☑ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year endedDecember 31, 2019
OR
☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________________ to ____________________
Commission File Number: 1-1463
UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York
13-1421730
State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
7501 State Highway 185 North, Seadrift, TX77983
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:361-553-2997
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
o Yes RNo
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
o Yes RNo
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.
RYeso No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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).
RYeso No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer þ
Smaller reporting company o
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
☐ Yes R No
At February 7, 2020, 935.51 shares of common stock were outstanding, all of which were held by the registrant’s parent, The Dow Chemical Company.
The registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction I(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form with the reduced disclosure format.
Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as otherwise indicated by the context, the terms "Corporation" or "UCC" as used herein mean Union Carbide Corporation and its subsidiaries.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this report, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to business plans, objectives, and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are "forward‑looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may appear throughout this report, including without limitation, the following sections: "Item 1. Business," "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." These forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "opportunity," "outlook," "plan," "project," "seek," "should," "strategy," "target," "will," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "would" and similar expressions and variations or negatives of these words. Forward‑looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. A detailed discussion of principal risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the section titled "Risk Factors" (Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K). Union Carbide Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities and other applicable laws.
Union Carbide Corporation is a chemicals and polymers company that has been a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company ("TDCC") since 2001. Except as otherwise indicated by the context, the terms "Corporation" or "UCC" as used herein mean Union Carbide Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
On April 1, 2019, DowDuPont Inc. (“DowDuPont” and effective June 3, 2019, n/k/a DuPont de Nemours, Inc.) completed the separation of its materials science business and Dow Inc. became the direct parent company of TDCC and its consolidated subsidiaries. The separation was contemplated by the merger of equals transaction effective August 31, 2017, under the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 11, 2015, as amended on March 31, 2017. TDCC and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and its consolidated subsidiaries ("Historical DuPont") each merged with subsidiaries of DowDuPont, and, as a result, TDCC and Historical DuPont became subsidiaries of DowDuPont (the “Merger”). Subsequent to the Merger, TDCC and Historical DuPont engaged in a series of internal reorganization and realignment steps to realign their businesses into three subgroups: agriculture, materials science and specialty products. This included transferring certain Corporation assets and liabilities aligned with the specialty products business to TDCC. Dow Inc. was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of DowDuPont to serve as the holding company for the materials science business. UCC remains a wholly owned subsidiary of TDCC. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
TDCC conducts its worldwide operations through global businesses. UCC's business activities comprise components of TDCC's global businesses rather than stand-alone operations. Because there are no separate reportable business segments for UCC and no detailed business information is provided to a chief operating decision maker regarding the Corporation's stand-alone operations, the Corporation's results are reported as a single operating segment. In addition, in order to simplify the customer interface process, the Corporation sells substantially all of its products to TDCC. Products are sold to TDCC at market-based prices, in accordance with the terms of an agreement between UCC and TDCC.
Available Information
The Corporation's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, are available free of charge through the Financial Reports-SEC Filings section of the Corporation's website at www.unioncarbide.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are electronically filed or furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The SEC maintains a website that contains these reports as well as proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. The SEC's website is at www.sec.gov. The Corporation's website and its content are not deemed incorporated by reference into this report.
PRODUCTS
The following is a description of the Corporation's principal products:
Ethylene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol (“EO/EG”) - ethylene oxide, a chemical intermediate primarily used in the manufacture of monoethylene glycol (“MEG”), polyethylene glycol, glycol ethers, ethanolamines, surfactants and other performance chemicals and polymers; di- and triethylene glycol, used in a variety of applications, including boat construction, shoe manufacturing, natural gas-drying and other moisture-removing applications, and plasticizers for safety glasses; and tetraethylene glycol, used predominantly in the production of plasticizers for automotive windows. MEG is used extensively in the production of polyester fiber, resin and film, automotive antifreeze and engine coolants, and aircraft anti-icing and deicing fluids.
Hydrocarbons - ethylene and propylene; internal feedstocks that are primarily consumed by downstream businesses to optimize integration benefits and drive low costs.
Industrial Chemicals and Polymers - broad range of products for specialty applications, including animal food supplements, personal care, industrial and household cleaning, coatings for beverage and food cans, industrial coatings and many other industrial uses. Product lines include acrolein and derivatives, ethyleneamines, CARBOWAX™ and SENTRY™ Polyethylene Glycols and Methoxypolyethylene Glycols, TERGITOL™ and TRITON™ Surfactants, UCAR™ Deicing Fluids, UCARTHERM™ Heat Transfer Fluids and UCON™ Fluids.
Polyethylene - includes FLEXOMER™ Polyethylene, very low-density polyethylene resins used as impact modifiers in other polymers and to produce flexible hose and tubing, frozen-food bags and stretch wrap; TUFLIN™ Linear Low Density and UNIVAL™ High Density Polyethylene resins used in high-volume applications such as housewares; milk, water, bleach and detergent bottles; grocery sacks; trash bags; packaging; and water and gas pipe.
Solvents and Intermediates - includes oxo aldehydes, acids and alcohols used as chemical intermediates and industrial solvents and in herbicides, plasticizers, paint dryers, jet-turbine lubricants, lube oil additives, and food and feed preservatives; and esters, which serve as solvents in industrial coatings and printing inks and in the manufacturing processes for pharmaceuticals and polymers.
Technology Licensing and Catalysts - includes catalysts for supply and licensing of the METEOR™ Process for EO/EG and the LP OXO process for oxo alcohols; and licensing of the METEOR™ Process for EO/EG and the LP OXO process for oxo alcohols through Dow Technology Investments LLC, a 50:50 joint venture with Dow Global Technologies LLC, a TDCC subsidiary.
Vinyl Acetate Monomer - a building block for the manufacture of a variety of polymers used in water-based emulsion paints, adhesives, paper coatings, textiles, safety glass and acrylic fibers.
Wire and Cable Applications - polyolefin-based compounds for high-performance insulation, semiconductives and jacketing systems for power distribution, telecommunications, and flame-retardant wire and cable insulation. Key product lines include: REDI-LINK™ Polyethylene-Based Wire and Cable Compounds, SI-LINK™ Polyethylene-Based Low Voltage Insulation Compounds, UNIGARD™ HP High-Performance Flame-Retardant Compounds, UNIGARD™ RE Reduced Emissions Flame‑Retardant Compounds, and UNIPURGE™ Purging Compounds.
COMPETITION
The chemical industry has been historically competitive and this competitive environment is expected to continue. Large, multinational chemical firms, as well as the chemical divisions of the major national and international oil companies, provide substantial competition both in the United States and abroad.
PATENTS, LICENSES AND TRADEMARKS
The Corporation continually applies for and obtains U.S. and foreign patents that relate to a wide variety of products and processes, has a substantial number of pending patent applications throughout the world and is licensed under a number of patents. At December 31, 2019, the Corporation owned 94 active U.S. patents and 558 active foreign patents related to a wide variety of products and processes. These patents expire as follows:
Remaining Life of Patents Owned at Dec 31, 2019
United States
Foreign
Within 5 years
27
183
6 to 10 years
38
224
11 to 15 years
26
147
16 to 20 years
3
4
Total
94
558
The Corporation also has a large number of trademarks. Although the Corporation considers that its patents, licenses and trademarks in the aggregate constitute a valuable asset, it does not regard its business as being materially dependent on any single or group of related patents, licenses or trademarks.
PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Matters pertaining to the environment are discussed in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Notes 1 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
On a quarterly basis, the Corporation's Board of Directors reviews and determines if there will be a dividend distribution to its parent company and sole shareholder, TDCC. The Board takes into consideration the level of earnings and cash flows, among other factors, in determining the amount of the dividend distribution. The Corporation declared and paid cash dividends of $570 million to TDCC in 2019; dividends paid to TDCC were $553 million in 2018. On February 4, 2020, the UCC Board of Directors approved a dividend to TDCC of $81 million, payable on or before March 27, 2020.
In the first quarter of 2019, as part of the business separation activities to align TDCC's specialty products business with DowDuPont, UCC issued a stock dividend to TDCC for 63.4 percent of its ownership in Dow International Holdings Company, a cost method investment, which totaled $401 million. UCC also distributed assets and liabilities aligned with TDCC's specialty products business for an additional dividend to TDCC of $71 million.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The factors described below represent the Corporation's principal risks.
