EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1627223
Filing Year: 2022
Filename: 1627223_10-K_2022_0001564590-22-004791.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. BUSINESS
Overview
The Chemours Company (herein referred to as “we”, “us”, or “our”) is a leading, global provider of performance chemicals that are key inputs in end-products and processes in a variety of industries. We deliver customized solutions with a wide range of industrial and specialty chemicals products for markets, including coatings, plastics, refrigeration and air conditioning, transportation, semiconductor and consumer electronics, general industrial, and oil and gas. Our principal products include titanium dioxide (“TiO2”) pigment, refrigerants, industrial fluoropolymer resins, sodium cyanide (prior to the Mining Solutions business sale), and performance chemicals and intermediates. We manage and report our operating results through four reportable segments: Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, Advanced Performance Materials, and Chemical Solutions. Our Titanium Technologies segment is a leading, global provider of TiO2 pigment, a premium white pigment used to deliver whiteness, brightness, opacity, and protection in a variety of applications. Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment is a leading, global provider of refrigerants, thermal management solutions, propellants, blowing agents, and specialty solvents. Our Advanced Performance Materials segment is a leading, global provider of high-end polymers and advanced materials that deliver unique attributes, including low friction coefficients, extreme temperature resistance, weather resistance, ultraviolet and chemical resistance, and electrical insulation. Our Chemical Solutions segment was a leading provider of industrial chemicals used in gold production prior to the Mining Solutions business sale and continues to be a leading provider of chemicals used in industrial, and consumer applications in the Americas.
We operate 29 major production facilities located in nine countries and serve approximately 3,200 customers across a wide range of end-markets in approximately 120 countries. Many of our commercial and industrial relationships span decades. Our customer base includes a diverse set of companies, many of which are leaders in their respective industries. Our sales are not materially dependent on any single customer. As of December 31, 2021, no one individual customer represented more than 10% of our consolidated net sales, and one customer represented approximately 6% of our total outstanding accounts and notes receivables balance.
We are a different kind of chemistry company, driven by our vision to create a better world through the power of our chemistry. Our world-class product portfolio brings everyday convenience to virtually everything people touch in their daily lives, making our products and the solutions they enable both vital and essential. We are committed to creating value for our customers and stakeholders around the world through innovative and sustainable solutions, environmental leadership, community impact and making Chemours the greatest place to work for every employee. Our global workforce, renowned for its deep and unmatched expertise, bring our chemistry to life, guided by five core values that form the bedrock foundation for how we operate: (i) Customer Centricity - driving customer growth, and our own, by understanding our customers’ needs and building long-lasting relationships with them; (ii) Refreshing Simplicity - cutting complexity by investing in what matters, and getting results faster; (iii) Collective Entrepreneurship - empowering our employees to act like they own our business, while embracing the power of inclusion and teamwork; (iv) Safety Obsession - living our steadfast belief that a safe workplace is a profitable workplace; and, (v) Unshakable Integrity - doing what’s right for our customers, colleagues, and communities - always.
Our core values, together with our company purpose and vision, underpin our commitment to our stakeholders to make chemistry as responsible as it is essential. Our Corporate Responsibility Commitment (“CRC”) is embedded within our growth strategy as a company. In 2018, we issued our inaugural CRC Report, which included 10 ambitious goals targeted for completion by 2030, built on the pillars of Inspired People, Shared Planet, and an Evolved Portfolio. In April 2021, we announced an update to our climate goals to better align our climate commitment with the Paris Accord and set us on a path to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from our operations by 2050. These goals are designed to promote accountability to our commitment and position us for sustainable, long-term earnings growth. We understand that maintaining safe, sustainable operations has an impact on us, our communities, the environment, and our collective future. With this focus, we invest in research and development (“R&D”) in order to develop safer, cleaner, and more efficient products and processes that enable our operations, customers, and consumers to reduce both their greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, carbon footprint, and overall environmental footprint. We value collaboration to drive change and commit to working with policymakers, our value chain, and other organizations to encourage collective action to reduce GHG emissions and encourage lower-carbon forms of energy.
Corporate History
We began operating as an independent company on July 1, 2015 (the “Separation Date”) after separating from EID (the “Separation”). The Separation was completed pursuant to a separation agreement and other agreements with EID, including an employee matters agreement, a tax matters agreement, a transition services agreement, and an intellectual property cross-license agreement. These agreements govern the relationship between us and EID following the Separation and provided for the allocation of various assets, liabilities, rights, and obligations at the Separation Date. On August 31, 2017, EID completed a merger with The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”). Following their merger, EID and Dow engaged in a series of reorganization steps and, in 2019, separated into three publicly-traded companies named Dow Inc., DuPont, and Corteva. EID is now a subsidiary of Corteva, and, at this time, any agreements related to our Separation are between us and EID, Corteva, and DuPont.
The Chemours Company
Segments
In our Titanium Technologies segment, we have a long-standing history of delivering high-quality TiO2 pigment using our proprietary chloride technology. We are one of the largest global producers of TiO2 pigment, and our low-cost network of manufacturing facilities allows us to efficiently and cost-effectively serve our global customer base. We believe we are well-positioned to remain one of the lowest-cost, high-quality TiO2 pigment producers. At the same time, our unique go-to-market strategy, Ti-Pure™ Value Stabilization (“TVS”), provides our customers with three differentiated channels to buy Ti-Pure™. This combination of technology, strength, and commercial innovation allows us to continue to meet our customers’ needs around the world.
In our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment, we are a leading, global provider of refrigerants, thermal management solutions, propellants, foam blowing agents, and specialty solvents. Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment has held a leading position in the refrigerants market since the commercial introduction of FreonTM in 1930. We are currently a leader in the development of sustainable technologies like OpteonTM, one of the world’s lowest global warming potential (“GWP”) refrigerant brands, as governments around the world pass laws and regulations that make the use of low GWP refrigerants a requirement.
In our Advanced Performance Materials segment, we are a leading, global provider of high-end polymers and advanced materials that deliver unique attributes, including chemical inertness, thermal stability, low friction, weather and corrosion resistance, extreme temperature stability, and unique di-electric properties. Our Advanced Performance Materials segment has a diversified offering of products that includes various industrial resins, specialty products, and coatings. These product offerings position the business to serve a breadth of markets, segments, and applications, including electronics, communications, transportation, wire and cable, energy, oil and gas, and medical, among others, and our product offerings are fundamental to the future of clean energy and advanced electronics.
In our Chemical Solutions segment, we completed the sale of our Mining Solutions business during 2021. Our Performance Chemicals and Intermediates business produces industrial chemicals used in various applications by our customers, which are primarily located in the Americas.
Additional information on our segments can be found in Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and “Note 29 - Geographic and Segment Information” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Titanium Technologies Segment
Segment Overview
Our Titanium Technologies segment is a leading, global manufacturer of high-quality TiO2 pigment. TiO2 pigment is used to deliver whiteness, brightness, opacity, and ultra-violet light protection in applications such as architectural and industrial coatings, flexible and rigid plastic packaging, polyvinylchloride (“PVC”), laminate papers used for furniture and building materials, coated paper, and coated paperboard used for packaging. We sell our TiO2 pigment under the Ti-Pure™ brand name. We also sell a chloride-based TiO2 pigment under the BaiMaxTM brand name, which is exclusively produced for customers in Greater China. We operate four TiO2 pigment production facilities: two in the U.S., one in Mexico, and one in Taiwan. In total, we have a TiO2 pigment nameplate capacity of approximately 1.25 million metric tons per year. In addition, we have a large-scale repackaging and distribution facility in Belgium. We also operate mineral sands mining and/or separation operations in Starke, Florida, Nahunta, Georgia, Jesup, Georgia and Offerman, Georgia.
We are one of a limited number of manufacturers operating a chloride process to produce TiO2 pigment. We believe that our proprietary chloride technology enables us to operate plants at a much higher capacity than other chloride technology-based TiO2 pigment producers, as we uniquely utilize a broad spectrum of titanium-bearing ore feedstocks to achieve one of the highest TiO2 pigment unit margins in our industry. This technology, which is in use at all of our production facilities, provides us with one of the industry’s lowest manufacturing cost positions. Our R&D efforts focus on improving production processes and developing TiO2 pigment grades that help our customers achieve optimal cost and product performance to enhance total end-user value.
We sell over 20 different grades of TiO2 pigment, with each grade tailored for targeted applications. Our portfolio of premium performance TiO2 pigment grades provides end-users with benefits beyond opacity, such as longer-lasting performance, brighter colors, and the brilliant whites achievable only through chloride-manufactured pigment.
The Chemours Company
We have operated a titanium mine in Starke, Florida since 1949. Additionally, in 2019, we acquired a titanium mine in Nahunta, Georgia, from which we source ore feedstock to be processed at its associated mineral sands separation facility in Offerman, Georgia. The titanium mine and mineral sands separation facility in Georgia were acquired in the third quarter of 2019 as part of our acquisition of Southern Ionics Minerals, LLC (“SIM”). This acquisition expanded our flexibility and scalability to internally source ore and enabled the commencement of mining operations at our surface mine in Jesup, Georgia in August 2020. Our mines provide us with low-cost, high-quality domestic ilmenite ore feedstock and currently supply less than 10% of our ore feedstock needs, with expansion options that could further increase our in-sourced raw material base. Co-products of our mining operations, which comprised less than 5% of our total net sales in Titanium Technologies during 2021, include zircon (zirconium silicate) and staurolite minerals. We are a major supplier of high-quality calcined zircon in North America, primarily focused on the precision investment casting industry, foundry, specialty applications, and ceramics. Our staurolite blasting abrasives are used in a variety of surface preparation applications, including steel preparation and maintenance and paint removal.
Industry Overview and Competitors
The overall demand for TiO2 pigment is highly correlated to growth in the global residential housing, commercial construction, and packaging markets. In the long-run, industry demand for TiO2 pigment is generally expected to grow proportionately with global GDP growth. We continue to experience customers’ preference for high-quality Ti-PureTM offerings. After above-GDP trend TiO2 demand growth in 2016 and 2017, the TiO2 pigment market contracted below the GDP trend in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, the TiO2 pigment market expanded, while global GDP contracted during the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) pandemic. In 2021, the TiO2 pigment market again grew at greater-than-global GDP growth rates. In the longer-term, we expect global TiO2 pigment demand to resume its historical correlation with global GDP growth rates.
We estimate that the worldwide demand for TiO2 pigment in 2021 was approximately 7.3 million metric tons, a second consecutive year above-GDP growth; of which approximately 60% was for premium performance pigments. Worldwide nameplate capacity in 2021 was estimated to be approximately 8.6 million metric tons. The products manufactured on this global capacity base are not fully substitutable due to pigment quality consistency and pigment product design. We believe that the utilization of the premium performance manufacturing base is considerably higher than that for general purpose, lower-performance production. As future customer demand grows, we have the ability to incrementally increase our production capacity by approximately 10% through technology-enabled de-bottlenecking processes. We believe that unlocking this additional 10% of capacity is in line with our stated intention to grow with our customers’ needs over the long-term. This new capacity is expected to provide the equivalent of a new production line, while requiring a fraction of the capital investment. Our increased pigment production capacity will be supported by investments to extend our ilmenite mines and through long-term ore feedstock contracts with our suppliers.
Competition in the TiO2 pigment market is based primarily on product performance (both product design and quality consistency), supply capability, technical service, and price. Our major competitors within higher-performance pigments include Tronox Holdings plc, LB Group Co.Ltd., Venator Materials plc, Kronos Worldwide, Inc., and INEOS AG.
Raw Materials
The primary raw materials used in the manufacture of TiO2 pigment are titanium-bearing ores, chlorine, calcined petroleum coke, and energy. We source titanium-bearing ores from a number of suppliers around the globe, who are primarily located in Australia and Africa. To ensure proper supply volume and to minimize pricing volatility, we generally enter into contracts in which volume is requirement-based and pricing is determined by a range of mechanisms structured to help us achieve competitive cost. We typically enter into a combination of long-term and medium-term supply contracts and source our raw materials from multiple suppliers across different regions and from multiple sites per supplier. Furthermore, we typically purchase multiple grades of ore from each supplier to limit our exposure to any single supplier for any single grade of ore in any given time period. Historically, we have not experienced any problems renewing such contracts for raw materials or securing our supply of titanium-bearing ores.
We play an active role in ore source development around the globe, especially for those ores which can only be used by us, given the capability of our unique process technology. Supply chain flexibility allows for ore purchase and use optimization to manage short-term demand fluctuations and provide a long-term competitive advantage. Our process technology and ability to use lower-grade ilmenite ore gives us the flexibility to alter our ore mix to low-cost configuration based on sales, demand, and projected ore pricing. Lastly, we have taken steps to optimize routes for distribution and increase storage capacity at our production facilities.
Transporting chlorine, one of our primary raw materials, can be costly. To reduce our need to transport chlorine, we have a chlor-alkali production facility run by a third party that is co-located at our New Johnsonville, Tennessee site. Calcined petroleum coke is an important raw material input to our process. We source calcined petroleum coke from well-established suppliers in North America and China, typically under contracts that run multiple years to facilitate materials and logistics planning through the supply chain. Raw materials distribution efficiency is enhanced through the use of bulk ocean, barge, and rail transportation modes. Energy is another key input cost in the TiO2 pigment manufacturing process, representing approximately 10% of the production cost. We have access to natural gas-based energy at our U.S. and Mexico TiO2 pigment production facilities and our Florida and Georgia minerals plants, supporting advantaged energy costs given the low cost of shale gas in the U.S.
The Chemours Company
Sales, Marketing, and Distribution
We sell the majority of our products through a direct sales force. In 2018, we launched our TVS strategy, which we believe to be foundational to maintaining and growing our Titanium Technologies business. Our TVS strategy establishes a commercial framework that allows us to focus on enhancing durable, value-oriented customer relationships, while providing customers access to a predictable and reliable supply of high-quality TiO2. Customers can purchase Ti-PureTM TiO2 either through long-term contracts or through Ti-PureTM Flex. Launched in 2019, Ti-PureTM Flex is a new, innovative channel that provides customers the unique ability to purchase Ti-Pure™ TiO2 via our web-based portal, the first of its kind in the industry. To further expand our reach beyond these sales channels, we also utilize third-party sales agents and distributors.
TiO2 pigment represents a significant raw material cost for our direct customers, and as a result, purchasing decisions are often made by our customers’ senior management teams. TiO2 pigment, however, is only a small fraction of the cost when considering certain end-use applications, especially in segments with larger value chain players, such as specialty coatings, plastics, and laminates applications. Our sales organization works to develop and maintain close relationships with key decision makers in our value chain. In addition to close purchasing relationships, our sales and technical service teams work together to develop relationships with all layers of our customers’ organizations to ensure that we meet our customers’ commercial and technical requirements. When appropriate, we collaborate closely with customers to solve formulation or application problems by modifying product characteristics or developing new product grades.
To ensure efficient distribution, we have a large fleet of railcars, which are predominantly used for outbound distribution of products in the U.S. and Canada. A dedicated logistics team, along with external partners, continually optimizes the assignment of our transportation equipment for each product line and geographic region to maximize utilization and maintain an efficient supply chain.
Customers
Globally, we serve approximately 600 customers through our Titanium Technologies segment. In 2021, our 10 largest Titanium Technologies customers accounted for approximately 36% of the segment’s net sales, and one Titanium Technologies customer represented more than 10% of the segment’s net sales. Our larger customers are typically served through direct sales and tend to have medium-term to long-term contracts. We serve our small-size and mid-size customers through a combination of our direct sales and distribution network. Our direct customers in the Titanium Technologies segment are producers of decorative coatings, automotive and industrial coatings, polyolefin masterbatches, PVC, engineering polymers, laminate paper, coatings paper, and coated paperboard. We focus on developing long-term partnerships with key market participants in each of these sectors. We also deliver a high level of technical service to satisfy our customers’ specific needs, which helps us maintain strong customer relationships.
Seasonality
The demand for TiO2 pigment is subject to seasonality due to the influence of weather conditions and holiday seasons on some of our applications, such as decorative coatings. As a result, our TiO2 pigment sales volume is typically lowest in the first quarter, highest in the second and third quarters, and moderate in the fourth quarter. This pattern applies to the entire TiO2 pigment market, but may vary by region, country, or application. The impacts of seasonality on demand for TiO2 pigment may also be altered by economic factors, such as changes in global GDP, and other factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thermal & Specialized Solutions Segment
Segment Overview
Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment is a leading, global provider of refrigerants, thermal management solutions, propellants, foam blowing agents, and specialty solvents. We have an industry-leading safety culture and apply world-class R&D and technical expertise to ensure that our operations run safely and reliably, and to improve our process technology.
Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment has held a leading position in the fluorochemicals market since the commercial introduction of Freon™ in 1930. Since the original chlorofluorocarbons (“CFC”)-based product was introduced, Thermal & Specialized Solutions has been at the forefront of new technology research for lower GWP and lesser ozone-depleting potential products, leading to the development of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (“HCFC”) and hydrofluorocarbons (“HFC”). We have a leading position in HFC refrigerants under the brand name Freon™, and we are a leader in the development of sustainable technologies like Opteon™, a line of low GWP hydrofluoroolefin (“HFO”) refrigerants, which also have a near-zero ozone-depletion footprint. Opteon™ was initially developed in response to the European Union’s (“EU”) Mobile Air Conditioning Directive. Today, our OpteonTM-branded portfolio of products is used in a broad range of applications, including automotive, air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, and foam blowing agents. This patented technology offers similar functionality to current HFC products, but meets or betters currently-mandated environmental standards and, in some cases, provides energy efficiency benefits.
The Chemours Company
Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment led the industry in the Montreal Protocol-driven transition in 1987 from CFCs to the lesser ozone-depleting HCFCs and non-ozone-depleting HFCs and, in 1988, committed to cease production of CFCs. Starting in the early 1990s, Thermal & Specialized Solutions began manufacturing non-ozone-depleting HFCs. Driven by the emerging megatrends of Climate Change, Decarbonization, and Energy Efficiency, together with environmental legislation being enacted across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Japan, we commercialized Opteon™ in 2016. We will continue to invest in R&D to meet the increasing regulatory requirements of the industry and meet our customers’ needs as regulations change.
Industry Overview and Competitors
Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment competes against a broad variety of global manufacturers, as well as regional manufacturers in Asia Pacific. We have a leadership position in fluorine chemistry and materials science, a broad scope and scale of operations, market-driven applications development capabilities, and deep customer knowledge. Key competitors for the Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment include Honeywell International, Inc., Arkema S.A., Orbia, and Daikin Industries, Ltd.
Thermal & Specialized Solutions’ demand growth has generally been in line with global GDP growth. Growth may be higher than GDP in situations where, for environmental reasons, regulatory drivers constrain the market or drive the market toward lower GWP alternatives. Developed markets represent the largest consumers of fluorochemicals today. Global middle class growth and the increasing demand for automobiles, refrigeration, and air conditioning are all key drivers of increased demand for various fluorochemicals.
Raw Materials
The primary raw materials required to support the Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment are fluorspar, sulfur, ethylene, chlorinated organics, chlorine, and hydrogen fluoride. These are available in many countries and are not concentrated in any particular region. We pursue maximum competitiveness in our global supply chains through competitive, flexible, and diversified sourcing of key raw materials. Our contracts typically include terms that span from two to ten years. Qualified fluorspar sources have fixed contract prices or freely-negotiated, market-based pricing. We diversify our sourcing through multiple geographic regions and suppliers to ensure a diversified and cost competitive supply.
Sales, Marketing, and Distribution
With approximately 90 years of innovation and development in fluorine science, our technical, marketing, and sales teams around the world have deep expertise in our products and their end-uses. We work with customers to select the appropriate solutions to meet their technical performance needs. We sell our products through direct channels and through resellers. Selling agreements vary by product line and markets served and include both spot-pricing arrangements and multi-year contracts with varying durations.
Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment maintains a large fleet of railcars, tank trucks, and containers to deliver our products and support our supply chain needs. For the portion of the fleet that is leased, the related lease terms are usually staggered, which provides us with a competitive cost position, as well as the ability to adjust the size of our fleet in response to changes in market conditions. A dedicated logistics team, along with external partners, works to optimize the assignment of our transportation equipment for each product line and geographic region to maximize utilization and flexibility of the supply chain.
Customers
Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment serves approximately 1,000 customers and distributors globally, and, in many instances, these commercial relationships have been in place for decades. No single Thermal & Specialized Solutions customer represented more than 10% of the segment’s net sales in 2021.
Seasonality
Thermal & Specialized Solutions’ refrigerant sales fluctuate by season, as sales in the first half of the year are generally higher than sales in the second half of the year due to increased demand for residential, commercial, and automotive air conditioning in the spring, which peaks in the summer months, and then declines in the fall and winter in the northern hemisphere. Mobile air conditioning demand is slightly higher in the first half of the year due to the timing of automotive production shutdowns in the second half of the year.
The Chemours Company
Advanced Performance Materials Segment
Segment Overview
Our Advanced Performance Materials segment is a leading, global provider of high-end polymers and advanced materials that deliver unique performance capabilities and are present in applications that people around the world use every day. The segment has a diversified portfolio that includes various industrial resins, specialty products, membranes, and coatings. These product offerings position the business to serve a broad range of markets, including consumer electronics, semiconductors, digital communications, transportation, energy, oil and gas, and medical, among others.
Our products set the standard in a number of performance categories, including chemical inertness, thermal stability, low friction, weather and corrosion resistance, and di-electric properties. These performance advantages make our polymers a material of choice, especially in complex applications and extreme environmental conditions. Our products are therefore critical to many emerging technology areas, including energy storage, hydrogen production and fuel cells, 5G data delivery, advanced semi-conductor infrastructure, and connected devices.
Our Advanced Performance Materials products are sold under the brand names Teflon™, Viton™, Krytox™, and Nafion™. Teflon™ coatings, resins, additives, and films serve as the key underpinning for a variety of industrial and commercial applications, including semiconductor infrastructure. Viton™ fluoroelastomers are used in automotive, consumer electronics, chemical processing, oil and gas, petroleum refining and transportation, and aircraft and aerospace applications. Our Krytox™-branded lubricants are used in a broad range of industrial applications, including bearings, automotive friction management, and electric motors. Nafion™ membranes are critical components in chlor-alkali processing and flow batteries, as well as the hydrogen electrolyzers and fuel cells which underpin the hydrogen economy.
Our Advanced Performance Materials segment uses a market-back approach to drive technology development. Our innovations are underpinned by deep technical knowledge and experience in fluoropolymer chemistry. We leverage our state-of-the-art R&D facilities at the Chemours Discovery Hub to drive faster development on a global scale. We also participate in a broad array of industry consortia and collaborate with leading academics across a variety of disciplines to drive fundamental R&D in the materials space.
The segment is well positioned to capture future growth through the combination of our unique product capabilities and market-driven product development process. Advanced Performance Materials will benefit long-term from the megatrends impacting our customers’ key end markets, including digital connectivity, urbanization, and climate change.
Industry Overview and Competitors
Our Advanced Performance Materials segment competes against a broad variety of global manufacturers, as well as regional manufacturers in Asia Pacific. We have a leadership position in fluorine chemistry and materials science, a broad scope and scale of operations, a strong applications development competency, and deep customer knowledge. Key competitors for this segment include Daikin Industries, Ltd., 3M Company, Solvay, S.A., Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., and Dongyue Group Co., Ltd.
Demand growth for Advanced Performance Materials has generally been in line with global GDP growth. However, demand for the segment’s products may grow at a rate faster than GDP, driven by global middle-class growth and alignment between our market-driven product technology development process and emerging market technologies, such as 5G, fuel cells and electrolyzers, electronics, communications, and transportation.
Raw Materials
The primary raw materials required for the Advanced Performance Materials segment are chlorinated organics, hydrogen fluoride, and vinylidene fluoride. These are available in many countries and are not concentrated in any particular region. We pursue maximum competitiveness in our global supply chains through competitive, flexible, and diversified sourcing of key raw materials. Our contracts typically include terms that span from two to ten years. We diversify our sourcing through multiple geographic regions and suppliers to ensure a diversified and cost competitive supply.
Sales, Marketing, and Distribution
With approximately 90 years of innovation and development in fluorine science, our technical, marketing, and sales teams around the world have deep expertise in our products and their end-uses. We work with customers to select the appropriate fluoropolymers or other advanced performance materials to meet their technical performance needs based on their intended performance-in-use requirements. We sell our products through direct and indirect channels, and the duration of our selling agreements vary by product line and markets served.
The Chemours Company
Our Advanced Performance Materials segment maintains a limited fleet of railcars, tank trucks, containers, and totes to deliver our products and support our supply chain needs. For the portion of the fleet that is leased, the related lease terms are usually staggered, which provides us with a competitive cost position, as well as the ability to adjust the size of our fleet in response to changes in market conditions. We manage our fleet to ensure it is appropriately sized to meet market demand while maintaining flexibility. A dedicated logistics team, along with external partners, works to optimize the assignment of our transportation equipment for each product line and geographic region to maximize utilization and flexibility of the supply chain.
Customers
Our Advanced Performance Materials segment serves approximately 1,400 customers and distributors globally and, in many instances, these commercial relationships have been in place for decades. No single Advanced Performance Materials customer represented more than 10% of the segment’s net sales in 2021.
Seasonality
There is no significant seasonality in our Advanced Performance Materials segment’s net sales, as demand is relatively consistent throughout the year.
Chemical Solutions Segment
Segment Overview
Our Chemical Solutions segment is comprised of a portfolio of industrial chemical businesses, primarily operating in the Americas. The segment’s products are used as important raw materials and catalysts for a diverse group of industries, including, among others, gold production (prior to the sale of our Mining Solutions business), clean and disinfect, oil and gas, water treatment, electronics, and automotive. Chemical Solutions generates value through the use of market-leading manufacturing technology, safety performance, product stewardship, and differentiated logistics capabilities.
In early 2021, we began a strategic review of our Mining Solutions business, which included our sodium cyanide and hydrogen cyanide product lines. On July 26, 2021, we entered into a definitive agreement with Manchester Acquisition Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a subsidiary of Draslovka Holding a.s., to sell our Mining Solutions business and completed the sale on December 1, 2021 for net cash proceeds of $508 million, net of $13 million cash divested. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Mining Solutions business accounted for approximately 70% of the Chemical Solutions segment net sales.
Following the sale of our Mining Solutions business, our Chemical Solutions remaining operations include one production facility in North America that sells products and solutions through the Performance Chemicals and Intermediates product group. Our Performance Chemicals and Intermediates product group, is primarily comprised of our Glycolic Acid and Vazo™ product lines, and we manufacture a variety of chemicals used in many different applications. Performance Chemicals and Intermediates business is expected to generally grow in line with growth in global GDP.
Industry Overview and Competitors
The industrial and specialty chemicals produced by our Chemical Solutions segment are important raw materials for a wide range of industries and end-markets. We hold a long-standing reputation for high quality and the safe-handling of hazardous products, such as sodium cyanide, dimethyl sulfate and Vazo™. Our positions in these products are the result of our process technology, manufacturing scale, efficient supply chain, and proximity to large customers. Prior to the sale of the Mining Solutions business, key competitors for the Chemical Solutions include Cyanco Corp., Hebei Chengxin Group Co. Ltd., CyPlus GmbH, Orica Ltd., and Tongsuh Petrochemical Corp., Ltd. Key competitors for the remaining business in our Chemicals Solutions segment include CABB GmbH and Nouryon.
