e10vq
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 June 30, 2010
    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.)
     
1601 West LBJ Freeway,
Dallas, TX
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  75234-6034
(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. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
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 July 26, 2010 was 156,083,014.
 


 

 
CELANESE CORPORATION

Form 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
             
        Page
         
 
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
  Item 1.     Financial Statements    
          3
          4
          5
          6
          7
  Item 2.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   35
  Item 3.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk   48
  Item 4.     Controls and Procedures   48
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
  Item 1.     Legal Proceedings   49
  Item 1A.     Risk Factors   49
  Item 2.     Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds   49
  Item 3.     Defaults Upon Senior Securities   49
  Item 4.     [Removed and Reserved]   49
  Item 5.     Other Information   49
  Item 6.     Exhibits   50
Signatures    51
 EX-10.7
 EX-10.8
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2
 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT


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Item 1.  Financial Statements
 
CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
          As Adjusted
          As Adjusted
 
          (Note 3)           (Note 3)  
    (In $ millions, except share and per share data)  
 
Net sales
    1,517       1,244       2,905       2,390  
Cost of sales
    (1,214 )     (996 )     (2,384 )     (1,942 )
                                 
Gross profit
    303       248       521       448  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    (123 )     (114 )     (246 )     (228 )
Amortization of intangible assets
    (15 )     (21 )     (30 )     (38 )
Research and development expenses
    (18 )     (18 )     (37 )     (38 )
Other (charges) gains, net
    (6 )     (6 )     (83 )     (27 )
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net
    -       1       2       3  
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net
    15       (1 )     15       (4 )
                                 
Operating profit (loss)
    156       89       142       116  
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
    45       35       94       41  
Interest expense
    (49 )     (54 )     (98 )     (105 )
Interest income
    1       2       2       5  
Dividend income — cost investments
    72       53       72       56  
Other income (expense), net
    (1 )     2       5       3  
                                 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
    224       127       217       116  
Income tax (provision) benefit
    (61 )     (17 )     (41 )     (22 )
                                 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    163       110       176       94  
                                 
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations
    (5 )     (1 )     (5 )     -  
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations
    -       -       2       -  
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations
    2       -       1       -  
                                 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
    (3 )     (1 )     (2 )     -  
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
    160       109       174       94  
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
    -       -       -       -  
                                 
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
    160       109       174       94  
Cumulative preferred stock dividends
    -       (2 )     (3 )     (5 )
                                 
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
    160       107       171       89  
                                 
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    163       110       176       94  
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
    (3 )     (1 )     (2 )     -  
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
    160       109       174       94  
                                 
Earnings (loss) per common share — basic
                               
Continuing operations
    1.04       0.75       1.13       0.62  
Discontinued operations
    (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     -  
                                 
Net earnings (loss) — basic
    1.02       0.74       1.12       0.62  
                                 
Earnings (loss) per common share — diluted
                               
Continuing operations
    1.03       0.70       1.11       0.60  
Discontinued operations
    (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     -  
                                 
Net earnings (loss) — diluted
    1.01       0.69       1.10       0.60  
                                 
Weighted average shares — basic
    156,326,226       143,528,126       153,315,950       143,517,588  
Weighted average shares — diluted
    158,405,119       157,077,970       158,674,073       156,355,049  
 
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
    As of
 
    June 30,
     December 31, 
 
    2010     2009  
          As Adjusted
 
          (Note 3)  
    (In $ millions, except share data)  
 
ASSETS
               
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
    1,081       1,254  
Trade receivables — third party and affiliates (net of allowance for doubtful accounts — 2010: $17; 2009: $18)
    862       721  
Non-trade receivables
    244       262  
Inventories
    522       522  
Deferred income taxes
    41       42  
Marketable securities, at fair value
    2       3  
Assets held for sale
    -       2  
Other assets
              70                 50  
                 
Total current assets
    2,822       2,856  
                 
Investments in affiliates
    769       792  
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation — 2010: $1,111; 2009: $1,130)
    2,676       2,797  
Deferred income taxes
    485       484  
Marketable securities, at fair value
    75       80  
Other assets
    273       311  
Goodwill
    736       798  
Intangible assets, net
    269       294  
                 
Total assets
    8,105       8,412  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
Current liabilities
               
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt — third party and affiliates
    265       242  
Trade payables — third party and affiliates
    607       649  
Other liabilities
    532       611  
Deferred income taxes
    30       33  
Income taxes payable
    76       72  
                 
Total current liabilities
    1,510       1,607  
                 
Long-term debt
    3,162       3,259  
Deferred income taxes
    121       137  
Uncertain tax positions
    224       229  
Benefit obligations
    1,260       1,288  
Other liabilities
    1,139       1,306  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Shareholders’ equity
               
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2010: 0 issued and outstanding; 2009: 9,600,000 issued and outstanding)
    -       -  
Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized (2010: 177,352,475 issued and 156,072,197 outstanding; 2009: 164,995,755 issued and 144,394,069 outstanding)
    -       -  
Series B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2010 and 2009: 0 issued and outstanding)
    -       -  
Treasury stock, at cost (2010: 21,280,278; 2009: 20,601,686)
    (801 )     (781 )
Additional paid-in capital
    535       522  
Retained earnings
    1,664       1,505  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
    (709 )     (660 )
                 
Total Celanese Corporation shareholders’ equity
    689       586  
Noncontrolling interests
    -       -  
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    689       586  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
    8,105       8,412  
                 
 
See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.


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CELANESE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 
                 
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30, 2010  
    Shares     Amount  
          As Adjusted
 
          (Note 3)  
    (In $ millions, except share data)  
 
Preferred stock
               
Balance as of the beginning of the period
           9,600,000       -  
Redemption of preferred stock
    (9,600,000 )     -  
                 
Balance as of the end of the period
    -       -  
                 
Series A common stock
               
Balance as of the beginning of the period
    144,394,069       -  
Stock option exercises
    213,568       -  
Conversion of preferred stock
    12,084,942       -  
Redemption of preferred stock
    7,437       -  
Purchases of treasury stock
    (678,592 )     -  
Stock awards
    50,773       -  
                 
Balance as of the end of the period
    156,072,197       -  
                 
Treasury stock
               
Balance as of the beginning of the period
    20,601,686       (781 )
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees
    678,592       (20 )
                 
Balance as of the end of the period
    21,280,278       (801 )
                 
Additional paid-in capital
               
Balance as of the beginning of the period
            522  
Stock-based compensation, net of tax
            10  
Stock option exercises, net of tax
            3  
                 
Balance as of the end of the period
            535  
                 
Retained earnings
               
Balance as of the beginning of the period
                  1,505  
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
            174  
Series A common stock dividends
            (12 )
Preferred stock dividends
            (3 )
                 
Balance as of the end of the period
            1,664  
                 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
               
Balance as of the beginning of the period
            (660 )
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities
            1  
Foreign currency translation
            (59 )
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps
            3  
Pension and postretirement benefits
            6  
                 
Balance as of the end of the period
            (709 )
                 
Total Celanese Corporation shareholders’ equity
                 689  
                 
Noncontrolling interests
               
Balance as of the beginning of the period
            -  
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
            -  
                 
Balance as of the end of the period
            -  
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
            689  
                 
Comprehensive income (loss)
               
Net earnings (loss)
            174  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
               
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities
            1  
Foreign currency translation
            (59 )
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps
            3  
Pension and postretirement benefits
            6  
                 
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
            125  
                 
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
            -  
                 
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation
                       125  
                 
 
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
 
                 
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,  
    2010     2009  
          As Adjusted
 
          (Note 3)  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Operating activities
               
Net earnings (loss)
              174                 94  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities
               
Other charges (gains), net of amounts used
    35       (6 )
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    159       156  
Deferred income taxes, net
    (10 )     3  
(Gain) loss on disposition of businesses and assets, net
    (15 )     3  
Other, net
    30       2  
Operating cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations
    2       1  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
               
Trade receivables — third party and affiliates, net
    (150 )     (70 )
Inventories
    (32 )     75  
Other assets
    24       55  
Trade payables — third party and affiliates
    28       35  
Other liabilities
    (26 )     (49 )
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    219       299  
Investing activities
               
Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment
    (78 )     (96 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (46 )     -  
Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets, net
    20       (1 )
Deferred proceeds on Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation
    -       412  
Capital expenditures related to Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation
    (151 )     (147 )
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities
    -       15  
Other, net
    (20 )     -  
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    (275 )     183  
Financing activities
               
Short-term borrowings (repayments), net
    (9 )     6  
Repayments of long-term debt
    (38 )     (46 )
Refinancing costs
    -       (3 )
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees
    (20 )     -  
Stock option exercises
    4       1  
Series A common stock dividends
    (12 )     (12 )
Preferred stock dividends
    (3 )     (5 )
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (78 )     (59 )
Exchange rate effects on cash and cash equivalents
    (39 )     46  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (173 )     469  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    1,254       676  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
    1,081       1,145  
                 
 
See the accompanying notes to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.


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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 leading, 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.
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”) were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for all periods presented. 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 this Quarterly Report, the term “Celanese US” refers to the Company’s subsidiary, Celanese US Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and not its subsidiaries. The term “Purchaser” refers to our subsidiary, Celanese Europe Holding GmbH & Co. KG, and not its subsidiaries, except where otherwise indicated.
 
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss) 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 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, 2009, as filed on February 12, 2010 with the SEC as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “2009 Form 10-K”).
 
Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.
 
In the ordinary course of the 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 subject to 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.
 
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 revenues, 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.
 
Reclassifications
 
The Company has reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period’s presentation.


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2.  Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In February 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Accounting Standards Update 2010-09, Subsequent Events: Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements (“ASU 2010-09”), which amends FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 855, Subsequent Events. The update provides that SEC filers, as defined in ASU 2010-09, are no longer required to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated in originally issued and revised financial statements. The update also requires SEC filers to continue to evaluate subsequent events through the date the financial statements are issued rather than the date the financial statements are available to be issued. The Company adopted ASU 2010-09 upon issuance. This update had no impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued FASB Accounting Standards Update 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures: Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements (“ASU 2010-06”), which amends FASB ASC Topic 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. The update provides additional disclosures for transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and for activity in Level 3 and clarifies certain other existing disclosure requirements. The Company adopted ASU 2010-06 beginning January 15, 2010. This update had no impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
3.  Acquisitions, Dispositions, Ventures and Plant Closures
 
Acquisitions
 
On May 5, 2010, the Company acquired two product lines, Zenite® liquid crystal polymer (“LCP”) and Thermx® polycyclohexylene-dimethylene terephthalate (“PCT”), from DuPont Performance Polymers. The acquisition will continue to build upon the Company’s position as a global supplier of high performance materials and technology-driven applications. These two product lines broaden the Company’s Ticona Engineering Polymers offerings within its Advanced Engineered Materials segment, enabling the Company to respond to a globalizing customer base, especially in the high growth electrical and electronics application markets. Pro forma financial information since the acquisition date has not been provided as the acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial information. The Company incurred $1 million in direct transaction costs as a result of this acquisition.
 
The Company allocated the purchase price of the acquisition to identifiable intangible assets acquired based on their estimated fair values. The excess of purchase price over the aggregate fair values was recorded as goodwill. Intangible assets were valued using the relief from royalty and discounted cash flow methodologies which are considered a Level 3 measurement under FASB Topic ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“FASB ASC Topic 820”). The relief from royalty method estimates the Company’s theoretical royalty savings from ownership of the intangible asset. Key assumptions used in this model include discount rates, royalty rates, growth rates, sales projections and terminal value rates. Discount rates, royalty rates, growth rates and sales projections are the assumptions most sensitive and susceptible to change as they require significant management judgment. The key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow valuation model include discount rates, growth rates, cash flow projections and terminal value rates. Discount rates, growth rates and cash flow projections are the most sensitive and susceptible to change as they require significant management judgment. The Company, with the assistance of third-party valuation consultants, calculated the fair value of the intangible assets acquired to allocate the purchase price at the respective acquisition date.