Global Economic Considerations: The Corporation operates in a global, competitive environment, which gives rise to operating and market risk exposure.
The Corporation sells substantially all of its products to TDCC, which operates in a competitive, global environment, and competes worldwide for sales. Increased levels of competition could result in lower prices or lower sales volume, which could have a negative impact on the Corporation's results of operations. Sales of TDCC's products are also subject to extensive federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations, trade agreements, import and export controls, and duties and tariffs. The imposition of additional regulations, controls and duties and tariffs or changes to bilateral and regional trade agreements could result in lower sales volume, which could negatively impact the Corporation's results of operations.
Economic conditions around the world, and in certain industries in which the Corporation and TDCC do business, also impact sales price and volume. As a result, market uncertainty or an economic downturn in the geographic regions or industries in which UCC products are sold could reduce demand for these products and result in decreased sales volume, which could have a negative impact on UCC's results of operations.
Raw Materials: Availability of purchased feedstocks and energy, and the volatility of these costs, impact the Corporation's operating costs and add variability to earnings.
Purchased feedstock and energy costs account for a substantial portion of the Corporation's total production costs and operating expenses. The Corporation purchases hydrocarbon raw materials including ethane, propane, butane and naphtha as feedstocks. The Corporation also purchases certain monomers, primarily ethylene and propylene, to supplement internal production, as well as other raw materials. The Corporation purchases natural gas, primarily to generate electricity, and purchases electric power to supplement internal generation.
Feedstock and energy costs generally follow price trends in crude oil and natural gas, which are sometimes volatile. Ultimately, the ability to pass on underlying cost increases is dependent on market conditions. Conversely, when feedstock and energy costs decline, selling prices generally decline as well. As a result, volatility in these costs could impact the Corporation's results of operations.
While the Corporation expects abundant and cost-advantaged supplies of natural gas liquids ("NGLs") in the United States to persist for the foreseeable future, if NGLs become significantly less advantaged than crude oil-based feedstocks, it could have a negative impact on the Corporation's results of operations and future investments. Also, if the Corporation's key suppliers of feedstocks and energy are unable to provide the raw materials required for production, it could have a negative impact on the Corporation's results of operations.
Supply/Demand Balance: Earnings generated by the Corporation vary based in part on the balance of supply relative to demand within the industry.
The balance of supply relative to demand within the industry may be significantly impacted by the addition of new capacity, especially for basic commodities where capacity is generally added in large increments as world-scale facilities are built. This may disrupt industry balances and result in downward pressure on prices due to the increase in supply, which could negatively impact the Corporation's results of operations.
Financial Flexibility: Market conditions could reduce TDCC's financial flexibility, which could impact the financial flexibility of the Corporation.
Adverse economic conditions could reduce TDCC's flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions or to fund capital expenditures or working capital needs. The economic environment could result in a contraction in the availability of credit in the marketplace and reduce sources of liquidity for TDCC and could result in higher borrowing costs. Since TDCC is a service provider, material debtor, and the major customer of the Corporation, reduced financial flexibility for TDCC could potentially impact the financial flexibility of the Corporation.
Environmental Compliance: The costs of complying with evolving regulatory requirements could negatively impact the Corporation's financial results. Actual or alleged violations of environmental laws or permit requirements could result in restrictions or prohibitions on plant operations, substantial civil or criminal sanctions, as well as the assessment of strict liability and/or joint and several liability.
The Corporation is subject to extensive federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, rules and ordinances relating to pollution, protection of the environment, greenhouse gas emissions and the generation, storage, handling, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials. At December 31, 2019, the Corporation had accrued obligations of $132 million ($94 million at December 31, 2018) for probable environmental remediation and restoration costs, including $20 million ($16 million at December 31, 2018) for the remediation of Superfund sites. This is management's best estimate of the costs for remediation and restoration with respect to environmental matters for which the Corporation has accrued liabilities, although it is reasonably possible that the ultimate cost with respect to these particular matters could range up to approximately two and a half times that amount. Costs and capital expenditures relating to environmental, health or safety matters are subject to evolving regulatory requirements and depend on the timing of the promulgation and enforcement of specific standards which impose the requirements. Moreover, changes in environmental regulations could inhibit or interrupt the Corporation's operations, or require modifications to its facilities. Accordingly, environmental, health or safety regulatory matters could result in significant unanticipated costs or liabilities.
Litigation: The Corporation is party to a number of claims and lawsuits arising out of the normal course of business with respect to commercial matters, including product liability, governmental tax and regulation disputes, and other actions.
The Corporation is involved in a number of legal proceedings and claims with both private and governmental parties. These cover a wide range of matters, including, but not limited to: product liability; trade regulation; governmental tax and regulatory proceedings; health, safety and environmental matters; employment matters; patent infringement; contracts; and commercial litigation. With the exception of the possible effect of the asbestos-related liability described below, it is the opinion of the Corporation's management that the possibility is remote that the aggregate of all such claims and lawsuits will have a material adverse impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial statements.
The Corporation is and has been involved in a large number of asbestos-related suits filed primarily in state courts during the past four decades. At December 31, 2019, the Corporation's total asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims, including future defense and processing costs, was $1,165 million ($1,260 million at December 31, 2018). See Notes 1 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on asbestos-related matters.
Health and Safety: Increased concerns regarding the safe use of chemicals and plastics in commerce and their potential impact on the environment have resulted in more restrictive regulations and could lead to new regulations.
Concerns regarding the safe use of chemicals and plastics in commerce and their potential impact on health and the environment reflect a growing trend in societal demands for increasing levels of product safety and environmental protection. These concerns could manifest themselves in stockholder proposals, preferred purchasing, delays or failures in obtaining or retaining regulatory approvals and continued pressure for more stringent regulatory intervention and litigation. These concerns could also influence public perceptions, the viability or continued sales of the Corporation's products, the Corporation's reputation and the cost to comply with regulations. In addition, terrorist attacks and natural disasters have increased concerns about the security and safety of chemical production and distribution. These concerns could have a negative impact on the Corporation's results of operations.
Local, state, federal and foreign governments continue to propose new regulations related to the security of chemical plant locations and the transportation of hazardous chemicals, which could result in higher operating costs.
Plastic Waste: Increased concerns regarding plastic waste in the environment, consumers selectively reducing their consumption of plastic products due to recycling concerns, or new or more restrictive regulations and rules related to plastic waste could reduce demand for the Corporation’s plastic products and could negatively impact the Corporation’s financial results.
Local, state, federal and foreign governments have been increasingly proposing and in some cases approving bans on certain plastic-based products including single-use plastics, plastic straws and utensils. In addition, plastics have faced increased public scrutiny due to negative coverage of plastic waste in the environment, including the world’s oceans. Substantially all of the
Corporation's sales are to TDCC, which is one of the world’s largest producers of plastics. Therefore, increased regulation on the use of plastics could cause reduced demand for the Corporation’s polyethylene products which could negatively impact the Corporation's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Operational Event: A significant operational event could negatively impact the Corporation's results of operations.
As a diversified chemical manufacturing company, the Corporation's operations, the transportation of products, cyber-attacks, or severe weather conditions and other natural phenomena (such as freezing, drought, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, etc.) could result in an unplanned event that could be significant in scale and could negatively impact operations, neighbors or the public at large, which could have a negative impact on the Corporation's results of operations.
Major hurricanes have caused significant disruption in UCC's operations on the U.S. Gulf Coast, logistics across the region, and the supply of certain raw materials, which had an adverse impact on volume and cost for some of UCC's products. Due to the Corporation's substantial presence on the U.S. Gulf Coast, similar severe weather conditions or other natural phenomena in the future could negatively impact UCC's results of operations.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits: Increased obligations and expenses related to the Corporation's defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan could negatively affect UCC's financial condition and results of operations.
The Corporation has defined benefit pension plans and an other postretirement benefit plan (the "plans") in the United States. The assets of the Corporation's funded plans are primarily invested in fixed income securities, equity securities of U.S. and foreign issuers and alternative investments, including investments in real estate, private market securities, and absolute return strategies. Changes in the market value of plan assets, investment returns, discount rates, mortality rates, regulations and the rate of increase in compensation levels and health care cost trends may affect the funded status of the Corporation's plans and could cause volatility in the net periodic benefit cost, future funding requirements of the plans and the funded status of the plans. A significant increase in the Corporation's obligations or future funding requirements could have a negative impact on the Corporation's results of operations and cash flows for a particular period and on the Corporation's financial position.