Raw Materials
Key raw materials for the remaining business in our Chemical Solutions segment include aminonitrile, formaldehyde, natural gas, hydrogen, sodium trioxide, and caustic soda. We source raw materials from global and regional suppliers, where possible, and maintain multiple supplier relationships to protect against supply disruptions and potential price increases. To further mitigate the risk of raw materials availability and cost fluctuations, our Chemical Solutions segment has also taken steps to optimize routes for distribution, lock in long-term contracts with key suppliers, and increase the number of customer contracts with raw materials price pass-through terms. We do rely on one supplier for aminonitrile, which is a key raw material for the production of Vazo™. Any prolonged inability to obtain aminonitrile could have an adverse effect on our operating results and could unfavorably impact our customer relationships. We do not believe that the loss of any other particular suppliers would be material to our business.
The Chemours Company
Sales, Marketing, and Distribution
Our technical, marketing, and sales teams around the world have deep expertise with our products and their end-markets. We predominantly sell directly to end-customers, although we also use a network of distributors for specific product lines and geographies. Sales may take place through either spot transactions or via long-term contracts.
Most of Chemical Solutions’ raw materials and products can be delivered by efficient bulk transportation. As such, we maintain a fleet of railcars, tank trucks, and containers to support our supply chain needs. For the portion of the fleet that is leased, the related lease terms are usually staggered, which provides us with a competitive cost position as well as the ability to adjust the size of our container fleet in response to changes in market conditions. A dedicated logistics team, along with external partners, continually optimizes the assignment of our transportation equipment to each product line and geographic regions to maximize utilization and flexibility of the supply chain. The strategic placement of our facilities in locations designed to serve our key customer base in the Americas gives us robust distribution capabilities.
Customers
Our Chemical Solutions segment focuses on developing long-term partnerships with key market participants. Many of our commercial and industrial relationships have been in place for decades and are based on our proven value proposition of safely and reliably supplying our customers with the materials needed for their operations. Our reputation and long-term track record are key competitive advantages, as several of the products’ end-users demand the highest level of excellence in safe manufacturing, distribution, handling, and storage. Our Chemical Solutions segment has U.S. Department of Transportation Special Permits and Approvals in place for the distribution of various materials associated with each of our business lines, as required. During the year, prior to the sale of our Mining Solutions business, our Chemical Solutions segment served approximately 300 customers globally. In 2021, one Chemical Solutions customer represented more than 10% of the segment’s net sales.
Seasonality
Our Chemical Solutions segment’s sales are subject to minimal seasonality.
The Chemours Company
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property, including trade secrets, certain patents, trademarks, copyrights, know-how, and other proprietary rights, is a critical part of maintaining our technology leadership and competitive edge. Our business strategy is to file patent and trademark applications globally for proprietary new product and application development technologies, and we work actively on a global basis to create, protect, and enforce our intellectual property rights.
Our Titanium Technologies segment relies upon unpatented proprietary knowledge, continuing technological innovation, and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position in this sector. Within this segment, we hold significant intellectual property in the form of trade secrets, and, while we believe that no single trade secret is material in relation to our combined business as a whole, we believe that our trade secrets are material in the aggregate. Our proprietary chloride production process is an important part of our technology, and our business could be harmed if our trade secrets are not maintained in confidence. Within our Titanium Technologies segment’s intellectual property portfolio, we consider our trademarks Ti-Pure™ and BaiMaxTM to be valuable assets. We have registered the Ti-PureTM trademark in a number of countries and the BaiMaxTM trademark in China.
Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment is a technology leader in the markets in which it participates. We maintain a large fluorochemicals patent portfolio, inclusive of patents which will expire in varying years into the 2030s. We consider our Opteon™ and Freon™ trademarks used in the Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment to be valuable assets.
Our Advanced Performance Materials segment possesses extensive know-how and trade secrets related to manufacturing technologies for a broad range of specialized fluoropolymers, as well as application development technology for fluoropolymers based on comprehensive knowledge of customer applications. We hold patents relating to manufacturing for certain products with high quality, specifications and purity as required by the electronics, communications, automotive, wire and cable, and other industries. Additionally, our Advanced Performance Materials segment is a leader in and holds patents relating to non-fluorinated materials for use as durable water repellants for garments and other uses. In our Advanced Performance Materials segment’s intellectual property portfolio, we consider our TeflonTM, VitonTM, NafionTM, and KrytoxTM trademarks to be valuable assets.
Our Chemical Solutions segment is a manufacturing technology leader in a majority of the markets in which it participates. Trade secrets are one of the key elements of our intellectual property security in the Chemical Solutions segment, as most of the segment’s manufacturing and applications development technologies are no longer under patent coverage.
The protections afforded under our patents and trademarks vary based on country, scope of individual patent, and trademark coverage, as well as the availability of legal remedies in each country. Our patents, in the aggregate, are believed to be of material importance to our business. However, although certain proprietary intellectual property rights are important to our success, we do not believe that we are materially dependent on any single patent (or group of related patents) or trademark. We believe that securing our intellectual property is critical to maintaining our technology leadership and our competitive position, especially with respect to new technologies or the extensions of existing technologies. Our proprietary process technology can be a source of incremental income through licensing arrangements.
The Chemours Company
Environmental and Regulatory Matters
Information related to environmental matters is included in several areas of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including: (i) Item 1A - Risk Factors; (ii) Item 3 - Legal Proceedings, under the heading “Environmental Proceedings”; (iii) Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; and, (iv) “Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Central to our CRC are our ten goals that we aim to achieve by 2030. These goals fall into three pillars: Inspired People, Shared Planet, and Evolved Portfolio. In April 2021, we announced an update to our climate goals to better align our climate commitment with the Paris Accord and set us on a path to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from our operations by 2050. The Shared Planet pillar of our CRC underlines our commitment to deliver essential solutions responsibly, without causing harm to the Earth. With a focus on the responsible treatment of climate, water, and waste, our shared planet 2030 goals are comprised of the following:
•
Reduce absolute operations Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 60%;
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Reduce air and water process emissions of fluorinated organic chemicals by 99% or more; and,
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Reduce our landfill volume intensity by 70%.
As part of the Evolved Portfolio pillar of our CRC, we are reimagining our portfolio to offer solutions that are also safer, healthier, and more resilient for a world that demands more. We believe that climate change is an important global issue that presents both opportunities and challenges for our company, our partners, and our communities. Climate change matters for our company are likely to be driven by changes in physical climate parameters, regulations and/or public policy, and changes in technology and product demand. Our operations and business results are increasingly subject to evolving climate-related legislation and regulations, inclusive of restrictions on GHG emissions, cap and trade emissions trading systems, and taxes on GHG emissions, fuel, and energy, among other provisions. Such regulatory matters have led, and are expected to continue to lead, to subsequent developments in product technology and demand. This helps guide our investment decisions and drive growth in demand for low-carbon and energy-efficient products, manufacturing technologies, and services that facilitate adaptation to a changing climate. Our business segments conduct market trend impact assessments, continuously evaluate opportunities for existing and new products and are well-positioned to take advantage of opportunities that may arise from increased consumer demand for and/or legislation mandating or incentivizing the use of products and technologies necessary to achieve a low-carbon economy.
For example, global regulations driving the phase-down of HFCs, including the EU’s F-Gas Directive, the EU’s Mobile Air Conditioning Directive, and the recently enacted U.S. American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (“AIM”), promote the adoption and sale of our high performing Opteon™ products, which have lower GWP and zero ozone-depletion footprint. Our Opteon™ portfolio has been developed to meet global regulations while maintaining or improving performance compared to the products they replace in refrigeration and cooling applications, such as food transportation, food and pharmaceutical/medical storage, food manufacturing and retail, automotive air conditioning, and residential and commercial building air conditioning. By the year 2025, we estimate that our low GWP products will eliminate an estimated 325 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents on a global basis.
We are a proponent of the recently passed bipartisan AIM Act, going into effect in 2022, that will begin the national phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons. Earlier this year, we announced the implementation of an improvement project to significantly reduce emissions of HFC-23 at our Louisville, Kentucky manufacturing site. The project includes the design, custom-build and installation of proprietary technology to capture at least 99% of HFC-23 process emissions from the site.
Our growth prospects in fluoropolymers are also enhanced by regulation driving the increasing demand for electric vehicles and high-performance, low-emission vehicles. Our fluoropolymers are critical to delivering high performance over a wide range of harsh operating conditions, enhancing passenger safety, improving emission controls, and better fuel economy, and enable vehicle electrification and the shift to hydrogen-powered vehicles. We expect the use of our fluoropolymers in vehicles to increase, driven by the automotive industry’s trends toward energy efficiency and clean energy due to evolving emissions performance regulations and increasing adoption of electric vehicles.
As an energy and emissions intensive company, our costs of complying with complex environmental laws, regulations, and enforcements, as well as internal and external voluntary programs, are significant and will continue to be significant for the foreseeable future. These laws, regulations, and enforcements may change and could become more stringent over time, which could result in significant additional compliance costs, increased costs of purchased energy or other raw materials, increased transportation costs, investments in, or restrictions on, our operations, installation or modification of GHG-emitting equipment, or additional costs associated with GHG emissions. Additionally, significant regional or national differences in approaches to the imposition of such regulations and restrictions could present competitive challenges in a global marketplace. Currently, most of our global operating facilities are required to monitor and report their GHG emissions but may or may not be subject to programs requiring trading or emission controls. The EU Emission Trading System and the cap and trade pilot program in Mexico apply to our operating sites in those regions. Furthermore, U.S. political administration could lead to additional federal regulation with respect to GHG emissions limits and/or other legislation that could impact our operations. By tracking and taking action to reduce our GHG emissions footprint through energy efficiency programs and focused GHG management efforts, we can decrease the potential future impact of these regulatory matters.
The Chemours Company
Human Capital
Meeting our commitment to responsible chemistry depends on our ability to create a vibrant workplace culture that attracts and retains the best and brightest in their fields to come work at Chemours. Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain key employees, and to identify and develop talented personnel to succeed our senior management and other key employees. This success depends on creating a diverse, inclusive, and empowered workforce - one that holds a multiplicity of viewpoints, stems from a variety of backgrounds, and brings an abundance of different life experiences to work. We believe our global workforce should reflect the viewpoints and diversity of the communities in which we operate. That combination of excellence and diversity is essential to continuing our strong track record of uncovering and delivering the innovative solutions society needs.
Diverse and Inclusive Leadership and Workforce
Our board of directors is comprised of eleven individuals with diverse experience and credentials, selected for their acumen and ability to challenge and add value to management. Our directors have held significant leadership positions and bring a depth of experience across a wide variety of industries, providing the company with unique insights and fresh perspectives. The demographics of our board of directors include 36% women and 27% ethnically diverse individuals. Refer to Item 10 - Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance for further information related to our board of directors. Management of the Company is led by our President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and his 8 direct reports, which comprise our Chemours Executive Team (“CET”). The demographics of our CET include 44% women and 44% ethnically diverse individuals. Further information related to our CET is included under the caption “Information About Our Executive Officers” within this Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
At December 31, 2021, we had approximately 6,400 employees globally, nearly all of which were full-time employees. Our employees’ global demographics consisted of approximately 77% male employees and approximately 23% female employees, and, in the U.S., approximately 21% of our employees were considered to be ethnically diverse. At December 31, 2021, we had approximately 74% of our employees in the Americas (65% of whom are in the United States), 14% in Europe, and 12% in Asia Pacific (4% of whom are in China). Approximately 19% of our employees are represented by unions or works councils. Management believes that its relations with employees and labor organizations are good.
In addition to Chemours employees, our total global workforce also includes contract workers that are available to support our manufacturing sites. Our number of contract workers varies throughout the year due to business needs and seasonal plant activities. These on-site contract workers provide services for facility maintenance, engineering services and construction support, operations, research and logistics support, equipment service and maintenance, custodial services, and site security services. Management believes that its relations with contract workers are good.
Corporate Responsibility Commitment
In 2018, we issued our inaugural CRC Report, which expresses our commitment to our stakeholders to make chemistry as responsible as it is essential. This commitment is embedded within our growth strategy as a company. Our inaugural report included 10 ambitious goals targeted for completion by 2030, built on the pillars of Inspired People, Shared Planet, and an Evolved Portfolio. These goals are designed to promote accountability to our commitment and position us for long-term success. Our Inspired People pillar underlines our commitment to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and safe workplace. With a focus on creating a vibrant workplace culture that attracts, retains, and empowers the best and brightest in their fields, the following table sets forth our Inspired People goals and our relative progress at December 31, 2021.
Inspired People Goal (1)
At December 31, 2021
Fill 50% of all positions globally with women;
Approximately 23% of all global positions are filled with women;
Fill 20% of all U.S. positions with ethnically diverse employees;
Approximately 21% of all U.S. positions are filled with ethnically diverse employees;
Improve employee, contractor, process, and distribution safety performance by at least 75%; and,
For our most recent fiscal year (2,3):
- Our employee total recordable incident rate ("TRIR") was 0.29;
- Our contractor TRIR was 0.15;
- Our process safety tier 1 rate was 0.03;
- We had 2 distribution incidents; and,
Invest $50 million in our communities to improve lives by increasing access to science, technology, engineering, and math (“STEM”) skills, safety initiatives, and sustainable environment programs.
Approximately $15 million has been invested to improve lives by increasing access to STEM skills, safety initiatives, and sustainable environment programs within the communities in which we operate.
(1)
Inspired People goals are targeted for completion by December 31, 2030.
(2)
Rate is defined as number of events per 100 workers per year.
(3)
Our 2018 baseline metrics are as follows: employee TRIR of 0.28, contractor TRIR of 0.23, process safety tier 1 rate of 0.04, and 3 distribution incidents.
The Chemours Company
In support of our goals and commitment to foster a diverse and inclusive environment where all employees can contribute, thrive and grow, we have several Employee Resource Groups (“ERGs”): Chemours Asian Group, Chemours Black Employee Network, Chemours Latin American Resource Organization, Chemours Pride Network, Chemours Women’s Network, Early Career Network, and VetNet. The objectives of these ERGs are to help foster a diverse, inclusive workplace by educating and building awareness across the Company on challenges underrepresented groups often face, how to be more inclusive, supporting career development efforts, and leading community outreach efforts. We also facilitate additional educational programs, workshops and discussions on a variety of diversity and inclusion topics for global, regional, and local employee groups. In 2020, we introduced a new compensations metric focused on increasing the total proportion of women in the global workforce. The annual bonus structure for all Chemours executives and senior leaders now includes this metric, which we believe is important to drive interim progress toward our 2030 gender diversity goal.
Ultimately, we believe that our efforts towards achieving each of these goals result in a company culture that views our individual differences, safety-focused mentality, and talent development initiatives as sources of competitive strength.
Safety Obsession
Responsible chemistry begins with our focus on the safety and health of people all along our value chain, including our own workforce. Our Safety Obsession is deeply rooted in our responsible chemistry ethos and is one of our five core values, emphasizing our steadfast belief that a safe workplace is a profitable workplace. Our safety commitment extends beyond ourselves and our manufacturing sites, and we make ongoing, upfront investments in our people, our facilities, and our processes to protect the safety and well-being of our workforce, our business partners, and the communities in which we operate.
Our Safety Obsession culture requires and encourages our global workforce to seek out training opportunities to increase safety literacy and capability at our sites. We offer computer-based learning, classroom-style learning, hands-on training and demonstration for proficiency, and mentoring and apprenticeship training for skill development. Our course content ranges from general safety awareness trainings to specialized trainings, covering topics such as hazardous materials, electrical safety, and so forth. Our training programs are tailored to individual employee roles, promoting the safety of our workforce while simultaneously providing the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain operational performance at our complex manufacturing facilities. In measuring the safety performance of our workforce, we monitor several metrics, including those set forth in our Inspired People goals above.
Beyond the physical safety aspects of our workplace, we also consider the emotional and psychological aspects of employee safety - an idea we refer to as holistic safety. Emotional and psychological safety exists when team members feel accepted and respected, allowing them to bring their authentic selves to work without fear of negative consequences to self-image, workplace status, or career opportunities. Holistic safety and business performance are interconnected, as an environment lacking emotional and psychological safety creates distraction, which may lead to workplace missteps and can result in physical accidents. At Chemours, the way in which we work is grounded in our Safety Obsession, which encompasses the physical, emotional, and psychological dimensions of safety. Holistic safety also acknowledges our aspiration to be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive company, where every employee is fully engaged and actively contributing to business results.
Consistent with our Safety Obsession, we have taken several actions during 2021 to promote the health, safety, and well-being of our workforce in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such actions have included requiring remote working arrangements where practicable, the imposition of travel restrictions, limiting non-essential visits to plant sites, performing health checks before every shift, providing personal protective equipment for our “essential” operations employees at our sites and labs, and enhanced industrial hygiene and sanitization practices. We have also provided our employees with opportunities to participate in webinar sessions focused on challenges that may be experienced during trying times, such as mental and financial health. We will continue to make decisions that promote the health and safety of our employees and contractors throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional Development
We encourage our employees to own their careers by taking the lead in their respective professional development journeys. We actively support our employees in their professional development, providing multiple learning opportunities and trainings. We also provide our employees with the necessary tools and resources to develop and produce the next generation of innovative chemistry products, most notably, our 312,000-square-foot R&D facility on the Science, Technology, and Advanced Research campus of the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware (“Chemours Discovery Hub”). Given our focus on experiential learning, we leverage special projects, short-term assignments, and cross-functional job rotations to further develop talent and support employees in meeting their professional aspirations. Semi-annual performance reviews, combined with annual career development planning and ongoing feedback, provide support in performance and development and help our people know where they excel and how they can improve.
The Chemours Company
Equitable Employee Compensation
We provide a total compensation package that is targeted to be competitive with the markets in which we compete for talent, while allowing individual employee pay to vary equitably based on performance, skills, and experience. Our compensation programs are globally aligned, and, where possible, our total rewards plans include base salary, incentives (short- and long-term), financial, physical, and mental well-being programs, and monetary and social recognition. We routinely review our total rewards practices in the markets in which we compete to ensure our plans allow us to recruit and retain the diverse talent we need to be successful. We are firmly committed to paying our employees in a fair and equitable manner, regardless of race or gender, and we have implemented global total rewards tools to promote equitable remuneration. To ensure we deliver on this commitment, we periodically engage with independent third-party consultants to review our compensation practices and recommend pay actions.
Employee Attraction and Retention
We believe that our workplace culture, as reinforced by our CRC, corporate values, professional development opportunities, and competitive employee compensation, is critical in attaining a high offer acceptance rate and maintaining low levels of attrition, thereby enabling us to attract talented employees and retain and recognize the benefits of our investments in our employees’ technical manufacturing capabilities, safety acumen, and professional development. For the year ended December 31, 2021, our voluntary attrition percentage was approximately 9%.
Available Information
We are subject to the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Consequently, we are required to file reports and information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including reports on the following forms: Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports are also accessible on our website at http://www.chemours.com by clicking on the section labeled “Investor Relations”, then on “Financials” and “SEC Filings”. These reports are made available, without charge, as soon as it is reasonably practicable after we file or furnish them electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
The Chemours Company

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
Our operations could be affected by various risks, many of which are beyond our control. Based on current information, we believe that the following identifies the material risk factors that could affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. Refer to our “Forward-looking Statements” for more details.
Risks Related to Legal Matters, Environmental Sustainability, and Regulations
Our results of operations could be adversely affected by litigation and other commitments and contingencies.
We face risks arising from various unasserted and asserted legal claims, investigations, and litigation matters, such as product liability claims, patent infringement claims, anti-trust claims, and claims for third-party property damage or personal injury stemming from alleged environmental actions (which may concern regulated or unregulated substances) or other torts. We have noted a nationwide trend in purported mass tort and class actions against chemical manufacturers generally seeking relief, such as medical monitoring, property damages, off-site remediation, and punitive damages arising from alleged environmental actions (which may concern regulated or unregulated substances) or other torts without claiming present personal injuries. We also have noted a trend in public and private nuisance suits being filed on behalf of states, counties, cities, and utilities alleging harm to the general public and damages to natural resources. Various factors or developments in these nationwide trends or in the actions could result in future charges that could have a material adverse effect on us. An adverse outcome in any one or more of these matters could be material to our financial results and/or stock price, and could adversely impact the value of any of our brands that are associated with any such matters. As discussed below, we are a named defendant and/or cost-sharing and defending DuPont, Corteva, and EID (together, the “DuPont Indemnitees”) in litigation related to the production and use of perfluorooctanoic acids and its salts, including the ammonium salt (“PFOA”); hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (“HFPO Dimer Acid”, sometimes referred to as “GenX” or “C3 Dimer Acid”); Aqueous Film Forming Foam (“AFFF”); per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”); and other compounds.
We have received inquiries, government investigations, directives, multiple lawsuits, and other actions related to PFOA, HFPO Dimer Acid, AFFF, and PFAS as discussed in more detail in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. These or other governmental inquiries or lawsuits could lead to us incurring liability for damages or other costs, a criminal or civil proceeding, the imposition of fines and penalties, and/or other remedies, as well as restrictions on or added costs for our business operations going forward, including in the form of restrictions on discharges at our Fayetteville Works site in Fayetteville, North Carolina (“Fayetteville”) or otherwise. Additional lawsuits or inquiries also could be instituted related to these or other compounds in the future. Accordingly, the existing lawsuits and inquiries, and any such additional litigation, relating to our existing operations, PFOA, HFPO Dimer Acid, AFFF, PFAS, or other compounds associated with our products or operations could result in us incurring additional costs and liabilities, which may be material to our financial position and results of operations.
In the ordinary course of business, we may make certain commitments, including representations, warranties, and indemnities relating to current and past operations, including those related to divested businesses, and issue guarantees of third-party obligations. Additionally, we may be required to indemnify EID with regard to liabilities allocated to, or assumed by, us under each of the separation agreement, the employee matters agreement, the tax matters agreement, and the intellectual property cross-license agreement that were executed prior to the Separation. These indemnification obligations to date have included defense costs associated with certain litigation matters, as well as certain damages awards, settlements, and penalties. In January 2021, we and the DuPont Indemnitees entered into a binding Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) addressing certain PFAS matters and costs as detailed in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Disputes with the DuPont Indemnitees and others which may arise with respect to the MOU and PFAS matters, including disputes based on matters of law or contract interpretation, could materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
The Chemours Company
We are subject to extensive environmental and health and safety laws and regulations that may result in unanticipated loss or liability related to our current and past operations, and that may result in significant additional compliance costs or obligations, which in either case, could reduce our profitability.
Our operations and production facilities are dependent upon attainment and renewal of requisite operating permits and are subject to extensive environmental and health and safety laws, regulations, and enforcements at national, international, and local levels in numerous jurisdictions, relating to pollution, protection of the environment, climate change, transporting and storing raw materials and finished products, storing and disposing of hazardous wastes, and product content and other safety concerns. Such laws include, but are not limited to:
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U.S.-based regulations, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”, often referred to as “Superfund”), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and similar state and global laws for management and remediation of hazardous materials, the Clean Air Act (“CAA”) and Clean Water Act (“CWA”) and similar state and global laws for the protection of air and water resources, and the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”);
•
Foreign-based chemical control regulations, such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (“REACH”) in the EU, the Chemical Substances Control Law (“CSCL”) in Japan, MEP Order No. 7 in China, and the Toxic Chemical Substance Control Act (“TCSCA”) in Taiwan for the production and distribution of chemicals in commerce and reporting of potential adverse effects;
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The EU Emissions Trading System and similar local and global laws for regulating GHG emissions; and,
•
Numerous local, state, federal, and foreign laws, regulations, and enforcements governing materials transport and packaging.
If we are found to be in violation of these laws, regulations, or enforcements, which may be subject to change based on legislative, scientific, or other factors, we may incur substantial costs, including fines, damages, criminal or civil sanctions, remediation costs, reputational harm, loss of sales or market access, or experience interruptions in our operations. Our operations and production may also be subject to changes based on increased regulation or other changes to, or restrictions imposed by, any such additional regulations. Any operational interruptions or plant shutdowns may result in delays in production or may cause us to incur additional costs to develop redundancies in order to avoid interruptions in our production cycles. In addition, the manner in which adopted regulations (including environmental and safety regulations) are ultimately implemented may affect our products, the demand for and public perception of our products, the reputation of our brands, our market access, and our results of operations. In the event of a catastrophic incident involving any of the raw materials we use or chemicals we produce, we could incur material costs as a result of addressing the consequences of such event and future reputational costs associated with any such event.
Our costs of complying with complex environmental laws, regulations, and enforcements, as well as internal and external voluntary programs, are significant and will continue to be significant for the foreseeable future. These laws, regulations, and enforcements may change and could become more stringent over time, which could result in significant additional compliance costs, increased costs of purchased energy or other raw materials, increased transportation costs, investments in, or restrictions on, our operations, installation or modification of GHG-emitting equipment, or additional costs associated with GHG emissions. As a result of our current and historic operations, including the operations of divested businesses and certain discontinued operations, we also expect to continue to incur costs for environmental investigation and remediation activities at a number of our current or former sites and third-party disposal locations. However, the ultimate costs under environmental laws and the timing of these costs are difficult to accurately predict. While we establish accruals in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the ultimate actual costs and liabilities may vary from the accruals because the estimates on which the accruals are based depend on a number of factors (many of which are outside of our control), including the nature of the matter and any associated third-party claims, the complexity of the site, site geology, the nature and extent of contamination, the type of remedy, the outcome of discussions with regulatory agencies and other Potentially Responsible Parties (“PRPs”) at multi-party sites, and the number and financial viability of other PRPs. Refer to “Environmental Matters” within Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. We also could incur significant additional costs as a result of additional contamination that is discovered or remedial obligations imposed in the future.
As discussed in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we continue to have active dialogue with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (“NC DEQ”) and other stakeholders regarding potential remedies that are both economically and technologically feasible to achieve the objectives of the Consent Order (“CO”) and Addendum (“Addendum”) related to the discharge of HFPO Dimer Acid and PFAS from Fayetteville into the Cape Fear River, site surface water, groundwater, and air emissions. The Addendum establishes the procedure to implement specified remedial measures for reducing PFAS loadings from Fayetteville to the Cape Fear River, including construction of a barrier wall with a groundwater extraction system. The estimated liabilities of achieving the CO and Addendum objectives consist of several components, each of which may vary significantly and may exceed the recorded reserve estimates. The final cost of the on-site barrier wall and groundwater treatment system depends on receiving timely NC DEQ design and permit approvals and thus the timely finalization of certain significant design details, notably the actual barrier wall location, depth, and length, number and configuration of extraction wells, water extraction rates and estimated carbon usage. Unanticipated schedule delays or other factors beyond our control could lead to further increases in the cost of the barrier wall, which could be material. Changes in estimates are recorded in results of operations in the period that the events and circumstances giving rise to such changes occur.