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The consideration paid for the product lines and the amounts of the intangible assets acquired recognized at the acquisition date are as follows:
 
             
    Weighted
     
    Average Life      
    (In years)   (In $ millions)  
 
Cash consideration
                  46  
             
             
Intangible assets acquired
           
Trademarks and trade names
  indefinite     9  
Developed technology
  10     7  
Covenant not to compete and other
  3     11  
Customer-related intangible assets
  10     6  
Goodwill
        13  
             
Total
        46  
             
 
In connection with the acquisition, the Company has committed to purchase certain inventory at a future date valued at a range between $12 million and $17 million.
 
In December 2009, the Company acquired the business and assets of FACT GmbH (Future Advanced Composites Technology) (“FACT”), a German company, for a purchase price of €5 million ($7 million). FACT develops, produces and markets long-fiber reinforced thermoplastics. As part of the acquisition, the Company entered into a ten year lease agreement with the seller for the property and buildings on which the FACT business is located with an option to purchase the property at various times throughout the lease. The acquired business is included in the Advanced Engineered Materials segment.
 
Dispositions
 
In July 2009, the Company completed the sale of its polyvinyl alcohol (“PVOH”) business to Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. (“Sekisui”) for a net cash purchase price of $168 million, resulting in a gain on disposition of $34 million. The net cash purchase price excludes the accounts receivable and payable retained by the Company. The transaction includes long-term supply agreements between Sekisui and the Company and therefore, does not qualify for treatment as a discontinued operation. The PVOH business is included in the Industrial Specialties segment.
 
Ventures
 
The Company indirectly owns a 25% interest in its National Methanol Company (“Ibn Sina”) affiliate through CTE Petrochemicals Company (“CTE”), a joint venture with Texas Eastern Arabian Corporation Ltd. (which also indirectly owns 25%). The remaining interest in Ibn Sina is held by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (“SABIC”). SABIC and CTE entered into the Ibn Sina joint venture agreement in 1981. In April 2010, the Company announced that Ibn Sina will construct a 50,000 ton polyacetal (“POM”) production facility in Saudi Arabia and that the term of the joint venture agreement was extended until 2032. Upon successful startup of the POM facility, the Company’s indirect economic interest in Ibn Sina will increase from 25% to 32.5%. SABIC’s economic interest will remain unchanged.
 
In connection with this transaction, the Company reassessed the factors surrounding the accounting method for this investment and changed the accounting from the cost method of accounting for investments to the equity method of accounting for investments beginning April 1, 2010. Financial information relating to this investment for prior periods has been retrospectively adjusted to apply the equity method of accounting. Effective April 1, 2010, the Company moved its investment in the Ibn Sina affiliate from its Acetyl Intermediates segment to its Advanced Engineered Materials segment to reflect the change in the affiliate’s business dynamics and growth opportunities as a result of the future construction of the POM facility. Business segment information for prior periods included in Note 18 has been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the change.


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The retrospective effect of applying the equity method of accounting to this investment to the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations is as follows:
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30, 2009     Six Months Ended June 30, 2009  
    As
    As Adjusted for
          As
    As Adjusted for
       
    Originally
    Retrospective
    Effect of
    Originally
    Retrospective
    Effect of
 
    Reported     Application     Change     Reported     Application     Change  
    (In $ millions, except per share data)  
 
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
           27              35                8                25                41             16  
Dividend income — cost investments
    56       53       (3 )     62       56       (6 )
Earnings (loss) from continuing
operations before tax
    122       127       5       106       116       10  
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    105       110       5       84       94       10  
Net earnings (loss)
    104       109       5       84       94       10  
Net earnings (loss) attributable to
Celanese Corporation
    104       109       5       84       94       10  
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
    102       107       5       79       89       10  
                                                 
Earnings (loss) per common share — basic
                                               
Continuing operations
    0.72       0.75       0.03       0.55       0.62       0.07  
Discontinued operations
    (0.01 )     (0.01 )     -       -       -       -  
                                                 
Net earnings (loss) — basic
    0.71       0.74       0.03       0.55       0.62       0.07  
                                                 
Earnings (loss) per common share — diluted                                                
Continuing operations
    0.67       0.70       0.03       0.54       0.60       0.06  
Discontinued operations
    (0.01 )              (0.01 )     -       -       -       -  
                                                 
Net earnings (loss) — diluted
    0.66       0.69       0.03       0.54                0.60       0.06  
                                                 
 
The retrospective effect of applying the equity method of accounting to this investment to the unaudited consolidated balance sheet is as follows:
 
                         
    As of December 31, 2009
        As Adjusted for
   
    As Originally
  Retrospective
  Effect of
    Reported   Application   Change
    (In $ millions)
 
Investments in affiliates
             790                792                   2  
Total assets
    8,410       8,412       2  
Retained earnings
    1,502       1,505       3  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
    (659 )     (660 )     (1 )
Total Celanese Corporation shareholders’ equity
    584       586       2  
Total shareholders’ equity
    584       586       2  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
    8,410       8,412       2  
 
The retrospective effect of applying the equity method of accounting to this investment to the unaudited interim consolidated statement of cash flows is as follows:
 
                         
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
    As
  As Adjusted for
   
    Originally
  Retrospective
  Effect of
    Reported   Application   Change
    (In $ millions)
 
Net earnings (loss)
               84                  94                  10  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities
                       
Other, net
    12       2       (10 )


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Plant Closures
 
In April 2010, the Company announced it was considering a plan to consolidate its global acetate manufacturing capabilities by proposing the closure of its acetate flake and tow manufacturing operations in Spondon, Derby, United Kingdom. The consolidation is designed to strengthen the Company’s competitive position, reduce fixed costs and align future production capacities with anticipated industry demand trends. The consolidation is also driven by a global shift in product consumption. The Company would expect to serve its acetate customers under this proposal by optimizing its global production network, which includes facilities in Lanaken, Belgium; Narrows, Virginia; and Ocotlan, Mexico, as well as the Company’s acetate affiliate facilities in China.
 
During the first quarter of 2010, the Company concluded that certain long-lived assets of the Spondon, Derby, United Kingdom facility were partially impaired. Accordingly, during the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recorded long-lived asset impairment losses of $72 million (Note 13) to Other (charges) gains, net in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations. The Spondon, Derby, United Kingdom facility is included in the Consumer Specialties segment.
 
On July 27, 2010, the Company concluded the formal consultation process with employees and their representatives and is continuing to consider a plan to consolidate its global acetate manufacturing capabilities by closing its acetate flake and tow manufacturing operations in Spondon, Derby, United Kingdom. The Company has made a final offer to the union regarding severance and will continue to negotiate with the labor unions other measures of assistance aimed at minimizing the effects of the plant’s closing on the Spondon workforce, including training and outplacement.
 
In July 2009, the Company announced that its wholly-owned French subsidiary, Acetex Chimie, completed the consultation process with the workers council on its “Project of Closure” and social plan related to the Company’s Pardies, France facility pursuant to which the Company ceased all manufacturing operations and associated activities in December 2009. The Company agreed with the workers council on a set of measures of assistance aimed at minimizing the effects of the plant’s closing on the Pardies workforce, including training, outplacement and severance. The Pardies, France facility is included in the Acetyl Intermediates segment.
 
The exit costs and plant shutdown costs recorded in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations related to the Project of Closure (Note 13) are as follows:
 
                 
    Three Months
    Six Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    June 30, 2010     June 30, 2010  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Employee termination benefits
              (1 )               (2 )
Asset impairments
    -       (1 )
Contract termination costs
    -       (3 )
Reindustrialization costs
    -       (3 )
                 
Total exit costs recorded to Other (charges) gains, net
    (1 )     (9 )
                 
                 
Environmental remediation reserves
    2       -  
Inventory write-offs
    -       (4 )
Other
    (2 )     (5 )
                 
Total plant shutdown costs
    -       (9 )
                 
 
Assets held for sale in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets includes an office building with a net book value of $2 million as of December 31, 2009. As of June 30, 2010, the Company sold the office building and recorded a gain of $14 million in Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net, in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations.
 
4.  Marketable Securities, at Fair Value
 
The Company’s captive insurance companies and pension-related trusts hold available-for-sale securities for capitalization and funding requirements, respectively. The Company received proceeds from sales of marketable


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securities and recorded realized gains (losses) to Other income (expense), net, in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations as follows:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
          (In $ millions)        
 
Proceeds from sale of securities
             -                -                -               15  
                                 
Realized gain on sale of securities
    1       2       1       3  
Realized loss on sale of securities
    -       -       -       -  
                                 
Net realized gain (loss) on sale of securities
    1       2       1       3  
                                 
 
The Company reviews all investments for other-than-temporary impairment at least quarterly or as indicators of impairment exist. Indicators of impairment include the duration and severity of the decline in fair value below carrying value as well as the intent and ability to hold the investment to allow for a recovery in the market value of the investment. In addition, the Company considers qualitative factors that include, but are not limited to: (i) the financial condition and business plans of the investee including its future earnings potential, (ii) the investee’s credit rating, and (iii) the current and expected market and industry conditions in which the investee operates. If a decline in the fair value of an investment is deemed by management to be other-than-temporary, the Company writes down the carrying value of the investment to fair value, and the amount of the write-down is included in net earnings. Such a determination is dependent on the facts and circumstances relating to each investment. The Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairment losses related to equity securities in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.
 
The amortized cost, gross unrealized gain, gross unrealized loss and fair value for available-for-sale securities by major security type are as follows:
 
                                 
          Gross
    Gross
       
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
    Fair
 
    Cost     Gain     Loss     Value  
          (In $ millions)        
 
US government debt securities
           25                5                -              30  
US corporate debt securities
    1       -       -       1  
                                 
Total debt securities
    26       5       -       31  
Equity securities
    52       -       (7 )     45  
Money market deposits and other securities
    1       -       -       1  
                                 
As of June 30, 2010
    79       5       (7 )     77  
                                 
                                 
US government debt securities
    26       2       -       28  
US corporate debt securities
    1       -       -       1  
                                 
Total debt securities
    27       2       -       29  
Equity securities
    55       -       (3 )     52  
Money market deposits and other securities
    2       -       -       2  
                                 
As of December 31, 2009
    84       2       (3 )     83  
                                 


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Fixed maturities as of June 30, 2010 by contractual maturity are shown below. Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
                 
    Amortized
    Fair
 
    Cost     Value  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Within one year
              2            2  
From one to five years
    -       -  
From six to ten years
    -       -  
Greater than ten years
    25       30  
                 
Total
    27       32  
                 
 
Proceeds received from fixed maturities that mature within one year are expected to be reinvested into additional securities upon such maturity.
 
