Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2014

Registration No. 333-194561

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 3

to

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Trinseo S.A.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Luxembourg   2821   N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

1000 Chesterbrook Boulevard

Suite 300

Berwyn, PA 19312

(610) 240-3200

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Curtis S. Shaw

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

1000 Chesterbrook Boulevard

Suite 300

Berwyn, PA 19312

(610) 240-3200

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

Copies to:

Craig E. Marcus

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199

(617) 951-7000

 

Barbara L. Becker

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

200 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10166

(212) 351-4000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public:

As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.   ¨

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price(1)

 

Amount of

Registration
Fee(1)(2)

Ordinary Shares, par value $0.01 per ordinary share

  $200,000,000   $25,760

 

 

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based upon an estimate of the maximum offering price.
(2) Previously paid.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted

 

Subject to Completion, dated May 16, 2014

PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Trinseo S.A.

            Ordinary Shares

 

 

This is an initial public offering of ordinary shares of Trinseo S.A., a public limited liability company (société anonyme) existing under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. All of the                 ordinary shares are being sold by the company.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our ordinary shares. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share will be between $         and $        . Application has been made for the quotation of the ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TSE”.

 

 

See “ Risk Factors ” on page 19 to read about factors you should consider before buying our ordinary shares.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

     Per
Share
     Total  

Initial public offering price

   $                    $                

Underwriting discount

   $         $     

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   $         $     

To the extent that the underwriters sell more than                 ordinary shares, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional                 ordinary shares from us at the initial price to public less the underwriting discount.

 

 

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the ordinary shares against payment in New York, New York on                     , 2014.

 

 

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.   Deutsche Bank Securities   Citigroup   Morgan Stanley
Barclays   BofA Merrill Lynch   HSBC   Jefferies
Mizuho Securities   Scotiabank   SMBC Nikko   Wells Fargo Securities

 

 

Prospectus dated                     , 2014.


Table of Contents

The covers of this prospectus have been printed on paper that is coated with Trinseo latex.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     19  

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     41   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     43   

DIVIDEND POLICY

     44   

CAPITALIZATION

     45   

DILUTION

     46   

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA

     48   

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     50   

BUSINESS

     82   

MANAGEMENT

     111   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     118   

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     144   

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     147   

DESCRIPTION OF INDEBTEDNESS

     149   

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

     154   

COMPARISON OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

     163   

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     177   

MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND LUXEMBOURG TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     179   

UNDERWRITING

     187   

LEGAL MATTERS

     193   

EXPERTS

     193   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     193   

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1   

 

 

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.

 

i


Table of Contents

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

We obtained the market, industry and competitive position data presented throughout this prospectus from our own internal estimates and research, as well as from industry and general publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties, including LMC International and IHS Chemical. Industry publications, studies and surveys generally state that they obtained the data used to produce such publication, study or survey from sources believed to be reliable. While we believe that each of these publications, studies and surveys is reliable, we have not independently verified market and industry data from third-party sources. We believe our internal company estimates and research are reliable and the definitions of our market and industry are appropriate. However, neither such research nor these definitions have been verified by any independent source. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding our market, industry or competitive position data presented in this prospectus, our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus. As a result, the market, industry and competitive position data included in this prospectus, and estimates and beliefs based on that data, may not be reliable. References in this prospectus to our “leading” market positions and similar disclosures are measured based upon production capacity, which our management believes to be the most reliable available measure of our market position.

TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES

This prospectus includes our trademarks such as TRINSEO™, LOMAX™, TYRIL™, PULSE™, EMERGE™, MAGNUM™, STYRON™, STYRON A-TECH™ and CALIBRE™, which are protected under applicable intellectual property laws and are owned by Trinseo S.A. through its subsidiaries. This prospectus also contains trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the  ®  or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names.

 

ii


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our ordinary shares. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including the financial data and the related notes, the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” before deciding whether to invest in our ordinary shares. Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the terms “Trinseo,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “our Company” and “our business” refer to Trinseo S.A. together with its consolidated subsidiaries. Prior to our formation, our businesses were wholly owned by The Dow Chemical Company. We refer to our predecessor businesses as “the Styron business.” On June 17, 2010, investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC acquired the Styron business, and Dow Europe Holding B.V., which we refer to as “Dow Europe,” or, together with other affiliates of The Dow Chemical Company, “Dow,” retained an ownership interest in the Styron business through an indirect ownership interest in us. We refer to this transaction as the “Acquisition.” All information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares and gives effect to the 1-for-             reverse split of our ordinary shares that we effected on             , 2014, unless otherwise noted.

Our Company

We are a leading global materials company engaged in the manufacture and marketing of emulsion polymers and plastics, including various specialty and technologically differentiated products. We have leading market positions in many of the markets in which we compete. We believe we have developed these strong market positions due to our technological differentiation, diverse global manufacturing base, long-standing customer relationships, commitment to sustainable solutions and competitive cost positions. We believe that growth in overall consumer spending and construction activity, increased demand in the automotive industry for higher fuel efficiency and lighter-weight materials, and improving living standards in emerging markets will result in growth in the global markets in which we compete. In addition, we believe our increasing business presence in developing regions such as China, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe further enhances our prospects.

We develop emulsion polymers and plastics products that are incorporated into a wide range of our customers’ products throughout the world, including tires and other products for automotive applications, carpet and artificial turf backing, coated paper and packaging board, food service packaging, appliances, medical devices, consumer electronics and construction applications, among others. We seek to regularly develop new and improved products and processes, supported by our strong patent portfolio, designed to enhance our customers’ product offerings. We have long-standing relationships with a diverse base of global customers, many of whom are leaders in their markets and rely on us for formulation, technological differentiation, and compounding expertise to find sustainable solutions for their businesses. Many of our products represent only a small portion of a finished product’s production costs, but provide critical functionality to the finished product and are often specifically developed to customer specifications. We believe these product traits result in substantial customer loyalty for our products.

We have significant manufacturing and production operations around the world, which allows us to serve our global customer base. As of March 31, 2014, our production facilities included 35 manufacturing plants (which included a total of 83 production units) at 27 sites across 14 countries, including joint ventures and contract manufacturers. Our manufacturing locations include sites in high-growth emerging markets such as China, Indonesia and Brazil. Additionally, as of March 31, 2014 we operated 11 research and development (“R&D”) facilities globally, including mini plants, development centers and pilot coaters, which we believe are critical to our global presence and innovation capabilities.

 

 

1


Table of Contents

We are a global business with a diverse geographic revenue mix and significant operations around the world.

 

LOGO   LOGO

In 2013, we generated net sales of $5,307.4 million, adjusted EBITDA of $303.3 million and a net loss of $22.2 million. Additional information regarding adjusted EBITDA, including a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA, is included in “—Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data.”

We operate in four reporting segments under two business units. Our Emulsion Polymers business unit includes our Latex reporting segment and our Synthetic Rubber reporting segment. Our Plastics business unit includes our Styrenics reporting segment and our Engineered Polymers reporting segment.

 

    Latex: In our Latex segment we produce a broad range of products, including styrene-butadiene latex (“SB latex”), styrene-acrylate latex (“SA latex”), vinylidene chloride latex as well as performance latex products. We are a global leader in SB latex, holding a strong market position across the geographies and applications in which we compete, including the #1 position in SB latex in Europe and the #2 position in North America, based on production capacity. Our customers use SB latex primarily for coated paper used in advertising and magazines, packaging board coatings, carpet and artificial turf backings, as well as a number of performance latex applications. We believe our R&D and formulation capabilities contribute to our strong position. Further, we believe we have strong growth prospects in latex through our leading position in China, where we have recently announced an expansion of our SB latex capacity.

 

    Synthetic Rubber: In our Synthetic Rubber segment we produce styrene-butadiene- and polybutadiene-based rubber products including solution styrene-butadiene rubber, or SSBR, our most advanced rubber technology. SSBR is a critical material for tires with low rolling resistance, which increases fuel efficiency and improves wet-grip and also leads to better traction and safety characteristics. We have a leading market position in SSBR in Europe where tire producers focus on high-performance and ultra high-performance tires and rely heavily on third party rubber producers. Our growth in this segment is also supported by regulatory reforms in the EU, Japan and Korea that are aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. We have recently doubled our SSBR production capacity to allow us to continue to capitalize on the strong demand growth that we anticipate for this product.

 

   

Styrenics: In our Styrenics segment we produce polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”) and styrene acrylonitrile (“SAN”) products, as well as our internal production and sourcing of styrene monomer, a raw material common in SB latex, synthetic rubber and styrenics products. We are a leading producer of polystyrene and Mass ABS (“mABS”) where we focus our efforts on differentiated applications such as the liners and encasements of appliances and consumer electronics, including smartphones and tablets. Within these applications, we work collaboratively with customers to develop

 

 

2


Table of Contents
 

products that offer superior properties, such as rigidity, insulation and colorability, and, in some cases, an improved environmental footprint compared to general purpose polystyrene or emulsion ABS. We believe our growth prospects in our Styrenics segment are enhanced by recent trends of industry capacity reduction and consolidation. Between 2005 and 2011, approximately 1,000,000 metric tons, or 1,000 kMT, of production capacity was eliminated in North America and Western Europe (or approximately 20% of 2005 total capacity in those regions). This trend has continued with the recent formation of the Styrolution Group GmbH joint venture, combining certain INEOS and BASF Group assets, and further asset rationalizations by INEOS and Styrolution Group GmbH. We also have a 50% interest in Americas Styrenics LLC, our joint venture with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, which operates in the North American and Latin American markets and has benefitted from recent consolidation trends in North America.

 

    Engineered Polymers: In our Engineered Polymers segment we produce polycarbonate (“PC”), compounds and blends, and polypropylene compounds. We believe we are a leading global producer of PC and PC blends, and our products are predominantly used in the automotive, consumer electronics, construction, and medical device markets. Many of our PC compounds and blends products are differentiated based on their physical properties, performance and aesthetic advantage. We believe our growth prospects in this segment are bolstered by consumer and manufacturer demands for lighter-weight and impact-resistant products as well as improving utilization rates.

 

    Emulsion Polymers     Plastics  
    Latex     Synthetic Rubber     Styrenics     Engineered Polymers  
 

 


 

Year Ended December 31, 2013


(dollars in millions)

  


  

Net sales

    $1,341.4              $622.1                $2,305.4            $1,038.5        

Operating Income (loss)

    67.7              84.4                135.7            (16.9)       

Adjusted EBITDA 1

    106.2              113.5                148.0            1.9        

Adjusted EBITDA Margin 1

    7.9%              18.2%                6.4%            0.2%        

Major Products

        
 

 

     
 

 

     
 

•     Styrene-butadiene
latex (“SB latex”)

 

•    Styrene-acrylate
latex (“SA latex”)

 

•    Performance
SB latex

       
  

 

      
  

 

      
  

       
 
 

 

     
 
 

 

     
 
 

 

     
 
 

•    Solution styrene-
butadiene rubber
(“SSBR”)

 

•    Lithium
polybutadiene
rubber (“Li-PBR”)

 

•    Emulsion styrene-
butadiene rubber
(“ESBR”)

 

•    Nickel
polybutadiene
rubber (“Ni-PBR”)

      
  
  

 

      
  
  

 

      
  
  

 

      
  
  

       

 

     
 
 

 

     
 
 

 

     
 

 

•    Polystyrene

 

•    Acrylonitrile-
butadiene-
styrene (“ABS”)

 

•    Styrene-
acrylonitrile
(“SAN”)

 

•    Ignition resistant
polystyrene

 

      

 

      
 
  

 

     
  
  

 

      
  

 

       
 

 

     
 

 

     
 

•    Polycarbonate
resins (“PC”)

 

•    Compounds
and blends

 

•    Polypropylene
compounds

      
  

 

      
  

 

      
  

Major End-Markets

       
 
 

 

     
 
 

 

     

 

     
 

 

     

•    Coated paper and
packaging
board

 

•    Carpet and
artificial turf
backings

 

•    Tape saturation

 

•    Cement
modification

 

•    Building products

      
  
  

 

      
  
  

 

      

 

      
  

 

      

       

 

     

 

     
 

 

     
 

•    Performance tires

 

•    Standard tires

 

•    Polymer
modification

 

•    Technical rubber
goods

      

 

      

 

      
  

 

      
  

       

 

     
 
 

 

     

 

     

 

     
 

 

     
 

•    Appliances

 

•    Building and
construction/
sheet

 

•    Packaging

 

•    Automotive

 

•    Consumer
electronics

 

•    Consumer
goods

      

 

      
  
  

 

      

 

      

 

      
  

 

      
  

       

 

     
 

 

     
 
 

 

     
 
 
 
 
 

•    Automotive

 

•    Consumer
electronics

 

•    Building and
construction/
sheet

 

•    Others (including
consumer goods,
appliances,
medical devices
and electrical  and
lighting)

      

 

      
  

 

      
 
  

 

      
  
  
  
  
  

1   Excludes unallocated corporate expenses of $66.3 million.

 

 

3


Table of Contents

Our Competitive Strengths

Leading Positions in Consolidating Markets

We have leading positions in several of the markets in which we compete, including the #1 position in SSBR in Europe and the #1 position in SB latex globally, and we are a leading global producer of plastics products, including polystyrene and PC. We attribute our strong market positions to our technologically differentiated products, the scale of our global manufacturing base, our long-standing customer relationships and our competitive cost positions. The markets in which we compete are also highly consolidated and have continued to experience further consolidation over the last several years through the business combinations of BASF Group and Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Yule Catto & Co. plc and PolymerLatex GmbH (currently known as Synthomer plc), Omnova Solutions Inc. and Eliokem International SAS and the formation of Styrolution Group GmbH.

Technological Advantage and Product Innovation

Most of our products are critical inputs that significantly impact the functionality, production costs and quality of our customers’ products. Many of our products are also differentiated by their performance, reliability, customization and value, which are critical factors in our customers’ selection and retention of materials suppliers. For example, our advanced SSBR technology and our new neodymium polybutadiene rubber (Nd-PBR) technology reduce rolling resistance in tires, resulting in better mileage and fuel efficiency and lower carbon dioxide emissions while at the same time improving the tire’s wet-grip, a measure of braking effectiveness and traction. We expect our Nd-PBR production to come online in the fourth quarter of 2015. Our technological leadership is supported by product innovations and more than 250 patents and 200 pending patent applications that we own world-wide, covering processes and technologies such as material formulations, material process technologies and various end-use industrial applications for our materials.

Diverse Global Reach with Strong Presence in Emerging Markets

As of March 31, 2014, our production facilities included 35 manufacturing plants (which included a total of 83 production units) at 27 sites in 14 countries, inclusive of joint ventures and contract manufacturers. We believe our diverse locations provide us with a competitive advantage in meeting and anticipating the needs of our global and local customers in both well-established and growing markets. We have a strong presence in Asia and Latin America, where we supply custom formulated latex products both for established and new paper mills, as well as a variety of engineered polymers, synthetic rubber, and other products that are used in a variety of end-markets.

Long-Standing, Collaborative Customer Relationships

We, together with our predecessor Styron business, have had long-standing relationships with many of our customers, helping them to develop and commercialize multiple generations of their products. We believe we have developed strong relationships through our highly collaborative process, whereby we work with our customers, particularly in high-value segments such as SSBR, specialized plastics and performance latex, to develop products that meet their specific needs. As a result of our close collaboration, we have historically achieved a high success rate of retaining customers. As of March 31, 2014, we served approximately 1,300 customers in over 75 countries. No single customer accounted for more than 7.0% of our net sales in 2013 or in the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Attractive Segments and End Markets Experiencing Cyclical Recovery

We serve customers in a diversified mix of end-markets that we believe generally grow in line with global gross domestic product, or GDP. However, over the next several years, we expect the growth rate in our core

 

 

4


Table of Contents

end-markets to exceed the rate of global GDP growth. We believe that this, when combined with the relatively modest level of capacity additions that have been announced in the marketplace, will result in increased demand for our production capacity and products. Over half of our net sales in 2013 were to customers serving European end-markets, and we expect the continued cyclical recovery in Europe to result in increased demand for many of our products while also increasing utilization rates at our facilities.

Cost Competitive Assets and Raw Material Sourcing

Our products are produced on a global scale with well maintained, productive and cost efficient assets. Our facilities are positioned globally near some of our key customers, markets, or major integrated petrochemical centers or are co-located at large Dow facilities, where we benefit from receiving certain raw materials supplied directly to our facilities by pipeline. We also benefit from existing long-term supply contracts for raw materials including ethylene, butadiene, and benzene. We believe that these factors, combined with favorable asset and raw material utilization rates, provide us with a competitive cost position within the industry.

Experienced Management Team

Our executive leadership team averages over 25 years of industry experience, including leadership positions within our business units, and significant public company leadership experience at other chemical companies.

Our Growth Strategy

We believe that there are significant opportunities to grow our business globally and enhance our position as a leading global materials company engaged in the manufacture and marketing of emulsion polymers and plastics by executing on the following strategies:

Continue Product Innovation and Technological Differentiation

We intend to continue to address our customers’ critical materials needs by utilizing our technological expertise and development capabilities to create specialty grades, new and sustainable products and technologically differentiated formulations. We believe our technological differentiation positions us to participate in attractive, high growth areas of the markets in which we compete. One such area where we believe we have a technological advantage is enhanced SSBR, which includes later generations of SSBR and functionalized SSBR and is used in the latest generation of performance tires. The global market for enhanced SSBR is expected to grow at 9% annually through 2020. We continue to devote significant R&D resources to improving and furthering our SSBR technology and our polybutadiene rubber technologies in order to remain a leader in these markets. We are also working with our industry partners, particularly in the automotive, medical devices and consumer electronics sectors, to develop new advanced plastics with the goal of gaining market share in higher value-added areas of the markets.

Strategically Invest in Attractive Segments of the Market

We plan to make strategic capital investments to extend our leadership in select market segments and meet expected growing demand for our products. For example, we recently doubled our SSBR production capacity by adding 50 kMT of new capacity in 2012 and repurchasing 25 kMT of existing capacity in 2014 at a significant discount to estimated new build costs. In addition, we also recently announced the conversion of our nickel polybutadiene rubber (Ni-PBR) production train in Schkopau, Germany, to Nd-PBR, which we expect to be completed and operational in the fourth quarter of 2015. We plan to continue to make similar types of strategic investments in attractive segments of the market.

 

 

5


Table of Contents

Expand and Deepen Our Presence in Emerging Markets

We believe that improving living standards and growth in GDP across emerging markets are creating increased demand for our products. We expect to capitalize on this growth by expanding our customer base and local capabilities to increase our market share across emerging markets including China, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. One example is our recent announcement to add an additional 25 kMT of SB latex capacity at our facility in Zhangjiagang, China, which we expect to become operational in the second quarter of 2015. We also expect to leverage our existing technology and platforms to make additional investments in emerging markets to address expected increases in demand for our SSBR, performance latex and plastics products in those geographies.

Opportunistically Pursue Strategic Acquisitions to Extend Leadership Position

We intend to pursue acquisitions and joint ventures that have attractive risk-adjusted returns to extend our leadership positions in what we believe are the more attractive market segments and geographies for us, including emerging markets. We believe that a long-term trend toward consolidation in our industry will continue, which we expect to create opportunities for us given our scale, broad customer base and geographic reach.

Continue to Implement Cost Saving Measures and Focus on Cash Flow Generation

We have a proven track record of offsetting fixed cost inflation with cost saving actions, and we continue to seek to identify incremental cost saving opportunities. In recent years, we have launched several company-wide initiatives to reduce our fixed cost base, and we believe that our current cost structure positions us favorably to compete and grow in the current market environment. In addition, we continue to focus on cash flow generation through disciplined working capital and capital expenditure management.

Our History and Structure

Prior to our formation in Luxembourg in 2010, the Styron business was wholly-owned by The Dow Chemical Company. On June 17, 2010, we were acquired by investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Dow Europe, which acquired an ownership interest in our parent company and sole shareholder, Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA, which we refer to as our Parent. As of March 31, 2014, Dow Europe held an approximately 6.7% interest in our Parent. We continue to have a significant business relationship with Dow and rely on our agreements with Dow for certain operating and other services, for the supply of raw materials used in the production of our products and for certain intellectual property rights. See “Business—Our Relationship with Dow.”

 

 

6


Table of Contents

The following chart summarizes our corporate ownership structure as of March 31, 2014, assuming the completion of this offering.

 

LOGO

 

(1) These holding companies include the following entities: Styron Luxco S.à.r.l. (Luxembourg), Styron Holding S.à.r.l. (Luxembourg), Trinseo Materials S.à.r.l. (Luxembourg) and Styron Investment Holdings Ireland (Ireland).

 

(2) Joint venture entity.

 

 

7


Table of Contents

Recent Developments

Restructuring in Engineered Polymers Segment

We are in the process of restructuring part of our Engineered Polymers business to exit the commodity market for polycarbonate in North America and to modify certain raw material supply contracts related to our polycarbonate manufacturing facility in Stade, Germany.

We have executed agreements to terminate our existing arrangements with Dow regarding manufacturing services for us at its Freeport, Texas facility and we have entered into a new long-term supply contract with a third party to supply us with polycarbonate in North America. These revised arrangements are expected to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2014 or the first quarter of 2015. In addition, we have executed revised supply contracts for certain raw materials that are processed at our polycarbonate manufacturing facility in Stade, Germany, which we expect to take effect beginning January 1, 2015.

These revised agreements are expected to facilitate improvements in our future results of operations for our Engineered Polymers segment. We estimate that, based on the anticipated impact of these revised agreements, had they been in effect in 2013, our adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2013 for our Engineered Polymers segment would have benefited by approximately $35 million as a result of approximately $22 million in fixed cost savings associated with the termination of manufacturing services for us at Dow’s Freeport, Texas facility, offset by approximately $8 million primarily related to replacement raw materials purchases under the new raw material supply contracts described above, and approximately $21 million in aggregate net cost savings related to raw materials purchases under the new raw material supply contracts at our facility in Stade, Germany. While the savings from the termination of our contract manufacturing agreement with Dow is a fixed cost reduction for us, our future cost savings related to our raw materials purchases under our new supply contracts are highly dependent on market input variability, including changes in market prices for certain raw materials, and there is no assurance that we will be successful in achieving cost savings from this restructuring in future periods at the levels described above or at all. Additional information regarding adjusted EBITDA, including a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented is included in “—Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data.”

Risk Factors

An investment in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider all of the information set forth in this prospectus and, in particular, should evaluate the specific factors set forth under “Risk Factors” including, among others:

 

    Our significant relationship with Dow and our reliance on this relationship for operating and other services, certain raw materials used in the production of our products and certain intellectual property licenses;

 

    As of March 31, 2014, we had total consolidated indebtedness of approximately $1,337.4 million. Our substantial indebtedness could limit our ability to pursue our growth strategy;

 

    Changes in environmental, health and safety regulations, violations of these regulations or other hazards associated with chemical manufacturing could have a material impact on our business;

 

    Our end markets are highly competitive, and we may lose market share to other producers of styrene-based chemical products or to producers of other products that can be substituted for our products;

 

    Volatility in the cost of raw materials that we use for our products, a disruption in the supply of the raw materials or changes in regulatory requirements applicable to our raw materials may adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations; and

 

 

8


Table of Contents
    Conditions in the global economy and capital markets may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Our Parent

Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA, which we refer to as our Parent, was formed by investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Dow Europe on June 3, 2010 in connection with the Acquisition and is incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Holders of ordinary shares of our Parent include investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Dow Europe and certain of our executive officers and other employees.

Bain Capital, LLC is a global private investment firm whose affiliates, including Bain Capital Partners, LLC, manage several pools of capital including private equity, venture capital, public equity, credit products and absolute return investments, with over $70 billion in assets under management. Headquartered in Boston, Bain Capital has offices in New York, Palo Alto, Chicago, London, Luxembourg, Munich, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Mumbai.

Corporate Information

Our global operating center is located at 1000 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 300, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312, and our telephone number at this address is (610) 240-3200. We maintain a website at www.trinseo.com. Our website and the information contained on that site, or accessible through that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus.

 

 

9


Table of Contents

The Offering

 

Ordinary shares offered by us

            shares (or             shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full)

 

Option to purchase additional shares

We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional             shares

Ordinary shares to be outstanding after

this offering

            shares (or             shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full)

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, will be approximately $         million (or $             million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares), assuming the ordinary shares are offered at $         per ordinary share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus.

 

  We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of ordinary share by us in this offering to repay approximately $         million of indebtedness and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

Principal shareholders

Upon completion of this offering, Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA will continue to beneficially own a controlling interest in us. As a result, we currently intend to avail ourselves of the controlled company exemption under the New York Stock Exchange listing rules. See “Management—Board Structure and Committee Composition.”

 

Risk Factors

You should read carefully the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for a discussion of factors that you should consider before deciding to invest in our ordinary shares.

 

Proposed New York Stock Exchange
symbol
 

“TSE”

   

 

 

10


Table of Contents

Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data

The following table sets forth our summary consolidated financial and other data as of the dates and for the periods indicated. The historical results of operations data and cash flow data for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, and the historical balance sheet data as of March 31, 2014 presented below were derived from our unaudited financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. The statement of operations data and cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2013, December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 presented below have been derived from our audited financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. The balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 has been derived from our audited financial statements for such year, which are not included in this prospectus. The financial information for the quarterly periods within the years ended December 31, 2013, December 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011 presented below have been derived from our unaudited quarterly financial statements and related notes thereto, which are not included in this prospectus.

This summary consolidated financial and other data should be read in conjunction with the disclosures set forth under “Capitalization” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the 2013 consolidated financial statements, the March 31, 2014 condensed consolidated financial statements, and the related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
    2014     2013     2013     2012     2011  
   

(in millions, except per share data)

 

Statement of Operations Data:

         

Net sales (1)

  $ 1,359.1      $ 1,391.6      $ 5,307.4      $ 5,451.9      $ 6,192.9   

Cost of sales (1)

    1,260.5        1,310.8        4,949.4        5,115.2        5,797.3   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    98.6        80.8        358.0        336.7        395.6   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    50.0        46.5        216.9        182.0        308.6   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

    15.0        2.8        39.1        27.1        23.9   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

    63.6        37.1        180.2        181.8        110.9   

Interest expense, net

    32.8        32.3        132.0        110.0        111.4   

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt (2)

           20.7        20.7              55.7   

Other expense (income), net

    0.9        (6.1     27.9        24.0        (20.1
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    29.9        (9.8     (0.4     47.8        (36.1

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

    12.8        (0.1     21.8        17.5        39.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

  $ 17.1      $ (9.7   $ (22.2   $ 30.3      $ (75.9
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares

    16,275.3        16,275.3        16,275.3        7,040.9        60.9   

Net income (loss) per share (basic and diluted)

  $ 0.00      $ (0.00   $ (0.00   $ 0.00      $ (1.25
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Financial Data:

         

Cash flows provided by (used in):

         

Operating activities

  $ (1.2   $ (4.5   $ 211.3      $ 186.1      $ 151.1   

Investing activities

    (40.8     (4.2     (33.4     (117.3     (99.1

Financing activities

    (15.4     (71.1     (220.2     (77.2     44.9   

 

 

11


Table of Contents
    Three Months Ended March 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
    2014     2013     2013     2012     2011  
   

(in millions, except per share data)

 

Depreciation and amortization

    23.7        23.9        95.2        85.6        101.6   

Capital expenditures, net of subsidy (6)

    41.1        10.4        54.8        112.4        99.8   

EBITDA (3)

    86.4        46.4        226.8        243.4        176.9   

Adjusted EBITDA (3)

    84.4        63.4        303.3        290.7        340.3   

Latex Segment (4)

    26.0        26.7        106.2        125.5        121.5   

Synthetic Rubber Segment (4)

    43.1        30.7        113.5        111.1        174.6   

Styrenics Segment (4)

    31.7        22.3        148.0        75.9        58.1   

Engineered Polymers Segment (4)

    (0.7     0.6        1.9        32.4        33.7   

Corporate unallocated (4)

    (15.7     (16.9     (66.3     (54.2     (47.6

Adjusted EBITDA, excluding inventory revaluation (5)

    78.8        63.2        343.7        252.3        314.2   

 

    As of March 31,    As of December 31,  
    2014      As
Adjusted (8)
   2013      2012      2011  
   

(in millions)

 

Balance Sheet Data:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 139.1          $ 196.5       $ 236.4       $ 245.3   

Working capital (7)

    813.9            810.2         778.1         765.2   

Total assets

    2,594.1            2,574.8         2,665.7         2,576.6   

Debt

    1,337.4            1,336.4         1,453.6         1,651.4   

Total liabilities

    2,232.3            2,231.6         2,374.0         2,456.0   

Total shareholder’s equity

    361.8            343.2         291.7         120.5   

 

(1) Net sales and cost of sales increase or decrease based on fluctuations in raw material prices. Consistent with industry practice and as permitted under agreements with many of our customers, raw material price changes are generally passed through to customers by means of corresponding price changes. The following tables include quarterly Net Sales by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and for each of the quarterly periods in three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011. Quarterly balances may not sum to annual balances presented due to rounding.

 

     March 31,
2013
     June 30,
2013
     September 30,
2013
     December 31,
2013
     Total
2013
     March 31,
2014
 
     (in millions)  

Latex

   $ 356.8       $ 345.0       $ 332.1       $ 307.6       $ 1,341.4       $ 326.3   

Synthetic Rubber

     176.4         156.2         141.5         147.9         622.1         176.7   

Styrenics

     602.0         597.3         576.3         529.9         2,305.4         594.3   

Engineered Polymers

     256.4         263.3         259.1         259.7         1,038.5         261.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,391.6       $ 1,361.8       $ 1,309.0       $ 1,245.1       $ 5,307.4       $ 1,359.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

12


Table of Contents
     March 31,
2012
     June 30,
2012
     September 30,
2012
     December 31,
2012
     Total
2012
 
     (in millions)  

Latex

   $ 397.6       $ 421.9       $ 375.0       $ 350.6       $ 1,545.1   

Synthetic Rubber

     192.7         175.2         154.7         179.3         701.9   

Styrenics

     528.1         537.6         542.1         541.4         2,149.2   

Engineered Polymers

     277.6         274.2         255.1         248.8         1,055.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,396.0       $ 1,408.9       $ 1,326.9       $ 1,320.1       $ 5,451.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     March 31,
2011
     June 30,
2011
     September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2011
     Total
2011
 
     (in millions)  

Latex

   $ 412.8       $ 479.2       $ 526.7       $ 424.8       $ 1,843.5   

Synthetic Rubber

     181.7         206.2         239.1         222.5         849.5   

Styrenics

     587.3         630.8         607.8         481.1         2,307.0   

Engineered Polymers

     298.5         316.5         298.1         279.8         1,192.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,480.3       $ 1,632.7       $ 1,671.7       $ 1,408.2       $ 6,192.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(2) For the year ended December 31, 2011, the loss on extinguishment of debt related to the February 2, 2011 amendment of our Senior Secured Credit Facility. For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2013, the loss on extinguishment of debt related to the January 2013 amendment of our Senior Secured Credit Facility and repayment of $1,239.0 million of outstanding term loans under our Senior Secured Credit Facility.
(3) EBITDA, as presented below, is a key metric that is used by our management to evaluate business operating performance, to prepare our annual operating budget, to determine resource allocations, and to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies. We define EBITDA as income (loss) from continuing operations before interest expense, net; income taxes; and depreciation and amortization expense.

Adjusted EBITDA is an additional metric that we provide to investors as a useful analytical indicator of our performance and of our ability to service our indebtedness. We define adjusted EBITDA, as income (loss) from continuing operations before interest expense, net; income tax provision; depreciation and amortization expense; asset impairment charges; advisory fees paid to affiliates of Bain Capital Partners, LLC; other non-cash charges and certain other charges that management does not believe are reflective of our core operating performance. Many of these adjustments to net income (loss) relate to strategic initiatives of the Company, including, among other items, divestitures, restructurings of certain operations and various financing transactions. We describe these other costs in more detail below.

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures that have limitations as analytical tools to evaluate our financial performance. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not intended to represent cash flow from operations or net income as defined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and should not be used as an alternative to net income as an indicator of operating performance or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. Other companies in our industry may define EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA differently than we do. As a result, it may be difficult to use these or similarly-named financial measures that other companies may use to compare the performance of those companies to our performance.

 

 

13


Table of Contents

We compensate for these limitations by providing the following reconciliation to our net income (loss), which is determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2014     2013     2013     2012     2011  
    

(in millions)

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 17.1      $ (9.7   $ (22.2   $ 30.3      $ (75.9

Interest expense, net

     32.8        32.3        132.0        110.0        111.4   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     12.8        (0.1     21.8        17.5        39.8   

Depreciation and amortization

     23.7        23.9        95.2        85.6        101.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ 86.4      $ 46.4      $ 226.8      $ 243.4      $ 176.9   

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

     —          20.7        20.7        —         55.7   

Transition, strategic, and other items(a)

     1.4        3.2        35.8        22.0        94.2   

Fees paid pursuant to Advisory Agreement(b)

     1.2        1.2        4.7        4.6        5.2   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net(c)

     (9.0     (1.7     (15.6     (6.2     (6.7

Stock-based compensation and other employee costs(d)

     4.0        3.7        16.4        5.1        32.4   

Foreign currency losses (gains)(e)

     0.4        (10.1     14.5        21.8        (17.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 84.4      $ 63.4      $ 303.3      $ 290.7      $ 340.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a) These adjustments include one-time transaction costs, restructuring costs, and external advisory costs related to the evaluation of strategic initiatives, our initial assembly of a finance, treasury and human resources team, implementation of financial controls as a stand-alone entity and supplemental external consulting resources relating to implementing our financial closing procedures following our separation from Dow. These initiatives and associated costs were incurred by us as a result of our separation from Dow or other strategic initiatives primarily intended to establish and define our ongoing cost and operational structure. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, this included $0.1 million of finance related costs, $1.0 million of strategic initiative evaluation costs, and $0.3 million of legal and other duplicative, transitional and one-time related costs. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, this included $1.6 million of strategic initiative evaluation costs and $1.6 million of legal and other duplicative, transitional, and one-time related costs. For the year ended December 31, 2013, this included $0.7 million of finance related costs, $14.3 million of strategic initiative evaluation costs, and $20.8 million of legal and other duplicative, transitional and one-time related costs. The above amounts for 2013 included a $9.2 million impairment charge for fixed assets at our polycarbonate manufacturing plant in Stade, Germany, a $4.2 million loss on the sale of our expandable polystyrene business, and $10.8 million of restructuring charges incurred in connection with the shutdown of our latex manufacturing plant in Altona, Australia. For the year ended December 31, 2012, this included $3.0 million of finance related costs, $14.0 million of strategic initiative evaluation costs, and $5.0 million of legal and other duplicative, transitional and one-time related costs. For the year ended December 31, 2011, this included $51.3 million of finance related costs, $17.9 million of strategic initiative evaluation costs, $6.6 million of treasury and human resource related costs, and $18.4 million of legal and other duplicative, transitional and one-time related costs.
  (b) Represents fees paid under the terms of our advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Portfolio Company Advisors Limited (together, the “Advisors”). See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Advisory Agreement and Transaction Services Agreement of this prospectus for further details.
  (c) Represents removal of equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates and inclusion of cash dividends received during the historical period. Cash dividends received were $6.0 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $23.6 million, $21.0 million, and $17.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

 

 

14


Table of Contents
  (d) For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, and the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, represents stock-based compensation expense of $2.7 million, $2.1 million, $10.0 million, $7.3 million, and $22.3 million, respectively, and pension and post-retirement costs in excess of cash contributions during these periods of $1.3 million, $1.6 million, $6.4 million, $(2.2) million, and $10.1 million, respectively.
  (e) Represents gains or losses on the remeasurement and settlement of foreign currency transactions and unrealized gains or losses on currency derivatives entered into for the purpose of reducing non-U.S. dollar currency exposure.

 

(4) The following tables present a reconciliation of our net income (loss), which is determined in accordance with GAAP, to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA excluding inventory revaluation, including EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA by segment on a quarterly basis for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011. Quarterly balances may not sum to annual balances presented due to rounding.

 

     March 31,
2013
    June 30,
2013
    September 30,
2013
    December 31,
2013
    Total
2013
    March 31,
2014
 
    

(in millions)

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (9.7   $ (28.1   $ 4.9      $ 10.6      $ (22.2   $ 17.1   

Interest expense, net

     32.3        33.7        32.9        33.1        132.0        32.8   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (0.1     2.2        6.0        13.8        21.8        12.8   

Depreciation and amortization

     23.9        24.0        23.2        24.2        95.2        23.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA (a)

   $ 46.4      $ 31.8      $ 67.0      $ 81.7      $ 226.8      $ 86.4   

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

     20.7        —          —          —          20.7        —     

Transition, strategic, and other items

     3.2        12.1        6.8        13.6        35.8        1.4   

Fees paid pursuant to Advisory Agreement

     1.2        1.2        1.2        1.2        4.7        1.2   

Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net

     (1.7     (9.0     (7.7     2.8        (15.6     (9.0

Stock-based compensation and other employee costs

     3.7        7.3        7.5        (2.1     16.4        4.0   

Foreign currency losses (gains), net

     (10.1     6.0        11.9        6.7        14.5        0.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (b)

   $ 63.4      $ 49.4      $ 86.7      $ 103.9      $ 303.3      $ 84.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Inventory revaluation (c)

     (0.2     26.2        26.4        (12.1     40.4        (5.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA, excluding inventory revaluation

   $ 63.2      $ 75.6      $ 113.1      $ 91.8      $ 343.7      $ 78.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a) EBITDA by Segment:

            

Latex

   $ 26.7      $ 22.1      $ 24.0      $ 22.6      $ 95.4      $ 25.5   

Synthetic Rubber

     30.7        27.9        12.8        42.0        113.5        43.1   

Styrenics

     25.4        17.5        66.0        51.8        160.7        42.3   

Engineered Polymers

     (0.8     (2.9     2.0        (7.3     (9.1     (2.4

Corporate unallocated

     (35.6     (32.8     (37.8     (27.4     (133.7     (22.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ 46.4      $ 31.8      $ 67.0      $ 81.7      $ 226.8      $ 86.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(b) Adjusted EBITDA by Segment:

            

Latex (i)

   $ 26.7      $ 28.6      $ 26.6      $ 24.3      $ 106.2      $ 26.0   

Synthetic Rubber (ii)

     30.7        27.9        12.8        42.0        113.5        43.1   

Styrenics (iii)

     22.3        11.7        59.2        54.9        148.0        31.7   

Engineered Polymers (iv)

     0.6        (2.6     2.0        1.9        1.9        (0.7

Corporate unallocated (v)

     (16.9     (16.2     (13.9     (19.2     (66.3     (15.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 63.4      $ 49.4      $ 86.7      $ 103.9      $ 303.3      $ 84.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

15


Table of Contents

(c) For a description of inventory revaluation refer to Note 5 below.

  

     March 31,
2012
    June 30,
2012
    September 30,
2012
    December 31,
2012
    Total
2012
 
     (in millions)  

Net income (loss)

   $ 30.1      $ 1.9      $ (1.2   $ (0.5   $ 30.3   

Interest expense, net

     25.7        26.6        28.6        29.1        110.0   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     25.1        (6.1     10.3        (11.8     17.5   

Depreciation and amortization

     20.9        22.0        20.0        22.7        85.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA (a)

   $ 101.8      $ 44.4      $ 57.7      $ 39.5      $ 243.4   

Transition, strategic, and other items

     13.1        2.9        3.4        2.6        22.0   

Fees paid pursuant to Advisory Agreement

     1.1        1.2        1.1        1.2        4.6   

Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net

     (4.6     2.9        (2.3     (2.2     (6.2

Stock-based compensation and other employee costs

     1.5        2.7        2.2        (1.3     5.1   

Foreign currency losses (gains), net

     8.9        (7.3     11.3        8.9        21.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (b)

   $ 121.8      $ 46.8      $ 73.4      $ 48.7      $ 290.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Inventory revaluation (c)

     (52.1     9.2        2.3        2.2        (38.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA, excluding inventory revaluation

   $ 69.7      $ 56.0      $ 75.7      $ 50.9      $ 252.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a) EBITDA by Segment:

          

Latex

   $ 27.0      $ 39.1      $ 32.6      $ 26.8      $ 125.5   

Synthetic Rubber

     44.1        24.3        18.8        23.9        111.1   

Styrenics

     49.4        (9.2     24.1        18.6        82.9   

Engineered Polymers

     16.3        2.3        12.6        0.3        31.5   

Corporate unallocated

     (35.0     (12.1     (30.4     (30.1     (107.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ 101.8      $ 44.4      $ 57.7      $ 39.5      $ 243.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(b) Adjusted EBITDA by Segment:

          

Latex (i)

   $ 27.0      $ 39.1      $ 32.6      $ 26.8      $ 125.5   

Synthetic Rubber (ii)

     44.1        24.3        18.8        23.9        111.1   

Styrenics (iii)

     44.7        (6.9     21.9        16.2        75.9   

Engineered Polymers (iv)

     16.4        2.9        12.4        0.7        32.4   

Corporate unallocated (v)

     (10.4     (12.6     (12.3     (18.9     (54.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 121.8      $ 46.8      $ 73.4      $ 48.7      $ 290.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

16


Table of Contents

(c) For a description of inventory revaluation refer to Note 5 below.

 

     March 31,
2011
    June 30,
2011
    September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2011
    Total
2011
 
                 (in millions)              

Net income (loss)

   $ (16.0   $ (38.2   $ 11.0      $ (32.7   $ (75.9

Interest expense, net

     26.2        27.0        30.4        27.8        111.4   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     9.7        33.7        (8.6     5.0        39.8   

Depreciation and amortization

     28.5        28.6        22.2        22.3        101.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA (a)

   $ 48.4      $ 51.1      $ 55.0      $ 22.4      $ 176.9   

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

     55.7        —          —          —          55.7   

Transition, strategic, and other items

     24.7        30.7        31.7        7.1        94.2   

Fees paid pursuant to Advisory Agreement

     1.3        1.3        1.2        1.4        5.2   

Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net

     2.7        (7.1     (5.0     2.7        (6.7

Stock-based compensation and other employee costs

     19.2        5.5        2.8        4.9        32.4   

Foreign currency losses (gains), net

     6.6        3.5        (17.6     (9.9     (17.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (b)

   $ 158.6      $ 85.0      $ 68.1      $ 28.6      $ 340.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Inventory revaluation (c)

     (60.7     (23.7     (5.7     64.0        (26.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA, excluding inventory revaluation

   $ 97.9      $ 61.3      $ 62.4      $ 92.6      $ 314.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a) EBITDA by Segment:

          

Latex

   $ 30.4      $ 24.7      $ 29.0      $ 37.4      $ 121.5   

Synthetic Rubber

     46.0        53.1        46.4        29.1        174.6   

Styrenics

     74.9        13.4        9.7        (25.8     72.2   

Engineered Polymers

     15.1        6.9        2.5        1.8        26.3   

Corporate unallocated

     (118.0     (47.0     (32.6     (20.1     (217.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ 48.4      $ 51.1      $ 55.0      $ 22.4      $ 176.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(b) Adjusted EBITDA by Segment:

          

Latex (i)

   $ 30.4      $ 24.7      $ 29.0      $ 37.4      $ 121.5   

Synthetic Rubber (ii)

     46.0        53.1        46.4        29.1        174.6   

Styrenics (iii)

     71.0        6.0        4.0        (22.9     58.1   

Engineered Polymers (iv)

     21.7        7.2        3.2        1.6        33.7   

Corporate unallocated (v)

     (10.5     (6.0     (14.5     (16.6     (47.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 158.6      $ 85.0      $ 68.1      $ 28.6      $ 340.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(c) For a description of inventory revaluation refer to Note 5 below.

(i) Adjusted EBITDA of Latex includes transition, strategic, and other adjustments of $0.5 million for the first quarter of 2014, $0, $6.5 million, $2.5 million, and $1.8 million for the first, second, third, and fourth quarter in 2013, $0 for each quarter in 2012, and $0 for each quarter in 2011, respectively.

(ii) Adjusted EBITDA of Synthetic Rubber is identical to EBITDA in all periods presented above, with no additional adjustments noted.

(iii) Adjusted EBITDA of Styrenics includes transition, strategic, and other adjustments of $0 for the first quarter of 2014, $0, $3.3 million, $0.9 million, and $0 for the first, second, third, and fourth quarter in 2013, $0 for each quarter in 2012, and $0 for each quarter in 2011, respectively; and equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends of $(10.6) million for the first quarter of 2014, $(3.1) million, $(9.2) million, $(7.7) million, and $3.1 million for the first, second, third, and

 

 

17


Table of Contents

fourth quarter in 2013, $(4.7) million, $2.3 million, $(2.2) million, and $(2.4) million for the first, second, third, and fourth quarter in 2012, and $(3.9) million, $(7.4) million, $(5.7) million, and $2.9 million for the first, second, third, and fourth quarter in 2011, respectively.

(iv) Adjusted EBITDA of Engineered Polymers includes transition, strategic, and other adjustments of $0.1 million for the first quarter of 2014, $0, $0, $0, and $9.7 million for the first, second, third, and fourth quarter in 2013, $0 for each quarter in 2012, and $0 for each quarter in 2011, respectively; and equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends of $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2014, $1.3 million, $0.3 million, $0, $(0.3) million for the first, second, third, and fourth quarter in 2013, $0.2 million, $0.6 million, $(0.2) million, and $0.3 million for the first, second, third, and fourth quarter in 2012, and $6.6 million, $0.3 million, $0.7 million, and $(0.2) million for the first, second, third, and fourth quarter in 2011, respectively.

(v) Corporate unallocated includes corporate overhead costs, loss on extinguishment of long-term debt, and certain other income and expenses not directly related to any of the reportable segments. In the tables displaying quarterly results above, the adjustments related to Corporate unallocated represent all adjustments not related to the Segments, which are described in footnotes (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) above.

 

(5) We present adjusted EBITDA excluding inventory revaluation in order to facilitate the comparability of results from period to period by adjusting cost of sales to reflect the cost of raw material during the period, which is often referred to as the replacement cost method of inventory valuation. We believe this measure minimizes the impact of raw material purchase price volatility in evaluating our performance. Our approach to calculating inventory revaluation is intended to represent the difference between the results under the FIFO and the replacement cost methods. However, our calculation could differ from the replacement cost method if the monthly raw material standards are different from the actual raw material prices during the month and production and purchase volumes differ from sales volumes during the month. These factors could have a significant impact on the inventory revaluation calculation. Favorable (unfavorable) inventory revaluation was $(5.6) million and $(0.2) million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $40.4 million, $(38.4) million, and $(26.1) million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and, 2011, respectively. For a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA excluding inventory revaluation see Note 4 above.

 

(6) Represents capital expenditures, net of government subsidies received for SSBR expansion of $0 and $6.6 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $18.8 million, $6.1 million and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively. Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2014 include approximately $26.1 million (€19.0 million) for the Company’s acquisition of SSBR production capacity rights at its rubber production facility in Schkopau, Germany from JSR Corporation, Tokyo.

 

(7) Working capital is defined as current assets minus current liabilities.

 

(8) As adjusted to reflect (i) the sale of ordinary shares in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $             per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, (ii) the repayment of $             million in aggregate principal amount of our 8.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2019, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon and (iii) the payment of approximately $             out of available cash to the Advisors in connection with the termination of our Advisory Agreement and our Transaction Services Agreement. See “Related Party Transactions—Advisory Agreement and Transaction Services Agreement.”

 

 

18


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our ordinary shares involves various risks. You should carefully consider the following risks and all of the other information contained in this prospectus before investing in our ordinary shares. The risks described below are those which we believe are the material risks that we face. The trading price of our ordinary shares could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment in our ordinary shares. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” elsewhere in this prospectus.

Risks relating to our Business and our Industry

Dow provides significant operating and other services, and certain raw materials used in the production of our products, under agreements that are important to our business. The failure of Dow to perform their obligations, or the termination of these agreements, could adversely affect our operations.

Prior to June 17, 2010, we were operated by Dow, which has provided and continues to provide services under certain agreements that are important to our business. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, purchases from and other charges paid to Dow and its affiliated companies (excluding under the Second Amended and Restated Master Outsourcing Agreement, or SAR MOSA, the Amended and Restated MOD5 Computerized Control Software, Licenses and Services Agreement, or AR MOD5 Agreement, and site services agreements) were approximately $2,030.3 million and $2,334.2 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, sales to Dow and its affiliated companies were approximately $294.7 million and $311.4 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we incurred expenses totaling $306.2 million and $320.5 million, respectively, under the SAR MOSA, AR MOD5 Agreement, and site services agreements, including $235.1 million and $214.5 million, respectively, for both the variable and fixed cost components of the site service agreements and $71.1 million and $106.0 million, respectively, covering the other two agreements.

We are a party to:

 

    an outsourcing service agreement pursuant to which Dow provides certain administrative and business services to us for our operations;

 

    supply and sales agreements pursuant to which Dow, among other things, provides us with raw materials, including ethylene, benzene, butadiene and bisphenol A, or BPA; and

 

    an operating services agreement pursuant to which Dow will operate and maintain certain of our facilities at Rheinmunster, Germany as well as employ and provide almost all of the staff for this facility.

Under the terms of the above agreements, either party is permitted to terminate the applicable agreement in a variety of situations, including in the event of the other party’s uncured material breach, insolvency, change of control or cessation of operations. Should Dow fail to provide these services or raw materials, or should any of the above agreements be terminated, we would be forced to obtain these services and raw materials from third parties or provide them ourselves. Additionally, if Dow terminates agreements pursuant to which we are obligated to provide certain services, we may lose the fees received by us under these agreements. The failure of Dow to perform its obligations under, or the termination of, any of these contracts could adversely affect our operations and, depending on market conditions at the time of any such termination, we may not be able to enter into substitute arrangements in a timely manner, or on terms as favorable to us. We may agree to revise, amend or terminate any of our agreements with Dow from time to time in the future. See, for example, “Prospectus Summary—Recent Developments.”

We are party to certain license agreements with Dow relating to intellectual property that is essential to our business. Because of this relationship, we may have limited ability to expand our use of certain intellectual property beyond the field of the license, or to police infringement that may be harmful to our business.

In connection with the Acquisition, we acquired ownership of, or in some cases, a worldwide right and license to use, certain patents, patent applications and other intellectual property of Dow that were used by Dow

 

19


Table of Contents

to operate our business segments or held by Dow primarily for the benefit of our business segments, prior to the Acquisition. Generally, we acquired ownership of the intellectual property that was primarily used in our business segments and acquired a license to a more limited set of intellectual property that had broader application within Dow beyond our core business segments. Our license from Dow is perpetual, irrevocable, fully paid, and royalty-free. Furthermore, our license from Dow is exclusive within our business segments for certain patents and patent applications that were used by Dow primarily in the Styron business prior to the Acquisition, subject to licenses previously granted by Dow, and to certain retained rights of Dow, including Dow’s retained right to use patents and patent applications outside of our business segments and for internal consumption by Dow. Our license from Dow relates to polymeric compositions, manufacturing processes and end applications for the polymeric compositions; and is limited to use in defined areas corresponding to our current business segments excluding certain products and end-use application technology retained by Dow. Our ability to develop, manufacture or sell products and technology outside of these defined areas may be impeded by the intellectual property rights that have been retained by Dow, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, we may not be able to enforce, and Dow may be unwilling to enforce, this intellectual property that has been retained by Dow where infringement could also impact our business and competitive position.

Our substantial level of indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition.

We have substantial indebtedness, which, as of March 31, 2014, totaled approximately $1,337.4 million, consisting principally of our 8.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2019, which we refer to as our Senior Notes. On June 17, 2010, we entered into a senior secured credit facility, which we refer to as our Senior Secured Credit Facility, and which included a term loan facility and a revolving credit facility, which we refer to as our Revolving Facility. We repaid all outstanding amounts under the term loan facility in connection with the issuance of our Senior Notes. In January 2013, the Company increased its revolving credit facility borrowing capacity from $240 million to $300 million. As of March 31, 2014, we had no borrowings under our Revolving Facility and had $7.3 million in undrawn letters of credit. We are also party to an agreement for an accounts receivable securitization facility, for up to a total of $200.0 million in borrowings. As of March 31, 2014, there was approximately $198.6 million of accounts receivable available to support this facility, based on our pool of eligible accounts receivable and there were no outstanding borrowings. We are also party to a short-term revolving credit facility through our subsidiary in China that provides for approximately $15.0 million of uncommitted funds available for borrowings. Outstanding borrowings under this revolving credit facility were $8.4 million as of March 31, 2014. Our high level of indebtedness could have important consequences, including,

 

    impairing our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements or other general corporate purposes;

 

    requiring that a substantial portion of our cash flow be used for debt service payments instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of cash flow available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

    increasing our vulnerability to economic downturns and adverse industry conditions;

 

    compromising our flexibility to capitalize on business opportunities and to react to competitive pressures, as compared to our competitors;

 

    placing us at a disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors or competitors with comparable debt at more favorable interest rates; and

 

    increasing our cost of borrowing.

In addition, a substantial portion of our current indebtedness is secured by substantially all of our assets, which may make it more difficult to secure additional borrowings at reasonable costs. If we default or declare bankruptcy, after these obligations are met, there may not be sufficient funds or assets to satisfy our subordinate interests, including those of our shareholders.

 

20


Table of Contents

The terms of our indebtedness restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to change or to take certain actions.

Our indenture and the agreement governing our Senior Secured Credit Facility contain a number of covenants imposing significant restrictions on our business. These restrictions may affect our ability to operate our business and may limit our ability to take advantage of business opportunities. These agreements restrict, among other things, our ability to:

 

    sell assets;

 

    incur additional indebtedness or issue certain preferred stock or similar equity interests;

 

    pay dividends;

 

    make investments or acquisitions;

 

    incur liens;

 

    repurchase or redeem capital stock;

 

    engage in mergers or consolidations;

 

    materially alter the business we conduct;

 

    engage in transactions with affiliates; and

 

    consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our assets.

The ability for us to comply with the covenants and financial ratios and tests contained in our indenture and senior credit agreement, to pay interest on indebtedness, fund working capital, and make anticipated capital expenditures depends on our future performance, which is subject to general economic conditions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. There can be no assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available under our Senior Secured Credit Facility to fund liquidity needs in an amount sufficient to enable us to service indebtedness. Furthermore, if we need additional capital for general corporate purposes or to execute on an expansion strategy, there can be no assurance that this capital will be available on satisfactory terms or at all.

A failure to repay amounts owed under the Revolving Facility or Senior Notes at maturity would result in a default. In addition, a breach of any of the covenants in the Revolving Facility or the indenture governing our Senior Notes or our inability to comply with the required financial ratios or limits could result in a default. If a default occurs, our lenders could refuse to lend us additional funds and our lenders or noteholders could declare all of our debt and any accrued interest and fees immediately due and payable. A default under one of our debt agreements may trigger a cross-default under our other debt agreements.

To service our indebtedness, we will require a significant amount of cash. If we are unable to execute on our business strategy and generate significant cash flow, we may be unable to service our indebtedness and repay in full the notes at maturity.

To service our indebtedness, we will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash flow and service our debt obligations will depend upon, among other things, our future financial condition and operating performance. These factors depend partly on economic, financial, competitive conditions and on certain financial, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. We may not be able to generate sufficient cash from operations to meet our debt service obligations as well as fund necessary capital expenditures.

If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we could face substantial liquidity problems and could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or to dispose of material assets or operations, seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance our

 

21


Table of Contents

indebtedness. We may not be able to effect any such alternative measures on commercially reasonable terms or at all, and, even if successful, those alternative actions may not allow us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. The Senior Secured Credit Facility and the indenture governing our Senior Notes restrict our ability to dispose of assets and the use of proceeds from those dispositions and may also restrict our ability to raise debt or equity capital to be used to repay other indebtedness when it becomes due. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions or to obtain proceeds in an amount sufficient to meet any debt service obligations then due.

As of March 31, 2014, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $139.1 million. If we are unable to meet our debt service obligations under the Senior Notes, the holders of the Senior Notes would have the right following a cure period to cause the entire principal amount of the notes to become immediately due and payable.

Despite our current levels of indebtedness, we may incur substantially more debt, which could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness.

Although the Senior Secured Credit Facility and the indenture governing our Senior Notes contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions and the indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. Also, we are not prevented from incurring obligations that do not constitute “indebtedness” as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facility or the indenture, such as operating leases and trade payables. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the risks related to our substantial indebtedness that we now face could intensify.

Our joint ventures may not operate according to their business plans if we or our partners fail to fulfill our or their obligations, or differences in views among our joint venture partners result in delayed decisions, which may adversely affect our results of operations and may force us to dedicate additional resources to these joint ventures.

We currently participate in a number of joint ventures and may enter into additional joint ventures in the future. The nature of a joint venture requires us to share control with unaffiliated third parties. If our joint venture partners do not fulfill their obligations, the affected joint venture may not be able to operate according to its business plan. In that case, our results of operations may be adversely affected and we may be required to increase the level of our commitment to the joint venture.

Differences in views among joint venture participants and our inability to unilaterally implement sales and productions strategies or determine cash distributions from our joint ventures may significantly impact short- term and longer term financial results, financial condition and the value of our ordinary shares.

Regulatory and statutory changes applicable to our raw materials and products and our customers’ products could require material expenditures, changes in our operations and could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in environmental, health and safety regulations, in jurisdictions where we manufacture and sell our products, could lead to a decrease in demand for our products. In addition to changes in regulations, health and safety concerns could increase the costs incurred by our customers to use our products and otherwise limit the use of these products, which could lead to decreased demand for these products. Such a decrease in demand likely would have an adverse effect on our business and results of operation. Materials such as acrylonitrile, ethylbenzene, styrene, butadiene, BPA and halogenated flame retardant are used in the manufacturing of our products and have come under increased regulatory scrutiny due to potentially significant or perceived health and safety concerns.

The federal Toxic Substances Control Act, or the TSCA, is the primary law in the U.S. governing the manufacture, processing, use and distribution of our chemicals. Among other things, under TSCA, the EPA has the authority to (i) require testing of chemicals that may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the

 

22


Table of Contents

environment or are produced in substantial quantities, (ii) undertake pre-market review of, and impose restrictions as appropriate on, new chemicals prior to their commercial production and introduction into the marketplace, (iii) limit or prohibit the manufacture, use, distribution and disposal of existing substances, (iv) impose reporting and record keeping requirements to ensure continued access to new information on chemical substances, and (v) oversee export and import notice requirements. Other chemical control regimes are in effect in the European Union through its REACH and other laws. These regulatory regimes currently require significant compliance expenditures by us, and changes applicable to our raw materials and products or our customers’ products could require significant additional expenditures by us, or changes in our operations.

Our products are also used in a variety of end-uses that have specific regulatory requirements such as those relating to products that have contact with food or medical device end-uses. We and many of the applications for the products in the end markets in which we sell our products are regulated by various national and local rules, laws and regulations, such as the TSCA. Changes in regulations could result in additional compliance costs, seizures, confiscations, recall or monetary fines, any of which could prevent or inhibit the development, distribution and sale of our products. Changes in environmental and safety laws and regulations banning or restricting the use of these residual materials in our products, or our customers’ products, could adversely affect our results of operations and adversely affect our financial condition. Failure to appropriately manage safety, human health, product liability and environmental risks associated with our products, product life cycles and production processes could adversely impact employees, communities, stakeholders, our reputation and the results of our operations.

We may be subject to losses due to liabilities or lawsuits related to contaminated land we own or operate or arising out of environmental damage or personal injuries associated with exposure to chemicals or the release of chemicals.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, and analogous state and foreign laws are designed to address the problems associated with contaminated land, especially inactive and abandoned hazardous waste sites listed on the “National Priorities List”, or NPL. Under CERCLA and similar statutes, the current or former owner or operator of a property contaminated by hazardous substance releases is subject to strict, unlimited, joint, several and retroactive liability for the investigation and remediation of the property, and also may be liable for natural resource damages associated with the releases. There are several properties which we now own on which Dow has been conducting remediation to address historical contamination. Those properties include Allyn’s Point, Connecticut; Dalton, Georgia; Livorno, Italy; and Guaruja, Brazil. There are other properties with historical contamination that are owned by Dow that we lease for our operations, including our facility in Midland, Michigan. While we did not assume the liabilities associated with these properties in the United States, because CERCLA and similar laws can impose liability for contamination on the current owner or operator of a property, even if it did not create the contamination, there is a possibility that a governmental authority or private party could seek to include us in an action or claim for remediation or damages, even though the contamination may have occurred prior to our ownership or occupancy. While Dow has agreed to indemnify us for liability for releases of hazardous materials that occurred prior to our separation from Dow, the indemnity is subject to monetary and temporal limitations, and we cannot be certain that Dow will fully honor the indemnity or that the indemnity will be sufficient to satisfy all claims that we may incur. In addition, we face the risk that future claims might fall partially or fully outside of the scope of the indemnity, particularly if there is a release of hazardous materials that occurs in the future or at any time after the closing of the Acquisition or if the condition requiring remediation is attributable to a combination of events or operations occurring prior to and after the closing of the Acquisition.

The environmental liabilities at a particular site could increase as a result of, among other things, changes in laws and regulations, modifications to the site’s investigation and remediation plans, unanticipated construction problems, identification of additional areas or quantities of contamination, increases in labor, equipment and technology costs, significant changes in the financial condition of Dow or other responsible parties and the outcome of any related legal and administrative proceedings to which we may become a party. Any increase in

 

23


Table of Contents

liability may be outside the scope of the indemnity provided by Dow, resulting in increased costs payable by us. It is not possible for us to reasonably estimate the amount and timing of all future expenditures related to environmental or other contingent matters. Accruals for environmental matters are recorded by us when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated based on current law and existing technologies.

In addition, we face the risk that individuals could seek damages for personal injury due to exposure to chemicals at our facilities, chemicals that have been released from our facilities, chemicals otherwise owned or controlled by us, or chemicals that allegedly migrated from products containing our materials. Risks are inherent in the chemical business, particularly risks associated with safety, health and the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) Risk Management Program (“RMP”) requires facilities that produce, handle, process, distribute or store certain highly hazardous chemicals to develop a risk management plan and program in the event of an accidental release of such chemicals. RMP also requires facilities to assess potential impacts to off-site populations in the event of a credible worst-case release and to document the policies, procedures, equipment and work practices in place to mitigate identified risks. Similar risk management requirements are imposed under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, which contains chemical emergency response planning, accident release and other reporting and notification requirements applicable to our facility. In addition, we are subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Process Safety Management standard, which requires development of a program to manage workplace risks associated with highly hazardous chemicals. Similar laws apply to many of our international facilities. Failure to comply with such laws could subject us to both civil and criminal penalties, which could affect our product sales, reputation and profitability. We may be subject to claims with respect to workplace exposure, workers’ compensation and other health and safety matters.

Volatility in the cost of the raw materials utilized for our products or disruption in the supply of the raw materials may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Our results of operations can be directly affected positively and negatively by volatility in the cost of our raw materials, which are subject to global supply and demand and other factors beyond our control. Our principal raw materials (benzene, ethylene, butadiene, BPA and styrene) together represent approximately 75% of our total cost of goods sold. Volatility in the cost of these raw materials makes it more challenging to manage pricing and pass the increases on to our customers in a timely manner. We believe that rapid changes in pricing also can affect the volume our customers consume. As a result, our gross profit and margins could be adversely affected.

Styrene, a principal raw material purchased and produced by us, is used in the production of polystyrene, ABS, SAN, SB latex and our rubber products and, like its principal raw materials, ethylene and benzene, is subject to a volatile market. The wider the styrene to benzene and ethylene spread, with styrene more than benzene and ethylene, the more profitable it is to produce styrene. In 2013, the market experienced a favorable benzene over ethylene spread but that condition is subject to fluctuations.

Crude oil prices also impact our raw material costs. Generally, higher crude oil prices lead to higher costs of raw materials, although some raw materials are impacted less than others.

Market volatility also impacts our accounting for our inventories. We use either our cost to us or market price, whichever is lower, with cost being determined on the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. As a result, in periods of rapidly declining cost of inventories, the FIFO impact on our reported earnings may be negative. Similarly, in periods of rapidly increasing cost of inventories, the effects of the FIFO method could skew our results of operations, causing them to appear more positive than the actual results.

If the availability of any of our principal raw materials is limited, we may be unable to produce some of our products in the quantities demanded by our customers, which could have an adverse effect on plant utilization and our sales of products requiring such raw materials.

 

24


Table of Contents

Butadiene prices have been highly volatile over the past three years. In some cases, market participants have had difficulty securing their supply. While butadiene supply over the past year has not been limited, this trend could reverse with increases in rubber demand.

Suppliers may have temporary limitations preventing them from meeting our butadiene requirements, and we may not be able to obtain substitute supplies of butadiene from alternative suppliers in a timely manner or on favorable terms. The quantity of butadiene available in any one region is dependent on the raw material inputs and operating rates of the ethylene crackers. Raw material inputs to the crackers (either ethane or naphtha) depend on the flexibility of the cracker to use various feeds and the economics of the available raw materials.

In June 2010, we entered into long-term supply agreements (5 to 10 years) with Dow for ethylene, benzene, butadiene, BPA and other raw materials amounting to approximately 45% to 50% of our raw materials (based on aggregate purchase price). The remainder is purchased via other third-party suppliers on a global basis. As our Dow contracts and other third party contracts expire, we may be unable to renew these contracts or obtain new long-term supply agreements on terms comparable or favorable to us, depending on market conditions, which may significantly impact our operations.

In addition, many of our long-term contracts contain provisions that allow our suppliers to limit the amount of raw materials shipped to us below the contracted amount in force majeure circumstances. If we are required to obtain alternate sources for raw materials because Dow or any other supplier is unwilling or unable to perform under raw material supply agreements or if a supplier terminates its agreements with us, we may not be able to obtain these raw materials from alternative suppliers in a timely manner or be able to enter into long-term supply agreements on terms comparable or favorable to us.

Hazards associated with chemical manufacturing could adversely affect our operations.

Due to the nature of our business, we are exposed to the hazards associated with chemical manufacturing and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes. These hazards could lead to an interruption or suspension of operations and have an adverse effect on the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility or on us as a whole. Potential hazards include the following: piping or storage tank leaks and ruptures; mechanical failures; employee exposure to hazardous substances; and chemical spills and other discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases. There is also a risk that one or more of our key raw materials or one or more of our products may be found to have currently unrecognized toxicological or health-related impact on the environment or on our customers or employees. Such hazards may cause personal injury and loss of life, damage to property and contamination of the environment, which could lead to government fines or work stoppage injunctions and lawsuits by injured persons. If such actions are determined to be adverse to us, we may have inadequate insurance to cover such claims, or we may have insufficient cash flow to pay for such claims. Such outcomes could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Our end markets are highly competitive, and we may lose market share to other producers of styrene-based chemical products or to producers of other products that can be substituted for our products.

Our industry is highly competitive and we face significant competition from large international producers, as well as from smaller regional competitors. Our most significant competitors include BASF Group, Zeon Corporation, LG Chem Ltd, Wacker Chemie AG, Bayer MaterialScience AG, Lanxess AG, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Styrolution Group GmbH, Total S.A. and Versalis S.p.A. Competition is based on a number of factors, such as product quality, service and price. Our competitors may improve their competitive position in our core end-use markets by successfully introducing new products, improving their manufacturing processes or expanding their capacity or manufacturing facilities. In addition, while we benefited in 2013 from the general decline of the Butadiene price, the price of Styrene, one of our principal SB latex raw materials, generally rose. This may enable other latex manufacturers who, like us, are offering products made with different chemistries using less expensive raw materials, such as VAM-based latex and natural binders, to improve their positions. The long-term impact of

 

25


Table of Contents

the competition from these products, in particular relative to natural binders, is unclear. Some of our competitors may be able to drive down prices for our products if their costs are lower than our costs. Some of our competitors’ financial, technological and other resources may be greater than our resources and such competitors may be better able to withstand changes in market condition. Our competitors may be able to respond more quickly than we can to new or emerging technologies or changes in customer requirements. If we are unable to keep pace with our competitors’ product and manufacturing process innovations, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Competition between styrene-based chemical products and other products within the end markets in which we compete is intense. Increased competition from existing or newly developed products may reduce demand for our products in the future and our customers may decide on alternate sources to meet their requirements.

In addition, consolidation of our competitors or customers may result in reduced demand for our products or make it more difficult for us to compete with our competitors. If we are unable to successfully compete with other producers of styrene-based chemical products or if other products can be successfully substituted for our products, our sales may decline.

Compliance with extensive and evolving environmental, health and safety laws may require substantial expenditures.

We use large quantities of hazardous substances, generate hazardous wastes and emit wastewater and air pollutants in our manufacturing operations. Consequently, our operations are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations at both the national and local level in multiple jurisdictions. Many of these laws and regulations have become more stringent over time and the costs of compliance with these requirements may increase, including costs associated with any capital investments for pollution control facilities. In addition, our production facilities require operating permits that are subject to periodic renewal and, in circumstances of noncompliance, may be subject to revocation. The necessary permits may not be issued or continue in effect, and any issued permits may contain more stringent limitations that restrict our operations or that require further expenditures to meet the permit requirements.

This emerging focus on climate change in the U.S. and European Union could result in new, potentially diverging or inconsistent, environmental regulations that may negatively affect us. Additional future regulation of greenhouse gases in the U.S. could occur pursuant to future international treaty obligations, regulatory changes under the federal Clean Air Act or other existing legislation, federal, state or regional adoption of greenhouse gas regulatory schemes, or any combination of the foregoing or otherwise. This could cause us to incur additional costs in complying with any new regulations, which may adversely impact our operations and financial condition.

For example, in the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has moved forward on requirements for new air emission regulations covering greenhouse gas emissions from large sources. European plants that manufacture “organic commodity chemicals” with a capacity of over 100 metric tons per day are required to participate in the European Trading Scheme for Greenhouse gases, and the German greenhouse gas trading program is costly to implement at certain German facilities.

Compliance with more stringent environmental requirements would likely increase our costs of transportation and storage of raw materials and finished products, as well as the costs of storage and disposal of wastes. Additionally, we may incur substantial costs, including penalties, fines, damages, criminal or civil sanctions and remediation costs, or experience interruptions in our operations for failure to comply with these laws or permit requirements.

Conditions in the global economy and capital markets may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Our products are sold in markets that are sensitive to changes in general economic conditions, such as sales of automotive and construction products. Downturns in general economic conditions can cause fluctuations in

 

26


Table of Contents

demand for our products, product prices, volumes and margins. A decline in the demand for our products or a shift to lower-margin products due to deteriorating economic conditions could adversely affect sales of our products and our profitability and could also result in impairments of certain of our assets.

Our business and operating results were severely affected by the global recession beginning in 2008. We continue to be impacted by turbulence in the credit markets, dislocations in the housing and commercial real estate markets, fluctuating commodity prices, volatile exchange rates and other challenges currently affecting the global economy and our customers. Instability in financial and commodity markets throughout the world has caused, among other things, severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, rating downgrades of certain investments and declining valuations and pricing volatility of others, volatile energy and raw materials costs, geopolitical issues and failure and the potential failure of major financial institutions. In addition, the on-going sovereign debt crisis affecting various countries in the European Union is creating further uncertainties in the global credit markets. Deterioration in the financial and credit market heightens the risk of customer bankruptcies and delay in payment. We are unable to predict the duration of the current economic conditions or their effects on financial markets, our business and results of operations. If economic conditions further deteriorate, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

Production at our manufacturing facilities could be disrupted for a variety of reasons. Disruptions could expose us to significant losses or liabilities.

The hazards and risks of disruption associated with chemical manufacturing and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes exist in our operations and the operations of other occupants with whom we share manufacturing sites. These potential risks of disruption include, but are not necessarily limited to:

 

    pipeline and storage tank leaks and ruptures;

 

    explosions and fires;

 

    inclement weather and natural disasters;

 

    terrorist attacks;

 

    failure of mechanical, process safety and pollution control equipment;

 

    chemical spills and other discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases; and

 

    exposure to toxic chemicals.

These hazards could expose employees, customers, the community and others to toxic chemicals and other hazards, contaminate the environment, damage property, result in personal injury or death, lead to an interruption or suspension of operations, damage our reputation and adversely affect the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility or us as a whole, and result in the need for remediation, governmental enforcement, regulatory shutdowns, the imposition of government fines and penalties and claims brought by governmental entities or third parties. Legal claims and regulatory actions could subject us to both civil and criminal penalties, which could affect our product sales, reputation and profitability. We have comprehensive environmental, health and safety compliance and management systems to prevent potential risks and emergency response and crisis management plans in place to mitigate potential risks.

If disruptions occur, alternative facilities with sufficient capacity or capabilities may not be available, may cost substantially more or may take a significant time to start production. Each of these scenarios could negatively affect our business and financial performance. If one of our key manufacturing facilities is unable to produce our products for an extended period of time, our sales may be reduced by the shortfall caused by the disruption and we may not be able to meet our customers’ needs, which could cause them to seek other suppliers. Furthermore, to the extent a production disruption occurs at a manufacturing facility that has been operating at or near full capacity, the resulting shortage of our product could be particularly harmful because production at the manufacturing facility may not be able to reach levels achieved prior to the disruption.

 

27


Table of Contents

Although we maintain property, business interruption, comprehensive general liability, environmental impairment liability and other insurance of the types and in the amounts that we believe are customary for the industry, we may not be fully insured against all potential causes of disruption due to limitations and exclusions in our policies. While the hazards associated with chemical manufacturing have not resulted in incidents that have significantly disrupted our operations or exposed us to significant losses or liabilities since the Acquisition, there can be no assurances we will not suffer such losses in the future.

Any increase in the cost of natural gas or electricity may adversely affect our results of operations.

We use natural gas and electricity to operate our facilities and generate heat and steam for our various manufacturing processes. Natural gas prices have experienced significant volatility in the past several years. Wide fluctuations in natural gas prices may result from relatively minor changes in supply and demand, market uncertainty, and other factors, both domestic and foreign, that are beyond our control. In addition, natural gas is often a substitute for petroleum-based energy supplies. Future increases in the price of petroleum (resulting from increased demand, political instability or other factors) may result in significant additional increases in the price of natural gas. In addition, electricity prices are generally affected by increases in the price of petroleum. Any increase in the cost of natural gas or electricity could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

There is no assurance that we will be able to renew all necessary licenses, certificates, approvals and permits for our operations.

Our operation is subject to various licenses, certificates, approvals and permits in different foreign jurisdictions. There is no assurance that we will be able to renew our licenses, certificates, approvals and permits upon their expiration. The eligibility criteria for such license, certificates, approvals and permits may change from time to time and may become more stringent. In addition, new requirements for licenses, certificates, approvals and permits my come into effect in the future. The introduction of any new and/or more stringent laws, regulation, licenses, certificates, approvals and permits requirements relevant to our business operations may significantly escalate our compliance and maintenance costs or may preclude us to continue with our existing operation or may limit or prohibit us from expanding our business. Any such event may have an adverse effect to our business, financial results and future prospects.

Failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls could adversely impact our ability to both timely and accurately report our financial results.

We have established and maintain internal controls necessary to provide reliable financial results and to assist in the effective prevention of fraud. We have experienced material weaknesses in our internal controls in prior years caused by inadequate internal staffing and skills and inadequate controls over our quarter-end closing processes partially related to our transition from Dow. We remediated our prior material weaknesses as of December 31, 2012 and have no newly identified material weaknesses as of March 31, 2014.

We continue to evaluate and enhance our internal controls over financial reporting, including with respect to our separation from Dow. However, we cannot assure you that any measures we have taken to date, or any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to avoid potential control deficiencies which could materially adversely affect our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements.

Our business involves risk of exposure to product liability claims.

Even though we are generally a materials supplier rather than a manufacturer of finished goods, the development, manufacture and sales of specialty emulsion polymers and plastics by us involve inherent risks of exposure to product liability claims, product recalls and related adverse publicity. While we attempt to protect ourselves from such claims and exposures in our adherence to standards and specifications and contractual

 

28


Table of Contents

negotiations, there can be no assurance that our efforts in this regard will ultimately protect us from any such claims. For instance, a customer may attempt to seek contribution from us due to a product liability claim brought against them by a consumer, or a consumer may bring a product liability claim directly against us. A product liability claim or judgment against us could result in substantial and unexpected expenditures, affect consumer or customer confidence in our products, and divert management’s attention from other responsibilities. A successful product liability claim or series of claims against us in excess of our insurance coverage payments, for which we are not otherwise indemnified, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

The insurance that we maintain may not fully cover all potential exposures.

We maintain insurance typical of similarly situated companies in our industry but such insurance may not cover all risks associated with the operation of our business or our manufacturing process and the related use, storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes in or from our manufacturing sites or our distribution centers. While we have purchased what we deem to be adequate limits of coverage and broadly worded policies, our coverage is subject to limitations, including higher self-insured retentions or deductibles and maximum limits and liabilities covered. Notwithstanding diligent efforts to successfully procure specialty coverage for environmental liability and remediation, we may incur losses beyond the limits or outside the terms of coverage of our insurance policies, including liabilities for environmental remediation. In addition, from time to time, various types of insurance for companies in the specialty chemicals industry have not been available on commercially acceptable terms or, in some cases, at all. We are potentially at additional risk if one or more of our insurance carriers fail. Additionally, severe disruptions in the domestic and global financial markets could adversely impact the ratings and survival of some insurers. Future downgrades in the ratings of enough insurers could adversely impact both the availability of appropriate insurance coverage and its cost. In the future, we may not be able to obtain coverage at current levels, if at all, and our premiums may increase significantly on coverage that we maintain.

We are subject to customs, international trade, export control, antitrust, zoning and occupancy and labor and employment laws that could require us to modify our current business practices and incur increased costs.

We are subject to numerous regulations, including customs and international trade laws, export/import control laws, and associated regulations. These laws and regulations limit the countries in which we can do business; the persons or entities with whom we can do business; the products which we can buy or sell; and the terms under which we can do business, including anti-dumping restrictions. In addition, we are subject to antitrust laws and zoning and occupancy laws that regulate manufacturers generally and/or govern the importation, promotion and sale of our products, the operation of factories and warehouse facilities and our relationship with our customers, suppliers and competitors. If any of these laws or regulations were to change or were violated by our management, employees, suppliers, buying agents or trading companies, the costs of certain goods could increase, or we could experience delays in shipments of our goods, be subject to fines or penalties, or suffer reputational harm, which could reduce demand for our products and hurt our business and negatively impact results of operations. In addition, in some areas we benefit from certain trade protections, including anti-dumping protection and the European Union’s Authorized Economic Operator program, which provides expedited customs treatment for materials crossing national borders. If we were to lose these protections, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

In addition, changes in statutory minimum wage laws and other laws relating to employee benefits could cause us to incur additional wage and benefits costs, which could negatively impact our profitability.

Legal requirements are frequently changed and subject to interpretation, and we are unable to predict the ultimate cost of compliance with these requirements or their effects on our operations. We may be required to make significant expenditures or modify our business practices to comply with existing or future laws and regulations, which may increase our costs and materially limit our ability to operate our business.

 

29


Table of Contents

We are dependent on the continued service and recruitment of key executives, the loss of any of whom could adversely affect our business.

Our performance is substantially dependent on the performance of our senior management team, including Christopher D. Pappas, our President and Chief Executive Officer and John A. Feenan, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. We have entered into agreements with each member of our senior management team that restrict their ability to compete with us should they decide to leave our Company. Even though we have entered into these agreements, we cannot be sure that any member of our senior management team will remain with us, or that they will not seek to compete with us in the future. The loss of members of our senior management team or our inability to hire qualified management personnel in a timely manner could impair our ability to execute our business plan and growth strategy, cause us to lose customers and reduce revenue, or lead to employee morale problems and/or the loss of additional key employees.

Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may significantly impact our results of operations and may significantly affect the comparability of our results between financial periods.

Our operations are conducted by subsidiaries in many countries. The results of the operations and the financial position of these subsidiaries are reported in the relevant foreign currencies and then translated into U.S. dollars at the applicable exchange rates for inclusion in our consolidated financial statements. The main currencies to which we are exposed are the euro, the British pound, Chinese renminbi, Indian rupee, Korean won, Brazilian real and Swedish krona. The exchange rates between these currencies and the U.S. dollar in recent years have fluctuated significantly and may continue to do so in the future. A depreciation of these currencies against the U.S. dollar, in particular the euro, will decrease the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts derived from these operations reported in our consolidated financial statements and an appreciation of these currencies will result in a corresponding increase in such amounts. Because some of our raw material costs are procured in U.S. dollars rather than on these currencies, depreciation of these currencies may have an adverse effect on our profit margins or our reported results of operations. Conversely, to the extent that we are required to pay for goods or services in foreign currencies, the appreciation of such currencies against the U.S. dollar will tend to negatively impact our results of operations. In addition, currency fluctuations may affect the comparability of our results of operations between financial periods.

We incur currency transaction risk whenever we enter into either a purchase or sale transaction using a currency other than the local currency of the transacting entity. Given the volatility of exchange rates, there can be no assurance that we will be able to effectively manage our currency transaction risks or that any volatility in currency exchange rates will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

We may engage in strategic acquisitions or dispositions of certain assets and/or businesses that could affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

We may selectively pursue complementary acquisitions and joint ventures (including but not limited to the joint venture in respect of our Emerging Markets SB Latex Business. See “Business—Joint Venture Option Agreement”), each of which inherently involves a number of risks and presents financial, managerial and operational challenges, including:

 

    potential disruption of our ongoing business and distraction of management;

 

    difficulty with integration of personnel and financial and other systems;

 

    hiring additional management and other critical personnel; and

 

    increasing the scope, geographic diversity and complexity of our operations.

