Company: LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
CIK: 1489393
SIC: 2860
Filing Date: 2019-02-21 00:00:00

ITEM 1 - BUSINESS

ITEM 1A - RISK FACTORS
Item 1A.
Risk Factors.
You should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Each of these risk factors could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our common stock.
Our business, including our results of operations and reputation, could be adversely affected by safety or product liability issues.
Failure to appropriately manage safety, human health, product liability and environmental risks associated with our products, product life cycles and production processes could adversely impact employees, communities, stakeholders, our reputation and our results of operations. Public perception of the risks associated with our products and production processes could impact product acceptance and influence the regulatory environment in which we operate. While we have procedures and controls to manage safety risks, issues could be created by events outside of our control, including natural disasters, severe weather events and acts of sabotage.
Our operations are subject to risks inherent in chemical and refining businesses, and we could be subject to liabilities for which we are not fully insured or that are not otherwise mitigated.
We maintain property, business interruption, product, general liability, casualty and other types of insurance that we believe are appropriate for our business and operations as well as in line with industry practices. However, we are not fully insured against all potential hazards incident to our business, including losses resulting from natural disasters, wars or terrorist acts. Changes in insurance market conditions have caused, and may in the future cause, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies to increase substantially and, in some instances, for certain insurance to become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. If we were to incur a significant liability for which we were not fully insured, we might not be able to finance the amount of the uninsured liability on terms acceptable to us or at all, and might be obligated to divert a significant portion of our cash flow from normal business operations.
Further, because a part of our business involves licensing polyolefin process technology, our licensees are exposed to similar risks involved in the manufacture and marketing of polyolefins. Hazardous incidents involving our licensees, if they do result or are perceived to result from use of our technologies, may harm our reputation, threaten our relationships with other licensees and/or lead to customer attrition and financial losses. Our policy of covering these risks through contractual limitations of liability and indemnities and through insurance may not always be effective. As a result, our financial condition and results of operation would be adversely affected, and other companies with competing technologies may have the opportunity to secure a competitive advantage.
A sustained decrease in the price of crude oil may adversely impact the results of our operations, primarily in North America.
Energy costs generally follow price trends of crude oil and natural gas. These price trends may be highly volatile and cyclical. In the past, raw material and energy costs have experienced significant fluctuations that adversely affected our business segments’ results of operations. For example, we have benefited from the favorable ratio of U.S. crude oil prices to natural gas prices in recent years. If the price of crude oil remains lower relative to U.S. natural gas prices or if the demand for natural gas and NGLs increases, this may have a negative impact on our results of operations.
Costs and limitations on supply of raw materials and energy may result in increased operating expenses.
The costs of raw materials and energy represent a substantial portion of our operating expenses. Due to the significant competition we face and the commodity nature of many of our products we are not always able to pass on raw material and energy cost increases to our customers. When we do have the ability to pass on the cost increases, we are not always able to do so quickly enough to avoid adverse impacts on our results of operations.
Cost increases for raw materials also may increase working capital needs, which could reduce our liquidity and cash flow. Even if we increase our sales prices to reflect rising raw material and energy costs, demand for products may decrease as customers reduce their consumption or use substitute products, which may have an adverse impact on our results of operations. In addition, producers in natural gas cost-advantaged regions, such as the Middle East and North America, benefit from the lower prices of natural gas and NGLs. Competition from producers in these regions may cause us to reduce exports from Europe and elsewhere. Any such reductions may increase competition for product sales within Europe and other markets, which can result in lower margins in those regions.
For some of our raw materials and utilities there are a limited number of suppliers and, in some cases, the supplies are specific to the particular geographic region in which a facility is located. It is also common in the chemical and refining industries for a facility to have a sole, dedicated source for its utilities, such as steam, electricity and gas. Having a sole or limited number of suppliers may limit our negotiating power, particularly in the case of rising raw material costs. Any new supply agreements we enter into may not have terms as favorable as those contained in our current supply agreements.
Additionally, there is growing concern over the reliability of water sources, including around the Texas Gulf Coast where several of our facilities are located. The decreased availability or less favorable pricing for water as a result of population growth, drought or regulation could negatively impact our operations.
If our raw material or utility supplies were disrupted, our businesses may incur increased costs to procure alternative supplies or incur excessive downtime, which would have a direct negative impact on plant operations. Disruptions of supplies may occur as a result of transportation issues resulting from natural disasters, water levels, and interruptions in marine water routes, among other causes, that can affect the operations of vessels, barges, rails, trucks and pipeline traffic. These risks are particularly prevalent in the U.S. Gulf Coast area. Additionally, increasing exports of NGLs and crude oil from the U.S. or greater restrictions on hydraulic fracturing could restrict the availability of our raw materials, thereby increasing our costs.
With increased volatility in raw material costs, our suppliers could impose more onerous terms on us, resulting in shorter payment cycles and increasing our working capital requirements.
Our ability to source raw materials may be adversely affected by political instability, civil disturbances or other governmental actions.
We obtain a portion of our principal raw materials from sources in the Middle East and Central and South America that may be less politically stable than other areas in which we conduct business, such as Europe or the U.S. Political instability, civil disturbances and actions by governments in these areas are more likely to substantially increase the price and decrease the supply of raw materials necessary for our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Increased incidents of civil unrest, including terrorist attacks and demonstrations that have been marked by violence, have occurred in a number of countries in the Middle East and South America. Some political regimes in these countries are threatened or have changed as a result of such unrest. Political instability and civil unrest could continue to spread in the region and involve other areas. Such unrest, if it continues to spread or grow in intensity, could lead to civil wars, regional conflicts or regime changes resulting in governments that are hostile to countries in which we conduct substantial business, such as in Europe, the U.S., or their respective trading partners.
Economic disruptions and downturns in general, and particularly continued global economic uncertainty or economic turmoil in emerging markets, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, operating results, financial condition and cash flows.
Our results of operations can be materially affected by adverse conditions in the financial markets and depressed economic conditions generally. Economic downturns in the businesses and geographic areas in which we sell our products could substantially reduce demand for our products and result in decreased sales volumes and increased credit risk. Recessionary environments adversely affect our business because demand for our products is reduced, particularly from our customers in industrial markets generally and the automotive and housing industries specifically, and may result in higher costs of capital. A significant portion of our revenues and earnings are derived from our business in Europe, including southern
Europe. In addition, most of our European transactions and assets, including cash reserves and receivables, are denominated in euros.
We also derive significant revenues from our business in emerging markets, particularly the emerging markets in Asia and South America. Any broad-based downturn in these emerging markets, or in a key market such as China, could require us to reduce export volumes into these markets and could also require us to divert product sales to less profitable markets. Any of these conditions could ultimately harm our overall business, prospects, operating results, financial condition and cash flows.
The cyclicality and volatility of the industries in which we participate may cause significant fluctuations in our operating results.
Our business operations are subject to the cyclical and volatile nature of the supply-demand balance in the chemical and refining industries. Our future operating results are expected to continue to be affected by this cyclicality and volatility. The chemical and refining industries historically have experienced alternating periods of capacity shortages, causing prices and profit margins to increase, followed by periods of excess capacity, resulting in oversupply, declining capacity utilization rates and declining prices and profit margins.
In addition to changes in the supply and demand for products, changes in energy prices and other worldwide economic conditions can cause volatility. These factors result in significant fluctuations in profits and cash flow from period to period and over business cycles.
New capacity additions in Asia, the Middle East and North America may lead to periods of oversupply and lower profitability. A sizable number of expansions have recently started up in North America. The timing and extent of any changes to currently prevailing market conditions are uncertain and supply and demand may be unbalanced at any time. As a consequence, we are unable to accurately predict the extent or duration of future industry cycles or their effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We sell products in highly competitive global markets and face significant price pressures.
We sell our products in highly competitive global markets. Due to the commodity nature of many of our products, competition in these markets is based primarily on price and, to a lesser extent, on product performance, product quality, product deliverability, reliability of supply and customer service. Often, we are not able to protect our market position for these products by product differentiation and may not be able to pass on cost increases to our customers due to the significant competition in our business.
In addition, we face increased competition from companies that may have greater financial resources and different cost structures or strategic goals than us. These include large integrated oil companies (some of which also have chemical businesses), government-owned businesses, and companies that receive subsidies or other government incentives to produce certain products in a specified geographic region. Continuing competition from these companies, especially in our olefin and refining businesses, could limit our ability to increase product sales prices in response to raw material and other cost increases, or could cause us to reduce product sales prices to compete effectively, which would reduce our profitability. Competitors with different cost structures or strategic goals than we have may be able to invest significant capital into their businesses, including expenditures for research and development. In addition, specialty products we produce may become commoditized over time. Increased competition could result in lower prices or lower sales volumes, which would have a negative impact on our results of operations.
Interruptions of operations at our facilities may result in liabilities or lower operating results.
We own and operate large-scale facilities. Our operating results are dependent on the continued operation of our various production facilities and the ability to complete construction and maintenance projects on schedule. Interruptions at our facilities may materially reduce the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility, or our business as a whole, during and after the period of such operational difficulties. In the past, we had to shut down plants on the U.S. Gulf Coast, including the temporary shutdown of a portion of our Houston refinery, as a result of hurricanes striking the Texas coast. In addition, because the Houston refinery is our only refining operation, an outage at the refinery could have a particularly
negative impact on our operating results. Unlike our chemical and polymer production facilities, which may have sufficient excess capacity to mitigate the negative impact of lost production at other facilities, we do not have the ability to increase refining production elsewhere.
Although we take precautions to enhance the safety of our operations and minimize the risk of disruptions, our operations are subject to hazards inherent in chemical manufacturing and refining and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes. These potential hazards include:
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pipeline leaks and ruptures;
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explosions;
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fires;
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severe weather and natural disasters;
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mechanical failure;
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unscheduled downtimes;
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supplier disruptions;
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labor shortages or other labor difficulties;
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transportation interruptions;
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remediation complications;
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increased restrictions on, or the unavailability of, water for use at our manufacturing sites or for the transport of our products or raw materials;
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chemical and oil spills;
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discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases;
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shipment of incorrect or off-specification product to customers;
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storage tank leaks;
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other environmental risks; and
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terrorist acts.
Some of these hazards may cause severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment or personal injury and loss of life and may result in suspension of operations or the shutdown of affected facilities.
Large capital projects can take many years to complete, and market conditions could deteriorate significantly between the project approval date and the project startup date, negatively impacting project returns. If we are unable to complete capital projects at their expected costs and in a timely manner, or if the market conditions assumed in our project economics deteriorate, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.
Delays or cost increases related to capital spending programs involving engineering, procurement and construction of facilities could materially adversely affect our ability to achieve forecasted internal rates of return and operating results. Delays in making required changes or upgrades to our facilities could subject us to fines or penalties as well as affect our ability to supply certain products we produce. Such delays or cost increases may arise as a result of unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:
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denial of or delay in receiving requisite regulatory approvals and/or permits; unplanned increases in the cost of construction materials or labor;
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disruptions in transportation of components or construction materials;
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adverse weather conditions, natural disasters or other events (such as equipment malfunctions, explosions, fires or spills) affecting our facilities, or those of vendors or suppliers;
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shortages of sufficiently skilled labor, or labor disagreements resulting in unplanned work stoppages; and
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nonperformance by, or disputes with, vendors, suppliers, contractors or subcontractors.
Any one or more of these factors could have a significant impact on our ongoing capital projects. If we were unable to make up the delays associated with such factors or to recover the related costs, or if market conditions change, it could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Increased IT security threats and more sophisticated and targeted computer crime could pose a risk to our systems, networks, products, facilities and services.
Increased global information security threats and more sophisticated, targeted computer crime pose a risk to the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data, operations and infrastructure. While we attempt to mitigate these risks by employing a number of measures, including security measures, employee training, comprehensive monitoring of our networks and systems, and maintenance of backup and protective systems, our employees, systems, networks, products, facilities and services remain potentially vulnerable to sophisticated espionage or cyber-assault. Depending on their nature and scope, such threats could potentially lead to the compromise of confidential information, improper use of our systems and networks, manipulation and destruction of data, defective products, production downtimes and operational disruptions, which in turn could adversely affect our reputation, competitiveness and results of operations.
We operate internationally and are subject to exchange rate fluctuations, exchange controls, political risks and other risks relating to international operations.
We operate internationally and are subject to the risks of doing business on a global level. These risks include fluctuations in currency exchange rates, economic instability and disruptions, restrictions on the transfer of funds and the imposition of trade restrictions or duties and tariffs. Additional risks from our multinational business include transportation delays and interruptions, war, terrorist activities, epidemics, pandemics, political instability, import and export controls, changes in governmental policies, labor unrest and current and changing regulatory environments.
We generate revenues from export sales and operations that may be denominated in currencies other than the relevant functional currency. Exchange rates between these currencies and functional currencies in recent years have fluctuated significantly and may do so in the future. It is possible that fluctuations in exchange rates will result in reduced operating results. Additionally, we operate with the objective of having our worldwide cash available in the locations where it is needed, including the United Kingdom for our parent company’s significant cash obligations as a result of dividend and interest payments. It is possible that we may not always be able to provide cash to other jurisdictions when needed or that such transfers of cash could be subject to additional taxes, including withholding taxes.
Our operating results could be negatively affected by the global laws, rules and regulations, as well as political environments, in the jurisdictions in which we operate. There could be reduced demand for our products, decreases in the prices at which we can sell our products and disruptions of production or other operations. Trade protection measures such as quotas, duties, tariffs, safeguard measures or anti-dumping duties imposed in the countries in which we operate could negatively impact our business. Additionally, there may be substantial capital and other costs to comply with regulations and/or increased security costs or insurance premiums, any of which could reduce our operating results.
We obtain a portion of our principal raw materials from international sources that are subject to these same risks. Our compliance with applicable customs, currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations or any other laws or regulations to which we may be subject could be challenged. Furthermore, these laws may be modified, the result of which may be to prevent or limit subsidiaries from transferring cash to us.
Furthermore, we are subject to certain existing, and may be subject to possible future, laws that limit or may limit our activities while some of our competitors may not be subject to such laws, which may adversely affect our competitiveness.
Changes in tax laws and regulations could affect our tax rate and our results of operations.
We are a tax resident in the United Kingdom and are subject to the United Kingdom corporate income tax system. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. has little or no taxable income of its own because, as a holding company, it does not conduct any operations. Through our subsidiaries, we have substantial operations world-wide. Taxes are primarily paid on the earnings generated in various jurisdictions, including the U.S., The Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy.
In 2017, the U.S. enacted “H.R.1,” also known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (the “Tax Act”) materially impacting our Consolidated Financial Statements by, among other things, decreasing the tax rate, and significantly affecting future periods. To determine the full effects of the tax law for 2018, we are awaiting the finalization of several proposed U.S. Treasury regulations under the Tax Act that were issued during 2018, as well as additional regulations to be proposed and finalized pursuant to the U.S. Treasury’s expanded regulatory authority under the Tax Act. It is also possible that technical correction legislation concerning the Tax Act could retroactively affect tax liabilities for 2018. We will continue to analyze the Tax Act to determine the full effects of the new law as additional regulations are proposed and finalized.
Interest income earned by certain of our European subsidiaries through intercompany financings is either untaxed or taxed at rates substantially lower than the U.S. statutory rate. Tax regulations proposed in 2018 may affect tax deductible interest in the U.S. in future periods; however, we do not believe they will have a material impact as proposed. In addition, in 2016 the U.S. Treasury issued final Section 385 debt-equity regulations that impact our internal financings beginning in 2017. Pursuant to a 2017 Executive Order, the Treasury Department reviewed these regulations and determined that they should be retained, subject to further review following the enactment of U.S. tax reform. We are awaiting the U.S. Treasury’s review of the existing Section 385 debt-equity regulations which could impact our internal financings in future years as well as any final regulations impacting interest deductions under the Tax Act. In addition, there has been an increased attention, both in the U.S. and globally, to the tax practices of multinational companies, including the European Union’s state aid investigations, proposals by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development with respect to base erosion and profit shifting, and European Union tax directives. Such attention may result in further legislative changes that could adversely affect our tax rate. Other than the Tax Act, management does not believe that recent changes in income tax laws will have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements, although new or proposed changes to tax laws could affect our tax liabilities in the future.
Many of our businesses depend on our intellectual property. Our future success will depend in part on our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, and our inability to do so could reduce our ability to maintain our competitiveness and margins.
We have a significant worldwide patent portfolio of issued and pending patents. These patents and patent applications, together with proprietary technical know-how, are significant to our competitive position, particularly with regard to PO, intermediate chemicals, polyolefins, licensing and catalysts. We rely on the patent, copyright and trade secret laws of the countries in which we operate to protect our investment in research and development, manufacturing and marketing. However, we may be unable to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property without authorization. Proceedings to protect these rights could be costly, and we may not prevail.
The failure of our patents or confidentiality agreements to protect our processes, apparatuses, technology, trade secrets or proprietary know-how could result in significantly lower revenues, reduced profit margins and cash flows and/or loss of market share. We also may be subject to claims that our technology, patents or other intellectual property infringes on a third party’s intellectual property rights. Unfavorable resolution of these claims could result in restrictions on our ability to deliver the related service or in a settlement that could be material to us.
Shared control or lack of control of joint ventures may delay decisions or actions regarding our joint ventures.
A portion of our operations are conducted through joint ventures, where control may be exercised by or shared with unaffiliated third parties. We cannot control the actions of our joint venture partners, including any nonperformance, default or bankruptcy of joint venture partners. The joint ventures that we do not control may also lack financial reporting systems to provide adequate and timely information for our reporting purposes.
Our joint venture partners may have different interests or goals than we do and may take actions contrary to our requests, policies or objectives. Differences in views among the joint venture participants also may result in delayed decisions or in failures to agree on major matters, potentially adversely affecting the business and operations of the joint ventures and in turn our business and operations. We may develop a dispute with any of our partners over decisions affecting the venture that may result in litigation, arbitration or some other form of dispute resolution. If a joint venture participant acts contrary to our interest, it could harm our brand, business, results of operations and financial condition.
We cannot predict with certainty the extent of future costs under environmental, health and safety and other laws and regulations, and cannot guarantee they will not be material.
We may face liability arising out of the normal course of business, including alleged personal injury or property damage due to exposure to chemicals or other hazardous substances at our current or former facilities or chemicals that we manufacture, handle or own. In addition, because our products are components of a variety of other end-use products, we, along with other members of the chemical industry, are subject to potential claims related to those end-use products. Any substantial increase in the success of these types of claims could negatively affect our operating results.
We are subject to extensive national, regional, state and local environmental laws, regulations, directives, rules and ordinances concerning:
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emissions to the air;
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discharges onto land or surface waters or into groundwater; and
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the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials.
Many of these laws and regulations provide for substantial fines and potential criminal sanctions for violations. Some of these laws and regulations are subject to varying and conflicting interpretations. In addition, some of these laws and regulations require us to meet specific financial responsibility requirements. Any substantial liability for environmental damage could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Although we have compliance programs and other processes intended to ensure compliance with all such regulations, we are subject to the risk that our compliance with such regulations could be challenged. Non-compliance with certain of these regulations could result in the incurrence of additional costs, penalties or assessments that could be material.
Our industry is subject to extensive government regulation, and existing, or future regulations may restrict our operations, increase our costs of operations or require us to make additional capital expenditures.
Compliance with regulatory requirements could result in higher operating costs, such as regulatory requirements relating to emissions, the security of our facilities, and the transportation, export or registration of our products. We generally expect that regulatory controls worldwide will become increasingly more demanding, but cannot accurately predict future developments.
Increasingly strict environmental laws and inspection and enforcement policies, could affect the handling, manufacture, use, emission or disposal of products, other materials or hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Stricter environmental, safety and health laws, regulations and enforcement policies could result in increased operating costs or capital expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations. Additionally, we are required to have permits for our businesses and are subject to licensing regulations. These permits and licenses are subject to renewal, modification and in some circumstances, revocation. Further, the permits and licenses are often difficult, time consuming and costly to obtain and could contain conditions that limit our operations.
We may incur substantial costs to comply with climate change legislation and related regulatory initiatives.
There has been a broad range of proposed or promulgated state, national and international laws focusing on greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction. These proposed or promulgated laws apply or could apply in countries where we have interests or may
have interests in the future. Laws and regulations in this field continue to evolve and, while they are likely to be increasingly widespread and stringent, at this stage it is not possible to accurately estimate either a timetable for implementation or our future compliance costs relating to implementation. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed to undertake ambitious efforts to reduce GHG emissions and strengthen adaptation to the effects of climate change. While the U.S. notified the United Nations in August 2017 that it will be withdrawing from the Agreement, other countries in which we operate, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands, are preparing national climate acts and protection plans to implement their emission reduction commitments under the Agreement. These actions could result in increased cost of purchased energy and increased costs of compliance for impacted locations. Within the framework of the EU emissions trading scheme (“ETS”), we were allocated certain allowances of carbon dioxide for the affected plants of our European sites for the period from 2008 to 2012 (“ETS II period”). The ETS II period did not bring additional cost to us as the allowance allocation was sufficient to cover the actual emissions of the affected plants. We were able to build an allowance surplus during the ETS II period which has been banked to the scheme for the period from 2013 to 2020 (“ETS III period”). We expect to incur additional costs for the ETS III period, despite the allowance surplus accrued over the ETS II period, as allowance allocations have been reduced for the ETS III period and more of our plants are affected by the scheme. We maintain an active hedging strategy to cover these additional costs. We expect to incur additional costs in relation to future carbon or GHG emission trading schemes.
In the U.S., the EPA has promulgated federal GHG regulations under the Clean Air Act affecting certain sources. The EPA has issued mandatory GHG reporting requirements, requirements to obtain GHG permits for certain industrial plants and GHG performance standards for some facilities. Although the EPA recently proposed to repeal and replace certain GHG requirements, additional GHG regulation may be forthcoming at the U.S. federal or state level that could result in the creation of additional costs in the form of taxes or required acquisition or trading of emission allowances.
Compliance with these or other changes in laws, regulations and obligations that create a GHG emissions trading scheme or GHG reduction policies generally could significantly increase our costs or reduce demand for products we produce. Additionally, compliance with these regulations may result in increased permitting necessary for the operation of our business or for any of our growth plans. Difficulties in obtaining such permits could have an adverse effect on our future growth. Therefore, any future potential regulations and legislation could result in increased compliance costs, additional operating restrictions or delays in implementing growth projects or other capital investments, and could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, climate changes, such as drought conditions or increased frequency and severity of hurricanes and floods, could have an adverse effect on our assets and operations.
We may be required to record material charges against our earnings due to any number of events that could cause impairments to our assets.
We may be required to reduce production or idle facilities for extended periods of time or exit certain businesses as a result of the cyclical nature of our industry. Specifically, oversupplies of or lack of demand for particular products or high raw material prices may cause us to reduce production. We may choose to reduce production at certain facilities because we have off-take arrangements at other facilities, which make any reductions or idling unavailable at those facilities. Any decision to permanently close facilities or exit a business likely would result in impairment and other charges to earnings.
Temporary outages at our facilities can last for several quarters and sometimes longer. These outages could cause us to incur significant costs, including the expenses of maintaining and restarting these facilities. In addition, even though we may reduce production at facilities, we may be required to continue to purchase or pay for utilities or raw materials under take-or-pay supply agreements.
Increased regulation or deselection of plastic could lead to a decrease in demand growth for some of our products.
In 2018, the European Union proposed rules to target the plastic products most often found on beaches and in seas. In addition, local and other governments have increasingly proposed or implemented bans on plastic items such as disposable bags and straws, as well as other food packaging. Additionally, plastics have recently faced increased public backlash and scrutiny. Increased regulation of, or prohibition on, the use of plastics could increase the costs incurred by our customers to use such products or otherwise limit the use of these products, and could lead to a decrease in demand for PE, PP, and other products we make. Such a decrease in demand could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our business is capital intensive and we rely on cash generated from operations and external financing to fund our growth and ongoing capital needs. Limitations on access to external financing could adversely affect our operating results.
We require significant capital to operate our current business and fund our growth strategy. Moreover, interest payments, dividends and the expansion of our business or other business opportunities may require significant amounts of capital. We believe that our cash from operations currently will be sufficient to meet these needs. However, if we need external financing, our access to credit markets and pricing of our capital is dependent upon maintaining sufficient credit ratings from credit rating agencies and the state of the capital markets generally. There can be no assurances that we would be able to incur indebtedness on terms we deem acceptable, and it is possible that the cost of any financings could increase significantly, thereby increasing our expenses and decreasing our net income. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow or raise adequate external financing, including as a result of significant disruptions in the global credit markets, we could be forced to restrict our operations and growth opportunities, which could adversely affect our operating results.
We may use our five-year, $2.5 billion revolving credit facility, which backs our commercial paper program, to meet our cash needs, to the extent available. As of December 31, 2018, we had no borrowings or letters of credit outstanding under the facility and $809 million, net of discount, outstanding under our commercial paper program, leaving an unused and available credit capacity of $1,688 million. We may also meet our cash needs by selling receivables under our $900 million U.S. accounts receivable facility. In the event of a default under our credit facility or any of our senior notes, we could be required to immediately repay all outstanding borrowings and make cash deposits as collateral for all obligations the facility supports, which we may not be able to do. Any default under any of our credit arrangements could cause a default under many of our other credit agreements and debt instruments. Without waivers from lenders party to those agreements, any such default could have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue to operate.
Legislation and regulatory initiatives could lead to a decrease in demand for our products.
New or revised governmental regulations and independent studies relating to the effect of our products on health, safety and the environment may affect demand for our products and the cost of producing our products. Initiatives by governments and private interest groups will potentially require increased toxicological testing and risk assessments of a wide variety of chemicals, including chemicals used or produced by us. For example, in the United States, the National Toxicology Program (“NTP”) is a federal interagency program that seeks to identify and select for study chemicals and other substances to evaluate potential human health hazards. In the European Union, the Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (“REACH”) is regulation designed to identify the intrinsic properties of chemical substances, assess hazards and risks of the substances, and identify and implement the risk management measures to protect humans and the environment.
Assessments under NTP, REACH or similar programs or regulations in other jurisdictions may result in heightened concerns about the chemicals we use or produce and may result in additional requirements being placed on the production, handling, labeling or use of those chemicals. Such concerns and additional requirements could also increase the cost incurred by our customers to use our chemical products and otherwise limit the use of these products, which could lead to a decrease in demand for these products. Such a decrease in demand could have an adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
Adverse results of legal proceedings could materially adversely affect us.
We are subject to and may in the future be subject to a variety of legal proceedings and claims that arise out of the ordinary conduct of our business. Results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Irrespective of its merits, litigation may be both lengthy and disruptive to our operations and may cause significant expenditure and diversion of management attention. We may be faced with significant monetary damages or injunctive relief against us that could have an adverse impact on our business and results of operations should we fail to prevail in certain matters.
Significant changes in pension fund investment performance or assumptions relating to pension costs may adversely affect the valuation of pension obligations, the funded status of pension plans, and our pension cost.
Our pension cost is materially affected by the discount rates used to measure pension obligations, the level of plan assets available to fund those obligations at the measurement date and the expected long-term rates of return on plan assets.
Significant changes in investment performance or a change in the portfolio mix of invested assets may result in corresponding increases and decreases in the value of plan assets, particularly equity securities, or in a change of the expected rate of return on plan assets. Any changes in key actuarial assumptions, such as the discount rate or mortality rate, would impact the valuation of pension obligations, affecting the reported funded status of our pension plans as well as the net periodic pension cost in the following fiscal years.
Nearly all of our current pension plans have projected benefit obligations that exceed the fair value of the plan assets. As of December 31, 2018, the aggregate deficit was $992 million. Any declines in the fair values of the pension plans’ assets could require additional payments by us in order to maintain specified funding levels.
Our pension plans are subject to legislative and regulatory requirements of applicable jurisdictions, which could include, under certain circumstances, local governmental authority to terminate the plan.
Integration of acquisitions could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition and stock price.
We have and may continue to make acquisitions in order to enhance our business. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including with respect to meeting our standards for compliance, problems combining the purchased operations, technologies or products, unanticipated costs and liabilities, diversion of management’s attention from our core businesses, and potential loss of key employees.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to integrate successfully any businesses, products, technologies, or personnel that we might acquire. The integration of businesses that we may acquire is likely to be a complex, time-consuming, and expensive process and we may not realize the anticipated revenues, synergies, or other benefits associated with our acquisitions if we do not manage and operate the acquired business up to our expectations. If we are unable to efficiently operate as a combined organization utilizing common information and communication systems, operating procedures, financial controls, and human resources practices, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected.

