UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(MARK ONE)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                 TO                

Commission File Number 1-4462

 

STEPAN COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Edens and Winnetka Road,  Northfield, Illinois 60093

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number (847) 446-7500

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

---

Part I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1 - Financial Statements

STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Unaudited

 

 

 

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

 

2

---

STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Unaudited

 

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

 

 

3

---

STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited

 

 

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

 

4

---

STEPAN COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Unaudited

 

 

 

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

 

 

5

---

STEPAN COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2016

Unaudited

 

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Stepan Company (Company), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although management believes that the disclosures are adequate and make the information presented not misleading.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2016,  results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, have been included.  These financial statements and related footnotes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

Below are reconciliations of total equity, Company equity and equity attributable to noncontrolling interests for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

 

 

 

6

---

The following describe the financial instruments held by the Company at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, and the methods and assumptions used to estimate the instruments’ fair values:

Cash and cash equivalents

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

Derivative assets and liabilities

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

Long-term investments

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

Debt obligations

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

At September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, the fair values of debt and the related carrying values, including current maturities, were as follows (the fair value and carrying value amounts are presented without regard to unamortized debt issuance costs of $1,193,000 and $1,269,000 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively):

 

 

The following tables present financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis at fair value as of September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall:

 

 

7

---

 

 

 

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risk managed by the use of derivative instruments is foreign currency exchange risk.  The Company holds forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not designated as any type of accounting hedge as defined by U.S. GAAP.  The Company uses these contracts to manage its exposure to exchange rate fluctuations on certain Company subsidiary cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other obligation balances that are denominated in currencies other than the entities’ functional currencies. The forward foreign exchange contracts are recognized on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value. Gains and losses arising from recording the foreign exchange contracts at fair value are reported in earnings as offsets to the losses and gains reported in earnings arising from the re-measurement of the asset and liability balances into the applicable functional currencies. At September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, the Company had open forward foreign currency exchange contracts, all with durations of one to three months, to buy or sell foreign currencies with U.S. dollar equivalent amounts of $35,174,819 and $31,194,000, respectively.

The Company is exposed to volatility in short-term interest rates. The interest rate risk is partially mitigated by the periodic use of interest rate swaps on certain debt instruments.  The interest rate swaps are recognized on the balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value.  The Company held interest rate swap contracts with notional values of $3,373,060 at September 30, 2016, and $3,724,000 at December 31, 2015. The contracts were designated as cash flow hedges. Period-to-period changes in the fair value of interest rate swap contracts are recognized as gains or losses in other comprehensive income, to the extent effective.  As each interest rate swap contract is settled, the corresponding gain or loss is reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) into earnings in that settlement period. The latest date through which the Company expects to hedge its exposure to the volatility of short-term interest rates is December 1, 2021.

The fair values of the derivative instruments held by the Company on September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, are disclosed in Note 3. Derivative instrument gains and losses for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, were immaterial.  For amounts reclassified out of AOCI into earnings for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, see Note 10.

 

 

On September 30, 2016, the Company had stock options outstanding under its 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan and stock options, stock awards and stock appreciation rights (SARs) outstanding under its 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan.

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

 

The increases in stock-based compensation expense between the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were primarily attributable to compensation related to cash-settled SARs and performance awards. Increases in the fair values of cash-settled SARs, driven by a significant rise in Company common stock prices, led to higher SARs compensation expense. The increased expense for performance awards resulted from management’s assessment that the profitability metrics for certain grants would be achieved at greater levels than previously estimated.

8

---

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

 

The increases in unrecognized compensation costs for stock options, stock awards and SARs reflected the 2016 grants of:

 

The unrecognized compensation costs at September 30, 2016 are expected to be recognized over weighted-average periods of 1.2 years, 1.9 years and 1.2 years for stock options, stock awards and SARs, respectively.

 

 

The composition of inventories was as follows: 

 

 

Inventories are priced primarily using the last-in, first-out inventory valuation method.  If the first-in, first-out inventory valuation method had been used for all inventories, total inventory balances would have been approximately $26,235,000 and $18,171,000 higher than reported at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

 

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

As of September 30, 2016, the Company estimated a range of possible environmental and legal losses of $21.4 million to $42.4 million.  At September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, the Company’s accrued liability for such losses, which represented the Company’s best estimate within the estimated range of possible environmental and legal losses, was $21.4 million and $20.9 million, respectively. During the first nine months of 2016 and 2015, cash outlays related to legal and environmental matters approximated $1.0 and $2.3 million, respectively.  

For certain sites, the Company has responded to information requests made by federal, state or local government agencies but has received no response confirming or denying the Company’s stated positions. As such, estimates of the total costs, or range of possible costs, of remediation, if any, or the Company’s share of such costs, if any, cannot be determined with respect to these sites. Consequently, the Company is unable to predict the effect thereof on the Company’s financial position, cash flows and results of operations. Given the information available, management believes the Company has no liability at these sites. However, in the event of one or more adverse determinations with respect to such sites in any annual or interim period, the effect on the Company’s cash flows and results of operations for those periods could be material.  Based upon the Company’s present knowledge with respect to its involvement at these sites, the possibility of other viable entities’ responsibilities for cleanup, and the extended period over which any costs would be incurred, the Company believes that these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position.

9

---

Following are summaries of the material contingencies at September 30, 2016:

Maywood, New Jersey Site

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

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

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

D’Imperio Property Site

During the mid-1970’s, Jerome Lightman and the Lightman Drum Company disposed of hazardous substances at several sites in New Jersey.  The Company was named as a PRP in the case United States v. Lightman (1:92-cv-4710 D.N.J.), which involved the D’Imperio Property Site located in New Jersey.  In 2016, the PRPs were provided with updated remediation cost estimates which were considered in the Company’s determination of its range of estimated possible losses and liability balance.  The change in range of possible losses and liability balance were immaterial.  Remediation work is continuing at this site.  Based on current information, the Company believes that its recorded liability for claims associated with the D’Imperio site is adequate.  However, actual costs could differ from current estimates.

Wilmington Site

The Company is currently contractually obligated to contribute to the response costs associated with the Company’s formerly-owned site at 51 Eames Street, Wilmington, Massachusetts.  Remediation at this site is being managed by its current owner to whom the Company sold the property in 1980.  Under the agreement, once total site remediation costs exceed certain levels, the Company is obligated to contribute up to five percent of future response costs associated with this site with no limitation on the ultimate amount of contributions. To date, the Company has paid the current owner $2.5 million for the Company’s portion of environmental response costs. The Company has recorded a liability for its portion of the estimated remediation costs for the site.  Depending on the ultimate cost of the remediation at this site, the amount for which the Company is liable could differ from the current estimates.