Cyber Threat: The risk of loss of the Corporation's intellectual property, trade secrets or other sensitive business information or disruption of operations could negatively impact the Corporation's financial results.
Cyber-attacks or security breaches could compromise confidential, business critical information, cause a disruption in the Corporation's operations or harm the Corporation's reputation. The Corporation has attractive information assets, including intellectual property, trade secrets and other sensitive, business critical information. While the Corporation has a comprehensive cyber-security program that is continuously reviewed, maintained and upgraded, a significant cyber-attack could result in the loss of critical business information and/or could negatively impact operations, which could have a negative impact on the Corporation's financial results.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Corporation operates eight manufacturing sites in three countries. The Corporation considers its properties to be in good operating condition and that its machinery and equipment have been well maintained. The following are the major production sites:
United States:
Hahnville (St. Charles), Louisiana; Seadrift and Texas City, Texas.
All of UCC's plants are owned or leased, subject to certain easements of other persons that, in the opinion of management, do not substantially interfere with the continued use of such properties or materially affect their value. No title examination of the properties has been made for the purpose of this report.
A summary of property, classified by type, is contained in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Corporation is and has been involved in a large number of asbestos-related suits filed primarily in state courts during the past four decades. These suits principally allege personal injury resulting from exposure to asbestos-containing products and frequently seek both actual and punitive damages. The alleged claims primarily relate to products that UCC sold in the past, alleged exposure to asbestos-containing products located on UCC's premises, and UCC's responsibility for asbestos suits filed against a former subsidiary, Amchem Products, Inc.
For additional information, see Asbestos-Related Matters in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Notes 1 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Environmental Proceedings
On July 5, 2018, the Corporation received a draft consent decree from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), the Department of Justice ("DOJ") and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality ("DEQ") relating to the operation of steam-assisted flares at UCC's olefins manufacturing facility in Hahnville (St. Charles), Louisiana. Discussions between the EPA, the DOJ and the DEQ are ongoing.
On October 23, 2019, UCC received a proposed Agreed Order from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) relating to emissions of ethylene oxide from a process leak at the Corporation's manufacturing facility in Seadrift, Texas. The proposed Agreed Order included an administrative penalty of $800,000. On December 30, 2019, the TCEQ sent a revised Agreed Order reducing the penalty to $600,000 based on UCC's corrective actions. Discussions between UCC and the TCEQ are ongoing.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
The Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of TDCC; therefore, there is no public trading market for the Corporation's common stock.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Omitted pursuant to General Instruction I of Form 10‑K.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Pursuant to General Instruction I of Form 10-K "Omission of Information by Certain Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries," this section includes only management's narrative analysis of the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019, the most recent fiscal year, compared with the year ended December 31, 2018, the fiscal year immediately preceding it.
References below to "TDCC" refer to The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated by the context. Union Carbide Corporation (the "Corporation" or "UCC") has been a wholly owned subsidiary of TDCC since 2001.
On April 1, 2019, DowDuPont Inc. (“DowDuPont” and effective June 3, 2019, n/k/a DuPont de Nemours, Inc.) completed the separation of its materials science business and Dow Inc. became the direct parent company of TDCC and its consolidated subsidiaries. The separation was contemplated by the merger of equals transaction effective August 31, 2017, under the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 11, 2015, as amended on March 31, 2017. TDCC and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and its consolidated subsidiaries ("Historical DuPont") each merged with subsidiaries of DowDuPont, and, as a result, TDCC and Historical DuPont became subsidiaries of DowDuPont (the “Merger”). Subsequent to the Merger, TDCC and Historical DuPont engaged in a series of internal reorganization and realignment steps to realign their businesses into three subgroups: agriculture, materials science and specialty products. This included transferring certain Corporation assets and liabilities aligned with TDCC's specialty products business to TDCC (the "Business Separation"). Dow Inc. was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of DowDuPont to serve as the holding company for the materials science business. UCC remains a wholly owned subsidiary of TDCC.
TDCC conducts its worldwide operations through global businesses. UCC's business activities comprise components of TDCC’s global businesses rather than stand-alone operations. Because there are no separate reportable business segments for UCC and no detailed business information is provided to a chief operating decision maker regarding the Corporation’s stand-alone operations, the Corporation’s results are reported as a single operating segment.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Sales
Total net sales for 2019 were $4,377 million, compared with net sales of $5,446 million in 2018, a decrease of 20 percent. Net sales to related companies, principally to TDCC, were $4,239 million for 2019, compared with $5,310 million for 2018, a decrease of 20 percent. Selling prices to TDCC are based on market prices for the related products, in accordance with the terms of an agreement between UCC and TDCC.
Total net sales were down from the previous year driven by decreases in price and volume. Average selling prices decreased 16 percent in 2019 compared with 2018. Price decreased across all products, primarily in response to lower feedstock and other raw material costs, with the largest decreases in polyethylene, oxo alcohols, ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol and plastics for wire and cable applications. Volume was down 4 percent in 2019 compared with 2018, as lower demand for plastics for wire and cable applications, acrylic monomers and glycol ethers and decreases resulting from the Business Separation more than offset demand growth in polyethylene, ethyleneamines and vinyl acetate monomers. Volume was also negatively impacted by planned maintenance turnaround activity at multiple production facilities in 2019.
In 2019, the Corporation recorded a pretax charge of $55 million related to environmental remediation matters at a number of current and historical locations. The charge primarily resulted from the culmination of long-standing negotiations and discussions with regulators and agencies, including technical studies supporting higher cost estimates for final or staged remediation plans, and the Corporation’s review of its closure strategies and obligations to monitor ongoing operations and maintenance activities. See Note 14 for additional information about the Corporation's environmental matters.
Cost of sales in 2019 was $3,500 million, down 14 percent from $4,047 million in 2018. The decline in cost of sales was driven primarily by lower feedstock and other raw material costs, lower volume and the impact from the Business Separation, which more than offset charges for environmental remediation matters.
Research and Development, Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Research and development expenses were $25 million in 2019, compared with $21 million in 2018. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $4 million in 2019 and $6 million in 2018.
Restructuring and Asset Related Charges - Net
In September and November 2017, the Corporation approved restructuring actions that were aligned with DowDuPont's synergy plans. As a result of these actions, the Corporation recorded pretax charges of $4 million in 2019 and $3 million in 2018 for severance and related benefit costs. At December 31, 2019, severance of $16 million had been paid, leaving a liability of $1 million, substantially completing the program.
On August 13, 2019, the Corporation entered into a definitive agreement to sell its acetone derivatives product line to ALTIVIA Ketones & Additives, LLC. The transaction closed on November 1, 2019, and included the Corporation's acetone derivatives related inventory and production assets located in Institute, West Virginia, in addition to the site infrastructure, land and utilities and certain railcars previously owned by TDCC. The Corporation remains at the Institute site as a tenant. As a result of this transaction, the Corporation recognized a pretax impairment charge of $75 million in the third quarter of 2019, which was included in "Restructuring and asset related charges - net" in the consolidated statements of income. See Notes 6 and 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Sundry Income (Expense) - Net
Sundry income (expense) – net includes a variety of income and expense items such as charges for management services provided by TDCC, commissions, non-operating pension and other postretirement benefit plan credits or costs and gains and losses on sales of investments and assets. Sundry income (expense) - net for 2019 was expense of $82 million compared with expense of $62 million in 2018. The increase in expense in 2019 was primarily a result of higher non-operating pension and other postretirement benefit plan costs and the recognition of a pretax loss of $5 million on the sale of the Corporation's acetone derivatives product line. See Notes 5 and 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Interest Income and Expense
Interest income for 2019 was $36 million, compared with $28 million in 2018. The increase in interest income from 2018 primarily resulted from an increase in notes receivable from related parties. Net interest expense (interest expense less capitalized interest) and amortization of debt discount was $30 million in 2019 and 2018. See Notes 13 and 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Provision for Income Taxes
The Corporation reported a tax provision of $64 million in 2019, which resulted in an overall effective tax rate of 9.3 percent. The tax rate for 2019 was favorably impacted by the restoration of tax basis in assets, driven by a recent court judgment that did not involve the Corporation. In 2018, the Corporation reported a tax provision of $247 million, which resulted in an overall effective tax rate of 19.0 percent. The tax rate for 2018 was favorably impacted by deductions on foreign derived intangible income. The underlying factors affecting UCC's overall effective tax rates are summarized in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Net Income Attributable to UCC
The Corporation reported net income of $627 million in 2019, compared with net income of $1,055 million in 2018.
