UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(MARK ONE)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                 TO                

Commission File Number 1-4462

 

STEPAN COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Edens and Winnetka Road,  Northfield, Illinois 60093

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number (847) 446-7500

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  x    No  o

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

 

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

 

 

 

 

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Part I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1 - Financial Statements

STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Unaudited

 

 

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Unaudited

 

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

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STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited

 

 

 

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Unaudited

 

 

 

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

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STEPAN COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2015

Unaudited

 

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Stepan Company (Company), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although management believes that the disclosures are adequate and make the information presented not misleading.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2015, and its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, have been included.  These financial statements and related footnotes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s 2014 Form 10-K.

 

 

Below are reconciliations of total equity, Company equity and equity attributable to noncontrolling interests for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

 

 

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The following describe the financial instruments held by the Company at September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, and the methods and assumptions used to estimate the instruments’ fair values:

Cash and cash equivalents

Carrying value approximates fair value because of the short maturity of the instruments.

Derivative assets and liabilities

Derivative assets and liabilities include the foreign currency exchange and interest rate contracts discussed in Note 4.  Fair value and carrying value were the same because the contracts were recorded at fair value.  The fair values of the foreign currency contracts were calculated as the difference between the applicable forward foreign exchange rates at the reporting date and the contracted foreign exchange rates multiplied by the contracted notional amounts.  The fair values of the interest rate swaps were calculated as the difference between the contracted swap rate and the current market replacement swap rate multiplied by the present value of one basis point for the notional amount of the contract.  See the table that follows the financial instrument descriptions for the reported fair values of derivative assets and liabilities.

Long-term investments

Long-term investments include the mutual fund assets the Company holds to fund a portion of its deferred compensation liabilities and all of its non-qualified supplemental executive defined contribution obligations (see the defined contribution plans section of Note 8).  Fair value and carrying value were the same because the mutual fund assets were recorded at fair value in accordance with the fair value option rules established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).  Fair values for the mutual funds were calculated using the published market price per unit at the reporting date multiplied by the number of units held at the reporting date.  See the table that follows the financial instrument descriptions for the reported fair value of long-term investments.

Debt obligations

The fair value of debt with original maturities greater than one year comprised the combined present values of scheduled principal and interest payments for each of the various loans, individually discounted at rates equivalent to those which could be obtained by the Company for new debt issues with durations equal to the average life to maturity of each loan.  The fair values of the remaining Company debt obligations approximated their carrying values due to the short-term nature of the debt.  The Company’s fair value measurements for debt fall in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

At September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the fair value of debt and the related carrying values, including current maturities, were as follows:

 

 

The following tables present financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis at fair value as of September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall:

 

 

 

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The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risk managed by the use of derivative instruments is foreign currency exchange risk.  The Company holds forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not designated as any type of accounting hedge as defined by U.S. GAAP.  The Company uses these contracts to manage its exposure to exchange rate fluctuations on certain Company subsidiary cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other obligation balances that are denominated in currencies other than the entities’ functional currencies. The forward foreign exchange contracts are recognized on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value. Gains and losses arising from recording the foreign exchange contracts at fair value are reported in earnings as offsets to the losses and gains reported in earnings arising from the re-measurement of the asset and liability balances into the applicable functional currencies. At September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the Company had open forward foreign currency exchange contracts, all with settlement dates of less than two months, to buy or sell foreign currencies with U.S. dollar equivalent amounts of $45,430,000 and $51,623,000, respectively.

The Company is exposed to volatility in short-term interest rates and mitigates certain portions of that risk by using interest rate swaps.  The interest rate swaps are recognized on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value.  The Company held an interest rate swap contract with a notional value of $3,992,000 at September 30, 2015, which is designated as a cash flow hedge.  At December 31, 2014, the Company held no significant interest rate swap contracts.  Period-to-period changes in the fair value of interest rate swap contracts are recognized as gains or losses in other comprehensive income, to the extent effective.  As each interest rate swap hedge contract is settled, the corresponding gain or loss is reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) into earnings in that settlement period. The latest date through which the Company expects to hedge its exposure to the volatility of short-term interest rates is December 1, 2021.

The fair values of the derivative instruments held by the Company on September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, and derivative instrument gains and losses for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2015 and 2014, were immaterial.  For amounts reclassified out of AOCI into earnings for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, see Note 10.

 

 

On September 30, 2015 the Company had stock options outstanding under its 2000 Stock Option Plan, stock options and stock awards outstanding under its 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan and stock options, stock awards and stock appreciation rights (SARs) outstanding under its 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan.

Compensation expense (income) recorded for all stock options, stock awards and SARs was as follows:

 

Stock-based compensation income was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 primarily as the result of declines in the fair values of the Company’s cash-settled SARs, which are marked to fair value at each reporting period. Quarter-to-quarter decreases in the market value of Company common stock in the noted reporting periods led to the declines in SARs fair value.  

The year-over-year increase in stock-based compensation expense was primarily attributable to increases in compensation related to SARs and performance awards. SARs compensation expense increased due to increases in the fair values of SARs in 2015 compared to declines in the fair values of SARs in 2014. The 2015 fair value increases resulted from an increase in

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Company common stock value, and the 2014 fair value decreases resulted from a decline in Company common stock value. Performance award stock-based compensation expense was down between years as the result of expense-lowering adjustments made in 2014 that reflected management’s assessment that the profitability performance targets for certain grants would not be achieved.

Unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs were as follows:

 

The increases in unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs reflected the 2015 grants of:

 

The unrecognized compensation costs at September 30, 2015, are expected to be recognized over weighted-average periods of 1.2 years, 2.0 years and 1.3 years for stock options, stock awards and SARs, respectively.

 

 

The composition of inventories was as follows: 

 

 

Inventories are priced primarily using the last-in, first-out inventory valuation method.  If the first-in, first-out inventory valuation method had been used for all inventories, inventory balances would have been approximately $28,564,000 and $34,340,000 higher than reported at September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, respectively.

 

 

There are a variety of legal proceedings pending or threatened against the Company.  Some of these proceedings may result in fines, penalties, judgments or costs being assessed against the Company at some future time.  The Company’s operations are subject to extensive local, state and federal regulations, including the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and the Superfund amendments of 1986 (Superfund).  Over the years, the Company has received requests for information related to or has been named by the government as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at a number of waste disposal sites where cleanup costs have been or may be incurred under CERCLA and similar state statutes.  In addition, damages are being claimed against the Company in general liability actions for alleged personal injury or property damage in the case of some disposal and plant sites.  The Company believes that it has made adequate provisions for the costs it may incur with respect to these sites.

As of September 30, 2015, the Company estimated a range of possible environmental and legal losses of $20.6 million to $41.1 million.  At September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the Company’s accrued liability for such losses, which represented the Company’s best estimate within the estimated range of possible environmental and legal losses, was $20.6 million and $22.0  million, respectively. During the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, cash outlays related to legal and environmental matters approximated $2.3 and $0.8 million, respectively.  

For certain sites, the Company has responded to information requests made by federal, state or local government agencies but has received no response confirming or denying the Company’s stated positions. As such, estimates of the total costs, or range of possible costs, of remediation, if any, or the Company’s share of such costs, if any, cannot be determined with respect to these sites. Consequently, the Company is unable to predict the effect thereof on the Company’s financial position, cash flows

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and results of operations. Given the information available, management believes the Company has no liability at these sites. However, in the event of one or more adverse determinations with respect to such sites in any annual or interim period, the effect on the Company’s cash flows and results of operations for those periods could be material.  Based upon the Company’s present knowledge with respect to its involvement at these sites, the possibility of other viable entities’ responsibilities for cleanup, and the extended period over which any costs would be incurred, the Company believes that these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position.