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

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

10

---

Mexico Value-Added Tax

In the first quarter of 2015, during an examination of the 2009 and 2010 financial records of the Company’s Mexico subsidiary, local tax authority auditors determined that the Company’s treatment of value-added tax (VAT) for purchase transactions with a certain vendor was incorrect. As a result, the tax authorities concluded that the Company owed past VAT from 2009-2010 along with assessed inflation, penalty and interest charges. Consequently, the Company recorded a liability and corresponding income statement charge for the VAT inflation, penalty and interest charges. The liability included the 2009–2010 assessment of inflation, penalty and interest charges plus an estimated amount for the potential exposure for 2011– 2014. The amount recorded was not material to the Company’s results of operations. No charge was recorded for the past unpaid VAT because the Company believes the amount will be recoverable through the normal VAT process. No exposure for years after 2014 exists as the Company remedied the underlying issue that led to the tax authorities’ determination.  In February 2016, the Company reached agreement with Mexico’s tax authorities on the amount of inflation, penalty and interest charged for the 2009 and 2010 years under audit.  No significant adjustments were required to the previously recorded liability.  Depending on the outcomes of future negotiations with Mexico tax authorities regarding the years 2011-2014 and the actual amount of the past VAT that is recovered by the Company, the final actual settlement could differ from the current recorded liability.  

 

 

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

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

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

 

 

Employer Contributions

U.S. Plans

As a result of pension funding relief provisions included in the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, the Company expects to make no 2016 contributions to the funded U.S. qualified defined benefit plans. Approximately $178,000 is expected to be paid related to the unfunded non-qualified plans in 2016.  Of such amount, as of September 30, 2016, $156,000 had been paid related to the non-qualified plans in 2016.

U.K. Plan

The Company’s United Kingdom subsidiary expects to contribute approximately $380,000 to its defined benefit pension plan in 2016.  Of such amount, as of September 30, 2016, $300,000 had been contributed to the plan in 2016.

11

---

Defined Contribution Plans

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

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

 

The Company funds the obligations of its non-qualified supplemental executive defined contribution plans (supplemental plans) through a rabbi trust. The trust comprises various mutual fund investments selected by the participants of the supplemental plans. In accordance with the accounting guidance for rabbi trust arrangements, the assets of the trust and the obligations of the supplemental plans are reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.  The Company elected the fair value option for the mutual fund investment assets so that offsetting changes in the mutual fund values and defined contribution plan obligations would be recorded in earnings in the same period. Therefore, the mutual funds are reported at fair value with any subsequent changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of income. The liabilities related to the supplemental plans increase (i.e., supplemental plan expense is recognized) when the value of the trust assets appreciates and decrease when the value of the trust assets declines (i.e., supplemental plan income is recognized). At September 30, 2016, the balance of the trust assets was $1,853,000, which equaled the balance of the supplemental plan liabilities (see the long-term investments section in Note 3 for further information regarding the Company’s mutual fund assets).

 

 

Below are the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

⁽¹⁾ Options to purchase 58,287 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Options to purchase 90,734 and 136,170 shares of Company common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The excluded options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price for the common stock, and their effect would have been antidilutive.

 

12

---

 

Below are the changes in the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) balances by component (net of income taxes) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2016:

 

 

Information regarding the reclassifications out of AOCI for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, is displayed below:

 

 

 

13

---

 

The Company has three reportable segments: Surfactants, Polymers and Specialty Products.  Net sales by segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, were as follows:

 

 

 

Segment operating income and reconciliations of segment operating income to consolidated income before income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, are summarized below:

 

 

 

14

---

 

At September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, debt comprised the following: 

 

 

The Company has a committed $125,000,000 multi-currency revolving credit agreement that expires on July 10, 2019.  The Company maintains standby letters of credit under its workers’ compensation insurance agreements and for other purposes, as needed from time to time, which are issued under the revolving credit agreement. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $4,927,000 and no outstanding borrowing under the revolving credit agreement. There was $120,073,000 available under the revolving credit agreement as of September 30, 2016.

The various loan agreements contain provisions which, among others, require maintenance of certain financial ratios and place limitations on additional debt, investments and payment of dividends. Based on the loan agreement provisions that place limitations on dividend payments, unrestricted retained earnings (i.e., retained earnings available for dividend distribution) were $156,906,000 and $119,891,000 at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. 

 

 

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

 

 

 

In January 2015, the Company sold its specialty polyurethane systems product line (kits) to J6 Polymers, LLC (J6) for cash of $3,262,000. Kits were a part of the Company’s Polymers segment. The sale of kits included inventory, customer and supplier lists, formulations, manufacturing procedures and all other intellectual property associated with the manufacturing and selling of kits. As a result of the sale, Company operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, included a pretax gain of $2,862,000. The gain was attributed to the Polymer segment. J6 is a business wholly owned and operated by members of the immediate family of Robert J. Wood, a former Company executive who retired from the Company in April 2014. Mr. Wood is a managing member of J6.

 

15

---

 

In May 2016, the Company announced plans to shut down its Longford Mills, Ontario, Canada manufacturing facility, a part of the Surfactants reportable segment, by December 31, 2016. Execution of this plan will result in a workforce reduction of approximately 30 employees.  Production of goods currently manufactured at the facility will be moved to other Company North American production sites. The plant closure is expected to enable the Company to improve its asset utilization in North America and to further reduce the Company’s fixed cost base. In addition to $1,061,000 of termination benefits that were recognized in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company expects to incur approximately $3,000,000 of plant consolidation expenses, including decommissioning. The plant consolidation and decommissioning expenses are expected to be incurred in the fourth quarter of 2016 and into 2017. No significant plant consolidation expenses have been incurred as of September 30, 2016. Earlier in the year, the Company announced the discontinuation of ethoxylation production at the site in the first quarter of 2016.

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

 

 

In addition to the restructuring costs, the Company reduced the useful lives of the manufacturing assets in the Longford Mills plant. As a result, the Company recognized $1,295,000 and $3,222,000 of additional depreciation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively (including first quarter depreciation of $1,084,000 related to the ethoxylation assets). The expense was included in the cost of sales line of the consolidated statements of income. The change in the useful lives of the assets will add approximately $1,300,000 of depreciation expense in the fourth quarter of 2016.

 

 

In October 2015, the Company and its partner, Nalco Company (a subsidiary of Ecolab Inc.), made the decision to dissolve their equally owned and operated TIORCO, LLC (TIORCO) enhanced oil recovery joint venture. As a result of the dissolution, TIORCO incurred fourth quarter 2015 exit costs, for which the Company recorded its share in the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2015. The Company made a final cash investment of $2,900,000 to TIORCO during the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, to fund the exit costs and other final cash requirements for dissolving the joint venture. The additional funding did not materially differ from the exit costs recorded as of December 31, 2015. Legal dissolution of TIORCO is finalized.