ITEM 1B - UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.

ITEM 2 - PROPERTIES

ITEM 3 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings.
Environmental Matters
From time to time we and our joint ventures receive notices or inquiries from government entities regarding alleged violations of environmental laws and regulations pertaining to, among other things, the disposal, emission and storage of chemical and petroleum substances, including hazardous wastes. Item 103 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K requires disclosure of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings and the proceedings involve potential monetary sanctions that we reasonably believe could exceed $100,000. The matters below are disclosed solely pursuant to that requirement.
In September 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Region V issued a Notice and Finding of Violation alleging violations at our Morris, Illinois facility related to flaring activity. The notice generally alleges failures to monitor steam usage and improper flare operations. Region V indicated at a December 2017 meeting that it intends to issue an administrative enforcement order in 2018. We reasonably believe that EPA Region V may assert a penalty demand in excess of $100,000. A Tolling Agreement was signed in November 2018.
In June 2014, EPA Region V issued a Notice and Finding of Violation alleging violations at our Tuscola, Illinois facility related to flaring activity. The notice generally alleges failure to conduct a valid performance test and improper flare operations. In June 2018, Region V issued a draft administrative consent order that requires the completion of certain activities. We are currently engaged in discussions with Region V regarding a proposed penalty. We reasonably believe that the penalty may exceed $100,000. A Tolling Agreement was signed in November 2018.
The EPA has been conducting an enforcement initiative regarding flare emissions at petrochemical plants. In July 2014, we received Clean Air Act section 114 information request regarding flares at four U.S. facilities. In response to the information we provided and subsequent discussions, the EPA and Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) have indicated that they are seeking a consent decree that would require certain corrective measures. We reasonably believe that resolution of this matter will involve payment of a monetary sanction in excess of $100,000. We continue to work with the EPA and DOJ to resolve this matter.
In January 2018, Houston Refining, LP learned that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality had referred an environmental matter to the Texas Attorney General’s office (“TAGO”) for enforcement. The environmental matter referred to TAGO for enforcement stems from air emissions events sustained at the refinery. In June 2018, Houston Refining, LP and TAGO agreed to a settlement involving $680,000 in penalties, plus attorneys’ fees and certain injunctive relief. To effectuate the settlement, the TAGO filed a complaint along with the proposed agreed final judgment in Travis County Court. The court entered the Agreed Final Judgment in October 2018 and the penalty has been paid in full.
In March 2018, the Morris facility learned that the Illinois EPA referred an environmental matter to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. The matters referred for enforcement relate to air emission events at the facility. In June 2018, the parties agreed to resolve the matter for a penalty of $125,000, and in August 2018, a consent order requiring the same was entered in Grundy County Court.
On March 21, 2018, the Cologne, Germany local court issued a regulatory fine notice of €1,800,000 arising from a pipeline leak in our Wesseling, Germany facility. We expect the Cologne prosecutor to issue a corresponding payment request, which will resolve the matter.
Litigation and Other Matters
Information regarding our litigation and other legal proceedings can be found in Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 4 - RESERVED
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II

ITEM 5 - MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market and Dividend Information
Our shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on October 14, 2010 under the symbol “LYB.”
The payment of dividends or distributions in the future will be subject to the requirements of Dutch law and the discretion of our Board of Directors. The declaration of any future cash dividends and, if declared, the amount of any such dividends, will depend upon general business conditions, our financial condition, our earnings and cash flow, our capital requirements, financial covenants and other contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends or distributions.
There can be no assurance that any dividends or distributions will be declared or paid in the future.
Holders
As of February 19, 2019, there were approximately 5,600 record holders of our shares, including Cede & Co. as nominee of the Depository Trust Company.
United Kingdom Tax Considerations
In May 2013, we announced the planned migration of the tax domicile of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. from The Netherlands, where LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is incorporated, to the United Kingdom. On August 28, 2013, the Dutch and the United Kingdom competent authorities completed a mutual agreement procedure and issued a ruling that retroactively as of July 1, 2013 LyondellBasell Industries N.V. should be treated solely as a tax resident in the United Kingdom and is subject to the United Kingdom corporate income tax system.
As a result of its United Kingdom tax residency, dividend distributions by LyondellBasell Industries N.V. to its shareholders are not subject to withholding tax, as the United Kingdom currently does not levy a withholding tax on dividend distributions.
Performance Graph
The performance graph and the information contained in this section is not “soliciting material,” is being furnished, not filed, with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.
The graph below shows the relative investment performance of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. shares, the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Chemicals Index since December 31, 2013. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 2013 and any dividends paid were reinvested at the date of payment. The graph is presented pursuant to SEC rules and is not meant to be an indication of our future performance.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On June 1, 2018, we announced a share repurchase program of up to 57,844,016 of our ordinary shares through December 1, 2019, which superseded any prior repurchase authorizations. The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased is not necessarily an indication of the number of shares that will ultimately be purchased.

ITEM 6 - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data.
The following selected financial data was derived from our consolidated financial statements, which were prepared from our books and records. This data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” below, which includes a discussion of factors that will enhance an understanding of this data.
(a)
Operating income and Income from continuing operations in 2018 include charges totaling $73 million ($57 million, after tax) for acquisition-related transaction and integration costs associated with our acquisition of A. Schulman Inc. and a pre-tax gain of $36 million ($34 million, after tax) on the sale of our carbon black subsidiary in France. In 2017, we had a pre-tax gain of $108 million ($103 million, after tax) on the sale of our 27% interest in Geosel, a joint venture in France; a pretax gain of $31 million ($20 million, after tax) on the sale of property in Lake Charles, Louisiana; and a pre-tax, non-cash gain of $21 million ($14 million, after tax) related to the elimination of an obligation associated with a
lease. In 2016, we had a pre-tax and after-tax gain of $78 million on the sale of our wholly owned Argentine subsidiary and a pre-tax charge of $58 million ($37 million, after tax) for a pension settlement. Operating income and Income from continuing operations in 2016, 2015 and 2014 included pre-tax, non-cash charges of $29 million ($18 million, after tax), $548 million ($351 million, after tax) and $760 million ($483 million, after tax), respectively, related to lower of cost or market (“LCM”) inventory valuation adjustments.
(b)
Interest expense and Income from continuing operations in 2017 included pre-tax charges of $113 million ($106 million, after tax) related to the redemption of $1,000 million aggregate principal amount of our then outstanding 5% senior notes due 2019.
(c)
Income from continuing operations in 2018 includes a $358 million benefit related to $299 million of previously unrecognized tax benefits and the release of $59 million of associated accrued interest. In 2017, it included an $819 million non-cash tax benefit related to the lower federal income tax rate resulting from the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In 2016, it included $135 million of out of period adjustments related to taxes on our cross-currency swaps and deferred liabilities related to some of our consolidated subsidiaries.
(d)
Long-term debt includes current maturities of long-term debt.