The Chemours Company
There is also a risk that one or more of our manufacturing processes, key raw materials, or products may be found to have, or be characterized or perceived as having, a toxicological or health-related impact on the environment or on our customers or employees or unregulated emissions, which could potentially result in us incurring liability in connection with such characterization and the associated effects of any toxicological or health-related impact. If such a discovery or characterization occurs, we may incur increased costs in order to comply with new regulatory requirements or as a result of litigation. In addition, the relevant materials or products, including products of our customers incorporating our materials or products, may be recalled, phased-out, or banned. Changes in laws, science, or regulations, or their interpretations, and our customers’ perception of such changes or interpretations may also affect the marketability of certain of our products.
For example, in May 2016, the European Chemicals Agency (“ECHA”) accepted a proposal from France’s competent authority under REACH to change the classification of TiO2. ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee (“RAC”) provided the opinion that the evidence meets the criteria under the EU’s Classification, Labeling and Packaging (“CLP”) Regulation to classify TiO2 as a Category 2 Carcinogen (suspected human carcinogen) by inhalation. To implement this opinion, the EU Commission (“EC”) presented a draft of the full 14th Adaptation to Technical Progress (“ATP”), including a proposed classification (with notes) for the powder form of TiO2 as a Category 2 Carcinogen by inhalation, as a delegated act for scrutiny by EU Council and Parliament. The act came into enforcement on October 1, 2021. The impacts of the additional regulatory measures will include increased requirements for TiO2 product labeling and importing operations, which could increase the costs associated with our TiO2 manufacturing and handling processes.
In June 2019, the Member States Committee of ECHA also voted to list HFPO Dimer Acid as a Substance of Very High Concern. The vote was based on Article 57(f) - equivalent level of concern having probable serious effects to the environment. This identification does not impose immediate regulatory restriction or obligations, but may lead to a future authorization or restriction of the substance, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. In September 2019, we filed an application with the EU Court of Justice for the annulment of the decision of ECHA to list HFPO Dimer Acid as a Substance of Very High Concern.
In May 2020, five European countries began an initiative to restrict the manufacture, placing on the market and use of PFAS in the EU. In this regulatory process, more than 4,000 substances, including F-gases and fluoropolymers are being considered as part of this broad regulatory action. On July 15, 2021, the countries submitted their restriction proposal, which informs ECHA of the intent to prepare a PFAS restriction dossier for fluorinated substances within a defined structural formula scope, including branched fluoroalkyl groups and substances containing ether linkages, fluoropolymers and side chain fluorinated polymers. The restriction dossier will include information on hazards and risks, available information on alternatives and an analysis of the risk management instrument for addressing the identified risks. The submitting countries indicate that they expect to submit the restriction dossier to ECHA in July 2022. As part of the preparation of the restriction dossier, stakeholders were requested to provide relevant information and, based on risk and socio-economic information, derogations from the proposed restriction may be proposed by the submitting countries. If a derogation is not proposed by the submitting countries, the relevant stakeholders may do so during a consultation process. The draft dossier will be reviewed by the ECHA committees RAC and Socio-economic Analysis Committees (“SEAC”) and proposals submitted to the EU Commission in 2023. The estimated entry into force of restrictions is 2025. The impacts of restrictions and regulatory measures could lead to adverse effects on our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
On October 18, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) released its PFAS Strategic Roadmap, identifying a comprehensive approach to addressing PFAS. The PFAS Strategic Roadmap sets timelines by which EPA plans to take specific actions through 2024, including establishing a national primary drinking water regulation for PFOA and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (“PFOS”) and taking Effluent Limitations Guidelines actions to regulate PFAS discharges from industrial categories among other actions. As provided under its roadmap, EPA also released on the same day its National PFAS Testing Strategy, under which the agency will identify and select certain PFAS compounds for which it will require PFAS manufacturers to conduct testing pursuant to TSCA orders. EPA has indicated that we will receive orders for certain of such compounds, including seven of the testing orders will be issued for PFAS compounds alleged to be associated with Fayetteville. On October 25, 2021, EPA published a final toxicity assessment for GenX compounds that decreased the draft reference dose for GenX compounds based on EPA’s review of new studies and analyses. Under the PFAS Strategic Roadmap, EPA indicated they plan to develop non-regulatory drinking water health advisories for certain PFAS compounds that have final EPA toxicity assessments, including GenX compounds in the Spring of 2022. We are currently evaluating the impact of EPA’s final toxicity assessment, including new data and analysis utilized by the agency, and have met with the agency to discuss process-related and technical concerns about the assessment. We cannot predict the final outcome of EPA’s actions for PFAS, including the implementation of the PFAS Strategic Roadmap, and the consequences of any such actions to our Company. However, the required TSCA order testing and GenX compounds toxicity assessment or future health advisories could increase the costs associated with our manufacturing processes and related remediations at certain of our sites. Additionally, further actions to be taken under or arising from EPA’s action under its PFAS Strategic Roadmap could lead to material adverse effects on our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
The Chemours Company
In connection with our Separation, we were required to assume, and indemnify EID for, certain liabilities. As we may be required to make payments pursuant to these indemnities or under the cost-sharing provisions of the MOU, we may need to divert cash to meet those obligations, and our financial results could be negatively affected. In addition, the obligations of EID to indemnify us and/or the obligation of the DuPont Indemnitees to share costs for certain liabilities may not be sufficient to insure us against the full amount of the applicable liabilities for which it will be allocated responsibility, and EID and/or the DuPont Indemnitees may not be able to satisfy their obligations in the future.
Pursuant to the separation agreement, the employee matters agreement, the tax matters agreement, and the intellectual property cross-license agreement we entered into with EID prior to the Separation, we were required to assume, and indemnify EID for, certain liabilities. These indemnification obligations to date have included, among other items, defense costs associated with certain litigation matters, as well as certain damages awards, settlement amounts, and penalties. In January 2021, we and the DuPont Indemnitees entered into a binding MOU addressing certain PFAS matters and costs as detailed in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Disputes with the DuPont Indemnitees and others, which may arise with respect to the MOU, PFAS matters, indemnification, and/or cost-sharing matters, including disputes based on matter of law or contract interpretation, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. As described in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, multiple lawsuits have been filed by third parties containing allegations that EID’s separation of Chemours was a fraudulent transfer.
Third parties could also seek to hold us responsible for any of the liabilities of the EID businesses. EID has agreed to indemnify us for such liabilities, but such indemnity from EID may not be sufficient to protect us against the full amount of such liabilities, and EID may not be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from EID any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses ourselves. Each of these risks could negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Refer to “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
In connection with our Separation, we were required to enter into numerous Separation-related and commercial agreements with our former parent company, EID, which may not reflect optimal or commercially beneficial terms to us.
Commercial agreements we entered into with EID prior to the Separation were formed in the context of the Separation while we were still a wholly-owned subsidiary of EID. Accordingly, during the period in which the terms of those agreements were formed, we did not have an independent board of directors or management independent of EID. Certain commercial agreements, having long terms and commercially-advantageous cancellation and assignment rights to EID, may not include adjustments for changes in industry and market conditions. There is a risk that the pricing and other terms under these agreements may not be commercially beneficial or able to be changed in the future. The terms relate to, among other things, the allocation of assets, liabilities, rights, and obligations, including the provision of products and services and the sharing and operation of property, manufacturing, office, and laboratory sites, and other commercial rights and obligations between us and EID.
If the distribution, in connection with the Separation, together with certain related transactions, were to fail to qualify for non-recognition treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then we could be subject to significant tax and indemnification liability and stockholders receiving our common stock in the distribution could be subject to significant tax liability.
Generally, taxes resulting from the failure of the Separation and distribution or certain related transactions to qualify for non-recognition treatment under U.S. federal, state, and/or local tax law, and/or foreign tax law, would be imposed on EID or EID’s stockholders and, under the tax matters agreement that we entered into with EID prior to the Separation, EID is generally obligated to indemnify us against such taxes to the extent that we may be jointly, severally, or secondarily liable for such taxes. However, under the terms of the tax matters agreement, we are also generally responsible for any taxes imposed on EID that arise from the failure of the distribution to qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) or the failure of such related transactions to qualify for tax-free treatment, to the extent such failure to qualify is attributable to actions, events, or transactions relating to our or our affiliates’ stock, assets, or business, or any breach of our or our affiliates’ representations, covenants, or obligations under the tax matters agreement (or any other agreement we enter into in connection with the Separation and distribution), the materials submitted to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or other governmental authorities in connection with the request for the IRS Ruling or other tax rulings or the representation letter provided to counsel in connection with the tax opinion. Events triggering an indemnification obligation under the agreement include events occurring after the distribution that cause EID to recognize a gain under Section 355(e) of the IRC. Such tax amounts could be significant. To the extent we are responsible for any liability under the tax matters agreement, there could be a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows in future reporting periods.
The Chemours Company
Our failure to comply with the anti-corruption laws of the U.S. and various international jurisdictions could negatively impact our reputation and results of operations.
Doing business on a global basis requires us to comply with the laws and regulations of the U.S. government and those of various international and sub-national jurisdictions, and our failure to successfully comply with these rules and regulations may expose us to liabilities. These laws and regulations apply to companies, individual directors, officers, employees, and agents, and may restrict our operations, trade practices, investment decisions, and partnering activities. In particular, our international operations are subject to U.S. and foreign anti-corruption laws and regulations, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 (“Bribery Act”), and other anti-corruption laws of the various jurisdictions in which we operate. The FCPA, the Bribery Act, and other laws prohibit us and our officers, directors, employees, and agents acting on our behalf from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing, or providing anything of value to foreign officials for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. Our global operations may expose us to the risk of violating, or being accused of violating, the foregoing or other anti-corruption laws. Such violations could be punishable by criminal fines, imprisonment, civil penalties, disgorgement of profits, injunctions, and exclusion from government contracts, as well as other remedial measures. Investigations of alleged violations can be very expensive, disruptive, and damaging to our reputation. Although we have implemented anti-corruption policies and procedures, there can be no guarantee that these policies, procedures, and training will effectively prevent violations by our employees or representatives in the future. Additionally, we face a risk that our distributors and other business partners may violate the FCPA, the Bribery Act, or similar laws or regulations. Such violations could expose us to FCPA and Bribery Act liability, and/or our reputation may potentially be harmed by their violations and resulting sanctions and fines.
Risks Related to COVID-19
A pandemic, epidemic, or other outbreak of infectious disease may have a material adverse effect on our business operations, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
Our operational and financial condition may be negatively impacted by the widespread outbreak of any illnesses or communicable diseases, as well as any associated public health crises that may ensue. To minimize the transmissions, social and economic restrictions have been or may be imposed in the U.S. and abroad, including travel bans, quarantines, restrictions on public gatherings, shelter-in-place orders, and/or safer-at-home orders. These restrictions, while necessary and important for public health, can have negative business-related implications for our Company and the U.S. and global economies.
Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy, disrupting global supply chains and creating significant uncertainty and volatility in financial markets. While we experienced minimal disruption in our operations and business-related processes, we are continuously monitoring the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of our business, including its adverse impacts on our employees, customers, suppliers, vendors, business partners, and supply and distribution channels, as well as our ability to execute our business strategies and objectives. As a multi-national corporation, we are also continuously monitoring the operational and financial impacts of evolving restrictive local and national laws and regulations, as well as recommendations set forth by public health organizations and governmental organizations to impede the spread of COVID-19.
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic could adversely impact our Company depends on evolving factors, as well as future developments that we are not able to predict with certainty. These factors include the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, including an increased spread of infections or new variants of the virus; the health of our employees and the workforce of certain third-party service providers or contractors; extended travel bans, quarantines, or shelter-in-place orders; changes in customer demand; increased operating costs to deal with the impacts of COVID-19; supply chain inefficiencies or ineffectiveness, including raw material shortages, driven by impacts of COVID-19 on our suppliers; prolonged weaker economic conditions; and consumer and business confidence and the resulting decreases in our customers’ demand and spending patterns, as well as their respective abilities to fulfill any existing purchase obligations.
The widespread outbreak of any illness or communicable disease could result in, and in the instance of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in, a significant health crisis that adversely affects local and global economies and financial markets, including the companies that operate within these conditions. Each of the above considerations related to the COVID-19 pandemic remain highly uncertain and subject to change, continue to evolve, and have the potential to have a material adverse impact on our business operations, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. However, we cannot predict with certainty the magnitude of such impacts at this time. The impact of COVID-19 may also exacerbate our other risks, as described within this Item 1A - Risk Factors, any of which could have a material effect on us, including among other things, risks associated with our indebtedness, including available capacity, compliance with debt covenants; risks related to adequacy of our cash flow and earnings and other conditions which may affect our liquidity; and risks related to our ongoing ability to pay dividends and repurchase common stock. As the situation continues to evolve, additional impacts of which we are not currently aware may also arise.
The Chemours Company
Risks Related to Our Business Performance
Operating as a multi-national corporation presents risks associated with global and regional economic downturns and global capital market conditions, as well as risks resulting from changes to regional regulatory requirements (including environmental standards).
Our business and operating results may in the future be adversely affected by global and regional economic conditions, including instability in credit markets, declining consumer and business confidence, fluctuating commodity prices and interest rates, volatile exchange rates, and other challenges, such as tariffs on international trade, border adjustments for certain products, and a changing financial regulatory environment that could affect the global economy. Such global and regional economic conditions may be further affected by physical risks that stem from a number of root causes, including natural disasters, climate change, and/or travel-based restrictions that may be driven by geo-political activities, military actions, terrorism, and the spread of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our customers may experience deterioration of their businesses, shortages in cash flows, and difficulty obtaining financing. As a result, existing or potential customers may delay or cancel plans to purchase products and may not be able to fulfill their obligations to us in a timely fashion. Further, suppliers could experience similar conditions, which could impact their ability to supply materials or otherwise fulfill their obligations to us. Because we have significant international operations, there are a large number of currency transactions that result from our international sales, purchases, investments, and borrowings. Future weakness in the global economy and failure to manage these risks could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows in future periods.
In addition to the general risks associated with operating in the global economy, our revenue and profitability are largely dependent on the TiO2 pigment industry and the industries that are the end-users of our refrigerants and fluoropolymers. TiO2 pigment, refrigerants, and fluoropolymers are used in many “quality of life” products for which demand historically has been linked to global, regional, and local GDP and discretionary spending, which can be negatively impacted by regional and world events or economic conditions. Such events, which may or may not impact all of our businesses at the same time or to the same degree, are likely to cause a decrease in the demand for our products and, as a result, may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The future profitability of our operations, and cash flows generated by those operations, will also be affected by the available supply of our products in the market. Further, our future demand growth may be below average global GDP growth rates if our sales into developed markets outpace our sales into emerging markets. In addition, because demand for certain of our products is driven in part by industry needs to comply with certain environmental regulations (such as markets for refrigerants and foams with low GWP), changes in, the elimination of, or lack of enforcement of such environmental regulations in the U.S., the EU, or other jurisdictions can also negatively impact demand for such products and, as a result, our results of operations and financial condition.
The businesses in which we compete are highly competitive. If our intellectual property were compromised or copied by competitors, or if our competitors were to develop similar or superior intellectual property or technology, our results of operations could be negatively affected.
Each of the businesses in which we operate is highly competitive. Competition in the performance chemicals industry is based on a number of factors, such as price, product quality, and service. We face significant competition from major international and regional competitors. Some of our competitors in the Titanium Technologies segment have announced plans to expand their chloride capacity. Additionally, our Titanium Technologies business competes with numerous regional producers, including producers in China, who have expanded their readily available production capacity during the previous five years. The risk of substitution of these Chinese producers by our customers could increase as these Chinese producers expand their use of chloride production technology. Similarly, we compete with various producers in our Thermal & Specialized Solutions and Advanced Performance Materials businesses, and the risk of substitution of these producers by our customers could increase if these producers develop better capabilities to manufacture products similar to our specialty products.
Intellectual property rights, including patents, trade secrets, confidential information, trademarks, and tradenames are important to our business. We endeavor to protect our intellectual property rights in key jurisdictions in which our products are produced or used and in jurisdictions into which our products are imported. Our success depends to a significant degree upon our ability to protect and preserve our intellectual property rights. However, we may be unable to obtain protection for our intellectual property in key jurisdictions. Although we own and have applied for numerous patents and trademarks throughout the world, we may have to rely on judicial enforcement of our patents and other proprietary rights. Our patents and other intellectual property rights may be challenged, invalidated, circumvented, and rendered unenforceable or otherwise compromised. A failure to protect, defend, or enforce our intellectual property could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, third parties may assert claims against us and our customers and distributors, alleging our products infringe upon third-party intellectual property rights.
The Chemours Company
We also rely upon unpatented proprietary technology, know-how, and other trade secrets to maintain our competitive position. While we maintain policies to enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and third parties to protect our proprietary expertise and other trade secrets, these agreements may not be enforceable or, even if legally enforceable, we may not have adequate remedies for breaches of such agreements. We also may not be able to readily detect breaches of such agreements. The failure of our patents or confidentiality agreements to protect our proprietary technology, know-how, or trade secrets could result in significantly lower revenues, reduced profit margins, or loss of market share.
If we must take legal action to protect, defend, or enforce our intellectual property rights, any suits or proceedings could result in significant costs and diversion of resources and management’s attention, and we may not prevail in any such suits or proceedings. A failure to protect, defend, or enforce our intellectual property rights could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Effects of price fluctuations in energy and raw materials, our raw materials contracts, and our inability to renew such contracts, could have a significant impact on our earnings.
Our manufacturing processes consume significant amounts of energy and raw materials, the costs of which may be subject to worldwide supply and demand factors, global trade regulations and tariffs, GHG emissions-based regulations, and other factors beyond our control. Variations in the cost of energy, which primarily reflect market prices for oil and natural gas, and for raw materials may significantly affect our operating results from period to period. Additionally, to the extent climate change regulations and restrictions are not stringently imposed in the countries in which our competitors operate, our competitors could gain cost or other competitive advantages. Consolidation in the industries providing our raw materials may also have an impact on the cost and availability of such materials. To the extent we do not have fixed price contracts with respect to specific raw materials, we have no control over the costs of raw materials, and such costs may fluctuate widely for a variety of reasons, including changes in availability, major capacity additions or reductions, or significant facility operating problems.
When possible, we have purchased, and we plan to continue to purchase, raw materials, including titanium-bearing ores and fluorspar, through negotiated medium-term or long-term contracts to minimize the impact of price fluctuations. To the extent that we have been able to achieve favorable pricing in our existing negotiated long-term contracts, we may not be able to renew such contracts at the current prices, or at all, and this may adversely impact our profitability and cash flows from operations. However, to the extent that the prices of the raw materials that we utilize significantly decline, we may be bound by the terms of our existing long-term contracts and obligated to purchase such raw materials at higher prices as compared to other market participants.
We attempt to offset the effects of higher energy and raw materials costs through selling price increases, productivity improvements, and cost reduction programs. However, the outcome of these efforts is largely determined by existing competitive and economic conditions, and may be subject to a time delay between the increase in our raw materials costs and our ability to increase prices, which could vary significantly depending on the market served. If we are not able to fully offset the effects of higher energy or raw materials costs, there could be a material adverse effect on our financial results.
Our reported results and financial condition could be adversely affected by currency exchange rates and currency devaluation could impair our competitiveness.
Due to our international operations, we transact in many foreign currencies, including, but not limited to, the euro, the Mexican peso, the Chinese yuan, and the Japanese yen. As a result, we are subject to the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar, our reported net sales and operating income will be reduced because the local currency will be translated into fewer U.S. dollars. During periods of local economic crisis, local currencies may be devalued significantly against the U.S. dollar, potentially reducing our margin. For example, depreciation of the euro against the U.S. dollar has historically negatively impacted our results of operations. We also have certain indebtedness and payables denominated in the euro, and, during times of a strengthening euro relative to the U.S. dollar, our overall debt obligations and payables in U.S. dollars equivalent will increase.
We enter into certain of our qualifying foreign currency forward contracts under a cash flow hedge program to mitigate the risks associated with fluctuations in the euro against the U.S. dollar for forecasted U.S. dollar-denominated purchases for certain of our international subsidiaries. There can be no assurance that any hedging action will lessen the adverse impact of a variation in currency rates. Also, actions to recover margins may result in lower volume and a weaker competitive position, which may have an adverse effect on our profitability. For example, in our Titanium Technologies segment, a substantial portion of our manufacturing is located in the U.S. and Mexico, while our TiO2 pigment is delivered to customers around the world. Furthermore, our ore cost is principally denominated in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, in periods when the U.S. dollar or Mexican peso strengthen against other local currencies, such as the euro, our costs are higher relative to some of our competitors who operate largely outside of the U.S. and Mexico, and the benefits we realize from having lower costs associated with our manufacturing process are reduced, impacting our profitability.
The Chemours Company
If we are unable to innovate and successfully introduce new products, or new technologies or processes reduce the demand for our products or the price at which we can sell products, our profitability could be adversely affected.
Our industries and the end-use markets into which we sell our products experience periodic technological changes and product improvements, as well as changes in mandates on or regulation of products and services. Our future growth will depend on our ability to gauge the direction of commercial and technological progress in key end-use markets, our ability to fund and successfully develop, manufacture, and market products in such changing end-use markets, and our ability to adapt to changing regulations. We must continue to develop lower-emission manufacturing technologies and identify, develop, and market innovative products or enhance existing products on a timely basis to maintain our profit margins and our competitive position. We may be unable to develop new products or technologies, either alone or with third parties, or license intellectual property rights from third parties on a commercially competitive basis. If we fail to keep pace with the evolving technological innovations in our end-use markets on a competitive basis, including with respect to innovation related to the development of alternative uses for, or application of, products developed that utilize such end-use products, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. We cannot predict whether technological innovations will, in the future, result in a lower demand for our products or affect the competitiveness of our business. We may be required to invest significant resources to adapt to changing technologies, markets, customer behaviors and demands, competitive environments, and laws, regulations, or enforcements. We cannot anticipate market acceptance of new products or future products. In addition, we may not achieve the expected benefits associated with new products developed to meet new laws, regulations, or enforcements if the implementation of such laws, regulations, or enforcements is delayed, and we may face competition from illegal or counterfeit products in regulated markets.
If our long-lived assets become impaired, we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings.
We have a significant amount of long-lived assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Under GAAP, we review our long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances, indicating that the carrying value of our long-lived assets may not be recoverable, include, but are not limited to, changes in the industrial, economic, political, social, and physical landscapes in which we operate, as well as competition or other factors leading to a reduction in expected long-term sales or profitability. We may be required to record a significant non-cash charge in our financial statements during the period in which any impairment of our long-lived assets is determined, negatively impacting our results of operations.
We could be subject to changes in our tax rates and the adoption of tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities that may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
We are subject to taxes in the U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions where our subsidiaries are organized. Due to economic and political conditions, tax rates in various jurisdictions may be subject to significant change. Our future effective tax rates could be affected by and may fluctuate because of changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, changes in tax laws or their interpretations, and taxes associated with the repatriation of our non-U.S. earnings. Our tax returns and other tax matters are subject to examination by local tax authorities and governmental bodies. We regularly assess the likelihood of an adverse outcome resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for taxes. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of these examinations. If our effective tax rates were to increase, or if the ultimate determination of the taxes owed by us is for an amount in excess of amounts previously accrued, our operating results, financial condition, and cash flows could be adversely affected.
We are subject to continuing contingent tax-related liabilities of EID.
There are other significant areas where the liabilities of EID may become our obligations. For example, under the IRC and the related rules and regulations, each corporation that was a member of EID’s consolidated tax reporting group during any taxable period or portion of any taxable period ending on or before the effective time of the distribution is jointly and severally liable for the U.S. federal income tax liability of the entire consolidated tax reporting group for such taxable period. In connection with the Separation and distribution, we entered into a tax matters agreement with EID that allocates the responsibility for prior period taxes of EID’s consolidated tax reporting group between us and EID. If EID were unable to pay any prior period taxes for which it is responsible, however, we could be required to pay the entire amount of such taxes, and such amounts could be significant. Other provisions of federal, state, local, or foreign law may establish similar liability for other matters, including laws governing tax-qualified pension plans, as well as other contingent liabilities.
The Chemours Company
We are a holding company that is dependent on cash flows from our operating subsidiaries to fund our debt obligations, PFAS escrow funding requirements, capital expenditures, and ongoing operations.
All of our operations are conducted, and all of our assets are owned, by our operating companies, which are our subsidiaries. We intend to continue to conduct our operations at the operating companies and any future subsidiaries. Consequently, our cash flows and our ability to meet our obligations, including our debt obligations, PFAS escrow funding requirements, or make cash distributions depends upon the cash flows of our operating companies and any future subsidiaries, as well as the ability of our operating companies and any future subsidiaries to transfer funds in the form of dividends or otherwise.
Our debt is generally the exclusive obligation of The Chemours Company and our guarantor subsidiaries, as described in “Note 20 - Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Because a significant portion of our operations are conducted by non-guarantor subsidiaries, our cash flows and our ability to service indebtedness, including our ability to pay the interest on our debt when due and principal of such debt at maturity, are dependent to a large extent upon cash dividends and distributions or other transfers from such non-guarantor subsidiaries. Any payment of dividends, distributions, loans, or advances by our non-guarantor subsidiaries to us could be subject to restrictions on dividends or repatriation of earnings under applicable local law, monetary transfer restrictions, and foreign currency exchange regulations in the jurisdictions in which our subsidiaries operate, and any restrictions imposed by the current and future debt instruments of our non-guarantor subsidiaries.
Our subsidiaries are separate legal entities and, except for our guarantor subsidiaries, have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due on our debt or to make any funds available for those amounts, whether by dividends, loans, distributions, or other payments, and do not guarantee the payment of interest on, or principal of, our debt. Any right that we have to receive any assets of any of our subsidiaries that are not guarantors upon the liquidation or reorganization of any such subsidiary, and the consequent right of holders of the outstanding notes to realize proceeds from the sale of their assets, will be structurally subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors and holders of debt issued by that subsidiary.
The ability of our operating companies and any future subsidiaries to make any payments to us depends on their earnings, the terms of their indebtedness, including the terms of any credit facilities, and legal restrictions regarding the transfer of funds.
Failure to meet some or all of our key financial and non-financial targets could negatively impact the value of our business and adversely affect our stock price.
From time to time, we may announce certain key financial and non-financial targets that are expected to serve as benchmarks for our performance for a given time period, including goals for our future net sales growth, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, adjusted earnings per share, free cash flows, return on invested capital, net leverage ratio, corporate responsibility commitments, and/or sustainability commitments. Our failure to meet one or more of these key targets may negatively impact our results of operations, stock price, and stockholder returns. The factors influencing our ability to meet these key targets include, but are not limited to, changes in the global economic environment, changes in our competitive landscape, including our relationships with new or existing customers, our ability to introduce new products, applications, or technologies, our undertaking of an acquisition, joint venture, or other strategic arrangement, the outcome of any new or existing litigation, our failure to comply with new or existing laws or regulations, and other factors described within this Item 1A - Risk Factors, many of which are beyond our control.