 

 

2015 Business Acquisition

On June 15, 2015, the Company acquired Procter & Gamble do Brasil S.A.’s sulfonation production facility in Bahia, Brazil for cash of $5,133,000. The facility, which is located in northeastern Brazil, has 30,000 metric tons of surfactants capacity. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination and, accordingly, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as part of the acquisition were measured and recorded at their estimated fair values. The purchase included property, plant and equipment valued at $6,007,000 and the assumption of liabilities valued at $874,000.  No intangibles or goodwill were acquired in the business combination. The purchase price allocation is final, and no allocation adjustments were made to the amounts recorded at the acquisition date. Other acquisition-related expenses were not material. The acquired business is included in the Company’s Surfactants segment.

2015 Asset Acquisition

On September 28, 2015, the Company closed on its agreement to purchase select chemical manufacturing assets from The Sun Products Corporation’s Pasadena, Texas, manufacturing site, and the Company exercised its option to purchase the land at this site.  The purchase price of the land and manufacturing assets was $13,000,000 cash, of which $3,377,000 was allocated to land and $9,623,000 was allocated to manufacturing assets.

 

16

---

 

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

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items, which amends Subtopic 225-20, Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual Items, of the Accounting Standards Codification. The update, which is part of FASB’s initiative to reduce complexity of accounting standards, eliminates the US GAAP concept of extraordinary items. The amendments in this update were effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Adoption of this ASU did not have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. The amendments in this update affect reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. All legal entities are subject to reevaluation under the revised consolidation model. Specifically, the amendments: 1) modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities; 2) eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; 3) affect the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships; and 4) provide a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in legal entities that are required to comply with or operate in accordance with certain Investment Company Act of 1940 requirements for registered money market funds. The amendments in ASU No. 2015-02 were effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Adoption of ASU No. 2015-02 did not have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30):  Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.  The amendments in this update change the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. Under this ASU, an entity is required to present debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs is to be reported as interest expense, which is where the Company has historically reported such costs. The guidance in ASU No. 2015-03 was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The new guidance was to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods. Therefore, upon adoption of ASU No. 2015-03 on January 1, 2016, the Company reclassified $1,269,000 of its unamortized debt issuance costs at December 31, 2015, from the other non-current assets line of the consolidated balance sheet to the long-term debt, less current maturities line (see Note 12). Other than the reclassification of unamortized debt issuance costs, the adoption of ASU No. 2015-03 did not have an effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements—Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting (SEC Update which) that sets forth additional guidance from the SEC regarding debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements, which ASU No. 2015-03 does not address. The SEC has stated that given the absence of authoritative guidance for debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. Since the Company’s treatment of debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements aligned with the SEC’s guidance, adoption of ASU2015-15 did not have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement.  This ASU provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The amendments in ASU No. 2015-05 were effective for annual

17

---

periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. Adoption of ASU No. 2015-05 did not have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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

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

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-2, Leases (Topic 842). This guidance requires a dual approach for lessee accounting whereby a lessee will account for lease arrangements with terms greater than 12 months as either finance leases or operating leases. Both finance leases and operating leases will be recognized on the lessee’s balance sheet as right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities, with differing methodologies for income statement recognition. In addition, the ASU requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the Company’s lease arrangements. This guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. A modified retrospective approach is required for all leases existing or entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the consolidated financial statements. The Company is assessing the impact that adoption of ASU No. 2016-2 will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-9, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The ASU was issued to simplify various facets of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures and statutory tax withholding requirements. The new guidance also addresses the classifications of certain share-based payment transactions in the statement of cash flows. For public business entities, ASU No. 2016-9 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, but all of the amendments in the update must be adopted in the same period. The Company is assessing the impact that adoption of ASU No. 2016-9 will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Statements, which amends the guidance for the impairment of financial instruments and is expected to result in more timely recognition of impairment losses. The update introduces an impairment model referred to as the current expected credit loss (CECL) model. The impairment model is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the new guidance, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses. The ASU is also intended to reduce the complexity of the current guidance by decreasing the number of credit impairment models that entities use to account for debt instruments. For public business entities that are SEC filers, the amendments in ASU No. 2016-13 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Entities may adopt the amendments in this update earlier as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is assessing the impact that adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which adds or clarifies guidance on the classification of eight specific types of cash flows. The update is intended to reduce the existing diversity in practice with respect to the specific cash flow items. The amendments in ASU No. 2016-15 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is assessing the impact that adoption of ASU No. 2016-15 will have on

18

---

its cash flow presentation. ASU No. 2016-15 is not expected to have an effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

 

In October 2016, the Company’s subsidiary in Brazil closed on its previously announced agreement to acquire the commercial business of Tebras Tensoativos do Brazil Ltda. (Tebras) and the sulfonation production facility of PBC Industria Quimica Ltda. (PBC). The purchase price of the acquisition was R$79,000,000 (approximately $24,616,000), of which R$70,000,000 (approximately $21,812,000) was paid from cash on hand and R$9,000,000 (approximately $2,804,000) was deposited in escrow to cover certain potential losses as specified in the purchase agreement.  The Company is in the process of assessing the fair values of the assets and liabilities assumed and determining the allocation of the purchase price. As a result, no purchase price allocation or pro forma financial information is available at this time. The combined entities have annual sales of approximately $32,000,000, 25,000 metric tons of sulfonation capacity and a large, diverse customer portfolio.  The acquisition is expected to expand and diversify the Company’s customer base for sulfonated products in Brazil and to provide an opportunity to sell the Company’s broader surfactant portfolio to over 1,200 new customers who will benefit from the Company’s technical service and formulation support. The acquired business will be included in the Company’s Surfactants segment. The transaction is expected to have minimal impact on the Company’s 2016 financial results.

 

 

 

19

---

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

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

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

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update them to reflect changes that occur after that date.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the items described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Overview

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

 

 

 

 

 

20

---

Deferred Compensation Plans

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

 

 

Effects of Foreign Currency Translation

The Company’s foreign subsidiaries transact business and report financial results in their respective local currencies. As a result, foreign subsidiary income statements are translated into U.S. dollars at average foreign exchange rates appropriate for the reporting period. Because foreign exchange rates fluctuate against the U.S. dollar over time, foreign currency translation affects period-to-period comparisons of financial statement items (i.e., because foreign exchange rates fluctuate, similar period-to-period local currency results for a foreign subsidiary may translate into different U.S. dollar results). The following table presents the effects that foreign currency translation had on the period-over-period changes in consolidated net sales and various income line items for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

 

21

---

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

Summary

Net income attributable to the Company for the third quarter of 2016 declined 18 percent to $20.4 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, from $24.9 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2015. Adjusted net income increased 16 percent to $24.5 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, from $21.1 million, or $0.92 per diluted share (See the ‘Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income and Earnings per Share’ section of this MD&A for reconciliations between non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share and reported net income attributable to the Company and reported earnings per diluted share). Below is a summary discussion of the major factors leading to the quarter-over-quarter changes in net sales, profits and expenses.  A detailed discussion of segment operating performance for the third quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2015 follows the summary.