Capital Expenditures
Capital spending in 2019 was $196 million, compared with $250 million in 2018, as spending for U.S. Gulf Coast projects and site infrastructure projects trended down.
See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of recent accounting guidance.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Following are the Corporation's accounting policies impacted by judgments, assumptions and estimates.
Litigation
The Corporation is subject to legal proceedings and claims arising out of the normal course of business. The Corporation routinely assesses the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters, as well as ranges of probable losses. A determination of the amount of the reserves required, if any, for these contingencies is made after thoughtful analysis of each known claim, with the exception of asbestos-related matters, which is described in the following section. The Corporation has an active risk management program consisting of numerous insurance policies secured from many carriers. These policies provide coverage that is utilized to minimize the financial impact, if any, of the legal proceedings. The required reserves may change in the future due to new developments in each matter. For further discussion, see Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Asbestos-Related Matters
The Corporation is and has been involved in a large number of asbestos-related suits filed primarily in state courts during the past four decades. These suits principally allege personal injury resulting from exposure to asbestos-containing products and frequently seek both actual and punitive damages. The alleged claims primarily relate to products that UCC sold in the past, alleged exposure to asbestos-containing products located on UCC’s premises, and UCC’s responsibility for asbestos suits filed against a former UCC subsidiary, Amchem Products, Inc. ("Amchem"). Each year, Ankura Consulting Group, LLC ("Ankura") performs a review for UCC based upon historical asbestos claims and resolution activity and historical defense spending. UCC compares current asbestos claim, resolution and defense spending activity to the results of the most recent Ankura study at each balance sheet date to determine whether the asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims, including future defense and processing costs, continues to be appropriate.
For additional information, see Part I, Item 3. Legal Proceedings; Asbestos-Related Matters in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; and Notes 1 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Environmental Matters
The Corporation determines the costs of environmental remediation of its facilities and formerly owned facilities based on evaluations of current law and existing technologies. Inherent uncertainties exist in such evaluations primarily due to unknown environmental conditions, changing governmental regulations and legal standards regarding liability, and emerging remediation technologies. The recorded liabilities are adjusted periodically as remediation efforts progress or as additional technical or legal information becomes available. At December 31, 2019, the Corporation had accrued obligations of $132 million for probable environmental remediation and restoration costs, including $20 million for the remediation of Superfund sites. This is management's best estimate of the costs for remediation and restoration with respect to environmental matters for which the Corporation has accrued liabilities, although it is reasonably possible that the ultimate cost with respect to these particular matters could range up to approximately two and a half times that amount. For further discussion, see Environmental Matters in Notes 1 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits
The amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements related to pension and other postretirement benefits are determined from actuarial valuations. Inherent in these valuations are assumptions including expected return on plan assets, discount rates at which the liabilities could have been settled at December 31, 2019, rate of increase in future compensation levels, mortality rates and health care cost trend rates. These assumptions are updated annually and are disclosed in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, actual results that differ from the assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, affect expense recognized and obligations recorded in future periods.
The Corporation uses the spot rate approach to determine the discount rate utilized to measure the service cost and interest cost components of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs. Under the spot rate approach, the Corporation calculates service costs and interest costs by applying individual spot rates from the Willis Towers Watson U.S. RATE:Link 60-90 corporate
yield curve (based on 60th to 90th percentile high-quality corporate bond yields) to the separate expected cash flow components of service cost and interest cost.
The Corporation determines the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets by performing a detailed analysis of key economic and market factors driving historical returns for each asset class and formulating a projected return based on factors in the current environment. Factors considered include, but are not limited to, inflation, real economic growth, interest rate yield, interest rate spreads, and other valuation measures and market metrics. The expected long-term rate of return for each asset class is then weighted based on the strategic asset allocation approved by the governing body for each plan. The Corporation's historical experience with the pension fund asset performance is also considered. The expected long-term rate of return is an assumption and not what is expected to be earned in any one particular year. The weighted-average long-term rate of return assumption used for determining net periodic pension expense for 2019 and 2018 was 6.8 percent. This assumption will also be used for determining 2020 net periodic pension expense. Future actual pension expense will depend on future investment performance, changes in future discount rates and various other factors related to the population of participants in the Corporation's pension plans.
The discount rates utilized to measure the pension and other postretirement benefit obligations are based on the yield on high-quality corporate fixed income investments at the measurement date. Future expected actuarially determined cash flows for the plans are individually discounted at the spot rates under the Willis Towers Watson U.S. RATE:Link 60-90 corporate yield curve (based on 60th to 90th percentile high-quality corporate bond yields) to arrive at the plan’s obligations as of the measurement date. The weighted-average discount rate utilized to measure pension obligations was 3.29 percent at December 31, 2019 and 4.32 percent at December 31, 2018.
The value of the qualified plan assets totaled $3.1 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase from $3.0 billion at December 31, 2018. The underfunded status of the qualified plan increased by $166 million at December 31, 2019, compared with December 31, 2018. The Corporation did not make contributions to the qualified plan in 2019.
The assumption for the long-term rate of increase in compensation levels was 4.25 percent at December 31, 2019 and 2018. Since 2002, the Corporation has used a generational mortality table to determine the duration of its pension and other postretirement obligations.
The Corporation bases the determination of pension expense on a market-related valuation of plan assets that reduces year-to-year volatility. This market-related valuation recognizes investment gains or losses over a five-year period from the year in which they occur. Investment gains or losses for this purpose represent the difference between the expected return calculated using the market-related value of plan assets and the actual return based on the market value of plan assets. Since the market-related value of plan assets recognizes gains or losses over a five-year period, the future value of plan assets will be impacted when previously deferred gains or losses are recorded. Over the life of the plan, both gains and losses have been recognized and amortized. At December 31, 2019, $68 million of net gains remain to be recognized in the calculation of the market-related value of plan assets. These net gains will result in decreases in future pension expense as they are recognized in the market-related value of assets.
The net increase in the market-related value of assets due to the recognition of prior gains (losses) is presented in the following table:
Net Increase in Market-Related Asset Value Due to Recognition of Prior Gains (Losses)
In millions
2020
$
6
2021
17
2022
(5
)
2023
50
Total
$
68
At December 31, 2019, the Corporation expects pension expense to increase in 2020 by approximately $3 million. The increase in pension expense is primarily due to the decrease in discount rates.
A 25 basis point adjustment in the long-term return on assets assumption would change total pension expense for 2020 by $7 million. A 25 basis point adjustment in the discount rate assumption would have an immaterial impact on the total pension expense for 2020.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, applying enacted tax rates expected to be in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Based on the evaluation of available evidence, both positive and negative, the Corporation recognizes future tax benefits, such as net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards, to the extent that realizing these benefits is considered more likely than not.
At December 31, 2019, the Corporation had a net deferred tax asset balance of $507 million, after valuation allowances of $21 million. In evaluating the ability to realize the deferred tax assets, the Corporation relies on, in order of increasing subjectivity, taxable income in prior carryback years, the future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, tax planning strategies and forecasted taxable income using historical and projected future operating results.
At December 31, 2019, the Corporation had deferred tax assets for tax loss and tax credit carryforwards of $39 million of which $26 million is subject to expiration in the years 2020 through 2024. In order to realize these deferred tax assets for tax loss and tax credit carryforwards, the Corporation needs taxable income of approximately $1,206 million across multiple jurisdictions. The taxable income needed to realize the deferred tax assets for tax loss and tax credit carryforwards that are subject to expiration between 2020 through 2024 is $485 million.
The Corporation recognizes the financial statement effects of an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not, based on technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. At December 31, 2019, the Corporation had a liability for uncertain tax positions of $1 million.
The Corporation accrues for non-income tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability to a taxing authority has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated. At December 31, 2019, the Corporation had an immaterial tax contingency reserve. For additional information, see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Environmental Matters
Environmental Policies
The Corporation is committed to world-class environmental, health and safety ("EH&S") performance, as demonstrated by a long-standing commitment to Responsible Care®, as well as a strong commitment to achieve the Corporation's 2025 Sustainability Goals - goals that set the standard for sustainability in the chemical industry by focusing on improvements in UCC's local corporate citizenship and product stewardship, and by actively pursuing methods to reduce the Corporation's environmental impact.