ITEM 7 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
GENERAL
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the information contained in our Consolidated Financial Statements, and the accompanying notes elsewhere in this report. When we use the terms “we,” “us,” “our” or similar words in this discussion, unless the context otherwise requires, we are referring to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and its consolidated subsidiaries (“LyondellBasell N.V.”).
OVERVIEW
During 2018, we continued to deliver strong earnings despite market challenges in the second half of the year and planned and unplanned downtime that negatively impacted fourth quarter 2018 results by approximately $225 million. Noteworthy annual results for our I&D segment driven by market improvements and targeted contracting strategies and in our Technology segment due to an increased number of polyolefin technology licenses were partially offset by declines in our O&P-Americas and O&P-EAI results. With our acquisition of A. Schulman Inc. (“A. Schulman”) in August 2018, we captured an opportunity to expand into new markets and created an additional platform for growth. We continued to manage our business portfolio by, among other things, investing in a recycling joint venture, and divesting our carbon black subsidiary in France.
As oil prices fell by 40% during the fourth quarter 2018, our O&P-EAI segment experienced declining demand as customers delayed orders and destocked inventories in expectations of lower pricing. This destocking and associated pricing pressures compounded the effects of typical fourth quarter seasonality. Our O&P-EAI segment was also impacted by low water levels on the Rhine River, extended maintenance at our Wesseling, Germany cracker and feedstock supply constraints at our Münchsmünster, Germany cracker during the fourth quarter. Our APS segment volumes were affected by decreased automotive demand in recent quarters and our Refining segment’s fourth quarter margins were negatively impacted by high gasoline inventories and unusually weak discounts for Maya crude oil.
Significant items that affected EBITDA in 2018 relative to 2017 include:
•
Lower Olefins and Polyolefins-Americas (“O&P-Americas”) segment results with lower ethylene margins and higher fixed costs, offset by higher polyolefins margins;
•
Lower Olefins and Polyolefins-Europe, Asia, International (“O&P-EAI”) segment results with lower margins and volumes in Europe, partly offset by favorable foreign exchange impacts;
•
Higher Intermediates and Derivatives (“I&D”) segment results with increased margins and volumes;
•
Lower Advanced Polymer Solutions (“APS”) segment results as lower margins and the impact of acquisition-related transaction and integration costs were partly offset by the contribution of results from A. Schulman product lines following the August 21, 2018 acquisition;
•
Higher Refining segment results with higher refining margins and better yields; and
•
Higher Technology segment results due mostly to increased licensing revenue.
Other noteworthy items in 2018 include the following:
•
Completion of the $1.9 billion acquisition of A. Schulman, a leading global supplier of high-performance plastic compounds, composites and powders, on August 21, 2018;
•
Groundbreaking for our new $2.4 billion PO/TBA plant at our Channelview, Texas facility on August 22, 2018;
•
Construction of our Hyperzone high density polyethylene plant on track for planned start-up in the third quarter of 2019;
•
Non-cash income tax benefit of $346 million related to an audit settlement associated with specific uncertain tax positions recognized in the second quarter of 2018;
•
Acquisition of a 50% interest in Quality Circular Polymers, a premium plastics recycling company in Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands on March 14, 2018; and
•
Increase in quarterly dividend from $0.90 to $1.00 in February 2018.
Results of operations for the periods discussed are presented in the table below.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Revenues-We had revenues of $39,004 million in 2018, $34,484 million in 2017 and $29,183 million in 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Revenues increased by $4,520 million, or 13%, in 2018 compared to 2017.
Higher average sales prices led to a revenue increase of 11% in 2018. Average sales prices in 2018 were higher for most of our products as sales prices generally correlate with crude oil prices, which increased relative to 2017, despite a 40% decrease in oil prices during the fourth quarter 2018. A revenue decrease of 1% in 2018 reflects lower sales volumes for our O&P-Americas, O&P-EAI and APS segments, which were partly offset by an improvement in Refining and I&D segment sales volumes. Favorable foreign exchange impacts in 2018 resulted in a revenue increase of 1% relative to the prior year period. The operations of A. Schulman contributed $846 million of revenues following the acquisition which accounts for the remaining improvement in revenues for 2018.
2017 versus 2016-Revenues increased by $5,301 million, or 18%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
Average sales prices in 2017 were higher across most products as sales prices generally correlate with crude oil and natural gas prices, which on average, increased compared to the corresponding period in 2016. These higher prices led to a 15% increase in revenues. Higher sales volumes in our O&P-Americas, O&P-EAI and Refining segments, which were partly offset by lower I&D segment volumes, led to a revenue increase in 2017 of 2%. Favorable foreign exchange impacts were responsible for a 1% revenue increase in 2017.
Cost of Sales-Cost of sales were $32,529 million in 2018, $28,059 million in 2017 and $23,191 million in 2016.
Fluctuations in our cost of sales are generally driven by changes in feedstock and energy costs, as all other material components remain relatively flat from year to year. Feedstock and energy related costs generally represent approximately 75% to 80% of cost of sales, other variable costs account for approximately 10% of cost of sales on an annual basis and fixed operating costs, consisting primarily of expenses associated with employee compensation, depreciation and amortization, and maintenance, range from approximately 10% to 15% in each annual period.
2018 versus 2017-Cost of sales increased by $4,470 million, or 16%, in 2018 compared to 2017. This increase in cost of sales is primarily due to increases in feedstock and energy costs. Costs for crude oil, heavy liquid feedstocks and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and other feedstocks were higher in 2018 relative to 2017.
2017 versus 2016-Cost of sales increased by $4,868 million, or 21%, in 2017 compared to 2016. This increase was primarily due to higher feedstock and energy costs. Costs for crude oil, heavy liquid feedstocks, NGLs and natural gas were higher in 2017 relative to 2016.
SG&A Expense-Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $1,129 million in 2018, $859 million in 2017 and $833 million in 2016.
2018 versus 2017-SG&A expenses increased by $270 million in 2018 compared to 2017.
The $105 million of SG&A expenses incurred by the operations of A. Schulman following the acquisition together with $73 million of acquisition and integration costs associated with the acquisition accounted for approximately 66% of the 2018 increase in SG&A expenses. Higher employee-related expenses accounted for approximately 26% of the increase in 2018 SG&A expense.
Operating Income-Our operating income was $5,231 million in 2018, $5,460 million in 2017 and $5,060 million in 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Operating income decreased by $229 million in 2018 compared to 2017.
Operating income for our O&P-EAI, O&P-Americas, APS and Refining segments declined $626 million, $131 million, $76 million and $6 million, respectively, over 2017. These declines were partially offset by increases in operating income of $514 million and $101 million, in our I&D and Technology segments respectively.
2017 versus 2016-Operating income increased by $400 million in 2017. This improvement over 2016 was primarily due to increases of $144 million, $101 million and $74 million in operating income for our I&D, O&P-EAI and O&P-Americas segments, respectively, and $77 million of lower operating losses for our Refining segment.
Operating results for each of our business segments are reviewed further in the “Segment Analysis” section below.
Interest Expense-Interest expense was $360 million in 2018, $491 million in 2017 and $322 million in 2016.
In 2017, we recognized charges totaling $113 million related to the March 2017 redemption of $1,000 million of our outstanding 5% senior notes due 2019. These charges included $65 million of prepayment premiums, $44 million for adjustments associated with fair value hedges and $4 million for the write-off of associated unamortized debt issuance costs.
2018 versus 2017-Interest expense decreased by $131 million in 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to the 2017 redemption of $1,000 million of our 5% senior notes due 2019 as discussed above. Higher capitalized interest accounted for $25 million of lower interest expense relative to 2017.
2017 versus 2016-In 2017, interest expense increased $169 million in 2017 compared to 2016 primarily due to the 2017 redemption of $1,000 of our 5% senior notes due 2019 as discussed above. A reduction in the amount of capitalized interest and increased charges from our fair value hedges resulted in incremental increases in interest expense of $13 million and $45 million respectively, relative to 2016.
For additional information related to our fair value hedges, see Notes 13 and 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other Income, Net-Other income, net, was $106 million in 2018, $179 million in 2017 and $111 million in 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Other income, net decreased by $73 million in 2018 compared to 2017. In 2018, we recognized a $36 million gain in our O&P-EAI segment related to the sale of our carbon black subsidiary in France. We also recognized $24 million of foreign exchange gains and approximately $45 million of other income primarily related to gains on investments, dividend income and pension benefits. In 2017, we recognized gains of $108 million on the sale of our O&P-EAI segment’s interest in its Geosel joint venture and $31 million on the sale of a portion of property in Lake Charles, Louisiana. We also recognized a $21 million non-cash gain in our O&P-EAI segment related to the elimination of an obligation related to a lease in 2017.
2017 versus 2016-The $68 million increase in Other income, net, is primarily due to the gains discussed above related to the sales of our joint venture interest, a property in Lake Charles, Louisiana and the elimination of the obligation associated with a lease discussed above, as compared to the gain recognized in 2016 related to the sale of our wholly owned Argentine subsidiary. We allocated $57 million and $21 million of that gain to our O&P-Americas and APS segments, respectively.
Income from Equity Investments-Our income from equity investments was $289 million in 2018, $321 million in 2017 and $367 million in 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Income from our equity investments decreased in 2018 largely as a result of reduced polyolefin spreads.
2017 versus 2016-Income from our equity investments decreased in 2017 mainly due to lower results for our joint ventures in Poland, Asia and Mexico.
Income Taxes-Our effective income tax rates of 11.5% in 2018, 10.9% in 2017 and 26.5% in 2016 resulted in tax provisions of $613 million, $598 million and $1,386 million, respectively.
In 2017, the U.S. enacted “H.R.1,” also known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (the “Tax Act”) materially impacting our Consolidated Financial Statements by, among other things, decreasing the tax rate and significantly affecting future periods. To determine the full effects of the tax law for 2018, we are awaiting the finalization of several proposed U.S. Treasury regulations under the Tax Act that were issued during 2018, as well as additional regulations to be proposed and finalized pursuant to the Treasury’s expanded regulatory authority under the Tax Act. It is also possible that technical correction legislation concerning the Tax Act could retroactively affect tax liabilities for 2018. The Tax Act reduced the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% for years beginning after 2017, which resulted in the remeasurement of our U.S. net deferred income tax liabilities. As a result, we recognized a tax benefit of $819 million in 2017. Including subsequent adjustments made in 2018, the cumulative impact of the remeasurement of our U.S. net deferred income tax liabilities and tax accruals was an $814 million income tax benefit.
Our effective income tax rate fluctuates based on, among other factors, changes in pre-tax income in countries with varying statutory tax rates, the U.S. domestic production activity deduction that applied to periods prior to 2018, changes in valuation allowances, changes in foreign exchange gains/losses, the amount of exempt income, and changes in unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions.
Our exempt income primarily includes interest income, export incentives, and equity earnings of our joint ventures. Interest income earned by certain of our European subsidiaries through intercompany financings is either untaxed or taxed at rates substantially lower than the U.S. statutory rate. Tax regulations proposed in 2018 may affect tax deductible interest in the U.S. in future periods; however, we do not believe they will have a material impact as proposed. Export incentives relate to tax benefits derived from elections and structures available for U.S. exports. Equity earnings attributable to the earnings of our joint ventures, when paid through dividends to certain European subsidiaries, are exempt from all or portions of normal statutory income tax rates. We currently anticipate the favorable treatment for interest income, dividends, and export incentives to continue in the near term; however, this treatment is based on current law and tax rulings, which could change, including changes with respect to proposed Treasury regulations under the Tax Act if finalized. Foreign exchange gains/losses have a
permanent impact on our effective income tax rate that can cause unpredictable movement in our effective income tax rate. We continue to maintain valuation allowances in various jurisdictions totaling $120 million as of 2018, which could impact our effective income tax rate in the future. We believe our effective income tax rate for 2019 will be approximately 20%.
In 2016, the U.S. Treasury issued final Section 385 debt-equity regulations that impact our internal financings beginning in 2017. Pursuant to a 2017 Executive Order, the Treasury Department reviewed these regulations and determined that they should be retained, subject to further review following the enactment of U.S. tax reform. We are awaiting the U.S. Treasury’s review of the existing Section 385 debt-equity regulations which could impact our internal financings in future years as well as any final regulations impacting interest deductions under the Tax Act.
2018-The 2018 effective income tax rate, which was lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21%, was favorably impacted by changes in unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions (-6.0%) and exempt income (-5.6%). These favorable items were partially offset by the effects of earnings in various countries, notably in Europe, with higher statutory tax rates (1.7%) and U.S. state and local income taxes (1.0%).
During 2018, we entered into various audit settlements impacting specific uncertain tax positions. These audit settlements resulted in a $358 million non-cash benefit to our effective tax rate consisting of the recognition of $299 million of previously unrecognized tax benefits as a reduction for tax positions of prior years and the release of $59 million of previously accrued interest.
2017-The 2017 effective income tax rate, which was lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 35%, was favorably impacted by the remeasurement of U.S. net deferred tax liabilities due to the enactment of the Tax Act (-14.9%), exempt income (-7.0%), earnings in various countries, notably in Europe, with lower statutory tax rates (-3.0%), and the U.S. domestic production activity deduction (-1.0%). These favorable items were partially offset by the effects of U.S. state and local income taxes (0.7%) and changes in uncertain tax positions (0.5%). Although the Tax Act lowered the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to 21% for tax years beginning after 2017, the reconciliation uses the 35% rate in effect for the year ended December 31, 2017.
2016-The 2016 effective income tax rate, which was lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 35%, was favorably impacted by exempt income (-6.7%), earnings in various countries, notably in Europe, with lower statutory tax rates (-3.0%), the impact of a change in non-U.S. tax law on our deferred tax liabilities (-1.0%) and the U.S. domestic production activity deduction (-0.8%). These favorable items were partially offset by the effects of non-cash out-of-period adjustments (2.5%) and U.S. state and local income taxes (0.5%).
Our 2016 income tax provision included $135 million of non-cash out of period adjustments from prior years. For further information on these adjustments, please see Note 18 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Comprehensive Income-We had comprehensive income of $4,682 million in 2018, $5,103 million in 2017 and $3,764 million in 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Comprehensive income decreased by $421 million in 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to unfavorable net changes in foreign currency translations, lower net income and defined pension and other postretirement benefits. These decreases were offset by favorable impacts of financial derivatives primarily driven by periodic changes in benchmark interest rates.
The predominant functional currency for our operations outside of the U.S. is the euro. Relative to the U.S. dollar, the value of the euro decreased during 2018 resulting in net losses as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. These net losses include pre-tax gains of $124 million in 2018, which represent the effective portion of our net investment hedges.
In 2018, the cumulative after-tax effect of our derivatives designated as cash flow hedges was a net gain of $54 million. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the euro in 2018 and periodic changes in benchmark interest rates resulted in a pre-tax gain of $107 million related to our cross-currency swaps. A $100 million pre-tax loss related to our cross-currency swaps represents reclassification adjustments included in Other income, net in 2018. In 2018, a pre-tax gain of $43 million related to
forward-starting interest rate swaps was driven by changes in benchmark interest rates. A $30 million pre-tax gain related to our commodity hedges was also recognized in 2018. An $11 million pre-tax loss related to our commodity hedges represents reclassification adjustments included in Cost of sales in 2018.
We recognized defined benefit pension and other post-retirement benefit pre-tax losses of $41 million and $106 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding net actuarial gains.
2017 versus 2016-The $1,339 million increase in Comprehensive income in 2017 relative to 2016 reflects higher net income, the net favorable impacts of unrealized net changes in foreign currency translation adjustments and actuarial losses related to our defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans. These increases were offset by an unfavorable impact of financial derivative instruments recognized in 2017.
The predominant functional currency for our operations outside of the U.S. is the euro. Relative to the U.S. dollar, the value of the euro increased during 2017 resulting in net gains as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. These net gains in 2017 include pre-tax losses of $288 million, which represent the effective portion of our net investment hedges.
We recognized net actuarial gains of $74 million in 2017 and net actuarial losses of $188 million in 2016. The $74 million net gain in 2017 reflects $74 million of gains due to changes in pension and other postretirement benefit discount rate assumptions and $6 million of gains due to favorable postretirement liability experience and other immaterial items. These gains were partly offset by $7 million of losses due to pension asset experience (actual asset return compared to expected return). In 2016, the $188 million net loss was primarily attributable to $279 million of losses due to pension and other postretirement benefit discount rate decreases, which was offset by $79 million of gains related to pension asset experience and $10 million due to favorable postretirement liability experience and other immaterial items. In 2016, we also recognized a $61 million reclassification adjustment related primarily to a voluntary lump sum program offered to certain former employees in select U.S. pension plans. Total lump sum payments from these plans exceeded annual service and interest cost in 2016 resulting in this loss.
The cumulative effects of our derivatives designated as cash flow hedges were losses of $323 million. The euro strengthened against the U.S. dollar in 2017 resulting in pre-tax losses of $287 million in 2017 related to our cross-currency swaps. Pre-tax gains of $264 million related to our cross-currency swaps were reclassification adjustments included in 2017 net income. Unrealized pre-tax losses of $25 million in 2017 related to forward-starting interest rate swaps were driven by increases in benchmark interest rates during those periods.
Segment Analysis
We use earnings before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) as our measure of profitability for segment reporting purposes. This measure of segment operating results is used by our chief operating decision maker to assess the performance of and allocate resources to our operating segments. Intersegment eliminations and items that are not directly related or allocated to business operations, such as foreign exchange gains (losses) and components of pension and other postretirement benefit costs other than service cost, are included in “Other.” For additional information related to our operating segments, as well as a reconciliation of EBITDA to its nearest generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measure, Income from continuing operations before income taxes, see Note 22, Segment and Related Information, to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Following our acquisition of A. Schulman, our continuing operations are managed through six reportable segments: O&P-Americas, O&P-EAI, I&D, APS, Refining and Technology.
Our new APS segment produces and markets compounding and solutions, such as polypropylene compounds, engineered plastics, masterbatches, engineered composites, colors and powders; and advanced polymers, which includes Catalloy and polybutene-1. Polypropylene compounds, Catalloy and polybutene-1 were previously reported in our O&P-EAI and O&P-Americas segments. Accordingly, the historical results of our O&P-EAI and O&P-Americas segments have been recast for all comparable periods presented. For additional information related to our segments, see Note 3, Business Combination and Dispositions and Note 22, Segment and Related Information to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The following tables reflect selected financial information for our reportable segments.
Olefins and Polyolefins-Americas Segment
Overview-In calculating the impact of margin and volume on EBITDA, consistent with industry practice, management offsets revenues and volumes related to ethylene co-products against the cost to produce ethylene. Volume and price impacts of ethylene co-products are reported in margin. Ethylene is a major building block of olefins and polyolefins and as such, ethylene sales volumes and prices and our internal cost of ethylene production are included in management’s assessment of the segment’s performance.
2018 versus 2017-EBITDA declined in 2018 as lower ethylene margins more than offset the improvement in polyolefins margins relative to 2017. EBITDA for 2017 also included a $31 million gain resulting from the sale of property in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
2017 versus 2016-EBITDA improved in 2017 due to higher olefins volumes stemming from the expansion of our Corpus Christi, Texas olefins facility in late 2016. Higher olefins and polyethylene margins in 2017 were offset by lower polypropylene margins. EBITDA for 2017 was favorably impacted by the gain related to the sale of property in Lake Charles, Louisiana mentioned above. EBITDA for 2016 was also impacted by a $57 million gain on the first quarter sale of our wholly owned Argentine subsidiary and a $26 million non-cash lower of cost or market (“LCM”) inventory valuation charge recognized in the fourth quarter due primarily to a reduction in polypropylene prices.
Ethylene Raw Materials-Ethylene and its co-products are produced from two major raw material groups:
•
NGLs, principally ethane and propane, the prices of which are generally affected by natural gas prices; and
•
crude oil-based liquids (“liquids” or “heavy liquids”), including naphtha, condensates, and gas oils, the prices of which are generally related to crude oil prices.
Although prices of these raw materials are generally related to crude oil and natural gas prices, during specific periods the relationships among these materials and benchmarks may vary significantly. We have significant flexibility to vary the raw material mix and process conditions in our U.S. olefins plants in order to maximize profitability as market prices for both feedstocks and products change.
As in recent years, strong supplies from the U.S. shale gas/oil boom resulted in ethane being a preferred feedstock in our U.S. plants in 2018. Ethane remained the preferred U.S. feedstock for ethylene despite higher recent prices driven by increased demand from newly-constructed U.S. olefins units and supply constraints in the Gulf Coast NGL fractionation and pipeline systems. In 2018, we produced approximately 80% of our ethylene from ethane compared to approximately 75% and 70% in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Despite generally higher liquid feedstock prices, strong propylene and butadiene coproduct prices at various points in the year also brought liquids into our feedslate.
The following table sets forth selected financial information for the O&P-Americas segment including Income from equity investments, which is a component of EBITDA.
Revenues-Revenues increased by $404 million, or 4%, in 2018 compared to 2017 and by $1,282 million, or 15%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Average polyethylene and polypropylene sales prices, supported globally by higher crude oil prices, increased relative to 2017. This favorable impact was partly offset by a 6 cents decline in ethylene prices resulting from increased supply driven by the start-up of new U.S. ethylene capacity. The overall average increase in sales prices was responsible for an 8% increase in 2018 revenues.
Segment volumes declined in 2018 mainly due to lower sales of purchased feedstock and the negative impact of planned and unplanned maintenance on polypropylene and polyethylene sales. These lower sales volumes were responsible for a revenue decrease of 4% in 2018.
2017 versus 2016-Average sales prices for most products increased in 2017, consistent with feedstock prices that are correlated with crude oil and natural gas prices, which on average increased relative to 2016. These higher sales prices were responsible for a 14% increase in 2017 revenues.
Operating rates and product volumes improved in 2017 due to turnaround activities and the expansion at our Corpus Christi, Texas facility during 2016. These increased volumes were responsible for a revenue increase of 1% in 2017.
EBITDA-EBITDA decreased by $137 million, or 5%, in 2018 compared to 2017 and increased by $111 million, or 4%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Lower olefins margins and higher fixed costs, which were partly offset by higher polyethylene and polypropylene margins, led to a 3% decline in 2018 EBITDA. Ethylene margins decreased by 5 cents per pound largely due to the decline in ethylene sales prices discussed above. Polyethylene and polypropylene margins reflect per pound increases in price spreads over ethylene and propylene of 7 cents and 3 cents, respectively, driven by higher sales prices and in the case of polyethylene, also by the lower cost of ethylene feedstock. The increase in polyethylene and polypropylene margins stem from strong demand and industry supply constraints. Lower polyethylene and polypropylene volumes also resulted in a 2% decline in 2018 EBITDA. An additional 1% decrease in EBITDA relative to 2017 was related to the gain on the sale of property in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The remaining change in 2018 EBITDA was attributed to an increase in income from our equity investments.
2017 versus 2016-Increased volumes in 2017 due largely to the expansion of our Corpus Christi, Texas olefins facility was responsible for a 5% improvement in EBITDA. Margins were relatively unchanged in 2017 compared to 2016 due to an approximate 4 cents per pound decrease in polypropylene spreads that substantially offset per pound increases in olefins and polyethylene spreads of a half cent and 2 cents, respectively. Polypropylene margins declined from the high levels in 2016 on the higher cost of propylene feedstocks, while the increase in olefins and polyethylene margins was attributable to higher average sales prices that more than offset the increased cost of ethylene. Lower income from our joint venture relative to the prior year led to a 1% decline in EBITDA. The net impact to EBITDA of the gain on sale of our wholly owned Argentine subsidiary in the first quarter of 2016 and the fourth quarter LCM inventory valuation adjustment mentioned above was offset by the first quarter 2017 gain on sale of property in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Olefins and Polyolefins-Europe, Asia, International Segment
Overview-In calculating the impact of margin and volume on EBITDA, consistent with industry practice, management offsets revenues and volumes related to ethylene co-products against the cost to produce ethylene. Volume and price impacts of ethylene co-products are reported in margin. Ethylene is a major building block of our olefins and polyolefins and as such, ethylene sales volumes and prices and our internal cost of ethylene production are included in management’s assessment of the segment’s performance.
2018 versus 2017-EBITDA in 2018 declined largely as a result of lower margins and volumes in Europe compared to a strong 2017. EBITDA for 2018 includes a $36 million gain from the fourth quarter 2018 sale of our carbon black subsidiary in France. In 2017, EBITDA included a $108 million gain on the third quarter 2017 sale of our 27% interest in Geosel and the $21 million beneficial impact related to the elimination of an obligation associated with a lease.
2017 versus 2016-EBITDA increased in 2017 compared to 2016. This improvement was driven by higher olefins margins and the impact of higher volumes across most products, partly offset by lower polyethylene margins and lower income from our equity investments.
EBITDA for 2017 also included the gain on the sale of our interest in Geosel and the beneficial impact related to the elimination of an obligation associated with a lease discussed above. In 2016, EBITDA reflected gains totaling $11 million from the sales of our joint venture in Japan and idled assets in Australia.
Ethylene Raw Materials-In Europe, heavy liquids are the primary raw materials for our ethylene production. In 2018, 2017 and 2016, we continued to benefit by sourcing advantaged NGLs as market opportunities arose.
The following table sets forth selected financial information for the O&P-EAI segment including Income from equity investments, which is a component of EBITDA.
Revenues-Revenues in 2018 increased by $620 million, or 6%, compared to 2017 and by $1,500 million, or 17%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Average sales prices in 2018 were higher across most products as sales prices generally correlate with crude oil prices, which were significantly higher compared to 2017. These higher average sales prices were responsible for a revenue increase of 7% in 2018. Planned and unplanned maintenance, a weaker market and low Rhine River levels in the second half of 2018, compared to the prior year, led to lower sales volumes across most products. These decreased volumes resulted in a revenue decrease of 4% in 2018. Foreign exchange impacts in 2018, which were favorable on average compared to 2017, led to a revenue increase of 3%.
2017 versus 2016-Average sales prices in 2017 were higher across most products as sales prices generally correlate with crude oil prices, which on average, increased compared to 2016. These higher average sales prices were responsible for a revenue increase of 12% in 2017. Better product availability compared to 2016, which was affected by turnaround activity and inventory requirements, led to higher sales volumes across most products. These increased volumes resulted in a revenue increase of 3% in 2017. Foreign exchange impacts that, on average, were favorable for 2017 resulted in a revenue increase of 2% compared to the prior year.
EBITDA-EBITDA decreased by $764 million, or 40%, in 2018 compared to 2017 and increased by $198 million, or 11%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Olefins and polyolefins margins in Europe declined in 2018. Olefins margins decreased as the improvement in ethylene prices lagged a 10 cents per pound increase in the weighted average cost of ethylene production due to higher prices for naphtha and other olefin feedstocks. A decline in 2018 polyolefins margins reflected lower per pound price spreads over ethylene and propylene of 3 cents and 2 cents, respectively. These lower margins were due to weaker supply/demand balances in Europe and led to a decline in EBITDA of 29%, in comparison to a strong 2017. The impact of the lower volumes discussed above also led to a 9% decrease in 2018 EBITDA. A reduction in income from our equity investments resulted in an additional 2% decrease in EBITDA relative to 2017. The net impact of the 2018 gain on the sale of our carbon black subsidiary in France and the 2017 benefits related to the sale of our interest in Geosel and the elimination of an obligation associated with a lease discussed above resulted in a further 5% decline in EBITDA.
These unfavorable impacts were offset in part by a 5% increase to EBITDA due to favorable foreign exchange impacts in 2018.
2017 versus 2016-An increase in olefin margins driven largely by a 6 cents per pound increase in ethylene sales prices was partly offset in 2017 by a 3 cents per pound decrease in European polyethylene spreads due to a more balanced European market compared to the prior year. This net increase resulted in a 1% improvement in 2017 EBITDA compared to 2016. The higher 2017 volumes discussed above added another 5% to EBITDA. Favorable foreign exchange impacts in 2017 also contributed an additional 1% to EBITDA. The net beneficial impact of the transactions in 2016 and 2017 discussed above related to the sales of our joint venture interests and idled assets, and the elimination of a lease-related obligation, resulted in an additional 6% increase in EBITDA. These increases were partially offset by a 2% decrease in EBITDA driven by a reduction in income from equity investments in Poland and Asia in 2017 relative to very strong 2016 results.
Intermediates and Derivatives Segment
Overview-EBITDA for our I&D segment was higher across all businesses in 2018 compared to 2017, which included an approximate $50 million unfavorable impact related to precious metal catalysts.
2018 versus 2017-EBITDA improved in 2018 relative to 2017 as higher margins across most products benefited from industry supply constraints and strong demand.
2017 versus 2016-EBITDA was higher for our I&D segment in 2017 relative to 2016 due to stronger margins for intermediate chemicals products supported by reduced market supply stemming from industry outages and increased demand in Asia.
The following table sets forth selected financial information for the I&D segment including Income from equity investments, which is a component of EBITDA.
Revenues-Revenues for 2018 increased by $1,116 million, or 13%, compared to 2017 and increased by $1,246 million, or 17%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Higher average sales prices in 2018 for most products, which reflect the impacts of higher feedstock and energy costs and industry supply constraints, were responsible for a revenue increase of 10%. Higher sales volumes resulted in a revenue increase of 2% in 2018, primarily due to hurricane Harvey impacts and major turnarounds at our Botlek, Netherlands and Channelview, Texas facilities in 2017. Foreign exchange impacts that, on average, were favorably higher relative to 2017 resulted in a revenue increase of 1%.
2017 versus 2016-Higher average sales prices in 2017 for most products, which reflect the impacts of higher feedstock and energy costs and industry supply constraints, were responsible for a revenue increase of 17%. Favorable foreign exchange impacts also led to a 1% revenue increase in 2017. These increases were partially offset by a revenue decrease of 1% in 2017, primarily due to lower sales volumes for intermediate chemicals and oxyfuels and related products. This volume-driven decline was largely due to reduced production associated with two major turnarounds at our Botlek, Netherlands, and Channelview, Texas, facilities.
EBITDA-EBITDA increased by $521 million, or 35%, in 2018 compared to 2017 and increased by $157 million, or 12%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Higher margins were responsible for an improvement in EBITDA of 27% in 2018 relative to 2017. Industry outages and other supply constraints for several intermediate chemicals products, along with strong demand for PO and derivatives products, led to tight supplies and higher sales prices. Intermediate chemicals products accounted for approximately two thirds of the margin improvement in 2018 as most intermediate chemical products benefited from lower ethylene raw material costs and tight industry supply. PO and derivatives and oxyfuels and related products each accounted for approximately half of the remaining increase in 2018 margins. Margins for oxyfuels and related products improved with higher crude oil pricing which outpaced butane.
The impact of higher volumes as discussed above added 3% to EBITDA in 2018 while favorable foreign exchange impacts added 2%. An additional 3% increase in EBITDA, as compared to the prior year period, stems from the absence of the unfavorable impact associated with precious metal catalysts in 2017.
2017 versus 2016-Higher intermediate chemicals and PO and derivative product margins driven by higher average sales prices resulted in a 19% increase in EBITDA. This increase was offset in part by a 2% decline in margins for oxyfuels and related products primarily due to higher butane pricing. This margin improvement was partly offset by decreases in EBITDA of 4% and 1%, respectively, stemming from the unfavorable impacts associated with charges related to precious metals catalyst financings and the lower volumes discussed above.
Advanced Polymer Solutions Segment
Overview
2018 versus 2017-EBITDA for our APS segment declined relative to 2017 as lower margins and $69 million of acquisition-related transaction and integration costs were offset by $58 million of EBITDA stemming from the acquisition of A. Schulman.
2017 versus 2016-EBITDA improved slightly in 2017 with higher compounding and solutions volumes and improved advanced polymers margins relative to 2016, which included a $21 million gain on the sale of our wholly owned Argentine subsidiary.
The following table sets forth selected financial information for the APS segment including Income from equity investments, which is a component of EBITDA:
Revenues-Revenues increased in 2018 by $1,102 million, or 38%, compared to 2017 and by $321 million, or 12%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-The acquisition of A. Schulman contributed $846 million to revenues of the APS segment, which accounts for a revenue increase in 2018 of approximately 29% relative to 2017. Higher average sales prices, which were driven by the increased cost of raw materials, also led to a revenue increase of 8% in 2018. Foreign exchange impacts, which on average, were favorable in 2018 also resulted in a revenue increase of 2%.
A decline in compounding and solutions product volumes in 2018 stemming from lower automotive production in Europe was substantially offset by higher advanced polymers product volumes due to strong demand in Europe and North America leading to a 1% decline in revenues.
2017 versus 2016-Higher average sales prices across all products in 2017 led to a revenue increase of 8% relative to 2016. An increase in 2017 compounding and solutions volumes driven by higher automotive demand in South America resulted in a 3% revenue increase. Another 1% increase in revenues stemmed from foreign exchange impacts, which on average, were favorable in 2017 relative to 2016.
EBITDA-EBITDA decreased in 2018 by $38 million, or 9%, compared to 2017 and increased by $11 million, or 3%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-EBITDA declined by 16% in 2018 as a result of the $69 million of costs associated with the acquisition and integration of A. Schulman. The operations of A. Schulman following the acquisition contributed $58 million of EBITDA to the results of the APS segment leading to an increase in EBITDA of 13%.
Margins for compounding and solutions products declined in 2018 due primarily to increases in raw material costs in South America and Asia that outpaced increases in average sales prices. These lower margins and the decline in volumes discussed above resulted in decreases of 8% and 1%, respectively, in EBITDA.
Favorable foreign exchange impacts partly offset these declines with a 3% increase in 2018 EBITDA.
2017 versus 2016-The volume-driven increase related to our compounding and solutions products discussed above led to a 4% increase in 2018 EBITDA. Increased margins for advanced polymers driven by sales prices that increased more than raw material prices resulted in an additional increase in EBITDA of 3%. Favorable foreign exchange impacts in 2017 contributed another 1% to EBITDA. These favorable impacts were offset in part by a 5% decline relative to EBITDA in 2016, which included the gain on sale of our Argentine subsidiary discussed above.
Refining Segment
Overview
2018 versus 2017-EBITDA for our Refining segment benefited in 2018 from improved refining margins primarily driven by favorable crude oil discounts in Western Canadian Select and improved rates on our fluid catalytic converter leading to better yields.
2017 versus 2016-EBITDA benefited from higher crude processing rates in 2017 as the impacts of planned and unplanned maintenance outages were less than in 2016. Higher industry margins were offset by higher maintenance-related fixed costs in 2017.
The following table sets forth selected financial information and heavy crude processing rates for the Refining segment and the U.S. refining market margins for the applicable periods. “LLS” is a light crude oil, while “Maya” is a heavy crude oil.
Revenues-Revenues increased by $2,309 million, or 34%, in 2018 compared to 2017 and by $1,713 million, or 33%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Higher product prices led to a revenue increase of 26% relative to 2017 due to a per barrel increase in average crude oil prices of approximately $16 in 2018. Heavy crude oil processing rates in 2018 decreased 2% relative to 2017, with both comparative periods impacted by turnaround activity. Sales volumes increased in 2018 leading to a revenue increase of 8%, compared to the 2017 period due to an increase in downstream processing of intermediate oils.
2017 versus 2016-Higher product prices in 2017 largely driven by an increase in average crude oil prices of approximately $10 per barrel led to a revenue increase of 26% relative to 2016. Heavy crude oil processing rates increased by 17% in 2017, leading to a volume driven revenue increase of 7%, as the impacts of planned and unplanned outages and the effects of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 had less of an impact on processing rates than the unplanned outages in 2016 related to a