In addition, we may encounter unforeseen obstacles or costs in the integration of acquired businesses. Also, the presence of one or more material liabilities of an acquired company that are unknown to us at the time of

 

30


Table of Contents

acquisition may have a material adverse effect on our business. Our acquisition and joint venture strategy may not be successfully received by customers, and we may not realize any anticipated benefits from acquisitions or joint ventures.

We may also opportunistically pursue dispositions of certain assets and/or businesses, which may involve material amounts of assets or lines of business, and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. If any such dispositions were to occur, under the terms of the credit agreement governing our Revolving Facility and the indenture governing out Senior Notes, we may be required to apply the proceeds of the sale to repay any borrowings under our Revolving Facility or our Senior Notes.

We generally do not have long-term contracts with our customers, and the loss of customers could adversely affect our sales and profitability.

With some exceptions, our business is based primarily upon individual sales orders with our customers. As such, our customers could cease buying our products from us at any time, for any reason, with little or no recourse. If multiple customers elected not to purchase products from us, our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We could be subject to damages based on claims brought against us by our customers or lose customers as a result of the failure of our products to meet certain quality specifications.

Our products provide important performance attributes to our customers’ products. If a product fails to perform in a manner consistent with quality specifications, a customer could seek replacement of the product or damages for costs incurred as a result of the product failing to perform as designed and marketed. A successful claim or series of claims against us could cause reputational harm and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and could result in a loss of one or more customers.

If we are not able to continue the technological innovation and successful commercial introduction of new products, our customers may turn to other producers to meet their requirements.

Our industry and the end markets into which we sell our products experience periodic technological changes and ongoing product improvements. Our customers may introduce new generations of their own products or require new technological and increased performance specifications that would require us to develop customized products. Innovation or other changes in our customers’ product performance requirements may also adversely affect the demand for our products. Our future growth will depend on our ability to gauge the direction of the commercial and technological progress in all key end markets, and upon our ability to successfully develop, manufacture and market products in such changing end markets. We need to continue to identify, develop and market innovative products on a timely basis to replace existing products in order to maintain our profit margins and our competitive position. We may not be successful in developing new products and technology that successfully compete with such materials, and our customers may not accept any of our new products. If we fail to keep pace with evolving technological innovations or fail to modify our products in response to our customers’ needs, then our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected as a result of reduced sales of our products.

Our business relies on intellectual property and other proprietary information and our failure to adequately protect or effectively enforce our rights could harm our competitive advantages with respect to the manufacturing of some of our products.

Our success depends to a significant degree upon our ability to protect, preserve and enforce our intellectual property and other proprietary information of our business. However, we may be unable to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property and other proprietary information without our authorization or independently developing intellectual property and other proprietary information that is similar to or competes with ours, particularly in those countries where the laws do not protect proprietary rights to the same degree as in the United States. Any inability by us to effectively prevent the unauthorized use of our intellectual property and other

 

31


Table of Contents

proprietary information by others could reduce or eliminate any competitive advantage we have developed, cause us to lose sales or otherwise harm our business. If it becomes necessary for us to initiate litigation to protect our proprietary rights, any proceedings could be burdensome and costly, and we may not prevail.

Any patents we own, or that are exclusively licensed to us, that have been issued or may be issued in the future, may not provide us with any competitive advantage and may be challenged by third parties. Our competitors or others also may seek to oppose or challenge the validity of our pending patent applications or issued patents. Our competitors also may attempt to design around our patents or copy or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual property and other proprietary information. Moreover, our competitors may already hold or have applied for patents in the United States or other countries in which we operate that, if enforced following their issuance, could possibly limit our ability to manufacture or sell one or more of our products in the jurisdictions in which such patents are issued. In general, competitors or other parties may, from time to time, assert issued patents or other intellectual property rights against us. If we are legally determined, at some future date, to infringe or violate the intellectual property rights of another party, we may have to pay damages, stop the infringing use, or attempt to obtain a license of such intellectual property from the owner of such intellectual property. With respect to our pending patent applications, we may not be successful in securing patents for the patent claims we are pursuing. Our failure to secure these patents may limit our ability to protect inventions that these applications were intended to cover. In addition, as our patents expire, or are allowed to lapse, in the coming years, we may face increased competition with consequent erosion of profit margins if we are unable to continue to develop innovations for which we are able to secure new patents or we are unable to effectively protect our know how and innovations as trade secrets.

It is our policy to enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and third parties to protect our confidential proprietary manufacturing know how, technological innovations, proprietary business information and other trade secrets, but our confidentiality agreements could be breached and may not prevent our manufacturing know how and other trade secrets from being misappropriated by others. Adequate remedies may not be available in the event of an unauthorized use or disclosure of our trade secrets and manufacturing know how. Violations by others of our confidentiality agreements and the loss of employees who have specialized knowledge and expertise could harm our competitive position and cause our sales and operating results to decline as a result of increased competition. In addition, others may obtain knowledge of our trade secrets through independent development or other access by legal means.

We have registered and applied for registration of certain service marks and trademarks, and will continue to evaluate the registration and maintenance of additional service marks and trademarks. We have registered the trademark TRINSEO in countries throughout the world and intend to adopt this trademark as a “house” brand for all of our products in the future, however the timing of this rebranding initiative has not yet been determined and we may be required to make marketing and other expenditures in order to complete this rebranding successfully. The applicable governmental authorities may not approve our pending applications. A failure to obtain, or maintain, trademark registrations in the United States and in other countries could limit our ability to protect and enforce our trademarks and impede our marketing efforts in those jurisdictions. Moreover, third parties may seek to oppose our applications or otherwise challenge the resulting registrations. In the event that any of our trademarks are successfully challenged, we could be forced to rebrand our products or lose product differentiations that our use of the trademarks has created in the marketplace, which could result in loss of brand recognition or customer loyalty or goodwill and could require us to devote resources to advertising and marketing new brands and the development of new products.

We may be unable to determine when third parties are using our intellectual property rights without our authorization, particularly our manufacturing processes. In addition, we cannot be certain that any intellectual property rights that we have licensed to third parties are being used only as authorized by the applicable license agreement. The undetected, unremedied, or unauthorized use of our intellectual property rights or the legitimate development or acquisition of intellectual property that is similar to or competes with ours by third parties could

reduce or eliminate the competitive advantage we have as a result of our intellectual property, adversely affecting our financial condition and results of operations.

 

32


Table of Contents

If we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property and other proprietary information, including our processes, apparatuses, technology, trade secrets, trade names and proprietary manufacturing know how, methods and compounds, through obtaining patent protection, securing trademark registrations and securing our trade secrets through the use of confidentiality agreements of appropriate scope and other means, our competitive advantages over other producers could be materially adversely affected. If we determine to take legal action to protect, defend or enforce our intellectual property rights, any suits or proceedings could result in significant costs and diversion of our resources and our management’s attention. We may not prevail in any such suits or proceedings. A failure to protect, defend or enforce our intellectual property rights could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our products may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may cause us to incur unexpected costs or prevent us from selling our products.

We continually seek to improve our business processes and develop new products and applications. Many of our competitors have a substantial amount of intellectual property that we must continually strive to avoid infringing. Although it is our policy and intention not to infringe valid patents of which we are aware, we cannot provide assurances that our processes and products and other activities do not and will not infringe issued patents (whether present or future) or other intellectual property rights belonging to others, either in the United States or abroad. There nonetheless could be third party patents that cover our products, processes or technologies, and it is possible that we could be liable for infringement of such patents and could be required to take remedial or curative actions to continue our manufacturing and sales activities with respect to one or more products that are found to be infringing. We may also be subject to indemnity claims by our business partners arising out of claims of their alleged infringement of the patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties in connection with their use of our products. Intellectual property litigation often is expensive and time-consuming, regardless of the merits of any claim, and our involvement in such litigation could divert our management’s attention from operating our business. If we were to discover that any of our processes, technologies or products infringe the valid intellectual property rights of others, we might determine to obtain licenses from the owners of such rights or to modify our processes or technologies or re-engineer our products in order to avoid infringement. We may not be able to obtain the necessary licenses on acceptable terms, or at all, or be able to modify our processes or technologies or re-engineer our products in a manner that is successful in avoiding infringement. Moreover, if we are sued for infringement and lose, we could be required to pay substantial damages and/or be enjoined from using or selling the infringing products or technology. Any of the foregoing could cause us to incur significant costs and prevent us from selling our products and could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Data security breaches could compromise sensitive information related to our business, which could adversely affect our business and our reputation.

Cyber attacks or security breaches could compromise confidential, business critical information or cause a disruption in our operations. We have attractive information assets, including intellectual property, trade secrets and other sensitive, business critical information. We face an ever growing risk of attack from outside our organization (including attack by organized crime, so-called “hacktivists,” and state-sponsored actors) using sophisticated technical and non-technical methodologies (including social engineering and “spear phishing” attacks). We also face risks from internal threats to information security, such as from negligent or dishonest employees or consultants. A successful cyber attack or other breach of security could result in the loss of critical business information and/or could negatively impact operations, which could have a negative impact on our financial results. Furthermore, in addition to using our own systems and infrastructure, we use information systems and infrastructure operated by third party service providers, including Dow. If our third party service providers experience an information security breach, depending on the nature of the breach, it could compromise confidential, business critical information or cause a disruption in our operations.

 

33


Table of Contents

The labor and employment laws in many jurisdictions in which we operate are more restrictive than in the United States. Additionally, we have unionized employees in the United States who may stage work stoppages. Our relationship with our employees could deteriorate, which could have an adverse effect on our operations.

As a manufacturing company, we rely on our employees and good relations with our employees to produce our products and maintain our production processes and productivity. Approximately 85% of our employees are employed outside of the United States. In certain of those countries, such as the member states of the European Union, labor and employment laws are more restrictive than in the United States. In many jurisdictions, the laws grant significant job protection to employees, which subject us to employment arrangements that are very similar to collective bargaining agreements.

In addition, as of March 31, 2014, approximately 18% of our employees in United States are members of a union and subject to a collective bargaining agreement. We are required to consult with and seek the consent or advice of the unions or works’ councils that represent our employees for certain of our activities. This requirement could have a significant impact on our flexibility in managing costs and responding to market changes. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that we will be able to negotiate labor agreements with our unionized employees in the future on satisfactory terms. If those employees were to engage in a strike, work stoppage or other slowdown, or if any of our other employees were to become unionized, we could experience a significant disruption of our operations or higher ongoing labor costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

As a global business, we are exposed to local business risks in different countries, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

We have significant operations in foreign countries, including manufacturing facilities, R&D facilities, sales personnel and customer support operations. Currently, we operate, or others operate on our behalf, 35 manufacturing plants (which include a total of 83 production units) at 27 sites around the world, including in Brazil, Colombia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Sweden, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan, in addition to our operations in the United States. Our offshore operations are subject to risks inherent in doing business in foreign countries, including, but not necessarily limited to:

 

    new and different legal and regulatory requirements in local jurisdictions;

 

    uncertainties regarding interpretation and enforcement of laws and regulations;

 

    variation in political and economic policy of the local governments and social conditions;

 

    export duties or import quotas;

 

    domestic and foreign customs and tariffs or other trade barriers;

 

    potential staffing difficulties and labor disputes;

 

    managing and obtaining support and distribution for local operations;

 

    increased costs of transportation or shipping;

 

    credit risk and financial conditions of local customers and distributors;

 

    potential difficulties in protecting intellectual property;

 

    risk of nationalization of private enterprises by foreign governments;

 

    potential imposition of restrictions on investments;

 

    potentially adverse tax consequences, including imposition or increase of withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments by subsidiaries;

 

    legal restrictions on doing business in or with certain nations, certain parties and/or certain products;

 

34


Table of Contents
    foreign currency exchange restrictions and fluctuations; and

 

    local economic, political and social conditions, including the possibility of hyperinflationary conditions and political instability.

We may not be successful in developing and implementing policies and strategies to address the foregoing factors in a timely and effective manner at each location where we do business. Consequently, the occurrence of one or more of the foregoing factors could have a material adverse effect on our international operations or upon our financial condition and results of operations.

Our operations in developing markets could expose us to political, economic and regulatory risks that are greater than those we may face in established markets. Further, our international operations require us to comply with a number of United States and international regulations. For example, we must comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, which prohibits companies or their agents and employees from providing anything of value to a foreign official or agent thereof for the purposes of influencing any act or decision of these individuals in their official capacity to help obtain or retain business, direct business to any person or corporate entity or obtain any unfair advantage. We operate in some nations that have experienced significant levels of governmental corruption. Any failure by us to ensure that our employees and agents comply with the FCPA and applicable laws and regulations in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial civil and criminal penalties or restrictions on our ability to conduct business in certain foreign jurisdictions or reputational damage, and our results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

Because a significant portion of our operations is conducted through our subsidiaries and joint ventures, we are largely dependent on our receipt of distributions and dividends or other payments from our subsidiaries and joint ventures for cash to fund all of our operations and expenses, including to make future dividend payments, if any.

A significant portion of our operations is conducted through our subsidiaries and joint ventures. As a result, our ability to service our debt or to make future dividend payments, if any, is largely dependent on the earnings of our subsidiaries and joint ventures and the payment of those earnings to us in the form of dividends, loans or advances and through repayment of loans or advances from us. Payments to us by our subsidiaries and joint ventures will be contingent upon our subsidiaries’ or joint ventures’ earnings and other business considerations and may be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions. We do not currently expect to declare or pay dividends on our ordinary shares for the foreseeable future; however, to the extent that we determine in the future to pay dividends on our ordinary shares, the credit agreement governing our Senior Secured Credit Facility and the indenture governing our Senior Notes significantly restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or otherwise transfer assets to us. In addition, there may be significant tax and other legal restrictions on the ability of foreign subsidiaries or joint ventures to remit money to us.

Our quarterly results of operations are subject to fluctuations due to the seasonality of our business.

Seasonal changes and weather conditions typically affect the construction and building materials end markets. In particular, sales volumes for construction and building materials generally rise in the warmer months and generally decline during the colder months of fall and winter. Abnormally cold or wet seasons may cause reduced purchases from our construction and building materials customers and, therefore, adversely affect our financial results. However, because seasonal weather patterns are difficult to predict, we cannot accurately estimate fluctuations in our quarterly construction and building materials sales in any given year. Because of the seasonality of our business, results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for any other quarter or for the full fiscal year.

 

35


Table of Contents

We have unfunded and underfunded pension plan liabilities. We will require current and future operating cash flow to fund these shortfalls. We have no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy these obligations.

We maintain defined benefit pension plans covering employees who meet age and service requirements. The majority of these plans are located outside the United States. We have minimum funding requirements for these plans, and may elect to make contributions that do not exceed these minimum requirements. Our net pension liability and cost is materially affected by the discount rate used to measure pension obligations, the longevity and actuarial profile of our workforce, the level of plan assets available to fund those obligations and the actual and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. Significant changes in investment performance or a change in the portfolio mix of invested assets can result in corresponding increases and decreases in the valuation of plan assets, particularly equity securities, or in a change in the expected rate of return on plan assets and could result in a shortfall. In addition, any changes in the discount rate could result in a significant increase or decrease in the valuation of pension obligations, affecting the reported funded status of our pension plans as well as the net periodic pension cost in the following years. Similarly, changes in the expected return on plan assets can result in significant changes in the net periodic pension cost in the following years.

If our goodwill becomes impaired, we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings.

We are required to test goodwill for impairment at least annually or earlier if events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. As of March 31, 2014, we had recorded a total of $37.3 million of goodwill. An adverse change in economic or market conditions, changes in technology, changes in competitive conditions and customer preferences, particularly if such changes have the effect of changing one of our critical assumptions or estimates made in connection with the impairment testing of goodwill could result in a change to the estimation of fair value that could result in an impairment charge to our goodwill. Any such material charges may negatively impact our operating results.

Our ability to obtain additional capital on commercially reasonable terms may be limited.

Although we believe our cash and cash equivalents, together with cash we expect to generate from operations and availability under our revolving credit facility, provide adequate resources to fund ongoing operating requirements, we may need to seek additional financing to compete effectively.

If we are unable to obtain capital on commercially reasonable terms, it could:

 

    reduce funds available to us for purposes such as working capital, capital expenditures, R&D, strategic acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

    restrict our ability to introduce new products or exploit business opportunities;

 

    increase our vulnerability to economic downturns and competitive pressures in the markets in which we operate; and

 

    place us at a competitive disadvantage.

Risks Related to this Offering and to our Ordinary Shares

We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange listing rules and, as a result, we will qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.

After the completion of this offering, the Parent will continue to control a majority of the voting power of our outstanding equity. As a result, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the New York Stock Exchange. Under these rules, a company of which more than 50%

 

36


Table of Contents

of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements including:

 

    the requirement that a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors;

 

    the requirement that we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and

 

    the requirement for an annual performance evaluation of the nominating/corporate governance and compensation committees.

Following this offering we intend to utilize these exemptions. As a result, we may not have a majority of independent directors, our compensation committee will not consist entirely of independent directors and the board committees will not be subject to annual performance evaluations. Accordingly, you will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.

Our Parent, however, is not subject to any contractual obligation to retain its controlling interest, except that it has agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell or otherwise dispose of any ordinary shares or other equity securities or other securities exercisable or convertible therefore for a period of at least 180 days after the date of this prospectus without the prior written consent of Goldman, Sachs & Co., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. Except for this brief period, there can be no assurance as to the period of time during which the Parent will maintain its ownership of our ordinary shares following the offering.

Our share price could be extremely volatile, and, as a result, you may not be able to resell your ordinary shares at or above the price you paid for them.

Since our inception, there has not been a public market for our ordinary shares, and an active public market for our ordinary shares may not develop or be sustained after this offering. In addition, the stock market in general has been highly volatile. As a result, the market price of our ordinary shares is likely to be similarly volatile, and investors in our ordinary shares may experience a decrease, which could be substantial, in the value of their ordinary shares, including decreases unrelated to our operating performance or prospects, and could lose part or all of their investment. The price of our ordinary shares could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of factors, including those described elsewhere in this prospectus and others such as:

 

    variations in our operating performance and the performance of our competitors;

 

    actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly or annual operating results;

 

    publication of research reports by securities analysts about us or our competitors or our industry;

 

    our failure or the failure of our competitors to meet analysts’ projections or guidance that we or our competitors may give to the market;

 

    additions and departures of key personnel;

 

    strategic decisions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, joint ventures, strategic investments or changes in business strategy;

 

    the passage of legislation or other regulatory developments affecting us or our industry;

 

    speculation in the press or investment community;

 

    changes in accounting principles;

 

    terrorist acts, acts of war or periods of widespread civil unrest;

 

    natural disasters and other calamities; and

 

    changes in general market and economic conditions.

 

37


Table of Contents

In the past, securities class action litigation has often been initiated against companies following periods of volatility in their stock price. This type of litigation could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources, and could also require us to make substantial payments to satisfy judgments or to settle litigation.

Your percentage ownership in us may be diluted by future equity issuances, which could reduce your influence over matters on which shareholders vote.

Following the closing of this offering, our board of directors, or Board, has the authority, without action or vote of our shareholders, to issue all or any part of our authorized but unissued ordinary shares, including shares issuable upon the exercise of options, or shares of our authorized but unissued preferred equity. Issuances of ordinary shares or voting preferred stock would reduce your influence over matters on which our shareholders vote and, in the case of issuances of preferred stock, would likely result in your interest in us being subject to the prior rights of holders of that preferred stock.

There may be sales of a substantial amount of our ordinary shares after this offering by our current shareholders, and these sales could cause the price of our ordinary shares to fall.

After this offering, there will be            ordinary shares outstanding. There will be            ordinary shares issued and outstanding if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional ordinary shares. Of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, all the ordinary shares sold in this offering will be freely transferable, except for any ordinary shares held by our “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Following completion of this offering, approximately    % of our outstanding ordinary shares (or    % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional ordinary shares from us) will be held by the Parent and members of our management and employees.

Each of our directors, executive officers and significant equity holders (including affiliates of the Parent) has entered into a lock-up agreement with Goldman, Sachs & Co., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, on behalf of the underwriters, which regulates their sales of our ordinary shares for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, subject to certain exceptions and automatic extensions in certain circumstances. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Lock-Up Agreements.”

Sales of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market after this offering, or the perception that such sales will occur, could adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares and make it difficult for us to raise funds through securities offerings in the future. Of the ordinary shares to be outstanding after the offering, the shares offered by this prospectus will be eligible for immediate sale in the public market without restriction by persons other than our affiliates. Our remaining outstanding shares will become available for resale in the public market as shown in the chart below.

 

Number of Shares

  

Date Available for Resale

   180 days after this offering (                    , 2014)

Beginning 180 days after this offering, subject to certain exceptions and automatic extensions in certain circumstances, holders of our ordinary shares may require us to register their ordinary shares for resale under the federal securities laws, and holders of additional ordinary shares would be entitled to have their ordinary shares included in any such registration statement, all subject to reduction upon the request of the underwriter of the offering, if any. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Arrangements With Our Investors.” Registration of those ordinary shares would allow the holders to immediately resell their ordinary shares in the public market. Any such sales or anticipation thereof could cause the market price of our ordinary shares to decline.

In addition, after this offering, we intend to register ordinary shares that we expect to issue pursuant to our 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan. For more information, see “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Registration Statement on Form S-8.”

 

38


Table of Contents

We are a Luxembourg Company and, as a result, shareholders may have difficulty effecting service of process or litigation against us or our officers and directors and will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of a company incorporated in Delaware.

We are organized under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Many of our assets are located outside the United States and some of our directors and officers named in this prospectus reside outside the United States and most of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, investors may find it more difficult to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons or to enforce outside the United States judgments obtained against us or these persons in U.S. courts, including judgments in actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Likewise, it may also be difficult for an investor to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against us or these persons in courts located in jurisdictions outside the United States, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. It may also be difficult for an investor to bring an original action in a Luxembourg court predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us or these persons. Luxembourg law does not recognize a shareholder’s right to bring a derivative action on behalf of a company.

Our corporate affairs are governed by our articles of association and by the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The rights of our shareholders and the responsibilities of our directors and officers under Luxembourg law are different from those applicable to a corporation incorporated in Delaware, or any other state of the United States. Luxembourg law and regulations in respect of corporate governance matters might not be as protective of minority shareholders as the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or other state corporation laws. Therefore, our shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in connection with actions taken by our directors and officers or our principal shareholders than they would as shareholders of a Delaware corporation or a corporation incorporated in another state of the United States. See “Description of Share Capital” for a discussion of differences between Luxembourg and Delaware law.

Provisions in our organizational documents and Luxembourg law may deter takeover efforts or other actions, including share repurchases that could be beneficial to shareholder value.

In addition to our Parent’s beneficial ownership of a controlling percentage of our ordinary shares, our articles of association and Luxembourg law contain provisions that could make it harder for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so might be beneficial to our shareholders. These provisions include a staggered board of directors, the ability of the board of directors to approve a merger or other acquisition and to issue additional ordinary shares without shareholder approval that could be used to dilute a potential hostile acquirer. As a result, you may lose your ability to sell your stock for a price in excess of the prevailing market price due to these protective measures, and efforts by shareholders to change the direction or management of the company may be unsuccessful. See “Description of Share Capital.”

Pursuant to Luxembourg corporate law, existing shareholders are generally entitled to preemptive subscription rights in the event of capital increases and issues of shares against cash contributions. However, under our articles of association and shareholder approvals obtained prior to the completion of this offering, our board of directors has been authorized to waive, limit or suppress such pre-emptive subscription rights until the fifth anniversary of such authorization and, in the future at a general meeting of our shareholders, our shareholders may renew, expand or amend such authorization, which could result in the extension of such waiver beyond the initial five year period. See “Description of Share Capital—Pre-emptive Rights.”

In addition, our board of directors is authorized to acquire and sell issued ordinary shares subject to certain price and ownership restrictions until the fifth anniversary of such authorization and, in the future at a general meeting of our shareholders, our shareholders may renew, expand or amend such authorization. These limitations on share repurchases may have the effect of limiting the terms and duration of any potential share repurchase program or other repurchase transaction. See “Description of Share Capital”

 

39


Table of Contents

The Parent will continue to have significant influence over us after this offering, which could limit your ability to influence the outcome of key transactions, including a change of control.

We are currently controlled, and after this offering is completed will continue to be controlled, by the Parent. Upon completion of this offering, the Parent will beneficially own    % of our outstanding ordinary shares (    % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares from us). For as long as the Parent continues to beneficially own more than 50% of the voting power of our ordinary shares, it will be able to direct the election of all of the members of our board of directors and could exercise a controlling influence over our business and affairs, including any determinations with respect to mergers or other business combinations, the acquisition or disposition of assets, the incurrence of indebtedness, the issuance of any additional ordinary shares or other equity securities, the repurchase or redemption of ordinary shares and the payment of dividends. Similarly, the Parent will have the power to determine matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders without the consent of our other shareholders, will have the power to prevent a change in our control and could take other actions that might be favorable to it. Even if its ownership falls below 50%, the Parent and its affiliates will continue to be able to strongly influence or effectively control our decisions.

Additionally, certain affiliates of the Parent are in the business of making investments in companies and may acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. They may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us.

There is no existing market for our ordinary shares, and we do not know if one will develop to provide you with adequate liquidity to sell our ordinary shares at prices equal to or greater than the price you paid in this offering.

Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our ordinary shares. We cannot predict the extent to which an active trading market on the stock exchange on which we list our ordinary shares will develop. If an active trading market does not develop, you may have difficulty selling any of our ordinary shares that you buy. The initial public offering price for our ordinary shares will be determined by negotiations between us and the representatives of the underwriters and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the open market following this offering. Consequently, you may not be able to sell our ordinary shares at prices equal to or greater than the price you paid in this offering, or at all.

Because we have no current plans to pay cash dividends on our ordinary shares for the foreseeable future, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your ordinary shares for a price greater than that which you paid for it.

We may retain future earnings, if any, for future operations, expansion and debt repayment and have no current plans to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends may be limited by covenants of any existing and future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur, including our Revolving Facility. As a result, you may not receive any return on an investment in our ordinary shares unless you sell our ordinary shares for a price greater than that which you paid for them.

 

40


Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, projections, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are not statements of historical facts. Forward looking statements may be identified by the use of words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “will,” “may,” “might,” “potential,” “likely,” “target,” “plan,” “contemplate,” “seek,” “attempt,” “should,” “could,” “would” or expressions of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s evaluation of information currently available and are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Specific factors that may impact performance or other predictions of future actions have, in many but not all cases, been identified in connection with specific forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions and the following:

 

    our continued reliance on our relationship with Dow;

 

    our substantial level of indebtedness;

 

    the stability of our joint ventures;

 

    lawsuits resulting from products or operations;

 

    volatility in costs or disruption in the supply of the raw materials utilized for our products;

 

    hazards associated with chemical manufacturing;

 

    the competitive nature of our end markets;

 

    our compliance with environmental, health and safety laws;

 

    conditions in the global economy and capital markets;

 

    any disruptions in production at our manufacturing facilities;

 

    increases in the cost of energy;

 

    our ability to maintain the necessary licenses and permits we need for our operations;

 

    failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls;

 

    current insurance not covering all potential exposures;

 

    changes in laws and regulations applicable to our business;

 

    our dependence upon key executive management and any inability to attract and retain other qualified management personnel;

 

    fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

 

    strategic acquisitions affecting current operations;

 

    the loss of customers;

 

    any inability to continue technological innovation and successful introduction of new products;

 

    any inability to protect our trademarks, patents or other intellectual property rights;

 

    data security breaches;

 

41


Table of Contents
    failure of our assumptions and projections to be accurate;

 

    local business risks in different countries in which we operate;

 

    seasonality of our business; and

 

    other risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus.

We derive many of our forward-looking statements from our operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, or cautionary statements, are disclosed under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this prospectus. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements as well as other cautionary statements that are made from time to time in our other public communications. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this prospectus in the context of these risks and uncertainties.

We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences or affect us or our operations in the way we expect. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

 

42


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $         per ordinary share, the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, that we will receive net proceeds from the offering of approximately $         million (or approximately $         million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares), after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per ordinary share would increase or decrease the net proceeds we receive from this offering by approximately $         million, assuming the number of ordinary shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover of this prospectus, remains the same.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to redeem approximately $130 million in aggregate principal amount of indebtedness under our 8.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest through the redemption date. The remaining proceeds will be used to pay approximately $             million of fees and expenses associated with this offering and for working capital and general corporate purposes. As of March 31, 2014, there was approximately $1,325.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our 8.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 outstanding. For a description of the applicable redemption provisions in our indenture, including our supplemental indentures, see “Description of Indebtedness—Senior Notes.”

 

43


Table of Contents

DIVIDEND POLICY

We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business and to repay indebtedness, and therefore we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The payment of cash distributions on ordinary shares is restricted under the terms of our Revolving Facility, the indenture governing our Senior Notes and applicable Luxembourg law. Additionally, because we are a holding company, our ability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares is limited by restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to us, including restrictions under the terms of the agreements governing our indebtedness. See “Description of Indebtedness.” Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to compliance with covenants in current and future agreements governing our indebtedness, and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant.

 

44


Table of Contents

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of March 31, 2014 on an actual basis and on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the offering and application of the net proceeds from this offering as described in this prospectus including the payment of approximately $25 million out of available cash to the Advisors in connection with the termination of our Advisory Agreement and our Transaction Services Agreement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Advisory Agreement and Transaction Services Agreement.”

You should read the following table in conjunction with the sections entitled “Use of Proceeds,” “Selected Consolidated Financial and Other Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our 2013 consolidated financial statements and March 31, 2014 condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following information is presented in thousands, except for per share data.

 

     As of March 31, 2014
     Actual     As Adjusted(1)
     (in thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 139,089     
  

 

 

   

 

Debt:

    

Secured debt, including current portion:

    

Accounts receivable securitization facility

     —       

Revolving Facility(2)

     —       

Other indebtedness(3)

     12,421     

Senior Notes

     1,325,000     
  

 

 

   

 

Total debt, including current portion

   $ 1,337,421     
  

 

 

   

 

Shareholder’s equity:

    

Common stock (ordinary shares), $0.01 par value per share; 16,275,329 shares authorized, issued and outstanding on an actual basis;              shares authorized, issued and outstanding on an as adjusted basis

   $ 162,753     

Additional paid-in capital

     179,364     

Accumulated deficit

     (67,518  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     87,197     
  

 

 

   

 

Total shareholder’s equity

   $ 361,796     
  

 

 

   

 

Total capitalization

   $ 1,838,306     
  

 

 

   

 

 

(1) A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per ordinary share, the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the net proceeds from this offering available to us by approximately $         million, assuming the number of ordinary shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. See “Use of Proceeds.”
(2) Excludes $7.3 million of undrawn letters of credit.
(3) Includes outstanding borrowings under our short-term revolving credit facility through our subsidiary in China. See “Description of Indebtedness—Other Indebtedness.”

 

45


Table of Contents

DILUTION

If you invest in our ordinary shares, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per ordinary share and the net tangible book value per ordinary share after this offering. Dilution results from the fact the initial public offering price per ordinary share is substantially in excess of the book value per ordinary share attributable to the existing shareholders for the presently outstanding ordinary shares of. We calculate net tangible book value per ordinary share by dividing the net tangible book value (total consolidated tangible assets less total consolidated liabilities) by the number of outstanding ordinary shares.

Our net tangible book value at March 31, 2014 was approximately $(0.9) million, or approximately $(0.00) per ordinary share before giving effect to this offering. Dilution in net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share that you pay in this offering and the net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering.

After giving effect to the receipt of the estimated net proceeds from our sale of shares in this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $         per share (the mid-point of the offering range shown on the cover of this prospectus), and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of proceeds,” our pro forma net tangible book value at March 31, 2014 would have been approximately $        , or $         per ordinary share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value per share of $         to existing shareholders and an immediate decrease in net tangible book value per share of $         to you. The following table illustrates this dilution per share.

 

Assumed initial public offering price per ordinary share(a)

  $            

Pro forma net tangible book value per ordinary share at March 31, 2014

  $                

Increase per share attributable to new investors in this offering

 

Pro forma net tangible book value per ordinary share after this offering

 
 

 

Dilution per share to new investors

  $            
 

 

 

 
  (a) The midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus.

If the underwriters exercise their option in full to purchase additional shares, the pro forma net tangible book value ordinary share after giving effect to this offering would be $         ordinary share. This represents an increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $         per ordinary share to existing shareholders and dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of $         per ordinary share to you.

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per ordinary share would increase (decrease) our pro forma net tangible book value after giving effect to the offering by $         million, or by $         per ordinary share, assuming no change to the number of ordinary shares offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and estimated expenses payable by us.

The following table sets forth, as of March 31, 2014, the number of ordinary shares purchased from us, the total consideration paid to us and the average price per share paid by existing shareholders and to be paid by new investors purchasing ordinary shares in this offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

     Shares Purchased     Total Consideration     Average
Price Per
Share
 
     Number    Percent     Amount      Percent        

Existing shareholders

                   $                             $            

New investors

            
  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

                   $                     
  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

46


Table of Contents

If the underwriters were to fully exercise their option to purchase additional ordinary shares from us, the percentage of our ordinary shares held by existing shareholders would be     %, and the percentage of ordinary shares held by new investors would be     %.

To the extent any options or other equity awards are granted and exercised or become vested or other issuances of ordinary shares are made, there may be further economic dilution to new investors.

 

47


Table of Contents

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA

The following table sets forth our selected consolidated financial and other data. The selected consolidated statement of operations data and cash flow data for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2014 presented below were derived from our unaudited financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected consolidated statement of operations data and cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 presented below were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected consolidated statement of operations data and cash flow data for the period from June 17, 2010 through December 31, 2010 and the balance sheet data of December 31, 2011 and 2010 were derived from our successor period audited financial statements and the related notes thereto, which are not included in this prospectus. The selected consolidated statement of operations data and cash flow data for the period from January 1, 2010 through June 16, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009, and the historical balance sheet data as of June 16, 2010 have been derived from our predecessor period audited financial statements and the related notes thereto for the Styron business, which are not included in this prospectus.

Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future periods. Our historical financial data and that of the Styron business during the predecessor periods (see footnote 1 below) are not necessarily indicative of our future performance, nor does such data reflect what our financial position and results of operations would have been had we operated as a publicly-traded company during the periods shown.

This selected consolidated financial and other data should be read in conjunction with the disclosure set forth under “Capitalization” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the 2013 consolidated financial statements and March 31, 2014 condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    Successor          Predecessor (1)  
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
    June 17
through
December 31,
         January 1
through
June 16,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
(in millions, except per share data)   2014     2013     2013     2012     2011     2010          2010     2009  

Statement of Operations Data:

                   

Net sales(2)

  $ 1,359.1      $ 1,391.6      $ 5,307.4      $ 5,451.9      $ 6,192.9      $ 2,876.9          $ 2,090.1      $ 3,450.1   

Cost of sales(2)(3)

    1,260.5        1,310.8        4,949.4        5,115.2        5,797.3        2,661.7            1,895.9        3,148.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    98.6        80.8        358.0        336.7        395.6        215.2            194.2        301.3   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    50.0        46.5        216.9        182.0        308.6        124.6            64.6        142.5   

Acquisition-related expenses

    —          —          —         —         —         56.5            —         —    

Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates

    15.0        2.8        39.1        27.1        23.9        12.6            4.5        (5.6
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

    63.6        37.1        180.2        181.8        110.9        46.7            134.1        153.2   

Interest expense, net(4)

    32.8        32.3        132.0        110.0        111.4        47.9            —         —    

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt(5)

    —          20.7        20.7        —         55.7        —             —         —    

Other expense (income), net

    0.9        (6.1     27.9        24.0        (20.1     (2.3         7.6        (0.6
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    29.9        9.8        (0.4     47.8        (36.1     1.1            126.5        153.8   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

    12.8        (0.1     21.8        17.5        39.8        17.9            53.0        90.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

  $ 17.1      $ (9.7   $ (22.2   $ 30.3      $ (75.9   $ (16.8       $ 73.5      $ 63.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares

    16,275.3        16,275.3        16,275.3        7,040.9        60.9        71.7           

Net income (loss) per share (basic and diluted)

  $ 0.00      $ (0.00   $ (0.00   $ 0.00      $ (1.25   $ (0.23        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

   

 

48


Table of Contents
     Three Months Ended March 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2013     2012     2011  
    

(in millions)

 

Other Financial Data:

          

Cash flows provided by (used in):

          

Operating activities

   $ (1.2   $ (4.5   $ 211.3      $ 186.1      $ 151.1   

Investing activities

     (40.8     (4.2     (33.4     (117.3     (99.1

Financing activities

     (15.4     (71.1     (220.2     (77.2     44.9   

Depreciation and amortization

     23.7        23.9        95.2        85.6        101.6   

Capital expenditures, net of subsidy(6)

     41.1        10.4        54.8        112.4        99.8   
           As of March 31,     As of December 31,  
           2014     2013     2012     2011  
          

(in millions)

 

Balance Sheet Data:

          

Cash and cash equivalents

     $ 139.1      $ 196.5      $ 236.4      $ 245.3   

Working capital(7)

       813.9        810.2        778.1        765.2   

Total assets

       2,594.1        2,574.8        2,665.7        2,576.6   

Debt

       1,337.4        1,336.4        1,453.6        1,651.4   

Total liabilities

       2,232.3        2,231.6        2,374.0        2,456.0   

Total shareholder’s equity

       361.8        343.2        291.7        120.5   

 

(1) On June 17, 2010, we acquired 100% of the Styron business from Dow through Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., a wholly owned subsidiary, for approximately $1.5 billion plus transaction expenses (the “Acquisition”). The purchase price paid was allocated to the acquired assets and liabilities at fair value. Prior to June 17, 2010, our business was wholly owned by Dow. All periods prior to the Acquisition may be referred to herein as the “predecessor periods”, while those after the Acquisition may be referred to as “successor periods”.
(2) Net sales and cost of sales increase or decrease based on fluctuations in raw material prices. Consistent with industry practice and as permitted under agreements with many of our customers, raw material price changes are generally passed through to customers by means of corresponding price changes. Prior to June 17, 2010, all inventory sales between the Styron business and Dow business units were recorded at Dow’s internal manufacturing cost.
(3) Included in the predecessor periods presented are expenses related to planned major maintenance activity or turnaround activities. The predecessor periods presented represent the financial results of the Styron business prior to the Acquisition and were derived from the consolidated financial statements and accounting records of Dow, which elected the direct expensing method for the treatment of turnaround activities. This included $14.2 million of turnaround activities during the predecessor period from January 1 through June 16, 2010 and $7.6 million of turnaround activities during the predecessor period ending December 31, 2009. As disclosed in “Management’s Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Significant Accounting Policies”, during all successor periods presented, we have elected to capitalize qualified turnaround activities and amortize those costs over the period to the next scheduled turnaround date, consistent with the deferral method of accounting. We incurred turnaround activities of $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $2.3 million, $5.5 million and $15.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively. No such turnaround activities were directly incurred by us in the successor period ended December 31, 2010.
(4) In the predecessor periods, interest expense was not allocated to the Styron business as no debt was allocated.
(5) For the year ended December 31, 2011, the loss on extinguishment of debt relates to the February 2, 2011 amendment of our Senior Secured Credit Facility. For the year ended December 31, 2013 and the three months ended March 31, 2013, the loss on extinguishment of debt relates to the January 2013 amendment of our Senior Secured Credit Facility and repayment of term loans thereunder.
(6) Represents capital expenditures, net of government subsidies received for SSBR expansion of $0 and $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $18.8 million, $6.1 million, and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
(7) Working capital represents current assets minus current liabilities.

 

49


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

We are a leading global materials company engaged in the manufacture and marketing of emulsion polymers and plastics, including various specialty and technologically differentiated products. We have leading market positions in many of the markets in which we compete. We believe we have developed these strong market positions due to our technological differentiation, diverse global manufacturing base, long-standing customer relationships, commitment to sustainable solutions and competitive cost positions. We believe that growth in overall consumer spending and construction activity, increased demand in the automotive industry for higher fuel efficiency and lighter-weight materials, and improving living standards in emerging markets will result in growth in the global markets in which we compete. In addition, we believe our increasing business presence in developing regions such as China, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe further enhances our prospects.

We develop emulsion polymers and plastics products that are incorporated into a wide range of our customers’ products throughout the world, including tires and other products for automotive applications, carpet and artificial turf backing, coated paper and packaging board, food service packaging, appliances, medical devices, consumer electronics and construction applications, among others. We seek to regularly develop new and improved products and processes, supported by our strong patent portfolio, designed to enhance our customers’ product offerings. We have long-standing relationships with a diverse base of global customers, many of whom are leaders in their markets and rely on us for formulation, technological differentiation, and compounding expertise to find sustainable solutions for their businesses. Many of our products represent only a small portion of a finished product’s production costs, but provide critical functionality to the finished product and are often specifically developed to customer specifications. We believe these product traits result in substantial customer loyalty for our products.

We operate in four reporting segments under two business units. Our Emulsion Polymers business unit includes our Latex reporting segment and our Synthetic Rubber reporting segment. Our Plastics business unit includes our Styrenics reporting segment and our Engineered Polymers reporting segment.

We have significant manufacturing and production operations around the world, which allow us to serve our global customer base. As of March 31, 2014, our production facilities included 35 manufacturing plants (which included a total of 83 production units) at 27 sites across 14 countries, including joint ventures and contract manufacturers. Our manufacturing locations include sites in high-growth emerging markets such as China, Indonesia and Brazil. Additionally, as of March 31, 2014, we operated 11 research and development (“R&D”) facilities globally, including mini plants, development centers and pilot coaters, which we believe are critical to our global presence and innovation capabilities.

For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we generated approximately $1.4 billion in net sales and $17.1 million in net income, and $1.4 billion in net sales and $9.7 million in net losses, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, we generated approximately $5.3 billion in net sales and $22.2 million in net losses, $5.5 billion in net sales and $30.3 million in net income, and $6.2 billion in net sales and $75.9 million in net losses, respectively.

Industry Trends

We believe demand for our products is strongly correlated to growth in our customers’ end markets, which are expected to grow along with anticipated rising gross domestic product and industrial production. We believe growth in our markets is supported by improving living standards in emerging markets, the globalization of automotive platforms, improving fuel efficiency and the increasing demand for light-weight materials and upgraded automotive interior materials as well as wide-spread growth in the need for high performance lightweight materials for the electronics industry. We believe we are well-positioned to take advantage of these

 

50


Table of Contents

trends. For example, improving living standards are driving demand for coated paper in emerging markets, particularly in China. We have a leading SB latex position in China. As another example, we are following our current automotive customers to emerging markets with plans to supply them locally as part of their strategy to globalize automotive car platforms. In addition, in synthetic rubber, increasing fuel efficiency regulation is driving demand for SSBR, a key material for high-performance tires. We have a leading European market position in advanced SSBR, and have completed a recent capacity expansion at our Schkopau, Germany facility.

We believe our business will continue to benefit from improving market dynamics in our industry. Over the last few years, companies have rationalized higher-cost capacity in many of our key product lines and there have been a number of consolidation activities, both in emulsion polymers and in plastics. We believe that our markets will continue to experience a long-term trend towards consolidation which will create opportunities for our business given our scale and geographic reach. Developments in the market for certain of our raw materials have a substantial impact on our business.

Factors Affecting Our Operating Results

The following discussion sets forth certain components of our statements of operations as well as factors that impact those items.

Net Sales

We generate revenue from the sale of our products across all major geographic areas. Our net sales include total sales less estimates for returns and price allowances. Price allowances include discounts for prompt payment as well as volume-based incentives.

Our overall net sales are generally impacted by the following factors:

 

    fluctuations in overall economic activity within the geographic markets in which we operate;

 

    fluctuations in raw material input costs and our ability to pass those on to customers, including the effects of a generally 30 to 60-day delay (or greater) in changes to our product prices in our Latex segment, Synthetic Rubber segment, and parts of our Plastics division following changes to the relevant raw material prices affect our sales margins;

 

    underlying growth in one or more of our core end markets, either worldwide or in particular geographies in which we operate;

 

    changes in the level of competition faced by our products, including the substitution by customers of alternative products to ours and the launch of new products by competitors;

 

    the type of products used within existing customer applications, or the development of new applications requiring products similar to ours;

 

    the “mix” of products sold, including the proportion of new or improved products and their pricing relative to existing products;

 

    changes in product sales prices (including volume discounts and cash discounts for prompt payment);

 

    our ability to successfully develop and launch new products and applications; and

 

    fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

While the factors described above impact net sales in each of our segments, the impact of these factors can differ for each segment, as described below. For more information about risks relating to our business see “Risk Factors.”

 

51


Table of Contents

Cost of Sales

Our cost of sales consists principally of the following:

 

    Production Materials Costs . The costs of the materials we use in production are the largest element of our overall cost of sales. We seek to use our substantial volumes and global geographic scope to obtain the most favorable terms we can, but our production material costs are affected by global and local market conditions.

 

    Employee Costs . These employee costs include the salary costs and benefit charges for employees involved in our manufacturing operations. These costs generally increase on an aggregate basis as production volumes increase, but may decline as a percent of net sales as a result of economies of scale associated with higher production volumes.

 

    Sustaining Engineering Activity Costs . These costs relate to modifications of existing products for use by new customers in familiar applications.

 

    Depreciation and Amortization Expense . Property, plant, equipment and definite-lived intangible assets are stated at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Property, plant and equipment, including leasehold interests, and intangible assets acquired through the Acquisition were recorded at fair value on the acquisition date, resulting in a new cost basis for accounting purposes.

 

    Other . Our remaining cost of sales consists of:

 

    customer-related development costs;

 

    freight costs;

 

    warehousing expenses;

 

    purchasing costs; and

 

    other general manufacturing expenses, such as expenses for utilities and energy consumption.

The main factors that influence our cost of sales as a percent of net sales include:

 

    changes in the price of raw materials, and timing of corresponding price changes to our customers, which impact our sales margins;

 

    production volumes;

 

    the implementation of cost control measures aimed at improving productivity, reductions of fixed production costs, refinements in inventory management and purchasing cost of raw materials; and

 

    the impact of FIFO method inventory treatment.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Our selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expense consists of all expenditures incurred in connection with the sale and marketing of our products, as well as administrative overhead costs, including:

 

    salary and benefit costs for sales personnel and administrative staff, including stock-based compensation expense. Expenses relating to our sales personnel generally increase or decrease principally with changes in sales volume due to the need to increase or decrease sales personnel to meet changes in demand. Expenses relating to administrative personnel generally do not increase or decrease directly with changes in sales volume;

 

    other administrative expenses, including expenses related to logistics, information systems and legal and accounting services;

 

    general advertising expenses;

 

52


Table of Contents
    research and development expenses; and

 

    other selling expenses, such as expenses incurred in connection with travel and communications.

Changes in SG&A expense as a percent of net sales have historically been impacted by a number of factors, including:

 

    changes in sales volume, as higher volumes enable us to spread the fixed portion of our administrative expense over higher sales;

 

    changes in the mix of products we sell, as some products may require more customer support and sales effort than others;

 

    changes in our customer base, as new customers may require different levels of sales and marketing attention;

 

    new product launches in existing and new markets, as these launches typically involve more intense sales activity before they are integrated into customer applications;

 

    customer credit issues requiring increases to the allowance for doubtful accounts; and

 

    the implementation of cost control measures aimed at improving productivity.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net consists primarily of interest expense on institutional borrowings and other financing obligations and changes in fair value of interest rate derivative instruments, when outstanding. Interest expense, net also includes the amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discount associated with our Senior Secured Credit Facility and our Senior Notes offset by interest income primarily associated with cash-on-hand. Factors affecting interest expense include fluctuations in the market interest rate, our borrowing activities and our outstanding debt balances.

Provision for Income Taxes

We and our subsidiaries are subject to income tax in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. While the extent of our future tax liability is uncertain, the impact of acquisition accounting, changes to the debt and equity capitalization of our subsidiaries, and the realignment of the functions performed and risks assumed by the various subsidiaries are among the factors that will determine the future book and taxable income of the respective subsidiary and the Company as a whole.

 

53


Table of Contents

Results of Operations

The tables below set forth our historical results of operations and these results as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
(in millions)    2014     2013     2013     2012     2011  

Net sales

   $ 1,359.1      $ 1,391.6      $ 5,307.4      $ 5,451.9      $ 6,192.9   

Cost of sales

     1,260.5        1,310.8        4,949.4        5,115.2        5,797.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     98.6        80.8        358.0        336.7        395.6   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     50.0        46.5        216.9        182.0        308.6   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     15.0        2.8        39.1        27.1        23.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     63.6        37.1        180.2        181.8        110.9   

Interest expense, net

     32.8        32.3        132.0        110.0        111.4   

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

     —          20.7        20.7        —         55.7   

Other expense (income), net

     0.9        (6.1     27.9        24.0        (20.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     29.9        (9.8     (0.4     47.8        (36.1

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     12.8        (0.1     21.8        17.5        39.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 17.1      $ (9.7   $ (22.2   $ 30.3      $ (75.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2014     2013     2013     2012     2011  

Net sales

     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0

Cost of sales

     92.7     94.2     93.3     93.8     93.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     7.3     5.8     6.7     6.2     6.4

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     3.7     3.3     4.1     3.3     5.0

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     1.1     0.2     0.7     0.5     0.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     4.7     2.7     3.3     3.4     1.8

Interest expense, net

     2.4     2.3     2.5     2.0     1.8

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

     0.0     1.5     0.4     0.0     0.9

Other expense (income), net

     0.1     (0.4 )%      0.5     0.4     (0.3 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     2.2     (0.7 )%      (0.1 )%      1.0     (0.6 )% 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     0.9     (0.0 )%      0.4     0.3     0.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     1.3     (0.7 )%      (0.5 )%      0.7     (1.2 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

Net Sales

Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by $32.5 million, or 2.3%, to $1,359.1 million from $1,391.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. Of the 2.3% decrease in net sales, 5.3% was due to lower selling prices, which was offset by increases in sales of 1.3% due to higher sales volume and 1.7% due to favorable currency impact as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro. The overall decrease in selling prices was primarily due to the pass through of lower raw material costs to customers, while the increase in sales volume was primarily due to the Synthetic Rubber segment, caused by higher SSBR sales to tire producers.

 

54


Table of Contents

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by $50.3 million, or 3.8%, to $1,260.5 million from $1,310.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. Of the 3.8% decrease, 6.3% was attributable to lower raw materials costs, primarily butadiene. This decrease was partially offset by an unfavorable currency impact of approximately 1.6% due to the weakening of the U.S. dollar compared to the euro, and a 0.6% increase due to higher sales volume. The remaining offsetting costs were related to slight increases in other manufacturing expenses.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $17.8 million, or 22.0%, to $98.6 million from $80.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was primarily attributable to higher margin in the Styrenics segment, with lower raw material cost, margin improvement initiatives, and improved market dynamics, as well as higher volume to SSBR customers.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $3.5 million, or 7.5%, to $50.0 million from $46.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase in SG&A expenses were primarily due to increases in bad debt expense of $0.5 million, stock-based compensation and other employee benefit expenses of $1.9 million, additional restructuring charges related to the shutdown of our latex facility in Altona, Australia of $0.6 million, and normal increases in operating costs.

Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $15.0 million compared to equity in earnings of $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. AmSty equity earnings increased to $15.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 primarily due to stronger operating performance driven by improved market conditions. Sumika Styron had equity losses of $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, respectively.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $32.8 million compared to $32.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. As our Senior Notes were issued and our Term Loans were repaid in late January 2013, this increase in interest expense was primarily attributable to the higher outstanding principal and interest rate during the month of January 2014 on the Senior Notes which bear an interest rate of 8.75% when compared to a 6.0% interest rate on the Term Loans during the month of January 2013.

Loss on Extinguishment of Long-Term Debt

Loss on extinguishment of debt of $20.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was related to the extinguishment of our $1,239.0 million Term Loans, which was comprised of the write-off of existing unamortized deferred financing fees and original issue discount attributable to the Term Loans totaling $14.4 million and $6.3 million, respectively. There was no similar charge recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Other Expense (Income), net

Other expense, net in the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $0.9 million, which consisted of foreign exchange transaction losses of approximately $0.4 million and other expense of $0.5 million. The foreign exchange transaction losses were driven primarily by the remeasurement of our net receivables denominated in

 

55


Table of Contents

Chinese renminbi, which weakened against the U.S. dollar during the first quarter of 2014. These losses were partially offset by foreign exchange transaction gains from our Indonesian rupiah and euro net payables to the U.S. dollar.

Other income, net in the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $6.1 million, which consisted primarily of foreign exchange transaction gains driven by the remeasurement of our net payables denominated in the euro, which weakened against the U.S. dollar during the first quarter of 2013.

Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $12.8 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 42.7%. Benefit from income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $0.1 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 1.0%.

The increase in our income tax provision was primarily driven by the increase in income before income taxes from $9.8 million of loss for the three months ended March 31, 2013 to $29.8 million of income for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The loss before income taxes of $9.8 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 included the $20.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt (discussed above), which provided a $4.3 million tax benefit in that period. This one time item did not recur during the three month period ended March 31, 2014.

Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2012

Net Sales

Net sales for 2013 decreased by $144.5 million, or 2.7%, to $5,307.4 million from $5,451.9 million in 2012. Of the 2.7% decrease in net sales, 1.5% was due to lower sales volume and 2.8% was due to lower selling prices, which were offset by a 1.6% increase in sales due to favorable currency impact as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro. The overall decrease in sales volume was primarily due to lower volumes in the Styrenics and Latex segments. The lower demand in Styrenics was largely driven by increases in the selling price of our polystyrene products due to the pass through of price increases of our key raw material (styrene monomer) while Latex was driven by lower demand in the Europe and Asia paper markets. These were partially offset by higher sales volume in the Synthetic Rubber segment due to the SSBR capacity expansion. The overall decrease in selling price was due to the contractual pass through of lower butadiene cost in the Latex and Synthetic Rubber segments.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales for 2013 decreased by $165.8 million, or 3.2%, to $4,949.4 million from $5,115.2 million in 2012. Of the 3.2% decrease, 1.9% was primarily attributable to lower sales volume and 3.2% was due to lower raw materials costs, primarily butadiene with some offset from higher styrene related costs. These decreases were partially offset by an unfavorable currency impact of approximately 1.6% and the remaining variance was due to increases in other manufacturing costs. The unfavorable currency impact was due to the U.S. dollar weakening as compared to the euro.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for 2013 increased by $21.3 million, or 6.3%, to $358.0 million from $336.7 million in 2012. The increase was primarily attributable to higher margin in the Styrenics segment, with lower raw material cost, margin improvement initiatives, and improved market dynamics, as well as new business from the SSBR expansion.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses for 2013 increased by $34.9 million, or 19.2%, to $216.9 million from $182.0 million in 2012. The increase in SG&A expenses were primarily due to: i) $10.8 million restructuring expenses incurred

 

56


Table of Contents

during 2013 in connection with the closure of our latex manufacturing facility in Altona, Australia, which includes impairment of property, plant and equipment, termination benefits and contract termination costs; ii) a one-time charge of $9.2 million representing impairment of fixed assets at our polycarbonate manufacturing plant in Stade, Germany; and iii) $9.3 million of pension costs including a $2.1 million curtailment charge.

The remaining increases in our SG&A expenses were due to higher performance incentive compensation costs, general severance, and the impact of annual salary increases totaling $12.0 million, plus an unfavorable currency impact of approximately $2.6 million as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro. Also, during 2012, we recorded an adjustment to reduce stock-based compensation expense by approximately $2.5 million relating to the correction of prior period grant date fair values of time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards. No similar adjustments occurred in 2013.

These increases were offset by approximately $7.5 million of special termination benefit charges incurred in 2012 and a $3.0 million benefit from a change in the estimate for our allowance for doubtful accounts in 2013.

Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates for 2013 was $39.1 million compared to equity in earnings of $27.1 million for 2012. Americas Styrenics LLC, or AmSty, equity earnings increased to $39.4 million in 2013 from $27.0 million in 2012, due to stronger operating performance driven by improved market conditions. Sumika Styron Polycarbonate Limited, which we refer to as Sumika Styron, equity earnings decreased to equity in net losses of $0.3 million in 2013 from equity earnings of $0.1 million in 2012.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $132.0 million compared to $110.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase of $22.0 million was attributable to the higher outstanding principal and interest rate on the Senior Notes which bear an interest rate of 8.75% compared to 6.0% interest rate on the Term Loans for the comparative period in 2012. The Term Loans were repaid in January 2013 with the issuance of the Senior Notes. This increase was slightly offset by a decrease in interest expense from our Revolving Facility due to lower borrowings in 2013 compared to prior year.

Loss on Extinguishment of Long-Term Debt

Loss on extinguishment of debt was $20.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 related to the extinguishment of our $1,239.0 million term loans under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, which was comprised of the write-off of existing unamortized deferred financing fees and original issue discount attributable to the term loans totaling $14.4 million and $6.3 million, respectively. There was no loss on extinguishment of debt recognized during the year ended December 31, 2012.

Other Expense (Income), net

Other expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $27.9 million, which consisted primarily of a $4.2 million loss on the sale of our Styrenics expandable polystyrene, or EPS, business and $18.9 million foreign exchange transaction losses primarily driven by the remeasurement of our euro payables to the U.S. dollar. The remaining other expenses, net include value-added taxes of approximately $2.5 million and other expense.

Other expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $24.0 million and included foreign exchange transaction losses of $22.8 million, which were primarily driven by the remeasurement of our euro payables to the U.S. dollar as well as unrealized losses on our foreign exchange forward contracts of approximately $3.8 million. In addition, we incurred approximately $2.3 million of third-party fees associated with the 2012 amendment of our Senior Secured Credit Facility.

 

57


Table of Contents

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes for 2013 totaled $21.8 million resulting in a negative effective tax rate of 5,921.0%. Provision for income taxes for 2012 totaled $17.5 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 36.6%.

The 2013 effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by non-deductible interest and stock-based compensation expenses, resulting in an unfavorable difference of $8.4 million from the U.S. statutory rate. Our effective tax rate was further impacted by the tax effect of losses of $16.4 million incurred in jurisdictions such as Australia, Brazil, and Luxembourg which did not provide a tax benefit to us due to valuation allowances.

Offsetting these unfavorable impacts were lower tax expenses of $17.3 million from Switzerland and Hong Kong, where the statutory income tax rate is lower than the U.S. statutory rate. In addition, in 2013, we received a non-taxable government subsidy of $12.2 million related to our capital expansion project at our rubber facility in Schkopau, Germany, which provided a favorable difference of $4.2 million from the U.S. statutory rate.

The increase from 2012 in provision for income taxes was primarily due to net loss before income tax in jurisdictions outside the United States of $25.6 million. Of this loss, $65.0 million was generated from our subsidiaries in Australia and Luxembourg, where we either do not receive a benefit from certain shareholder expenses or we have valuation allowances. In 2012, losses from these jurisdictions were $24.8 million. The increased losses from Australia and Luxembourg are primarily due to restructuring charges incurred in connection with the shutdown of our latex manufacturing plant in Altona, Australia and a portion of increased interest expense from the issuance of our Senior Notes in January 2013. We also have an additional valuation allowance of $3.1 million recorded in Singapore and Brazil which were previously not provided for noting that in 2012 we were favorably impacted by a release of valuation allowances of $14.4 million in Hong Kong and China.

Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2011

Net Sales

Net sales for 2012 decreased by $741.0 million, or 12.0%, to $5,451.9 million from $6,192.9 million in 2011. Of the 12.0% decrease in net sales, 6.2% was due to lower sales volume and 1.1% was due to lower selling prices. Additionally, net sales decreased by 4.7% from the prior year due to unfavorable currency impact as the U.S. dollar strengthened compared to the euro. The decrease in volume and selling prices was primarily due to the weakened economic environment, particularly in Europe, and increasing competition.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales for 2012 decreased by $682.1 million, or 11.8%, to $5,115.2 million from $5,797.3 million in 2011. Of the 11.8% decrease in cost of sales, 6.3% was attributable to lower sales volume and approximately 4.1% was due to a net favorable currency impact driven by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar as compared to the euro in 2012. In addition, 1.2% of the decrease was due to lower depreciation and other manufacturing cost reductions.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for 2012 decreased by $58.9 million, or 14.9%, to $336.7 million from $395.6 million in 2011. Of the 14.9% decrease, 19.6% was primarily attributable to an overall decrease in sales volume and prices driven by increasing competition and a weakened economic environment, particularly in Europe, plus net unfavorable currency impact of approximately 13.4%. These decreases were offset by lower manufacturing cost and depreciation that contributed approximately 18.1% of increase in our gross profit.

 

58


Table of Contents

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expense for 2012 decreased by $126.6 million, or 41.0%, to $182.0 million from $308.6 million in 2011. The decrease was primarily the result of higher consulting, accounting, and legal fees associated with our separation from Dow and transition of our initial financial close process as a stand-alone entity in 2011, which together contributed approximately $94.2 million of the decrease. We also incurred an additional $11.1 million related to special stock-based compensation expense in 2011 resulting from the shareholder distribution and share redemption in February 2011, which is further discussed in Note Q to the 2013 consolidated financial statements. SG&A further decreased in 2012 due to reductions in employee-related expenses as a result of restructuring programs implemented in the third quarter of 2011 and first quarter of 2012, and a stock-based compensation adjustment related to the correction of prior period grant date fair values of time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards that reduced the recorded expense in the first quarter of 2012 by approximately $2.5 million. The expenses recorded related to the restructuring programs for the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were approximately $7.5 million and $9.2 million, respectively. Other decreases were due to an approximately $7.6 million favorable currency impact driven by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar as compared to the euro in 2012 and other cost reduction efforts.

Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates for 2012 was $27.1 million compared to equity in earnings of $23.9 million for 2011. AmSty equity earnings increased to $27.0 million from $24.1 million in 2011. Sumika Styron equity earnings increased to $0.1 million from a loss of $0.2 million in 2011.

Interest Expense, Net

Net interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $110.0 million compared to $111.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. The decrease in interest expense was the result of lower interest incurred on our Revolving Facility and our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility of approximately $3.3 million due to lower average borrowings in 2012 compared to 2011 and an increase in capitalized interest by $4.4 million due to an increase in capital projects. These decreases were offset by an increase of $8.6 million interest expense on our Senior Secured Credit Facility as a result of the amendment completed in August 2012, wherein our borrowing rate increased by 2.0%.

Loss on Extinguishment of Long-Term Debt

Loss on extinguishment of debt was $55.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 related to the February 2, 2011 amendment of our Senior Secured Credit Facility and the related extinguishment of $749.0 million of our then outstanding term loans. The loss on extinguishment of debt was comprised of $7.5 million in fees paid to the lenders, $0.2 million in third-party fees associated with modifying the term loans under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, with the remainder attributable to the write-off of existing unamortized deferred financing fees and original issue discount attributed to the term loans totaling $34.0 million and $14.0 million, respectively. There was no loss on extinguishment of debt recognized in the year ended December 31, 2012.

Other Expense (Income), net

Other expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $24.0 million compared to other income of $20.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Other expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 includes foreign exchange transaction losses of $22.8 million, which were primarily driven by the remeasurement of our euro payables to the U.S. dollar as well as unrealized losses on our foreign exchange forward contracts of approximately $3.8 million. In addition, we incurred approximately $2.3 million of third-party fees associated with the 2012 amendment of our Senior Secured Credit Facility.

 

59


Table of Contents

Other income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was primarily related to foreign exchange transaction gains of $17.2 million and indemnification matters from Dow which were recorded as other income. The foreign exchange transaction gains in 2011 were primarily driven by the remeasurement of our euro payables to the U.S. dollar.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes for 2012 totaled $17.5 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 36.6%. Provision for income taxes for 2011 totaled $39.8 million resulting in a negative effective tax rate of 109.8%.

The 2012 effective tax rate was unfavorably impacted by non-deductible expenses resulting in an $8.9 million difference from the U.S. statutory rate, of which $5.2 million related to non-deductible interest expense and $2.5 million related to non-deductible stock-based compensation. In 2011, these non-deductible expenses were $9.0 million. Further, provision for income taxes included $7.1 million of tax expense related to withholding taxes as compared to $8.6 million in 2011.

Offsetting these negative impacts was approximately $3.6 million of favorable impact of jurisdictions where the statutory income tax rate is lower than the United States statutory rate compared to $1.2 million in 2011. Further, favorable impacts for 2012 are from tax credits of $2.9 million and a release of a valuation allowance in the fourth quarter of 2012 of $14.4 million, primarily as a result of improvements in actual business operations and projected future results of our subsidiaries in China and Hong Kong.

In 2012, although we had a net loss before income tax in jurisdictions outside the United States of $1.4 million, certain jurisdictions with statutory rates lower than the United States statutory rate generated income before taxes of $33.8 million and related income tax expense of approximately $5.8 million. These jurisdictions included the Netherlands, Indonesia and China. The losses we generated from jurisdictions outside of the United States were approximately $35.2 million with a related income tax benefit of $3.0 million. Those jurisdictions primarily included Luxembourg which did not provide a tax benefit to us due to recurring losses.

Selected Segment Information

The following tables present net sales and EBITDA by segment and as a percentage of total net sales and net sales by segment, respectively, for the following periods:

 

     Three Months Ended

March 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2014     2013     2013     2012     2011  
     (in millions)  

Net sales(1)

          

Latex segment

   $ 326.3      $ 356.8      $ 1,341.4      $ 1,545.1      $ 1,843.5   

Synthetic Rubber segment

     176.7        176.4        622.1        701.9        849.5   

Styrenics segment

     594.3        602.0        2,305.4        2,149.2        2,307.0   

Engineered Polymers segment

     261.8        256.4        1,038.5        1,055.7        1,192.9   

Corporate unallocated(2)

     —          —          —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,359.1      $ 1,391.6      $ 5,307.4      $ 5,451.9      $ 6,192.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA(3)

          

Latex segment

   $ 25.5      $ 26.7      $ 95.4      $ 125.5      $ 121.5   

Synthetic Rubber segment

     43.1        30.7        113.5        111.1        174.6   

Styrenics segment

     42.3        25.4        160.7        82.9        72.2   

Engineered Polymers segment

     (2.4     (0.8     (9.1     31.5        26.3   

Corporate unallocated(2)

     (22.1     (35.6     (133.7     (107.6     (217.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 86.4      $ 46.4      $ 226.8      $ 243.4      $ 176.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

60


Table of Contents
     Three Months Ended

March 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2014     2013     2013     2012     2011  

Net sales(1)

          

Latex segment

     24.0     25.6     25.3     28.3     29.8

Synthetic Rubber segment

     13.0     12.7     11.7     12.9     13.7

Styrenics segment

     43.7     43.3     43.4     39.4     37.3

Engineered Polymers segment

     19.3     18.4     19.6     19.4     19.2

Corporate unallocated(2)

     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA(3)

          

Latex segment

     7.8     7.5     7.1     8.1     6.6

Synthetic Rubber segment

     24.4     17.4     18.2     15.8     20.6

Styrenics segment

     7.1     4.2     7.0     3.9     3.1

Engineered Polymers segment

     (0.9 )%      (0.3 )%      (0.9 )%      3.0     2.2

Corporate unallocated(2)

     (1.6 )%      (2.6 )%      (2.5 )%      (2.0 )%      (3.5 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     6.4     3.3     4.3     4.5     2.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Inter-segment sales have been eliminated.
(2) Corporate unallocated includes corporate overhead costs, loss on extinguishment of long term debt, and certain other income and expenses. Percentages for Corporate unallocated are based on total sales.
(3) EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that in making operating decisions because we believe it provides meaningful supplemental information regarding our operational performance. For a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income, see Note 3 to “Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data.”

Latex Segment

We are a global leader in SB latex, holding a strong market position across the geographies and applications in which we compete, including the #1 position in SB latex in Europe and the #2 position in North America. We produce SB latex primarily for coated paper used in advertising and magazines, packaging board coatings, carpet and artificial turf backings, as well as a number of performance latex applications. In 2013, approximately half of our Latex segment’s net sales were generated in Europe, approximately 25% were generated in the United States and the remainder was generated in Asia and other geographies.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by $30.5 million, or 8.5%, to $326.3 million from $356.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. Of the 8.5% decrease in net sales, 7.1% was due to lower selling prices primarily from the pass through of lower butadiene cost. Lower sales volume, approximately 2.7% of the total impact, was primarily driven by lower demand and increasing competition in the Europe and North America paper markets, partially offset by increasing demand in the Asia paper market. These decreases were partially offset by a 1.3% favorable currency impact as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro.

EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by $1.2 million, or 4.5%, to $25.5 million from $26.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. Lower sales volume, driven by lower demand and increased competition in the Europe and North America paper markets, caused EBITDA to decrease by 6.1%. We also recorded additional restructuring charges of approximately $0.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2014 in connection with the closure of the latex plant in Australia. These impacts were partially offset by slightly higher margins and a favorable currency impact, as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro.

Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2012

Net sales for 2013 decreased by $203.7 million, or 13.2%, to $1,341.4 million from $1,545.1 million for 2012. Of the 13.2% decrease in net sales, approximately 9.6% was due to lower selling prices primarily from the

 

61


Table of Contents

pass through of lower butadiene cost as well as increased competition in the Europe and Asia paper markets. Lower sales volume, approximately 4.7% of the total impact, was primarily driven by lower demand and increasing competition in the Europe and Asia paper markets. These decreases were partially offset by a 1.1% favorable currency impact as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro.

EBITDA for 2013 decreased by $30.1 million, or 24.0%, to $95.4 million from $125.5 million in 2012. Of this decrease, 16.5% was driven by lower sales volume and margins due to lower demand and continued increases in competition in the Europe and Asia paper markets. An additional 8.6% of the decrease relates to restructuring charges of $10.8 million recorded in 2013 in connection with the closure of the latex plant in Australia.

Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2011

Net sales for 2012 decreased by $298.4 million, or 16.2%, to $1,545.1 million from $1,843.5 million for 2011. Of the 16.2% decrease in net sales, 9.9% was driven by a decline in sales volume primarily due to lower demand in European and North American paper markets and 6.3% was due to lower selling prices, which includes a 3.7% unfavorable currency impact due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar as compared to the euro.

EBITDA for 2012 increased by $4.0 million, or 3.3%, to $125.5 million from $121.5 million in 2011. This increase was primarily driven by our fixed cost improvements from prior year due to the cost reduction efforts implemented during 2011 and 2012 as well as improvement on margin due to favorable timing of contractual pass through of lower raw materials prices. These items resulted in a 31.9% increase in EBITDA, which were partially offset by a decline in sales volumes of 27.8% and a 2.8% net unfavorable currency impact due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar as compared to the euro.

Synthetic Rubber Segment

We are a significant producer of styrene-butadiene and polybutadiene-based rubber products and we have a leading European market position in SSBR. While 100% of our sales were generated in Europe in 2013, approximately 15% of these net sales were exported to Asia, 8% to Latin America and 5% to North America.

We have a broad synthetic rubber technology and product portfolio, focusing on specialty products, such as SSBR and Li-PBR, while also producing core products, such as ESBR and Ni-PBR. Our synthetic rubber products are extensively used in tires, with an estimated 86% of our net sales from this segment in 2013 attributable to the tire market. We estimate that three quarters of these sales relate to replacement tires. We have strong relationships with many of the top global tire manufacturers and believe we have remained a supplier of choice as a result of our broad rubber portfolio and ability to offer technologically differentiated product and product customization capabilities. Other applications for our synthetic rubber products include polymer modification and technical rubber goods.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $0.3 million, or 0.2%, to $176.7 million from $176.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. Of the 0.2% increase in net sales, 13.8% was due to an increase in sales volume resulting from higher sales of SSBR to tire producers. There was also a 1.9% increase in net sales due to a favorable currency impact, as the U.S dollar weakened compared to the euro. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in net sales of 15.5% due to lower selling prices mostly from lower butadiene costs passed through to customers.

EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $12.4 million, or 40.4%, to $43.1 million from $30.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. Higher volume due to higher SSBR sales and higher margins driven by a favorable impact from inventory purchase timing resulted in a 39.5% and 13.9% increase in EBITDA, respectively, as well as a slightly favorable currency impact, as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro, which contributed approximately 3.0%. These increases were partially offset by a 15.8% decrease in EBITDA due to higher fixed costs related primarily to the SSBR capacity expansion.

 

62


Table of Contents

Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2012

Net sales for 2013 decreased by $79.8 million, or 11.4%, to $622.1 million from $701.9 million in 2012. Of the 11.4% decrease in net sales, 18.2%, net of an approximately 1.8% favorable currency impact as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro, was due to lower selling prices mostly from lower butadiene costs passed through to customers and some reduction in selling prices due to weakened economic conditions in the tire market. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in sales volume of approximately 6.8% due to the SSBR capacity expansion completed in the fourth quarter of 2012 and lower sales in the second quarter of 2012 due to the scheduled plant turnaround.

EBITDA for 2013 increased by $2.4 million, or 2.2%, to $113.5 million from $111.1 million for 2012. Higher volume, from the SSBR expansion with some offset from a weaker tire market, contributed a 29.0% increase in EBITDA and a slightly favorable currency impact, as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro, contributed 2.1%. These increases were offset by lower margins, driven by weaker tire market conditions and less favorable timing of contractual pass through of raw material prices, and higher fixed costs, due to SSBR capacity expansions, which contributed to a 28.9% decrease in EBITDA from 2012.

Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2011

Net sales for 2012 decreased by $147.6 million, or 17.4%, to $701.9 million from $849.5 million in 2011. Of the 17.4% decrease in net sales, 7.1% was driven by lower sales volume mainly due to lost production from a six-week long major maintenance turnaround during the second quarter of 2012. The decrease was also due to lower selling prices from lower raw materials cost pass-throughs to customers resulting in an unfavorable impact on net sales of 10.3%, which includes unfavorable currency impact of approximately 5.8% due primarily to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar as compared to the euro.

EBITDA for 2012 decreased by $63.5 million, or 36.4%, to $111.1 million from $174.6 million for 2011. Of this decrease, 11.3% was primarily driven by lower margins, as we had higher margin on non-contractual sales in the prior year due to raw material market dynamics, and 16.8% was driven by lower sales volume mainly due to lost production from a major maintenance turnaround and lower demand during the second quarter. We estimate that the impact of this turnaround was the loss of approximately $10.0 million in EBITDA from lost volumes and production, as well as costs associated with the turnaround process. In addition, we had approximately 4.0% net unfavorable currency impact due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar as compared to the euro.

Styrenics Segment

Our Styrenics segment includes polystyrene, ABS and SAN products, as well as our internal production and sourcing of styrene monomer, a raw material common in SB latex, synthetic rubber and styrenics products. We are a leading producer of polystyrene and mass ABS, or mABS, where we focus our efforts on differentiated applications such as the liners and encasements of appliances and consumer electronics including smartphones and tablets. Within these applications, we have worked collaboratively with customers to develop more advanced grades of plastics such as our HIPS and mABS products. For example, we work with appliance manufacturers around the world to develop improved environmental stress crack resistant products and with our construction sheet customers on smooth ABS. These products offer superior properties, such as rigidity, insulation and colorability, and, in some cases, an improved environmental footprint compared to general purpose polystyrene or emulsion ABS. Our Styrenics segment also serves the packaging and construction end-markets, where we have launched a new general purpose polystyrene product for improved performance in foam insulation applications.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by $7.7 million, or 1.3%, to $594.3 million from $602.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. Of the 1.3% decrease in net sales, 2.6% was

 

63


Table of Contents

driven by decreases in selling prices due to the pass through of lower styrene cost to customers, and 0.6% was due to a decrease in sales volume. These decreases were partially offset by a 1.9% favorable currency impact to our net sales as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro.

EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $16.9 million, or 66.5%, to $42.3 million from $25.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. This increase is related to higher margins in styrene monomer production, margin improvement initiatives, and more favorable industry dynamics with low supply in Europe which contributed to a combined 18.8% increase in EBITDA from the three months ended March 31, 2013. In addition, 48.9% of the increase was due to increased equity earnings from our AmSty joint venture, and 5.7% of the increase was related to lower fixed costs. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in volume, which contributed to a 9.9% decrease in EBITDA, driven by lower demand due to higher inventory levels at our customers.

Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2012

Net sales for 2013 increased by $156.2 million, or 7.3%, to $2,305.4 million from $2,149.2 million in 2012. Of the 7.3% increase in net sales, 7.4% was driven by increases in selling prices due to higher styrene monomer prices, as well as actions to increase selling prices to improve margins. Also, the weakening of the U.S. dollar compared to the euro had a favorable impact to our net sales of approximately 1.9%. These increases were partially offset by a 2.0% decrease in sales volume with half of that net impact attributable to the divestiture our EPS business to Ravago and the remainder driven by customers’ inventory optimization efforts, as a result of price increases in styrene monomer.

EBITDA for 2013 increased by $77.8 million, or 93.8%, to $160.7 million from $82.9 million in 2012. This increase is attributable mainly to higher margins in styrene monomer production, margin improvement initiatives, and more favorable industry dynamics with lower supply in Europe which contributed to a combined 92.9% increase in EBITDA from 2012. Also, the weakening of the U.S. dollar compared to the euro had a net favorable currency impact of approximately 3.7%. These increases were slightly offset by decreases of approximately 7.3% due to lower volume and 5.1% due to the $4.2 million loss on sale of the EPS business completed in September 2013.

Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2011

Net sales for 2012 decreased by $157.8 million, or 6.8%, to $2,149.2 million from $2,307.0 million in 2011. Of the 6.8% decrease in net sales, 4.1% was driven by a decline in sales volume due to a weaker market and 5.3% was driven by the negative currency impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar as compared to the euro. These decreases were offset by a 2.6% increase in selling prices during the year primarily due to higher costs of raw materials that were able to be passed onto customers.

EBITDA for 2012 increased by $10.7 million, or 14.8%, to $82.9 million from $72.2 million in 2011. This increase was primarily driven by fixed cost improvements from prior year due to the cost reduction efforts implemented during 2011 and 2012 along with improvement in margins. These factors resulted in an approximate 30.3% increase in EBITDA, which was partially offset by a 9.7% decrease in sales volume and an 8.2% unfavorable currency impact from the strengthening of the U.S. dollar compared to the euro.

Engineered Polymers Segment

We are a leading producer of engineered polymers. Our products are predominantly used in the automotive, consumer electronics, construction, and medical device markets. We are focused on differentiated products which we produce in our polymer and compounds and blends manufacturing facilities located across Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America. We believe that the strategic locations of these facilities combined with close customer collaboration offers us a strategic advantage in serving our customers. Many of our PC products

 

64


Table of Contents

and more than half of our compounds and blends products are differentiated, based on their physical properties, performance and aesthetic advantages. Our history of innovation has contributed to long-standing relationships with customers who are recognized leaders in their respective end-markets. We have established a strong market presence in the global automotive and electronics sector, targeting both component suppliers and final product manufacturers. Our Engineered Polymers segment also compounds and blends our PC and mABS plastics into differentiated products for customers within these sectors, as well as into compounds of polypropylene. We have also developed compounds containing post-consumer recycle polymers to respond to what we believe is a growing need for some customers to include recycled content in their products. We are currently focused on reducing costs in order to improve our competitiveness in polycarbonate.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $5.4 million, or 2.1%, to $261.8 million from $256.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. Of the 2.1% increase in net sales, 2.9% was driven by increased sales volume in the automotive sector and 1.6% was due to a favorable currency impact as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro. These increases were partially offset by a 2.4% decrease in selling prices primarily due to continued competitive challenges in the polycarbonate market.

EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by $1.6 million, or 200.0%, to $(2.4) million from $(0.8) million in the three months ended March 31, 2013. This decrease was primarily due to continued challenges in the global polycarbonate market, with lower margins in the first quarter of 2014 due to lower selling prices and higher raw material cost, partially offset by increased sales volume in the automotive sector.

Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2012

Net sales for 2013 decreased by $17.2 million, or 1.6%, to $1,038.5 million from $1,055.7 million in 2012. Of the 1.6% decrease in net sales, 0.8% was driven by lower sales volume and 2.2% was driven by lower selling prices primarily due to continued competitive challenges in polycarbonate markets. These decreases were partially offset by a 1.3% favorable currency impact as the U.S. dollar weakened compared to the euro.

EBITDA for 2013 decreased by $40.6 million, or 128.9%, to negative $9.1 million from positive $31.5 million in 2012. This decrease was primarily due to continued losses in the polycarbonate business as the market remains extremely competitive, especially given current unfavorable supply and demand dynamics. In addition, the automotive market in Europe has weakened compared to 2012 and margin in our automotive products in Latin America was unfavorably impacted by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar compared to the Brazilian real resulting in an approximate 13.9% negative impact to our EBITDA. Further, the weakening of the U.S. dollar compared to the euro resulted in an unfavorable currency impact of approximately 4.2%. This decrease in EBITDA also includes a loss of approximately $9.2 million related to the impairment of fixed assets at our polycarbonate manufacturing facility in Stade, Germany.

Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2011

Net sales for 2012 decreased by $137.2 million, or 11.5%, to $1,055.7 million from $1,192.9 million in 2011. Of the 11.5% decrease in net sales, approximately 3.8% was driven by lower sales volume due to strong competitive pressures specifically within the polycarbonate markets and 7.7% was due to lower selling prices, which includes an unfavorable currency impact of approximately 4.2% due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar as compared to the euro.

EBITDA for 2012 increased by $5.2 million, or 19.8%, to $31.5 million from $26.3 million in 2011. The increase was due to the cost reduction efforts implemented during 2011 and 2012 and higher margins on our automotive products, as well as a 7.5% favorable currency impact as the U.S. dollar strengthened compared to the euro. These increases were offset by decreases due to lower margins on our polycarbonate products, driven mostly by competitive pressures, particularly in Europe.

