CE-2015.3.31-10Q
Table of Contents

 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________________________________________
Form 10-Q
þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015
 
Or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Commission File Number) 001-32410
CELANESE CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
98-0420726
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
222 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Suite 900N
Irving, TX
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
75039-5421
(Zip Code)
(972) 443-4000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ  No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ  No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer þ
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o  No þ
The number of outstanding shares of the registrant's Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, as of April 13, 2015 was 153,241,257.
 
 
 
 
 

Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Form 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Table of Contents


Item 1. Financial Statements 
CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In $ millions, except share and per share data)
Net sales
1,450

 
1,705

Cost of sales
(1,069
)
 
(1,327
)
Gross profit
381

 
378

Selling, general and administrative expenses
(98
)
 
(104
)
Amortization of intangible assets
(3
)
 
(6
)
Research and development expenses
(20
)
 
(22
)
Other (charges) gains, net
(5
)
 
(1
)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net
3

 
(1
)
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net
(1
)
 
(1
)
Operating profit (loss)
257

 
243

Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
48

 
40

Interest expense
(27
)
 
(39
)
Interest income
—

 
—

Dividend income - cost investments
28

 
29

Other income (expense), net
—

 
—

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
306

 
273

Income tax (provision) benefit
(72
)
 
(78
)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
234

 
195

Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations
—

 
—

Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations
—

 
—

Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
—

 
—

Net earnings (loss)
234

 
195

Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
2

 
1

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
236

 
196

Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
 

 
 

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
236

 
196

Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
—

 
—

Net earnings (loss)
236

 
196

Earnings (loss) per common share - basic
 

 
 

Continuing operations
1.54

 
1.25

Discontinued operations
—

 
—

Net earnings (loss) - basic
1.54

 
1.25

Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted
 

 
 

Continuing operations
1.53

 
1.25

Discontinued operations
—

 
—

Net earnings (loss) - diluted
1.53

 
1.25

Weighted average shares - basic
153,216,510

 
156,501,794

Weighted average shares - diluted
153,901,562

 
156,812,915


See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Net earnings (loss)
234

 
195

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax


 


Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
—

 
—

Foreign currency translation
(156
)
 
5

Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
2

 
(3
)
Pension and postretirement benefits
(3
)
 
(12
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(157
)
 
(10
)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
77

 
185

Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
2

 
1

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
79

 
186


See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions, except share data)
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current Assets
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents (variable interest entity restricted - 2015: $1; 2014: $1)
851

 
780

Trade receivables - third party and affiliates (net of allowance for doubtful accounts - 2015: $6; 2014: $9)
804

 
801

Non-trade receivables, net
208

 
241

Inventories
744

 
782

Deferred income taxes
15

 
29

Marketable securities, at fair value
29

 
32

Other assets
45

 
33

Total current assets
2,696

 
2,698

Investments in affiliates
804

 
876

Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2015: $1,810; 2014: $1,816; variable interest entity restricted - 2015: $620; 2014: $535)
3,685

 
3,733

Deferred income taxes
275

 
253

Other assets (variable interest entity restricted - 2015: $29; 2014: $24)
343

 
377

Goodwill
700

 
749

Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2015: $517; 2014: $556)
123

 
132

Total assets
8,626

 
8,818

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
Current Liabilities
 

 
 

Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates
128

 
137

Trade payables - third party and affiliates
664

 
757

Other liabilities
342

 
432

Deferred income taxes
6

 
7

Income taxes payable
55

 
5

Total current liabilities
1,195

 
1,338

Long-term debt
2,536

 
2,608

Deferred income taxes
130

 
141

Uncertain tax positions
162

 
159

Benefit obligations
1,144

 
1,211

Other liabilities
260

 
283

Commitments and Contingencies


 


Stockholders' Equity
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2015 and 2014: 0 issued and outstanding)
—

 
—

Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized (2015: 166,517,146 issued and 153,250,521 outstanding; 2014: 166,169,335 issued and 152,902,710 outstanding)
—

 
—

Series B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2015 and 2014: 0 issued and outstanding)
—

 
—

Treasury stock, at cost (2015 and 2014: 13,266,625 shares)
(611
)
 
(611
)
Additional paid-in capital
105

 
103

Retained earnings
3,689

 
3,491

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
(322
)
 
(165
)
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity
2,861

 
2,818

Noncontrolling interests
338

 
260

Total equity
3,199

 
3,078

Total liabilities and equity
8,626

 
8,818

See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
(In $ millions, except share data)
Series A Common Stock
 
 
 
Balance as of the beginning of the period
152,902,710

 
—

Stock option exercises
7,500

 
—

Purchases of treasury stock
—

 
—

Stock awards
340,311

 
—

Balance as of the end of the period
153,250,521

 
—

Treasury Stock
 

 
 

Balance as of the beginning of the period
13,266,625

 
(611
)
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees
—

 
—

Balance as of the end of the period
13,266,625

 
(611
)
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
 
 
Balance as of the beginning of the period
 
 
103

Stock-based compensation, net of tax
 
 
2

Stock option exercises, net of tax
 
 
—

Balance as of the end of the period
 
 
105

Retained Earnings
 
 
 
Balance as of the beginning of the period
 
 
3,491

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
 
 
236

Series A common stock dividends
 
 
(38
)
Balance as of the end of the period
 
 
3,689

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net
 
 
 
Balance as of the beginning of the period
 
 
(165
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
 
(157
)
Balance as of the end of the period
 
 
(322
)
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity
 
 
2,861

Noncontrolling Interests
 
 
 
Balance as of the beginning of the period
 
 
260

Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
(2
)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests
 
 
80

Balance as of the end of the period
 
 
338

Total equity
 
 
3,199


See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.



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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net earnings (loss)
234

 
195

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 
Asset impairments
—

 
—

Depreciation, amortization and accretion
68

 
76

Pension and postretirement net periodic benefit cost
(12
)
 
(26
)
Pension and postretirement contributions
(29
)
 
(48
)
Deferred income taxes, net
5

 
(7
)
(Gain) loss on disposition of businesses and assets, net
1

 
1

Stock-based compensation
12

 
8

Undistributed earnings in unconsolidated affiliates
39

 
25

Other, net
3

 
2

Operating cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations
(1
)
 
—

Changes in operating assets and liabilities
 
 
 
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates, net
(34
)
 
(123
)
Inventories
6

 
(15
)
Other assets
45

 
4

Trade payables - third party and affiliates
(58
)
 
27

Other liabilities
(9
)
 
45

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
270

 
164

Investing Activities
 
 
 
Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment
(64
)
 
(78
)
Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets, net
—

 
—

Capital expenditures related to Fairway Methanol LLC
(98
)
 
(70
)
Other, net
(11
)
 
(3
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(173
)
 
(151
)
Financing Activities
 

 
 

Net change in short-term borrowings with maturities of 3 months or less
4

 
(3
)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
16

 
25

Repayments of short-term borrowings
(29
)
 
(40
)
Proceeds from long-term debt
—

 
—

Repayments of long-term debt
(6
)
 
(6
)
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees
—

 
(53
)
Stock option exercises
—

 
—

Series A common stock dividends
(38
)
 
(28
)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests
80

 
109

Other, net
(10
)
 
—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
17

 
4

Exchange rate effects on cash and cash equivalents
(43
)
 
(3
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
71

 
14

Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period
780

 
984

Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period
851

 
998


See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Description of the Company and Basis of Presentation
Description of the Company
Celanese Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") is a global technology and specialty materials company. The Company's business involves processing chemical raw materials, such as methanol, carbon monoxide and ethylene, and natural products, including wood pulp, into value-added chemicals, thermoplastic polymers and other chemical-based products.
Definitions
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Quarterly Report"), the term "Celanese" refers to Celanese Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and not its subsidiaries. The term "Celanese US" refers to the Company's subsidiary, Celanese US Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and not its subsidiaries.
Basis of Presentation
The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 contained in this Quarterly Report were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP") for all periods presented and include the accounts of the Company, its majority owned subsidiaries over which the Company exercises control and, when applicable, variable interest entities in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, unless otherwise specified, have been presented to separately show the effects of discontinued operations.
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and equity include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with US GAAP. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP may have been condensed or omitted in accordance with rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed on February 6, 2015 with the SEC as part of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into contracts and agreements relative to a number of topics, including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, supply agreements, product sales and other arrangements. The Company endeavors to describe those contracts or agreements that are material to its business, results of operations or financial position. The Company may also describe some arrangements that are not material but in which the Company believes investors may have an interest or which may have been included in a Form 8-K filing. Investors should not assume the Company has described all contracts and agreements relative to the Company's business in this Quarterly Report.
For those consolidated ventures in which the Company owns or is exposed to less than 100% of the economics, the outside stockholders' interests are shown as noncontrolling interests.
The Company has reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period's presentation.
Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales, expenses and allocated charges during the reporting period. Significant estimates pertain to impairments of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, purchase price allocations, restructuring costs and other (charges) gains, net, income taxes, pension and other postretirement benefits, asset retirement obligations, environmental liabilities and loss contingencies, among others. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

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2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs ("ASU 2015-03"). ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by ASU 2015-03. The amendments in this ASU are effective retrospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the impact of adopting this ASU to be material to the Company's financial statements and related disclosures.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASU 2014-09"). ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements of FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 605, Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance throughout the ASC, resulting in the creation of FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU provides alternative methods of adoption and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting this ASU on its financial statements and related disclosures.
3. Ventures and Variable Interest Entities
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
In February 2014, the Company formed a joint venture, Fairway Methanol LLC ("Fairway"), with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan ("Mitsui"), in which the Company owns 50% of Fairway, for the production of methanol at the Company's integrated chemical plant in Clear Lake, Texas. The planned methanol unit will utilize natural gas in the US Gulf Coast region as a feedstock and will benefit from the existing infrastructure at the Company's Clear Lake facility. Both Mitsui and the Company will supply their own natural gas to Fairway in exchange for methanol tolling under a cost-plus off-take arrangement. The planned methanol facility will have an annual capacity of 1.3 million tons.
The Company determined that Fairway is a variable interest entity ("VIE") in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Under the terms of the joint venture agreements, the Company provides site services and day-to-day operations for the methanol facility. In addition, the joint venture agreements provide that the Company indemnifies Mitsui for environmental obligations that exceed a specified threshold, as well as an equity option between the partners. Accordingly, the Company consolidates the venture and records a noncontrolling interest for the share of the venture owned by Mitsui. Fairway is included in the Company's Acetyl Intermediates segment.