 

Consolidated net sales increased $1.0 million, or less than one percent, between quarters. Sales volume increased two percent, which favorably impacted the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $10.1 million. Surfactant sales volume was flat quarter over quarter, while Polymer and Specialty Product sales volume increased 11 percent and 13 percent, respectively.   The effect of increased consolidated sales volume was offset by the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation and lower average selling prices, which negatively affected the quarter-over-quarter net sales change by $6.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively. Declines in raw material costs, particularly in the Polymer segment, led to the reduced average selling prices. The unfavorable foreign currency translation effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar against nearly all currencies for countries where the Company has foreign operations.  

 

Operating income for the third quarter of 2016 declined $10.1 million, or 26 percent, from operating income reported for the third quarter of 2015. Total segment operating income increased $4.1 million, but the improvement was more than offset by a $14.3 million increase in deferred compensation expense. With respect to segment operating income, Surfactant operating income declined quarter over quarter principally due to lower sales volumes and margins in both Latin America and Europe. Polymer operating income improved on increased sales volume, and Specialty Product operating income increased on higher sales volume and lower costs.

 

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2016 increased $15.9 million, or 41 percent, over operating expenses for the third quarter of 2015. Higher deferred compensation expense drove most of the increase. Expenses other than deferred compensation increased $1.5 million, or three percent. Changes in the individual income statement line items that comprise the Company’s operating expenses were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest expense for the third quarter of 2016 declined $1.0 million, or 26 percent, from net interest expense for the third quarter of 2015. The decline in interest expense reflected a combination of lower average debt levels, higher interest income and a larger quarter-over-quarter amount of interest capitalized as part of fixed asset projects.

 

The Company and its partner agreed to dissolve the TIORCO joint venture in the fourth quarter of 2015, and, therefore, the Company has reported no results in the loss from equity joint venture line in 2016. The Company’s share of TIORCO’s third quarter 2015 loss was $0.9 million.

 

Other, net was $1.2 million of income for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $1.0 million of expense for the same period of 2015. The Company posted $0.9 million of investment income (including realized and unrealized gains and losses) for the Company’s deferred compensation and supplemental defined contribution mutual fund assets in the third quarter of 2016 compared to $0.9 million of expense in last year’s third quarter. In addition, the Company reported foreign exchange gains of $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2016 compared to losses of $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2015.

 

The effective tax rate was 24.7 percent for both the third quarter of 2016 and the third quarter of 2015.

22

---

Segment Results

 

 

 

Surfactants

Surfactant net sales for the third quarter of 2016 declined $0.4 million, or less than one percent, from net sales for the third quarter of 2015. The decline in net sales primarily resulted from the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation, which negatively affected the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $4.7 million. Sales volume, which was flat quarter over quarter, had a $1.0 million unfavorable effect on the net sales change. Sales volumes for operations in Latin America and Europe declined quarter over quarter, while sale volumes for operations in North America and Asia increased. The impact of higher selling prices offset the effects of foreign currency exchange and sales volume by $5.3 million. A quarter-over-quarter comparison of net sales by region follows:

 

 

Net sales for North American operations increased one percent quarter over quarter. Sales volume improved four percent, which favorably affected the change in net sales by $7.1 million. A three percent decline in selling prices offset the effect of increased sales volume by $5.3 million. Increased sales volume for laundry and cleaning products accounted for the sales volume improvement. New business, particularly with respect to the Company’s supply agreement with The Sun Products Corporation (SUN) that commenced during the third quarter of 2015, accounted for the growth of laundry and cleaning products volume. Weaker demand for products used in personal care applications partially offset the increased laundry and cleaning sales volumes. In addition, lower crude oil prices led to a quarter-over-quarter decline in sales volumes for products used in oil fields, particularly for enhanced oil recovery applications. The selling price decrease was principally attributable to sales product mix.

 

Net sales for European operations declined five percent due to the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation and to a four percent decline in sales volume, which accounted for $4.0 million and $2.8 million of the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales dollars. The effects of foreign currency exchange and decreased sales volume were partially mitigated by a six percent increase in average selling price that had a $3.6 million positive impact on net sales. The decline in sales volume was mainly attributable to weaker demand for laundry and cleaning and personal care products, partially offset by increased volumes of general surfactants sold to distributor partners. A stronger U.S. dollar against the British pound sterling led to the foreign currency translation result, and the higher selling prices reflected increased raw material costs.

 

Net sales for Latin American operations declined four percent largely due to a 12 percent decrease in sales volume that unfavorably affected the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales by $4.4 million. Although all three Latin American locations posted lower quarter-over-quarter sales volume, most of the sales volume decline was attributable to the Company’s Brazil subsidiary, which

23

---

experienced weaker demand for laundry and cleaning products along with some lost business for products exported outside of Brazil. The negative effect of decreased sales volumes was partially offset by a 10 percent increase in average selling prices, which favorably impacted net sales by $3.3 million. The selling price increase reflected higher raw material costs. The effects of foreign currency translation were an unfavorable $0.4 million.

 

Net sales for Asian operations increased 18 percent due to increases in selling prices and sales volume of 13 percent and seven percent, respectively. The higher selling prices had a $2.0 million positive effect on the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales, while the growth in sales volume had a $1.0 million positive impact. New business and increased demand from existing customers of the Company’s Philippine subsidiary accounted for the improved sales volume. The effects of foreign currency translation were an unfavorable $0.3 million.

Surfactant operating income for the third quarter of 2016 declined $1.0 million, or five percent, from operating income for the third quarter of 2015.  Gross profit increased $1.2 million on improved results from Asia. Operating expenses increased $2.2 million, or 10 percent. Quarter-over-quarter comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow: 

 

 

Gross profit for North American operations increased one percent quarter over quarter principally as the result of the four percent increase in sales volume. The favorable effect of the increased sales volume was largely offset by accelerated depreciation related to the planned cessation of manufacturing operations at the Company’s Canadian plant, which reduced gross profit by $1.3 million. An additional $1.3 million of accelerated depreciation is expected to be incurred in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Gross profit for European operations declined 15 percent between quarters primarily due to the effects of the four percent sales volume decline and higher manufacturing expenses. Approximately $0.7 million of costs associated with the planned 30-day mandatory inspection shutdown of the Company’s plant in Germany accounted for the higher manufacturing expenses. The shutdown is complete and the plant was back to normal operations in October 2016. A charge to recognize the estimated settlement of an unresolved customer claim also contributed to Europe’s lower year-over-year gross profit.

Gross profit for Latin American operations declined 17 percent largely due to the 12 percent decrease in sales volume. Sales margins also declined, primarily as a result of a less favorable sales mix.

The increase in gross profit for Asia operations was attributable to the seven percent increase in sales volume and to a better mix of sales at both the Philippine and Singapore subsidiaries.

