approval of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
We estimate that the pump and treat system will continue to operate until 2042.
We plan to perform additional work to address other environmental obligations at the site.
This additional work includes remediating, as required, impacted soils, investigating groundwater west of the former PUI facility, performing post closure care for two closed RCRA surface impoundment units, and establishing engineering controls.
In 2012, we estimated the total exposure at this site to be $13.
There has been no change to the estimated exposure.
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS Our asset retirement obligations are primarily associated with Industrial Gases on-site long-term supply contracts, under which we have built a facility on land owned by the customer and are obligated to remove the facility at the end of the contract term.
The retirement of assets includes the contractually required removal of a long-lived asset from service, and encompasses the sale, removal, abandonment, recycling, or disposal of the assets as required at the end of the contract terms.
The timing and/or method of settlement of these obligations are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within our control.
Changes to the carrying amount of our asset retirement obligations are as follows:
## Table 0 ##
These obligations are primarily reflected in other noncurrent liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
GUARANTEES AND WARRANTIES In April 2015, we entered into joint venture arrangements in Saudi Arabia.
An equity bridge loan has been provided to the joint venture until 2020 to fund equity commitments, and we guaranteed the repayment of our 25% share of this loan.
Our venture partner guaranteed repayment of their share.
Our maximum exposure under the guarantee is approximately $100.
As of 30 September 2016, we recorded a noncurrent liability of $94.4 for our obligation to make future equity contributions based on the equity bridge loan.
Air Products has also entered into a sale of equipment contract with the joint venture to engineer, procure, and construct the industrial gas facilities that will supply gases to Saudi Aramco.
We have provided bank guarantees to the joint venture of up to $311 to support our performance under the contract.
Exposures under the guarantees decline over time and will be completely extinguished after completion of the project.
We are party to an equity support agreement and operations guarantee related to an air separation facility constructed in Trinidad for a venture in which we own 50%.
At 30 September 2016, maximum potential payments under joint and several guarantees were $29.0.
Exposures under the guarantees decline over time and will be completely extinguished by 2024.
During the first quarter of 2014, we sold the remaining portion of our Homecare business and entered into an operations guarantee related to obligations under certain homecare contracts assigned in connection with the transaction.
Our maximum potential payment under the guarantee is ￡20 million (approximately $25 at 30 September 2016), and our exposure will be extinguished by 2020.
To date, no equity contributions or payments have been made since the inception of these guarantees.
The fair value of the above guarantees is not material.
2015 vs.  2014 On a GAAP basis, the effective tax rate was 24.0% and 27.1% in 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The effective tax rate was higher in fiscal year 2014 primarily due to the goodwill impairment charge of $305.2, which was not deductible for tax purposes, and the Chilean tax reform enacted in September 2014 which increased income tax expense by $20.6.
These impacts were partially offset by an income tax benefit of $51.6 associated with losses from transactions and a tax election in a non-U.
S.  subsidiary.
Refer to Note 10, Goodwill, and Note 23, Income Taxes, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
On a non-GAAP basis, the effective tax rate was 24.2% and 24.1% in 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Discontinued Operations On 29 March 2016, the Board of Directors approved the Company’s exit of its Energy-from-Waste (EfW) business.
As a result, efforts to start up and operate its two EfW projects located in Tees Valley, United Kingdom, have been discontinued.
The decision to exit the business and stop development of the projects was based on continued difficulties encountered and the Company’s conclusion, based on testing and analysis completed during the second quarter of fiscal year 2016, that significant additional time and resources would be required to make the projects operational.
In addition, the decision allows the Company to execute its strategy of focusing resources on its core Industrial Gases business.
The EfW segment has been presented as a discontinued operation.