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The carrying amount of the assets and liabilities associated with Fairway included in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets are as follows:
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Cash and cash equivalents
1

 
1

Property, plant and equipment
620

 
535

Other assets
29

 
24

Total assets(1)
650

 
560

 
 
 
 
Trade payables
1

 
—

Current liabilities(2)
33

 
40

Long-term debt
5

 
—

Total liabilities
39

 
40

______________________________
(1) 
Assets can only be used to settle the obligations of Fairway.
(2) 
Amounts owed by Fairway for reimbursement of expenditures.
Nonconsolidated Variable Interest Entities
The Company holds variable interests in entities that supply certain raw materials and services to the Company. The variable interests primarily relate to cost-plus contractual arrangements with the suppliers and recovery of capital expenditures for certain plant assets plus a rate of return on such assets. Liabilities for such supplier recoveries of capital expenditures have been recorded as capital lease obligations. The entities are not consolidated because the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the entities as it does not have the power to direct the activities of the entities that most significantly impact the entities' economic performance. The Company's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with these VIEs as of March 31, 2015 relates primarily to the recovery of capital expenditures for certain property, plant and equipment.
The carrying amount of the assets and liabilities associated with the obligations to nonconsolidated VIEs, as well as the maximum exposure to loss relating to these nonconsolidated VIEs are as follows:
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Property, plant and equipment, net
93
 
96
 
 
 
 
Trade payables
49
 
43
Current installments of long-term debt
9
 
9
Long-term debt
122
 
125
Total liabilities
180
 
177
 
 
 
 
Maximum exposure to loss
291
 
291
The difference between the total liabilities associated with obligations to unconsolidated VIEs and the maximum exposure to loss primarily represents take-or-pay obligations for services included in the Company's unconditional purchase obligations (Note 16).

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4. Marketable Securities, at Fair Value
The Company's nonqualified trusts hold available-for-sale securities for funding requirements of the Company's nonqualified pension plans (Note 9) as follows:
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Amortized cost
29

 
32

Gross unrealized gain
—

 
—

Gross unrealized loss
—

 
—

Fair value
29

 
32

See Note 15 - Fair Value Measurements for further information regarding the fair value of the Company's marketable securities.
5. Inventories
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Finished goods
551

 
579

Work-in-process
46

 
53

Raw materials and supplies
147

 
150

Total
744

 
782

6. Current Other Liabilities
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Asset retirement obligations
7

 
9

Benefit obligations (Note 9)
33

 
28

Customer rebates
34

 
53

Derivatives (Note 14)
5

 
13

Environmental (Note 10)
17

 
21

Insurance
8

 
9

Interest
20

 
19

Restructuring (Note 12)
9

 
21

Salaries and benefits
76

 
129

Sales and use tax/foreign withholding tax payable
17

 
13

Uncertain tax positions (Note 13)
52

 
59

Other
64

 
58

Total
342

 
432


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7. Noncurrent Other Liabilities
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Asset retirement obligations
29

 
28

Deferred proceeds
42

 
47

Deferred revenue
19

 
21

Derivatives (Note 14)
—

 
10

Environmental (Note 10)
61

 
63

Income taxes payable
12

 
13

Insurance
52

 
51

Other
45

 
50

Total
260

 
283

8. Debt
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Short-Term Borrowings and Current Installments of Long-Term Debt - Third Party and Affiliates
 
 
 
Current installments of long-term debt
25

 
25

Short-term borrowings, including amounts due to affiliates(1)
73

 
77

Accounts receivable securitization facility(2)
30

 
35

Total
128

 
137

______________________________
(1) 
The weighted average interest rate was 4.2% and 4.7% as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
(2) 
The weighted average interest rate was 0.7% as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Long-Term Debt
 
 
 
Senior credit facilities - Term C-2 loan due 2016
30

 
34

Senior credit facilities - Term C-3 loan due 2018
882

 
906

Senior unsecured notes due 2019, interest rate of 3.250%
323

 
364

Senior unsecured notes due 2021, interest rate of 5.875%
400

 
400

Senior unsecured notes due 2022, interest rate of 4.625%
500

 
500

Pollution control and industrial revenue bonds due at various dates through 2030, interest rates ranging from 5.7% to 6.7%
169

 
169

Obligations under capital leases due at various dates through 2054
257

 
260

Subtotal
2,561

 
2,633

Current installments of long-term debt
(25
)
 
(25
)
Total
2,536

 
2,608


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Senior Notes
The Company has outstanding senior unsecured notes issued in public offerings registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as follows (collectively, the "Senior Notes"):
Senior Notes
 
Issue Date
 
Principal
 
Interest Rate
 
Interest Pay Dates
 
Maturity Date
 
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
(In percentages)
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.250% Notes
 
September 2014
 
€300
 
3.250
 
April 15
 
October 15
 
October 15, 2019
4.625% Notes
 
November 2012
 
$500
 
4.625
 
March 15
 
September 15
 
November 15, 2022
5.875% Notes
 
May 2011
 
$400
 
5.875
 
June 15
 
December 15
 
June 15, 2021
The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Celanese US and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsubordinated indebtedness of Celanese US. The Senior Notes were issued under indentures (collectively, "Indentures") among Celanese US, Celanese and each of the domestic subsidiaries of Celanese US that guarantee its obligations under its senior secured credit facilities ("Subsidiary Guarantors") and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. The Senior Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Celanese and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Indentures contain covenants, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the Company's ability to incur indebtedness; grant liens on assets; merge, consolidate, or sell assets; pay dividends or make other restricted payments; engage in transactions with affiliates; or engage in other businesses. Celanese US may redeem some or all of each of the Senior Notes, prior to their respective maturity dates, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount, plus a "make-whole" premium as specified in the applicable indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.
Senior Credit Facilities
In September 2014, Celanese US, Celanese and the Subsidiary Guarantors entered into an amendment agreement with the lenders under Celanese US's existing senior secured credit facilities in order to amend and restate the amended credit agreement dated September 16, 2013 (as amended and restated by the 2014 amendment agreement, the "Amended Credit Agreement"). Under the Amended Credit Agreement, all of the US dollar-denominated Term C-2 term loans and all but €28 million of the Euro-denominated Term C-2 term loans under the 2013 amended credit agreement were converted into, or refinanced by, the Term C-3 loan facility with an extended maturity date of October 2018. The non-extended portions of the Term C-2 loan facility continue to have a maturity date of October 2016. In addition, the maturity date of the Company's revolving credit facility was extended to October 2018 and the facility was increased to $900 million. Accordingly, the Amended Credit Agreement consists of the Term C-2 loan facility, the Term C-3 loan facility and a $900 million revolving credit facility.
As of March 31, 2015, the margin for borrowings under the Term C-2 loan facility was 2.0% above the Euro Interbank Offered Rate ("EURIBOR") and the margin for borrowings under the Term C-3 loan facility was 2.25% above LIBOR (for US dollars) and 2.25% above EURIBOR (for Euros), as applicable. As of March 31, 2015, the margin for borrowings under the revolving credit facility was 1.5% above LIBOR. The margin for borrowings under the revolving credit facility is subject to increase or decrease in certain circumstances based on changes in the corporate credit ratings of Celanese or Celanese US.
Term loan borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement are subject to amortization at 1% of the initial principal amount per annum, payable quarterly. In addition, the Company pays quarterly commitment fees on the unused portions of the revolving credit facility of 0.25% per annum.
The Amended Credit Agreement is guaranteed by Celanese and certain domestic subsidiaries of Celanese US and is secured by a lien on substantially all assets of Celanese US and such guarantors, subject to certain agreed exceptions (including for certain real property and certain shares of foreign subsidiaries), pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated April 2, 2007.
As a condition to borrowing funds or requesting letters of credit be issued under the revolving credit facility, the Company's first lien senior secured leverage ratio (as calculated as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered under the revolving facility) cannot exceed the threshold as specified below. Further, the Company's first lien senior secured leverage ratio must be maintained at or below that threshold while any amounts are outstanding under the revolving credit facility.

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Table of Contents

The Company's amended first lien senior secured leverage ratios under the revolving credit facility are as follows:
As of March 31, 2015
Maximum
 
Estimate
 
Estimate, If Fully Drawn
3.90
 
0.60
 
1.16
The Amended Credit Agreement contains covenants including, but not limited to, restrictions on the Company's ability to incur indebtedness; grant liens on assets; merge, consolidate, or sell assets; pay dividends or make other restricted payments; make investments; prepay or modify certain indebtedness; engage in transactions with affiliates; enter into sale-leaseback transactions or hedge transactions; or engage in other businesses; as well as a covenant requiring maintenance of a maximum first lien senior secured leverage ratio.
The Amended Credit Agreement also maintains a number of events of default, including a cross default to other debt of Celanese, Celanese US, or their subsidiaries, including the Senior Notes, in an aggregate amount equal to more than $50 million and the occurrence of a change of control. Failure to comply with these covenants, or the occurrence of any other event of default, could result in acceleration of the borrowings and other financial obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement.
The Company is in compliance with all of the covenants related to its debt agreements as of March 31, 2015.
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
In August 2013, the Company entered into a US accounts receivable securitization facility pursuant to (i) a Purchase and Sale Agreement ("Sale Agreement") among certain US subsidiaries of the Company (each an "Originator"), Celanese International Corporation ("CIC") and CE Receivables LLC, a wholly-owned, "bankruptcy remote" special purpose subsidiary of an Originator ("Transferor") and (ii) a Receivables Purchase Agreement ("Purchase Agreement"), among CIC, as servicer, the Transferor, various third-party purchasers (collectively, "Purchasers") and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch, as administrator ("Administrator"). The Purchase Agreement expires in 2016, but may be extended for successive one year terms by agreement of the parties. All of the Transferor's assets have been pledged to the Administrator in support of its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
The Company's balances available for borrowing are as follows:
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
 
(In $ millions)
 
Revolving Credit Facility
 
 
Borrowings outstanding
—

 
Letters of credit issued
—

 
Available for borrowing
900

 
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
 
 
Borrowings outstanding
30

(1) 
Letters of credit issued
74

 
Available for borrowing
12

 
Total borrowing base
116

 
 
 
 
Maximum borrowing base
135

(2) 
______________________________
(1) 
The Company repaid $5 million of borrowings outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2015.
(2) 
Outstanding accounts receivable transferred by the Originators to the Transferor was $154 million.


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9. Benefit Obligations
The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Pension
Benefits
 
Post-retirement
Benefits
 
Pension
Benefits
 
Post-retirement
Benefits
 
 
(In $ millions)
 
Service cost
3

 
—

 
3

 
—

 
Interest cost
35

 
1

 
42

 
2

 
Expected return on plan assets
(52
)
 
—

 
(54
)
 
—

 
Amortization of prior service cost (credit), net
—

 
—

 
—

 
(19
)
(1) 
Special termination benefit
1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Total
(13
)
 
1

 
(9
)
 
(17
)
 
______________________________
(1) 
Primarily related to the elimination of eligibility for all current and future US employees to participate in the Company's US postretirement health care plan.
Benefit obligation funding is as follows:
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
Total
Expected
2015
 
(In $ millions)
Cash contributions to defined benefit pension plans
21

 
26

Benefit payments to nonqualified pension plans
6

 
22

Benefit payments to other postretirement benefit plans
2

 
17

Cash contributions to German multiemployer defined benefit pension plans(1)
2

 
6

______________________________
(1) 
The Company makes contributions based on specified percentages of employee contributions.
The Company's estimates of its US defined benefit pension plan contributions reflect the provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
10. Environmental
The Company is subject to environmental laws and regulations worldwide that impose limitations on the discharge of pollutants into the air and water and establish standards for the treatment, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. The Company believes that it is in substantial compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. The Company is also subject to retained environmental obligations specified in various contractual agreements arising from the divestiture of certain businesses by the Company or one of its predecessor companies.