 

65


Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flows

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

The table below summarizes our primary sources and uses of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. We have derived the summarized cash flow information from our unaudited financial statements.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in millions)        2014             2013      

Net cash used in:

    

Operating activities

   $ (1.2   $ (4.5

Investing activities

     (40.8     (4.2

Financing activities

     (15.4     (71.1

Effect of exchange rates on cash*

     —          (1.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (57.4   $ (81.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the effect of exchange rates on cash was less than $0.1 million.

Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2014 totaled $1.2 million, with net cash used in operating assets and liabilities totaling $42.7 million. The most significant components of the changes in operating assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 of $42.7 million were increases in accounts receivable of $79.2 million, offset by increases in accounts payable and other current liabilities of $18.5 million and decreases in inventories of $20.1 million. The increase in accounts receivable reflects an increase in sales during the first quarter of 2014 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2013, driven by higher sales volume and a favorable impact of currency exchange primarily between U.S. dollar and the euro. Inventory decreased due to higher volume sold during the first quarter of 2014 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. Our accounts payable and other current liabilities increased mainly due to the timing of payments.

Net cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2013 totaled $4.5 million, with net cash used in operating assets and liabilities totaling $39.2 million. The most significant components of the changes in operating assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2013 of $39.2 million were increases in accounts receivable of $59.9 million, offset by increases in accounts payable and other current liabilities of $27.0 million and decreases in inventories of $10.8 million. The increase in accounts receivable reflects an increase in sales during the first quarter of 2013 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, driven by higher sales volume and a favorable impact of currency exchange primarily between U.S. dollar and the euro. Inventory decreased due to higher volume sold during the first quarter of 2013 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. Our accounts payable and other current liabilities increased mainly due to the timing of payments.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 totaled $40.8 million consisting primarily of capital expenditures of $41.1 million, of which approximately $26.1 million (€19.0 million) related to the Company’s acquisition of production capacity rights from JSR at its rubber production facility in Schkopau, Germany.

Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2013 totaled $4.2 million consisting primarily of net capital expenditures of $10.4 million, net of proceeds from a government subsidy of $6.6 million, which was offset by cash released from restriction.

 

66


Table of Contents

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2014 totaled $15.4 million. During the period, we had net repayments of short-term borrowings of $14.8 million, which largely consisted of borrowings under our short-term revolving credit facility through our subsidiary in China. In addition, we continue to utilize our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility to fund our working capital requirements. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, we had borrowings from our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility of $61.0 million and repayments of $61.5 million, resulting in net repayments of $0.5 million due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, as a portion of our borrowings under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility originate in euros.

Net cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2013 totaled $71.1 million. During the period, we repaid our outstanding Term Loans of $1,239.0 million using the proceeds from the issuance of $1,325.0 million in Senior Notes issued in January 2013. In connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes and amendment to our Senior Secured Credit Facility, we paid approximately $44.6 million of refinancing fees. In addition, during the period, we continue to utilize our Revolving Facility and our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility to fund our working capital requirements. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, our borrowings and repayments to our Revolving Facility were $285.0 million and $405.0 million, respectively, and we received net proceeds from our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility of $16.0 million.

Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2012 and the Year Ended December 31, 2011

The table below summarizes our primary sources and uses of cash for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011. We have derived the summarized cash flow information from our audited financial statements.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013     2012     2011  
     (in millions)  

Net cash provided by (used in):

      

Operating activities

   $ 211.3      $ 186.1      $ 151.1   

Investing activities

     (33.4     (117.3     (99.1

Financing activities

     (220.2     (77.2     44.9   

Effect of exchange rates on cash

     2.4        (0.6     0.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (39.9   $ (9.0   $ 97.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2013 totaled $211.3 million, with net cash provided by operating assets and liabilities totaling $92.5 million. The most significant components of the changes in operating assets and liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2013 of $92.5 million were increases in accounts payable and other current liabilities of $15.0 million, and a decrease in inventory of $55.4 million. Increase in accounts payable and other current liabilities was mainly due to timing of payments in the normal course of business plus lesser interest payments in 2013 on the Senior Notes as interest payments are due semi-annually in August and February each year compared to interest on the Term Loans which were paid quarterly in the prior year. Decrease in inventory was due to lower raw materials prices during 2013, as well as a decrease in volumes compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, due to higher inventory volumes on hand at the end of 2012 resulting from our rubber capacity expansion project placed in operation in the fourth quarter of 2012. Additionally, in 2013 we received $22.5 million from our unconsolidated affiliate, AmSty, as a return on our investment. Overall, cash flow from operating activities was primarily driven by improvement in cash collection during the year and lesser cash outflow on purchases due to inventory build in 2012 and lower raw materials prices in 2013.

 

67


Table of Contents

Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2012 totaled $186.1 million, with net cash provided by operating assets and liabilities totaling $55.3 million. The most significant components of the changes in operating assets and liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2012 of $55.3 million were decreases in accounts receivable and income taxes payable of $84.7 million and $5.1 million, respectively, and increases in inventory and accounts payable and other current liabilities of $87.2 million and $67.9 million, respectively. Increases in inventory and accounts payable and other current liabilities are primarily due to increases in inventory during the fourth quarter of 2012 for our new rubber capacity expansion project placed in operation in October 2012. The decrease in accounts receivable reflects both a decrease in sales during the fourth quarter of 2012 driven by the decrease in sales volume as well as continued improvements in receivable collection efforts. In addition, despite the decreases in sales, we conserved the use of cash in our operations due to various cost savings initiatives implemented during the year. Net cash paid for income taxes during the year was approximately $20.4 million. Additionally, in 2012 we received $20.0 million in dividends from our unconsolidated affiliate, AmSty, as a return on our investment.

Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2011 totaled $151.1 million, with net cash provided by operating assets and liabilities totaling $54.4 million. The most significant components of the change for the year ended December 31, 2011 of $54.4 million were a decrease in inventory of $53.9 million, a decrease in accounts receivable of $67.0 million, a decrease of $37.7 million in accounts payable and other current liabilities, a $27.6 million decrease in income taxes payable and a prepayment penalty of $7.7 million related to our extinguishment of long-term debt. Decreases in inventory and accounts payable and other current liabilities reflect our effort to reduce working capital and lower production volume during the fourth quarter of 2011. The decrease in accounts receivable reflects both a decrease in sales driven by volume declines during the fourth quarter of 2011 as well as improvements in receivable collection efforts. Additionally, in 2011 we received $10.0 million in dividends from our unconsolidated affiliate, AmSty, as a return on our investment.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2013 totaled $33.4 million, consisting primarily of capital expenditures of $54.8 million during the period, net of proceeds received from a government subsidy of $18.8 million related to our capital expansion project at our rubber facility in Schkopau, Germany. Also offsetting these capital expenditures were cash proceeds of $15.2 million received from the sale of our EPS business during the year as well as cash proceeds of $7.9 million released from restrictions related to our accounts receivable securitization facility. Refer to Note C of the 2013 consolidated financial statements for details on the EPS business divestiture.

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2012 totaled $117.3 million, consisting primarily of capital expenditures of $112.4 million, net of proceeds from a government subsidy of $6.1 million; $69.2 million of capital expenditures, net of subsidy, was related to our capital expansion project at our rubber facility in Schkopau, Germany.

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2011 totaled $99.1 million consisting primarily of capital expenditures of $99.8 million of which $54.8 million was related to our capital project implemented at our rubber facility in Schkopau, Germany. Investing activities also included payment of $6.3 million to our Brazilian partner representing its 50% share of the proceeds from the sale of our assets in Styrenics Brazilian operations, partially offset by distributions from our unconsolidated affiliate, Sumika Styron, of $7.2 million representing a return of our investment.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2013 totaled $220.2 million. During the period, we repaid our outstanding Term Loans of $1,239.0 million using the proceeds from the issuance of $1,325.0 million in Senior Notes issued in January 2013. In connection with the issuance of the

 

68


Table of Contents

Senior Notes and the amendments to our Senior Secured Credit Facility and our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, we paid approximately $48.3 million of refinancing fees. In addition, during the period, we continued to utilize our Revolving Facility and our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility to fund our working capital requirements. During the year ended December 31, 2013, our borrowings and repayments to our Revolving Facility were $405.0 million and $525.0 million, respectively, and we had net repayments to our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility of $95.1 million.

Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2012 totaled $77.2 million. We had borrowings from our Revolving Facility and our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility throughout the year to fund our working capital requirements, and repaid those borrowings from funds generated from operating activities. During the year ended December 31, 2012, our borrowings and repayments to our Revolving Facility were $1,105.0 million and $1,135.0 million, respectively, and our net repayments to our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility were $16.4 million. Also, during the year ended December 31, 2012, we paid $147.0 million of the then outstanding Term Loans, of which $140.0 million was the required payment for the effectiveness of the fourth amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facility. Further, in May 2012, we received an approximate $22.2 million equity contribution from our Parent in order to cure an event of default that occurred for the period ended March 31, 2012. In August 2012, we received a $140.0 million cash contribution from our Parent and used the proceeds to repay a portion of our then outstanding Term Loans (as mentioned above).

Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2011 totaled $44.9 million. In February 2011, we received $1,379.4 million of additional proceeds from the Term Loans under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, net of deferred financing fees of $20.3 million. Such proceeds from the Term Loans borrowed in 2011 were used to repay $75.0 million of our Seller Note with Dow and the related interest and $780.0 million that was previously outstanding under the Term Loans and related interest. Additionally, we made a $521.5 million distribution to our shareholder. We also had borrowings from our Revolving Facility and our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility throughout the year to fund our working capital requirements, and repaid those borrowings from funds generated from operating activities. Our net borrowings from these facilities in 2011 were $20.0 million and $35.2 million, respectively.

Indebtedness and Liquidity

The following table outlines our outstanding indebtedness as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and the associated interest expense, including amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discounts, and effective interest rates for such borrowings as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The effective interest rates below exclude the impact of deferred financing fee amortization.

 

    As of and for the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2014
    As of and for the year ended
December 31, 2013
 
(dollars in millions)   Balance     Effective
Interest

Rate
    Interest
Expense
    Balance     Effective
Interest

Rate
    Interest
Expense
 

Senior Secured Credit Facility

           

Term Loans

  $ —          n/a      $ —        $ —          n/a      $ 8.0   

Revolving Facility

    —          0     1.2        —          6.6     5.7   

Senior Notes

    1,325.0        8.8     30.4        1,325.0        8.8     111.9   

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —          2.7     1.0        —          3.1     5.6   

Other Indebtedness*

    12.4        1.3     —          11.4        1.6     0.1   
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total

  $ 1,337.4        $ 32.6      $ 1,336.4        $ 131.3   
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

* For the three months ended March 31, 2014, interest expense on other indebtedness was less than $0.1 million.

 

69


Table of Contents

Senior Secured Credit Facility

In January 2013, we amended our Senior Secured Credit Facility, which we refer to as the 2013 amendment. As part of the 2013 amendment, we increased our Revolving Facility capacity from $240.0 million to $300.0 million, decreased the borrowing rate of the Revolving Facility through a decrease in the applicable margin rate from 4.75% to 3.00% as applied to base rate loans (which shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the base rate plus the applicable margin (as defined therein)), or 5.75% to 4.00% as applied to LIBO rate loans (which shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the LIBO rate plus the applicable margin plus the mandatory cost (as defined therein), if applicable), extended the maturity date to January 2018 and concurrently repaid our then outstanding Term Loans of $1,239.0 million using the proceeds from our sale of $1,325.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes issued in January 2013. The 2013 amendment replaced our total leverage ratio requirement with a springing first lien net leverage ratio (as defined under the 2013 amendment) and removed the interest coverage ratio requirement. If the outstanding balance under the Revolving Facility exceeds 25% of the $300.0 million borrowing capacity (excluding undrawn letters of credit up to $10.0 million) at a quarter end, then our first lien net leverage ratio may not exceed 5.25 to 1.00 for the quarter ending March 31, 2013, 5.00 to 1.00 for the subsequent quarters through December 31, 2013, 4.50 to 1.00 for each of the quarters ending in 2014 and 4.25 to 1.00 for each of the quarters ending in 2015 and thereafter. As of March 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenant requirements under the Senior Secured Credit Facility.

As a result of the 2013 amendment and repayment of the then outstanding amount under the Term Loans in January 2013, we recognized $20.7 million of a loss on extinguishment of debt during 2013, which consisted of the write-off of existing unamortized deferred financing fees and debt discount attributable to the Term Loans. Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the 2013 amendment were $5.5 million, which were capitalized within “Deferred charges and other assets” in the December 31, 2013 consolidated balance sheet and amortized into interest expense over the remaining term of the Revolving Facility using the straight-line method.

There were no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility as of March 31, 2014. Available borrowings under the Revolving Facility totaled $292.7 million (net of $7.3 million of outstanding letters of credit) as of March 31, 2014.

Senior Notes

In January 2013, we issued $1,325.0 million aggregate principal of our 8.750% Senior Notes due 2019. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually on February 1st and August 1st of each year, commencing on August 1, 2013. The Senior Notes will mature and be due in full on February 1, 2019. The proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes were used to repay all of our then outstanding Term Loans under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and related refinancing fees and expenses.

We may redeem all or part of the Senior Notes at any time prior to August 1, 2015 by paying a make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. We may redeem all or part of the Senior Notes at any time after August 1, 2015 at a redemption price equal to the percentage of principal amount set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on of the year indicated below:

 

12-month period commencing August 1 in Year

   Percentage  

2015

     104.375

2016

     102.188

2017 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, at any time prior to August 1, 2015, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes at a redemption price equal to 108.750% of the face amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds that we raise in certain equity offerings. We

 

70


Table of Contents

may also redeem, during any 12-month period commencing from the issue date until August 1, 2015, up to 10% of the original principal amount of the notes at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption.

In connection with the issuance of Senior Notes, we also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we are required to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement covering an offer to the holders of the Original Notes to exchange all of their notes for notes that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We filed the Registration Statement with the SEC on September 30, 2013, which was subsequently amended and supplemented. Such Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on January 29, 2014, and the exchange offer closed on March 4, 2014.

The Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by Trinseo S.A., Styron Luxco S.à r.l, Styron Holding, S.à r.l, Trinseo Materials S.à r.l., Styron Investment Holdings Ireland and each of Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A.’s existing and future wholly-owned subsidiaries that guarantee our Senior Secured Credit Facility, other than our subsidiaries, Styron France S.A.S. and Styron Spain S.L. The notes and the guarantees are collateralized by a security interest in substantially all of the assets of the issuers and the guarantors thereunder. The notes and guarantees rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior secured debt and, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, are effectively pari passu with our indebtedness that is secured by first-priority liens, including the Senior Secured Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness and ranking senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated debt. However, claims under the Senior Notes will effectively rank behind the claims of holders of debt, including interest, under our Senior Secured Credit Facility in respect of proceeds from any enforcement action with respect to the collateral or in any bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation proceeding. The guarantees will be structurally subordinated to all of the liabilities of each of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes.

The indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends or make other distributions, subject to certain exceptions. If the notes are assigned an investment grade by the rating agencies and no default has occurred or is continuing, certain covenants will be suspended. If the ratings on the notes decline to below investment grade, the suspended covenants will be reinstated.

Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes were approximately $42.0 million, which were capitalized and included within “Deferred charges and other assets” in our consolidated balance sheet. These deferred charges are being amortized using the effective interest rate method and reflected in “Interest expense, net” in the consolidated statement of operations. For a full description of our Revolving Facility and our Senior Notes, see “Description of Indebtedness.”

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

In August 2010, Styron Receivables Funding Ltd., which we refer to as Styron Funding, a variable interest entity in which we are the primary beneficiary, entered into an accounts receivable securitization facility with HSBC Bank Plc. The initial facility permitted borrowings by our Swiss subsidiary guarantor, Styron Europe GmbH, which we refer to as Styron Europe, of up to a total of $160.0 million. Under the facility, Styron Europe will sell its accounts receivable from time to time to Styron Funding. In turn, Styron Funding may sell undivided ownership interests in such receivables to commercial paper conduits in exchange for cash. We have agreed to continue servicing the receivables for Styron Funding. Upon the sale of the interests in the accounts receivable by Styron Funding, the conduits have a first priority perfected security interest in such receivables and, as a result, the receivables will not be available to our creditors or those of our subsidiaries.

In May 2011, the accounts receivable securitization facility was amended to allow for the expansion of the pool of eligible accounts receivable to include a previously excluded German subsidiary. In May 2013, we

 

71


Table of Contents

further amended the accounts receivable securitization facility which increased our borrowing capacity from $160.0 million to $200.0 million, extended the maturity date to May 2016, lowered our borrowing cost, and allows for the expansion of the pool of eligible accounts receivable to include our previously not included U.S. and Netherlands subsidiaries. As a result of the amendment, we incurred $0.7 million in fees, which were capitalized within “Deferred charges and other assets” in the consolidated balance sheet and amortized into interest expense using the straight-line method over the remaining term.

The accounts receivable securitization facility is subject to interest charges against both the amount of outstanding borrowings as well as the amount of available, but undrawn borrowings. As a result of the amendment to our accounts receivable securitization facility in May 2013 noted above, we lowered our borrowing costs. In regards to the outstanding borrowings, fixed interest charges were decreased from 3.25% plus variable commercial paper rates to 2.6% plus variable commercial paper rates. In regards to available, but undrawn borrowings, fixed interest charges were decreased from 1.50% to 1.40%.

As of March 31, 2014, there were no amounts outstanding under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, with approximately $198.6 million of accounts receivable available to support this facility, based on our pool of eligible accounts receivable.

Other Indebtedness

As of March 31, 2014, we had $8.4 million of outstanding borrowings under our short-term revolving credit facility through our subsidiary in China that provides for up to $15.0 million of uncommitted funds available for borrowings, subject to the availability of collateral. The facility is subject to annual renewal.

Our Senior Secured Credit Facility limits our foreign working capital facilities to an aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million and further limits our foreign working capital facilities in certain jurisdictions in Asia, including China, to an aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million, except as otherwise permitted by the Senior Secured Credit Facility.

Derivative Instruments

Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts

We manage our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates where possible by paying expenses in the same currency in which we generate sales in a particular country as well as using derivative contracts which are not designated for hedge accounting treatment. During 2012, we entered into foreign exchange forward contracts that were not designated as hedging instruments to manage volatility in foreign currency exposures. As of December 31, 2012, we had open foreign exchange forward contracts with various expiration dates to buy euro currency with a notional U.S. dollar equivalent of $82.0 million. The fair value of the foreign exchange forward contracts amounted to $3.8 million as of December 31, 2012 recorded in “Accounts payable” in the consolidated balance sheet. As these foreign exchange forward contracts were not designated for hedge accounting treatment, changes in the fair value of underlying instruments are recognized in “Other expense (income)” in the consolidated statement of operations.

These contracts were settled in February and May 2013 and no contracts were outstanding as of March 31, 2014. We recognized a loss of $0.6 million and a loss of $4.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Capital Resources and Liquidity

Our sources of liquidity include cash on hand, cash flow from operations and amounts available under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. We believe, based on our current level of operations, that these sources of liquidity will be sufficient to fund our operations, capital expenditures and debt service for at least the next twelve months.

 

72


Table of Contents

Our liquidity requirements are significant due to our highly leveraged nature, as well as our working capital requirements. As of March 31, 2014, we had $1,337.4 million in outstanding indebtedness and $813.9 million in working capital. As of December 31, 2013, we had $1,336.4 million in outstanding indebtedness and $810.2 million in working capital. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had $81.9 million and $74.0 million of foreign cash and cash equivalents on our balance sheet, respectively, all of which is readily convertible into other foreign currencies, including the U.S. dollar. Our intention is not to permanently reinvest our foreign cash and cash equivalents. Accordingly, we record deferred income tax liabilities related to the unremitted earnings of our subsidiaries.

As discussed above, in January 2013, we repaid our outstanding Term Loans of $1,239.0 million through issuance of $1,325.0 million in Senior Notes. Concurrently, with this repayment, we amended our Senior Secured Credit Facility to increase our Revolving Facility borrowing capacity from $240.0 million to $300.0 million. Also, in May 2013, we amended our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility to increase our borrowing capacity from $160.0 million to $200.0 million, extended the maturity date to May 2016 and expanded the pool of eligible accounts receivable to include previously excluded U.S. and Netherlands subsidiaries. These amendments to our facilities provide for additional liquidity resources for us.

Our ability to raise additional financing and our borrowing costs may be impacted by short and long-term debt ratings assigned by independent rating agencies, which are based, in significant part, on our performance as measured by certain credit metrics such as interest coverage and leverage ratios.

We and our subsidiaries, affiliates or significant direct or indirect stockholders may from time to time seek to retire or purchase our outstanding debt through cash purchases in the open market, privately negotiated transactions, exchange transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.

We cannot make assurances that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us under the Senior Secured Credit Facility in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness, or to fund our other liquidity needs. Further, our highly leveraged nature may limit our ability to procure additional financing in the future. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we were in compliance with all the covenants and default provisions under our credit arrangements.

We believe that funds provided by operations, our existing cash and cash equivalent balances, borrowings available under our Revolving Facility and borrowings available under our accounts receivable facility will be adequate to meet planned operating and capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months under current operating conditions. However, if we were to undertake any significant acquisitions or investments, it may be necessary for us to obtain additional debt or equity financings. We may not be able to obtain such financing on reasonable terms, or at all.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates because we finance certain operations through fixed and variable rate debt instruments and denominate our transactions in a variety of foreign currencies. We are also exposed to changes in the prices of certain commodities that we use in production. Changes in these rates and commodity prices may have an impact on future cash flow and earnings. We manage these risks through normal operating and financing activities and, when deemed appropriate, through the use of derivative financial instruments. We do not enter into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

By using derivative instruments, we are subject to credit and market risk. The fair market value of the derivative instruments is determined by using valuation models whose inputs are derived using market observable inputs, including interest rate yield curves, as well as foreign exchange and commodity spot and forward rates, and reflects the asset or liability position as of the end of each reporting period. When the fair

 

73


Table of Contents

value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes us, thus creating a receivable risk for us. We are exposed to counterparty credit risk in the event of non-performance by counterparties to our derivative agreements. We minimize counterparty credit (or repayment) risk by entering into transactions with major financial institutions of investment grade credit rating.

Our exposure to market risk is not hedged in a manner that completely eliminates the effects of changing market conditions on earnings or cash flow.

Interest Rate Risk

Given the leveraged nature of our Company, we have exposure to changes in interest rates. From time to time, we may execute a variety of interest rate derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk.

We use interest rate cap agreements to protect cash flows from fluctuations caused by volatility in interest rates. At December 31, 2012, we had three outstanding interest rate caps with an aggregate notional amount of $490.0 million, representing 39.5% of the $1,239.0 million of the then outstanding Term Loans under the Senior Secured Credit Facility. These agreements all were settled in January 2013, and no interest rate caps were outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Our interest rate risk management strategy is to use derivative instruments to minimize significant unanticipated earnings fluctuations that may arise from volatility in interest rates of our borrowings and to manage the interest rate sensitivity of our debt. At December 31, 2012, the non-current asset associated with interest rate agreements was recorded on the balance sheet in deferred charges and other assets at fair value. We do not account for the interest rate cap agreements as hedges. As such, changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recognized in interest expense, net. At December 31, 2012, the interest rate caps had a fair value of approximately less than $0.1 million.

In January 2013, we amended our Senior Secured Credit Facility, wherein we decreased the borrowing rate of the Revolving Facility through a decrease in the applicable margin rate from 4.75% to 3.00% as applied to base rate loans (which shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the base rate plus the applicable margin (as defined therein)), or 5.75% to 4.00% as applied to LIBO rate loans (which shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the LIBO rate plus the applicable margin plus the mandatory cost (as defined therein), if applicable). The Senior Notes that we issued in January 2013 carry a fixed interest rate of 8.75%.

During 2013, we had borrowings under the Revolving Facility, on which we incurred interest charges subject to the rates discussed above. Based on the weighted-average outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Facility throughout the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of 100 basis points in the LIBO rate would have resulted in approximately $0.2 million of additional interest expense for the period. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had no variable rate debt issued under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, including no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility.

Our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility is subject to interest charges against both the amount of outstanding borrowings as well as the amount of available, but undrawn commitments under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. In regards to outstanding borrowings on the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, fixed interest charges are 2.6% plus variable commercial paper rates which vary by month and by currency as outstanding Account Receivable Securitization Facility balances can be denominated in euro and U.S. dollar. In regards to available, but undrawn commitments under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, fixed interest charges are 1.4%. Based on the weighted-average outstanding borrowings under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility throughout the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of 100 basis points in variable commercial paper rates would have resulted in approximately $0.9 million of additional interest expense for the period. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were no outstanding borrowings and there was $198.6 million and $143.8 million, respectively, of availability under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility.

 

74


Table of Contents

Foreign Currency Risks

We are also exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates which could affect operating results as well as our financial position and cash flows. We manage our transaction risk where possible by paying expenses in the same currency in which we generate sales in a particular country. We may employ derivative contracts in the future which are not designated for hedge accounting treatment which may result in volatility to earnings depending upon fluctuations in the underlying markets. As of December 31, 2012, we had three open foreign exchange forward contracts to buy and sell euro currency with an aggregate net notional U.S. dollar equivalent of $82.0 million. These contracts were settled in February and May 2013. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had no open foreign exchange forward contracts.

Our foreign currency exposures include the euro, British pound, Chinese renminbi, Indian rupee, Korean won, Japanese yen, Brazilian real and Swedish krona. The primary foreign currency exposure relates to the U.S. dollar to euro exchange rate.

We have legal entities consolidated in our financial statements that have functional currencies other than U.S. dollar, our reporting currency. As a result of currencies fluctuating against the U.S. dollar, currency translation gains and losses are recorded in other comprehensive income primarily as a result of the remeasurement of our euro functional legal entities as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Commodity Price Risk

We purchase certain raw materials such as benzene, ethylene, butadiene, BPA and styrene under short- and long-term supply contracts. The purchase prices are generally determined based on prevailing market conditions. Changing raw material and energy prices have had material impacts on our earnings and cash flows in the past and will likely continue to have significant impacts on our earnings and cash flows in future periods.

We do not currently enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes to manage our commodity price risk relating to our raw material contracts. In the future, it is possible we will enter into derivative financial instruments to manage our commodity risk relating to our raw material contracts.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The following table reflects our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2013. Amounts we pay in future periods may vary from those reflected in the table (in millions):

 

    Payments due by year  
Contractual Obligations at December 31, 2013   2014     2015     2016     2017     2018     Thereafter     Total  

Purchase commitments(1)

  $ 2,253.1      $ 1,914.0      $ 1,844.3      $ 1,805.7      $ 1,416.9      $ 2,618.1      $ 11,852.1   

Long-term Indebtedness(2)

    —          —          —          —          —          1,325.0        1,325.0   

Interest payments on long-term debt(3)

    115.9        115.9        115.9        115.9        115.9        58.0        637.5   

Pension and other postretirement benefits(4)

    16.0        0.6        0.8        1.2        1.2        9.7        29.5   

Minimum operating lease commitments and other obligations(5)

    9.0        7.6        6.3        4.4        4.1        16.9        48.3   

Fees related to Advisory Agreement(6)

    4.0        4.0        4.0        4.0        4.0        6.0        26.0   

Uncertain tax positions, including interest and penalties(7)

    —          —          —          —          —          18.0        18.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 2,398.0      $ 2,042.1      $ 1,971.3      $ 1,931.2      $ 1,542.1      $ 4,051.7      $ 13,936.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

We have certain raw material purchase contracts where we are required to purchase certain minimum volumes at the then prevailing market prices. These commitments range from 1 to 7 years. In certain raw

 

75


Table of Contents
  material purchase contracts, we have the right to purchase less than required minimums and pay a liquidated damages fee, or, in case of a permanent plant shutdown, to terminate the contracts. In such cases these obligations would be less than the obligations shown in the table above.
(2) In January 2013, we issued $1,325.0 million aggregate principal of our 8.750% Senior Notes due 2019. The Senior Notes will mature and be due in full on February 1, 2019. The above excludes other debt outstanding as of December 31, 2013 totaling $11.4 million, which was primarily short-term in nature.
(3) Includes estimated interest on the 8.750% Senior Notes due 2019, which is payable semi-annually on February 1st and August 1st of each year, which commenced on August 1, 2013. Estimated annual payments on the Senior Notes are approximately $115.9 million. Estimated interest payments do not include the Revolving Facility or Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility as amounts outstanding under these facilities vary due to periodic borrowings and repayments. There were no amounts outstanding under either facility as of December 31, 2013.
(4) Includes minimum contributions required to be made to the funded pension plans and expected benefit payments to the employees for unfunded pension plans. With respect to our minimum funding requirements under our pension obligations, we may elect to make contributions in excess of the minimum funding requirements in response to investment performance or changes in interest rates or when we believe that it is financially advantageous to do so and based on our other cash requirements. Our minimum funding requirements after 2013 will depend on several factors, including investment performance and interest rates. Our minimum funding requirements may also be affected by changes in applicable legal requirements. We also have payments due with respect to our postretirement benefit obligation. We do not fund our postretirement benefit obligation. Rather, payments are made as costs are incurred by covered retirees. We expect benefit payments related to our postretirement benefit obligation to be $2.0 million through 2023.
(5) Excludes certain estimated future commitments under agreements with Dow, including a Second Amended And Restated Master Outsourcing Services Agreement (“SAR MOSA”) under which Dow provides administrative and operational services to us and 25-year site services agreements, as amended (“SSAs”) under which Dow provides utilities and site services to certain of our facilities co-located with Dow.

We have the right to terminate the SAR MOSA after June 1, 2015, subject to certain termination penalties, upon the appropriate notice of termination. As of December 31, 2013, we estimate our minimum obligation under the SAR MOSA, excluding the impacts of inflation, to be approximately $47.0 million in 2014, $20.0 million through June 1, 2015 and $32.0 million thereafter. However, should we continue with this agreement after that date, we estimate our minimum cumulative obligation as of December 31, 2013 through the completion of the contract, excluding the impacts of inflation, would be approximately $328.9 million through December 31, 2020.

We may terminate a site service or services under any SSAs in the event of a closure of a consumption unit (production site or production unit). If a site service is terminated in the event of the closure of a consumption unit, we will pay certain capital charges for 60 months following the termination of such site service. Either party may terminate an SSA at any time (i) by agreement of the parties; (ii) for failure of a party to pay under the agreement; (iii) for a material breach which is not cured or (iv) in the event of insolvency. If an SSA expires or is terminated (other than for permanent cessation of operations) we must pay certain capital charges for 45 months following termination or expiration of the agreement. Utilizing current year known costs and assuming that we continue with these agreements, we estimate our contractual obligations for the SSAs to be approximately $259.5 million annually for 2014 through 2018. Should we choose to continue these agreements, we estimate our minimum cumulative obligation would be approximately $6,352.1 million through June 2038.

See “Business—Our Relationship with Dow” included elsewhere within this prospectus.

 

(6) Includes estimated future commitments under the Advisory Agreement with the Advisors under which the Advisors provide us with management and consulting services and financial and other advisory services. The Advisory Agreement has an initial 10-year initial term and thereafter is subject to automatic one-year extensions unless the Advisors provide written notice of termination. In addition, the Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically upon the completion of this offering or a change of control. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

 

76


Table of Contents
(7) Due to uncertainties in the timing of the effective settlement of tax positions with the respective taxing authorities, we are unable to determine the timing of payments related to its uncertain tax positions, including interest and penalties. Amounts are therefore reflected in “Thereafter”.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition are based upon our financial statements. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experiences and assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances and re-evaluate them on an ongoing basis. Actual results could differ from our estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Our significant accounting policies, which may be affected by our estimates and assumptions, are more fully described in Note B to our 2013 consolidated financial statements in this prospectus. An accounting policy is deemed to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the financial statements. Management believes the following critical accounting policies reflect its most significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the financial statements.

Pension Plans and Postretirement Benefits

We have various company-sponsored retirement plans covering substantially all employees. We also provide certain health care and life insurance benefits mainly to certain retirees in the United States. The plans provide health care benefits, including hospital, physicians’ services, drug and major medical expense coverage, and life insurance benefits. We recognize the underfunded or overfunded status of a defined benefit pension or postretirement plan as an asset or liability in our balance sheet and recognize changes in the funded status in the year in which the changes occur through accumulated other comprehensive income, which is a component of shareholder’s equity.

Pension benefits associated with these plans are generally based on each participant’s years of service, compensation, and age at retirement or termination. The discount rate is an important element of expense and liability measurement. We evaluate our assumptions at least once each year, or as facts and circumstances dictate, and make changes as conditions warrant.

We determine the discount rate used to measure plan liabilities as of the December 31 measurement date for the pension and postretirement benefit plans. The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the associated liabilities could be effectively settled at the end of the year. We set our rate to reflect the yield of a portfolio of high quality, fixed-income debt instruments that would produce cash flows sufficient in timing and amount to settle projected future benefits. Using this methodology, we determined a discount rate of 3.30% for pension and 4.72% for postretirement benefits to be appropriate as of December 31, 2013.

We determine the expected long-term rate of return on assets by performing a detailed analysis of historical and expected returns based on the underlying assets, which generally are insurance contracts. We also consider our historical experience with the pension fund asset performance. The expected return of each asset class is derived from a forecasted future return confirmed by current and historical experience. The weighted-average long-term rate of return assumption used for determining net periodic pension expense for 2013 was 2.44%, while the weighted-average long-term rate of return assumption used for determining net periodic pension expense for 2012 was 4.09%. The decrease was primarily due to certain assets moving to financial instruments with guaranteed returns. Future actual pension expense will depend on the performance of the underlying assets and changes in future discount rates, among other factors.

 

77


Table of Contents

Holding all other factors constant, a 0.25 percentage point increase (decrease) in the discount rate used to determine net periodic cost would decrease (increase) 2013 pension expense by approximately $1.4 million and $(1.7) million, respectively. Holding all other factors constant, a 0.25 percentage point increase (decrease) in the long-term rate of return on assets used to determine net periodic cost would decrease (increase) 2013 pension expense by approximately $0.2 million and $(0.2) million, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

Since June 17, 2010, our Parent granted various time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards, or incentive shares, to certain officers and key members of management. Compensation expense related to time-based restricted stock awards is equivalent to the grant-date fair value of our Parent’s ordinary shares adjusted for the return of co-investment share and other equity investment amounts, as discussed below, and is being recognized as compensation expense over the service period utilizing graded vesting. At the grant date, we estimated a forfeiture rate of zero based on the limited number of officers and management receiving grants. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, 5,996 and 6,778 shares of time-based restricted stock awards were forfeited due to termination of certain employees. As a result, we recorded reductions of $0.8 million and $1.0 million to compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. At this time, we do not expect any significant forfeitures in the foreseeable future or the remaining service period of the related grants.

In addition, our Parent has a call right that gives it the option, but not the obligation, to repurchase vested stock at the then current fair value upon an employee’s termination, or at cost in certain circumstances. In 2013, as the result of certain employee terminations, the Parent repurchased a total of 3,372 previously vested time-based restricted stock awards at cost, resulting in a $0.9 million favorable adjustment to stock-based compensation expense.

The fair values of performance-based restricted stock awards were determined using a combination of a call option and digital option model that incorporated the fair value of our Parent’s ordinary shares, the return on investment targets that must be met, and assumptions about volatility, time until a performance condition will be met, risk-free interest rates and dividend yield. At this time, we do not consider the likelihood of meeting the performance obligations probable and have, therefore, recorded no compensation cost related to these awards. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, 9,368 and 10,651 shares of performance-based restricted stock awards were forfeited due to termination of certain employees.

During the year ended December 31, 2011, certain co-investment shares were issued for a subscription price of $397.2 per share, while during the year ended December 31, 2012, there were no co-investment shares issued. During the year ended December 31, 2013, a total of 779 co-investment shares were issued for a subscription price of $0.01 per share. We refer to these shares as “co-invest shares.” Our incentive shares are issued for a subscription price of $0.01 per share.

Our Parent is a private company with no active public market for its ordinary shares. For grants made on June 17, 2010 and through the third quarter of 2010, the awards were valued using a share price derived from the purchase price of the acquired assets and liabilities on that date. For grants awarded in the fourth quarter of 2010 and through 2013, our Parent determined the estimated per share fair value of its ordinary shares using a contemporaneous valuation consistent with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 2013 Guide, “Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation” (the “Guide”). In conducting this valuation, our Parent considered all objective and subjective factors that it believed to be relevant, including its best estimate of its business condition, prospects, and operating performance. Within this contemporaneous valuation, a range of factors, assumptions, and methodologies were used. The significant factors included:

 

    the fact that we and our Parent were private companies with illiquid securities;

 

    our historical operating results;

 

78


Table of Contents
    our discounted future cash flows, based on our projected operating results;

 

    valuations of comparable public companies; and

 

    the risk involved in the investment, as related to earnings stability, capital structure, competition and market potential.

For the contemporaneous valuation of our Parent’s ordinary shares, management estimated, as of the grant date, our enterprise value on a continuing operations basis, using the income and market approaches, as described in the Guide. The income approach utilized the discounted cash flow (“DCF”) methodology based on our financial forecasts and projections, as detailed below. The market approach utilized the Guideline Public Company and Guideline Transactions methods, as detailed below.

For the DCF methodology, we prepared annual projections of future cash flows through 2018. Beyond 2018, projected cash flows through the terminal year were projected at long-term sustainable growth rates consistent with long-term inflationary and industry expectations. Our projections of future cash flows were based on our estimated net debt-free cash flows and were discounted to the valuation date using a weighted-average cost of capital estimated using market participant assumptions.

For the Guideline Public Company and Guideline Transactions methods, we identified a group of comparable public companies and recent transactions within the chemicals industry. For the comparable companies, we estimated market multiples based on trading prices and trailing 12 months EBITDA and projected future EBITDA. We then calculated a rolling two year average of these multiples, which were applied to our trailing 12 months and projected EBITDA. When selecting comparable companies, consideration was given to industry similarity, their specific products offered, financial data availability and capital structure.

For the comparable transactions, we estimated market multiples based on prices paid for the related transactions and trailing 12 months EBITDA. These multiples were then applied to our trailing 12 months EBITDA. The results of the market approaches corroborated the fair value determined using the income approach.

Asset Impairments

As of December 31, 2013, net property, plant and equipment totaled $606.4 million, net identifiable finite-lived intangible assets totaled $171.5 million and goodwill totaled $37.3 million. Management makes estimates and assumptions in preparing the financial statements for which actual results will emerge over long periods of time. This includes the recoverability of long-lived assets employed in the business. These estimates and assumptions are closely monitored by management and periodically adjusted as circumstances warrant. For instance, expected asset lives may be shortened or impairment recorded based on a change in the expected use of the asset or performance of the related asset group.

We evaluate long-lived assets and finite-lived identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset groupings may not be recoverable. When undiscounted future cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover an asset’s carrying amount, the asset is written down to its fair value based on a discounted cash flow analysis utilizing market participant assumptions.

During the three months ended December 31, 2013, we determined that the long-lived assets at our polycarbonate manufacturing facility in Stade, Germany should be assessed for impairment driven primarily by continued losses experienced in our polycarbonate business. This assessment indicated that the carrying amount of the long-lived assets at this facility were not recoverable when compared to the expected undiscounted cash flows of our polycarbonate business. Based upon our assessment of fair value of this asset group, we concluded these assets were fully impaired as of December 31, 2013. The fair value of the asset group was determined

 

79


Table of Contents

under the income approach utilizing a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) model. The key assumptions used in the DCF model included growth rates and cash flow projections, discount rate, tax rate and an estimated terminal value.

As a result, in the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded an impairment loss of approximately $9.2 million. The amount was recorded within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the consolidated statement of operations and allocated entirely to the Engineered Polymers segment.

Aside from the discussion above, we have continued to assess the recoverability of certain of our assets, and concluded there are no events or circumstances identified by management that would indicate these assets are not recoverable. However, the current environment is subject to changing market conditions and requires significant management judgment to identify the potential impact to our assessment. If we are not able to achieve certain actions or our future operating results do not meet our expectations, it is possible that impairment charges may need to be recorded on one or more of our operating facilities.

Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are classified as held for sale and are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell, and depreciation is ceased. Long-lived assets to be disposed of other than by sale are classified as held and used until they are disposed.

Our goodwill impairment testing is performed annually as of October 1st. We will perform more frequent impairment tests should events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit has more likely than not declined below its carrying value. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at a reporting unit level.

We determined that as of our annual assessment date of October 1, 2013, each of our reporting units had fair values that substantially exceeded the carrying values indicating that none of our goodwill is impaired.

An impairment loss generally would be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The estimated fair value of a reporting unit is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis. At December 31, 2013, our $37.3 million in total goodwill is allocated as follows to our reportable segments: $14.9 million to Latex, $10.2 million to Synthetic Rubber, $8.7 million to Styrenics and $3.5 million to Engineered Polymers.

Factors which could result in future impairment charges, among others, include changes in worldwide economic conditions, changes in technology, changes in competitive conditions and customer preferences, and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. For a discussion of these risk factors see “Risk Factors”.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted rates. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred taxes is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred taxes are provided on the outside basis differences and unremitted earnings of subsidiaries outside of Luxembourg. All undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates are expected to be repatriated at December 31, 2013. Based on the evaluation of available evidence, both positive and negative, we recognize future tax benefits, such as net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards, to the extent that realizing these benefits is considered to be more likely than not.

At December 31, 2013, we had a net deferred tax asset balance of $77.7 million, after valuation allowances of $50.4 million. In evaluating the ability to realize the deferred tax assets, we rely on, in order of increasing subjectivity, taxable income in prior carryback years, the future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, tax planning strategies and forecasted taxable income using historical and projected future operating results. At December 31, 2013, we had deferred tax assets for tax loss carryforward of approximately $39.3 million, $0.9 million of which is subject to expiration in the

 

80


Table of Contents

years between 2014 and 2018. We continue to evaluate our historical and projected operating results for several legal entities for which we maintain valuation allowances on net deferred tax assets.

We are subject to income taxes in Luxembourg, the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions, and are subject to audit within these jurisdictions. Therefore, in the ordinary course of business there is inherent uncertainty in quantifying our income tax positions. The tax provision includes amounts considered sufficient to pay assessments that may result from examinations of prior year tax returns; however, the amount ultimately paid upon resolution of issues raised may differ from the amounts accrued. Since significant judgment is required to assess the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns, the ultimate resolution of these events could result in adjustments to our financial statements and such adjustments could be material. Therefore, we consider such estimates to be critical in preparation of our financial statements.

The financial statement effect of an uncertain income tax position is recognized when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. Accruals are recorded for other tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability to a taxing authority has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated. Uncertain income tax positions have been recorded in “Other noncurrent obligations” in the consolidated balance sheets for the periods presented.

Management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance is based on our estimates of future taxable income and the period over which we expect the deferred tax assets to be recovered. Our assessment of future taxable income is based on historical experience and current and anticipated market and economic conditions and trends. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates or we adjust our estimates in the future, we may need to adjust our valuation allowance, which could materially impact our financial position and results of operations.

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

We describe the impact of recent accounting pronouncements in Note B to the 2013 consolidated financial statements and our March 31, 2014 condensed consolidated financial statements, included elsewhere within this prospectus.

 

81


Table of Contents

BUSINESS

We are a leading global materials company engaged in the manufacture and marketing of emulsion polymers and plastics, including various specialty and technologically differentiated products. We have leading market positions in many of the markets in which we compete. We believe we have developed these strong market positions due to our technological differentiation, diverse global manufacturing base, long-standing customer relationships, commitment to sustainable solutions and competitive cost positions. We believe that growth in overall consumer spending and construction activity, increased demand in the automotive industry for higher fuel efficiency and lighter-weight materials, and improving living standards in emerging markets will result in growth in the global markets in which we compete. In addition, we believe our increasing business presence in developing regions such as China, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe further enhances our prospects.

We develop emulsion polymers and plastics products that are incorporated into a wide range of our customers’ products throughout the world, including tires and other products for automotive applications, carpet and artificial turf backing, coated paper and packaging board, food service packaging, appliances, medical devices, consumer electronics and construction applications, among others. We seek to regularly develop new and improved products and processes, supported by our strong patent portfolio, designed to enhance our customers’ product offerings. We have long-standing relationships with a diverse base of global customers, many of whom are leaders in their markets and rely on us for formulation, technological differentiation, and compounding expertise to find sustainable solutions for their businesses. Many of our products represent only a small portion of a finished product’s production costs, but provide critical functionality to the finished product and are often specifically developed to customer specifications. We believe these product traits result in substantial customer loyalty for our products.

We operate our business in four reporting segments: Latex, Synthetic Rubber, Styrenics and Engineered Polymers. Our major products include: styrene-butadiene latex, or SB latex, and styrene-acrylate latex, or SA latex, in our Latex segment; solution styrene butadiene rubber, or SSBR, lithium polybutadiene rubber, or Li-PBR, emulsion styrene butadiene rubber, or ESBR, and nickel polybutadiene rubber, or Ni-PBR, in our Synthetic Rubber segment; polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS, and styrene acrylonitrile, or SAN, in our Styrenics segment; and polycarbonate, or PC, compounds and blends, and polypropylene compounds in our Engineered Polymers segment.

We have significant manufacturing and production operations around the world, which allows us to serve our global customer base. As of March 31, 2014, our production facilities included 35 manufacturing plants (which included a total of 83 production units) at 27 sites across 14 countries, including joint ventures and contract manufacturers. Our manufacturing locations include sites in high-growth emerging markets such as China, Indonesia and Brazil. Additionally, as of March 31, 2014 we operated 11 research and development (“R&D”) facilities globally, including mini plants, development centers and pilot coaters, which we believe are critical to our global presence and innovation capabilities.

 

82


Table of Contents

We are a global business with a diverse geographic revenue mix and significant operations around the world.

 

LOGO   LOGO

In 2013, we generated net sales of $5,307.4 million, adjusted EBITDA of $303.3 million, and a net loss of $22.2 million. Additional information regarding adjusted EBITDA, including a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA, is included in “Prospectus Summary—Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data.”

Our Competitive Strengths

Leading Positions in Consolidating Markets

We have leading positions in several of the markets in which we compete, including the #1 position in SSBR in Europe and the #1 position in SB latex globally, and we are a leading global producer of plastics products, including polystyrene and PC. We attribute our strong market positions to our technologically differentiated products, the scale of our global manufacturing base, our long-standing customer relationships and our competitive cost positions.

The markets in which we compete are also highly consolidated and have continued to experience further consolidation over the last several years through the business combinations of BASF Group and Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Yule Catto & Co. plc and PolymerLatex GmbH (currently known as Synthomer plc), Omnova Solutions Inc. and Eliokem International SAS and the formation of Styrolution Group GmbH. As a result, from 2005 to 2011, over 400 kMT of production capacity was eliminated in the SB latex markets in North America and Western Europe, which represented approximately a 20% reduction in production capacity since 2005. In 1990, the top three producers, measured by production capacity, in North America and Western Europe represented 68% and 49% of estimated regional capacity, respectively. As a result of the capacity rationalizations and consolidations, including those described above, the top three producers in each of North America and Western Europe represented over 80% of estimated regional production capacity in 2013.

Production capacity has also been reduced in several core markets including Styrenics. For example, from 2005 to 2011, the polystyrene industry experienced substantial capacity rationalization with over 1,000 kMT of annual North American and Western European polystyrene capacity being eliminated during this time period, representing a reduction of approximately 20% of the 2005 total capacity in those regions.

Technological Advantage and Product Innovation

Most of our products are critical inputs that significantly impact the functionality, production costs and quality of our customers’ products. Many of our products are also differentiated by their performance, reliability,

 

83


Table of Contents

customization and value, which are critical factors in our customers’ selection and retention of materials suppliers. For example, our advanced SSBR and Nd-PBR technology is designed to reduce a tire’s rolling resistance, resulting in better mileage and fuel efficiency and lower carbon dioxide emissions while at the same time improving the tire’s wet-grip, a measure of braking effectiveness and traction. We believe these are key performance attributes sought by the end user and have become more easily identifiable through the growing adoption of tire labeling requirements by regulatory agencies, including formal adoption by the European Union in late 2012. These attributes also help in meeting European carbon dioxide emissions legislation requirements. Other jurisdictions have adopted or are considering similar legislation, including tire labeling requirements.

Our lightweight plastics materials also allow automotive companies to reduce weight in vehicles by substituting heavier structural parts with our products and thereby improving fuel efficiency for cars. Higher end automotive interior applications have also benefitted from utilizing our technology which has high aesthetic appeal and excellent scratch resistant characteristics. Energy use is also substantially reduced by using our plastic in lighting and other consumer applications.

Through our performance latex portfolio, we offer a variety of products designed to meet the needs of multiple applications, including adhesives, building and construction and composites, road, athletic, and automotive surfaces, technical fabrics and technical papers and boards. Our performance latex products are designed to enhance and improve an application’s mechanical properties, including water, chemical, stain, abrasion or oil resistance, cohesive and adhesive strength, or dimensional stability, flexibility, water impermeability and efflorescence resistance. Using our technological expertise, we typically launch one to two new technologies in our latex segment each year.

The technology supporting our product innovation includes more than 250 patents and 200 pending patent applications that we own world-wide covering processes and technologies such as material formulations, material process technologies and various end-use industrial applications for our materials.

Diverse Global Reach with Strong Presence in Emerging Markets

As of March 31, 2014, our production facilities included 35 manufacturing plants (which included a total of 83 production units) at 27 sites in 14 countries, inclusive of joint ventures and contract manufacturers. We believe our diverse locations provide us with a competitive advantage in meeting and anticipating the needs of our global and local customers in both well-established and growing markets. We have a strong presence in Asia and Latin America, where we supply custom formulated latex products both for established and new paper mills, as well as a variety of engineered polymers, synthetic rubber and other products that are used in a variety of end-markets.

Long-Standing, Collaborative Customer Relationships

We and the Styron business have long-standing relationships with many of our customers, helping them to develop and commercialize multiple generations of their products. We have won numerous supplier awards across our segments. We believe we have developed strong relationships through our highly collaborative process, whereby we work with our customers, particularly in high-value segments such as SSBR, specialized plastics and performance latex, to develop products that meet their specific needs. As part of this process, we test our products at customer sites and work with customers to optimize and customize our product offerings. As a result of our close collaboration, we have historically achieved a high success rate of retaining customers. As of March 31, 2014, we served approximately 1,300 customers in over 75 countries. No single customer accounted for more than 7.0% of our net sales in 2013 or in the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Attractive Segments and End-Markets Experiencing Cyclical Recovery

Our strategy is to focus on what we believe are the most attractive segments for our customers’ products, or end-markets, where demand is underpinned by global trends supporting long-term volume growth, improving living standards in emerging markets, fuel efficiency and the increasing use of light-weight materials. We serve

 

84


Table of Contents

customers in a diversified mix of end-markets that we believe generally grow when global gross domestic product, or GDP, increases and we believe that the core end-markets that we serve, including automotive, construction, household and appliance will grow at rates exceeding the rate of global GDP growth. For example, we serve the global automotive market, which is projected to grow by more than 5% per year through 2018. The global household appliances market is also expected to grow by more than 5% per year through 2017 and the global construction market is expected to grow by more than 5% per year through 2018. In addition, certain key regional markets where we have a strong presence, such as China coated paper and board, are expected to outperform global growth rates.

Over half of our net sales in 2013 were to customers serving European end-markets, and we expect the continued cyclical recovery in Europe to result in increased demand for many of our products while also increasing utilization rates at our facilities from the depressed levels that we have experienced over the last few years. For example, we expect our Synthetic Rubber segment to benefit from the anticipated recovery in the European tire market, which in 2013 recorded its lowest level of sales since 2009. We also expect the cyclical recovery in North America and Europe to improve demand prospects for paper and carpet, which are key end-markets for our SB latex products.

We also believe that the relatively modest level of capacity additions that have been announced in the marketplace will contribute to increased demand for our production capacity and products.

Cost Competitive Assets and Raw Material Sourcing

We believe that our asset and raw material utilization provides us with a competitive cost position for our products. Our products are produced on a global scale with well maintained, productive and cost efficient assets, at facilities which are positioned globally near some of our key customers or markets, or near major integrated petrochemical centers or are co-located at large Dow facilities, where we benefit from receiving certain raw materials supplied to our facilities by pipeline. We also benefit from existing long-term supply contracts for raw materials including ethylene, butadiene, and benzene, which are important in securing our supply of raw materials in markets where availability may fluctuate with demand.

The presence of some of our facilities on Dow manufacturing sites allows us to benefit from Dow’s existing manufacturing infrastructure in an efficient manner, without the need for us to construct our own infrastructure or provide our own related site services. Dow pipelines directly supply raw materials to our facilities in Terneuzen, The Netherlands and in Boehlen, Schkopau, and Stade, Germany. We share manufacturing infrastructure with Dow at these locations as well as in Midland, Michigan. At certain of our other facilities, we are able to limit the amount of our outbound freight costs as a result of the proximity of several of our facilities, including Tsing Yi, Hong Kong, Dalton, Georgia and Hamina, Finland, to key local customers.

We also seek to leverage our experience with our key raw materials, styrene monomer, to achieve economies of scale. We purchase styrene pursuant to cost-based contracts. We also produce styrene in Terneuzen, The Netherlands and Boehlen, Germany using assets that have operated in 2013 in the 1 st or 2 nd quartile for energy and raw material efficiency as compared to other European ethylbenzene styrene monomer producers.

Experienced Management Team

Our executive leadership team averages over 25 years of industry experience, including leadership positions within our business units, and significant public company leadership experience at other chemical companies.

Our Growth Strategy

We believe that there are significant opportunities to grow our business globally and enhance our position as a leading global materials company engaged in the manufacture and marketing of standard, specialty and technologically differentiated emulsion polymers and plastics by executing on the following strategies:

 

85


Table of Contents

Continue Product Innovation and Technological Differentiation

We intend to continue to address our customers’ critical materials needs by utilizing our technological expertise and development capabilities to create specialty grades, new and sustainable products and technologically differentiated formulations. We believe our technological differentiation positions us to participate in attractive, high growth areas of the markets in which we compete. One such area where we believe we have a technological advantage is enhanced SSBR, which is expected to grow at 9% annually through 2020. Enhanced SSBR technology, which includes later generations of SSBR and functionalized SSBR, is used in the latest generation of performance tires. The global market for enhanced SSBR is expected to constitute approximately 40% of the total SSBR market by 2017. We continue to devote significant R&D resources to improving and furthering our SSBR technology and our polybutadiene rubber technologies (such as Nd-PBR and lithium butadiene rubber) in order to remain a leader in these markets. For example, on April 9, 2014, we announced that we will be converting our Ni-PBR production capacity at our Schkopau, Germany facility to the production of a more advanced polybutadiene rubber, Nd-PBR, which is a key material in the latest generation of performance tires. We expect this conversion to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2015. Our development efforts are currently focused in large part on continuing to improve the fuel efficiency and performance characteristics of automotive tires.

We are also working with our industry partners, particularly in the automotive, medical devices and consumer electronics sectors, to develop new advanced plastics with the goal of gaining market share in higher value-added areas of the markets served by our Engineered Polymers business.

As a global leader in SB latex, we also continue to evaluate opportunities to expand our performance latex business by targeting particular end-markets and chemistries where we believe we have a competitive advantage, such as SB performance latex and styrene acrylics. We believe that performance latex accounts for a substantial portion of the total synthetic latex market, but only accounted for 10% of our Latex segment’s net sales in 2013, and we believe that we are well positioned to capture a larger share of this performance latex market.

Strategically Invest in Attractive Segments of the Market

We plan to make strategic capital investments to extend our leadership in select market segments and meet expected growing demand for our products. Our new SSBR production line in Schkopau, Germany began production on October 1, 2012, adding 50 kMT of new capacity. In addition, we entered into an agreement in February 2014 to repurchase 25 kMT of SSBR production capacity rights at our Schkopau facility from JSR Corporation Tokyo, Wallisellen Branch, effective April 1, 2014, at a significant discount to the estimated cost to build equivalent new capacity. With these two capacity additions, we have approximately doubled our SSBR production capacity.

Expand and Deepen Our Presence in Emerging Markets

We expect to capitalize on growing demand for our products in emerging markets such as China, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe and increase our local market share by expanding our customer base and local capabilities in these geographies. We believe that improving living standards and growth in GDP across emerging markets are creating increased demand for our products. We are also adding an additional 25 kMT of SB latex capacity at our facility in Zhangjiagang, China, which we expect to become operational in the second quarter of 2015. We expect to leverage our existing technology and platforms to make additional investments in emerging markets to address expected increases in demand for our SSBR, performance latex and plastics products in those geographies. We also expect this growth to occur in the end markets that use our products. For example, light-weight vehicle auto production is expected to grow from 2013 through 2018 at an annual rate of approximately 9% in China, approximately 6% in Asia and approximately 5% in South America. In addition, output for coated paper and paperboard in China has grown in recent years with related increases

in the demand for paper coating chemicals. Consumption of SB latex for paper coatings in China is expected to

 

86


Table of Contents

grow by approximately 7% per year through 2016 and consumption of SB latex in China for use in carpet backing is expected to grow by approximately 6% per year through 2016.

We expect to capitalize on growing demand for our products in emerging markets and increase our local market share by expanding our customer base and local capabilities in these geographies. For example, we recently announced a 25 kMT expansion of our SB latex capacity at our facility in Zhangjiagang, China, which we expect to become operational in the second quarter of 2015 and will represent a 33% increase in our SB latex capacity in China.

We also expect to leverage our existing technology and platforms to make additional investments in emerging markets to address expected increases in demand for our SSBR, performance latex and plastics products in those geographies.

Opportunistically Pursue Strategic Acquisitions to Extend Leadership Positions

We intend to pursue acquisitions and joint ventures that have attractive risk-adjusted returns to extend our leadership positions in what we believe are the more attractive market segments (such as synthetic rubber and performance latex) and geographies for us, including emerging markets. We believe that a long-term trend toward consolidation in our industry will continue, which we expect to create opportunities for us given our scale, broad customer base, and geographic reach.

Continue to Implement Cost Saving Measures and Focus on Cash Flow Generation

We have a proven track record of offsetting fixed cost inflation with cost saving actions, and we continue to seek to identify incremental cost saving opportunities. In recent years, we have launched several company-wide initiatives intended to further reduce our costs and increase our competitiveness. We have reduced our fixed cost base by approximately $70 million since 2011 through a number of cost-saving initiatives such as streamlining production and administrative processes and optimizing logistics. We believe that our current cost structure positions us favorably to compete and grow in the current market environment, and we have ongoing corporate cost saving initiatives intended to realize annual cost savings at or above the rate of fixed cost inflation.

In addition, we continue to focus on cash flow generation through disciplined working capital and capital expenditure management. Following the completion of the SSBR capacity expansion at our Schkopau, Germany facility in 2012, capital expenditures have been reduced from approximately $112 million in 2012 to approximately $55 million in 2013, net of a $6 million and a $19 million government subsidy for SSBR expansion, respectively. We believe that our maintenance capital expenditures on our current fixed asset base will be in the range of $30 million to $40 million per year over the next several years, which represents less than 1% of our net sales.

 

87


Table of Contents

Business Model

The chart below illustrates our primary business operations in each of our business units, from the raw materials used in our products to our end-markets.

 

LOGO

Segment Overview

We operate in four reporting segments under two business units. Our Emulsion Polymers business unit includes our Latex reporting segment and our Synthetic Rubber reporting segment. Our Plastics business unit includes our Styrenics reporting segment and our Engineered Polymers reporting segment. The table below includes our net sales, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and operating income (loss) in each of our reporting segments for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

     Latex      Synthetic
Rubber
     Styrenics      Engineered
Polymers
    Corporate
Unallocated
    Total  
     (in millions)  

Net sales

   $ 1,341.4       $ 622.1       $ 2,305.4       $ 1,038.5        —        $ 5,307.4   

Adjusted EBITDA

     106.2         113.5         148.0         1.9        (66.3     303.3   

EBITDA

     95.4         113.5         160.7         (9.1     (133.7     226.8   

Operating income (loss)

     67.7         84.4         135.7         (16.9     (90.7     180.2   

See Note S to our 2013 consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus for detailed financial information on our business by segment and by geography.

Latex Segment

Overview

We are a global leader in SB latex, holding a strong market position across the geographies and applications in which we compete, including the #1 position in SB latex in Europe with approximately 25% of Europe’s SB latex capacity and the #2 position in North America with approximately 35% of its capacity. We produce SB latex primarily for coated paper used in advertising and magazines, packaging board coatings, carpet and artificial turf backings, as well as a number of performance latex applications. In 2013, approximately half of our

 

88


Table of Contents

Latex segment’s net sales were generated in Europe, approximately 25% were generated in the United States and the remainder was generated in Asia and other geographies.

We believe that our leading scale and differentiated capabilities in this segment are a competitive advantage that allows us to invest in new formulation capabilities and polymer science. Using our two pilot coating facilities in the United States and Switzerland, we work alongside our customers to develop new products and customer branding. We believe that this capability allows us to capture new business, strengthen our existing customer relationships and broaden our technological expertise.

We believe our development and formulation capabilities contribute to our strong position. Further, we believe our growth prospects in latex are enhanced by our expanding capacity in China. We believe that emerging markets, and in particular China, will contribute a substantial portion of the global growth of the paper and packaging board market segment over the next decade. We believe our growth prospects could also be enhanced if the recent trend of industry capacity reduction and consolidation continues. This consolidation trend includes the business combinations of BASF Group and Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Omnova Solutions Inc. and Eliokem International SAS, and Yule Catto & Co plc and PolymerLatex GmbH (currently known as Synthomer plc). We also believe we are well positioned to capture additional share in the performance latex market, which has accounted for a substantial portion of the total synthetic latex market, but only accounted for 10% of our Latex segment’s net sales in 2013.

Products and End Uses

We are a global leader in the production and marketing of SB latex for coated paper with the #1 position in SB latex in Europe and the #2 position in North America. For coated paper, we primarily manufacture SB latex, a high-volume product that is widely used as a binder for mineral pigments as it allows high coating speeds, improved smoothness, higher gloss level, opacity and water resistance. Typically, SB latex formulations are engineered in close collaboration with customers, and are tailored specifically to optimize finished product properties and production efficiency, and to minimize mill down time. Since SB latex accounts for, on average, approximately 8% of the total production cost for coated paper but is a critical element of the manufacturing process and provides performance characteristics key to the product’s end-use, we believe customers view it as a crucial component of their manufacturing process and typically seek high-quality, reliable producers.

We are also a leading supplier of latex polymers to the carpet and artificial turf industries and offer a diverse range of products for use in residential and commercial broadloom, needlefelt, and woven carpet backings. We produce high solids SB latex, SA latex, vinylidene chloride, and butadiene-methacrylate latex products for the commercial and niche carpet markets. We incorporate vinyl acrylic latex in our formulations for its ignition resistant properties, with the sourcing of vinyl acrylic latex readily available from a number of industry suppliers. SB latex is also used in flooring as an adhesive for carpet and artificial turf fibers.

We also offer a broad range of performance latex products, including SB latex, SA latex, and vinylidene chloride latex primarily for the adhesive, building and construction as well as the technical textile paper market, and have begun to implement the use of starch and associated new chemistries in paper coatings and carpet backing.

Customers

We believe our Latex segment is able to differentiate itself by offering customers value-added formulation and product development expertise. Our R&D team and Technical Services and Development, which we refer to as TS&D, team are able to use our two pilot coating facilities in Switzerland and the United States, four paper fabrication and testing labs in Brazil, China, Switzerland and the United States, three carpet technology centers located near carpet producers in China, the United States and Switzerland, and two product development and process research centers, one each in Germany and the United States, to assist customers in designing new products and enhancing the manufacturing process. Additionally, our global manufacturing capabilities are key in serving customers cost-effectively, as latex is costly to ship over long distances due to its high water content. We believe that our global network of service and manufacturing facilities is highly valued by our customers.

 

89


Table of Contents

Many of our major customers rely on our dedicated R&D and TS&D teams to complement their limited in-house resources for formulation and reformulation tests and trials. We seek to capture the value of these services through our pricing strategy. In addition, as paper mills become larger and increasingly sophisticated with higher fixed costs, we believe there is greater demand for custom-formulated latexes. Historically, we have focused on capturing a majority share of new SB latex formulations for startups and major overhauls of existing paper coaters. In carpet applications, our product development expertise also allows us to provide differentiated products to our customers.

Competition

Our principal competitors in our Latex segment include BASF Group, Omnova Solutions Inc., Synthomer plc and Lin Cham Ltd. In our Latex segment, we compete primarily based on our ability to offer differentiated products, the reliability of our products, the quality of our customer service and the length and depth of our relationships.

Industry Outlook

Certain changes in industry structure have had a beneficial effect for latex producers, driven by industry capacity reduction and consolidation. From 2005 to 2011 industry capacity in North America and Western Europe contracted by approximately 20% due to shut downs and consolidations. Key industry events include the business combinations of BASF Group and Ciba Specialty Chemicals and resulting significant capacity reduction, a capacity rationalization by Dow / Dow Reichhold, Omnova Solutions Inc.’s rationalization at its Mogadore facility, the exit of The Lubrizol Corporation from the latex business, Omnova Solutions Inc.’s acquisition of Eliokem International SAS, and Yule Catto & Co. plc’s acquisition of PolymerLatex GmbH (currently known as Synthomer plc).

We also expect recent declines in the demand for coated paper to slow in the developed markets, particularly in Europe, and such declines to be more than offset by growth in emerging markets such as China as improving living standards generate increased demand for coated paper end products. Chinese consumption of styrene-butadiene latexes is expected to grow over 6% annually through 2016.

In addition, several historical developments that appeared to have an unfavorable impact at first, including the emergence of substitutes for SB latex in carpet backing applications in North America, have had less of an impact than initially anticipated due to superior SB latex performance, as many customers that we believe have switched to substitute products have switched back to SB latex due to its superior quality. This trend has been bolstered by increased butadiene availability and decreased butadiene cost in recent years. We also anticipate the housing recovery in the U.S. market will benefit our SB latex business through increased demand for carpet backing applications. We believe that if the recent trends of industry capacity reduction and consolidation and increasing demand in emerging markets continue, this will lead to a favorable production environment.

Synthetic Rubber Segment

Overview

We are a significant producer of styrene-butadiene and polybutadiene-based rubber products and we have a leading European market position, providing approximately 70% of Europe’s SSBR capacity available for sale, and in synthetic rubber overall. While 100% of our sales were generated in Europe in 2013, approximately 15% of these net sales were exported to Asia, 8% to Latin America and 5% to North America.

We have a broad synthetic rubber technology and product portfolio, focusing on specialty products, such as SSBR and Li-PBR, while also producing core products, such as ESBR and Ni-PBR. Our synthetic rubber products are extensively used in tires, with an estimated 86% of our net sales from this segment in 2013 attributable to the tire market. We estimate that three quarters of these sales relate to replacement tires. We have strong relationships with many of the top global tire manufacturers and believe we have remained a supplier of

 

90


Table of Contents

choice as a result of our broad rubber portfolio and ability to offer technologically differentiated product and product customization capabilities. Other applications for our synthetic rubber products include polymer modification and technical rubber goods.

Our most advanced rubber technology, SSBR, is a critical material for tires with low rolling resistance, which increases fuel efficiency and improves wet-grip and also leads to better traction and safety characteristics. Our fourth generation functionalized SSBR can improve traction by approximately 45% and rolling resistance by approximately 75% compared to the first generation. We believe our growth prospects are enhanced by increasing demand for high performance tires, which are now more commonly used by automakers as OEM specified tires in their vehicles as a result of regulatory reforms in the EU, Japan and Korea that are aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. As a result of these and other factors, demand for SSBR is expected to grow substantially faster than global GDP over the next 5 years.

Products and End Uses

Our Synthetic Rubber segment produces synthetic rubber products used in high-performance tires, impact modifiers and technical rubber products, such as conveyor belts, hoses, seals and gaskets. We participate significantly in the European synthetic rubber industry, where tire producers focus on high-performance and ultra high-performance tires and rely heavily on rubber suppliers to provide their supply of rubber, in contrast to North America where tire manufacturers produce most of their required rubber.

SSBR . We sell SSBR products for high-performance and ultra high-performance tire applications. We produce both clear and oil extended SSBR through batch polymerization in our three SSBR production lines. We believe these processes provide leading and technologically differentiated solutions to tire manufacturers.

We believe we are well-positioned to capture additional market share in high-growth high-performance tire applications and have expanded capacity to meet this anticipated demand. Our new SSBR production line in Schkopau, Germany began production on October 1, 2012, and expanded our SSBR production capacity by 50 kMT. In addition, we entered into an agreement in February 2014 to repurchase 25 kMT of SSBR production capacity rights at our Schkopau facility from JSR Corporation Tokyo, Wallisellen Branch, effective April 1, 2014, at a significant discount to the estimated cost to build equivalent new capacity. With these two capacity additions, we have approximately doubled our SSBR production capacity for this higher-margin product.

Our synthetic rubber portfolio is anchored by our SSBR technology and further strengthened by our new functionalized SSBR (SSBR engineered to perform specific functions) product offering. Our new product platform is used in the manufacture of high-performance and ultra high-performance tires. We expect demand growth for European performance tires, which are designed to improve passenger safety, tire longevity and vehicle fuel efficiency, to accelerate due to European legislation that became effective late in 2012.

During the last five years, we have been working closely with major tire producers around the world to develop multiple new SSBR grades, addressing key marketplace needs for improved tire fuel economy, grip, and abrasion characteristics, which we believe will lead to significant demand growth for our rubber products in Europe and around the world. We expect our synthetic rubber product mix to shift to new more advanced SSBR grades (from approximately 8% of total Synthetic Rubber volume sold in 2011 to more than 25% in 2015) to meet the expected demand growth. In 2013, we produced 114 kMT of SSBR for sale. Our repurchase of JSR’s capacity rights described above has added another 25 kMT of capacity.

ESBR. Our ESBR products are used in standard tires, technical goods, and footwear. Our ESBR product portfolio offers tire producers a comprehensive suite of synthetic rubber capabilities. For example, ESBR provides enhanced wet grip to tire treads and strength to the inner liner of tires, allowing the tires to be more easily processed. In 2013, we produced 113 kMT of ESBR for sale.

Li-PBR . Our Li-PBR is used primarily for our own internal polymer modification applications. Polymer modification is the use of synthetic rubber to improve the impact resistance quality of plastic products. In 2013,

 

91


Table of Contents

approximately 80% of our Li-PBR products were consumed within our Plastics business unit for high impact polystyrene, or HIPS, and ABS production. We make two grades of Li-PBR exclusively for our polymer modification uses. In addition to impact resistance, Li-PBR provides visual surface gloss. In 2013, we produced 7 kMT of Li-PBR for sale.

Ni-PBR . We are currently the only European producer of Ni-PBR, with 30 kMT of capacity. We sell Ni-PBR products for use in standard tires, performance tires, technical goods and footwear. We believe Ni-PBR is valued by the tire industry because of its ability to form compounds that are easier to process, its ability to add wear resistance to the wet grip capabilities of SSBR and ESBR and its flexibility in tire sidewalls. In 2013, we produced 27 kMT of Ni-PBR for sale.

Customers

We maintain deep and long-standing relationships with a large number of multinational customers, including many of the top global tire manufacturers, as well as fast growing Asian tire manufacturers. Our relationships with our top customers, including with our predecessor business operated by Dow prior to the Acquisition, exceed 10 years on average.

Tire producers are the primary customers for our Synthetic Rubber segment. We believe we have remained a supplier of choice given our broad rubber portfolio, including technologically differentiated grades, and our product customization capabilities. The majority of our Synthetic Rubber segment net sales are based on contracts that generally include terms for at least three different rubber product families in addition to raw material pass-through clauses. Our R&D and TS&D teams use our broad rubber portfolio to develop differentiated specialty products for customers. Once implemented with a customer, these newly-developed specialty products cannot be easily replaced with a competitor’s product. As a result, we believe customers are likely to buy from us throughout the life cycle of specific tire models to avoid high switching costs and prevent repetition of the expensive development process.

Competition

Our principal competitors in our Synthetic Rubber segment include Asahi Kasei Corporation, JSR Corporation, Lanxess AG, Zeon Corporation, Versalis S.p.A and Synthos S.A. In our Synthetic Rubber segment, we compete primarily based on our ability to offer differentiated products, the reliability of our products, the quality of our customer service and the length and depth of our relationships.

Industry Outlook

 

Total Projected SSBR Demand

 

Total Projected Enhanced SSBR Demand

LOGO   LOGO

Our Synthetic Rubber segment participates mainly in the European synthetic rubber industry, where tire producers rely on rubber suppliers, in contrast to North America where tire manufacturers produce most of their required rubber. Rubber suppliers typically manufacture more than one grade of rubber as customers typically require different grades of rubber from a single supplier. Performance tires represent an especially attractive market

 

92


Table of Contents

to rubber producers because they provide substantial value to end customers and the market for performance tires is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.0% versus 1.2% for the standard tire market. Tire manufacturers are expected to continually seek improvements in advanced rubber, which optimizes the combination of fuel economy and wet grip in order to meet EU regulations which set minimum requirements and are being phased in through 2020. Other jurisdictions have adopted or are considering similar legislation and are also beginning to adopt the tire labeling requirements that have become mandatory in Europe since late 2012. Enhanced SSBR, which includes later generations of SSBR and functionalized SSBR and is used in the new generation of performance tires, is expected to reach approximately 40% of the total SSBR market by 2017. We believe our leadership in the fast growing SSBR segment will position us to perform well relative to the broader industry and anticipate future strong demand from the broader adoption of legislation similar to the EU legislation and the relative performance advantages of our SSBR products. Combined with relatively modest incremental capacity announcements by our competitors, particularly in enhanced SSBR, we expect industry utilization rates to remain high and increase in the near-term.

Styrenics Segment

Overview

Our Styrenics segment includes polystyrene, ABS and SAN products, as well as our internal production and sourcing of styrene monomer, a raw material common in SB latex, synthetic rubber and styrenics products. We are a leading producer of polystyrene and mass ABS, or mABS, where we focus our efforts on differentiated applications such as the liners and encasements of appliances and consumer electronics including smartphones and tablets. Within these applications, we have worked collaboratively with customers to develop more advanced grades of plastics such as our HIPS and mABS products. For example, we work with appliance manufacturers around the world to develop improved environmental stress crack resistant products and with our construction sheet customers on smooth ABS. These products offer superior properties, such as rigidity, insulation and colorability, and, in some cases, an improved environmental footprint compared to general purpose polystyrene or emulsion ABS. Our Styrenics segment also serves the packaging and construction end-markets, where we have launched a new general purpose polystyrene product for improved performance in foam insulation applications. Today, we are one of the top 3 polystyrene producers worldwide, providing, either directly or through Americas Styrenics, approximately 20% of Europe’s polystyrene capacity, approximately 5% of Asia’s capacity and approximately 30% of North America’s capacity. In 2013, we also supplied 16% and 15% of the styrene monomer capacity in North America and Europe, respectively.

We believe our growth prospects in our Styrenics segment are enhanced by periodic trends of industry capacity reduction and consolidation in Europe and North America, such as the completed formation of the Styrolution Group GmbH joint venture combining certain INEOS and BASF Group assets and the prior acquisition of INEOS Nova by INEOS, as well as INEOS’ most recent asset rationalizations in styrene monomer and polystyrene and Styrolution’s recent announcement to close a polystyrene plant in the United States. We also have a 50% interest in Americas Styrenics LLC, our joint venture with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, which operates in the North American and Latin American markets and has benefitted from recent positive trends in those markets. We expect further consolidation in certain regions of Asia with numerous producers and low asset utilization, which we believe will create opportunities for us, given our scale and geographic reach. We believe our growth prospects are further enhanced by our established manufacturing footprint in the high economic growth regions of Asia and our focus on attractive end-markets where improving living standards drive demand for growing appliances and consumer electronics markets. In 2013, approximately 60% of sales from our Styrene segment were generated in Europe and an additional 33% of sales were generated in Asia.

Products and End Uses

Polystyrene . We are a leading producer of polystyrene and focus on sales to injection molding and thermoforming customers. Our product offerings include a variety of GPPS and HIPS, which is polystyrene that has been modified with polybutadiene rubber to increase its impact resistant properties. These products provide

 

93


Table of Contents

customers with performance and aesthetics at a low cost across applications, including appliances, packaging, including food packaging and food service disposables, consumer electronics and building and construction materials.

We believe our STYRON™ brand is one of the longest established brands in the industry and is widely recognized in the global marketplace. We believe our R&D efforts have resulted in valuable, differentiated solutions for our customers. For instance, during the early 2000s, we developed an innovative STYRON A-TECH™ family of resins that is an advanced polystyrene product allowing customers to balance key properties such as toughness, gloss, stiffness, flow and cost, and provide combinations of properties that were previously not available with standard HIPS. We believe that over the past decade, this product family has become the industry standard for this application.

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) . We believe we are a leading producer of ABS in Europe and are one of the few producers with a presence in North America. We produce mABS, a variation of ABS that has lower conversion and capital costs compared to the more common emulsion ABS, or eABS, process, marketed under the MAGNUM™ brand. mABS has similar properties to eABS but has greater colorability, thermal stability and lower gloss. mABS products can be manufactured to stricter specifications because it is produced in a continuous process as opposed to the batch process used in eABS. mABS also has environmental benefits such as waste reduction and higher yields. In addition to our own mABS production capacity, we also license our proprietary mABS technology to other producers.

Primary end uses for our ABS products include automotive and construction sheet. In 2013, we maintained a significant share of ABS sales into these markets, which we believe is driven by the differentiating attributes of our mABS products, our reputation as a knowledgeable supplier, our broad product mix and our customer collaboration and design capabilities.

Automotive manufacturers have developed innovative solutions in order to meet increasing fuel standards, such as the lightweighting of vehicles. Consequentially, manufacturers have been replacing heavier materials with durable yet lighter materials, such as mABS and polypropylene compounds. We expect this trend to continue, and we believe that our technological capabilities in our Styrenics segment together with our compounding and blending expertise will help generate future growth opportunities.

Styrene-Acrylonitrile . SAN is composed of styrene and acrylonitrile, which together provide clarity, stiffness, enhanced ability to be processed, mechanical strength, barrier properties, chemical resistance and heat resistance.

SAN is used mainly in appliances, consumer goods and construction sheets, due to its low-cost, clarity and chemical resistance properties. Within our Styrenics segment, we manufacture SAN under the TYRIL™ brand name for use in housewares, appliances, automotive, construction sheets, battery cases and lighting applications. In addition, TYRIL™ is suitable for self-coloring which adds value in many of these uses.

Technology licensing . From time to time, we may seek to opportunistically license our technology to third parties pursuant to licensing arrangements that may be exclusive to a particular geography or product.

Customers

Our customer centric model focuses on understanding customers’ needs and developing tailored solutions that create value for both parties. For durable applications, we focus our TS&D, R&D and marketing teams on product design engineering initiatives for developing and specifying plastics in the next generation of construction applications, appliances, automotive, and consumer electronics. In non-durable applications, we focus on innovative products that provide clear cost advantages to our customers, serving customers with our cost-advantaged technology and operating excellence. We have leveraged industry-leading product development

 

94


Table of Contents

and technology capabilities to develop long-standing customer relationships with many of our customers, including a number who have purchased from us, including our predecessor business operated by Dow prior to the Acquisition, for more than 20 years. We believe that our global presence is an advantage, allowing us to provide customers with consistent product grades and positioning us to strategically serve growth economies.

Competition

Our principal competitors in our Styrenics segment are Styrolution Group GmbH, Versalis S.p.A. and Total S.p.A. In our Styrenics segment, we compete primarily based on our ability to offer differentiated products, the reliability of our products, the quality of our customer service and the length and depth of our relationships.

Industry Outlook

From 2005 to 2011, the polystyrene industry experienced substantial capacity rationalizations by major producers such as BASF Group, INEOS Nova, and others. Over 1,000 kMT of annual North American and Western European polystyrene capacity were eliminated during this time period, representing a reduction of approximately 20% of the 2005 total capacity in those regions. Consistent with the broader industry, we participated in these rationalizations by electing to shut down some of our less cost effective European assets and concentrating production at our most competitive facilities. This trend has continued since 2011 with the completed formation of the Styrolution joint venture combining certain INEOS and BASF Group assets and the prior acquisition of INEOS Nova by INEOS, as well as INEOS’ most recent asset rationalizations in styrene monomer and polystyrene and Styrolution’s recent announcement to close a polystyrene plant in the United States.

In addition to improving profitability through cost rationalizations, the polystyrene industry has also benefited from a number of consolidating activities. A number of our larger competitors have enhanced their platforms via acquisitions and joint ventures, such as the completed formation of the Styrolution joint venture combining certain INEOS and BASF Group assets and the prior acquisition of INEOS Nova by INEOS. Utilization rates are expected to improve in Europe by 2018 and steadily increase in North America and Asia from 2014 through 2018 as the reduced production capacity serves growing demand in end-markets.

The ABS and styrenics markets have also experienced a number of capacity rationalizations since 2006. These rationalizations, combined with improved end-market demand, have resulted in a substantial improvement in operating rates since the beginning of the global economic downturn. Global styrene monomer utilization rates of approximately 84% in 2013 are expected to increase to 91% by 2017 and polystyrene utilization is expected to increase from 70% to 72% over the same period.