5.  Inventories
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Finished goods
             381                367  
Work-in-process
    27       28  
Raw materials and supplies
    114       127  
                 
Total
    522       522  
                 
 
6.  Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net
 
Goodwill
 
                                         
    Advanced
                         
    Engineered
    Consumer
    Industrial
    Acetyl
       
    Materials     Specialties     Specialties     Intermediates     Total  
    (In $ millions)  
 
As of December 31, 2009
                                       
Goodwill
           263              257                 35              243              798  
Accumulated impairment losses
    -       -       -       -       -  
                                         
      263       257       35       243       798  
Acquisition (Note 3)
    13       -       -       -       13  
Reallocation of Ibn Sina goodwill (Note 18)
    34       -       -       (34 )     -  
Exchange rate changes
    (22 )     (17 )     (2 )     (34 )     (75 )
                                         
As of June 30, 2010
                                       
Goodwill
    288       240       33       175       736  
Accumulated impairment losses
    -       -       -       -       -  
                                         
Total
    288       240       33       175       736  
                                         


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Intangible Assets, Net
 
                                                 
                Customer-
          Covenants
       
    Trademarks
          Related
          Not to
       
    and Trade
          Intangible
    Developed
    Compete
       
    Names     Licenses     Assets     Technology     and Other     Total  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Gross Asset Value
                                               
As of December 31, 2009
             83             29                552              13              12              689  
Acquisition (Note 3)
    9       -       6       7       11       33  
Exchange rate changes
    (8 )     -       (65 )     -       (1 )     (74 )
             
             
As of June 30, 2010
    84       29       493       20       22       648  
             
             
                                                 
Accumulated Amortization
                                               
As of December 31, 2009
    (5 )     (6 )     (362 )     (11 )     (11 )     (395 )
Amortization
    -       (2 )     (27 )     -       (1 )     (30 )
Exchange rate changes
    -       -       45       1       -       46  
                                                 
As of June 30, 2010
    (5 )     (8 )     (344 )     (10 )     (12 )     (379 )
                                                 
Net book value
    79       21       149       10       10       269  
                                                 
 
Estimated amortization expense for the succeeding five fiscal years is as follows:
 
         
    (In $ millions)  
 
2011
    63  
2012
    47  
2013
    29  
2014
    18  
2015
    8  
 
The Company’s trademarks and trade names have an indefinite life.
 
As of June 30, 2010, the Company did not renew or extend any intangible assets.
 
7.  Current Other Liabilities
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Salaries and benefits
              92                 100  
Environmental (Note 11)
    15       13  
Restructuring (Note 13)
    53       99  
Insurance
    29       37  
Asset retirement obligations
    11       22  
Derivatives
    67       75  
Current portion of benefit obligations
    49       49  
Interest
    18       20  
Sales and use tax/foreign withholding tax payable
    13       15  
Uncertain tax positions
    5       5  
Other
    180       176  
                 
Total
    532       611  
                 


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8.  Noncurrent Other Liabilities
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Environmental (Note 11)
              82                 93  
Insurance
    88       85  
Deferred revenue
    43       49  
Deferred proceeds (Note 20)
    725       846  
Asset retirement obligations
    56       45  
Derivatives
    35       44  
Income taxes payable
    34       61  
Other
    76       83  
                 
Total
      1,139         1,306  
                 
 
9.  Debt
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt — third party and affiliates
               
Current installments of long-term debt, interest rates ranging from 2.31% to 25.73%
             103                102  
Short-term borrowings, including amounts due to affiliates, interest rates ranging from 0.27% to 5.04%
    162       140  
                 
Total
    265       242  
                 
Long-term debt
               
Senior credit facilities: Term loan facility due 2014
    2,688       2,785  
Pollution control and industrial revenue bonds, interest rates ranging from 5.7% to 6.7%, due at various dates through 2030
    181       181  
Obligations under capital leases and other secured and unsecured borrowings due at various dates through 2054
    260       242  
Other bank obligations, interest rates ranging from 2.3% to 5.3%, due at various dates through 2014
    136       153  
                 
Subtotal
    3,265       3,361  
Less: Current installments of long-term debt
    103       102  
                 
Total
    3,162       3,259  
                 
 
Senior Credit Facilities
 
The Company’s senior credit facility consists of $2,280 million of US dollar-denominated and €400 million of Euro-denominated term loans due 2014, a $600 million revolving credit facility terminating in 2013 and a $228 million credit-linked revolving facility terminating in 2014. Borrowings under the senior credit agreement bear interest at a variable interest rate based on LIBOR (for US dollars) or EURIBOR (for Euros), as applicable, or, for US dollar-denominated loans under certain circumstances, a base rate, in each case plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for the term loans and any loans under the credit-linked revolving facility is 1.75%, subject to potential reductions as defined in the senior credit agreement. As of June 30, 2010, the applicable margin was 1.75%. The term loans under the senior credit agreement are subject to amortization at 1% of the initial principal amount per annum, payable quarterly. The remaining principal amount of the term loans is due on April 2, 2014.


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As of June 30, 2010, the balances available for borrowing under the revolving credit facility and the credit-linked revolving facility are as follows:
 
         
    (In $ millions)
 
Revolving credit facility
       
Borrowings outstanding
               -  
Letters of credit issued
    -  
Available for borrowing
    600  
Credit-linked revolving facility
       
Letters of credit issued
    91  
Available for borrowing
    137  
 
In June 2009, the Company entered into an amendment to the senior credit agreement. The amendment reduced the amount available under the revolving credit facility from $650 million to $600 million and increased the first lien senior secured leverage ratio that is applicable when any amount is outstanding under the revolving credit portion of the senior credit agreement. The first lien senior secured leverage ratio is calculated as the ratio of consolidated first lien senior secured debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, subject to adjustments identified in the credit agreement.
 
As a condition to borrowing funds or requesting that letters of credit be issued under that 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.
 
Prior to giving effect to the amendment, the maximum first lien senior secured leverage ratio was 3.90 to 1.00. The Company’s amended maximum first lien senior secured leverage ratios, estimated first lien senior secured leverage ratios and the borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility as of June 30, 2010 are as follows:
 
                                 
    First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratios    
            Estimate, If Fully
  Borrowing
    Maximum   Estimate   Drawn   Capacity
                (In $ millions)
 
June 30, 2010
    4.25 to 1.00       2.7 to 1.00       3.34 to 1.00                  600  
September 30, 2010
    4.25 to 1.00                          
December 31, 2010 and thereafter
    3.90 to 1.00                          
 
The Company’s senior credit agreement also contains a number of restrictions on certain of its subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, restrictions on their 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 certain hedge transactions; or engage in other businesses. The senior credit agreement also contains a number of affirmative covenants and events of default, including a cross-default to other debt of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries in an aggregate amount equal to $40 million or greater 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 loans and other financial obligations under the Company’s senior credit agreement.
 
The Company is in compliance with all of the covenants related to its debt agreements as of June 30, 2010.
 
The senior credit agreement is guaranteed by Celanese Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Celanese Corporation, and certain domestic subsidiaries of the Company’s subsidiary, Celanese US, and is secured by a lien on substantially all assets of Celanese US and such guarantors, subject to certain agreed exceptions, pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2007, by and among Celanese Holdings LLC, Celanese US, certain subsidiaries of Celanese US and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent.


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10.  Benefit Obligations
 
The components of net periodic benefit costs recognized are as follows:
 
                                                                 
                Postretirement
                Postretirement
 
    Pension Benefits     Benefits     Pension Benefits     Benefits  
    Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009     2010     2009     2010     2009  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Service cost
          8             7             1             1            16             14             1             1  
Interest cost
    48       48       3       4       96       95       7       8  
Expected return on plan assets
    (50 )     (52 )     -       -       (100 )     (102 )     -       -  
Recognized actuarial (gain) loss
    2       1       (1 )     (2 )     4       1       (2 )     (3 )
Curtailment (gain) loss
    (1 )     1       -       -       (3 )     1       -       -  
                                                                 
Total
    7       5       3       3       13       9       6       6  
                                                                 
 
The Company expects to contribute $52 million to its defined benefit pension plans in 2010. As of June 30, 2010, $24 million of contributions have been made. The Company’s estimates of its US defined benefit pension plan contributions reflect the provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
 
The Company expects to make benefit contributions of $27 million under the provisions of its other postretirement benefit plans in 2010. As of June 30, 2010, $14 million of benefit contributions have been made.
 
The Company participates in multiemployer defined benefit plans in Europe covering certain employees. The Company’s contributions to the multiemployer defined benefit plans are based on specified percentages of employee contributions and totaled $3 million and $4 million for each of the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
11.  Environmental
 
General
 
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.
 
The Company’s environmental remediation reserves are recorded in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets as follows:
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Current other liabilities
              15                 13  
Noncurrent other liabilities
    82       93  
                 
Total
    97       106  
                 
 
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, 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. 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


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the financial position of the Company, but may have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or cash flows in any given accounting 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 approximately 40 sites. At most of these sites, numerous companies, including certain companies comprising the Company, or one of its predecessor companies, have been notified that the Environmental Protection Agency, 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 most 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.
 
The Company’s environmental remediation reserves are recorded in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets as follows:
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Demerger obligations (Note 17)
    29       32  
Divestiture obligations (Note 17)
    30       32  
US Superfund sites
    11       10  
Other environmental remediation reserves
    27       32  
                 
Total
              97                 106  
                 
 
12.  Shareholders’ Equity
 
Preferred Stock
 
On February 1, 2010, the Company delivered notice to the holders of its 4.25% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) that it was calling for the redemption of all 9.6 million outstanding shares of Preferred Stock. Holders of the Preferred Stock were entitled to convert each share of Preferred Stock into 1.2600 shares of the Company’s Series A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 19, 2010. As of such date, holders of Preferred Stock had elected to convert 9,591,276 shares of Preferred Stock into an aggregate of 12,084,942 shares of Common Stock. The 8,724 shares of Preferred Stock that remained outstanding after such conversions were redeemed by the Company on February 22, 2010 for 7,437 shares of Common Stock, in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Stock. In addition to the shares of Common Stock issued in respect of the shares of Preferred Stock converted and redeemed, the Company paid cash in lieu of fractional shares. The Company recorded expense of less than $1 million in Additional paid-in capital in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 related to the conversion and redemption of the Preferred Stock.


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Treasury Stock
 
In February 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $400 million of the Company’s Common Stock. This authorization was increased by the Board of Directors to $500 million in October 2008. The authorizations give management discretion in determining the conditions under which shares may be repurchased. The number of shares repurchased and the average purchase price paid per share pursuant to this authorization are as follows:
 
                         
    Six Months Ended
  Total From
    June 30,   Inception Through
    2010   2009   June 30, 2010
 
Shares repurchased
      678,592       -            10,441,792  
Average purchase price per share
  $ 29.47     $        -     $ 38.09  
Amount spent on repurchased shares (in millions)
  $ 20     $ -     $ 398  
 
Purchases of treasury stock reduce the number of shares outstanding and 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 Shareholders’ equity.
 
Dividends
 
In April 2010, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a 25% increase in the Company’s quarterly Common Stock cash dividend. The Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend rate from $0.04 to $0.05 per share of Common Stock on a quarterly basis and $0.16 to $0.20 per share of Common Stock on an annual basis. The new dividend rate will be applicable to dividends payable beginning in August 2010.
 
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net
 
Adjustments to Net earnings (loss) used to calculate Other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
          (In $ millions)        
 
Adjustments to net earnings (loss)
    (19 )     101       (44 )     (10 )
Income tax (provision) benefit
    (3 )     1       (5 )     1  
                                 
Adjustments to net earnings (loss), net
          (22 )              102             (49 )            (9 )
                                 
 
13.  Other (Charges) Gains, Net
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
          (In $ millions)        
 
Employee termination benefits
    (4 )     (5 )     (9 )     (29 )
Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation (Note 20)
    (4 )     (3 )     (10 )     (6 )
Plumbing actions
    2       2       14       3  
Insurance recoveries associated with Clear Lake, Texas
    -       -       -       6  
Asset impairments
    -       -       (72 )     (1 )
Plant/office closures
    -       -       (6 )     -  
                                 
Total
           (6 )           (6 )          (83 )          (27 )
                                 
 
2010
 
During the first quarter of 2010, the Company concluded that certain long-lived assets were partially impaired at its acetate flake and tow manufacturing operations in Spondon, Derby, United Kingdom (Note 3). Accordingly, the


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Company wrote down the related property, plant and equipment to its fair value of $31 million, resulting in long-lived asset impairment losses of $72 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The Company calculated the fair value using a discounted cash flow model incorporating discount rates commensurate with the risks involved for the reporting unit which is classified as a Level 3 measurement under FASB ASC Topic 820. The key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow valuation model include discount rates, growth rates, cash flow projections and terminal value rates. Discount rates, growth rates and cash flow projections are the most sensitive and susceptible to change as they require significant management judgment. The Spondon, Derby, United Kingdom facility is included in the Consumer Specialties segment.
 