Following are summaries of the material contingencies at September 30, 2015:

Maywood, New Jersey Site

The Company’s property in Maywood, New Jersey and property formerly owned by the Company adjacent to its current site and other nearby properties (Maywood site) were listed on the National Priorities List in September 1993 pursuant to the provisions of CERCLA because of certain alleged chemical contamination.  Pursuant to an Administrative Order on Consent entered into between USEPA and the Company for property formerly owned by the Company, and the issuance of an order by USEPA to the Company for property currently owned by the Company, the Company has completed various Remedial Investigation Feasibility Studies (RI/FS), and on September 24, 2014, USEPA issued its Record of Decision (ROD) for chemically-contaminated soil. USEPA has not yet issued a ROD for chemically-contaminated groundwater for the Maywood site. Based on the most current information available, the Company believes its recorded liability represents its best estimate of the cost of remediation for the Maywood site. The best estimate of the cost of remediation for the Maywood site could change as the Company continues to hold discussions with USEPA, as the design of the remedial action progresses or if other PRPs are identified. The ultimate amount for which the Company is liable could differ from the Company’s current recorded liability.

In April 2015, the Company entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Administrative Order on Consent with USEPA which requires payment of certain costs and performance of certain investigative and design work for chemically-contaminated soil.  Based on the Company’s review and analysis of this order, no changes to the Company’s current recorded liability for claims associated with soil remediation of chemical contamination were required.  

In addition, under the terms of a settlement agreement reached on November 12, 2004, the United States Department of Justice and the Company agreed to fulfill the terms of a Cooperative Agreement reached in 1985 under which the United States will take title to and responsibility for radioactive waste removal at the Maywood site, including past and future remediation costs incurred by the United States.  As such, the Company recorded no liability related to this settlement agreement.

D’Imperio Property Site

During the mid-1970’s, Jerome Lightman and the Lightman Drum Company disposed of hazardous substances at several sites in New Jersey.  The Company was named as a PRP in the case United States v. Lightman (1:92-cv-4710 D.N.J.), which involved the D’Imperio Property Site located in New Jersey.  In 2012, the PRPs approved certain changes to remediation cost estimates which were considered in the Company’s determination of its range of estimated possible losses and liability balance.  The changes in range of possible losses and liability balance were immaterial.  Remediation work is continuing at this site.  Based on current information, the Company believes that its recorded liability for claims associated with the D’Imperio site is adequate.  However, actual costs could differ from current estimates.

Wilmington Site

The Company is currently contractually obligated to contribute to the response costs associated with the Company’s formerly-owned site at 51 Eames Street, Wilmington, Massachusetts.  Remediation at this site is being managed by its current owner to whom the Company sold the property in 1980.  Under the agreement, once total site remediation costs exceed certain levels, the Company is obligated to contribute up to five percent of future response costs associated with this site with no limitation on the ultimate amount of contributions. To date, the Company has paid the current owner $2.4 million for the Company’s portion of environmental response costs. The Company has recorded a liability for its portion of the estimated remediation costs for the site.  Depending on the ultimate cost of the remediation at this site, the amount for which the Company is liable could differ from the current estimates.

The Company and other prior owners also entered into an agreement in April 2004 waiving certain statute of limitations defenses for claims which may be filed by the Town of Wilmington, Massachusetts, in connection with this site.  While the Company has denied any liability for any such claims, the Company agreed to this waiver while the parties continue to discuss the resolution of any potential claim which may be filed.

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The Company believes that based on current information its recorded liability for the claims related to this site is adequate.  However, depending on the ultimate cost of the remediation at this site, the amount for which the Company is liable could differ from the current estimates.

Unclaimed Property Examination

The Company is undergoing an unclaimed property examination by the state of Delaware (the Company’s state of incorporation) and seven other states for the period covering 1981 through 2010. The types of unclaimed property under examination include certain un-cashed payroll and accounts payable checks and certain accounts receivable credits.  Generally, unclaimed property must be reported and remitted to the state of the rightful owner.  In cases where the rightful owner cannot be identified, the property must be reported and remitted to the unclaimed property holder’s state of incorporation. The examination of un-cashed payroll and accounts payable checks has been completed, and no significant adjustments to the Company’s unclaimed property liability were required. The examination of accounts receivable credits is ongoing. On the basis of currently available information, the Company believes its liability for unclaimed property is adequate. Because the audit is not final, the Company’s ultimate actual obligation could differ from the recorded liability.

Customer Claims

From time to time in the normal course of business, customers make claims against the Company for issues such as product performance and liability, contract disputes, delivery errors and other various concerns. Frequently, such claims are subject to extensive investigation, discussion and negotiation prior to settlement or resolution. On the basis of the most current information available, the Company’s liability for such claims was not material at September 30, 2015, compared to $3.5 million at December 31, 2014. The decline in the claims balance was attributable to a favorable 2015 resolution of a previously recorded potential claim.

Mexico Value-Added Tax

During an examination of the Company’s 2009 and 2010 Mexico subsidiary financial records, local tax authority auditors determined that the Company’s treatment of value-added tax (VAT) for purchase transactions with a certain vendor was incorrect. As a result, the tax authorities concluded that the Company owed past VAT from 2009 -2010 along with assessed inflation, penalty and interest charges. Consequently, the Company recorded a liability and corresponding income statement charge for the VAT inflation, penalty and interest charges. The liability included the 2009 – 2010 assessment of inflation, penalty and interest charges plus an estimated amount for the potential exposure for 2011 – 2014. The amount recorded was not material to the Company’s results of operations. No charge was recorded for the past unpaid VAT because the Company believes the amount will be recoverable through the normal VAT process. Depending on negotiations with Mexico’s tax authorities, the accuracy of the estimates for 2011 - 2014 and the actual amount of the past VAT that is recovered by the Company, the actual settlement could differ from the current recorded liability.  

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

The Company sponsors various funded qualified and unfunded non-qualified defined benefit pension plans, the most significant of which cover employees in the U.S. and U.K. locations.  The U.S. and U.K. defined benefit pension plans are frozen and service benefits are no longer being accrued.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

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Employer Contributions

U.S. Plans

As a result of pension funding relief provisions included in the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, the Company expects to make no 2015 contributions to the funded U.S. qualified defined benefit plans. Approximately, $210,000 is expected to be paid related to the unfunded non-qualified plans.  As of September 30, 2015, $187,000 had been paid related to the non-qualified plans.

U.K. Plan

The Company’s United Kingdom subsidiary expects to contribute approximately $604,000 to its defined benefit pension plan in 2015.  As of September 30, 2015, $511,000 had been contributed to the plan.

 

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company sponsors retirement savings defined contribution plans that cover U.S. and U.K. employees. The Company also sponsors a qualified profit sharing plan for its U.S. employees. The retirement savings and profit sharing defined contribution plans include a qualified plan and a non-qualified supplemental executive plan.

Defined contribution plan expenses for the Company’s retirement savings and profit sharing plans were as follows:

 

The Company funds the obligations of its non-qualified supplemental executive defined contribution plans (supplemental plans) through a rabbi trust. The trust comprises various mutual fund investments selected by the participants of the supplemental plans. In accordance with the accounting guidance for rabbi trust arrangements, the assets of the trust and the obligations of the supplemental plans are reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.  The Company elected the fair value option for the mutual fund investment assets so that offsetting changes in the mutual fund values and defined contribution plan obligations would be recorded in earnings in the same period. Therefore, the mutual funds are reported at fair value with any subsequent changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of income. The liabilities related to the supplemental plans increase (i.e., supplemental plan expense is recognized) when the value of the trust assets appreciates and decrease when the value of the trust assets declines (i.e., supplemental plan income is recognized). At September 30, 2015, the balance of the trust assets was $1,686,000, which equaled the balance of the supplemental plan liabilities (see the long-term investments section in Note 3 for further information regarding the Company’s mutual fund assets).

 

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Below are the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

⁽¹⁾ Options to purchase 90,734 and 136,170 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Options to purchase 96,999 and 82,673 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. The options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price for the common stock, and the effect of including the options would have been antidilutive.

 

 

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Changes in Company accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) by component (net of income taxes) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, are presented below:

 

 

 

Information regarding the reclassifications out of AOCI for the three and nine months periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, is displayed below:

 

 

 

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The Company has three reportable segments: Surfactants, Polymers and Specialty Products.  Net sales by segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, were as follows:

 

 

 

Segment operating income and reconciliations of segment operating income to consolidated income before income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, are summarized below:

 

 

 

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At September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, debt comprised the following: 

 

 

On July 10, 2015, the Company completed a new $100,000,000 unsecured private placement loan. This loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.95% with interest to be paid semi-annually and with equal annual principal payments beginning on July 10, 2021, and continuing through final maturity on July 10, 2027.  The proceeds of this loan are being used primarily for capital expenditures, to pay down existing debt in accordance with normal payment schedules and for other corporate purposes. This loan agreement requires the maintenance of certain financial ratios and covenants that are substantially identical to the Company’s existing long-term debt and customary events of default.