coker fire, downtime at crude units with reduced processing and several utility interruptions. In 2017, we completed planned turnarounds on one of our crude units and our fluid catalytic converter.
EBITDA-EBITDA increased by $10 million, or 6%, in 2018 compared to 2017 and by $85 million, or 118%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Advantaged pricing for Canadian crude oil and better yields equally contributed to the improvement in 2018 refining margins relative to 2017, which was negatively impacted by planned turnaround activity on our fluid catalytic cracking unit. These higher margins accounted for a 12% improvement in 2018 EBITDA. These margin improvements were offset by a 2% decrease in heavy crude oil processing rates which resulted in a volume-driven 6% decrease in EBITDA.
2017 versus 2016-Increased production accounted for approximately 90% of the improvement in 2017 EBITDA. Crude oil processing rates in 2017 were higher than 2016 as discussed above. Higher refining margins, which were partly offset by higher maintenance-related fixed costs, accounted for the remaining 10% improvement in 2017 EBITDA.
Technology Segment
Overview-The Technology segment recognizes revenues related to the sale of polyolefin catalysts and the licensing of chemical and polyolefin process technologies. These revenues are offset in part by the costs incurred in the production of catalysts, licensing and services activities and research and development (“R&D”) activities. In 2018, 2017 and 2016, our Technology segment incurred approximately 55% of all R&D costs.
2018 versus 2017-EBITDA improved in 2018 primarily due to higher licensing revenues.
2017 versus 2016-A decline in 2017 EBITDA reflects lower licensing revenues, partially offset by higher catalyst sales volumes, compared to 2016.
The following table sets forth selected financial information for the Technology segment.
Revenues-Revenues increased by $133 million, or 30%, in 2018 compared to 2017 and decreased by $29 million, or 6%, in 2017 compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Higher licensing revenues were responsible for a revenue increase of 23% in 2018, relative to the corresponding period in 2017. Higher customer demand led to increased catalyst volumes in 2018 resulting in a revenue increase of 3%. Favorable foreign exchange impacts in 2018 led to an additional revenue increase of 4%.
2017 versus 2016-Lower licensing revenues were responsible for a revenue decrease of 12% in 2017 relative to 2016. This decrease was partially offset by revenue increases of 3% and 1%, respectively, related to increased catalyst sales volumes and higher average sales prices. Favorable foreign exchange impacts were responsible for an additional 2% increase in EBITDA.
EBITDA-EBITDA in 2018 increased by $105 million, or 47%, compared to 2017 and decreased by $39 million, or 15%, in 2017, compared to 2016.
2018 versus 2017-Higher licensing revenues resulted in EBITDA improvements of 38% in 2018. The catalyst sales volume increase in 2018 discussed above was responsible for a 5% increase in EBITDA. The remaining 4% increase in 2018 EBITDA was due to favorable foreign exchange impacts.
2017 versus 2016-Lower licensing revenues were largely responsible for a 20% decrease in 2017 EBITDA. This decline was partly offset by a 5% improvement in EBITDA resulting from an increase in catalyst volumes during 2017.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Operating, investing and financing activities of continuing operations, which are discussed below, are presented in the following table:
Operating Activities-Cash of $5,471 million generated by operating activities in 2018 reflected earnings adjusted for non-cash items and net cash provided by the main components of working capital-accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable. A $358 million non-cash reduction in unrecognized tax benefits is reflected in Other operating activities in 2018. For additional information on this matter, see Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In 2018, the main components of working capital provided $93 million of cash. Lower accounts receivable due primarily to lower sales volumes in our O&P-Americas, O&P-EAI and I&D segments at year end and higher accounts payable due to higher feedstock prices were partially offset by an increase in inventory primarily due to the lower sales volumes at year end.
Cash of $5,206 million generated in 2017 primarily reflected earnings adjusted for non-cash items partly offset by $593 million of cash used by the main components of working capital. Higher sales prices across all of our segments in the fourth quarter of 2017 and brief delays in the receipt of payments for products in our Refining and I&D segments led to the increase in accounts receivable. Inventories increased for most products in our O&P-EAI and O&P-Americas segments and included an inventory build in our O&P-Americas segment in anticipation of first quarter 2018 turnaround activities. These increases were partly offset by an increase in feedstock prices in the fourth quarter of 2017 in our O&P-Americas, O&P-EAI and Refining segments which led to an increase in accounts payable.
Cash of $5,606 million generated in 2016 primarily reflected earnings adjusted for non-cash items and cash generated by the main components of working capital. The non-cash items in 2016 included a $78 million gain related to the sale of our wholly owned Argentine subsidiary with adjustments for related working capital and gains totaling $11 million related to sales of our joint venture in Japan and idled assets in Australia.
The main components of working capital generated cash of $123 million in 2016. Higher product sales prices in the fourth quarter of 2016 across all segments combined with the impact of higher fourth quarter 2016 sales volumes in our O&P-Americas, Refining and I&D segments led to an increase in accounts receivable. This increase in accounts receivable was offset by higher accounts payable, which was driven by the higher prices of crude oil and other feedstocks. The level of inventories fell in our O&P-Americas segment following the completion of turnaround activities in the fourth quarter of 2016 and in our Refining segment, which had higher crude oil inventories at the end of 2015 due to operational issues during the fourth quarter.
Investing Activities-We invested cash of $3,559 million, $1,756 million and $2,301 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
In August 2018, we acquired A. Schulman for $1,776 million, which is net of $81 million of cash acquired and a liability deemed as a component of the purchase price. For additional information on this transaction, see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
We invest cash in investment-grade and other high-quality instruments that provide adequate flexibility to redeploy funds as needed to meet our cash flow requirements while maximizing yield.
In 2018, 2017 and 2016, we invested $50 million, $653 million and $688 million, respectively, in debt securities that are deemed available-for-sale. We also invested $64 million in equity securities in 2018 and $76 million in held-to-maturity
securities in 2016. These investments are classified as Short-term investments. In 2017 and 2016, we invested $512 million and $674 million, respectively, in tri-party repurchase agreements.
We received proceeds of $423 million, $574 million and $674 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, upon the sale and maturity of certain of our Short-term investments. In 2018, we also received proceeds of $97 million on the sale of a portion of our investment in equity securities. In 2017 and 2016, we received proceeds of $381 million and $685 million, respectively, upon the maturity of certain of our repurchase agreements. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding these investments.
Joint Venture Activity-In September 2017, we sold our 27% interest in our Geosel joint venture and received proceeds of $155 million.
Financial Instruments Activity-Upon expiration in 2018, 2017 and 2016, we settled foreign currency contracts with notional values totaling €925 million, €550 million and €1,200 million, respectively, which were designated as net investment hedges of our investments in foreign subsidiaries. Payments to and proceeds from our counterparties resulted in a net cash inflow of $30 million in 2018 and net cash outflows of $49 million and $61 million during 2017 and 2016, respectively. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding these foreign currency contracts.
Sales of Subsidiaries-In October 2018, we received net cash proceeds of $37 million for the sale of our carbon black subsidiary in France.
In February 2016, we received net cash proceeds of $137 million for the sale of our wholly owned Argentine subsidiary.
The following table summarizes our capital expenditures for continuing operations for the periods from 2016 through 2018:
In 2019, we expect to spend approximately $2.8 billion for capital expenditures and contributions to our PO joint ventures. The higher levels of expected capital expenditures in 2019 and 2018 relative to their respective comparative periods are largely driven by construction related to our new Hyperzone polyethylene plant at our La Porte, Texas facility and for the construction related to our new PO/TBA plant in Texas.
Financing Activities-Financing activities used cash of $3,008 million, $2,859 million and $3,349 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
We made payments totaling $1,854 million, $866 million and $2,938 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, to repurchase a portion of our outstanding ordinary shares. We also made dividend payments to holders of our ordinary shares totaling $1,554 million, $1,415 million and $1,395 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. For additional information related to these share repurchases and dividend payments, see Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In September 2018, we repaid the $375 million 6.875% Senior Notes due June 2023 assumed in the acquisition of A. Schulman for a price of 105.156% of par.
In March 2017, we issued $1,000 million of 3.5% guaranteed notes due 2027 and received net proceeds of $990 million. The proceeds from these notes, together with available cash, were used to repay $1,000 million of our outstanding 5% senior notes due 2019. We paid $65 million in premiums in connection with this prepayment.
In March 2016, we issued €750 million of 1.875% guaranteed notes due 2022 and received net proceeds of $812 million.
Through the issuance and repurchase of commercial paper instruments under our commercial paper program, we received net proceeds of $810 million and $177 million in 2018 and 2016, respectively. We made net repayments of $493 million in 2017.
Additional information related to our commercial paper program and the issuance and repayment of debt can be found in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section below and in Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources-As of December 31, 2018, we had $1,224 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities classified as Short-term investments. We also held $544 million of tri-party repurchase agreements classified as Prepaid expenses and other current assets at December 31, 2018. For additional information related to our purchases of marketable securities, which currently include time deposits, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, bonds and limited partnership investments, and our investments in tri-party repurchase agreements, see “Investing Activities” above and Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
At December 31, 2018, we held $269 million of cash in jurisdictions outside the U.S., principally Europe and Asia. There are currently no material legal or economic restrictions that would impede our transfers of cash.
We also had total unused availability under our credit facilities of $2,517 million at December 31, 2018, which included the following:
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$1,688 million under our $2,500 million revolving credit facility, which backs our $2,500 million commercial paper program. Availability under this facility is net of outstanding borrowings, outstanding letters of credit provided under the facility and notes issued under our commercial paper program. A small portion of our availability under this facility is impacted by changes in the euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate. At December 31, 2018, we had $809 million of outstanding commercial paper, net of discount, no outstanding letters of credit and no outstanding borrowings under the facility; and
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$829 million under our $900 million U.S. accounts receivable facility. Availability under this facility is subject to a borrowing base of eligible receivables, which is reduced by outstanding borrowings and letters of credit, if any. This facility had no outstanding borrowings or letters of credit at December 31, 2018.
At December 31, 2018, we had total debt, including current maturities, of $9,387 million, and $214 million of outstanding letters of credit, bank guarantees and surety bonds issued under uncommitted credit facilities.
In February 2019, LYB Americas Finance Company LLC (“LYB Americas Finance ), a direct, 100% owned finance subsidiary of LyondellBasell Industries N.V., entered into a 364-day, $2,000 million senior unsecured term loan credit facility and borrowed the entire amount. The proceeds of this term loan, which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by LyondellBasell Industries N.V. are intended for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt.
Borrowings under the credit agreement will bear interest at either a LIBOR rate or a base rate, as defined, plus in each case, an applicable margin determined by reference to LyondellBasell N.V.’s current credit ratings.
The credit agreement contains customary covenants and warranties, including specified restrictions on indebtedness, including secured and subsidiary indebtedness, and merger and sales of assets. In addition, we are required to maintain a leverage ratio at the end of every fiscal quarter of 3.50 to 1.00 or less.
In February 2019, proceeds from the credit facility were used to redeem the remaining $1,000 million outstanding of our 5% Senior Notes due 2019 at par. In conjunction with the redemption of these notes, we recognized non-cash charges of less than $1 million for the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and $8 million for the write-off of the cumulative fair value hedge accounting adjustment related to the redeemed notes.
In July 2018, we amended our $900 million U.S. accounts receivable facility. This amendment, among other things, extended the term of the facility to July 2021.
For additional information related to our credit facilities discussed above, see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In accordance with our current interest rate risk management strategy and subject to management’s evaluation of market conditions and the availability of favorable interest rates among other factors, we may from time to time enter into interest rate swap agreements to economically convert a portion of our fixed rate debt to variable rate debt or convert a portion of variable rate debt to fixed rate debt.
In 2018, our shareholders approved a proposal to authorize us to repurchase up to an additional 10%, or 57,844,016, of our ordinary shares through December 2019 (“2018 Share Repurchase Program”). As a result, the authorization of the remaining unpurchased shares under the share repurchase program approved by our shareholders in May 2017 (“2017 Share Repurchase Program”) was superseded. Our share repurchase program does not have a stated dollar amount, and purchases may be made through open market purchases, private market transactions or other structured transactions. Repurchased shares could be retired or used for general corporate purposes, including for various employee benefit and compensation plans. In 2018, we purchased approximately 19 million shares under these programs for approximately $1,878 million. As of February 19, 2019, we had approximately 38 million shares remaining under the current authorization. The timing and amounts of additional shares repurchased will be determined based on our evaluation of market conditions and other factors. For additional information related to our share repurchase programs, see Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
We may repay or redeem our debt, including purchases of our outstanding bonds in the open market, using cash and cash equivalents, cash from our short-term investments and tri-party repurchase agreements, cash from operating activities, proceeds from the issuance of debt, proceeds from asset divestitures, or a combination thereof. In connection with any repayment or redemption of our debt, we may incur cash and non-cash charges, which could be material in the period in which they are incurred.
Construction of our Hyperzone high density polyethylene plant at our La Porte, Texas site, which commenced in May 2017, is on track for planned start-up in the third quarter of 2019.
In July 2017, we announced our final investment decision to build a world-scale PO/TBA plant in Texas with a capacity of 1.0 billion pounds of PO and 2.2 billion pounds of TBA. In August 2018, we broke ground on this project, which is estimated to cost approximately $2.4 billion. We anticipate the project to be completed in the third quarter of 2021.
We plan to fund our ongoing working capital, capital expenditures, debt service and other funding requirements with cash from operating activities, which could be affected by general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Cash and cash equivalents, cash from our short-term investments and tri-party repurchase agreements, cash from operating activities, proceeds from the issuance of debt, or a combination thereof, may be used to fund the purchase of shares under our share repurchase program.
We intend to continue to declare and pay quarterly dividends, with the goal of increasing the dividend over time, after giving consideration to our cash balances and expected results from operations.
We believe that our current liquidity availability and cash from operating activities provide us with sufficient financial resources to meet our anticipated capital requirements and obligations as they come due.
Contractual and Other Obligations-The following table summarizes, as of December 31, 2018, our minimum payments for long-term debt, including current maturities, short-term debt, and contractual and other obligations for the next five years and thereafter:
Total Debt-Our debt includes unsecured senior notes, guaranteed notes and various other U.S. and non-U.S. loans. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of covenant requirements under the credit facilities and indentures and additional information regarding our debt facilities.
Interest on Total Debt-Our debt and related party debt agreements contain provisions for the payment of monthly, quarterly or semi-annual interest at a stated rate of interest over the term of the debt.
Pension and other Postretirement Benefits-We maintain several defined benefit pension plans, as described in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Many of our U.S. and non-U.S. plans are subject to minimum funding requirements; however, the amounts of required future contributions for all our plans are not fixed and can vary significantly due to changes in economic assumptions, liability experience and investment return on plan assets. As a result, we have excluded pension and other postretirement benefit obligations from the Contractual and Other Obligations table above. Our annual contributions may include amounts in excess of minimum required funding levels. Contributions to our non-U.S. plans in years beyond 2019 are not expected to be materially different than the expected 2019 contributions disclosed in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. At December 31, 2018, the projected benefit obligation for our pension plans exceeded the fair value of plan assets by $992 million. Subject to future actuarial gains and losses, as well as future asset earnings, we, together with our consolidated subsidiaries, will be required to fund the discounted obligation of $992 million in future years. We contributed $100 million, $103 million and $114 million to our pension plans in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. We provide other postretirement benefits, primarily medical benefits to eligible participants, as described in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We pay other unfunded postretirement benefits as incurred.
Contract Liabilities-We are obligated to deliver products or services in connection with sales agreements under which customer payments were received before transfer of control to the customers occurs. These contract liabilities will be recognized in earnings when control of the product or service is transferred to the customer, which range predominantly from 1 to 15 years. The unamortized long-term portion of such advances totaled $10 million as of December 31, 2018.
Other-Other primarily consists of accruals for environmental remediation costs, obligations under deferred compensation arrangements, and anticipated asset retirement obligations. See “Critical Accounting Policies” below for a discussion of obligations for environmental remediation costs.
Deferred Income Taxes-The scheduled settlement of the deferred tax liabilities shown in the table is based on the scheduled reversal of the underlying temporary differences. Actual cash tax payments will vary depending upon future taxable income. See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to our deferred tax liabilities.
Purchase Obligations-We are party to various obligations to purchase products and services, principally for raw materials, utilities and industrial gases. These commitments are designed to assure sources of supply and are not expected to be in excess of normal requirements. The commitments are segregated into take-or-pay contracts and other contracts. Under the take-or-pay contracts, we are obligated to make minimum payments whether or not we take the product or service. Other contracts include contracts that specify minimum quantities; however, in the event that we do not take the contractual minimum, we are only obligated for any resulting economic loss suffered by the vendor. The payments shown for the other contracts assume that minimum quantities are purchased. For contracts with variable pricing terms, the minimum payments reflect the contract price at December 31, 2018.
Operating Leases-We lease various facilities and equipment under noncancelable lease arrangements for various periods. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for related lease disclosures.
CURRENT BUSINESS OUTLOOK
During the first month of 2019, we have seen normalization of markets with increased polymer demand. We expect our growth to accelerate in 2019 with the planned start-up of our new Hyperzone polyethylene plant in the third quarter and continued construction of our new PO/TBA plant which is on track for completion in 2021. Global polyethylene capacity additions are expected to moderate during 2019 and 2020, providing support for high industry operating rates and ethylene chain profitability.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
We have related party transactions with our joint venture partners. We believe that such transactions are effected on terms substantially no more or less favorable than those that would have been agreed upon by unrelated parties on an arm’s length basis. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional related party disclosures.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Management applies those accounting policies that it believes best reflect the underlying business and economic events, consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Our more critical accounting policies include those related to the valuation of inventory, long-lived assets, the valuation of goodwill, accruals for long-term employee benefit costs such as pension and other postretirement costs, and accruals for taxes based on income. Inherent in such policies are certain key assumptions and estimates made by management. Management periodically updates its estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements based on its latest assessment of the current and projected business and general economic environment.
Inventory-We account for our inventory using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method of accounting.
The cost of raw materials, which represents a substantial portion of our operating expenses, and energy costs generally follow price trends for crude oil and/or natural gas. Crude oil and natural gas prices are subject to many factors, including changes in economic conditions.
Since our inventory consists of manufactured products derived from crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and correlated materials, as well as the associated feedstocks and intermediate chemicals, our inventory market values are generally influenced by changes in benchmark crude oil and heavy liquid values and prices for manufactured finished goods. The degree of influence of a particular benchmark may vary from period to period, as the composition of the dollar value LIFO pools change. Due to natural inventory composition changes, variation in pricing from period to period does not necessarily result in a linear lower of cost or market (“LCM”) impact. Additionally, an LCM condition may arise due to a volumetric decline in a particular material that had previously provided a positive impact within a pool. As a result, market valuations and LCM conditions are dependent upon the composition and mix of materials on hand at the balance sheet date. In the measurement of
an LCM adjustment, the numeric input value for determining the crude oil market price includes pricing that is weighted by volume of inventories held at a point in time, including WTI, Brent and Maya crude oils.
As indicated above, fluctuation in the prices of crude oil, natural gas and correlated products from period to period may result in the recognition of charges to adjust the value of inventory to the lower of cost or market in periods of falling prices and the reversal of those charges in subsequent interim periods as market prices recover. Accordingly, our cost of sales and results of operations may be affected by such fluctuations.
While prices for our products and raw materials are inherently volatile and therefore no prediction can be given with certainty, we do not believe any of our inventory is at risk for impairment at this time.
Goodwill-As of December 31, 2018, we recognized $1,814 million of goodwill. Of this amount, $1,271 million was recognized as a result of the acquisition of A. Schulman, which mainly relates to acquired workforce and synergies expected from the acquisition. All of the goodwill was assigned to our APS segment. The remaining goodwill at December 31, 2018 primarily represents the tax effect of the differences between the tax and book bases of our assets and liabilities resulting from the revaluation of those assets and liabilities to fair value in connection with the Company’s emergence from bankruptcy and fresh-start accounting. We evaluate the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the goodwill of a reporting unit may not be fully recoverable.
Additional information on the amount of goodwill allocated to our reporting units appears in Note 3 and Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
We have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. Qualitative factors assessed for each of the reporting units include, but are not limited to, changes in long-term commodity prices, discount rates, competitive environments, planned capacity, cost factors such as raw material prices, and financial performance of the reporting units. If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, a quantitative test is required.
We also have the option to proceed directly to the quantitative impairment test. Under the quantitative impairment test, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared to its carrying value, including goodwill. For the quantitative impairment test, the fair value of the reporting unit is calculated using a discounted cash-flow model. Such a model inherently utilizes a significant number of estimates and assumptions, including operating margins, tax rates, discount rates, capital expenditures and working capital changes. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge equal to the excess would be recognized, up to a maximum amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
For 2018 and 2017, management performed a qualitative impairment assessment of our reporting units which indicated that the fair value of our reporting units was greater than their carrying value. Accordingly, a quantitative goodwill impairment test was not required. Accordingly, no goodwill impairment was recognized in 2018 or 2017.
Long-Term Employee Benefit Costs-Our costs for long-term employee benefits, particularly pension and other postretirement medical and life insurance benefits, are incurred over long periods of time, and involve many uncertainties over those periods. The net periodic benefit cost attributable to current periods is based on several assumptions about such future uncertainties, and is sensitive to changes in those assumptions. It is management’s responsibility, often with the assistance of independent experts, to select assumptions that in its judgment represent its best estimates of the future effects of those uncertainties. It also is management’s responsibility to review those assumptions periodically to reflect changes in economic or other factors that affect those assumptions.
The current benefit service costs, as well as the existing liabilities, for pensions and other postretirement benefits are measured on a discounted present value basis. The discount rate is a current rate, related to the rate at which the liabilities could be settled. Our assumed discount rate is based on yield information for high-quality corporate bonds with durations comparable to the expected cash settlement of our obligations. For the purpose of measuring the benefit obligations at December 31, 2018, we used a weighted average discount rate of 4.51% for the U.S. plans which reflects the different terms of the related benefit obligations. The weighted average discount rate used to measure obligations for non-U.S. plans at December 31, 2018 was
2.07%, reflecting market interest rates. The discount rates in effect at December 31, 2018 will be used to measure net periodic benefit cost during 2019.
The benefit obligation and the periodic cost of other postretirement medical benefits are also measured based on assumed rates of future increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits. As of December 31, 2018, the assumed rate of increase for our U.S. plans was 6.4%, decreasing to 4.5% in 2038 and thereafter. A one hundred basis point change in the health care cost trend rate assumption as of December 31, 2018 would have resulted in a $17 million increase or $12 million decrease in the accumulated other postretirement benefit liability for our non-U.S. plans and would have resulted in an increase or decrease of less than $1 million for U.S. plans. Due to limits on our maximum contribution level under the medical plan, there would have been no significant effect on either our benefit liability or net periodic cost.
The net periodic cost of pension benefits included in expense also is affected by the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption. Investment returns that are recognized currently in net income represent the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets applied to a market-related value of plan assets which, for us, is defined as the market value of assets. The expected rate of return on plan assets is a longer-term rate, and is expected to change less frequently than the current assumed discount rate, reflecting long-term market expectations, rather than current fluctuations in market conditions.
The weighted average expected long-term rate of return on assets in our U.S. plans of 7.50% is based on the average level of earnings that our independent pension investment advisor had advised could be expected to be earned over time and 2.92%, for our non-U.S. plan assets is based on an expectation and asset allocation that varies by region. The asset allocations are summarized in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The actual returns in 2018 was a loss of 1.91% and gain of 0.89% for our U.S. and non-U.S. plan assets, respectively.
The actual rate of return on plan assets may differ from the expected rate due to the volatility normally experienced in capital markets. Management’s goal is to manage the investments over the long term to achieve optimal returns with an acceptable level of risk and volatility.
Net periodic pension cost recognized each year includes the expected asset earnings, rather than the actual earnings or loss. Along with other gains and losses, this unrecognized amount, to the extent it cumulatively exceeds 10% of the projected benefit obligation for the respective plan, is recognized as additional net periodic benefit cost over the average remaining service period of the participants in each plan.
The following table reflects the sensitivity of the benefit obligations and the net periodic benefit costs of our pension plans to changes in the actuarial assumptions:
The sensitivity of our postretirement benefit plans obligations and net periodic benefit costs to changes in actuarial assumptions are reflected in the following table:
Additional information on the key assumptions underlying these benefit costs appears in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Accruals for Taxes Based on Income-The determination of our provision for income taxes and the calculation of our tax benefits and liabilities is subject to management’s estimates and judgments due to the complexity of the tax laws and regulations in the tax jurisdictions in which we operate. Uncertainties exist with respect to interpretation of these complex laws and regulations.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. At December 31, 2017, the measurement of our deferred tax balances was materially affected by the U.S. enactment of “H.R.1,” also known as the Tax Act, as explained in Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
We recognize future tax benefits to the extent that the realization of these benefits is more likely than not. Our current provision for income taxes is impacted by the recognition and release of valuation allowances related to net deferred assets in certain jurisdictions. Further changes to these valuation allowances may impact our future provision for income taxes, which will include no tax benefit with respect to losses incurred and no tax expense with respect to income generated in these countries until the respective valuation allowance is eliminated.
We recognize the financial statement benefits with respect to an uncertain income tax position that we have taken or may take on an income tax return when we believe it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained with the tax authorities.
ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING CHANGES
For a discussion of the potential impact of new accounting pronouncements on our Consolidated Financial Statements, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 7A - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s management of commodity price risk, foreign currency exposure and interest rate risk through its use of derivative instruments and hedging activities.
Commodity Price Risk
A substantial portion of our products and raw materials are commodities whose prices fluctuate as market supply and demand fundamentals change. Accordingly, product margins and the level of our profitability tend to fluctuate with changes in
the business cycle. Natural gas, crude oil and refined products, along with feedstocks for ethylene and propylene production, constitutes the main commodity exposures. We try to protect against such instability through various business strategies including provisions in sales contracts which allows us to pass on higher raw material costs to our customers through timely price increases and through the use of commodity swap and futures contracts.
We use Value at Risk (“VaR”), stress testing and scenario analysis for risk measurement and control purposes. VaR estimates the maximum potential loss in fair market values for our commodity derivative instruments, given a certain move in prices over a certain period of time, using specified confidence levels. Utilizing a Monte Carlo simulation with a 95 percent confidence level over a 3-day time horizon, the effect on our pre-tax income and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 would be immaterial.
Foreign Exchange Risk
We manufacture and market our products in many countries throughout the world and, as a result, are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
A significant portion of our reporting entities use the euro as their functional currency. Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The translation gains or losses that result from the process of translating the euro denominated financial statements to U.S. dollars are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) until such time as those entities may be liquidated or sold. Changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the euro can therefore have a significant impact on comprehensive income.
We have entered into hedging arrangements designated as net investment hedges to reduce the volatility in stockholders’ equity resulting from foreign currency fluctuation associated with our net investments in foreign operations. The table below illustrates the impact on Other comprehensive loss of a 10% fluctuation in the foreign currency rate associated with each net investment hedge and the EURIBOR and LIBOR rates associated with basis swaps are shown in the table below:
Some of our operations enter into transactions that are not denominated in their functional currency. This results in exposure to foreign currency risk for financial instruments, including, but not limited to third party and intercompany receivables and payables and intercompany loans.
We maintain risk management control practices to monitor the foreign currency risk attributable to our inter-company and third party outstanding foreign currency balances. These practices involve the centralization of our exposure to underlying currencies that are not subject to central bank and/or country specific restrictions. By centralizing most of our foreign currency exposure into one subsidiary, we are able to take advantage of any natural offsets thereby reducing the overall impact of changes in foreign currency rates on our earnings. At December 31, 2018, a 10% fluctuation compared to the U.S. dollar in the underlying currencies that have no central bank or other currency restrictions related to non-hedged monetary net assets would have had a resulting additional impact to earnings of approximately $3 million.
Our policy is to maintain an approximately balanced position in foreign currencies to minimize exchange gains and losses arising from changes in exchange rates. To minimize the effects of our net currency exchange exposures, we enter into foreign currency spot and forward contracts and, in some cases, cross-currency swaps.
We also engage in short-term foreign exchange swaps in order to roll certain hedge positions and to make funds available for intercompany financing. Our net position in foreign currencies is monitored daily.
We have entered into $2,300 million of non-cancellable cross-currency swaps, which we designated as foreign currency cash flow hedges, to reduce the variability in the functional currency equivalent cash flows of certain foreign currency denominated intercompany notes. At December 31, 2018, these foreign currency contracts have maturity dates ranging from 2021 to 2027 and their fair value was a net asset of $96 million. A 10% fluctuation compared to the U.S. dollar would have had a resulting additional impact to Other comprehensive loss of approximately $243 million.
Other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income reflected net exchange rate foreign currency gains of $24 million in 2018, and foreign currency losses of $1 million in 2017, and $4 million in 2016. For forward contracts, including swap transactions, that economically hedge recognized monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currencies, no hedge accounting is applied. Changes in the fair value of foreign currency forward and swap contracts are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income and offset the currency exchange results recognized on the assets and liabilities. At December 31, 2018, these foreign currency contracts, which will mature between January 2019 and August 2019, inclusively, had an aggregated notional amount of $1,764 million and the fair value was a net liability of $4 million. A 10% fluctuation compared to the U.S. dollar would have had a resulting additional impact to earnings of approximately $96 million.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk management is viewed as a trade-off between cost and risk. The cost of interest is generally lower for short-term debt and higher for long-term debt, and lower for floating rate debt and higher for fixed rate debt. However, the risk associated with interest rates is inversely related to the cost, with short-term debt carrying a higher refinancing risk and floating rate debt having higher interest rate volatility. Our interest rate risk management strategy attempts to optimize this cost/risk/reward tradeoff.
We are exposed to interest rate risk with respect to our fixed and variable rate debt. Fluctuations in interest rates impact the fair value of fixed-rate debt as well as pre-tax earnings stemming from interest expense on variable-rate debt. To minimize earnings at risk as part of our interest rate risk management strategy, we target to maintain floating rate debt, through the use of interest rate swaps, equal to our cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and tri-party repurchase agreements, as those assets are invested in floating rate instruments.
Pre-issuance interest rate-A pre-issuance interest rate strategy is utilized to mitigate the risk that benchmark interest rates (i.e. U.S. Treasury, mid-swaps, etc.) will increase between the time a decision has been made to issue debt and when the actual debt offering is issued. In 2015 and 2018 we entered into forward-starting interest rate swaps to mitigate the risk of adverse changes in the benchmark interest rates on the anticipated refinancing of our senior notes due 2019 and 2021, respectively. These interest rate swaps will be terminated upon debt issuance. At December 31, 2018, the total notional amount of these interest rate contracts designated as cash flow hedges was $1,000 million and $500 million, respectively, and their fair values were a net asset of $7 million and net liability of $5 million, respectively. We estimate that a 10% change in market interest rates as of December 31, 2018 would change the fair value of our forward-starting interest rate swaps outstanding and would have had a resulting impact on Other comprehensive loss of approximately $71 million.
Fixed-rate debt-We enter into interest rate swaps as part of our interest rate risk management strategy. At December 31, 2018, the total notional amount of interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges, which have maturity dates ranging from 2019 to 2027, was $3,143 million and their fair value was a net liability of $42 million.
At December 31, 2018, after giving consideration to the $3,143 million of fixed-rate debt that we have effectively converted to floating through these U.S. dollar fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps, approximately 58% of our debt portfolio, on a gross basis, incurred interest at a fixed-rate and the remaining 42% of the portfolio incurred interest at a variable-rate. We estimate that a 10% change in market interest rates as of December 31, 2018 would change the fair value of our interest rate swaps outstanding and would have had a resulting impact on our pre-tax income of approximately $26 million.
Variable-rate debt-Our variable rate debt consists of our $2,500 million Senior Revolving Credit Facility, our $900 million U.S. Receivables Securitization Facility and our Commercial Paper Program. At December 31, 2018, there were no outstanding borrowings under our Senior Revolving Credit Facility nor U.S. Receivables Securitization facility. Our Commercial Paper Program had outstanding borrowings of $809 million at December 31, 2018. We estimate that a 10% change in interest rates would have had a $2 million impact on earnings based on our average variable-rate debt outstanding per year.