The EH&S management system ("EMS") defines the "who, what, when and how" needed for the businesses to achieve the policies, requirements, performance objectives, leadership expectations and public commitments. EMS is also designed to minimize the long-term cost of environmental protection and to comply with applicable laws and regulations. To ensure effective utilization, EMS is integrated into a company-wide management system for EH&S, Operations, Quality and Human Resources, including implementation of the global EH&S Work Process to improve EH&S performance and to ensure ongoing compliance worldwide.
UCC first works to eliminate or minimize the generation of waste and emissions at the source through research, process design, plant operations and maintenance. Next, UCC finds ways to reuse and recycle materials. Finally, unusable or non-recyclable hazardous waste is treated before disposal to eliminate or reduce the hazardous nature and volume of the waste. Treatment may include destruction by chemical, physical, biological or thermal means. Disposal of waste materials in landfills is considered only after all other options have been thoroughly evaluated. UCC has specific requirements for waste that is transferred to non-UCC facilities, including the periodic auditing of these facilities.
Chemical Security
Public and political attention continues to be placed on the protection of U.S. critical infrastructure, including the chemical industry, from security threats. Terrorist attacks and natural disasters have increased concern about the security and safety of chemical production and distribution. The focus on security is not new to UCC. UCC continues to improve its security plans, placing emphasis on the safety of UCC communities and people by being prepared to meet risks at any level and to address both internal and external identifiable risks. UCC's security plans are also developed to avert interruptions of normal business operations, which could have a material impact on the Corporation's results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.
UCC is a Responsible Care® company and adheres to the Responsible Care® Security Code, which requires that all aspects of security - including facility, transportation and cyberspace - be assessed and gaps addressed. Through global implementation of the Security Code, including voluntary security enhancements and upgrades , UCC has permanently heightened the level of security - not just in the United States, but worldwide. In addition, UCC uses a risk-based approach employing the U.S. Government's
Sandia National Labs methodology to repeatedly assess the risks to sites, systems and processes. UCC has expanded its comprehensive Distribution Risk Review process that had been in place for decades to address potential threats in all modes of transportation across its supply chain. In 2019, Dow Inc. established its Global Security Operations Center ("GSOC") to provide 24-hour/day, 365-day/year real-time monitoring of global risks to Dow Inc. assets and people, which includes UCC assets and people. The GSOC employs state-of-the-art social media monitoring, threat reporting and geo-fencing capabilities to analyze global risks and report those risks, facilitating decision-making and actions to prevent Dow Inc. crises.
To reduce vulnerabilities, UCC maintains security measures that meet or exceed regulatory and industry security standards in all areas in which UCC operates. Assessment and improvement costs are not considered material to the Corporation's consolidated financial statements.
Climate Change
Climate change matters for UCC are driven by changes in regulatory matters and physical climate parameters.
Regulatory Matters
Regulatory matters include cap and trade schemes, increased greenhouse gas ("GHG") limits, and taxes on GHG emissions, fuel and energy. The potential implications of each of these matters are all very similar, including increased cost of purchased energy, additional capital costs for installation or modification of GHG emitting equipment, and additional costs associated directly with GHG emissions (such as cap and trade systems or carbon taxes), which are primarily related to energy use. It is difficult to estimate the potential impact of these regulatory matters on energy prices.
Reducing UCC's overall energy usage and GHG emissions through new and unfolding projects will decrease the potential impact of these regulatory matters. The Corporation has not experienced any material impact related to regulated GHG emissions.
Physical Climate Parameters
Many scientific academies throughout the world have concluded that it is very likely that human activities are contributing to global warming. At this point, it is difficult to predict and assess the probability and opportunity of a global warming trend on UCC specifically. Preparedness plans are developed that detail actions needed in the event of severe weather. These measures have historically been in place and these activities and associated costs are driven by normal operational preparedness. UCC continues to study the long-term implications of changing climate parameters or water availability, plant siting issues, and impacts and opportunities for products.
The Corporation continues to elevate its internal focus and external positions to focus on the root cause of GHG emissions, including the sustainable use of energy. Through corporate energy efficiency programs and focused GHG management efforts, the Corporation has and is continuing to reduce its GHG emissions footprint.
Environmental Remediation
UCC accrues the costs of remediation of its facilities and formerly owned facilities based on current law and existing technologies. The nature of such remediation includes, for example, the management of soil and groundwater contamination. The policies adopted to properly reflect the monetary impacts of environmental matters are discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. To assess the impact on the consolidated financial statements, environmental experts review currently available facts to evaluate the probability and scope of potential liabilities. Inherent uncertainties exist in such evaluations primarily due to unknown environmental conditions, changing governmental regulations and legal standards regarding liability, and emerging remediation technologies. These liabilities are adjusted periodically as remediation efforts progress or as additional technical or legal information becomes available. The Corporation had an accrued liability of $112 million at December 31, 2019 and $78 million at December 31, 2018, related to the remediation of current or former UCC-owned sites.
In addition to current and former UCC-owned sites, under the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and equivalent state laws (hereafter referred to collectively as "Superfund Law"), UCC is liable for remediation of other hazardous waste sites where UCC allegedly disposed of, or arranged for the treatment or disposal of, hazardous substances. Because Superfund Law imposes joint and several liability upon each party at a site, UCC has evaluated its potential liability in light of the number of other companies that also have been named potentially responsible parties ("PRPs") at each site, the estimated apportionment of costs among all PRPs, and the financial ability and commitment of each to pay its expected share. Management's estimate of the Corporation's remaining liability for the remediation of Superfund sites was $20 million at December 31, 2019 and $16 million at December 31, 2018, which has been accrued, although the ultimate cost with respect to these sites could exceed that amount. The Corporation has not recorded any third-party recovery related to these sites as a receivable.
Information regarding environmental sites is provided below:
Environmental Sites
UCC-owned Sites 1
Superfund Sites 2
2019
2018
2019
2018
Number of sites at Jan 1
25
25
68
69
Sites added during year
—
—
1
—
Sites closed during year
—
—
(2
)
(1
)
Number of sites at Dec 31
25
25
67
68
1.
UCC-owned sites are sites currently or formerly owned by UCC. In the United States, remediation obligations are imposed by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act or analogous state law.
2.
Superfund sites are sites, including sites not owned by UCC, where remediation obligations are imposed by Superfund Law.
In total, the Corporation's accrued liability for probable environmental remediation and restoration costs was $132 million at December 31, 2019, compared with $94 million at December 31, 2018. This is management's best estimate of the costs for remediation and restoration with respect to environmental matters for which the Corporation has accrued liabilities, although it is reasonably possible that the ultimate cost with respect to these particular matters could range up to approximately two and a half times that amount. Consequently, it is reasonably possible that environmental remediation and restoration costs in excess of amounts accrued could have a material impact on the Corporation's results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. It is the opinion of the Corporation's management, however, that the possibility is remote that costs in excess of the range disclosed will have a material impact on the Corporation's results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In the third quarter of 2019, the Corporation recorded a pretax charge of $55 million, included in "Cost of sales" in the consolidated statements of income, related to environmental remediation matters at a number of current and historical locations. The charge primarily resulted from the culmination of long-standing negotiations and discussions with regulators and agencies, including technical studies supporting higher cost estimates for final or staged remediation plans, and the Corporation’s review of its closure strategies and obligations to monitor ongoing operations and maintenance activities.
The amounts charged to income on a pretax basis related to environmental remediation totaled $93 million in 2019, $38 million in 2018 and $36 million in 2017. The amounts charged to income on a pretax basis related to operating the Corporation's pollution abatement facilities, excluding internal recharges, totaled $109 million in 2019, $113 million in 2018 and $113 million in 2017. Capital expenditures for environmental protection were $11 million in 2019, $9 million in 2018 and $9 million in 2017.
Asbestos-Related Matters
The Corporation is and has been involved in a large number of asbestos-related suits filed primarily in state courts during the past four decades. These suits principally allege personal injury resulting from exposure to asbestos-containing products and frequently seek both actual and punitive damages. The alleged claims primarily relate to products that UCC sold in the past, alleged exposure to asbestos-containing products located on UCC's premises, and UCC's responsibility for asbestos suits filed against a former UCC subsidiary, Amchem. In many cases, plaintiffs are unable to demonstrate that they have suffered any compensable loss as a result of such exposure, or that injuries incurred in fact resulted from exposure to UCC's products.