Engineered Polymers Segment

Overview

We are a leading producer of engineered polymers. Our products are predominantly used in the automotive, consumer electronics, construction, and medical device markets. We are focused on differentiated products which we produce in our polymer and compounds and blends manufacturing facilities located across Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America. We believe that the strategic locations of these facilities combined with close customer collaboration offers us a strategic advantage in serving our customers. Many of our PC products and more than half of our compounds and blends products are differentiated, based on their physical properties, performance and aesthetic advantages. Our history of innovation has contributed to long-standing relationships with customers who are recognized leaders in their respective end-markets. We have established a strong market presence in the global automotive and electronics sector, targeting both component suppliers and final product manufacturers. Our Engineered Polymers segment also compounds and blends our PC and mABS plastics into differentiated products for customers within these sectors, as well as into compounds of polypropylene. We have also developed compounds containing post-consumer recycle polymers to respond to what we believe is a

 

95


Table of Contents

growing need for some customers to include recycled content in their products. We are currently focused on reducing costs in order to improve our competitiveness in polycarbonate.

We believe growth in this segment is driven by a number of factors, including consumer preference for lighter weight and impact-resistant products and the development of new consumer electronics, increases in LED lighting applications and continuing growth in medical device applications. Additionally, we believe growth is bolstered by sustainability trends, such as the substitution of lighter-weight plastics for metal in automobiles, as well as more energy efficient, glazing solutions.

In 2013, approximately 50% of our Engineered Polymer segment’s net sales were generated in Europe, approximately 20% were generated in the United States and approximately 15% were generated in Asia, with the remainder in other geographic regions, including Latin America and Canada.

Products and End Uses

Our Engineered Polymers segment consists of PC, compounds and blends and some specialized ABS grades. PC has high levels of clarity, impact resistance and temperature resistance. PC can be used in its neat form (prior to any compounding or blending) for markets such as construction sheet, optical media and LED lighting. Additionally, PC can be compounded or blended with other polymers, such as ABS, which imparts specific performance attributes tailored to the product’s end-use. Our compounds and blends business has a significant position in the PC/ABS blends, which combine the heat resistance and impact strength of PC with the easy to process qualities and resilience of ABS. In addition, we produce ignition resistant polystyrene for consumer electronics applications such as flat screen televisions. We believe our ability to offer technologically differentiated products to meet customer needs sets us apart from our competitors, and with our history as a leading innovator in PC and compounds and blends, we have established ourselves as a leading supplier of PC-based products.

Our products for glazing and construction sheets are marketed under the CALIBRE™ brand name and offer customers a combination of clarity, heat resistance and impact performance. Glazing and construction sheet represents our largest PC application, and is a key growth focus for us. Key end-markets include the construction industry, with additional opportunities for growth with compounded products in the medical device space, consumer electronics and other applications such as smart meter casings that require plastics with enhanced weatherability, ignition resistance and impact performance.

For the automotive industry, we manufacture PC blends under the PULSE™ brand, and we innovate collaboratively with our customers to develop performance solutions to meet the industry’s needs, such as removing weight from vehicles. As a result, we are a key supplier of these products to leading automotive companies in North America and Europe, who tend to specify these products on a per car program platform basis, making it difficult to be displaced as a supplier once selected and providing us with relatively stable and predictable cash flows for several years during the production lifecycle. We are also accelerating our development of similar supply capabilities in rapidly-growing areas such as China.

For the consumer electronics, electrical and lighting and medical device industries, we manufacture our products under the EMERGE™ brand, among others, and we believe that we have substantial growth opportunities in tablets, notebooks, smart phones and other handheld devices, as well as flat screen television sets, and electrical and lighting and medical device components. In serving these markets, we leverage our polymer and compound technologies to meet increasingly stringent performance requirements along with the aesthetic and color-matching requirements which are crucial characteristics for the products involved. The result is that we are a leading and long-standing supplier to many well known brands.

Technology licensing . From time to time, we may seek to opportunistically license our technology to third parties pursuant to licensing arrangements that may be exclusive to a particular geography or product.

 

96


Table of Contents

Customers

We have a history of innovation in PC and compounds and blends in our Engineered Polymers segment, and we believe that our focus on differentiated products enhances our growth prospects in this segment. We develop tailored polymer, compound and process solutions for our customers and for end-markets such as consumer electronics, we believe that our ability to work with our customers to quickly and effectively develop product solutions is a key to our success. Our innovation has contributed to long-standing relationships with customers who are recognized leaders in their respective end-markets. We also believe our global facilities are a competitive advantage that allows us to provide customers with consistent grades and position us to strategically serve emerging markets.

Competition

Our principal competitors in our Engineered Polymers segment are Bayer MaterialScience AG, LG Chem Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Teijin Limited, Borealis AG, Celanese Corporation and LyondellBasell Industries. In our Engineered Polymers segment, we compete primarily based on our ability to offer differentiated products, the reliability of our products, the quality of our customer service and the length and depth of our relationships.

Industry Outlook

We are a global producer of PC and PC blends, supplying 3% of polycarbonate capacity in Asia through our Sumika Styron joint venture, 13% in Europe and 9% in North America. Smaller competitors tend to operate on a regional basis. We have developed a global, multi-tiered marketing approach targeting the tiered suppliers, as well as final product producers, which we believe most effectively addresses our customers’ needs.

We believe our base PC business will benefit from continued growth in demand of approximately 5% per year as well as capacity absorption following the large capacity additions in 2011 and 2012 by SABIC and other producers. In addition, we believe that capacity expansions in China by some of our competitors are being postponed by several years. Furthermore, some Asian producers, such as Teijin, have announced plans to reduce capacity. As a result of this dynamic, global PC utilization rates are expected to increase by approximately 6% over the next five years.

We also believe that automotive manufacturers will continue the practice of lightweighting vehicles in order to meet increasing fuel efficiency standards, which should increase demand for our compounds and blends products. We believe these same trends towards lighter weights and higher performance materials will also impact other key end-markets such as medical devices, lighting and consumer electronics, and will continue to be a source of growth for our differentiated products.

Our Relationship with Dow

In conjunction with the Acquisition, we entered into certain agreements with Dow, including the Second Amended and Restated Master Outsourcing Services Agreement, which was modified on June 1, 2013 (“SAR MOSA”), the Amended and Restated MOD5 Computerized Process Control Software, Licenses and Services Agreement, with Rofan Services, Inc. which was modified June 1, 2013 (“AR MOD5 Agreement”), site and operating services agreements, and supply agreements.

The SAR MOSA provides for ongoing worldwide services from Dow, in areas such as information technology, enterprise resource planning, finance, environmental health and safety, training, customer service, marketing and sales support, supply chain and purchasing. The term of this agreement runs through December 2020, which automatically renews for two year periods unless either party provides six months’ notice of non-renewal to the other party. The services provided pursuant to the SAR MOSA generally are priced per function,

 

97


Table of Contents

and we have the ability to terminate the services or any portion thereof, for convenience any time after June 1, 2015, subject to payment of termination charges. Services which are “highly integrated” follow a different process for evaluation and termination. In addition, either party may terminate for cause, which includes a bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding by the other party, for material breach which is not cured, or by Dow in the event of our failure to pay for the services thereunder. In the event of a change of control, as defined in the agreement, Dow has the right to terminate the SAR MOSA.

Under the AR MOD5 Agreement, Dow provides worldwide process control technology, including hardware, software licenses and support services, and related enterprise resource planning services. The AR MOD5 Agreement, with a term through December 2020, may be terminated by either party for cause, which includes a bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding by the other party, for material breach which is not cured by us if we no longer wishes to receive maintenance and support for any licensed software; or by Dow if we use the licensed software for any purposes other than Company business. Dow may terminate the maintenance and support terms at any time if we fail to make payments when due and the default is not corrected within 30 days from notice, or upon two years written notice us, if Dow has made the decision not to support the software systems, provided that Dow will use commercially reasonable efforts to assist us in locating and transitioning to an alternate service provider.

In addition, we entered into various site services agreements with Dow, which were modified as of June 1, 2013, where at Dow owned sites, Dow provides site services to Company. Conversely, we entered into similar agreements with Dow in June 2010, where at Company owned sites, we provide such services to Dow. These agreements cover general services that are provided at specific facilities co-located with Dow, rather than organization-wide services, and include utilities, site administration, environmental health and safety, site maintenance and supply chain. In certain circumstances, the parties may adjust certain prices and volumes. These agreements generally have 25-year terms from the date of the Acquisition, with options to renew. These agreements may be terminated at any time by agreement of the parties, or, by either party, for cause, including a bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding by the other party, or for a material breach which is not cured. In addition, we may terminate for convenience any services that Dow has agreed to provide to us that are identified in any site services agreement as “terminable” with 12 months prior notice to Dow, dependent upon whether the service is highly integrated into Dow operations. With respect to “nonterminable” services that Dow has agreed to provide to us, such as electricity and steam, we generally cannot terminate such agreements prior to the termination date unless we experience a production unit shut down for which we provide Dow with 15-months prior notice, or upon payment of a shutdown fee. Upon expiration or termination, we would be obligated to pay a monthly fee to Dow, which obligation extends for a period of 45 to 60 months following the termination or expiration of each site services agreement. The agreements under which Dow receives services from us may be terminated under the same circumstances and conditions.

We also have operating services agreements with Dow pursuant to which Dow operates and maintains our latex facility at Rheinmunster, Germany, and employs most of the staff for this facility, and pursuant to which we provide the same services to Dow for their Cumene facility in Terneuzen, Netherlands, in each case for an initial term of up to 25 years from the closing date of the Acquisition, or 2020, and will automatically renew for successive five year periods unless either party provides notice of intent not to renew at least 18 months prior to the expiration of such period. We may terminate any operational service under the Rheinmunster agreement in the event that we experience a production unit shut down, with 15-months prior notice to Dow, and Dow may terminate the supply of operational services to us in the event of Dow’s permanent cessation of the operation, also with 15-months prior notice. Dow and we have parallel rights under the Terneuzen agreement, with notice periods extended to 18 months. In addition, either party may terminate for cause, which includes a bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding by the other party, for material breach which is not cured, or by Dow in the event of our failure to pay for the services thereunder.

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we incurred a total of $306.2 million and $320.5 million in expenses under the SAR MOSA, AR MOD5 Agreement, and site services agreements, including $235.1

 

98


Table of Contents

million and $214.5 million, respectively, for both the variable and fixed cost components of the site service agreements and $71.1 million and $106.0 million, respectively, covering all other agreements.

We have entered into long-term supply agreements whereby Dow supplies ethylene, benzene, butadiene, BPA, and other raw materials amounting to approximately 45% to 50% of our raw materials (based on aggregate purchase price). The ethylene, benzene and butadiene agreements are each for an initial term of up to 10 years from the closing date of the Acquisition. The BPA agreement has an initial term expiring in 2015. These agreements generally do not contain any specific termination provisions and pricing is generally based on standard industry markers with appropriate volume discounts which can be negotiated from time to time.

In addition, we have entered into two contract manufacturing agreements pursuant to which Dow operates and maintains one of its facilities to produce polycarbonate products for us in Freeport, Texas, and we operate and maintain our SAN facility in Midland, Michigan to produce products for Dow, each for an initial term of up to 25 years from the Acquisition date. These agreements generally have 25-year terms, with automatic renewals for five-year terms unless one party gives notice at least 18 months prior to the end of the period. We may terminate any operational service under the agreements in the event that we experience a production unit shut down, with 15-months prior notice to Dow, and Dow may terminate the supply of operational services to us in the event of Dow’s permanent cessation of the operation, also with 15-months prior notice. Furthermore, the agreements may be terminated by mutual agreement between the parties, by either party on notice that the other party fails to cure non-performance or if the other party is in material breach of a material obligation under the agreement within certain parameters, or because of either party’s insolvency.

We have also entered into certain license agreements pursuant to which we have obtained exclusive licenses to use certain of Dow’s intellectual property in connection with the Styron business as it was conducted by Dow and non-exclusive licenses to use certain Dow intellectual property, other than patents, with respect to products outside of the Styron business as it was conducted by Dow prior to the Acquisition, subject to certain limitations. While our license rights are sufficient to allow us to operate our current business, new growth opportunities in latex and, to a lesser extent, plastics involving new products may fall outside of our license rights with Dow. Therefore, our ability to develop new products may be adversely impacted by intellectual property rights that have been retained by Dow.

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, purchases and other charges from Dow and its affiliated companies (excluding the SAR MOSA, AR MOD5 Agreement, and site services agreements) were approximately $2,030.3 million and $2,334.2 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, sales to Dow and its affiliated companies were approximately $294.7 million and $311.4 million, respectively.

We continue to leverage Dow’s scale and operational capabilities by procuring certain raw materials, utilities, site services, and back-office business services from Dow. In connection with the Acquisition, we entered into several agreements with Dow relating to the provision of certain products and services and other operational arrangements. Dow provides significant operating and other services, and certain raw materials used in the production of our products, under agreements that are important to our business. The failure of Dow to perform their obligations, or the termination of these agreements, could adversely affect our operations. See “Risk Factors—Risks relating to our Business and Industry.”

Joint Venture Option Agreement

In connection with the Acquisition in 2010, certain of our affiliates entered into the Latex JV Option Agreement with Dow, pursuant to which Dow was granted an irrevocable option to purchase 50% of the issued and outstanding interests in a joint venture to be formed by Dow and our affiliates with respect to the SB latex business in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, Russia and India (the “Emerging

 

99


Table of Contents

Markets SB Latex Business”) at a purchase price equal to the enterprise fair market value attributable to the Emerging Markets SB Latex Business. Dow has exercised its option under the Latex JV Option Agreement and we subsequently entered into an amendment, effective as of August 9, 2011, to suspend the timing of the Latex JV Option to allow for additional business discussions, through the earlier of June 17, 2015 or the completion of our initial public offering. In accordance with the terms of the amendment, following the initial filing of the registration statement in connection with this offering, we provided Dow with the required written notice of the potential closing of our initial public offering. We are currently in a discussion period with Dow concerning the scope and terms of a joint venture for the Emerging Markets SB Latex Business. We have not finalized the terms or scope of any such joint venture and Dow may terminate the discussion period at any time (or such period will end at the completion of our initial public offering), in which case we will be obligated to form the joint venture in accordance with the terms of the Latex JV Option Agreement. Dow may elect at any time prior to the completion of our initial public offering to terminate the Latex JV Option Agreement, in which case neither party will have any continuing obligations under the agreement and the joint venture will not be formed. Although no assurances can be made, based on current information we do not believe that the formation of, or failure to form, this joint venture will have a material adverse impact on our business.

Our Joint Ventures

To supplement our business segments, we have entered into two strategic joint ventures in order to gain access to local markets, minimize costs and accelerate growth in areas we believe have significant business potential.

Americas Styrenics

Launched in 2008, Americas Styrenics is a 50% / 50% joint venture between us and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, Americas Styrenics is the sole entity through which we can produce, market or sell styrene and polystyrene in North America and South America, and produces a range of HIPS and GPPS products. We believe the venture has capitalized on the strong relationships and technology leadership of its parent companies to maintain a strong industry presence and pursue developing opportunities. Americas Styrenics has benefitted from industry consolidation and the cyclical recovery in the North American styrenics market.

Sumika Styron Polycarbonate Limited

Sumika Styron is a 50% / 50% venture with Sumitomo Chemical of Japan. Sumika Styron has exclusive rights in Japan to manufacture and sell a range of our PC products and facilitates our access to the Japanese PC market. Sumika Styron’s facility is located in an integrated and efficient manufacturing site, and uses Dow technology and production processes.

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials

Our raw materials and procurement group is responsible for the ongoing production, sourcing and procurement of raw materials for each of our business segments. The professionals leading this group have extensive experience in the petrochemical industry buying, selling, and swapping commodity raw materials. Our raw materials group seeks to implement the most efficient and reliable raw material strategy for our business segments, including maintaining a balance between contracted and spot purchases as well as internal production of styrene monomer. While Dow provides a significant portion of our raw materials to us pursuant to supply agreements, including ethylene, benzene, butadiene and BPA, we have developed a comprehensive strategy for obtaining additional sources of supply where needed.

 

100


Table of Contents

Our agreements with Dow range from 1- to 10-year terms with, in some cases, an automatic 2-year renewal. Minimum and maximum monthly contract quantities were established based on historical consumption rates, and our pricing terms are based on commodity indices in the relevant geography. We obtained approximately 45% of our raw materials from Dow in 2013.

The prices of key raw materials that we purchase, including benzene, ethylene, styrene, butadiene and BPA, are volatile and can fluctuate significantly from time to time. The predominant drivers of this volatility are the prices of crude oil and natural gas as well as the impact of market imbalances in supply and demand from time to time. We have supply contracts in place to help maintain our supply of raw materials at competitive market prices.

Styrene

In addition to purchasing styrene through long-term strategic contracts, opportunistic short-term purchases and on the spot market, we produce styrene internally from purchased ethylene and benzene at our own manufacturing sites. These sources provided 32%, 10%, 12% and 46%, respectively, of our supply in 2013. With this mix of purchased and produced styrene, we seek to optimize our overall costs of securing styrene through efficient logistics, manufacturing economics and market dynamics.

We believe the low steam-to-oil ratios (“S/O”) of our styrene production plants make them highly energy efficient as compared to other players in our industry. This technology also uses proprietary catalyst technology that supports operation in low S/O conditions and enables long runs between turnarounds. In addition, the styrene production process leverages in-house computational fluid dynamic and reaction models to predict catalyst activity over time, at varying operating conditions, to optimize run rates.

Benzene and Ethylene

Benzene and ethylene are two commodity petrochemicals that represent the majority of the raw materials needed for styrene production. In 2013, Dow supplied us with approximately 95% of our benzene requirements and 100% of our ethylene requirements through 10-year contracts that commenced in 2010, and include automatic 2-year renewal provisions. The volume of benzene that we purchase from Dow may vary quarterly based on our needs at the time. Our operations that use benzene and ethylene are connected to Dow’s cracker operations where these raw materials are produced by a supply pipeline that facilitates the efficient delivery of our raw material requirements. We monitor these materials and how changes in their costs impact the styrene supply chain and its downstream derivatives. Our pricing formulae with Dow are based on well-known indices for the region and generally include large buyer discounts.

Butadiene

Butadiene is an important raw material for the Synthetic Rubber and Latex segments. Dow is our largest supplier for this material in Europe where we purchase directly from Dow’s existing butadiene extraction facilities pursuant to the terms of a 10-year contract that commenced in 2010 and includes an automatic 2-year renewal term. Other supply sources in Europe include major producers with contract terms of up to five years at competitive market prices. Supply to North America and Asia are exclusively from other major third party producers via supply contracts. As a large purchaser of butadiene, we believe we can continue to secure the raw material reliably at competitive prices.

Bisphenol A (BPA)

BPA is the major raw material associated with PC production. This raw material is produced by Dow in Stade, Germany and is supplied via pipeline to us through a supply contract in Europe that has an initial term expiring in the middle of 2015. We source BPA for our North American operations and Asian joint ventures from other market participants.

 

101


Table of Contents

Manufacturing

As of March 31, 2014, our Latex segment had 12 production sites that are strategically located throughout the world. We believe these facilities have industry leading quality tracking.

We manufacture all synthetic rubber products at one integrated site at Schkopau, Germany. We believe that our synthetic rubber plant compares favorably to average benchmarks across key cost metrics and is one of the more cost-efficient synthetic rubber production sites in Europe.

We operate our Styrenics segment on a global basis, including plants in China and our integrated Schkopau, Germany site in close proximity to faster growing regions. We believe that our polystyrene plants compare favorably to benchmarks across key cost metrics. Additionally, we believe our joint venture with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP, Americas Styrenics, is well-positioned to serve North America and emerging opportunities in South America. We manufacture SAN for Dow under an agreement in our Midland, Michigan facility.

Our Engineered Polymers segment operates on a global basis with manufacturing plants in Stade, Germany and compounding operations in Stade, Germany; Terneuzen, The Netherlands; Hsinchu, Taiwan; and Limao, Brazil. Dow also manufactures for us in Freeport, Texas, using Dow facilities, under an agreement with us. We also have strategic compounding agreements in Asia, North America and Europe and a strategic joint venture with Sumitomo Chemical Co. in Japan. We believe this joint venture partner enables us to gain access to an expanded range of geographies and customers.

Technology

Our R&D and TS&D activities across our segments focus on identifying needs in our customers’ end-markets. As part of our customer-centric model, our R&D/TS&D organization interfaces with our sales and marketing teams and directly with customers to determine their product requirements in light of trends in their industries and market segments. This information is used to select R&D/TS&D projects that are value-enhancing for both our customers and us. Our R&D/TS&D activities and capabilities include:

 

    formulation knowledge, which enables accelerated new product development;

 

    internal capabilities, such as latex pilot coasters and plastics mini plants;

 

    functionalization technology, which is a key capability in our synthetic rubber products to enable us to continue to develop new grades for tire products;

 

    compounding expertise, which comprises knowledge of the compounding process coupled with formulation knowledge and facilitates our ability to develop new compounds and blends to meet evolving needs in various businesses; and

 

    providing a broad product portfolio with innovative solutions to meet customer needs.

Our R&D facilities support our technological capabilities. In addition to our two SB latex pilot coaters and our product development centers, our Plastics and Emulsion Polymers business units operate “mini plants” in Stade and Schkopau, Germany. These mini plants are used to make samples of experimental products for testing, which we believe is a critical step in our new product development process.

R&D and TS&D costs are included in expenses as incurred. Our R&D and TS&D costs were $12.9 million and $12.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $49.7 million, $48.3 million, and $58.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

 

102


Table of Contents

Sales and Marketing

We have a customer-centric business model that has helped us to develop strong relationships with many customers. Including periods prior to the Acquisition when our predecessor business was operated by Dow, we have an average length of key customer relationships exceeding 20 years. Our application development, R&D, TS&D, marketing and sales functions work together to define the customers’ needs and develop technologically differentiated solutions that create value for both the customer and us and result in greater customer intimacy. This can be seen most clearly in competitive applications such as coated paper and packaging board, automotive, consumer electronics, and glazing and construction sheet.

Our sales and marketing teams play a key role in realizing this strategy around technologically differentiated solutions. Our sales and marketing initiatives include:

 

    Developing a solution-centric approach to sales versus a product-centric approach. Our sales and marketing teams understand the trends in the industries and applications served by us, and this is critical to identifying changing customer requirements and providing differentiated value-added products.

 

    Coordinating account teams effectively to develop and implement customer solutions. We often include sales-people and TS&D engineers in customer activities. Where appropriate, we involve our engineers to develop new applications and respond to fast moving market trends.

 

    Understanding the value chain and effectively deploying our resources across this chain. In some of our end-markets, our immediate customers may be distributors or manufacturers, rather than the original equipment manufacturers. In these instances, our sales and marketing teams may employ a multi-channel marketing approach, developing relationships with the key decision makers across the value chain to develop differentiated, value-added products. For example, our automotive business markets its products: (1) through distributors, (2) directly to a broad range of small, medium and large parts suppliers, and (3) directly to the auto manufacturers themselves.

Our sales and marketing professionals are primarily located at our facilities or at virtual offices within their respective geographies. We have approximately 115 professionals working in sales and marketing around the world, along with approximately 65 customer service professionals and we sell our products to customers in over 75 countries. We primarily market our products through our direct sales force. All of our direct sales are made by our employees in the regions closest to the given customer. Historically, we have focused the majority of our direct sales efforts on large customers and relied on large distributors for sales to smaller accounts. In addition to the key initiatives outlined above, we intend to increase the amount of customers we serve directly.

Information Systems

We use Dow’s Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) software systems to support our operations worldwide. We have the right to use Dow’s ERP software applications and infrastructure under the terms of the SAR MOSA and its related functional statements of work. The SAR MOSA has a current term that expires on December 31, 2020. Under the terms of the SAR MOSA, Dow extends its work processes and the supporting applications and infrastructure for us to use. Under the SAR MOSA, Dow’s work process expertise centers provide the knowledge-base and documentation required for our personnel to follow work process steps and procedures.

We also use Dow’s global data/voice network and server infrastructure for desktop computing, email, file sharing, intranet and internet website access, mainframe and midrange computer access and voice communications. Business software applications are included in the work processes supported under the SAR MOSA. These applications complement a number of our other global ERP applications to provide us with the equivalent of a modern ERP landscape. We use the various ERP applications to manage our day-to-day business processes and relationships with customers and suppliers.

 

103


Table of Contents

Our manufacturing plants use Dow-developed proprietary process control/process automation technology under the AR MOD5 Agreement. We are licensed to use this technology and receive support and spare parts through the expiration of the current term of the agreement on December 31, 2020. While we are not permitted to use this automation technology for new plants or to substantially expand existing plants, but we can use other technology solutions for those situations. Prior to the expiration of the term of the AR MOD5 Agreement, we expect to migrate our manufacturing plants to a substitute third party process control technology.

Intellectual Property

We evaluate on a case-by-case basis how best to utilize patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other intellectual property in order to protect our products and our critical investments in research and development, manufacturing and marketing. We focus on securing and maintaining patents for certain inventions, while maintaining other inventions as trade secrets, derived from our customer-centric business model, in an effort to maximize the value of our product portfolio and manufacturing capabilities. Our policy is to seek appropriate protection for significant product and process developments in the major markets where the relevant products are manufactured or sold. Patents may cover products, processes, intermediate products and product uses. Patents extend for varying periods in accordance with the date of patent application filing and the legal life of patents in the various countries. The protection afforded, which may also vary from country to country, depends upon the type of subject matter covered by the patent and the scope of the claims of the patent.

In most industrial countries, patent protection may be available for new substances and formulations, as well as for unique applications and production processes. However, given the geographical scope of our business and our continued growth strategy, there are regions of the world in which we do business or may do business in the future where intellectual property protection may be limited and difficult to enforce. We maintain strict information security policies and procedures wherever we do business. Such information security policies and procedures include data encryption, controls over the disclosure and safekeeping of confidential information, as well as employee awareness training. Moreover, we monitor our competitors’ products and, if circumstances were to dictate that we do so, we would vigorously challenge the actions of others that conflict with our patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights.

We own over 250 patents and have over 200 pending patent applications in various jurisdictions throughout the world covering processes and technology such as material formulations, material process technology and various end-use industrial applications for our materials.

The technologies we utilize in some of our business lines have been in use for many years (e.g., SB latex and ABS) and a number of our patents relating to such technologies have expired or will expire in within the next several years. As patents expire, or are allowed to lapse, the products and processes described and claimed in those patents become generally available for use by the public. We believe that the expiration of any single patent or family of patents that is scheduled to expire in the next 3 years would not materially adversely affect our business or financial results. We believe that our trade secrets relating to manufacturing and other processes used in connection with products to which expiring patents relate will continue to provide us with a competitive advantage after the expiration of these patents.

We use trademarks as a means of differentiating our products. We protect our trademarks against infringement where we deem appropriate.

Dow has either transferred to us or granted perpetual, royalty-free licenses to us to use Dow’s intellectual property that was used by Dow to operate the Styron business prior to the Acquisition. Such intellectual property includes certain processes, compositions and apparatus used in the manufacture of our products. In addition to our license rights to use Dow’s intellectual property related to the Styron business, we have obtained licenses to use Dow’s intellectual property to the extent necessary to perform our obligations under the contracts transferred to us

 

104


Table of Contents

in the Acquisition and to use such intellectual property (other than patents) for products outside of the Styron business as it was conducted by Dow prior to the Acquisition, subject to certain limitations. While we believe our license rights with respect to Dow’s intellectual property are sufficient to allow us to operate our current business, new growth opportunities in latex and, to a lesser extent, plastics involving new products may fall outside of our license rights with Dow. Therefore, our ability to develop new products may be impacted by intellectual property rights that have not been licensed to us by Dow. We have the right, with Dow’s cooperation, to directly enforce the patents that are exclusively licensed to us by Dow where infringement is primarily within the scope of our business but nothing obligates Dow to enforce against third parties the intellectual property rights of Dow that are licensed to us on a non-exclusive basis or where the infringement is primarily outside the scope of our business.

Environmental and Other Regulation

Obtaining, producing and distributing many of our products involve the use, storage, transportation and disposal of toxic and hazardous materials. We are subject to extensive, evolving and increasingly stringent national and local environmental laws and regulations, which address, among other things, the following:

 

    emissions to the air;

 

    discharges to soils and surface and subsurface waters;

 

    other releases into the environment;

 

    prevention, remediation or abatement of releases of hazardous materials into the indoor or outdoor environment;

 

    generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste materials;

 

    maintenance of safe conditions in the workplace;

 

    registration and evaluation of chemicals;

 

    production, handling, labeling or use of chemicals used or produced by us; and

 

    stewardship of products after manufacture.

Some of our products are also subject to food contact regulations.

We maintain policies and procedures to monitor and control environmental, health and safety risks, and to monitor compliance with applicable state, national, and international environmental, health and safety requirements. We have a strong environmental, health and safety organization. Our environmental, health and safety compliance and management programs benefit from access to certain of Dow’s programs. We are also committed to the American Chemistry Council Responsible Care ® Guiding Principles for our global facilities and received third party certification of our Responsible Care ® Management System in 2013. We have a staff of professionals who are responsible for environmental health, safety and product regulatory compliance. Additionally, we have services agreements with Dow to provide environmental, health and safety services for certain of our facilities. We have implemented a corporate audit program for all of our facilities. However, we cannot provide assurance that we will at all times be in full compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. We expect that stringent environmental regulations will continue to be imposed on us and our industry in general.

In 2011, the National Toxicology Program, or NTP, classified styrene as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”. However, based on current EU classifications and the current draft risk assessment report, the styrene monomer is considered to have low toxicity and is not classified as a carcinogen or mutagen in the EU Nations. We have not seen a significant shift in customer demand away from styrenics products due to this NTP classification. We believe that there are no simple substitutes for our products that can deliver the same performance, quality, safety and cost effectiveness as the current set of products our customers buy from us.

 

105


Table of Contents

Additionally, in January 2013, the California Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment provided notice of proposed rulemaking to adopt a Proposition 65 Maximum Allowable Dose Level of 290 micrograms per day for exposures to BPA based upon authoritative bodies listing mechanism “as known to cause reproductive toxicity.” One of our trade associations, the American Chemistry Council, secured a preliminary injunction against this listing. However, even if the listing eventually stands, the levels of BPA in our products are well below this Maximum Allowable Dose Level, and we do not expect this listing will have a material impact on our products or manufacturing operations.

We have actively responded through direct communication to our customers and employees to address perceptions and concerns regarding the safety and environmental impact of our products. Our industry trade associations, the Styrene Information and Research Center and the American Chemistry Council, as well as many of our customers are also active through political advocacy, media relations, legal action, and scientific and regulatory activities.

Similarly, we remain active in our trade associations, which are engaged to respond to potential health concerns involving BPA, Styrene and other chemicals used in our manufacturing processes.

Sustainability and Climate Change

We track our greenhouse gas emissions and recently have completed a project that improved the quality and uniformity of the data we collect so that meaningful emission reduction goals and objectives can be developed and implemented by us. Our July 2013 Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Report provides our most recent sustainability highlights which includes for 2012, a seven percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from our operations (scope 1), a four percent reduction in electricity use, a 25 percent reduction in volatile organic compound emissions, and a 34 percent reduction in waste, all as compared to the previous year. The report also profiles how our products help our customers improve their own sustainability in areas such as LED lighting, green tires, building insulation, smart meters, life-saving medical devices, and lighter weight.

Chemical Registration

The goal of the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) is to prevent unreasonable risks of injury to health or the environment associated with the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use, or disposal of chemical substances. Under the TSCA, the Environmental Protection Agency has established reporting, record-keeping, testing and control-related requirements for new and existing chemicals. During the past several years, efforts have been underway to reform the TSCA and various legislative initiatives have been introduced most recently the Safe Chemicals Act of 2013 and the Chemical Safety Improvement Act. We actively monitor the progress of these and other legislative developments.

Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals (“REACH”) is the regulatory system for chemicals management in the EU. It requires EU manufacturers and importers to disclose information on the properties of their substances that meet certain volume or toxicological criteria and register the information in a central database to be maintained by the European Chemicals Agency. We have completed the REACH requirements for registration of high-volume and high- hazard substances that we manufacture in or import into Europe and we are currently on track to complete the remaining implementation requirements by the deadline in 2018. Other jurisdictions have enacted legislation similar to REACH. We do not expect that the costs to comply with REACH and similar requirements will be material to our operations and consolidated financial position. We currently do not expect to need to register additional chemicals under REACH until 2018, at which time we will be required to register our low volume chemicals.

Environmental Proceedings

Prior to our separation from Dow, the EPA conducted a multimedia investigation at Dow’s Midland, Michigan sites, including the ABS site that we now operate. The investigation uncovered a number of alleged

 

106


Table of Contents

violations, including of the Clean Air Act’s leak detection and repair program (“LDAR”). LDAR requires chemical and petroleum companies to control fugitive (i.e., non-point source) emissions of hazardous air pollutants that occur from valves, pumps, flanges, connectors and other piping components. We, Dow and the United States executed a consent decree, which was approved by the District Court in Michigan in 2011. The decree provides that Dow will implement an enhanced LDAR program at our ABS facility over a five year period, which is intended to further reduce fugitive emissions at the ABS facility. We are not a defendant in the action, but under the decree, we or any future owner of the affected equipment will be responsible for performing an enhanced LDAR program at the ABS facility should Dow fail to perform. Dow’s failure to perform would subject it to significant stipulated penalties. An implementation agreement has been negotiated between us and Dow, which provides that Dow will bear the costs of the enhanced LDAR program.

Environmental Remediation

Environmental laws and regulations require mitigation or remediation of the effects of the disposal or release of chemical substances. Under some of these regulations, as the current owner or operator of a property, we could be held liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous substances on or under the property, without regard to whether we knew of or caused the contamination, and regardless of whether the practices that resulted in the contamination were permitted at the time they occurred. At our Allyn’s Point, Connecticut property we lease a portion of the property to our joint venture, Americas Styrenics, for its operations, which includes a regulated hazardous waste boiler. Potential liabilities resulting from our owner status are addressed through financial assurance mechanisms and other agreements. Many of our production sites have an extended history of industrial use, and it is impossible to predict precisely what effect these laws and regulations will have on us in the future. Soil and groundwater contamination has occurred at some of the sites, and might occur or be discovered at other sites. Subject to certain monetary and temporal limitations, Dow is obligated to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to releases of hazardous material that existed at our sites prior to our separation from Dow in June 2010. However, we cannot be certain that Dow will fully honor the indemnity or that the indemnity will be sufficient to satisfy all claims that we may incur. In addition, we face the risk that future claims might fall outside of the scope of the indemnity, particularly if we experience a release of hazardous materials that occurs in the future or at any time after our separation from Dow. Except for minor monitoring activities that we are performing in Livorno, Italy pursuant to an agreement with Dow, we do not currently have any material obligations to perform environmental remediation on our properties, and any active remedial projects on our properties are being performed by Dow pursuant to its indemnification obligations or for any Superfund sites.

Environmental Programs

We have comprehensive environmental, health and safety compliance, auditing and management programs in place to assist in our compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and with internal policies and procedures, as appropriate. We use Dow’s environmental health and safety programs, including a management system, as a cornerstone of our programs and have contracts in place with Dow for the use of their environmental, health and safety expertise. Each facility has developed and implemented specific critical occupational health, safety, environmental, security and loss control programs. We participate in the chemical industry’s Responsible Care ® initiative and have implemented a number of environmental and quality management systems at our facilities. In addition to Responsible Care ® Management System certification, as of March 1, 2014 the majority of our sites have received ISO 14001 environmental management system certifications. Additionally, our German facilities have received ISO 50001 energy management system certifications.

We also have implemented an environmental, health and safety (“EH&S”) organizational structure with executive committee level leadership and dedicated environmental experts. We have an EH&S leader at each of our manufacturing sites who is responsible for environmental, health and safety matters at that site. We also have corporate, regional and facility EH&S leaders, as well as a Product Stewardship Organization that manages day-to-day EH&S issues related to our products and customers. Our Process Safety Organization is dedicated to reducing and eliminating process safety incidents.

 

107


Table of Contents

Facility Security

We recognize the importance of security and safety to our employees and the community. Physical security measures have been combined with process safety measures (including the use of technology), and emergency response preparedness into an integrated security plan. We have conducted vulnerability assessments at our operating facilities in the U.S. and high priority sites worldwide and identified and implemented appropriate measures to protect these facilities from physical and cyber-attacks.

In June 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) identified those facilities that were preliminarily determined to be covered by DHS rules regarding risk-based performance standards for the security of U.S. chemical facilities. Our facilities that were preliminarily determined to be covered conducted and submitted security vulnerability assessments to DHS or have otherwise complied with DHS requirements. Effort and resources in assessing security vulnerabilities and taking steps to reinforce security at our chemical manufacturing facilities will continue to be required to comply with DHS requirements.

Employees

As of March 31, 2014, we had 2,129 employees worldwide. Nearly 88% of our personnel are located at the various manufacturing sites, research and development, pilot coating, paper fabrication and testing and technology centers. The remaining employees are located at operating centers, virtual locations or geographically dispersed marketing and sales locations. Our Midland, Michigan site is the only U.S. facility with union representation for its approximately 55 hourly operations personnel. Approximately 85% of our employees in Asia Pacific and Europe are represented by work councils or other labor organizations. We consider relations with our personnel and the various labor organizations to be good. There have been no labor strikes or work stoppages in these locations in recent history.

The following table provides a breakdown of the number of our employees by job function and geographic area as of March 31, 2014.

 

     Europe      Latin
America
     North
America
     Asia
Pacific
     Total  

Manufacturing and Engineering

     960         76         149         181         1,366   

Sales & Marketing

     55         8         22         30         115   

Research and Development

     115         9         39         27         190   

Supply Chain

     67         8         8         33         116   

Customer Service

     37         2         10         16         65   

EH&S

     17         0         7         2         26   

Business Administration-HR-Public Affairs

     57         8         49         31         145   

Finance

     37         7         35         27         106   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,345         118         319         347         2,129   

Properties

We own and operate 65 production units at 19 sites around the world. In addition, we source products from another 16 production units at 8 joint venture sites and two production units at a Dow site. We also own or lease other properties, including office buildings, warehouses, research and development facilities, testing facilities and sales offices.

 

108


Table of Contents

The following table sets forth a list of our principal offices, production sites and other facilities as of March 1, 2014.

 

Site Name   Location   Leased/owned   Products/Functions   Business Segments

Corporate Offices

       

Berwyn

  USA (PA)   Leased   Global operating headquarters  

Hong Kong

  Hong Kong   Leased   Administrative office  

Horgen

  Switzerland   Leased   Administrative office  

Midland

  USA (MI)   Leased   Administrative office  

Sao Paolo

  Brazil   Leased   Administrative office  

Production Sites

       

Allyn’s Point*

  USA (CT)   Owned   Latex   Latex

Boehlen**

  Germany   Leased   Styrene monomer   Styrenics

Dalton

  USA (GA)   Owned   Latex   Latex

Guaruja**

  Brazil   Leased   Latex   Latex

Hamina

  Finland   Owned   Latex   Latex

Hsinchu

  Taiwan   Owned   Compounds and blends   Engineered Polymers

Limao

  Brazil   Leased   Compounds and blends   Engineered Polymers

Livorno

  Italy   Owned   Latex   Latex

Merak++

  Indonesia   Owned   Latex, polystyrene   Latex/Styrenics

Midland**

  USA (MI)   Leased   ABS, latex   Latex/Engineered Polymers

Norrkoping

  Sweden   Owned   Latex   Latex

Rheinmunster**

  Germany   Leased   Latex   Latex

Schkopau**

  Germany   Leased   ESBR, SSBR, PBR, polystyrene   Synthetic Rubber/Styrenics

Stade**

  Germany   Leased   PC, compounds and blends  

Terneuzen**

  The Netherlands   Leased   Compounds and blends  

Engineered

Polymers/Latex/Styrenics

Tessenderlo**

  Belgium   Leased   Polystyrene   Styrenics

Tsing Yi+

  Hong Kong   Leased   Polystyrene   Styrenics

Ulsan

  Korea   Owned   Latex   Latex

Zhangjiagang**

  China   Leased   Latex   Latex

R&D Facilities

       

Samstagern

  Switzerland   Leased   Latex   Latex

Joint Ventures

       

Americas Styrenics

       

Allyn’s Point

  USA (CT)   Leased   Polystyrene   Styrenics

Cartagena

  Colombia   Owned   Polystyrene   Styrenics

Hanging Rock

  USA (OH)   Leased   Polystyrene   Styrenics

Joliet

  USA (IL)   Owned   Polystyrene   Styrenics

Marietta

  USA (OH)   Owned   Polystyrene   Styrenics

St. James

  USA (LA)   Owned  

Styrene monomer

  Styrenics

Torrance

  USA (CA)   Leased   Polystyrene   Styrenics

Sumika Styron Polycarbonate Limited

       

Nihama

  Japan   Owned   Polycarbonate   Styrenics

 

* Shared site with Americas Styrenics.
** Facility co-located with Dow facilities under ground lease agreements. Plant facilities are owned by us.
+ Facility located on property owned by the applicable government.
++ Facility located on property under certification with right to build.

We believe that our properties and equipment are generally in good operating condition and are adequate for our present needs. Production capacity at our sites can vary depending upon product mix and operating conditions.

Our global production facilities are certified to ISO 9001 standards. Our manufacturing facilities have established reliability and maintenance programs and leverage production between sites to maximize efficiency.

 

109


Table of Contents

All plants have similar layouts, technology and manufacturing processes, based on the product being manufactured. We believe this global uniformity creates a key competitive advantage for us, and helps lower overall operating costs.

Legal Proceedings

From time to time we may be subject to various legal claims and proceedings incidental to the normal conduct of business, relating to such matters as product liability, antitrust, competition, waste disposal practices, release of chemicals into the environment and other matters that may arise in the ordinary course of our business. We currently believe that there is no litigation pending that is likely to have a material adverse effect on our business. Regardless of the outcome, legal proceedings can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.

 

110


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT

Below is a list of the names and ages of our directors as of March 1, 2014 and executive officers and a brief account of the business experience of each of them. The business address of most of our executives is 1000 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 300, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312.

 

Name

   Age     

Position

Christopher D. Pappas

     58       Director (Class II), President and Chief Executive Officer

John A. Feenan

     53       Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Curtis S. Shaw

     65       Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Marilyn N. Horner

     56       Senior Vice President—Human Resources

Marco Levi**

     54       Senior Vice President—Business President, Emulsion Polymers

Martin Pugh

     61       Senior Vice President—Business President, Plastics

E. Jeffery Denton

     48       Vice President—Shared Services and Feedstocks

Catherine C. Maxey

     47       Vice President—Public Affairs, Sustainability and Environment, Health and Safety

David Stasse

     43       Vice President—Treasurer

Stephen M. Zide

     53       Director; Chairman (Class II)

Brian W. Chu

     43       Director (Class II)

Seth A. Meisel

     41       Director (Class III)

Michel G. Plantevin

     57       Director (Class I)

Stephen F. Thomas*

     39       Director Nominee (Class I)

Aurélien Vasseur*

     37       Director Nominee (Class III)

 

* Messrs. Thomas and Vasseur have agreed to serve as members of the board effective prior to the completion of this offering.
** On May 15, 2014, Mr. Levi notified us of his intention to resign his position effective in June 2014.

Prior to the completion of this offering we anticipate that one director who is not affiliated with us or any of our shareholders will be appointed to the board of directors. In addition, we anticipate that one additional director who is not affiliated with us or any of our shareholders will be appointed to the board of directors within 90 days of the consummation of this offering, and an additional director who is not affiliated with us or any of our shareholders will be appointed to the board of directors within twelve months of the consummation of this offering, resulting in a board of directors that includes at least three independent directors.

Our Directors

We believe that our board of directors is, and we intend that it continue to be, composed of individuals with sophistication and experience in many substantive areas that impact our business. We believe that all of our current board members possess the professional and personal qualifications necessary for board service, and have highlighted the specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led to the conclusion that each board member should serve as a director in the individual biographies below.

Christopher D. Pappas, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer . Mr. Pappas, 58, joined the Company as President and Chief Executive Officer in June 2010. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Pappas held a number of executive positions at NOVA Chemicals of increasing responsibility from July 2000 to November 2009, most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer of NOVA Chemicals from May 2009 to November 2009, President & Chief Operation Officer from October 2006 to April 2009 and Vice President and President of Styrenics from July 2000 to September 2006. Before joining NOVA Chemicals, Mr. Pappas was Commercial Vice President of DuPont Dow Elastomers where he joined as Vice President of ethylene elastomers in 1995. Mr. Pappas began his chemicals career in 1978 with Dow where he held various sales and managerial positions until 1995. Mr. Pappas is currently a member of the Board of Directors of FirstEnergy Corp., and he is a former member of the Board of Directors of Allegheny Energy, NOVA Chemicals, and Methanex Corporation. Mr. Pappas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology

 

111


Table of Contents

and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Pappas is highly qualified to serve on the board by his more than 30 years of management experience with major companies in the chemical industry, by his previous service as a director of the corporations noted above, and by his leadership of the Company since its formation. In these roles he has also acquired and demonstrated substantial financial expertise which is valuable to the Company’s board.

Stephen M. Zide, Chairman . Mr. Zide, 53, became a director of our Company in 2010 upon consummation of the Acquisition. Mr. Zide is a Managing Director of Bain Capital Partners, LLC in the private equity business, having joined the firm in 1997. He currently heads the firm’s New York office and leads its North American Industrial Sector. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Mr. Zide was a partner of the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He currently serves as a director of Sensata Technologies B.V., HD Supply, Consolidated Container Corporation, and Apex Tool Group. Mr. Zide formerly served on the board of Innophos Holdings, Inc. Mr. Zide received an MBA from Harvard Business School, a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Rochester. Mr. Zide brings to the board extensive knowledge and expertise in strategy, mergers, and acquisitions gained from his training and experience as a legal advisor and then as a private equity professional. In addition, Mr. Zide has had significant involvement with the Company since the Acquisition, and has served as a director of numerous public and private companies during his career in private equity and law.

Brian W. Chu, Director.  Mr. Chu, 43, became a director of our Company in 2013. Mr. Chu is currently an Operating Partner in the Portfolio Group of Bain Capital Partners, LLC, having joined the firm in 2007. Prior to joining Bain Capital, he was a Vice President and General Manager at The Boston Beer Company. Previously, he was a Manager at Bain & Company, where he worked in a variety of industries including consumer products, industrial manufacturing, technology and health care. Prior to Bain & Company, Mr. Chu held several financial and IT positions in the health care industry. Mr. Chu received an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Chu brings to the board extensive knowledge and expertise in strategy, operations, and finance gained from his experience as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company, his positions at Boston Beer Company, and his position in the Portfolio Group of Bain Capital Partners, LLC. Mr. Chu has been highly involved with our Company since the Acquisition.

Seth A. Meisel, Director . Mr. Meisel, 41, became a director of our Company in January 2011. Mr. Meisel is a Managing Director at Bain Capital Partners, LLC, where he has been employed since 1999. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Mr. Meisel worked as a consultant and manager at Mercer Management Consulting in the industrial, financial services and retail industries. Mr. Meisel also serves on the Board of Directors of Unisource Worldwide, Inc. Apex Tool Group, and Consolidated Container Company. Mr. Meisel formerly served on the board of Sensata Technologies. Mr. Meisel received an MBA from Harvard Business School where he was a Baker Scholar and an undergraduate degree from Princeton University. Mr. Meisel brings to the board broad knowledge of, and expertise in, mergers, acquisitions and financing. In addition, Mr. Meisel has had significant involvement with the Company since the Acquisition, and has served as a director of numerous public and private companies during his career in private equity and consulting.

Michel G. Plantevin, Director . Mr. Plantevin, 57, has served as a member of our board of directors since the Acquisition in 2010. Mr. Plantevin is a Managing Director of Bain Capital Europe, LLP. Prior to joining Bain Capital in 2003, Mr. Plantevin was a Managing Director of Goldman Sachs International in London, initially in the Investment Banking division, then in the Merchant Banking division (PIA). Prior to Goldman Sachs International, he was a consultant with Bain & Company in London and later headed the Bain & Company Paris Office as a Managing Director. He also serves as a director of Bravida Holding AB, Maisons du Monde, FCI, S.A., IMCD Group BV, and NXP Semiconductors N.V. Mr. Plantevin received an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate and Master’s degree in Engineering from the Ecole Supérieure d’ Electricité (Supélec) in France. Mr. Plantevin brings to the board an expertise in business strategy and operational improvement gained from his extensive experience as a strategy consultant in the Paris and London offices of Bain & Company and then as a private equity professional. Mr. Plantevin has also had significant involvement

 

112


Table of Contents

with our Company since the Acquisition, and has served as a director of numerous public and private companies during his career in private equity, investment banking and consulting.

Stephen F. Thomas, Director Nominee . Mr. Thomas, 39, was nominated to serve on the board in May 2014. Mr. Thomas is a Principal at Bain Capital, where he has worked since 2007. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Mr. Thomas was a Manager at Bain & Company, where he consulted for the media, telecom, consumer, financial services, and private equity industries. Mr. Thomas received an MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated cum laude with an AB in Economics from Princeton University. Mr. Thomas brings to the board significant knowledge and expertise in strategy and operations gained from his experiences as a strategy consultant and as a Principal of Bain Capital.

Aurélien Vasseur, Director Nominee . Mr. Vasseur, 37, was nominated to serve on the board in May 2014. Mr. Vasseur joined Bain Capital LLC, Luxembourg in 2011 and is a corporate manager of the firm. Before joining Bain Capital, Mr. Vasseur was a finance auditor at Ernst and Young, Luxembourg. Mr. Vasseur currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Atento Floatco S.A., Magnolia (BC) S.A., and Atento Luxco 1 S.A. Mr. Vasseur received a master degree in management from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (Edhec Business School). Mr. Vasseur brings to the board an expertise in finance and experience serving as a director of other companies.

Our Executive Officers

Biographical information concerning our President and Chief Executive Officer, who also serves as a member of our board of directors, is set forth above under “—Our Directors.”

John A. Feenan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. Feenan, 53, joined the Company in January 2012 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He is responsible for corporate financial reporting, audit, treasury, tax and internal controls. Previously, Mr. Feenan served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the JMC Steel Group, from February 2007 until January 2012, where he also served as a member of the disclosure, compliance, pension and ethics committees and an active participant in the Board and Audit Committees. Prior to that, Mr. Feenan served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at HB Fuller, a global specialty chemical firm, from March 2003 until January 2007. Prior to HB Fuller, Mr. Feenan held Chief Financial Officer positions with several industrial manufacturing firms. He started his career at the IBM Corporation in New York. Mr. Feenan earned his bachelor’s degree in business and economics from St. Anselm College and his master’s in business administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and a Certified Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma.

Curtis S. Shaw, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary . Mr. Shaw, 65, joined the Company as Executive Vice President and General Counsel in July 2010 and was given the added responsibility of Corporate Secretary in May 2012. He is responsible for all legal affairs for Trinseo as well as corporate development and mergers and acquisitions, and is a member of the Trinseo Executive Leadership Team. Previously he served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Celanese Corporation from April 2005 to March 2009. Prior to that, Mr. Shaw served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Charter Communications from 2003 to April 2005, and, prior thereto, as its Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary from 1997 to 2003. He served as Corporate Counsel at NYNEX Corporation from 1988 to 1996. Mr. Shaw joined Occidental Chemical Corporation in 1983, where he served in positions of increasing responsibility until 1987, culminating with the position of Vice President and General Counsel of the Electrochemicals, Detergents & Specialty Chemicals Division. Prior thereto, he served in various legal roles at Olin Corporation. He began his career in private practice at Mudge Rose Guthrie & Alexander and at Shearman & Sterling from 1973 to 1980. Mr. Shaw received a J.D. degree from Columbia University School of Law in 1973, and B.A. degree with honors in Economics from Trinity College in 1970.

 

113


Table of Contents

Marilyn N. Horner, Senior Vice President—Human Resources . Ms. Horner, 56, joined the Company as Senior Vice President of Human Resources in January 2011. Prior to joining the Company Ms. Horner held a number of executive positions at NOVA Chemicals where she started her career in 1988. Most recently she served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for NOVA Chemicals from 2008 to December 2010. Ms. Horner also held the positions of Vice President Finance and Controller, Olefins / Polyolefins Division; Vice President Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness; and Vice President to the Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Horner served on the board of trustees for Point Park University and the University of Alberta. Ms. Horner holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an MBA from the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Marco Levi, Senior Vice President—Business President, Emulsion Polymers . Mr. Levi, 54, joined the Company as Vice President—General Manager in June 2010 and is responsible for the global leadership of the Company’s Emulsion Polymers business. Previously, Mr. Levi was General Manager, Emulsion Polymers of Styron (when it was a Dow division) from July 2009 until June 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Levi was global business unit director for Dow Elastomers and Specialty Plastics from February 2008 until July 2009, (and Plastic Additives commencing in April 2009). Mr. Levi previously served as global business director for Elastomers at Dow from November 2006 until February 2008. In these roles, he was responsible for the Elastomers, Plastic Additives, Specialty Packaging and Films and Synthetic Rubber businesses. Prior to that, he was sales director for Thermosets Europe from March 2004 until November 2006. Mr. Levi received a bachelor’s degree in industrial chemistry from the Università degli Studi in Milan, Italy, in 1984.

Martin Pugh—Senior Vice President and Business President, Plastics . Mr. Pugh, 61, joined Styron on March 1, 2013 as Senior Vice President and Business President, Plastics, located in Horgen, Switzerland. Mr. Pugh is responsible for the global leadership of the Company’s Plastics business with overall accountability for Styrenic Polymers, Automotive and Polycarbonate Compounds and Blends (PCC&B). Prior to joining Styron, Mr. Pugh held the position of President for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and board member for Styrolution Group Gmbh, the global styrenics joint venture between BASF Group and INEOS from October 2011 until February 2013. Mr. Pugh began his career in 1975 with Mobil Oil Company as a technical representative. He joined The Dow Chemical Company in 1978 and served in a variety of sales and marketing roles from 1978 until 1998, working in the UK, Dubai, Sweden and Switzerland. His final role at Dow was global business director for Specialty Polyethylenes. In 1998, Pugh joined Elementis plc as Managing Director for the specialty rubber division called Linatex. In 2002, he returned to Switzerland and joined Nova Chemicals as Managing Director for Europe. Following the formation of Nova Innovene in 2005, he was appointed Managing Director of the company and continued in the role of Managing Director—Europe as the company was broadened to include the Americas region and renamed INEOS Nova. He remained in this position within INEOS Nova and INEOS Styrenics until the formation of Styrolution Group GmbH in October 2011. Mr. Pugh has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Chemistry and Management Studies from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

E. Jeffery Denton, Vice President—Shared Services and Feedstocks . Mr. Denton, 48, joined the Company as Vice President—Shared Services and Feedstocks in June 2010 and is responsible for the Company’s feedstocks, purchasing and shared service operations. He previously served in a similar role at Styron (when it was a division of Dow) from September 2009 until June 2010 and as the Director of Joint Venture Implementation at Dow, implementing Americas Styrenics & K-Dow from February 2006 until September 2009. Prior to that, he served as Product Director of Dow Polystyrene and Commercial Manager of Dow Polystyrene and Engineering Plastics from 1998 to January 2007. Mr. Denton received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Alma College.

Catherine C. Maxey, Vice President—Public Affairs, Sustainability and Environment, Health and Safety . Ms. Maxey, 47, joined the Company as Vice President—Public Affairs and Business Intelligence in June 2010. Previously she held positions of increasing responsibility at The Dow Chemical Company, which she joined in 1988, most recently as Public Affairs director for Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Dow

 

114


Table of Contents

Portfolio Optimization/Divestitures and Manufacturing and Engineering from March 2009 until June 2010. Prior to that, she served as vice president of Public Affairs and Communications for K-Dow Petrochemicals, a planned JV that was later cancelled from June 2008 until March 2009 and Business Public Affairs Director for Performance Chemicals from 2003 to June 2008. She formerly served on the board of the Literacy Council of Midland County. Ms. Maxey received a bachelor’s degree in journalism/science writing from Lehigh University.

David Stasse, Vice President—Treasurer . Mr. Stasse, 43, joined the Company as Vice President and Treasurer in July 2013 with responsibility for all treasury matters, including cash management, risk management, relationships with rating agencies and commercial banks, and financing matters. Mr. Stasse joined the Company from Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., a global semiconductor manufacturer that serves the automotive, networking, consumer and industrial markets, where he served as Vice President and Treasurer since July 2008, and Assistant Treasurer from August 2006 to July 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Stasse served as First Vice President, Debt Capital Markets of MBNA Corporation and as Treasury Manager of SPX Corporation. Mr. Stasse also held numerous financial positions from 1998 to 2004 at Honeywell International, last serving as Director, Corporate Finance. Mr. Stasse holds a MBA in Finance from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Logistics from Penn State University.

Board Composition and Election of Directors

Upon the completion of this offering our board of directors will consist of ten directors, with each director having been appointed to a three year term. Each director is re-eligible to serve and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by a resolution of our shareholders at a general meeting. All appointments to the board of directors will be decided by the shareholder at a general meeting. If the office of a director becomes vacant, the other directors, acting by a simple majority, may fill the vacancy on a provisional basis until a new director is appointed by the shareholder at the next general meeting.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships between any of our executive officers or directors.

Board Structure

We have no policy with respect to separation of the offices of chairman of our board of directors and Chief Executive Officer, however these roles are currently separated. Our chairman of the board, Stephen Zide, has been elected to this position by the board of directors.

Our board of directors monitors our exposure to a variety of risks through our audit committee. Our audit committee charter gives the audit committee responsibilities and duties that include discussing with management, the internal audit department and the independent auditors our major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including our risk assessment and risk management policies.

We expect to avail ourselves of certain exceptions available to controlled companies under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. As a result, we will not be required to have a board of directors comprised of a majority of independent directors or a compensation committee comprised entirely of independent directors. As a result, you may not have the same protections as you would if we were not controlled. The controlled company exception does not modify the independence requirements for the audit committee. Upon the completion of this offering, we will be required to have an audit committee composed of at least three members, a majority of whom must be independent within 90 days of the date of this prospectus, and all of whom must be independent within one year of the date of this prospectus.

 

115


Table of Contents

Audit Committee

The purpose of the audit committee will be set forth in the audit committee charter. The audit committee’s primary duties and responsibilities will be to:

 

    Appoint or replace, compensate and oversee the outside auditors for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work or performing other audit, review or attest services for us. The outside auditors will report directly to the audit committee.

 

    Pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for us by our outside auditors, subject to de minimis exceptions which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit.

 

    Review and discuss with management and the outside auditors the annual audited and quarterly unaudited financial statements, our disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the selection, application and disclosure of critical accounting policies and practices used in such financial statements. Review and approve all related party transactions.

 

    Discuss with management and the outside auditors significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements, including any significant changes in our selection or application of accounting principles, any major issues as to the adequacy of our internal controls and any special steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies.

Upon completion of this offering, our audit committee will consist of             ,         and             .         is both an independent director and an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of Item 407 of Regulation S-K, and will serve as chair of the audit committee. Prior to the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will adopt a written charter under which the audit committee will operate. A copy of the charter, which will satisfy the applicable standards of the SEC and the exchange on which we list our ordinary shares, will be available on our website.

Compensation Committee

The purpose of the compensation committee is to assist the board of directors in fulfilling its responsibilities relating to oversight of the compensation of our directors, executive officers and other employees and the administration of our benefits and equity-based compensation programs. The compensation committee reviews and recommends to our board of directors compensation plans, policies and programs and approves specific compensation levels for all executive officers. The compensation committee consists of Michel Plantevin and Stephen Zide. Mr. Zide will serve as chairman of the compensation committee. Our board of directors has adopted a written charter under which the compensation committee operates. A copy of the charter, which satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange, will be available on our website.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

All compensation and related matters are reviewed by our compensation committee. Upon the completion of this offering, our compensation committee will consist of Michel Plantevin and Stephen Zide. Each of Messrs. Plantevin and Zide is affiliated with Bain Capital Partners, LLC. For additional information regarding transactions between Bain Capital Partners, LLC and us, please see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” below.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for (i) identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors (consistent with criteria approved by our board of directors) and recommending to our board candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of shareholders or

 

116


Table of Contents

to fill board vacancies or newly created directorships; (ii) developing and recommending to our board of directors and overseeing the implementation of our corporate governance guidelines (if any); (iii) overseeing evaluations of our board of directors and (iv) recommending to our board of directors candidates for appointment to board committees.

Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Christopher Pappas and Stephen Zide. Mr. Zide will also serve as chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee.

Code of Business Conduct

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees, and a Code of Financial Ethics applicable to our principal executive, financial and accounting officers, and all persons performing similar functions. A copy of each of those Codes is available on our website at www.trinseo.com. If we make any substantive amendments to these Codes, or grant any waivers, including any implicit waivers, from the provisions of these Codes, we will make a disclosure on our website or in a report on form 8-K. Our Code of Business of Conduct is supported by a number of subsidiary policies which are specifically referenced on the Code, and several of which are also available on our corporate website. Our website and the information contained on that site, or accessible through that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus.

We maintain an ethics and compliance committee, which is responsible for assisting our audit committee and Chief Compliance Officer in developing, implementing, supervising and maintaining our Code of Business Conduct and related corporate policies.

The ethics and compliance committee consists of eight members of our management and is chaired by our Chief Compliance Officer.

 

117


Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This compensation discussion and analysis section is intended to provide information about our 2013 compensation objectives and programs for our named executive officers. For 2013, our named executive officers, or NEOs, were Christopher D. Pappas, President and Chief Executive Officer; John A. Feenan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Curtis S. Shaw, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary; Marco Levi, Senior Vice President and Business President of Emulsion Polymers; and Martin Pugh, Senior Vice President and Business President of Plastics.

Compensation Philosophy and Implementation

Our executive compensation policies and programs are designed to attract, retain and motivate key executives through competitive and cost effective programs that reinforce executive accountability and reward the achievement of business and individual results. Executive compensation consists of four main elements: (a) base salary, (b) annual performance awards, (c) long-term incentive compensation, and (d) retirement savings and benefit programs. The relative weighting of each element is aligned with our philosophy of linking pay to performance. A substantial percentage of executives’ compensation is provided in the form of performance-based variable compensation with a greater emphasis on variable components for the our senior executives. Annual incentive compensation awards are directly linked to corporate and business unit results, and the performance measures are aligned with shareholder and other key stakeholders’ interests, including financial and non-financial goals. Executive retirement and benefits programs are generally consistent with broader employee programs offered in the country where an executive primarily provides services to the Company. We provide limited perquisites to our executives and senior management, and such perquisites are only provided to the extent that they reflect particular business needs and objectives.

Our compensation committee was formed in October 2010. Prior to October 2010, compensation determinations were made primarily by our Chief Executive Officer and/or our Board. Many of the compensation policies and programs for our NEOs that are described below were the product of negotiations between the NEOs and our Chief Executive Officer and/or our Board. The compensation committee is responsible for, among other matters: (1) reviewing key executive compensation goals, policies, plans and programs; (2) reviewing and approving the compensation of our executive officers; (3) reviewing and approving employment agreements and other similar arrangements between the Company and our executive officers; and (4) administering equity based plans and other incentive compensation plans.

Our Chief Executive Officer reviews annually with the compensation committee each NEO’s performance (other than his own) and recommends to the compensation committee appropriate base salary, cash performance awards and long-term equity incentive awards for these NEOs. Based upon the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer and in consideration of certain objectives and philosophies described above, the compensation committee makes the final recommendation to the Board for annual compensation packages of our executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer. The compensation committee and/or the Board reviews annually our Chief Executive Officer’s performance and the compensation committee recommends to the Board his base salary, cash performance awards and grants of long-term equity incentive awards based on its assessment of his performance.

The compensation committee has the authority to retain outside independent executive compensation consultants to assist in the evaluation of executive officer compensation. The compensation committee also has the sole authority to retain, at the Company’s expense, and terminate any such consultant, including the sole authority to approve such consultant’s fees and other retention terms. However, all decisions regarding compensation of executive officers are made by the Board, upon the recommendation of the compensation committee. At this time, no compensation consultant has been retained by the compensation committee, however the compensation committee may consider retaining a compensation consultant as we transition to becoming a public company.

 

118


Table of Contents

Our Board has adopted a written charter for the compensation committee, which is available on our corporate website at www.trinseo.com. Our website and the information contained on that site or accessible through that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus.

Management Transition

In March 2013, Martin Pugh was named Senior Vice President and Business President of Plastics located in Horgen, Switzerland. Prior to joining Trinseo, Mr. Pugh was the President for Europe Middle East Africa and board member for Styrolution Group Gmbh, the global styrenics joint venture between BASF Group and Ineos.

Components of Compensation

The principal components of our NEO and other executive compensation include both short-term and long-term compensation. Short-term compensation consists of an executive’s annual base salary and annual cash performance award. Long-term compensation may include grants of share-based incentives as well as cash retention awards, as determined by the Board and the compensation committee. Certain elements of compensation of our NEOs were determined through direct negotiation with the executives at the time of their hiring.

In making decisions with respect to any element of an NEO’s compensation, the compensation committee considered the total compensation that may be awarded to the officer, including salary, annual bonus and long-term incentive compensation. In addition, in reviewing and approving employment agreements for our NEOs, the compensation committee considered the other benefits to which the officer is entitled by the agreement, including compensation payable upon termination of the executive’s employment under a variety of circumstances. Our goal is to award compensation that is competitive to attract and retain highly qualified leaders and motivate high business performance. We believe that our compensation programs align executive and shareholder interests as well as vary compensation based on each executive’s individual contributions to the Company and the Company’s performance.

Base Salary

Setting appropriate levels of base pay ensures that we can attract and retain an executive leadership team that will continue to meet our commitments to customers and sustain profitable growth for our shareholders. The base salaries for our NEOs were determined based on the scope of their responsibilities, taking into consideration our compensation committee members’ collective knowledge of competitive compensation. Base salaries are reviewed annually by the compensation committee and adjusted from time to time to reflect individual responsibilities, performance and experience, as well as market compensation levels. Mr. Pugh was hired in 2013, and his base salary was set by the compensation committee at a level determined to be appropriate given his experience and the base salaries of the other members of our executive team at his level. In 2013, the NEOs, other than Mr. Pugh, received base salary increases. Messrs. Feenan and Shaw received increases consistent with the increases received by other employees in the U.S. and Mr. Levi received an increase in recognition of his overall industry experience and performance, with the amount of such increase determined after taking into account the base salaries of other executive officers. Mr. Pappas received an increase in his base salary as a result of arms-length negotiations in connection with his renegotiated employment agreement. Mr. Pugh’s annual base salary for 2013 was prorated to reflect the period of time he actually worked for Trinseo.

Annual Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan

We have an annual performance-based cash incentive plan that is designed to serve as an incentive to drive annual financial and non-financial performance. During 2013, the target annual performance bonus under this annual plan for each NEO was based on a percentage of base salary ranging from 150%, in the case of Mr. Pappas, to 75%, in the case of Mr. Feenan and Mr. Shaw, to 55%, in the case of Mr. Levi and Mr. Pugh.

 

119


Table of Contents

Cash awards are based on a combination of the achievement of Company performance goals as well as individual performance. The performance goals and metrics are recommended by the compensation committee to the Board at the beginning of the year. At the end of the year, the amount paid to each NEO is based on the achievement of the Company performance goals and an assessment of the executive’s overall performance.

For 2013, the annual performance award plan was designed to align our executives’ compensation with the organization’s focus and priorities for the year, and reward performance based on four key metrics:

 

    Responsible Care ® : Injuries, Spills and Process Safety Incidents (PSIs),

 

    EBITDA: excluding joint venture companies’ dividends and reflecting current cost of raw materials,

 

    Fixed Costs: including selling, administrative, R&D, supply chain, manufacturing, and maintenance expenses, and

 

    Individual Goals: Performance against preset team/individual goals.

 

           Metrics  
     Weight     Not Met     Target     Exceeds  

Performance Goal

        

1. Responsible Care ®

        

Recordable Injuries *

     5     7        5        3   

Loss of Primary Containment *

     5     14        9        4   

Process Safety Incidents *

     5     2        1        0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sub-total

     15     0     100     200
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

2. Financial Performance

        

2013 EBITDA Target (Per 2013 Business Plan)

     50     0     125     230

2013 Fixed Costs Target (Per 2013 Business Plan)

     15     0     100     N/A   

3. Individual Goals **

     20     0     100     200
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Opportunity at Target

     100      

Maximum Opportunity

     200      

 

* Metrics represent incident count.
** In 2013, all Individual Goals have an EBITDA component tied to either corporate or business EBITDA; goal carries a weight of up to 40%. (For example, if individual EBITDA goal is weighted at 40%, the goal carries a weight of 8% of the total goals weight (40% of 20%)).

In 2013, Company performance metrics were based on an adjusted EBITDA target of $356.0 million (excluding dividends from joint venture companies of $23.6 million and $4.4 million in realized losses from foreign exchange forward contracts; and including an adjustment of $40.4 million to reflect current cost of raw materials), Responsible Care ® (environmental, health and safety metrics), and a controlled overhead/fixed costs target of $624.0 million. As a company with a substantial amount of indebtedness and volatile raw materials prices, we believe that adjusted EBITDA and controlled overhead/fixed costs are important measures of our financial performance and ability to service our indebtedness and we use them as the target metrics for our annual cash incentive plan. adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure used internally and is measured by taking net income (loss) and adding back interest charges, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and other adjustments which eliminate the impact of certain items that we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Our adjusted EBITDA and controlled overhead/fixed costs financial performance target metrics for the 2013 annual performance awards are set consistent to our 2013 business plan that has been approved by the Board but adjusted to exclude dividends from joint venture companies and reflecting current cost of raw materials. For a discussion of adjusted EBITDA see Note 3 to “Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data” elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to adjusted EBITDA and controlled overhead/fixed costs, we also believe best-in-class environmental, health and safety metrics, as well as individual performance, are important measures for establishing performance objectives and measuring the performance of our NEOs.

 

120


Table of Contents

We are a Responsible Care ® company and our EH&S policy states that protecting people and the environment is part of everything we do and every decision we make. Each employee has a responsibility to ensure that our products and operations meet applicable government or company standards. The 2013 performance award bonus plan includes three (3) key metrics that we track for our company—Recordable Injuries as defined by OSHA, Process Safety Incidents as defined by the American Chemistry Council and Loss of Primary Containment defined as any physical device used to contain a chemical or plastic resin as part of our manufacturing processes. Incentive payouts with respect to these metrics are determined based on our achievement rating for Responsible Care ® performance and in accordance with the threshold and target levels set forth in the preceding table.

In 2013, the individual annual objectives established for our NEOs varied depending on the primary areas of responsibility of each NEO as well as common areas of emphasis, which include customer growth and strategy, financial goals including revenue generation, cost control, margin improvement and cash management, and non-financial goals including people leadership, performance management and compliance. We set the NEOs’ individual objectives at a level that is intended to be achievable, but challenging. The individual objectives for our NEOs in 2013 focused on the following areas, combining both objective and subjective performance goals: corporate or business EBITDA; asset, product optimization and customer profitability; organizational effectiveness; and cost management.

Based on our achievement rating for Responsible Care ® performance, our financial results for 2013 with respect to adjusted EBITDA and controlled overhead/fixed costs, and the compensation committee’s determination of their achievement level with respect to their individual performance goals, each as described below, Messrs. Pappas, Feenan, Shaw, Levi and Pugh were awarded 107%, 103%, 99%, 94% and 104% of the target annual bonus, respectively. The table below shows the 2013 target annual bonus for each NEO and the actual bonus payable, based on our performance.

 

Name    Target Percentage     Target Amount      Actual Amount  

Christopher D. Pappas

     150   $ 1,500,000       $ 1,600,000   

John A. Feenan

     75   $ 450,000       $ 465,000   

Curtis S. Shaw

     75   $ 393,750       $ 390,000   

Marco Levi(2)

     55   $ 311,862       $ 291,611   

Martin Pugh(1)(2)

     55   $ 326,712       $ 283,510   

 

(1) The actual amount received by Mr. Pugh was pro-rated for the period between March 1 and December 31, 2013.

 

(2) Mr. Levi’s and Mr. Pugh’s compensation is payable in Swiss Francs (or CHF) and was converted using the foreign exchange rate of US$1.08 to CHF1.00 and US$1.07 to CHF1.00, respectively. These rates have been determined by averaging the exchange rates in effect during 2013.

In 2013, our achievement rating for Responsible Care ® performance qualified each NEO for a 19% cash incentive payout based on the actual results below:

 

                  Metrics         
     Actual Payout     Actual      Not Met      Target      Exceeds  

Responsible Care ®

             

Recordable Injuries *

     0     9         7         5         3   

Loss of Primary Containment *

     9     5         14         9         4   

Process Safety Incidents *

     10     0         2         1         0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     19           

 

* Metrics represent incident count.

 

121


Table of Contents

In addition, based on our assessment of our financial performance for 2013, we determined that our financial performance thresholds (i.e., adjusted EBITDA and fixed costs) were met for 2013. Adjusted EBITDA for 2013 was $330 million, resulting in 44% of the adjusted EBITDA portion of the bonus becoming payable, and the fixed cost target was met, resulting in 15% of the fixed cost portion being payable. Annual bonuses for our NEOs were determined and approved based on these preliminary results. After annual bonuses for our NEOs were approved, EBITDA was determined to be $325 million based on audited financial results.

In addition, each NEO had personal performance goals that may have included: corporate or business EBITDA; asset, product optimization and customer profitability; organizational effectiveness; and cost management. The results achieved against each of these goals were assessed by the compensation committee and ratings assigned. Based on its assessment of subjective individual performance criteria and our assessment of corporate and business adjusted EBITDA for 2013, the Board determined that Messrs. Pappas, Feenan, Shaw, Levi and Pugh qualified for a 29%, 25%, 21%, 16% and 26% cash incentive payout, respectively, against their personal performance goals.

The following table shows the contribution of each performance metric under our incentive plan to the actual bonus award earned by our NEOs.

 

    

Weighted Contribution Toward Cash Incentive Payout

 
     Financial Performance  
     Responsible Care ®     EBITDA Target     Fixed Cost Target     Individual Goals     Actual award %
(% of target
award)
 
     (15% of target
opportunity)
    (50% of target
opportunity)
    (15% of target
opportunity)
    (20% of target
opportunity)
   

Christopher D. Pappas

     19     44     15     29     107

John A. Feenan

     19     44     15     25     103

Curtis S. Shaw

     19     44     15     21     99

Marco Levi

     19     44     15     16     94

Martin Pugh

     19     44     15     26     104

Special Cash Retention Award Opportunity

On March 26, 2013, the board of directors approved a special cash retention award for certain key employees. The purpose of the award is to maintain stability of Trinseo’s executives by providing an incentive for these individuals to remain with Trinseo during the approximately 18-month period over which the award vests. The board of directors believes that the award is an important component of its compensation package to attempt to enable business strategy execution.

The terms of each cash retention award are set forth in an award agreement between the Company and the employee. The total cash amount of the special retention award is equal to 50% of the employee’s base salary as of the date of grant. The right to receive any amount is contingent on continuous full-time employment with the Company through July 1, 2014. Any unvested amounts will be forfeited upon termination of full-time employment. The cash retention awards will be paid out in July 2014, subject to the vesting condition described above.

The total amounts of the special retention award, subject to the vesting requirements set forth above, for the named executive officers are:

 

Named Executive Officer

   $ Amount  

Christopher D. Pappas

   $ 500,000   

Curt Shaw

   $ 262,500   

Marco Levi(1)

   $ 283,508   

John Feenan(2)

   $ —     

Martin Pugh(2)

   $ —     

 

122


Table of Contents
(1) Mr. Levi’s cash retention award will be paid in Swiss Franc in the amount of CHF 262,503, converted to US$, for disclosure purposes, using an average foreign exchange rate of US$1.08 to CHF1.00 in 2013.
(2) Messrs. Feenan and Pugh are not eligible to receive this special cash retention award given their employment date.

Executive Subscription and Securityholder’s Agreements

In connection with the Acquisition and the subsequent recruitment of our executive team, our Parent, and certain investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC entered into certain Executive Subscription and Securityholder’s Agreements (as amended and restated, the “Executive Subscription Agreements”) with certain members of our management team, including our NEOs. Mr. Feenan, who was hired in 2012 and Mr. Pugh who was hired in 2013, entered into separate Executive Subscription Agreements in accordance with the terms of their employment agreements. The Executive Subscription Agreements provide for sales of Classes A through F of the ordinary shares of our Parent (the “co-invest shares”) and Classes G through L of ordinary shares of our Parent (the “incentive shares”), subject to certain conditions. Our NEOs (other than Mr. Feenan and Mr. Pugh) invested a total of $1,775,010 for the co-invest shares issued under the Executive Subscription Agreements. We believe that by providing our senior management with a meaningful equity stake in us, we are better able to align the interests of our named executive officers with those of our shareholders and create value for our shareholders.

Under the Executive Subscription Agreements, in the case of our NEOs other than Mr. Pappas, 50% of incentive shares issued are subject to time vesting over five years with 40% of these vesting on the second anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining portion vesting ratably on an annual basis over the subsequent three years (in the case of Mr. Feenan and Mr. Pugh, 20% vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining portion vesting ratably on an annual basis over the following four years). For Mr. Pappas, 75% of incentive shares issued are subject to a time vesting with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of the Acquisition and the balance vesting ratably on a quarterly basis over the following three years. The remaining 50% of the incentive shares (25% for Mr. Pappas) are subject to both time vesting, in the same manner as previously described, as well as performance vesting subject to achieving certain targets based on various returns realized by our shareholders upon a change in control or the completion of this offering.

In 2013, Mr. Pappas entered into an amended and restated Executive Subscription Agreement in accordance with the terms of his amended Employment Agreement. Under the agreement Mr. Pappas was awarded additional Classes H though L of ordinary shares of our Parent (“New Securities”), subject to certain conditions. 100% of the New Securities are subject to time-based vesting condition with 40% vesting on June 30, 2014 and the remaining portion vesting on an annual basis over the subsequent three years. In determining the size of the New Securities awarded to Mr. Pappas, our Board took into account a number of factors including the size of the initial grant of incentive securities previously awarded to Mr. Pappas and the alignment of his compensation with the long-term interests of our shareholders.

All of the incentive shares are subject to the applicable executives remaining employed by us between the date of the applicable Executive Subscription Agreement and the applicable vesting date; provided that, if any of our NEOs (other than Mr. Pappas) dies, is terminated without cause or due to his disability, or resigns for good reason after the second anniversary of the date of grant, the portion of the incentive shares that are subject to time vesting that would have vested on the next regular vesting date will accelerate and vest on a pro rata basis based on the number of full months between the last regular vesting date and the termination date. If Mr. Pappas dies, is terminated without cause or due to his disability, or resigns for good reason, the portion of the incentive shares that are subject to time vesting that would have vested during the 12 months following the termination date will accelerate and vest.

Pursuant to the Executive Subscription Agreements, if our Parent makes distributions with respect to any co-invest shares or incentive shares prior to an executive’s securities becoming time vested or performance

 

123


Table of Contents

vested, our Parent will pay the executive, once such incentive shares become vested, a catch-up amount equal to an amount that the executive would have been entitled to receive in respect of any distribution by our Parent in connection with his or her incentive shares which are not vested had such incentive shares been vested on the date of such distribution, plus interest. For additional description of the Executive Subscription Agreements, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

We use both time-based awards and performance-based awards to provide what we believe are appropriate incentives. Time-based awards help to retain executives, who must be employed by the Company at the time the award vests. Performance-based awards encourage our NEOs and other senior executives to maximize value creation for our shareholders.

In February 2011, in connection with the refinancing of our previous $800 million term loan under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, the Board declared a one-time cash distribution. The distribution was made by way of redemption and cancellation of the class A and class G shares. The NEOs, to the extent they held co-invest shares and incentive shares, received an equivalent payment in 2011. For those hired after June 17, 2010, a portion of the distribution attributable to unvested time-based incentive shares was withheld and put in escrow, to be paid out in connection with the anniversary of their date of hire, subject to the NEO’s continued employment with the Company. For those hired after June 17, 2010 but during 2010, 50% of the time-based incentive share distribution was paid in February 2011 and 50% was paid on their next anniversary date in 2012. For executives hired in 2011, 100% of the distribution was payable on their second anniversary date. For all holders of performance-based incentive shares redeemed and cancelled, a portion of the distribution was withheld and put in escrow, to be paid out at the time all performance-based conditions are met. There were no distributions for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Our Board and compensation committee believe that this treatment of holders of co-invest and incentive shares is fair and consistent with their status as equity participants in our Parent.

Retirement Benefits

Our Qualified U.S. Savings Plan (a “401(k) plan”) provides for (1) annual discretionary Company contributions and (2) employer matching contributions to be credited to participants’ accounts. The U.S. based NEOs participate in this plan on the same basis as our other employees. We also maintain a non-qualified savings and deferral plan in which each of our NEOs (other than Mr. Levi and Mr. Pugh) participates. This plan allows participants to defer a portion of their compensation on a pre-tax basis, with matching contributions from the Company that are payable at a future date based on the terms of the plan. Additionally, the plan provides for discretionary Company contributions in connection with earnings that are in excess of limitations set forth in the Qualified U.S. Savings Plan.

Our NEOs do not participate in nor have account balances in qualified or nonqualified defined benefit pension plans sponsored by the Company, with the exception of Mr. Levi and Mr. Pugh, who participate in our Switzerland based retirement plan. Mr. Pugh is also entitled to a retirement benefit payable at age 65 in the amount of CHF 250,000 (Swiss Francs), which will be prorated if retirement occurs prior to age 65.