The Chemours Company
Risks Related to Our Operations
Our ability to make future strategic decisions regarding our manufacturing operations are subject to regulatory, environmental, political, legal, and economic risks, and to a certain extent may be subject to consents or cooperation from EID under the agreements entered into between us and EID as part of the Separation. These could adversely affect our ability to execute our future strategic decisions and our results of operations and financial condition.
One of the ways we may improve our business is through the expansion or improvement of our facilities. Construction of additions or modifications to facilities involves numerous regulatory, environmental, political, legal, and economic uncertainties that are beyond our control and are subject to various start-up risks and consent to operate. Difficulties in obtaining any of the requisite licenses, permits, and authorizations from governmental or regulatory authorities could increase the total cost, delay, jeopardize, or prevent the construction or opening of such facilities. Our expansion or improvement projects may also require the expenditure of significant amounts of capital, and financing may not be available on economically acceptable terms, or at all. As a result, these projects may not be completed on schedule, at the budgeted cost, or at all, which may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. Moreover, our revenue may not increase immediately upon the expenditure of funds on a particular project or may be negatively impacted by regulatory or other developments relating to the chemicals we use or manufacture. As a result, we may not be able to realize our expected investment return, which could also adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
We periodically assess our manufacturing operations in order to manufacture and distribute our products in the most efficient manner and to minimize the potential impacts of climate-related physical risks on our operations. Based on our assessments, we may make strategic decisions regarding our manufacturing operations, such as capital improvements to modernize certain units and/or improve structural resilience, move manufacturing or distribution capabilities from one plant or facility to another plant or facility, discontinue manufacturing or distributing certain products, or close or divest all or part of a manufacturing plant or facility, some of which have significant shared services and lease agreements with EID. These agreements may adversely impact our ability to make these strategic decisions regarding our manufacturing operations. Further, if such agreements are terminated or revised, we would have to assess and potentially adjust our manufacturing operations, the closure or divestiture of all or part of a manufacturing plant or facility that could result in future charges that could be significant.
Hazards associated with chemical manufacturing, storage, containment, and transportation could adversely affect our results of operations.
There are hazards associated with chemical manufacturing and the related storage, containment, and transportation of raw materials, products, and wastes. These hazards could lead to an interruption or suspension of operations and have an adverse effect on the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility or on us as a whole. While we endeavor to provide adequate protection for the safe-handling of these materials, issues could be created by various events, including unforeseen accidents or defects, natural disasters, severe weather events, acts of sabotage, military actions, terrorism, and performance by third parties, including tenants at certain of our manufacturing facilities, and, as a result, we could face the following potential hazards:
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piping and storage tank leaks and ruptures;
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mechanical failure;
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employee exposure to hazardous substances;
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fires and explosions; and,
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chemical spills and other discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases.
These hazards may cause personal injury and loss of life, damage to property, contamination of the environment, and damage to natural resources, which could lead to government fines and penalties, remedial obligations, work stoppage injunctions, claims and lawsuits by injured persons, damage to our public reputation and brands, loss of sales and market access, customer dissatisfaction, and diminished product acceptance. If such actions are determined adversely to us or there is an associated economic impact to our business, we may have inadequate insurance or cash flows to offset any associated costs. Such outcomes could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The Chemours Company
Our results of operations and financial condition could be seriously impacted by business disruptions and security breaches, including cybersecurity incidents.
Business and/or supply chain disruptions, plant downtime, power outages, and/or information technology system and network disruptions, regardless of cause, including acts of sabotage, employee error or other actions, geo-political activity, military actions, and terrorism (including cyberterrorism) could seriously harm our operations, as well as the operations of our customers and suppliers. Further, the nature of our business dictates that we maintain significant concentrations of physical assets in geographic locations which may be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including significant changes in storm patterns and intensities, water shortages, increasing atmospheric and water temperatures, and rising sea levels. Such events could also seriously harm our operations, as well as the operations of our customers and suppliers, and accordingly, we continue to study the long-term implications of changing climate parameters on plant siting, operational issues, and water availability. Any of the aforementioned disruptions and/or events could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
Failure to effectively prevent, detect, and recover from security breaches, including attacks on information technology and infrastructure by hackers, viruses, breaches due to employee error or other actions, or other disruptions, could result in misuse of our assets, business disruptions, loss of property including trade secrets and confidential business information, legal claims or proceedings, reporting errors, processing inefficiencies, negative media attention, loss of sales, and interference with regulatory compliance. Such risks are particularly relevant in consideration of remote working arrangements utilized by our workforce where practicable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most major corporations, we have been, and expect to be, the target of industrial espionage, including cyberattacks, from time to time. We have determined that these attacks have resulted, and could result in the future, in unauthorized parties gaining access to certain confidential business information, and have included the obtaining of trade secrets and proprietary information related to the chloride manufacturing process for TiO2 pigment by third parties. Although we do not believe that we have experienced any material losses to date related to these breaches, there can be no assurance that we will not suffer any such losses in the future. We plan to actively manage the risks within our control that could lead to business disruptions and security breaches. As these threats continue to evolve, particularly around cybersecurity, we may be required to expend significant resources to enhance our control environment, processes, practices, and other protective measures. Despite these efforts, such events could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Our information technology is provided by a combination of internal and external services and service providers, and we rely on information technology in many aspects of our business, including internal and external communications, and the management of our accounting, finance, and supply chain functions. Further, our business involves the use, storage, and transmission of information about customers, suppliers, and employees. As we become more dependent on information technology to conduct our business, and as the number and sophistication of cyberattacks increases, the risks associated with cybersecurity, information security, and data privacy also increases. In response to such risks, we provide our employees with cyber and information security training on a periodic and an annual basis. Failure to maintain effective internal control over our information technology and infrastructure could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations, and/or have a material adverse impact on our stock price.
Preparedness plans pertaining to the physical- and cyber-related aspects of our business have been developed with detailed actions needed in the event of unforeseen events or severe weather. We also engineer our facilities to better withstand these events and hold insurance coverage to protect against losses from physical damages and business interruptions. These measures have historically been in place, and such activities and associated costs are driven by normal operational preparedness. However, there can be no assurance that such measures will be effective for a particular event that we may experience.
Our operations could be materially impacted in the event of a failure of our information technology infrastructure.
We currently use an enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) software platform that is no longer supported; however, we are able to pay for extended, customer-specific support, which can be costly. We are currently evaluating our options to upgrade or switch this platform. Any systems failure, accident, or security breach could result in significant costs or disruptions to our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, such improvements and upgrades are often complex, costly, and time-consuming. We may experience challenges integrating any new ERP software platform with our existing technology systems, or may uncover problems with our existing technology systems. Any unsuccessful attempt to upgrade or switch our ERP software platform could result in outages, a disruption to our operations and our ability to serve our customers, and/or damage to our reputation.
The Chemours Company
Risks Related to Our Indebtedness
Our current level of indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition, and we could have difficulty fulfilling our obligations under our indebtedness, which may have a material adverse effect on us.
As of December 31, 2021, we had approximately $3.8 billion of indebtedness. At December 31, 2021, together with the guarantors, we had approximately $1.2 billion of indebtedness outstanding under our senior secured credit facilities, and a $900 million revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) capacity, which would be senior secured indebtedness, if drawn (collectively, the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”). Our current level of indebtedness increases the risk that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay amounts due in respect of our indebtedness. The level of our indebtedness could have other important consequences on our business, including:
•
making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to indebtedness;
•
increasing our vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry, and competitive conditions;
•
requiring us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flows from operations to make payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flows to fund working capital and other general corporate purposes;
•
limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;
•
restricting us from capitalizing on business opportunities;
•
placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt;
•
limiting our ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy, or other general corporate purposes;
•
requiring us to provide additional credit support, such as letters of credit or other financial guarantees, to our customers, suppliers, or regulators, thereby limiting our availability of funds under our Revolving Credit Facility;
•
limiting our ability to enter into certain commercial arrangements because of concerns of counterparty risks; and,
•
limiting our ability to adjust to changing market conditions and placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt.
The occurrence of any one or more of these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on us.
Our ability to make scheduled payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, including on our outstanding notes, depends on and is subject to our financial and operating performance, which in turn is affected by general and regional economic, financial, competitive, business, and other factors (many of which are beyond our control), including the availability of financing in the international banking and capital markets. We cannot be certain that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to service our debt, including the outstanding notes, to refinance our debt, or to fund our other liquidity needs.
If we are unable to meet our debt service obligations or to fund our other liquidity needs, we will need to restructure or refinance all or a portion of our debt, including the outstanding notes. Failure to successfully restructure or refinance our debt could cause us to default on our debt obligations and would impair our liquidity. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our indebtedness could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants that could further restrict our business operations.
Moreover, in the event of a default of our debt service obligations, if not cured or waived, the holders of the applicable indebtedness, including holders of our outstanding notes and the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, could elect to declare all the funds borrowed to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest. We cannot be certain that our assets or cash flows would be sufficient to fully repay borrowings under our outstanding debt instruments if accelerated upon an event of default. First, a default in our debt service obligations in respect of the outstanding notes would result in a cross-default under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. The foregoing would permit the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility to terminate their commitments thereunder and cease making further loans, and would allow the lenders under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities to declare all loans immediately due and payable and to institute foreclosure proceedings against their collateral. Second, any event of default or declaration of acceleration under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or certain other agreements relating to our outstanding indebtedness could also result in an event of default under the indenture governing the outstanding notes, and any event of default or declaration of acceleration under any other of our outstanding indebtedness may also contain a cross-default provision. Any such default, event of default if not cured or waived, or declaration of acceleration could force us into bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, or liquidation.
Refer to “Note 20 - Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion related to our indebtedness.
The Chemours Company
Despite our current level of indebtedness, we may incur substantially more debt and enter into other transactions, which could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition described above.
Notwithstanding our current level of indebtedness, we may incur significant additional indebtedness in the future, including additional secured indebtedness (including the $900 million maximum capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility) that would be effectively senior to our outstanding notes. Although the indenture that governs the outstanding notes and the credit agreement that governs the Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness and to enter into certain types of other transactions, these restrictions are subject to a number of significant qualifications and exceptions. Additional indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions, including additional secured indebtedness, could be substantial. These restrictions also do not prevent us from incurring obligations, such as trade payables, that do not constitute indebtedness as defined under our debt instruments. To the extent such new debt is added to our current debt levels, the substantial leverage risks described in the immediately preceding risk factor would increase.
We may need additional capital in the future and may not be able to obtain it on favorable terms.
Our industry is capital intensive, and we may require additional capital in the future to finance our growth and development, implement further marketing and sales activities, fund ongoing R&D activities, make investments driven by environmental compliance, and meet general working capital needs. Our capital requirements will depend on many factors, including acceptance of and demand for our products, the extent to which we invest in new technology and R&D projects, and the status and timing of these developments, as well as the general availability of capital from debt and/or equity markets. However, debt or equity financing may not be available to us on terms we find acceptable, if at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital when needed, our financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
Additionally, our failure to maintain the credit ratings on our debt securities, including the outstanding notes, could negatively affect our ability to access capital and could increase our interest expense on future indebtedness. We expect the credit rating agencies to periodically review our capital structure and the quality and stability of our earnings. Deterioration in our capital structure or the quality and stability of our earnings could result in a downgrade of our overall credit ratings and our debt securities. Any negative rating agency actions could constrain the capital available to us, reduce or eliminate available borrowing to us, and could limit our access to and/or increase the cost of funding our operations. If, as a result, our ability to access capital when needed becomes constrained, our interest costs could increase, which could have material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
The agreements governing our indebtedness restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or to take certain actions.
The agreements governing our indebtedness, including the outstanding notes, contain, and the agreements governing future indebtedness and future debt securities may contain, significant restrictive covenants and, in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, financial maintenance and negative covenants that will limit our operations, including our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interests. These restrictive covenants may limit us, and our restricted subsidiaries, from taking, or give rights to the holders of our indebtedness in the event of, the following actions:
•
incurring additional indebtedness and guaranteeing indebtedness and other obligations;
•
paying dividends or making other distributions in respect of, or repurchasing or redeeming, our capital stock;
•
making acquisitions or other investments;
•
prepaying, redeeming, or repurchasing certain indebtedness;
•
selling or otherwise disposing of assets;
•
selling stock of our subsidiaries;
•
incurring liens;
•
entering into transactions with affiliates;
•
entering into agreements restricting our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends;
•
entering into transactions that result in a change of control of us; and,
•
consolidating, merging, or selling all or substantially all of our assets.
Our failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of some or all of our indebtedness, which could lead us to bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency.
The Chemours Company
Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our indebtedness service obligations to increase significantly.
Our borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities are at variable rates and expose us to interest rate risk. As a result, if interest rates increase, our debt service obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or other variable rate debt would increase, even though the amount borrowed would remain the same, and our net income and cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, would correspondingly decrease. We may use, from time to time, derivative instruments to mitigate interest rate risk. However, there is no guarantee that derivative contracts may be available to us and/or if such contracts will provide the desired results. As of December 31, 2021, we had approximately $1.2 billion of our outstanding debt under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities at variable interest rates.
Refer to “Note 26 - Financial Instruments” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details regarding our interest rate swaps designated as a cash flow hedge.
General Risk Factors
Our stock price could become more volatile and investments could lose value.
The market price for our common stock may be affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to:
•
our quarterly or annual earnings, or those of other companies in our industry;
•
actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results;
•
changes in earnings estimates by securities analysts or our ability to meet those estimates or our earnings guidance;
•
anticipated or actual outcomes or resolutions of legal or other contingencies;
•
the operating and stock price performance of other comparable companies;
•
a change in our dividend or stock repurchase activities;
•
changes in applicable rules and regulations and the reputation of our business;
•
the announcement of new products by us or our competitors;
•
overall market fluctuations and domestic and worldwide economic conditions; and,
•
other factors described within this Item 1A - Risk Factors, and elsewhere within this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
A significant drop or rise in our stock price could expose us to costly and time-consuming litigation, which could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources, resulting in an adverse effect on our business. As further described in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, lawsuits have been filed alleging that Chemours and certain of its officers have violated the Exchange Act of 1934.
We cannot guarantee the timing or amount of our dividends and/or our share repurchases, which are subject to a number of uncertainties that may affect the price of our common stock.
The declaration, payment, and amount of any dividends, and/or the decision to purchase common stock under our share repurchase programs, are subject to the sole discretion of our board of directors and, in the context of our financial policy and capital allocation strategy, will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and relevant prospects, our capital requirements and access to capital markets, covenants associated with certain of our debt obligations, legal requirements, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant, and there can be no assurances that we will continue to pay a dividend or repurchase our common shares in the future.
The reduction or elimination of our dividends or share repurchase programs could adversely affect the price of our common stock. Additionally, any repurchases of our common stock will reduce the amount of our common stock outstanding. There can be no assurances that any share repurchase activity will increase stockholder value due to market fluctuations in the price of our common stock, which may reduce the price of our common stock to levels below the repurchase price. Although our share repurchase programs are designed to enhance long-term shareholder value, short-term fluctuations in the market price of our common stock could reduce the program’s overall effectiveness.
The Chemours Company
A stockholder’s percentage of ownership in us may be diluted in the future.
A stockholder’s percentage ownership in our common stock may be diluted because of equity issuances for acquisitions, capital market transactions, or otherwise, including, without limitation, equity awards that we may be granting to our directors, officers, and employees. Such issuances may have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue, without the approval of our stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designation, powers, preferences, and relative participating, optional, and other special rights, including preferences over our common stock with respect to dividends and distributions, as our board of directors generally may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could dilute the voting power or reduce the value of our common stock. For example, we could grant the holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we could assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of our common stock.
Certain provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, and of Delaware law, may prevent or delay an acquisition of us, which could decrease the trading price of the common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws contain, and Delaware law contains, provisions that are intended to deter coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids by making such practices or bids unacceptably expensive to the bidder and to encourage prospective acquirers to negotiate with our board of directors rather than to attempt a hostile takeover. These provisions include, among others:
•
the inability of our stockholders to act by written consent;
•
the limited ability of our stockholders to call a special meeting;
•
rules regarding how stockholders may present proposals or nominate directors for election at stockholder meetings;
•
the right of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval;
•
the ability of our directors, and not stockholders, to fill vacancies (including those resulting from an enlargement of the board of directors) on our board of directors; and,
•
the requirement that stockholders holding at least 80% of our voting stock are required to amend certain provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated by-laws.
In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporations Law (“DGCL”). Section 203 of the DGCL provides that, subject to limited exceptions, persons that (without prior board of directors approval) acquire, or are affiliated with a person that acquires, more than 15% of the outstanding voting stock of a Delaware corporation shall not engage in any business combination with that corporation, including by merger, consolidation, or acquisitions of additional shares, for a three-year period following the date on which that person or its affiliate becomes the holder of more than 15% of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock.
We believe these provisions will protect our stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics by requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with our board of directors and by providing our board of directors with more time to assess any acquisition proposal. These provisions are not intended to make us immune from takeovers. However, these provisions will apply even if an acquisition proposal or offer may be considered beneficial by some stockholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that our board of directors determines is not in our and/or our stockholders’ best interests. These provisions may also prevent or discourage attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors.
Several of the agreements that we have entered into with EID require EID’s consent to any assignment by us of our rights and obligations, or a change of control of us, under the agreements. The consent rights set forth in these agreements might discourage, delay, or prevent a change of control that a stockholder may consider favorable.
Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain key employees, and to identify and develop talented personnel to succeed our senior management and other key employees.
Our success depends on the performance of our key employees, including our senior management team. If we are unable to attract, retain, identify, and develop a talented, diverse set of leaders, whether due to technical, geographical, social, or other differences, our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows could be adversely affected. Further, if we are unable to effectively plan for the succession of our senior management team, our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows could be adversely affected, as we may be unable to realize our business strategy. While our ongoing personnel practices identify a succession process for our key employees, we cannot guarantee the effectiveness of this process, the continuity of highly-qualified individuals serving in all of our key positions at particular moments in time, and/or the completeness of any knowledge transfer at the time of succession, including its impacts on our general operations and on our internal controls over our financial reporting.
The Chemours Company

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. PROPERTIES
Our Production Facilities and Technical Centers
Our corporate headquarters is located in Wilmington, Delaware, and we maintain a global network of production facilities and technical centers located in cost-effective and strategic locations. We also use contract manufacturing and joint venture partners in order to provide regional access or to lower manufacturing costs, as appropriate.
The following chart sets forth our production facilities at December 31, 2021.
Production Facilities
Region
Titanium Technologies
Thermal & Specialized Solutions
Advanced Performance Materials
Chemical Solutions
Shared Locations
North America
DeLisle, Mississippi
New Johnsonville, Tennessee
Jesup, Georgia (Mine) (1)
Nahunta, Georgia (Mine) (1)
Offerman, Georgia (Mineral Separation)
Starke, Florida (Mine & Mineral Separation)
Corpus Christi, Texas
El Dorado, Arkansas (1)
LaPorte, Texas (1)
Louisville, Kentucky (1)
Deepwater, New Jersey
Elkton, Maryland (1)
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Louisville, Kentucky
Parlin, New Jersey (1)
Washington, West Virginia
Belle, West Virginia (3)
Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
Mechelen, Belgium
Villers St. Paul, France (1)
Dordrecht, Netherlands (4)
Latin America
Altamira, Mexico
Barueri, Brazil (1)
Manaus, Brazil (1)
Monterrey, Mexico (1)
Asia Pacific
Kuan Yin, Taiwan
Chiba, Japan (2)
Shimizu, Japan (2)
Sichuan, China (2)
Changshu, China (2,4)
(1)
Site is leased from a third party.
(2)
Site with joint venture equity affiliates.
(3)
Shared site between the Thermal & Specialized Solutions and Chemical Solutions segments.
(4)
Shared site between the Thermal & Specialized Solutions and Advanced Performance Materials segments.
We have technical centers and R&D facilities located at a number of our production facilities. We also maintain stand-alone technical centers to serve our customers and provide technical support.
The following chart sets forth our stand-alone technical centers at December 31, 2021.
Technical Centers
Region
Titanium Technologies
Thermal & Specialized Solutions
Advanced Performance Materials
Chemical Solutions
Shared Locations
North America
Newark, Delaware (1,3)
Wilmington, Delaware (1,2)
Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
Kallo, Belgium (1)
Meyrin, Switzerland (1,2)
Latin America
Mexico City, Mexico (1)
Asia Pacific
Shanghai, China (1,3)
(1)
Site is leased from a third party.
(2)
Shared site between the Thermal & Specialized Solutions and Advanced Performance Materials segments.
(3)
Shared site between the Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials segments.
The Chemours Company
Our plants and equipment are maintained in good operating condition. We believe that we have sufficient production capacity for our primary products to meet demand in 2022. Our properties are primarily owned by us; however, certain properties are leased, as noted in the preceding tables.
We recognize that the security and safety of our operations are critical to our employees and communities, as well as our future. Physical security measures have been combined with process safety measures, administrative procedures, and emergency response preparedness into an integrated security plan. We conduct vulnerability assessments at our operating facilities in the U.S., as well as high-priority sites worldwide, and as a result, identify and implement the appropriate measures to protect these facilities from physical and cyberattacks. We also maintain preparedness plans that detail actions needed to recover from acute severe weather events, natural disasters, or other events that could disrupt our business. We engineer our facilities to better withstand these events and hold insurance coverage to protect against losses from physical damages and business interruptions. These measures have historically been in place, and these activities and associated costs are driven by normal operational preparedness.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Legal Proceedings
We are subject to various legal proceedings, including, but not limited to, product liability, intellectual property, personal injury, commercial, contractual, employment, governmental, environmental and regulatory, anti-trust, and other such matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. In addition, we, by virtue of our status as a subsidiary of EID prior to the Separation, are subject to or required under the Separation-related agreements executed prior to the Separation to indemnify EID against various pending legal proceedings. Information regarding certain of these matters is set forth below and in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In the foregoing, we have excluded matters that we expect to result in sanctions of less than $1 million, if any.
Litigation
PFOA and PFAS: Environmental and Litigation Proceedings
For purposes of this report, the term “PFOA” means, collectively, perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts, including the ammonium salt, and does not distinguish between the two forms. The term “PFAS” means per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Information related to these and other litigation matters is included in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Actions related to Fayetteville, other than those by the State of North Carolina, as discussed in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, are shown below.
In the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina:
•
Carey et al. vs. E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company (7:17-cv-00189-D; 7:17-cv-00197-D; and, 7:17-cv-00201-D);
•
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority vs. The Chemours Company FC, LLC et al. and Brunswick County v. DowDuPont et al. (7:17-cv-00195-D and 7:17-cv-00209-D);
•
Dew et al. vs. E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company et al. (17:18-cv-00030-D);
•
O’Brien et al. vs. E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company et al. (5:20-cv-00208-D) ; and,
•
Priselac vs. The Chemours Company et al. (20-CVS-499).
In Bladen County, North Carolina:
•
Kinlaw et al. vs. The Chemours Company et al. (20-CVS-497); and,
•
Lohr et al. vs. The Chemours Company et al. (20-CVS-498).
The Chemours Company
Environmental Proceedings
Dordrecht, Netherlands
In May 2020, we were notified of an alleged criminal offense related to the Netherlands’ Environmental Management Act and the Working Conditions Decree, regarding the use of PFOA during the pre-spin time period of June 1, 2008 to December 31, 2012. The investigation was initiated in the first quarter of 2016 by a public prosecutor. We believe that the Company has complied with all relevant laws, and we are in contact with the prosecutor.
Fayetteville, North Carolina
In February 2019, we received a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) from the EPA alleging certain TSCA violations at Fayetteville. Matters raised in the NOV could have the potential to affect operations at Fayetteville. For this NOV, we responded to EPA in March 2019 and at this time management does not believe that a loss is probable related to this NOV. We have also received NOVs from NC DEQ following entry of the CO, including in April 2020, January 2021, and August 2021, alleging violations relating to Fayetteville. We have responded to these matters and are presently appealing the penalty from the August 2021 NOV, for which a loss is reasonably possible. We do not believe that a loss is probable related to the matters in the other NOVs. Further discussion related to these matters is included under the heading “Fayetteville Works, Fayetteville, North Carolina” in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Information regarding mine safety and other regulatory actions at our surface mines and/or mineral sands separation facilities in Starke, Florida, Jesup, Georgia, Nahunta, Georgia, and Offerman, Georgia, are included in Exhibit 95 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Chemours Company
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following list sets forth our executive officers and a summary of their professional experience.
Mark E. Newman, age 58, serves as our President and CEO. Mr. Newman was appointed President and CEO in July 2021, prior to which time he had served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) since June 2019 and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) from November 2014 to June 2019. Mr. Newman joined Chemours in November 2014 from SunCoke Energy, Inc. (“SunCoke”), where he was SunCoke’s Senior Vice President and CFO and led its financial, strategy, business development, and information technology functions. Mr. Newman joined SunCoke’s leadership team in March 2011 to help drive SunCoke’s separation from its parent company, Sunoco, Inc. He led SunCoke through an initial public offering and championed a major restructuring of SunCoke, which resulted in the initial public offering of SunCoke Energy Partners, L.P. in January 2013, creating the first coke-manufacturing master limited partnership. Prior to joining SunCoke, Mr. Newman served as Vice President - Remarketing and Managing Director of SmartAuction, Ally Financial Inc. (previously, the General Motors Acceptance Corporation). Mr. Newman began his career at the General Motors Company in 1986 as an Industrial Engineer and progressed through several financial and operational leadership roles within the global automaker, including Vice President and CFO of Shanghai General Motors Limited; Assistant Treasurer of General Motors Corporation; and, Vice President - North America and CFO. Mr. Newman served on the board of Altria Group, Inc. from February 2018 through January 2022.
Sameer Ralhan, age 48, serves as our Senior Vice President and CFO. Mr. Ralhan was appointed Senior Vice President and CFO in June 2019. Mr. Ralhan joined Chemours in November 2014 and has held several positions of increasing responsibility in strategy, mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”), finance, and treasury. He served as Vice President, Business Finance and Treasurer from 2018 to 2019, retaining his responsibilities as Treasurer until August 2020, and Vice President, Business Finance and Head of M&A from 2016 to 2018. He also served as Treasurer and Head of M&A from 2015 to 2016, and Head of M&A from 2014 to 2015. Prior to joining Chemours, Mr. Ralhan served as a Managing Director in the Global Natural Resources Group of Goldman Sachs & Co. During his tenure at Goldman Sachs and Co., from 2007 to 2014, he advised companies in the chemicals, industrials, and basic materials sectors on M&A, portfolio transformations, corporate finance matters, and capital markets transactions. Mr. Ralhan also served as an associate in the investment banking group of Bank of America Securities, LLC from 2004 to 2007. Mr. Ralhan began his career as a Chemical Engineer and brings chemicals industry operating experience from his time (1998 - 2002) at Aspen Technology, Inc., where, as an advanced process control engineer, he executed manufacturing process improvement and operational enhancement initiatives for several global chemical and petrochemical companies.