 

The Company has a committed $125,000,000 multi-currency revolving credit agreement that expires on July 10, 2019.  The Company maintains standby letters of credit under its workers’ compensation insurance agreements and for other purposes, as needed from time to time, which are issued under the revolving credit agreement. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $4,952,000 and no outstanding debt under this agreement. There was $120,048,000 available under the revolving credit agreement as of September 30, 2015.

 

The various loan agreements contain provisions which, among others, require maintenance of certain financial ratios and place limitations on additional debt, investments and payment of dividends. Based on the loan agreement provisions that place limitations on dividend payments, unrestricted retained earnings (i.e., retained earnings available for dividend distribution) were $118,427,000 and $88,684,000 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

 

 

Other, net in the consolidated statements of income included the following:

 

 

 

In January 2015, the Company sold its specialty polyurethane systems product line (kits) to J6 Polymers, LLC (J6) for cash of $3,262,000. Kits were part of the Company’s Polymers segment and accounted for approximately $2,800,000 of the Company’s 2014 net sales. The sale of kits included inventory as well as customer and supplier lists, formulations, manufacturing

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procedures and all other intellectual property associated with the manufacturing and selling of kits. As a result of the sale, Company operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, includes a gain of $2,862,000. The gain was attributed to the Polymer segment. J6 is a business wholly-owned and operated by members of the immediate family of Robert J. Wood, a former Company executive who retired from the Company in April 2014. Mr. Wood is a managing member of J6.

 

 

2014 Restructuring

In the fourth quarter of 2014, a restructuring plan was approved that affected certain Company functions, principally the research and development function and to a lesser extent product safety and compliance and plant site accounting functions (primarily affecting the Surfactants segment). The objective of the plan was to better align staffing resources with the needs of the Company’s diversification and growth initiatives. In implementing the plan, management offered a voluntary retirement incentive to employees of the affected functions. By December 31, 2014, 13 employees accepted the voluntary termination incentive. As a result, the Company recognized a $1,722,000 charge against income in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014. Although the Company may realize some short-term cost savings from the action, the restructuring was not considered a cost savings initiative but rather an opportunity to create some staffing flexibility to reposition roles to meet changing business needs. The severance payouts were completed by June 30, 2015. Other costs for the restructuring were not material.

Below is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the restructuring liability:

 

2013 Restructuring

In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company recorded a $1,040,000 restructuring charge for estimated severance expense related to an approved plan to reduce future costs and increase operating efficiencies by consolidating a portion of its North American Surfactants manufacturing operations (part of the Surfactants reportable segment). In the third quarter of 2014, the Company shut down certain production areas at its Canadian manufacturing site. Production in those areas was moved to other U.S. plants. This consolidation resulted in the elimination of 16 North American positions. Other restructuring costs for this plan were not material.

Below is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the restructuring liability:

 

In connection with the planned business restructuring, the Company reduced the useful lives of the manufacturing assets in the affected areas of the Canadian plant. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recognized $1,825,000 of accelerated depreciation resulting from the reduction of asset useful lives. The depreciation expense was included in the cost of sales line of the consolidated statement of income.

 

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Business Acquisition

On June 15, 2015, the Company acquired Procter & Gamble do Brasil S.A.’s (P&G Brazil’s) sulfonation production facility in Bahia, Brazil. The facility is located in northeastern Brazil and has 30,000 metric tons of surfactants capacity. The acquired business is included in Latin American operations of the Company’s Surfactants segment. The new business complements the Company’s existing Vespasiano, Brazil, plant and provides opportunities to serve growing northeastern Brazil. The purchase price was cash of $5,133,000. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination and, accordingly, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as part of the acquisition were measured and recorded at their estimated fair values. The purchase included property, plant and equipment valued at $6,007,000 and the assumption of liabilities valued at $874,000.  No intangibles or goodwill were acquired in the business combination. The Company continues to evaluate the purchase price allocation, including the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which may result in adjustments to amounts currently recorded. Other acquisition-related expenses were not material. Post-acquisition financial results for the acquired business were insignificant. Pro forma financial information has not been included because revenues and earnings of the Company would not have been significantly different than reported had the acquisition date been January 1, 2014.

Asset Acquisition

On September 28, 2015, the Company closed on its previously announced agreement to purchase select chemical manufacturing assets from The Sun Products Corporation’s Pasadena, Texas, manufacturing site, and the Company exercised its previously announced option to purchase the land at this site.  The Company intends to redeploy the manufacturing assets as needed to reduce future capital expenditures and is evaluating alternatives for the use of the land. The purchase price of the land and manufacturing assets was $13,000,000 cash, of which $3,377,000 was allocated to land and $9,623,000 was allocated to manufacturing assets.

 

 

On September 30, 2014, a major Polymer segment customer filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Company increased its allowance for doubtful accounts by $3,425,000, which was the full receivable balance due from the affected customer at September 30, 2014. The charge for the increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts was included in selling expenses for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014.

 

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360):  Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.  The update amends the definition of a discontinued operation, changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and requires expanded disclosures for discontinued operations and new disclosures about disposal transactions that do not meet the discontinued operations criteria.  Under the new guidance, a discontinued operation is defined as a disposal of a component or group of components that is disposed of or is classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results.  The requirements of ASU No. 2014-08 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. This ASU did not have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The new update was later amended by ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. The standard, which is the result of a joint project by the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board, outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. In addition, the ASU requires expanded disclosures about revenue recognition that enable the users of the financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. ASU No. 2014-09 supersedes most of the previous revenue recognition guidance. For public entities, the new guidance, as amended, is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. An entity may use either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach to adopt the requirements of the new standard. The Company continues the process of determining the effects, if any, that adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 will have on Company financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items, which amends Subtopic 225-20, Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual Items, of the Accounting Standards Codification. The update, which is part of FASB’s initiative to reduce complexity of accounting standards, eliminates the US GAAP concept of extraordinary items. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. A reporting entity may apply the amendments

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prospectively or retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. This ASU is not expected to have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. The amendments in this update affect reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. All legal entities are subject to reevaluation under the revised consolidation model. Specifically, the amendments: 1) modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities; 2) eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; 3) affect the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships; and 4) provide a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in legal entities that are required to comply with or operate in accordance with certain Investment Company Act of 1940 requirements for registered money market funds. The amendments in ASU No. 2015-02 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. A reporting entity may apply the amendments in this update using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. A reporting entity also may apply the amendments retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. Under the assumption that the Company’s organizational structure remains as it is currently, adoption of ASU No. 2015-02 is not expected to have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30):  Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.  The amendments in this update change the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. Under this ASU, an entity will be required to present debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs is to be reported as interest expense. The guidance in ASU No. 2015-03 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is allowed for financial statements that have not been previously issued. The new guidance is to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods. Upon adoption of ASU No. 2015-03, the Company will reclassify its debt issuance costs from the other non-current assets line of the consolidated balance sheet to the long-term, and where applicable, current maturities of long-term debt lines. Adoption of the update is not expected to have an effect on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements—Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting (SEC Update which) that sets forth additional guidance from the SEC regarding debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements, which ASU No. 2015-03 does not address. The SEC has stated that given the absence of authoritative guidance for debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The SEC’s guidance is not expected to have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement.  This ASU provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The amendments in ASU No. 2015-05 will be effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. An entity can elect to adopt the amendments either prospectively to all arrangements entered into or materially modified after the effective date or retrospectively. Based on the Company’s current cloud computing arrangements, the Company does not believe that adoption of ASU No. 2015-05 will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330), Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which requires an entity to measure inventory within the scope of the update at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Prior guidance required inventory to be measured at the lower of cost or market. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method. For public entities, ASU No. 2015-11 is effective prospectively for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of ASU No. 2015-11 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. The update requires that the acquirer in a business combination recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined (not retrospectively as with prior guidance). Additionally, the acquirer must record in the same period’s financial statements the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization or other income effects as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the time of acquisition. The acquiring entity is required to disclose, on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes to the financial statements, the portion of the amount recorded in current period earnings, by financial statement line item, that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The guidance in ASU No. 2015-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. Adoption of ASU No. 2015-16 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

 

In October 2015, the Company and its partner, Nalco Company (a subsidiary of Ecolab Inc.), made the decision to dissolve their equally owned and operated TIORCO LLC enhanced oil recovery joint venture. The process to wind down operations and dissolve the venture is expected to occur during the fourth quarter of 2015. The Company currently estimates that it expects to record a fourth quarter 2015 charge of between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000 on a pre-tax basis to dissolve the joint venture and to restructure the Company’s enhanced oil recovery efforts.