As a result of the Company’s Pardies, France Project of Closure (Note 3), the Company recorded exit costs of $1 million in employee termination benefits for the three months ended June 30, 2010. The Company recorded exit costs of $9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2010, which consisted of $2 million in employee termination benefits, $1 million of long-lived asset impairment losses, $3 million of contract termination costs and $3 million of reindustrialization costs. The Pardies, France facility is included in the Acetyl Intermediates segment.
 
Other charges for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was partially offset by $13 million of recoveries and a $1 million decrease in legal reserves associated with plumbing cases included in the Advanced Engineered Materials segment.
 
2009
 
During the first quarter of 2009, the Company began efforts to align production capacity and staffing levels with the Company’s view of an economic environment of prolonged lower demand. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, Other charges included employee termination benefits of $28 million related to this endeavor. As a result of the shutdown of the vinyl acetate monomer (“VAM”) production unit in Cangrejera, Mexico, the Company recognized employee termination benefits of $1 million and long-lived asset impairment losses of $1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2009. The VAM production unit in Cangrejera, Mexico is included in the Acetyl Intermediates segment.
 
Other charges for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was partially offset by $6 million of insurance recoveries in satisfaction of claims the Company made related to the unplanned outage of the Company’s Clear Lake, Texas acetic acid facility during 2007, a $2 million decrease in legal reserves for plumbing claims for which the statute of limitations has expired and $1 million of insurance recoveries associated with plumbing cases.
 
The changes in the restructuring reserves by business segment are as follows:
 
                                                 
    Advanced
                               
    Engineered
    Consumer
    Industrial
    Acetyl
             
    Materials     Specialties     Specialties     Intermediates     Other     Total  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Employee Termination Benefits
                                               
Reserve as of December 31, 2009
             7                4              3                60       7           81  
Additions
    2       2       -       -       2       6  
Cash payments
    (3 )          (3 )     (2 )          (19 )         (2 )     (29 )
Other changes
    -       -       -       -       (1 )     (1 )
Exchange rate changes
         (1 )     -       -       (7 )     (1 )     (9 )
                                                 
Reserve as of June 30, 2010
    5       3       1       34       5       48  
                                                 
                                                 
Plant/Office Closures                                                
Reserve as of December 31, 2009
    -       -       -       17       1       18  
Additions
    -       -       -       6             6  
Cash payments
    -       -       -       (17 )           (17 )
Exchange rate changes
    -       -       -       (2 )           (2 )
                                                 
Reserve as of June 30, 2010
    -       -       -       4       1       5  
                                                 
Total
    5       3       1       38       6       53  
                                                 


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14.  Income Taxes
 
The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was 27% compared to 13% for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The increase in the effective rate was primarily due to foreign losses not resulting in tax benefits in the current period and increases in reserves for uncertain tax positions and related interest. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was 19% compared to 19% for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The 2010 effective rate was favorably impacted by the effect of new tax legislation in Mexico, offset by foreign losses not resulting in tax benefits in the current period and the effect of healthcare reform in the US.
 
In March 2010, the President of the United States signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Currently, employers providing retiree prescription drug coverage that is at least as valuable as the coverage offered under Medicare Part D are entitled to a subsidy from the government. Prior to the enactment of the new law, employers were entitled to deduct the entire cost of providing the retiree prescription drug coverage, even though a portion was offset by the subsidy. Under the new law, in years subsequent to 2012, the tax deductible prescription coverage is reduced by the amount of the subsidy. As a result, the Company reduced its deferred tax asset related to postretirement prescription drug coverage by the amount of the subsidy to be received subsequent to 2012. This reduction of $7 million to the Company’s deferred tax asset was charged to deferred tax expense during the three months ended March 31, 2010.
 
On December 7, 2009, Mexico enacted the 2010 Mexican Tax Reform Bill (“Tax Reform Bill”) effective January 1, 2010. The estimated income tax impact to the Company of the Tax Reform Bill at December 31, 2009 was $73 million and was charged to tax expense during the three months ended December 31, 2009.
 
On March 31, 2010, the Mexican tax authorities issued new regulations clarifying various provisions in the 2010 Tax Reform Bill, including certain aspects of the recapture rules related to income tax loss carryforwards, intercompany dividends and differences between consolidated and individual Mexican tax earnings and profits. At March 31, 2010, the application of the new regulations resulted in a reduction of $43 million to the estimated income tax impact of the Tax Reform Bill that was recorded by the Company during the three months ended December 31, 2009. After inflation and exchange rate changes, the Company’s estimated tax liability at June 30, 2010 related to the combined Tax Reform Bill and the new regulations is as follows:
 
         
    (In $ millions)  
 
2010
    -  
2011
    2  
2012
    3  
2013
    4  
2014 and thereafter
    23  
         
Total
              32  
         
 
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions and related interest and penalties are recorded in Uncertain tax positions and current Other liabilities in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the total unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions increased by $8 million for interest and changes in unrecognized tax benefits in US and foreign jurisdictions, and decreased $25 million due to exchange rate changes. Currently, uncertain tax positions are not expected to change significantly over the next 12 months.
 
15.  Derivative Financial Instruments
 
Risk Management
 
To reduce the interest rate risk inherent in the Company’s variable rate debt, the Company utilizes interest rate swap agreements to convert a portion of its variable rate debt into a fixed rate obligation. These interest rate swap agreements are designated as cash flow hedges. If an interest rate swap agreement is terminated prior to its maturity, the amount previously recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net is recognized into earnings over the period that the hedged transaction impacts earnings. If the hedging relationship is discontinued because it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur according to the original strategy, any related amounts


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previously recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net are recognized into earnings immediately.
 
The Company also enters into foreign currency forwards and swaps to minimize its exposure to foreign currency fluctuations. Through these instruments, the Company mitigates its foreign currency exposure on transactions with third party entities as well as intercompany transactions. The foreign currency forwards and swaps are not designated as hedges under FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Gains and losses on foreign currency forwards and swaps entered into to offset foreign exchange impacts on intercompany balances are classified as Other income (expense), net, in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations. Gains and losses on foreign currency forwards and swaps entered into to offset foreign exchange impacts on all other assets and liabilities are classified as Foreign exchange gain (loss), net, in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations.
 
The notional values of the Company’s derivative arrangements are as follows:
 
                 
    As of
  As of
    June 30,
  December 31,
    2010   2009
    (In millions)
 
US dollar interest rate swap agreements
  $ 1,500     $ 1,600  
Euro interest rate swap agreements
  150     150  
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
  $            900     $          1,500  
 
Information regarding changes in the fair value of the Company’s derivative arrangements is as follows:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30, 2010     June 30, 2010  
    Gain (Loss)
          Gain (Loss)
       
    Recognized in Other
    Gain (Loss)
    Recognized in Other
    Gain (Loss)
 
    Comprehensive
    Recognized in
    Comprehensive
    Recognized in
 
    Income     Income     Income     Income  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments
                               
Interest rate swaps
    (7 ) (2)     (17 ) (1)     (23 ) (3)     (35 ) (1)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
                               
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
    -       13       -       38  
                                 
Total
                   (7 )                (4 )                  (23 )                 3  
                                 
 
 
(1)  Amount represents reclassification from Accumulated other comprehensive income and is classified as Interest expense in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations.
(2)  Amount excludes $3 million of losses associated with the Company’s equity method investments’ derivative activity and $1 million of tax expense.
(3)  Amount excludes $5 million of losses associated with the Company’s equity method investments’ derivative activity and $4 million of tax expense.
 


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    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30, 2009     June 30, 2009  
    Gain (Loss)
          Gain (Loss)
       
    Recognized in Other
    Gain (Loss)
    Recognized in Other
    Gain (Loss)
 
    Comprehensive
    Recognized in
    Comprehensive
    Recognized in
 
    Income     Income     Income     Income  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments
                               
Interest rate swaps
    2       (15 ) (1)     (13 )     (27 ) (1)
Derivatives designated as net investment hedging instruments
                               
Euro-denominated term loan
    (1 )     -       -       -  
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
                               
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
    -       (6 )     -       (15 )
                                 
Total
                   1             (21 )                (13 )           (42 )
                                 
 
 
(1)  Amount represents reclassification from Accumulated other comprehensive income and is classified as Interest expense in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations.
 
See Note 16 for additional information regarding the fair value of the Company’s derivative arrangements.
 
16.  Fair Value Measurements
 
On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 820 for nonrecurring fair value measurements of non-financial assets and liabilities, such as goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and asset retirement obligations. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
FASB Topic ASC 820 establishes a three-tiered fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used in fair value calculations. The three levels of inputs are defined as follows:
 
  Level 1 —  unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets accessible by the Company
 
  Level 2 —  inputs that are observable in the marketplace other than those inputs classified as Level 1
 
  Level 3 —  inputs that are unobservable in the marketplace and significant to the valuation
 
FASB ASC Topic 820 requires the Company to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. If a financial instrument uses inputs that fall in different levels of the hierarchy, the instrument will be categorized based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value calculation.
 
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and include securities available for sale and derivative financial instruments. Securities available for sale include US government and corporate bonds and equity securities. Derivative financial instruments include interest rate swaps and foreign currency forwards and swaps.
 
Marketable Securities. Where possible, the Company utilizes quoted prices in active markets to measure debt and equity securities; such items are classified as Level 1 in the hierarchy and include equity securities and US government bonds. When quoted market prices for identical assets are unavailable, varying valuation techniques are used. Common inputs in valuing these assets include, among others, benchmark yields, issuer spreads and recently reported trades. Such assets are classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy and typically include corporate bonds and other US government securities.
 
Derivatives. Derivative financial instruments are valued in the market using discounted cash flow techniques. These techniques incorporate Level 1 and Level 2 inputs such as interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.

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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 and foreign currency forwards and swaps are observable in the active markets and are classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
 
The following fair value hierarchy tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
                         
    Fair Value Measurement Using        
    Quoted Prices in
             
    Active Markets for
    Significant Other
       
    Identical Assets
    Observable Inputs
       
    (Level 1)     (Level 2)     Total  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Marketable securities, at fair value
                       
US government debt securities
    -       30       30  
US corporate debt securities
    -       1       1  
                         
Total debt securities
    -       31       31  
Equity securities
    45       -       45  
Money market deposits and other securities
    -       1       1  
                         
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
                       
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
    -       3       3 (1)
                         
Total assets as of June 30, 2010
    45       35       80  
                         
                         
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments
                       
Interest rate swaps
    -       (63 )     (63 ) (2)
Interest rate swaps
    -       (35 )     (35 ) (3)
                         
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
                       
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
    -       (4 )     (4 ) (2)
                         
Total liabilities as of June 30, 2010
    -                   (102 )           (102 )
                         
                         
Marketable securities, at fair value
                       
US government debt securities
    -       28       28  
US corporate debt securities
    -       1       1  
                         
Total debt securities
    -       29       29  
Equity securities
    52       -       52  
Money market deposits and other securities
    -       2       2  
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
                       
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
    -       12       12 (1)
                         
Total assets as of December 31, 2009
                 52       43       95  
                         
                         
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments
                       
Interest rate swaps
    -       (68 )     (68 ) (2)
Interest rate swaps
    -       (44 )     (44 ) (3)
                         
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
                       
Foreign currency forwards and swaps
    -       (7 )     (7 ) (2)
                         
Total liabilities as of December 31, 2009
    -       (119 )     (119 )
                         
 
 
(1)  Included in current Other assets in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.
 