Edwin C. Sparks, age 48, serves as our President - Titanium Technologies and President - Chemical Solutions. Mr. Sparks was appointed to these roles in March 2021 and April 2018, respectively. Previously, he served as President - Fluoroproducts (comprised of Thermal & Specialized Solutions and Advanced Performance Materials) from October 2019 to March 2021. Additionally, Mr. Sparks served as Director of Corporate Strategy from 2017 to 2018 and Global Planning Director - Titanium Technologies from 2016 to 2017. He also served as the Asia Pacific Regional Business Director - Titanium Technologies from 2015 to 2016, based in Singapore. Prior to joining Chemours, he held leadership positions of increasing scope in the EID Titanium Technologies business, with responsibilities including sales, marketing, operations, strategy, and technology. Mr. Sparks joined EID in 1994 as a process engineer.
Alisha Bellezza, age 46, serves as our President - Thermal & Specialized Solutions. Ms. Bellezza was appointed to this role in March 2021, having led the business since July 2020. Ms. Bellezza joined Chemours in 2015 to launch the investor relations function, before becoming our Vice President, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations from 2016 to 2018. More recently, she held the position of Vice President, Global Sales, Commercial Operations & Supply Chain in the Titanium Technologies segment from 2018 to 2020. Prior to Chemours, Ms. Bellezza held positions with increasing responsibility in Investor Relations, Corporate Strategy & Development, and Finance at FMC Corporation in the Agricultural Products Group and at the Corporate level from 2006 to 2015. She began her career as a financial analyst in banking at Bank One corporation and First Bank & Trust, holding progressive leadership positions before joining Verizon Communications in 2003 to 2006.
Denise Dignam, age 56, serves as our President - Advanced Performance Materials Ms. Dignam was appointed to this role in March 2021. Ms. Dignam joined Chemours in 2015 and has served as our Vice President of Global Operations - Fluoroproducts, from 2019 to 2021; Global Senior Business Director - Fluoropolymers, from 2016 to 2019; and North American Business Director - Diversified Technologies and Industrial Resins, from 2015 to 2016. Previously, she worked at EID in various roles, including Director of Global Supply Chain - Fluoroproducts, from 2013 to 2014; Global Business Manager of Sulfur Products, from 2009 to 2013; and Global Sales Manager of Clean Technologies from 2007 to 2009. Ms. Dignam joined EID in 1988 as a design engineer.
David C. Shelton, age 58, serves as our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to Chemours, Mr. Shelton was appointed Associate General Counsel for EID in 2011 and was responsible for the U.S. Commercial team, which included the business lawyers and paralegals counseling all EID business units, with the exception of Agriculture. Mr. Shelton also served as the Commercial Attorney to a variety of EID businesses including the Performance Materials platform, which he advised on international assignment in Geneva, and the businesses now comprising Chemours. Prior to that, Mr. Shelton advised the company on environmental and remediation matters as part of the environmental legal team. Mr. Shelton joined EID in 1996, after seven years in private practice as a litigator in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The Chemours Company
Susan M. Kelliher, age 55, serves as our Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Health Services. Ms. Kelliher joined Chemours in 2017 from Albemarle Corporation (“Albemarle”), where she served as Senior Vice President - Human Resources for the global specialty chemical company. Prior to Albemarle, she served as Vice President - Human Resources at Hewlett Packard, where she held a number of leadership positions on global teams including Imaging and Printing and Global Sales & Enterprise Marketing from 2007 to 2012. Before joining Hewlett Packard, Ms. Kelliher served as Vice President - Human Resources for Cymer, Inc. (“Cymer”), where she led the people function. She joined Cymer from The Home Depot where, from 2004 to 2007, she was the Vice President - Human Resources for the growth engines of the company - Business Development, and Home Services including responsibility for due diligence and integration for the company’s acquisitions. From 2000 to 2004, Ms. Kelliher served as Senior Director of Human Resources for Corporate Business Development and International Operations for the Raytheon Company (“Raytheon”). Prior to Raytheon, she served as the Director of Human Resources - Western Region for YUM! Brands, Pizza Hut division from 1995 to 2000. Ms. Kelliher started her career at Mobil Oil, where her career progressed through a variety of assignments including support for new ventures in Europe, Russia, and Africa from 1990 to 1995.
Alvenia Scarborough, age 48, serves as our Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Chief Brand Officer. Ms. Scarborough was appointed to this role in October 2020, after serving as Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Brand Marketing since July 2015. Prior to Chemours, Ms. Scarborough held a variety of corporate communications and marketing communications positions with increasing responsibility across brand development, corporate reputation, media relations, employee communications, and digital marketing. Ms. Scarborough brings over two decades of communications experience with leading multinational companies, including: EID, where she served as the Corporate Leader, Brand Management, Protection and Licensing from 2013 to 2015 and Global Director, Business Communications and Brand Marketing from 2011 to 2013; Newell Rubbermaid, where she served as the Director, Business Communications and Brand Marketing, Global Technology Brands from 2009 to 2010; and Kodak Alaris, where she served as Director of Marketing & Communications, Consumer Imaging from 2000 to 2009, where she spent several years as a product management commercial leader. Ms. Scarborough’s unique experience and modern approach to communications have resulted in multiple industry awards and recognition for breakthrough social media and advertising campaigns.
Jonathan S. Lock, age 41, serves as our Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer. Mr. Lock leads our Corporate Strategy, M&A, Investor Relations, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs functions. Mr. Lock was appointed to this role in November 2021. Mr. Lock joined Chemours in April 2018 as Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations with oversight for Corporate Strategy, M&A, and Investor Relations. Prior to Chemours, Mr. Lock led corporate strategy and investor relations for SunCoke Energy and its Master Limited Partnership, SunCoke Energy Partners, from 2013 to 2018, where he helped the company expand and grow following its spin-out from Sunoco. Prior to SunCoke, Mr. Lock was a leader in the industrials practice at Marakon Associates where he advised Global 500 companies on growth and portfolio issues first from 2004 to 2008 and again from 2011 to 2013. From 2001 to 2004 Jonathan was a member of the Technology Labs group at Accenture.
The Chemours Company
PART II

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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 for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol, “CC”. The number of record holders of our common stock was 40,500 at February 7, 2022. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when they are declared by our board of directors, and dividends are generally declared and paid on a quarterly basis. Our stock transfer agent and registrar is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
2018 Share Repurchase Program
On August 1, 2018, our board of directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the purchase of shares of our issued and outstanding common stock in an aggregate amount not to exceed $750 million, plus any associated fees or costs in connection with our share repurchase activity (the “2018 Share Repurchase Program”). On February 13, 2019, our board of directors increased the authorization amount of the 2018 Share Repurchase Program from $750 million to $1.0 billion. Under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program, shares of our common stock can be purchased in the open market from time to time, subject to management’s discretion, as well as general business and market conditions. Our 2018 Share Repurchase Program became effective on August 1, 2018 and was originally scheduled to continue through the earlier of its expiration on December 31, 2020 or the completion of repurchases up to the approved amount. On December 8, 2020, our board of directors approved the extension of the 2018 Share Repurchase Program through December 31, 2022. The program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. All common shares purchased under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program are expected to be held as treasury stock and accounted for using the cost method.
Through December 31, 2021, under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program, we have purchased a cumulative 20,779,745 shares of our issued and outstanding common stock, which amounted to $749 million at an average share price of $36.05 per share. The aggregate amount of our common stock that remained available for purchase under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program at December 31, 2021 was $251 million.
The following table sets forth the purchases of our issued and outstanding common stock under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program for the three months ended December 31, 2021.
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Approximate Dollar
Total Number
Value of Shares
Total Number
of Shares
That May Yet be
of Shares
Average Price
Purchased as Part of
Purchased Under the
Purchased
Paid per Share
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
Period
(1)
(2)
Plans or Programs
(2)
Month ended October 31, 2021
719,485
$
30.02
719,485
$
Month ended November 30, 2021
739,197
31.44
739,197
Month ended December 31, 2021
1,564,257
31.94
1,564,257
Total
3,022,939
$
31.36
3,022,939
$
(1)
The total number of shares purchased under the share repurchase program is determined using trade dates for the related transactions.
(2)
The average price paid per share and approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the share repurchase program exclude fees, commissions, and other charges for the related transactions.
The Chemours Company
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph presents the five-year cumulative total stockholder returns for our common stock compared with the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) MidCap 400 and the S&P MidCap 400 Chemical indices.
The graph assumes that the values of our common stock, the S&P MidCap 400 index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Chemical index were each $100 on December 31, 2016, and that all dividends were reinvested.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. RESERVED
Schedules not listed herein have been omitted because they are not required, not applicable, or the required information is otherwise included.
Pursuant to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act, we are required to and have previously filed reports and information with the SEC, including reports on the following forms: Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. These reports and information have been filed or furnished with the SEC and are available electronically, both with the SEC and on our company website, as referenced under the caption “Available Information” within this Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Chemours Company

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) supplements the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere herein to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in our financial condition, and the results of our operations for the periods presented. For the year ended December 31, 2019, and changes from the year ended December 31, 2019 to the year ended December 31, 2020, management’s discussion and analysis pertaining to our financial condition, changes in our financial condition, and the results of our operations have been omitted from this MD&A and may be found in Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as included in our Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that may not be accurate or realized. These statements, as well as our historical performance, are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to identify at this time or that we do not currently expect to have a material impact on our business. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, the risks, uncertainties, and other factors discussed within Item 1A - Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We are a leading, global provider of performance chemicals that are key inputs in end-products and processes in a variety of industries. We deliver customized solutions with a wide range of industrial and specialty chemical products for markets, including coatings, plastics, refrigeration and air conditioning, transportation, semiconductor and consumer electronics, general industrial, and oil and gas. Our principal products include TiO2 pigment, refrigerants, industrial fluoropolymer resins, sodium cyanide (prior to the Mining Solutions business sale), and performance chemicals and intermediates. We manage and report our operating results through four reportable segments: Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, Advanced Performance Materials, and Chemical Solutions. Our Titanium Technologies segment is a leading, global provider of TiO2 pigment, a premium white pigment used to deliver whiteness, brightness, opacity, and protection in a variety of applications. Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment is a leading, global provider of refrigerants, thermal management solutions, propellants, blowing agents, and specialty solvents. Our Advanced Performance Materials segment is a leading, global provider of high-end polymers and advanced materials that deliver unique attributes, including low friction coefficients, extreme temperature resistance, weather resistance, ultraviolet and chemical resistance, and electrical insulation. Our Chemical Solutions segment was a leading provider of industrial chemicals used in gold production prior to the Mining Solutions business sale and continues to be a leading provider of chemicals used in industrial, and consumer applications in the Americas.
Recent Developments
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”)
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread throughout the world. More contagious COVID-19 variants continue to emerge driving up infection rates globally, particularly in jurisdictions where vaccination rates have lagged. As a global provider of performance chemicals that are key inputs in end-products and processes in a variety of industries, a pandemic presents obstacles that can adversely impact customer demand for our products, our manufacturing operations, our supply chain effectiveness and efficiencies, and ultimately, our financial results. Throughout the outbreak and subsequent stages of the COVID-19 pandemic that have occurred thus far, above all, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our employees and their families, while serving our customers, and conserving cash to ensure the continuity of our business operations into the future.
Although COVID-19 infections have continued to spread throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, we continue to experience minimal disruption in our operations and business-related processes. Where necessary, based on COVID-19 infection rates and local regulations, we continue to take a number of measures to promote the safety and security of our employees, including requiring remote working arrangements for employees where practicable, the imposition of travel restrictions, limiting non-essential visits to plant sites, performing health checks before every shift, and providing personal protective equipment for our “essential” operations employees at our sites and laboratories. We cannot predict with certainty the potential future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers’ ability to manufacture their products, as well as any potential future disruptions in our supply chain due to restrictions on travel and transport, regional quarantines, and other social distancing measures. The risks and uncertainties posed by this significant, widespread event are innumerable and far-reaching, including but not limited to those described in Item 1A - Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Refer to the “Segment Reviews”, “2022 Outlook”, and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” sections within this MD&A for further considerations regarding the quickly evolving market dynamics that are impacting our businesses and our associated response.
The Chemours Company
Despite the health and safety, business continuity, and macroeconomic challenges associated with conducting business in the current environment, we remain committed to anticipating and meeting the demands of our customers, as they, like us, continue to navigate uncharted territory. In 2020, we elected to accept tax relief provided by various taxing jurisdictions, resulting in the deferral of approximately $80 million in tax payments, of which approximately $35 million was paid in 2020 and $35 million was paid in 2021, the remainder of which will be paid in 2022. In addition, in 2021, we recorded approximately $15 million of benefit related to the Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which we expect to receive in 2022. We continue to anticipate that our cash generated from operations, available cash, receivables securitization, and existing debt financing arrangements will provide us with sufficient liquidity through at least February 2023.
Winter Storm Uri
Over several days in mid-February 2021, a major winter storm impacted a significant portion of the United States. In Texas, especially, snow, ice, and record-low temperatures drove higher-than-normal energy and heating demand, leaving millions of residents and businesses without power. Impacts from the storm to our operations were principally at our sites in Corpus Christi, El Dorado and LaPorte in our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment which experienced physical damage resulting in plant downtime along with significant increases in utility costs during and immediately following the storm. Our sites at DeLisle and New Johnsonville in our Titanium Technologies segment and at Memphis in our Chemical Solutions segment were affected to a lesser degree than those in Thermal & Specialized Solutions. Our Advanced Performance Materials plant sites were not directly impacted by the storm, but the segment did face some challenges in the broader supply chain. The total cost of plant repairs and utility charges in excess of historical averages amount to approximately $21 million. In addition, storm-related downtime resulted in under absorption of plant fixed costs, impacting cost of goods sold by $9 million. We do not expect to receive any storm-related insurance recoveries.
Sale of Mining Solutions Business
In March 2021, we announced the initiation of a strategic review to assess the potential sale of the Mining Solutions business. On July 26, 2021, we entered into a definitive agreement with Manchester Acquisition Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a subsidiary of Draslovka Holding a.s., (“Draslovka”) to sell the Mining Solutions business of our Chemical Solutions segment (the “Mining Solutions Transaction”). The sale was completed on December 1, 2021 for net cash proceeds of $508 million, net of $13 million cash divested. Upon completion of the sale, we also recorded a net pre-tax gain on sale of $112 million, inclusive of $21 million of transaction costs.
Senior Unsecured Notes Due November 2029
In August 2021, we issued a $650 million aggregate principal amount of 4.625% senior unsecured notes due November 2029 (the “2029 Notes”). We received proceeds of $642 million, net of underwriting fees and other related expenses of $8 million, which are deferred and amortized to interest expense over the term of the 2029 Notes. The net proceeds from the 2029 Notes were used, together with cash on hand, to purchase or redeem, as applicable, the $750 million 7.000% senior notes due May 2025, denominated in U.S. dollars (the “2025 Notes”). In connection with the purchase and redemption of the 2025 Notes, we incurred a loss on extinguishment of $20 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Revolving Credit Facility
Our credit agreement, as amended and restated on April 3, 2018 (“Credit Agreement”), provides for a seven-year, senior secured term loan facility and a five-year, $800 million senior secured revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”). On October 7, 2021, we entered into an amendment to the credit agreement (“Credit Agreement Amendment”) to, among other things, increase the aggregate commitment under our Revolving Credit Facility to $900 million and extend the maturity date to October 7, 2026.
The Chemours Company
Results of Operations and Business Highlights
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Net sales
$
6,345
$
4,969
Cost of goods sold
4,964
3,902
Gross profit
1,381
1,067
Selling, general, and administrative expense
Research and development expense
Restructuring, asset-related, and other charges
Total other operating expenses
Equity in earnings of affiliates
Interest expense, net
(185
)
(210
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
(21
)
(22
)
Other income, net
Income before income taxes
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
(40
)
Net income
Net income attributable to Chemours
$
$
Net Sales
The following table sets forth the impacts of price, volume, currency, and portfolio changes on our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Change in net sales from prior period
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Price
%
Volume
%
Currency
%
Portfolio
(2
)%
Total change in net sales
%
Our net sales increased by $1.4 billion (or 28%) to $6.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with net sales of $5.0 billion for the same period in 2020. The increase in our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to an increase in volume of 21% and an increase in price of 7%, partially offset by portfolio change of 2% driven by our Chemical Solutions segment. Volume and price increases in net sales were driven by increases in volume and price across all segments. Favorable currency movements in our Titanium Technologies, Thermal and Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials segments added a tailwind of 2% to our net sales.
The drivers of these changes for each of our segments are discussed further under the “Segment Reviews” section within this MD&A.
Cost of Goods Sold
Our cost of goods sold (“COGS”) increased by $1.1 billion (or 27%) to $5.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with COGS of $3.9 billion for the same period in 2020. The increases in our COGS for the year ended December 31, 2021 were primarily attributable to higher net sales, as well as higher raw material costs, higher distribution, freight, and logistics expenses driven by the overall increase in net sales, raw material inflation and supply chain constraints. The increase was also due to plant fixed costs expensed in conjunction with plant downtime at certain of our facilities and under absorption of plant fixed costs due to operational issues and supply chain disruptions related to inclement weather from Winter Storm Uri during the first quarter of 2021, partially offset by a payroll tax credit recognized under the ERC of the CARES Act. The increase in COGS was also driven by $193 million of on-site environmental remediation costs at our Fayetteville Works site in Fayetteville, North Carolina (“Fayetteville”) during 2021, partially offset by Qualified Spend recovery from DuPont and Corteva.
The Chemours Company
Selling, General, and Administrative Expense
Our selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) expense increased by $65 million (or 12%) to $592 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with SG&A expense of $527 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in our SG&A expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to higher performance-based compensation expenses in the current year, $25 million incurred for settlement with the State of Delaware, and cost deferral activities in the prior year related to COVID-19, partially offset by Qualified Spend recovery from DuPont and Corteva.
Research and Development Expense
Our research and development (“R&D”) expense increased by $14 million (or 15%) to $107 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with R&D expense of $93 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in our R&D expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to R&D project activities returning to a normalized level following the deferral of activities in 2020 due to COVID-19, growth initiatives in the current year, and our increased focus on product development in our Advanced Performance Materials segment.
Restructuring, Asset-related, and Other Charges
Our restructuring, asset-related, and other charges decreased by $74 million (or 93%) to $6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with $80 million for the same period in 2020.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, our restructuring, asset-related, and other charges were primarily attributable to $12 million of decommissioning and dismantling related charges in connection with our decision to exit the Aniline business and stop production at our Pascagoula, Mississippi manufacturing plant, partially offset by a net $9 million gain from contract termination with a third-party services provider at our previously owned Mining Solutions facility in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. This facility was sold as part of the Mining Solutions Transaction.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, our restructuring, asset-related, and other charges were primarily attributable to $37 million in contract termination fees and immediate recognition of prepaid costs in connection with our entry into dispute resolution with a third-party services provider at our previously owned Mining Solutions facility under construction in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. The facility was sold as part of the Mining Solutions Transaction. We also incurred $15 million of employee-related separation liabilities under various restructuring programs and $10 million of asset-related impairment charges in our Advanced Performance Materials segment, as well as $12 million of charges in connection with our decision to exit the Aniline business and stop production at our Pascagoula, Mississippi manufacturing plant.
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates
Our equity in earnings of affiliates increased by $20 million (or 87%) to $43 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with equity in earnings of affiliates of $23 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in our equity in earnings of affiliates for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to increased demand for our investees’ products, primarily from Chemours-Mitsui Fluorochemicals Company, Ltd.
Interest Expense, Net
Our interest expense, net decreased by $25 million (or 12%) to $185 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with interest expense, net of $210 million for the same period in 2020. The decrease in our interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to a reduction in our outstanding debt obligations and associated rates following the refinancing of our 6.625% senior unsecured notes due May 2021, denominated in U.S. dollars (“2023 Dollar Notes”) in the fourth quarter of 2020, as well as the refinancing of our 2025 Notes in the third quarter of 2021 and lower variable interest rates on our senior secured term loans.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $21 million primarily in connection with our tender offer and make-whole call to purchase any and all of our 2025 Notes.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, we recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $22 million in connection with our tender offer and make-whole call to purchase any and all of our remaining outstanding 2023 Dollar Notes.
The Chemours Company
Other Income (Expense), Net
Our other income (expense), net increased by $142 million (or over 100%) to $163 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with other income, net of $21 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in our other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to a net pre-tax gain on sale of $112 million associated with the sale of the Mining Solutions business of our Chemical Solutions segment and favorable changes in net exchange gains and losses of $29 million, driven by the favorable movements in several foreign currencies.
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes
Our provision for (benefit from) income taxes amounted to a provision for income taxes of $68 million and a benefit from income taxes of $40 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our provision for (benefit from) income taxes represented effective tax rates of 10% and negative 22% for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The $108 million increase in our provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2021, when compared with the same period in 2020, was primarily attributable to increased profitability, changes to our geographical mix of earnings, and $21 million of income tax expense related to the gain realized from the sale of our Mining Solutions business. In addition, we recorded income tax benefits in 2020 of $18 million related to the U.S. IRS acceptance of a non-automatic method change that allows for the recovery of tax basis for depreciation, which had been previously disallowed, and $11 million related to favorable impacts of certain elections and accounting method changes in connection with the filing of our 2019 U.S. federal income tax return, both of which did not reoccur in 2021. These increases were partially offset by income tax benefits in 2021 of $41 million associated with non-recurring accrued environmental remediation liabilities recorded in 2021, $11 million associated with a 2012 income tax refund received in a foreign subsidiary, and $16 million associated with a reversal of a valuation allowance on a certain foreign subsidiary’s deferred tax assets in relation to the sale of our Mining Solutions business on December 1, 2021.
Segment Reviews
Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is the primary measure of segment profitability used by our Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) and is defined as income (loss) before income taxes, excluding the following:
•
interest expense, depreciation, and amortization;
•
non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit costs, which represents the component of net periodic pension (income) costs excluding the service cost component;
•
exchange (gains) losses included in other income (expense), net;
•
restructuring, asset-related, and other charges;
•
(gains) losses on sales of assets and businesses; and,
•
other items not considered indicative of our ongoing operational performance and expected to occur infrequently, including Qualified Spend reimbursable by DuPont and/or Corteva as part of our cost-sharing agreement under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) that were previously excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.
A reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to Chemours to Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is included in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this MD&A.
The following table sets forth our Adjusted EBITDA by segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Titanium Technologies
$
$
Thermal & Specialized Solutions
Advanced Performance Materials
Chemical Solutions
Corporate and Other
(220
)
(184
)
Total Adjusted EBITDA
$
1,313
$
The Chemours Company
Titanium Technologies
The following table sets forth the net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin amounts for our Titanium Technologies segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Segment net sales
$
3,355
$
2,402
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA margin
%
%
The following table sets forth the impacts of price, volume, currency, and portfolio changes on our Titanium Technologies segment’s net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Change in segment net sales from prior period
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Price
%
Volume
%
Currency
%
Portfolio
-
%
Total change in segment net sales
%
Segment Net Sales
Our Titanium Technologies segment’s net sales increased by $953 million (or 40%) to $3.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with segment net sales of $2.4 billion for the same period in 2020. The increase in segment net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to an increase in volume of 28% and an increase in price of 10%. Volume increases were driven by steady demand and market share recovery for our products across all end-markets and regions. Price increases were due to contracted price changes, as well as spot price increases in our Flex and Distribution channels. Favorable currency movements added a 2% tailwind to the segment’s net sales during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased by $299 million (or 59%) to $809 million and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by approximately 300 basis points to 24% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with segment Adjusted EBITDA of $510 million and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin of 21% for the same period in 2020. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin was primarily attributable to the aforementioned increase in volume and price of the segment’s net sales, partially offset by higher raw material and energy costs, and fixed cost headwinds to support the increase in demand.
The Chemours Company
Thermal & Specialized Solutions
The following table sets forth the net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin amounts for our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Segment net sales
$
1,257
$
1,105
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA margin
%
%
The following table sets forth the impacts of price, volume, currency, and portfolio changes on our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment’s net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Change in segment net sales from prior period
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Price
%
Volume
%
Currency
%
Portfolio
-
%
Total change in segment net sales
%
Segment Net Sales
Our Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment’s net sales increased by $152 million (or 14%) to $1.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with segment net sales of $1.1 billion for the same period in 2020. The increase in segment net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to increases in volume and price of 9% and 4%, respectively. Volumes increased due to higher global customer demand for our refrigerants driven by global market recovery, partially offset by demand headwinds from automotive original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) related to semiconductor shortages. Overall, prices increased due to actions implemented to offset inflationary headwinds. Favorable currency movements added a 1% tailwind to the segment’s net sales during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased by $58 million (or 16%) to $412 million and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by approximately 100 basis points to 33% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with segment Adjusted EBITDA of $354 million and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin of 32% for the same period in 2020. The increase in segment Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to the increase in stationary pricing in 2021, partially offset by higher raw material costs and plant fixed costs incurred in conjunction with the temporary idling of certain of our facilities due to inclement weather from Winter Storm Uri early in the year.
The Chemours Company
Advanced Performance Materials
The following table sets forth the net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin amounts for our Advanced Performance Materials segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Segment net sales
$
1,397
$
1,104
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA margin
%
%
The following table sets forth the impacts of price, volume, currency, and portfolio changes on our Advanced Performance Materials segment’s net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Change in segment net sales from prior period
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Price
%
Volume
%
Currency
%
Portfolio
-
%
Total change in segment net sales
%
Segment Net Sales
Our Advanced Performance Materials segment’s net sales increased by $293 million (or 27%) to $1.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with segment net sales of $1.1 billion for the same period in 2020. The increase in segment net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to a 20% increase in volume and a 4% increase in price. Volumes increased due to higher global customer demand across nearly all regions and markets. Global average selling price increased due to customer level pricing actions partially offset by our composition of product and customer mix. Favorable currency movements added a 3% tailwind to the segment’s net sales during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased by $135 million (or over 100%) to $261 million and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by approximately 800 basis points to 19% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with segment Adjusted EBITDA of $126 million and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin of 11% for the same period in 2020. The increases in segment Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin for the year ended December 31, 2021 were primarily attributable to the aforementioned increases in volumes and price, partially offset by growth investments, higher raw material costs and higher fixed costs related to performance-based compensation.
The segment’s operating results for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 included $15 million and $19 million, respectively, of additional costs for process-related waste water treatment at Fayetteville. We expect to continue to incur these costs as we actively work with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (the “NC DEQ”) to resolve the suspension of our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit.
The Chemours Company
Chemical Solutions
The following table sets forth the net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin amounts for our Chemical Solutions segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Segment net sales
$
$
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA margin
%
%
The following table sets forth the impacts of price, volume, currency, and portfolio changes on our Chemical Solutions segment’s net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Change in segment net sales from prior period
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Price
%
Volume
%
Currency
-
%
Portfolio
(26
)%
Total change in segment net sales
(6
)%
Segment Net Sales
Our Chemical Solutions segment’s net sales decreased by $22 million (or 6%) to $336 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with segment net sales of $358 million for the same period in 2020. The decrease in segment net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to portfolio change, which drove a 26% decline in net sales following our exit of the Aniline business at our Pascagoula, Mississippi production facility at the end of 2020 and the sale of our Mining Solutions business on December 1, 2021. The decrease in our net sales was partially offset by an increase in volume of 13% and an increase in price of 7%. Volumes increased due to increased customer demand in our Mining Solutions business prior to the sale on December 1, 2021. Average prices increased primarily due to higher contractual raw material cost pass-through in our Mining Solutions business prior to the sale on December 1, 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $22 million (or 30%) to $51 million and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased by approximately 500 basis points to 15% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with segment Adjusted EBITDA of $73 million and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin of 20% for the same period in 2020. The decreases in segment Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin for the year ended December 31, 2021 were primarily attributable to plant fixed costs incurred in conjunction with the temporary idling of certain of our facilities due to inclement weather from Winter Storm Uri during the first quarter as well as higher raw material and plant fixed costs. Furthermore, the aforementioned exit of the Aniline business at our Pascagoula, Mississippi production facility and the sale of our Mining Solutions business further decreased segment Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin.