 

 

 

 

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

The following is management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) of certain significant factors that have affected the Company’s financial condition and results of operations during the interim period included in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

The matters discussed in the MD&A include forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  Such forward-looking statements are intended to be identified in this document by the words, “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “possible,” “potential,” “should” and similar expressions.  Actual results may vary materially.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update them to reflect changes that occur after that date.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the items described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Overview

The Company produces and sells intermediate chemicals that are used in a wide variety of applications worldwide. The overall business comprises three reportable segments:

 

Supply Agreement and Asset Acquisition

 

In July 2015, the Company signed a long-term supply agreement with The Sun Products Corporation (SUN).  Under this agreement the Company will supply SUN's anionic surfactant requirements for laundry in North America.  The agreement commenced in the third quarter of 2015. The demand from this agreement is being serviced from the Company’s existing North American manufacturing assets. The supply agreement was made possible due to the strength of the Company’s sulfonation expertise and North American supply network that provide SUN with multiple source locations and increased surfactant flexibility. This agreement should enable the Company to significantly improve its North American capacity utilization.

 

In September, the Company closed on the previously announced agreement to purchase select chemical manufacturing assets from SUN's Pasadena, Texas manufacturing site. An option to purchase the land at this site was also exercised. See Note 16 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding the asset purchase.

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Deferred Compensation Plans

The accounting for the Company’s deferred compensation plans can cause period-to-period fluctuations in Company expenses and profits. Compensation expense results when the values of Company common stock and mutual fund investment assets held for the plans increase, and compensation income results when the values of Company common stock and mutual fund investment assets decline. The pretax effect of all deferred compensation-related activities (including realized and unrealized gains and losses on the mutual fund assets held to fund the deferred compensation obligations) and the income statement line items in which the effects of the activities were recorded are displayed in the following table:

 

 

 

 

Effects of Foreign Currency Translation

The Company’s foreign subsidiaries transact business and report financial results in their respective local currencies. As a result, foreign subsidiary income statements are translated into U.S. dollars at average foreign exchange rates appropriate for the reporting period. Because foreign exchange rates fluctuate against the U.S. dollar over time, foreign currency translation affects period-to-period comparisons of financial statement items (i.e., because foreign exchange rates fluctuate, similar period-to-period local currency results for a foreign subsidiary may translate into different U.S. dollar results). The following table presents the effects that foreign currency translation had on the period-over-period changes in consolidated net sales and various income line items for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

Summary

 

Net income attributable to the Company for the third quarter of 2015 increased 85 percent to $24.9 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, from $13.5 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2014. Below is a summary discussion of the major factors leading to the quarter-over-quarter changes in net sales, profits and expenses.  A detailed discussion of segment operating performance for the third quarter of 2015 follows the summary.

 

Consolidated net sales declined $47.4 million, or 10 percent, between quarters. Sales volume increased seven percent, which had a $33.4 million favorable effect on the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales. The Surfactants and Polymers segments accounted for the consolidated sales volume improvement, growing eight percent and four percent, respectively. The Surfactants volume gain included new sales resulting from the Company’s previously announced long-term supply agreement with SUN. Sales volumes for the Specialty Products segment declined six percent. The impact of increased consolidated sales volume was more than offset by reduced selling prices and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation, which negatively affected the quarter-over-quarter net sales change by $42.1 million and $38.7 million, respectively. The decreased selling prices were primarily attributable to lower raw material costs. The unfavorable foreign currency translation effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar against all currencies for countries where the Company has foreign operations.  

 

Operating income for the third quarter of 2015 increased $16.5 million, or 74 percent, over operating income reported for the third quarter of last year. The effects of foreign currency translation negatively affected the quarter-over-quarter operating income change by $4.1 million. Gross profit increased $12.5 million, or 19 percent, largely due to improved results for Surfactants and Polymers, partially offset by reduced profit for Specialty Products and $6.5 million of unfavorable currency translation effect.

 

Operating expenses declined $4.0 million, or nine percent, between quarters. The effects of foreign currency translation accounted for $2.4 million of the decrease. Changes in the individual income statement line items that comprise the Company’s operating expenses were as follows:

 

Higher incentive-based compensation (i.e., bonus, profit sharing and stock-based compensation) and group insurance costs accounted for the increase in fringe benefit expenses. The increase in consulting expenses was primarily related to outside advisory fees for services supporting the Company’s ongoing initiative (referred to as ‘DRIVE’ within the Company) to improve efficiency across the Company’s global organization. The effects of foreign currency translation accounted for $1.1 million of the quarter-over-quarter operating expense reduction.

 

 

 

Net interest expense for the third quarter of 2015 increased $1.0 million, or 35 percent, over net interest expense for the third quarter of 2014. The increase was due to higher average debt levels resulting from a new $100.0 million unsecured private placement note agreement entered into in July 2015. See Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding the new debt.

 

Other, net was $1.0 million of expense for the third quarter of 2015 compared to expense of less than $0.1 million for the same period of 2014. The Company posted $0.9 million of investment losses (including realized and unrealized gains and losses) for the Company’s deferred compensation and supplemental defined contribution mutual fund assets in the third quarter of 2015 compared to

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$0.2 million of income in last year’s third quarter. Additionally, the Company reported foreign exchange losses of $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to a $0.2 million of loss in the third quarter of 2014.

 

The effective tax rate was 24.7 percent for the third quarter of 2015 compared to 26.0 percent for the third quarter of 2014. The decrease was primarily attributable to changes in the geographic mix of income and a non-recurring U.S. tax credit recorded in the third quarter of 2015.  This decrease was partially offset by certain U.S. tax benefits which as a percentage of consolidated income had a less favorable impact on the effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2015. The effective tax rates for the third quarter of 2015 and 2014 do not include the impact of the U.S. federal research and development credit.  The credit has not yet been re-enacted in 2015, and in 2014 the research and development credit was enacted in the fourth quarter.

 

Segment Results

 

  

 

Surfactants

Surfactants net sales for the third quarter of 2015 declined $27.7 million, or nine percent, from net sales for the third quarter of 2014. Sales volume increased eight percent between years, which had a $25.2 million positive effect on the quarter-over-quarter net sales change. All regional operations except Asia contributed to the sales volume increase. Foreign currency translation and lower selling prices had negative effects of $29.3 million and $23.6 million, respectively, on the net sales change. Compared to the year-ago quarter, the U.S. dollar was stronger against all currencies of the segment’s foreign operations. Lower costs for major raw materials led to the decreases in selling prices. A quarter-over-quarter comparison of net sales by region follows:

 

 

Net sales for North American operations declined nine percent between quarters. Sales volume improved six percent, which favorably affected the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $11.6 million. The effect of the increased sales volume was more than offset by a 13 percent decline in selling prices and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, which negatively affected the change in net sales by $26.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively. The increase in sales volume was driven by additional volumes for products with laundry and cleaning applications resulting from the Company’s previously announced long-term supply agreement with SUN. Sales volumes were down for products used in oil field applications. The decline in oil field sales volume reflected lower sales to EOR customers due to lower crude oil prices. The decline in sales prices primarily reflected decreased raw material costs. The foreign currency effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar.

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Net sales for European operations declined nine percent quarter over quarter. Sales volume was up six percent, resulting in a $4.5 million quarter-over-quarter increase in net sales. The sales volume impact was more than offset by the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation ($9.7 million). An increase in sales of laundry and cleaning and agricultural chemical products, due to stronger quarter-over-quarter demand from existing customers and new business, led to the improvement in sales volume. A stronger U.S. dollar against the European euro and British pound sterling led to the foreign currency translation result. The reduced selling prices primarily resulted from lower raw material costs.