(2)  Included in current Other liabilities in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.
 
(3)  Included in noncurrent Other liabilities in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.


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Summarized below are the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheets:
 
                                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
    Carrying
    Fair
    Carrying
    Fair
 
    Amount     Value     Amount     Value  
          (In $ millions)        
 
Cost investments (As adjusted, Note 3)
    132       -       129       -  
Insurance contracts in nonqualified pension trusts
    70       70       66       66  
Long-term debt, including current installments of long-term debt
        3,265           3,104           3,361           3,246  
 
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.
 
As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, trade payables, short-term debt 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. Additionally, certain noncurrent receivables, principally insurance recoverables, are carried at net realizable value.
 
The fair value of long-term debt is based on valuations from third-party banks and market quotations.
 
17.  Commitments and Contingencies
 
The Company is involved in legal and regulatory proceedings, lawsuits and claims incidental to the normal conduct of business, relating to such matters as product liability, contract, antitrust, intellectual property, workers’ compensation, chemical exposure, prior acquisitions and divestitures, past waste disposal practices and release of chemicals into the environment. While it is impossible at this time to determine with certainty the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, lawsuits and claims, the Company is actively defending those matters where the Company is named as a defendant. Additionally, the Company believes, based on the advice of legal counsel, that adequate reserves have been made and that the ultimate outcomes of all such litigation and claims will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company; however, the ultimate outcome of any given matter may have a material impact on the results of operations or cash flows of the Company in any given reporting period.
 
Plumbing Actions
 
CNA Holdings LLC (“CNA Holdings”), a US subsidiary of the Company, which included the US business now conducted by the Ticona business that is included in the Advanced Engineered Materials segment, along with Shell Oil Company (“Shell”), E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company (“DuPont”) and others, has been a defendant in a series of lawsuits, including a number of class actions, alleging that plastics manufactured by these companies that were utilized in the production of plumbing systems for residential property were defective or caused such plumbing systems to fail. Based on, among other things, the findings of outside experts and the successful use of Ticona’s acetal copolymer in similar applications, CNA Holdings does not believe Ticona’s acetal copolymer was defective or caused the plumbing systems to fail. In many cases CNA Holdings’ potential future exposure may be limited by invocation of the statute of limitations since CNA Holdings ceased selling the resin for use in the plumbing systems in site-built homes during 1986 and in manufactured homes during 1990.
 
In November 1995, CNA Holdings, DuPont and Shell entered into national class action settlements that called for the replacement of plumbing systems of claimants who have had qualifying leaks, as well as reimbursements for certain leak damage. In connection with such settlement, the three companies had agreed to fund these replacements and reimbursements up to an aggregate amount of $950 million. As of June 30, 2010, the aggregate funding is $1,111 million due to additional contributions and funding commitments made primarily by other parties. The time to file claims for this class has now expired. Accordingly, the court has approved dissolution of the class with


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termination anticipated by the end of 2010. During the period between 1995 and 2001, CNA Holdings was also named as a defendant in the following putative class actions:
 
n       Cox, et al. v. Hoechst Celanese Corporation, et al., No. 94-0047 (Chancery Ct., Obion County, Tennessee) (class was certified).
 
n       Couture, et al. v. Shell Oil Company, et al., No. 200-06-000001-985 (Quebec Superior Court, Canada).
 
n       Dilday, et al. v. Hoechst Celanese Corporation, et al., No. 15187 (Chancery Ct., Weakley County, Tennessee).
 
n       Furlan v. Shell Oil Company, et al., No. C967239 (British Columbia Supreme Court, Vancouver Registry, Canada).
 
n       Gariepy, et al. v. Shell Oil Company, et al., No. 30781/99 (Ontario Court General Division, Canada).
 
n       Shelter General Insurance Co., et al. v. Shell Oil Company, et al., No. 16809 (Chancery Ct., Weakley County, Tennessee).
 
n       St. Croix Ltd., et al. v. Shell Oil Company, et al., No. 1997/467 (Territorial Ct., St. Croix Division, the US Virgin Islands).
 
n       Tranter v. Shell Oil Company, et al., No. 46565/97 (Ontario Court General Division, Canada).
 
In addition, between 1994 and 2008 CNA Holdings was named as a defendant in numerous non-class actions filed in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Tennessee and Texas, the US Virgin Islands and Canada of which eight are currently pending. In all of these actions, the plaintiffs have sought recovery for alleged damages caused by leaking polybutylene plumbing. Damage amounts have generally not been specified but these cases generally do not involve (either individually or in the aggregate) a large number of homes.
 
The Company’s remaining plumbing action accruals recorded in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are $54 million and $55 million, respectively. The Company recorded recoveries and reductions in legal reserves related to plumbing actions (Note 13) to Other (charges) gains, net in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations as follows:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
          (In $ millions)        
 
Recoveries
    2       1       13       2  
Legal reserve reductions
    -       1       1       1  
                                 
Total
              2                 2              14                 3  
                                 
 
Plumbing Insurance Indemnifications
 
Celanese GmbH entered into agreements with insurance companies related to product liability settlements associated with Celcon® plumbing claims. These agreements, except those with insolvent insurance companies, require the Company to indemnify and/or defend these insurance companies in the event that third parties seek additional monies for matters released in these agreements. The indemnifications in these agreements do not provide for time limitations.
 
In certain of the agreements, Celanese GmbH received a fixed settlement amount. The indemnities under these agreements generally are limited to, but in some cases are greater than, the amount received in settlement from the insurance company. The maximum exposure under some of these indemnifications is $95 million, while other settlement agreements with fixed settlement amounts have no stated indemnification limits.
 
There are other agreements whereby the settling insurer agreed to pay a fixed percentage of claims that relate to that insurer’s policies. The Company has provided indemnifications to the insurers for amounts paid in excess of the settlement percentage. These indemnifications do not provide for monetary or time limitations.
 
Sorbates Antitrust Actions
 
In 2004 a civil antitrust action styled Freeman Industries LLC v. Eastman Chemical Co., et al. (No. C34355), was filed against Hoechst, Nutrinova, Inc. and others in the Law Court for Sullivan County in Kingsport, Tennessee. The


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plaintiff sought monetary damages and other relief for alleged violations of Tennessee state antitrust laws involving the sorbates industry. The trial court dismissed the plaintiff’s claims and upon appeal the Supreme Court of Tennessee affirmed the dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims. In December 2005, the plaintiff lost an attempt to amend its complaint and the entire action was dismissed with prejudice. Plaintiff’s counsel subsequently filed a new complaint with new class representatives in the same Tennessee court. The defendant’s motion to strike the class allegations was granted in May 2008 and the plaintiff’s request to appeal the ruling remains pending.
 
Polyester Staple Antitrust Litigation
 
CNA Holdings, the successor in interest to Hoechst Celanese Corporation (“HCC”), Celanese Americas Corporation and Celanese GmbH (collectively, the “Celanese Entities”) and Hoechst, the former parent of HCC, were named as defendants in two actions (involving 25 individual participants) filed in September 2006 by US purchasers of polyester staple fibers manufactured and sold by HCC. The actions allege that the defendants participated in a conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids and allocate customers of polyester staple sold in the United States. These actions were consolidated in a proceeding by a Multi-District Litigation Panel in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina styled In re Polyester Staple Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1516. On June 12, 2008 the court dismissed these actions against all Celanese Entities in consideration of a payment by the Company of $107 million. This proceeding related to sales by the polyester staple fibers business which Hoechst sold to KoSa, Inc. in 1998. Accordingly, the impact of this settlement was reflected within discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company also previously entered into tolling arrangements with four other alleged US purchasers of polyester staple fibers manufactured and sold by the Celanese Entities. These purchasers were not included in the settlement and one such company filed suit against the Company in December 2008 in the Western District of North Carolina entitled Milliken & Company v. CNA Holdings, Inc., Celanese Americas Corporation and Hoechst AG (No. 8-CV-00578). The Company is actively defending this matter and has filed a motion to dismiss, which is pending with the court.
 
In December 1998, HCC sold its polyester staple business (the “1998 Sale”) to KoSa B.V., f/k/a Arteva B.V., a subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc. (“KoSa”), under an asset purchase agreement (“APA”). In August of 2002, Arteva Specialties, S.a.r.l., a subsidiary of KoSa (“Arteva Specialties”), pled guilty to a criminal violation of the Sherman Act relating to anti-competitive conduct following the 1998 Sale. Shortly thereafter, various polyester staple customers filed approximately 50 civil anti-trust lawsuits against KoSa and Arteva Specialties, some of which alleged anti-competitive conduct prior to the 1998 Sale. In a complaint filed on November 3, 2003 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Koch Industries, Inc. et al. v. Hoechst Aktiengellschaft et al., No. 03-cv-8679, Koch Industries, Inc., KoSa, Arteva Specialties and Arteva Services S.a.r.l. sought recovery from Hoechst and the Celanese Entities exceeding $371 million. In the complaint, the plaintiffs alleged claims of fraud, unjust enrichment and indemnification for retained liabilities and for breach of contractual representations and warranties under the APA. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment in 2009. On July 19, 2010, the court granted in part and denied in part the pending motions. The court dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims for fraud and unjust enrichment, which also eliminated plaintiffs’ claims for punitive damages. The court also held that the plaintiffs cannot recover damages for liabilities arising out of the operation of the polyester staple business incurred after the 1998 Sale. The plaintiffs can recover damages for the costs of defending and settling civil antitrust actions brought against them to the extent such damages arose out of the operation of the polyester staple business prior to the 1998 Sale (i.e., “Retained Liabilities” as defined in the APA). The plaintiffs have alleged that they paid approximately $135 million for the costs of settling and defending both pre- and post-1998 Sale civil antitrust actions. The court reserved for trial the calculation and allocation of any damages to which the plaintiffs would be entitled under the relevant sections of the APA. Because of insufficient information, including that contained in the record, we are unable to estimate the amount of the Company’s loss for this matter. The court also preserved for trial the plaintiffs’ claim for breach of contractual representations and warranties under the APA. No date has been set for trial. The Company is actively defending this matter.
 
Acetic Acid Patent Infringement Matters
 
On May 9, 1999, Celanese International Corporation filed a private criminal action styled Celanese International Corporation v. China Petrochemical Development Corporation against China Petrochemical Development Corporation (“CPDC”) in the Taiwan Kaoshiung District Court alleging that CPDC infringed Celanese


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International Corporation’s patent covering the manufacture of acetic acid. Celanese International Corporation also filed a supplementary civil brief that, in view of changes in Taiwanese patent laws, was subsequently converted to a civil action alleging damages against CPDC based on a period of infringement of ten years, 1991-2000, and based on CPDC’s own data that was reported to the Taiwanese securities and exchange commission. Celanese International Corporation’s patent was held valid by the Taiwanese patent office. On August 31, 2005, the District Court held that CPDC infringed Celanese International Corporation’s acetic acid patent and awarded Celanese International Corporation approximately $28 million (plus interest) for the period of 1995 through 1999. In October 2008, the High Court, on appeal, reversed the District Court’s $28 million award to the Company. The Company appealed to the Superior Court in November 2008, and the court remanded the case to the Intellectual Property Court on June 4, 2009. On January 16, 2006, the District Court awarded Celanese International Corporation $800,000 (plus interest) for the year 1990. In January 2009, the High Court, on appeal, affirmed the District Court’s award and CPDC appealed on February 5, 2009 to the Supreme Court. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, ended this case was remanded to the Intellectual Property Court. On June 29, 2007, the District Court awarded Celanese International Corporation $60 million (plus interest) for the period of 2000 through 2005. CPDC appealed this ruling and on July 21, 2009, the High Court ruled in CPDC’s favor. The Company appealed to the Supreme Court and in December 2009, the case was remanded to the Intellectual Property Court. All three cases remain pending in the Intellectual Property Court.
 