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The components of environmental remediation reserves are as follows:
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Demerger obligations (Note 16)
24

 
25

Divestiture obligations (Note 16)
19

 
21

Active sites
22

 
23

US Superfund sites
11

 
12

Other environmental remediation reserves
2

 
3

Total
78

 
84

Remediation
Due to its industrial history and through retained contractual and legal obligations, the Company has the obligation to remediate specific areas on its own sites as well as on divested, demerger, orphan or US Superfund sites (as defined below). In addition, as part of the demerger agreement between the Company and Hoechst AG ("Hoechst"), a specified portion of the responsibility for environmental liabilities from a number of Hoechst divestitures was transferred to the Company (Note 16). The Company provides for such obligations when the event of loss is probable and reasonably estimable. The Company believes that environmental remediation costs will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company, but may have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or cash flows in any given period.
US Superfund Sites
In the US, the Company may be subject to substantial claims brought by US federal or state regulatory agencies or private individuals pursuant to statutory authority or common law. In particular, the Company has a potential liability under the US Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, and related state laws (collectively referred to as "Superfund") for investigation and cleanup costs at certain sites. At most of these sites, numerous companies, including the Company, or one of its predecessor companies, have been notified that the US Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), state governing bodies or private individuals consider such companies to be potentially responsible parties ("PRP") under Superfund or related laws. The proceedings relating to these sites are in various stages. The cleanup process has not been completed at most sites, and the status of the insurance coverage for some of these proceedings is uncertain. Consequently, the Company cannot accurately determine its ultimate liability for investigation or cleanup costs at these sites.
As events progress at each site for which it has been named a PRP, the Company accrues, as appropriate, a liability for site cleanup. Such liabilities include all costs that are probable and can be reasonably estimated. In establishing these liabilities, the Company considers its shipment of waste to a site, its percentage of total waste shipped to the site, the types of wastes involved, the conclusions of any studies, the magnitude of any remedial actions that may be necessary and the number and viability of other PRPs. Often the Company joins with other PRPs to sign joint defense agreements that settle, among PRPs, each party's percentage allocation of costs at the site. Although the ultimate liability may differ from the estimate, the Company routinely reviews the liabilities and revises the estimate, as appropriate, based on the most current information available.
One such site is the Lower Passaic River Study Area. The Company and 70 other companies are parties to a May 2007 Administrative Order on Consent with the EPA to perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study ("RI/FS") in the lower 17-mile stretch of the Passaic River in order to identify the levels of contaminants and potential cleanup actions. The parties are still working on the RI/FS with a goal to complete it in 2015. On April 11, 2014, the EPA issued its proposed evaluation of remediation alternatives for the lower 8-mile stretch of the Passaic River. The EPA estimates the cost for the various alternatives for the lower 8-mile stretch of the Passaic River will range from $365 million to $3.2 billion. The EPA's preferred plan would involve dredging the Passaic River bank to bank and installing an engineered cap at an estimated cost of $1.7 billion.
The parties involved have submitted comments to the EPA challenging the science, scope, necessity and viability of the EPA's proposed plan as the EPA's preferred remedy for the lower 8-mile stretch is inconsistent with the remedy being developed in the RI/FS for the full 17-mile stretch of the river. The EPA will evaluate all the input and is expected to issue a final decision concerning the lower 8-mile stretch of the river in 2015. Any subsequent order from the EPA requiring clean-up actions could be judicially challenged.

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Table of Contents

As the cost of the final remedy remains uncertain and the Company has found no evidence that it contributed any of the primary contaminants of concern to the Passaic River, the Company cannot reliably estimate its portion of the final costs for this matter at this time. The Company is vigorously defending these and all related matters and believes its ultimate allocable share of the cleanup costs will not be material.
11. Stockholders' Equity
Common Stock
The Company's Board of Directors follows a policy of declaring, subject to legally available funds, a quarterly cash dividend on each share of the Company's Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Common Stock"), unless the Company's Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, determines otherwise. The amount available to pay cash dividends is restricted by the Company's Amended Credit Agreement and the Indentures.
The Company's Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company's Common Stock cash dividend rate as follows:
 
Increase
 
Quarterly Common
Stock Cash Dividend
 
Annual Common
Stock Cash Dividend
 
Effective Date
 
(In percentages)
 
(In $ per share)
 
 
April 2014
39
 
0.25
 
1.00
 
May 2014
Treasury Stock
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Total From
February 2008
Through
March 31, 2015
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Shares repurchased
—

 
1,035,374

 
20,667,195

(1) 
Average purchase price per share
$
—

 
$
51.30

 
$
44.27

 
Cash paid for repurchased shares (in millions)
$
—

 
$
53

 
$
915

 
Aggregate Board of Directors repurchase authorizations (in millions)(2)
$
—

 
$
172

 
$
1,366

 
______________________________
(1) 
Excludes 11,844 shares withheld from an executive officer to cover statutory minimum withholding requirements for personal income taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock. Restricted stock awards are considered outstanding at the time of issuance. Accordingly, the shares withheld are treated as treasury shares.
(2) 
These authorizations give management discretion in determining the timing and conditions under which shares may be repurchased. This repurchase program began in February 2008 and does not have an expiration date.
The purchase of treasury stock reduces the number of shares outstanding. The repurchased shares may be used by the Company for compensation programs utilizing the Company's stock and other corporate purposes. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of stockholders' equity.

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Table of Contents

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Gross
Amount
 
Income
Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
 
Net
Amount
 
Gross
Amount
 
Income
Tax
(Provision)
Benefit
 
Net
Amount
 
(In $ millions)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
—


—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Foreign currency translation
(150
)
 
(6
)
 
(156
)
 
(3
)
 
8

 
5

Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
3

(1) 
(1
)
 
2

 
—


(3
)
 
(3
)
Pension and postretirement benefits
—

 
(3
)
 
(3
)
 
(19
)

7

 
(12
)
Total
(147
)
 
(10
)
 
(157
)
 
(22
)
 
12

 
(10
)
______________________________
(1) 
Includes $1 million of losses related to the Company's equity method investments' derivative activity.
Adjustments to Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net, are as follows:
 
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on
Marketable
Securities
 
Foreign
Currency
Translation
 
Gain (Loss)
on Cash
Flow
Hedges
 
Pension
and
Postretire-
ment
Benefits
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
(Loss), Net
 
(In $ millions)
As of December 31, 2014
1

 
(151
)
 
(4
)
 
(11
)
 
(165
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
—

 
(150
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
(151
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
—

 
—

 
4


—


4

Income tax (provision) benefit
—

 
(6
)
 
(1
)
 
(3
)
 
(10
)
As of March 31, 2015
1

 
(307
)
 
(2
)
 
(14
)
 
(322
)
12. Other (Charges) Gains, Net
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Employee termination benefits
(4
)
 
(2
)
Plant/office closures
—

 
1

Commercial disputes
(1
)
 
—

Total
(5
)
 
(1
)
2015
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded $4 million of employee termination benefits related to Company-wide business optimization projects. The Company also recorded $1 million of damages in connection with the settlement of a claim by a raw materials supplier. The commercial dispute resolution is included in the Acetyl Intermediates segment.
2014
During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company recorded $2 million of employee termination benefits related to the closure of its acetic anhydride facility in Roussillon, France and its vinyl acetate monomer ("VAM") facility in Tarragona, Spain. The Roussillon, France acetic anhydride operations and the Tarragona, Spain VAM operations are included in the Acetyl Intermediates segment.

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Table of Contents

The changes in the restructuring reserves by business segment are as follows:
 
Advanced
Engineered
Materials
 
Consumer
Specialties
 
Industrial
Specialties
 
Acetyl
Intermediates
 
Other
 
Total
 
(In $ millions)
Employee Termination Benefits
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2014
4

 
1

 
1

 
5

 
3

 
14

Additions
1

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
2

 
4

Cash payments
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

 
(2
)
Other changes
(3
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
(6
)
Exchange rate changes
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(2
)
As of March 31, 2015
1

 
1

 
2

 
2

 
2

 
8

Plant/Office Closures
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2014
—

 
—

 
—

 
7

 
—

 
7

Additions
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Cash payments
—

 
—

 
—

 
(5
)
 
—

 
(5
)
Other changes
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Exchange rate changes
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
As of March 31, 2015
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
1

Total
1

 
1

 
2

 
3

 
2

 
9

13. Income Taxes
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In percentages)
Effective income tax rate
24
 
29
The lower effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is equally attributable to changes in jurisdictional earnings related to the Company creating a centralized European operating company and changes in earnings in jurisdictions in which current year results do not have a corresponding tax impact due to valuation allowances, primarily in Asia.
In February 2015, the Company established a centralized European operating company for the purpose of improving the operational efficiencies and profitability of our European operations and certain global product lines. These activities will directly impact the Company's mix of earnings and product flows and will result in both favorable and unfavorable tax rate impacts in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates.
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company's uncertain tax positions decreased $6 million primarily due to exchange rate fluctuations of $23 million, partially offset by a $17 million increase in interest and changes in uncertain tax positions in certain jurisdictions.
The Company's US tax returns for the years 2009 through 2012 are currently under audit by the US Internal Revenue Service and certain of the Company's subsidiaries are under audit in jurisdictions outside of the US. In addition, certain statutes of limitations are scheduled to expire in the near future. It is reasonably possible that a further change in the unrecognized tax benefits may occur within the next twelve months related to the settlement of one or more of these audits or the lapse of applicable statutes of limitations. Such amounts have been reflected in the current portion of uncertain tax positions (Note 6).