 

Net sales for Latin American operations declined nine percent. Sales volume was up 21 percent, which had an $8.6 million favorable effect on the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales. Selling prices increased nine percent on average, which favorably impacted net sales by $4.3 million. The positive impacts of sales volume and selling prices were more than offset by an unfavorable $16.7 million effect of foreign currency translation. Higher sales volume for Brazil operations accounted for most of the increased Latin American sales volume. The Brazil sales volume improvement was primarily attributable to increased demand for consumer products and to new business gained as a result of the P&G Brazil acquisition finalized in the second quarter of 2015. The foreign currency translation effect resulted from the quarter-over-quarter weakening of the Brazilian real and Colombian and Mexican pesos against the U.S. dollar.

 

Net sales for Asian operations increased one percent primarily due to increased selling prices that more than offset the effects of foreign currency translation and a one percent sales volume decline. The sales volume decline reflected lower sales out of the region’s Singapore plant largely offset by increased sales volume from the Philippines plant.

 

Surfactants operating income for the third quarter of 2015 increased $10.6 million, or 96 percent, over operating income for the third quarter of 2014.  Gross profit increased $12.1 million, primarily on improved results for North American operations. The effects of foreign currency translation reduced Surfactants quarter-over-quarter gross profit increase by $5.1 million. Operating expenses increased $1.4 million, or seven percent. Quarter-over-quarter comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow:

  

 

North American gross profit increased 59 percent quarter over quarter. Improved sales margins and the six percent increase in sales volume drove the increase in gross profit. The improved sales margin reflected an improved sales mix and lower raw material and transportation costs. General freight costs are down between quarters due to lower fuel costs. In addition, last year’s third quarter included higher costs due to a planned infrastructure upgrade at the Anaheim, California, plant that resulted in shifting production to other Company locations.  

 

Gross profit for European operations increased 30 percent between quarters primarily due the effects of the six percent sales volume increase and margin improvements that more than offset a $1.2 million unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation. Lower raw material costs, particularly for laundry and cleaning products, accounted for much of the margin improvement.

 

Gross profit for Latin American operations increased 27 percent despite a $3.3 million unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation. The gross profit improvement resulted from the 21 percent sales volume improvement, a more profitable mix of sales and higher selling prices.

 

Asia gross profit declined 31 percent largely due to a less favorable mix of sales.

 

Operating expenses for the Surfactants segment increased $1.4 million, or seven percent, quarter over quarter. Excluding the effects of foreign currency translation, operating expenses increased $3.3 million. North American operations accounted for $2.1 million of the increase, with the most significant contributor being higher incentive-based compensation expense. The remainder of the operating expense increase was primarily attributable to higher expenses in Europe and Latin America, each increasing by $0.5 million.

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Polymers

 

Polymers net sales for the third quarter of 2015 declined $18.2 million, or 12 percent, from net sales for the third quarter of 2014.  Sales volume was up four percent between quarters, which had a $5.5 million favorable effect on the net sales change between quarters. Growth in Europe accounted for most of the sales volume improvement. Lower selling prices and the effects of foreign currency translation negatively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $14.9 million and $8.8 million, respectively. Quarter-over-quarter raw material cost declines led to the decrease in selling prices. The foreign currency translation effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar against the currencies of the segment’s foreign operations. A quarter-over-quarter comparison of net sales by region follows:

 

 

Net sales for North American operations declined 14 percent between quarters. A twelve percent decline in selling prices and a two percent drop in sales volume accounted for $11.5 million and $2.1 million, respectively, of the quarter-over-quarter decrease in net sales. Lower raw material costs led to the decline in selling prices. The accumulation of slight volume decreases for a number of major customers accounted for the decline in sales volume.

 

Net sales for European operations declined eight percent despite a 15 percent sales volume increase. The improved sales volume had a $6.8 million favorable effect on the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales. The effect of higher sales volume was more than offset by an $8.3 million unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation resulting from a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the European euro. A five percent decrease in selling prices, reflecting lower raw material costs, contributed $2.5 million to the quarter-over-quarter net sales decrease. The sales volume improvement was driven by continued growth in sales volume of polyols used in rigid foam insulation and insulated metal panels.

 

Net sales for Asia and Other operations declined 11 percent quarter over quarter. Sales volume increased seven percent, which favorably impacted the quarter-over quarter change in net sales by $0.5 million. The effect of higher sales volume was more than offset by a 10 percent decrease in selling prices and the effects of foreign currency translation, which unfavorably impacted the net sales change by $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively. The sales volume improvement resulted from higher sales volume to customers in Asia and Brazil. The Company continues to supply customers in China and other parts of Asia with product imported from other Company plants and local manufacturers. This outsourcing is expected to continue until construction of the new plant in China is complete, which is currently projected to be in the first half of 2016.

 

Polymers operating income for the third quarter of 2015 increased $6.3 million, or 35 percent, over operating income for the third quarter of 2014. The effects of lower raw material costs, the four percent sales volume increase and reduced 2015 bad debt expense, partially offset by a $1.0 million unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation, led to the improvement in operating income. Last year’s bad debt expense included a $3.4 million charge for a phthalic anhydride customer that filed for bankruptcy protection. Quarter-over-quarter comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow:

 

 

Gross profit for North American operations increased 10 percent quarter over quarter. The favorable effects of lower raw material costs and a more favorable mix of sales more than offset the impact of the two percent sales volume decline.

 

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Gross profit for European operations increased 25 percent primarily due to the 15 percent increase in sales volume and to lower raw material costs. The unfavorable effects of foreign currency negatively impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in gross profit by $1.3 million.

 

The increase in gross profit for Asia and Other operations was due to the seven percent increase in sale volume and a more favorable sales mix.

 

Operating expenses for the polymers segment declined $2.4 million, or 25 percent, quarter over quarter. Third quarter 2014 expenses included a $3.4 million bad debt charge for a phthalic anhydride customer that filed for bankruptcy protection. The lower quarter-over-quarter bad debt expense was partially offset by higher U.S. salaries and incentive-based compensation expenses.

Specialty Products

 

Net sales for the third quarter of 2015 declined $1.5 million, or eight percent, from net sales for the third quarter of 2014. A six percent decrease in sales volume and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation unfavorably affected the quarter-over-quarter net sales change by $1.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The sales volume decline was primarily attributable to normal, recurring order timing differences by food and flavoring product customers.  Operating income decreased $3.0 million quarter over quarter due to lower sales volume and margins. The decreased margins reflected higher raw material costs that could not fully be passed on to customers due to competitive pressures.

Corporate Expenses

 

Corporate expenses, which comprise deferred compensation and other operating expenses that are not allocated to the reportable segments, declined $2.9 million to $7.3 million for the third quarter of 2015 from $10.2 million for the third quarter of 2014. Large contributors to the quarter-over-quarter decrease in corporate expenses included lower environmental remediation ($4.2 million) and deferred compensation ($2.8 million) expenses, partially offset by higher fringe benefit ($1.2 million), expatriate support ($0.7 million), consulting ($0.6 million), talent acquisition/relocation ($0.5 million) expenses and the accumulation of a number of smaller expense increases.

 

With respect to the decline in environmental remediation expenses, the third quarter of 2014 included a $4.3 million charge to increase the best estimate of the remediation liability for the Company’s Maywood site. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s issuance of its record of decision for soil remediation at that site led to the liability increase.

 

Deferred compensation was $6.9 million of income for the third quarter of 2015 compared to $4.1 million of income for the same quarter of 2014. The change between quarters reflected a $12.50 per share decline in the value of Company common stock in the third quarter of 2015 compared to an $8.48 per share decrease for the third quarter of last year. The following table presents the quarter-end Company common stock market prices used in the computation of deferred compensation results:

 

 

Quarter-over-fringe benefit expenses were higher primarily due to increased incentive-based compensation expenses. The increase in consulting expenses was primarily related to the Company’s ongoing DRIVE initiative to improve efficiency across the Company’s global organization.

