, by and among Huntsman International and the initial purchasers of the notes, for the benefit of the holders of the old notes (the "Registration Rights Agreement"). It does not restate those agreements in their entirety. We urge you to read the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement because they, and not this description, define your rights as holders of the notes. Copies of the Indenture and Registration Rights Agreement were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to our current report on Form 8-K dated December 17, 2004. You may read and copy these exhibits and any reports, statements or other information that we have filed with the SEC, at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Rooms. The aforementioned registration statement is also available through the SEC's internet site at http://www.sec.gov. The Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement are also available at the offices of Dexia Banque Internationale à Luxembourg, 69, route d'Esch L-2953 Luxembourg.
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Description of the Notes and the Guarantees
The Notes
The notes are:
Since the notes are unsecured, in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency, Huntsman International's secured lenders will have a prior secured claim to any collateral securing the debt owed to them.
The Guarantees
As of the date of this prospectus, Eurofuels LLC, Eurostar Industries LLC, Huntsman EA Holdings LLC, Huntsman Ethyleneamines Ltd., Huntsman International Financial LLC, Huntsman International Fuels, L.P., Huntsman Propylene Oxide Holdings LLC, Huntsman Propylene Oxide Ltd., Huntsman Texas Holdings LLC, Tioxide Americas Inc. and Tioxide Group are our only subsidiaries that guarantee Huntsman International's obligations under the notes. Other Restricted Subsidiaries may become guarantors in the future as provided in the Indenture. The obligations of the guarantors under their guarantees are limited as necessary to minimize the risk that such guarantees would constitute a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. See "Risk FactorsThe notes and guarantees may be void, avoided or subordinated under laws governing fraudulent transfers and insolvency."
The guarantees of the notes:
Since the guarantees are unsecured obligations of each guarantor, in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency, such guarantor's secured lenders will have a prior secured claim to any collateral securing the debt owed to them.
As of March 31, 2005, Huntsman International and the guarantors had approximately $1,701.2 million of Senior Debt outstanding (of which approximately $1,245.5 million is secured indebtedness), and Huntsman International's subsidiaries that are not guarantors had approximately $36.6 million of Indebtedness outstanding. The address of each of the guarantors is: c/o Huntsman International LLC, 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, and the phone number is (801) 584-5700.
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The obligations of any guarantor under its guarantee of the notes will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged when any of the following occurs:
Subordination
The payment of principal, premium and interest, if any, on the notes is subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Debt of Huntsman International.
The holders of Senior Debt are entitled to receive payment in full in cash of Obligations due in respect of Senior Debt (including interest after the commencement of any such proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt) before the holders of notes are entitled to receive any payment with respect to the notes (except that holders of notes may receive and retain Permitted Junior Securities and payments made from the trust described under "Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance"), in the event of any distribution to creditors of Huntsman International:
Huntsman International also may not make any payment in respect of the notes (except in Permitted Junior Securities or from the trust described under "Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance") if:
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such default (a "Payment Blockage Notice") from Huntsman International or the holders of any Designated Senior Debt.
Payments on the notes may and shall be resumed:
No new Payment Blockage Notice may be delivered unless and until 360 days have elapsed since the effectiveness of the immediately prior Payment Blockage Notice.
No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice unless such default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 180 days.
Huntsman International must promptly notify holders of Senior Debt if payment of the notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default.
As a result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of Huntsman International, holders of the notes may recover less ratably than creditors of Huntsman International who are holders of Senior Debt.
Principal, Maturity and Interest
The Company issued $175 million aggregate principal amount of dollar notes and €135 million aggregate principal amount of euro notes on December 17, 2004. Additional notes can be issued only in compliance with the covenant described below under "Certain CovenantsLimitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness" and provided that no Default or Event of Default exists under the Indenture at the time of issuance or would result therefrom.
The old dollar notes were, and the new dollar notes will be, issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. The old euro notes were, and the new euro notes will be, issued in denominations of €1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
Dollar Notes. The dollar notes will mature on January 1, 2015 at their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the maturity date. Interest on the dollar notes accrues at the rate of 73/8% per annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears on January 1 and July 1, commencing on July 1, 2005. The Company will make each interest payment to the holders of record of the dollar notes on the immediately preceding January 1 and July 1. Interest on the dollar notes accrues from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date and will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
Euro Notes. The euro notes will mature on January 1, 2015 at their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the maturity date. Interest on the euro notes accrues at the rate of 71/2% per annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears on January 1 and July 1, commencing on July 1, 2005. The Company will make each interest payment to the holders of record of the euro notes on the immediately preceding January 1 and July 1. Interest on the euro notes accrues from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date and will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
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Optional Redemption
At any time prior to January 1, 2008, Huntsman International may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the dollar notes and/or the euro notes outstanding under the Indenture, at a redemption price of 107.375% or 107.500%, respectively, of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that
Notice of any such redemption must be given within 90 days after the date of such Equity Offering.
Prior to January 1, 2010, Huntsman International may redeem all or a part of the dollar notes and/or the euro notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at a redemption price (the "Make-Whole Price") equal to the greater of
plus in each case accrued interest to the redemption date.
On or after January 1, 2010, Huntsman International may redeem all or a part of the dollar notes and/or the euro notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on January 1 of the years indicated below:
Year |
Redemption price of dollar notes |
Redemption price of euro notes |
|||
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2010 |