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Table of Contents

14. Derivative Financial Instruments
Interest Rate Swaps
The Company fixes the LIBOR portion of its US dollar denominated variable rate borrowings (Note 8) with interest rate swap derivative arrangements as follows:
As of March 31, 2015
Notional Value
 
Effective Date
 
Expiration Date
 
Fixed Rate
(In $ millions)
 
 
 
 
 
(In percentages)
500
 
January 2, 2014
 
January 2, 2016
 
0.94
As of December 31, 2014
Notional Value
 
Effective Date
 
Expiration Date
 
Fixed Rate
(In $ millions)
 
 
 
 
 
(In percentages)
500
 
January 2, 2014
 
January 2, 2016
 
1.02
Foreign Currency Forwards and Swaps
Gross notional values of the foreign currency forwards and swaps are as follows:
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Total
1,441

 
1,336

Cross-currency Swaps
On March 31, 2015, the Company settled its cross-currency swap agreements with notional values of $250 million/ €193 million, expiring September 11, 2020, and $225 million/ €162 million, expiring April 17, 2019, in exchange for cash of $88 million. The Company recorded a net loss of $1 million, which is included in Other income (expense), net in the unaudited interim consolidated statement of operations. The Company classifies cash flows from derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges in the same category of the consolidated statement of cash flows as the cash flows from the items being hedged. Accordingly, the settlement of the cross-currency swap agreements is included in Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities in the unaudited interim consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

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Table of Contents

Information regarding changes in the fair value of the Company's derivative and non-derivative instruments is as follows:
 
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Earnings (Loss)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Statement of Operations Classification
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(In $ millions)
 
 
Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cross-currency swaps
—

 
—

 
46

 
—

 
Other income (expense), net; Interest expense
Total
—

 
—

 
46

 
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Designated as Net Investment Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.250% Notes
41

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Foreign currency translation
Term C-2 and Term C-3 loans
8

(1) 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Foreign currency translation
Total
49

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Not Designated as Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
—

 
—

 
(68
)
 
(2
)

Foreign exchange gain (loss), net; Other income (expense), net
Total
—

 
—

 
(68
)
 
(2
)
 
 
______________________________
(1) 
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company designated the €28 million principal amount of its Term C-2 loan and €149 million of its Term C-3 loan as a net investment hedge of its investment in a wholly-owned international subsidiary whose functional currency is the Euro to mitigate the volatility caused by the changes in foreign currency exchange rates of the Euro with respect to the US dollar.
See Note 15 - Fair Value Measurements for further information regarding the fair value of the Company's derivative instruments.
Certain of the Company's foreign currency forwards and swaps and interest rate swaps permit the Company to net settle all contracts with the counterparty through a single payment in an agreed upon currency in the event of default or early termination of the contract, similar to a master netting arrangement. The Company's interest rate swap agreements are subject to cross collateralization under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement entered into in conjunction with the Term loan borrowings (Note 8).
Information regarding the gross amounts of the Company's derivative instruments and the amounts offset in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets is as follows:
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Derivative Assets
 
 
 
Gross amount recognized
17

 
55

Gross amount offset in the consolidated balance sheets
—

 
—

Net amount presented in the consolidated balance sheets
17

 
55

Gross amount not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
1

 
4

Net amount
16

 
51


21

Table of Contents

 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(In $ millions)
Derivative Liabilities
 
 
 
Gross amount recognized
5

 
23

Gross amount offset in the consolidated balance sheets
—

 
—

Net amount presented in the consolidated balance sheets
5

 
23

Gross amount not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
1

 
4

Net amount
4

 
19

15. Fair Value Measurements
The Company's financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as follows:
Marketable Securities. Where possible, the Company utilizes quoted prices in active markets to measure available-for-sale equity securities, including mutual funds. Such items are classified as Level 1 in the fair value measurement hierarchy. Mutual funds are valued at the net asset value per share or unit multiplied by the number of shares or units held as of the measurement date.
Derivatives. Derivative financial instruments, including interest rate swaps, cross-currency swaps and foreign currency forwards and swaps, are valued in the market using discounted cash flow techniques. These techniques incorporate Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurement inputs such as interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. These market inputs are utilized in the discounted cash flow calculation considering the instrument's term, notional amount, discount rate and credit risk. Significant inputs to the derivative valuation for interest rate swaps, cross-currency swaps and foreign currency forwards and swaps are observable in the active markets and are classified as Level 2 in the fair value measurement hierarchy.

22

Table of Contents

 
Fair Value Measurement
 
 
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Total
 
Balance Sheet Classification
 
(In $ millions)
 
 
As of March 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
29

 
—

 
29

 
Marketable securities, at fair value
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges
 
 
 
 


 
 
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
—

 
17

 
17

 
Current Other assets
Total assets
29

 
17

 
46

 
 
Designated as Net Investment Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.250% Notes(1)
—

 
—

 
—

 
Long-term Debt
Term C-2 and Term C-3 loans(1)
—

 
—

 
—

 
Long-term Debt
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
—

 
(3
)
 
(3
)
 
Current Other liabilities
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
—

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
Current Other liabilities
Total liabilities
—

 
(5
)
 
(5
)
 
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
32

 
—

 
32

 
Marketable securities, at fair value
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cross-currency swaps
—

 
9

 
9

 
Current Other assets
Cross-currency swaps
—

 
43

 
43

 
Noncurrent Other assets
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
—

 
3

 
3

 
Current Other assets
Total assets
32

 
55

 
87

 
 
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cross-currency swaps
—

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
Current Other liabilities
Cross-currency swaps
—

 
(10
)
 
(10
)
 
Noncurrent Other liabilities
Designated as a Net Investment Hedge
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.250% Notes(1)
—

 
—

 
—

 
Long-term Debt
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
—

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
Current Other liabilities
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
—

 
(7
)
 
(7
)
 
Current Other liabilities
Total liabilities
—

 
(23
)
 
(23
)
 
 
______________________________
(1) 
Included in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets at carrying amount.

23

Table of Contents

Carrying values and fair values of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value are as follows:
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Total
 
(In $ millions)
As of March 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost investments
143

 
—

 
—

 
—

Insurance contracts in nonqualified trusts
56

 
56

 
—

 
56

Long-term debt, including current installments of long-term debt
2,561

 
2,367

 
257

 
2,624

As of December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost investments
145

 
—

 
—

 
—

Insurance contracts in nonqualified trusts
56

 
56

 
—

 
56

Long-term debt, including current installments of long-term debt
2,633

 
2,398

 
260

 
2,658

In general, the cost investments included in the table above are not publicly traded and their fair values are not readily determinable; however, the Company believes the carrying values approximate or are less than the fair values. Insurance contracts in nonqualified trusts consist of long-term fixed income securities, which are valued using independent vendor pricing models with observable inputs in the active market and therefore represent a Level 2 fair value measurement. The fair value of long-term debt is based on valuations from third-party banks and market quotations and is classified as Level 2 in the fair value measurement hierarchy. The fair value of obligations under capital leases, which are included in long-term debt, is based on lease payments and discount rates, which are not observable in the market and therefore represents a Level 3 fair value measurement.
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, trade payables, short-term borrowings and the current installments of long-term debt approximate carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. These items have been excluded from the table with the exception of the current installments of long-term debt.
16. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is involved in legal and regulatory proceedings, lawsuits, claims and investigations incidental to the normal conduct of business, relating to such matters as product liability, land disputes, commercial contracts, employment, antitrust, intellectual property, workers' compensation, chemical exposure, asbestos exposure, trade compliance, prior acquisitions and divestitures, claims of legacy stockholders, past waste disposal practices and release of chemicals into the environment. The Company is actively defending those matters where the Company is named as a defendant.
Guarantees
The Company has agreed to guarantee or indemnify third parties for environmental and other liabilities pursuant to a variety of agreements, including asset and business divestiture agreements, leases, settlement agreements and various agreements with affiliated companies. Although many of these obligations contain monetary and/or time limitations, others do not provide such limitations.
As indemnification obligations often depend on the occurrence of unpredictable future events, the future costs associated with them cannot be determined at this time.
The Company has accrued for all probable and reasonably estimable losses associated with all known matters or claims that have been brought to its attention. These known obligations include the following:
•
Demerger Obligations
In connection with the Hoechst demerger, the Company agreed to indemnify Hoechst, and its legal successors, for various liabilities under the demerger agreement, including for environmental liabilities associated with contamination arising either

24

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from environmental damage in general ("Category A") or under 19 divestiture agreements entered into by Hoechst prior to the demerger ("Category B") (Note 10).
The Company's obligation to indemnify Hoechst, and its legal successors, is capped under Category B at €250 million. If and to the extent the environmental damage should exceed €750 million in aggregate, the Company's obligation to indemnify Hoechst and its legal successors applies, but is then limited to 33.33% of the remediation cost without further limitations. Cumulative payments under the divestiture agreements as of March 31, 2015 are $69 million. Most of the divestiture agreements have become time barred and/or any notified environmental damage claims have been partially settled.
The Company has also undertaken in the demerger agreement to indemnify Hoechst and its legal successors for (i) 33.33% of any and all Category A liabilities that result from Hoechst being held as the responsible party pursuant to public law or current or future environmental law or by third parties pursuant to private or public law related to contamination and (ii) liabilities that Hoechst is required to discharge, including tax liabilities, which are associated with businesses that were included in the demerger but were not demerged due to legal restrictions on the transfers of such items. These indemnities do not provide for any monetary or time limitations. The Company has not been requested by Hoechst to make any payments in connection with this indemnification. Accordingly, the Company has not made any payments to Hoechst and its legal successors.
Based on the Company's evaluation of currently available information, including the lack of requests for indemnification, the Company cannot estimate the Possible Loss for the remaining demerger obligations, if any, in excess of amounts accrued.
•
Divestiture Obligations
The Company and its predecessor companies agreed to indemnify third-party purchasers of former businesses and assets for various pre-closing conditions, as well as for breaches of representations, warranties and covenants. Such liabilities also include environmental liability, product liability, antitrust and other liabilities. These indemnifications and guarantees represent standard contractual terms associated with typical divestiture agreements and, other than environmental liabilities, the Company does not believe that they expose the Company to any significant risk (Note 10).
The Company has divested numerous businesses, investments and facilities through agreements containing indemnifications or guarantees to the purchasers. Many of the obligations contain monetary and/or time limitations, which extend through 2037. The aggregate amount of outstanding indemnifications and guarantees provided for under these agreements is $207 million as of March 31, 2015. Other agreements do not provide for any monetary or time limitations.
Based on the Company's evaluation of currently available information, including the number of requests for indemnification or other payment received by the Company, the Company cannot estimate the Possible Loss for the remaining divestiture obligations, if any, in excess of amounts accrued.
Purchase Obligations
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into various purchase commitments for goods and services. The Company maintains a number of "take-or-pay" contracts for purchases of raw materials, utilities and other services. Certain of the contracts contain a contract termination buy-out provision that allows for the Company to exit the contracts for amounts less than the remaining take-or-pay obligations. The Company does not expect to incur any material losses under take-or-pay contractual arrangements. Additionally, the Company has other outstanding commitments representing maintenance and service agreements, energy and utility agreements, consulting contracts and software agreements. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had unconditional purchase obligations of $3.2 billion, which extend through 2036.