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

Summary

Net income attributable to the Company for the first three quarters of 2015 increased 24 percent to $63.1 million, or $2.76 per diluted share, from $50.9 million, or $2.22 per diluted share, for the first three quarters of 2014. Below is a summary discussion of the major factors leading to the year-over-year changes in net sales, profits and expenses.  A detailed discussion of segment operating performance for the first three quarters of 2015 follows the summary.

 

Consolidated net sales declined $116.1 million, or eight percent, between years. A four percent increase in sales volume favorably affected the year-over-year net sales change by $51.8 million. The Surfactants and Polymers segments accounted for the consolidated sales volume improvement, growing four percent each. Sales volumes for the specialty products segment declined five percent. The positive effect of increased sales volume was more than offset by the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation and lower selling prices, which accounted for $101.9 million and $66.0 million, respectively, of the year-over-year net sales decline. The unfavorable foreign currency translation effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar against all currencies of countries where the Company has foreign operations. Lower raw material costs led to the decrease in selling prices.

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Operating income for the first three quarters of 2015 increased $20.9 million, or 26 percent, over operating income reported for the same period of 2014. Increased deferred compensation expense and the effects of foreign currency translation negatively affected the year-over-year operating income change by $11.0 million and $10.2 million, respectively. Included in the 2015 results was a $2.9 million gain on the divestiture of the Company’s specialty polyurethane systems product line (part of the Polymers segment). See Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the sale. Gross profit increased $33.8 million, or 17 percent, due to improved results for Surfactants and Polymers that more than compensated for a $16.5 million unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation.

 

Operating expenses increased $15.8 million, or 13 percent, between years. The favorable effects of foreign currency translation reduced the year-over-year operating expense increase by $6.3 million. The following summarizes the changes in the individual income statement line items that comprise the Company’s operating expenses:

Deferred compensation expense was higher year over year as the value of Company common stock increased in the first three quarters of 2015 compared to a decline in value for the first nine months of 2014. (see the ‘Overview’ and ‘Corporate Expenses’ sections of this MD&A for further details). The increase in consulting expenses was related to the Company’s ongoing DRIVE initiative. Higher incentive-based compensation and group insurance costs accounted for the increase in fringe benefit expenses. With respect to the decline in environmental remediation expenses, 2014 included a $4.3 million charge to increase the remediation liability for the Company’s Maywood, New Jersey, site.

 

 

 

Net interest expense for the first three quarters of 2015 increased $1.9 million, or 22 percent, over net interest expense for the first three quarters of 2014. Higher average debt levels resulting from a new $100.0 million unsecured private placement note agreement entered into in July 2015 was a major contributor to the increase. See Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding the new debt.

 

Other, net was $0.1 million of expense for the first three quarters of 2015 compared to $0.5 million of income for the first three quarters of 2014.  The Company posted $0.1 million of investment losses (including realized and unrealized gains and losses) for the Company’s deferred compensation and supplemental defined contribution mutual fund assets in the first three quarters of 2015 compared to $1.0 million of income in the same period of last year. The Company reported foreign exchange gains of less than $0.1 million in the first three quarters of 2015 compared to $0.5 million of losses for the first three quarters of 2014.

 

The effective tax rate was 28.1 percent for the first three quarters of 2015 compared to 26.9 percent for the first three quarters of 2014. The increase was attributable to an unfavorable non-recurring tax charge related to a foreign income tax audit recorded in the second quarter of 2015 and a favorable non-recurring tax benefit related to a foreign transfer pricing adjustment recorded in the second quarter of 2014. The effective tax rates for the first three quarters of 2015 and 2014 do not include the impact of the U.S. federal research and development credit.  The credit has not yet been re-enacted in 2015, and in 2014 the research and development credit was enacted in the fourth quarter.

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Segment Results

 

  

 

 

Surfactants

Surfactants net sales for the first three quarters of 2015 declined $66.8 million, or seven percent, from net sales for the first three quarters of 2014. Sales volume increased four percent between years, which had a $34.9 million positive effect on the year-over-year net sales change. All regions contributed to the sales volume improvement. Foreign currency translation and decreased selling prices had negative effects of $74.4 million and $27.3 million, respectively, on the net sales change. Compared to the first three quarters of last year, the U.S. dollar was stronger against all currencies of the segment’s foreign operations. A year-over-year comparison of net sales by region follows:

 

 

Net sales for North American operations declined seven percent due to a six percent decrease in selling prices and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation, which accounted for $33.7 million and $5.6 million, respectively, of the year-over-year net sales decline. Decreased raw material costs led to the drop in selling prices. The foreign currency effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar. Sales volume was up less than one percent between years. Increased sales volumes for laundry and cleaning and personal care products were largely offset by decreased sales volumes for functional surfactants, primarily those used in oil field and agricultural applications, and household, industrial and institutional (HI&I) products. The increase in laundry and cleaning sales volume was largely due to additional volumes resulting from the Company’s previously announced long-term supply agreement with SUN. Personal care sales volumes increased due principally due to higher demand from existing customers. Decreased sales volumes to EOR customers, precipitated by the decline in crude oil prices, led to the decline in oil field sales volume. The decline in agricultural chemicals sales volume was due to customers’ carryover inventory from last year and to farmers’ efforts to reduce spraying costs as a result of lower crop prices.  HI&I sales volume was down mainly due to some lost business.

 

Net sales for European operations declined nine percent between years. Sales volume was up nine percent, which favorably affected year-over-year net sales by $19.3 million. The sales volume impact was more than offset by the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation and a two percent decline in selling prices, which accounted for $34.5 million and $4.1 million of the year-over-year net sales decline. An increase in sales of laundry and cleaning and agricultural chemical products, due to stronger demand from existing customers and new business, led to the improvement in sales volume. A stronger U.S. dollar against the European euro and British pound sterling led to the foreign currency translation result.

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Net sales for Latin American operations declined nine percent due to a $33.6 million unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation. A ten percent increase in sales volume and an eight percent increase in selling prices offset the foreign currency translation impact by $12.5 million and $10.5 million, respectively. Brazil operations accounted for most of the increased Latin American sales volume, with stronger demand from existing customers and business gained as a result of the P&G Brazil acquisition finalized in the second quarter of 2015. Sales volume was up for Colombia operations but was largely offset by a decline in sales volume in Mexico. The foreign currency translation effect resulted from the year-over-year weakening of the Brazilian real and Colombian and Mexican pesos against the U.S. dollar.

 

Net sales for Asian operations increased five percent due to increased selling prices and a one percent increase in sales volume, which accounted for $2.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively, of the year-over-year increase in net sales. The unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation offset the effects of higher sales volume and selling prices by $0.7 million.

 

Surfactants operating income for the first three quarters of 2015 increased $31.1 million, or 64 percent, over operating income for the first three quarters of 2014.  Gross profit increased $31.8 million largely due to better results for North American operations, although all regions except Asia reported improvements. Foreign currency translation reduced the year-over-year gross profit increase by $12.5 million. Year-over-year comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow:

 

 

North American gross profit increased 41 percent year over year primarily due to improved operations, sales mix and sales margins. The favorable resolution of a previously recorded customer claim also contributed to the higher gross profit.  The improved sales margin resulted from lower raw material and transportation costs. In 2014, the Company incurred additional transportation expenses due to higher fuel costs and to carrier delays and suboptimal supply chain movements related to the effects of severe winter weather and to a planned infrastructure upgrade at the Anaheim, California, plant that resulted in shifting production to other Company locations. In addition to the foregoing, 2014 gross profit also included $1.8 million of accelerated depreciation related to the Company’s restructuring plan that was approved in the fourth quarter of 2013.

 

Gross profit for European operations increased 18 percent between years principally due to the nine percent increase in sales volume and sales margin improvement that resulted from a more favorable mix of sales and from raw material cost declines. Foreign currency translation had a $4.5 million unfavorable effect on the year-over-year change in gross profit.

 

Gross profit for Latin American operations increased 28 percent largely due to a more profitable mix of sales, higher selling prices and the 10 percent increase in sales volume that more than offset an unfavorable foreign currency translation impact of $6.6 million.

 

Asia gross profit declined 21 percent largely due to a less profitable mix of sales.