The table below provides information regarding asbestos-related claims pending against the Corporation and Amchem based on criteria developed by UCC and its external consultants:
Plaintiffs' lawyers often sue numerous defendants in individual lawsuits or on behalf of numerous claimants. As a result, the damages alleged are not expressly identified as to UCC, Amchem or any other particular defendant, even when specific damages are alleged with respect to a specific disease or injury. In fact, there are no personal injury cases in which only the Corporation and/or Amchem are the sole named defendants. For these reasons and based upon the Corporation's litigation and settlement experience, the Corporation does not consider the damages alleged against it and Amchem to be a meaningful factor in its determination of any potential asbestos-related liability.
For additional information, see Part I, Item 3. Legal Proceedings and Asbestos-Related Matters in Notes 1 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Debt Covenants and Default Provisions
The Corporation's outstanding public debt has been issued under indentures which contain, among other provisions, covenants that the Corporation must comply with while the underlying notes are outstanding. Such covenants are typically based on the Corporation's size and financial position and include, subject to the exceptions and qualifications contained in the indentures, obligations not to (i) allow liens on principal U.S. manufacturing facilities, (ii) enter into sale and lease-back transactions with respect to principal U.S. manufacturing facilities, or (iii) merge into or consolidate with any other entity or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets. Failure of the Corporation to comply with any of these covenants could, after the passage of any applicable grace period, result in a default under the applicable indenture which would allow the note holders to accelerate the due date of the outstanding principal and accrued interest on the subject notes. Management believes the Corporation was in compliance with the covenants referred to above at December 31, 2019.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
UCC’s business operations give rise to market risk exposure due to changes in foreign exchange rates, interest rates, commodity prices and other market factors such as equity prices. To manage such risks effectively, the Corporation enters into hedging transactions, pursuant to established guidelines and policies that enable it to mitigate the adverse effects of financial market risk. Derivatives used for this purpose are designated as hedges per the accounting guidance related to derivatives and hedging activities, where appropriate.
The global nature of UCC’s business requires active participation in the foreign exchange markets. As a result of investments, production facilities and other operations on a global basis, the Corporation has assets, liabilities and cash flows in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The primary objective of the Corporation’s foreign exchange risk management is to optimize the U.S. dollar value of net assets and cash flows. To achieve this objective, the Corporation hedges on a net exposure basis using foreign currency forward contracts, over-the-counter option contracts, cross-currency swaps and nonderivative instruments in foreign currencies. Exposures primarily relate to assets, liabilities and cash flows denominated in foreign currencies. The largest exposures are denominated in the Canadian dollar as well as the currencies of Europe and Asia Pacific.
The main objective of interest rate risk management is to reduce the total funding cost to the Corporation and to alter the interest rate exposure to the desired risk profile. To achieve this objective, the Corporation hedges using interest rate swaps, “swaptions,” and exchange-traded instruments. The Corporation’s primary exposure is to the U.S. dollar yield curve.
UCC uses value-at-risk ("VAR"), stress testing and scenario analysis for risk measurement and control purposes. VAR estimates the maximum potential loss in fair market values given a certain move in prices over a certain period of time, using specified confidence levels. The VAR methodology used by the Corporation is a variance/covariance model. This model uses a 97.5 percent confidence level and includes at least one year of historical data. The 2019 and 2018 year-end and average daily VAR for the aggregate of all positions are shown below:
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholder and the Board of Directors of Union Carbide Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Union Carbide Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Corporation") as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Corporation as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, in the first quarter of 2018, the Corporation changed its method of accounting for revenue due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue From Contracts with Customers and, in the first quarter of 2019, the Corporation changed its method of accounting for leases due to the adoption of ASC Topic 842, Leases.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Corporation's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Corporation's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Corporation in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Corporation is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Midland, Michigan
February 7, 2020
We have served as the Corporation's auditor since 2001.
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
Except as otherwise indicated by the context, the terms "Corporation" and "UCC" as used herein mean Union Carbide Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Corporation were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") and include the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of all majority-owned subsidiaries over which the Corporation exercises control and, when applicable, entities for which the Corporation has a controlling financial interest. Investments in nonconsolidated affiliates (20-50 percent owned companies, joint ventures and partnerships) are accounted for using the equity method.
The Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company ("TDCC"). In accordance with the accounting guidance for earnings per share, the presentation of earnings per share is not required in financial statements of wholly owned subsidiaries.
TDCC conducts its worldwide operations through global businesses. The Corporation’s business activities comprise components of TDCC’s global businesses rather than stand-alone operations. Because there are no separate reportable business segments for UCC under the accounting guidance related to segment reporting and no detailed business information is provided to a chief operating decision maker regarding the Corporation’s stand-alone operations, the Corporation’s results are reported as a single operating segment.
On April 1, 2019, DowDuPont Inc. (“DowDuPont” and effective June 3, 2019, n/k/a DuPont de Nemours, Inc.) completed the separation of its materials science business and Dow Inc. became the direct parent company of TDCC and its consolidated subsidiaries. The separation was contemplated by the merger of equals transaction effective August 31, 2017, under the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 11, 2015, as amended on March 31, 2017 (the "Merger Agreement"). TDCC and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and its consolidated subsidiaries ("Historical DuPont") each merged with subsidiaries of DowDuPont, and, as a result, TDCC and Historical DuPont became subsidiaries of DowDuPont (the “Merger”). Subsequent to the Merger, TDCC and Historical DuPont engaged in a series of internal reorganization and realignment steps to realign their businesses into three subgroups: agriculture, materials science and specialty products. Dow Inc. was formed as a wholly owned
subsidiary of DowDuPont to serve as the holding company for the materials science business. UCC remains a wholly owned subsidiary of TDCC. See Note 3 for additional information.
Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. Transactions with the Corporation’s parent company, TDCC, and other subsidiaries of TDCC, have been reflected as related company transactions in the consolidated financial statements. See Note 19 for additional information.
Use of Estimates in Financial Statement Preparation
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Corporation's consolidated financial statements include amounts that are based on management's best estimates and judgments. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Significant Accounting Policies
Asbestos-Related Matters
Accruals for asbestos-related matters, including defense and processing costs, are recorded based on an analysis of claim and resolution activity, defense spending and pending and future claims. These accruals are assessed at each balance sheet date to determine if the asbestos-related liability remains appropriate. Accruals for asbestos-related matters are included in the consolidated balance sheets in "Asbestos-related liabilities - current" and "Asbestos-related liabilities - noncurrent." See Note 14 for additional information.
Legal Costs
The Corporation expenses legal costs as incurred, with the exception of defense and processing costs associated with asbestos-related matters.
Foreign Currency Translation
While the Corporation's consolidated subsidiaries are primarily based in the United States, the Corporation has small subsidiaries in Asia Pacific and the rest of the world. For those subsidiaries, the local currency has been primarily used as the functional currency. Translation gains and losses of those operations that use local currency as the functional currency are included in the consolidated balance sheets in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" ("AOCL"). Where the U.S. dollar is used as the functional currency, foreign currency gains and losses are reflected in income.
Environmental Matters
Accruals for environmental matters are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated based on current law and existing technologies. These accruals are adjusted periodically as assessment and remediation efforts progress or as additional technical or legal information becomes available. Accruals for environmental liabilities are included in the consolidated balance sheets in "Accrued and other current liabilities" and "Other noncurrent obligations" at undiscounted amounts. Accruals for related insurance or other third-party recoveries for environmental liabilities are recorded when it is probable that a recovery will be realized and are included in the consolidated balance sheets in "Accounts receivable - Other."
Environmental costs are capitalized if the costs extend the life of the property, increase its capacity, and/or mitigate or prevent contamination from future operations. Environmental costs are also capitalized in recognition of legal asset retirement obligations resulting from the acquisition, construction and/or normal operation of a long-lived asset. Costs related to environmental contamination treatment and cleanup are charged to expense. Estimated future incremental operations, maintenance and management costs directly related to remediation are accrued when such costs are probable and reasonably estimable.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include time deposits and investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase.