Workers Compensation Claims
 
The Company has been provided with notices of claims filed with the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission and the North Carolina Industrial Commission. The notices of claims identify various alleged injuries to current and former employees arising from alleged exposure to undefined chemicals at current and former plant sites in South Carolina and North Carolina. As of June 30, 2010, there were 1,308 claims pending. The Company has reserves for defense costs related to these matters.
 
Asbestos Claims
 
As of June 30, 2010, the Company and several of its US subsidiaries are defendants in asbestos cases. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, asbestos case activity is as follows:
 
         
    Asbestos Cases  
 
As of December 31, 2009
    526  
Case adjustments
    2  
New cases filed
    22  
Resolved cases
    (43 )
         
As of June 30, 2010
             507  
         
 
Because many of these cases involve numerous plaintiffs, the Company is subject to claims significantly in excess of the number of actual cases. The Company has reserves for defense costs related to claims arising from these matters.
 
Award Proceedings in relation to Domination Agreement and Squeeze-Out
 
On October 1, 2004, a Domination Agreement between Celanese GmbH and the Purchaser became operative, pursuant to which the Purchaser became obligated to offer to acquire all outstanding Celanese GmbH shares from the minority shareholders of Celanese GmbH in return for payment of fair cash compensation (“Squeeze-Out”). The amount of this fair cash compensation was determined to be €41.92 per share, plus interest, in accordance with applicable German law. Until the Squeeze-Out was registered in the commercial register in Germany on December 22, 2006, any minority shareholder who elected not to sell its shares to the Purchaser was entitled to remain a shareholder of Celanese GmbH and to receive from the Purchaser a gross guaranteed annual payment on its shares of €3.27 per Celanese GmbH share less certain corporate taxes in lieu of any dividend.
 
The amounts of the fair cash compensation and of the guaranteed annual payment offered under the Domination Agreement as well as the Squeeze-Out compensation are under court review in two separate special award proceedings. The amounts of the fair cash compensation and of the guaranteed annual payment offered under the


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Domination Agreement may be increased in special award proceedings initiated by minority shareholders, which may further reduce the funds the Purchaser can otherwise make available to the Company. As of March 30, 2005, several minority shareholders of Celanese GmbH had initiated special award proceedings seeking the court’s review of the amounts of the fair cash compensation and of the guaranteed annual payment offered under the Domination Agreement. As a result of these proceedings, the amount of the fair cash consideration and the guaranteed annual payment offered under the Domination Agreement could be increased by the court so that all minority shareholders, including those who have already tendered their shares into the mandatory offer and have received the fair cash compensation could claim the respective higher amounts. The court dismissed all of these proceedings in March 2005 on the grounds of inadmissibility. Thirty-three plaintiffs appealed the dismissal, and in January 2006, twenty-three of these appeals were granted by the court. They were remanded back to the court of first instance, where the valuation will be further reviewed. On December 12, 2006, the court of first instance appointed an expert to help determine the value of Celanese GmbH. In the first quarter of 2007, certain minority shareholders that received €66.99 per share as fair cash compensation also filed award proceedings challenging the amount they received as fair cash compensation. The case remains pending before the court of the first instance.
 
The Company received applications for the commencement of award proceedings filed by 79 shareholders against the Purchaser with the Frankfurt District Court requesting the court to set a higher amount for the Squeeze-Out compensation. The motions are based on various alleged shortcomings and mistakes in the valuation of Celanese GmbH done for purposes of the Squeeze-Out. On May 11, 2007, the court of first instance appointed a common representative for those shareholders that have not filed an application on their own.
 
Should the court set a higher value for the Squeeze-Out compensation, former Celanese GmbH shareholders who ceased to be shareholders of Celanese GmbH due to the Squeeze-Out are entitled, pursuant to a settlement agreement between the Purchaser and certain former Celanese GmbH shareholders, to claim for their shares the higher of the compensation amounts determined by the court in these different proceedings. Payments these shareholders already received as compensation for their shares will be offset so that those shareholders who ceased to be shareholders of Celanese GmbH due to the Squeeze-Out are not entitled to more than the higher of the amount set in the two court proceedings.
 
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
 
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 under 19 divestiture agreements entered into by Hoechst prior to the demerger.
 
The Company’s obligation to indemnify Hoechst, and its legal successors, is subject to the following thresholds:
 
n       The Company will indemnify Hoechst, and its legal successors, against those liabilities up to €250 million;
 
n       Hoechst, and its legal successors, will bear those liabilities exceeding €250 million; provided, however, that the Company will reimburse Hoechst, and its legal successors, for one-third of liabilities exceeding €750 million in the aggregate.
 
The aggregate maximum amount of environmental indemnifications under the remaining divestiture agreements that provide for monetary limits is approximately €750 million. Three of the divestiture agreements do not provide for monetary limits.


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Based on the estimate of the probability of loss under this indemnification, the Company had reserves of $29 million and $32 million as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, for this contingency. Where the Company is unable to reasonably determine the probability of loss or estimate such loss under an indemnification, the Company has not recognized any related liabilities.
 
The Company has also undertaken in the Demerger Agreement to indemnify Hoechst and its legal successors for (i) one-third of any and all 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 relates 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 provided for any reserves associated with this indemnification as it is not probable or estimable. The Company has not made any payments to Hoechst or its legal successors during the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in connection with this indemnification.
 
• 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. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had reserves in the aggregate of $30 million and $32 million, respectively, for these matters.
 
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, ranging from one year to thirty years. The aggregate amount of guarantees provided for under these agreements is approximately $1.9 billion as of June 30, 2010. Other agreements do not provide for any monetary or time limitations.
 
Purchase Obligations
 
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into commitments to purchase goods and services over a fixed period of time. The Company maintains a number of “take-or-pay” contracts for purchases of raw materials and utilities. As of June 30, 2010, there were outstanding future commitments of $1.7 billion under take-or-pay contracts. The Company recognized $0 and $3 million of losses related to take-or-pay contract termination costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, related to the Company’s Pardies, France Project of Closure (Note 3 and Note 13). The Company does not expect to incur any material losses under take-or-pay contractual arrangements. Additionally, as of June 30, 2010, there were other outstanding commitments of $659 million representing maintenance and service agreements, energy and utility agreements, consulting contracts and software agreements.
 
During March 2010, the Company successfully completed an amended raw material purchase agreement with a supplier who had filed for bankruptcy. Under the original contract, the Company made advance payments in exchange for preferential pricing on certain volumes of material purchases over the life of the contract. The cancellation of the original contract and the terms of the subsequent amendment resulted in the Company accelerating amortization on the unamortized prepayment balance of $0 and $22 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively. The accelerated amortization was recorded to Cost of sales in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations as follows: $20 million was recorded in the Acetyl Intermediates segment and $2 million was recorded in the Advanced Engineered Materials segment.
 
18.  Business Segments
 
Effective April 1, 2010, the Company moved its Ibn Sina affiliate from its Acetyl Intermediates segment to its Advanced Engineered Materials segment to reflect the change the affiliate’s business dynamics and growth opportunities. The Company has retrospectively adjusted its reportable segments for its Advanced Engineered


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Materials segment and its Acetyl Intermediates segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 to conform to the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 presentation.
 
                                                         
    Advanced
                                     
    Engineered
    Consumer
    Industrial
    Acetyl
    Other
             
    Materials     Specialties     Specialties     Intermediates     Activities     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Three months ended June 30, 2010
                                                       
Net sales
    282       291  (1)     269       782  (1)     1       (108 )     1,517  
Other (charges) gains, net
    (3 )     (1 )     -       (1 )     (1 )     -       (6 )
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
    39       1       -       1       4       -       45  
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
    79       137       16       70       (78 )     -       224  
Depreciation and amortization
    18       9       10       24       3       -       64  
Capital expenditures (2)
    8       9       13       9       1       -       40  
                                                         
(As Adjusted, Note 3)
                                                       
Three months ended June 30, 2009
                                                       
Net sales
    184       280       267       622  (1)     1       (110 )     1,244  
Other (charges) gains, net
    (4 )     (3 )     (1 )     -       2       -       (6 )
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
    31       -       -       1       3       -       35  
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
    31       119       19       41       (83 )     -       127  
Depreciation and amortization
    19       12       14       32       2       -       79  
Capital expenditures (2)
    6       10       16       9       1       -       42  
 
 
(1)  Includes $108 million and $110 million of intersegment sales eliminated in consolidation for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
(2)  Excludes expenditures related to the relocation of the Company’s Ticona plant in Kelsterbach (Note 20) and includes increase of accrued capital expenditures of $6 million and $2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 


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    Advanced
                                     
    Engineered
    Consumer
    Industrial
    Acetyl
    Other
             
    Materials     Specialties     Specialties     Intermediates     Activities     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Six months ended June 30, 2010
                                                       
Net sales
    564       529  (1)     511       1,506  (1)     1       (206 )     2,905  
Other (charges) gains, net
    2       (74 )     -       (8 )     (3 )     -       (83 )
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
    83       1       -       2       8       -       94  
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
    171       107       28       71       (160 )     -       217  
Depreciation and amortization
    38  (3)     20       20       69 (3)     6       -       153  
Capital expenditures (2)
    13       15       18       14       3       -       63  
Goodwill and intangible assets
    420       275       54       256       -       -       1,005  
Total assets
    2,380       1,051       765       1,951       1,958       -       8,105  
                                                         
(As Adjusted, Note 3)
                                                       
Six months ended June 30, 2009
                                                       
Net sales
    349       546       509       1,194 (1)     1       (209 )     2,390  
Other (charges) gains, net
    (13 )     (3 )     (3 )     (1 )     (7 )     -       (27 )
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
    31       1       -       3       6       -       41  
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
    13       188       29       53       (167 )     -       116  
Depreciation and amortization
    36       24       27       59       4       -       150  
Capital expenditures (2)
    10       18       26       17       1       -       72  
Goodwill and intangible assets as of December 31, 2009
    385       299       62       346       -       -       1,092  
Total assets as of December 31, 2009
    2,268       1,083       740       1,984       2,337       -       8,412  
 
 
 
(1)  Includes $206 million and $209 million of intersegment sales eliminated in consolidation for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
(2)  Excludes expenditures related to the relocation of the Company’s Ticona plant in Kelsterbach (Note 20) and includes decrease of accrued capital expenditures of $15 million and $24 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
(3)  Includes $2 million for Advanced Engineered Materials and $20 million for Acetyl Intermediates for the accelerated amortization of the unamortized prepayment related to a raw material purchase agreement (Note 17).