Corporate and Other
Corporate costs and certain legal and environmental expenses, stock-based compensation expenses, and foreign exchange gains and losses arising from the remeasurement of balances in currencies other than the functional currency of our legal entities are reflected in Corporate and Other.
Corporate and Other costs increased by $36 million (or 20%) to $220 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with Corporate and Other costs of $184 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in Corporate and Other costs for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to higher costs associated with legacy environmental remediation matters and higher performance-based compensation expenses.
The Chemours Company
2022 Outlook
Our 2022 results will be driven by the following expectations in each of our reportable segments:
•
Titanium Technologies - Continued strength in demand across most end-markets, partially offset by headwinds from raw material inflation and shortages, logistics challenges, and broader customer supply chain issues;
•
Thermal & Specialized Solutions - Improved customer demand for our refrigerants, including continued OpteonTM adoption in mobile and stationary applications, paired with market recovery from semiconductor supply chain constraints;
•
Advanced Performance Materials - Continued strong demand for our polymers across diverse end-markets, partially offset by raw material inflation, energy costs, and logistics challenges; and,
•
Chemical Solutions - Continued growth in Glycolic Acid and expansion into higher-end markets, partially offset by headwinds from transportation and logistics challenges.
We expect that our capital expenditures will be approximately $400 million.
Our outlook for 2022 reflects our current visibility and expectations based on market factors, such as currency movements, macro-economic factors, and end-market demand. In particular, end-market demand may be impacted by factors beyond our control, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our ability to meet our expectations are subject to numerous risks, including, but not limited to, those described in Item 1A - Risk Factors.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations and available cash, along with our receivables securitization and borrowings under our debt financing arrangements, both of which are described in further detail in “Note 20 - Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Our operating cash flow generation is driven by, among other things, the general global economic conditions at any point in time and their resulting impacts on demand for our products, raw materials and energy prices, and industry-specific issues, such as production capacity and utilization. We have generated strong operating cash flows through various past industry and economic cycles, evidencing the underlying operating strength of our businesses.
Uncertainty continues to exist concerning both the magnitude and the duration of the impacts to our financial results and condition caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of size and duration, the evolving challenges have had and could again, in the future, have an adverse impact on our operating cash flows. We anticipate that our cash generated from operations, available cash, receivables securitization, and existing debt financing arrangements will provide us with sufficient liquidity through at least February 2023. If the macroeconomic situation deteriorates or the duration of the pandemic is further extended, we will evaluate additional cost actions, as necessary, as the operational and financial impacts to our Company continue to evolve.
At December 31, 2021, we had total cash and cash equivalents of $1.5 billion, of which $924 million was held by our foreign subsidiaries. All cash and cash equivalents held by our foreign subsidiaries is readily convertible into currencies used in our operations, including the U.S. dollar. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we received approximately $326 million of net cash in the U.S. through intercompany loans and dividends. Traditionally, the cash and earnings of our foreign subsidiaries have generally been used to finance their operations and capital expenditures, and it is our intention to indefinitely reinvest the historical pre-2018 earnings of our foreign subsidiaries. However, beginning in 2018, management asserts that only certain foreign subsidiaries are indefinitely reinvested. For further information related to our income tax positions, refer to “Note 9 - Income Taxes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management believes that sufficient liquidity is available in the U.S. through at least February 2023, which includes borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility.
The Chemours Company
Over the course of the next 12 months and beyond, we anticipate making significant cash payments for known contractual and other obligations, which we expect to fund through cash generated from operations, available cash, receivables securitization, and our existing debt financing arrangements. Such obligations include:
•
Principal and interest obligations on long-term debt - We are required to make quarterly principal payments related to our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, with the balance due at maturity. Principal payments are also due at maturity for our 4.000% senior unsecured notes due May 2026, which are denominated in euros, the 5.375% senior unsecured notes due May 2027, the 5.750% senior unsecured notes due November 2028, and the 4.625% senior unsecured notes due November 2029 (collectively, the “Notes”). The earliest maturity date of our outstanding debt is scheduled in 2025. For a schedule of our debt principal maturities for the next five years and thereafter, refer to “Note 20 - Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Our interest obligations under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities may be paid monthly or quarterly, and our interest obligations in connection with the Notes are paid semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year. Through 2024, we anticipate that our scheduled interest payments will approximate $150 million per year and in 2025, we anticipate that our scheduled interest payments will approximate $130 million, subject to changes in variable interest rates.
•
Operating and finance leases - We lease certain office space, laboratory space, equipment, railcars, tanks, barges, tow boats, and warehouses. The majority of our lease population pertains to operating leases, and the remaining terms on our total lease population varies, extending up to 25 years. For a schedule of our lease payments for the next five years and thereafter, refer to “Note 14 - Leases” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
•
Purchase obligations - As part of our normal, recurring operations, we enter into enforceable and legally-binding agreements to purchase goods and/or services that specify fixed or minimum quantities, fixed minimum or variable price provisions, and the approximate timing of the agreement. These agreements primarily pertain to our purchases of raw materials and utilities costs and may span multiple years. Based upon our currently executed agreements, we anticipate that our contractually obligated cash payments for raw materials and utilities will approximate $395 million for the year ending December 31, 2022, $245 million for the year ending December 31, 2023, and $215 million annually for each of the three years thereafter. Renewal, modification, or execution of additional agreements for future purchasing obligations may increase or decrease these amounts in future years.
•
Environmental remediation - We, due to the terms of our Separation-related agreements with EID, are subject to contingencies pursuant to environmental laws and regulations that in the future may require further action to correct the effects on the environment of prior disposal practices or releases of chemical substances, which are attributable to EID’s activities before our spin-off. Much of this liability results from CERCLA, RCRA, and similar federal, state, local, and foreign laws. These laws may require us to undertake certain investigative, remediation, and restoration activities at sites where we conduct or EID once conducted operations or at sites where waste generated by us was disposed. At December 31, 2021, our consolidated balance sheets include $562 million for environmental remediation liabilities, of which $173 million was classified as current, and a portion is subject to recovery under the MOU. Of the current environmental remediation liabilities of $173 million, $114 million relates to Fayetteville. Pursuant to the binding MOU that we entered into with DuPont, Corteva, and EID in January 2021 costs related to potential future legacy PFAS liabilities arising out of pre-July 1, 2015 conduct will be shared until the earlier to occur of: (i) December 31, 2040; (ii) the day on which the aggregate amount of Qualified Spend is equal to $4.0 billion; or, (iii) a termination in accordance with the terms of the MOU. The parties have agreed that, during the term of the cost-sharing arrangement, we will bear half of the cost of such future potential legacy PFAS liabilities, and DuPont and Corteva will collectively bear the other half of the cost of such future potential legacy PFAS liabilities. After the term of this arrangement, our indemnification obligations under the Separation Agreement would continue unchanged, subject in each case to certain exceptions set out in the MOU. Refer to the “Environmental Matters” section within this MD&A for the anticipated environmental remediation payments over the next three years. Refer to “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the MOU and Qualified Spend.
The Chemours Company
•
PFAS escrow funding requirements - Pursuant to the binding MOU that we entered into with DuPont, Corteva, and EID in January 2021, the parties have agreed to establish an escrow account in order to support and manage the payments for potential future PFAS liabilities. The MOU provides that: (i) no later than each of September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2022, we shall deposit $100 million into an escrow account and DuPont and Corteva shall together deposit $100 million in the aggregate into an escrow account, and (ii) no later than September 30 of each subsequent year through and including 2028, we shall deposit $50 million into an escrow account and DuPont and Corteva shall together deposit $50 million in the aggregate into an escrow account. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the MOU, each party may be permitted to defer funding in any year (excluding 2021). Additionally, if on December 31, 2028, the balance of the escrow account (including interest) is less than $700 million, we will make 50% of the deposits and DuPont and Corteva together will make 50% of the deposits necessary to restore the balance of the escrow account to $700 million. Such payments will be made in a series of consecutive annual equal installments commencing on September 30, 2029 pursuant to the escrow account replenishment terms as set forth in the MOU. Any funds that remain in escrow at termination of the MOU will revert to the party that deposited them. As such, future payments made by us into the escrow account will remain an asset of Chemours, and such payments will be reflected as a transfer to restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheets. No withdrawals are permitted from the escrow account before January 2026, except for funding mutually agreed-upon third-party settlements in excess of $125 million. Starting in January 2026, withdrawals may be made from the escrow account to fund Qualified Spend if the parties’ aggregate Qualified Spend in that particular year is greater than $200 million. Starting in January 2031, the amounts in the escrow account can be used to fund any Qualified Spend. Future payments from the escrow account for potential future PFAS liabilities will be reflected on our consolidated statement of cash flows at that point in time. Refer to “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
•
Settlement with the State of Delaware - In July 2021, we, DuPont, Corteva, and EID entered into a settlement agreement with the State of Delaware to resolve claims regarding the operation, manufacturing, use and disposal of all chemical compounds, including but not limited to PFAS. In January 2022, we, DuPont, Corteva and EID paid a total of $50 million to Delaware, which will be used for a Natural Resources and Sustainability Trust. Pursuant to the binding MOU, we contributed $25 million to the settlement. Refer to “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
•
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment - As further discussed under the “Capital Expenditures” section within this MD&A, our operations are capital intensive, requiring ongoing investment to upgrade or enhance existing operations and to meet environmental and operational regulations. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, our purchases of property, plant, and equipment amounted to $277 million and $267 million, respectively. For the year ending December 31, 2022, we expect that our capital expenditures will be approximately $400 million. Our capital expenditures do not include the estimated future spend at Fayetteville, which is included in our environmental remediation liabilities, as noted in the “Environmental Liabilities” section of “Liquidity and Capital Resources” within this MD&A.
We continue to believe our sources of liquidity are sufficient to fund our planned operations and to meet our interest, dividend, and contractual obligations through at least February 2023. Our financial policy seeks to: (i) selectively invest in organic and inorganic growth to enhance our portfolio, including certain strategic capital investments; (ii) maintain appropriate leverage by using free cash flows to repay outstanding borrowings; and, (iii) return cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Specific to our objective to return cash to shareholders, in recent quarters, we have previously announced dividends of $0.25 per share, amounting to approximately $160 million per year, and, on February 9, 2022, we announced our quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share for the first quarter of 2022. Under our 2018 Share Repurchase Program, as further discussed in Item 5 - Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we also have remaining authority to repurchase $251 million of our outstanding common stock. On December 1, 2021, we completed the sale of the Mining Solutions business of our Chemical Solutions segment to Draslovka and received net cash proceeds of $508 million, net of $13 million cash divested. We expect to use the proceeds from the sale for general corporate purposes as permitted under our Credit Agreement. Subject to approval by our board of directors, we may raise additional capital or borrowings from time to time, or seek to refinance our existing debt. There can be no assurances that future capital or borrowings will be available to us, and the cost and availability of new capital or borrowings could be materially impacted by market conditions. Further, the decision to refinance our existing debt is based on a number of factors, including general market conditions and our ability to refinance on attractive terms at any given point in time. Any attempts to raise additional capital or borrowings or refinance our existing debt could cause us to incur significant charges. Such charges could have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
The Chemours Company
Cash Flows
The following table sets forth a summary of the net cash provided by (used for) our operating, investing, and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Cash provided by operating activities
$
$
Cash provided by (used for) investing activities
(234
)
Cash used for financing activities
(560
)
(449
)
Operating Activities
We generated $820 million and $807 million in cash flows from our operating activities during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The increase in our operating cash inflows for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to higher net earnings from operations, collections during the year and timing of payments to vendors, partially offset by payments of taxes previously deferred. The increase was further offset by $125 million of accounts receivables sold to the bank, under our Securitization Facility during the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $25 million of additional accounts receivables sold during the year ended December 31, 2021. Sale of accounts receivable under our Securitization Facility were pursuant to the Amended Purchase Agreement, dated March 9, 2020 and further amended in 2021. For further information refer to “Note 20 - Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Investing Activities
We generated $220 million in cash flows from our investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2021. Our investing cash inflows were primarily attributable to $508 million of cash proceeds, which are net of $13 million cash divested, from the Mining Solutions Transaction. Our investing cash inflows were partially offset by purchases of property, plant, and equipment, amounting to $277 million and $12 million of cash used for the settlement of certain foreign currency contracts. For further information related to the capital projects driving our year-over-year increase in purchases of property, plant, and equipment, refer to the “Capital Expenditures” section within this MD&A.
We used $234 million in cash flows for our investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2020. Our investing cash outflows were primarily attributable to purchases of property, plant, and equipment, amounting to $267 million. Investing cash outflows for the year ended December 31, 2020 were partially offset by $27 million of cash received from the settlement of certain of our foreign currency forward contracts.
Financing Activities
We used $560 million in cash flows for our financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2021. Our financing cash outflows were primarily attributable to $854 million in debt repayments, comprised of the $750 million 2025 notes refinancing and $104 million Senior Secured Term Loan repurchases and repayments. These debt repayments were partially offset by $650 million of proceeds from the issuance of the 2029 Notes, which was used, together with cash on hand to repay the 2025 notes and related fees. Financing cash outflows also include $173 million in purchases of our issued and outstanding common stock under our 2018 Share Repurchase Program, $164 million returned to shareholders in the form of cash dividends paid, and $18 million in premium payments to purchase and redeem the 2025 Notes.
We used $449 million in cash flows for our financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2020. Our financing cash outflows were primarily attributable to our debt refinancing activities, resulting in $908 million in debt repayments and $16 million in premium payments to purchase and redeem the remaining outstanding aggregate principal amount of our 2023 Dollar Notes, partially offset by $800 million of proceeds received in connection with the issuance of our 2028 Notes. We also continued our capital allocation activities to return cash to our shareholders, resulting in $164 million of cash dividends paid. Our financing cash outflows were also attributable to the amendment and restatement of our receivables purchase agreement dated as of July 12, 2019 (the “Original Purchase Agreement”) under our Securitization Facility, resulting in net repayments of $110 million to settle the associated collateralized borrowings. Aside from the payments associated with our debt refinancing activities and our Securitization Facility, we also made $35 million in debt repayments. Our financing cash outflows for the year ended December 31, 2020 are also inclusive of our repayment of $300 million in proceeds received from drawing on our revolving credit facility, which was executed on April 8, 2020 as a precautionary measure in light of macroeconomic uncertainties driven by COVID-19. We also made a $10 million acquisition-related installment payment in 2020, which was associated with our previous acquisition of Southern Ionics Minerals, LLC (“SIM”) in 2019.
The Chemours Company
Current Assets
The following table sets forth the components of our current assets at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,451
$
1,105
Accounts and notes receivable, net
Inventories
1,099
Prepaid expenses and other
Total current assets
$
3,345
$
2,633
Our accounts and notes receivable, net increased by $209 million (or 41%) to $720 million at December 31, 2021, compared with accounts and notes receivable, net of $511 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in our accounts and notes receivable, net at December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to higher net sales and the timing of collections from our customers. The increase in our accounts and notes receivable, net was partially offset by the increased utilization of our Securitization Facility and transfers of certain accounts and notes receivable, net in connection with the Mining Solutions Transaction.
Our inventories increased by $160 million (or 17%) to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2021, compared with inventories of $939 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in our inventories at December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to an increase in our finished product and raw materials inventories, which was due to ramp-up in production and higher raw material costs.
Our prepaid expenses and other assets decreased by $3 million (or 4%) to $75 million at December 31, 2021, compared with prepaid expenses and other assets of $78 million at December 31, 2020. The decrease in our prepaid expenses and other assets at December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to a decrease in our income taxes receivable.
The Chemours Company
Current Liabilities
The following table sets forth the components of our current liabilities at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Accounts payable
$
1,162
$
Compensation and other employee-related costs
Short-term and current maturities of long-term debt
Current environmental remediation
Other accrued liabilities
Total current liabilities
$
1,858
$
1,442
Our accounts payable increased by $318 million (or 38%) to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2021, compared with accounts payable of $844 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in our accounts payable at December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to higher raw material purchases in line with higher production levels, higher raw material costs and the timing of payments to our vendors.
Our compensation and other employee-related costs increased by $66 million (or 62%) to $173 million at December 31, 2021 compared with compensation and other employee-related costs of $107 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in our compensation and other employee-related costs at December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to increased accruals for employee benefits and performance-based compensation.
Our short-term and current maturities of long-term debt increased by $4 million (or 19%) to $25 million at December 31, 2021, compared with short-term and current maturities of long-term debt of $21 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in our short-term and current maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to an increase in our finance lease liabilities.
Our current environmental remediation increased by $78 million (or 82%) to $173 million at December 31, 2021, compared with current environmental remediation of $95 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in our current environmental remediation at December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to liabilities recorded under the Consent Order and Addendum with the NC DEQ, which includes construction of the barrier wall and operation of the groundwater extraction and treatment system at Fayetteville that we expect to spend in 2022. The increase also relates to a $9 million accrual recorded to resolve the claims asserted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) related to past indirect costs associated with the 2012 Record of Decision (“ROD”), as amended, and the 2014 agreement entered into with the EPA and the State of Indiana. For more information regarding this matter, refer to “U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc., East Chicago, Indiana” under the “Significant Environmental Remediation Sites” within this MD&A.
Our other accrued liabilities decreased by $50 million (or 13%) to $325 million at December 31, 2021, compared with other accrued liabilities of $375 million at December 31, 2020. The decrease in our other accrued liabilities at December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to the payment of legal fees, the payment of contract termination fees in connection with construction work at our Mining Solutions facility in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico, the payment of $29 million for the Ohio multi-district litigation settlement, and the payment of certain previously deferred income tax liabilities. The decrease in our other accrued liabilities was partially offset by increased accrued customer rebates and the $25 million accrual associated with our portion of the costs to enter into the Settlement Agreement, Limited Release, Waiver and Covenant Not to Sue reflecting Chemours, DuPont, Corteva, EID and the State of Delaware’s agreement to settle and fully resolve claims alleged against the companies.
Credit Facilities and Notes
Refer to “Note 20 - Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our credit facilities and notes.
The Chemours Company
Guarantor Financial Information
The following disclosures set forth summarized financial information and alternative disclosures in accordance with Rule 13-01 of Regulation S-X (“Rule 13-01”). These disclosures have been made in connection with certain subsidiaries' guarantees of the 4.000% senior unsecured notes due May 2026, which are denominated in euros and the 5.375% senior unsecured notes due May 2027 (collectively, the “Registered Notes”), which are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Each series of the Registered Notes was issued by The Chemours Company (the “Parent Issuer”), and was fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by the existing and future domestic subsidiaries of the Parent Issuer (together, the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”), subject to certain conditions as set forth in “Note 20 - Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The assets, liabilities, and operations of the Guarantor Subsidiaries primarily consist of those attributable to The Chemours Company FC, LLC, our primary operating subsidiary in the United States, as well as the other U.S.-based operating subsidiaries as set forth in Exhibit 22 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Each of the Guarantor Subsidiaries is 100% owned by the Company. None of our other subsidiaries, either direct or indirect, guarantee the Registered Notes (together, the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”). Pursuant to the indentures governing the Registered Notes, the Guarantor Subsidiaries will be automatically released from those guarantees upon the occurrence of certain customary release provisions.
Our summarized financial information is presented on a combined basis, consisting of the Parent Issuer and Guarantor Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Obligor Group”), in accordance with the requirements under Rule 13-01, and is presented after the elimination of: (i) intercompany transactions and balances among the Parent Issuer and Guarantor Subsidiaries, and (ii) equity in earnings from and investments in the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries.
(Dollars in millions)
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net sales (1)
$
4,014
Gross profit
Income before income taxes
Net income
Net income attributable to Chemours
(1)
Net sales includes intercompany sales to the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries.
December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
Current assets (1,2,3)
$
1,554
$
1,057
Long-term assets (4)
3,720
4,288
Liabilities
Current liabilities (2)
$
1,504
$
1,298
Long-term liabilities
4,497
4,703
(1)
Current assets includes $525 million and $283 million of cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(2)
Current assets includes $407 million and $236 million of intercompany accounts receivable from the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Current liabilities includes $328 million and $388 million of intercompany accounts payable to the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(3)
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, $76 million and $33 million of accounts receivable generated by the Obligor Group, respectively, remained outstanding with one of the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries under the Securitization Facility.
(4)
Long-term assets includes $729 million and $1.2 billion of intercompany notes receivable from the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
There are no significant restrictions that may affect the ability of the Guarantor Subsidiaries in guaranteeing the Parent Issuer’s obligations under our debt financing arrangements. While the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries do not guarantee the Parent Issuer’s obligations under our debt financing arrangements, we may, from time to time, repatriate post-2017 earnings from certain of these subsidiaries to meet our financing obligations, as well.
The Chemours Company
Supplier Financing
We maintain supply chain finance programs with several financial institutions. The programs allow our suppliers to sell their receivables to one of the participating financial institutions at the discretion of both parties on terms that are negotiated between the supplier and the respective financial institution. Our obligations to our suppliers, including the amounts due and scheduled payment dates, are not impacted by our suppliers’ decisions to sell their receivables under this program. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the total amounts outstanding under these programs were $153 million and $160 million, respectively. Pursuant to their agreement with a financial institution, certain suppliers may elect to be paid early at their discretion. The available capacity under these programs can vary based on the number of investors and/or financial institutions participating in these programs at any point in time.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
In March 2020, through a wholly-owned special purpose entity (“SPE”), we entered into the Amended Purchase Agreement, which amends and restates, in its entirety, the Original Purchase Agreement under our Securitization Facility. In March of 2021, through the SPE we entered into the First Amendment, which among other things, extends the term of the Amended Purchase Agreement and increases the facility limit to $150 million. In November 2021, through the SPE we entered into the Second Amendment, which among other things, extends the term of the Amended Purchase Agreement.
See “Note 20 - Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details regarding this off-balance sheet arrangement.
Historically, we have not made any payments to satisfy guarantee obligations; however, we believe we have the financial resources to satisfy these guarantees in the event required.
Capital Expenditures
Our operations are capital intensive, requiring ongoing investment to upgrade or enhance existing operations and to meet environmental and operational regulations. Our capital requirements have consisted, and are expected to continue to consist, primarily of:
•
ongoing capital expenditures, such as those required to maintain equipment reliability, maintain the integrity and safety of our manufacturing sites, comply with environmental regulations, and meet our Corporate Responsibility Commitments;
•
investments in our existing facilities to help support the introduction of new products and de-bottleneck to expand capacity and grow our business; and,
•
investments in projects to reduce future operating costs and enhance productivity.
The following table sets forth our ongoing and expansion capital expenditures, including certain environmental capital expenditures, for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Titanium Technologies
$
$
Thermal & Specialized Solutions
Advanced Performance Materials
Chemical Solutions
Corporate and Other (1)
Total purchases of property, plant, and equipment
$
$
(1)
Includes $9 million during the year ended December 31, 2020, related to our capital expenditures for our new R&D facility on the Science, Technology, and Advanced Research campus of the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware (“Chemours Discovery Hub”).
Our capital expenditures increased by $10 million (or 4%) to $277 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with capital expenditures of $267 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in our capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily attributable to cost deferral activities in the prior year related to COVID-19 and was largely offset by the timing of payments to our vendors which resulted in an increased outstanding balance of our capital expenditures in accounts payable when compared to December 31, 2020.
The Chemours Company
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in “Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management believes that the application of these policies on a consistent basis enables us to provide the users of our financial statements with useful and reliable information about our operating results and financial condition.
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts, including, but not limited to, receivable and inventory valuations, impairment of tangible and intangible assets, long-term employee benefit obligations, income taxes, restructuring liabilities, environmental matters, and litigation. Management’s estimates are based on historical experience, facts, and circumstances available at the time, and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable. We review these matters and reflect changes in estimates as appropriate. Management believes that the following represents some of the more critical judgment areas in the application of our accounting policies, which could have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes
The provision for (benefit from) income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The provision for (benefit from) income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year, plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes result from differences between the financial and tax bases of our assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will not be realized. In evaluating the ability to realize deferred tax assets, we rely on, in order of increasing subjectivity, taxable income in prior carryback years, the future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, tax planning strategies, and forecasted taxable income using historical and projected future operating results.
The breadth of our operations and the global complexity of tax regulations require assessments of uncertainties and judgments in estimating the taxes that we will ultimately pay. The final taxes paid are dependent upon many factors, including negotiations with taxing authorities in various jurisdictions, outcomes of tax litigation, and resolutions of disputes arising from federal, state, and international tax audits in the normal course of business. A liability for unrecognized tax benefits is recorded when management concludes that the likelihood of sustaining such positions upon examination by taxing authorities is less than more-likely-than-not. It is our policy to include accrued interest related to unrecognized income tax positions and income tax-related penalties in the provision for (benefit from) income taxes.
We account for the tax impacts of new provisions based on interpretation of existing statutory law, including proposed regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury and the IRS. While there can be no assurances as to the effect of any final regulations on our provision for (benefit from) income taxes, we will continue to evaluate the impacts as any issued regulations become final and adjust our estimates, as appropriate.
Refer to “Note 9 - Income Taxes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information related to our income tax positions.
Long-lived Assets
We evaluate the carrying value of our long-lived assets to be held and used when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. For the purposes of recognition or measurement of an impairment charge, the assessment is performed on the asset or asset group at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. To determine the level at which the assessment is performed, we consider factors such as revenue dependency, shared costs, and the extent of vertical integration. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group are separately identifiable and are less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. The fair value methodology used is an estimate of fair market value, which is made based on prices of similar assets or other valuation methodologies, including present value techniques. Long-lived assets to be disposed of other than by sale are classified as held for use until their disposal. Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are classified as held for sale and are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or fair market value, less the estimated costs to sell. Depreciation is discontinued for any long-lived assets classified as held for sale.
The Chemours Company
The testing for potential impairment of these assets is significantly dependent on numerous assumptions and reflects management’s best estimates at a particular point in time. The dynamic economic environments in which our segments operate, and key economic and business assumptions with respect to projected selling prices, market growth, and inflation rates, can significantly impact the outcome of our impairment tests. Estimates based on these assumptions may differ significantly from actual results. Changes in the factors and assumptions used in assessing potential impairments can have a significant impact on the existence and magnitude of impairments, as well as the time in which such impairments are recognized. In addition, we continually review our diverse portfolio of assets to ensure that they are achieving their greatest potential and are aligned with our growth strategy. Strategic decisions involving a particular group of assets may trigger an assessment of the recoverability of the related assets. Such an assessment could result in impairment losses. We did not recognize material impairment charges on our long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Goodwill
The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination, including any identified intangible assets, is recorded as goodwill. We test our goodwill for impairment at least annually on October 1; however, these tests are performed more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment. A reporting unit is the level at which discrete financial information is available and reviewed by business management on a regular basis. An impairment exists when the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The amount of impairment loss recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is equal to the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying value over its fair value, which is limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.