Financial Instruments
The Corporation calculates the fair value of financial instruments using quoted market prices when available. When quoted market prices are not available for financial instruments, the Corporation uses standard pricing models with market-based inputs that take into account the present value of estimated future cash flows.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The method of determining cost for each subsidiary varies among last-in, first-out ("LIFO"); first-in, first-out ("FIFO"); and average cost, and is used consistently from year to year.
The Corporation routinely exchanges and swaps raw materials and finished goods with other companies to reduce delivery time, freight and other transportation costs. These transactions are treated as non-monetary exchanges and are valued at cost.
Property
Land, buildings and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Property under finance lease agreements is carried at the present value of lease payments over the lease term less accumulated amortization. Depreciation is based on the estimated service lives of depreciable assets and is calculated using the straight-line method. Fully depreciated assets are retained in property and accumulated depreciation accounts until they are removed from service. In the case of disposals, assets and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and the net amounts, less proceeds from disposal, are included in income.
Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets
The Corporation evaluates long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When undiscounted future cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover an asset's carrying amount, the asset is written down to its fair value based on bids received from third parties or a discounted cash flow analysis based on market participant assumptions.
Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale, if material, are classified as held for sale and reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell, and depreciation is ceased. Long-lived assets to be disposed of other than by sale are classified as held and used until they are disposed of and reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value, and depreciation is recognized over the remaining useful life of the assets.
Other Intangible Assets
Finite-lived intangible assets such as purchased customer lists, developed technology, patents, trademarks and software, are amortized over their estimated useful lives, generally on a straight-line basis for periods ranging primarily from three to twenty years.
Investments in Related Companies
Investments in related companies consist of the Corporation's ownership interests in TDCC subsidiaries located in the U.S. and Latin America. The Corporation accounts for these investments using the cost method as it does not have significant influence over the operating and financial policies of these related companies.
Leases
Effective January 1, 2019, UCC adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” and the associated ASUs (collectively, “Topic 842”). The Corporation added the following significant accounting policy for leases as a result of the adoption of Topic 842:
UCC determines whether a contract contains a lease at contract inception. A contract contains a lease if there is an identified asset and the Corporation has the right to control the asset.
Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent UCC’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent UCC’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. UCC uses the incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of lease payments, unless the implicit rate is readily determinable. If lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease, the ROU asset and lease liability are measured based on the reasonably certain decision. Leases with a term of 12 months or less at the commencement date are not recognized on the balance sheet and are expensed as incurred.
UCC has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are accounted for as a single lease component for all classes of leased assets for which UCC is the lessee. Additionally, for certain equipment leases, the portfolio approach is applied to account for the operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities. In the consolidated statements of income, lease expense for operating lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For finance leases, interest expense is recognized on the lease liability and the ROU asset is amortized over the lease term.
Some leasing arrangements require variable payments that are dependent upon usage or output, or may vary for other reasons, such as insurance or tax payments. Variable lease payments are recognized as incurred and are not presented as part of the ROU asset or lease liability. See Notes 2 and 15 for additional information.
Effective January 1, 2018, the Corporation recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," and the associated ASUs (collectively, "Topic 606"). Substantially all of the Corporation's revenues are generated by sales to TDCC. Revenue for product sales to related companies is recognized when the related company obtains control of the product, which occurs either at the time that production is complete or shipped free on board ("FOB") from UCC's manufacturing facility, in accordance with the sales agreement between the Corporation and TDCC. The Corporation recognizes revenue for product sales to trade customers when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Corporation expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for the arrangements that the Corporation determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the Corporation performs the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. See Note 4 for additional information.
In periods prior to the adoption of Topic 606, the Corporation's accounting policy for product sales was to recognize revenue as risk and title to the product transferred to the related company or customer. Revenue related to the initial licensing of patents and technology was recognized when earned; revenue related to running royalties was recognized according to licensee production levels.
Severance Costs
Management routinely reviews its operations around the world in an effort to ensure competitiveness across its operations and geographic regions. When the reviews result in a workforce reduction related to the shutdown of facilities or other optimization activities, severance benefits are provided to employees primarily under ongoing benefit arrangements. These severance costs are accrued once management commits to a plan of termination and it becomes probable that employees will be entitled to benefits at amounts that can be reasonably estimated.
Integration and Separation Costs
The Corporation classifies expenses related to the Merger and separation as integration and separation costs. Merger-related costs include: costs incurred to prepare for and close the Merger, post-Merger integration expenses and costs incurred for the separation of TDCC’s agriculture business, materials science business and specialty products business. Integration and separation costs primarily consist of financial advisor, information technology, legal, accounting, consulting and other professional advisory fees associated with preparation and execution of these activities.
Income Taxes
The Corporation accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets or liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Corporation is included in the same consolidated federal income tax group and consolidated income tax return as TDCC. The Corporation accounts for its income taxes following the formula in the TDCC-UCC Tax Sharing Agreement used to compute the amount due to TDCC or UCC for UCC's share of taxable income and tax attributes on the consolidated income tax return. This method generally follows the separate return method. The amounts reported as income taxes payable or receivable represent the Corporation's payment obligation (or refundable amount) to TDCC based on a theoretical tax liability calculated on a separate return method.
The Corporation recognizes the financial statement effects of an uncertain income tax position when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. The Corporation accrues for non-income tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability to a taxing authority has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated.
Provision is made for taxes on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries and related companies to the extent that such earnings are not deemed to be permanently invested.
In 2019, the Corporation made a change to separately report "Interest income" which had previously been included in "Sundry income (expense) - net" in the consolidated statements of income.
Consolidated Statements of Equity
The adoption of ASU 2018-02 in 2018 resulted in a $254 million increase to retained earnings due to the reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive loss for the effect of the federal corporate income tax rate change as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 ("The Act") on the Corporation's pension plans. This adoption is reflected in the "Adoption of accounting standard" line in the consolidated statements of equity.
NOTE 2 - RECENT ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE
Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance
In 2019, the Corporation adopted Topic 842, which requires organizations that lease assets to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. The new guidance requires that a lessee recognize assets and liabilities for leases, and recognition, presentation and measurement in the financial statements will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. In addition, the new guidance requires disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. Lessor accounting remains largely unchanged from legacy U.S. GAAP but does contain some targeted improvements to align with the new revenue recognition guidance in Topic 606. The new standard was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption was permitted.
The Corporation adopted Topic 842 using the modified retrospective transition approach, applying the new standard to leases existing at the date of initial adoption. The Corporation elected to apply the transition requirements at the effective date rather than at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented with a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption, and prior periods were not restated. In addition, the Corporation elected to apply the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance which does not require reassessment of prior conclusions, lease classification and initial direct lease costs. The Corporation did not elect to use the hindsight practical expedient in determining the lease term or assessing impairment of ROU assets. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities of $99 million at January 1, 2019. The difference between the additional operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities, net of deferred taxes, was recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings and was not material. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated statements of income and had no impact on cash flows. See Note 15 for additional information.
Accounting Guidance Issued But Not Adopted at December 31, 2019
In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2019-12, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes." The amendments simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles of Topic 740, "Income Taxes" and also improve consistent application by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, with the amendments to be applied on a retrospective, modified retrospective or prospective basis, depending on the specific amendment. The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.
NOTE 3 - MERGER WITH HISTORICAL DUPONT AND BUSINESS SEPARATION
Effective August 31, 2017, TDCC and Historical DuPont completed the merger of equals transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, by and among TDCC, Historical DuPont, DowDuPont, Diamond Merger Sub, Inc. and Orion Merger Sub, Inc. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) Diamond Merger Sub, Inc. was merged with and into TDCC, with TDCC surviving the merger as a subsidiary of DowDuPont (the "Diamond Merger") and (ii) Orion Merger Sub, Inc. was merged with and into Historical DuPont, with Historical DuPont surviving the merger as a subsidiary of DowDuPont (the "Orion Merger" and, together with the Diamond Merger, the "Mergers"). Following the consummation of the Mergers, each of TDCC and Historical DuPont became subsidiaries of DowDuPont (collectively, the "Merger"). Subsequent to the Merger, TDCC and Historical DuPont engaged in a series of internal reorganization and realignment steps to realign their businesses into three subgroups: agriculture, materials science and specialty products. Dow Inc. was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of DowDuPont to serve as the holding company for the materials science business.