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19.  Earnings (Loss) Per Share
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,  
    2010     2009  
    Basic     Diluted     Basic     Diluted  
                As Adjusted
 
                (Note 3)  
    (In $ millions, except share and per share data)  
 
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    163       163       110       110  
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
    (3 )     (3 )     (1 )     (1 )
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
    160       160       109       109  
Less: Cumulative preferred stock dividends
    -       -       (2 )     -  
                                 
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
    160       160       107       109  
                                 
                                 
Weighted-average shares — basic
      156,326,226       156,326,226         143,528,126       143,528,126  
Dilutive stock options
            1,787,983               1,020,493  
Dilutive restricted stock units
            290,910               445,014  
Assumed conversion of preferred stock
            -               12,084,337  
                                 
Weighted-average shares — diluted
              158,405,119                 157,077,970  
                                 
Per share
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    1.04       1.03       0.75       0.70  
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
    (0.02 )     (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
    1.02       1.01       0.74       0.69  
                                 
 
                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2010     2009  
    Basic     Diluted     Basic     Diluted  
                As Adjusted
 
                (Note 3)  
    (In $ millions, except share and per share data)  
 
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    176       176       94       94  
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
    (2 )     (2 )     -       -  
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
    174       174       94       94  
Less: Cumulative preferred stock dividends
    (3 )     -       (5 )     -  
                                 
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
    171       174       89       94  
                                 
                                 
Weighted-average shares — basic
      153,315,950         153,315,950         143,517,588         143,517,588  
Dilutive stock options
            1,854,552               510,246  
Dilutive restricted stock units
            369,966               242,878  
Assumed conversion of preferred stock
            3,133,605               12,084,337  
                                 
Weighted-average shares — diluted
            158,674,073               156,355,049  
                                 
                                 
Per share
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    1.13       1.11       0.62       0.60  
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
    (0.01 )     (0.01 )     -       -  
                                 
Net earnings (loss)
    1.12       1.10       0.62       0.60  
                                 


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Securities that were not included in the computation of diluted net earnings per share as their effect would have been antidilutive are as follows:
 
                                 
    Three Months
    Six Months
 
    Ended June 30,     Ended June 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Stock options
    582,500       1,583,113       596,875       4,262,531  
Restricted stock units
    -       88,250       -       358,127  
Convertible preferred stock
    -       -       -       -  
                                 
Total
         582,500            1,671,363            596,875           4,620,658  
                                 
 
20.  Ticona Kelsterbach Plant Relocation
 
In November 2006, the Company finalized a settlement agreement with the Frankfurt, Germany Airport (“Fraport”) to relocate the Kelsterbach, Germany Ticona business, included in the Advanced Engineered Materials segment, resolving several years of legal disputes related to the planned Fraport expansion. As a result of the settlement, the Company will transition Ticona’s operations from Kelsterbach to the Hoechst Industrial Park in the Rhine Main area in Germany by mid-2011. Under the original agreement, Fraport agreed to pay Ticona a total of €670 million over a five-year period to offset the costs associated with the transition of the business from its current location and the closure of the Kelsterbach plant. In February 2009, the Company announced the Fraport supervisory board approved the acceleration of the 2009 and 2010 payments of €200 million and €140 million, respectively, required by the settlement agreement signed in June 2007. In February 2009, the Company received a discounted amount of €322 million ($412 million) under this agreement. In addition, the Company received €59 million ($75 million) in value-added tax from Fraport which was remitted to the tax authorities in April 2009. Amounts received from Fraport are accounted for as deferred proceeds and are included in noncurrent Other liabilities in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.
 
Below is a summary of the financial statement impact associated with the Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation:
 
                         
    Six Months Ended
    Total From
 
    June 30,     Inception Through
 
    2010     2009     June 30, 2010  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Proceeds received from Fraport
    -       412       749  
Costs expensed
    10       6       43  
Costs capitalized (1)
           131                162                   747  
 
 
(1) Includes decrease in accrued capital expenditures of $20 million and increase in accrued capital expenditures of $17 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
21.  Subsequent Events
 
On July 1, 2010, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share on its Common Stock amounting to $8 million. The cash dividends are for the period from May 1, 2010 to July 31, 2010 and will be paid on August 2, 2010 to holders of record as of July 15, 2010.


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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.
 
Forward-Looking Statements May Prove Inaccurate
 
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. When used in this document, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and “project” and similar expressions, as they relate to us are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate.
 
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, 2009, as filed on February 12, 2010 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “2009 Form 10-K”) and the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. We assume no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.
 
See Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors of our 2009 Form 10-K for a description of risk factors that 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, 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, fuel oil and electricity;
 
  •   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 production costs and improve productivity by implementing technological improvements to existing plants;
 
  •   increased price competition and the introduction of competing products by other companies;
 
  •   changes in the degree of intellectual property and other legal protection afforded to our products;
 
  •   compliance costs and potential disruption or interruption of production due to accidents or other unforeseen events or delays in construction of facilities;
 
  •   potential liability for remedial actions and increased costs under existing or future environmental regulations, including those relates 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; and
 
  •   various other factors, both referenced and not referenced in this Quarterly Report.


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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 leading, 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 end-use applications. As an industry leader, we hold geographically balanced global positions and participate in diversified end-use markets. Our operations are primarily located in North America, Europe and Asia. 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.
 
2010 Significant Events:
 
•     We concluded the formal consultation process with employees and their representatives and are continuing to consider a plan to close our acetate flake and tow manufacturing operations in Spondon, Derby, United Kingdom in the latter part of 2011.
 
•     We acquired two product lines, Zenite® liquid crystal polymer (“LCP”) and Thermx® polycyclohexylene-dimethylene terephthalate (“PCT”), from DuPont Performance Polymers.
 
•     We announced five-year Environmental Health and Safety sustainability goals for occupational safety performance, energy intensity, greenhouse gases and waste management for the year 2015.
 
•     We received American Chemistry Council’s (“ACC”) 2010 Responsible Care Initiative of the Year Award. This award recognizes companies that demonstrate leadership in the areas of employee health and safety, security or environmental protection in the chemical industry.
 
•     We announced the construction of a 50,000 ton polyacetal (“POM”) production facility by our National Methanol Company affiliate (“Ibn Sina”) in Saudi Arabia and extended the term of the joint venture, which will now run until 2032. Upon successful startup of the POM facility, our indirect economic interest in Ibn Sina will increase from 25% to a total of 32.5%.
 
•     We received formal approval of our previously announced plans to expand flake and tow capacities, each by 30,000 tons, at our affiliate facility in Nantong, China, with our affiliate partner, China National Tobacco Corporation.
 
•     We announced a 25% increase in our quarterly common stock cash dividend beginning August 2010. The annual dividend rate will increase from $0.16 to $0.20 per share of common stock and the quarterly rate will increase from $0.04 to $0.05 per share of common stock.
 
Results of Operations
 
We indirectly own a 25% interest in Ibn Sina through CTE Petrochemicals Company (“CTE”), a joint venture with Texas Eastern Arabian Corporation Ltd. (which also indirectly owns 25%). The remaining interest in Ibn Sina is held by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (“SABIC”). SABIC and CTE entered into the Ibn Sina joint venture agreement in 1981. In April 2010, we announced that Ibn Sina will construct a 50,000 ton POM production facility in Saudi Arabia and that the term of the joint venture agreement was extended until 2032. Upon successful startup of the POM facility, our indirect economic interest in Ibn Sina will increase from 25% to 32.5%. SABIC’s economic interest will remain unchanged.
 
In connection with this transaction, we reassessed the factors surrounding the accounting method for this investment and changed the accounting from the cost method of accounting for investments to the equity method of accounting


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for investments beginning April 1, 2010. Financial information relating to this investment for prior periods has been retrospectively adjusted to apply the equity method of accounting.
 
Effective April 1, 2010, we moved our Ibn Sina affiliate from our Acetyl Intermediates segment to our Advanced Engineered Materials segment to reflect the change in the affiliate’s business dynamics and growth opportunities. Business segment information for prior periods included below has been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the change.
 
Financial Highlights
 
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
       
          % of
          % of
          % of
          % of
 
    2010     Net Sales     2009     Net Sales     2010     Net Sales     2009     Net Sales  
                (As Adjusted)                 (As Adjusted)  
    (unaudited)  
    (In $ millions, except percentages)  
 
Net sales
    1,517       100.0       1,244       100.0       2,905       100.0       2,390       100.0  
Gross profit
    303       20.0       248       19.9       521       17.9       448       18.7  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    (123 )     (8.1 )     (114 )     (9.2 )     (246 )     (8.5 )     (228 )     (9.5 )
Other (charges) gains, net
    (6 )     (0.4 )     (6 )     (0.5 )     (83 )     (2.9 )     (27 )     (1.1 )
Operating profit (loss)
    156       10.3       89       7.2       142       4.9       116       4.9  
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates
    45       3.0       35       2.8       94       3.2       41       1.7  
Interest expense
    (49 )     (3.2 )     (54 )     (4.3 )     (98 )     (3.4 )     (105 )     (4.4 )
Dividend income — cost investments
    72       4.7       53       4.3       72       2.5       56       2.3  
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
    224       14.8       127       10.2       217       7.5       116       4.9  
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
                                                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    163       10.7       110       8.9       176       6.0       94       3.9  
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
    (3 )     (0.2 )     (1 )     (0.1 )     (2 )                  
Net earnings (loss)
    160       10.5       109       8.8       174       6.0       94       3.9  
Depreciation and amortization
    64       4.2       79       6.4       153       5.3       150       6.3  
 
                 
    As of
    As of
 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
    (unaudited)
 
    (In $ millions)  
 
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt — third party and affiliates
                 265                    242  
Long-term debt
    3,162       3,259  
                 
Total debt
    3,427       3,501  
                 
 
Summary of Consolidated Results for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 Compared to the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
 
Net sales increased 22% during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009 primarily due to increased volumes across most business segments as a result of the gradual recovery of the global economy. Net sales also increased due to increases in selling prices across the majority of our business segments. The increase in net sales resulting from our acquisition of FACT GmbH (Future Advanced Composites Technology) (“FACT”) in December 2009 within our Advanced Engineered Materials segment only slightly offset the decrease in net sales due to the sale of our polyvinyl alcohol (“PVOH”) business in July 2009 within our Industrial Specialties segment. Unfavorable foreign currency impacts only slightly offset the increase in net sales.
 
Gross profit increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009 due to higher net sales. Gross profit as a percentage of sales was consistent for three months ended June 30, 2010 as


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compared to the three months ended June 30, 2009. Gross profit as a percentage of sales declined during the six months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to June 30, 2009 due to overall increased raw material and energy costs which were only partially offset by increased prices. The write-off of other productive assets of $17 million related to our Singapore and Nanjing, China facilities and increased depreciation and amortization also contributed to a lower gross profit percentage. The increase in amortization was a result of $22 million of accelerated amortization to write-off the asset associated with a raw material purchase agreement with a supplier who filed for bankruptcy during 2009. The accelerated amortization was recorded as $20 million to our Acetyl Intermediates segment and $2 million to our Advanced Engineered Materials segment.
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to the increase in operations. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses declined due to our fixed spending reduction efforts and restructuring efficiencies.
 
The components of Other (charges) gains, net are as follows:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
    (unaudited)  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Employee termination benefits
                (4 )                 (5 )                 (9 )                (29 )
Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation
    (4 )     (3 )     (10 )     (6 )
Plumbing actions
    2       2       14       3  
Insurance recoveries associated with Clear Lake, Texas
    -       -       -       6  
Asset impairments
    -       -       (72 )     (1 )
Plant/office closures
    -       -       (6 )     -  
                                 
Total
    (6 )     (6 )     (83 )     (27 )
                                 
 
During the first quarter of 2010, we concluded that certain long-lived assets were partially impaired at our acetate flake and tow manufacturing operations in Spondon, Derby, United Kingdom (see Note 3 to the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements). Accordingly, we wrote down the related property, plant and equipment to its fair value of $31 million, resulting in long-lived asset impairment losses of $72 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The Spondon, Derby, United Kingdom facility is included in our Consumer Specialties segment.
 