The fair values of our reporting units were determined by using a combination of income-based and/or market-based valuation techniques. These valuation models incorporated a number of assumptions and judgments surrounding general market and economic conditions, short- and long-term revenue growth rates, gross margins, and prospective financial information surrounding future cash flows of the reporting units. Projections are based on internal forecasts of future business performance and are based on growth assumptions, which exclude business growth opportunities not yet fully realized. Discount rate and market multiple assumptions were determined based on relevant peer companies in the chemicals sector.
As of October 1, 2021, we performed our annual goodwill impairment tests for all reporting units. Based upon the results of our annual goodwill impairment tests, no adjustments to the carrying value of goodwill were necessary during the year ended December 31, 2021. In consideration of the results of our annual goodwill impairment tests, as well as the carrying amounts of goodwill held by each of our reporting units, further information and sensitivity analyses for certain of our reporting units have been included below.
The consideration offered for the Mining Solutions business in the definitive agreement entered into on July 26, 2021 with Draslovka to sell the Mining Solutions business of our Chemical Solutions segment, indicated the reporting unit had a fair value of $520 million at the test date, which was used in the most recent goodwill analysis. The estimated fair value is 46% higher than the reporting unit's carrying value. Mining Solutions had $51 million of goodwill and no impairment of this balance existed as of the test date. The $51 million of goodwill was allocated to the disposal group in determining the gain on sale of our Mining Solutions business to Draslovka on December 1, 2021.
The estimated fair value of the Advanced Performance Materials reporting unit was determined by utilizing a discount rate of 9.95% and a market multiple of 5.2 times Adjusted EBITDA, resulting in an estimated fair value 14% higher than its carrying value. Advanced Performance Materials has $56 million of goodwill. Changing the weighting of the market and income approaches used for Advanced Performance Materials could result in a maximum reduction of the excess of estimated fair value over carrying value to 9%. Assuming all other factors remain the same, a 200-basis point increase in the discount rate would decrease the excess of estimated fair value over carrying value to 2%; a 1% decrease in the long-term growth rate would decrease the excess of estimated fair value over carrying value to 9%; and, a 15% decrease in the market multiple assumption would decrease the excess of estimated fair value over carrying value to 6%. Under each of these sensitivity scenarios, the Advanced Performance Materials reporting unit's fair value exceeded its carrying value.
In consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic, we note that a deterioration in general market conditions, a sustained trend of weaker than anticipated Company financial performance, a decline in the Company’s share price for a sustained period of time, or an increase in the market-based weighted average cost of capital, among other factors, could significantly impact our impairment analyses and may result in future goodwill impairment charges that, if incurred, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
The Chemours Company
Employee Benefits
The amounts recognized in our consolidated financial statements related to pension and other long-term employee benefits plans are determined from actuarial valuations. Inherent in these valuations are assumptions including, but not limited to, the expected returns on plan assets, discount rates at which liabilities are expected to be settled, rates of increase in future compensation levels, and mortality rates. These assumptions are updated annually and are disclosed in “Note 27 - Long-term Employee Benefits” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In accordance with GAAP, actual results that differed from the assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, affect expense recognized and obligations recorded in future periods.
We use discount rates that are developed by matching the expected cash flows of each benefit plan to various yield curves constructed from a portfolio of high-quality, fixed income instruments provided by the plan’s actuary as of the measurement date. As of December 31, 2021, the weighted-average discount rate was 1.4%.
The expected long-term rates of return on plan assets are determined by performing a detailed analysis of historical and expected returns based on the strategic asset allocation of the underlying asset class applicable to each country. We also consider our historical experience with the pension funds’ asset performance. The expected long-term rates of return on plan assets are assumptions and not what is expected to be earned in any one particular year. The weighted-average long-term rates of return on plan assets assumptions used for determining our net periodic pension cost for 2021 was 1.2%.
A 50 basis point increase in the discount rate would result in a decrease of $4 million to the net periodic benefit cost for 2022, while a 50 basis point decrease in the discount rate would result in an increase of approximately $5 million. A 50 basis point increase in the expected return on plan assets assumption would result in a decrease of approximately $3 million to the net periodic benefit cost for 2022, while a 50 basis point decrease in the expected return on plan assets assumption would result in an increase of approximately $3 million.
Litigation
We accrue for litigation matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Litigation liabilities and expenditures included in our consolidated financial statements include litigation matters that are liabilities of EID and its subsidiaries, which we may be required to indemnify pursuant to the Separation-related agreements executed prior to the Separation. Disputes between us and EID may arise with respect to indemnification of these matters, including disputes based on matters of law or contract interpretation. If, and to the extent these disputes arise, they could materially adversely affect our results of operations. Legal costs such as outside counsel fees and expenses are charged to expense in the period services are received.
Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures
We accrue for environmental remediation costs when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and a reasonable estimate of the liability can be made. Where the available information is sufficient to estimate the amount of liability, that estimate has been used. Where the information is only sufficient to establish a range of probable liability, and no point within the range is more likely than any other, the lower end of the range has been used. Estimated liabilities are determined based on existing remediation laws and technologies and our planned remedial responses, which are derived from environmental studies, sampling, testing, and other analyses. Inherent uncertainties exist in such evaluations, primarily due to unknown environmental conditions, changing governmental regulations regarding liability, and emerging remediation technologies. These accruals are adjusted periodically as remediation efforts progress and as additional technology, regulatory, and legal information become available.
Environmental liabilities and expenditures include claims for matters that are liabilities of EID and its subsidiaries, which we may be required to indemnify pursuant to the Separation-related agreements executed prior to the Separation. These accrued liabilities are undiscounted and do not include claims against third parties.
Costs related to environmental remediation are charged to expense in the period that the associated liability is accrued. Other environmental costs are also charged to expense in the period incurred, unless they increase the value of the property or reduce or prevent contamination from future operations, in which case they are capitalized and amortized.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to “Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion about recent accounting pronouncements.
The Chemours Company
Environmental Matters
Consistent with our values and our Environment, Health, Safety, and Corporate Responsibility policy, we are committed to preventing releases to the environment at our manufacturing sites to keep our people and communities safe, and to be good stewards of the environment. We are also subject to environmental laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. We believe that, as a general matter, our policies, standards, and procedures are properly designed to prevent unreasonable risk of harm to people and the environment, and that our handling, manufacture, use, and disposal of hazardous substances are in accordance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Environmental Expenditures
We incur costs for pollution abatement activities, including waste collection and disposal, installation and maintenance of air pollution controls and waste water treatment, emissions testing and monitoring, and obtaining permits. Annual expenses charged to current operations include environmental operating costs and increases in remediation accruals, if any, during the period reported.
The charges described in this section include $359 million accrued for costs associated with the Consent Order (“CO”) between us and NC DEQ, which is further described in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. These accrued liabilities represent on-site remediation, off-site groundwater remediation, and toxicology studies related to Fayetteville.
Our environmental remediation expenditures are subject to considerable uncertainty and may fluctuate significantly. In the U.S., additional capital expenditures associated with ongoing operations (as described below) are expected to be required over the next decade for treatment, storage, and disposal facilities for solid and hazardous waste and for compliance with the Clean Air Act (“CAA”). Until all CAA regulatory requirements are established and known, considerable uncertainty will remain regarding estimates for our future capital and remediation expenditures.
Environmental Capital Expenditures
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we spent $69 million and $33 million, respectively, on environmental capital projects that were either required by law or necessary to meet our internal environmental objectives. The increase in our environmental capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2021, when compared with the same period in 2020, was primarily attributable to increases in our Titanium Technologies and Advanced Performance Materials segments related to projects focused on the reduction of air and water emissions in line with our Corporate Responsibility Commitment (“CRC”).
We expect our future capital expenditures for environmental matters will continue to vary, based on the success of our deployed solutions, changes in our operations, technological advancements, developments in environmental requirements, and stakeholder expectations.
Environmental Remediation
In large part, because of past operations, operations of predecessor companies, or past disposal practices, we, like many other similar companies, have clean-up responsibilities and associated remediation costs, and are subject to claims by other parties, including claims for matters that are liabilities of EID and its subsidiaries that we may be required to indemnify pursuant to the Separation-related agreements executed prior to the Separation.
We accrue for clean-up activities consistent with the policy described under “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” discussed within this MD&A and in “Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Our environmental liabilities include estimated costs, including certain accruable costs associated with on-site capital projects. The accruable costs relate to a number of sites for which it is probable that environmental remediation will be required, whether or not subject to enforcement activities, as well as those obligations that result from environmental laws such as the CERCLA, RCRA, and similar federal, state, local, and foreign laws. These laws may require certain investigative, remediation, and restoration activities at sites where we conduct or EID once conducted operations or at sites where our generated waste was disposed. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, our consolidated balance sheets include environmental remediation liabilities of $562 million and $390 million, respectively, relating to these matters, which, as discussed in further detail below, include $359 million and $194 million, respectively, for Fayetteville.
The Chemours Company
The following table sets forth the activities related to our environmental remediation liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Balance at January 1,
$
$
Increase in remediation accrual
Remediation payments (1)
(97
)
(87
)
Balance at December 31,
$
$
(1)
Remediation payments do not include Qualified Spend that we have been reimbursed for by DuPont and/or Corteva as part of our cost-sharing agreement under the terms of the MOU.
Our estimated liability for environmental remediation covered 211 sites at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
The following table sets forth our environmental remediation liabilities by site category.
(Dollars in millions)
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
Site Category
Number of Sites
Remediation Accrual
Number of Sites
Remediation Accrual
Chemours-owned
$
$
Multi-party Superfund/non-owned (1)
Closed or settled
-
-
Total sites
$
$
(1)
Sites not owned by Chemours, including sites previously owned by EID or Chemours, where remediation obligations are imposed by environmental remediation laws, such as CERCLA, RCRA, or similar state laws.
As part of our legacy as a former subsidiary of EID, we are cleaning-up historical impacts to soil and groundwater that have occurred in the past at the 23 sites that we own. These operating and former operating sites make up approximately 86% of our environmental remediation liabilities at December 31, 2021.
We were also assigned numerous clean-up obligations from EID, which pertain to 86 sites previously owned by EID and/or us, as well as sites that we or EID never owned or operated. We are meeting our obligations to clean up those sites. The majority of these non-owned sites are multi-party Superfund sites that we, through EID, have been notified of potential liability under CERCLA, RCRA, or similar state laws and which, in some cases, may represent a small fraction of the total waste that was allegedly disposed of at a site. These sites represent approximately 14% of our environmental remediation liabilities at December 31, 2021. Included in the 86 sites are 36 inactive sites for which there has been no known investigation, clean-up, or monitoring activity, and no remediation obligation is imposed or required; as such, no remediation liabilities are recorded.
The remaining 102 sites, which are Superfund sites and other sites not owned by us, are either already closed or settled, or sites for which we do not believe we have clean-up responsibility based on current information.
With the exception of Fayetteville, our remediation portfolio is relatively mature, with many sites under active clean-up and moving towards final completion.
The Chemours Company
The following graph sets forth the number of remediation sites by site clean-up phase and our environmental remediation liabilities by site clean-up phase as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
(1)
Number of sites does not include the 36 inactive sites for which there has been no known investigation, clean-up, or monitoring activities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
(2)
Dollars in millions.
(3)
As of December 31, 2021, Active Remediation included $359 million for on-site remediation and off-site groundwater remediation at Fayetteville. As of December 31, 2020, Active Remediation included $194 million for on-site remediation and off-site groundwater remediation at Fayetteville.
As remediation efforts progress, sites move from the investigation phase (“Investigation”) to the active clean-up phase (“Active Remediation”), and as construction is completed at Active Remediation sites, those sites move to the operation, maintenance, and monitoring (“OM&M”), or closure phase. As final clean-up activities for some significant sites are completed over the next several years, we expect our annual expenses related to these active sites to decline over time. The time frame for a site to go through all phases of remediation (Investigation and Active Remediation) may take about 15 to 20 years, followed by several years of OM&M activities. Remediation activities, including OM&M activities, vary substantially in duration and cost from site to site. These activities, and their associated costs, depend on the mix of unique site characteristics, evolving remediation technologies, and diverse regulatory requirements, as well as the presence or absence of other Potentially Responsible Parties (“PRPs”). In addition, for claims that we may be required to indemnify EID pursuant to the Separation-related agreements, we and EID may have limited available information for certain sites or are in the early stages of discussions with regulators. For these sites, there may be considerable variability between the clean-up activities that are currently being undertaken or planned and the ultimate actions that could be required. Therefore, considerable uncertainty exists with respect to environmental remediation costs, and, under adverse changes in circumstances, although deemed remote, the potential liability may range up to approximately $660 million above the amount accrued at December 31, 2021. In general, uncertainty is greatest and the range of potential liability is widest in the Investigation phase, narrowing over time as regulatory agencies approve site remedial plans. As a result, uncertainty is reduced, and sites ultimately move into OM&M, as needed. As more sites advance from Investigation to Active Remediation to OM&M or closure, the upper end of the range of potential liability is expected to decrease over time.
Some remediation sites will achieve site closure and will require no further action to protect people and the environment and comply with laws and regulations. At certain sites, we expect that there will continue to be some level of remediation activity due to ongoing OM&M of remedial systems. In addition, portfolio changes, such as an acquisition or divestiture, or notification as a PRP for a multi-party Superfund site, could result in additional remediation activity and potentially additional accrual.
Management does not believe that any loss, in excess of amounts accrued, related to remediation activities at any individual site will have a material impact on our financial position or cash flows for any given year, as such obligation can be satisfied or settled over many years.
The Chemours Company
Significant Environmental Remediation Sites
While there are many remediation sites that contribute to our total accrued environmental remediation liabilities at December 31, 2021 and 2020, the following table sets forth the liabilities of the four sites that are deemed the most significant, together with the aggregate liabilities of the 69 other sites.
December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Chambers Works, Deepwater, New Jersey
$
$
Fayetteville Works, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Pompton Lakes, New Jersey
USS Lead, East Chicago, Indiana
All other sites
Total environmental remediation
$
$
The four sites listed above represent 80% and 69% of our total accrued environmental remediation liabilities at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For these four sites, we expect to spend, in the aggregate, $215 million over the next three years. For all other sites, we expect to spend $68 million over the next three years.
Chambers Works, Deepwater, New Jersey (“Chambers Works”)
The Chambers Works complex is located on the eastern shore of the Delaware River in Deepwater, Salem County, New Jersey. The site comprises the former Carneys Point Works in the northern area and the Chambers Works manufacturing area in the southern area. Site operations began in 1892 when the former Carneys Point smokeless gunpowder plant was constructed at the northern end of Carneys Point. Site operations began in the manufacturing area around 1914 and included the manufacture of dyes, aromatics, elastomers, chlorofluorocarbons, and tetraethyl lead. We continue to manufacture a variety of fluoropolymers and finished products at Chambers Works. In addition, two tenants operate processes at Chambers Works. As a result of over 100 years of continuous industrial activity, site soils and groundwater have been impacted by chemical releases.
In response to identified groundwater contamination, a groundwater interceptor well system (“IWS”) was installed in 1970, which was designed to contain contaminated groundwater and restrict off-site migration. Additional remediation is being completed under a federal RCRA Corrective Action permit. The site has been studied extensively over the years, and more than 25 remedial actions have been completed to date and engineering and institutional controls put in place to ensure protection of people and the environment. In the fourth quarter of 2017, a site perimeter sheet pile barrier intended to more efficiently contain groundwater was completed.
Remaining work beyond continued operation of the IWS and groundwater monitoring includes completion of various targeted studies on site and in adjacent water bodies to close investigation data gaps, as well as selection and implementation of final remedies under RCRA Corrective Action for various solid waste management units and areas of concern not yet addressed through interim measures. In the first quarter of 2021, in connection with ongoing discussions with EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (the “NJ DEP”) relating to such remaining work as well as the scope of remedial programs and investigation relating to the Chambers Works site, we recorded an adjustment of $7 million related to the remediation estimate associated with certain areas of the site relating to historic industrial activity as well as ongoing remedial programs.
Fayetteville Works, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is located southeast of the City of Fayetteville in Cumberland and Bladen counties, North Carolina. The facility encompasses approximately 2,200 acres, which were purchased by EID in 1970, and are bounded to the east by the Cape Fear River and to the west by North Carolina Highway 87. Currently, the Company manufactures fluorinated monomers, fluorinated vinyl ethers, NafionTM membranes and dispersions, and fluoropolymer processing aids at the site. A former manufacturing area, which was sold in 1992, produced nylon strapping and elastomeric tape. EID sold its Butacite® and SentryGlas® manufacturing units to Kuraray America, Inc. in September 2014. In July 2015, upon our Separation from EID, we became the owner of the Fayetteville land assets along with fluoromonomers, Nafion™ membranes, and the related polymer processing aid manufacturing units. A polyvinyl fluoride resin manufacturing unit remained with EID.
The Chemours Company
Beginning in 1996, several stages of site investigation were conducted under oversight by NC DEQ, as required by the facility's hazardous waste permit. In addition, the site has voluntarily agreed to agency requests for additional investigations of the potential release of “PFAS” (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) beginning with “PFOA” (collectively, perfluorooctanoic acids and its salts, including the ammonium salt) in 2006. As a result of detection of GenX in on-site groundwater wells during our investigations in 2017, NC DEQ issued a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) on September 6, 2017 alleging violations of North Carolina water quality statutes and requiring further response. Since that time, and in response to three additional NOVs issued by NC DEQ and pursuant to the CO (as discussed below), we have worked cooperatively with the agency to investigate and address releases of PFAS to on-site and off-site groundwater and surface water.
As discussed in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we, along with NC DEQ and Cape Fear River Watch (“CFRW”), a non-profit organization, have filed a final CO that comprehensively addressed various issues, NOVs, and court filings made by NC DEQ regarding Fayetteville and resolved litigations filed by NC DEQ and CFRW. In connection with the CO, a thermal oxidizer (“TO”) became fully operational at the site in December 2019 to reduce aerial PFAS emissions from Fayetteville.
In August 2020, we, along with NC DEQ and CFRW, reached agreement on the terms of an addendum to the CO (the “Addendum”). The Addendum establishes the procedure to implement specified remedial measures for reducing PFAS loadings from Fayetteville to the Cape Fear River, including construction of a barrier wall with groundwater extraction system to be completed by March 15, 2023. After a period of public comment, the Addendum was approved by the North Carolina Superior Court for Bladen County on October 12, 2020 and establishes the procedure to implement specified remedial measures for reducing PFAS loadings from Fayetteville to the Cape Fear River, including construction of a barrier wall with a groundwater extraction system to be completed by March 15, 2023.
Following issuance of an NPDES permit by NC DEQ on September 18, 2020, we began operation of a capture and treatment system from the site’s old outfall channel on September 30, 2020. In January 2021, the operation of the old outfall treatment system was interrupted on two occasions, and notice was provided to NC DEQ of the low treatment flow conditions through the system. On January 26, 2021, we received an NOV from NC DEQ, alleging violations of the CO and the NPDES water permit arising from the design and operation of the treatment system related to the old outfall. Along with our third-party service provider, we have taken, and continue to take, interim actions intended to improve the operation of the old outfall treatment system and address challenges posed by substantial rain events, sediment loading into the system, and variability in water influent conditions. In addition, along with our third-party service provider, we are actively working on long-term enhancements to the treatment system based on learnings from the recent challenges. An incremental $64 million was accrued in 2021, representing approximately $3 million per year for 20 years of estimated operation of the system, primarily related to the probable enhancements and the long-term operation of the water treatment system in accordance with the requirements of the CO. System enhancements completed or being implemented consist of a holding pond, installation of new ultra-filtration units and additional water pretreatment equipment which is anticipated to be completed by the second quarter of 2022.
In 2021, work commenced on the detailed engineering design of the barrier wall and refinement of models for the planned groundwater extraction system. Engineering designs for our major construction projects are typically reviewed at 30, 60 and 90% complete. In June 2021, we reviewed the 30% complete design and associated preliminary vendor estimates for the construction and operation of a barrier wall and groundwater treatment system at Fayetteville. Following the completion of the 30% design, we recorded $109 million of additional accrual as further discussed below.
The current planned construction site of the future barrier wall, that will address both on-site groundwater and long-term seep remediation, is expected to be located at an approximately 30 feet higher elevation above the Cape Fear River as compared to the initial, conceptual design that was prepared in support of the Corrective Action Plan (“CAP”) submission to NC DEQ on December 31, 2019, which addressed groundwater only. The CAP submission unit cost estimate was the principal basis of unit costs for our liability estimates through March 31, 2021. It was determined, based upon the 30% design information completed during the second quarter of 2021, that there was significantly increased construction complexity and related vendor and other design costs to be incurred. For example, the steep slope of the revised construction site results in the depth of the wall increasing from the original estimates of approximately 65 feet to approximately 85 feet below ground along most of its length. Construction of approximately 64 pumping wells, a more than 50% increase from the conceptual design, are expected to be required to extract groundwater for treatment based on studies of groundwater flows that were completed in May 2021. The wells will also need to be drilled deeper into the ground based on the revised location. A 2-mile access road, with retaining walls above and below the road to reduce slope erosion and landslides, will now be required for large, heavy construction equipment to access the barrier wall location safely. The estimated cost for construction as a result of these changes is based on third-party contractor estimates provided in late May 2021. Together, all these modifications to the design resulted in an additional $49 million accrual for construction of the barrier wall in 2021.
The Chemours Company
In addition, the volume of groundwater, seep water, and stormwater (up to a 0.5 inch rain event in any 24 hours period per the Addendum) intercepted for treatment is estimated to be up to a maximum of 1,500 gallons per minute (“gpm”) based on groundwater flow modeling completed in the second quarter of 2021. Until the pre-design investigation and groundwater modeling was complete, the volume of water captured for treatment was estimated to be approximately 1,200 gpm, and the pretreatment requirements to remove dissolved solids had not been determined. Hence, we determined in 2021 that construction of a larger treatment plant than previously considered in the conceptual design and previous cost estimates was required. Consistent with prior periods, we accrued 20 years of ongoing monitoring and maintenance for Fayetteville environmental remediation systems based on the CO and Addendum. The revised estimate to process higher volumes of groundwater than originally contemplated resulted in an additional accrual (change in estimate) of $60 million in 2021 related to estimated higher power consumption, ongoing monitoring, pretreatment, filtering supplies, principally carbon and regular maintenance of the system over a 20-year period of estimated operation starting in 2023.
In August 2021, we reviewed the 60% complete design and associated updated preliminary vendor estimates, which was submitted to NC DEQ for review and approval. There were no changes in estimate upon completing the review of the 60% design. Additionally, applications for the necessary permit for the groundwater extraction system have been submitted.
On September 15, 2021, we received a ‘conditional approval’ of the 60% design of the barrier wall and groundwater extraction and treatment system which included comments that NC DEQ requested us to address within forty-five days (i.e., by October 30). We responded to the comments on October 5, 2021. We believe that the design of the barrier wall and groundwater extraction and treatment system meets the requirements for this project under the Addendum. However, it is reasonably possible that additional costs could be incurred for the project, or that the 90% design completion or project construction work be delayed, pending resolution of NC DEQ comments. These costs are not estimable at this time due to the uncertainty around the objective and scope of NC DEQ comments as well as additional design basis that may be required. The NC DEQ’s comments also addressed other onsite remediation activities under the CO, but unrelated to the design of the barrier wall and groundwater treatment system. It is reasonably possible that additional costs could be incurred to address the areas raised by NC DEQ, but cannot be estimated at this time as it would require additional pre-design investigation work that has not yet been scoped or performed.
Pre-construction site preparation activities are in progress and construction of the water treatment facility is expected to commence in 2022. Construction of the barrier wall is expected to commence in 2022 with completion planned in the first quarter of 2023. At December 31, 2021, several significant uncertainties remain, principally related to the resolution of comments received from NC DEQ on the 60% design, an extension of the barrier wall along Willis Creek at the northern end of the site, additional wetlands mitigation fees, finalization of the volume of water to be treated, contract negotiations with key construction and water treatment vendors and the estimated future time period of OM&M. Accordingly, we have increased the upper range of our cost estimates for the barrier wall and groundwater OM&M from $111 million at December 31, 2020 to $305 million at December 31, 2021, of which $170 million is accrued. We have not accrued for the incremental costs in the upper range, including the extension of the barrier wall. While we believe that extension of the barrier wall along Willis Creek is technically impracticable and not necessary to comply with the terms of the CO and Addendum, an estimate of the cost for the barrier wall extension was included in the upper range of the cost estimate of approximately $30 million.
The final cost of the on-site groundwater treatment system primarily depends on receiving timely NC DEQ design and permit approvals and thus the timely finalization of certain significant design details, notably the actual barrier wall location, depth, and length, number and configuration of extraction wells, water extraction rates and estimated carbon usage. Pending resolution of NC DEQ comments on the 60% design, the engineering design is expected to be approximately 90% complete in the first quarter of 2022, which will form the basis of a submission for the approval by NC DEQ which is required to be submitted by us as provided by the Addendum. Per the Addendum, NC DEQ shall use best efforts to complete its review and notify us whether the design is approved within 30 days after submittal. If not approved within 30 days, subsequent deadlines shall be extended by the time required for NC DEQ approval in excess of 30 days. Unanticipated schedule delays or other factors beyond our control could lead to further increases in the cost of the barrier wall and groundwater treatment system, which could be material. Changes in estimates are recorded in results of operations in the period that the events and circumstances giving rise to such changes occur. If we do not achieve project completion of the barrier wall and groundwater treatment system by March 15, 2023, subject to extensions provided above, the Addendum specifies penalties of $0.15 million plus an additional $0.02 million per week until installation is completed.
Accordingly, based on the CO, the Addendum, the CAP, and management’s plans, which are based on current regulations and technology, we have accrued $289 million and $140 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to the estimated cost of on-site remediation, which is within the existing estimated range of potential outcomes, based on current potential remedial options, and projected to be paid over a period of approximately 20 years. The final costs of any selected remediation will depend primarily on the final approved design and actual labor and material costs. Accordingly, as discussed above, during 2021, we revised, in accordance with ASC 250 - Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, our estimated liability to comply with the CO and Addendum. In accordance with ASC 410 - Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, these amounts were recorded as a component of cost of goods sold as we only capitalize environmental costs if the costs extend the useful life of the property, increase the property’s capacity, and/or reduce or prevent contamination from future operations.