Pursuant to the terms of Mr. Pappas’s employment agreement, he is entitled to a retirement benefit payable in the form of a cash lump sum upon retirement/termination of employment in an amount determined in accordance with a formula contained in his employment agreement as described in more detail under “Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—Supplemental Employee Retirement Benefit” below.

Severance Benefits

Our NEOs are eligible for severance benefits under their employment contracts upon certain terminations of employment. The agreements provide the NEOs, except Mr. Pappas and Mr. Pugh, with severance benefits in an

 

124


Table of Contents

amount equal to one and one-half times (1.5x) the sum of the executive’s annual base salary and target bonus. Mr. Pappas is eligible for severance benefits in an amount equal to two times (2.0x) the sum of his annual base salary and target bonus. Mr. Pugh is eligible for severance benefits in an amount equal to two and one-half times (2.5x) the sum of his annual base salary and target bonus if termination (other than for cause) occurs prior to March 1, 2014, two times (2.0x) the sum of his annual base salary and target bonus if termination occurs on or following March 1, 2014 but prior to March 1, 2015, and one and one-half times (1.5x) the sum of his annual base salary and target bonus if termination occurs on or following March 1, 2015. Each of our NEOs must sign a general release in order to receive these severance benefits.

Change-in-Control Severance Benefits

We provide change-in-control severance benefits to certain executives, including Messrs. Pappas, Feenan, Shaw, and Pugh. These change-in-control severance benefits are intended to minimize the distraction and uncertainty that could affect key management in the event we become involved in a transaction that could result in a change in control of Trinseo and to enable the executives to impartially evaluate such a transaction. Under the terms of these agreements, each NEO is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to the severance benefits set forth above (rather than payment of severance benefits in installments) if the NEO experiences a termination of employment other than for cause or in the event the NEO resigns for good reason, as defined in the agreements, within two years following a change-in-control of the Company. Mr. Pappas is also entitled to a so-called 280G gross-up in connection with certain payments to him in connection with a change in control that was negotiated at the time Mr. Pappas was hired by us.

Other Compensation

Each NEO is eligible to participate in our generally-applicable benefit plans, such as savings, medical, dental, group life, disability and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, in accordance with country practices.

In connection with his hiring, Mr. Feenan was granted a cash retention award of $5 million, to be paid in four annual installments, with $1 million payable on each of the first and second anniversaries of the commencement of his employment and $1.5 million payable on each of the third and fourth anniversaries of the commencement of his employment, subject to his continued employment on such date. If Mr. Feenan is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason (as defined in his employment agreement), the next scheduled installment of the retention award will be paid to him. If there is a Change in Control (as defined in his employment agreement) or he dies, all of the remaining installments will be paid to him.

Mr. Pugh was granted a sign-on bonus in connection with his hiring to make him whole for his forfeiture of certain incentive compensation amounts granted by his former employer. The sign-on bonus is equal to CHF 600,000 and is payable at the time that he purchases a residence in Zurich, Switzerland, provided he remains employed at such time. In the event Mr. Pugh is terminated for Cause or resigns without Good Reason (as defined in his employment agreement), he will be required to repay the sign-on bonus to the Company. In addition, the sign-on bonus will be reduced (and he will be required to repay such sign-on bonus) to the extent that he receives any portion of the incentive compensation from his former employer that was contemplated to be forfeited.

Under his employment agreement, Mr. Pugh is entitled to receive a retention bonus of CHF 250,000 if he remains employed on September 1, 2013, which was paid in September 2013, and a retention bonus of CHF 500,000 if he remains employed on September 1, 2014. If his employment is terminated for any reason prior to the vesting date, he will not be eligible to receive the retention bonus.

Certain employees, including NEOs, received relocation packages in connection with their employment. In 2013, Mr. Feenan received an additional $116,416 of relocation benefits in connection with his employment in 2012 and Mr. Pugh received $2,378 in relocation benefits in connection with his employment.

 

125


Table of Contents

Compensation Risk Management

While our compensation committee is in the process of reviewing the risks that arise from our compensation policies and practices, we do not believe that our compensation policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

Tax Treatment

Because our ordinary shares are not currently publicly traded, executive compensation has not been subject to the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which limit the deductibility of compensation paid to certain individuals to $1 million, excluding qualifying performance based compensation and certain other compensation. Following this offering, at such time as we are subject to the deduction limitation under Section 162(m) of the Code, we expect that the compensation committee will consider the impact of Section 162(m) of the Code when structuring our executive compensation arrangements with our named executive officers. However, the compensation committee will retain flexibility to approve compensation arrangements that promote the objectives of our compensation program but that may not qualify for full or partial tax deductibility.

 

126


Table of Contents

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation paid to or earned by our NEOs for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. For a complete understanding of the table, please read the footnotes and narrative disclosures that follow the table.

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary ($)     Bonus ($)
(1)(2)(3)
    Share
Awards ($)
(4)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(5)
    Changes in
Pension and
Other
Postretirement
Benefits Value
and Non-
qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)(6)(7)
    All Other
Compensation
($)(8)
    Total ($)  

Christopher D. Pappas

    2013      $ 1,000,000      $ —       $ 11,284,837      $ 1,600,000      $ 2,007,918      $ 165,302      $ 16,058,057   

President and Chief Executive Officer

    2012      $ 800,000      $ 160,000      $ —       $ 80,000      $ 1,476,354      $ 113,022      $ 2,629,376   

John A. Feenan

    2013      $ 600,000      $ —       $ —       $ 465,000      $ —       $ 176,493      $ 1,241,493   

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    2012      $ 551,250      $ 1,084,144      $ 8,767,429      $ 42,072      $ —       $ 870,287      $ 11,315,182   

Curtis S. Shaw

    2013      $ 525,000      $ —       $ —       $ 390,000      $ —       $ 59,796      $ 974,796   

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

    2012      $ 510,000      $ 76,500      $ —       $ 38,250      $ —       $ 816,752      $ 1,441,502   

Marco Levi(9)

    2013      $ 567,021      $ —       $ —       $ 291,611      $ 313,209      $ 632      $ 1,172,473   

Senior Vice President and Business President Emulsion Polymers

    2012      $ 513,648      $ 56,501      $ —       $ 28,251      $ 841,100      $ 16,561      $ 1,456,061   

Martin Pugh(9)(10)

    2013      $ 495,017      $ 918,026      $ 2,090,261      $ 283,510      $ 1,311,635      $ 2,569      $ 5,101,018   

Senior Vice President Business President, Plastics

               

 

(1) The amount in the “Bonus” column for each individual in 2012 includes the portion of the annual incentive payment awarded by the compensation committee that was in excess of the amount payable pursuant to the actual performance results under the annual performance-based cash incentive plan.
(2) Mr. Feenan was entitled to a $5.0 million retention award as part of his employment agreement dated December 22, 2011. These amounts will vest and be paid over a 4 year period. Mr. Feenan received $1.0 million in 2012, which is included in the “Bonus” column. No payments were made in 2013.
(3) Mr. Pugh is entitled to a retention bonus of CHF 750,000 as part of his employment agreement. The amount will vest and be paid out over an 18 month period. Mr. Pugh received CHF 250,000 in 2013, which is included in the “Bonus” column. In addition, Mr. Pugh received a sign on bonus of CHF 600,000 in connection with his employment in March 2013, which is also included in the “Bonus” column.
(4) The amount in this column reflects the fair value of restricted share awards granted in 2013 and 2012, calculated in accordance with ASC 718, excluding the effects of estimated forfeitures. The assumptions used for determining fair value are described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.” Amounts in the column include the grant date fair value of both time-based and performance-based awards. The amount attributable to the performance-based portion of the awards assumes that all performance-based vesting criteria are satisfied in full.
(5) This represents the NEOs’ earned cash incentive payout as discussed in “Annual Performance-Based Cash Incentive Compensation” above.
(6) Changes in Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits for Mr. Pappas, Mr. Levi and Mr. Pugh for the year ended December 31, 2013 amounted to $2,007,918, $313,209 and $1,311,635, respectively. Changes in Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits for Mr. Pappas and Mr. Levi for the year December 31, 2012 amounted to $1,476,354 and $841,000, respectively. Messrs. Feenan and Shaw do not participate in pension and other postretirement benefit arrangements. Please see “—Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” for a description of these arrangements.

 

127


Table of Contents
(7) No amount is reported with respect to earnings on non-qualified deferred compensation plans because above market, rates are not provided under such plans. See “—U.S. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table” below for the NEOs’ deferred compensation.
(8) Included in “All Other Compensation” for fiscal year 2013 were the following items:

 

Name    401(k) plan(i)      Non-qualified
deferred
compensation
plan(ii)
     Relocation(iii)      Other(iv)      Total  

Christopher D. Pappas

   $ 21,019       $ 142,050       $ —         $ 2,233       $ 165,302   

John A. Feenan

   $ 19,132       $ 39,750       $ 116,416       $ 1,194       $ 176,493   

Curtis S. Shaw

   $ 19,750       $ 33,188       $ —         $ 6,858       $ 59,796   

Marco Levi

   $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 632       $ 632   

Martin Pugh

   $ —         $ —         $ 2,569       $ —         $ 2,569   

 

  (i) Represents Company matching and discretionary contributions to the U.S. 401(k) plan for all NEOs except Mr. Levi and Mr. Pugh.
  (ii) Represents Company contributions to our non-qualified deferred compensation plan (such amounts are also included in the “U.S. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table” below) for all NEOs except Mr. Levi and Mr. Pugh.
  (iii) Represents relocation benefits received by Messrs. Feenan and Pugh in connection with their employment.
  (iv) Includes the taxable value of group term life insurance and service awards.
(9) Mr. Levi and Mr. Pugh’s compensation was paid or payable in Swiss Francs (or CHF). The amount of compensation earned or received during 2013 and 2012 was converted using the foreign exchange rate of US$1.08 to CHF1.00 and US$1.07 to CHF1.00, respectively. These rates have been determined by averaging the exchange rates in effect during 2013 and 2012, respectively.
(10) For Mr. Pugh, the amounts included in the “Salary” and “Non-Equity Incentive Plan” columns represent amounts received for the period between March 1 and December 31, 2013.

Grant of Equity Plan and Non-Equity Plan Based Awards Table

During fiscal year 2013, we granted share-based compensation awards to certain of our NEOs pursuant to the Executive Subscription and Security Holder’s Agreements and employment agreements. Information with respect to each of these awards on a grant by grant basis is set forth in the table below. During fiscal year 2013, we did not grant awards to the NEOs under a non-equity incentive plan, with the exception of our annual performance-based cash incentive plan.

 

     Grant Date    Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1)      Restricted Stock Awards  
      Threshold      Target      Maximum      Number of
Shares of
Stock (#)(2)
     Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
Awards
($/Share)(3)
 

Christopher D. Pappas(4)

   April 18, 2013      —           —           —           72,618       $ 11,284,837   
   N/A    $ —         $ 1,500,000       $ 3,000,000         —         $ —     

John A. Feenan

   NA    $ —         $ 450,000       $ 900,000         —         $ —     

Curtis S. Shaw

   NA    $ —         $ 393,750       $ 787,500         —         $ —     

Marco Levi

   NA    $ —         $ 311,862       $ 623,724         —         $ —     

Martin Pugh(4)

   March 1, 2013      —           —           —           15,489       $ 2,090,261   
   N/A       $ 326,712       $ 653,424         —         $ —     

 

(1) Represents awards provided under our annual performance-based cash incentive plan discussed above under “Annual Performance-Based Cash Incentive Compensation”. Maximum amount represents two times the target amount. Mr. Pugh’s actual cash incentive for 2013 was prorated from March 1, 2013, the date he commenced employment with us. The actual amounts earned by the NEOs with respect to 2013 are included in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table above.
(2) Represents stock-based compensation awards to the NEOs pursuant to the Executive Subscription Agreements and employment agreements. The stock awards granted during fiscal year 2013 include both time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards and are made with respect to Parent stock.

 

128


Table of Contents
(3) Represents the grant-date fair value calculated in accordance with ASC 718, using the assumptions described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included elsewhere in this prospectus.
(4) Mr. Pappas and Mr. Pugh were granted stock awards during 2013. The stock awards granted to Mr. Pappas in 2013 are only subject to a time-based vesting condition, with 40% vesting on June 30, 2014 and the remaining portion vesting on an annual basis over the subsequent three years. If Mr. Pappas dies, is terminated without cause or due to his disability, or resigns for good reason, the awards that would have vested during the 12 months following his termination date will accelerate and vest. All of his time-based awards will accelerate upon a change in control that is not an initial public offering. With respect to Mr. Pugh, fifty percent of his stock awards are only subject to time vesting, with 20% vesting on March 1, 2014 and the remaining portion vesting ratably on an annual basis over the following four years, provided that if Mr. Pugh is terminated without cause or due to his disability, or resigns for good reason after March 1, 2015, the portion of the award that would have vested on the next regular vesting date will accelerate and vest on a pro rata basis based on the number of full months between the last regular vesting date and the termination date. All of his time-based awards will accelerate upon a change in control that is not an initial public offering. The remaining 50% of Mr. Pugh’s stock awards are subject to both time vesting, in the same manner as previously described (but without pro-rated vesting upon any termination of employment), as well as performance vesting subject to the achievement of certain targets based on various returns realized by our shareholders upon a change in control or the completion of this offering.

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

Executive Employment Agreements with Messrs. Pappas, Feenan and Shaw

We have entered into executive employment agreements with each of Messrs. Pappas, Feenan and Shaw, with employment dates commencing on June 17, 2010, January 16, 2012 and July 1, 2010, respectively. The agreements provide for an initial term of three years and are subject to automatic one-year extensions beginning on the expiration of the initial term. The automatic extension of the agreements may be terminated with at least 90 days’ prior written notice from the executive or the Company stating the intent not to extend the employment term. On April 11, 2013, the agreement with Mr. Pappas was amended and restated with retroactive effect as of January 2, 2013, and was extended until June 30, 2017.

Under the agreements, Messrs. Pappas, Feenan and Shaw are entitled to receive annual base salaries of $1,000,000, $585,000 and $510,000, respectively, subject to annual review and increase by the compensation committee and/or Board in its sole discretion, and have target bonus opportunities under our annual performance-based cash incentive plan equal to 150%, 75% and 75%, respectively, of their base salaries. In 2013, Mr. Feenan’s and Mr. Shaw’s base salaries were increased to $600,000 and $525,000, respectively. In addition, Messrs. Pappas, Feenan and Shaw have been granted incentive shares generally representing the right to participate in 4.5%, 0.9% and 0.9%, respectively, of our equity capital appreciation (as described above in “Executive Subscription and Securityholder’s Agreements”). Each executive is entitled to participate in our employee and fringe benefit plans as may be in effect from time to time on the same general basis as our other employees.

In addition to the foregoing, Mr. Pappas is entitled to a retirement benefit payable in the form of a cash lump sum upon termination of employment in an amount determined in accordance with a formula contained in his employment agreement and as described in more detail under “Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—Supplemental Employee Retirement Benefit” below.

Offer Letter Agreement with Mr. Levi

We entered into an offer letter agreement with Mr. Levi on September 22, 2010. The letter agreement provides for at-will employment with no fixed term of employment. Under the letter agreement, Mr. Levi is entitled to receive an annual base salary of CHF 480,000, subject to annual review and increase by the

 

129


Table of Contents

Company’s compensation committee and/or Board in its sole discretion, and has the opportunity to earn an annual target performance award equal to 55% of his base salary. In 2013, Mr. Levi’s base salary was increased to CHF 525,000. In addition, Mr. Levi has been granted incentive shares generally representing the right to participate in 0.4% of our equity capital appreciation (as described above in “Executive Subscription and Securityholder’s Agreements”). Mr. Levi is entitled to participate in our employee and fringe benefit plans as may be in effect from time to time on the same general basis as our other employees.

Executive Employment Agreement with Mr. Pugh

We have entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Pugh with an employment date which commenced on March 1, 2013. The agreement provides for an initial term of three years and is subject to automatic one-year extensions beginning on the expiration of the initial term. The automatic extension of the agreement may be terminated with at least 90 days’ prior written notice from the executive or the Company stating the intent not to extend the employment term. Under the agreement, Mr. Pugh is entitled to receive an annual base salary of CHF 550,000, subject to annual review by the Board (or a committee thereof) during the first ninety (90) days of each calendar year, and the base salary in respect of such calendar year may be increased above, but not decreased below, its level for the preceding calendar year. Mr. Pugh has the opportunity to earn annual target performance awards equal to 55% of his base salary. In addition, Mr. Pugh has been granted incentive shares generally representing the right to participate in 0.4% of our equity capital appreciation (as described above in “Executive Subscription and Securityholder’s Agreements”). Mr. Pugh is entitled to participate in our employee and fringe benefit plans as may be in effect from time to time on the same general basis as our other employees.

Under his agreement, Mr. Pugh is eligible to receive cash retention payments equal to (i) CHF 250,000, which vested and was paid in September 2013, and (ii) CHF 500,000, which becomes vested on the eighteen (18)-month anniversary of the effective date of his employment agreement, subject to his continued employment with the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries through such date, and payable within thirty (30) days following such vesting date.

Mr. Pugh is also entitled to a one-time lump sum signing bonus cash payment in the amount of CHF 600,000 payable coincident with a purchase of a residence in the Zurich, Switzerland metropolitan area, subject to Mr. Pugh’s continued employment with the Company at the time of payment. In the event that Mr. Pugh’s employment with the Company terminates as a result of a termination by the Company for cause or by the executive without good reason (each as defined in the agreement) at any time within a period of one (1) year following the effective date of this employment agreement, Mr. Pugh is required to repay the signing bonus to the Company. Such amount shall be repaid to the Company no later than thirty (30) days following such termination date and, at the Company’s election, the Company may offset such amount against any amount owed by the Company to the executive.

Pursuant to an amendment to Mr. Pugh’s employment agreement, which was approved by the compensation committee in 2013, and approved and executed by the Board January 2014, Mr. Pugh is entitled to receive a retirement benefit in an amount up to CHF 250,000 payable at age 65 or prorated if he retires before reaching age 65.

For a description of the payments and benefits our named executive officers may be entitled to receive in connection with a termination of employment, see “—Potential payments upon termination or change in control.”

 

130


Table of Contents

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table

The table below sets forth certain information regarding outstanding and unvested restricted share awards held by the NEOs as of December 31, 2013. All awards are with respect to shares of our Parent.

 

     Stock Awards  
     Number of Shares
of Stock That
Have Not Vested
(#)(1)
     Market Value of
Shares of Stock
That have Not
Vested ($)(3)
     Number of
Unearned
Shares That
Have Not Vested
(#)(2)
     Market Value of
Unearned Shares
That have Not
Vested ($)(3)
 

Christopher D. Pappas

     81,683       $ 20,477,928         24,207       $ 4,190,232   

John A. Feenan

     10,457       $ 2,621,570         17,429       $ 3,016,960   

Curtis S. Shaw

     4,648       $ 1,165,254         15,492       $ 2,681,665   

Marco Levi

     2,325       $ 582,752         7,746       $ 1,340,833   

Martin Pugh

     7,745       $ 1,941,672         7,744       $ 1,340,486   

 

(1) Represents time-based restricted stock awards with respect to Parent stock granted to the NEOs pursuant to the Executive Subscription Agreements and employment agreements. Restricted stock awards include both time-based and performance based restricted stock awards. Time-based restricted stock awards generally vest over four to five years with a portion (25% or 40%) cliff vesting after one or two years (except for time-based awards held by Mr. Feenan and Mr. Pugh which vest 20% on January 1, 2013 and March 1, 2014, respectively, with the remaining portion vesting over the following four years). The remaining portion of the awards vest ratably over the subsequent time period, subject to the participant’s continued employment with the Company, and vest automatically upon a change in control of the Company excluding a change in control related to an initial public offering, or an IPO. Should a participant’s termination occur within defined time frames due to death or permanent disability, a termination of the participant by the Company or one of its subsidiaries without cause, or the participant’s voluntary resignation for good reason, a portion of the unvested restricted stock awards will either vest on the termination date or be repurchased. The outstanding time-based restricted stock will vest as set forth below:

 

     Number of Shares      Vesting Date  

Christopher D. Pappas

     4,540         3/17/14   
     4,525         6/17/14   
     29,047         6/30/14   
     14,524         6/30/15   
     14,524         6/30/16   
     14,524         6/30/17   

John A. Feenan

     3,486         1/1/15   
     3,486         1/1/16   
     3,485         1/1/17   

Curtis S. Shaw

     1,549         7/1/14   
     3,099         7/1/15   

Marco Levi

     775         6/17/14   
     1,550         6/17/15   

Martin Pugh

     1,549         3/1/14   
     1,549         3/1/15   
     1,549         3/1/16   
     1,549         3/1/17   
     1,549         3/1/18   

 

(2)

The performance-based restricted stock awards contain a time-based component, and vest in the same manner as all other time-based awards, but only if certain targets are achieved based on various returns realized by our shareholders on a change in control or an IPO. Generally, performance-based restricted stock will not vest until

 

131


Table of Contents
  a change in control or an IPO. Holders of vested performance-based stock are entitled to distributions from the Parent only after investors in the Parent have received distributions equal to their original investment. As of December 31, 2013, Mr. Pappas held 24,207 shares of performance-based restricted stock, Mr. Feenan held 17,429 shares, Mr. Shaw held 15,492 shares, Mr. Levi held 7,746 shares, and Mr. Pugh held 7,744 shares.
(3) Amounts were determined based on the fair value per share of our Parent shares as of December 31, 2013 ($250 per share for a time-based restricted share and $173.10 per share for a performance-based restricted share), as calculated by an independent valuation expert and approved by our Audit Committee.

Shares Vested Table

The following table shows the number of ordinary shares acquired by the NEOs upon the vesting of restricted shares of our Parent shares during fiscal year 2013:

 

     Share Awards  

Name

   Number of
Shares
Acquired
on Vesting
(#)(1)
     Value Realized
on Vesting
($)(2)
 

Christopher D. Pappas

     18,160       $ 2,815,315   

John A. Feenan

     6,972       $ 937,277   

Curtis S. Shaw

     3,098       $ 480,278   

Marco Levi

     1,549       $ 240,139   

Martin Pugh

     —        $ —    

 

(1) Represents restricted share awards to the NEOs pursuant to the Executive Subscription and Security Holder’s Agreements. Restricted share awards include both time-based and performance-based restricted share awards. All shares acquired on vesting during fiscal year 2013 were time-based restricted share awards.
(2) The value realized on vesting is based on the fair value per share of our Parent shares on the date of vesting.

U.S. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table

The following table summarizes the activity during 2013 and year-end account balances in our non-qualified savings and deferred compensation plan for our NEOs. The plan allows eligible employees, including the NEOs, to defer a portion of their compensation (up to 75% of base salary and up to 100% of actual performance cash incentive awards) on a pre-tax basis with a matching contribution from the Company, payable at a future date based on specific plan parameters. Additionally, the plan provides for discretionary company contributions in connection with earnings in excess of the limits under the Company’s tax-qualified savings plan. While the plan is unfunded, amounts deferred under the plan are credited with earnings based on the performance of selected investment vehicles that are available in the open market. The plan is available to all U.S. employees who satisfy certain eligibility requirements, including the NEOs. An eligible participant can elect to receive a distribution under the plan in the form of a lump sum payment upon separation of service from the Company. Additionally, a participant may elect to receive a distribution at a specified future date in either a single lump sum or a series of annual installments over a period of 5 to 10 years. However, this latter distribution option is only available for the elective deferral of a participant’s base salary and performance award. Company matching and discretionary contributions must be paid as a lump sum at separation from employment.

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions
in 2013 ($)(1)
     Company
Contributions
in 2013 ($)(2)
     Aggregate
Earnings
in 2013
($)(3)
     Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
in 2013 ($)
     Aggregate
Balance as of
December 31,
2013 ($)(4)
 

Christopher D. Pappas

   $ 138,216       $ 142,050       $ 51,503       $ —        $ 579,516   

John A. Feenan

   $ —        $ 39,750       $ —        $ —        $ 72,093   

Curtis S. Shaw

   $ —        $ 33,188       $ 14,242       $ —        $ 123,588   

Marco Levi(5)

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    

Martin Pugh(5)

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    

 

132


Table of Contents
(1) Represents amounts contributed by the NEOs under the non-qualified savings and deferred compensation plan. These amounts are included in the Summary Compensation Table as part of “Salary”.
(2) Includes amounts that were contributed by the Company under the non-qualified savings and deferred compensation plan. These amounts are also included in the Summary Compensation Table in the “All Other Compensation” column.
(3) Represents earnings on the Company’s non-qualified savings and deferred compensation plan. Amounts are not reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table.
(4) Includes amounts that were reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table in 2012 and prior years to the extent such amounts were contributed by the executive and the Company, but not to the extent that such amounts represent earnings.
(5) Mr. Levi and Mr. Pugh are based in Switzerland and do not participate in this plan.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Switzerland Retirement Plans

The Switzerland retirement plans are fully insured pension plans. Future retirement benefits are calculated based on accumulated savings at retirement, which consists of savings contributions made by the employee and the Company, and an annually credited interest rate that is contingent upon investment results. Actual retirement benefits will be dependent on investment results, actual rate of interest applied on the savings capital, potential future changes in plan regulation and/or legal changes and future salary changes. The amount of pensionable salary is calculated using base pay plus the annual target bonus amount minus a coordination amount that reflects the maximum social security pension in place at the time, and is subject to a statutory maximum. Employee and Company contributions are based on the employee’s age and determined in accordance with the percentage of pensionable salary as follows:

 

Name

   Employee saving
contributions in % of
pensionable salary
    Employer saving
contributions in % of
pensionable salary
 

Marco Levi

     8.00     12.00

Martin Pugh

     10.00     10.00

In addition, the employer pays the total premiums for risk benefits and other costs. It is assumed that these additional contributions equal 4.0% of insured salary.

Benefits are paid as a monthly annuity, lump sum or a combination of the two payment forms.

Supplemental Employee Retirement Benefit

In 2010, we entered into an employment contract with Mr. Pappas which included a provision for non-qualified supplemental employee retirement benefits. Mr. Pappas would have forfeited all benefits if he had left the Company prior to June 17, 2013. The accrued benefits will be paid to Mr. Pappas in a lump sum within 30 days after his termination of employment. The amount payable to Mr. Pappas with respect to his supplemental employee retirement benefits is determined based on his years of Service Credit and his average base salary and target bonus for the three full calendar years prior to his termination.

 

133


Table of Contents

The accrued benefits are equal to the Basic Percentage times the average of his base salary plus target bonus for the three full calendar years prior to his termination (the “Final Average Pay”) plus the Supplemental Percentage times the Final Average Pay reduced by the 36-month rolling average Social Security Taxable Wage Base as of the date of termination. The Basic Percentage and Supplemental Percentage are determined based on Mr. Pappas’ years of Service Credit, as set forth below.

 

Aggregate Years of
Service Credit

   Basic Percentage   Supplemental
Percentage

6

   138%   24%

12

   276%   48%

18

   414%   72%

24

   425%   96%

30

   425%   120%

For purposes of determining Mr. Pappas’ retirement benefit, he was granted six (6) years of Service Credit with the Company at the start of his employment and on each anniversary date Mr. Pappas will be granted an additional six (6) years of Service Credit, up to a maximum of 30 years of Service Credit. As of December 31, 2013, Mr. Pappas had twenty four (24) years of Service Credit with the Company.

The following table shows the actuarial present value of accumulated pension and other post-retirement benefits as of December 31, 2013:

 

Name

  

Plan Name

   Number of
Years of
Credited
Service (#)(1)
     Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefit ($)(2)
     Payments
During
2013 ($)
 

Christopher D. Pappas

   Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan      24.0       $ 8,554,867       $ —    

John A. Feenan

   N/A      —        $ —        $ —    

Curtis S. Shaw

   N/A      —        $ —        $ —    

Marco Levi

   Switzerland Retirement Plan      28.5       $ 4,223,470       $ —    

Martin Pugh

   Switzerland Retirement Plan      6.5       $ 1,329,590       $ —    

 

(1) The years of credited service for Mr. Pappas are determined pursuant to his employment agreement, as described above. Mr. Levi and Mr. Pugh’s years of credited service include years they were employed by a prior company, as required by law.
(2) The assumptions used to determine the present value of accumulated benefits are provided below:

 

     Discount rate     Salary increase  

Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan

     4.00     4.00

Switzerland Retirement Plan

     2.40     2.50

These assumptions are consistent with the assumptions used in the 2013 consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

The following table shows the potential payments upon termination or upon a termination following a change in control to the NEOs, as if such event(s) took place on December 31, 2013 (the last business day of our most recent fiscal year). The amounts reflected in this table were determined in accordance with each NEO’s then existing employment agreement. Amounts shown do not include (i) accrued but unpaid salary and vested benefits, including pension (as described above) and (ii) other benefits earned or accrued by the named executive officer during his employment that are available to all salaried employees and that do not discriminate in scope, terms or operations in favor of executive officers. With respect to any termination of employment, each named executive officer is entitled to receive accrued but unpaid base salary through the date of termination of employment, accrued but unpaid vacation and pension benefits (as described above) through such date and continued coverage under our health and welfare benefit plans through the end of the month in which such

 

134


Table of Contents

termination occurs. For a discussion of the other payments and benefits our NEOs are entitled to receive under their employment contracts following a termination of employment, including upon a change in control, please see “Employment Arrangements” below.

 

Name

  Termination Trigger   Cash Separation
Payment
($)(1)
    Health and Welfare and
Life Insurance Benefits
($)(2)(3)
  Fair Value of
Previously
Unvested Restricted
Shares(4)
    Value of Term
Life Insurance
($)(5)
 

Christopher D. Pappas

  Termination for Cause   $ —        through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ —       $ —    
  Termination Without Cause   $ 5,000,000      $1,080   $ 11,375,262      $ —    
  Death   $ —        through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ 11,375,262      $ 250,000   
  Disability (3)   $ —        $405   $ 11,375,262      $ —    
  Change in Control   $ 5,190,953 (6)    $1,080   $ 24,668,160      $ —    

John A. Feenan

  Termination for Cause   $ —        through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ —       $ —    
  Termination Without Cause   $ 2,575,000 (7)    $24,656   $ —       $ —    
  Death   $ 4,000,000 (7)    through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ —       $ 250,000   
  Disability(3)   $ —        $405   $ —       $ —    
  Change in Control   $ 5,575,000 (7)    $24,656   $ 5,638,530      $ —    

Curtis S. Shaw

  Termination for Cause   $ —        through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ —       $ —    
  Termination Without Cause   $ 1,378,125      $24,656   $ —       $ —    
  Death   $ —        through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ —       $ 250,000   
  Disability(3)   $ —        $405   $ —       $ —    
  Change in Control   $ 1,378,125      $24,656   $ 3,846,919      $ —    

Marco Levi

  Termination Without Cause   $ 1,318,324      $—     $ —       $ —    
  Death   $ —        $—     $ —       $ —    
  Disability    
 
 
 
salary up to
24 months as
required by
applicable law
  
  
  
  
  $ —     $ —       $ —    
  Change in Control   $ 1,318,324      $ —     $ 1,923,585      $ —    

Martin Pugh

  Termination for Cause   $ —        through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ —       $ —    
  Termination Without Cause   $ 2,301,831      through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ —       $ —    
  Death   $ —        through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ —       $ —    
  Disability    
 
 
 
salary up to
12 months as
required by
applicable law
  
  
  
  
  through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ —       $ —     
  Change in Control   $ 2,301,831      through the end
of the month of
termination
  $ 3,282,158      $ —    

 

(1) Cash separation payments are generally payable in installments except for payments upon a change in control, which are generally payable in a lump sum.

 

135


Table of Contents
(2) Upon a termination of employment, the named executive officer is entitled to continue to receive coverage under our health and welfare benefit plans through the end of the month in which the executive terminates employment.
(3) Messrs. Pappas, Feenan and Shaw are eligible to receive continued payment by the Company of term life insurance for the nine (9) month period from disability date and continued coverage under our health and welfare benefit plans as described in “Employment Arrangements” below.
(4) Represents the current estimated fair value per share of our Parent shares as of December 31, 2013 for each of the time-based restricted shares that will vest in full or in part on certain specified terminations of employment, including on a change in control (other than a change in control resulting from our initial public offering). Change in control compensation amounts also include the value of performance-based restricted shares at the current estimated fair value per share of our Parent shares as of December 31, 2013 because we have assumed that the performance conditions applicable to such shares would have been satisfied had a change in control occurred on December 31, 2013. The actual treatment of performance-based restricted shares in connection with a change in control transaction may be different.
(5) Represents the value of term life insurance payable on death.
(6) Represents the value of cash severance ($5,000,000) plus the estimated value of creditable service remaining under the Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan ($190,953), which will be earned upon a change in control.
(7) Represents (i) upon a termination of Mr. Feenan’s employment without cause, the value of cash severance ($1,575,000) plus the value of the next scheduled installment payment under his retention award ($1,000,000), (ii) upon death, the value of all remaining installment payments under Mr. Feenan’s retention award ($4,000,000), and (iii) upon a change in control, the value of cash severance ($1,575,000) plus the value of all remaining installment payments under Mr. Feenan’s retention award ($4,000,000).

Employment Arrangements

Messrs. Pappas, Feenan and Shaw

In the event of an executive’s termination of employment for any reason, Messrs. Pappas, Feenan and Shaw will each be entitled to receive any unpaid base salary through the date of termination and all accrued and vested benefits under our vacation and other benefit plans and, except in the case of a termination by us for “cause” or by the executive without “good reason” (each, as defined in the executive’s employment agreement), (i) any annual bonus earned but unpaid with respect to the calendar year ending on or preceding the date of termination and (ii) a pro rata target bonus for the calendar year of termination. In the case of Mr. Pappas, in addition to the foregoing, he will be entitled to his retirement benefit as described above in “Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—Supplemental Employee Retirement Benefit”.

Under Mr. Pappas’ agreement, in the event of his voluntary termination of employment without “good reason”, he shall provide the Company with one year’s written notice. In the event his termination date is less than one year following his written notice of termination, Mr. Pappas would not receive the pro rata target bonus for the calendar year of termination. In addition, the Company may purchase all or a portion of the New Securities at the lower of their fair market value or the original cost.

In addition to the severance benefits described above, upon termination of an executive by us without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason,” the executive will be entitled to receive the following severance benefits, subject to the executive’s timely execution of a general release of claims:

In the case of Mr. Pappas, he will be entitled to receive two times the sum of his annual base salary and target bonus, payable in equal monthly installments over the 24 month period following such termination, and continued health benefits for a period of 24 months following such termination, provided, however, that if he obtains other employment that offers group health benefits, such continued insurance coverage will terminate.

In the case of Messrs. Feenan and Shaw, they will be entitled to receive (i) an amount equal to one and one-half times the sum of their respective base salaries and target bonuses, payable in equal monthly installments over the eighteen month period following such termination, and (ii) continued health benefits until age 65 for each of Mr. Shaw and his spouse, and 18 months continuation for Mr. Feenan, provided, however, that if either executive obtains other employment that offers group health benefits, such continued insurance coverage will terminate with respect to such executive.

 

136


Table of Contents

To the extent that any executive experiences a termination of employment by us without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason” within two years following a “change in control” (as defined in the agreements), the cash severance benefits described above will be paid to such executive in a cash lump sum as opposed to in installments. In addition, in the case of Mr. Pappas, to the extent that the severance payments and benefits payable under his agreement would cause him to be liable for excise taxes by reason of the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, and the Company’s equity securities are publicly traded on an established securities market in accordance with Section 280G, Mr. Pappas will be entitled to an additional “gross up” payment to indemnify him for the effect of the excise taxes.

For Messrs. Feenan and Shaw, to the extent that any payments that are considered to be contingent on a change in control would be subject to Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code, such payments will be limited to the threshold amount under Section 280G of the Code unless such payments are approved by at least 75% of our shareholders (other than Messrs. Feenan and Shaw). In the event that our stock becomes tradable on an established securities market, a shareholder vote will not be held and, instead, such payments will be limited if the net benefit to Messrs. Feenan and Shaw on an after-tax basis would be greater than receiving the full value of all payments and paying the excise tax.

The agreements contain a non-competition covenant that prohibits the executive from competing against us for a period of one year (or two years, in the case of Mr. Pappas) following termination of employment. The agreements also contain non-solicitation provisions that prohibit the executive from actively soliciting our employees, customers or suppliers during the period of employment and for a period of one year (or two years, in the case of Mr. Pappas) following termination of employment. The executives are also subject to perpetual confidentiality restrictions that protect our proprietary information, developments and other intellectual property.

Mr. Levi

In the event of his termination of employment for any reason, Mr. Levi will be entitled to receive any unpaid base salary through the date of termination and all accrued and vested benefits under our vacation and other benefit plans and, except in the case of a termination by us for “cause” (as defined in his employment letter agreement), any annual bonus earned but unpaid with respect to the calendar year ending on or preceding the date of termination. In addition, in the event of a termination of employment by reason of death or disability, Mr. Levi will be entitled to receive a pro rata annual bonus based on actual results for the year of termination. Mr. Levi will also receive payments required by applicable law upon a termination by reason of disability, as described in the preceding table.

In addition to the severance benefits described above, upon Mr. Levi’s termination by us without “cause” or his resignation for “good reason” (each, as defined in his letter agreement), subject to his timely execution of a general release of claims, Mr. Levi will be entitled to receive severance benefits in accordance with our general severance practices, but in no event will such severance benefits be less than the sum of (i) an amount equal to one times the sum of his base salary plus his target bonus at the time of termination, and (ii) a pro rata annual bonus based on actual results for the year of termination. Under our severance practices, Mr. Levi would have been entitled to one and one-half times his base salary and target bonus if he had terminated on December 31, 2013. Pursuant to an amendment to Mr. Levi’s letter agreement, which was approved by the compensation committee in 2013 and approved and executed by the Board in January 2014, Mr. Levi is entitled to receive, upon a termination by us without “cause” or his resignation for “good reason,” an amount equal to one and one-half times the sum of his base salary plus his target bonus, payable in equal monthly installments over the eighteen month period following such termination.

The letter agreement contains a non-competition covenant that prohibits Mr. Levi from competing against us for a period of one year following termination of employment. The letter agreement also contains nonsolicitation provisions that prohibit him from actively soliciting our employees, customers or suppliers during

 

137


Table of Contents

the period of employment and for a period of one year following termination of employment. Mr. Levi is also subject to perpetual confidentiality restrictions that protect our proprietary information, developments and other intellectual property.

Mr. Pugh

In the event of termination of his employment for any reason, Mr. Pugh will be entitled to receive any unpaid base salary through the date of termination and all accrued and vested benefits under our vacation and other benefit plans and, except in the case of a termination by us for “cause” or by the executive without “good reason” (each, as defined in his employment agreement) (i) any annual bonus earned but unpaid with respect to the calendar year ending on or preceding the date of termination; and (ii) an amount equal to the pro-rata portion of the executive’s target bonus for the calendar year of termination (determined by multiplying the target bonus for the year of termination by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during the calendar year of termination that the Executive is employed by the Company and the denominator of which is 365). Mr. Pugh will also receive payments required by applicable law upon a termination by reason of disability, as described in the preceding table.

In addition to the severance benefits described above, upon termination of the executive by us without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason,” Mr. Pugh will be entitled to receive the following severance benefits, subject to his timely execution of a general release of claims: (i) an amount equal to two and one-half times the sum of his annual base salary and target bonus if the qualifying termination occurs prior to March 1, 2014, (ii) an amount equal to two times the sum of his annual base salary and target bonus if the qualifying termination occurs on or following March 1, 2014 but prior to March 1, 2015, or (iii) an amount equal to one and one-half times the sum of his annual base salary and target bonus if the qualifying termination occurs on or following March 1, 2015.

To the extent that Mr. Pugh experiences a termination of employment by us without “cause” or by him for “good reason” within two years following a “change in control” (as defined in his agreement), the cash severance benefits described above will be paid to such executive in a cash lump sum as opposed to in installments.

The agreement contains a non-competition covenant that prohibits Mr. Pugh from competing against us for a period of: (i) 30 months following termination of employment if termination occurs prior to March 1, 2014, (ii) 24 months following termination of employment if termination occurs on or following March 1, 2014 but prior to March 1, 2015, and (iii) 18 months following termination of employment if termination occurs on or following March 1, 2015. The agreement also contains non-solicitation provisions that prohibit the executive from actively soliciting our employees, customers or suppliers during the period of employment and for a period of six months following termination of employment. Mr. Pugh is also subject to perpetual confidentiality restrictions that protect our proprietary information, developments and other intellectual property.

Fiscal 2014 Annual Bonus Plan

Our named executive officers are each entitled to participate in our annual performance-based cash incentive plan for fiscal 2014. The terms of our annual cash incentive plan for our 2014 fiscal year, as they apply to our named executive officers, will be substantially the same as the terms that applied for our 2013 fiscal year, as described above under “—Executive compensation—Components of Compensation—Annual Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan,” except as generally described below. For fiscal 2014, Responsible Care will continue to constitute 15% of each named executive officer’s target bonus opportunity, while EBITDA and individual goals will increase to 60% and 25%, respectively, of each named executive officer’s target bonus opportunity (from 50% and 20%, respectively, in fiscal 2013). Fixed costs will no longer be a separate performance metric under our bonus plan for fiscal 2014. The target annual bonus as a percentage of annual base salary for each of our NEOs will be unchanged for our 2014 fiscal year annual bonuses from the percentages that applied for our 2013 fiscal year annual bonuses.

 

138


Table of Contents

2014 Omnibus Plan

In connection with this offering, our board of directors intends to adopt the Trinseo S.A. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or the 2014 Omnibus Plan, and, following this offering, all equity-based awards will be granted under the 2014 Omnibus Plan. The following summary describes the material terms of the 2014 Omnibus Plan. This summary of the 2014 Omnibus Plan is not a complete description of all provisions of the 2014 Omnibus Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2014 Omnibus Plan, a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Administration. The 2014 Omnibus Plan is administered by our compensation committee. Our compensation committee has the authority to, among other things, interpret the 2014 Omnibus Plan, determine eligibility for, grant and determine the terms of awards under the 2014 Omnibus Plan, determine the form of settlement of awards (whether in cash, shares of our common stock or other property), and do all things necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the 2014 Omnibus Plan. Our compensation committee’s determinations under the 2014 Omnibus Plan are conclusive and binding.

Eligibility. Our key employees, directors, consultants and advisors are eligible to participate in the 2014 Omnibus Plan.

Authorized Shares. Subject to adjustment, as described below, the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered in satisfaction of awards under the 2014 Omnibus Plan is 4,500,000 shares. Up to the total number of shares of our common stock available for awards under the plan may be delivered in satisfaction of incentive stock options, or ISOs.

The shares of our common stock to be issued under the 2014 Omnibus Plan may be newly issued shares of our common stock or treasury stock acquired by us. Any shares of our common stock underlying awards that are settled in cash, expire or become unexercisable without having been exercised or that are forfeited or repurchased by us will again be available for issuance under the 2014 Omnibus Plan. In addition, the number of shares of our common stock delivered in satisfaction of awards will be determined net of shares of our common stock withheld by us in payment of the exercise price or purchase price (including any nominal value payable in respect of an award) of an award or in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements with respect to an award.

Individual Limits. The maximum number of shares of our common stock subject to stock options and the maximum number of shares of our common stock subject to stock appreciation rights, or SARs, that may be granted to any participant in the 2014 Omnibus Plan in any calendar year is each 900,000 shares. The maximum number of shares of our common stock subject to other awards that may be granted to any participant in the 2014 Omnibus Plan in any calendar year is 450,000 shares and the maximum amount payable to any participant in the 2014 Omnibus Plan in any calendar year is $5,000,000 under a cash award.

Types of Awards. The 2014 Omnibus Plan provides for awards of stock options, SARs, restricted stock, unrestricted stock, stock units, performance awards, other awards convertible into or otherwise based on shares of our common stock and cash awards. Eligibility for stock options intended to be ISOs is limited to our employees. Dividend equivalents may also be provided in connection with an award under the 2014 Omnibus Plan, consistent with the requirements of our articles of association.

 

    Stock options and SARs. The exercise price of a stock option, and the base price against which a SAR is to be measured, may not be less than the fair market value (or, in the case of an ISO granted to a ten percent shareholder, 110% of the fair market value) of shares of our common stock on the date of grant. Our compensation committee will determine the time or times at which stock options or SARs become exercisable and the terms on which such awards remain exercisable.

 

    Restricted and unrestricted stock. A restricted stock award is an award of shares of our common stock subject to forfeiture restrictions, while an unrestricted stock award is not subject to such restrictions.

 

139


Table of Contents
    Stock units. A stock unit award is an award denominated in shares of our common stock that entitles the participant to receive shares of our common stock or cash measured by the value of the shares of our common stock in the future. The delivery of shares of our common stock or cash under a stock unit may be subject to the satisfaction of performance conditions or other vesting conditions.

 

    Performance awards. A performance award is an award the vesting, settlement or exercisability of which is subject to specified performance criteria.

 

    Cash awards . A cash award is an award denominated in cash.

 

    Other awards. Other awards are awards that are convertible into or otherwise based on shares of our common stock.

Performance Awards. The 2014 Omnibus Plan provides for the grant of performance awards that are made based upon, and subject to achieving, performance objectives. Performance objectives with respect to those awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, or Section 162(m), to the extent applicable, are limited to an objectively determinable measure or measures of performance relating to any or any combination of the following (measured either absolutely or by reference to an index or indices and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof): sales; revenues; assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization or equity expense, whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per share basis; return on equity, investment, capital, capital employed or assets; one or more operating ratios; operating income or profit, including on an after-tax basis; net income; borrowing levels, leverage ratios or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow; stock price; stockholder return; sales of particular products or services; customer acquisition or retention; acquisitions and divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures, strategic alliances, licenses or collaborations; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations; recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of debt or equity) or refinancings; manufacturing or process development; or environmental health and/or safety metrics.

To the extent consistent with the requirements for satisfying the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m), to the extent applicable, our compensation committee may provide, by the deadline that otherwise applies to the establishment of the terms of any award intended to qualify for such exception, that one or more of the performance objectives applicable to an award will be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner to reflect events (for example, the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, mergers, acquisitions, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes, each as defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable performance objectives.

Vesting; Termination of Employment or Service. Our compensation committee has the authority to determine the vesting schedule applicable to each award, and to accelerate the vesting or exercisability of any award. Our compensation committee will determine the effect of termination of employment or service on an award. Unless otherwise provided by our compensation committee, upon a termination of a participant’s employment or service, all unvested stock options and SARs then held by the participant will terminate and all other unvested awards will be forfeited and all vested stock options and SARs then held by the participant will remain outstanding for three months following such termination, or one year in the case of death or permanent disability, or, in each case, until the applicable expiration date, if earlier. All stock options and SARs held by a participant immediately prior to the participant’s termination of employment or service will immediately terminate if such termination is for cause, as defined in the 2014 Omnibus Plan, or occurs in circumstances that would have constituted grounds for the participant’s employment or service to be terminated for cause, in the determination of the compensation committee.

 

140


Table of Contents

Non-Transferability of Awards. Awards under the 2014 Omnibus Plan may not be transferred other than by the laws of descent and distribution, unless, for awards other than ISOs, otherwise provided by our compensation committee.

Recovery of Compensation. Our compensation committee may cancel, rescind, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict any award at any time under the 2014 Omnibus Plan if the participant is not in compliance with the provisions of the 2014 Omnibus Plan or any award thereunder or if the participant breaches any agreement with our company with respect to non-competition, non-solicitation or confidentiality. Our compensation committee also may recover any award or payments or gain in respect of any award under the 2014 Omnibus Plan in accordance with any applicable company clawback or recoupment policy, or as otherwise required by applicable law or applicable stock exchange listing standards.

Certain Transactions; Certain Adjustments. In the event of a consolidation, merger or similar transaction or series of related transactions, including a sale or other disposition of shares of our common stock, in which our company is not the surviving corporation or that results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of our then outstanding shares of common stock by a single person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert, a sale of all or substantially all of our assets or our dissolution or liquidation, our compensation committee may, among other things, provide for the continuation or assumption of outstanding awards, for new grants in substitution of outstanding awards, for the accelerated vesting or delivery of shares under awards or for a cash-out of outstanding awards, in each case on such terms and with such restrictions as it deems appropriate. Except as our compensation committee may otherwise determine, awards not assumed in connection with such a transaction will terminate automatically and, in the case of outstanding restricted stock, will be forfeited automatically upon the consummation of such covered transaction.

In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares, including a reverse stock split, recapitalization or other change in our capital structure that constitutes an equity restructuring within the meaning of FASB ASC 718, our compensation committee will make appropriate adjustments to the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered under, and the ISO and individual share limits included in, the 2014 Omnibus Plan, and will also make appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of shares or securities subject to awards, the exercise prices of such awards or any other terms of awards affected by such change. Our compensation committee will also make the types of adjustments described above to take into account distributions and other events other than those listed above if it determines that such adjustments are appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the 2014 Omnibus Plan.

Amendment; Termination. Our compensation committee will be able to amend the 2014 Omnibus Plan or outstanding awards, or terminate the 2014 Omnibus Plan as to future grants of awards, except that our compensation committee will not be able to alter the terms of an award if it would affect materially and adversely a participant’s rights under the award without the participant’s consent (unless expressly provided in the 2014 Omnibus Plan or the right to alter the terms of an award was expressly reserved by our compensation committee at the time the award was granted). Shareholder approval will be required for any amendment to the 2014 Omnibus Plan to the extent such approval is required by law, including applicable stock exchange requirements.

Trinseo S.A. Cash Incentive Plan

In connection with this offering, our board of directors intends to adopt the Trinseo S.A. Cash Incentive Plan, or the Cash Incentive Plan. Starting with our 2015 fiscal year, annual cash award opportunities for executive officers, including our NEOs, and other key employees will be granted under the Cash Incentive Plan. The following summary describes the material terms of the Cash Incentive Plan. This summary is not a complete description of all provisions of the Cash Incentive Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Cash Incentive Plan, a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

141


Table of Contents

Administration. The Cash Incentive Plan will be administered by our compensation committee. Our compensation committee has authority to interpret the Cash Incentive Plan and awards granted under it, to determine eligibility for awards and to do all things necessary to administer the Cash Incentive Plan. Any interpretation or decision by the compensation committee will be final and conclusive on all participants.

Participants; Individual Limit. Our executive officers and other key employees will be selected from time to time by our compensation committee to participate in the Cash Incentive Plan. The maximum payment to any participant pursuant to an award intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code under the Cash Incentive Plan in any fiscal year will in no event exceed $5,000,000.

Awards. With respect to each award granted under the Cash Incentive Plan, the compensation committee will establish the performance criteria applicable to the award, the amount or amounts payable if the performance criteria are achieved, and such other terms and conditions as the compensation committee deems appropriate. The Cash Incentive Plan permits the grant of awards that are intended to qualify as exempt performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent applicable, as well as awards that are not intended to so qualify. Any awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation will be administered in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m), to the extent applicable. Awards under the Cash Incentive Plan will not be required to comply with the provisions of the plan applicable to performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) if they are eligible for exemption from such provisions by reason of the transition relief under Section 162(m).

Performance Criteria. Awards under the Cash Incentive Plan will be made based on, and subject to achieving, performance criteria established by our compensation committee, which may be applied to a participant or participants on an individual basis, to a business unit or division, or to the company as a whole. Performance criteria for awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m), to the extent applicable, are limited to the objectively determinable measures of performance relating to any or any combination of the following (measured either absolutely or by reference to an index or indices or the performance of one or more companies and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof): sales; revenues; assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization or equity expense, whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per share basis; return on equity, investment, capital, capital employed or assets; one or more operating ratios; operating income or profit, including on an after-tax basis; net income; borrowing levels, leverage ratios or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow; stock price; stockholder return; sales of particular products or services; customer acquisition or retention; acquisitions and divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures, strategic alliances, licenses or collaborations; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations; recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of debt or equity) or refinancings; manufacturing or process development; or environmental health and/or safety metrics.

To the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m), to the extent applicable, the compensation committee may establish, by the deadline that otherwise applies to the establishment of the terms of an award intended to qualify as exempt performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), that one or more of the performance criteria applicable to such award be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner to reflect events (for example, the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, mergers, acquisitions, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes, each as defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) occurring during the performance period of such award that affect the applicable performance criteria.

Payment under an Award. A participant will be entitled to payment under an award only if all conditions to payment have been satisfied in accordance with the Cash Incentive Plan and the terms of the award. Our compensation committee will determine the payment date or dates for awards under the Cash Incentive Plan. Following the close of the performance period, our compensation committee will determine (and, to the extent

 

142


Table of Contents

required by Section 162(m), certify) whether and to what extent the applicable performance criteria have been satisfied. Our compensation committee will then determine the actual payment, if any, under each award. Our compensation committee has the sole and absolute discretion to reduce the actual payment to be made under any award. Our compensation committee may permit a participant to defer payment of an award subject to the requirements of applicable law.

Recovery of Compensation. Awards under the Cash Incentive Plan will be subject to forfeiture, termination and rescission, and a participant who receives a payment pursuant to the Cash Incentive Plan will be obligated to return such payment to us, to the extent provided by our compensation committee in connection with a breach by the participant of an award agreement under the Cash Incentive Plan or any non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or similar covenant or agreement with our company or an overpayment of incentive compensation due to inaccurate financial data. Our compensation committee also may recover any award or payments under any award under the Cash Incentive Plan in accordance with any applicable company clawback or recoupment policy, or as otherwise required by applicable law or applicable stock exchange listing standards.

Amendment; Termination. Our compensation committee may amend the Cash Incentive Plan at any time, provided that any amendment will be approved by our shareholders if required by Section 162(m). Following the expiration of any post-initial public offering transition relief set forth in the regulations under Section 162(m), the material terms of the Cash Incentive Plan, including the performance criteria described above, shall be subject to the re-approval of the shareholders of the Company every five years in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m). Our compensation committee may terminate the Cash Incentive Plan at any time.

Director Compensation

Annual Compensation

To date, we have not provided cash compensation to directors for their services as directors or members of committees of our Board. We have reimbursed and will continue to reimburse our non-employee directors for their reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of our Board and committees of the Board. The compensation received by Mr. Pappas as an employee during our 2013 fiscal year is included in the Summary Compensation Table above and he did not receive any additional compensation for his service on our board of directors.

 

143


Table of Contents

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Set forth below are certain transactions and relationships between us or our Parent and our directors, executive officers and equity holders that have occurred during the last three years.

Advisory Agreement and Transaction Services Agreement

In connection with the Acquisition, two of our indirect subsidiaries entered into the Advisory Agreement with Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Portfolio Company Advisors Limited, or the Advisors, pursuant to which the Advisors provide us with management and consulting services and financial and other advisory services. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, we pay the Advisors an advisory fee of $1.0 million per fiscal quarter plus reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket fees.

In connection with the Acquisition, one of our indirect subsidiaries entered into a transaction services agreement (the “Transaction Services Agreement”) with Bain Capital Partners, LLC pursuant to which Bain Capital Partners, LLC provides us with certain advice and services related to transaction-specific functions. Pursuant to the Transaction Services Agreement, we will pay Bain Capital Partners, LLC a fee equal to 1% of the transaction value of each financing, acquisition, disposition or change of control or similar transaction by or involving us, plus reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket fees. Bain Capital Partners, LLC received fees of approximately $13.9 million related to the issuance of the Senior Notes and the amendment to our Senior Secured Credit Facility in January 2013 and approximately $6.2 million related to other refinancing transactions. Fees incurred for these management and advisory services, including fees related to the Acquisition and our financing arrangements, were $18.6 million, $4.6 million and 11.4 million, respectively for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

The Advisory Agreement and Transaction Services Agreement each terminate upon consummation of this offering. Upon the completion of this offering we expect to pay approximately $25 million out of available cash to the Advisors in connection with the offering and the termination of these agreements. The Advisory Agreement and Transaction Services Agreement include customary exculpation indemnities in favor of Bain Capital Partners, LLC and, in the case of the Advisory Agreement, Portfolio Company Advisors Limited which survive termination of the agreements.

Executive Subscription and Securityholder’s Agreements

In connection with the Acquisition and the subsequent recruitment of our management team, our Parent entered into the Executive Subscription Agreements with certain members of our management team (the “Executives”). The Executive Subscription Agreements provide, among other things, for sales of the co-invest shares and the incentive shares to the Executives, subject to vesting over periods of up to five years and, as to a partner of such incentive shares, subject to performance vesting. We and investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC have a call option to purchase any ordinary shares received by the Executive in the event the Executive ceases to be employed by us as follows (subject to certain exceptions): (i) subject to (iii) below relating to restrictive covenant breaches, all of the co-invest shares, at Fair Market Value within the six-month period following the Executive’s termination; (ii) if the Executive is terminated (A) without Cause (as defined in the applicable Executive Subscription Agreement), (B) by reason of death or Disability (as defined in the applicable Executive Subscription Agreement), (C) for Good Reason (as defined in the applicable Executive Subscription Agreement) or (D) without Good Reason after the third anniversary of the commencement of the Executive’s employment term, all of the incentive shares which vested, at Fair Market Value, and the portion of the incentive shares which are unvested securities, at the lower of their Fair Market Value and the original subscription price; and (iii) (A) if the Executive is terminated for Cause, or without Good Reason on or prior to the third anniversary of the commencement of the Executive’s employment term or (B) if the Executive materially breaches any restrictive covenant set forth in the applicable Executive Subscription Agreement without timely curing such breach or the Executive willfully breaches such restrictive covenants, all of the incentive shares, whether vested or unvested, at the lower of Fair Market Value and the original subscription price. In addition, under the Executive Subscription

 

144


Table of Contents

Agreements, the Executives must make customary representations and warranties to us and the investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC. Subject to certain exceptions and limitations, each Executive under his or her respective Executive Subscription Agreement is also subject to customary restrictive covenants including, among others, (i) non-disclosure of confidential information, (ii) a non-compete for a period ending one year after his or her termination date and (iii) non-solicitation of customers and employees for a period ending one year after his or her termination date.

Shareholder Agreement

In connection with the Acquisition, our Parent entered into the Investor Subscription and Shareholder Agreement (the “Shareholder Agreement”) with Dow Europe and investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC. The Shareholder Agreement provides, among other things, for the subscription of the co-invest shares and the incentive shares by investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, and Dow Europe and for the composition of our board of directors, including the appointment of up to three directors by the investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC. Under the Shareholder Agreement, if the investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, sell more than 50% of their ordinary shares or effect a sale of the company (as defined in the Shareholder Agreement) (a “Required Sale”), any holders of ordinary shares other than investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, including the Executives, must transfer their ordinary shares in the Required Sale, and shall receive in exchange for their ordinary shares, the same price per share that the investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, received in the Required Sale. In certain limited cases described in the Shareholder Agreement if Dow Europe or the executives transfer their ordinary shares, we have the right of first offer of such ordinary shares. The investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, also have a limited right of first offer in the event that Dow Europe or the executives wish to sell their ordinary shares. The Shareholder Agreement also grants pre-emptive rights to the investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Dow Europe and the executives under certain limited circumstances described in the Shareholder Agreement. The Shareholder Agreement also provides certain restrictions on the sale of Co-Invest and other Investor Shares without our prior written consent, subject to certain exceptions, including but not limited to transfers to permitted transferees and transfers pursuant to rights under the Registration Rights Agreement, tag along rights, a Required Sale, rights of first offer and a Public Sale (as defined in the Shareholder Agreement) of our ordinary shares. These restrictions are in effect with respect to each ordinary share covered by the Shareholder Agreement until such ordinary shares have been transferred in a Public Sale or Sale of the Company.

Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the Acquisition, our Parent entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with Dow Europe, Mr. Pappas and investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC. The Registration Rights Agreement, provided that funds associated with Bain Capital may request the registration of their Registrable Securities, and the investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Dow Europe and, subject to certain limitations, Mr. Pappas, are entitled to participate on a pro rata basis in such registration. The investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Dow Europe and Mr. Pappas are also entitled to participate on a pro rata basis in any registration of Ordinary Shares (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) under the Securities Act, whether or not caused by the investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. The parties to the Registration Rights Agreement are also prohibited from transferring their shares under certain conditions, including but not limited to during the period beginning on the date a notice of an offering under the Registration Rights Agreement is given and through the date that is 180 days after the consummation of this offering. The Registration Rights Agreement also provides for indemnification of the parties thereto from certain liabilities incurred in connection with material misstatements or omissions included in any registration statements filed in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement also provides for the payment of the expenses of such holders in connection with any such registration.

 

145


Table of Contents

In connection with the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into a new registration rights agreement with the Parent, effective upon the closing of this offering. The registration rights agreement, as amended, will provide the Parent with certain demand registration rights following the expiration of the 180-day lockup period in respect of our ordinary shares held by them. In addition, in the event that we register additional ordinary shares for sale to the public following the consummation of this offering, we will be required to give notice of such registration to the Parent of our intention to effect such a registration, and, subject to certain limitations, the Parent will have piggyback registration rights providing them with the right to require us to include ordinary shares held by them in such registration. We will be required to bear the registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, associated with any registration of shares. The registration rights agreement includes customary indemnification provisions in favor of any person who is or might be deemed a controlling person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, who we refer to as controlling persons, and related parties against liabilities under the Securities Act incurred in connection with the registration of any of our debt or equity securities. These provisions provide indemnification against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act and certain liabilities resulting from violations of other applicable laws in connection with any filing or other disclosure made by us under the securities laws relating to any such registrations. We have agreed to reimburse such persons for any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such liability, action or proceeding, except that we will not be required to indemnify any such person or reimburse related legal or other expenses if such loss or expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information provided by such person.

Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Parties

Prior to the completion of this offering, we expect to implement formal policies and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of related-party transactions that may be required to be reported under the SEC’s disclosure rules. Currently, such transactions, if and when they are proposed or have occurred, are reviewed by one or more of the Board, Audit Committee or the compensation committee (other than the directors or committee members involved, if any) on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether the nature of the transaction would otherwise be under the purview of the Audit Committee, or the compensation committee or the Board.

 

146


Table of Contents

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Prior to this offering, we were wholly owned by Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA, which we refer to in this prospectus as our Parent. The following table sets forth information as of May 1, 2014 regarding the beneficial ownership of our shares owned by each person or group who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares, and the beneficial ownership of shares of our Parent by each of our named executive officers, our directors and all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

As of May 1, 2014, we had 16,275,328,617 ordinary shares outstanding. All of our outstanding ordinary shares were held by Parent, as reflected in the following table.

Unless otherwise indicated in the table or footnotes below, the address for each beneficial owner is c/o Trinseo S.A., 1000 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 300, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312. Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. The information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting or investment power and any shares as to which the individual or entity has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days after May 1, 2014 through the exercise of any option, warrant or other right. For purposes of calculating each person’s or group’s percentage ownership, ordinary shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days after May 1, 2014 are included as outstanding and beneficially owned for that person or group but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person or group. The inclusion in the following table of those shares, however, does not constitute an admission that the named shareholder is a direct or indirect beneficial owner. To our knowledge, except under applicable community property laws or as otherwise indicated, the persons named in the table have sole voting and sole investment control with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned. For more information regarding the terms of our ordinary shares, see “Description of Share Capital.” For more information regarding our relationship with certain of the persons named below, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

 

     Shares beneficially owned
before this offering
    Shares beneficially owned
after this offering

Name

   Number
of
shares
     Percentage
of
class
    Number
of
shares
   Percentage
of
class

Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA(1)

     16,275,328,617         100     

Christopher D. Pappas(2)

     106,667         *        

John Feenan(3)

     8,715         *       

Curtis S. Shaw(4)

     14,893         *        

Marco Levi(5)

     7,196         *        

Martin Pugh(6)

     2,065         *       

Seth A. Meisel(7)

     —          —         

Michel G. Plantevin(7)

     —          —         

Brian W. Chu(7)

     —          —         

Stephen M. Zide(7)

     —          —         

Stephen F. Thomas(7)

     —          —         

Aurélien Vasseur(7)

     —          —         

All executive officers and directors as a group (15 persons)

     156,527         4.3     

 

* Indicates less than one percent.
(1)

The general partner of our Parent is Bain Capital Everest Manager S.à.r.l. (“BCEM”). By virtue of the relationships described in this footnote, BCEM may be deemed to exercise voting and dispositive power

 

147


Table of Contents
  with respect to the shares held by Parent. Michel Plantevin, Aurélien Vasseur, Christopher Pappas, Brian Chu, Seth Meisel and Stephen Zide are each managers of BCEM. The managers of BCEM disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares to the extent attributed to them solely by virtue of serving as a manager of BCEM. BCEM’s address is: 4, rue Lou Hemmer, L-1748 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
(2) Represents ordinary shares of our Parent and does not include (i) a restricted share award of 24,206 shares subject to performance based vesting conditions or (ii) 20,000,000 preferred equity certificates of our Parent, or PECs, held by Mr. Pappas, which are not convertible into ordinary shares of our Parent.
(3) Represents ordinary shares of our Parent and does not include (i) a restricted share award of 17,429 shares subject to performance based vesting conditions or (ii) 50,000,000 PECs held by Mr. Feenan.
(4) Represents ordinary shares of our Parent and does not include a restricted share award of 15,492 shares subject to performance based vesting conditions held by Mr. Shaw.
(5) Represents ordinary shares of our Parent and does not include (i) a restricted share award of 7,745 shares subject to performance based vesting conditions or (ii) 15,000,000 PECs held by Mr. Levi.
(6) Does not include a Parent restricted share award of 7,745 shares subject to performance based vesting conditions.
(7) Does not include shares of our Parent held by certain investment funds managed or advised by Bain Capital Partners, LLC whose ultimate general partner is Bain Capital Investors, LLC (“BCI”). Each of Messrs. Meisel, Plantevin and Zide is a Managing Director of BCI, Mr. Chu is an Operating Partner of BCI, Mr. Thomas is a Principal of Bain Capital, LLC and Mr. Vasseur is a corporate manager of Bain Capital, LLC. The address for Messrs. Meisel, Plantevin, Zide, Chu, Thomas and Vasseur is c/o Bain Capital Partners, LLC, John Hancock Tower, 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

 

148


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF INDEBTEDNESS

The following is a summary of certain of our indebtedness that is currently outstanding. The following descriptions do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the agreements and related documents referred to herein, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and may be obtained as described under “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

Senior Notes

General

In January 2013, Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. and Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc. issued $1,325.0 million aggregate principal of their 8.750% Senior Notes due 2019. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually on February 1st and August 1st of each year. The Senior Notes will mature and be due in full on February 1, 2019. The proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes were used to repay our then outstanding term loan under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and related refinancing fees and expenses.

In connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes, we also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we are required to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement covering an offer to the holders of the original Senior Notes to exchange all of their notes for the Exchange Notes. We filed the Registration Statement with the SEC on September 30, 2013, which was subsequently amended and supplemented. Such Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on January 29, 2014 and such exchange offer was completed on March 4, 2014.

Optional Redemption

We may redeem all or part of the Senior Notes at any time prior to August 1, 2015 by paying a make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. We may redeem all or part of the Senior Notes at any time on or after August 1, 2015 at a redemption price equal to the percentage of principal amount set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on the year indicated below:

 

12-month period commencing August 1 in Year

   Percentage  

2015

     104.375

2016

     102.188

2017 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, at any time prior to August 1, 2015, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes at a redemption price equal to 108.750% of the face amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds that Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. raises in certain equity offerings. We may also redeem, during any 12-month period commencing from the issue date until August 1, 2015, up to 10% of the original principal amount of the notes at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption.

Change of Control

If a change of control occurs, we must provide holders of the Senior Notes the opportunity to sell to us their notes at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the right of holders of the Senior Notes of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

 

149


Table of Contents

Guarantees; Collateral/Ranking

The Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by Trinseo S.A., Styron Luxco S.à r.l, Styron Holding, S.à r.l, Trinseo Materials S.à.r.l., Styron Investment Holdings Ireland and each of Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A.’s existing and future wholly-owned subsidiaries that guarantee our Senior Secured Credit Facility, other than our subsidiaries, Styron France S.A.S. and Styron Spain S.L. The notes and the guarantees are collateralized by a security interest in substantially all of the assets of the issuers and the guarantors thereunder. The notes and guarantees rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior secured debt and, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, are effectively pari passu with our indebtedness that is secured by first-priority liens, including the Senior Secured Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness and ranking senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated debt. However, claims under the Senior Notes will effectively rank behind the claims of holders of debt, including interest, under our Senior Secured Credit Facility in respect of proceeds from any enforcement action with respect to the collateral or in any bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation proceeding. The guarantees will be structurally subordinated to all of the liabilities of each of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes.

Covenants

The indenture contains covenants that, subject to certain exceptions, limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to, among other things:

 

    incur additional indebtedness or issue certain preferred stock or similar equity securities;

 

    pay dividends or make other distributions or make certain other restricted payments or investments;

 

    create liens on certain assets to secure debt;

 

    restrict any restricted subsidiary from paying dividends or making other distributions;

 

    consolidate, merge, sell, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets;

 

    sell or otherwise transfer certain assets;

 

    materially alter the business we conduct; and

 

    enter into certain transactions with our affiliates.

If the notes are assigned an investment grade rating by the rating agencies and no default has occurred or is continuing, certain covenants will be suspended. If the ratings on the notes decline to below investment grade, the suspended covenants will be reinstated.

Events of Default

The indenture also provides for customary events of default which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal of and accrued interest on such Senior Notes to become or to be declared due and payable.

Revolving Facility

General

On June 17, 2010, Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. entered into the Senior Secured Credit Facility, which included a term loan facility and a revolving credit facility, which we refer to as our Revolving Facility. On February 2, 2011, we amended our Senior Secured Credit Facility to provide for a $240.0 million Revolving Facility and $1.6 billion term loan, the proceeds of which were used to: (i) repay our previously existing term loans under the Senior Secured Credit Facility (including accrued interest); (ii) repay the Seller Note (including accrued interest) in favor of The Dow Chemical Company; (iii) pay debt issuance costs, (iv) make a distribution

 

150


Table of Contents

to our direct or indirect shareholders; and (v) provide the Company with general corporate funds. The Senior Secured Credit Facility was subsequently amended several times, including, on February 13, 2012, to remove a technical requirement to provide each lender thereunder with separate financial statements for the fourth quarter of a given fiscal year, and on August 9, 2012 to revise certain financial and other covenants. In January 2013, we again amended the Senior Secured Credit Facility to: (i) increase the borrowing capacity under the Revolving Facility from $240.0 million to $300.0 million; (ii) extend the maturity date of the Revolving Facility to January 2018; and (iii) reflect the repayment of all $1,239.0 million outstanding under the term loan facility using the proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes.

In connection with the issuance and sale of the Senior Notes, we used a portion of the net proceeds therefrom to repay the term loans under our Senior Secured Credit Facility. None of these repaid amounts under the term loan may be re-borrowed. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility. Amounts under the Revolving Facility may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed to fund our working capital needs, capital expenditures, general corporate purposes and, to the extent otherwise permitted, acquisitions and investments. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we were in compliance with all covenants contained in the Senior Secured Credit Facility.

Interest Rate and Fees

Loans under the Revolving Facility, at our option, may be maintained from time to time as (a) LIBO rate loans, which bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the LIBO rate plus the Applicable Margin plus the Mandatory Cost (as defined therein), if applicable, or (b) base rate loans which shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. “LIBO rate” is defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facility as (x) the offered rate per annum for deposits that appears on the appropriate page of the applicable Reuters screen or (y) if no such rate exists, the interest rate per annum, as determined by the administrative agent, at which deposits in immediately available funds are offered in the London interbank eurodollar market or European interbank market; provided, that such LIBO rate may not be less than 1.75% per annum with respect to amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility prior to January 29, 2013. “Base Rate” is defined as the higher of (x) the federal funds rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (y) the rate in effect as publically announced by Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as its “prime rate” and (z) the LIBO rate plus 1%; provided, that such Base Rate may not be less than 2.75% per annum with respect to amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility prior to January 29, 2013. “Applicable Margin” is defined to mean, as applicable to loans under the Revolving Facility, prior to January 29, 2013, as applied to LIBO rate loans, 5.75% or as base rate loans, 4.75%, and after January 29, 2013, 4.00% and 3.00%, respectively.

On the last day of each calendar quarter we are required to pay a commitment fee in respect of any unused commitments under the Revolving Facility equal to, prior to January 29, 2013, 0.75% per annum, and after January 29, 2013, 0.50% per annum.

Collateral; Guarantees

The Revolving Facility is collateralized by a security interest in substantially all of the assets of Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. and the guarantors thereunder. All obligations under the Revolving Facility are guaranteed by Trinseo S.A., Trinseo Investments Holdings Ireland , Styron Luxco S.à r.l., Styron Holding S.à r.l., Trinseo Materials S.à r.l., our U.S. subsidiaries and certain foreign subsidiaries including those located in Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, England, France, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Ireland.

Maturity and Amortization

The Revolving Facility matures on January 29, 2018. Loans made pursuant to the Revolving Facility must be repaid in full on or prior to such date.

 

151


Table of Contents

In the event that we receive net proceeds from all dispositions after January 29, 2013 in an amount equal to or in excess of 30% of our total assets, all net proceeds received thereafter from dispositions shall be applied to permanently reduce the commitments under the Revolving Facility.

Restrictive Covenants

The Revolving Facility contains covenants that, subject to certain exceptions, limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to, among other things:

 

    incur liens;

 

    make certain loans and investments;

 

    incur additional debt (including guarantees or other contingent obligations) or issue certain preferred stock or similar equity securities;

 

    merge, consolidate liquidate or dissolve;

 

    transfer or sell assets;

 

    pay dividends and other distributions to shareholders or make certain other restricted payments;

 

    enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

    restrict any restricted subsidiary from paying dividends or making other distributions;

 

    materially alter the business we conduct; and

 

    prepay certain other indebtedness and amend certain material documents.

Financial Covenants

The Revolving Facility contains a financial covenant that requires us to comply with a springing first lien net leverage ratio test. If the outstanding balance under the Revolving Facility exceeds 25% of the $300.0 million borrowing capacity (excluding undrawn letters of credit up to $10.0 million) at a quarter end, then our first lien net leverage ratio (as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facility) may not exceed 5.25-to-1.00 for the quarter ending March 31, 2013, 5.00-to-1.00 for the subsequent quarters through December 31, 2013, 4.50-to-1.00 for each of the quarters ending in 2014 and 4.25-to-1.00 for each of the quarters ending in 2015 and thereafter. If we fail to comply with this covenant and such noncompliance is not waived by the required lenders under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, an event of default would occur.

Events of Default

The Senior Secured Credit Facility provides for customary events of default, including (i) nonpayment of any principal, interest or fees, subject to applicable grace periods, (ii) failure to perform or observe any covenants, subject to applicable grace periods, (iii) material inaccuracy of representations or warranties, (iv) cross-default to indebtedness over $20 million, (v) certain bankruptcy events, (vi) judgments with respect to which $20 million or more is not covered by insurance or indemnity if not satisfied within sixty days, (vii) invalidity of any security or guaranty document, (viii) change of control, (ix) ERISA liabilities which result in a material adverse effect, and (x) failure to maintain seniority of security interest.

Upon an event of default and absent a waiver or an amendment from the lenders, the administrative agent may terminate commitments and accelerate payment of all outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Facility, subject to any applicable cure period.

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

In August 2010, Styron Receivables Funding Ltd., which we refer to as Styron Funding, a variable interest entity in which we are the primary beneficiary, entered into an accounts receivable securitization facility with HSBC Bank Plc. The initial facility permitted borrowings by our Swiss subsidiary guarantor, Styron Europe, of

 

152


Table of Contents

up to a total of $160.0 million. Under the facility, Styron Europe will sell its accounts receivable from time to time to Styron Funding. In turn, Styron Funding may sell undivided ownership interests in such receivables to commercial paper conduits in exchange for cash. We have agreed to continue servicing the receivables for Styron Funding. Upon the sale of the interests in the accounts receivable by Styron Funding, the conduits have a first priority perfected security interest in such receivables and, as a result, the receivables will not be available to our creditors or those of our subsidiaries.

In May 2011, the accounts receivable securitization facility was amended to allow for the expansion of the pool of eligible accounts receivable to include a previously excluded German subsidiary.

In May 2013, we further amended the accounts receivable securitization facility which increased our borrowing capacity from $160.0 million to $200.0 million, extended the maturity date to May 2016, lowered our borrowing cost, and allows for the expansion of the pool of eligible accounts receivable to include our previously not included U.S. and Netherlands subsidiaries. As a result of the amendment, we incurred $0.7 million in fees, which were capitalized within “Deferred charges and other assets” in the consolidated balance sheet and amortized into interest expense using the straight-line method over the remaining term.

The accounts receivable securitization facility is subject to interest charges against both the amount of outstanding borrowings as well as the amount of available, but undrawn borrowings. As a result of the amendment to our accounts receivable securitization facility in May 2013 noted above, we lowered our borrowing costs. In regards to the outstanding borrowings, fixed interest charges were decreased from 3.25% plus variable commercial paper rates to 2.6% plus variable commercial paper rates. In regards to available, but undrawn borrowings, fixed interest charges were decreased from 1.50% to 1.40%.

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were approximately $198.6 million and $143.8 million of accounts receivable eligible to support this facility, respectively, based on our pool of eligible accounts receivable. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were no outstanding borrowings under this facility.

Other Indebtedness

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had $8.4 million and $5.1 million, respectively, of outstanding borrowings under our short-term revolving credit facility through our subsidiary in China that provides for up to $15.0 million of uncommitted funds available for borrowings, subject to the availability of collateral. The facility is subject to annual renewal.

Our Senior Secured Credit Facility limits our foreign working capital facilities to an aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million and further limits our foreign working capital facilities in certain jurisdictions in Asia, including China, to an aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million, except as otherwise permitted by the Senior Secured Credit Facility.

 

153


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

The following is a summary of some of the terms of our ordinary shares, based on our articles of association as they will become effective upon their amendment prior to the completion of this offering, and the Luxembourg corporate law in this section and the section entitled “comparison of shareholder rights.” We refer to our articles of association as amended and in effect upon the completion of this offering as our “articles of association.”

The following summary is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of our articles of association, the form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You may obtain copies of our articles of association as described under “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

General

Trinseo S.A. is a Luxembourg public limited liability company ( société anonyme ). The company’s legal name is “Trinseo S.A.” Trinseo S.A. was incorporated on June 3, 2010 as a Luxembourg private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) and was converted into a Luxembourg public limited liability company on April 29, 2011.

Trinseo S.A. is registered with the Luxembourg Registry of Trade and Companies under number B 153.549. Trinseo S.A. has its registered office at 4, rue Lou Hemmer, L-1748 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The corporate purpose of Trinseo S.A., as stated in Article 3 of our articles of association (Corporate, object), may be summarized as follows:

The object of Trinseo S.A. is the acquisition and management of participations, in any form whatsoever, in Luxembourg and foreign companies, entities or enterprises, the acquisition by purchase, subscription, or in any other manner as well as the transfer by sale, exchange or otherwise of stock, bonds, debentures, notes and other securities or rights of any kind including interests in partnerships, and the holding, acquisition, disposal, investment in any manner (in), development, licensing or sub licensing of, any patents or other intellectual property rights of any nature or origin as well as the ownership, administration, development and management of its portfolio. Trinseo S.A. may carry out its business through branches in Luxembourg or abroad.

Trinseo S.A. may borrow in any form and proceed to the issue by private or public of bonds, convertible bonds and debentures or any other securities or instruments it deems fit.

In general, Trinseo S.A. may grant assistance (by way of loans, advances, guarantees or securities or otherwise) to companies or other enterprises in which Trinseo S.A. has an interest or which form part of the group of companies to which Trinseo S.A. belongs or any other entity as Trinseo S.A. may deem fit, take any controlling, management, administrative and/or supervisory measures and carry out any operation which it may deem useful in the accomplishment and development of its purposes.

Finally, Trinseo S.A. can perform all commercial, technical and financial or other operations, connected directly or indirectly in all areas in order to facilitate the accomplishment of its purpose.

Share Capital

As of March 31, 2014, our issued share capital amounts to $162,753,286.17, represented by 16,275,328,617 shares with a nominal value of $0.01 per share. All issued shares were fully paid. Upon completion of this offering, our issued share capital will be                represented by                ordinary shares with a nominal value of $0.01 each. All issued shares will be fully paid and subscribed for.

 

154


Table of Contents

Prior to the completion of this offering, we will have an authorized share capital of $500,000,000 and our board of directors will be authorized to issue up to 50,000,000,000 ordinary shares (subject to stock splits, consolidation of shares or like transactions) with a nominal value of $0.01 each.

Our articles of association will authorize our board of directors to issue ordinary shares within the limits of the authorized share capital at such times and on such terms as our board of directors may decide for a period commencing on the date of publication of our amended articles of association and ending five years after the date on which the minutes of the shareholders’ meeting approving such authorization are published in the Luxembourg official gazette  Mémorial C, Recueil des Sociétés et Associations  (unless such period is extended, amended or renewed). Accordingly, our board will be authorized to issue up to 50,000,000,000 ordinary shares during such period. We currently intend to seek renewals and/or extensions as required from time to time.

Our authorized share capital will be determined by our articles of association, as amended from time to time, and may be increased, reduced or extended by amending the articles of association by approval of the requisite two-thirds majority of the votes at a quorate extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting (see “—General meeting of shareholders” and “—Amendment to the Articles of Association”).