As a result of our Pardies, France Project of Closure (see Note 3 to the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements), we recorded $1 million in employee termination benefits for the three months ended June 30, 2010. We recorded exit costs of $9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2010, which consisted of $2 million in employee termination benefits, $1 million of long-lived asset impairment losses, $3 million of contract termination costs and $3 million of reindustrialization costs. The Pardies, France facility is included in our Acetyl Intermediates segment.
 
Other charges for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was partially offset by $13 million of recoveries and a $1 million decrease in legal reserves associated with plumbing cases which is included in our Advanced Engineered Materials segment.
 
During the first quarter of 2009, we began efforts to align production capacity and staffing levels given the potential for an economic environment of prolonged lower demand. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, we recorded employee termination benefits of $28 million related to this endeavor. As a result of the shutdown of the vinyl acetate monomer (“VAM”) production unit in Cangrejera, Mexico, we recognized employee termination benefits of $1 million and long-lived asset impairment losses of $1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2009. The VAM production unit in Cangrejera, Mexico is included in our Acetyl Intermediates segment.
 
Other charges for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was partially offset by $6 million of insurance recoveries in satisfaction of claims we made related to the unplanned outage of our Clear Lake, Texas acetic acid facility during 2007, a $2 million decrease in legal reserves for plumbing claims for which the statute of limitations has expired and $1 million of insurance recoveries associated with plumbing cases.


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Operating profit increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the same periods in 2009. The increase in operating profit is a result of increased gross profit.
 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to increased equity in net earnings of affiliates and increased dividend income from cost investments in addition to the increase in operating profit.
 
Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was 27% compared to 13% for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The increase in our effective rate was primarily due to foreign losses not resulting in tax benefits in the current period and increases in reserves for uncertain tax positions and related interest. Our effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was 19% compared to 19% for the six months ended June 30, 2009. Our 2010 effective rate was favorably impacted by the effect of new tax legislation in Mexico, offset by foreign losses not resulting in tax benefits in the current period and the effect of healthcare reform in the US.


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Selected Data by Business Segment
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
                Change
                Change
 
    2010     2009     in $     2010     2009     in $  
          (As Adjusted)                 (As Adjusted)        
    (unaudited)  
    (In $ millions)  
 
Net sales
                                               
Advanced Engineered Materials
        282             184            98           564            349           215  
Consumer Specialties
    291       280       11       529       546       (17 )
Industrial Specialties
    269       267       2       511       509       2  
Acetyl Intermediates
    782       622       160       1,506       1,194       312  
Other Activities
    1       1       -       1       1       -  
Inter-segment eliminations
    (108 )     (110 )     2       (206 )     (209 )     3  
                                                 
Total
    1,517       1,244       273       2,905       2,390       515  
                                                 
Other (charges) gains, net
                                               
Advanced Engineered Materials
    (3 )     (4 )     1       2       (13 )     15  
Consumer Specialties
    (1 )     (3 )     2       (74 )     (3 )     (71 )
Industrial Specialties
    -       (1 )     1       -       (3 )     3  
Acetyl Intermediates
    (1 )     -       (1 )     (8 )     (1 )     (7 )
Other Activities
    (1 )     2       (3 )     (3 )     (7 )     4  
                                                 
Total
    (6 )     (6 )     -       (83 )     (27 )     (56 )
                                                 
Operating profit (loss)
                                               
Advanced Engineered Materials
    40       1       39       88       (17 )     105  
Consumer Specialties
    64       66       (2 )     34       132       (98 )
Industrial Specialties
    16       19       (3 )     28       29       (1 )
Acetyl Intermediates
    68       39       29       68       50       18  
Other Activities
    (32 )     (36 )     4       (76 )     (78 )     2  
                                                 
Total
    156       89       67       142       116       26  
                                                 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax Advanced Engineered Materials
    79       31       48       171       13       158  
Consumer Specialties
    137       119       18       107       188       (81 )
Industrial Specialties
    16       19       (3 )     28       29       (1 )
Acetyl Intermediates
    70       41       29       71       53       18  
Other Activities
    (78 )     (83 )     5       (160 )     (167 )     7  
                                                 
Total
    224       127       97       217       116       101  
                                                 
Depreciation and amortization
                                               
Advanced Engineered Materials
    18       19       (1 )     38       36       2  
Consumer Specialties
    9       12       (3 )     20       24       (4 )
Industrial Specialties
    10       14       (4 )     20       27       (7 )
Acetyl Intermediates
    24       32       (8 )     69       59       10  
Other Activities
    3       2       1       6       4       2  
                                                 
Total
    64       79       (15 )     153       150       3  
                                                 


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Factors Affecting Business Segment Net Sales
 
The charts below set forth the percentage increase (decrease) in net sales from the period ended June 30, 2009 to the period ended June 30, 2010 attributable to each of the factors indicated for the following business segments.
 
                                                   
    Volume   Price   Currency   Other (1)   Total
    (unaudited)
    (In percentages)
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2009
                                                 
Advanced Engineered Materials
    52         2         (5 )       4   (2)       53    
Consumer Specialties
    6         (1 )       (1 )       -         4    
Industrial Specialties
    13         9         (3 )       (18 (3)       1    
Acetyl Intermediates
    14         15         (3 )       -         26    
Total Company
    19         9         (3 )       (3 )       22    
                                                   
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
                                                 
Advanced Engineered Materials
    61         (4 )       -         5   (2)       62    
Consumer Specialties
    (3 )       -         -         -         (3 )  
Industrial Specialties
    14         3         -         (17 (3)       -    
Acetyl Intermediates
    14         12         -         -         26    
Total Company
    19         6         -         (3 )       22    
 
 
(1) Includes the effects of the captive insurance companies and the impact of fluctuations in intersegment eliminations.
 
(2) 2010 includes the effects of the FACT acquisition.
 
(3) 2010 does not include the effects of the PVOH business, which was sold on July 1, 2009.
 
Summary by Business Segment for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 compared to the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
 
Advanced Engineered Materials
 
                                                             
    Three Months Ended
  Six Months Ended
    June 30,   June 30,
            Change
          Change
    2010   2009   in $   2010   2009   in $
        (As Adjusted)           (As Adjusted)    
    (unaudited)
    (In $ millions, except percentages)
 
Net sales
         282         184         98         564                349         215    
Net sales variance
                                                           
Volume
    52   %                         61   %                    
Price
    2   %                         (4 %                    
Currency
    (5 %                         -   %                    
Other
    4   %                         5   %                    
Other (charges) gains, net
    (3 )       (4 )       1         2         (13 )       15    
Operating profit (loss)
    40         1         39         88         (17 )       105    
Operating margin
    14.2   %     0.5   %               15.6   %     (4.9 %          
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
    79         31         48         171         13         158    
Depreciation and amortization
    18         19         (1 )       38         36         2    
 
Our Advanced Engineered Materials segment develops, produces and supplies a broad portfolio of high performance technical polymers for application in automotive and electronics products, as well as other consumer and industrial applications. Together with our strategic affiliates, we are a leading participant in the global technical polymers industry. The primary products of Advanced Engineered Materials are POM, polyphenylene sulfide (“PPS”), long-fiber reinforced thermoplastics (“LFT”), polybutylene terephthalate (“PBT”), polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (“GUR®”) and liquid crystal polymers (“LCP”). POM, PPS, LFT, PBT and PET are used in a broad range of products including automotive components, electronics, appliances and industrial applications. GUR® is used in battery separators,


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conveyor belts, filtration equipment, coatings and medical devices. Primary end markets for LCP are electrical and electronics.
 
Advanced Engineered Materials’ net sales increased $98 million and $215 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2009. The increase in net sales is primarily related to significant increases in volume which is due to the gradual recovery in the global economy, continued success in the innovation and commercialization of new products and applications and the acquisition of FACT in December 2009. Advanced Engineered Materials’ reported their lowest net sales during the three months ended March 31, 2009. Since then, the business segment has continued to see sequential volume improvement each quarter. The current quarter increase in net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 was positively impacted by increases in average pricing as a result of implemented price increases and product mix which was partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency impacts.
 
Operating profit increased $39 million and $105 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2009. The positive impact from higher sales volumes, increased pricing for our high performance polymers and inventory restocking was only partially offset by higher raw material and energy costs. Other charges positively impacted operating profit for the six months ended June 30, 2010 by decreasing from an expense of $13 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 to income of $2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Other charges decreased primarily as a result of plumbing recoveries and lower employee severance. Depreciation and amortization includes $2 million of accelerated amortization for the six months ended June 30, 2010 to write-off the asset associated with a raw material purchase agreement with a supplier who filed for bankruptcy during 2009.
 
Our equity affiliates, including Ibn Sina, have experienced similar volume increases due to increased demand during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010. As a result, our proportional share of net earnings of these affiliates increased $52 million compared to the same period in 2009.
 
Consumer Specialties
 
                                                             
    Three Months Ended
      Six Months Ended
   
    June 30,       June 30,    
                    Change
                      Change
   
    2010       2009       in $       2010       2009       in $    
    (unaudited)    
    (In $ millions, except percentages)    
 
Net sales
          291              280         11               529              546             (17 )  
Net sales variance
                                                           
Volume
    6   %                         (3 %                    
Price
    (1 %                         -   %                    
Currency
    (1 ) %                         -   %                    
Other
    -   %                         -   %                    
Other (charges) gains, net
    (1 )       (3 )       2         (74 )       (3 )       (71 )  
Operating profit (loss)
    64         66         (2 )       34         132         (98 )  
Operating margin
    22.0   %     23.6   %               6.4   %     24.2   %          
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax
    137         119         18         107         188         (81 )  
Depreciation and amortization
    9         12         (3 )       20         24         (4 )  
 
Our Consumer Specialties segment consists of our Acetate Products and Nutrinova businesses. Our Acetate Products business primarily produces and supplies acetate tow, which is used in the production of filter products. We also produce acetate flake, which is processed into acetate tow and acetate film. Our Nutrinova business produces and sells Sunett®, a high intensity sweetener, and food protection ingredients, such as sorbates, for the food, beverage and pharmaceuticals industries.
 
The decrease in net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 is due to decreased volumes in our Acetate business and in Sunett® which were only partially offset by an increase in demand in sorbates. Decreased volumes were primarily due to softening in consumer demand in Sunett® and the timing of sales related to an electrical disruption and subsequent production outage at our manufacturing facility in Narrows,


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Virginia in our Acetate business. The facility resumed normal operations during the quarter and we expect to recover the impacted volume throughout the remainder of the year.
 
Operating profit decreased for the six month period ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009. Our fixed spending reduction efforts were not able to offset the lower volumes, higher energy and raw material costs, and additional expenditures related to the outage at our Narrows, Virginia facility. An increase in other charges for the six months ended June 30, 2010 had the most significant impact on operating profit as it was unfavorably impacted by long-lived asset impairment losses of $72 million associated with management’s assessment of the potential closure of our acetate flake and tow production operations in Spondon, Derby, United Kingdom.
 
During the six month period ended June 30, 2010, earnings from continuing operations before tax decreased due to lower operating profit, which was partially offset by higher dividends from our China ventures of $15 million compared to 2009.
 
Industrial Specialties
 
                                                             
    Three Months Ended
  Six Months Ended
    June 30,   June 30,
            Change
          Change
    2010   2009   in $   2010   2009   in $
    (unaudited)
    (In $ millions, except percentages)
 
Net sales
         269               267                2              511              509               2    
Net sales variance
                          &nb