25

Table of Contents

17. Segment Information
 
Advanced
Engineered
Materials
 
Consumer
Specialties
 
Industrial
Specialties
 
Acetyl
Intermediates
 
Other
Activities
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
(In $ millions)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
Net sales
343

 
227

(1) 
282

 
713

(1) 
—

 
(115
)
 
1,450

 
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 12)
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
—

 
(5
)
 
Operating profit (loss)
59

 
62

 
29

 
131

 
(24
)
 
—

 
257

 
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
43

 
—


—

 
1

 
4

 
—

 
48

 
Depreciation and amortization
25

 
11

 
10

 
19

 
2

 
—

 
67

 
Capital expenditures
17

 
26


6

 
96


1

 
—

 
146

(2) 
 
As of March 31, 2015
 
Goodwill and intangible assets, net
340

 
248

 
50

 
185

 
—

 
—

 
823

 
Total assets
2,375

 
1,461

 
826

 
2,489

 
1,475

 
—

 
8,626

 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Net sales
373

 
302

(1) 
312

 
841

(1) 
—

 
(123
)
 
1,705

 
Other (charges) gains, net (Note 12)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
Operating profit (loss)
57

 
99

 
20

 
97

 
(30
)
 
—

 
243

 
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
33

 
1

 
—

 
1

 
5

 
—

 
40

 
Depreciation and amortization
26

 
11

 
14

 
21

 
3

 
—

 
75

 
Capital expenditures
9

 
28


4

 
76


1

 
—

 
118

(2) 
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Goodwill and intangible assets, net
358

 
261

 
54

 
208

 
—

 
—

 
881

 
Total assets
2,484

 
1,491

 
823

 
2,495

 
1,525

 
—

 
8,818

 
______________________________
(1) 
Net sales for Acetyl Intermediates and Consumer Specialties include intersegment sales of $115 million and $0 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and $123 million and $0 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
(2) 
Includes a decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $16 million and $30 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.


26

Table of Contents

18. Earnings (Loss) Per Share
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In $ millions, except share data)
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
236

 
196

Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
—

 
—

Net earnings (loss)
236

 
196

 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares - basic
153,216,510

 
156,501,794

Incremental shares attributable to equity awards
685,052

 
311,121

Weighted average shares - diluted
153,901,562

 
156,812,915

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, there were no anti-dilutive equity awards excluded from the computation of diluted net earnings per share. During the same period in 2014, 8,108 equity award shares were not included in the computation of diluted net earnings per share as their effect would have been antidilutive.
19. Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information
The Senior Notes were issued by Celanese US ("Issuer") and are guaranteed by Celanese Corporation ("Parent Guarantor") and the Subsidiary Guarantors (Note 8). The Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors are 100% owned subsidiaries of the Parent Guarantor. The Parent Guarantor and Subsidiary Guarantors have guaranteed the Notes fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally.
For cash management purposes, the Company transfers cash between the Parent Guarantor, Issuer, Subsidiary Guarantors and non-guarantors through intercompany financing arrangements, contributions or declaration of dividends between the respective parent and its subsidiaries. The transfer of cash under these activities facilitates the ability of the recipient to make specified third-party payments for principal and interest on the Company's outstanding debt, Common Stock dividends and Common Stock repurchases. The unaudited interim consolidating statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 present such intercompany financing activities, contributions and dividends consistent with how such activity would be presented in a stand-alone statement of cash flows.
The Company has not presented separate financial information and other disclosures for each of its Subsidiary Guarantors because it believes such financial information and other disclosures would not provide investors with any additional information that would be material in evaluating the sufficiency of the guarantees.

27

Table of Contents

The unaudited interim consolidating financial statements for the Parent Guarantor, the Issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the non-guarantors are as follows:
CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
Parent
Guarantor
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(In $ millions)
Net sales
—

 
—

 
658

 
1,133

 
(341
)
 
1,450

Cost of sales
—

 
—

 
(431
)
 
(984
)
 
346

 
(1,069
)
Gross profit
—

 
—

 
227

 
149

 
5

 
381

Selling, general and administrative expenses
—

 
—

 
(24
)
 
(74
)
 
—

 
(98
)
Amortization of intangible assets
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
—

 
(3
)
Research and development expenses
—

 
—

 
(10
)
 
(10
)
 
—

 
(20
)
Other (charges) gains, net
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
—

 
(5
)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net
—

 
—

 
—

 
3

 
—

 
3

Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
1

 
—

 
(1
)
Operating profit (loss)
—

 
—

 
187

 
65

 
5

 
257

Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
235

 
279

 
92

 
40

 
(598
)
 
48

Interest expense
—

 
(43
)
 
(5
)
 
(12
)
 
33

 
(27
)
Interest income
—

 
8

 
19

 
6

 
(33
)
 
—

Dividend income - cost investments
—

 
—

 
—

 
28

 
—

 
28

Other income (expense), net
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
235

 
244

 
293

 
127

 
(593
)
 
306

Income tax (provision) benefit
1

 
(9
)
 
(53
)
 
(10
)
 
(1
)
 
(72
)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
236

 
235

 
240

 
117

 
(594
)
 
234

Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Net earnings (loss)
236

 
235

 
240

 
117

 
(594
)
 
234

Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
2

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
236

 
235

 
240

 
119

 
(594
)
 
236



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Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Parent
Guarantor
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(In $ millions)
Net sales
—

 
—

 
707

 
1,300

 
(302
)
 
1,705

Cost of sales
—

 
—

 
(461
)
 
(1,151
)
 
285

 
(1,327
)
Gross profit
—

 
—

 
246

 
149

 
(17
)
 
378

Selling, general and administrative expenses
—

 
—

 
(9
)
 
(95
)
 
—

 
(104
)
Amortization of intangible assets
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
(4
)
 
—

 
(6
)
Research and development expenses
—

 
—

 
(13
)
 
(9
)
 
—

 
(22
)
Other (charges) gains, net
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
2

 
—

 
(1
)
Operating profit (loss)
—

 
—

 
219

 
41

 
(17
)
 
243

Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
195

 
228

 
30

 
36

 
(449
)
 
40

Interest expense
—

 
(46
)
 
(6
)
 
(19
)
 
32

 
(39
)
Interest income
—

 
14

 
17

 
1

 
(32
)
 
—

Dividend income - cost investments
—

 
—

 
—

 
29

 
—

 
29

Other income (expense), net
—

 
—

 
3

 
(3
)
 
—

 
—

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
195

 
196

 
263

 
85

 
(466
)
 
273

Income tax (provision) benefit
1

 
(1
)
 
(70
)
 
(11
)
 
3

 
(78
)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
196

 
195

 
193

 
74

 
(463
)
 
195

Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Net earnings (loss)
196

 
195

 
193

 
74

 
(463
)
 
195

Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
1

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
196

 
195

 
193

 
75

 
(463
)
 
196








29

Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
Parent
Guarantor
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(In $ millions)
Net earnings (loss)
236

 
235

 
240

 
117

 
(594
)
 
234

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Foreign currency translation
(156
)
 
(156
)
 
(170
)
 
(211
)
 
537

 
(156
)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
2

 
2

 
5

 
2

 
(9
)
 
2

Pension and postretirement benefits
(3
)
 
(3
)
 
(3
)
 
—

 
6

 
(3
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(157
)
 
(157
)
 
(168
)
 
(209
)
 
534

 
(157
)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
79

 
78

 
72

 
(92
)
 
(60
)
 
77

Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
2

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
79

 
78

 
72

 
(90
)
 
(60
)
 
79

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Parent
Guarantor
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(In $ millions)
Net earnings (loss)
196

 
195

 
193

 
74

 
(463
)
 
195

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Foreign currency translation
5

 
5

 
16

 
(16
)
 
(5
)
 
5

Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
(3
)
 
(3
)
 
—

 
—

 
3

 
(3
)
Pension and postretirement benefits
(12
)
 
(12
)
 
(12
)
 
—

 
24

 
(12
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(10
)
 
(10
)
 
4

 
(16
)
 
22

 
(10
)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
186

 
185

 
197

 
58

 
(441
)
 
185

Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
1

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
186

 
185

 
197

 
59

 
(441
)
 
186






30

Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
 
As of March 31, 2015
 
Parent
Guarantor
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(In $ millions)
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
—

 
—

 
56

 
795

 
—

 
851

Trade receivables - third party and affiliates
—

 
—

 
192

 
815

 
(203
)
 
804

Non-trade receivables, net
36

 
978

 
2,243

 
394

 
(3,443
)
 
208

Inventories, net
—

 
—

 
273

 
566

 
(95
)
 
744

Deferred income taxes
—

 
—

 
26

 
11

 
(22
)
 
15

Marketable securities, at fair value
—

 
—

 
29

 
—

 
—

 
29

Other assets
—

 
—

 
13

 
38

 
(6
)
 
45

Total current assets
36

 
978

 
2,832

 
2,619

 
(3,769
)
 
2,696

Investments in affiliates
2,825

 
5,926

 
3,959

 
707

 
(12,613
)
 
804

Property, plant and equipment, net
—

 
—

 
1,049

 
2,636

 
—

 
3,685

Deferred income taxes
—

 
16

 
235

 
24

 
—

 
275

Other assets
—

 
103

 
154

 
347

 
(261
)
 
343

Goodwill
—

 
—

 
314

 
386

 
—

 
700

Intangible assets, net
—

 
—

 
72

 
51

 
—

 
123

Total assets
2,861

 
7,023

 
8,615

 
6,770

 
(16,643
)
 
8,626

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates
—

 
1,928

 
704

 
252

 
(2,756
)
 
128

Trade payables - third party and affiliates
—

 
—

 
311

 
556

 
(203
)
 
664

Other liabilities
—

 
41

 
178

 
324

 
(201
)
 
342

Deferred income taxes
—

 
22

 
—

 
6

 
(22
)
 
6

Income taxes payable
—

 
—

 
538

 
30

 
(513
)
 
55

Total current liabilities
—

 
1,991

 
1,731

 
1,168

 
(3,695
)
 
1,195

Noncurrent Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
—

 
2,201

 
371

 
205

 
(241
)
 
2,536

Deferred income taxes
—

 
—

 
4

 
126

 
—

 
130

Uncertain tax positions
—

 
6

 
28

 
128

 
—

 
162

Benefit obligations
—

 
—

 
885

 
259

 
—

 
1,144

Other liabilities
—

 
—

 
120

 
168

 
(28
)
 
260

Total noncurrent liabilities
—

 
2,207

 
1,408

 
886

 
(269
)
 
4,232

Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity
2,861

 
2,825

 
5,476

 
4,378

 
(12,679
)
 
2,861

Noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
338

 
—

 
338

Total equity
2,861

 
2,825

 
5,476

 
4,716

 
(12,679
)
 
3,199

Total liabilities and equity
2,861

 
7,023

 
8,615

 
6,770

 
(16,643
)
 
8,626


31

Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Parent
Guarantor
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(In $ millions)
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
—

 
—

 
110

 
670

 
—

 
780

Trade receivables - third party and affiliates
—

 
—

 
184

 
821

 
(204
)
 
801

Non-trade receivables, net
35

 
477

 
2,265

 
407

 
(2,943
)
 
241

Inventories, net
—

 
—

 
268

 
613

 
(99
)
 