The Chemours Company
It is possible that issues relating to site discharges in various transport pathways, the selection of remediation alternatives to achieve PFAS loading reductions, or the operating effectiveness of the TO could result in further litigation and/or regulatory demands with regards to Fayetteville, including potential permit modifications or penalties under the CO and the Addendum. It is also possible that, as additional data is collected on the transport pathways and dialogue continues with NC DEQ and other stakeholders, the type or extent of remediation actions required to achieve the objectives committed to in the CO may change (increase or decrease) or remediation activities could be delayed. If such issues arise, or if the CO is further amended, an additional loss is reasonably possible, but not estimable at this time. With respect to the Addendum, at this time, we believe that payment of any of the stipulated financial penalties for untimeliness or noncompliance is remote.
As of December 31, 2021, based on the CO, the Addendum, the CAP, and our plans, which are based on current regulations and technology, we have accrued $289 million and $70 million related to the estimated cost of on-site and off-site remediation, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we accrued an additional $228 million, of which $193 million was attributable to our on-site and plant remediation and $35 million was attributable to off-site groundwater testing and water treatment system installations at additional qualifying third-party properties in the vicinity surrounding Fayetteville. Off-site installation, maintenance, and monitoring may be impacted by additional changes in estimates as actual experience may differ from management’s estimates.
On November 3, 2021, NC DEQ notified us of the potential need to revise our off-site drinking water program under the CO in light of EPA’s recently published final toxicity assessment for GenX compounds and plan to develop a drinking water health advisory in the Spring of 2022. We cannot estimate the potential impact or additional cost due to the uncertainties on the potential EPA drinking water health advisories.
Also on November 3, 2021, NC DEQ sent a notice to us regarding PFAS contamination from the Cape Fear River of groundwater monitoring wells and water supply wells in New Hanover County and potentially three other downstream counties based on new sampling data by NC DEQ and its determination of our obligations for such contamination. NC DEQ directed us to submit, within 90 days of receipt of the notice (due February 1, 2022), for its review and approval a comprehensive groundwater contamination assessment in such counties, as well as, an updated drinking water program to provide for sampling under the CO in such counties. We submitted our response on February 1, 2022, and accordingly, for the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded $11 million for the assessment and for sampling related to potential PFAS contamination of groundwater and supply of alternative drinking water in New Hanover and three other downstream counties. The liability is based on management’s preliminary assessment of the facts and circumstances for this matter. The estimated liability was based on certain assumptions, which management believes are reasonable under the circumstances and include, but are not limited to, implementation of the soil and groundwater assessment, the source and cause of PFAS contamination within the four counties, the estimated number of properties at which sampling is conducted and whether such property will qualify for an alternative drinking water supply, other potentially responsible parties and the method of long-term alternative water supply, if any.
Management’s estimate of the ultimate liability for this matter is dependent upon obtaining additional information, including, but not limited to, those items identified above. Given the level of uncertainties noted above, we are not able to provide a reasonable high-end estimate beyond the $11 million accrued at December 31, 2021. The ultimate resolution of this matter could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flow.
Pompton Lakes, New Jersey
During the 20th century, blasting caps, fuses, and related materials were manufactured at Pompton Lakes, Passaic County, New Jersey. Operating activities at the site were ceased in the mid-1990s. The primary contaminants in the soil and sediments are lead and mercury. Groundwater contaminants include volatile organic compounds. Under the authority of EPA and NJ DEP, remedial actions at the site are focused on investigating and cleaning-up the area. Groundwater monitoring at the site is ongoing, and we have installed and continue to install vapor mitigation systems at residences within the groundwater plume. In addition, we are further assessing groundwater conditions. In September 2015, EPA issued a modification to the site’s RCRA permit that requires us to dredge mercury contamination from a 36-acre area of the lake and remove sediment from two other areas of the lake near the shoreline. The remediation activities commenced when permits and implementation plans were approved in May 2016, and work on the lake dredging project is now complete. In April 2019, we submitted a revised Corrective Measures Study (“CMS”) proposing actions to address on-site soils impacted from past operations that exceed applicable clean-up criteria. We received comments on the CMS from EPA and NJ DEP in March 2020, and we responded to their comments in June 2020 and continue to seek resolution with EPA.
The Chemours Company
U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc., East Chicago, Indiana
The U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc. (“USS Lead”) Superfund site is located in the Calumet neighborhood of East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana. The site includes the former USS Lead facility along with nearby commercial, municipal, and residential areas. The primary compounds of interest are lead and arsenic which may be found in soils within the impacted area. The EPA is directing and organizing remediation on this site, and we are one of a number of parties working cooperatively with EPA on the safe and timely completion of this work. EID’s former East Chicago manufacturing facility was located adjacent to the site, and EID assigned responsibility for the site to us in the Separation Agreement.
The USS Lead Superfund site was listed on the National Priorities List in 2009. To facilitate negotiations with PRPs, EPA divided the residential part of the USS Lead Superfund site into three zones, referred to as Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3. The division into three zones resulted in Atlantic Richfield Co. (“Atlantic Richfield”) and EID entering into an agreement in 2014 with EPA and the State of Indiana to reimburse EPA’s costs to implement clean-up in Zone 1 and Zone 3. In March 2017, we and three other parties - Atlantic Richfield, EID, and the U.S. Metals Refining Co. (“U.S. Metals”) - entered into an administrative order on consent to reimburse EPA’s costs to clean-up a portion of Zone 2. In March 2018, EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order for the remainder of the Zone 2 work to five parties, including us, Atlantic Richfield, EID, U.S. Metals, and USS Lead Muller Group, and these parties entered into an interim allocation agreement to perform that work. As of the end of 2019, the required work in Zone 3 had been completed, and Zone 2 was nearly complete by the end of 2020. The determination of a final allocation for Zone 2 and/or the other Zones is ongoing, and additional PRPs may be identified.
The environmental accrual for USS Lead continues to include completion of the remaining obligations under the 2012 Record of Decision (“ROD”) and Statement of Work, which principally encompasses completion of Zone 1. The EPA released a proposed amendment to the 2012 ROD (the “ROD Amendment”) for a portion of Zone 1 in December 2018 (following its August 2018 Feasibility Study Addendum), with its recommended option based on future residential use. The EPA’s ROD Amendment for modified Zone 1 was released in March 2020, and selects as the preferred remedy one which requires a clean-up to residential standards based on the current applicable residential zoning. The ROD Amendment for modified Zone 1 also sets forth a selected contingent remedy which requires clean-up to commercial/industrial standards if the future land use becomes commercial/industrial. In November 2019, a Letter of Intent was executed by the City of East Chicago, Indiana and Industrial Development Advantage, LLC, relating to modified Zone 1 development, and EPA has indicated that it is “more likely” that future land use in this area will be commercial/industrial and not residential. During the second quarter of 2021, we accrued an additional $3 million based on a remediation estimate provided by Industrial Development Advantage, LLC. We expect that our future costs for modified Zone 1 will be further contingent on the development of this area and implementation under the ROD Amendment, as well as any final allocation between PRPs. In the third quarter of 2021, we recorded an additional $9 million to resolve the claims asserted by EPA related to past indirect costs associated with the 2012 ROD as amended, and the 2014 agreement entered into with EPA and the State of Indiana.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Directives and Litigation
In March 2019, NJ DEP issued two Directives, one being a state-wide PFAS Directive, and filed four lawsuits against Chemours and other defendants, including allegations relating to clean-up and removal costs at four sites including Chambers Works. In December 2021, a consolidated order was entered in the lawsuits granting, in part, and denying, in part a motion to dismiss or strike parts of the Second Amended Complaints. In January 2022, NJ DEP filed a motion for a preliminary injunction requiring EID and Chemours to establish a remediation funding source (“RFS”) in the amount of $943 million for Chambers Works, the majority of which is for non-PFAS remediation items. Further discussion related to these matters is included in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
PFOA
See our discussion under the heading “PFOA” in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
GenX
In June 2019, the Member States Committee of the European Chemicals Agency (“ECHA”) voted to list HFPO Dimer Acid as a Substance of Very High Concern. The vote was based on Article 57(f) - equivalent level of concern having probable serious effects to the environment. This identification does not impose immediate regulatory restriction or obligations, but may lead to a future authorization or restriction of the substance. On September 24, 2019, Chemours filed an application with the EU Court of Justice for the annulment of the decision of ECHA to list HFPO Dimer Acid as a Substance of Very High Concern. In September 2021, the General Court held an oral hearing on the written submissions and the court has provided notice that its ruling will be provided in February 2022.
The Chemours Company
PFAS
Refer to our discussion under the heading “PFAS” in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In May 2020, ECHA announced that five Member States (Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark) launched a call for evidence to inform a PFAS restriction proposal. Companies producing or using PFAS, as well as selling mixture or products containing PFAS, were invited to provide input. This call for evidence closed July 31, 2020. Thousands of substances meet the definition of PFAS as outlined in the call for evidence. This very broad definition covers substances with a variety of physical and chemical properties, health and environmental profiles, uses, and benefits. We submitted information on the substances covered by the call for evidence to the Member State competent authority for Germany, which is the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (“BAuA”).
In May 2020, five European countries began an initiative to restrict the manufacture, placing on the market and use of PFAS in the EU. In this regulatory process, more than 4,000 substances, including F-gases and fluoropolymers are being considered as part of this broad regulatory action. On July 15, 2021, the countries submitted their restriction proposal, which informs ECHA of the intent to prepare a PFAS restriction dossier for fluorinated substances within a defined structural formula scope, including branched fluoroalkyl groups and substances containing ether linkages, fluoropolymers and side chain fluorinated polymers. The restriction dossier will include information on hazards and risks, available information on alternatives and an analysis of the risk management instrument for addressing the identified risks. The submitting countries indicate that they expect to submit the restriction dossier to ECHA in July 2022. As part of the preparation of the restriction dossier, stakeholders were requested to provide relevant information and, based on risk and socio-economic information, derogations from the proposed restriction may be proposed by the submitting countries. If a derogation is not proposed by the submitting countries, the relevant stakeholders may do so during a consultation process. The draft dossier will be reviewed by the ECHA committees Risk Assessment Committee (“RAC”) and Socio-economic Analysis Committees (“SEAC”) and proposals submitted to the EU Commission in 2023. The estimated entry into force of restrictions is 2025. The impacts of restrictions and regulatory measures could lead to material adverse effects on our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
On October 18, 2021, EPA released its PFAS Strategic Roadmap, identifying a comprehensive approach to addressing PFAS. The PFAS Strategic Roadmap sets timelines by which EPA plans to take specific actions through 2024, including establishing a national primary drinking water regulation for PFOA and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (“PFOS”) and taking Effluent Limitations Guidelines actions to regulate PFAS discharges from industrial categories among other actions. As provided under its roadmap, EPA also released on the same day its National PFAS Testing Strategy, under which the agency will identify and select certain PFAS compounds for which it will require PFAS manufacturers to conduct testing pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) orders. EPA has indicated that we will receive orders for certain of such compounds, including seven of the testing orders will be issued for PFAS compounds alleged to be associated with Fayetteville. On October 25, 2021, EPA published a final toxicity assessment for GenX compounds that decreased the draft reference dose for GenX compounds based on EPA’s review of new studies and analyses. Under the PFAS Strategic Roadmap, EPA indicated they plan to develop non-regulatory drinking water health advisories for certain PFAS compounds that have final EPA toxicity assessments, including GenX compounds in the Spring of 2022. We are currently evaluating the impact of EPA’s final toxicity assessment, including new data and analysis utilized by the agency, and have met with the agency to discuss process-related and technical concerns about the assessment. It is reasonably possible that additional costs could be incurred in connection with EPA’s actions, however, we cannot estimate the potential impact or additional cost due to the uncertainties on the potential drinking water health advisories or other actions. The environmental remediation liabilities recorded for Fayetteville and certain other sites, such as Washington Works, Parkersburg, West Virginia and Chambers Works, Deepwater, New Jersey as of December 31, 2021 are based upon the existing Consent Orders, agreements and/or voluntary commitments with EPA, state and other local regulators and depending on the ultimate outcome of EPA’s actions, could require adjustment to meet higher drinking water standards.
Delaware Chancery Court Lawsuit
In May 2019, we filed a lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court (“Chancery Court”) against DuPont, Corteva, and EID concerning EID’s contention that it is entitled to unlimited indemnity from us for specified liabilities that EID assigned to us in the spin-off. The lawsuit requested a declaratory judgment limiting EID’s indemnification rights against us and the transfer of liabilities to us to the actual “high-end (maximum) realistic exposures” it stated in connection with the spin-off, or, in the alternative, requiring the return of the approximate $4.0 billion dividend EID extracted from us in connection with the spin-off. In March 2020, the Chancery Court granted EID’s Motion to Dismiss, placing the matter in non-public binding arbitration. The dismissal was affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court. In January 2021, the parties entered into a binding MOU, addressing the allegations in the lawsuit and arbitration. Pursuant to the MOU, the parties have agreed to dismiss the arbitration. Many of the potential litigation liabilities discussed in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements are included in the MOU.
The Chemours Company
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. To supplement our financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, we provide the following non-GAAP financial measures - Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings per Share (“EPS”), Free Cash Flows (“FCF”), Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”), and Net Leverage Ratio - in order to clarify and provide investors with a better understanding of our performance when analyzing changes in our underlying business between reporting periods and provide for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. We utilize Adjusted EBITDA as the primary measure of segment profitability used by our CODM.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income (loss) before income taxes, excluding the following:
•
interest expense, depreciation, and amortization;
•
non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit costs, which represents the components of net periodic pension (income) costs excluding the service cost component;
•
exchange (gains) losses included in other income (expense), net;
•
restructuring, asset-related, and other charges;
•
(gains) losses on sales of assets and business; and,
•
other items not considered indicative of our ongoing operational performance and expected to occur infrequently, including Qualified Spend reimbursable by DuPont and/or Corteva as part of our cost-sharing agreement under the terms of the MOU that were previously excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.
Adjusted Net Income is defined as our net income (loss), adjusted for items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, except interest expense, depreciation, amortization, and certain provision for (benefit from) income tax amounts. Adjusted EPS is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the weighted-average number of our common shares outstanding. Diluted Adjusted EPS accounts for the dilutive impact of our stock-based compensation awards, which includes unvested restricted shares. FCF is defined as our cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities, less purchases of property, plant, and equipment as shown in our consolidated statements of cash flows. ROIC is defined as Adjusted Earnings before Interest and Taxes (“EBIT”), divided by the average of our invested capital, which amounts to our net debt, or debt less cash and cash equivalents, plus equity. Net Leverage Ratio is defined as our total debt principal, net, or our total debt principal outstanding less cash and cash equivalents, divided by Adjusted EBITDA.
We believe the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when used in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, is a useful financial analysis tool that can assist investors in assessing our operating performance and underlying prospects. This analysis should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. In the future, we may incur expenses similar to those eliminated in this presentation. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS, FCF, ROIC, and Net Leverage Ratio should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or infrequently occurring items. The non-GAAP financial measures we use may be defined differently from measures with the same or similar names used by other companies. This analysis, as well as the other information provided in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in this report.
The Chemours Company
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our net income (loss) attributable to Chemours to Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Net income attributable to Chemours
$
$
Non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit income
(9
)
(1
)
Exchange (gains) losses, net
(3
)
Restructuring, asset-related, and other charges (1)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
Gain on sales of assets and businesses (2,3)
(115
)
(8
)
Natural disasters and catastrophic events (4)
-
Transaction costs
Qualified spend recovery (5)
(20
)
-
Legal and environmental charges (6,7)
Adjustments made to income taxes (8)
(27
)
(23
)
Benefit from income taxes relating to reconciling items (9)
(42
)
(37
)
Adjusted Net Income
Interest expense, net
Depreciation and amortization
All remaining provision for income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA
$
1,313
$
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic
164,943,575
164,681,827
Dilutive effect of our employee compensation plans
3,754,864
1,664,702
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - diluted
168,698,439
166,346,529
Per share data
Basic earnings per share of common stock
$
3.69
$
1.33
Diluted earnings per share of common stock
3.60
1.32
Adjusted basic earnings per share of common stock
4.09
2.00
Adjusted diluted earnings per share of common stock
4.00
1.98
(1)
Includes restructuring, asset-related, and other charges, which are discussed in further detail in “Note 7 - Restructuring, Asset-related, and Other Charges” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2)
The year ended December 31, 2021 includes a net pre-tax gain on sale of $112 million associated with the sale of the Mining Solutions business of our Chemical Solutions segment which is further discussed in “Note 4 - Acquisitions and Divestitures” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3)
The year ended December 31, 2020 includes a gain of $6 million associated with the sale of our Oakley, California site, which was contingent upon the completion of certain environmental remediation activities at the site.
(4)
Natural disasters and catastrophic events pertains to the total cost of plant repairs and utility charges in excess of historical averages caused by Winter Storm Uri.
(5)
Qualified spend recovery represents costs and expenses that were previously excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, reimbursable by DuPont and/or Corteva as part of our cost-sharing agreement under the terms of the MOU which is discussed in further detail in "Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities" to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(6)
Legal charges pertains to litigation settlements, PFOA drinking water treatment accruals, and other legal charges which are discussed in further detail in “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The year ended December 31, 2020 includes $29 million of charges in connection with our portion of the costs to settle PFOA multi-district litigation in Ohio. Refer to “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
(7)
In 2021, environmental charges pertains to management’s assessment of estimated liabilities associated with certain non-recurring environmental remediation expenses at various sites. For the year ended December 31, 2021, environmental charges include $169 million related to the construction of the barrier wall, operation of the groundwater extraction and treatment system, and long-term enhancements to the old outfall treatment system at Fayetteville. In 2020, environmental charges pertains to management’s assessment of estimated liabilities associated with on-site remediation, off-site groundwater remediation, and toxicity studies related to Fayetteville. Refer to “Note 22 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
(8)
Includes the removal of certain discrete income tax impacts within our provision for income taxes, such as shortfalls and windfalls on share-based payments, certain return-to-accrual adjustments, valuation allowance adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on foreign exchange rate changes, and other discrete income tax items.
(9)
The income tax impacts included in this caption are determined using the applicable rates in the taxing jurisdictions in which income or expense occurred and represent both current and deferred income tax expense or benefit based on the nature of the non-GAAP financial measure.
The Chemours Company
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities to FCF for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Cash provided by operating activities
$
$
Less: Purchases of property, plant, and equipment (1)
(277
)
(267
)
Free Cash Flows
$
$
(1)
The year ended December 31, 2021 includes $22 million related to construction-in-progress assets acquired in exchange for the termination of a contract with a third-party service provider at our under-construction Mining Solutions facility in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of Adjusted EBIT and average invested capital, and their nearest respective GAAP measures, to ROIC for the periods presented.
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
$
1,313
$
Less: Depreciation and amortization (1)
(317
)
(320
)
Adjusted EBIT
$
$
As of December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Total debt, net (2)
$
3,749
$
4,026
Total equity
1,082
Less: Cash and cash equivalents
(1,451
)
(1,105
)
Invested capital, net
$
3,380
$
3,736
Average invested capital (3)
$
3,705
$
3,895
Return on Invested Capital
%
%
(1)
Reconciliations of net income (loss) attributable to Chemours to Adjusted EBITDA are provided on a quarterly basis. Refer to the preceding table for the reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to Chemours to Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
(2)
Total debt, net is net of unamortized issue discounts of $5 million and $7 million and debt issuance costs of $28 million and $28 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(3)
Average invested capital is based on a five-quarter trailing average of invested capital, net.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our total debt principal, cash and cash equivalents, and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Leverage Ratio.
As of December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Total debt principal
$
3,782
$
4,061
Less: Cash and cash equivalents
(1,451
)
(1,105
)
Total debt principal, net
$
2,331
$
2,956
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions)
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
$
1,313
$
Net Leverage Ratio
1.8x
3.4x
(1)
Reconciliations of net income (loss) attributable to Chemours to Adjusted EBITDA are provided on a quarterly basis. Refer to the preceding table for the reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to Chemours to Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
The Chemours Company

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates because of our global operations. As a result, we have assets, liabilities, and cash flows denominated in a variety of foreign currencies. We also have variable rate indebtedness, which subjects us to interest rate risk. Additionally, we are also exposed to changes in the prices of certain commodities that we use in production. Changes in these rates and commodity prices, which may be further exacerbated by the impacts of COVID-19 and the associated volatility in the broader financial markets, may have an impact on our future cash flows and earnings. We manage these risks through our normal operating and financing activities and, when deemed appropriate, through the use of derivative financial instruments. We do not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
By using derivative financial instruments, we are subject to credit and market risk. The fair values of the derivative financial instruments are determined by using valuation models whose inputs are derived using market observable inputs, and reflect the asset or liability position as of the end of each reporting period. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes us, thus creating a receivable risk for us. We are exposed to counterparty credit risk in the event of non-performance by counterparties to our derivative agreements. We minimize counterparty credit (or repayment) risk by entering into transactions with major financial institutions of investment grade credit ratings.
Our risk management programs and the underlying exposures are closely correlated, such that the potential loss in value for the risk management portfolio described above would be largely offset by the changes in the value of the underlying exposures. Refer to “Note 26 - Financial Instruments” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Foreign Currency Risks
We enter into foreign currency forward contracts to minimize the volatility in our earnings related to foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from remeasuring our monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in non-functional currencies, and any gains and losses from the foreign currency forward contracts are intended to be offset by any gains or losses from the remeasurement of the underlying monetary assets and liabilities. These derivatives are stand-alone and, except as described below, have not been designated as a hedge. At December 31, 2021, we had 12 foreign currency forward contracts outstanding with an aggregate gross notional U.S. dollar equivalent of $254 million, the fair value of which amounted to less than negative $1 million. At December 31, 2020, we had 25 foreign currency forward contracts outstanding with an aggregate gross notional U.S. dollar equivalent of $688 million, the fair value of which amounted to $3 million. We recognized a net loss of $15 million, a net gain of $29 million, and a net loss of $2 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, within other income (expense), net related to our non-designated foreign currency forward contracts.
We enter into certain qualifying foreign currency forward contracts under a cash flow hedge program to mitigate the risks associated with fluctuations in the euro against the U.S. dollar for forecasted U.S. dollar-denominated inventory purchases in certain of our international subsidiaries that use the euro as their functional currency. At December 31, 2021, we had 175 foreign currency forward contracts outstanding under our cash flow hedge program with an aggregate notional U.S. dollar equivalent of $195 million, the fair value of which amounted to $5 million. At December 31, 2020, we had 144 foreign currency forward contracts outstanding under our cash flow hedge program with an aggregate notional U.S. dollar equivalent of $101 million, the fair value of which amounted to negative $4 million. We recognized a pre-tax gain of $10 million, a pre-tax loss of $4 million, and a pre-tax gain of $6 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, within accumulated other comprehensive loss. For the year ended December 31, 2021, $2 million of loss was reclassified to the cost of goods sold from accumulated other comprehensive loss. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, $3 million and $10 million of gain was reclassified to the cost of goods sold from accumulated other comprehensive loss, respectively.
We designated our euro-denominated debt as a hedge of our net investment in certain of our international subsidiaries that use the euro as their functional currency in order to reduce the volatility in stockholders’ equity caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates of the euro with respect to the U.S. dollar. We recognized a pre-tax gain of $73 million, a pre-tax loss of $88 million, and a pre-tax gain of $20 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, on our net investment hedge within accumulated other comprehensive loss.
The Chemours Company
Interest Rate Risk
We entered into interest rate swaps, to mitigate the volatility in our cash payments for interest due to fluctuations in the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), as is applicable to the portion of our senior secured term loan facility denominated in U.S. dollars. At December 31, 2021, we had three interest rate swaps outstanding under our cash flow hedge program with an aggregate notional U.S. dollar equivalent of $400 million, the fair value of which amounted to less than $1 million. At December 31, 2020, we had three interest rate swaps outstanding under our cash flow hedge program with an aggregate notional U.S. dollar equivalent of $400 million, the fair value of which amounted to negative $3 million. We recognized a pre-tax gain of $2 million and a pre-tax loss of $4 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 within accumulated other comprehensive loss, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, losses of $2 million and less than $1 million were reclassified to interest expense, net from accumulated other comprehensive loss, respectively.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Our sales are not materially dependent on any single customer. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, one individual customer balance represented approximately 6% and 5% of our total outstanding accounts and notes receivable balance, respectively. Any credit risk associated with our accounts and notes receivable balance is representative of the geographic, industry, and customer diversity associated with our global businesses. As a result of our customer base being widely dispersed, we do not believe our exposure to credit-related losses related to our business as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 was material.
We also maintain strong credit controls in evaluating and granting customer credit. As a result, we may require that customers provide some type of financial guarantee in certain circumstances. The length of terms for customer credit varies by industry and region.
Commodities Risk
A 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. We try to protect against such instability through various business strategies. These include provisions in sales contracts allowing us to pass on higher raw materials costs through timely price increases and formula price contracts to transfer or share commodity price risk. We did not have any commodity derivative financial instruments in place as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements and supplementary data required by this Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data is incorporated by reference herein as set forth in Item 15(a)(1) - Consolidated Financial Statements.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. These controls and procedures also provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in such reports is accumulated and communicated to management, including our CEO and CFO, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
As of December 31, 2021, our CEO and CFO, together with management, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level.
The Chemours Company
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have completed an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting and have concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021 (refer to “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” on page to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein (refer to the “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” on page to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Except for information concerning executive officers, which is included in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Information About Our Executive Officers”, the information about our directors required by this Item 10 - Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance is contained under the caption “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors” in the definitive proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2022 Proxy Statement”), which we anticipate filing with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this report relates, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding our audit committee and our code of ethics is contained in the 2022 Proxy Statement under the captions “Corporate Governance” and “Board Structure and Committee Composition” and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item 11 - Executive Compensation is contained in the 2022 Proxy Statement under the captions “Executive Compensation”, “Director Compensation”, and “Compensation and Leadership Development Committee” and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item 12 - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters and not otherwise set forth below is contained in the 2022 Proxy Statement under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans
(Shares in thousands)
December 31, 2021
Plan Category
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights
(1)
Weighted-average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights
(2)
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
(3)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
8,900
$
20.32
11,800
(1)
Includes the approximate number of outstanding stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and performance share units (“PSUs”).
(2)
Represents the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options only. RSUs and PSUs do not have associated exercise prices.
(3)
Reflects the approximate shares available for issuance pursuant to The Chemours Company 2017 Equity and Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”), which was approved by our stockholders in 2017 and replaces The Chemours Company Equity and Incentive Plan. On April 28, 2021, stockholders approved an amendment and restatements of the Equity Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance by 3,050,000. Following the amendment and restatement, the maximum number of shares of stock reserved for the grant or settlement of awards under the Equity Plan is 22,050,000.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item 13 - Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence is contained in the 2022 Proxy Statement under the captions “Director Independence” and “Certain Relationships and Transactions” and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item 14 - Principal Accounting Fees and Services is contained in the 2022 Proxy Statement under the captions “Proposal 4 - Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”, “Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”, and “Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures” and is incorporated herein by reference.
The Chemours Company
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) Consolidated Financial Statements
Refer to the “Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements” commencing on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the above-referenced financial statements and their report on internal control over financial reporting is included on page. Their consent appears as Exhibit 23 of this Form 10-K.
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedule
Schedules not listed herein have been omitted because they are not required, not applicable, or the required information is otherwise included.
(a)(3) Exhibits
Refer to the “Exhibit Index” beginning on page 75 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.