Under Luxembourg law, our shareholders benefit from a pre-emptive subscription right on the issuance of shares for cash consideration. However, our shareholders will have, in accordance with Luxembourg law, authorized the board of directors to suppress, waive or limit any pre-emptive subscription rights of shareholders provided by law to the extent the board deems such suppression, waiver or limitation advisable for any issuance or issuances of shares within the scope of our authorized share capital. Such shares may be issued above, at or below market value but in any event not below the nominal value per ordinary share as well as by way of incorporation of available reserves (including premium).

The board of directors will resolve on a shares issuance for which it intends to waive or limit any pre-emptive subscription rights of shareholders in accordance with the quorum and voting thresholds set forth in our articles of association. The board of directors will also resolve on the applicable procedures and timelines to which it will, or has to, subject such issuance. If the proposal of the board of directors to issue new shares exceeds the limits of the our authorized share capital, the board of directors must then convene the shareholders to an extraordinary general meeting to be held in the presence of a Luxembourg notary for the purpose of increasing the issued share capital accordingly and prioritizing the issue of shares exceeding the limit of the authorized share capital. Such meeting will be subject to the two-third majority of the votes at a quorate extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting. If a capital call proposed by the board of directors consists of an increase in the shareholders’ commitments, the board of directors must then convene the shareholders to an extraordinary general meeting to be held in the presence of a Luxembourg notary for such purpose. Such meeting will be subject to the unanimous consent of the shareholders.

Form and Transfer of Shares

Our ordinary shares are issued in registered form only and are freely transferable under Luxembourg law and our articles, provided that our board of directors may impose transfer restrictions for shares that are registered, listed, quoted, dealt in, or have been placed in certain jurisdictions in compliance with the applicable requirements. Luxembourg law does not impose any limitations on the rights of Luxembourg or non-Luxembourg residents to hold or vote our ordinary shares.

Under Luxembourg law, the ownership of registered shares is established by the inscription of the name of the shareholder and the number of shares held by him or her in the shareholders register ( registre des actionnaires ) held by us at our registered office in Luxembourg. At all times, we will keep a copy of the shareholders register in at our registered office in Luxembourg. Each transfer of shares shall be promptly made known to us as well as any changes to the shareholders register and we will record such change in the

 

155


Table of Contents

shareholders register held at our registered office. For purposes of Luxembourg law, ownership of our ordinary shares will be evidenced through registration from time to time in the shareholders register held at our registered office, and such registration is a means of evidencing title to the shares. For the avoidance of doubt, in case of discrepancy between the shareholders register held by us at our registered office in Luxembourg and any other separate register for the shares held by entities in Luxembourg or in other jurisdictions, the shareholders register ( registre des actionnaires ) held by us at our registered office in Luxembourg shall prevail.

Without prejudice to the conditions for transfer by book entry where shares are recorded in the shareholder register on behalf of one or more persons in the name of a depository, each transfer of shares shall be effected by written declaration of transfer to be recorded in the shareholder register, such declaration to be dated and signed by the transferor and the transferee, or by their duly appointed agents. We may accept and enter into the shareholder register any transfer of shares effected pursuant to an agreement or agreements between the transferor and the transferee, true and complete copies of which have been delivered to us.

Our articles of association will provide that we may appoint registrars in different jurisdictions, each of whom may maintain a separate register for the shares entered in such register and the holders of shares shall be entered into one of the registers and promptly made known to us for purposes of registration in the shareholders’ register ( registre des actionnaires ) held by us at our registered office in Luxembourg. Shareholders may elect to be entered into one of these registers and to transfer their shares to another register so maintained. Entries in these registers will be reflected in the shareholders’ register maintained at our registered office. At present, we have no separate shareholders’ registers other than the shareholders’ register maintained at our registered office in Luxembourg.

In addition, our articles of association will also provide that our ordinary shares may be held through a securities settlement system or a professional depository of securities. Ordinary shares held in such manner will have the same rights and obligations as ordinary shares recorded in our shareholders’ register. Furthermore, ordinary shares held through a securities settlement system or a professional depository of securities may be transferred in accordance with customary procedures for the transfer of securities in book-entry form, the transfer being effective upon notification to us and registration in the shareholders’ register ( registre des actionnaires ) held by us at our registered office in Luxembourg.

Issuance of Shares

Pursuant to the Luxembourg law on commercial companies dated August 10, 1915, as amended , which we refer to as the Luxembourg Corporate Law, the issuance of ordinary shares requires the amendment of our articles of association by approval of the requisite two-thirds majority of the votes at a quorate extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting (see “—General Meeting of Shareholders” and “—Amendment to the Articles of Association”). The general meeting may determine an authorized share capital and authorize the board of directors to issue ordinary shares up to the maximum amount of such authorized share capital for a maximum period of five years as from the date of publication in the Luxembourg official gazette ( Mémorial C, Recueil des Sociétés et Associations ) of the minutes of the relevant general meeting. The general meeting of shareholders may amend, renew or extend such authorized share capital and such authorization to the board of directors to issue shares.

Prior to the completion of this offering, we will have an authorized share capital of $50,000,000 and the board of directors will be authorized to issue up to 50,000,000,000 ordinary shares (subject to stock splits, consolidation of shares or similar transactions) with a nominal value of $        per share. See “—Share Capital.”

Our articles provide that no fractional shares shall be issued.

Our ordinary shares have no conversion rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our ordinary shares.

 

156


Table of Contents

Pre-Emptive Rights

Unless limited, waived or cancelled by our board of directors (see “—Share Capital”), holders of our ordinary shares have a pro rata pre-emptive right to subscribe for any new shares issued for cash consideration. Our articles of association will provide that pre-emptive rights can be limited, waived or cancelled by our board of directors for a period ending on the fifth anniversary of the date on which the minutes of the shareholders’ meeting approving such authorization are published in the Luxembourg Official Gazette ( Mémorial C, Recueil des Sociétés et Associations ), unless such period is extended, amended or renewed, in the event of an increase of the share capital by the board of directors within the limits of the authorized share capital.

Repurchase of Shares

We cannot subscribe for our own ordinary shares.

We may, however, repurchase issued ordinary shares or have another person repurchase issued ordinary shares for our account, subject to the following conditions:

 

    prior authorization by a simple majority vote at an ordinary general meeting of shareholders, which authorization sets forth the terms and conditions of the proposed repurchase and in particular the maximum number of ordinary shares to be repurchased, the duration of the period for which the authorization is given (which may not exceed five years) and, in the case of repurchase for consideration, the minimum and maximum consideration per share;

 

    the repurchase may not reduce our net assets on a non-consolidated basis to a level below the aggregate of the issued and subscribed share capital and the reserves that we must maintain pursuant to Luxembourg law or our articles of association; and

 

    only fully paid-up shares may be repurchased.

Prior to the completion of this offering, the general meeting of shareholders will authorize the board of directors to repurchase up to 10% of the issued share capital. The authorization will be valid for a period ending on the earlier of 5 years from or the date of its renewal by a subsequent general meeting of shareholders. Pursuant to such authorization, the board of directors is authorized to acquire and sell ordinary shares in the Company under the conditions set forth in Article 49-2 of the Luxembourg Corporate Law. Such purchases and sales may be carried out for any authorized purpose or any purpose that is authorized by the laws and regulations in force.

The purchase price per ordinary share to be paid shall not represent more than                and shall not be less than $0.01.

In addition, pursuant to Luxembourg law, Trinseo S.A. may directly or indirectly repurchase ordinary shares by decision of our board of directors without the prior approval of the general meeting of shareholders if such repurchase is deemed by the board of directors to be necessary to prevent serious and imminent harm to us or if the acquisition of shares has been made in view of the distribution thereof to employees.

Capital Reduction

Our articles of association provide that our issued share capital may be reduced, subject to the approval or prior authorization of the requisite two-thirds majority of the votes at a quorate extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting (see “—General Meeting of Shareholders,” “—Amendment to the Articles of Association”).

General Meeting of Shareholders

Any regularly constituted general meeting of shareholders of Trinseo S.A. represents the entire body of shareholders of Trinseo S.A.

 

157


Table of Contents

Each of our ordinary shares entitles the holder thereof to attend our general meeting of shareholders, either in person or by proxy, to address the general meeting of shareholders, and to exercise voting rights, subject to the provision of our articles of association. Each ordinary share entitles the holder to one vote at a general meeting of shareholders. Our articles of association will provide that our board of directors shall adopt all other regulations and rules concerning the attendance to the general meeting, and availability of access cards, proxy forms in order to enable shareholders to exercise their right to vote as it deems fit.

A shareholder may participate at any general meeting of shareholders by appointing another person (who need not be a shareholder) as his proxy, the appointment of which shall be in writing. Our articles of association will provide that our board of directors may determine a date by which we or our agents must have received duly completed proxy forms in order for such form to be taken into account at the general meeting.

When convening a general meeting of shareholders, we will publish two notices (which must be published at least eight days apart and in the case of the second notice, at least eight days before the meeting) in the  Mémorial C, Recueil des Sociétés et Associations , and in a Luxembourg newspaper. Our articles of association will provide that if the shares of the Company are listed on a regulated market, the general meeting will also be convened in accordance with the publicity requirements of such regulated market applicable to us.

Our articles of association will provide that, in the case of shares held through the operator of a securities settlement system or depository, a holder of such shares wishing to attend a general meeting of shareholders should receive from such operator or depository a certificate certifying the number of shares recorded in the relevant account on the blocking date and certifying that the shares in the account shall be blocked until the close of the general meeting. Such certificates as well as any proxy forms should be submitted to us no later than the day preceding the fifth working day before the date of the general meeting unless our board of directors fixes a different period.

The annual ordinary general meeting of shareholders of Trinseo S.A. is held at 10:00 a.m. (Central European Time) on the second Monday of June of each year at the registered office of the Company or in any other place within the municipality of the registered office of the Company in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, as noticed to the shareholders, or abroad, if the board of directors considers in its absolute and final judgment, that exceptional circumstances so require. If that day is not a business day in Luxembourg, the meeting will be held on the next following business day.

Luxembourg law provides that the board of directors is obliged to convene a general meeting of shareholders if shareholders representing, in the aggregate, 10% of the issued share capital so request in writing with an indication of the meeting agenda. In such case, the general meeting of shareholders must be held within one month of the request. If the requested general meeting of shareholders is not held within one month, shareholders representing, in the aggregate, 10% of the issued share capital may petition the competent president of the district court in Luxembourg to have a court appointee convene the meeting. Luxembourg law provides that shareholders representing, in the aggregate, 10% of the issued share capital may request that additional items be added to the agenda of a general meeting of shareholders. That request must be made by registered mail sent to the registered office of the Company at least five days before the general meeting of shareholders.

Voting Rights

Each share entitles the holder thereof to one vote at a general meeting of shareholders. Luxembourg law distinguishes ordinary resolutions and extraordinary resolutions.

Extraordinary resolutions relate to proposed amendments to the articles of association and certain other limited matters. All other resolutions are ordinary resolutions.

 

158


Table of Contents

Ordinary Resolutions:

Pursuant to our articles of association, for any ordinary resolutions to be considered at a general meeting, the quorum at such meeting must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the issued share capital of the Company (unless otherwise mandatorily required by law) and such ordinary resolutions shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes validly cast on such resolution. Abstentions are not considered “votes.”

Extraordinary Resolutions:

Extraordinary resolutions are required for any of the following matters, among others: (a) an increase or decrease of the authorized or issued capital, (b) a limitation or exclusion of preemptive rights, (c) approval of a statutory merger or de-merger (scission), (d) dissolution and liquidation of Trinseo S.A. and (e) any and all amendments to our articles of association. Pursuant to our articles of association, for any extraordinary resolutions to be considered at a general meeting the quorum shall be at least one half (50%) of the issued share capital of the Company unless otherwise mandatorily required by law. If the said quorum is not present, a second meeting may be convened at which the quorum shall be at least fifty percent (50%) of the issued share capital of the Company (unless otherwise mandatorily required by Luxembourg law). Any extraordinary resolution shall be adopted at a quorate general meeting (save as otherwise provided by mandatory law) at least two thirds (2/3) majority of the votes validly cast on such resolution. Abstentions are not considered votes.

Appointment and Removal of Directors.

Members of our board of directors may be elected by ordinary resolution at a general meeting of shareholders at a simple majority vote of shareholders. Our articles of association will provide that all directors are elected for a period of three years, with the board divided into three classes of approximately equal size. At the annual general meeting of shareholders, one class per year will be elected. Any director may be removed with or without cause by ordinary resolution at a general meeting of shareholders. Our articles of association provide that in case of a vacancy, the other directors may fill such vacancy on a provisional basis, until (i) the decision is ratified or (ii) a new director is elected, by an ordinary resolution of the next general meeting of shareholders. The directors shall be eligible for re-election indefinitely.

Neither Luxembourg law nor our articles of association contain any restrictions as to the voting of our shares by non-Luxembourg residents.

Amendment to the Articles of Association

Shareholder Approval Requirements.

Luxembourg law requires that an amendment of the articles of association be made by extraordinary resolution, such decision being taken with a qualified majority of votes. The agenda of the general meeting of shareholders must indicate the proposed amendments to the articles of association.

Formalities.

Any resolutions to amend our articles of association must be taken before a Luxembourg notary and such amendments must be published in accordance with Luxembourg law.

Merger and De-Merger

A merger or de-merger by absorption whereby one Luxembourg company after its dissolution without liquidation transfers to another company all of its assets and liabilities in exchange for the issuance of shares in the acquiring company to the shareholders of the company being acquired, or a merger or de-merger effected by transfer of assets to a newly incorporated company, must, in principle, be approved at a general meeting by an extraordinary resolution of the Luxembourg company, and the general meeting must be held before a notary.

 

159


Table of Contents

Dissolution and Liquidation

In the event of our dissolution, liquidation, or winding-up the assets remaining after allowing for the payment of all liabilities of the company will be paid out to the shareholders pro rata according to their respective shareholdings. Generally the decisions to dissolve, liquidate, or wind-up require the passing of an extraordinary resolution at a general meeting of our shareholders, and such meeting must be held before a notary. Shareholders of a Luxembourg public limited liability company have their liability limited to the capital contribution in respect of the shares they subscribed and paid or committed to pay for. However, distribution of dividends by the Company may not result in a reduction of the Company’s net asset value below the amount of its capital.

No Appraisal Rights

Neither Luxembourg law nor our articles of association provide for any appraisal rights of dissenting shareholders.

Dividend Distributions

Subject to Luxembourg law, if and when a dividend distribution is declared by the general meeting of shareholders or the board of directors in the case of interim dividend distributions, each ordinary share is entitled to participate equally in such distribution of funds legally available for such purposes. Pursuant to our articles of association, the general meeting of shareholders may approve a dividend distribution and the board of directors may declare an interim dividend distribution, to the extent permitted by Luxembourg law.

Declared and unpaid dividend distributions held by us for the account of the shareholders shall not bear interest. Under Luxembourg law, claims for unpaid dividend distributions will lapse in our favor five years after the date such dividend distribution was declared.

Annual Accounts

Under Luxembourg law, the board of directors must prepare unconsolidated annual accounts, i.e., an inventory of the assets and liabilities of Trinseo S.A. together with a balance sheet and a profit and loss account each year. Our board of directors must also annually prepare consolidated accounts and management reports on the unconsolidated annual accounts and consolidated accounts. The unconsolidated annual accounts, the consolidated accounts, the management report and the auditor’s reports must be available for inspection by shareholders upon request and free of charge, at our registered office at least 15 calendar days prior to the date of the annual ordinary general meeting of shareholders.

The unconsolidated annual accounts and the consolidated accounts, after approval by the annual ordinary general meeting of shareholders, will be filed with the Luxembourg Registry of Trade and Companies.

Information Rights

Luxembourg law gives shareholders limited rights to inspect certain corporate records 15 calendar days prior to the date of the annual ordinary general meeting of shareholders, including the unconsolidated annual accounts with the list of directors and auditors, the consolidated accounts, the notes to the annual accounts and the consolidated accounts, a list of shareholders whose shares are not fully paid-up, the management reports and the auditor’s report.

In addition, any registered shareholder is entitled to receive a copy of the unconsolidated annual accounts, the consolidated accounts, the auditor’s reports and the management reports free of charge prior to the date of the annual ordinary general meeting of shareholders.

 

160


Table of Contents

Under Luxembourg law, it is generally accepted that a shareholder has the right to receive responses at the shareholders’ general meeting to questions concerning items on the agenda of that general meeting of shareholders, if such responses are necessary or useful for a shareholder to make an informed decision concerning such agenda item, unless a response to such questions could be detrimental to our interests.

Board of Directors

The management of Trinseo S.A. is vested in a board of directors (conseil d’administration). Our articles of association will provide that the board of directors must comprise at least three members and no more than             members.

The board of directors meets as often as Company interests require.

A majority of the members of the board present or represented at a board meeting constitutes a quorum, and resolutions are adopted by the simple majority vote of the board members present or represented. The board may also take decisions by means of resolutions in writing signed by all directors. Each director has one vote. The general shareholders’ meeting elects directors and decides their respective terms. Pursuant to our articles of association, the term of office of the directors is 3 years but they may be re-elected. The general shareholders’ meeting may dismiss one or more directors at any time, with or without cause by an ordinary resolution. If the board has a vacancy, the remaining directors have the right to fill such vacancy on a temporary basis pursuant to the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors. The term of a temporary director elected to fill a vacancy expires at the end of the term of office of the replaced director, provided, however, that the next general shareholders’ meeting shall be requested definitively to elect any temporary director.

Within the limits provided for by law, our board may delegate to one or more persons the daily management of the Company and the authority to represent the Company.

No director shall, solely as a result of being a director, be prevented from contracting with us, either with regard to his tenure in any office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or in any other manner whatsoever, nor shall any contract in which any director is in any way interested be liable to be voided merely on account of his position as director, nor shall any director who is so interested be liable to account to us or the shareholders for any remuneration, profit or other benefit realized by the contract by reason of the director holding that office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established.

Any director having an interest in a transaction submitted for approval to the board may participate in the deliberations and vote thereon, unless the transaction is not in the ordinary course of the Company’s business and that conflicts with the Company’s interest, in which case the director shall be obliged to advise the board thereof prior to the vote and to cause a record of his statement to be included in the minutes of the meeting. He may not take part in these deliberations nor vote on such a transaction. At the next general meeting, before any other resolution is put to a vote, a special report shall be made on any transactions in which any of the directors may have had an interest that conflicts with our interest.

No shareholding qualification for directors is required.

Our articles of association will provide that directors and officers, past and present, are entitled to indemnification from us to the fullest extent permitted by Luxemburg law against liability and all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he is involved by virtue of his being or having been a director or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof. We may purchase and maintain insurance for any director or other officer against any such liability.

No indemnification will be provided against any liability to us or our shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties of a director or officer or any matter

 

161


Table of Contents

as to which any director or officer shall have been finally adjudicated to have acted in bad faith and not in the interest of the Company.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares is American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC.

 

162


Table of Contents

COMPARISON OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

We are incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg. The following discussion summarizes material differences between the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and the rights of holders of the ordinary shares of a typical corporation incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware, which result from differences in governing documents and the laws of Luxembourg and Delaware.

 

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

Board of Directors
A typical certificate of incorporation and bylaws would provide that the number of directors on the board of directors will be fixed from time to time by a vote of the majority of the authorized directors. Under Delaware law, a board of directors can be divided into classes and cumulative voting in the election of directors is only permitted if expressly authorized in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation.   

Pursuant to the Luxembourg Corporate Law, the board of directors must be composed of at least three directors. They are appointed by the general meeting of shareholders (by proposal of the board, the shareholders or a spontaneous candidacy) by a simple majority of the votes cast. The term of office pursuant to our articles of association may not exceed three years, but they may be re-elected.

 

Pursuant to our articles of association directors are elected by an ordinary resolution at a general meeting and a simple majority of votes validly cast on such resolution. Abstentions are not considered “votes.”

 

Our articles of association provide that in case of a vacancy, the remaining board members may elect a director to provisionally fill the vacancy. See “—Filling Vacancies on the Board of Directors.”

 

Our articles of association provide for three classes of approximately equal size of directors. Each director has one vote.

 

Our articles of association provide that the board may set up committees and determine their composition, powers and rules.

 

Limitation on Personal Liability of Directors

 

A typical certificate of incorporation provides for the elimination of personal monetary liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duties as directors to the fullest extent permissible under the laws of Delaware, except for liability (i) for any breach of a director’s loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (relating to the liability of directors for unlawful payment of a dividend or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption) or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. A typical certificate of incorporation would also provide that if the   

The Luxembourg Corporate Law provides that directors do not assume any personal obligations for commitments of the company. Directors are liable to the company for the performance of their duties as directors and for any misconduct in the management of the company’s affairs.

 

Directors are further jointly and severally liable both to the company and to any third parties for damages resulting from violations of the law or the articles of association of the company. Directors will only be discharged from such liability for violations to which they were not a party, provided no misconduct is attributable to them and they have reported such

 

163


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

Delaware General Corporation Law is amended so as to allow further elimination of, or limitations on, director liability, then the liability of directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as so amended.   

violations at the first general meeting after they had knowledge thereof.

 

In addition, directors may under specific circumstances also be subject to criminal liability, such as in the case of an abuse of assets.

 

Our articles of association will provide that directors and officers, past and present, are entitled to indemnification from the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Luxembourg law against liability and all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he is involved by virtue of his being or having been a director or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof, subject to certain exceptions. See “Indemnification of Officers, Directors and Employees.”

 

Interested Shareholders

 

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in specified corporate transactions (such as mergers, stock and asset sales, and loans) with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the time that the shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. Subject to specified exceptions, an “interested shareholder” is a person or group that owns 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock (including any rights to acquire stock pursuant to an option, warrant, agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion or exchange rights, and stock with respect to which the person has voting rights only), or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the voting stock at any time within the previous three years.

 

A Delaware corporation may elect to “opt out” of, and not be governed by, Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law through a provision in either its original certificate of incorporation, or an amendment to its original certificate or bylaws that was approved by majority shareholder vote. With a limited exception, this amendment would not become effective until 12 months following its adoption.

   Under Luxembourg law no restriction exists as to the transactions that a shareholder may conclude with the company. The transaction must however be in the corporate interest of the company and be made on arm’s length terms.

 

164


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

Removal of Directors

 

A typical certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of holders of any preferred shares, directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority, or in some instances a supermajority, of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. A certificate of incorporation could also provide that such a right is only exercisable when a director is being removed for cause (removal of a director only for cause is the default rule in the case of a classified board).    Pursuant to the Luxembourg Corporate Law, directors may be removed at any time with or without cause by ordinary resolution at a general meeting of shareholders adopted by a simple majority of the votes cast on such resolution.

 

Filling Vacancies on the Board of Directors

 

A typical certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred shares, any vacancy, whether arising through death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal, an increase in the number of directors or any other reason, may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors, even if such directors remaining in office constitute less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. Any newly elected director usually holds office for the remainder of the full term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders at which the term of the class of directors to which the newly elected director has been elected expires.   

Luxembourg law provides that in the event of a vacancy of a director seat, the remaining directors may, unless the articles of association of the company provide otherwise, provisionally fill such vacancy until the next annual general meeting at which the shareholders will (i) be asked to ratify the appointment or (ii) may appoint a new director.

 

The decision to fill a vacancy must be taken at a duly convened and quorate meeting of the board of directors.

 

Our articles of association provide that vacancies due to resignation or otherwise may be filled on a temporary basis pursuant to the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors. Such decision must be ratified by an ordinary resolution of the next general meeting.

 

Amendment of Governing Documents

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, amendments to a corporation’s certificate of incorporation require the approval of shareholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment. If a class vote on the amendment is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, a majority of the outstanding stock of the class is required, unless a greater proportion is specified in the certificate of incorporation or by other provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the board of directors may amend bylaws if so authorized in   

Under the Luxembourg Corporate Law, amendments to the articles of association of the company require an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held in front of a public notary at which at least one half of the share capital is represented. The notice of the extraordinary general meeting shall set out the proposed amendments to the articles of association.

 

If the aforementioned quorum is not reached, a second meeting may be convened by means of notices published twice at intervals of fifteen days or less and fifteen days before the meeting in the

 

165


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

the charter. The shareholders of a Delaware corporation also have the power to amend bylaws.   

Luxembourg official gazette ( Mémorial C, Recueil des Sociétés et Associations ) and in two Luxembourg newspapers. The second meeting shall be validly constituted regardless of the proportion of the share capital represented.

 

At both meetings, resolutions will be adopted if approved by at least two-thirds of the votes cast (unless otherwise mandatorily required by Luxembourg law). Where classes of shares exist and the resolution to be adopted by the general meeting of shareholders changes the respective rights attaching to such shares, the resolution will be adopted only if the conditions as to quorum and majority set out above are fulfilled with respect to each class of shares. A change of nationality of the company as well as an increase of the commitments of its shareholders require however the unanimous consent of the shareholders (and bondholders, if any).

 

If the company has issued bonds, any amendments to the object of the company or its legal form (except in the case of a merger, de-merger or assimilated operations) require the approval of the bondholders’ general meeting.

 

Our articles of association provide that for any extraordinary resolutions to be considered at a general meeting the quorum shall be at least one half (50%) of the issued share capital of the Company. Any extraordinary resolution shall be adopted at a quorate general meeting (save as otherwise provided by mandatory law) at a two thirds (2/3) majority of the votes validly cast on such resolution. Abstentions are not considered votes.

 

In very limited circumstances the board of directors may be authorized by the shareholders to amend the articles of association, albeit always within the limits set forth by the shareholders. This is the case in the context of the Company’s authorized share capital within which the board of directors is authorized to issue further shares or in the context of a share capital reduction and cancellation of shares. The board of directors is then authorized to appear in front of a notary public to record the capital increase or decrease and to amend the share capital set forth in the articles of association.

 

166


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

Meetings of Shareholders

 

Annual and Special Meetings

 

Typical bylaws provide that annual meetings of shareholders are to be held on a date and at a time fixed by the board of directors. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a special meeting of shareholders may be called by the board of directors or by any other person authorized to do so in the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws.

  

Pursuant to the Luxembourg Corporate Law, at least one general meeting of shareholders must be held each year on the day and at the time indicated in the articles of association of the company. The purpose of such annual general meeting is to approve the annual accounts, allocate the results, proceed to statutory appointments and grant discharge to the directors. The annual general meeting must be held within six months of the end of each financial year.

 

Our articles of association provide that our annual general meeting be held on the second Monday of June of each year at 10:00 a.m. CET. If that day is not a business day in Luxembourg, the meeting will be held on the next following business day.

 

Other meetings of shareholders may be convened.

 

Pursuant to Luxembourg law, the board of directors is obliged to convene a general meeting so that it is held within a period of one month of the receipt of a written request of shareholders representing one-tenth of the issued capital. Such request must be in writing and indicate the agenda of the meeting.

 

Quorum requirements

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws can specify the number of shares which constitute the quorum required to conduct business at a meeting, provided that in no event shall a quorum consist of less than one-third of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting.

  

 

Luxembourg law distinguishes ordinary resolutions and extraordinary resolutions.

 

Extraordinary resolutions relate to proposed amendments to the articles of association and certain other limited matters. All other resolutions are ordinary resolutions.

 

Ordinary Resolutions: pursuant to Luxemburg law there is no requirement of a quorum for any ordinary resolutions to be considered at a general meeting, and such ordinary resolutions shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes validly cast on such resolution. Abstentions are not considered “votes.”

 

Extraordinary Resolutions: extraordinary resolutions are required for any of the following matters, among others: (a) an increase or decrease of the authorized or issued capital, (b) a limitation or exclusion of preemptive rights, (c) approval of a statutory merger or de-merger (scission), (d) dissolution and (e) an amendment of the articles of association.

 

167


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

  

Pursuant to Luxembourg law for any extraordinary resolutions to be considered at a general meeting the quorum shall generally be at least one half (50%) of the issued share capital. If the said quorum is not present, a second meeting may be convened at which Luxembourg law does not prescribe a quorum. Any extraordinary resolution shall be adopted at a quorate general meeting (save as otherwise provided by mandatory law) at a two thirds (2/3) majority of the votes validly cast on such resolution. Abstentions are not considered “votes.”

 

Our articles of association provide that any ordinary resolutions shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes validly cast on such resolution. Abstentions are not considered “votes.”

 

Our articles of association provide that unless otherwise mandatorily required by law for any extraordinary resolutions to be considered at a general meeting the quorum shall be at least one half (50%) of our issued share capital. If the said quorum is not present, a second meeting may be convened at which Luxembourg law does not prescribe a quorum. Any extraordinary resolution shall be adopted at a quorate general meeting (save as otherwise provided by mandatory law) at a two thirds (2/3) majority of the votes validly cast on such resolution. Abstentions are not considered “votes.”

 

Indemnification of Officers, Directors and Employees

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to specified limitations in the case of derivative suits brought by a corporation’s shareholders in its name, a corporation may indemnify any person who is made a party to any third-party action, suit or proceeding on account of being a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation (or was serving at the request of the corporation in such capacity for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) against expenses, including attorney’s fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding through, among other things, a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the suit or proceeding, if the person:

 

•   acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and

  

Pursuant to Luxembourg law on agency, agents are entitled to be reimbursed any advances or expenses made or incurred in the course of their duties, except in cases of fault or negligence on their part.

 

Luxembourg law on agency is applicable to the mandate of directors and agents of the company.

 

Our articles of association will contain indemnification provisions setting forth the scope of indemnification of our directors and officers. These provisions will allow us to indemnify directors and officers against liability (to the extent permitted by Luxembourg law) and expenses reasonably incurred or paid by them in connection with claims, actions, suits or proceedings in which they become involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of performing or having performed as a director or officer, and against amounts paid or incurred by them

 

168


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

•   in a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

   in the settlement of such claims, actions, suits or proceedings, subject to limited exceptions. See “Management—Limitations of Liability and Indemnification Matters”
The Delaware General Corporation Law permits indemnification by a corporation under similar circumstances for expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such persons in connection with the defense or settlement of a derivative action or suit, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which the action or suit was brought determines upon application that the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the expenses which the court deems to be proper. To the extent a director, officer, employee or agent is successful in the defense of such an action, suit or proceeding, the corporation is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law to indemnify such person for actual and reasonable expenses incurred thereby. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such persons in defending any action, suit or proceeding may be paid in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of that person to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that person is not entitled to be so indemnified.   

“Description of Share Capital—Board of Directors.” The indemnification extends, among other things, to legal fees, costs and amounts paid in the context of a settlement.

 

Pursuant to Luxembourg law, a company is generally liable for any violations committed by employees in the performance of their functions except where such violations are not in any way linked to the duties of the employee.

 

Shareholder Approval of Business Combinations

 

Generally, under the Delaware General Corporation Law, completion of a merger, consolidation, or the sale, lease or exchange of substantially all of a corporation’s assets or dissolution requires approval by the board of directors and by a majority (unless the certificate of incorporation requires a higher percentage) of outstanding stock of the corporation entitled to vote.   

Under Luxembourg law, and our articles of association, the board of directors has the widest power to take any action necessary or useful to achieve the corporate object. The board’s powers are limited only by law and the articles of association of the Company.

 

Any type of business combination that would require an amendment to the articles of association, such as a merger, de-merger, consolidation, dissolution or voluntary liquidation, requires an extraordinary resolution of a general meeting of a shareholder.

 

Transactions such as a sale, lease or exchange of substantial company assets require only the approval of the board of directors. Neither Luxembourg law nor our articles of association contain any provision specifically requiring the board of directors to obtain shareholder approval of the sale, lease or exchange of substantial assets of the Company.

 

169


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

The Delaware General Corporation Law also requires a special vote of shareholders in connection with a business combination with an “interested shareholder” as defined in section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. See “—Interested Shareholders” above.   

 

Shareholder Action Without a Meeting

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless otherwise provided in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, any action that may be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if the holders of outstanding stock, having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize such action, consent in writing. It is not uncommon for a corporation’s certificate of incorporation to prohibit such action.   

A shareholder meeting must always be called if the matter to be considered requires a shareholder resolution under Luxembourg law or our articles of association.

 

Pursuant to Luxembourg law, shareholders of a public limited liability company may not take actions by written consent. All shareholder actions must be approved at an actual meeting of shareholders held before a notary public or under private seal, depending on the nature of the matter. Shareholders may vote by proxy.

 

Shareholder Suits

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the corporation to enforce the rights of the corporation. An individual also may commence a class action suit on behalf of himself or herself and other similarly situated shareholders where the requirements for maintaining a class action under the Delaware General Corporation Law have been met. A person may institute and maintain such a suit only if such person was a shareholder at the time of the transaction which is the subject of the suit or his or her shares thereafter devolved upon him or her by operation of law. Additionally, under Delaware case law, the plaintiff generally must be a shareholder not only at the time of the transaction which is the subject of the suit, but also through the duration of the derivative suit. The Delaware General Corporation Law also requires that the derivative plaintiff make a demand on the directors of the corporation to assert the corporate claim before the suit may be prosecuted by the derivative plaintiff, unless such demand would be futile.   

Pursuant to Luxembourg law, and our articles of association, the board of directors has the widest power to take any action necessary or useful to achieve the corporate object. The board’s powers are limited only by law and the articles of association of the company.

 

Luxembourg law does not require shareholder approval before legal action may be initiated on behalf of the company. The board of directors has sole authority to decide whether to initiate legal action to enforce the company’s rights (other than, in certain circumstances, in the case of an action against board members).

 

Individual shareholders do not generally have authority to initiate legal action on the company’s behalf. However, the general meeting of shareholders may vote to initiate legal action against directors on grounds that such directors have failed to perform their duties. If a director is responsible for a breach of the law or of a provision of the articles of association, an action can be initiated by any third party including a shareholder having a legitimate interest. In the case of a shareholder, such interest must be different from the interest of the company.

 

Luxembourg procedural law does not recognize the concept of class actions.

 

170


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

Dividends and Distributions; Repurchases and Redemptions

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to declare and pay dividends out of statutory surplus or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or for the preceding fiscal year as long as the amount of capital of the corporation following the declaration and payment of the dividend is not less than the aggregate amount of the capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets.   

Pursuant to Luxembourg law, dividend distributions may be declared by (i) the general meeting or (ii) the board of directors in the case of interim dividends (acomptes sur dividendes) .

 

Dividend distributions may be made if the following conditions are met:

 

•   except in the event of a reduction of the issued share capital, a distribution to shareholders may not be made if net assets on the closing date of the preceding fiscal year are, or following such distribution would become, less than the sum of the issued share capital plus reserves, which may not be distributed by law or under our articles of association.

 

•   the amount of a distribution to shareholders may not exceed the sum of net profits at the end of the preceding fiscal year plus any profits carried forward and any amounts drawn from reserves which are available for that purpose, less any losses carried forward and with certain amounts to be placed in reserve in accordance with the law or our articles of association.

 

Interim dividend distributions may only be made if the following conditions are met:

 

•   interim accounts indicate sufficient funds available for distribution.

 

•   the amount to be distributed may not exceed total net profits since the end of the preceding fiscal year for which the annual accounts have been approved, plus any profits carried forward and sums drawn from reserves available for this purpose, less losses carried forward and any sums to be placed in reserves in accordance with the law or the articles of association.

 

•   the board may declare interim distributions no more than two months after the date at which the interim accounts have been drawn up. Prior to declaring an interim distribution, the board must receive a report from company auditors confirming that the conditions are met for an interim distribution.

 

171


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

  

The amount of distributions declared by the annual general meeting of shareholders shall include (i) the amount previously declared by the board of directors (i.e., the interim distributions for the year of which accounts are being approved), and if proposed (ii) the (new) distributions declared on the annual accounts.

 

Where interim distribution payments exceed the amount of the distribution subsequently declared at the general meeting, any such overpayment shall be deducted from the next distribution.

 

Our articles of association do permit interim distributions decided by our board of directors.

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, any corporation may purchase or redeem its own shares, except that generally it may not purchase or redeem these shares if the capital of the corporation is impaired at the time or would become impaired as a result of the redemption. A corporation may, however, purchase or redeem out of capital shares that are entitled upon any distribution of its assets to a preference over another class or series of its shares if the shares are to be retired and the capital reduced.   

Pursuant to Luxembourg law, the company (or any party acting on its behalf) may repurchase its own shares and hold them in treasury, provided:

 

•   the shareholders at a general meeting have previously authorized the board of directors to acquire company shares. The general meeting shall determine the terms and conditions of the proposed acquisition and in particular the maximum number of shares to be acquired, the period for which the authorization is given (which may not exceed five years) and, in the case of acquisition for value, the maximum and minimum consideration.

 

•   the acquisitions, including shares previously acquired by the company and held by it, and shares acquired by a person acting in his own name but on behalf of the company, may not have the effect of reducing the net assets below the amount of the issued share capital plus the reserves, which may not be distributed by law or under the articles of association.

 

•   only fully paid–up shares may be repurchased.

 

No prior authorization by shareholders is required (i) if the acquisition is made to prevent serious and imminent harm to the company, provided the board of directors informs the next general meeting of the reasons for and the purpose of the acquisitions made, the number and nominal values or the accounting value of the shares acquired, the proportion of the subscribed capital which they represent and the

 

172


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

  

consideration paid for them; and (ii) in the case of shares acquired by either the company or by a person acting on behalf of the company with a view to redistributing the shares to the staff of the company provided that the distribution of such shares is made within 12 months from their acquisition.

 

Luxembourg law provides for further situations in which the above conditions do not apply, including the acquisition of shares pursuant to a decision to reduce the capital of the company or the acquisition of shares issued as redeemable shares. Such acquisitions may not have the effect of reducing net assets below the aggregate of subscribed capital and reserves, which may not be distributed by law and are subject to specific provisions on reductions in capital and redeemable shares of Luxembourg law.

 

Any shares acquired in contravention of the above provisions must be re-sold within a period of one year after the acquisition or be cancelled at the expiration of the one-year period.

 

As long as shares are held in treasury, the voting rights attached thereto are suspended. Further, to the extent the treasury shares are reflected as assets on the balance sheet of the company, a non-distributable reserve of the same amount must be reflected as a liability. Our articles of association will provide that shares may be acquired by us in accordance with the law. The general meeting of shareholders will authorize the acquisition of up to % of the issued share capital. The authorization will be valid for a period ending 5 years after the date of publication of the authorization in the Luxembourg official gazette ( Mémorial C, Recueil des Sociétés et Associations ) . The authorization may be removed by the general meeting of shareholders.

 

Transactions with Officers or Directors

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, some contracts or transactions in which one or more of a corporation’s directors has an interest are not void or voidable because of such interest provided that some conditions, such as obtaining the required approval and fulfilling the requirements of good faith and full disclosure, are met. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, either (a) the shareholders or the board of directors must approve in good faith any such contract or transaction after full disclosure of the   

There are no rules under Luxembourg law preventing a director from entering into contracts or transactions with the company to the extent the contract or the transaction is in the corporate interest of the company.

 

The Luxembourg Corporate Law prohibits a director from participating in deliberations and voting on a transaction if (a) such director, or a third party in which such director has an interest, is a party to such

 

173


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

material facts or (b) the contract or transaction must have been “fair” as to the corporation at the time it was approved. If board approval is sought, the contract or transaction must be approved in good faith by a majority of disinterested directors after full disclosure of material facts, even though less than a majority of a quorum.   

transaction, and (b) the interests of such director or third-party conflict with the interests of the company. The relevant director must disclose his personal interest to the board of directors and abstain from voting. The transaction and the director’s interest therein shall be reported to the next succeeding general meeting of shareholders.

 

The articles of association of the company may require that certain transactions between a director and the company be submitted for board and/or shareholder approval. The articles of association provide that no director shall, solely as a result of being a director of the Company, have any duty to refrain from any decision or action to enforce its rights under any agreement or contract with the Company. A director who has an interest in a transaction carried out other than in the ordinary course of business which conflicts with the interests of the Company must advise the Board accordingly and have the statement recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The director concerned may not take part in the deliberations concerning that transaction. A special report on the relevant transaction is submitted to the shareholders at the next General Meeting, before any vote on the matter.

 

Dissenters’ Rights

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder of a corporation participating in some types of major corporate transactions may, under varying circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which the shareholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair market value of his or her shares in lieu of the consideration he or she would otherwise receive in the transaction.    Neither Luxembourg law nor our articles provide for appraisal rights.

 

Cumulative Voting

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may adopt in its bylaws that its directors shall be elected by cumulative voting. When directors are elected by cumulative voting, a shareholder has the number of votes equal to the number of shares held by such shareholder times the number of directors nominated for election. The shareholder may cast all of such votes for one director or among the directors in any proportion.    Not applicable. See “—Board of Directors.”

 

174


Table of Contents

Delaware

  

Luxembourg

 

Anti-Takeover Measures

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the certificate of incorporation of a corporation may give the board the right to issue new classes of preferred shares with voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights to be determined by the board at the time of issuance, which could prevent a takeover attempt and thereby preclude shareholders from realizing a potential premium over the market value of their shares.

 

   Pursuant to Luxembourg law, it is possible to create an authorized share capital from which the board of directors is authorized by the shareholders to issue further shares and, under certain conditions, to limit, restrict or waive preferential subscription rights of existing shareholders. The rights attached to the shares issued within the authorized share capital will be equal to those attached to existing shares and set forth in the articles of association of the company.
In addition, Delaware law does not prohibit a corporation from adopting a shareholder rights plan, or “poison pill,” which could prevent a takeover attempt and also preclude shareholders from realizing a potential premium over the market value of their shares.   

The authority of the board of directors to issue additional shares is valid for a period of up to five years unless renewed by vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the votes cast at a shareholders meeting.

 

Prior to the completion of this offering, we will have an authorized share capital of $500,000,000 and will be authorized to issue up to 50,000,000,000 ordinary shares (subject to stock splits, consolidation shares or like transactions) with a nominal value of $0.01 each.

 

Our articles of association will authorize our board of directors to issue ordinary shares within the limits of the authorized share capital at such times and on such terms as our board may decide for a period commencing on the date of the publication of our amended articles of association and ending five years after the date on which the minutes of the shareholders’ meeting approving such authorization are published in the Luxembourg official gazette  Mémorial, Recueil des Sociétés et Associations  (unless such period is extended, amended or renewed). Accordingly, our board will be authorized to issue up to 50,000,000,000 ordinary shares until such date. We currently intend to seek renewals and/or extensions as required from time to time.

 

175


Table of Contents

Enforcement of Civil Liabilities

Luxembourg

We are a company organized under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Most of our assets are located outside the United States. Furthermore, some of our directors and officers named in this prospectus reside outside the United States and most of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, investors may find it difficult to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons or to enforce outside the United States judgments obtained against us or these persons in U.S. courts, including judgments in actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Likewise, it may also be difficult for an investor to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against us or these persons in courts located in jurisdictions outside the United States, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities law. It may also be difficult for an investor to bring an original action in a Luxembourg or other foreign court predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us or these persons. Luxembourg law, furthermore, does not recognize a shareholder’s right to bring a derivative action on behalf of the Company.

In particular, there is doubt as to the enforceability of original actions in Luxembourg courts of civil liabilities predicated solely upon U.S. federal securities laws, and the enforceability in Luxembourg courts of judgments entered by U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities laws will be subject to compliance with procedural and other requirements under Luxembourg law, including the condition that the judgment does not violate Luxembourg public policy. See the section entitled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Investment in a Luxembourg Company—We are a Luxembourg public limited liability company (“société anonyme”) and it may be difficult for you to obtain or enforce judgments against us or our executive officers and directors in the United States” for further discussion of enforcement of civil liabilities under Luxembourg law.

In addition, under Luxembourg law, directors do not assume any personal obligations for the Company’s commitments. Directors are liable to the Company for the performance of their duties as directors and for any misconduct in the management of the Company’s affairs. Directors are further jointly and severally liable both to the Company and to any third parties for damages resulting from violations of the law or our articles of association. Directors will only be discharged from such liability for violations to which they were not a party, provided no misconduct is attributable to them and they have reported such violations at the first general meeting after they had knowledge thereof. In addition, directors may under specific circumstances also be subject to criminal liability, such as in the case of an abuse of assets. A shareholder of the Company may file a claim against the Company in Luxembourg to the extent that the Luxembourg court has jurisdiction over such claim in accordance with the Luxembourg judicial code. See the section entitled “Comparison of Shareholder Rights—Limitation on Personal Liability of Directors” for further discussion of liabilities relating to directors of the Company.

Further, Luxembourg law does not require shareholder approval before legal action may be initiated on behalf of the Company. The board of directors has sole authority to decide whether to initiate legal action to enforce the Company’s rights (other than, in certain circumstances, in the case of an action against board members). Shareholders do not generally have authority to initiate legal action on the Company’s behalf. However, the general meeting of shareholders may vote to initiate legal action against directors on grounds that such directors have failed to perform their duties. If a director is responsible for a breach of the law or of a provision of our articles of association, an action can be initiated by any third party including a shareholder having a legitimate interest. In the case of a shareholder, such interest must be different from the interest of the Company. Luxembourg procedural law does not recognize the concept of class actions. See the section entitled “Comparison of Shareholder Rights—Shareholder Suits” for further discussion of shareholder actions.

 

176


Table of Contents

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our ordinary shares. Future sales of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our ordinary shares. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, future sales of shares, or the availability of shares for future sales, will have on the market price of our ordinary shares prevailing from time to time. The sale of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of our ordinary shares.

Sale of Restricted Shares

Upon completion of this offering, we will have                 ordinary shares outstanding. Of these ordinary shares, the                 ordinary shares being sold in this offering, plus any shares sold by us upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, except for any such shares which may be held or acquired by an “affiliate” of ours, as that term is defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, which shares will be subject to the volume limitations and other restrictions of Rule 144 described below. The remaining                 ordinary shares held by our existing shareholders upon completion of this offering will be “restricted securities,” as that phrase is defined in Rule 144, and may be resold only after registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from such registration, including, among others, the exemptions provided by Rule 144 and 701 under the Securities Act, which rules are summarized below. These remaining ordinary shares held by our existing shareholders upon completion of this offering will be available for sale in the public market after the expiration of the lock-up agreements described in “Underwriting,” taking into account the provisions of Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act.

Rule 144

Under Rule 144, persons who became the beneficial owner of our ordinary shares prior to the completion of this offering may not sell their shares until the earlier of (1) the expiration of a six-month holding period, if we have been subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and have filed all required reports for at least 90 days prior to the date of the sale, or (2) a one-year holding period.

At the expiration of the six-month holding period, a person who was not one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of ordinary shares provided current public information about us is available, and a person who was one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of ordinary shares that does not exceed the greater of either of the following:

 

    1% of the number of our ordinary shares then outstanding, which will equal approximately                 shares immediately after this offering, based on the number of our ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2014; or

 

    the average weekly trading volume of our ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.

At the expiration of the one-year holding period, a person who was not one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of our ordinary shares without restriction. A person who was one of our affiliates at any time during the three months preceding a sale would remain subject to the volume restrictions described above.

Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates are also subject to manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

 

177


Table of Contents

Registration Statement on Form S-8

After the completion of this offering, we intend to file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register all of the ordinary shares available under the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

 

178


Table of Contents

MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND LUXEMBOURG TAX CONSIDERATIONS

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

Subject to the limitations and qualifications stated herein, this discussion sets forth the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition by U.S. Holders of the ordinary shares. The discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect and all subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary applies only to U.S. Holders and does not address tax consequences to a non-U.S. Holder investing in our ordinary shares.

The discussion of the holders’ tax consequences addresses only those persons that acquire their ordinary shares in this offering and that hold those ordinary shares as capital assets and does not address the tax consequences to any special class of holders, including without limitation, holders (directly, indirectly or constructively) of 10% or more of our shares, dealers in securities or currencies, banks, tax-exempt organizations, life insurance companies, financial institutions, broker-dealers, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, traders in securities that elect the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings, persons that hold securities that are a hedge or that are hedged against currency or interest rate risks or that are part of a straddle, conversion or “integrated” transaction, U.S. expatriates, partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar. This discussion does not address the effect of the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, or U.S. federal estate and gift tax, or any state, local or foreign tax laws on a holder of ordinary shares.

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of ordinary shares that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (a) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the U.S.; (b) a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (c) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (d) a trust (i) if a court within the U.S. can exercise primary supervision over its administration, and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the substantial decisions of that trust, or (ii) that was in existence on August 20, 1996 and validly elected under applicable Treasury Regulations to continue to be treated as a domestic trust. The term “non-U.S. Holder” means any beneficial owner of our ordinary shares that is not a U.S. Holder, a partnership (or an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or a person holding our ordinary shares through a partnership.

If a partnership or an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in partnerships that hold our ordinary shares should consult their own tax advisors.

You are Urged to Consult Your Own Independent Tax Advisor Regarding the Specified U.S. Federal, State, Local and Foreign Income and Other Tax Considerations Relating to the Acquisition, Ownership and Disposition of Our Ordinary Shares.

Cash Dividends and Other Distributions

As described in the section entitled “Dividend Policy” above, we do not currently anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. However, to the extent there are any distributions made with respect to our ordinary shares, subject to the passive foreign investment company, or “PFIC,” rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder of ordinary shares generally will be required to treat distributions received with respect to such ordinary shares (including any amounts withheld pursuant to Luxembourg tax law) as dividend income to the extent of our

 

179


Table of Contents

current or accumulated earnings and profits (computed using U.S. federal income tax principles), with the excess treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares and, thereafter, as capital gain. However, we do not maintain calculations of our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles. U.S. Holders should therefore assume that any distribution with respect to our ordinary shares will constitute ordinary dividend income. Dividends paid on the ordinary shares will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to U.S. corporations.

Dividends paid to an individual U.S. Holder by a “qualified foreign corporation” may be subject to reduced rates of taxation if certain holding period and other requirements are met. A qualified foreign corporation generally includes a foreign corporation (other than a PFIC) if (i) its ordinary shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States or (ii) it is eligible for benefits under a comprehensive U.S. income tax treaty that includes an exchange of information program. Our ordinary shares are expected to be readily tradable on an established securities market, the New York Stock Exchange. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate on dividends in light of their particular circumstances.

Distributions paid in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be included in a U.S. Holder’s gross income in a U.S. dollar amount based on the spot exchange rate in effect on the date of actual or constructive receipt, whether or not the payment is converted into U.S. dollars at that time. The U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in such currency equal to such U.S. dollar amount, and any gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent sale or conversion of the foreign currency for a different U.S. dollar amount will be U.S. source ordinary income or loss. If the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder generally should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income.

A U.S. Holder who pays (whether directly or through withholding) Luxembourg income tax with respect to dividends paid on our ordinary shares may be entitled to receive either a deduction or a foreign tax credit for such Luxembourg income tax paid. Complex limitations apply to the foreign tax credit, including the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability that such U.S. Holder’s “foreign source” taxable income bears to such U.S. Holder’s worldwide taxable income. In applying this limitation, a U.S. Holder’s various items of income and deduction must be classified, under complex rules, as either “foreign source” or “U.S. source.” In addition, this limitation is calculated separately with respect to specific categories of income. Dividends paid by us generally will constitute “foreign source” income and generally will be categorized as “passive category income.” However, if 50% or more of our stock is treated as held by U.S. persons, we will be treated as a “United States-owned foreign corporation,” in which case dividends may be treated for foreign tax credit limitation purposes as “foreign source” income to the extent attributable to our non-U.S. source earnings and profits and as “U.S. source” income to the extent attributable to our U.S. source earnings and profits. Because the foreign tax credit rules are complex, each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the foreign tax credit rules.

Sale or Disposition of Ordinary Shares

A U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss on the taxable sale or exchange of the ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar amount realized on such sale or exchange (determined in the case of shares sold or exchanged for currencies other than U.S. dollars by reference to the spot exchange rate in effect on the date of the sale or exchange or, if the ordinary shares sold or exchanged are traded on an established securities market and the U.S. Holder is a cash basis taxpayer or an electing accrual basis taxpayer, the spot exchange rate in effect on the settlement date) and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares determined in U.S. dollars. The initial tax basis of the ordinary shares to a U.S. Holder will be the U.S. Holder’s U.S. dollar purchase price for the shares (determined by reference to the spot exchange rate in effect on the date of the purchase, or if the shares purchased are traded on an established securities market and the U.S. Holder is a cash basis taxpayer or an electing accrual basis taxpayer, the spot exchange rate in effect on the settlement date).

 

180


Table of Contents

Assuming we are not a PFIC and have not been treated as a PFIC during your holding period for our ordinary shares, such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term gain or loss if the ordinary shares have been held for more than one year. Under current law, long-term capital gains generally are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Capital gain or loss, if any, recognized by a U.S. Holder generally will be treated as U.S. source income or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. U.S. Holders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the U.S. foreign tax credit in their particular circumstances.

Medicare Contribution Tax

Certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on the lesser of (1) the U.S. Holder’s “net investment income” for the relevant taxable year and (2) the excess of the U.S. Holder’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold. For these purposes, “net investment income” includes, among other things, dividends on, and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of, stock. U.S. Holders are advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this additional tax in light of their particular circumstances.

Potential Application of Passive Foreign Investment Company Provisions

We do not currently expect to be treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to our taxable year ending December 31, 2014, and we do not expect to be treated as a PFIC in the future. However, our actual PFIC status for any taxable year will not be determinable until the close of such year, and, accordingly, there is no guarantee that we will not be a PFIC for the current or any future taxable year. A non-U.S. corporation is considered to be a PFIC for any taxable year if either:

 

    at least 75% of its gross income is passive income (the “income test”); or

 

    at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”).

For purposes of the above tests, we will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the assets and earning our proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more (by value) of the corporation’s stock. Subject to various exceptions, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents, royalties and gains from the disposition of assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income.

We must make a separate determination each year as to whether we are a PFIC. As a result, our PFIC status may change. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds ordinary shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which such U.S. Holder holds the ordinary shares. However, if we cease to be a PFIC, a U.S. Holder may avoid some of the adverse effects of the PFIC regime thereafter by making a “deemed sale” election with respect to the ordinary shares .

If we are or become a PFIC in a taxable year in which we pay a dividend or the prior taxable year, the reduced dividend rate discussed above with respect to dividends paid to non-corporate holders would not apply. In addition, if we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” that the U.S. Holder receives and any gain the U.S. Holder realizes from a sale or other disposition (including a pledge or a deemed disposition) of the ordinary shares, unless the U.S. Holder makes a “mark-to-market” election as discussed below. Distributions the U.S. Holder receives in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions the U.S. Holder received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares will be treated as excess distributions. Under these special tax rules:

 

    the excess distribution or gain from a sale or other disposition will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares;

 

181


Table of Contents
    the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which the Company became a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income; and

 

    the amount allocated to each other year will be subject to the highest applicable tax rate in effect for corporations or individuals, as appropriate, for that taxable year and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each such year.

The tax liability for amounts allocated to years prior to the year of disposition or “excess distribution” cannot be offset by any net operating losses for such years, and gains (but not losses) realized on the sale of the ordinary shares cannot be treated as capital, even if you hold the ordinary shares as capital assets. Special foreign tax credit rules apply with respect to excess distributions. Please consult your own tax advisor with respect to such rules.

If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our shares and any of our non-U.S. subsidiaries is also a PFIC, a U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of these rules. Under these circumstances, a U.S. Holder would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on (i) a distribution on the shares of a lower-tier PFIC and (ii) a disposition of shares of a lower-tier PFIC, both as if such U.S. Holder directly held the shares of such lower-tier PFIC. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors about the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.

Alternatively, in certain circumstances, a U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) of a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such stock to elect out of the excess distribution regime discussed above. If a U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election for the ordinary shares the U.S. Holder will include in income each year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ordinary shares as of the close of the U.S. Holder’s taxable year over the U.S. Holder’s adjusted basis in such ordinary shares. A U.S. Holder is allowed a deduction for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the ordinary shares over their fair market value as of the close of the taxable year. However, deductions are allowable only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains on the ordinary shares included in your income for prior taxable years. Amounts included in the U.S. Holder’s income under a mark-to-market election, as well as gain on the actual sale or other disposition of the ordinary shares, are treated as ordinary income. Ordinary loss treatment also applies to the deductible portion of any mark-to-market loss on the ordinary shares, as well as to any loss realized on the actual sale or disposition of the ordinary shares, to the extent that the amount of such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included for such ordinary shares. The U.S. Holder’s basis in the ordinary shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. If a U.S. Holder makes such an election, the tax rules that apply to distributions by corporations that are not PFICs would apply to distributions by us, except that the reduced rate discussed above under “—Cash Dividends and Other Distributions” would not apply. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, it will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years unless the ordinary shares are no longer “marketable stock” (as defined below) or the Internal Revenue Service consents to the revocation of the election. A mark-to-market election would not be available with respect to a subsidiary PFIC of ours that a U.S. Holder is deemed to own for the purposes of the PFIC rules; accordingly, a U.S. Holder would not be able to mitigate certain of the adverse U.S. “excess distribution” federal income tax consequences of its deemed ownership of stock in our subsidiary PFICs by making a mark-to-market election. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors about the availability of the mark-to-market election and whether making the election would be advisable in their particular circumstances.

As described above, the mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (“regularly traded”) on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. The New York Stock Exchange is a qualified exchange. Special rules apply in determining whether stock of a PFIC is regularly traded in the context of an initial public offering. Please consult your own tax advisor with respect to such rules.

 

182


Table of Contents

U.S. Holders who hold ordinary shares in any year in which we are a PFIC, will be required to file U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form 8621 regarding any distributions received on the ordinary shares and any gain realized on the disposition of such shares. In addition, other reporting requirements may apply.

In certain circumstances, holders of PFIC shares can avoid the rules described above by electing to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” under Section 1295 of the Code. However, because we do not intend to prepare or provide the information that would enable a U.S. Holder to make a qualified electing fund election, this option will not be available to U.S. Holders.

You are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the application of the PFIC rules to your investment in our ordinary shares.

Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding

Information reporting to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service generally will be required with respect to payments on the ordinary shares and proceeds of the sale of the ordinary shares paid within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries to holders that are U.S. taxpayers, other than exempt recipients. A “backup” withholding tax may apply to those payments if such a holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number to the paying agent and to certify that no loss of exemption from backup withholding has occurred (or if such holder otherwise fails to establish an exemption). We or the applicable paying agent will withhold on a distribution if required by applicable law. The amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules are not an additional tax and may be refunded, or credited against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided the required information is timely furnished to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

U.S. Holders who are individuals that own certain “foreign financial assets” (which may include the ordinary shares) are required to report information relating to such assets, subject to certain exceptions, on FinCEN Report 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (“FBAR”) with the U.S. Department of Treasury. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the applicability of FBAR and other reporting requirements in light of their individual circumstances.

THE ABOVE DISCUSSION DOES NOT COVER ALL TAX MATTERS THAT MAY BE OF IMPORTANCE TO A PARTICULAR INVESTOR. YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE ORDINARY SHARES.

Luxembourg Tax Considerations

Tax Regime Applicable to Capital Gains Realized Upon Disposal of Shares

The following is a summary discussion of the material Luxembourg tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of your ordinary shares that may be applicable to you if you acquire our ordinary shares. It is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice. This discussion is based on Luxembourg laws and regulations as they stand on the date of this prospectus and is subject to any change in law or regulations or changes in interpretation or application thereof (and which may possibly have a retroactive effect). Prospective investors should therefore consult their own professional advisers as to the effects of state, local or foreign laws and regulations, including Luxembourg tax law and regulations, to which they may be subject. As used herein, a “Luxembourg individual” means an individual resident in Luxembourg who is subject to personal income tax (impôt sur le revenu) on his or her worldwide income from Luxembourg or foreign sources, and a “Luxembourg corporate holder” means a company (that is, a fully taxable collectivité within the meaning of Article 159 of the Luxembourg Income Tax Law) resident in Luxembourg subject to corporate income tax (impôt sur le revenu des collectivités) on its worldwide income from Luxembourg or foreign sources. For purposes of this discussion, Luxembourg individuals and Luxembourg corporate holders are collectively referred to as “Luxembourg Holders.” A “non-Luxembourg Holder” means any investor in shares of Trinseo other than a Luxembourg Holder.

 

183


Table of Contents

Luxembourg individual holders. For Luxembourg individuals holding (together, directly or indirectly, with his or her spouse or civil partner or underage children) 10% or less of the share capital of Trinseo, capital gains will only be taxable if they are realized on a sale of shares, which takes place before their acquisition or within the first six months following their acquisition. The capital gain or liquidation proceeds will be taxed at progressive income tax rates (ranging from 0 to 43.6% in 2014).

For Luxembourg individuals holding (together with his/her spouse or civil partner and underage children) directly or indirectly more than 10% of the capital of Trinseo, capital gains will be taxable at a special rate, if the disposal or liquidation takes place:

 

    within six months from the acquisition, the capital gain or liquidation proceeds will be taxed at progressive income tax rates (currently ranging from 0 to 43.6%).

 

    after six months and the shareholding exceeds 10% of the nominal paid up corporate capital, the capital gain or the liquidation proceeds will be taxed at a reduced tax rate (i.e. maximum 21.8% corresponding to half of the investor’s global tax rate). An allowance of EUR 50,000 (doubled for taxpayers filing jointly), available during a ten-year period, is applicable.

Luxembourg corporate holders. Capital gains realized upon the disposal of shares by a Luxembourg corporate holder will in principle be subject to corporate income tax and municipal business tax. The combined applicable rate (including an unemployment fund contribution) is 29.22% for the fiscal year ending 2014 for a Luxembourg corporate holder established in Luxembourg-City. An exemption from such taxes may be available to the Luxembourg corporate holder pursuant to Article 166 of the Luxembourg Income Tax law subject to the fulfillment of the conditions set forth therein. The scope of the capital gains exemption may be limited in the cases provided by the Grand Ducal Decree of December 21, 2001.

Non-Luxembourg Holders

An individual non-Luxembourg Holder of shares (who has no permanent establishment, permanent representative or fixed place of business in Luxembourg to which the shares would be attributable) will only be subject to Luxembourg taxation on capital gains arising upon disposal of such shares if such holder has (together with his or her spouse or civil partner and underage children) directly or indirectly held more than 10% of the capital of Trinseo, at any time during the five years preceding the disposal, and either (i) such holder has been a resident of Luxembourg for tax purposes for at least 15 years and has become a non-resident within the five years preceding the realization of the gain, subject to any applicable tax treaty, or (ii) the disposal of shares occurs within six months from their acquisition (or prior to their actual acquisition), subject to any applicable tax treaty. If we and a U.S. relevant holder are eligible for the benefits of the Convention Between the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Government of the United States for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital (the “Luxembourg-U.S. Treaty”), such U.S. relevant holder generally should not be subject to Luxembourg tax on the gain from the disposal of such shares unless such gain is attributable to a permanent establishment of such U.S. relevant holder in Luxembourg. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the substantially and regularly traded clause in the limitation on benefits article of the Luxembourg-U.S. treaty, we expect to be eligible for the benefits of the Luxembourg-U.S. Treaty.

A corporate non-Luxembourg Holder (that is, a collectivité within the meaning of Article 159 of the Luxembourg Income Tax Law), which has a permanent establishment, a permanent representative or fixed place of business in Luxembourg to which shares would be attributable, will bear corporate income tax and municipal business tax on a gain realized on a disposal of such shares as set forth above for a Luxembourg corporate holder. However, gains realized on the sale of the shares may benefit from the full exemption provided for by Article 166 of the Luxembourg Income Tax Law and by the Grand Ducal Decree of December 21, 2001 subject in each case to fulfillment of the conditions set out therein.

 

184


Table of Contents

A corporate non-Luxembourg Holder, which has a permanent establishment, permanent representative or fixed place of business in Luxembourg to which the shares would be attributable will not be subject to any Luxembourg tax on a gain realized on a disposal of such shares unless such holder holds, directly or through tax transparent entities, more than 10% of the share capital of Trinseo, and the disposal of shares occurs within six months from their acquisition (or prior to their actual acquisition), subject to any applicable tax treaty. If we and a U.S. corporate holder without a permanent establishment in Luxembourg are eligible for the benefits of the Luxembourg-U.S. Treaty, such U.S. corporate holder generally should not be subject to Luxembourg tax on the gain from the disposal of such shares.

Tax Regime Applicable to Distributions

Withholding Tax . Dividend distributions by Trinseo are subject to a withholding tax of 15%. Distributions by the Company sourced from a reduction of capital as defined in Article 97 (3) of the Luxembourg Income Tax Law including, among others, share premium should not be subject to withholding tax provided that such reduction of capital is motivated by serious business reasons as meant in said provision. We or the applicable paying agent will withhold on a distribution if required by applicable law.

Where a withholding needs to be applied, the rate of the withholding tax may be reduced pursuant to the double tax treaty existing between Luxembourg and the country of residence of the relevant holder, subject to the fulfillment of the conditions set forth therein. If we and a U.S. relevant holder are eligible for the benefits of the Luxembourg-U.S. Treaty, the rate of withholding on distributions generally is 15% or 5% if the U.S. relevant holder is a beneficial owner that owns at least 10% of our voting stock.

No withholding tax applies if the distribution is made to (i) a Luxembourg resident corporate holder (that is, a fully taxable collectivité within the meaning of Article 159 of the Luxembourg Income Tax Law), (ii) a corporation which is resident of a Member State of the European Union and is referred to by article 2 of the Council Directive of July 23, 1990 concerning the common fiscal regime applicable to parent and subsidiary companies of different member states (90/435/EEC), (iii) a corporation or a cooperative resident in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and subject to a tax comparable to corporate income tax as provided by Luxembourg Income Tax Law, (iv) a corporation resident in Switzerland which is subject to corporate income tax in Switzerland without benefiting from an exemption, (v) a corporation subject to a tax comparable to corporate income tax as provided by Luxembourg Income Tax Law which is resident in a country that has concluded a tax treaty with Luxembourg and (vi) a Luxembourg permanent establishment of one of the above-mentioned categories, provided each time that at the date of payment, the holder has held or commits itself to continue to hold directly or through a tax transparent vehicle, during an uninterrupted period of at least twelve months, shares representing at least 10% of the share capital of Trinseo or which had an acquisition price of at least €1,200,000.

Luxembourg Holders

Dividend and liquidation proceeds are in principle taxable at the general income tax rates indicated above. A partial dividend exemption may be available to Luxembourg Holders pursuant to Article 115.15a of the Luxembourg Income Tax law or a full dividend exemption may be available to a Luxembourg corporate holder pursuant to Article 166 of the Luxembourg Income Tax law, subject to the fulfillment of the conditions set forth therein.

Non-Luxembourg Holders

Non-Luxembourg holders of the shares who have neither a permanent establishment, permanent representative nor a fixed place of business Luxembourg to which the shares would be attributable are not liable for any Luxembourg tax on dividends paid on the shares, other than a potential withholding tax as described above.

 

185


Table of Contents

Net Wealth Tax

Luxembourg Holders.

Luxembourg net wealth tax will not be levied on a Luxembourg Holder with respect to the shares held unless the Luxembourg Holder is an entity subject to net wealth tax in Luxembourg.

Net wealth tax is levied annually at the rate of 0.5% on the net wealth of enterprises resident in Luxembourg, as determined for net wealth tax purposes. The shares may be exempt from net wealth tax subject to the conditions set forth by Article 60 of the Law of October 16, 1934 on the valuation of assets ( Bewertungsgesetz ), as amended.

Non-Luxembourg Holders

Luxembourg net wealth tax will not be levied on a non-Luxembourg Holder with respect to the shares held unless the shares are attributable to an enterprise or part thereof which is carried on through a permanent establishment or a permanent representative in Luxembourg.

Stamp and Registration Taxes

No registration tax or stamp duty will be payable by a holder of shares in Luxembourg solely upon the disposal of shares or by sale or exchange.

 

186


Table of Contents

UNDERWRITING

The company and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the ordinary shares being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of ordinary shares indicated in the following table. Goldman, Sachs & Co., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters.

 

                        Underwriters    Number of Ordinary
Shares

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

  

Barclays Capital Inc.

  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                       Incorporated

  

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

  

Jefferies LLC

  

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

  

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

  

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

  
  

 

                      Total   
  

 

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the ordinary shares being offered, if any are taken, other than the ordinary shares covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised.

The underwriters have an option to buy up to an additional                ordinary shares from the company to cover sales by the underwriters of a greater number of ordinary shares than the total number set forth in the table above. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any ordinary shares are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase ordinary shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above.

The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by the company. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase                additional ordinary shares.

Paid by the Company

 

     No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Per Share

   $                    $                

Total

   $         $     

Ordinary shares sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any ordinary shares sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $        per share from the initial public offering price. After the initial offering of the ordinary shares, the representatives may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the ordinary shares by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

 

187


Table of Contents

The company and its officers, directors, and holders of substantially all of the company’s ordinary shares have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any of their ordinary shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for ordinary shares during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of Goldman, Sachs & Co., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. This agreement does not apply to any existing employee benefit plans. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for a discussion of certain transfer restrictions.

The 180-day restricted period described in the preceding paragraph will be automatically extended if: (1) during the last 17 days of the 180-day restricted period the company issues an earnings release or announces material news or a material event; or (2) prior to the expiration of the 180-day restricted period, the company announces that it will release earnings results during the 15-day period following the last day of the 180-day period, in which case the restrictions described in the preceding paragraph will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release of the announcement of the material news or material event.

Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for the ordinary shares. The initial public offering price has been negotiated among the company and the representatives. Among the factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering price of the ordinary shares, in addition to prevailing market conditions, will be the company’s historical performance, estimates of the business potential and earnings prospects of the company, an assessment of the company’s management and the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of companies in related businesses.

An application has been made to quote the ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TSE”.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell ordinary shares in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of ordinary shares than they are required to purchase in the offering, and a short position represents the amount of such sales that have not been covered by subsequent purchases. A “covered short position” is a short position that is not greater than the amount of additional ordinary shares for which the underwriters’ option described above may be exercised. The underwriters may cover any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional ordinary shares or purchasing ordinary shares in the open market. In determining the source of ordinary shares to cover the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of ordinary shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional ordinary shares pursuant to the option described above. “Naked” short sales are any short sales that create a short position greater than the amount of additional ordinary shares for which the option described above may be exercised. The underwriters must cover any such naked short position by purchasing ordinary shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the ordinary shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of ordinary shares made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased ordinary shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the company’s stock, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise

 

188


Table of Contents

affect the market price of the ordinary shares. As a result, the price of the ordinary shares may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on The New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

The underwriters do not expect sales to discretionary accounts to exceed five percent of the total number of ordinary shares offered.

The total expenses of the offering payable by us, not including the underwriting discount, will be approximately $                    . We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses related to this offering in an amount up to $30,000.

The company has agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. The underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to us and to persons and entities with relationships with us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses. In addition, affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments, and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to our assets, securities, and instruments (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with us. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities, and instruments.

Notice to Prospective Investors in European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make an offer of ordinary shares to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the ordinary shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of ordinary shares to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

(a) to legal entities which are authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorised or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

 

189


Table of Contents

(b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;

(c) to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

(d) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the Issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of ordinary shares to the public” in relation to any ordinary shares in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the ordinary shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the ordinary shares, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

 

  (a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the ordinary shares in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA would not, if the Issuer was not an authorised person, apply to the Issuer; and

 

  (b) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the ordinary shares in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of the ordinary shares may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the ordinary shares without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The ordinary shares applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring ordinary shares must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

This prospectus contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider

 

190


Table of Contents

whether the information in this prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus. The ordinary shares to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the ordinary shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the ordinary shares. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

We have not and will not register with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 119 of the Federal Act on Collective Investment Scheme of 23 June 2006, as amended (“CISA”), and accordingly the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus have not and will not be approved, and may not be licenseable, with FINMA. Therefore, the securities have not been authorized for distribution by FINMA as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 119 CISA and the securities offered hereby may not be offered to the public (as this term is defined in Article 3 CISA) in or from Switzerland. The securities may solely be offered to “qualified investors,” as this term is defined in Article 10 CISA, and in the circumstances set out in Article 3 of the Ordinance on Collective Investment Scheme of 22 November 2006, as amended (“CISO”), such that there is no public offer. Investors, however, do not benefit from protection under CISA or CISO or supervision by FINMA. This prospectus and any other materials relating to the securities are strictly personal and confidential to each offeree and do not constitute an offer to any other person. This prospectus may only be used by those qualified investors to whom it has been handed out in connection with the offer described herein and may neither directly or indirectly be distributed or made available to any person or entity other than its recipients. It may not be used in connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be copied and/or distributed to the public in Switzerland or from Switzerland. This prospectus does not constitute an issue prospectus as that term is understood pursuant to Article 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations. We have not applied for a listing of the securities on the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other regulated securities market in Switzerland, and consequently, the information presented in this prospectus does not necessarily comply with the information standards set out in the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange and corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The ordinary shares may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the ordinary shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to ordinary shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

 

191


Table of Contents

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the ordinary shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the ordinary shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the ordinary shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the ordinary shares under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

 

192


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Ropes & Gray LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Ropes & Gray LLP and some of its attorneys are limited partners of RGIP, LP, which is an investor in certain investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital Partners, LLC and often a co-investor with such funds. RGIP, LP indirectly owns less than 1% of our outstanding ordinary shares. The validity of the issuance of ordinary shares to be sold in this offering will be passed upon for us by Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg S.à.r.l., Luxembourg. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York is acting as counsel to the underwriters.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Trinseo S.A. as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The consolidated financial statements of Americas Styrenics LLC as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report included herein, and are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which forms a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the shares, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part thereof. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete. We are not currently subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a result of the offering of the shares, we will become subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, will file reports and other information with the SEC. The registration statement, such reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room of the SEC located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such materials, including copies of all or any portion of the registration statement, can be obtained from the Public Reference Room of the SEC at prescribed rates. You can call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 to obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. Such materials may also be accessed electronically by means of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

193


Table of Contents

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (Unaudited)

     F-2   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (Unaudited)

     F-3   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March  31, 2014 and 2013 (Unaudited)

     F-4   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholder’s Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (Unaudited)

     F-5   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (Unaudited)

     F-6   

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

     F-7   

Audited Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-25   

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012

     F-26   

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

     F-27   

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December  31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

     F-28   

Consolidated Statements of Shareholder’s Equity for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

     F-29   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

     F-30   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

     F-31   

Financial Statement Schedule

     F-76   

Americas Styrenics LLC*

  

Audited Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Independent Auditors’ Report

     F-77   

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012

     F-78   

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December  31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

     F-79   

Consolidated Statements of Members’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

     F-80   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

     F-81   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

     F-82   

 

* The audited financial statements of Americas Styrenics LLC as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 have been included herein in accordance with the requirements of Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X.

 

F-1


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,     December 31,  
     2014     2013  

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 139,089      $ 196,503   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts (March 31, 2014—$6,700; December 31, 2013—$5,866)

     796,601        717,482   

Inventories

     509,773        530,191   

Deferred income tax assets

     7,170        9,820   

Other current assets

     24,417        22,750   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,477,050        1,476,746   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

     164,859        155,887   

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation (March 31, 2014—$302,301; December 31, 2013—$283,795)

     596,599        606,427   

Other assets

    

Goodwill

     37,254        37,273   

Other intangible assets, net

     194,073        171,514   

Deferred income tax assets—noncurrent

     43,433        42,938   

Deferred charges and other assets

     80,784        83,996   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other assets

     355,544        335,721   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2,594,052      $ 2,574,781   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholder’s equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Short-term borrowings

   $ 9,814      $ 8,754   

Accounts payable

     529,119        509,093   

Income taxes payable

     9,065        9,683   

Deferred income tax liabilities

     2,549        2,903   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     112,605        136,129   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     663,152        666,562   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent liabilities

    

Long-term debt

     1,327,607        1,327,667   

Deferred income tax liabilities—noncurrent

     31,201        26,932   

Other noncurrent obligations

     210,296        210,418   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

     1,569,104        1,565,017   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note J)

    

Shareholder’s equity

    

Common stock, $0.01 nominal value, 16,275,329 shares authorized, issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013

     162,753        162,753   

Additional paid-in-capital

     179,364        176,675   

Accumulated deficit

     (67,518     (84,604

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     87,197        88,378   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholder’s equity

     361,796        343,202   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity

   $ 2,594,052      $ 2,574,781   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-2


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014      2013  

Net sales

   $ 1,359,132       $ 1,391,585   

Cost of sales

     1,260,503         1,310,782   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     98,629         80,803   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     50,030         46,460   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     14,950         2,799   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     63,549         37,142   

Interest expense, net

     32,818         32,308   

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

     —           20,744   

Other expense (income), net

     895         (6,132
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     29,836         (9,778

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     12,750         (100
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 17,086       $ (9,678
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average shares

     16,275,329         16,275,329   

Net income (loss) per share-basic and diluted

   $ 0.00       $ (0.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(In thousands, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014     2013  

Net income (loss)

   $ 17,086      $ (9,678

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (tax amounts shown in millions below for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively):

    

Cumulative translation adjustments (net of tax of: 2014—$0.0; 2013—$0.0)

     (1,425     (32,067

Pension and other postretirement benefit plans before reclassifications (net of tax of: 2014—$0.0; 2013—$2.8)

     —          22,561   

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income:

    

Amortization of prior service credit (cost) (net of tax of: 2014—$0.0; 2013—$0.0) (1)

     (214     506   

Amortization of net gain (loss) (net of tax of: 2014—$0.1; 2013—$0.2) (1)

     458        (622
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax

     (1,181     (9,622
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 15,905      $ (19,300
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) These other comprehensive income (loss) components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit costs (see Note K).

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholder’s Equity

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

    

 

Common Stock

     Additional
Paid-In
Capital
     Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total  
     Shares      Amount            

December 31, 2013

     16,275,329       $ 162,753       $ 176,675       $ 88,378      $ (84,604   $ 343,202   

Net income

     —           —           —           —          17,086        17,086   

Other comprehensive loss

     —           —           —           (1,181     —          (1,181

Stock-based compensation

     —           —           2,689         —          —          2,689   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

     16,275,329       $ 162,753       $ 179,364       $ 87,197      $ (67,518   $ 361,796   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

December 31, 2012

     16,275,329       $ 162,753       $ 166,725       $ 24,573      $ (62,386   $ 291,665   

Net loss

     —           —           —           —          (9,678     (9,678

Other comprehensive loss

     —           —           —           (9,622     —          (9,622

Stock-based compensation

     —           —           2,118         —          —          2,118   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2013

     16,275,329       $ 162,753       $ 168,843       $ 14,951      $ (72,064   $ 274,483   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014     2013  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 17,086      $ (9,678

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Depreciation and amortization

     23,728        23,867   

Amortization of deferred financing costs and issuance discount

     2,516        2,365   

Deferred income tax

     5,458        (1,926

Stock-based compensation

     2,689        2,118   

Earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends

     (9,950     (2,799

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —          20,744   

Changes in assets and liabilities

    

Accounts receivable

     (79,204     (59,863

Inventories

     20,148        10,826   

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     18,522        26,992   

Income taxes payable

     (720     (4,252

Other assets, net

     (2,649     (4,384

Other liabilities, net

     1,193        (8,475
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in operating activities

     (1,183     (4,465
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Capital expenditures

     (41,141     (16,941

Proceeds from capital expenditures subsidy

     —          6,575   

Payment for working capital adjustment from sale of business

     (700     —     

Advance payment refunded

     —          (2,711

Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

     978        1,055   

Decrease in restricted cash

     —          7,852   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in investing activities

     (40,863     (4,170
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Deferred financing fees

     —          (44,638

Short-term borrowings, net

     (14,837     (8,508

Repayments of Term Loans

     —          (1,239,000

Proceeds from the issuance of Senior Notes

     —          1,325,000   

Proceeds from Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

     60,971        61,039   

Repayments of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

     (61,538     (45,053

Proceeds from Revolving Facility

     —          285,000   

Repayments of Revolving Facility

     —          (405,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in financing activities

     (15,404     (71,160

Effect of exchange rates on cash

     36        (1,532
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     (57,414     (81,327

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

     196,503        236,357   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

   $ 139,089      $ 155,030   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

NOTE A—BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Trinseo S.A. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of and for the periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which, in the opinion of management, are considered necessary for the fair statement of the results for the periods presented. Because they cover interim periods, the statements and related notes to the financial statements do not include all disclosures normally provided in annual financial statements and, therefore, these statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2013 audited consolidated financial statements.

The December 31, 2013 consolidated balance sheet data presented herein was derived from the Company’s December 31, 2013 audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP for annual periods.

NOTE B—RECENT ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued amendments for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation is fixed at the reporting date, except for obligations addressed within existing guidance. This guidance requires an entity to measure those obligations as the sum of the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. This guidance also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations. The Company adopted this guidance on a retrospective basis effective January 1, 2014, and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In July 2013, the FASB issued guidance to clarify the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The new guidance requires that unrecognized tax benefits be netted against all available same-jurisdiction losses or other tax carryforwards that would be utilized, rather than only against carryforwards that are created by the unrecognized tax benefits. The Company adopted this guidance prospectively effective January 1, 2014, and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In April 2014, the FASB issued amendments to guidance for reporting discontinued operations and disposals of components of an entity. The amended guidance requires that a disposal representing a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s financial results or a business activity classified as held for sale should be reported as discontinued operations. The amendments also expand the disclosure requirements for discontinued operations and add new disclosures for individually significant dispositions that do not qualify as discontinued operations. The amendments are effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim reporting periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014 (early adoption is permitted only for disposals that have not been previously reported). The implementation of the amended guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

NOTE C—INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES

The Company is supplemented by two strategic joint ventures: Americas Styrenics LLC (“AmSty”, a polystyrene joint venture with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP) and Sumika Styron Polycarbonate Limited (“Sumika Styron”, a polycarbonate joint venture with Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited). Investments held in the unconsolidated affiliates are accounted for by the equity method.