Operating expenses for the Surfactants segment increased $2.2 million, or 10 percent, quarter over quarter. North American operations contributed $1.4 million of the segment’s operating expense increase, largely due to increased expenses for incentive-based compensation. Higher administrative expenses for European and Latin American operations accounted for most of the remainder of the overall increase.

24

---

Polymers

Polymer net sales for the third quarter of 2016 declined $0.6 million, or less than one percent, from net sales for last year’s third quarter. Sales volume increased 11 percent between quarters, which had a $14.4 million favorable effect on the quarter-over-quarter net sales change. All regions contributed to the sales volume improvement. Lower selling prices and the effects of foreign currency translation negatively impacted the net sales change by $13.4 million and $1.6 million, respectively. Quarter-over-quarter raw material cost declines led to the decrease in selling prices. The foreign currency translation effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar against the currencies of the segment’s foreign operations. A quarter-over-quarter comparison of net sales by region follows:

 

 

Net sales for North American operations declined one percent despite an eight percent improvement in sales volume that had a $6.8 million favorable impact on the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales. An eight percent decline in selling prices, which reflected decreases in the costs of major raw materials, reduced quarter-over-quarter net sales by $7.4 million.  Sales volume of polyols used in rigid foam applications increased due to new business and the continued growth in demand for rigid foam insulation. Phthalic anhydride sales volume declined as the result of non-recurring 2015 spot sales and lost business. The effect of lost business was partially offset by sales volumes with new customers. Sales volume for specialty polyols declined largely due to lost CASE business.

Net sales for European operations declined three percent. Sales volume improved 10 percent, which favorably affected the quarter-over-quarter net sales change by $4.2 million. Increased demand for polyols used in rigid foam insulation and insulated metal panels coupled with some new business drove the increase in sales volume. The effects of reduced selling prices and foreign currency translation offset the impact of the increased sales volume by $4.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The decline in selling prices reflected decreases in the costs of major raw materials.

Net sales for Asia and Other operations increased 23 percent due to a 55 percent increase in sales volume, which had a $3.2 million favorable effect on the quarter-over-quarter change in net sales. Most of the sales improvement was from the Company’s new plant in Nanjing, China, which became fully operational in earlier in 2016. Lower selling prices and the negative effects of foreign currency translation offset the impact of the increased sales volume by $1.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

Polymer operating income for the third quarter of 2016 increased $2.5 million, or 10 percent, over operating income for the same quarter of last year. Gross profit increased $2.8 million due to the 11 percent increase in sales volume. Quarter-over-quarter comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow:

 

 

Gross profit for North American operations increased 17 percent quarter over quarter primarily due to the eight percent growth in sales volume and to higher sales margins. The improved margins reflected a more favorable mix of sales and the positive effects of lower raw material costs. In addition, unit manufacturing overhead costs declined as a result of greater production volume on plant expenses that remained essentially unchanged quarter over quarter. The Millsdale, Illinois, polymer plant will be shut down for 21 days in the fourth quarter of 2016 for a planned maintenance turnaround, which is expected to negatively affect fourth quarter 2016 profit.

Gross profit for European operations declined 24 percent quarter over quarter. The impact of the 10 percent sales volume improvement was more than offset by higher plant expenses that resulted from the planned 30-day mandatory inspection shutdown of manufacturing operations in Germany during the third quarter of 2016. Third quarter plant expenses were up quarter over quarter by

25

---

$1.2 million. In addition, as a result of the shutdown, third quarter 2016 production was limited, which drove the unit manufacturing costs higher and margins lower. The shutdown is complete and the plant returned to normal operations in October 2016.

The increase in gross profit for Asia and Other operations was mainly attributable to improved sales volume partially offset by the higher manufacturing costs of the new plant.

Polymer operating expenses increased $0.3 million, or four percent, quarter over quarter principally due to higher incentive-based compensation.

Specialty Products

Net sales for the third quarter of 2016 increased $2.0 million, or 11 percent, over net sales for the third quarter of 2015. A 13 percent increase in sales volume accounted for the improved net sales. The increased sales volume was primarily attributable to new business for food ingredient products and to greater demand for products used in flavoring applications. Operating income increased $2.6 million quarter over quarter primarily due to the increased sales volume, as well as improved margins precipitated by reduced raw material costs and operating expenses. The lower operating expenses reflected action effected in 2015 to reduce the segment’s cost structure.

Corporate Expenses

Corporate expenses, which were comprised of deferred compensation and other operating expenses that were not allocated to the reportable segments, increased $14.1 million to $21.4 million for the third quarter of 2016 from $7.3 million for the third quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to a $14.3 million unfavorable change related to deferred compensation. Deferred compensation was $7.4 million expense for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $6.9 million income for the third quarter of 2015. The increased expense primarily resulted from a $13.13 per share increase in the value of Company common stock in the third quarter of 2016 compared to a $12.50 per share decline for the same quarter of last year. The quarter-over-quarter change in effect from deferred compensation also reflected improved mutual fund investment gains between years. The following table presents the quarter-end Company common stock market prices used in the computation of deferred compensation expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

Summary

Net income attributable to the Company for the first three quarters of 2016 increased 20 percent to $75.9 million, or $3.31 per diluted share, from $63.1 million, or $2.76 per diluted share, for the first three quarters of 2015. Adjusted net income increased 35 percent to $84.1 million, or $3.66 per diluted share, from $62.4 million, or $2.73 per diluted share (See the ‘Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income and Earnings per Share’ section of this MD&A for reconciliations between non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share and reported net income attributable to the Company and reported earnings per diluted share). Below is a summary discussion of the major factors leading to the year-over-year changes in net sales, profits and expenses.  A detailed discussion of segment operating performance for the first three quarters of 2016 compared to the first three quarters of 2015 follows the summary.

Consolidated net sales declined $11.3 million, or one percent, between years. Sales volume increased eight percent, which had a $114.0 million favorable effect on the year-over-year change in net sales. All three reportable segments contributed to the consolidated sales volume improvement. The effect of increased consolidated sales volume was more than offset by lower selling prices and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation, which negatively affected the year-over-year net sales change by $90.5 million and $34.8 million, respectively. The decreased selling prices were primarily attributable to declines in raw material costs. The unfavorable foreign currency translation effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar against all currencies for countries where the Company has foreign operations.  

Operating income for the first three quarters of 2016 improved $13.7 million, or 13 percent, over operating income reported for the same period of last year. Segment operating income improved $25.9 million, or 18 percent, as all reportable segments posted increases. Last year’s segment operating income (Polymer segment) included a $2.9 million gain on the sale of the Company’s specialty polyurethane systems product line (see Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information). The increase in segment operating income was offset by $11.4 million of higher deferred compensation expense and by

26

---

$1.1 million of business restructuring costs. In addition, the year-over-year operating income increase was reduced by $3.4 million due to the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation.