In the first quarter of 2019, in anticipation of DowDuPont's intended separation of its materials science business, UCC's assets and liabilities aligned with TDCC's specialty products business were transferred to TDCC as part of the internal reorganization steps to align TDCC's specialty products business to DowDuPont. In order to align entity ownership under TDCC, UCC distributed shares and assets to TDCC through dividends or asset distributions. As a result, in February 2019, UCC issued to TDCC a dividend of 1,067 shares of common stock of Dow International Holdings Company (“DIHC”), a cost method investment. Prior to the distribution, UCC had an 11.9 percent ownership interest in DIHC with the other 88.1 percent owned by TDCC and its other wholly owned subsidiaries. After the dividend, UCC’s investment in DIHC was reduced to 4.7 percent and resulted in a reduction in "Investments in related companies" of $401 million. UCC also transferred, as an asset distribution, the assets and liabilities aligned with TDCC's specialty products business for an additional dividend of $71 million to TDCC. The results of these transactions are reflected in “Investments in related companies” and “Retained earnings” in the consolidated balance sheets. See Notes 11 and 19 for additional information.
The Corporation evaluated the impact of the specialty products product line transfer and determined it did not represent a strategic shift that had a major effect on the Corporation’s operations and financial results and did not qualify as an individually significant component of the Corporation. As a result, this transfer was not reported as discontinued operations.
NOTE 4 - REVENUE
Substantially all of the Corporation's revenues are generated by sales to TDCC. Products are sold to and purchased from TDCC at market-based prices in accordance with the terms of an agreement between UCC and TDCC. Approximately 99 percent of the Corporation's sales in 2019, 2018 and 2017 related to sales of product; the remaining sales related to the licensing of patents and technology. The Corporation sells its products to TDCC to simplify the customer interface process.
Substantially all product sale contracts are short-term in nature and have original expected durations of one year or less. Revenue from product sales is recognized when TDCC or the customer obtains control of the Corporation’s product, which occurs at a point in time, typically at the time production is complete or product is shipped FOB from UCC’s manufacturing facility for sales to TDCC, or upon shipment for sales to trade customers. The Corporation’s payment terms are on average 30 to 60 days after invoicing. All shipping and handling activities that occur after control transfers to the customer are considered fulfillment activities. Certain long-term contracts include a series of distinct goods that are delivered continuously to the customer through a pipeline. For these types of product sales, the Corporation invoices the customer in an amount that directly corresponds with the value to the customer of the Corporation’s performance to date. As a result, revenue is recognized based on the amount billable to the customer in accordance with the right to invoice practical expedient.
The transaction price for product sales includes estimates for the most likely amount of consideration to which the Corporation will be entitled based on historical award experience and the Corporation’s best judgment at the time. Taxes collected and remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from the transaction price. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Corporation allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation on the basis of relative standalone selling price, which is based on the price charged to customers or estimated using the expected cost plus margin method.
Revenue related to the initial licensing of patents and technology is recognized when the performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue related to sales-based royalties to which the Corporation expects to be entitled is estimated based on historical sales.
The Corporation’s contract liabilities include payments received in advance of performance under long-term contracts for product sales and royalties and are realized when the associated revenue is recognized under the contract with remaining contract terms that range up to 21 years. The Corporation will have rights to future consideration for revenue recognized when product is delivered to the customer. The balance of contract liabilities at December 31, 2019 was $41 million ($41 million at December 31, 2018), of which $4 million at December 31, 2019 ($2 million at December 31, 2018) was included in "Accrued and other current liabilities" and $37 million at December 31, 2019 ($39 million at December 31, 2018) was included in "Other noncurrent obligations" in the consolidated balance sheets.
The Corporation disaggregates its revenue from contracts with customers by type of customer (sales to related parties and sales to trade customers) as presented on the consolidated statements of income and believes this disaggregation best depicts the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of its revenue and cash flows. Substantially all of the product sales are made to the parent entity, TDCC, and there are no unique economic factors that affect revenue recognition and cash flows associated with these product sales.
On November 1, 2019, the Corporation completed the sale of its acetone derivatives product line to ALTIVIA Ketones & Additives, LLC for net proceeds of $17 million. The sale included acetone derivatives related inventory and production assets, as well as site infrastructure, land and utilities located in Institute, West Virginia. The sale also included railcars valued at $3 million, which were previously owned by TDCC and transferred to UCC in anticipation of the sale. The assets, with the exception of inventory and railcars, were written down to zero in the third quarter of 2019. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Corporation recorded a $5 million pretax loss on the sale, included in "Sundry income (expense) - net" in the consolidated statements of income. The Corporation remains at the Institute, West Virginia site as a tenant. See Notes 6 and 18 for additional information.
The Corporation evaluated the divestiture of the acetone derivatives product line and determined it did not represent a strategic shift that had a major effect on the Corporation’s operations and financial results and did not qualify as an individually significant component of the Corporation. As a result, this divestiture was not reported as discontinued operations.
NOTE 6 - RESTRUCTURING AND ASSET RELATED CHARGES - NET
2019 Asset Related Charges
On August 13, 2019, the Corporation entered into a definitive agreement to sell its acetone derivatives product line to ALTIVIA Ketones & Additives, LLC. As a result of this planned transaction, the Corporation recognized a pretax impairment charge of $75 million. The impairment charge was included in "Restructuring and asset related charges - net" in the consolidated statements of income. See Notes 5 and 18 for additional information.
2017 Restructuring and Asset Related Charges
In September and November 2017, the Corporation approved restructuring actions that were aligned with DowDuPont's synergy targets. As a result of these actions, the Corporation recorded pretax restructuring charges for severance and related benefit costs of $10 million, as well as charges of $62 million for the write-off and write-down of manufacturing and facility assets at multiple UCC sites, including a steam unit in Institute, West Virginia. These charges were shown as "Restructuring and asset related charges ‑ net" in the consolidated statements of income.
In addition to the actions taken in 2017, the Corporation recorded additional restructuring charges for severance and related benefit costs of $4 million in 2019 and $3 million in 2018. These charges were shown as "Restructuring and asset related charges ‑ net” in the consolidated statements of income. At December 31, 2019, severance of $16 million had been paid ($9 million at December 31, 2018), leaving a liability recorded in "Accrued and other current liabilities"of $1 million ($4 million at December 31, 2018), substantially completing the 2017 restructuring program.
2016 Restructuring
On June 27, 2016, the Corporation approved actions to further improve cost effectiveness with additional workforce reductions. As a result of these actions, the Corporation recorded a pretax restructuring charge in 2017 of $2 million for severance and related benefit costs. This charge was shown as "Restructuring and asset related charges - net" in the consolidated statements of income. At December 31, 2017, the liability for severance and related benefit costs was zero, substantially completing the 2016 restructuring program.
The Corporation expects to incur additional costs in the future related to restructuring activities, as UCC continually looks for ways to enhance the efficiency and cost effectiveness of its operations. Future costs are expected to include demolition costs related to the closed facilities; these will be recognized as incurred. The Corporation also expects to incur additional employee-related costs, including involuntary termination benefits, related to its other optimization activities. These costs cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.
Non-operating pension and other postretirement benefit plan net credits (costs) 2
(17
)
(1
)
8
Net loss on sale of acetone derivatives assets 3
(5
)
—
—
Net gain (loss) on sales of property
(1
)
—
23
Net gain on sale of a nonconsolidated affiliate
—
—
4
Other - net
(12
)
(9
)
(3
)
Total sundry income (expense) - net
$
(82
)
$
(62
)
$
(23
)
1.
See Note 19 for additional information.
2.
See Note 17 for additional information.
3.
See Note 5 for additional information.
Accrued and Other Current Liabilities
"Accrued and other current liabilities" in the consolidated balance sheets were $126 million at December 31, 2019 ($163 million at December 31, 2018). The current portion of the Corporation's accrued obligations for environmental matters, which is a component of "Accrued and other current liabilities," was $45 million at December 31, 2019 ($58 million at December 31, 2018). See Note 14 for additional information. No other component of "Accrued and other current liabilities" was more than 5 percent of total current liabilities.
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
The following table shows cash paid for interest and income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
2019
2018
2017
In millions
Cash paid during year for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized
$
37
$
37
$
37
Income taxes
$
136
$
269
$
254
NOTE 8 - INCOME TAXES
Geographic Allocation of Income and Provision for Income Taxes