ITEM 8 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Consolidated Statements of Income
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL
OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 based on the Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. Based on our evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2018.
We completed the acquisition of A. Schulman Inc. (“A. Schulman”) on August 21, 2018. We are in the process of assessing the internal controls of A. Schulman as part of the post-close integration process and have excluded A. Schulman from our assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. The total assets and revenues excluded from management’s assessment represent 5% and 2%, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.:
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
As described in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management has excluded A. Schulman Inc. (“A. Schulman”) from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, because it was acquired by the Company in a purchase business combination during 2018. We have also excluded A. Schulman from our audit of internal control over financial reporting. A. Schulman is a wholly-owned subsidiary whose total assets and total revenues excluded from management’s assessment and our audit of internal control over financial reporting represent 5% and 2%, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston, Texas
February 21, 2019
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2008.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
1.
Description of Company and Operations
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3.
Business Combination and Dispositions
4.
Revenues
5.
Related Party Transactions
6.
Accounts Receivable
7.
Inventories
8.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Goodwill and Intangible Assets
9.
Investment in PO Joint Ventures
10.
Equity Investments
11.
Prepaid Expenses, Other Current Assets and Other Assets
12.
Accrued Liabilities
13.
Debt
14.
Lease Commitments
15.
Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements
16.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
17.
Incentive and Share-Based Compensation
18.
Income Taxes
19.
Commitments and Contingencies
20.
Stockholders’ Equity
21.
Per Share Data
22.
Segment and Related Information
23.
Unaudited Quarterly Results
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Description of Company and Operations
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is a limited liability company (Naamloze Vennootschap) incorporated under Dutch law by deed of incorporation dated October 15, 2009. Unless otherwise indicated, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or similar words are used to refer to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. together with its consolidated subsidiaries (“LyondellBasell N.V.”).
LyondellBasell N.V. is a worldwide manufacturer of chemicals and polymers, a refiner of crude oil, a significant producer of gasoline blending components and a developer and licensor of technologies for the production of polymers.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The following significant accounting policies were applied in the preparation of these Consolidated Financial Statements:
Basis of Preparation and Consolidation
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared from the books and records of LyondellBasell N.V. under accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”). Subsidiaries are defined as being those companies over which we, either directly or indirectly, have control through a majority of the voting rights or the right to exercise control or to obtain the majority of the benefits and be exposed to the majority of the risks. Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which control is obtained until the date that such control ceases. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified for the accounting of certain financial assets and financial liabilities (including derivative instruments) at fair value. Consolidated financial information, including subsidiaries and equity investments, has been prepared using uniform accounting policies for similar transactions and other events in similar circumstances.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Our cash equivalents consist of highly liquid debt instruments such as certificates of deposit, commercial paper and money market accounts with major international banks and financial institutions. Cash equivalents include instruments with maturities of three months or less when acquired and exclude restricted cash.
Although, we have no current requirements for compensating balances in a specific amount at a specific point in time, we maintain compensating balances at our discretion for some of our banking services and products.
Short-Term Investments
Investments in debt securities are classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity. Investments classified as available-for-sale are carried at estimated fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). Investments classified as held-to-maturity are carried at amortized cost. We periodically review our available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities for other-than-temporary declines in fair value below the cost basis, and when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable, the investment is written down to fair value, establishing a new cost basis.
We account for investments in equity securities at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Trade Receivables
Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
We calculate provisions for doubtful accounts receivable based on our estimates of amounts that we believe are unlikely to be collected. Collectability of receivables is reviewed and the provision calculated for doubtful accounts is adjusted at least quarterly, based on aging of specific accounts and other available information about the associated customers. Provisions for doubtful accounts are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses.
Loans Receivable
We invest in tri-party repurchase agreements. Under these agreements, we make cash purchases of securities according to a pre-agreed profile from our counterparties. The counterparties have an obligation to repurchase, and we have an obligation to sell, the same or substantially the same securities at a pre-defined date for a price equal to the purchase price plus interest. These securities, which pursuant to our internal policies are held by a third-party custodian and must generally have a minimum collateral value of 102%, secure the counterparty’s obligation to repurchase the securities. These tri-party repurchase agreements are carried at amortized cost. Depending upon maturity, these agreements are treated as short-term loans receivable and are reflected in Prepaid expenses and other current assets or as long-term loans receivable reflected in Other investments and long-term receivables on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Inventories
Cost of our raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods inventories is determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method and is carried at the lower of cost or market value. Cost of our materials and supplies inventory is determined using the moving average cost method and is carried at the lower of cost and net realizable value.
Inventory exchange transactions, which involve fungible commodities, are not accounted for as purchases and sales. Any resulting volumetric exchange balances are accounted for as inventory, with cost determined using the LIFO method.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at historical cost. Historical cost includes expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. Costs may also include borrowing costs incurred on debt during construction or major projects exceeding one year, costs of major maintenance arising from turnarounds of major units and committed decommission costs. Routine maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Land is not depreciated. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful asset lives to their residual values.
The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.
We evaluate property, plant and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets, which, for us, is generally at the plant group level (or, at times, individual plants in certain circumstances where we have isolated production units with separately identifiable cash flows). When it is probable that an asset or asset group’s undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover the carrying amount, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value.
Upon retirement or sale, we remove the cost of the asset and the related accumulated depreciation from the accounts and reflect any resulting gain or loss in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Equity Investments
We account for equity method investments (“equity investments”) using the equity method of accounting if we have the ability to exercise significant influence over, but not control of, an investee. Significant influence generally exists if we have an ownership interest representing between 20% and 50% of the voting rights. Under the equity method of accounting, investments are stated initially at cost and are adjusted for subsequent additional investments and our proportionate share of profit or losses and distributions.
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We record our share of the profits or losses of the equity investments, net of income taxes, in the Consolidated Statements of Income. When our share of losses in an equity investment equals or exceeds our interest in the equity investment, including any other unsecured receivables, we do not recognize further losses, unless we have incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the equity investments.
We evaluate our equity investments for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate, in management’s judgment, that the carrying value of such investments may have experienced an other-than-temporary decline in value. When evidence of loss in value has occurred, management compares the estimated fair value of investment to the carrying value of investment to determine whether an impairment has occurred. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value and management considers the decline in value to be other-than temporary, the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value is recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements as an impairment.
Business Combination
We recognize and measure the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date, with any remaining difference compared to the purchase consideration recorded as goodwill or gain from a bargain purchase. Subsequent to the acquisition, and no later than one year from the acquisition date, we may record adjustments to the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments of the estimated fair values are recorded to earnings. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.
Redeemable Non-controlling Interests
Our redeemable non-controlling interests relate to shares of cumulative perpetual special stock (“A. Schulman Special Stock”) issued by our consolidated subsidiary, A. Schulman, Inc. (“A. Schulman”). Holders of A. Schulman Special Stock are entitled to receive cumulative dividends at the rate of 6% per share on the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. A. Schulman Special Stock may be redeemed at any time at the discretion of the holders and is reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets outside of permanent equity.
The redeemable non-controlling interests were recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition and is subsequently carried at the greater of estimated redemption value at the end of each reporting period or the initial amount recorded at the date of acquisition adjusted for subsequent redemptions. Dividends on these shares are deducted from or added to the amount of Income (loss) attributable to the Company shareholders if and when declared by the Company.
Goodwill
Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested annually for impairment. We assess the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill during the fourth quarter of each year or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the goodwill of a reporting unit may not be fully recoverable.
We first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. Qualitative factors assessed for each of the reporting units include, but are not limited to, changes in long-term commodity prices, discount rates, competitive environments, planned capacity, cost factors such as raw material prices, and financial performance of the reporting units. If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, a quantitative test is required. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge equal to the excess would be recognized up to a maximum amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
In 2018 and 2017, management performed qualitative impairment assessments of our reporting units which indicated that the fair value of our reporting units was greater than their carrying value. Accordingly, a quantitative goodwill impairment test was not required and no goodwill impairment was recognized.
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Intangible Assets
Intangible Assets-Intangible assets consist of customer relationships, trade names and trademarks, know-how, emission allowances, various contracts, in-process research and development and software costs. These assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or over the term of the related agreement. We evaluate definite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable.
Research and Development-Research and development (“R&D”) costs are expensed when incurred. Subsidies for research and development are included in Other income (expense), net. Depreciation expense related to assets employed in R&D is included as a cost of R&D.
Income Taxes
The income tax for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income, except to the extent that it relates to items recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In these cases, the applicable tax amount is recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, as well as the net tax effects of net operating loss carryforwards. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.
We recognize uncertain income tax positions in our financial statements when we believe it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position or a portion thereof will be sustained upon examination. For a position that is more likely than not to be sustained, the benefit recognized is measured at the largest cumulative amount that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized.
Other Provisions
Environmental Remediation Costs-Environmental remediation liabilities include liabilities related to sites we currently own, sites we no longer own, as well as sites where we have operated that belong to other parties. Liabilities for anticipated expenditures related to investigation and remediation of contaminated sites are accrued when it is probable a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Only ongoing operating and monitoring costs, the timing of which can be determined with reasonable certainty, are discounted to present value. Future legal costs associated with such matters, which generally are not estimable, are not included in these liabilities.
Asset Retirement Obligations-At some sites, we are contractually obligated to decommission our plants upon site exit. Asset retirement obligations are recorded at the present value of the estimated costs to retire the asset at the time the obligation is incurred. That cost, which is capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset, is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the remaining useful life of the related asset. Accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability is also recognized over the remaining useful life of the related asset. Such depreciation and accretion expenses are included in Cost of sales.
Foreign Currency Translation and Remeasurement
Functional and Reporting Currency-Items included in the financial information of each of LyondellBasell N.V.’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (“the functional currency”) and then translated to the U.S. dollar (“the reporting currency”) through Other comprehensive income as follows:
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Assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet;
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Income and expenses for each income statement are translated at monthly average exchange rates; and
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All resulting exchange differences are recognized as a separate component within Other comprehensive income (foreign currency translation).
Transactions and Balances-Foreign currency transactions are recorded in their respective functional currency using exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at year-end exchange rates are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Revenue Recognition
Substantially all our revenues are derived from contracts with customers. We account for contracts when both parties have approved the contract and are committed to perform, the rights of the parties and payment terms have been identified, the contract has commercial substance, and collectability is probable.
Revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with our customer are satisfied. This generally occurs at the point in time when performance obligations are fulfilled and control transfers to the customer. In most instances, control transfers upon transfer of risk of loss and title to the customer, which usually occurs when we ship products to the customer from our manufacturing facility. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring goods. Customer incentives are generally based on volumes purchased and recognized over the period earned. Sales, value added, and other taxes that we collect concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from the transaction price as they represent amounts collected on behalf of third parties. We apply the practical expedient to recognize the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that we otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. Shipping and handling costs are treated as a fulfillment cost and not a separate performance obligation.
Payments are typically required within a short period following the transfer of control of the product to the customer. We occasionally require customers to prepay purchases to ensure collectability. Such prepayments do not represent financing arrangements, since payment and fulfillment of the performance obligation occurs within a short time frame. We apply the practical expedient which permits us not to adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component when, at contract inception, we expect that payment will occur in one year or less.
Contract balances typically arise when a difference in timing between the transfer of control to the customer and receipt of consideration occurs. Our contract liabilities, which are reflected in our Consolidated Financial Statements as Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities, consist primarily of customer payments for products or services received before the transfer of control to the customer occurs.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company recognizes compensation expense in the financial statements for share-based compensation awards based upon the grant date fair value over the vesting period.
Contingent share awards are recognized ratably over the vesting period as a liability and re-measured, at fair value, at the balance sheet date, see Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Leases
We lease land and other assets for use in our operations. All lease agreements are evaluated and classified as either an operating lease or a capital lease. A lease is classified as a capital lease if any of the following criteria are met: transfer of ownership to the lessee by the end of the lease term; the lease contains a bargain purchase option; the lease term is equal to 75% or greater of the asset’s useful economic life; or the present value of the future minimum lease payments is equal to or greater than 90% of
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the asset’s fair market value. Capital leases are recorded at the lower of the net present value of the total amount of rent payable under the leasing agreement (excluding finance charges) or fair market value of the leased asset. Capital lease assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis, over a period consistent with our normal depreciation policy for tangible fixed assets, but generally not exceeding the lease term. Operating lease expense is recognized ratably over the entire lease term.
Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities
Pursuant to our risk management policies, we selectively enter into derivative transactions to manage market risk volatility associated with changes in commodity pricing, currency exchange rates and interest rates. Derivatives used for this purpose are generally designated as net investment hedges, cash flow hedges or fair value hedges. Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value on the balance sheet. Gains and losses related to changes in the fair value of derivative instruments not designated as hedges are recorded in earnings. For derivatives designated as net investment hedges and cash flow hedges, the gains and losses are recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss) and released to earnings in the period when the hedged item affects earnings in the same line item. For derivatives designated as net investment hedges, gains or losses are reflected in foreign currency translations adjustments in Other comprehensive income (loss). For derivatives that have been designated as fair value hedges, the gains and losses of the derivatives and hedged items are recorded in earnings.
Net Investment Hedges-We enter into foreign currency contracts and foreign currency denominated debt to reduce the volatility in stockholders’ equity resulting from changes in currency exchange rates of our foreign subsidiaries with respect to the U.S. dollar. Our foreign currency derivatives consist of cross-currency basis swap contracts and forward exchange contracts.
We use the spot method to assess hedge effectiveness. Changes to the value from changes in spot foreign exchange rates over the designation period and recorded within Other comprehensive income. For our basis swaps, the associated interest receipts and payments are recorded to Interest expense. For our foreign currency forward contracts, we amortize initial forward point values on a straight-line basis to Interest expense over the tenor of the hedge accounting designation. We monitor on a quarterly basis for any over-hedged positions requiring de-designation and re-designation of the hedge to remove such over-hedged condition.
Cash flows related to our foreign currency contracts are reported in Cash flows from investing activities and related interest payments are reported in Cash flows from operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Cash flows related to our foreign currency denominated debt designated as net investment hedges are reported in Cash flows from financing activities and related interest payments are reported in Cash flows from operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Cash Flow Hedges-Our cash flow hedges include cross currency swaps, forward starting interest rate swaps and commodity futures and swaps.
We have cross-currency swap contracts designated as cash flow hedges to reduce our exposure to the foreign currency exchange risk associated with certain intercompany loans. Under the terms of these contracts, we make interest payments in euros and receive interest in U.S. dollars. Upon the maturities of these contracts, we will pay the principal amount of the loans in euros and receive U.S. dollars from our counterparties.
We enter into forward-starting interest rate contracts to mitigate the risk of adverse changes in benchmark interest rates on future anticipated debt issuances.
We also execute commodity futures and swaps to manage the volatility of the commodity price related to anticipated purchases of raw materials and product sales. We enter into over-the-counter commodity swaps with one or more counterparties whereby we pay a predetermined fixed price and receive a price based on the average monthly rate of a specified index for the specified nominated volumes.
We use the critical terms and the quantitative long haul methods to assess hedge effectiveness and monitor, at least quarterly, any change in effectiveness.
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Fair Value Hedges-We use interest rate swaps as part of our current interest rate risk management strategy to achieve a desired proportion of variable versus fixed rate debt. Under these arrangements, we exchange fixed-rate for floating-rate interest payments to effectively convert our fixed-rate debt to floating-rate debt.
These payments are classified as Other, net, in the Cash flows from operating activities section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. We use the long-haul method to assess hedge effectiveness using a regression analysis approach. We perform the regression analysis over an observation period of three years, utilizing data that is relevant to the hedge duration.
We evaluate these hedging relationships for effectiveness utilizing the quantitative long haul approach at least quarterly and calculate the changes in the fair value of the derivatives and the underlying hedged items separately.
Fair Value Measurements
We categorize assets and liabilities, measured at fair value, into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement:
Level 1-Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Level 2-Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs or significant value-drivers are observable.
Level 3-Model-derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value-drivers are unobservable.
Fair value measurements are classified according to the lowest level input or value-driver that is significant to the valuation. A measurement may therefore be classified within Level 3 even though there may be significant inputs that are readily observable.
Changes in fair value levels-Management reviews the disclosures regarding fair value measurements at least quarterly. If an instrument classified as Level 1 subsequently ceases to be actively traded, it is transferred out of Level 1. In such cases, instruments are reclassified as Level 2, unless the measurement of its fair value requires the use of significant unobservable inputs, in which case it is reclassified as Level 3.
We use the following inputs and valuation techniques to estimate the fair value of our financial instruments disclosed in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements:
Basis Swaps-The fair value of our basis swap contracts is calculated using the present value of future cash flows discounted using observable inputs such as known notional value amounts, yield curves, and spot and forward exchange rates.
Cross-Currency Swaps-The fair value of our cross-currency swaps is calculated using the present value of future cash flows discounted using observable inputs with the foreign currency leg revalued using published spot and future exchange rates on the valuation date.
Forward-Starting Interest Rate Swaps-The fair value of our forward-starting interest rate swaps is calculated using the present value of future cash flows method and based on observable inputs such as benchmark interest rates.
Fixed-for-Floating Interest Rate Swaps-The fair value of our fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps is calculated using the present value of future cash flows using observable inputs such as interest rates and market yield curves.
Commodity and Embedded Derivatives-The fair values of our commodity derivatives classified as Level 1 and embedded derivatives are measured using closing market prices of public exchanges and from third-party broker quotes and pricing providers.
The fair value of our commodity swaps classified as Level 2 is determined using a combination of observable and unobservable inputs. The observable inputs consist of future market values of various crude and heavy fuel oils, which are readily available through public data sources. The unobservable input, which is the estimated discount or premium used in the market pricing, is
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calculated using an internally-developed, multi-linear regression model based on the observable prices of the known components and their relationships to historical prices. A significant change in this unobservable input would not have a material impact on the fair value measurement of our Level 2 commodity swaps.
Forward Exchange Contracts-The fair value of our forward exchange contracts is based on forward market rates.
Available-for-Sale and Equity Securities-The fair value of our available-for-sale securities is calculated using observable market data for similar securities and broker quotes from recognized purveyors of market data or the net asset value for limited partnership investments provided by the fund administrator. Our limited partnership investments include investments in, among other things, equities and equity related securities, debt securities, credit instruments, global interest rate products, currencies, commodities, futures, options, warrants and swaps. These investments, which include both long and short positions, may be redeemed at least monthly with advance notice ranging up to ninety days.
Loans Receivable-The fair value of our tri-party repurchase agreements are based on discounted cash flows, which consider prevailing market rates for the respective instrument maturity in addition to corroborative support from the minimum underlying collateral requirements.
Short-Term Debt-Fair values of short-term borrowings related to precious metal financing arrangements are determined based on the current market price of the associated precious metal.
Long-Term Debt-Fair value is calculated using pricing data obtained from well-established and recognized vendors of market data for debt valuations.
Due to the short maturity, the fair value of all non-derivative financial instruments included in Current assets and Current liabilities approximates the applicable carrying value. Current assets include Cash and cash equivalents, Restricted cash, held-to-maturity time deposits and Accounts receivable. Current liabilities include Accounts payable and Short-term debt excluding precious metal financings.
We use the following inputs and valuation techniques to estimate the fair value of our pension assets disclosed in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements:
Common and preferred stock-Valued at the closing price reported on the market on which the individual securities are traded.
Fixed income securities-Certain securities that are not traded on an exchange are valued at the closing price reported by pricing services. Other securities are valued based on yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.
Commingled funds-Valued based upon the unit values of such collective trust funds held at year end by the pension plans. Unit values are based on the fair value of the underlying assets of the fund derived from inputs principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data by correlation or other means.
Real estate-Valued on the basis of a discounted cash flow approach, which includes the future rental receipts, expenses, and residual values as the highest and best use of the real estate from a market participant view as rental property.
Hedge funds-Valued based upon the unit values of such alternative investments held at year end by the pension plans. Unit values are based on the fair value of the underlying assets of the fund.
Private equity-Valued based upon the unit values of such alternative investments held at year end by the pension plans. Unit values are based on the fair value of the underlying assets of the fund. Certain securities held in the fund are valued at the closing price reported on the exchange or other established quotation service for over-the-counter securities. Other assets held in the fund are valued based on the most recent financial statements prepared by the fund manager.
Convertible securities-Valued at the quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets.
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U.S. government securities-Certain securities are valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded. Other securities are valued based on yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings.
Cash and cash equivalents-Valued at the quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets.
Non-U.S. insurance arrangements-Valued based upon the estimated cash surrender value of the underlying insurance contract, which is derived from an actuarial determination of the discounted benefits cash flows.
Employee Benefits
Pension Plans-We have both defined benefit (funded and unfunded) and defined contribution plans. For the defined benefit plans, a projected benefit obligation is calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. Pension costs primarily represent the increase in the actuarial present value of the obligation for pension benefits based on employee service during the year and the interest on this obligation in respect of employee service in previous years, net of expected return on plan assets.
Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited to equity and are reflected in Accumulated other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.
Other Post-Employment Obligations-Certain employees are entitled to postretirement medical benefits upon retirement. The entitlement to these benefits is usually conditional on the employee remaining in service up to retirement age and the completion of a minimum service period. The expected costs of these benefits are accrued over the period of employment applying the same accounting methodology used for defined benefit plans.
Termination Benefits-Contractual termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated due to an event specified in the provisions of a social/labor plan or statutory law. A liability is recognized for one-time termination benefits when we are committed to i) make payments and the number of affected employees and the benefits received are known to both parties, and ii) terminating the employment of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without possibility of withdrawal and can reasonably estimate such amount. Benefits falling due more than 12 months after the balance sheet date are discounted to present value.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Recently Adopted Guidance
Revenue Recognition-In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition. The FASB has also issued several amendments (ASU 2015-14, ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12 and ASU 2016-20) clarifying different aspects of Topic 606. The new guidance requires entities to recognize revenue upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those goods and services. The guidance also enhances related disclosures and is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017.
We adopted the new standard and all related amendments from January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. We recognized an $18 million adjustment to the beginning retained earnings balance for the cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard. Comparative information has not been restated and is reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The impact of the adoption of
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this new standard was immaterial for the year end December 31, 2018, and we expect the impact to be immaterial to our Consolidated Financial Statements on an ongoing basis.
Financial Instruments-In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The new guidance requires equity securities to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. We adopted this guidance prospectively from January 1, 2018 and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $15 million to beginning retained earnings.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments- Overall (Subtopic 825-10) as a part of its ongoing agenda to make improvements clarifying the ASC and provides technical corrections and improvements related to ASU 2016-01. The adoption of the new guidance from January 1, 2018 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Income Taxes-In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. Under current accounting standards, the tax effects of intra entity asset transfers (intercompany sales) are deferred until the transferred asset is sold to a third party or otherwise recovered through use. This new guidance eliminates the exception for all intra-entity sales of assets other than inventory. A reporting entity is required to recognize tax expense from the sale of assets in the seller’s tax jurisdiction when the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation. Any deferred tax asset that arises in the buyer’s jurisdiction is also be recognized at the time of the transfer. We early adopted this guidance from January 1, 2018 using the modified-retrospective method and recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $9 million to beginning retained earnings.
Business Combinations-In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business. This guidance clarifies the definition of a business in evaluating whether a transaction should be accounted for as an acquisition (or disposal) of an asset or a business. The prospective adoption of this guidance from January 1, 2018 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets-In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-05, Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. The guidance provides clarification about the term in substance nonfinancial asset, other aspects of the scope of Subtopic 610-20 Other Income, and how an entity should account for partial sales of nonfinancial assets once the amendments in ASU 2014-09 become effective. The retrospective adoption of this guidance from January 1, 2018 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Compensation-Retirement Benefits-In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The guidance requires changes in presentation of current service cost and other components of net benefit cost. The retrospective adoption of this guidance from January 1, 2018 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Derivatives and Hedging-In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. This guidance makes more financial and nonfinancial hedging strategies eligible for hedge accounting, amends the presentation and disclosure requirements, and changes how companies assess effectiveness. The early adoption of this guidance from January 1, 2018 did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income-In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This guidance permits entities to reclassify tax effects stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income as a result of the U.S.-enacted “H.R.1,” also known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (the “Tax Act”) to retained earnings. We early adopted this guidance from January 1, 2018 using the specific identification method and recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $52 million to beginning retained earnings.
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Accounting Guidance Issued But Not Adopted as of December 31, 2018
Leases-In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The FASB has also issued subsequent amendments: ASU 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842, ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, and ASU 2018-11, Leases, Targeted Improvements. The new guidance establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the timing and classification of expense recognition.
The standard is effective from January 1, 2019 and requires a modified retrospective transition approach applying to all leases existing at the date of initial application. We adopted the new standard from January 1, 2019, using the effective date as our date of initial application. Comparative financial information will not be restated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be presented for periods prior to January 1, 2019.
We have elected the practical expedients that permit us not to reassess our prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification, initial direct costs and whether existing land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under current accounting standards are or contain a lease under the new standard. We did not elect the hindsight practical expedient in determining the lease term of existing leases in assessing impairment of our ROU assets. We have implemented a lease accounting software solution and made the required updates to our systems and processes, including our internal control framework.
The adoption of the new standard resulted in recording of additional ROU assets and lease liabilities of approximately $1.5 billion each, as of January 1, 2019. The new standard will not have a material impact our Consolidated Statements of Income, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity on an ongoing basis.
Financial Instruments-In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This amendment requires financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected, resulting in the use of a current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model when measuring an impairment of financial instruments. Credit losses related to available-for-sale securities should be recorded in the consolidated income statement through an allowance for credit losses. Estimated credit losses utilizing the CECL model are based on historical experience, current conditions and forecasts that affect the collectability. This ASU also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities by eliminating the concept of “other than temporary” as well as providing a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. The guidance will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. We early adopted the standard from January 1, 2019 and its adoption did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Codification improvements-In July 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-09, Codification Improvements. This guidance makes minor improvements in various subtopics. Many of the amendments within the ASU do not require transition and are effective upon issuance. However, some amendments are not effective until fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We do not expect the adoption of the new guidance to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fair Value Measurement-In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Change to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This guidance eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements as part of its disclosure framework project. It removes transfer disclosures between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, and adds disclosures for the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements. The guidance will be effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact of the amendment on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Compensation-In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans- General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. This guidance changes disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and/or other postretirement benefit plans. It provides clarification on certain disclosure requirements within Topic 715, eliminates certain disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial and add disclosures considered more pertinent. The guidance will be effective for public entities for annual periods ending after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact of the amendment on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Intangibles-In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract. This guidance requires a customer in a hosted, cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract to follow the internal-use software guidance to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as assets (e.g. prepayment) or expense as incurred. Capitalized costs are amortized over the term of the hosting arrangement when the recognized asset is ready for its intended use. The guidance will be effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact of the amendment on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
3. Business Combination and Dispositions
Business Combination
On August 21, 2018, through an indirect wholly owned subsidiary, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of A. Schulman, a Delaware corporation for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1,940 million, including a $1,240 million cash payment to the former common stock holders, $594 million for the repayment of A. Schulman debt and $106 million for the settlement of stock-based compensation plans and other purchase consideration. As of December 31, 2018, there has been no material changes in purchase consideration.
The acquisition of A. Schulman, a global supplier of high-performance plastic compounds, composites and powders, builds upon our already existing platform in this space, allowing us to create our Advanced Polymer Solutions business with broad geographic reach, leading technologies and a diverse product portfolio.
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Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation-The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price based on the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interests and non-controlling interests assumed on the acquisition date, as adjusted for all measurement period adjustments.
In determining the fair value, we utilized various forms of the income, cost and market approaches depending on the asset or liability being fair valued, primarily using Level 3 inputs. The estimation of fair value required significant judgment related to future net cash flows (including net sales, cost of products sold, selling and marketing costs, and working capital/contributory asset charges), discount rates reflecting the risk inherent in each cash flow stream, competitive trends, market comparisons and other factors. Inputs were generally determined by taking into account historical data, supplemented by current and anticipated market conditions, and growth rates.
The primary areas of the preliminary purchase price allocation that have not been finalized relate to the fair value of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, contingencies and the related impacts on deferred income taxes and cumulative translation adjustments.
During the fourth quarter of 2018, we made certain measurement period adjustments resulting in a $12 million increase of goodwill. This was primarily due to changes in intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and deferred taxes.
Inventories-The acquired inventory of $300 million comprises $180 million of finished goods, $8 million of work-in-process and $112 million of raw materials and supplies. Fair value of finished goods was based on the estimated selling price of finished goods on hand less costs to sell, including disposal and holding period costs, and a reasonable profit margin on the selling and disposal effort for each specific category of finished goods being evaluated. Fair value of work in process was based
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on the estimated selling price once completed less total costs to complete the manufacturing process, costs to sell including disposal and holding period costs, a reasonable profit margin on the remaining manufacturing, selling, and disposal effort. Raw materials were valued based on current replacement cost.
Other Current Assets and Current Liabilities-Due to the short maturity of these assets and liabilities, their fair values closely approximate their carrying values; therefore, their fair values are deemed to be their respective carrying values.
The gross contractual amount of the receivables presented in the table above is $415 million.
Property, Plant and Equipment-The fair value of the components of property, plant and equipment acquired are represented in the table below:
Fair value for the acquired property, plant and equipment was determined using two valuation methods: the market approach and the replacement cost approach. The market approach represents a sales comparison that measures the value of an asset through an analysis of sales and offerings of comparable assets. The replacement cost approach measures the value of an asset by estimating the cost to acquire or construct comparable assets adjusted for the age and condition of the asset.