Operating expenses (including the business restructuring expenses) increased $19.7 million, or 15 percent, between years. Changes in the individual income statement line items that comprise the Company’s operating expenses were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

The Company and its partner agreed to dissolve the TIORCO joint venture in the fourth quarter of 2015, and, therefore, the Company has reported no results in the loss from equity joint venture line in 2016. The Company’s share of TIORCO’s loss for the first three quarters of 2015 was $3.9 million.

Net interest expense for the first three quarters of 2016 declined $0.9 million, or eight percent, from net interest expense for the first three quarters of 2015. The decline in interest expense was principally attributable to higher interest income earned on excess cash.

Other, net was $0.4 million of income for the first three quarters of 2016 compared to $0.1 million of expense for the first three quarters of last year. The Company posted $0.9 million of investment income (including realized and unrealized gains and losses) for the Company’s deferred compensation and supplemental defined contribution mutual fund assets in the first three quarters of 2016 compared to $0.1 million of expense in the same period of 2015. In addition, the Company reported foreign exchange losses of $0.5 million in the first three quarters of 2016 compared to exchange gains of less than $0.1 million in the first three quarters of 2015.

The effective tax rate was 28.9 percent for the first three quarters of 2016 compared to 28.1 percent for the first three quarters of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to certain U.S. tax benefits which as a percentage of consolidated income had a less favorable impact on the effective tax rate for 2016 and a non-recurring U.S. tax credit recorded in the third quarter of 2015.  This increase was partially offset by the federal research and development tax credit recorded in 2016.  The effective tax rate for the first three quarters of 2015 did not include this credit since it was not re-enacted until the fourth quarter of 2015.

Segment Results

 

27

---

 

 

 

 Surfactants

Surfactant net sales for the first three quarters of 2016 declined $22.1 million, or two percent, from net sales for the first three quarters of 2015. Sales volume increased seven percent between years, which had a $62.6 million positive effect on the year-over-year net sales change. All regions, except Europe, reported sales volume improvements. Lower average selling prices and the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation had negative effects of $56.6 million and $28.1 million, respectively, on the net sales change. North American operations accounted for most of the decline in selling prices, which reflected lower year-over-year costs for major raw materials and a less favorable sales mix. The foreign currency translation effect resulted from a stronger U.S. dollar compared to all currencies of the segment’s foreign operations. A year-over-year comparison of net sales by region follows:

 

 

Net sales for North American operations declined one percent between years. Sales volume increased 12 percent, which favorably affected the year-over-year change in net sales by $68.6 million. The effect of the increased sales volume was more than offset by a 12 percent decline in selling prices and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, which negatively affected the change in net sales by $73.7 million and $1.7 million, respectively. Laundry and cleaning products were the largest contributors to the sales volume improvement, as the Company derived the benefits of the supply agreement with SUN that commenced during the third quarter of 2015. Sales volumes of general surfactants sold through distributors also improved year over year. Sales volume for products used in personal care applications declined, primarily due to weaker 2016 third quarter demand. In addition, lower crude oil prices led to a decrease in sales volumes of oil field products used in EOR applications. The year-over-year decline in sales prices primarily reflected decreased raw material costs, particularly for the first half of 2016, and a less favorable sales mix. The foreign currency impact reflected a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar.

Net sales for European operations declined nine percent due to a three percent decline in sales volume, the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation and lower selling prices, which accounted for $6.8 million, $6.8 million and $4.2 million of the year- over-year change in net sales. The decline in sales volume was mainly attributable to weaker demand for laundry and cleaning, personal care and agricultural chemical products. Sales volumes of general surfactants sold through distributors increased year over year. A stronger U.S. dollar against the British pound sterling and European euro accounted for the foreign currency translation result. Selling prices declined two percent between years largely as the result of decreases in raw material costs.

Net sales for Latin American operations declined two percent. Higher selling prices and a two percent increase in sales volume favorably affected the year-over-year change in net sales by $12.7 million and $2.8 million, respectively. The unfavorable effects of currency translation ($17.7 million) more than offset the positive impacts of increased sales prices and volumes. Improved laundry and cleaning sales volume for Brazil operations, due to new business and to greater demand from existing customers, accounted for most of the improvement in Latin American sales volume. Stronger demand for products used in agricultural applications contributed to Brazil’s improved sales volumes. The higher selling prices reflected increased raw material costs and a more favorable mix of sales.

28

---

The year-over-year weakening of the Brazilian real and Mexican and Colombian pesos against the U.S. dollar led to the foreign currency translation effect.

Net sales for Asian operations increased 10 percent primarily due to an eight percent increase in selling prices and a six percent improvement in sales volume, which positively affected the year-over-year change in net sales by $3.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively. New business and increased demand from existing customers led to improved sales volume for the Company’s Philippine operations. Foreign currency translation had a $2.0 million unfavorable effect on the net sales change.

Surfactant operating income for the first three quarters of 2016 increased $5.5 million, or seven percent, over operating income for the first three quarters of 2015.  Gross profit increased $12.7 million, or nine percent, largely due to higher sales volumes. The effects of foreign currency translation had an unfavorable $4.5 million impact on the year-over-year gross profit change. Operating expenses increased $7.2 million, or 11 percent. Year-over-year comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow:

 

 

 Gross profit for North American operations increased 11 percent principally as the result of the 12 percent year-over-year increase in sales volume. Accelerated depreciation associated with the pending shutdown of manufacturing operations at the Company’s Canadian plant unfavorably impacted gross profit by $3.2 million.

Gross profit for European operations declined 11 percent between years primarily due to the effects of the three percent sales volume decline and higher costs. The higher costs included approximately $0.7 million of expenses associated with the planned 30-day mandatory inspection shutdown of the Company’s plant in Germany. The shutdown is complete and the plant returned to normal operations in October 2016. Charges to recognize the estimated settlements of unresolved customer claims also contributed to the higher costs. Foreign currency translation negatively affected the change in gross profit by $0.5 million.

Gross profit for Latin American operations declined three percent mainly due to a $3.3 million unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation, which more than offset the favorable impacts of the two percent sales volume increase and improved sales margins.

Asia gross profit increased 57 percent largely due to the six percent increase in sales volume and to margin improvement, particularly for Philippine operations. A more favorable product mix led to the margin improvement.

Operating expenses for the Surfactants segment increased $7.2 million, or 11 percent, year over year. Expenses were up for all regions, reflecting the increased resources and expenditures necessary to support the segment’s global organization and continued growth initiatives. In addition, U.S. incentive-based compensation increased between years due to improved Company financial performance and common stock prices. The favorable effects of foreign currency translation reduced the year-over-year change in operating expenses by $1.6 million.