 

Operating expenses for the Surfactants segment increased $0.7 million, or one percent, year over year. Excluding the effects of foreign currency translation, operating expenses increased $5.4 million. North American operations accounted for $3.2 million of the increase, with the most significant contributor being higher fringe benefit expenses, particularly incentive-based compensation and group insurance expenses. Operating expenses for European and Latin American operations were up $1.4 million and $0.7 million, respectively, between years.

Polymers

 

Polymers net sales for the first three quarters of 2015 declined $42.6 million, or 10 percent, from net sales for the first three quarters of 2014. Sales volume was up four percent, which had a $15.8 million favorable effect on the year-over-year change in net sales.  Lower selling prices and the effects of foreign currency translation negatively impacted the year-over-year net sales change by $33.2 million and $25.2 million, respectively. Decreases in raw material costs led to the decline in selling prices. The foreign currency translation

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effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar against the currencies of the segment’s foreign operations. A year-over-year comparison of net sales by region follows:

 

 

Net sales for North American operations declined nine percent. Sales volume increased one percent, which had a $2.3 million favorable effect on the year-over-year net sales change, and selling prices declined nine percent, which unfavorably affected year-over-year net sales by $25.1 million. Sales volume of rigid and specialty polyols declined one percent and five percent, respectively. Sales volume for phthalic anhydride increased eight percent. Decreases in the cost of major raw materials led to the reduction in sales prices.

 

Net sales for European operations declined 14 percent between years. Sales volume increased eight percent, which positively affected the year-over-year net sales change by $10.8 million. Increased sales of rigid polyols accounted for the volume improvement.. The unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation resulted in $24.3 million of reduced year-over-year net sales. The foreign currency translation effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the European euro. In addition to the foreign currency impact, selling prices declined three percent principally due to a decline in raw material costs.

 

Net sales for Asia and Other operations declined seven percent despite a 12 percent increase in sales volume. The growth in sales volume had a $2.2 million favorable effect on year-over-year net sales. The volume gain reflected increased sales volume in Asia and Brazil. Lower selling prices, resulting from raw material cost declines, and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted the year-over-year change in net sales by $2.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

 

Polymer operating income for the first three quarters of 2015 increased $15.3 million, or 32 percent, over operating income for the first three quarters of 2014. The previously discussed $2.9 million gain on the sale of the Company’s specialty polyurethane systems product line, the effects of lower raw material costs, the four percent sales volume increase and reduced 2015 bad debt expense, partially offset by a $2.6 million unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation, led to the improvement in operating income. Last year’s bad debt expense included a $3.4 million charge for a phthalic anhydride customer that filed for bankruptcy protection. Year-over-year comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow:

 

 

Gross profit for North American operations increased 22 percent year over year due to lower raw material costs and to the increase in sales volume. In addition, 2015 gross profit included the recognition of $1.0 million of previously deferred revenue due to the satisfaction of contractual requirements.

 

Gross profit for European operations declined four percent primarily due to a $3.6 million unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation. The impact of the eight percent increase in sales volume and lower raw material costs partially offset the effect of foreign currency translation.

 

The increase in gross profit for Asia and Other operations was due to increased sale volume, a more favorable mix of sales and lower raw material costs that more than offset the effects of foreign currency translation.

 

Operating expenses for the polymers segment (excluding the $2.9 million gain on the product line sale) declined $1.3 million, or six percent, year over year. Third quarter 2014 expenses included a $3.4 million bad debt charge for a phthalic anhydride customer that filed for bankruptcy protection. The lower year-over-year bad debt expense was partially offset by higher U.S. salaries and

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incentive-based pay expenses. In addition, operating expenses in China, where a new plant is being constructed, increased $1.2 million year over year. Foreign exchange translation had a favorable $1.3 million effect on the year-over-year operating expense change.

 

Specialty Products

 

Net sales for the first three quarters of 2015 declined $6.6 million, or 10 percent, from net sales for the same period of 2014. A five percent decrease in sales volume, the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation and lower selling prices accounted for $3.3 million, $2.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively, of the year-over-year net sales decrease. All product lines contributed to the year-over-year sales volume decline. Selling prices were lower largely due to competitive pressures for food ingredient and nutritional supplement products. Operating income decreased $7.1 million, or 67 percent, between years due to lower sales volume and selling prices and higher raw material costs.

 

Corporate Expenses

 

Corporate expenses increased $18.4 million to $43.5 million for the first three quarters of 2015 from $25.1 million for the first three quarters of 2014. The significant contributors to the year-over-year increase in corporate expenses included higher deferred compensation ($11.0 million), fringe benefit ($3.1 million), consulting ($2.9 million), talent acquisition/relocation ($1.6 million), salaries ($0.6 million) expenses and the accumulation of a number of smaller expense increases. The increases were partially offset by lower environmental remediation charges ($3.6 million).

 

Deferred compensation was $1.2 million of expense for the first three quarters of 2015 compared to $9.8 million of income for the same period of 2014. The change between years was largely attributable to a $1.53 per share increase in the value of Company common stock in the first three quarters of 2015 compared to a $21.25 per share decrease for the first three quarters of 2014. The following table presents the quarter-end Company common stock market prices used in the computation of deferred compensation expense:

 

 

The increase in fringe benefit expenses resulted primarily from higher incentive-based compensation (both short- and long-term) and group insurance expenses. Consulting expenses increased largely due to the Company’s ongoing DRIVE initiative to improve efficiency across the Company’s global organization.

 

With respect to the decline in environmental remediation expenses, 2014 included a $4.3 million third quarter charge to increase the best estimate of the remediation liability for the Company’s Maywood site. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s issuance of its record of decision for soil remediation at that site led to the liability increase.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, operating activities were a cash source of $123.5 million versus a source of $44.9 million for the comparable period in 2014. For the current year period, investing cash outflows totaled $95.8 million and financing activities were a source of $55.1 million. Cash increased by $75.2 million with exchange rates reducing cash by $7.6 million.

 

For the current year, net income was up by $12.3 million and working capital was a source of $6.5 million versus a cash use of $50.7 for the comparable year-ago period. Cash outflows for investing activities were up by $28.5 million year over year. Cash flow for financing activities was a source of $55.1 million in 2015 compared to a use of $19.6 million in 2014.

 

For the current year, accounts receivable were a use of $10.3 million compared to a use of $31.0 million for the comparable period in 2014. Inventories were a use of $5.5 million in 2015 versus a use of $28.3 million in 2014. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities were a source of $23.9 million in 2015 compared to a source of $8.4 million for the same period in 2014.

 

Working capital requirements were lower during the first nine months of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to lower raw material prices, partially offset by higher inventory and sales quantities. The Company’s working capital investment is heavily influenced by the cost of crude oil and natural oils, from which many of its raw materials are derived. Fluctuations in raw material costs translate directly to inventory carrying costs and indirectly to customer selling prices and accounts receivable.

 

The accounts receivable increase for the first nine months was driven mainly by higher sales quantities, mostly offset by lower sales prices. The inventory cash use for the first nine months was driven mainly by higher inventory quantities, mostly offset by lower

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raw material prices. The Company has not changed its own payment practices related to its payables. It is management’s opinion that the Company’s liquidity is sufficient to provide for potential increases in working capital during 2015.

 

Investing cash outflows for the first nine months of 2015 included capital expenditures of $90.3 million compared to $62.4 million for the comparable period last year. Other investing activities were a use of $5.4 million in 2015 versus a use of $4.9 million in 2014.  Other investing activities in 2015 included $5.1 million used to purchase the production facility in Bahia, Brazil and $3.3 million from proceeds on the sale of the specialty polyurethane systems product line.

 

For 2015, the Company estimates that capital expenditures will range from $110 million to $120 million including capacity expansions in the United States, China, and Brazil.

 

The Company purchases its common shares in the open market from time to time to fund its own benefit plans and also to mitigate the dilutive effect of new shares issued under its benefit plans. The Company may also make open market repurchases as cash flows permit when, in management’s opinion, the Company’s shares are undervalued in the market. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company purchased 41,915 shares in the open market at a total cost of $2.0 million.  At September 30, 2015, there were 761,764 shares remaining under the current share repurchase authorization.

 

As of September 30, 2015, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $160.5 million, including $55.0 million in two separate U.S. money market funds, each of which was rated AAA by Standard and Poor’s and Aaa by Moody’s. Cash in U.S. demand deposit accounts totaled $17.0 million and cash of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries held outside the U.S. totaled $88.5 million at September 30, 2015.