Goodwill-Goodwill represents the excess of consideration over the net fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interest and non-controlling interest assumed. The acquisition resulted in $1,271 million of goodwill, most of which will not be deductible for tax purposes. The goodwill recognized in this transaction largely consists of the acquired workforce and expected synergies resulting from the acquisition. Cost synergies will be achieved through a combination of workforce consolidations, savings from procurement synergies, optimizing warehouse and logistic footprints, implementing systems and processes best practices and leveraging existing research and development knowledge management systems. All of the goodwill was assigned to our APS segment. As a result of the reorganization of our operating segments, an additional $41 million of goodwill attributed to the polypropylene compounds, Catalloy and polybutene-1 businesses previously reported in our O&P-EAI segment was assigned to our APS segment at the acquisition date.
Intangible Assets-The fair value, weighted average useful life and useful life of each class of intangible asset acquired are presented in the following table:
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Know-how in the table above represents formulations, know-how and trade secrets associated with manufacturing processes. The fair values of know-how and trade name and trademarks were determined using the relief from royalty method. The excess earnings method was used to determine the fair value of customer relationships. These methods are all variations of the income approach.
The total weighted-average life of the acquired intangible assets that are subject to amortization is 11 years.
Other Assets and Other Liabilities-Other assets include deferred tax assets and pension assets while other liabilities are primarily related to pension and other postretirement benefit plans.
Long-Term Debt-In August 2018, we notified bondholders that we would call the assumed $375 million 6.875% Senior Notes due June 2023 at a price of 105.156% of par. In conjunction with the repayment of the debt in September 2018, we paid a make-whole premium of $19 million. These notes were recognized at redemption value which approximates fair value at the acquisition date.
Redeemable Non-controlling Interests-Our redeemable non-controlling interests relate to 124,347 shares of cumulative perpetual special stock issued by our consolidated subsidiary, A. Schulman, Inc. acquired in the acquisition. Holders of A. Schulman Special Stock are entitled to receive cumulative dividends at the rate of 6% per share on the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. These shares may be redeemed at any time at the discretion of the holders. In 2018, 8,973 shares of A. Schulman Special Stock were redeemed for approximately $9 million. As of December 31, 2018, 115,374 shares of A. Schulman Special Stock were outstanding.
At the acquisition date, the fair value was estimated using the Black Derman Toy binomial lattice technique, which models the decision to redeem or hold by considering the maximum of the redemption value and the hold value throughout the term of the instrument and chooses the action that maximizes the return to the holder. This model requires assumptions on credit spread, yield volatility and risk-free rates.
Acquisition Costs-We incurred approximately $30 million of acquisition-related transaction costs in connection with the acquisition of A. Schulman during the year ended December 31, 2018. These costs comprising banker, legal and consulting fees were classified in our Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2018, as selling, general and administrative expenses.
Pro forma Information-Our Consolidated Financial Statements include the operating results of A. Schulman from August 21, 2018 to December 31, 2018, including revenues of $846 million and loss from continuing operations before income taxes of $6 million. Pro forma results of operations for this acquisition have not been presented because the effects of the acquisition were not material to our pre-acquisition financial results.
Dispositions
In October 2018, we received net cash proceeds of $37 million, upon the sale of our carbon black subsidiary in France. The net cash proceeds are reflected in Cash flows from investing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. In connection with the sale, we recognized a pre-tax gain of $36 million, which is reflected in Other Income, net in the Consolidated Income Statements.
Upon the sale of our wholly owned subsidiary, Petroken Petroquimica Ensenada S.A. in February 2016, we received net proceeds of $137 million, which is reflected in Cash flows from investing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. In connection with the sale, we recognized a pre-tax gain of $78 million, which is reflected in Other Income, net in the Consolidated Income Statements.
4. Revenues
We adopted ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers on January 1, 2018. For further information related to the adoption of the new standard, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Contract Balances-Our contract liabilities were $138 million as of December 31, 2018. Revenue recognized in the reporting period included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period was immaterial.
Disaggregation of Revenues-We participate globally across the petrochemical value chain and are an industry leader in many of our product lines. Our chemical businesses consist primarily of large processing plants that convert large volumes of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon feedstocks into plastic resins and other chemicals. Our chemical products tend to be basic building blocks for other chemicals and plastics, while our plastic products are typically used in large volume applications as well as smaller specialty applications. Our refining business consists of our Houston refinery, which processes crude oil into refined products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
Revenues disaggregated by key products are summarized below:
Compounding and solutions revenues include the product portfolio from the A. Schulman acquisition and legacy polypropylene compounds. Polybutene-1 and Catalloy revenues are now reflected in our new advanced polymers revenue stream. To reflect this change, polypropylene compounds and Catalloy have been recast from the polypropylene product line to the compounding and solutions and advanced polymers respectively for the periods presented. Additionally, polybutene-1 has been moved from other revenues to advanced polymers.
The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by geography, based upon the location of the customer:
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Transaction Price Allocated to the Remaining Performance Obligations-We have elected to exclude contracts which have an initial term of one year or less from this disclosure. Our contracts with customers are commodity supply arrangements that settle based on market prices at future delivery dates; therefore, transaction prices are entirely variable. Transaction prices are known at the time revenue is recognized since they are generally determined by the commodity price index at a specific date, at month-end or at the month average once products are shipped to our customers. Future estimates of transaction prices for disclosure purposes are substantially constrained as they are highly susceptible to factors outside our influence, including volatility in commodity markets, industry production capacities and operating rates, planned and unplanned industry operating interruptions, foreign exchange rates and worldwide geopolitical trends.
5. Related Party Transactions
We have related party transactions with our joint venture partners, which are classified as equity investees (see Notes 9 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). These related party transactions include the sales and purchases of goods in the normal course of business as well as certain financing arrangements. In addition, under contractual arrangements with certain of our equity investees, we receive certain services, utilities and materials at some of our manufacturing sites and we provide certain services to our equity investees.
We have guaranteed $34 million of the indebtedness of two of our joint ventures as of December 31, 2018.
Related party transactions are summarized as follows:
6. Accounts Receivable
We sell our products primarily to other industrial concerns in the petrochemicals and refining industries. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial conditions and, in certain circumstances, require letters of credit or corporate guarantees from them. Our allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, which is reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a reduction of accounts receivable, was $16 million and $17 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. We recorded provisions for doubtful accounts receivable, which are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income, of less than $1 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016.
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7. Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following components at December 31:
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, approximately 85% and 86%, respectively, of our inventories were valued using the last in, first out (“LIFO”) method and the remaining inventories, consisting primarily of materials and supplies, were valued at the moving average cost method. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, our LIFO cost exceeded current replacement cost under the first-in first-out method. The excess of our inventories at estimated net realizable value over LIFO cost after lower of cost or market charges was approximately $798 million and $1,194 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
8. Property, Plant and Equipment, Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Property, Plant and Equipment-The components of property, plant and equipment, at cost, and the related accumulated depreciation are as follows at December 31:
Capitalized Interest-We capitalize interest costs incurred on funds used to construct property, plant and equipment. In 2018, 2017 and 2016, we capitalized interest of $45 million, $20 million and $33 million, respectively.
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Intangible Assets-The components of identifiable intangible assets, at cost, and the related accumulated amortization are as follows at December 31:
Amortization of these identifiable intangible assets for the next five years is expected to be $163 million in 2019, $141 million in 2020, $87 million in 2021, $82 million in 2022 and $70 million in 2023.
Depreciation and Amortization Expense-Depreciation and amortization expense is summarized as follows:
Asset Retirement Obligations-In certain cases, we are contractually obligated to decommission our plants upon site exit. In such cases, we have accrued the net present value of the estimated costs. The majority of our asset retirement obligations are related to facilities in Europe. The changes in our asset retirement obligations are as follows:
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Although, we may have asset retirement obligations associated with some of our other facilities, the present value of those obligations is not material in the context of an indefinite expected life of the facilities. We continually review the optimal future alternatives for our facilities. Any decision to retire one or more facilities may result in an increase in the present value of such obligations.
In May 2016, we received a notice pertaining to the final closure of our Berre refinery from the Prefect of Bouches du Rhone. This notice outlines the requirements to dismantle the refinery facilities. At this time, the estimated cost and associated cash flows to fulfill these requirements are not deemed to be material. We began reporting the Berre refinery as a discontinued operation in the second quarter of 2012. The impact of this discontinued operation is immaterial to our consolidated results.
Goodwill-The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill in each of the Company’s reportable segments for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
For additional information related to goodwill, see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
9. Investment in PO Joint Ventures
We, together with Covestro PO LLC, a subsidiary of Covestro AG (collectively “Covestro”), share ownership in a U.S. propylene oxide (“PO”) manufacturing joint venture (the “U.S. PO joint venture”). The U.S. PO joint venture owns a PO/styrene monomer (“SM” or “styrene”) and a PO tertiary butyl alcohol (“TBA”) manufacturing facility. Covestro’s ownership interest represents an undivided interest in certain U.S. PO joint venture assets with correlative PO capacity reservation that resulted in ownership of annual in-kind cost-based PO production of approximately 1.5 billion pounds in 2018 and 2017. We take in-kind the remaining cost-based PO and co-product production.
In addition, we and Covestro each have a 50% interest in a separate manufacturing joint venture (the “European PO joint venture”), which owns a PO/SM plant at Maasvlakte near Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In substance, each partner’s ownership interest represents an undivided interest in all of the European PO joint venture assets with correlative capacity reservation that resulted in ownership of annual in-kind cost-based PO and SM production.
We and Covestro do not share marketing or product sales under the U.S. PO joint venture. We operate the U.S. PO joint venture’s and the European PO joint venture’s (collectively the “PO joint ventures”) plants and arrange and coordinate the logistics of product delivery. The partners share in the cost of production and logistics is based on their product offtake.
We account for both the U.S. PO joint venture and the European PO joint venture using the equity method. We report the cost of our product offtake as inventory and equity loss as cost of sales in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Related production cash flows are reported in the operating cash flow section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Our equity investment in the PO joint ventures represents our share of the manufacturing plants and is decreased by recognition of our share of equity loss, which is equal to the depreciation and amortization of the assets of the PO joint ventures. Other changes in the investment balance are principally due to our additional capital contributions to the PO joint ventures to fund
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capital expenditures. Such contributions are reported in the investing cash flow section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Our product offtake of PO and its co-products was 5,783 million pounds in 2018, 6,189 million pounds in 2017 and 6,024 million pounds in 2016.
Changes in our investments in the U.S. and European PO joint ventures for 2018 and 2017 are summarized below:
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10. Equity Investments
Our PO joint ventures, which are also accounted for using the equity method of accounting, are discussed in Note 9 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and are, therefore, not included in the following discussion.
Our remaining principal direct and indirect equity investments are as follows at December 31:
The changes in our equity investments are as follows:
In September 2017, we sold our 27% interest in our Geosel joint venture and received proceeds of $155 million.
Summarized balance sheet information of the Company’s investments accounted for under the equity method are as follows at December 31:
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Summarized income statement information of the Company’s investments accounted for under the equity method are set forth below:
The difference between our carrying value and the underlying equity in the net assets of our equity investments are assigned to the investment’s assets and liabilities based on an analysis of the factors giving rise to the basis difference. The amortization of the basis difference is included in Income from equity investments in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
11. Prepaid Expenses, Other Current Assets and Other Assets
The components of Prepaid expenses and Other current assets were as follows at December 31:
The renewable identification numbers reflected above represent a U.S. government established credit used to show compliance in meeting the Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard.
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The components of Other assets were as follows at December 31:
12. Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consisted of the following components at December 31:
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13. Debt
Long-term loans, notes and other long-term debt net of unamortized discount and debt issuance cost consisted of the following as of December 31:
Fair value hedging adjustments associated with the fair value hedge accounting of our fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps for the applicable periods are as follows:
The cumulative fair value hedging adjustments remaining at December 31, 2018 and 2017 associated with our Senior Notes due 2019 included $7 million and $31 million, respectively, for hedges that have been discontinued. The $48 million loss in the year ended December 31, 2017 included a $44 million charge for the write-off of the cumulative fair value hedging adjustment related to our 5% Senior Notes due 2019 described below. These fair value adjustments are recognized in Interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
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Short-term loans, notes and other short-term debt consisted of the following as of December 31:
After giving consideration to the refinancing in February 2019 of our 5% Senior Notes due 2019 with our new Senior Credit Agreement discussed below, the aggregate maturities of debt during the next five years are $891 million in 2019, $1,001 million in 2020, $1,001 million in 2021, $859 million in 2022, $751 million in 2023 and $5,051 million thereafter.
Long-Term Debt
Guaranteed Notes due 2027-In March 2017, LYB International Finance II B.V. (“LYB Finance II”), a direct, 100% owned finance subsidiary of LyondellBasell Industries N.V., as defined in Rule 3-10(b) of Regulation S-X, issued $1,000 million of 3.5% guaranteed notes due 2027 at a discounted price of 98.968%. In March 2017, the net proceeds from these notes, together with available cash, were used to redeem $1,000 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 5% senior notes due 2019.
These unsecured notes, which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by LyondellBasell Industries N.V., rank equally in right of payment to all of LYB Finance II’s existing and future unsecured indebtedness and to all of LyondellBasell N.V.’s existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness. There are no significant restrictions that would impede LyondellBasell N.V., as guarantor, from obtaining funds by dividend or loan from its subsidiaries.
The indenture governing these notes contains limited covenants, including those restricting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to incur indebtedness secured by significant property or by capital stock of subsidiaries that own significant property, enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions with respect to any significant property or enter into consolidations, mergers or sales of all or substantially all of our assets.
The notes may be redeemed before the date that is three months prior to the scheduled maturity date at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed and the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (discounted at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 20 basis points) on the notes to be redeemed. The notes may also be redeemed on or after the date that is three months prior to the scheduled maturity date of the notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Senior Notes due 2019, 2021 and 2024-In February 2019, proceeds from the new Senior Credit Agreement discussed below were used to redeem the remaining $1,000 million outstanding of our 5% Senior Notes due 2019 at par. In conjunction with the redemption of these notes, we recognized non-cash charges of less than $1 million of unamortized debt issuance costs and $8 million for the write-off of the cumulative fair value hedge accounting adjustment related to the redeemed notes.
In March 2017, we redeemed $1,000 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 5% senior notes due 2019, and paid $65 million in make-whole premiums. In conjunction with the redemption of these notes, we recognized non-cash charges of $4 million for the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and $44 million for the write-off of the cumulative fair value hedge accounting adjustment related to the redeemed notes.
We have outstanding $1,000 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% senior notes due 2024, and $1,000 million of 6% senior notes due 2021.
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The indentures governing the 5%, 5.75% and 6% Senior Notes contain limited covenants, including those restricting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to incur indebtedness secured by any property or assets, enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions with respect to any assets or enter into consolidations, mergers or sales of all or substantially all of our assets.
These notes may be redeemed and repaid, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time prior to the date that is 90 days prior to the scheduled maturity date of the notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus a premium for each note redeemed equal to the greater of 1.00% of the then outstanding principal amount of the note and the excess of: (a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the principal amount of the note at maturity plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the note through maturity (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the outstanding principal amount of the note. These notes may also be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or after the date which is 90 days prior to the final maturity date of the notes, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Guaranteed Notes due 2022-In March 2016, LYB Finance II issued €750 million of 1.875% guaranteed notes due 2022 at a discounted price of 99.607%.
These unsecured notes, which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by LyondellBasell Industries N.V., rank equally in right of payment to all of LYB Finance II’s existing and future unsecured indebtedness and to all of LyondellBasell N.V.’s existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness. There are no significant restrictions that would impede LyondellBasell N.V., as guarantor, from obtaining funds by dividend or loan from its subsidiaries.
The indenture governing these notes contains limited covenants, including those restricting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to incur indebtedness secured by significant property or by capital stock of subsidiaries that own significant property, enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions with respect to any significant property or enter into consolidations, mergers or sales of all or substantially all of our assets.
The notes may be redeemed before the date that is three months prior to the scheduled maturity date at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed and the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (discounted at the applicable Comparable Government Bond Rate plus 35 basis points) on the notes to be redeemed. The notes may also be redeemed on or after the date that is three months prior to the scheduled maturity date of the notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. The notes are also redeemable upon certain tax events.
Senior Notes due 2055-In March 2015, we issued $1,000 million of 4.625% Notes due 2055 at a discounted price of 98.353%. These unsecured notes rank equally in right of payment to all of LyondellBasell N.V.’s existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness.
The indenture governing these notes contains limited covenants, including those restricting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to incur indebtedness secured by significant property or by capital stock of subsidiaries that own significant property, enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions with respect to any significant property or enter into consolidations, mergers or sales of all or substantially all of our assets.
The notes may be redeemed before the date that is six months prior to the scheduled maturity date at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed and the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (discounted at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 35 basis points) on the notes to be redeemed. The notes may also be redeemed on or after the date that is six months prior to the final maturity date of the notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Guaranteed Notes due 2044-In February 2014, LYB International Finance B.V. (“LYB Finance”), a direct, 100% owned finance subsidiary of LyondellBasell Industries N.V., as defined in Rule 3-10(b) of Regulation S-X, issued $1,000 million of 4.875% guaranteed notes due 2044 at a discounted price of 98.831%.
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These unsecured notes, which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by LyondellBasell Industries N.V., rank equally in right of payment to all of LYB Finance’s existing and future unsecured indebtedness and to all of LyondellBasell’s existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness. There are no significant restrictions that would impede the Guarantor from obtaining funds by dividend or loan from its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are generally prohibited from entering into arrangements that would limit their ability to make dividends to or enter into loans with the Guarantor.
The indenture governing these notes contains limited covenants, including those restricting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to incur indebtedness secured by significant property or by capital stock of subsidiaries that own significant property, enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions with respect to any significant property or enter into consolidations, mergers or sales of all or substantially all of our assets.
The notes may be redeemed before the date that is six months prior to the scheduled maturity date at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed and the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (discounted at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 20 basis points) on the notes to be redeemed. The notes may also be redeemed on or after the date that is six months prior to the final maturity date of the notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Guaranteed Notes due 2023 and 2043-In July 2013, LYB Finance issued $750 million of 4% guaranteed notes due 2023 and $750 million of 5.25% Notes due 2043 at discounted prices of 98.678% and 97.004%, respectively.
These unsecured notes, which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by LyondellBasell Industries N.V., rank equally in right of payment to all of LYB Finance’s existing and future unsecured indebtedness and to all of LyondellBasell’s existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness. There are no significant restrictions that would impede the Guarantor from obtaining funds by dividend or loan from its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are generally prohibited from entering into arrangements that would limit their ability to make dividends to or enter into loans with the Guarantor.
The indenture governing these notes contains limited covenants, including those restricting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to incur indebtedness secured by significant property or by capital stock of subsidiaries that own significant property, enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions with respect to any significant property or enter into consolidations, mergers or sales of all or substantially all of our assets.
The notes may be redeemed and repaid, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time prior to maturity at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed, and the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed. Such interest will be discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 25 basis points in the case of the 4% Notes due 2023 and plus 30 basis points in the case of the 5.25% Notes due 2043.
Guaranteed Notes due 2027-We have outstanding $300 million aggregate principal amount of 8.1% Guaranteed Notes due 2027. These notes, which are guaranteed by LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., a subsidiary of LyondellBasell N.V., contain certain restrictions with respect to the level of maximum debt that can be incurred and security that can be granted by certain operating companies that are direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V.
The 2027 Notes contain customary provisions for default, including, among others, the non-payment of principal and interest, certain failures to perform or observe obligations under the Agreement on the notes, the occurrence of certain defaults under other indebtedness, failure to pay certain indebtedness and the insolvency or bankruptcy of certain LyondellBasell N.V. subsidiaries.
Short-Term Debt
Senior Credit Agreement-In February 2019, LYB Americas Finance Company LLC (“LYB Americas Finance”), a wholly owned subsidiary of LyondellBasell Industries N.V., entered into a 364-day, $2,000 million senior unsecured term loan credit agreement and borrowed the entire amount. The proceeds of this term loan, which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by LyondellBasell Industries N.V. are intended for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Borrowings under the credit agreement will bear interest at either a LIBOR rate or a base rate, as defined, plus in each case, an applicable margin determined by reference to LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s current credit ratings.
The credit agreement contains customary covenants and warranties, including specified restrictions on indebtedness, including secured and subsidiary indebtedness, and merger and sales of assets. In addition, we are required to maintain a leverage ratio at the end of every fiscal quarter of 3.50 to 1.00 or less.
Senior Revolving Credit Facility-In June 2017, the term of our $2,500 million revolving credit facility was extended for one year to June 2022 pursuant to a consent agreement. All other material terms of the revolving credit facility remained unchanged.
The revolving credit facility may be used for dollar and euro denominated borrowings, has a $500 million sublimit for dollar and euro denominated letters of credit, a $1,000 million uncommitted accordion feature, and supports our commercial paper program. The aggregate balance of outstanding borrowings and letters of credit under the facility may not exceed $2,500 million at any given time. Borrowings under the facility bear interest at a Base Rate or LIBOR, plus an applicable margin. Additional fees are incurred for the average daily unused commitments.
The facility contains customary covenants and warranties, including specified restrictions on indebtedness and liens. In addition, we are required to maintain a leverage ratio at the end of every fiscal quarter of 3.50 to 1.00 or less for the period covering the most recent four quarters. We are in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2018.
At December 31, 2018, we had $809 million of outstanding commercial paper, no outstanding letters of credit and no outstanding borrowings under the facility.
Commercial Paper Program-We have a commercial paper program under which we may issue up to $2,500 million of privately placed, unsecured, short-term promissory notes (“commercial paper”). The program is backed by our $2,500 million Senior Revolving Credit Facility. Proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper may be used for general corporate purposes, including dividends and share repurchases. Interest rates on the commercial paper outstanding at December 31, 2018 are based on the terms of the notes and range from 2.65% to 3.12%.
U.S. Receivables Facility-In July 2018, we amended our $900 million U.S. accounts receivable facility to, among other things, extend the term of the facility to July 2021. The facility has a purchase limit of $900 million in addition to a $300 million uncommitted accordion feature. This facility provides liquidity through the sale or contribution of trade receivables by certain of our U.S. subsidiaries to a wholly owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary on an ongoing basis and without recourse. The bankruptcy-remote subsidiary may then, at its option and subject to a borrowing base of eligible receivables, sell undivided interests in the pool of trade receivables to financial institutions participating in the facility. In the event of liquidation, the bankruptcy-remote subsidiary’s assets will be used to satisfy the claims of its creditors prior to any assets or value in the bankruptcy-remote subsidiary becoming available to us. We are responsible for servicing the receivables. This facility also provides for the issuance of letters of credit up to $200 million. The term of the facility may be extended in accordance with the provisions of the agreement. The facility is also subject to customary warranties and covenants, including limits and reserves and the maintenance of specified financial ratios. We are required to maintain a leverage ratio at the end of every fiscal quarter of 3.50 to 1.00 or less for the period covering the most recent four quarters. Performance obligations under the facility are guaranteed by our parent company. Additional fees are incurred for the average daily unused commitments.
At December 31, 2018, there were no borrowings or letters of credit outstanding under the facility.
Precious Metal Financings-We enter into lease agreements for precious metals which are used in our production processes. All precious metal borrowings are classified as Short-term debt.
Weighted Average Interest Rate-At December 31, 2018 and 2017, our weighted average interest rates on outstanding short-term debt were 3.1% and 1.8%, respectively.
Debt Discount and Issuance Costs-Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs resulted in amortization expense of $14 million, $15 million and $16 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which is included in Interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Other Information-LYB International Finance III, LLC is a direct, 100% owned finance subsidiary of LyondellBasell N.V., as defined in Rule 3-10(b) of Regulation S-X. Any debt securities issued by LYB International Finance III, LLC will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by LyondellBasell N.V.
14. Lease Commitments
We lease office facilities, railcars, vehicles, and other equipment under operating leases. Some leases contain renewal provisions, purchase options and escalation clauses.
The aggregate future estimated payments under these commitments are:
Rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $496 million, $440 million and $426 million, respectively.
15. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements
Market Risks-We are exposed to market risks, such as changes in commodity pricing, currency exchange rates and interest rates. To manage the volatility related to these exposures, we selectively enter into derivative contracts pursuant to our risk management policies.
Commodity Prices-We are exposed to commodity price volatility related to purchases of various feedstocks and sales of our products. We selectively use over-the-counter commodity swaps, options and exchange traded futures contracts with various terms to manage the volatility related to these risks. In addition, we are exposed to volatility on the prices of precious metals to the extent that we have obligations, classified as embedded derivatives, tied to the price of precious metals associated with secured borrowings.
Foreign Currency Rates-We have significant worldwide operations. The functional currencies of our consolidated subsidiaries through which we operate are primarily the U.S. dollar and the euro. We enter into transactions denominated in currencies other than our designated functional currencies. As a result, we are exposed to foreign currency risk on receivables and payables. We maintain risk management control policies intended to monitor foreign currency risk attributable to our outstanding foreign currency balances. These control policies involve the centralization of foreign currency exposure management, the offsetting of exposures and the estimating of expected impacts of changes in foreign currency rates on our Comprehensive income. We enter into foreign currency forward and swap contracts to reduce the effects of our net currency exchange exposures.
For foreign currency forward and swap contracts that economically hedge recognized foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities, hedge accounting is not applied. Changes in the fair value of such forward and swap contracts, which are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income, are offset in part by the currency remeasurement results recognized within earnings on the assets and liabilities.
Foreign Currency Gain (Loss)-Other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income reflected foreign currency gains of $24 million in 2018, and foreign currency losses of $1 million in 2017, and $4 million in 2016.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis-The following table summarizes financial instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Commodity derivatives designated as hedges are classified as Level 1. As of December 31, 2018, these commodity derivatives had notional and fair value of $472 million and $12 million, respectively. Fair value includes the net of a $60 million derivative asset and a $48 million derivative liability. Our limited partnership investments equity securities discussed below are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. All other derivatives and available-for-sale securities in the tables above are classified as Level 2.
At December 31, 2018, our outstanding foreign currency and commodity contracts not designated as hedges mature from January 2019 to August 2019 and from January 2019 to February 2019, respectively.
Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis-The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of our financial instruments that are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. Short-term loans receivable, which represent our repurchase agreements, and short-term and long-term debt are
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
recorded at amortized cost in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The carrying and fair values of short-term and long-term debt exclude capital leases and commercial paper.
All financial instruments in the table above are classified as Level 2. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for any of our financial instruments during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Net Investment Hedges-In 2018 we entered into €800 million of foreign currency contracts that were designated as net investment hedges.
In 2018 foreign currency contracts with an aggregate notional value of €925 million expired. Upon settlement of these foreign currency contracts in 2018, we paid €925 million ($1,078 million at the expiry spot rate) to our counterparties and received $1,108 million from our counterparties.
In 2017, we entered into €617 million of foreign currency contracts that were designated as net investment hedges. In 2017, foreign currency contracts with an aggregate notional value of €550 million expired. Upon settlement of these foreign currency contracts in 2017, we paid €550 million ($658 million at the expiry spot rate) to our counterparties and received $609 million from our counterparties.
In 2016, we also issued euro denominated notes payable due 2022 with notional amounts totaling €750 million that were designated as a net investment hedge. In May 2018, we dedesignated and redesignated a €125 million tranche of these notes as a net investment hedge.
At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had outstanding foreign currency contracts with an aggregate notional value of €617 million ($650 million) and €742 million ($789 million), respectively, designated as net investment hedges. In addition, at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had outstanding foreign-currency denominated debt, with notional amounts totaling €750 million ($858 million) and €750 million ($899 million), respectively, designated as a net investment hedge.
There was no ineffectiveness recorded for any of these net investment hedging relationships during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
Cash Flow Hedges-The following table summarizes our cash flow hedges outstanding at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
In February 2019 we entered into forward-starting interest rate swaps with a total notional amount of $1,000 million to mitigate the risk of variability in interest rates for an expected debt issuance by February 2020. These swaps were designated as cash flow hedges and will be terminated upon debt issuance. Additionally, concurrent with the redemption of $1,000 million of our outstanding 5% senior notes due 2019, we received $4 million in settlement of $1,000 million of forward-starting interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges of forecast interest payments to begin on or before April 15, 2019.
In 2018 we entered into commodity futures contracts with a total notional amount of $198 million to mitigate the risk of variability in feedstock prices for the year 2019. Additionally in 2018, we entered into commodity futures contracts with a total notional amount of $274 million to mitigate the risk of variability in product sales prices for the year 2019.
In 2018 we entered into forward-starting interest rate swaps with a total notional amount of $500 million to mitigate the risk of variability in interest rates for an expected debt issuance by November 2021. These swaps were designated as cash flow hedges and will be terminated upon debt issuance.
In 2018, 2017 and 2016, there were no settlements of our forward-starting swap agreements.
The ineffectiveness recorded for these hedging relationships was less than $1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
As of December 31, 2018, on a pre-tax basis, less than $1 million, $60 million, and $48 million is scheduled to be reclassified as a decrease to interest expense, increase to sales, and increase to cost of sales, respectively, over the next twelve months.
Fair Value Hedges-In February 2019, concurrent with the redemption of $1,000 million of our outstanding 5% senior notes due 2019, we paid $5 million in settlement of $1,000 million of fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps.
In 2018 we entered into a euro fixed-for-floating interest rate swap to mitigate the change in the fair value of €125 million ($147 million) of our €750 million notes payable due 2022 associated with the risk of variability in the 6-month EURIBOR rate (the benchmark interest rate). The fixed-rate and variable-rate are settled annually and semi-annually, respectively.
In 2017, we entered into U.S. dollar fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps to mitigate changes in fair value of our $1,000 million 3.5% guaranteed notes due 2027 associated with the risk of variability in the 3 Month USD LIBOR rate. The fixed-rate and variable-rate are settled semi-annually and quarterly, respectively.
In 2014, we entered into U.S. dollar fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps to mitigate changes in the fair value of our $2,000 million 5% senior notes due 2019. In March 2017, concurrent with the redemption of $1,000 million of our outstanding 5% senior notes due 2019, we dedesignated the related $2,000 million fair value hedge and terminated swaps in the notional amount of $1,000 million. At the same time, we redesignated the remaining $1,000 million notional amount of swaps as a fair value hedge of the remaining $1,000 million of 5% senior notes outstanding.
In 2017, we entered into U.S. dollar fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps with aggregate notional value of $400 million to mitigate changes in the fair value of our $1,000 million 6% senior notes due 2021 associated with the risk of variability in the 1 Month USD LIBOR rate. The fixed and variable payments for the interest rate swaps related to our 6% senior notes due 2021 are settled semi-annually and monthly, respectively.
At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had outstanding fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps with aggregate notional amounts of $3,143 million and $3,000 million, respectively, designated as fair value hedges. The fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps outstanding at December 31, 2018 mature from 2019 to 2027.
We recognized net losses of $16 million and net gains of $32 million during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, related to the ineffectiveness of our fair value hedges.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Impact on Earnings and Other Comprehensive Income-The following tables summarize the pre-tax effect of derivative instruments and non-derivative instruments on Other comprehensive income and earnings for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The derivative amounts excluded from the assessment of effectiveness for foreign currency contracts designated as net investment hedges recognized in other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2018 were gains of $19 million. The derivative amounts excluded from the assessment of effectiveness for foreign currency contracts designated as net investment hedges recognized in interest expense for year ended December 31, 2018 were gains of $27 million.
The pre-tax effect of the periodic receipt of fixed interest and payment of variable interest associated with our fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps resulted in an interest expense of $5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, and reduced interest expense by$23 million and $21 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Investments in Available-for-Sale Debt Securities-The following table summarizes the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of our available-for-sale debt securities that are outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
In 2017 our equity securities classified as available-for-sale primarily consist of our limited partnership investments, which include investments in, among other things, equities and equity related securities, debt securities, credit instruments, global interest rate products, currencies, commodities, futures, options, warrants and swaps. These investments may be redeemed at least monthly with advance notice ranging up to ninety days. The fair value of these funds uses net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the respective pooled fund investment.
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had marketable securities classified as Cash and cash equivalents of $19 million and $1,035 million, respectively.
No losses related to other-than-temporary impairments of our debt security investments have been recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
As of December 31, 2018, bonds classified as available-for-sale debt securities had maturities between two and twenty-five months.
The proceeds from maturities and sales of our available-for-sale debt securities during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are summarized in the following table:
No gain or loss was realized in connection with the sales of our available-for-sale debt securities during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.
We use the specific identification method to identify the cost of the securities we sell and the amounts we reclassify out of Accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings.