29

---

Polymers

Polymer net sales for the first three quarters of 2016 increased $4.8 million, or one percent, over net sales for the same period of 2015.  Sales volume increased 14 percent, which had a $52.4 million favorable effect on the year-over-year net sales change. All regions contributed to the sales volume improvement. Lower selling prices and the effects of foreign currency translation unfavorably affected the net sales change by $40.9 million and $6.7 million, respectively. Year-over-year raw material cost declines led to the decrease in selling prices. The foreign currency translation effect reflected a stronger U.S. dollar against the currencies of the segment’s foreign operations. A year-over-year comparison of net sales by region follows:

 

 

Net sales for North American operations increased less than one percent. Sales volume increased 12 percent, which had a $28.3 million favorable effect on the year-over-year net sales change. Selling prices declined 10 percent, which offset the impact of higher sales volume by $27.6 million. Sales volume of polyols used in rigid foam applications increased due to new business and the continued growth in demand for rigid foam insulation. Phthalic anhydride sales volume also increased, but sales volume for specialty polyols declined mainly due to reduced CASE sales. Year-over-year declines in the costs of raw materials led to the reduced selling prices.

Net sales for European operations increased two percent. Sales volume grew 15 percent, which had a $17.0 million favorable effect on the year-over-year net sales change. The sales volume improvement was driven by new business and increased demand for polyols used in rigid foam insulation and insulated metal panels. The effect of higher sales volume was partially offset by the impacts of reduced selling prices and foreign currency translation, which negatively affected the change in net sales by $8.8 million and $5.5 million, respectively. Lower raw material costs led to the decline in selling prices.

Net sales for Asia and Other operations increased nine percent between years due to a 38 percent increase in sales volume, which had a $6.4 million positive impact on the year-over-year net sales change. Business gained from efforts to fill the capacity of the Company’s new plant in Nanjing, China, accounted for most of the sales volume increase. The unfavorable effects of lower selling prices and foreign currency translation negatively impacted the change in net sales by $3.7 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

Polymer operating income for the first three quarters of 2016 increased $17.5 million, or 28 percent, over operating income for the first three quarters of 2015. Results for 2015 included a $2.9 million gain from the sale of Company’s specialty polyurethane systems product line. Gross profit increased $21.6 million, or 26 percent, due to the 14 percent increase in sales volume and to improved margins. Year-over-year comparisons of gross profit by region and total segment operating expenses and operating income follow:

 

 

Gross profit for North American operations increased 27 percent year over year.  The 12 percent increase in sales volume, the positive effects of lower raw material costs and a more favorable mix of sales all contributed to the improved gross profit. In addition, unit manufacturing overhead costs declined as a result of increased production volume on plant expenses that were just two percent higher year over year. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Millsdale, Illinois, polymer plant will be shut down for 21 days for the planned maintenance turnaround, which is expected to negatively affect fourth quarter 2016 profit.

Gross profit for European operations increased 24 percent primarily due to the 15 percent increase in sales volume and to lower raw material costs. The 2016 results were negatively affected by higher plant expenses that resulted from the planned 30-day mandatory inspection shutdown of manufacturing operations in Germany during the third quarter of 2016. As a result of the shutdown,

30

---

third quarter 2016 plant expenses were $1.2 million greater than third quarter 2015 plant expenses. The shutdown is complete and the plant returned to normal operations in October 2016. The unfavorable effects of foreign currency negatively impacted the year-over-year change in gross profit by $0.8 million.

The 24 percent increase in gross profit for Asia and Other operations was principally attributable to the 38 percent increase in sales volume.

Operating expenses for the Polymers segment increased $1.3 million, or six percent, year over year largely due to higher incentive-based compensation resulting from improved year-over-year Company financial performance and common stock prices.

Specialty Products

Net sales for the first three quarters of 2016 increased $5.9 million, or 10 percent, over net sales for the first three quarters of 2015. A 10 percent increase in sales volume drove the net sales improvement. The sales volume growth was primarily attributable to increased business for food ingredient products. Operating income increased $3.0 million year over year due to increased sales volume, lower raw material costs and reduced operating expenses. The lower operating expenses reflected action effected in 2015 to reduce the segment’s cost structure.

Corporate Expenses

Corporate expenses increased $12.2 million to $55.7 million for the first three quarters of 2016 from $43.5 million for the first three quarters of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to increased expenses for deferred compensation ($11.4 million) and fringe benefits ($1.4 million) and the restructuring charges associated with the announced closing of the Company’s Canada manufacturing facility ($1.1 million). Increased incentive-based compensation expenses, driven by improved year-over-year Company financial results, led to the higher fringe benefit expenses. Partially offsetting the noted increases was a $2.2 million reduction in consulting expense. External resources have not been used in the current year for the Company’s DRIVE efficiency efforts.

Deferred compensation expense was $12.6 million for the first three quarters of 2016 compared to $1.2 million for the same period of last year. The higher expense primarily resulted from a $22.97 per share increase in the value of Company common stock in the first three quarters of 2016 compared to a $1.53 per share increase for the first three quarters of 2015. The year-over-year increase in deferred compensation expense also reflected improved mutual fund investment gains between years. The following table presents the quarter-end Company common stock market prices used in the computation of deferred compensation expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Overview

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, operating activities were a cash source of $117.7 million versus a source of $123.5 million for the comparable period in 2015. For the current year, investing cash outflows totaled $72.5 million, as compared to an outflow of $95.8 million in the prior year period, and financing activities were a use of $15.5 million, as compared to a source of $55.1 in the prior year period. Cash and cash equivalents increased by $30.9 million compared to December 31, 2015, including a favorable exchange rate impact of $1.2 million.

As of September 30, 2016, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $207.0 million, including $62.3 million in two separate U.S. money market funds, each of which was rated AAA by Standard and Poor’s and Aaa by Moody’s. Cash in U.S. demand deposit accounts totaled $37.9 million and cash of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries held outside the U.S. totaled $106.8 million as of September 30, 2016.

Operating Activity

Net income increased by $12.8 million versus the comparable period in 2015. Working capital was a cash use of $37.9 million versus a source of $6.5 million for the comparable year-ago period.

31

---

Year-to-date accounts receivable were a use of $30.3 million compared to a use of $10.3 million for the comparable period in 2015. Inventories were a use of $12.5 million in 2016 versus a use of $5.5 million in 2015. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities were a source of $5.1 million in 2016 compared to a source of $23.9 million for the same period in 2015.

Working capital requirements were higher year-to-date, compared to the same period in 2015 due to higher sales quantities, increased inventory quantities and slower accounts receivable turnover, partially offset by lower sales prices.

The 2016 accounts receivable increase was driven by the combination of higher quarterly sales quantities and slower accounts receivable turnover. The year-to-date inventory increase was due to planned increases to support customer service levels. It is management’s opinion that the Company’s liquidity is sufficient to provide for potential increases in working capital during 2016.

Investing Activity

Cash outflows for investing activities were down by $23.2 million year-over-year. Cash outflows from investing activities year-to-date included capital expenditures of $69.8 million compared to $90.3 million for the comparable period last year. Other investing activities consumed $2.8 million in 2016 versus a use of $5.4 million in 2015.  