Prior year EfW business segment information has been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
In fiscal 2016, our loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $884.2 primarily resulted from the write down of assets to their estimated net realizable value and to record a liability for plant disposition and other costs.
Income tax benefits related only to one of the projects, as the other did not qualify for a local tax deduction.
The loss from discontinued operations also includes land lease costs, commercial and administrative costs, and costs incurred for ongoing project exit activities.
We expect additional exit costs of $50 to $100 to be recorded in future periods.
In fiscal 2015, our loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, related to EfW was $6.8.
This resulted from costs for land leases and commercial and administrative expenses.
In fiscal 2014, our loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $2.9.
This included a loss, net of tax, of $7.5 for the cost of EfW land leases and commercial and administrative expenses.
This loss was partially offset by a gain of $3.9 for the sale of the remaining Homecare business and settlement of contingencies related to a sale of a separate portion of the business to The Linde Group in 2012.
Refer to Note 4, Discontinued Operations, for additional details.
Segment Analysis
## Table 1 ##
2016 vs.  2015 Underlying sales increased by 10% from higher volumes of 11%, partially offset by lower pricing of 1%.
Volumes were higher primarily from new plants in China and higher merchant volumes across Asia.
Pricing was down due to continued pricing pressure on merchant products in China and helium oversupply into Asia.
Unfavorable currency impacts, primarily from the Chinese Renminbi, Korean Won, and Taiwanese Dollar decreased sales by 5%.
Operating income of $449.1 increased 18%, or $68.6, primarily due to higher volumes of $66 and lower operating costs of $34, partially offset by an unfavorable currency impact of $19 and unfavorable pricing, net of energy and fuel costs, of $12.
The lower operating costs were driven by our operational improvements.
Operating margin increased 300 bp, due to favorable cost performance and higher volumes.
Equity affiliates’ income of $57.8 increased $11.7 primarily due to favorable contract and insurance settlements, higher volumes, and improved cost performance.2015 vs.  2014 Underlying sales increased by 10% from higher volumes of 12%, partially offset by lower pricing of 2%.
Volumes were higher primarily from new plants, and in particular, a large on-site project in China.
Pricing was down due to continued pricing pressure on merchant products in China.
Unfavorable currency impacts decreased sales by 4%.
Higher energy contractual cost-pass through to customers increased sales by 1%.
Operating income of $380.5 increased 23%, or $70.1, primarily due to higher volumes of $76 and lower costs of $42 resulting from restructuring and underlying productivity, partially offset by lower pricing, net of energy and fuel costs, of $35 and an unfavorable currency impact of $13.
Operating margin increased 290 bp, primarily due to favorable cost performance and higher volumes, partially offset by lower pricing.
Equity affiliates’ income of $46.1 increased $8.1 primarily due to higher volumes and favorable cost performance.
Industrial Gases – Global
## Table 2 ##
The Industrial Gases – Global segment includes sales of cryogenic and gas processing equipment for air separation and centralized global costs associated with management of all the Industrial Gases segments.2016 vs.  2015 Sales of $498.8 increased $212.0, or 74%.
The increase in sales was driven by a sale of equipment contract for multiple air separation units that will serve Saudi Aramco’s Jazan oil refinery and power plant in Saudi Arabia which more than offset the decrease in small equipment and other air separation unit sales.
In 2016, we recognized approximately $300 of sales related to the Jazan project.
Operating loss of $21.3 decreased 59%, or $30.3, primarily from income on the Jazan project and benefits from the cost reduction actions, partially offset by lower other sale of equipment project activity and a gain associated with the cancellation of a sale of equipment contract that was recorded in the prior year.2015 vs.  2014 Sales of $286.8 decreased $9.2, or 3%, due to unfavorable currency impacts.
Operating loss of $51.6 decreased 10%, or $5.7, primarily due to benefits of cost reduction actions and a gain associated with the cancellation of a sale of equipment contract, partially offset by less profitable business mix, unfavorable project costs, and bad debt expense.
Materials Technologies
## Table 3 ##
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
## Table 4 ##
(A) Operating margin is calculated by dividing operating income by sales.