The following table summarizes the fair value and unrealized losses related to available-for-sale debt securities that were in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than and greater than twelve months as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Investments in Equity Securities-Our equity securities primarily consist of our limited partnership investments, which include investments in, among other things, equities and equity related securities, debt securities, credit instruments, global interest rate products, currencies, commodities, futures, options, warrants and swaps. These investments may be redeemed at least monthly with advance notice ranging up to ninety days. The fair value of these funds uses net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the respective pooled fund investment. These investments had a notional amount of $322 million and a fair value of $325 million at December 31, 2018.
The following table summarizes the portion of unrealized gains and losses for the equity securities that are outstanding as of December 31, 2018:
16. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
We have defined benefit pension plans which cover employees in the U.S. and various non-U.S. countries. We also sponsor postretirement benefit plans other than pensions that provide medical benefits to certain of our U.S., Canadian, and French employees. In addition, we provide other postemployment benefits such as early retirement and deferred compensation severance benefits to employees of certain non-U.S. countries. We use a measurement date of December 31 for all of our benefit plans.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table provides a reconciliation of projected benefit obligations, plan assets and the funded status of our U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following additional information is presented for our U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans as of December 31:
Pension plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of assets are summarized as follows at December 31:
Pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of assets are summarized as follows at December 31:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table provides the components of net periodic pension costs:
Lump sum benefit payments of $288 million were made from existing plan assets in 2016. These payments in total exceeded annual service and interest cost, resulting in pension settlement expense of $58 million. A significant portion of the lump sum payments were due to a voluntary lump sum program to certain former employees in select U.S. pension plans.
Our goal is to manage pension investments over the longer term to achieve optimal returns with an acceptable level of risk and volatility. The assets are externally managed by professional investment firms and performance is evaluated continuously against specific benchmarks.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The actual and target asset allocations for our plans are as follows:
During 2017, Netherlands Defined Benefits pension plans modified their insurance arrangements. As a result, the plan assets were transferred to the insurer for investment in its pooled asset portfolio, and treated as a nonparticipating insurance contract. The associated plan assets underlying the insurance arrangement are measured at the cash surrender value, which is derived primarily from an actuarial determination of the discounted benefits cash flows. The transfer of plan assets resulted in a change in classification in the fair value hierarchy from Level 2 in 2016 for fixed income securities to Level 3 in 2017. These plan assets at December 31, 2017 were valued at $527 million and has reduced to $524 million at December 31, 2018. The change is due to actual return on plan assets of $10 million, contributions net of benefit payments of $12 million offset by $25 million of foreign exchange depreciation.
We estimate the following contributions to our pension plans in 2019:
As of December 31, 2018, future expected benefit payments by our pension plans which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are as follows:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following tables set forth the principal assumptions on discount rates, projected rates of compensation increase and expected rates of return on plan assets, where applicable. These assumptions vary for the different plans, as they are determined in consideration of local conditions.
The assumptions used in determining the net benefit liabilities for our pension plans were as follows at December 31:
The assumptions used in determining net benefit costs for our pension plans were as follows:
The discount rate assumptions reflect the rates at which the benefit obligations could be effectively settled, based on the yields of high quality long-term bonds where the term closely matches the term of the benefit obligations. At the beginning of 2017, we changed the approach used to measure service and interest costs for pension and other postretirement benefits under significant U.S. plans. For 2016, we measured service and interest costs utilizing a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the plan obligations. For 2017, we measured service and interest costs by applying the specific spot rates along that same yield curve to the plans’ projected cash flows. We believe the new approach provides a more precise measurement of service and interest costs. This change did not affect the measurement of our plan obligations. We will account for this change as a change in accounting estimate and, accordingly, will account for it on a prospective basis. The weighted average expected long-term rate of return on assets in our U.S. plans of 7.50% is based on the average level of earnings that our independent pension investment adviser had advised could be expected to be earned over a fifteen to twenty year time period consistent with the plans’ target asset allocation, historical capital market performance, historical plan performance (since the 1997 inception of the U.S. Master Trust) and a forecast of expected future asset returns. The weighted average expected long-term rate of return on assets in our non-U.S. plans of 2.92% is based on expectations and asset allocations that vary by region. We review these long-term assumptions on a periodic basis.
In the U.S. plans, the expected rate of return was derived based on the target asset allocation of 32% equity securities (7.5% expected return), 38% fixed income securities (5.5% expected return), and 30% alternative investments (9.5% expected return). In the non-U.S. plans, the investments consist primarily of fixed income securities whose expected rates of return range from 2.50% to 5.75%.
The following table reflects the actual annualized total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Actual rates of return may differ from the expected rate due to the volatility normally experienced in capital markets. The goal is to manage the investments over the long term to achieve optimal returns with an acceptable level of risk and volatility in order to meet the benefit obligations of the plans as they come due.
Our pension plans have not directly invested in securities of LyondellBasell N.V., and there have been no significant transactions between any of the pension plans and the Company or related parties thereof.
The pension investments that are measured at fair value as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are summarized below:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The fair value measurements of the investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share as of December 31, 2018 are as follows:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The fair value measurements of the investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share as of December 31, 2017 are as follows:
Multi-employer Plan-The Company participates in a multi-employer arrangement with Pensionskasse der BASF WaG V.VaG (“Pensionskasse”) which provides for benefits to the majority of our employees in Germany. Up to a certain salary level, the benefit obligations are covered by contributions of the Company and the employees to the plan. Contributions made to the multi-employer plan are expensed as incurred.
The following table provides disclosure related to the Company’s multi-employer plan:
(a) The Company-specific plan information for the Pensionskasse is not publicly available and the plan is not subject to a collective-bargaining agreement. The plan provides fixed, monthly retirement payments on the basis of the credits earned by the participating employees. To the extent that the Pensionskasse is underfunded, the future contributions to the plan may increase and may be used to fund retirement benefits for employees related to other employers. The Pensionskasse financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 indicated total assets of $9,093 million and $7,897 million, respectively; total actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits of $8,747 million and $7,559 million, respectively; and total contributions
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
for all participating employers of $653 million and $246 million, respectively. Our plan contributions did not exceed 5 percent of the total contributions in 2018, 2017 or 2016.
Other Postretirement Benefits-We sponsor unfunded health care and life insurance plans covering certain eligible retired employees and their eligible dependents. Generally, the medical plans pay a stated percentage of medical expenses reduced by deductibles and other coverage. Life insurance benefits are generally provided by insurance contracts. We retain the right, subject to existing agreements, to modify or eliminate these benefits.
The following table provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations of our unfunded other postretirement benefit plans:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table provides the components of net periodic other postretirement benefit costs:
The following table sets forth the assumed health care cost trend rates:
The health care cost trend rate assumption does not typically have a significant effect on the amounts reported due to limits on maximum contribution levels to the medical plans. However, changing the assumed health care cost trend rates by one percentage point in each year would increase or decrease the accumulated other postretirement benefit liability as of December 31, 2018 by $17 million and $12 million, respectively, for non-U.S. plans and by less than $1 million for U.S. plans
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and would not have a material effect on the aggregate service and interest cost components of the net periodic other postretirement benefit cost for the year then ended.
The assumptions used in determining the net benefit liabilities for our other postretirement benefit plans were as follows:
The assumptions used in determining the net benefit costs for our other postretirement benefit plans were as follows:
As of December 31, 2018, future expected benefit payments by our other postretirement benefit plans, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, were as follows:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss-The following pre-tax amounts were recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:
In 2018, $40 million of pension benefits actuarial loss primarily reflects $126 million of gains due to changes in discount rate assumption offset by $166 million of losses due to asset experience. There were $49 million of other postretirement benefits actuarial gains primarily due to $19 million of discount rate assumption changes and $30 million of changes due to favorable liability experience, and other immaterial items. In 2017, $65 million of pension benefits actuarial gain primarily reflects $72 million of gains due to changes in discount rate assumption offset by $7 million of losses due to asset experience (actual asset return compared to expected return). There were $9 million of other postretirement benefits actuarial gains due to $2 million of discount rate assumption changes, offset by a gain of $6 million of changes due to favorable liability experience, and other immaterial items.
Deferred income taxes related to amounts in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) include provisions of $144 million and $208 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
At December 31, 2018, Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) of $12 million represents net actuarial and investment losses and $1 million of prior service cost related to non-U.S. pension plans that are expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost in 2019. There are $18 million of net actuarial and investment losses in AOCI at December 31, 2018 for U.S. pension plans expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost in 2019. At December 31, 2018, AOCI included $1 million of net actuarial loss related to non-U.S. other postretirement benefits and $5 million net actuarial gain related to U.S. other post-retirement benefits that is expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost in 2019.
Defined Contribution Plans-Most employees in the U.S. and certain non-U.S. countries are eligible to participate in defined contribution plans (“Employee Savings Plan”) by contributing a portion of their compensation. We make employer contributions, such as matching contributions, to certain of these plans. The Company also has a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that covers senior management in the U.S. This plan was amended in April 2013 to provide for company contributions on behalf of certain eligible employees who earn base pay above the IRS annual compensation limit.
The following table provides the company contributions to the Employee Savings Plans:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
17. Incentive and Share-Based Compensation
We are authorized to grant restricted stock units, stock options, performance share units, and other cash and stock awards under our Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”). The Compensation Committee oversees our equity award grants, the type of awards, the required performance measures, and the timing and duration of each grant. The maximum number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the LTIP is 22,000,000. As of December 31, 2018, there were 4,992,577 shares remaining available for issuance assuming maximum payout for performance share units awards. When options are exercised and awards are paid out, shares are issued from our treasury shares.
Total share-based compensation expense and the associated tax benefits are as follows for the years ended December 31:
Beginning in 2017, we elected to recognize forfeitures as they occur for stock-based compensation.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards (“RSUs”)-RSUs generally entitle the recipient to be paid out an equal number of ordinary shares on the third anniversary of the grant date. RSUs, which are subject to customary partial or accelerated vesting or forfeiture in the event of certain termination events, are accounted for as an equity award with compensation cost recognized in the income statement ratably over the vesting period.
In 2015, 190,399 RSUs were granted to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and three other executive officers. These RSUs vest in annual tranches with 10% vested after one year and an additional 15% vested after two years and the remaining vesting in equal tranches after each of the third, fourth and fifth years. Compensation cost for these awards is recognized using the graded vesting method.
The holders of all RSUs are entitled to dividend equivalents settled in the form of cash payments to the holder no later than March 15, following the year in which dividends are paid, as long as the participant remains employed at the time of the dividend payment. See the “Dividend Distribution” section of Note 20 for the per share amount of dividend equivalent payments made to the holders of RSUs during 2018, 2017 and 2016. Total dividend equivalent payments were $2 million in 2018 and $1 million in 2017 and 2016.
RSUs are valued at the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant. The weighted average grant date fair value for RSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $108.52, $91.14 and $79.77, respectively. The total fair value of RSUs vested during 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $13 million, $8 million and $16 million, respectively.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table summarizes RSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2018:
As of December 31, 2018, the unrecognized compensation cost related to RSUs was $21 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2 years.
Stock Option Awards (“Stock Options”)-Stock Options are granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of our ordinary shares at the date of grant. The awards generally have a three-year vesting period that vests in equal increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the grant date. The awards have a contractual term of ten years, subject to customary partial or accelerated vesting or forfeiture in the event of certain termination events. Stock Options are accounted for as equity awards with compensation cost recognized using the graded vesting method. None of the Stock Options are designed to qualify as incentive Stock Options as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.
In 2015, 457,555 Stock Options were granted to the CEO and three other executive officers. These Stock Options vest in annual tranches with 10% vested after one year and an additional 15% vested after two years and the remaining vesting in equal tranches after each of the third, fourth, and fifth years.
The fair value of each Stock Option is estimated, based on several assumptions, on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The principal assumptions utilized in valuing Stock Options include the expected stock price volatility (based on our historical stock price volatility over the expected term); the expected dividend yield; and the risk-free interest rate (an estimate based on the yield of a United States Treasury zero coupon bond with a maturity equal to the expected life of the option).
The expected term of all Stock Options granted is estimated based on a simplified approach. In 2010, when the majority of our Stock Options were granted, we determined that the simplified method was appropriate because of the life of LyondellBasell N.V. and its relative stage of development. Similarly, we did not possess exercise patterns similar to our situation. The Stock Options that have been granted since 2010 have been limited in number and have occurred during periods of substantial share price volatility.
Weighted average fair values of Stock Options granted in each respective year and the assumptions used in estimating those fair values are as follows:
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table summarizes Stock Option activity for the year ended December 31, 2018:
The range of exercise prices for Stock Options outstanding as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $13.11 to $113.39, $13.11 to $113.03 and $12.61 to $113.03, respectively.
The aggregate intrinsic value of Stock Options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $3 million, $6 million and $1 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2018, the unrecognized compensation cost related to Stock Options was $5 million, which is expected to be recognized over a one-year period. During 2018, cash received from the exercise of Stock Options was $4 million. There was $1 million tax benefit associated with these exercises.
Performance Share Units Awards (“PSUs”) and Qualified Performance Awards (“QPAs”)-PSUs and QPAs are granted under the LTIP and have three-calendar year performance periods. They are granted in the beginning of each performance period, provide a target number of share units, and ultimately payout between 0% and 200% of target. Each unit is equivalent to one share of our common stock. These share awards are subject to customary partial or accelerated vesting or forfeiture in the event of certain termination events.
For PSUs granted beginning in 2017, the final number of shares payable is determined after the performance period based on the relative Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”). TSR is an objective calculation that takes into account LYB’s TSR rank within its peer group and whether LYB’s specific TSR is positive or negative. Since the final payout is based on objective criteria established at the grant date, the awards are treated as equity awards. Compensation expense during the three-calendar year performance period is accrued on a straight-line basis. PSUs are valued using a Monte-Carlo simulation payout value on grant date.
For PSUs granted prior to 2017 and QPAs, the final number of shares payable is determined at the end of the performance period by the Compensation Committee based generally on subjective criteria established at the beginning of the performance period. Since the service-inception date precedes the grant date, these share awards are treated as a liability award until the grant date and compensation expense during the performance period is accrued on a straight-line basis subject to fair value adjustments. PSUs granted prior to 2017 and QPAs are valued at market price of the underlying stock on the date of payment.
PSUs granted beginning in 2016 accrue dividend equivalent units. These dividend equivalent units will be converted to shares upon payment at the end of the performance period and are classified in Accrued and Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Dividend equivalents for PSUs granted in 2016 are recorded in compensation expense while PSUs granted beginning in 2017 are recorded in Retained earnings.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table summarizes PSU activity classified as equity awards for the year ended December 31, 2018:
The assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the fair value of PSUs granted in 2017 and 2018 are as follows:
As of December 31, 2018, the unrecognized compensation cost related to PSUs assuming target payout was $21 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2 years.
The weighted average grant date fair value for PSUs classified as liability awards granted during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was 109.09 and 92.69 respectively. The total fair value of PSUs vested during 2018 and 2017 was $25 million and $21 million, respectively.
For grants made in 2013, executive officers were only eligible for QPAs while eligible employees could elect to receive QPAs. The weighted average grant date fair value for QPAs granted during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $77.93. The total fair value of QPAs vested during 2016 was $20 million.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
We have an Employee Share Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) which includes a 10% discount and a look-back provision. These provisions allow participants to purchase our stock at a discount on the lower of the fair market value at the beginning or end of the purchase period. As a result of the 10% discount and the look-back provision, the ESPP is considered a compensatory plan under generally accepted accounting principles.
18. Income Taxes
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is tax resident in the United Kingdom pursuant to a mutual agreement procedure determination ruling between the Dutch and United Kingdom competent authorities and therefore subject solely to the United Kingdom corporate income tax system.
Through our subsidiaries, we have substantial operations world-wide and earn significant income in the U.S. Taxes are primarily paid on the earnings generated in various jurisdictions, including the U.S., The Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and other countries. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. has little or no taxable income of its own because, as a holding company, it does not conduct any operations. Instead, the subsidiaries through which we operate incur tax obligations in the jurisdictions in which they operate.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
We monitor income tax developments in countries where we conduct business. In 2017, the U.S. enacted “H.R.1”, also known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (the “Tax Act”) materially impacting our Consolidated Financial Statements by, among other things, decreasing the tax rate, and significantly affecting future periods. The Tax Act reduced the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% for years beginning after 2017, which resulted in the remeasurement of our U.S. net deferred income tax liabilities. As a result, we recognized a tax benefit of $819 million in 2017. Following adjustments made in 2018, the cumulative impact of the remeasurement of our U.S. net deferred income tax liabilities and tax accruals was an $814 million income tax benefit. Adjustments to the 2017 provisional amount were reported as a component of income tax expense in the reporting period in which the adjustments were identified.
To determine the full effects of the tax law for 2018, we are awaiting the finalization of several proposed U.S. Treasury regulations under the Tax Act that were issued during 2018, as well as additional regulations to be proposed and finalized pursuant to the U.S. Treasury’s expanded regulatory authority under the Tax Act. It is also possible that technical correction legislation concerning the Tax Act could retroactively affect tax liabilities for 2018. We will continue to analyze the Tax Act to determine the full effects of the new law as additional regulations are proposed and finalized.
Interest income earned by certain of our European subsidiaries through intercompany financings is either untaxed or taxed at rates substantially lower than the U.S. statutory rate. Tax regulations proposed in 2018 may affect tax deductible interest in the U.S. in future periods; however, we do not believe they will have a material impact as proposed. In addition, in 2016 the U.S. Treasury issued final Section 385 debt-equity regulations that impact our internal financings beginning in 2017. Pursuant to a 2017 Executive Order, the Treasury Department reviewed these regulations and determined that they should be retained, subject to further review following the enactment of U.S. tax reform. We are awaiting the U.S. Treasury’s review of the existing Section 385 debt-equity regulations which could impact our internal financings in future years as well as any final regulations impacting interest deductions under the Tax Act. In addition, there has been an increased attention, both in the U.S. and globally, to the tax practices of multinational companies, including the European Union’s state aid investigations, proposals by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development with respect to base erosion and profit shifting, and European Union tax directives. Such attention may result in further legislative changes that could adversely affect our tax rate. Other than the Tax Act, management does not believe that recent changes in income tax laws will have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements, although new or proposed changes to tax laws could affect our tax liabilities in the future.
The significant components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Since the proportion of U.S. revenues, assets, operating income and associated tax provisions is significantly greater than any other single taxing jurisdiction within the worldwide group, the reconciliation of the differences between the provision for income taxes and the statutory rate is presented on the basis of the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate of 21% as opposed to the United Kingdom statutory rate of 19% to provide a more meaningful insight into those differences. Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2018 is 11.5%. This summary is shown below:
Our 2016 income tax provision included a charge of $135 million for non-cash out of period adjustments from prior years which is reflected in Other, net in the table above. $74 million of the charge relates to a correction for the tax effects on our cross-currency swaps with the remainder relating primarily to adjustments for deferred tax liabilities associated with some of our consolidated subsidiaries. Management concluded that these adjustments were immaterial to all periods presented.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The deferred tax effects of tax loss and credit carryforwards (“tax attributes”) and the tax effects of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements, reduced by a valuation allowance where appropriate, are presented below. The 2017 impact of re-measurement of the U.S. net deferred tax liability resulting from the U.S. enactment of the Tax Act is included in the various components of deferred income taxes.
Deferred taxes on the unremitted earnings of certain equity joint ventures and subsidiaries of $96 million and $51 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, have been provided. The increase is primarily related to the acquisition of A. Schulman subsidiaries for outside basis differences in jurisdictions without 100% participation exemptions and local withholding taxes.
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had total tax attributes available in the amount of $938 million and $784 million, respectively, for which a deferred tax asset was recognized at December 31, 2018 and 2017 of $180 million and $196 million, respectively.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The scheduled expiration of the tax attributes and the related deferred tax assets, before valuation allowance, as of December 31, 2018 are as follows:
The tax attributes are primarily related to operations in France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, The Netherlands and the United States. The related deferred tax assets by primary jurisdictions are shown below:
To fully realize these net deferred tax assets, we will need to generate sufficient future taxable income in the countries where these tax attributes exist during the periods in which the attributes can be utilized. Based upon projections of future taxable income over the periods in which the attributes can be utilized and/or temporary differences can be reversed, management believes it is more likely than not that only $61 million of these deferred tax assets at December 31, 2018 will be realized.
Prior to the close of each reporting period, management considers the weight of all evidence, both positive and negative, to determine if a valuation allowance is necessary for each jurisdictions’ net deferred tax assets. We place greater weight on historical evidence over future predictions of our ability to utilize net deferred tax assets. We consider future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences, and taxable income in prior carryback year(s) if carryback is permitted under applicable law, as well as available prudent and feasible tax planning strategies that would, if necessary, be implemented to ensure realization of the net deferred tax asset.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
A summary of the valuation allowances by primary jurisdiction is shown below, reflecting the valuation allowances for all the net deferred tax assets, including deferred tax assets for tax attributes and other temporary differences.
During 2018, the valuation allowance increased in the United Kingdom due to disallowed interest deductions where we do not expect to realize a future benefit. This increase also includes the addition of valuation allowances associated with A. Schulman entities where management assessed that deferred tax attributes are not likely to be realized.
During 2017, the valuation allowance decreased in the U.S. due to the remeasurement of our U.S. net deferred income tax liability. This reduction was offset by increases in the valuation allowances of other jurisdictions due primarily to currency translation adjustments.
During 2016, we released $19 million of our valuation allowance related to Spanish net deferred tax assets associated with operating losses, as Spanish operations were no longer in a three-year cumulative loss position and our projections indicated and management expected the operating losses to be fully utilized within the next nine years.
We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance against the net deferred tax asset in Canada. Given our operational structure in Canada and the relevant Canadian loss utilization rules, we do not expect to realize a future benefit related to the net deferred tax asset. We continue to maintain a valuation allowance against the net deferred tax asset in various immaterial jurisdictions based on recent cumulative book losses.
Tax benefits totaling $269 million, $544 million and $546 million relating to uncertain tax positions, which are reflected in Other liabilities, were unrecognized as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits:
The majority of the 2018, 2017 and 2016 balances, if recognized, will affect the effective tax rate. We operate in multiple jurisdictions throughout the world, and our tax returns are periodically audited or subjected to review by tax authorities. We are currently under examination in a number of tax jurisdictions. As a result, there is an uncertainty in income taxes recognized in our financial statements. We may settle or appeal positions challenged by the tax authorities. In 2018, we entered into various audit settlements impacting specific uncertain tax positions. These audit settlements resulted in a $358 million non-cash benefit
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
to our effective tax rate consisting of the recognition of $299 million of previously unrecognized tax benefits as a reduction for tax positions of prior years and the release of $59 million of previously accrued interest. This non-cash reduction in unrecognized tax benefits is reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheets in Other liabilities and on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in Other operating activities.
The majority of the additions for tax positions of prior years are with respect to the A. Schulman acquisition on August 21, 2018.
We are no longer subject to any significant income tax examinations by tax authorities for the years prior to 2017 in the Netherlands, prior to 2010 in Italy, prior to 2005 in Germany, prior to 2010 in France, prior to 2016 in the United Kingdom, and prior to 2015 in the U.S., our principal tax jurisdictions. It is reasonably possible that, within the next twelve months, due to the settlement of uncertain tax positions with various tax authorities and the expiration of statutes of limitations, unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by up to approximately $190 million.
We recognize interest associated with unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Income tax expense includes a benefit of interest and penalties totaling $47 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 and interest expense totaling $16 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. We had accrued approximately $16 million, $63 million and $47 million for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
19. Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments-We have various purchase commitments for materials, supplies and services incident to the ordinary conduct of business, generally for quantities required for our businesses and at prevailing market prices. These commitments are designed to assure sources of supply and are not expected to be in excess of normal requirements. At December 31, 2018, capital expenditure commitments were in incurred in our normal course of business, including commitments of approximately $685 million primarily related to building our new Hyperzone high-density polyethylene plant in La Porte, Texas and a world-scale PO/TBA plant on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Financial Assurance Instruments-We have obtained letters of credit, performance and surety bonds and have issued financial and performance guarantees to support trade payables, potential liabilities and other obligations. Considering the frequency of claims made against the financial instruments we use to support our obligations, and the magnitude of those financial instruments in light of our current financial position, management does not expect that any claims against or draws on these instruments would have a material adverse effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. We have not experienced any unmanageable difficulty in obtaining the required financial assurance instruments for our current operations.
Environmental Remediation-Our accrued liability for future environmental remediation costs at current and former plant sites and other remediation sites totaled $90 million and $102 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At December 31, 2018, the accrued liabilities for individual sites range from less than $1 million to $17 million. The remediation expenditures are expected to occur over a number of years, and not to be concentrated in any single year. In our opinion, it is reasonably possible that losses in excess of the liabilities recorded may have been incurred. However, we cannot estimate any amount or range of such possible additional losses. New information about sites, new technology or future developments such as involvement in investigations by regulatory agencies, could require us to reassess our potential exposure related to environmental matters.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table summarizes the activity in our accrued environmental liability included in “Accrued liabilities” and “Other liabilities:”
Indemnification-We are parties to various indemnification arrangements, including arrangements entered into in connection with acquisitions, divestitures and the formation and dissolution of joint ventures. Pursuant to these arrangements, we provide indemnification to and/or receive indemnification from other parties in connection with liabilities that may arise in connection with the transactions and in connection with activities prior to completion of the transactions. These indemnification arrangements typically include provisions pertaining to third party claims relating to environmental and tax matters and various types of litigation. As of December 31, 2018, we had not accrued any significant amounts for our indemnification obligations, and we are not aware of other circumstances that would likely lead to significant future indemnification obligations. We cannot determine with certainty the potential amount of future payments under the indemnification arrangements until events arise that would trigger a liability under the arrangements.
As part of our technology licensing contracts, we give indemnifications to our licensees for liabilities arising from possible patent infringement claims with respect to certain proprietary licensed technologies. Such indemnifications have a stated maximum amount and generally cover a period of 5 to 10 years.
20. Stockholders’ Equity
Dividend Distributions-The following table summarizes the dividends paid to common shareholders in the periods presented:
A. Schulman Special Stock- In November 2018, we paid a total of $2 million related to dividends on A. Schulman Special Stock.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Share Repurchase Program-In 2018, our shareholders approved a proposal to authorize us to repurchase up to 57,844,016 of our outstanding ordinary shares through December 1, 2019 (“2018 Share Repurchase Program”), which superseded the remaining authorization under our 2017 Share Repurchase Program.
The timing and amount of these repurchases, which are determined based on our evaluation of market conditions and other factors, may be executed from time to time through open market or privately negotiated transactions. The repurchased shares, which are recorded at cost, are classified as Treasury stock and may be retired or used for general corporate purposes, including for various employee benefit and compensation plans.
The following table summarizes our share repurchase activity for the periods presented:
Due to the timing of settlements, total cash paid for share repurchases for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $1,854 million, $866 million and $2,938 million, respectively.
Ordinary Shares-The changes in the outstanding amounts of ordinary shares are as follows:
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Treasury Shares-The changes in the amounts of treasury shares held by the Company are as follows:
During 2018, following approval by our management and shareholders, we canceled 178,229,883 ordinary shares held in our treasury account in accordance with cancellation requirements under Dutch law.
Purchase of ordinary shares during 2018 includes 23,407 shares that were returned to us at no cost resulting from unclaimed distributions to creditors.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)-The components of, and after-tax changes in, Accumulated other comprehensive loss as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are presented in the following table:
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The amounts reclassified out of each component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows:
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial loss are included in the computation of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs (see Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
Non-Controlling Interests-In April 2017, we increased our interest in the entity that holds our equity interest in Al Waha Petrochemicals Ltd. from 83.79% to 100% by paying $21 million to exercise a call option to purchase the remaining 16.21% interest held by a third party.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
21. Per Share Data
Basic earnings per share are based upon the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the periods. Diluted earnings per share includes the effect of certain stock options awards and other equity-based compensation awards. We have unvested restricted stock units that are considered participating securities for earnings per share.
Earnings per share data and dividends declared per share of common stock are as follows:
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
22. Segment and Related Information
In conjunction with our acquisition of A. Schulman, we formed the Advanced Polymer Solutions business management function for the product lines acquired in the acquisition. In addition, the responsibility for business decisions relating to polypropylene compounds, Catalloy and polybutene-1, previously reflected in our O&P-EAI and O&P-Americas segments, were moved to our new Advanced Polymer Solutions business management function. These products are now reflected in our new Advanced Polymer Solutions segment. All comparable periods presented have been revised to reflect this change.
Our operations are managed through six operating segments, as shown below. We disclose the results of each of our operating segments in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting. Each of the operating segments is managed by a senior executive reporting directly to our Chief Executive Officer, the chief operating decision maker. Discrete financial information is available for each of the segments, and our Chief Executive Officer uses the operating results of each of the operating segments for performance evaluation and resource allocation. The activities of each of our segments from which they earn revenues and incur expenses are described below:
•
Olefins and Polyolefins-Americas (“O&P-Americas”). Our O&P-Americas segment produces and markets olefins and co-products, polyethylene and polypropylene.
•
Olefins and Polyolefins-Europe, Asia, International (“O&P-EAI”). Our O&P-EAI segment produces and markets olefins and co-products, polyethylene, and polypropylene.
•
Intermediates and Derivatives (“I&D”). Our I&D segment produces and markets propylene oxide and its derivatives; oxyfuels and related products; and intermediate chemicals such as styrene monomer, acetyls, ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol.
•
Advanced Polymer Solutions (“APS”). Our APS segment produces and markets compounding and solutions, such as polypropylene compounds, engineered plastics, masterbatches, engineered composites, colors and powders, and advanced polymers, which includes Catalloy and polybutene-1.
•
Refining. Our Refining segment refines heavy, high-sulfur crude oil and other crude oils of varied types and sources available on the U.S. Gulf Coast into refined products, including gasoline and distillates.
•
Technology. Our Technology segment develops and licenses chemical and polyolefin process technologies and manufactures and sells polyolefin catalysts.
Our chief operating decision maker uses EBITDA as the primary measure for reviewing our segments’ profitability and therefore, in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting, we have presented EBITDA for all segments. We define EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization.
“Other” includes intersegment eliminations and items that are not directly related or allocated to business operations, such as foreign exchange gains or losses and components of pension and other postretirement benefit costs other than service costs. Sales between segments are made primarily at prices approximating prevailing market prices.
.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Summarized financial information concerning reportable segments is shown in the following table for the periods presented:
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
In 2018, EBITDA for our O&P-EAI segment includes a $36 million gain from the fourth quarter 2018 sale of our carbon black subsidiary in France. Our APS segment results include charges totaling $69 million for acquisition-related transaction and integration costs associated with our acquisition of A. Schulman.
In 2017, our O&P-Americas results include a $31 million gain on the first quarter sale of property in Lake Charles, Louisiana. EBITDA for our O&P-EAI segment includes a $108 million gain on the sale of our 27% interest in Geosel and also includes a $21 million non-cash gain stemming from the elimination of an obligation associated with a lease.
In 2016, operating results for our O&P-Americas segment includes a non-cash, LCM inventory valuation charge of $26 million due mainly to the drop in polypropylene prices. Our O&P-Americas and APS segments’ results benefited from gains of $57 million and $21 million, respectively, related to the 2016 sale of our wholly owned subsidiary, Petroken Petroquimica Ensenada S.A.
A reconciliation of EBITDA to Income from continuing operations before income taxes is shown in the following table for each of the periods presented:
The following assets are summarized and reconciled to consolidated totals in the following table:
As a result of the acquisition of A. Schulman, property, plant and equipment and goodwill attributable to the polypropylene compounds, Catalloy and polybutene-1 businesses previously reported in our O&P-Americas and O&P-EAI segments have been recast for all comparable periods presented.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Long-lived assets include Property, plant and equipment, net, Intangible assets, net, Investments in PO joint ventures, and Equity investments, (see Notes 8, 9 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The following long-lived assets data is based upon the location of the assets:
23. Unaudited Quarterly Results
The following table presents selected financial data for the quarterly periods in 2018 and 2017:
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
(a)
Represents Sales and other operating revenues less Cost of sales.
(b)
The three months ended September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2018 include charges for acquisition-related transaction and integration costs associated with our acquisition of A. Schulman of $53 million ($42 million, after tax) and $20 million ($15 million, after tax), respectively. The three months ended December 31, 2018 also includes a gain of $36 million ($34 million, after tax) on the sale of our carbon black subsidiary in France.
The three months ended March 31, 2017 includes a gain of $31 million ($20 million, after tax) on the sale of property in Lake Charles, Louisiana currently used as a logistic terminal. The three months ended June 30, 2017 includes a $21 million non-cash gain ($14 million, after tax) stemming from the elimination of an obligation associated with a lease. The three months ended September 30, 2017 includes a $108 million gain ($103 million, after tax) on the sale of our 27% interest in Geosel.
(c)
The three months ended June 30, 2018 includes a $346 million benefit related to $288 million of previously unrecognized tax benefits and the release of $58 million of associated accrued interest.
The three months ended March 31, 2017 includes total charges to interest expense of $113 million ($106 million, after tax) related to the redemption of $1,000 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 5% senior notes due 2019. The three months ended December 31, 2017 includes an $819 million non-cash tax benefit related to the lower federal income tax rate resulting from the newly enacted U.S. Tax Act.