For 2016, the Company estimates that total capital expenditures will range from $110 million to $120 million including capacity expansions in the United States, Brazil and Poland.

Financing Activity

Cash flow used for financing activities was a use of $15.5 million in 2016 versus a source of $55.1 million in 2015. The Company purchases its common shares in the open market from time to time to fund its own benefit plans and also to mitigate the dilutive effect of new shares issued under its benefit plans. The Company may also make open market repurchases as cash flows permit when, in management’s opinion, the Company’s shares are undervalued in the market. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company purchased 43,835 shares in the open market at a total cost of $2.4 million.  At September 30, 2016, there were 717,929 shares remaining under the current share repurchase authorization.

Debt and Credit Facilities

Consolidated balance sheet debt decreased by $5.3 million for the current year, from $331.4 million to $326.1 million, primarily due to a decrease of domestic debt by $5.7 million. Net debt (which is defined as total debt minus cash – See the ‘Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net Debt’ section of this MD&A) decreased by $36.1 million for the current year, from $155.2 million to $119.1 million.

As of September 30, 2016, the ratio of total debt to total debt plus shareholders’ equity was 33.8 percent compared to 37.2 percent at December 31, 2015. As of September 30, 2016, the ratio of net debt to net debt plus shareholders’ equity was 15.7 percent, compared to 21.8 percent at December 31, 2015. At September 30, 2016, the Company’s debt included $316.4 million of unsecured private placement loans with maturities ranging from 2016 through 2027. These loans are the Company’s primary source of long-term debt financing and are supplemented by bank credit facilities to meet short and medium-term needs.

The Company has a committed $125.0 million multi-currency syndicated revolving credit agreement. The credit agreement allows the Company to make unsecured borrowings, as requested from time to time, for working capital and other corporate purposes. This unsecured facility is the Company’s primary source of short-term borrowings and is committed through July 10, 2019, with terms and conditions that are substantially equivalent to those of the Company’s other U.S. loan agreements. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had outstanding letters of credit of $4.9 million under the revolving credit agreement, and no borrowings, with $120.1 million remaining available. The Company anticipates that cash from operations, committed credit facilities and cash on hand will be sufficient to fund anticipated capital expenditures, working capital, dividends and other planned financial commitments for the foreseeable future.

Certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company maintain term loans and short-term bank lines of credit in their respective local currencies to meet working capital requirements as well as to fund capital expenditure programs and acquisitions. At September 30, 2016, the Company’s foreign subsidiaries had outstanding debt of $10.9 million based on the applicable ending currency exchange rates at that date.

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

 

32

---

 

 

 

The Company believes it was in compliance with all of its loan agreements as of September 30, 2016. Based on current projections, the Company believes it will be in compliance with its loan agreements throughout 2016.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND LEGAL MATTERS

The Company’s operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations or similar laws in the other countries in which the Company does business.  Although the Company's environmental policies and practices are designed to ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, future developments and increasingly stringent environmental regulation could require the Company to make additional unforeseen environmental expenditures.  The Company will continue to invest in the equipment and facilities necessary to comply with existing and future regulations.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company’s expenditures for capital projects related to the environment were $0.9 million and $1.3 million, respectively.  These projects are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives, which are typically 10 years.  Recurring costs associated with the operation and maintenance of facilities for waste treatment and disposal and managing environmental compliance in ongoing operations at the Company’s manufacturing locations were $18.2 million and $16.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  While difficult to project, it is not anticipated that these recurring expenses will increase significantly in the future.

Over the years, the Company has received requests for information related to or has been named by the government as a potentially responsible party at a number of waste disposal sites where cleanup costs have been or may be incurred under CERCLA and similar state or foreign statutes.  In addition, damages are being claimed against the Company in general liability actions for alleged personal injury or property damage in the case of some disposal and plant sites.  The Company believes that it has made adequate provisions for the costs it may incur with respect to the sites.  It is the Company’s accounting policy to record liabilities when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and the cost or range of possible costs can be reasonably estimated.  When no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum is accrued.  Some of the factors on which the Company bases its estimates include information provided by feasibility studies, potentially responsible party negotiations and the development of remedial action plans.  After partial remediation payments at certain sites, the Company has estimated a range of possible environmental and legal losses of $21.4 million to $42.4 million at September 30, 2016 compared to $20.9 million to $41.4 million at December 31, 2015.  At September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, the Company's accrued liability for such losses, which represented the Company’s best estimate within the estimated range of possible environmental and legal losses, was $21.4 million and $20.9 million, respectively.  During the first nine months of 2016 and 2015, cash outlays related to legal and environmental matters approximated $1.0 and $2.3 million, respectively.

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

33

---

OTHER MATTERS

 

In June 2016, Great Britain voted in a non-binding referendum to exit (referred to as ‘Brexit’) the European Union. While the entire economic impact of the potential exit is uncertain, the Company believes at this point that the effect of Brexit on the Company’s operations and financial performance will be minimal. The Company’s operations in the United Kingdom (U.K.) account for approximately five percent of Company consolidated net sales. As such, the Company’s exposure to the U.K. economy and the British pound sterling is relatively small. The Company is mostly naturally hedged since its U.K. operation primarily serves the U.K. market, whereas generally the Company’s competitors ship product from other locations in the European Union. The weakening of the British pound sterling following the Brexit vote had an insignificant impact on the Company’s 2016 third quarter and year-to-date financial results. The Company will continue to monitor the economic and operational consequences of Brexit as events unfold.  

OUTLOOK

 

After a record nine months, management anticipates headwinds in the fourth quarter due to higher raw material costs versus fourth quarter of 2015, a scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Company’s phthalic anhydride unit and accelerated depreciation resulting from the closure of the Company’s Canadian plant. The Company’s base business should continue to benefit from higher polyol volumes, increased asset utilization and enhanced internal efficiencies.  Management believes the Company is positioned for continued growth in 2017.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

There have been no changes to the critical accounting policies disclosed in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

 

The Company believes that certain non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures, are useful for evaluating the Company’s operating performance and provide better clarity on the impact of non-operational items. Internally, the Company uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance and evaluates management’s effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators.  These measures should be considered in addition to, not a substitute for or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

34

---

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP NET DEBT

 

Management uses the non-GAAP net debt metric to gain a more complete picture of the Company’s overall liquidity, financial flexibility and leverage level. This adjusted measure should be considered supplemental to and not a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company's definition of this adjusted measure may differ from similarly titled measures used by other entities.

 

35

---

Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no material changes to the market risks disclosed in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

We have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of September 30, 2016.  Based on this evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2016, such that the information required to be disclosed in our Securities and Exchange Commission reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the rules and forms of the Exchange Act and is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Part II OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

There have been no material changes to the legal proceedings disclosed in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 1A – Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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

None

Item 3 – Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable

Item 5 – Other Information

None

36

---

Item 6 – Exhibits

 

 

37

---

SIGNATURES

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

 

Date:  October 28, 2016

 

 

38