782

Deferred income taxes
—

 
—

 
39

 
12

 
(22
)
 
29

Marketable securities, at fair value
—

 
—

 
32

 
—

 
—

 
32

Other assets
—

 
6

 
12

 
34

 
(19
)
 
33

Total current assets
35

 
483

 
2,910

 
2,557

 
(3,287
)
 
2,698

Investments in affiliates
2,784

 
5,889

 
4,349

 
613

 
(12,759
)
 
876

Property, plant and equipment, net
—

 
—

 
1,029

 
2,704

 
—

 
3,733

Deferred income taxes
—

 
16

 
211

 
26

 
—

 
253

Other assets
—

 
674

 
146

 
400

 
(843
)
 
377

Goodwill
—

 
—

 
314

 
435

 
—

 
749

Intangible assets, net
—

 
—

 
73

 
59

 
—

 
132

Total assets
2,819

 
7,062

 
9,032

 
6,794

 
(16,889
)
 
8,818

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates
—

 
1,894

 
184

 
290

 
(2,231
)
 
137

Trade payables - third party and affiliates
—

 
—

 
413

 
548

 
(204
)
 
757

Other liabilities
1

 
34

 
225

 
402

 
(230
)
 
432

Deferred income taxes
—

 
22

 
—

 
7

 
(22
)
 
7

Income taxes payable
—

 
—

 
484

 
45

 
(524
)
 
5

Total current liabilities
1

 
1,950

 
1,306

 
1,292

 
(3,211
)
 
1,338

Noncurrent Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
—

 
2,269

 
900

 
208

 
(769
)
 
2,608

Deferred income taxes
—

 
—

 
—

 
141

 
—

 
141

Uncertain tax positions
—

 
6

 
16

 
137

 
—

 
159

Benefit obligations
—

 
—

 
923

 
288

 
—

 
1,211

Other liabilities
—

 
53

 
121

 
192

 
(83
)
 
283

Total noncurrent liabilities
—

 
2,328

 
1,960

 
966

 
(852
)
 
4,402

Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity
2,818

 
2,784

 
5,766

 
4,276

 
(12,826
)
 
2,818

Noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
260

 
—

 
260

Total equity
2,818

 
2,784

 
5,766

 
4,536

 
(12,826
)
 
3,078

Total liabilities and equity
2,819

 
7,062

 
9,032

 
6,794

 
(16,889
)
 
8,818


32

Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
Parent
Guarantor
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(In $ millions)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
38

 
18

 
79

 
211

 
(76
)
 
270

Investing Activities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment
—

 
—

 
(39
)
 
(25
)
 
—

 
(64
)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets, net
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Capital expenditures related to Fairway Methanol LLC
—

 
—

 
(5
)
 
(93
)
 
—

 
(98
)
Return of capital from subsidiary
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Contributions to subsidiary
—

 
—

 
(16
)
 
—

 
16

 
—

Intercompany loan receipts (disbursements)
—

 
1

 
(21
)
 
—

 
20

 
—

Other, net
—

 
—

 
(9
)
 
(2
)
 
—

 
(11
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
—

 
1

 
(90
)
 
(120
)
 
36

 
(173
)
Financing Activities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net change in short-term borrowings with maturities of 3 months or less
—

 
21

 
5

 
(1
)
 
(21
)
 
4

Proceeds from short-term borrowings
—

 
—

 
—

 
16

 
—

 
16

Repayments of short-term borrowings
—

 
—

 
—

 
(29
)
 
—

 
(29
)
Proceeds from long-term debt
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Repayments of long-term debt
—

 
(2
)
 
(1
)
 
(4
)
 
1

 
(6
)
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Dividends to parent
—

 
(38
)
 
(38
)
 
—

 
76

 
—

Contributions from parent
—

 
—

 
—

 
16

 
(16
)
 
—

Stock option exercises
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Series A common stock dividends
(38
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(38
)
Return of capital to parent
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Contributions from noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 


 
80

 
—

 
80

Other, net
—

 
—

 
(9
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
(10
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(38
)
 
(19
)
 
(43
)
 
77

 
40

 
17

Exchange rate effects on cash and cash equivalents
—

 
—

 
—

 
(43
)
 
—

 
(43
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
—

 
—

 
(54
)
 
125

 
—

 
71

Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period
—

 
—

 
110

 
670

 
—

 
780

Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period
—

 
—

 
56

 
795

 
—

 
851


33

Table of Contents

CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Parent
Guarantor
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiary
Guarantors
 
Non-
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
(In $ millions)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
81

 
60

 
166

 
19

 
(162
)
 
164

Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment
—

 
—

 
(64
)
 
(14
)
 
—

 
(78
)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets, net
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Capital expenditures related to Fairway Methanol LLC
—

 
—

 
(26
)
 
(44
)
 
—

 
(70
)
Return of capital from subsidiary
—

 
—

 
51

 
—

 
(51
)
 
—

Contributions to subsidiary
—

 
—

 
(57
)
 
—

 
57

 
—

Intercompany loan receipts (disbursements)
—

 
1

 
(23
)
 
—

 
22

 
—

Other, net
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
—

 
(3
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
—

 
1

 
(120
)
 
(60
)
 
28

 
(151
)
Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in short-term borrowings with maturities of 3 months or less
—

 
23

 
—

 
(3
)
 
(23
)
 
(3
)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
—

 
—

 
—

 
25

 
—

 
25

Repayments of short-term borrowings
—

 
—

 
—

 
(40
)
 
—

 
(40
)
Proceeds from long-term debt
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Repayments of long-term debt
—

 
(3
)
 
(1
)
 
(3
)
 
1

 
(6
)
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees
(53
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(53
)
Dividends to parent
—

 
(81
)
 
(81
)
 
—

 
162

 
—

Contributions from parent
—

 
—

 
—

 
57

 
(57
)
 
—

Stock option exercises
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Series A common stock dividends
(28
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(28
)
Return of capital to parent
—

 
—

 
—

 
(51
)
 
51

 
—

Contributions from noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
109

 
—

 
109

Other, net
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(81
)
 
(61
)
 
(82
)
 
94

 
134

 
4

Exchange rate effects on cash and cash equivalents
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
—

 
(3
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
—

 
—

 
(36
)
 
50

 
—

 
14

Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period
—

 
—

 
284

 
700

 
—

 
984

Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period
—

 
—

 
248

 
750

 
—

 
998


34

Table of Contents

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Quarterly Report"), the term "Celanese" refers to Celanese Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and not its subsidiaries. The terms the "Company," "we," "our" and "us," refer to Celanese and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. The term "Celanese US" refers to the Company's subsidiary, Celanese US Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and not its subsidiaries.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Celanese Corporation and Subsidiaries consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed on February 6, 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as part of the Company's Annual Reporting on Form 10-K ("2014 Form 10-K") and the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP").
Investors are cautioned that the forward-looking statements contained in this section and other parts of this Quarterly Report involve both risk and uncertainty. Several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these statements. Many of these statements are macroeconomic in nature and are, therefore, beyond the control of management. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below and at the beginning of our 2014 Form 10-K.
Forward-Looking Statements
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") and other parts of this Quarterly Report contain certain forward-looking statements and information relating to us that are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, us. Generally, words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "may," "can," "could," "might," and "will," and similar expressions, as they relate to us are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views and beliefs with respect to future events at the time that the statements are made, are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. All forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report are made as of the date hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from expectations expressed in this Quarterly Report will increase with the passage of time. We undertake no obligation, and disclaim any duty, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in our expectations or otherwise.
See Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors of our 2014 Form 10-K and subsequent periodic filings we make with the SEC for a description of certain risk factors that you should consider which could significantly affect our financial results. In addition, the following factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things:
•
changes in general economic, business, political and regulatory conditions in the countries or regions in which we operate;
•
the length and depth of product and industry business cycles particularly in the automotive, electrical, textiles, electronics and construction industries;
•
changes in the price and availability of raw materials, particularly changes in the demand for, supply of, and market prices of ethylene, methanol, natural gas, wood pulp and fuel oil and the prices for electricity and other energy sources;
•
the ability to pass increases in raw material prices on to customers or otherwise improve margins through price increases;
•
the ability to maintain plant utilization rates and to implement planned capacity additions and expansions;
•
the ability to reduce or maintain current levels of production costs and to improve productivity by implementing technological improvements to existing plants;
•
increased price competition and the introduction of competing products by other companies;
•
market acceptance of our technology;
•
the ability to obtain governmental approvals and to construct facilities on terms and schedules acceptable to the Company;

35

Table of Contents

•
changes in the degree of intellectual property and other legal protection afforded to our products or technologies, or the theft of such intellectual property;
•
compliance and other costs and potential disruption or interruption of production or operations due to accidents, interruptions in sources of raw materials, cyber security incidents, terrorism or political unrest, or other unforeseen events or delays in construction or operation of facilities, including as a result of geopolitical conditions, the occurrence of acts of war or terrorist incidents or as a result of weather or natural disasters;
•
potential liability for remedial actions and increased costs under existing or future environmental regulations, including those relating to climate change;
•
potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, or from changes in the laws, regulations or policies of governments or other governmental activities in the countries in which we operate;
•
changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates;
•
our level of indebtedness, which could diminish our ability to raise additional capital to fund operations or limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or the chemicals industry; and
•
various other factors, both referenced and not referenced in this Quarterly Report.
Many of these factors are macroeconomic in nature and are, therefore, beyond our control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those described in this Quarterly Report as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended, planned or projected. We neither intend nor assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.
Overview
We are a global technology and specialty materials company. We are one of the world's largest producers of acetyl products, which are intermediate chemicals, for nearly all major industries, as well as a leading global producer of high performance engineered polymers that are used in a variety of high-value applications. As a recognized innovator in the chemicals industry, we engineer and manufacture a wide variety of products essential to everyday living. Our broad product portfolio serves a diverse set of end-use applications including paints and coatings, textiles, automotive applications, consumer and medical applications, performance industrial applications, filtration applications, paper and packaging, chemical additives, construction, consumer and industrial adhesives, and food and beverage applications. Our products enjoy leading global positions due to our large global production capacity, operating efficiencies, proprietary production technology and competitive cost structures.
Our large and diverse global customer base primarily consists of major companies in a broad array of industries. We hold geographically balanced global positions and participate in diversified end-use applications. We combine a demonstrated track record of execution, strong performance built on shared principles and objectives, and a clear focus on growth and value creation. Known for operational excellence and execution of our business strategies, we deliver value to customers around the globe with best-in-class technologies and solutions.