['

Balance at 30 September 2014	$94.0
Additional accruals	17.6
Liabilities settled	-3.6
Accretion expense	4.7
Currency translation adjustment	-3.3
Balance at 30 September 2015	$109.4
Additional accruals	10.4
Liabilities settled	-4.4
Accretion expense	5.4
Currency translation adjustment	-.9
Balance at 30 September 2016	$119.9

', '

2016	2015	2014
Sales	$3,343.6	$3,693.9	$4,078.5
Operating income	895.2	808.4	762.6
Operating margin	26.8%	21.9%	18.7%
Equity affiliates’ income	52.7	64.6	60.9
Adjusted EBITDA	1,390.4	1,289.9	1,237.9
Adjusted EBITDA margin	41.6%	34.9%	30.4%

', '

2016	2015	2014
Sales	$498.8	$286.8	$296.0
Operating loss	-21.3	-51.6	-57.3
Adjusted EBITDA	-13.5	-35.9	-44.4

', '

2016	2015	2014
Sales	$2,019.5	$2,087.1	$2,064.6
Operating income	530.2	476.7	379.0
Operating margin	26.3%	22.8%	18.4%
Adjusted EBITDA	609.3	571.7	480.7
Adjusted EBITDA margin	30.2%	27.4%	23.3%

', '

Continuing Operations
Operating Income	Operating Margin(A)	Income Tax Provision(B)	Net Income	Diluted EPS
2016 GAAP	$2,106.0	22.1%	$586.5	$1,515.3	$6.94
2015 GAAP	1,708.3	17.3%	418.3	1,284.7	5.91
Change GAAP	$397.7	480bp	$168.2	$230.6	$1.03
% Change GAAP	23%	40%	18%	17%
2016 GAAP	$2,106.0	22.1%	$586.5	$1,515.3	$6.94
Business separation costs(C)	52.2	.5%	3.9	48.3	.22
Tax costs associated with businessseparation(C)	—	—	-51.8	51.8	.24
Business restructuring and cost reduction actions	33.9	.4%	9.9	24.0	.11
Pension settlement loss	6.4	.1%	2.3	4.1	.02
Loss on extinguishment of debt(D)	—	—	2.6	4.3	.02
2016 Non-GAAP Measure	$2,198.5	23.1%	$553.4	$1,647.8	$7.55
2015 GAAP	$1,708.3	17.3%	$418.3	$1,284.7	$5.91
Business separation costs(C)	7.5	.1%	—	7.5	.03
Business restructuring and cost reduction actions	207.7	2.1%	54.5	153.2	.71
Pension settlement loss	21.2	.2%	7.5	13.7	.06
Gain on previously held equity interest	-17.9	-.2%	-6.7	-11.2	-.05
Gain on land sales(E)	-33.6	-.4%	-5.3	-28.3	-.13
Loss on extinguishment of debt(D)	—	—	2.4	14.2	.07
2015 Non-GAAP Measure	$1,893.2	19.1%	$470.7	$1,433.8	$6.60
Change Non-GAAP Measure	$305.3	400bp	$82.7	$214.0	$.95
% Change Non-GAAP Measure	16%	18%	15%	14%
Continuing Operations
Operating Income	Operating Margin(A)	Income Tax Provision(B)	Net Income	Diluted EPS
2015 GAAP	$1,708.3	17.3%	$418.3	$1,284.7	$5.91
2014 GAAP	1,339.1	12.8%	369.4	994.6	4.62
Change GAAP	$369.2	450bp	$48.9	$290.1	$1.29
% Change GAAP	28%	13%	29%	28%
2015 GAAP	$1,708.3	17.3%	$418.3	$1,284.7	$5.91
Business separation costs(C)	7.5	.1%	—	7.5	.03
Business restructuring and cost reduction actions	207.7	2.1%	54.5	153.2	.71
Pension settlement loss	21.2	.2%	7.5	13.7	.06
Gain on previously held equity interest	-17.9	-.2%	-6.7	-11.2	-.05
Gain on land sales(E)	-33.6	-.4%	-5.3	-28.3	-.13
Loss on extinguishment of debt(D)	—	—	2.4	14.2	.07
2015 Non-GAAP Measure	$1,893.2	19.1%	$470.7	$1,433.8	$6.60
2014 GAAP	$1,339.1	12.8%	$369.4	$994.6	$4.62
Business restructuring and cost reduction actions	12.7	.1%	4.5	8.2	.04
Pension settlement loss	5.5	.1%	1.9	3.6	.02
Goodwill and intangible asset impairmentcharge(F)	310.1	3.0%	1.3	275.1	1.27
Chilean tax rate change	—	—	-20.6	20.6	.10
Tax election benefit	—	—	51.6	-51.6	-.24
2014 Non-GAAP Measure	$1,667.4	16.0%	$408.1	$1,250.5	$5.81
Change Non-GAAP Measure	$225.8	310bp	$62.6	$183.3	$.79
% Change Non-GAAP Measure	14%	15%	15%	14%

']

Question: What will GAAP of Operating Income be like in 2017 if it develops with the same increasing rate as current?
Answer: 2590.38