 

Consolidated balance sheet debt increased by $67.6 million for the current year-to-date, from $273.9 million to $341.5 million. Since last year-end, domestic debt increased by $75.8 million and foreign debt decreased by $8.2 million. Net debt (which is defined as total debt minus cash) decreased by $7.7 million for the current year-to-date, from $188.7 million to $181.0 million. As of September 30, 2015, the ratio of total debt to total debt plus shareholders’ equity was 38.2 percent compared to 33.8 percent at December 31, 2014. As of September 30, 2015, the ratio of net debt to net debt plus shareholders’ equity was 24.7 percent, compared to 26.0 percent at December 31, 2014.

 

At September 30, 2015, the Company’s debt included $327.9 million of unsecured private placement loans with maturities extending from 2015 through 2027. These loans are the Company’s primary source of long-term debt financing and are supplemented by bank credit facilities to meet short and medium-term needs.

 

On July 10, 2015, the Company entered into a $100.0 million unsecured private placement loan. This loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.95% with interest to be paid semi-annually and with equal annual principal payments beginning on July 10, 2021, and continuing through final maturity on July 10, 2027. The proceeds of this loan are being used primarily for capital expenditures, to pay down existing debt in accordance with normal payment schedules and for other corporate purposes. This loan agreement requires the maintenance of certain financial ratios and covenants that are substantially identical to the Company’s existing long-term debt and customary events of default.

 

The Company has a committed $125.0 million multi-currency syndicated revolving credit agreement. The credit agreement allows the Company to make unsecured borrowings, as requested from time to time, for working capital and other corporate purposes. This unsecured facility is the Company’s primary source of short-term borrowings and is committed through July 10, 2019, with terms and conditions that are substantially equivalent to those of the Company’s other U.S. loan agreements. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had outstanding letters of credit of $5.0 million under this agreement, and no borrowings, with $120.0 million remaining available. The Company anticipates that cash from operations, committed credit facilities and cash on hand will be sufficient to fund anticipated capital expenditures, working capital, dividends and other planned financial commitments for the foreseeable future.

 

Certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company maintain term loans and short-term bank lines of credit in their respective local currencies to meet working capital requirements as well as to fund capital expenditure programs and acquisitions. At September 30, 2015, the Company’s European subsidiaries had bank term loans of $4.0 million with maturities through 2021 and short-term bank debt of $8.4 million with remaining short-term borrowing capacity of $17.3 million. The Company’s Latin American subsidiaries had no short-term bank debt with $10.2 million of unused short-term borrowing capacity. The Company’s Philippine subsidiary had $1.2 million of short-term bank loans, which were guaranteed by the Company, with $5.8 million of unused borrowing capacity.

 

The Company has material debt agreements that require the maintenance of minimum interest coverage and minimum net worth. These agreements also limit the incurrence of additional debt as well as the payment of dividends and repurchase of treasury shares. Testing for these agreements is based on the combined financial statements of the U.S. operations of the Company, Stepan Canada Inc., Stepan Quimica Ltda., Stepan Specialty Products, LLC, Stepan Specialty Products B.V. and Stepan Asia Pte. Ltd. (the “Restricted Group”). Under the most restrictive of these debt covenants:

 

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The Company believes it was in compliance with all of its loan agreements as of September 30, 2015. Based on current projections, the Company believes it will be in compliance with its loan agreements throughout 2015.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL AND LEGAL MATTERS

 

The Company’s operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations.  Although the Company's environmental policies and practices are designed to ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, future developments and increasingly stringent environmental regulation could require the Company to make additional unforeseen environmental expenditures.  The Company will continue to invest in the equipment and facilities necessary to comply with existing and future regulations.  During the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, the Company’s expenditures for capital projects related to the environment were $1.3 million and $6.0 million, respectively.  These projects are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives, which are typically 10 years.  Recurring costs associated with the operation and maintenance of facilities for waste treatment and disposal and managing environmental compliance in ongoing operations at the Company’s manufacturing locations were $16.4 million and $15.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  While difficult to project, it is not anticipated that these recurring expenses will increase significantly in the future.

 

Over the years, the Company has received requests for information related to or has been named by the government as a potentially responsible party at a number of waste disposal sites where cleanup costs have been or may be incurred under CERCLA and similar state statutes.  In addition, damages are being claimed against the Company in general liability actions for alleged personal injury or property damage in the case of some disposal and plant sites.  The Company believes that it has made adequate provisions for the costs it may incur with respect to the sites.  It is the Company’s accounting policy to record liabilities when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and the cost or range of possible costs can be reasonably estimated.  When no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum is accrued.  Some of the factors on which the Company bases its estimates include information provided by feasibility studies, potentially responsible party negotiations and the development of remedial action plans.  After partial remediation payments at certain sites, the Company has estimated a range of possible environmental and legal losses of $20.6 million to $41.1 million at September 30, 2015, compared to $21.9 million to $41.8 million at December 31, 2014.  At September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the Company's accrued liability for such losses, which represented the Company’s best estimate within the estimated range of possible environmental and legal losses, was $20.6 million and $22.0 million, respectively.  During the first nine months of 2015 and 2014, cash outlays related to legal and environmental matters approximated $2.3 and $0.8 million, respectively.

 

For certain sites, the Company has responded to information requests made by federal, state or local government agencies but has received no response confirming or denying the Company’s stated positions. As such, estimates of the total costs, or range of possible costs, of remediation, if any, or the Company’s share of such costs, if any, cannot be determined with respect to these sites. Consequently, the Company is unable to predict the effect thereof on the Company’s financial position, cash flows and results of operations. Given the information available, management believes the Company has no liability at these sites. However, in the event of one or more adverse determinations with respect to such sites in any annual or interim period, the effect on the Company’s cash flows and results of operations for those periods could be material.  Based upon the Company’s present knowledge with respect to its involvement at these sites, the possibility of other viable entities’ responsibilities for cleanup, and the extended period over which any costs would be incurred, the Company believes that these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position. Certain of these matters are discussed in Item 1, Part 2, Legal Proceedings, in this report and in other filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available upon request from the Company.  See also Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for a summary of the environmental proceedings related to certain environmental sites.

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OUTLOOK

 

After nine months, the Company is positioned to deliver earnings growth for the full year. Surfactant earnings should continue to benefit from new laundry detergent volumes in North and Latin America, continued diversification of its business in Europe, as well as contributions from the Company’s efficiency program and improved operations overall.

 

Given the current and forecasted price of petroleum, the Company and Nalco Company (Nalco) have decided to dissolve their TIORCO LLC enhanced oil recovery joint venture.  Both the Company and Nalco will continue to participate in enhanced oil recovery, but will do so with groups integrated into their respective organizations.  With this move, the Company seeks to reduce the unfavorable financial statement impact of TIORCO LLC’s losses, which have averaged about $5.0 million per year over the last three years. The Company expects its own operating expenses to increase to support its enhanced oil recovery activities, but the net impact to earnings of the dissolution is expected to be positive. The Company plans to take a charge during the fourth quarter of $3.0 million to $4.0 million on a pre-tax basis to restructure its enhanced oil recovery efforts.

 

The Company expects Polymer income growth to continue driven by higher polyol volumes used in rigid insulation and metal panels.  In the fourth quarter, planned maintenance activity in the Company’s North American phthalic anhydride plant will negatively impact earnings.  Construction projects to add polyol capacity in China, Poland and the United States are progressing well.  In China, plant commissioning expenses will begin in the fourth quarter.  2016 volumes will be less than anticipated due to reduced demand associated with the current construction environment in China.

 

Overall, the Company believes it has restored earnings momentum in 2015, as management continues to position the Company for further earnings growth in 2016.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

There have been no changes to the critical accounting policies disclosed in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no material changes to the market risks disclosed in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

Based on their evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter covered by this Form 10-Q, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) were effective as of September 30, 2015.

There were no changes in internal controls that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Part II OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

There have been no material changes to the legal proceedings disclosed in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

Item 1A – Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Item 3 – Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

 

 

Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable

 

 

Item 5 – Other Information

None

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Item 6 – Exhibits

 

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

Date:  October 28, 2015

 

 

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