36

Table of Contents

Results of Operations
Financial Highlights
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
 
(unaudited)
 
(In $ millions, except percentages)
Statement of Operations Data
 

 
 
 
 
Net sales
1,450

 
1,705

 
(255
)
Gross profit
381

 
378

 
3

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses
(98
)
 
(104
)
 
6

Other (charges) gains, net
(5
)
 
(1
)
 
(4
)
Operating profit (loss)
257

 
243

 
14

Equity in net earnings of affiliates
48

 
40

 
8

Interest expense
(27
)
 
(39
)
 
12

Dividend income - cost investments
28

 
29

 
(1
)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
306

 
273

 
33

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
234

 
195

 
39

Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
—

Net earnings (loss)
234

 
195

 
39

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
236

 
196

 
40

Other Data
 

 
 

 
 
Depreciation and amortization
67

 
75

 
(8
)
SG&A expenses as a percentage of Net sales
6.8
%
 
6.1
%
 
 
Operating margin(1)
17.7
%
 
14.3
%
 


Other (charges) gains, net
 
 
 
 
 
Employee termination benefits
(4
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Plant/office closures
—

 
1

 
(1
)
Commercial disputes
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
Total Other (charges) gains, net
(5
)
 
(1
)
 
(4
)
______________________________
(1) 
Defined as Operating profit (loss) divided by Net sales.
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
(unaudited)
 
(In $ millions)
Balance Sheet Data
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
851

 
780

 
 
 
 
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates
128

 
137

Long-term debt
2,536

 
2,608

Total debt
2,664

 
2,745


37

Table of Contents

Factors Affecting Business Segment Net Sales
The percentage increase (decrease) in net sales attributable to each of the factors indicated for each of our business segments is as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Volume
 
Price
 
Currency
 
Other
 
Total
 
(unaudited)
 
(In percentages)
Advanced Engineered Materials
—

 
—

 
(8
)
 
—
 
(8
)
Consumer Specialties
(21
)
 
(3
)
 
(1
)
 
—
 
(25
)
Industrial Specialties
(4
)
 
3

 
(9
)
 
—
 
(10
)
Acetyl Intermediates
(2
)
 
(7
)
 
(6
)
 
—
 
(15
)
Total Company
(6
)
 
(3
)
 
(7
)
 
1
 
(15
)
Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plan Costs
The increase (decrease) in pension and other postretirement plan net periodic benefit cost for each of our business segments is as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Advanced Engineered Materials
 
Consumer Specialties
 
Industrial Specialties
 
Acetyl Intermediates
 
Other Activities
 
Total
 
(In $ millions)
Service cost
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Interest cost and expected return on plan assets
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(6
)
 
(6
)
Amortization of prior service credit(1)
6

 
4

 
2

 
4

 
3

 
19

Special termination benefit
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
1

Recognized actuarial (gain) loss
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Curtailment / settlement (gain) loss
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total
6

 
4

 
2

 
4

 
(2
)
 
14

______________________________
(1) 
Primarily relates to the elimination of eligibility for current and future employees and the elimination of benefits for certain participants under a US postretirement health care plan.
 
Advanced Engineered Materials
 
Consumer Specialties
 
Industrial Specialties
 
Acetyl Intermediates
 
Other Activities
 
Total
 
(In $ millions)
Cost of sales
4

 
4

 
2

 
2

 
(1
)
 
11

SG&A expenses
1

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
(1
)
 
1

Research and development expenses
1

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
2

Total
6

 
4

 
2

 
4

 
(2
)
 
14

See Note 9 - Benefit Obligations in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.

38

Table of Contents

Consolidated Results
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Net sales decreased $255 million, or 15.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
unfavorable currency impacts across all our business segments resulting from a strong US dollar relative to the Euro;
•
lower acetate tow volume in our Consumer Specialties segment; and
•
lower pricing in our Acetyl Intermediates segment as a result of lower raw material costs.
Operating profit increased $14 million, or 5.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
lower raw material costs in our Acetyl Intermediates segment, primarily for ethylene and methanol;
•
higher pricing in our emulsion polymers business as a result of higher raw material costs, specifically vinyl acetate monomer ("VAM") in Europe; and
•
maintaining pricing in our Advanced Engineered Materials segment despite lower raw material costs, which reflects the value of our differentiated products and applications to our customers;
partially offset by:
•
lower acetate tow volume in our Consumer Specialties segment; and
•
net unfavorable currency impacts across all our business segments.
As a percentage of Net sales, SG&A expenses increased from 6.1% to 6.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
a larger currency impact on consolidated Net sales than on SG&A expenses.
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates increased $8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
an increase in equity investment earnings of $7 million from our Polyplastics Co., Ltd. ("Polyplastics") strategic affiliate as a result of lower raw material and energy costs.
Our effective income tax rate is affected by recurring items, such as tax rates in foreign jurisdictions and the relative amounts and mix of income and loss in those jurisdictions to which they relate, as well as discrete items and non-deductible expenses that may occur in any given year, but are not consistent from year to year.
We recently established a centralized European operating company in the Netherlands for the purpose of improving the operational efficiencies and profitability of our European operations and certain global product lines and to centralize leadership and management functions in a single location. A key objective of our European operating company is to align our business operations, identify cost savings and further streamline our operations. We successfully implemented the model for the majority of our global cellulose derivatives business in February 2015 and expect to incorporate portions of our other businesses into the model throughout the remainder of the year. We expect increased strategic focus to result in certain operational savings and improved margins, which will directly impact our mix of earnings and product flows and result in both favorable and unfavorable tax rate impacts in the jurisdictions in which we operate.
Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was 24% compared to 29% for the same period in 2014. The lower effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is equally attributable to:
•
changes in jurisdictional earnings related to the creation of a centralized European operating company; and

39

Table of Contents

•
changes in earnings in jurisdictions in which current year results do not have a corresponding tax impact due to valuation allowances, primarily in Asia where raw material costs have been favorably impacted by lower oil prices.
See Note 13 - Income Taxes in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
Assuming no material changes to tax rules and regulations or cash repatriation plans, we expect to realize operational savings, which will directly impact the mix of our earnings and may result in favorable income tax impacts in subsequent years. Our effective tax rate will vary based on the jurisdictions in which income is actually generated and remains subject to potential volatility from changing tax legislation in the US and other tax jurisdictions. We continue to assess our business model and its impact in various jurisdictions.
Business Segments 
Advanced Engineered Materials
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(unaudited)
 
(In $ millions, except percentages)
Net sales
343

 
373

 
(30
)
 
(8.0
)%
Net Sales Variance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
—
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Price
—
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency
(8
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
—
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other (charges) gains, net
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
100.0
 %
Operating profit (loss)
59

 
57

 
2

 
3.5
 %
Operating margin
17.2
 %
 
15.3
%
 
 
 


Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
43

 
33

 
10

 
30.3
 %
Depreciation and amortization
25

 
26

 
(1
)
 
(3.8
)%
Our Advanced Engineered Materials segment includes our engineered materials business and certain strategic affiliates. Our engineered materials business develops, produces and supplies a broad portfolio of high performance specialty polymers for automotive and medical applications, as well as industrial products and consumer electronics. Together with our strategic affiliates, our engineered materials business is a leading participant in the global specialty polymers industry.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Net sales decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
an unfavorable currency impact of $30 million resulting from a strong US dollar relative to the Euro; and
•
slightly lower volume in the Americas primarily in autos;
partially offset by:
•
slightly higher volume attributable to growth in Asia, primarily in consumer applications and electronics; and
•
pricing that was flat for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.
Operating profit increased for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
lower raw material costs of $17 million primarily for ethylene and methanol; and
•
cost savings of $8 million related to lower energy costs at production sites in Europe and the US and productivity initiatives;

40


partially offset by:
•
a net unfavorable currency impact of $7 million resulting from a strong US dollar relative to the Euro; and
•
an increase of $11 million in spending, of which $6 million related to an increase in net periodic benefit cost.
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates increased for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
an increase in equity investment earnings of $7 million from our Polyplastics strategic affiliate as a result of lower raw material and energy costs.
Consumer Specialties
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(unaudited)
 
(In $ millions, except percentages)
Net sales
227

 
302

 
(75
)
 
(24.8
)%
Net Sales Variance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
(21
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Price
(3
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency
(1
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
—
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other (charges) gains, net
—

 
—

 
—

 
—
 %
Operating profit (loss)
62

 
99

 
(37
)
 
(37.4
)%
Operating margin
27.3
 %
 
32.8
%
 
 
 
 
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
—

 
1

 
(1
)
 
(100.0
)%
Dividend income - cost investments
28

 
29

 
(1
)
 
(3.4
)%
Depreciation and amortization
11

 
11

 
—

 
—
 %
Our Consumer Specialties segment includes our cellulose derivatives and food ingredients businesses, which serve consumer-driven applications. Our cellulose derivatives business is a leading global producer and supplier of acetate flake, acetate film and acetate tow, primarily used in filtration applications. Our food ingredients business is a leading international supplier of premium quality ingredients for the food and beverage and pharmaceuticals industries.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Net sales decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
lower acetate tow volume driven by customer destocking;
•
a 2% decrease in acetate tow pricing; and
•
an 18% decrease in acetate flake pricing under a legacy contract.
Operating profit decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2015 primarily due to:
•
lower acetate tow volume;
•
lower acetate tow and acetate flake pricing; and
•
an increase of $4 million in net periodic benefit cost;
partially offset by:
•
lower raw material and natural gas costs of $18 million.

41


Industrial Specialties
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(unaudited)
 
(In $ millions, except percentages)
Net sales
282

 
312

 
(30
)
 
(9.6
)%
Net Sales Variance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
(4
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Price
3
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency
(9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
—
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other (charges) gains, net
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
100.0
 %
Operating profit (loss)
29

 
20

 
9

 
45.0
 %
Operating margin
10.3
 %
 
6.4
%
 
 

 
 
Depreciation and amortization
10

 
14

 
(4
)
 
(28.6
)%
Our Industrial Specialties segment includes our emulsion polymers and EVA polymers businesses. Our emulsion polymers business is a leading global producer of vinyl acetate-based emulsions and develops products and application technologies to improve performance, create value and drive innovation in applications such as paints and coatings, adhesives, construction, glass fiber, textiles and paper. Our EVA polymers business is a leading North American manufacturer of a full range of specialty ethylene vinyl acetate ("EVA") resins and compounds as well as select grades of low-density polyethylene. EVA polymers products are used in many applications, including flexible packaging films, lamination film products, hot melt adhesives, medical tubing, automotive parts and carpeting.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Net sales decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
an unfavorable currency impact of $28 million on our emulsion polymers business resulting from a strong US dollar relative to the Euro; and
•
lower volume in our emulsion polymers business, primarily in North America for textiles and paper;
partially offset by:
•
an increase in pricing in our emulsion polymers business due to higher raw material costs, specifically VAM in Europe.
Operating profit increased for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
an increase in pricing in our emulsion polymers business, partially offset by higher raw material costs, specifically VAM in Europe.