ITEM 9 - CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.

ITEM 9A - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures.
Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, including ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to management (including the principal executive and financial officers) as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive and financial officers have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2018, the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We completed the acquisition of A. Schulman on August 21, 2018. We are in the process of assessing the internal controls of A. Schulman as part of the post-close integration process but have excluded A. Schulman from our assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. The total assets and revenues excluded from management’s assessment represent 5% and 2%, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management’s report on our internal control over financial reporting can be found in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Act, in our fourth fiscal quarter of 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B.
Other Information.
None.
PART III

ITEM 10 - DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
We have a Code of Conduct for all employees and directors, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and persons performing similar functions. We also have a Financial Code of Ethics specifically for our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and persons performing similar functions. We have posted copies of these codes on the “Corporate Governance” section of our website at www.lyb.com (within the Investor Relations section). Any waivers of the codes must be approved, in advance, by our Board of Directors. Any amendments to, or waivers from, the codes that apply to our executive officers and directors will be posted on the “Corporate Governance” section of our website.
Information regarding our executive officers is reported under the caption “Executive Officers of the Registrant” in Part I of this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
All other information required by this Item will be included in our Proxy Statement relating to our 2019 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.*

ITEM 11 - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11.
Executive Compensation.
All information required by this Item will be included in our Proxy Statement relating to our 2019 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.*

ITEM 12 - SECURITY OWNERSHIP
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
All information required by this Item will be included in our Proxy Statement relating to our 2019 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.*

ITEM 13 - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
All information required by this Item will be included in our Proxy Statement relating to our 2019 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.*

ITEM 14 - PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
All information required by this Item will be included in our Proxy Statement relating to our 2019 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.*
*
Except for information or data specifically incorporated herein by reference under Items 10 through 14, other information and data appearing in our 2019 Proxy Statement are not deemed to be a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or deemed to be filed with the Commission as a part of this report.
PART IV

ITEM 15 - EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) (1) Consolidated Financial Statements:
The financial statements and supplementary information listed in the Index to Financial Statements, included in Item 8.
(a) (2) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules:
Schedules are omitted because they either are not required or are not applicable or because equivalent information has been included in the financial statements, the notes thereto or elsewhere herein.
(b) Exhibits:
Exhibit
Number
Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 15, 2018, among LyondellBasell Industries N.V., LYB Americas Holdco Inc., and A. Schulman, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 15, 2018)
Articles of Association of LyondellBasell Industries N.V., as amended on June 1, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 5, 2018)
4.1
Specimen certificate for Class A ordinary shares, par value €0.04 per share, of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016)
4.2
Registration Rights Agreement by and among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and the Holders (as defined therein), dated as of April 30, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Amendment No. 2 to Form 10 filed with the SEC on July 26, 2010)
4.3
Second Amended and Restated Nomination Agreement, dated June 1, 2018, between AI International Chemicals S.à R.L. and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 5, 2018)
4.4
Indenture relating to 6.0% Senior Notes due 2021, among the Company, as issuer, each of the Guarantors named therein, as guarantors, Wells Fargo National Association, as trustee, registrar and paying agent, dated as of November 14, 2011 (including form of 6.0% Senior Note due 2021) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 17, 2011)
4.5
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 10, 2015, to Indenture dated as of November 14, 2011, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 14, 2015)
4.6
Indenture relating to 5.75% Senior Notes due 2024, among LyondellBasell Industries N.V., as issuer, each of the Guarantors named therein, as guarantors, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, registrar and paying agent, dated as of April 9, 2012 (including form of 5.750% Senior Note due 2024) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012)
4.7
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 10, 2015, to Indenture dated as of April 9, 2012, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 14, 2015)
Exhibit
Number
Description
4.8
Indenture, among LYB International Finance B.V., as issuer, LyondellBasell Industries N.V., as guarantor, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, dated as of July 16, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 16, 2013)
4.9
Indenture, among LYB International Finance II B.V., as Issuer, LyondellBasell Industries N.V., as Guarantor, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, dated as of March 2, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2016)
4.10
Officer’s Certificate of LYB International Finance II B.V. relating to the 1.875% Guaranteed Notes due 2022, dated as of March 2, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2016)
4.11
Form of LYB International Finance II B.V.’s 1.875% Guaranteed Notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2016 and included in Exhibit A thereto)
4.12
Officer’s Certificate of LYB International Finance II B.V. relating to the 3.500% Guaranteed Notes due 2027, dated as of March 2, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2016)
4.13
Form of LYB International Finance II B.V.’s 3.500% Guaranteed Notes due 2027 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2017 and included in Exhibit A thereto)
4.14
Indenture, between LyondellBasell Industries N.V. as Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee dated as of March 5, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2015)
4.15
Officer’s Certificate of LyondellBasell Industries, N.V. relating to the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2055, dated as of March 5, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2015)
4.16
Form of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s 4.625% Senior Notes due 2055 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2015 and included in Exhibit 4.2 thereto)
10.1+
Employment Agreement by and among Bhavesh V. Patel, Lyondell Chemical Company and LyondellBasell Industries, N.V., dated as of December 18, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 22, 2014)
10.2+
Amendment to Employment Agreement by and among Lyondell Chemical Company, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Bhavesh V. Patel (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2017)
10.3+*
Amendment No. 2 to Employment Agreement by and among Lyondell Chemical Company, LyondellBasell Industries, N.V., and Bhavesh V. Patel
10.4+
Employment Agreement dated November 6, 2015, between Basell Service Company, B.V. and Thomas Aebischer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 9, 2015).
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.5+
Letter Agreement dated November 6, 2015 between Thomas Aebischer and Lyondell Chemical Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 9, 2015)
10.6+
Reimbursement Agreement, dated June 4, 2018, between Steven Doktycz and Lyondell Chemical Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 5, 2018)
10.7+
Settlement Agreement, dated June 4, 2018, among The Dow Chemical Company, Lyondell Chemical Company and Stephen Doktycz (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 5, 2018)
10.8+
Good Leaver Undertaking and Defense Agreement, dated January 20, 2017, between Lyondell Chemical Company and Stephen Doktycz (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 5, 2018)
10.9+
LyondellBasell U.S. Senior Management Deferral Plan dated effective as of May 1, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2012)
10.10+
First Amendment to the LyondellBasell U.S. Senior Management Deferral Plan dated effective as of January 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2013)
10.11+
LyondellBasell Executive Severance Plan, Amended & Restated, Effective as of June 1, 2015 and Form of Participation Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 5, 2015)
10.12+*
Form of Officer and Director Indemnification Agreement
10.13+
LyondellBasell Industries 2017 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2017)
10.14+
2017 Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2017)
10.15+
2017 Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2017)
10.16+
2017 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2017)
10.17+*
2019 Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement
10.18+*
2019 Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement
10.19+*
2019 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement
10.20
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated June 5, 2014, among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and LYB Americas Finance Company, as Borrowers, the Lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as Syndication Agent and the other parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 6, 2014)
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.21
Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated June 3, 2016, among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and LYB Americas Finance Company, as Borrowers, the Lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, Citibank, N.A. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as Syndication Agents and the other parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 6, 2016)
10.22
Consent Agreement, dated June 3, 2016, among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and LYB Americas Finance Company, as Borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and the lender parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 6, 2016)
10.23
Consent Agreement, dated June 5, 2017, among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and LYB Americas Finance Company LLC, as Borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and the lender parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 7, 2017)
10.24
364-Day Credit Agreement, dated February 8, 2019 among LyondellBasell Industries N.V., as guarantor, and LYB Americas Finance Company LLC, as borrower, the lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 8, 2019)
10.25
Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated September 11, 2012, by and among Lyondell Chemical Company, as initial servicer, and LYB Receivables LLC, a bankruptcy-remote special purpose entity that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, PNC National Association, as Administrator and LC Bank, certain conduit purchasers, committed purchasers, LC participants and purchaser agents that are parties thereto from time to time (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2012)
10.26
Second Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2015, among Lyondell Chemical Company, as servicer, LYB Receivables LLC, as seller, the conduit purchasers, related committed purchasers, LC participants and purchaser agents party thereto, the other parties thereto and Mizuho Bank, Ltd., as Administrator and LC Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 28, 2015)
10.27
Third Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 24, 2018, among Lyondell Chemical Company, as servicer, LYB Receivables LLC, as seller, the conduit purchasers, related committed purchasers, LC participants and purchaser agents party thereto, the other parties thereto and Mizuho Bank, Ltd., as Administrator and LC Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 27, 2018)
10.28
Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated September 11, 2012, by and among Lyondell Chemical Company, Equistar Chemicals, LP and LyondellBasell Acetyls, LLC, the other originators from time to time parties thereto, Lyondell Chemical Company, as initial servicer and LYB Receivables LLC, a bankruptcy-remote special purpose entity that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2012)
10.29
Consent Agreement, dated June 5, 2015, among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and LYB Americas Finance Company, as Borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and the lender parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 9, 2015)
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.30
Consent Agreement, dated June 5, 2017, among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and LYB Americas Finance Company LLC, as Borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and the lender parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 7, 2017)
10.31
Form of the Contingent Value Rights Agreement, among A. Schulman, Inc., LyondellBasell Industries N.V., members of the committee and a paying agent to be specified (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 15, 2018)
21*
List of subsidiaries of the registrant
23*
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
31.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
32*
Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*
XBRL Schema Document
101.CAL*
XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*
XBRL Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*
XBRL Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
+
Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement
*
Filed herewith.
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary.
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
Date: February 21, 2019
/S/ BHAVESH V. PATEL
Name:
Bhavesh V. Patel
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
Signature
Title
Date
/S/ BHAVESH V. PATEL
Chief Executive Officer and
February 21, 2019
Bhavesh V. Patel
Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/S/ THOMAS AEBISCHER
Executive Vice President and
February 21, 2019
Thomas Aebischer
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
/S/ JACINTH C. SMILEY
Vice President and
February 21, 2019
Jacinth C. Smiley
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
/S/ JACQUES AIGRAIN
Chairman of the Board
February 21, 2019
Jacques Aigrain
and Director
/S/ LINCOLN BENET
Director
February 21, 2019
Lincoln Benet
/S/ JAGJEET S. BINDRA
Director
February 21, 2019
Jagjeet S. Bindra
/S/ ROBIN BUCHANAN
Director
February 21, 2019
Robin Buchanan
/S/ STEPHEN F. COOPER
Director
February 21, 2019
Stephen F. Cooper
/S/ NANCE K. DICCIANI
Director
February 21, 2019
Nance K. Dicciani
/S/ CLAIRE S. FARLEY
Director
February 21, 2019
Claire S. Farley
/S/ BELLA D. GOREN
Director
February 21, 2019
Bella D. Goren
/S/ MICHAEL S. HANLEY
Director
February 21, 2019
Michael S. Hanley
/S/ BRUCE A. SMITH
Director
February 21, 2019
Bruce A. Smith
/S/ RUDY M.J. VAN DER MEER
Director
February 21, 2019
Rudy M.J. van der Meer

Market Capitalization: 33953733.0
1-Year Return: -0.007402463350445032
252-Day Return: $252_day_return