42


Acetyl Intermediates
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(unaudited)
 
(In $ millions, except percentages)
Net sales
713

 
841

 
(128
)
 
(15.2
)%
Net Sales Variance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
(2
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Price
(7
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency
(6
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
—
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other (charges) gains, net
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
100.0
 %
Operating profit (loss)
131

 
97

 
34

 
35.1
 %
Operating margin
18.4
 %
 
11.5
%
 
 

 
 
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
1

 
1

 
—

 
—
 %
Depreciation and amortization
19

 
21

 
(2
)
 
(9.5
)%
Our Acetyl Intermediates segment includes our intermediate chemistry business which produces and supplies acetyl products, including acetic acid, VAM, acetic anhydride and acetate esters. These products are generally used as starting materials for colorants, paints, adhesives, coatings and medicines. This business segment also produces organic solvents and intermediates for pharmaceutical, agricultural and chemical products.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Net sales decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
lower pricing for acetic acid and VAM, as well as solvents and derivatives, due to lower raw material costs;
•
an unfavorable currency impact of $49 million resulting from a strong US dollar relative to the Euro;
•
lower volume of $25 million for VAM due to customer turnarounds and transportation issues; and
•
lower volume of $10 million for solvents and derivatives due to lower demand for formaldehyde;
partially offset by:
•
an increase in acetic acid volume as a result of increased demand in Asia and Europe.
Operating profit increased for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily due to:
•
lower raw material costs, primarily for ethylene and methanol; and
•
savings from lower natural gas costs and productivity initiatives;
partially offset by:
•
lower pricing for acetic acid and VAM, as well as solvents and derivatives;
•
a net unfavorable currency impact of $34 million resulting from a strong US dollar relative to the Euro; and
•
an increase of $4 million in net periodic benefit cost.

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Other Activities
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Change
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(unaudited)
 
(In $ millions, except percentages)
Other (charges) gains, net
(2
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
100.0
 %
Operating profit (loss)
(24
)
 
(30
)
 
6

 
(20.0
)%
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
4

 
5

 
(1
)
 
(20.0
)%
Depreciation and amortization
2

 
3

 
(1
)
 
(33.3
)%
Other Activities primarily consists of corporate center costs, including financing and administrative activities such as legal, accounting and treasury functions, interest income and expense associated with our financing activities and results of our captive insurance companies. Other Activities also includes the interest cost, expected return on assets and net actuarial gains and losses components of our net periodic benefit cost for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans, which are not allocated to our business segments.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
The operating loss for Other Activities decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily driven by:
•
lower functional spending;
•
a favorable currency impact resulting from a strong US dollar relative to the Euro; and
•
a decrease of $2 million in net periodic benefit cost.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary source of liquidity is cash generated from operations, available cash and cash equivalents and dividends from our portfolio of strategic investments. In addition, as of March 31, 2015, we have $900 million available for borrowing under our revolving credit facility and $12 million available under our accounts receivable securitization facility to assist, if required, in meeting our working capital needs and other contractual obligations.
While our contractual obligations, commitments and debt service requirements over the next several years are significant, we continue to believe we will have available resources to meet our liquidity requirements, including debt service, for the next twelve months. If our cash flow from operations is insufficient to fund our debt service and other obligations, we may be required to use other means available to us such as increasing our borrowings, reducing or delaying capital expenditures, seeking additional capital or seeking to restructure or refinance our indebtedness. There can be no assurance, however, that we will continue to generate cash flows at or above current levels.
In February 2014, we formed a joint venture, Fairway Methanol LLC ("Fairway"), with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan ("Mitsui"), in which we own 50% of Fairway, for the production of methanol at our integrated chemical plant in Clear Lake, Texas. The planned methanol unit will utilize natural gas in the US Gulf Coast region as a feedstock and will benefit from the existing infrastructure at our Clear Lake facility. As a result, the total shared capital and expense investment in the facility is estimated to be in the range of $875 million to $900 million, including $95 million of installed infrastructure. Our portion of the investment is estimated to be in the range of $350 million to $375 million, excluding the $95 million of previously invested assets at our Clear Lake facility. The planned methanol unit will have an annual capacity of 1.3 million tons and is expected to be operational in the second half of 2015.
Total cash outflows for capital expenditures, including the Fairway project, are expected to be in the range of $350 million to $400 million in 2015 primarily due to our portion of the investment in the construction of the Clear Lake methanol unit and additional investments in growth opportunities in our Advanced Engineered Materials and Industrial Specialties segments.
On a stand-alone basis, Celanese and its immediate 100% owned subsidiary, Celanese US, have no material assets other than the stock of their subsidiaries and no independent external operations of their own. Accordingly, they generally depend on the

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cash flow of their subsidiaries and their ability to pay dividends and make other distributions to Celanese and Celanese US in order to meet their obligations, including their obligations under senior credit facilities and senior notes and to pay dividends on Series A Common Stock ("Common Stock").
Cash Flows
Cash and cash equivalents increased $71 million to $851 million as of March 31, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014. As of March 31, 2015, $793 million of the $851 million of cash and cash equivalents was held by our foreign subsidiaries. If these funds are needed for our operations in the US, we will access such funds in a tax efficient manner to satisfy cash flow needs. Currently, there are no contemplated cash distributions that will result in incremental US taxes payable in excess of applicable foreign tax credits related to such undistributed earnings. As a result, we have not provided any deferred income taxes on the portion of undistributed foreign earnings determined not to be permanently reinvested in foreign operations.
•
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $106 million to $270 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to $164 million for the same period in 2014. Net cash provided by operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased primarily as a result of:
•
stronger earnings performance of $42 million;
•
an increase of $23 million in dividends received from our equity method investments;
•
a $25 million decrease in cash used in trade working capital primarily due to the impact of a decline in Net sales on trade receivables; and
•
a reduction in pension plan and other postretirement benefit plan contributions of $19 million.
Trade working capital is calculated as follows:
 
As of
March 31,
2015
 
As of
December 31,
2014
 
As of
March 31,
2014
 
As of
December 31,
2013
 
(unaudited)
 
(In $ millions)
Trade receivables, net
804

 
801

 
986

 
867

Inventories
744

 
782

 
816

 
804

Trade payables - third party and affiliates
(664
)
 
(757
)
 
(790
)
 
(799
)
Trade working capital
884

 
826

 
1,012

 
872

•
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities increased $22 million to $173 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to $151 million for the same period in 2014, primarily due to:
•
capital expenditures relating to Fairway of $98 million, $28 million higher than in the same period in 2014;
partially offset by:
•
lower cash outflows for capital expenditures, excluding capital expenditures relating to Fairway, of $14 million. Capital expenditures primarily relate to capacity expansions, major investments to reduce future operating costs, improve plant reliability and environmental and health and safety initiatives.

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•
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities increased $13 million from $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 to $17 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase in net cash provided by financing activities was primarily due to:
•
a decrease in stock repurchase transactions of $53 million; and
•
a decrease in net repayments on short-term borrowings and short-term debt of $9 million;
partially offset by:
•
a decrease of $29 million in contributions received from Mitsui; and
•
higher Common Stock dividends of $10 million due to a 39% increase in quarterly cash dividends beginning May 2014, partially offset by a decrease in the number of Common Stock shares outstanding.
In addition, exchange rates had an unfavorable impact of $43 million on cash and cash equivalents for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to $3 million for the same period in 2014.
Debt and Other Obligations
There have been no material changes to our debt or other obligations described in our 2014 Form 10-K other than those disclosed in Note 8 - Debt in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
Share Capital
There have been no material changes to our share capital described in our 2014 Form 10-K other than those disclosed in Note 11 - Stockholders' Equity in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
Contractual Obligations
Except as otherwise described in this report, there have been no material revisions outside the ordinary course of business to our contractual obligations as described in our 2014 Form 10-K.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have not entered into any material off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements are based on the selection and application of significant accounting policies. The preparation of unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales, expenses and allocated charges during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. However, we are not currently aware of any reasonably likely events or circumstances that would result in materially different results.
We describe our significant accounting policies in Note 2 - Summary of Accounting Policies, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2014 Form 10-K. We discuss our critical accounting policies and estimates in the MD&A of our 2014 Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market risk for our Company has not changed materially from the foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risks disclosed in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk in our 2014 Form 10-K. See also Note 14 - Derivative Financial Instruments, in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our market risk management and the related impact on our financial position and results of operations.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, as of March 31, 2015, the Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are involved in a number of legal and regulatory proceedings, lawsuits and claims incidental to the normal conduct of our business, relating to such matters as product liability, land disputes, contracts, antitrust, intellectual property, workers' compensation, chemical exposure, asbestos exposure, trade compliance, prior acquisitions and divestitures, claims of legacy stockholders, past waste disposal practices and release of chemicals into the environment. The Company is actively defending those matters where it is named as a defendant. Due to the inherent subjectivity of assessments and unpredictability of outcomes of legal proceedings, the Company's litigation accruals and estimates of possible loss or range of possible loss may not represent the ultimate loss to the Company from legal proceedings. See Note 10 - Environmental and Note 16 - Commitments and Contingencies in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for a discussion of material environmental matters and material commitments and contingencies related to legal and regulatory proceedings. There have been no significant developments in the "Legal Proceedings" described in our 2014 Form 10-K other than those disclosed in Note 10 - Environmental and Note 16 - Commitments and Contingencies in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the risk factors under Part I, Item 1A of our 2014 Form 10-K.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Repurchases of our Common Stock during the three months ended March 31, 2015 are as follows:
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased(1)
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Program
 
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares
Remaining that may be
Purchased Under the Program(2)
 
(unaudited)
January 1-31, 2015
1,175

 
$
56.23

 
—

 
$
451,000,000

February 1-28, 2015
183,255

 
$
53.78

 
—

 
$
451,000,000

March 1-31, 2015
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
$
451,000,000

Total
184,430

 
 
 
—

 
 
______________________________
(1) 
Includes 1,175 and 183,255 for January and February 2015, respectively, related to shares withheld from employees to cover their statutory minimum withholding requirements for personal income taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units.
(2) 
Our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $1.4 billion of our Common Stock since February 2008.
See Note 11 - Stockholders' Equity in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for further information.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
Item 5. Other Information
None.

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Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
 
 
 
Description
 
 
 
3.1
 
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 11, 2011).
 
 
 
3.2
 
Third Amended and Restated By-laws, amended effective July 23, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2014).
 
 
 
31.1*
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
31.2*
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32.1*
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32.2*
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
101.INS*
 
XBRL Instance Document.
 
 
 
101.SCH*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
 
 
101.CAL*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.DEF*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.LAB*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.PRE*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
*
Filed herewith

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
CELANESE CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By: 
 /s/ MARK C. ROHR
 
 
 
Mark C. Rohr
 
 
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors and
 
 
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
April 17, 2015
 
 
By: 
 /s/ CHRISTOPHER W. JENSEN
 
 
 
Christopher W. Jensen
 
 
 
Senior Vice President, Finance and
 
 
 
Interim Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
April 17, 2015


50