 

F-7


Table of Contents

At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, the Company’s investment in AmSty was $128.8 million and $118.3 million. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, the Company’s investment in AmSty was $126.4 million and $130.8 million less than the Company’s 50% share of AmSty’s underlying net assets. This amount represents the difference between the book value of assets contributed to the joint venture at the time of formation (May 1, 2008) and the Company’s 50% share of the total recorded value of the joint venture’s assets and certain adjustments to conform with the Company’s accounting policies. This difference is being amortized over a weighted average remaining useful life of the contributed assets of approximately 6.5 years as of March 31, 2014. The Company received dividends from AmSty of $5.0 million and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, the Company’s investment in Sumika Styron was $36.1 million and $37.6 million. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, the Company’s investment in Sumika Styron was $20.1 million and $20.8 million greater than the Company’s 50% share of Sumika Styron’s underlying net assets. This amount represents the fair value of certain identifiable assets which have not been recorded on the historical financial statements of Sumika Styron. This difference is being amortized over the remaining useful life of the contributed assets of 11.5 years as of March 31, 2014. The Company received dividends of $1.0 million and $1.1 million from Sumika Styron for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Both of the unconsolidated affiliates are privately held companies; therefore, quoted market prices for their stock are not available.

The summarized financial information of the Company’s unconsolidated affiliates is shown below:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014      2013  

Sales

   $ 564,132       $ 596,399   

Gross profit

   $ 38,008       $ (995

Net income (loss)

   $ 21,520       $ (13,648

NOTE D—INVENTORIES

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

     March 31,      December 31,  
     2014      2013  

Finished goods

   $ 293,651       $ 302,379   

Raw materials and semi-finished goods

     180,091         191,081   

Supplies

     36,031         36,731   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 509,773       $ 530,191   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE E—GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

The following table shows changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment from December 31, 2013 to March 31, 2014:

 

     Emulsion Polymers     Plastics        
     Latex     Synthetic
Rubber
    Styrenics     Engineered
Polymers
    Total  

December 31, 2013

   $ 14,901      $ 10,205      $ 8,669      $ 3,498      $ 37,273   

Foreign currency impact

     (8     (5     (4     (2     (19
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

   $ 14,893      $ 10,200      $ 8,665      $ 3,496      $ 37,254   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-8


Table of Contents

Other Intangible Assets

The following table provides information regarding the Company’s other intangible assets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively:

 

            March 31, 2014      December 31, 2013  
     Estimated
Useful Life
(Years)
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net      Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net  

Developed technology

     15       $ 210,439       $ (53,195   $ 157,244       $ 210,546       $ (49,713   $ 160,833   

Manufacturing Capacity Rights

     6         26,140         —          26,140         —           —          —     

Software

     5         11,347         (4,660     6,687         11,034         (4,099     6,935   

Software in development

     N/A         4,002         —          4,002        3,746         —          3,746   
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $ 251,928       $ (57,855   $ 194,073       $ 225,326       $ (53,812   $ 171,514   
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

In March 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with material supplier JSR Corporation, Tokyo (“JSR”) to acquire its current production capacity rights at the Company’s rubber production facility in Schkopau, Germany for a purchase price of €19.0 million (approximately $26.1 million). Prior to this agreement, JSR held 50% of the capacity rights of one of the Company’s three solution styrene-butadiene rubber (“SSBR”) production trains in Schkopau. As a result, effective March 31, 2014, the Company had full capacity rights to this production train. The €19.0 million purchase price was recorded in “Other intangible assets, net” in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2014 to be amortized over its estimated useful life of approximately 6 years. Further, the purchase price was recorded within capital expenditures in investing activities in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Amortization expense on other intangible assets totaled $4.0 million and $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

Estimated Amortization Expense for the Next Five Years

 

Remainder of 2014

   $ 15,390   

2015

     20,510   

2016

     19,945   

2017

     19,108   

2018

     18,393   

2019

     18,252   

NOTE F—DEBT

Debt consisted of the following:

 

     March 31,     December 31,  
     2014     2013  

Senior Secured Credit Facility

    

Revolving Facility

   $ —        $ —     

Senior Notes

     1,325,000        1,325,000   

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

     —          —     

Other indebtedness

     12,421        11,421   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt

     1,337,421        1,336,421   

Less: short-term borrowings

     (9,814     (8,754
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

   $ 1,327,607      $ 1,327,667   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-9


Table of Contents

Senior Secured Credit Facility

In January 2013, the Company amended its credit agreement (“Senior Secured Credit Facility”) to, among other things, increase the Company’s revolving credit facility (“Revolving Facility”) borrowing capacity from $240.0 million to $300.0 million, decreased the borrowing rate of the Revolving Facility through a decrease in the applicable margin rate from 4.75% to 3.00% as applied to base rate loans (which shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the base rate plus the applicable margin (as defined therein)), or 5.75% to 4.00% as applied to LIBO rate loans (which shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the LIBO rate plus the applicable margin and the mandatory cost (as defined therein), if applicable), extended the maturity date to January 2018 and concurrently repaid its then outstanding term loans under our Senior Secured Credit Facility (the “Term Loans”) of $1,239.0 million using the proceeds from its sale of $1,325.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 8.750% senior secured notes (“Senior Notes”) issued in January 2013 (refer below for further discussion).

Prior to the amendment, the Senior Secured Credit Facility required that the Company comply with certain affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions with respect to payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders, and financial covenants that include the maintenance of certain financial ratios. These ratios include both a maximum leverage ratio no greater than 5.25 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio no less than 2.00 to 1.00 for the most recent twelve-month period.

The amendment replaced the Company’s total leverage ratio requirement with a first lien net leverage ratio (as defined under the amended agreement) and removed the interest coverage ratio requirement. If the outstanding balance on the Revolving Facility exceeds 25% of the $300.0 million borrowing capacity (excluding undrawn letters of credit up to $10.0 million) at a quarter end, then the Company’s first lien net leverage ratio may not exceed 5.25 to 1.00 for the quarter ending March 31, 2013, 5.00 to 1.00 for the subsequent quarters through December 31, 2013, 4.50 to 1.00 for each of the quarters ending in 2014 and 4.25 to 1.00 for each of the quarters ending in 2015 and thereafter. As of March 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenant requirements.

As a result of this amendment and repayment of the Term Loans in January 2013, the Company recognized a $20.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt during the first quarter of 2013, which consisted of the write-off of existing unamortized debt issuance cost and debt discount attributable to the Term Loans. Fees and expenses incurred in connection with this amendment were $5.5 million, which were capitalized within “Deferred charges and other assets” in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and are being amortized into “Interest expense, net” in the condensed consolidated statement of operations over the remaining term of the Revolving Facility using the straight-line method.

As of March 31, 2014, the Company had no outstanding borrowings, and had $292.7 million (net of $7.3 million outstanding letters of credit) of funds available for borrowings under the Revolving Facility.

Senior Notes

In January 2013, the Company issued $1,325.0 million 8.750% Senior Notes. The Senior Notes interest is payable semi-annually on February 1 st and August 1 st of each year, which commenced on August 1, 2013. The notes will mature on February 1, 2019, at which time the entire $1,325.0 million will be due and payable. The proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes were used to repay all of the Company’s outstanding Term Loans and related refinancing fees and expenses.

The Company may redeem all or part of the Senior Notes at any time prior to August 1, 2015 by paying a make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. The Company may redeem all or part of the Senior Notes at any time after August 1, 2015 at a redemption price equal to the percentage of principal amount set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on of the year indicated below:

 

12-month period commencing August 1 in Year

   Percentage  

2015

     104.375

2016

     102.188

2017 and thereafter

     100.000

 

F-10


Table of Contents

In addition, at any time prior to August 1, 2015, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the original principal amount of the notes at a redemption price equal to 108.750% of the face amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds that the Company raises in certain equity offerings. The Company may also redeem, during any 12-month period commencing from the issue date until August 1, 2015, up to 10% of the original principal amount of the Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption.

The Senior Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s existing and future senior secured debt and pari passu with the Company and the Guarantors’ (as defined below) indebtedness that is secured by first-priority liens, including the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facility (as defined above), to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness and ranking senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future subordinated debt. However, claims under the Senior Notes effectively rank behind the claims of holders of debt, including interest, under our Senior Secured Credit Facility in respect of proceeds from any enforcement action with respect to the collateral or in any bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation proceeding. The Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by each of our existing and future wholly-owned subsidiaries that guarantee our Senior Secured Credit Facility (other than our subsidiaries in France and Spain) (the “Guarantors”). The note guarantees rank equally in right of payment with all of the Guarantors’ existing and future senior secured debt and senior in right of payment to all of the Guarantors’ existing and future subordinated debt. The notes are structurally subordinated to all of the liabilities of each of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes.

The indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability and the ability of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends or make other distributions, subject to certain exceptions. If the Senior Notes are assigned an investment grade by the rating agencies and the Company is not in default, certain covenants will be suspended. If the ratings on the Senior Notes decline to below investment grade, the suspended covenants will be reinstated.

Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of Senior Notes were approximately $42.0 million, which were capitalized and included in “Deferred charges and other assets” in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, and are being amortized into “Interest expense, net” in the condensed consolidated statement of operations over the term of the Senior Notes using the effective interest rate method.

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

In May 2013, the Company amended its existing accounts receivable securitization facility (“Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility”) which increased its borrowing capacity from $160.0 million to $200.0 million, extended the maturity date to May 2016 and allows for the expansion of the pool of eligible accounts receivable to include previously excluded U.S. and Netherlands subsidiaries. As a result of the amendment, the Company incurred $0.7 million in fees, which were capitalized within “Deferred charges and other assets” in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and are being amortized into “Interest expense, net” in the condensed consolidated statement of operations using the straight-line method over the remaining term.

The Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility is subject to interest charges against the amount of outstanding borrowings as well as the amount of available, but undrawn borrowings. As a result of the amendment to our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, in regards to outstanding borrowings, fixed interest charges decreased from 3.25% plus commercial paper rates to 2.60% plus variable commercial paper rates. In regards to available, but undrawn borrowings, fixed interest charges decreased from 1.50% to 1.40%.

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were no amounts outstanding under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, with approximately $198.6 million and $143.8 million, respectively, of accounts receivable available to support this facility, based on the pool of eligible accounts receivable.

 

F-11


Table of Contents

NOTE G—FOREIGN EXCHANGE FORWARD CONTRACTS

The Company manages its exposures to changes in foreign currency exchange rates where possible by paying expenses in the same currency in which we generate sales in a particular country as well as using derivative contracts which are not designated for hedge accounting treatment. During 2012, the Company entered into foreign exchange forward contracts with a notional U.S. dollar equivalent of $82.0 million that were not designated as hedging instruments in order to manage volatility in foreign currency exposures. As these foreign exchange forward contracts were not designated for hedge accounting treatment, changes in the fair value of underlying instruments are recognized in “Other expense (income), net” in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

These contracts were settled in February and May 2013, with no new contracts entered since that time. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company recognized $0.4 million of gains from foreign exchange forward contracts.

NOTE H—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified using the following hierarchy, which is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date.

Level 1—Valuation is based upon quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2—Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or other inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

Level 3—Valuation is based upon other unobservable inputs that are significant to the fair value measurement.

The following tables present the estimated fair value of the Company’s outstanding debt not carried at fair value as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively:

 

     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Items
(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
     Total  

March 31, 2014

        

Senior Notes

   $ —         $ 1,426,031       $ 1,426,031   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fair value

   $ —         $ 1,426,031       $ 1,426,031   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Items
(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
     Total  

December 31, 2013

        

Senior Notes

   $ —         $ 1,366,406       $ 1,366,406   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fair value

   $ —         $ 1,366,406       $ 1,366,406   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

There were no other significant financial instruments outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

NOTE I—PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014     2013  

Effective income tax rate

     42.7     1.0

 

F-12


Table of Contents

Provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $12.8 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 42.7%. Benefit from income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $0.1 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 1.0%.

The increase in provision for income taxes was primarily driven by the increase in income before income taxes from $9.8 million of loss for the three months ended March 31, 2013 to $29.8 million of income for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The loss before income taxes of $9.8 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 included the $20.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt (discussed in Note F to the condensed consolidated financial statements), which provided a $4.3 million tax benefit in that period. This one time item did not recur during the three month period ended March 31, 2014.

NOTE J—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Environmental Matters

Accruals for environmental matters are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated, based on current law, existing technologies and other information. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had no accrued obligations for environmental remediation and restoration costs. Pursuant to the terms of the Styron sales and purchase agreement, the pre-closing environmental conditions were retained by Dow and the Company has been indemnified by Dow from and against all environmental liabilities incurred or relating to the predecessor periods. There are several properties which the Company now owns on which Dow has been conducting remediation to address historical contamination. Those properties include Allyn’s Point, Connecticut, Dalton, Georgia, and Livorno, Italy. There are other properties with historical contamination that are owned by Dow that the Company leases for its operations, including its facilities in Midland, Michigan, Schkopau, Germany, Terneuzen, The Netherlands, and Guaruja, Brazil. No environmental claims have been asserted or threatened against the Company, and the Company is not a potentially responsible party at any Superfund Sites.

Inherent uncertainties exist in the Company’s potential environmental liabilities primarily due to unknown conditions whether future claims may fall outside the scope of the indemnity, changing governmental regulations and legal standards regarding liability, and evolving technologies for handling site remediation and restoration. In connection with the Company’s existing indemnification, the possibility is considered remote that environmental remediation costs will have a material adverse impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Purchase Commitments

In the normal course of business, the Company has certain raw material purchase contracts where it is required to purchase certain minimum volumes at current market prices. These commitments range from 1 to 7 years. In certain raw material purchase contracts, the Company has the right to purchase less than the required minimums and pay a liquidated damages fee, or, in case of a permanent plant shutdown, to terminate the contracts. In such cases, these obligations would be less than the annual commitment as disclosed in the 2013 consolidated financial statements.

The Company has service agreements with Dow and Bain Capital, some of which contain fixed annual fees. See Note M for further discussion.

Litigation Matters

From time to time, the Company may be subject to various legal claims and proceedings incidental to the normal conduct of business, relating to such matters as product liability, antitrust/competition, 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 routine claims, the Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flow.

Legal costs, including those legal costs expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency, are expensed as incurred.

 

F-13


Table of Contents

NOTE K—PENSION PLANS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

The components of net periodic benefit costs for all significant plans were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014     2013  

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

    

Service cost

   $ 3,515      $ 3,679   

Interest cost

     1,933        1,661   

Expected return on plan assets

     (621     (428

Amortization of prior service credit

     (256     (526

Amortization of net loss

     467        812   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 5,038      $ 5,198   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014     2013  

Other Postretirement Plans

    

Service cost

   $      75      $ 71   

Interest cost

     78        66   

Amortization of prior service cost

     26        —     

Amortization of net gain

     (37     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 142      $    137   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s benefit obligations included in “Other noncurrent obligations” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets were $164.6 million and $163.2 million, respectively. The net periodic benefit costs are recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of operations as “Cost of sales” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses.”

The Company made cash contributions of approximately $4.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014. The Company expects to make additional cash contributions, including benefit payments to unfunded plans, of approximately $11.8 million to its defined benefit plans for the remainder of 2014.

Affiliation Agreements and Successor Plans

A majority of Company employees are participants in various defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans which are administered and sponsored by Trinseo. In connection with the Acquisition, the Company and Dow entered into affiliation agreements in certain jurisdictions (the “Affiliation Agreements”) allowing employees who transferred from Dow to the Company as of June 17, 2010 to remain in the Dow operated pension plans (“Dow Plans”) until the Company established its own pension plan. The Affiliation Agreements ended on December 31, 2012. Effective January 1, 2013, all remaining employees of the Company who were previously participants of the Dow Plans in Switzerland and the Netherlands transferred to separately administered and sponsored pension plans of the Company (the “Successor Plans”). The benefit obligation and related plan assets in the Dow Plans belonging to the Company’s employees were transferred to the Successor Plans. As a result of the transfer, the Company recognized prior service credits and net losses of approximately $26.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively, in other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

NOTE L—STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On June 17, 2010, Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA, which we refer to as the “Parent”, authorized the issuance of up to 750,000 shares in time-based and performance-based restricted stock to certain

 

F-14


Table of Contents

key members of management. Any related compensation associated with these awards is allocated to the Company from the Parent.

For the three month period ended March 31, 2014, there were no grants of time-based or performance-based restricted stock awards. Total compensation expense for time-based restricted stock awards was $2.4 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of March 31, 2014, there was $10.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to time-based restricted stock awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.2 years.

For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company has not recorded compensation expense related to performance-based restricted stock awards as the likelihood of achieving the performance condition was not deemed to be probable as of March 31, 2014. Should this determination change in the future, compensation expense will be recognized over any remaining service period at that time. As of March 31, 2014, there was $15.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to performance-based restricted stock awards.

Management Retention Awards

During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Parent agreed to retention awards with certain officers. These awards generally vest over one to four years, and are payable upon vesting subject to the participant’s continued employment with the Company on the vesting date. Compensation expense related to these retention awards is equivalent to the value of the award, and is being recognized ratably over the applicable service period. Total compensation expense for these retention awards were $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of March 31, 2014, there was $1.1 million in unrecognized compensation cost related to these retention awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a period of 1.8 years.

NOTE M—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Bain Capital provides management services to the Company pursuant to a 10-year initial term advisory agreement, under which the Company incurred $1.2 million of fees for both the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Bain Capital also provides advice pursuant to a 10-year initial term transaction services agreement, with fees payable as a percentage of the transaction value of each financing, acquisition, or similar transaction. In connection with the issuance of Senior Notes and the amendment to the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facility in 2013, the Company incurred approximately $13.9 million of fees paid to Bain Capital pursuant to this agreement during the three month period ended March 31, 2013. The fees incurred were included in the refinancing fees capitalized as deferred charges (see Note F for further discussion). No similar fees were incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2014.

NOTE N—SEGMENTS

The Company operates four segments under two principal business units. The Emulsion Polymers business unit includes a Latex segment and a Synthetic Rubber segment. The Plastics business unit includes a Styrenics segment and an Engineered Polymers segment.

The Latex segment produces styrene-butadiene latex (“SB latex”) primarily for coated paper and packaging board, carpet and artificial turf backings, as well as a number of performance latex applications. The Synthetic Rubber segment produces synthetic rubber products used predominantly in tires, with additional applications in polymer modification and technical rubber goods, including conveyer and fan belts, hoses, seals and gaskets. The Styrenics and Engineered Polymers segments offer complementary plastics products with formulations developed for durable applications, such as consumer electronics, automotive and construction. Through these two segments, the Company provides a broad set of plastics product solutions to its customers.

 

F-15


Table of Contents
     Emulsion Polymers      Plastics               

Three Months Ended

   Latex      Synthetic
Rubber
     Styrenics      Engineered
Polymers
    Corporate
Unallocated
     Total  

March 31, 2014

                

Sales to external customers

   $ 326,305       $ 176,714       $ 594,342       $ 261,771      $ —         $ 1,359,132   

Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates

     —           —           15,537         (587     —           14,950   

EBITDA(1)

     25,513         43,101         42,266         (2,359     

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     —           —           128,800         36,059        —           164,859   

Depreciation and amortization

     6,304         7,170         7,389         1,774        1,091         23,728   

March 31, 2013

                

Sales to external customers

   $ 356,756       $ 176,416       $ 601,971       $ 256,442      $ —         $ 1,391,585   

Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates

     —           —           3,133         (334     —           2,799   

EBITDA(1)

     26,726         30,659         25,391         (795     

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     —           —           104,449         37,599        —           142,048   

Depreciation and amortization

     6,810         7,032         7,598         1,681        746         23,867   

 

(1) Reconciliation of EBITDA to net income (loss) is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014     2013  

Total Segment EBITDA

   $ 108,521      $ 81,981   

Corporate unallocated

     (22,139     (35,584

Less: Interest expense, net

     32,818        32,308   

Less: Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     12,750        (100

Less: Depreciation and amortization

     23,728        23,867   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 17,086      $ (9,678
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Corporate unallocated includes certain corporate overhead costs, loss on extinguishment of long-term debt, and certain other income and expenses.

The primary measure of segment operating performance is EBITDA, which is defined as net income (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is a key metric that is used by management to evaluate business performance in comparison to budgets, forecasts, and prior year financial results, providing a measure that management believes reflects the Company’s core operating performance. EBITDA is useful for analysis purposes; however, it should not be considered an alternative to the Company’s reported GAAP results, as there are limitations in using such financial measures. Other companies in the industry may define EBITDA differently than the Company, and as a result, it may be difficult to use EBITDA, or similarly-named financial measures, that other companies may use to compare the performance of those companies to the Company’s performance.

Asset and capital expenditure information is not accounted for at the segment level and consequently is not reviewed or included with the Company’s internal management reporting. Therefore, the Company has not disclosed asset and capital expenditure information for each reportable segment.

NOTE O—DIVESTURE

In June 2013, the Company’s board of directors approved the sale of its expandable polystyrene (“EPS”) business within the Company’s Styrenics segment, under a sale and purchase agreement which was signed in July 2013. The sale closed on September 30, 2013 and the Company received $15.2 million of sales proceeds during the third quarter of 2013, subject to a $0.7 million working capital adjustment, which was paid by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and is reflected within investing activities in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for that period.

 

F-16


Table of Contents

EPS business results of operations were not classified as discontinued operations as the Company will have significant continuing cash flows as a result of a long-term supply agreement of styrene monomer to the EPS business, which was entered into contemporaneously with the sale and purchase agreement. The supply agreement will have an initial term of approximately 10 years from the closing date of the sale and will continue year-to-year thereafter. Under the supply agreement, we will supply a minimum of approximately 77 million pounds and maximum of approximately 132 million pounds of styrene monomer annually or equivalent to 70% to 100% of the EPS business’s historical production consumption.

NOTE P—RESTRUCTURING

In July 2013, the Company’s board of directors approved the plan to close the Company’s latex manufacturing facility in Altona, Australia. This restructuring plan was a strategic business decision to improve the results of the overall Latex segment. The facility manufactured SB latex used in the carpet and paper markets. Production at the facility ceased in the third quarter of 2013, followed by decommissioning, with demolition expected throughout 2014. As a result of the plant closure, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $10.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 (none of which were recorded in the three month period ended March 31, 2013). These charges consisted of property, plant and equipment and other asset impairment charges, employee termination benefit charges, contract termination charges, and decommissioning charges, of which approximately $4.8 million remained accrued on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company recorded additional restructuring charges of approximately $0.6 million, related to incremental employee termination benefit charges and decommissioning costs. These charges were included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, and were allocated entirely to the Latex segment. The remaining employee termination benefits, contract termination costs, and decommissioning costs are recorded in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

The following table provides a rollforward of the liability balances associated with the Altona plant shutdown:

 

     Balance at
December 31, 2013
     Expenses      Deductions*     Balance at
March 31, 2014
 

Employee termination benefit charges

   $ 1,408       $ 302       $ (1,324   $ 386   

Contract termination charges

     3,388         —           (1,125     2,263   

Other**

     26         248         (218     56   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,822       $ 550       $ (2,667   $ 2,705   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Includes primarily payments made against the existing accrual, as well as immaterial impacts of foreign currency remeasurement.
** Includes decommissioning charges primarily related to labor service costs.

NOTE Q—ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes, consisted of:

 

     Currency
Translation
Adjustment, Net
    Employee
Benefits, Net
    Total  

December 31, 2013

   $ 116,146      $ (27,768   $ 88,378   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     (1,425     244        (1,181
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

   $ 114,721      $ (27,524   $ 87,197   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

December 31, 2012

   $ 62,807      $ (38,234   $ 24,573   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     (32,067     22,445        (9,622
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2013

   $ 30,740      $ (15,789   $ 14,951   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-17


Table of Contents

NOTE R—EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of the Company’s common shares outstanding for the applicable period. When applicable, the computation of diluted earnings per share reflects the effect of all potentially dilutive common shares that were outstanding during the respective period, unless the effect of doing so is anti-dilutive. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, the Company did not have any potentially dilutive shares.

The following table presents earnings (loss) per share for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in thousands, except per share data)    2014      2013  

Net income (loss)

   $ 17,086       $ (9,678

Weighted average shares

     16,275,329         16,275,329   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share—basic and diluted

   $ 0.00       $ (0.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE S—SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In April 2014, the Company completed the sale of a portion of land at our manufacturing site in Livorno, Italy for a purchase price of €4.95 million (approximately $6.8 million). As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, this land is classified as held-for-sale within the caption “Other current assets” in the condensed consolidated statement balance sheet. No significant gain or loss is expected as a result of this transaction.

NOTE T—SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

In connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes by Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. and Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc. (the “Issuers”), this supplemental guarantor financial statement disclosure is included in accordance with Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X. The Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis, in each case, subject to certain exceptions, by Trinseo S.A. (the “Parent Guarantor”) and by certain subsidiaries (together, the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”).

Each of the Guarantor Subsidiaries is 100 percent owned by the Company. None of the other subsidiaries of the Company, either direct or indirect, guarantee the Senior Notes (together, the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”). The Guarantor Subsidiaries of the Senior Notes, excluding the Parent Guarantor, will be automatically released from those guarantees upon the occurrence of certain customary release provisions.

The following supplemental condensed consolidating financial information is presented to comply with the Company’s requirements under Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X:

 

    the Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013;

 

    the Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013; and

 

    the Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

The Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements are presented using the equity method of accounting for its investments in 100 percent owned subsidiaries. Under the equity method, the investments in subsidiaries are recorded at cost and adjusted for our share of the subsidiaries cumulative results of operations, capital contributions, distributions and other equity changes. The elimination entries principally eliminate investments in subsidiaries and intercompany balances and transactions. The financial information in this footnote should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements presented and other notes related thereto contained within this Quarterly Report.

 

F-18


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

(In thousands)

 

    March 31, 2014  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Assets

           

Current assets

           

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 17      $ 503      $ 90,821      $ 47,748      $ —        $ 139,089   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance

    —          916        264,265        532,288        (868     796,601   

Intercompany receivables

    —          525,874        1,349,101        119,542        (1,994,517     —     

Inventories

    —          —          418,745        92,501        (1,473     509,773   

Deferred income tax assets

    —          —          1,624        5,546        —          7,170   

Other current assets

    —          1,801        6,323        16,293        —          24,417   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    17        529,094        2,130,879        813,918        (1,996,858     1,477,050   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

    —          —          164,859        —          —          164,859   

Property, plant and equipment, net

    —          —          466,548        130,051        —          596,599   

Other assets

           

Goodwill

    —          —          37,254        —          —          37,254   

Other intangible assets, net

    —          —          193,923        150        —          194,073   

Investments in subsidiaries

    362,047        1,276,822        659,708        —          (2,298,577     —     

Intercompany notes receivable— noncurrent

    —          1,359,290        17,730        —          (1,377,020     —     

Deferred income tax assets—noncurrent

    —          —          37,523        5,910        —          43,433   

Deferred charges and other assets

    1,110        46,640        31,983        632        419        80,784   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other assets

    363,157        2,682,752        978,121        6,692        (3,675,178     355,544   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 363,174      $ 3,211,846      $ 3,740,407      $ 950,661      $ (5,672,036   $ 2,594,052   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholder’s equity

           

Current liabilities

           

Short-term borrowings

  $ —        $ 1,458      $ —        $ 8,356      $ —        $ 9,814   

Accounts payable

    —          3,109        466,360        59,650        —          529,119   

Intercompany payables

    269        780,369        531,126        681,643        (1,993,407     —     

Income taxes payable

    —          —          8,224        1,635        (794     9,065   

Deferred income tax liabilities

    —          —          660        1,889        —          2,549   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    1,109        29,218        69,293        12,985        —          112,605   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    1,378        814,154        1,075,663        766,158        (1,994,201     663,152   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent liabilities

           

Long-term debt

    —          1,325,000        2,607        —          —          1,327,607   

Intercompany notes payable— noncurrent

    —          —          1,347,429        29,590        (1,377,019     —     

Deferred income tax liabilities— noncurrent

    —          2,050        20,091        9,060        —          31,201   

Other noncurrent obligations

    —          —          198,226        12,070        —          210,296   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

    —          1,327,050        1,568,353        50,720        (1,377,019     1,569,104   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note J)

           

Shareholder’s equity

    361,796        1,070,642        1,096,391        133,783        (2,300,816     361,796   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity

  $ 363,174      $ 3,211,846      $ 3,740,407      $ 950,661      $ (5,672,036   $ 2,594,052   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-19


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

(In thousands)

 

    December 31, 2013  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Assets

           

Current assets

           

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 2      $ 954      $ 154,770      $ 40,777      $ —        $ 196,503   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance

    —          —          272,745        444,739        (2     717,482   

Intercompany receivables

    —          554,795        1,242,405        93,841        (1,891,041     —     

Inventories

    —          —          439,952        93,019        (2,780     530,191   

Deferred income tax assets

    —          —          5,077        4,743        —          9,820   

Other current assets

    —          3,954        4,386        14,410        —          22,750   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    2        559,703        2,119,335        691,529        (1,893,823     1,476,746   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

    —          —          155,887        —          —          155,887   

Property, plant and equipment, net

    —          —          476,137        130,290        —          606,427   

Other assets

           

Goodwill

    —          —          37,273        —          —          37,273   

Other intangible assets, net

    —          —          171,352        162        —          171,514   

Investments in subsidiaries

    343,429        1,232,608        615,153        —          (2,191,190     —     

Intercompany notes receivable—noncurrent

    —          1,359,637        17,739        —          (1,377,376     —     

Deferred income tax assets—noncurrent

    —          —          36,260        6,678        —          42,938   

Deferred charges and other assets

    —          48,801        33,607        990        598        83,996   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other assets

    343,429        2,641,046        911,384        7,830        (3,567,968     335,721   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 343,431      $ 3,200,749      $ 3,662,743      $ 829,649      $ (5,461,791   $ 2,574,781   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholder’s equity

           

Current liabilities

           

Short-term borrowings

  $ —        $ 3,646      $ —        $ 5,108      $ —        $ 8,754   

Accounts payable

    —          2,570        436,147        70,378        (2     509,093   

Intercompany payables

    158        763,022        550,741        576,354        (1,890,275     —     

Income taxes payable

    —          —          9,407        276        —          9,683   

Deferred income tax liabilities

    —          —          784        2,119        —          2,903   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    71        58,977        66,061        11,020        —          136,129   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    229        828,215        1,063,140        665,255        (1,890,277     666,562   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent liabilities

           

Long-term debt

    —          1,325,000        2,667        —          —          1,327,667   

Intercompany notes payable—noncurrent

    —          —          1,347,773        29,602        (1,377,375     —     

Deferred income tax liabilities—noncurrent

    —          1,600        17,115        8,217        —          26,932   

Other noncurrent obligations

    —          —          198,479        11,939        —          210,418   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

    —          1,326,600        1,566,034        49,758        (1,377,375     1,565,017   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note J)

           

Shareholder’s equity

    343,202        1,045,934        1,033,569        114,636        (2,194,139     343,202   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity

  $ 343,431      $ 3,200,749      $ 3,662,743      $ 829,649      $ (5,461,791   $ 2,574,781   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-20


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2014  
     Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
     Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

   $ —        $ —        $ 1,227,563      $ 347,297       $ (215,728   $ 1,359,132   

Cost of sales

     —          157        1,147,077        329,723         (216,454     1,260,503   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     —          (157     80,486        17,574         726        98,629   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     2,706        685        42,076        4,563         —          50,030   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     —          —          14,950        —           —          14,950   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     (2,706     (842     53,360        13,011         726        63,549   

Interest expense, net

     —          31,590        312        916         —          32,818   

Intercompany interest expense (income), net

     2        (19,831     16,647        3,152         30        —     

Other expense (income), net

     —          (3,088     (824     4,807         —          895   

Equity in loss (earnings) of subsidiaries

     (19,794     (35,386     (27,168     —           82,348        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     17,086        25,873        64,393        4,136         (81,652     29,836   

Provision for income taxes

     —          —          9,182        3,316         252        12,750   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 17,086      $ 25,873      $ 55,211      $ 820       $ (81,904   $ 17,086   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 15,905      $ 24,692      $ 54,636      $ 214       $ (79,542   $ 15,905   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-21


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2013  
     Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

   $ —        $      $ 1,269,200      $ 373,332      $ (250,947   $ 1,391,585   

Cost of sales

     —          361        1,201,394        361,331        (252,304     1,310,782   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     —          (361     67,806        12,001        1,357        80,803   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     2,154        1,133        37,811        5,362        —          46,460   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     —          —          2,799        —          —          2,799   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     (2,154     (1,494     32,794        6,639        1,357        37,142   

Interest expense, net

     —          30,731        1,219        358        —          32,308   

Intercompany interest expense (income), net

     1        (20,874     17,766        3,164        (57     —     

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

     —          20,744        —          —          —          20,744   

Other expense (income), net

     (3     6,899        (15,562     2,357        177        (6,132

Equity in loss (earnings) of subsidiaries

     7,526        (35,576     1,018        —          27,032        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (9,678     (3,418     28,353        760        (25,795     (9,778

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     —          176        224        (1,480     980        (100
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (9,678   $ (3,594   $ 28,129      $ 2,240      $ (26,775   $ (9,678
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ (19,300   $ (13,216   $ 18,476      $ 2,271      $ (7,531   $ (19,300
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-22


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

    Three Months Ended March 31, 2014  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flows from operating activities

           

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ (15   $ (33,173   $ 14,291      $ 17,714      $ —        $ (1,183

Cash flows from investing activities

           

Capital expenditures

    —          —          (38,254     (2,887     —          (41,141

Payment for working capital adjustment from sale of business

    —          —          (700     —          —          (700

Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

    —          —          978        —          —          978   

Investments in subsidiaries

    —          (10,000     —          —          10,000        —     

Intercompany investing activities

    —          —          (76,566     —          76,566        —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    —          (10,000     (114,542     (2,887     86,566        (40,863
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

           

Intercompany short-term borrowings, net

    30        44,908        13,050        5,578        (63,566     —     

Short-term borrowings, net

    —          (2,188     (70     (12,579     —          (14,837

Contributions from parent companies

    —          —          10,000        —          (10,000     —     

Proceeds from issuance of intercompany indebtedness

    —          —          13,000        —          (13,000     —     

Proceeds from Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —          —          —          60,971        —          60,971   

Repayments of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —          —          —          (61,538     —          (61,538
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    30        42,720        35,980        (7,568     (86,566     (15,404

Effect of exchange rates on cash

    —          2        322        (288     —          36   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    15        (451     (63,949     6,971        —          (57,414

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

    2        954        154,770        40,777        —          196,503   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

  $ 17      $ 503      $ 90,821      $ 47,748      $ —        $ 139,089   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-23


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

    Three Months Ended March 31, 2013  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flows from operating activities

           

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ (16   $ 23,240      $ (32,373   $ 4,684      $ —        $ (4,465

Cash flows from investing activities

           

Capital expenditures

    —          —          (15,153     (1,788     —          (16,941

Proceeds from capital expenditures subsidy

    —          —          6,575        —          —          6,575   

Advance payment refunded

    —          —          —          (2,711     —          (2,711

Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

    —          —          1,055        —          —          1,055   

Intercompany investing activities

    —          —          (73,348     —          73,348        —     

Decrease in restricted cash

    —          —          —          7,852        —          7,852   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    —          —          (80,871     3,353        73,348        (4,170
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

           

Deferred financing fees

    —          (44,638     —          —          —          (44,638

Intercompany short-term borrowings, net

    16        29,192        38,728        5,412        (73,348     —     

Short-term borrowings, net

    —          (2,124     —          (6,384     —          (8,508

Repayments of Term Loans

    —          (1,239,000     —          —          —          (1,239,000

Proceeds from the issuance of Senior Notes

    —          1,325,000        —          —          —          1,325,000   

Proceeds from Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —          —          —          61,039        —          61,039   

Repayments of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —          —          —          (45,053     —          (45,053

Proceeds from Revolving Facility

    —          285,000        —          —          —          285,000   

Repayments of Revolving Facility

    —          (405,000     —          —          —          (405,000
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    16        (51,570     38,728        15,014        (73,348     (71,160

Effect of exchange rates on cash

    —          89        (1,415     (206     —          (1,532
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    —          (28,241     (75,931     22,845        —          (81,327

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

    3        29,411        182,088        24,855        —          236,357   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

  $ 3      $ 1,170      $ 106,157      $ 47,700      $ —        $ 155,030   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-24


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholder of Trinseo S.A.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income (loss), of shareholder’s equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Trinseo S.A. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years ended December 31, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 14, 2014

 

F-25


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     December 31,  
     2013     2012  

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 196,503      $ 236,357   

Restricted cash

     —          7,852   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance

     717,482        695,364   

Inventories

     530,191        582,740   

Deferred income tax assets

     9,820        4,353   

Other current assets

     22,750        21,011   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,476,746        1,547,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

     155,887        140,304   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     606,427        633,272   

Other assets

    

Goodwill

     37,273        36,103   

Other intangible assets, net

     171,514        179,642   

Deferred income tax assets—noncurrent

     42,938        67,204   

Deferred charges and other assets

     83,996        61,494   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other assets

     335,721        344,443   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2,574,781      $ 2,665,696   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholder’s equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

   $ 8,754      $ 98,133   

Accounts payable

     509,093        572,182   

Income taxes payable

     9,683        11,084   

Deferred income tax liabilities

     2,903        2,628   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     136,129        85,575   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     666,562        769,602   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent liabilities

    

Long-term debt

     1,327,667        1,355,451   

Deferred income tax liabilities—noncurrent

     26,932        40,367   

Other noncurrent obligations

     210,418        208,611   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

     1,565,017        1,604,429   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note O)

    

Shareholder’s equity

    

Common stock, $0.01 nominal value, 16,275,329 shares authorized, issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 2012

     162,753        162,753   

Additional paid-in-capital

     176,675        166,725   

Accumulated deficit

     (84,604     (62,386

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     88,378        24,573   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholder’s equity

     343,202        291,665   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity

   $ 2,574,781      $ 2,665,696   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-26


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013     2012      2011  

Net sales

   $ 5,307,414      $ 5,451,909       $ 6,192,858   

Cost of sales

     4,949,404        5,115,188         5,797,277   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     358,010        336,721         395,581   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     216,858        182,069         308,644   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     39,138        27,140         23,874   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     180,290        181,792         110,811   

Interest expense, net

     132,038        109,971         111,416   

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

     20,744        —          55,666   

Other expense (income), net

     27,877        23,979         (20,094
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (369     47,842         (36,177

Provision for income taxes

     21,849        17,560         39,728   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (22,218   $ 30,282       $ (75,905
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average shares

     16,275,329        7,040,904         60,938   

Net income (loss) per share—basic and diluted

   $ (0.00   $ 0.00       $ (1.25
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(In thousands, unless otherwise stated)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013     2012     2011  

Net income (loss)

   $ (22,218   $ 30,282      $ (75,905

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (tax amounts shown in millions below for 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively):

      

Cumulative translation adjustments (net of tax of $0, $0.1, and $0.1)

     53,339        23,872        (39,360

Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:

      

Prior service credit (cost) arising during period (net of tax of $1.7, $0, and $0.8)

     10,548        —         (1,626

Net gain (loss) arising during period (net of tax of $(1.3), $17.7, and $4.3)

     (3,545     (51,880     9,882   

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)(1) :

      

Curtailment and settlement loss (gain) (net of tax of $0.6, $0, and $0)

     1,502        (247     (164

Amortization of prior service cost (credit) included in net periodic pension costs (net of tax of $(0.1), $0.1, and $0)

     (890     94        —    

Amortization of net loss(gain) included in net periodic pension costs (net of tax of $1.0, $0.2, and $0.1)

     2,851        (454     367   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

     63,805        (28,615     (30,901
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 41,587      $ 1,667      $ (106,806
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) These other comprehensive income (loss) components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit costs (see Note P)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-28


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Consolidated Statements of Shareholder’s Equity

(In thousands, except share data)

 

    Common stock     Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total  
                     
    Shares     Amount          

Balance at December 31, 2010

    71,736,950      $ 717      $ 658,450      $ 84,089      $ (16,763   $ 726,493   

Distribution to shareholder

    (11,908,333     (119     (521,347     —          —          (521,466

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          (75,905     (75,905

Other comprehensive loss

    —          —          —          (30,901     —          (30,901

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          22,294        —          —          22,294   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

    59,828,617      $ 598      $ 159,397      $ 53,188      $ (92,668   $ 120,515   

Contributions from shareholder

    16,215,500,000        162,155        —          —          —          162,155   

Net income

    —          —          —          —          30,282        30,282   

Other comprehensive loss

    —          —          —          (28,615     —          (28,615

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          7,328        —          —          7,328   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

    16,275,328,617      $ 162,753      $ 166,725      $ 24,573      $ (62,386   $ 291,665   

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          (22,218     (22,218

Other comprehensive income

    —          —          —          63,805        —          63,805   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          9,950        —          —          9,950   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2013

    16,275,328,617      $ 162,753      $ 176,675      $ 88,378      $ (84,604   $ 343,202   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-29


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013     2012     2011  
Cash flows from operating activities                   

Net income (loss)

   $ (22,218   $ 30,282      $ (75,905

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities

      

Depreciation and amortization

     95,196        85,604        101,611   

Amortization of deferred financing costs and issuance discount

     9,547        8,537        8,070   

Deferred income tax

     4,215        4,734        7,042   

Stock-based compensation

     9,950        7,328        22,294   

Earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends

     (16,638     (6,169     (13,874

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     20,744        —          55,666   

Prepayment penalty on long-term debt

     —          —          (7,679

Loss (gain) on sale of businesses and other assets

     4,186        263        (478

Impairment charges

     13,851        245        —     

Changes in assets and liabilities

      

Accounts receivable

     (5,643     84,678        66,970   

Inventories

     55,369        (87,241     53,934   

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     15,001        67,887        (37,680

Income taxes payable

     (1,241     (5,142     (27,621

Other assets, net

     2,384        (12,672     (18,130

Other liabilities, net

     26,632        7,781        16,866   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities

     211,335        186,115        151,086   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

      

Capital expenditures

     (73,544     (118,504     (99,811

Proceeds from capital expenditures subsidy

     18,769        6,079        —     

Proceeds from the sale of businesses and assets

     15,221        253        —     

Advance payment received (refunded)

     (2,711     2,602        —     

Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

     1,055        —          7,196   

Interest rate caps

     —          —          (262

(Increase) / decrease in restricted cash

     7,852        (7,725     (6,250
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in investing activities

     (33,358     (117,295     (99,127
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

      

Deferred financing fees

     (48,255     (8,080     (20,304

Short term borrowings, net

     (42,877     (37,887     737   

Distribution to shareholder

     —          —          (521,467

Capital contribution

     —          162,155        —     

Net proceeds from issuance of Term Loans

     —          —          1,399,690   

Repayments of Term Loans

     (1,239,000     (147,000     (794,000

Principal payments on Seller Note

     —          —          (75,000

Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes

     1,325,000        —          —     

Proceeds from issuance of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

     376,630        113,828        66,784   

Repayments of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

     (471,696     (130,233     (31,574

Proceeds from the draw of revolving debt

     405,000        1,105,000        1,125,000   

Repayments on the revolving debt

     (525,000     (1,135,000     (1,105,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (220,198     (77,217     44,866   

Effect of exchange rates on cash

     2,367        (559     350   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     (39,854     (8,956     97,175   

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

     236,357        245,313        148,138   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

   $ 196,503      $ 236,357      $ 245,313   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

      

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds

   $ 24,779      $ 20,444      $ 41,472   

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized

   $ 83,509      $ 98,046      $ 107,309   

Accrual for property, plant and equipment

   $ 11,156      $ 13,155      $ 13,722   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-30


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise stated)

NOTE A—ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

On June 3, 2010, Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA (the “Parent”), an affiliate of Bain Capital Partners, LLC (“Bain Capital”), was formed through investment funds of Bain Capital with The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) investing $48.8 million for a 7.5% interest in the Parent. Trinseo S.A. (“Trinseo” or the “Company”) was formed on June 3, 2010 and is incorporated under the existing laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. All common shares of Trinseo are owned by the Parent.

On June 17, 2010, Trinseo acquired 100% of the former Styron business from Dow through Styron S.à.r.l., a wholly owned subsidiary of Trinseo. Prior to June 17, 2010, Styron business was a wholly owned business of Dow. Refer to Note C for additional description of the Styron business acquisition. The Company commenced operations immediately upon the acquisition of the former Styron business from Dow.

Trinseo is a leading global materials company dedicated to the innovation and delivery of specialty and customized emulsion polymers and plastics. Trinseo’s unique product portfolio brings together plastics, rubber and latex businesses that share feedstocks, operations, customers and end users.

Trinseo’s operations are located in North America, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America (including Mexico), and Asia Pacific (which includes Asia as well as Australia and New Zealand), supplemented by two strategic joint ventures, Sumika Styron Polycarbonate Limited (“Sumika Styron”) and Americas Styrenics LLC (“AmSty” a polystyrene joint venture with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP). Refer to Note D for further information regarding our investments in these unconsolidated affiliates. The Company’s large and diverse global customer base consists principally of major industrial companies. Trinseo focuses on developing tailored product solutions for its customers, who it serves locally, with 35 manufacturing plants at 27 sites (which include a total of 83 production units) in 14 countries, inclusive of joint ventures and contract manufacturers.

NOTE B—BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

On June 17, 2010, the Company acquired 100% of the interests in the Styron business from Dow (the “Acquisition”). As a result of the Acquisition, the Company applied purchase accounting and began a new basis of accounting. Refer to Note C for further discussion. All periods prior to the Acquisition may be referred to herein as the “predecessor periods”, while those after the Acquisition may be referred to as “successor periods”.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for each of the three years ended 2013 were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements of the Company contain the accounts of all entities that are controlled and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Corporate joint ventures over which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence that are not consolidated are accounted for by the equity method.

A VIE is defined as a legal entity that has equity investors that do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to support its activities without additional subordinated financial support or, as a group, the holders of the equity at risk lack (i) the power to direct the entity’s activities or (ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses or the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity. A VIE is required to be consolidated by a company if that company is the primary beneficiary. Refer to Note J for further discussion of the Company’s accounts receivable securitization facility.

 

F-31


Table of Contents

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position.

Use of Estimates in Financial Statement Preparation

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts could differ from these estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash equivalents and accounts receivables. The Company uses major financial institutions with high credit ratings to engage in transactions involving cash equivalents. The Company minimizes credit risk in its receivables from customers through its sale of products to a wide variety of customers and markets in locations throughout the world.

The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for losses resulting from the inability of specific customers to meet their financial obligations to the Company. A specific reserve for doubtful receivables is recorded against the amount due from these customers. For all other customers, the Company recognizes reserves for doubtful receivables based on historical experience. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of probable credit losses in existing trade accounts receivable.

Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued and other current liabilities, approximate fair value because of their generally short maturities.

The estimated fair value of the Senior Notes issued by the Company in January 2013 is determined using level 2 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2013, the Senior Notes had a fair value of approximately $1,366.4 million.

In prior years, the estimated fair value of the Term Loans, which were fully repaid by the Company in January 2013, was determined using level 1 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2012, the Term Loans’ carrying amount of $1,239.0 million was determined to approximate fair value as the Term Loans were redeemed at par in January 2013.

When outstanding, the estimated fair values of borrowings under the Company’s Revolving Facility and Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility are determined using level 2 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. The carrying amounts of borrowings under the Revolving Facility and Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility approximate fair value as these borrowings bear interest based on prevailing variable market rates.

At times, the Company manages its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in interest rates, where possible, by entering into foreign exchange forward contracts and interest rate cap agreements, respectively. When outstanding, all derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, are required to be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. The fair value of the derivatives is determined from sources independent of the Company, including the financial institutions which are party to the derivative instruments. The fair value of derivatives also considers the credit default risk of the paying party. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item will be recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the

 

F-32


Table of Contents

change in the fair value of the derivative will be recorded in other comprehensive income and will be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations when the hedged item affects earnings. As of December 31, 2013, the Company has no foreign exchange forward contracts or interest rate cap agreements outstanding. In 2012, however, the Company had interest rate cap agreements and foreign exchange forward contracts, which were not accounted or designated for hedge accounting treatment. As such, changes in the fair value of these agreements were recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. The loss on fair value of these agreements was recorded in interest expense while the gain or loss on fair value of our foreign exchange forward contracts was recorded in other expense (income) in the consolidated statements of operations. Cash flows from derivatives not designated for hedge accounting treatment were classified in the operating activities of the statements of cash flows.

Foreign Currency Translation

For the majority of the operations, the local currency has been determined to be the functional currency. In the remainder of territories, the U.S. dollar has been determined to be the functional currency due to the significant influence of the U.S. dollar on operations. Gains and losses resulting from the translation of the functional currency into U.S. dollars for financial statement presentation are not included in determining net income (loss), but are accumulated in the cumulative translation adjustment account as a separate component of shareholder’s equity (accumulated other comprehensive income). The Company translates asset and liability balances at exchange rates in effect at the end of the period and income and expense transactions at the average exchange rates in effect during the period. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the determination of net income (loss).

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, net foreign exchange transaction losses of $18.3 million and $18.0 million, respectively, were recognized, while for the year ended December 31, 2011, a net foreign exchange transaction gain of $17.2 million was recognized. Gains and losses on net foreign exchange transactions are recorded within “Other expense (income)” in the consolidated statement of operations.

Environmental Matters

Accruals for environmental matters are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated based on current law and existing technologies. These accruals are adjusted periodically as assessment and remediation efforts progress, or as additional technical or legal information become available. Accruals for environmental liabilities are included in “Other noncurrent obligations” in the consolidated balance sheets at undiscounted amounts. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, no accruals for environmental liabilities were recorded.

Environmental costs are capitalized if the costs extend the life of the property, increase its capacity, or mitigate or prevent contamination from future operations. Environmental costs are also capitalized in recognition of legal asset retirement obligations resulting from the acquisition, construction or normal operation of a long-lived asset. Any costs related to environmental contamination treatment and cleanups are charged to expense. Estimated future incremental operations, maintenance and management costs directly related to remediation are accrued when such costs are probable and reasonably estimable.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents generally include time deposits or highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined on the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. The Company periodically reviews its inventory for excess or obsolete inventory, and will write-down the excess or obsolete inventory value to its net realizable value, if applicable.

 

F-33


Table of Contents

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less any impairment and are depreciated over estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Capitalized costs associated with computer software for internal use are amortized on a straight-line basis over 5 years.

Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged against income as incurred. Expenditures that significantly increase asset value, extend useful asset lives or adapt property to a new or different use are capitalized. These expenditures include planned major maintenance activity or turnaround activities which increase our manufacturing plants’ output and improve production efficiency as compared to pre-turnaround operations. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, $13.1 million and $13.8 million, respectively, of the Company’s net costs related to turnaround activities are capitalized to deferred charges within “Deferred charges and other assets” in the consolidated balance sheet, and are amortized over a period until the next scheduled turnaround.

The Company periodically monitors actual experience to determine whether events and circumstances have occurred that may warrant revision of the estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment. Engineering and other costs directly related to the construction of property, plant and equipment are capitalized as construction in progress until construction is complete and such property, plant and equipment is ready and available to perform its specifically assigned function. Upon retirement or other disposal, the asset cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the net amount, less any proceeds, is charged or credited to income. The Company also capitalizes interest as a component of the cost of capital assets constructed for its own use.

Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset grouping may not be recoverable. When undiscounted future cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover an asset’s carrying amount, the asset is written down to its fair value based on a discounted cash flow analysis utilizing market participant assumptions.

Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are classified as held for sale and are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell, and depreciation is ceased. Long-lived assets to be disposed of other than by sale are classified as held and used until they are disposed.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company records goodwill when the purchase price of a business acquisition exceeds the estimated fair value of net identified tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level annually, or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit has more likely than not declined below its carrying value. The Company utilizes a market approach and/or a discounted cash flow methodology to calculate the fair value of its reporting units. The annual impairment assessment is completed using a measurement date of October 1 st . No impairment loss was recorded in 2013, 2012 and 2011.

Finite-lived intangible assets, such as our intellectual property, are amortized on a straight-line basis. Finite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment or obsolescence if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an intangible asset may not be recoverable. If impaired, intangible assets are written down to fair value based on discounted cash flows.

Deferred Financing Fees

Capitalized fees and costs incurred in connection with the Company’s financing arrangements are included in “Deferred charges and other assets” in the consolidated balance sheets. For the Senior Notes (and the Term

 

F-34


Table of Contents

Loans prior to their repayment in January 2013), deferred financing fees are amortized over the term of the agreement using the effective interest method, while for the Revolving Facility and the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, deferred financing fees are amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the respective facility. Amortization of deferred financing fees is reflected in “Interest expense, net” in the consolidated statement of operations.

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates where the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence (generally, 20% to 50% owned companies) are accounted for using the equity method. Investments are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recorded whenever a decline in fair value of an investment in an unconsolidated affiliate below its carrying amount is determined to be other than temporary.

Sales

Sales are recognized when the revenue is realized or realizable, and the earnings process is complete which occurs when risk and title to the product transfers to the customer, which usually occurs at the time shipment is made. As such, title to the product usually passes when the product is delivered to the freight carrier. Standard terms of delivery are included in contracts of sale, order confirmation documents and invoices. Freight costs and any directly related costs of transporting finished product to customers are recorded as “Cost of sales” in the consolidated statements of operations. Taxes on sales are excluded from net sales.

Sales are recorded net of estimates for returns and price allowances, including discounts for prompt payment and volume-based incentives.

Cost of Sales

The Company classifies the costs of manufacturing and distributing its products as cost of sales. Manufacturing costs include raw materials, utilities, packaging and fixed manufacturing costs associated with production. Fixed manufacturing costs include such items as plant site operating costs and overhead, production planning, depreciation and amortization, repairs and maintenance, environmental, and engineering costs. Distribution costs include shipping and handling costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses are charged to expense as incurred. SG&A expenses are the cost of services performed by the marketing and sales functions (including sales managers, field sellers, marketing research, marketing communications and promotion and advertising materials) and by administrative functions (including product management, research and development (“R&D”) business management, customer invoicing, and human resources). R&D expenses include the cost of services performed by the R&D function, including technical service and development, process research including pilot plant operations, and product development.

Total R&D costs included in SG&A expenses were approximately $49.7 million, $48.3 million and $58.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The Company expenses promotional and advertising costs as incurred to SG&A expenses. Total promotional and advertising expense was approximately $3.0 million, $3.2 million and $6.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

F-35


Table of Contents

Pension and Postretirement Benefits Plans

The Company has several defined benefit plans, under which participants earn a retirement benefit based upon a formula set forth in the plan. Accounting for defined benefit pension plans, and any curtailments thereof, requires various assumptions, including, but not limited to, discount rates, expected rates of return on plan assets and future compensation growth rates. The Company evaluates these assumptions at least once each year, or as facts and circumstances dictate, and makes changes as conditions warrant. The Company also provides certain health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees mainly to certain retirees in the United States. The plans provide health care benefits, including hospital, physicians’ services, drug and major medical expense coverage, and life insurance benefits.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes result from differences between the financial and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. Provision has been made for income taxes on unremitted earnings of subsidiaries and affiliates, except for subsidiaries in which earnings are deemed to be indefinitely invested.

The Company recognizes the financial statement effects of uncertain income tax positions when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. The Company accrues for other tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability to a taxing authority has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated. Interest accrued related to unrecognized tax and income tax related penalties are included in the provision for income taxes. The current portion of uncertain income taxes positions is included in “Income taxes payable” and the long-term portion is included in “Other noncurrent obligations” in the consolidated balance sheets.

Income tax expense recognized for the year ended December 31, 2012 includes cumulative adjustments of $4.1 million and $2.0 million from 2010 and 2011, respectively, which resulted in a reduction of income tax expense, net, of approximately $6.1 million. These adjustments relate to the correction of prior period errors, which resulted from the reconciliation of income tax provision to tax return positions completed during 2012. The Company believes this is not material to the Company’s results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award. Time-based restricted stock awards are generally recognized as expense on a graded vesting basis over the service period. For performance-based restricted stock awards, the Company recognizes compensation cost if and when it concludes that it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. The Company calculates the fair value of its performance-based restricted stock awards using a combination of a call option and digital option model.

Periodically, the Parent may sell non-transferable restricted stock to certain officers and key members of management of the Company. Stock-based compensation expense on this non-transferable restricted stock is recognized if the non-transferable restricted stock is purchased at a price which is less than the fair value of the Parent’s common stock.

 

F-36


Table of Contents

Recent Accounting Guidance

In February 2013, the FASB issued an amendment to the disclosure requirements for presentation of comprehensive income, which requires presentation (either in a single note or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements) of the effect of significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income based on its source and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. If a component is not required to be reclassified to net income in its entirety, a cross reference to the related footnote for additional information will be required. The amendment was effective and adopted by the Company as of January 1, 2013. The implementation of the amended accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance for Balance Sheet: Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, which requires entities to disclose both gross and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting agreement to facilitate users of the financial statements understand the effect of those arrangements on the Company’s financial position. In January 2013, the FASB issued further guidance that clarifies the scope of the offsetting disclosures. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Retrospective presentation for all comparative periods presented is required. The Company adopted the guidance effective as of January 1, 2013 and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

In February 2013, the FASB issued amendments for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation is fixed at the reporting date, except for obligations addressed within existing guidance. This guidance requires an entity to measure those obligations as the sum of the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. This guidance also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations. This amendment is effective on a retrospective basis for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this amendment but the Company does not expect the impact of adoption to be material.

In March 2013, the FASB issued amendments to address the accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity. The amendments are effective prospectively for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2013 (early adoption is permitted). The initial adoption has no impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations. The Company will apply the guidance prospectively to derecognition events occurring after the effective date.

In July 2013, the FASB issued guidance which permits an entity to designate the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate, also referred to as the overnight index swap rate, as a benchmark interest rate in a hedge accounting relationship. In addition, the guidance removes the restriction on using different benchmark interest rates for similar hedges. The guidance was effective in July 2013. This guidance has no impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

In July 2013, the FASB issued guidance to clarify the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The new guidance requires that unrecognized tax benefits be netted against all available same-jurisdiction losses or other tax carryforwards that would be utilized, rather than only against carryforwards that are created by the unrecognized tax benefits. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013, and should be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Retrospective application is permitted. The Company believes the adoption will not have a significant impact to the current presentation.

 

F-37


Table of Contents

NOTE C—ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

Styron Acquisition

On March 2, 2010, STY Acquisition Corp. (“STY Acquisition”), an affiliate of Bain Capital, entered into a sale and purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Dow, Styron LLC and Styron Holding B.V. (together with Styron LLC, the “Styron Holdcos”) pursuant to which STY Acquisition agreed to acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interests of the Styron Holdcos. STY Acquisition, subsequently (but prior to the close of the transaction) assigned its rights and obligations under the Purchase Agreement to Styron S.à r.l., the Company’s indirect wholly owned subsidiary. The consideration for the purchase of Styron Holdcos was approximately $1,509.4 million, subject to customary adjustments for working capital, employee liabilities and certain other amounts. These amounts included a $75.0 million of notes payable to Dow (the “Seller Note”), which was subsequently repaid to Dow in 2011, and which is discussed further in Note J. Subsequent to the closing of the Acquisition, the Company paid $55.8 million in closing date working capital adjustments.

The Company accounted for the Acquisition under the purchase method of accounting in accordance with the applicable authoritative guidance for Business Combinations, whereby the purchase price paid was allocated to the acquired assets and liabilities at fair value. As of June 17, 2011, the one-year measurement period surrounding the Acquisition ended. During 2012, certain adjustments were identified related to the Acquisition accounting. As such, the Company recorded $8.7 million to goodwill to correct our final purchase price allocation with the offsets recorded primarily to deferred income taxes and pension liabilities. The Company does not believe this is material to any of the prior year consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the purchase price allocation for the acquisition was considered complete in 2012. As part of the Acquisition, the Company has been indemnified for various tax matters, including income tax and value add taxes, as well as legal liabilities which have been incurred prior to the Acquisition. Conversely, certain tax matters which the Company has benefitted from are subject to reimbursement by Trinseo to Dow. These amounts have been estimated and provisional amounts have been recorded based on the information known during the measurement period; however, these amounts remain subject to change based on the completion of our annual statutory filings, tax authority review as well as a final resolution with Dow on amounts due to and due from the Company. Management believes the Company’s estimates and assumptions are reasonable under the circumstances, however, settlement negotiations or changes in estimates around pre-acquisition indemnifications could result in a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

During 2013, the Company received $6.7 million, net of tax indemnity from Dow for income taxes paid to the taxing authorities relating to the period prior to the Acquisition, which was previously recorded within “Accounts receivable, net of allowance” in the consolidated balance sheet. There were no other indemnity payments received from Dow or indemnity payments to Dow during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

 

F-38


Table of Contents

Divestiture of Expandable Polystyrene Business

In June 2013, the Company’s board of directors approved the sale of its EPS business within the Company’s Styrenics segment, under a sale and purchase agreement which was signed in July 2013. The sale closed on September 30, 2013 and the Company received $15.2 million of sales proceeds during the third quarter, subject to a $0.7 million working capital adjustment due to be paid by the Company during the first quarter of 2014. The Company recognized a loss from the sale of $4.2 million recorded in “Other expense (income), net” in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013. The loss calculation is as follows:

 

Assets

  

Inventories

   $ 8,135   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     9,401   

Other intangibles assets, net

     1,624   

Goodwill

     383   
  

 

 

 

Total assets sold

   $ 19,543   
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

  

Pension and other benefits

   $ 791   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities sold

   $ 791   
  

 

 

 

Net assets sold

   $ 18,752   

Sales proceeds, net of amount payable to buyer of $0.7 million

     14,566   
  

 

 

 

Loss on sale

   $ 4,186   
  

 

 

 

EPS business results of operations were not classified as discontinued operations as the Company will have significant continuing cash flows as a result of a long-term supply agreement of styrene monomer to the EPS business, which was entered into contemporaneously with the sale and purchase agreement. The supply agreement will have an initial term of approximately 10 years from the closing date of the sale and will continue year-to-year thereafter. Under the supply agreement, we will supply a minimum of approximately 77 million pounds and maximum of approximately 132 million pounds of styrene monomer annually or equivalent to 70% to 100% of the EPS business’s historical production consumption.

NOTE D—INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES

As noted within Note A, Trinseo is supplemented by two strategic joint ventures: AmSty (a polystyrene joint venture with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP) and Sumika Styron (a polycarbonate joint venture with Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited).

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, Trinseo’s investment in AmSty was $118.3 million and $101.3 million. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, Trinseo’s investment in AmSty was $130.8 million and $150.7 million less than Trinseo’s 50% share of AmSty’s underlying net assets. This amount represents the difference between the book value of assets contributed to the joint venture at the time of formation (May 1, 2008) and Trinseo’s 50% share of the total recorded value of the joint venture’s assets and certain adjustments to conform with the Company’s accounting policies. This difference is being amortized over a weighted average remaining useful life of the contributed assets of approximately 7.0 years as of December 31, 2013. The Company received dividends from AmSty of $22.5 million, $20.0 million, and $10.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, Trinseo’s investment in Sumika Styron was $37.6 million and $39.0 million. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, Trinseo’s investment in Sumika Styron was $20.8 million and $18.6 million greater than Trinseo’s 50% share of Sumika Styron’s underlying net assets. This amount represents the fair value of certain identifiable assets which have not been recorded on the historical

 

F-39


Table of Contents

financial statements of Sumika Styron. This difference is being amortized over the remaining useful life of the contributed assets of 11.75 years as of December 31, 2013. The Company received dividends from Sumika Styron of $1.1 million, $1.0 million, and $7.2 million (net of withholding taxes) for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

Equity in earnings from unconsolidated affiliates was $39.1 million, $27.1 million and $23.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

Both of the unconsolidated affiliates are privately held companies; therefore, quoted market prices for their stock are not available.

The summarized financial information of the Company’s unconsolidated affiliates is shown below:

 

     December 31,  
             2013                      2012          

Current assets

   $ 528,223       $ 519,462   

Noncurrent assets

     333,894         365,245   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 862,117       $ 884,707   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current liabilities

   $ 281,823       $ 278,180   

Noncurrent liabilities

     48,415         60,110   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 330,238       $ 338,290   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013      2012      2011  

Sales

   $ 2,281,045       $ 2,058,060       $ 1,999,493   

Gross profit

   $ 94,148       $ 82,511       $ 63,125   

Net income (loss)

   $ 38,504       $ 21,408       $ (5,294

Sales to unconsolidated affiliates for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 were $8.2 million, $9.5 million and $13.7 million, respectively. Purchases from unconsolidated affiliates were $274.4 million, $269.1 million and $286.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, $3.3 million and $2.3 million due from unconsolidated affiliates was included in Accounts receivable and $29.9 million and $26.6 million due to unconsolidated affiliates was included in Accounts payable.

NOTE E—ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Accounts receivable consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,  
             2013                     2012          

Trade receivables

   $ 584,160      $ 566,309   

Non-income tax receivables

     94,069        91,390   

Other receivables

     45,119        46,035   

Less: allowance for doubtful accounts

     (5,866     (8,370
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 717,482      $ 695,364   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-40


Table of Contents

The allowance for doubtful accounts was approximately $5.9 million and $8.4 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As a result of changes in the estimate of allowance for doubtful accounts, for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized a benefit of $3.0 million, while for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company recognized bad debt expense of $0.3 million and $4.6 million, respectively.

NOTE F—INVENTORIES

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2013      2012  

Finished goods

   $ 302,379       $ 334,986   

Raw materials and semi-finished goods

     191,081         213,409   

Supplies

     36,731         34,345   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 530,191       $ 582,740   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE G—PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:

 

     Estimated Useful
Lives (Years)
   December 31,  
        2013     2012  

Land

   Not applicable    $ 50,982      $ 48,576   

Land and waterway improvements

   1-20      13,603        12,901   

Buildings

   2-40      58,447        54,582   

Machinery and equipment(1)

   1-20      627,068        600,455   

Utility and supply lines

   1-10      7,100        5,251   

Leasehold interests

   1-45      50,009        49,677   

Other property

   1-8      27,260        13,898   

Construction in process

   Not applicable      55,753        39,679   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

        890,222        825,019   

Less: accumulated depreciation

        (283,795     (191,747
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

      $ 606,427      $ 633,272   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Approximately 94% of our machinery and equipment had a useful life of three to ten years as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013      2012      2011  

Depreciation expense

   $ 75,401       $ 68,312       $ 86,542   

Capitalized interest

   $ 3,142       $ 6,178       $ 1,737   

During the three months ended December 31, 2013, the Company determined that the long-lived assets at our polycarbonate manufacturing facility in Stade, Germany should be assessed for impairment driven primarily by continued losses experienced in our polycarbonate business. This assessment indicated that the carrying amount of the long-lived assets at this facility were not recoverable when compared to the expected undiscounted cash flows of our polycarbonate business. Based upon our assessment of fair value of this asset group, the Company concluded these assets were fully impaired as of December 31, 2013. The fair value of the asset group was determined under the income approach utilizing a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) model. The key assumptions used in the DCF model included growth rates and cash flow projections, discount rate, tax rate and an estimated terminal value.

 

F-41


Table of Contents

As a result, in the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded an impairment loss of approximately $9.2 million. The amount was recorded within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the consolidated statement of operations and allocated entirely to the Engineered Polymers segment.

NOTE H—GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

The following table shows changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by segment, from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2013, respectively:

 

     Emulsion Polymers      Plastics      Total  
     Latex      Synthetic
Rubber
     Styrenics     Engineered
Polymers
    

Balance at December 31, 2011

   $ 10,387       $ 7,114       $ 6,322      $ 2,438       $ 26,261   

Purchase accounting adjustments (Note C)

     3,435         2,352         2,091        806         8,684   

Foreign currency impact

     458         314         278        108         1,158   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

   $ 14,280       $ 9,780       $ 8,691      $ 3,352       $ 36,103   

Divestiture (Note C)

     —           —           (383     —           (383

Foreign currency impact

     621         425         361        146         1,553   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2013

   $ 14,901       $ 10,205       $ 8,669      $ 3,498       $ 37,273   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Goodwill impairment testing is performed annually as of October 1st. In 2013, the Company performed its annual impairment test for goodwill and determined that the estimated fair value of each reporting unit was substantially in excess of the carrying value indicating that none of the Company’s goodwill was impaired. The Company concluded there were no impairments or triggering events for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011.

Other Intangible Assets

The following table provides information regarding the Company’s other intangible assets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively:

 

            December 31, 2013      December 31, 2012  
     Estimated
Useful Life
(Years)
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net      Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net  

Developed technology

     15       $ 210,546       $ (49,713   $ 160,833       $ 203,812       $ (34,535   $ 169,277   

Software

     5         11,034         (4,099     6,935         8,849         (1,973     6,876   

Software in development

     N/A         3,746         —          3,746         3,489         —          3,489   
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $ 225,326       $ (53,812   $ 171,514       $ 216,150       $ (36,508   $ 179,642   
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amortization expense related to finite-lived intangible assets totaled $15.7 million, $14.7 million, and $15.1 million, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Estimated Amortization Expense for the Next Five Years  

        2014        

          2015                     2016                     2017                     2018          
$16,249   $ 16,238      $ 15,674      $ 14,837      $ 14,121   

 

F-42


Table of Contents

NOTE I—ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Accounts payable consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2013      2012  

Trade payables

   $ 462,304       $ 525,440   

Other payables

     46,789         46,742   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 509,093       $ 572,182   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE J—DEBT

Debt consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2013     2012  

Senior Secured Credit Facility

    

Term Loans

   $ —        $ 1,232,585   

Revolving Facility

     —          120,000   

Senior Notes

     1,325,000        —     

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

     —          93,492   

Other indebtedness

     11,421        7,507   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt

     1,336,421        1,453,584   

Less: current portion

     (8,754     (98,133
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

   $ 1,327,667      $ 1,355,451   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company was in compliance with all debt covenant requirements as of December 31, 2013. Total accrued interest on outstanding debt as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $48.3 million and $8.8 million, respectively. This increase was driven primarily by timing of interest payments on the Senior Notes as compared to the Term Loans in the prior year. Accrued interest is recorded within “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets.

The following is a summary of Trinseo’s debt instruments.

Senior Secured Credit Facility

In June 2010, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “Senior Secured Credit Facility”) with lenders which included (i) an $800.0 million senior secured term loans (the “2010 Term Loans”) and a (ii) $240.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”). The proceeds of these borrowings were used to finance, in part, the Acquisition and pay transaction fees and expenses related to the Acquisition. From time to time, the Senior Secured Credit Facility has been amended and restated to, among other things, increase available borrowings, extend maturities, and change borrowing rates.

On February 2, 2011, the Senior Secured Credit Facility was amended (the “2011 Amendment”) to increase the available borrowings under the senior secured term loans from $780.0 million to $1.6 billion. Pursuant to the amendment, the Company borrowed an aggregate principal amount of $1.4 billion (the “2011 Term Loans”, with the 2010 Term Loans, collectively referred to as the “Term Loans”), the proceeds of which were used to repay the 2010 Term Loans and related accrued interest, repay the Seller Note issued by Dow at the time of the Acquisition and related accrued interest, make a distribution to the Parent, and provide general corporate funds. As a result, $749.0 million of the 2010 Term Loans were determined to be extinguished and $31.0 million was determined to be modified in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. As a result of this extinguishment, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of $55.7 million during 2011.

 

F-43


Table of Contents

In July 2012, the Company further amended the Senior Secured Credit Facility (the “2012 Amendment”) that provided for an increase in the Company’s total leverage ratio and decrease the interest coverage ratio as well as an increase in the permitted accounts receivable securitization facility and increases in the borrowing rates of the Term Loans. The 2012 Amendment became effective on August 9, 2012 with the repayment of $140.0 million of 2011 Term Loans using the proceeds from equity contribution from the Parent. As a result, the 2011 Term Loans were determined to be modified in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company capitalized $6.2 million of the issuance costs paid to the creditors of the 2011 Term Loans, with the remaining $2.3 million of third-party fees associated with the 2011 Term Loans expensed as incurred within “Other expense (income), net” in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012. Costs of $1.2 million which were paid to the creditors of the Revolving Facility were also capitalized and are being amortized over the remaining term of the Revolving Facility.

In January 2013, the Company again amended its senior secured credit facility (the “2013 Amendment”). As part of the 2013 Amendment, the Company increased its Revolving Facility borrowing capacity from $240.0 million to $300.0 million, decreased the borrowing rate of the Revolving Facility through a decrease in the applicable margin rate from 4.75% to 3.00% as applied to base rate loans (which shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the base rate plus the applicable margin (as defined therein)), or 5.75% to 4.00% as applied to LIBO rate loans (which shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the LIBO rate plus the applicable margin and the mandatory cost (as defined therein), if applicable), extended the maturity date to January 2018 and concurrently repaid its then outstanding 2011 Term Loans of $1,239.0 million using the proceeds from its sale of $1,325.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 8.750% Senior Secured Notes issued in January 2013 (refer below for further discussion).

Prior to the 2013 Amendment, the Senior Secured Credit Facility required that the Company comply with certain affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions with respect to payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders, and financial covenants that include the maintenance of certain financial ratios. These ratios include both a maximum leverage ratio no greater than 5.25 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio no less than 2.00 to 1.00 for the most recent twelve-month period. Under the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, an event of default can be cured by a Specified Equity Contribution, as defined under the Senior Secured Credit Facility. On May 8, 2012, the Company received a $22.2 million as equity contribution from the Parent in order to cure its covenant default and to meet its required leverage ratio for the period ended March 31, 2012. The Company remained in compliance with all debt covenants in the remainder of 2012.

The 2013 Amendment replaced the Company’s total leverage ratio requirement with a first lien net leverage ratio (as defined under the 2013 Amendment) and removed the interest coverage ratio requirement. If the outstanding balance on the Revolving Facility exceeds 25% of the $300.0 million borrowing capacity (excluding undrawn letters of credit up to $10.0 million) at a quarter end, then the Company’s first lien net leverage ratio may not exceed 5.25 to 1.00 for the quarter ending March 31, 2013, 5.00 to 1.00 for the subsequent quarters through December 31, 2013, 4.50 to 1.00 for each of the quarters ending in 2014 and 4.25 to 1.00 for each of the quarters ending in 2015 and thereafter.

As a result of the 2013 Amendment and repayment of the term loans in January 2013, the Company recognized a $20.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt during the first quarter of 2013, which consisted of the write-off of existing unamortized deferred financing fees and debt discount attributable to the Term Loans. Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the 2013 Amendment were $5.5 million, which were capitalized.

Capitalized fees and costs incurred in connection with the Company’s borrowings are included in “Deferred charges and other assets” in the consolidated balance sheets. For the Term Loans, deferred financing fees and debt discounts are amortized over the term of the respective loan agreements using the effective interest method, while for the Revolving Facility deferred financing fees are being amortized using a straight-line method. Amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discounts are reflected in “Interest expense, net” in the consolidated statement of operations.

 

F-44


Table of Contents

Unamortized deferred financing fees related to the Term Loans and Revolving Facility, respectively, were $0 and $11.7 million as of December 31, 2013, and $14.6 million and $9.1 million as of December 31, 2012. Debt discount related to the Term Loans was $0 and $6.4 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and was netted against “Long-term debt” in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company recorded interest expense relating to the amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discounts related to the entire Senior Secured Credit Facility, respectively, of $3.1 million and $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013; $6.5 million and $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012; and $6.3 million and $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

At December 31, 2013, there were no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility, while available borrowings under the facility were $292.7 million (net of $7.3 million outstanding letters of credit). At December 31, 2012, there were $1,239.0 million and $120.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the 2011 Term Loans and Revolving Facility, respectively, plus $6.8 million in outstanding letters of credit. All obligations under the Revolving Facility are guaranteed and collateralized by substantially all of the tangible and intangible assets of the Company’s subsidiaries.

Interest charges, excluding interest expense relating to the amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discounts, incurred on the Term Loans and Revolving Facility, respectively, were $7.7 million and $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, $91.0 million and $6.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, and $82.6 million and $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. Cash paid related to interest incurred on the Term Loans and Revolving Facility, respectively, was $16.5 million and $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, $87.6 million and $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, and $82.4 million and $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Interest Rate Cap Agreements

Historically, as required under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, the Company used interest rate cap agreements to protect cash flows from fluctuations caused by volatility in interest rates. When outstanding, the Company does not account for the interest rate cap agreements as hedges. As such, changes in the fair value of underlying derivative instruments are recognized in “Interest expense, net” in the consolidated statement of operations. At December 31, 2012, the Company had three outstanding interest rate caps with an aggregate notional amount of $490.0 million, and a fair value of less than $0.1 million, recorded in “Deferred charges and other assets” on the 2012 consolidated balance sheet. These hedges were settled on January 29, 2013, and there were no remaining interest rate cap agreements outstanding at December 31, 2013.

Senior Notes

In January 2013, the Company issued $1,325.0 million 8.750% Senior Secured Notes (the “Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes interest is payable semi-annually on February 1 st and August 1 st of each year, which commenced on August 1, 2013. The notes will mature on February 1, 2019, at which time the entire $1,325.0 million will be due and payable. The proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes were used to repay all of the Company’s outstanding Term Loans under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and related refinancing fees and expenses.

The Company may redeem all or part of the Senior Notes at any time prior to August 1, 2015 by paying a make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. The Company may redeem all or part of the Senior Notes at any time after August 1, 2015 at a redemption price equal to the percentage of principal amount set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on of the year indicated below:

 

12-month period commencing August 1 in Year

   Percentage  

2015

     104.375

2016

     102.188

2017 and thereafter

     100.000

 

F-45


Table of Contents

In addition, at any time prior to August 1, 2015, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes at a redemption price equal to 108.750% of the face amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds that the Company raises in certain equity offerings. The Company may also redeem, during any 12-month period commencing from the issue date until August 1, 2015, up to 10% of the original principal amount of the Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption.

In connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement to file a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States (“SEC”) to exchange the Senior Notes for registered notes (the “Exchange Notes”) having terms substantially identical in all material respect to the Senior Notes, within 365 days after the issuance of the Senior Notes. If the Registration Statement, among other conditions, does not become effective within 365 days after the issuance of the Senior Notes, holders of the Senior Notes would be entitled to the payment of additional interest, at a rate of 0.25% per annum (which the rate will be increased by an additional 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 90-day period that such additional interest continues to accrue, provided that the rate at which such additional interest accrues may in no event exceed 1.00% per annum) until the Registration Statement becomes effective or the exchange offer is completed. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had not recorded a liability for this contingent obligation, as it was not deemed probable at the time that the Company would not meet its obligations. Subsequently, on January 29, 2014, the SEC declared effective the Company’s Registration Statement, resulting in the Company fulfilling its obligations under the registration rights agreement, incurring no additional interest penalty.

The Senior Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s existing and future senior secured debt and pari passu with the Company and the Guarantors’ (as defined below) indebtedness that is secured by first-priority liens, including the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facility (as defined above), to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness and ranking senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future subordinated debt. However, claims under the Senior Notes will effectively rank behind the claims of holders of debt, including interest, under our Senior Secured Credit Facility in respect of proceeds from any enforcement action with respect to the collateral or in any bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation proceeding. The Senior Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by each of our existing and future wholly-owned subsidiaries that guarantee our Senior Secured Credit Facility (other than our subsidiaries in France and Spain) (the “Guarantors”). The note guarantees will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Guarantors’ existing and future senior secured debt and senior in right of payment to all of the Guarantors’ existing and future subordinated debt. The notes will be structurally subordinated to all of the liabilities of each of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes.

The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability and the ability of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends or make other distributions, subject to certain exceptions. If the Senior Notes are assigned an investment grade by the rating agencies and the Company is not in default, certain covenants will be suspended. If the ratings on the Senior Notes decline to below investment grade, the suspended covenants will be reinstated.

Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of Senior Notes were approximately $42.0 million, which were capitalized and included in “Deferred charges and other assets” in the consolidated balance sheet. These deferred financing fees are being amortized using the effective interest rate method and reflected in “Interest expense, net” in the consolidated statement of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded $4.9 million in amortization of deferred financing fees, 2013, leaving $37.1 million of unamortized deferred financing fees related to the Senior Notes on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2013.

Interest charges incurred, excluding interest expense relating to the amortization of deferred financing fees, and cash paid on the Senior Notes were $106.9 million and $58.6 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

F-46


Table of Contents

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

In August 2010, a VIE in which the Company is the primary beneficiary, Styron Receivable Funding Ltd. (“SRF”), executed an agreement with a bank for an accounts receivable securitization facility (“Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility”). The initial facility permitted borrowings by one of the Company’s subsidiaries, Styron Europe GmbH (“SE”), up to a total of $160.0 million. Under the facility, SE will sell their accounts receivable from time to time to SRF. In turn, SRF may sell undivided ownership interests in such receivables to commercial paper conduits in exchange for cash. The Company has agreed to continue servicing the receivables for SRF. Upon the sale of the interests in the accounts receivable by SRF, the conduits have a first priority perfected security interest in such receivables and, as a result, the receivables will not be available to the creditors of the Company or its other subsidiaries.

Since its inception, the Company has from time to time amended and restated the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. In May 2011, the facility was amended to allow for the expansion of the pool of eligible accounts receivable to include a previously excluded German subsidiary. In May 2013, the Company further amended the facility, increasing its borrowing capacity from $160.0 million to $200.0 million, extending the maturity date to May 2016 and allowing for the expansion of the pool of eligible accounts receivable to include previously excluded U.S. and Netherlands subsidiaries. As a result of the amendment, the Company incurred $0.7 million in fees, which were capitalized within “Deferred charges and other assets” in the consolidated balance sheet and are being amortized into interest expense using the straight-line method over the remaining term.

The Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility is subject to interest charges against both the amount of outstanding borrowings as well as the amount of available, but undrawn commitments. As a result of the amendment to our Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility in May 2013 noted above, we lowered our borrowing costs. In regards to the outstanding borrowings, fixed interest charges were decreased from 3.25% plus variable commercial paper rates to 2.6% plus variable commercial paper rates. In regards to available, but undrawn commitments, fixed interest charges were decreased from 1.50% to 1.40%.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, there was approximately $143.8 million and $85.7 million, respectively, of accounts receivable available to support this facility, based on our pool of eligible accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2013, there were no outstanding borrowings under this facility. As of December 31, 2012, there were approximately $93.5 million, which includes $7.8 million of cash restricted from use, in outstanding borrowings included in short-term borrowings in the consolidated balance sheet. Interest incurred on the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, excluding interest expense relating to the amortization of deferred financing fees, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $4.2 million, $4.7 million and $5.7 million, respectively, reflected in “Interest expense, net” in the consolidated statements of operations.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, deferred financing fees related to the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility totaled $3.5 million and $4.3 million, respectively, and were included in “Deferred charges and other assets” in the consolidated balance sheet, and which are being amortized using a straight-line method, reflected in “Interest expense, net” in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company recorded $1.4 million, $1.5 million and $1.4 million in amortization of deferred financing fees related to the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

Other indebtedness

Seller Note

On June 17, 2010, the Company entered into a $75.0 million term loan with Dow (the “Seller Note”) which was effectively used to finance the Styron Acquisition. On February 3, 2011, the Company repaid the Seller Note in full and the related accrued interest of approximately $4.5 million.

 

F-47


Table of Contents

Other Revolving Facilities

During 2011, the Company entered into two short-term revolving facilities through our subsidiary in China that provided for approximately $28.5 million of uncommitted funds available for borrowings, subject to annual renewal. The Company did not renew one of the short-term revolving facilities, with uncommitted funds of $13.5 million, and there were no outstanding borrowings for that facility as of December 31, 2013 or 2012. The remaining facility, which provides for up to $15.0 million of uncommitted funds available for borrowings, is subject to annual renewal.

Outstanding borrowings under the remaining revolving facility were $5.1 million and $1.1 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The revolving facility is guaranteed by our Holding Company, Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. or secured by pledge of certain of our assets in China. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the weighted average interest rate of the facility was approximately 0.1% and 0.5%, respectively.

The Senior Secured Credit facility limits our foreign working capital facilities to an aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million and, based on the 2013 Amendment, further limits our foreign working capital facilities in certain jurisdictions in Asia, including China, to an aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million, except as otherwise permitted by the Senior Secured Credit Facility.

NOTE K—FOREIGN EXCHANGE FORWARD CONTRACTS

The Company manages its exposures to changes in foreign currency exchange rates where possible by paying expenses in the same currency in which we generate sales in a particular country as well as using derivative contracts which are not designated for hedge accounting treatment. During 2012, the Company entered into foreign exchange forward contracts that were not designated as hedging instruments to manage volatility in foreign currency exposures. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had open foreign exchange forward contracts with various expiration dates to buy euro currency with a notional U.S. dollar equivalent of $82.0 million. The fair value of the foreign exchange forward contracts amounted to $3.8 million as of December 31, 2012 recorded in “Accounts payable” in the consolidated balance sheet. As these foreign exchange forward contracts were not designated for hedge accounting treatment, changes in the fair value of underlying instruments are recognized in “Other expense (income)” in the consolidated statement of operations.

These contracts were settled in February and May 2013 and no contracts were outstanding as of December 31, 2013. The Company recognized losses $0.6 million and $4.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, related to these contracts.

NOTE L—SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

Common Stock

On February 3, 2011, $471.4 million of the net cash proceeds from the 2011 Term Loans under the amended Senior Secured Credit Facility were used to pay a distribution to the Parent. The distribution coincided with the redemption and subsequent cancellation of 11.9 billion shares of our common stock. Further, in December 2011, we made additional cash distributions to our Parent of $50.0 million. The amended Senior Secured Credit Facility places certain restrictions on the payment of future dividends and other distributions to shareholders.

On May 8, 2012, the Company issued 2.2 billion shares of common stock to the Parent with $0.01 nominal value for $22.2 million of proceeds. The proceeds from the issuance were used as equity contribution required under the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility in order to cure the covenant default for the period ended March 31, 2012. Also, on August 8, 2012, the Parent received an additional $140.0 million from shareholders and contributed the same amount to the Company through the issuance of 14.0 billion shares of common stock with a nominal value of $0.01. The proceeds from the issuance of the common stock were used to repay a portion of the 2011 Term Loans in connection with the 2012 Amendment. See Note J for further discussion.

 

F-48


Table of Contents

NOTE M—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified using the following hierarchy, which is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date.

Level 1—Valuation is based upon quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2—Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or other inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

Level 3—Valuation is based upon other unobservable inputs that are significant to the fair value measurement.

The following tables summarize the bases used to measure certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis in the balance sheet at December 31, 2012. As discussed in Notes J and K, all interest rate cap agreements and foreign exchange forward contracts were settled in 2013, and as such, there are no remaining balances to be recorded at fair value as of December 31, 2013.

 

     December 31, 2012  

Assets (Liabilities) at Fair Value

   Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Items
(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
     Total  

Interest rate cap agreements(1)

   $ —        $ —       $ —        $ —    

Foreign exchange forward contracts

     —          (3,802     —          (3,802
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fair value

   $ —        $ (3,802   $ —        $ (3,802
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) As of December 31, 2012, the fair value of interest rate cap agreements was less than $0.1 million.

For assets and liabilities classified as Level 2 measurements, fair value is based on the closing price at the end of the period, adjusted for any terms specific to that asset or liability, or by using observable market data points of similar assets and liabilities. Market inputs are obtained from broker quotations or from listed or over-the-counter market data.

Fair Value of Debt Instruments

The following tables present the estimated fair value of the Company’s outstanding debt not carried at fair value as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively:

 

     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Items
(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
     Total  

December 31, 2013

        

Senior Notes

   $ —        $ 1,366,406       $ 1,366,406   

Revolving Facility

     —          —           —     

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

     —          —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fair value

   $ —        $ 1,366,406       $ 1,366,406   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

F-49


Table of Contents
     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Items
(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
     Total  

December 31, 2012

        

Term Loans

   $ 1,239,000       $ —        $ 1,239,000   

Revolving Facility

     —          120,000         120,000   

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

     —          93,492         93,492   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fair value

   $ 1,239,000       $ 213,492       $ 1,452,492   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2012, the Term Loans’ carrying amount of $1,239.0 million approximates fair value as the term loans were redeemed at par in January 2013. The carrying amount of borrowings under the Revolving Facility and Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility approximates fair value as these borrowings bear interest based on prevailing variable market rates.

NOTE N—INCOME TAXES

Income (loss) before income taxes earned within and outside the United States is shown below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2013     2012     2011  

United States

   $ 25,228      $ 49,193      $ (12,516

Outside of the United States

     (25,597     (1,351     (23,661
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ (369   $ 47,842      $ (36,177
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The provision for (benefit from) income taxes is composed of:

 

     December 31, 2013      December 31, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     Current      Deferred      Total      Current      Deferred     Total      Current     Deferred     Total  

U.S. federal

   $ 8,617       $ 1,252       $ 9,869       $ 5,094       $ 8,070      $ 13,164       $ (9,896   $ 10,039      $ 143   

U.S. state and other

     820         70         890         229         1,174        1,403         220        (1,060     (840

Non-U.S.

     8,197         2,893         11,090         7,503         (4,510     2,993         42,362        (1,937     40,425   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 17,634       $ 4,215       $ 21,849       $ 12,826       $ 4,734      $ 17,560       $ 32,686      $ 7,042      $ 39,728   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-50


Table of Contents

The effective tax rate on pre-tax income differs from the U.S. statutory rate due to the following:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2013     2012     2011  

Taxes at U.S. statutory rate(1)

   $ (129   $ 16,745      $ (12,662

State and local income taxes

     603        1,493        (273

Non U.S. statutory rates, including credits

     (4,988     (5,185     9,105   

U.S. tax effect of foreign earnings and dividends

     (942     (2,890     —     

Unremitted earnings

     (157     3,087        (298

Stock-based compensation

     3,112        2,466        7,125   

Non-deductible interest

     5,258        5,203        1,257   

Change in valuation allowances

     16,430        (8,780     5,506   

Uncertain tax positions

     (1,465     1,882        14,454   

Withholding taxes on interest and royalties

     2,992        7,064        8,606   

U.S. manufacturing deduction

     (229     (1,057     300   

Provision to return adjustments

     3,814        (3,943     4,092   

Non-deductible other expenses

     1,573        2,004        1,743   

Government subsidy income

     (4,219     —          —     

Impact on foreign currency exchange

     71        291        371   

Other—net

     125        (820     402   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total provision for income taxes

   $ 21,849      $ 17,560      $ 39,728   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     (5,921 )%      37     110
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) The U.S. statutory rate has been used as management believes it is more meaningful to the Company.

Deferred income taxes reflect temporary differences between the valuation of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting:

 

     December 31,  
     2013      2012  
     Deferred
Tax
Assets
    Deferred
Tax
Liabilities
     Deferred
Tax
Assets
    Deferred
Tax
Liabilities
 

Tax loss and credit carry forwards

   $ 40,007      $ —        $ 47,214      $ —    

Unremitted earnings

     —          9,462         —          9,619   

Unconsolidated affiliates

     12,257        —           12,393        —     

Other accruals and reserves

     13,556        —           5,019        —     

Property, plant and equipment

     —          45,314         —          51,288   

Goodwill and other intangible assets

     23,452        —           29,645        —     

Deferred financing fees

     6,973        —           5,825        —     

Employee benefits

     31,858        —           30,653        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
     128,103        54,776         130,749        60,907   

Valuation allowance

     (50,404     —           (41,280     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 77,699      $ 54,776       $ 89,469      $ 60,907   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, all undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates are expected to be repatriated. Operating loss carryforwards amounted to $146.2 million in 2013 and $231.9 million in 2012. At December 31, 2013, $3.4 million of the operating loss carryforwards were subject to expiration in 2014 through 2018, and $142.8 million of the operating loss carryforwards expire in years beyond 2018 or have an indefinite carryforward period.

 

F-51


Table of Contents

The Company had valuation allowances which were related to the realization of recorded tax benefits on tax loss carryforwards, as well as other net deferred tax assets, primarily from subsidiaries in Luxembourg and Australia, of $50.4 million at December 31, 2013 and $41.3 million at December 31, 2012. Valuation allowances increased by $9.1 million in 2013.

For the years presented, a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

 

Balance as of December 31, 2010

   $ 7,690   

Increases related to current year tax positions

     15,583   

Increases related to prior year tax positions

     2,158   
  

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2011

   $ 25,431   

Increases related to current year tax positions

     6,757   

Decreases related to prior year tax positions

     (2,109
  

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2012

   $ 30,079   

Increases related to current year tax positions

     1,225   

Decreases related to prior year tax positions

     (4,405
  

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2013

   $ 26,899   
  

 

 

 

The Company recognized interest and penalties of $0.7 million, $0.8 million, and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, which was included as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company has $2.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively, accrued for interest and penalties. Within the next twelve months, the Company expects the resolution of federal, state, and foreign examinations and appeals, and the expiration of various statutes of limitation, which may favorably impact the effective tax rate by approximately $3.0 million. To the extent that the gross unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in the future, $18.0 million will impact the Company’s effective tax rate.

NOTE O—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leased Property

The Company routinely leases premises for use as sales and administrative offices, warehouses and tanks for product storage, motor vehicles, railcars, computers, office machines, and equipment under operating leases. Rental expense was $16.2 million, $17.7 million and $15.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Future minimum rental payments under operating leases with remaining non-cancelable terms in excess of one year are as follows:

 

Year

   Annual
Commitment
 

2014

   $ 9,010   

2015

     7,634   

2016

     6,319   

2017

     4,437   

2018

     4,139   

2019 and beyond

     16,910   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 48,449   
  

 

 

 

 

F-52


Table of Contents

Environmental Matters

Accruals for environmental matters are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated, based on current law, existing technologies and other information. At December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had no accrued obligations for environmental remediation and restoration costs. Pursuant to the terms of the Styron sales and purchase agreement, the pre-closing environmental conditions were retained by Dow and the Company has been indemnified by Dow from and against all environmental liabilities incurred or relating to the predecessor periods. There are several properties which the Company now owns on which Dow has been conducting remediation to address historical contamination. Those properties include Allyn’s Point, Connecticut, Dalton, Georgia, and Livorno, Italy. There are other properties with historical contamination that are owned by Dow that the Company leases for its operations, including its facilities in Midland, Michigan, Schkopau, Germany, Terneuzen, The Netherlands, and Guaruja, Brazil. No environmental claims have been asserted or threatened against the Company, and the Company is not a potentially responsible party at any Superfund Sites.

Inherent uncertainties exist in Trinseo’s potential environmental liabilities primarily due to unknown conditions whether future claims may fall outside the scope of the indemnity, changing governmental regulations and legal standards regarding liability, and evolving technologies for handling site remediation and restoration. In connection with the Company’s existing indemnification, the possibility is considered remote that environmental remediation costs will have a material adverse impact on the consolidated financial statements.

There were no amounts recorded in the consolidated statement of operations relating to environmental remediation for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011.

Purchase Commitments

In the normal course of business, Trinseo has certain raw material purchase contracts where it is required to purchase certain minimum volumes at current market prices. These commitments range from 1 to 7 years. The following table presents the fixed and determinable portion of the obligation under Trinseo’s purchase commitments at December 31, 2013 (in millions):

 

Year

   Annual
Commitment
 

2014

   $ 2,253   

2015

     1,914   

2016

     1,844   

2017

     1,806   

2018

     1,417   

Thereafter

     2,618   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 11,852   
  

 

 

 

In certain raw material purchase contracts, the Company has the right to purchase less than the required minimums and pay a liquidated damages fee, or, in case of a permanent plant shutdown, to terminate the contracts. In such cases, these obligations would be less than the obligations shown in the table above.

The Company has service agreements with Dow and Bain Capital, some of which contain fixed annual fees. See Note R for further discussion.

Litigation Matters

From time to time, the Company may be subject to various legal claims and proceedings incidental to the normal conduct of business, relating to such matters as product liability, antitrust/competition, past waste

 

F-53


Table of Contents

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 routine claims, the Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these claims will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flow.

Legal costs, including those legal costs expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency, are expensed as incurred.

NOTE P—PENSION PLANS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

A majority of Company employees are participants in various defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans which are administered and sponsored by Trinseo.

In connection with the Acquisition, the Company and Dow entered into affiliation agreements in certain jurisdictions (the “Affiliation Agreements”) allowing employees who transferred from Dow to the Company as of June 17, 2010 to remain in the Dow operated pension plans (“Dow Plans”) until the Company established its own pension plan. The Company has made the required employer contribution amounts to the Dow Plans for the Company’s employees and the related pension benefit obligations for the Company’s employees have been accumulating in the Dow Plans since the Acquisition Date. In 2011, Dow Plans originally established in Germany and Japan, were legally separated into the Company’s own administered and sponsored plans.

The Affiliation Agreements ended on December 31, 2012. Effective January 1, 2013, all remaining employees of the Company who were previously participants of the Dow Plans in Switzerland and the Netherlands transferred to separately administered and sponsored pension plans of the Company (the “Successor Plans”). The benefit obligation and related plan assets in the Dow Plans belonging to the Company’s employees were transferred to the Successor Plans. As a result of the transfer, the Company recognized prior service credits and net losses of approximately $13.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively in other comprehensive income during the year ended December 31, 2013.

Company employees, who were not previously associated with the acquired pension and postretirement plans, are generally not eligible for enrollment in these plans. Pension benefits are typically based on length of service and the employee’s final average compensation.

Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company provides certain health care and life insurance benefits to Dow heritage retired employees. The Company’s plans outside of the United States are not significant; therefore, this discussion relates to the U.S. plan only. The plan provides for health care benefits, including hospital, physicians’ services, drug and major medical expense coverage. In general, the plan applies to employees hired by Dow before January 1, 2008 and transferred to the Company in connection with the Acquisition, and who are at least 50 years old with 10 years of service. The plan allows for spouse coverage as well; if an employee was hired on or before January 1, 1993 the coverage extends past age 65; anyone hired after January 1, 1993 but before January 1, 2008 coverage ends at age 65. The Company reserves the right to modify the provisions of the plan at anytime including the right to terminate and does not guarantee the continuation of the plan or its provisions.

 

F-54


Table of Contents

Assumptions

The weighted-average assumptions used to determine pension plan obligations and net periodic benefit costs are provided below:

 

     Pension Plan Obligations     Net Periodic Benefit Costs  
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2013     2012     2011     2013     2012     2011  

Discount rate

      3.30      3.05      4.49      3.05      4.49      4.46

Rate of increase in future compensation levels

     2.86     2.69     2.64     2.69     2.64     2.94

Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets

     N/A        N/A        N/A        2.44     4.09     4.69

The weighted-average assumptions used to determine other postretirement benefit (“OPEB”) obligations and net periodic benefit costs are provided below:

 

     OPEB Obligations     Net Periodic Benefit Costs  
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2013     2012     2011     2013     2012     2011  

Discount rate

     4.72     3.93     5.08     3.93     5.08     5.70

Initial health care cost trend rate

     6.67     7.00     7.33     7.00     7.33     7.67

Ultimate health care cost trend rate

     5.00     5.00     5.00     5.00     5.00     5.00

Year ultimate trend rate to be reached

     2019        2019        2019        2019        2019        2019   

The discount rate utilized to measure the pension and other postretirement benefit plans is based on the yield of high-quality fixed income debt instruments at the measurement date. Future expected actuarially determined cash flows of the plans are matched against a yield curve to arrive at a single discount rate for each plan.

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is determined by performing a detailed analysis of key economic and market factors driving historical returns for each asset class and formulating a projected return based on factors in the current environment. Factors considered include, but are not limited to, inflation, real economic growth, interest rate yield, interest rate spreads, and other valuation measures and market metrics. The expected long-term rate of return for each asset class is then weighted based on the strategic asset allocation approved by the governing body for each plan. The historical experience with the pension fund asset performance is also considered.

A one-percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rate would have had a nominal effect on both service and interest costs as well as the projected benefit obligations.

The net periodic benefit costs for the pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 were as follows:

 

     Defined Benefit Pension Plans     Other Postretirement Benefit Plans  
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2013     2012     2011     2013      2012     2011  

Net periodic benefit cost

             

Service cost

   $ 13,866      $ 10,054      $ 10,377      $ 283       $ 252      $ 291   

Interest cost

     6,482        6,475        6,235        262         275        308   

Expected return on plan assets

     (1,710     (2,251     (1,740     —           —          —     

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

     (989     142        —          —           —          —     

Amortization of net (gain) loss

     3,093        (630     507        —           (9     (4

Settlement and curtailment (gain) loss(1)

     2,122        (247     (164     —           —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 22,864      $ 13,543      $ 15,215      $ 545       $ 518      $ 595   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-55


Table of Contents
(1) The amount of $2.1 million represents a curtailment loss from one of our defined benefit plans in Germany due to the reduction or cessation of benefit accruals for certain employees’ future services. The adjustment in the benefit obligation from the curtailment resulted in a loss recognized during the year due to a charge against the unamortized net loss recorded in other comprehensive income.

 

     Defined Benefit Pension Plans     Other Postretirement Benefit Plans  
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2013     2012     2011     2013     2012      2011  

Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income

             

Net loss (gain)

   $ 6,170      $ 65,303      $ (15,686   $ (1,354   $ 677       $ (497

Amortization of prior service (cost) credit

     989        (142     —          —          —           —     

Amortization of net gain (loss)

     (3,093     630        (507     —          9         4   

Settlement and curtailment gain (loss)

     (2,122     247        164        —          —           —     

Prior service cost (credit)

     (12,992 ) (2)       —          2,463        730        —           —     

Other

     —          —          2,022        —          —           —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total recognized in other comprehensive income

     (11,048     66,038        (11,544     (624     686         (493

Net periodic benefit cost

     22,864        13,543        15,215        545        518         595   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income

   $ 11,816      $ 79,581      $ 3,671      $ (79   $ 1,204       $ 102   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(2) This is primarily related to the transfer of all remaining employees who were previously participants in the Dow Plans in Switzerland and the Netherlands to Company Successor Plans effective January 1, 2013, as discussed above.

The changes in the pension benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets and the funded status of all significant plans for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:

 

     Defined Benefit
Pension Plans
    Other Postretirement
Benefit Plans
 
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2013     2012     2013     2012  

Change in projected benefit obligations

        

Benefit obligation at beginning of period

   $ 231,437      $ 144,630      $ 6,666      $ 5,433   

Service cost

     13,866        10,054        283        252   

Interest cost

     6,482        6,475        262        275   

Plan participants’ contributions

     1,831        1,810        —          —     

Actuarial changes in assumptions and experience

     (10,376     64,662        (1,354     677   

Benefits paid

     (3,362     (1,925     —          —     

Benefit payments by employer

     (1,367     (798     —          —     

Divestiture

     (333     —          —          —     

Plan amendments

     (12,992     —          730        —     

Curtailments

     2,124        (239     —          —     

Settlements

     (1,633     (832     —          —     

Other

     4,576        3,288        —          —     

Currency impact

     7,661        4,312        73        29   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at end of period

   $ 237,914      $ 231,437      $ 6,660      $ 6,666   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-56


Table of Contents
     Defined Benefit
Pension Plans
    Other Postretirement
Benefit Plans
 
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2013     2012     2013     2012  

Change in plan assets

        

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period

   $ 72,350      $ 50,229      $ —        $ —     

Actual return on plan assets(3)

     (12,713     1,371        —          —     

Settlements

     (1,633     (832     —          —     

Employer contributions

     17,665        18,537        —          —     

Plan participants’ contributions

     1,831        1,810        —          —     

Benefits paid

     (3,609     (1,980     —          —     

Other

     4,576        1,501        —          —     

Currency impact

     2,880        1,714        —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at end of period

     81,347        72,350        —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Funded status at end of period

   $ (156,567   $ (159,087   $ (6,660   $ (6,666
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(3) Certain plan assets fair values were determined using cash surrender values provided under the insurance contracts which took effect on January 1, 2013. The resulting change in the fair value of plan assets due to the use of cash surrender values was included as “return on plan assets”.

The net amounts recognized in the balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:

 

     Defined Benefit
Pension Plans
    Other Postretirement
Benefit Plans
 
     December 31,     December 31,  
   2013     2012     2013     2012  

Net amounts recognized in the balance sheets at December 31

        

Current liabilities

   $ (1,599   $ (2,665   $ (26   $ (30

Noncurrent liabilities

     (154,968     (156,422     (6,634     (6,636
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net amounts recognized in the balance sheet

   $ (156,567   $ (159,087   $ (6,660   $ (6,666
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated benefit obligation at the end of the period

   $ 178,987      $ 163,207      $ 6,660      $ 6,666   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pretax amounts recognized in AOCI at December 31:

        

Net prior service cost (credit)

   $ (9,682   $ 2,321      $ 730      $ —     

Net gain (loss)

     44,883        43,927        (1,332     22   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total at end of period

   $ 35,201      $ 46,248      $ (602   $ 22   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Approximately $2.1 million and $1.0 million of net loss and net prior service credit, respectively, for the defined benefit pension plans and $0.1 million and $0.1 million of net gain and net prior service cost, respectively, for other postretirement benefit plans will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to net periodic benefit cost in 2014.

 

F-57


Table of Contents

The estimated future benefit payments, reflecting expected future service, as appropriate, are presented in the following table:

 

     2014      2015      2016      2017      2018      2019
through
2023
     Total  

Defined benefit pension plans

   $ 4,878       $ 4,770       $ 3,930       $ 5,329       $ 5,443       $ 36,946       $ 61,296   

Other postretirement benefit plans

     27         47         72         105         141         1,630         2,022   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,905       $ 4,817       $ 4,002       $ 5,434       $ 5,584       $ 38,576       $ 63,318   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Estimated contributions to the defined benefit pension plans in 2014 are $14.1 million.

The following information relates to pension plans with projected and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

Projected Benefit Obligation

Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan Assets

   December 31,  
   2013      2012  

Projected benefit obligations

   $ 237,914       $ 228,942   

Fair value of plan assets

   $ 81,347       $ 72,350   

 

Accumulated Benefit Obligation

Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan Assets

   December 31,  
   2013      2012  

Accumulated benefit obligations

   $ 152,056       $ 140,890   

Fair value of plan assets

   $ 50,004       $ 42,441   

Plan Assets

Prior to 2013, plan assets specific to the Dow Plans consisted primarily of receivables from Dow, which were based on a contractually determined proportion of Dow’s plan assets. Dow’s underlying plan assets consisted of equity and fixed income securities of U.S. and foreign issuers and insurance contracts, and may have included alternative investments such as real estate and private equity. Effective January 1, 2013, all remaining employees of the Company who were previously participating in Dow Plans were transferred to the Successor Plans. The related assets were also transferred to the Successor Plans and invested into insurance contracts that provide for guaranteed returns. At December 31, 2012, plan assets totaled $72.3 million consisting of $58.2 million receivables from Dow, which were based on the Company’s proportionate share in Dow plan assets, and remaining $14.1 million were invested in insurance contracts. At December 31, 2013, plan assets totaled $81.3 million, consisting of investments in insurance contracts.

Investments in the pension plan insurance were valued utilizing unobservable inputs, which are contractually determined based on cash surrender values, returns, fees, and the present value of the future cash flows of the contracts.

The Dow receivables and insurance contracts are classified as Level 3 investments. Changes in the fair value of these level 3 investments during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are included in the “Change in plan assets” table above.

Concentration of Risk

The Company mitigates the credit risk of investments by establishing guidelines with investment managers that limit investment in any single issue or issuer to an amount that is not material to the portfolio being managed. These guidelines are monitored for compliance both by the Company and external managers. Credit risk related to derivative activity is mitigated by utilizing multiple counterparties and through collateral support agreements.

 

F-58


Table of Contents

Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan

The Company established a non-qualified Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan in 2010. The net benefit costs recognized for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 were $2.3 million, $2.6 million, and $2.8 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had a change in the plan assumptions, which resulted in an actuarial loss of approximately $2.2 million, net of tax of $1.4 million. The amount was recognized in the other comprehensive income. There was no further change in plan assumptions as of December 31, 2013. Benefit obligations under this plan were $12.7 million and $11.2 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the amounts of net loss included in AOCI were $2.9 million and $3.6 million, respectively, with $0.7 million amortized from AOCI into net periodic benefit costs during the year ended December 31, 2013. Approximately $0.7 million is expected to be amortized from AOCI into net periodic benefit cost in 2014.

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company also offers defined contribution plans to eligible employees in the U.S. and in other countries, including Australia, China, Brazil, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. The defined contribution plans are comprised of a non-discretionary elective matching contribution component as well as a discretionary non-elective contribution component. Employees participate in the non-discretionary component by contributing a portion of their eligible compensation to the plan, which is partially matched by the Company. Non-elective contributions are made at the discretion of the Company and are based on a combination of eligible employee compensation and performance award targets. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively, the Company contributed $6.3 million, $7.0 million, and $7.7 million to the defined contribution plans.

NOTE Q—STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Time-Based and Performance-Based Restricted Stock

On June 17, 2010, the Parent authorized the issuance of up to 750,000 shares in time-based and performance-based restricted stock to certain key members of management. Any related compensation associated with these awards is allocated to the Company from the Parent.

Time-based restricted stock awards, which contain a service-based condition requiring continued employment with the Company, vest over three to five years of service with a portion (20% to 40%) cliff vesting after one or two years. The remaining portion of the awards vest ratably over the subsequent service period, subject to the participant’s continued employment with the Company, and vest automatically upon a change of control of the Company excluding a change in control related to an initial public offering (“IPO”). Should a participant’s termination occur within defined time frames due to death or permanent disability, a termination of the participant by the Company or one of its subsidiaries without cause, or the participant’s voluntary resignation for good reason, the portion of awards that are subject time-vesting that would have vested on the next regular vesting date will accelerate and vest on a pro rata basis based on the number of full months between the last regular vesting date and the termination date.

The performance-based restricted stock awards vest upon the full satisfaction of both time vesting requirements, subject to the participant’s continued employment, and performance vesting criteria. The performance component of the awards can only be satisfied if certain targets are achieved based on various returns realized by our shareholders on a change in control or an IPO. The time vesting requirements for the performance-based restricted stock generally vest in the same manner as the related time-based award. Holders of vested performance-based restricted stock are entitled to distributions from the Parent only after investors in the Parent have received distributions equal to their original investment.

The Parent has a call right that gives it the option, but not the obligation, to repurchase vested stock at the then current fair value upon an employee’s termination, or at cost in certain circumstances. In 2013, as the result

 

F-59


Table of Contents

of certain employee terminations, the Parent repurchased a total of 3,372 previously vested time-based restricted stock awards at cost, resulting in a $0.9 million favorable adjustment to stock-based compensation expense.

A summary of our time-based restricted stock awards activity during 2013 are as follows:

 

Time-based restricted stock

   Shares     Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value(1)
 

Unvested, December 31, 2012

     91,831      $ 194.13   

Granted

     89,078        155.40   

Vested

     (43,723     193.69   

Forfeited

     (5,996     259.68   
  

 

 

   

Unvested, December 31, 2013

     131,190      $ 164.97   
  

 

 

   

 

(1) Weighted-average per share

Total compensation expense for time-based restricted stock awards was $8.3 million, $4.2 million, and $10.2 million, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

Compensation expense recognized for the year ended December 31, 2012 includes an adjustment, which resulted in a reduction of expense of approximately $2.5 million. The adjustments relate to the correction of prior period grant date fair values of time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards and the correction of prior period grant service based stock award vesting periods. The Company does not believe these adjustments were material to the 2012 or previous period financial statements.

Based on the nature of the employee groups who received awards and the limited number of employees who received grants during the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, the Company is currently anticipating no significant forfeitures in future periods. To the extent actual forfeitures occur, they are recorded as adjustments to compensation expense in the periods in which they occur. As of December 31, 2013, there was $12.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to time-based restricted stock awards. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.4 years.

The fair values of performance-based restricted stock awards were estimated on the date of grant using a combination of a call option and digital option model that uses assumptions about expected volatility, risk-free interest rates, the expected time until a performance condition will be met, and dividend yield. The expected volatilities are based on a combination of implied and historical volatilities of a peer group of companies, as the Company is a non-publicly traded company. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected life of the awards. The expected term represents management’s probability-weighted estimate of the expected time until a change in control or IPO occurs. The expected dividend yield is based on an assumption that no dividends are expected to be approved in the near future.

The following are the weighted average assumptions used for grants during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
         2013             2012             2011      

Dividend yield

     0.00     0.00     0.00

Expected volatility

     73.25     75.71     68.03

Risk-free interest rate

     0.52     0.58     0.98

Expected term (in years) for performance-based shares

     3.85        3.85        2.54   

Expected term (in years) for service-based shares

     9.21        10.32        11.42   

 

F-60


Table of Contents

A summary of the performance-based restricted stock award activity during 2013 are as follows:

 

Performance-based restricted stock

   Shares     Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value(1)
 

Unvested, December 31, 2012

     111,033      $ 143.26   

Granted

     16,458        114.50   

Vested

     —          —     

Forfeited

     (9,368     236.81   
  

 

 

   

Unvested, December 31, 2013

     118,123      $ 131.83   
  

 

 

   

 

(1) Weighted-average per share

With the exception of compensation expense recorded in 2011 on the redemption of performance-based restricted stock awards as a part of the shareholder distribution and share redemption during the first quarter of 2011, the Company has not recorded compensation expense related to performance-based restricted stock awards as the likelihood of achieving the performance condition was not deemed to be probable as of December 31, 2013. Should this determination change in the future, compensation expense will be recognized over any remaining service period at that time. As of December 31, 2013, there was $15.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to performance-based restricted stock awards.

Additional information for our time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively, were as follows:

 

     Time-Based Restricted Stock      Performance-Based Restricted Stock  
     Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value(1)
     Total Fair Value
of Shares
Vested
     Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value(1)
     Total Fair Value
of Shares
Vested
 

Year Ended December 31, 2013

   $ 155.40       $ 6,795       $ 114.50       $ —    

Year Ended December 31, 2012

   $ 204.32       $ 9,100       $ 170.43       $ —    

Year Ended December 31, 2011

   $ 350.16       $ 9,436       $ 267.29       $ —    

 

(1) Weighted-average per share

Shareholder distribution and share redemption

On February 3, 2011, the Company used a portion of the proceeds from the 2011 Term Loans to pay a distribution to the shareholders of the Parent, including investment funds advised or managed by Bain Capital, Dow and certain executives, through a redemption of certain classes of the Parent’s shares. The shares redeemed included a portion of the outstanding unvested time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards as well as a portion of the issued and outstanding restricted stock. As a result of the share redemption, the Company recorded a one-time stock-based compensation charge of $11.1 million in the first quarter of 2011 reflecting the settlement of previously unvested time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards redeemed.

For certain employees, a portion or all of this distribution attributable to unvested time-based and performance-based restricted awards was withheld and put in escrow, to be paid out two years from the employees’ date of hire, subject to the participant’s continued employment with the Company. The amounts held in escrow vest ratably over the two year period of time after the employee’s hire date. At the date of the redemption, the Parent recorded a liability to reflect the amount held in escrow each employee had already vested in as of the date of the redemption. Compensation expense on the unvested amount of the distribution withheld in escrow will be recognized ratably over the remaining service period from the time of the redemption. Total compensation expense for these liability awards was less than $0.1 million, $0.9 million, and $0.8 million for the

 

F-61


Table of Contents

years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, there was no remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to these liability awards.

Management Retention Awards

During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Parent agreed to retention awards with certain officers. These awards generally vest over one to four years, and are payable upon vesting subject to the participant’s continued employment with the Company on the vesting date. Compensation expense related to these retention awards is equivalent to the value of the award, and is being recognized as compensation expense ratably over the applicable service period. There were no retention awards granted by the Parent and no compensation expense recorded during the year ended December 31, 2011. Total compensation expense for these retention awards was $1.4 million and $2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, there was $1.3 million in unrecognized compensation cost related to these retention awards, which is expected to be recognized over a period of 2.1 years.

Restricted Stock

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Parent sold 779 shares of non-transferable restricted stock to certain employees, all of which were sold at a purchase price less than the fair value of the Parent’s common stock. As a result, during the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded compensation expense of approximately $0.2 million related to these restricted stock sales.

There were no restricted stock sales during the year ended December 31, 2012. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Parent sold 1,561 shares of non-transferable restricted stock to certain employees at a purchase price less than the then fair value of the Parent’s common stock, resulting in compensation expense of $0.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2011.

The restricted stock may not be transferred without the Parent’s consent except for a sale to the Parent or its investors in connection with a termination or on an IPO or other liquidation event.

The amount of stock-based compensation expense recorded within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the consolidated statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively, was as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013      2012      2011  

Time-based restricted stock

   $ 8,346       $ 4,192       $ 10,244   

Restricted stock

     171        —           164   

Share redemption

     —           —           11,125   

Liability awards

     46         861         761   

Retention awards

     1,416         2,275         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 9,979       $ 7,328       $ 22,294   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE R—RELATED PARTY AND DOW TRANSACTIONS

In conjunction with the Acquisition, the Company entered into certain agreements with Dow, including a five-year Master Outsourcing Services Agreement (“MOSA”) and certain Site and Operating Service Agreements. The MOSA provides for ongoing services from Dow in areas such as information technology, human resources, finance, environmental health and safety, training, supply chain and purchasing. Effective June 1, 2013, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Master Outsourcing Services

 

F-62


Table of Contents

Agreement (“SAR MOSA”). The SAR MOSA replaces, modifies and extends the earlier MOSA, extending the term through December 31, 2020. Under the SAR MOSA, the Company continues to hold the option to terminate substantially all of the services provided under this arrangement after June 1, 2015, wherein the Company’s contractual commitments for these services will terminate upon 180 days after the appropriate notice is provided, subject to termination penalty. As of December 31, 2013, the estimated minimum contractual obligations under the SAR MOSA were $47.0 million in 2014, $20.0 million through June 1, 2015, and $32.0 million thereafter.

In addition, the Company entered into certain Site and Operating Service Agreements. Under the Site Services Agreement (“SSA”), Dow provides the Company utilities and other site services for Company-owned plants. Under the Operating Services agreements the Company provides services to Dow and receives payments for the operation of a Dow-owned plant. Similar to the above SAR MOSA, effective June 1, 2013, the Company entered into Second Amended and Restated Site Services Agreements (“SAR SSAs”). The SAR SSAs replace, modify and extend the original SSAs. These agreements generally have 25-year terms, with automatic renewals for five-year terms unless one party gives notice at least 18 months prior to the end of the period. The Company has the option to terminate these agreements subject to certain ongoing capital costs for each site agreement. The Company’s contractual commitments for these site services would generally be for a period of 45 to 60 months upon appropriate notice of termination of each site service agreement. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company incurred a total of $303.2 million, $317.6 million and $354.6 million in expenses under these agreements, respectively, including $235.1 million, $214.5 million and $232.9 million, for both the variable and fixed cost components of the Site Service Agreements, respectively, and $68.1 million, $103.1 million and $121.7 million covering all other agreements, respectively.

In connection with the Acquisition and the execution of the Purchase Agreement, on June 17, 2010, the Styron Holdcos entered into a latex joint venture option agreement (the “Latex JV Option Agreement”) with Dow, pursuant to which Trinseo granted Dow an irrevocable option to purchase 50% of the issued and outstanding interests in a joint venture to be formed by Dow and the Styron Holdcos with respect to the SB Latex business in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, Russian and India (the “Emerging Markets SB Latex Business”), at a purchase price equal to the fair value attributable to the Emerging Markets SB Latex Business as defined in the Latex JV Option Agreement. On July 8, 2011, Dow exercised its option pursuant to the Latex JV Option Agreement and, under the terms thereof, Dow and the Styron Holdcos must (i) form the joint venture, (ii) enter into a joint venture formation agreement pursuant to which all of the assets of the Emerging Markets SB Latex Business shall be contributed to the joint venture, (iii) enter into a shareholders’ agreement with respect to the governance of the joint venture and (iv) enter into customary ancillary agreement with respect to the joint venture and the transfer of the interests in the joint venture to Dow. Trinseo entered into an amendment, effective as of August 9, 2011, to the Latex JV Option Agreement to suspend the timing of the JV Latex Option to allow for additional business discussions. Dow and Trinseo agreed to suspend the requirements to take certain actions required in light of Dow’s exercise of its option through the earlier of June 17, 2015 or the completion of an initial public offering by the Company. In addition, if we do not come to an agreement with Dow, the amendment allows Dow to either reinstate the exercise under the terms of the original agreement or terminate the Latex JV Option Agreement in its entirety.

In addition, the Company has transactions in the normal course of business with Dow and its affiliates. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, sales to Dow and its affiliated companies were approximately $294.7 million, $311.4 million and $331.1 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, purchases (including MOSA and SSA services) from Dow and its affiliated companies were approximately $2,336.5 million, $2,654.7 million and $2,538.7 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, receivables from Dow and its affiliated companies were approximately $31.6 million and $22.1 million, respectively, and are included in “Accounts receivable” in the consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, payables to Dow and its affiliated companies were approximately $218.9 million and $244.6 million, respectively, and are included in “Accounts payable” in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

F-63


Table of Contents

Bain Capital provides management services to the Company pursuant to a 10-year initial term advisory agreement, under which the Company incurred $4.7 million of fees for the year ended December 31, 2013. Bain Capital also provides advice pursuant to a 10-year initial term transaction services agreement, with fees payable as a percentage of the transaction value of each financing, acquisition, or similar transaction. In 2013, in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes and the amendment to the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facility in January 2013, the Company incurred approximately $13.9 million of fees paid to Bain Capital pursuant to this agreement. The fees incurred were included in the refinancing fees capitalized as deferred charges (refer to Note J for further discussion).

Total fees incurred from Bain Capital for these management and transaction advisory services, including fees related to the Acquisition and the Company’s financing arrangements, were $18.6 million, $4.6 million and $11.4 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

NOTE S—SEGMENTS

The Company operates four segments under two principal business units. The Emulsion Polymers business unit includes a Latex segment and a Synthetic Rubber segment. The Plastics business unit includes a Styrenics segment and an Engineered Polymers segment.

The Latex segment produces SB latex primarily for coated paper and packaging board, carpet and artificial turf backings, as well as a number of performance latex applications. The Synthetic Rubber segment produces synthetic rubber products used predominantly in tires, with additional applications in polymer modification and technical rubber goods, including conveyer and fan belts, hoses, seals and gaskets. The Styrenics and Engineered Polymers segments offer complementary plastics products with formulations developed for durable applications, such as consumer electronics, automotive and construction. Through these two segments, the Company provides a broad set of plastics product solutions to its customers.

 

    Emulsion Polymers     Plastics              

For the year ended

  Latex     Synthetic
Rubber
    Styrenics     Engineered
Polymers
    Corporate
Unallocated
    Total  

December 31, 2013

           

Sales to external customers

  $ 1,341,424      $ 622,059      $ 2,305,434      $ 1,038,497      $ —        $ 5,307,414   

Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates

    —          —          39,447        (309     —          39,138   

EBITDA(1)

    95,398        113,459        160,724        (9,058    

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

    —          —          118,263        37,624        —          155,887   

Depreciation and amortization

    26,092        28,937        28,956        7,375        3,836        95,196   

December 31, 2012

           

Sales to external customers

  $ 1,545,064      $ 701,962      $ 2,149,202      $ 1,055,681      $ —        $ 5,451,909   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

    —          —          27,026        114        —          27,140   

EBITDA(1)

    125,473        111,051        82,947        31,503       

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

    —          —          101,316        38,988        —          140,304   

Depreciation and amortization

    27,037        18,080        30,618        6,936        2,933        85,604   

December 31, 2011

           

Sales to external customers

  $ 1,843,529      $ 849,426      $ 2,306,989      $ 1,192,914      $ —        $ 6,192,858   

Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates

    —          —          24,078        (204     —          23,874   

EBITDA(1)

    121,495        174,571        72,154        26,346       

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

    —          —          94,289        39,846        —          134,135   

Depreciation and amortization

    37,430        16,911        37,251        9,006        1,013        101,611   

 

F-64


Table of Contents

 

(1) Reconciliation of EBITDA to net income (loss) is as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013     2012     2011  

Total segment EBITDA

   $ 360,523      $ 350,974      $ 394,566   

Corporate unallocated

     (133,658     (107,557     (217,716

Less: Interest expense, net

     132,038        109,971        111,416   

Less: Provision for income taxes

     21,849        17,560        39,728   

Less: Depreciation and amortization

     95,196        85,604        101,611   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (22,218   $ 30,282      $ (75,905
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Corporate unallocated includes corporate overhead costs, loss on extinguishment of long-term debt, and certain other income and expenses.

The primary measure of segment operating performance is EBITDA, which is defined as net income (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is a key metric that is used by management to evaluate business performance in comparison to budgets, forecasts, and prior year financial results, providing a measure that management believes reflects the Company’s core operating performance. EBITDA is useful for analysis purposes; however, it should not be considered an alternative to the Company’s reported GAAP results, as there are limitations in using such financial measures. Other companies in the industry may define EBITDA differently than the Company, and as a result, it may be difficult to use EBITDA, or similarly-named financial measures, that other companies may use to compare the performance of those companies to the Company’s performance.

Asset and capital expenditure information is not accounted for at the segment level and consequently is not reviewed or included with the Company’s internal management reporting. Therefore, the Company has not disclosed asset and capital expenditure information for each reportable segment.

Styron operates 35 manufacturing plants (which include a total of 83 production units) at 27 sites in 14 countries, inclusive of joint ventures and contract manufacturers. Sales are attributed to geographic areas based on the location where sales originated; long-lived assets are attributed to geographic areas based on asset location.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013      2012      2011  

United States

        

Sales to external customers

   $ 665,801       $ 683,570       $ 812,230   

Long-lived assets

     73,932         84,992         95,907   

Europe

        

Sales to external customers

   $ 3,186,659       $ 3,324,064       $ 3,898,815   

Long-lived assets

     431,494         449,834         396,707   

Asia-Pacific

        

Sales to external customers

   $ 1,214,093       $ 1,200,747       $ 1,236,555   

Long-lived assets

     92,691         91,885         91,590   

Rest of World

        

Sales to external customers

   $ 240,861       $ 243,528       $ 245,258   

Long-lived assets

     8,310         6,561         6,678   

Total

        

Sales to external customers(1)

   $ 5,307,414       $ 5,451,909       $ 6,192,858   

Long-lived assets(2)(3)

     606,427         633,272         590,882   

 

F-65


Table of Contents
(1) Sales to external customers in China represented approximately 8%, 8% and 7% of the total for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively. Sales to external customers in Germany represented approximately 11%, 10% and 10% of the total for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively. Sales to external customers in Hong Kong represented approximately 10%, 9% and 8% of the total for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.
(2) Long-lived assets in China represented approximately 4%, 4%, and 6% of the total for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively. Long-lived assets in Germany represented approximately 44%, 45%, and 39% of the total for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively. Long-lived assets in Netherlands represented approximately 13%, 13%, and 13% of the total for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.
(3) Long-lived assets consist of property, plant and equipment, net.

NOTE T—RESTRUCTURING

In February 2012, the Company announced an organizational restructuring program that included changes to many employees’ roles and elimination of approximately 90 roles globally. This restructuring was driven by the business organization, as well as the need to further reduce costs due to the challenging economic outlook in 2012. As a result of this and other employee separations during 2012, the Company recorded special termination benefit charges of approximately $7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 within Corporate unallocated. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded special termination benefit charges of approximately $9.2 million within Corporate unallocated, all of which were paid out in 2012. These restructuring charges were included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the consolidated statement of operations and the related liability is included in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2012, approximately $6.7 million of the special termination benefits expensed in 2012 had been paid out to terminated employees and the remaining charges were paid out during 2013. No additional charges have been incurred in conjunction with these initiatives, and there are no amounts accrued as of December 31, 2013.

Separately, in July 2013, the Company’s board of directors approved the plan to close the Company’s latex manufacturing facility in Altona, Australia. This restructuring plan was a strategic business decision to improve the results of the overall Latex segment. The facility manufactured SB latex used in the carpet and paper markets. Production at the facility ceased in the third quarter of 2013, followed by decommissioning, with demolition expected in 2014. As a result of the plant closure, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $10.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. These charges consisted of property, plant and equipment and other asset impairment charges of $4.1 million, employee termination benefit charges of $2.6 million, contract termination charges of $3.9 million, and decommissioning charges of $0.2 million. These charges were included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, and were allocated entirely to the Latex segment. The employee termination benefits, contract termination costs, and decommissioning costs were recorded in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheet.

The following table provides a rollforward of the liability balances associated with the Altona plant shutdown:

 

     Balance at
December 31, 2012
     Expenses      Deductions*     Balance at
December 31, 2013
 

Employee termination benefit charges

   $ —         $ 2,589       $ (1,181   $ 1,408   

Contract termination charges

     —           3,934         (546     3,388   

Other**

     —           215         (189     26   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ —         $ 6,738       $ (1,916   $ 4,822   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Includes primarily payments made against the existing accrual, as well as immaterial impacts of foreign currency remeasurement.
** Includes decommissioning charges incurred in 2013, primarily related to labor service costs.

 

F-66


Table of Contents

The Company expects to incur additional decommissioning and demolition costs associated with this plant shutdown in 2014, the cost of which will be expensed as incurred.

NOTE U— ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes, consisted of:

 

     Currency
Translation
Adjustment, Net
    Employee
Benefits,
Net
    Total  

Balance at December 31, 2010

   $ 78,295      $ 5,794     $ 84,089   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (39,360     8,459        (30,901
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

     38,935        14,253        53,188   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     23,872        (52,487     (28,615
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

     62,807        (38,234     24,573   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     53,339        10,466        63,805   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2013

   $ 116,146      $ (27,768   $ 88,378   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NOTE V— EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of the Company’s common shares outstanding for the applicable period. When applicable, the computation of diluted earnings per share reflects the effect of all potentially dilutive common shares that were outstanding during the respective period, unless the effect of doing so is anti-dilutive. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively, the Company did not have any potentially dilutive shares.

The following table presents earnings (loss) per share for each of the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

 

(in thousands, except per share data)    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013     2012      2011  

Net income (loss)

   $ (22,218   $ 30,282       $ (75,905

Weighted average shares

     16,275,329        7,040,904         60,938   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share—basic and diluted

   $ (0.00   $ 0.00       $ (1.25
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE W—SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In February 2014, the Company announced that it has reached an agreement with material supplier JSR to acquire its current production capacity rights at the Company’s world-scale rubber production hub in Schkopau, Germany for a purchase price of €19.0 million (approximately $25.7 million). Prior to this agreement, JSR held the capacity rights to 50% of one of Styron’s three SSBR production trains in Schkopau. As a result, effective April 1, 2014 the Company will have full capacity rights to this train, enabling it to increase its capabilities to serve the global tire market.

NOTE X—SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

In connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes by Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. and Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc. (the “Issuers”), this supplemental guarantor financial statement disclosure is included in

 

F-67


Table of Contents

accordance with Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X. The Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis, in each case, subject to certain exceptions, by Trinseo S.A. (the “Parent Guarantor”) and by certain subsidiaries (together, the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”).

Each of the Guarantor Subsidiaries is 100 percent owned by the Company. None of the other subsidiaries of the Company, either direct or indirect, guarantee the Senior Notes (together, the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”). The Guarantor Subsidiaries of the Senior Notes, excluding the Parent Guarantor, will be automatically released from those guarantees upon the occurrence of certain customary release provisions.

The following supplemental condensed consolidating financial information is presented to comply with the Company’s requirements under Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X:

 

    the Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012;

 

    the Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011; and

 

    the Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

The Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements are presented using the equity method of accounting for its investments in 100 percent owned subsidiaries. Under the equity method, the investments in subsidiaries are recorded at cost and adjusted for our share of the subsidiaries cumulative results of operations, capital contributions, distributions and other equity changes. The elimination entries principally eliminate investments in subsidiaries and intercompany balances and transactions. The financial information in this footnote should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements presented and other notes related thereto contained herein.

 

F-68


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

(In thousands)

 

    December 31, 2013  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Assets

           

Current assets

           

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 2      $ 954      $ 154,770      $ 40,777      $ —       $ 196,503   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance

    —         —         272,745        444,739        (2     717,482   

Intercompany receivables

    —         554,795        1,242,405        93,841        (1,891,041     —    

Inventories

    —         —         439,952        93,019        (2,780     530,191   

Deferred income tax assets

    —         —         5,077        4,743        —         9,820   

Other current assets

    —         3,954        4,386        14,410        —         22,750   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    2        559,703        2,119,335        691,529        (1,893,823     1,476,746   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

    —         —         155,887        —         —         155,887   

Property, plant and equipment, net

    —         —         476,137        130,290        —         606,427   

Other assets

           

Goodwill

    —         —         37,273        —         —         37,273   

Other intangible assets, net

    —         —         171,352        162        —         171,514   

Investments in subsidiaries

    343,429        1,232,608        615,153        —         (2,191,190     —    

Intercompany notes receivable—noncurrent

    —         1,359,637        17,739        —         (1,377,376     —    

Deferred income tax assets—noncurrent

    —         —         36,260        6,678        —         42,938   

Deferred charges and other assets

    —         48,801        33,607        990        598        83,996   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other assets

    343,429        2,641,046        911,384        7,830        (3,567,968     335,721   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 343,431      $ 3,200,749      $ 3,662,743      $ 829,649      $ (5,461,791   $ 2,574,781   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholder’s equity

           

Current liabilities

           

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

  $ —       $ 3,646      $ —       $ 5,108      $ —       $ 8,754   

Accounts payable

    —         2,570        436,147        70,378        (2 )     509,093   

Intercompany payables

    158        763,022        550,741        576,354        (1,890,275     —    

Income taxes payable

    —         —         9,407        276        —         9,683   

Deferred income tax liabilities

    —         —         784        2,119        —         2,903   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    71        58,977        66,061        11,020        —         136,129   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    229        828,215        1,063,140        665,255        (1,890,277     666,562   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent liabilities

           

Long-term debt

    —         1,325,000        2,667        —         —         1,327,667   

Intercompany notes payable—noncurrent

    —         —         1,347,773        29,602        (1,377,375     —    

Deferred income tax liabilities—noncurrent

    —         1,600        17,115        8,217        —         26,932   

Other noncurrent obligations

    —         —         198,479        11,939        —         210,418   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

    —         1,326,600        1,566,034        49,758        (1,377,375     1,565,017   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note O)

           

Shareholder’s equity

    343,202        1,045,934        1,033,569        114,636        (2,194,139     343,202   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity

  $ 343,431      $ 3,200,749      $ 3,662,743      $ 829,649      $ (5,461,791   $ 2,574,781   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-69


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

(In thousands)

 

    December 31, 2012  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Assets

           

Current assets

           

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 3      $ 29,411      $ 182,088      $ 24,855      $ —       $ 236,357   

Restricted cash

    —         —         —         7,852        —         7,852   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance

    —         5,798        273,491        416,104        (29     695,364   

Intercompany receivables

    —         517,640        1,106,234        50,322        (1,674,196     —    

Inventories

    —         —         481,503        105,527        (4,290     582,740   

Deferred income tax assets

    —         —         1,373        2,980        —         4,353   

Other current assets

    —         3,980        4,484        12,547        —         21,011   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    3        556,829        2,049,173        620,187        (1,678,515     1,547,677   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

    —         —         140,304        —         —         140,304   

Property, plant and equipment, net

    —         —         509,450        123,822        —         633,272   

Other assets

           

Goodwill

    —         —         36,103        —         —         36,103   

Other intangible assets, net

    —         —         179,439        203        —         179,642   

Investments in subsidiaries

    291,752        596,693        519,667        —         (1,408,112     —    

Intercompany notes receivable—noncurrent

    —         1,421,676        101,000        —         (1,522,676     —    

Deferred income tax assets—noncurrent

    —         —         59,489        7,715        —         67,204   

Deferred charges and other assets

    —         23,782        35,878        693        1,141        61,494   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other assets

    291,752        2,042,151        931,576        8,611        (2,929,647     344,443   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 291,755      $ 2,598,980      $ 3,630,503      $ 752,620      $ (4,608,162   $ 2,665,696   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholder’s equity

           

Current liabilities

           

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

  $ —       $ 3,541      $ —       $ 94,592      $ —       $ 98,133   

Accounts payable

    8        1,588        509,985        60,601        —         572,182   

Intercompany payables

    72        692,417        525,101        455,432        (1,673,022     —    

Income taxes payable

    —         —         9,193        1,891        —         11,084   

Deferred income tax liabilities

    —         —         1,959        669        —         2,628   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    10        22,080        47,833        15,652        —         85,575   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    90        719,626        1,094,071        628,837        (1,673,022     769,602   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent liabilities

           

Long-term debt

    —         1,352,584        2,867        —         —         1,355,451   

Intercompany notes payable—noncurrent

    —         83,999        1,418,444        20,233        (1,522,676     —    

Deferred income tax liabilities—noncurrent

    —         850        28,940        10,577        —         40,367   

Other noncurrent obligations

    —         —         197,709        10,902        —         208,611   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

    —         1,437,433        1,647,960        41,712        (1,522,676     1,604,429   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note O)

           

Shareholder’s equity

    291,665        441,921        888,472        82,071        (1,412,464     291,665   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity

  $ 291,755      $ 2,598,980      $ 3,630,503      $ 752,620      $ (4,608,162   $ 2,665,696   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-70


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31, 2013  
     Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

   $ —       $ —       $ 4,793,183      $ 1,476,538      $ (962,307   $ 5,307,414   

Cost of sales

     —         996        4,485,470        1,427,391        (964,453     4,949,404   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     —         (996     307,713        49,147        2,146        358,010   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     10,073        3,981        181,756        21,048        —         216,858   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     —         —         39,138        —         —         39,138   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     (10,073     (4,977     165,095        28,099        2,146        180,290   

Interest expense, net

     —         125,711        3,656        2,671        —         132,038   

Intercompany interest expense (income), net

     7        (88,851     76,042        12,803        (1     —    

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

     —         20,744        —         —         —         20,744   

Other expense (income)

     6        (32,325     39,534        20,647        15        27,877   

Equity in loss (earnings) of subsidiaries

     12,128        (44,373     (3,346     —         35,591        —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (22,214     14,117        49,209        (8,022     (33,459     (369

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     4        1,735        16,964        2,593        553        21,849   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (22,218   $ 12,382      $ 32,245      $ (10,615   $ (34,012   $ (22,218
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 41,587      $ 76,187      $ 91,240      $ (5,805   $ (161,622   $ 41,587   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-71


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands)

 

    Year Ended December 31, 2012  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

  $ —       $ —       $ 4,947,970      $ 1,613,401      $ (1,109,462   $ 5,451,909   

Cost of sales

    —         279        4,691,834        1,532,264        (1,109,189     5,115,188   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    —         (279     256,136        81,137        (273     336,721   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    7,374        3,994        147,454        23,247        —         182,069   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

    —         —         27,140        —         —         27,140   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

    (7,374     (4,273     135,822        57,890        (273     181,792   

Interest expense, net

    —         104,069        917        4,985        —         109,971   

Intercompany interest expense (income), net

    1        (88,245     76,510        11,782        (48     —    

Other expense (income)

    4        (20,515     21,376        23,125        (11     23,979   

Equity in loss (earnings) of subsidiaries

    (37,661     (53,200     (75,950     —         166,811        —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    30,282        53,618        112,969        17,998        (167,025     47,842   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

    —         (808     22,159        (3,739     (52     17,560   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

  $ 30,282      $ 54,426      $ 90,810      $ 21,737      $ (166,973   $ 30,282   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $ 1,667      $ 25,811      $ 59,111      $ 24,821      $ (109,743   $ 1,667   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands)

 

    Year Ended December 31, 2011  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

  $ —       $ —       $ 5,670,403      $ 1,791,243      $ (1,268,788   $ 6,192,858   

Cost of sales

    —         —         5,353,573        1,712,009        (1,268,305     5,797,277   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    —         —         316,830        79,234        (483     395,581   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    22,331        4,249        255,805        26,259        —         308,644   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

    —         —         23,874        —         —         23,874   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

    (22,331     (4,249     84,899        52,975        (483     110,811   

Interest expense, net

    671        99,002        5,279        6,464        —         111,416   

Intercompany interest expense (income), net

    —         (59,041     48,250        10,542        249        —    

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

    —         55,666        —         —         —         55,666   

Other expense (income)

    —         (33,301     1,634        11,605        (32     (20,094

Equity in loss (earnings) of subsidiaries

    52,903        (37,571     16,085        —         (31,417     —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (75,905     (29,004     13,651        24,364        30,717        (36,177

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

    —         3,208        29,034        7,770        (284     39,728   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

  $ (75,905   $ (32,212   $ (15,383   $ 16,594      $ 31,001      $ (75,905
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $ (106,806   $ (63,113   $ (44,276   $ 14,586      $ 92,803      $ (106,806
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-72


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

    Year Ended December 31, 2013  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flows from operating activities

         

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ (78   $ 27,101      $ 34,470      $ 149,842      $ —       $ 211,335   

Cash flows from investing activities

           

Capital expenditures

    —         —         (61,573     (11,971     —         (73,544

Proceeds from capital expenditures subsidy

    —         —         18,769        —         —         18,769   

Proceeds from the sale of businesses and assets

    —         —         15,221        —         —         15,221   

Advance payment refunded

    —         —         —         (2,711     —         (2,711

Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

    —         —         1,055        —         —         1,055   

Intercompany investing activities

    —         (4,000     (43,012     —         47,012        —    

Decrease in restricted cash

    —         —         —         7,852        —         7,852   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    —         (4,000     (69,540     (6,830     47,012        (33,358
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

           

Deferred financing fees

    —         (47,488     (767     —         —         (48,255

Intercompany short-term borrowings, net

    77        37,793        5,991        (849     (43,012     —    

Short-term borrowings, net

    —         (7,727     (267     (34,883     —         (42,877

Proceeds from issuance of intercompany long-term debt

    —         —         —         4,000        (4,000     —    

Repayments of Term Loans

    —         (1,239,000     —         —         —         (1,239,000

Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes

    —         1,325,000        —         —         —         1,325,000   

Proceeds from issuance of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —         —         —         376,630        —         376,630   

Repayments of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —         —         —         (471,696     —         (471,696

Proceeds from the draw of revolving debt

    —         405,000        —         —         —         405,000   

Repayments on the revolving debt

    —         (525,000     —         —         —         (525,000
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    77        (51,422     4,957        (126,798     (47,012     (220,198

Effect of exchange rates on cash

    —         (136     2,795        (292     —         2,367   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    (1     (28,457     (27,318     15,922        —         (39,854

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

    3        29,411        182,088        24,855        —         236,357   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

  $ 2      $ 954      $ 154,770      $ 40,777      $ —       $ 196,503   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-73


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

    Year Ended December 31, 2012  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flows from operating activities

           

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ (48   $ 7,865      $ 113,446      $ 64,852      $ —       $ 186,115   

Cash flows from investing activities

           

Capital expenditures

    —         —         (110,746     (7,758     —         (118,504

Proceeds from capital expenditures subsidy

    —         —         6,079        —         —         6,079   

Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment

    —         —         206        47        —         253   

Advance payment received

    —         —         —         2,602        —         2,602   

Investments in subsidiaries

    (162,155     —         (22,155     —         184,310        —    

Intercompany investing activities

    —         144,463        68,268        —         (212,731     —    

Increase in restricted cash

    —         —         —         (7,725     —         (7,725
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    (162,155     144,463        (58,348     (12,834     (28,421     (117,295
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

           

Deferred financing fees

    —         (7,392     (688     —         —         (8,080

Intercompany short-term borrowings, net

    51        (49,818     1,444        (18,625     66,948        —    

Short-term borrowings, net

    —         (4,159     (407     (33,321     —         (37,887

Contributions from parent companies

    —         22,155        162,155        —         (184,310     —    

Capital contributions from shareholder

    162,155        —         —         —         —         162,155   

Repayments of intercompany indebtedness

    —         —         (144,183     (1,600     145,783        —    

Repayments of Term Loans

    —         (147,000     —         —         —         (147,000

Proceeds from issuance of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —         —         —         113,828        —         113,828   

Repayments of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —         —         —         (130,233     —         (130,233

Proceeds from the draw of revolving debt

    —         1,105,000        —         —         —         1,105,000   

Repayments on the revolving debt

    —         (1,135,000     —         —         —         (1,135,000
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    162,206        (216,214     18,321        (69,951     28,421        (77,217

Effect of exchange rates on cash

    —         16        246        (821     —         (559
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    3        (63,870     73,665        (18,754     —         (8,956

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

    —         93,281        108,423        43,609        —         245,313   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

  $ 3      $ 29,411      $ 182,088      $ 24,855      $ —       $ 236,357   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-74


Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

    Year Ended December 31, 2011  
    Parent
Guarantor
    Issuers     Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flows from operating activities

           

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ (4,523   $ (81,586   $ 277,361      $ (40,166   $ —       $ 151,086   

Cash flows from investing activities

           

Capital expenditures

    —         —         (90,548     (9,263     —         (99,811

Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

    —         —         7,196        —         —         7,196   

Interest rate caps

    —         (262     —         —         —         (262

Distributions from subsidiaries

    550,990        —         —         —         (550,990     —    

Increase in restricted cash

    —         —         —         (6,250     —         (6,250

Investments in subsidiaries

    —         (49,000     (6,155     —         55,155        —    

Intercompany investing activities

    —         (550,990     28,859        —         522,131        —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    550,990        (600,252     (60,648     (15,513     26,296        (99,127
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

           

Deferred financing fees

    —         (18,704     (1,600     —         —         (20,304

Short-term borrowings, net

    —         —         —         737        —         737   

Intercompany short-term borrowings, net

    —         212,728        (234,847     (6,740     28,859        —    

Proceeds from issuance of intercompany indebtedness

    —         —         550,990        —         (550,990     —    

Distribution to shareholder

    (471,467     (50,000     —         —         —         (521,467

Distribution to parent

    —         —         (550,990     —         550,990        —    

Contributions from parent companies

    —         —         49,000        6,155        (55,155     —    

Net proceeds from issuance of Term Loans

    —         1,400,000        (310     —         —         1,399,690   

Repayments of Term Loans

    —         (794,000     —         —         —         (794,000

Principal payments on Seller Note

    (75,000     —         —         —         —         (75,000

Proceeds from issuance of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —         —         —         66,784        —         66,784   

Repayments of Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

    —         —         —         (31,574     —         (31,574

Proceeds from the draw of revolving debt

    —         1,125,000        —         —         —         1,125,000   

Repayments on the revolving debt

    —         (1,105,000     —         —         —         (1,105,000
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    (546,467     770,024        (187,757     35,362        (26,296     44,866   

Effect of exchange rates on cash

    —         —         492        (142     —         350   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    —         88,186        29,448        (20,459     —         97,175   

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

    —         5,095        78,975        64,068        —         148,138   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

  $ —       $ 93,281      $ 108,423      $ 43,609      $ —       $ 245,313   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-75


Table of Contents

TRINSEO S.A.

SCHEDULE II—FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

(In Millions)

 

            Additions              
     Balance at
Beginning of
the Period
     Charged to
Cost and
Expense
    Currency
Translation
Adjustments
    Deduction
from
Reserves
    Balance at
End of
the Period
 

Allowance for doubtful accounts:

           

Year ended December 31, 2013

   $ 8.4       $ (3.0   $ 0.6      $ (0.1 )(a)    $ 5.9   

Year ended December 31, 2012

     8.7         0.3        (0.3   $ (0.3 )(a)      8.4   

Year ended December 31, 2011

     4.3         4.6        (0.2     —   (a)      8.7   

Tax valuation allowances:

           

Year ended December 31, 2013

   $ 41.3       $ 10.7      $ (1.6   $ —       $ 50.4   

Year ended December 31, 2012

     47.4         (5.5     (0.6     —         41.3   

Year ended December 31, 2011

     19.6         27.6        0.2        —         47.4   

 

(a) Amounts written off, net of recoveries.

 

F-76


Table of Contents

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Members of

Americas Styrenics LLC

The Woodlands, Texas

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Americas Styrenics LLC and its subsidiaries (the “Company”), which comprise the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), members’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Management’s Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditors’ Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the Company’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Americas Styrenics LLC and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Houston, Texas

February 28, 2014

 

F-77


Table of Contents

AMERICAS STYRENICS LLC

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2013 AND 2012

(In millions of dollars)

 

 

 

     2013     2012  

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 66.2      $ 71.4   

Trade receivables (net of allowance of $1.6 in 2013 and $2.1 in 2012)

     197.7        160.6   

Related company receivables

     22.4        18.8   

Inventories

     125.6        137.4   

Other current assets

     13.0        16.7   

Deferred income taxes

     1.4        0.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     426.3        405.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

     282.3        300.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS:

    

Deferred income taxes

     3.1        4.3   

Other assets

     12.6        10.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other assets

     15.7        14.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 724.3      $ 719.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Trade payables

   $ 67.1      $ 71.4   

Related company payables

     102.2        93.8   

Other payables

     23.1        16.4   

Income taxes payable

     1.0        1.2   

Accrued liabilities

     16.7        16.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     210.1        199.0   

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT LIABILITY

     14.2        14.8   

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

     1.8        1.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     226.1        215.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 6)

    

MEMBERS’ EQUITY:

    

Paid-in capital

     547.0        592.0   

Accumulated deficit

     (43.3     (79.8

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (5.5     (7.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total members’ equity

     498.2        504.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 724.3      $ 719.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-78


Table of Contents

AMERICAS STYRENICS LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013, 2012 AND 2011

(In millions of dollars)

 

 

 

     2013     2012     2011  

Net sales

   $ 2,103.1      $ 1,845.8      $ 1,736.9   

Cost of sales

     2,021.5        1,789.9        1,706.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

     81.6        55.9        30.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Technical service and development

     2.6        2.6        2.3   

Selling and marketing

     6.7        6.2        4.9   

Administrative

     14.5        12.4        11.9   

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

     2.9        (2.9     0.6   

Other expense—net

     14.6        11.3        14.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     40.3        26.3        (3.7

Interest income

     —          0.1        0.1   

Income tax expense

     (3.8     (7.9     (3.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     36.5        18.5        (7.5

Other comprehensive income (loss)—defined benefit plans

     2.1        (0.9     (1.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 38.6      $ 17.6      $ (8.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-79


Table of Contents

AMERICAS STYRENICS LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF MEMBERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013, 2012 AND 2011

(In millions of dollars)

 

 

 

     Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss)
    Total  

BALANCE—January 1, 2011

   $ 658.5      $ (90.8   $ (5.7   $ 562.0   

Dissolution of Brazil partnership

     (6.5     —         —         (6.5

Distribution to Members

     (20.0     —         —         (20.0

Other

     (0.8     —         —         (0.8

Defined benefit plans—other comprehensive loss

     —         —         (1.0     (1.0

Net loss

     —         (7.5     —         (7.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

BALANCE—December 31, 2011

     631.2        (98.3     (6.7     526.2   

Distribution to Members

     (40.0     —         —         (40.0

Other

     0.8        —         —         0.8   

Defined benefit plans—other comprehensive loss

     —         —         (0.9     (0.9

Net income

     —         18.5        —         18.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

BALANCE—December 31, 2012

     592.0        (79.8     (7.6     504.6   

Distribution to Members

     (45.0     —         —         (45.0

Defined benefit plans—other comprehensive income

     —         —         2.1        2.1   

Net income

     —         36.5        —         36.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

BALANCE—December 31, 2013

   $ 547.0      $ (43.3   $ (5.5   $ 498.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-80


Table of Contents

AMERICAS STYRENICS LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013, 2012 AND 2011

(In millions of dollars)

 

 

 

     2013     2012     2011  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net income (loss)

   $ 36.5      $ 18.5      $ (7.5

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     37.3        41.8        39.1   

Net gain on disposal of assets

     (0.1     —         (0.1

Deferred income taxes

     (0.1     0.9        0.4   

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (0.5     (1.2     0.7   

Changes in assets and liabilities that provided (used) cash:

      

Trade receivables

     (36.6     (16.0     (26.0

Related company receivables

     (3.6     3.9        1.1   

Inventories

     9.4        (14.7     1.8   

Trade payables

     (4.3     4.7        (11.5

Related company payables

     8.4        21.2        11.3   

Other assets and liabilities

     16.9        3.1        (0.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     63.3        62.2        8.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

      

Capital expenditures

     (23.6     (17.6     (21.5

Disposal of assets

     0.1        —         0.1   

Proceeds from Brazil Partnership liquidation

     —         —         6.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (23.5     (17.6     (14.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

      

Distribution to Members

     (45.0     (40.0     (20.0

Distribution of Brazil Partnership proceeds

     —         —         (6.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (45.0     (40.0     (26.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     (5.2     4.6        (32.9

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of year

     71.4        66.8        99.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of year

   $ 66.2      $ 71.4      $ 66.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

      

Noncash investing activity—Capital expenditures payable

   $ 4.7      $ 3.0      $ 2.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ 4.5      $ 4.8      $ 3.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-81


Table of Contents

AMERICAS STYRENICS LLC

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2013 AND 2012 AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

2013, 2012 AND 2011

(Amounts in millions of dollars)

 

 

 

1. FORMATION OF VENTURE

Effective May 1, 2008, Chevron Phillips Chemical (“CPChem”) and The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) joined forces in styrenics by creating Americas Styrenics LLC (the “Company”). Effective July 1, 2009, Dow formed a separate plastics division, Styron Corp., which held its investment in the Company. Effective June 17, 2010, Dow divested its ownership in Styron Corp., making it an independent company, Styron LLC. CPChem, Dow (through June 17, 2010) and Styron LLC (subsequent to June 17, 2010) are referred to herein as the “Members.” The Members share equally in the profits and losses of the Company.

 

2. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation —The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s subsidiaries and partnership interests are as follows: Americas Styrenics Colombia Ltda, Americas Styrenics Argentina S.R.L. (liquidated in 2013), Americas Styrenics Chile Commercial Ltda, Americas Styrenics de Mexico, de R.L. de C.V., Americas Styrenics Canada Inc., and Americas Styrenics Industria e Comercio de Poliestireno Ltda (Brazil).

Nature of Operations —The Company was formed as a joint venture and focuses on styrenics (styrene and polystyrene) production, sales and distribution in North and South America.

Cash and Cash Equivalents —Included in cash and cash equivalents, from time to time, are short-term interest-bearing investments on deposit with financial institutions. There were nil and $55.0 of interest-bearing overnight investments at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Trade Receivables —The Company’s United States customers are primarily in the packaging industry, but also consist of other chemical and plastics manufacturers. The Company’s foreign customers reside primarily in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil. The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of customers and in certain circumstances, may require letters of credit to support product sales. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based on anticipated collection of its accounts receivable.

Inventories — Inventories at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:

 

     2013      2012  

Finished goods

   $ 43.8       $ 53.5   

Work in process

     68.7         76.2   

Raw materials

     4.4         2.0   

Supplies

     8.7         5.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total inventories

   $ 125.6       $ 137.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Finished products and work-in-process inventories include material, labor, and manufacturing overhead costs. The reserves reducing inventories from a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis to a last-in, first-out (LIFO) basis amounted to $113.4 at December 31, 2013, and $122.9 at December 31, 2012. In 2012, the liquidation of certain of the Company’s LIFO inventory layers increased operating income by $5.8. Foreign inventories are accounted for on a FIFO basis.

 

F-82


Table of Contents

Property, Plant, and Equipment —Upon formation of the Company, property, plant, and equipment were recorded at the Members’ net book value. Current additions of property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost. The Company provides for depreciation using the straight-line method at rates based on the estimated service lives of the various classes of assets (3–45 years). Expenditures for repairs and maintenance, including major maintenance commonly known as turnarounds, are expensed as incurred. Components of property, plant, and equipment at December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:

 

     2013     2012  

Land and waterway improvements

   $ 8.9      $ 8.5   

Buildings

     25.1        24.4   

Transportation and construction equipment

     47.7        47.9   

Machinery and other equipment

     848.9        829.3   

Utilities and supply lines/other property

     6.5        6.4   

Construction in progress

     10.8        14.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property, plant, and equipment

     947.9        931.2   

Less accumulated depreciation

     (665.6     (631.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net property, plant, and equipment

   $ 282.3      $ 300.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income Taxes —The Company is treated as a flow-through partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and for most state income tax purposes. As such, the Company itself is not liable for U.S. federal income taxes. The Company files a U.S. partnership return which reflects each Member’s share of income or loss. The Members are responsible for reporting and paying any tax on their respective income tax returns. The Company is directly liable for certain state income and franchise taxes, foreign withholding, and foreign direct or indirect taxes.

The Company has foreign subsidiaries in Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Argentina (liquidated in 2013), and Canada. All foreign entities except the Canadian subsidiary have elected to be treated as disregarded foreign branches of the Company for U.S. purposes. As such, the income or loss of the respective disregarded entities will be included in the U.S. federal partnership return. The foreign subsidiaries are responsible for all applicable taxes on foreign operations, and these taxes have been provided for in the consolidated financial statements.

The Company has not recorded any liabilities for uncertain tax positions required under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes , which prescribes the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets —The Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used, including intangible assets, when events or circumstances warrant such a review. The carrying value of a long-lived asset to be held and used is considered impaired when the anticipated, separately identifiable undiscounted cash flows from such an asset are less than the carrying value of the asset. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. Fair value is determined primarily using the anticipated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. The Company’s management concluded no impairment should be recorded in 2013, 2012, or 2011.

Asset Retirement Obligation —The Company assesses whether it has legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, or development and (or) the normal operation of a long-lived asset, including any legal obligations that require disposal of a replaced part that is a component of a tangible long-lived asset. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had no significant asset retirement obligations.

Insurance —The Company maintains insurance for automobile risks, general liability including products, director and officers, workers compensation and property. This insurance is placed with highly rated insurance carriers. The limits and deductibles are consistent for a company of this size and structure.

 

F-83


Table of Contents

Foreign Currency —The functional currency for the Company’s foreign operations is the U.S. dollar, resulting in no currency translation adjustments. Foreign currency gains and losses are reflected in operations.

Use of Estimates —The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition —The Company recognizes revenue when there is evidence of a sales agreement, the delivery of goods has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and the collectability of revenue is reasonably assured. Revenue includes the selling price of the product and all related delivery charges paid by the customer. Freight costs and any directly related associated costs of transporting finished product to customers are recorded as “cost of sales.” Revenue is reduced at the time of sale for estimated customer-related incentives (mostly volume-related incentives).

Subsequent Events —The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were available to be issued of February 28, 2014.

 

3. REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

In August 2011, the Company entered into a $50.0 revolving credit facility with Comerica Bank that terminates in August 2015. At the Company’s option, the interest rate under this facility equals either the prime or the London InterBank Offered Rate based rate as defined in the credit agreement. The Company’s accounts receivable have been pledged as collateral for the credit facility.

There were no outstanding borrowings at December 31, 2013 or 2012.

 

4. INCOME TAXES

The components of the income (loss) before taxes for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

 

     2013      2012      2011  

Domestic

   $ 35.5       $ 2.9       $ (13.7

Foreign

     4.8         23.5         10.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total income (loss) before taxes

   $ 40.3       $ 26.4       $ (3.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The components of income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

 

     2013     2012      2011  

State—current

   $ 0.6      $ —        $ 1.0   

Foreign—current

     3.7        5.2         3.4   

Foreign—deferred

     (0.5     2.2         (0.5

Foreign—withholding

     —         0.5         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total income tax expense

   $ 3.8      $ 7.9       $ 3.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

F-84


Table of Contents

The components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2013 and 2012, are as follows:

 

     2013      2012  

Fixed assets

   $ 3.1       $ 4.3   

Other temporary differences

     1.4         0.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets

   $ 4.5       $ 4.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries are not deemed to be permanently reinvested. Currently, undistributed earnings exist in the Canadian, Mexican, and Colombian subsidiaries. In 2012, the Company repatriated $6.5 in cash from its foreign subsidiaries. Future repatriation of earnings will not be subject to tax by the Company (but rather its Members); however, foreign withholding taxes may apply.

 

5. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company provides reimbursement of medical and dental costs to retired employees. The Company’s plan, the Retiree Reimbursement Account (RRA), was implemented on January 1, 2009, and is funded at the time of the employees’ retirement based on years of credited service which includes service rendered as employees of Dow or CPChem. Thereafter, the Company is not obligated to make additional contributions. The Company has the ability to change the benefits at any time. All employees are eligible, except for former Dow employees that choose to participate in The Dow Chemical Company Retiree Medical Care Program upon retirement. The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for the RRA.

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the RRA had a benefit obligation in the amount of $14.6 and $15.2, respectively. The Company contributed and paid benefits in the amount of $0.3 in 2013 and $0.2 in each of the years 2012 and 2011.

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:

 

     2013     2012  

Current liabilities

   $ (0.4   $ (0.4

Noncurrent liabilities

     (14.2     (14.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ (14.6   $ (15.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss were as follows:

 

     2013      2012  

Net actuarial loss

   $ 0.8       $ 2.2   

Prior service cost

     4.7         5.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 5.5       $ 7.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

In 2014, $0.7 of estimated prior service cost will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost.

 

F-85


Table of Contents

Net periodic benefit cost and components of other amounts recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss were as follows:

 

     2013     2012     2011  

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost

   $ 1.8      $ 1.7      $ 1.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other changes in benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive loss:

      

Net actuarial (gain) loss

     (1.3     1.6        1.6   

Recognized actuarial loss

     (0.1     —         —    

Recognized prior service cost

     (0.7     (0.7     (0.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss

     (2.1     0.9        1.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive (income) loss

   $ (0.3   $ 2.6      $ 2.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Actuarial assumptions used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost were as follows:

 

     2013     2012     2011  

Discount rate used to determine net periodic benefit cost

     3.44     4.86     5.25

Discount rate used to determine benefit obligation at December 31

     4.27     3.44     N/A   

 

     2013     2012     2011  

Health Care Cost Assumptions

      

Initial health care cost trend rate

     9.00     9.50     9.50

Ultimate health care cost trend rate

     4.50     4.50     4.50

Year ultimate reached

     2022        2022        2022   

Estimated health care cost trend rates can have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the RRA.

The Company expects to contribute approximately $0.4 to its RRA plan in 2014.

At December 31, 2013, the estimated future benefit payments, reflecting expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid as follows:

 

2014

   $ 0.4   

2015

     0.5   

2016

     0.7   

2017

     0.9   

2018

     1.0   

2019 through 2023

     7.6   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 11.1   
  

 

 

 

The Company also has a defined contribution employee savings plan and made discretionary contributions of $3.2, $3.0 and $2.9 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company and its subsidiaries maintain outside service agreements and lease buildings, ground and easements, rail cars, and other vehicles under noncancelable operating leases, which expire on varying dates between 2014 and 2018.

 

F-86


Table of Contents

Total future minimum annual rentals in effect at December 31, 2013, for noncancelable operating leases are as follows:

 

Years Ending December 31

  

2014

   $ 10.5   

2015

     4.0   

2016

     2.8   

2017

     1.9   

2018

     1.1   

2019 through 2023

     0.4   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 20.7   
  

 

 

 

Expense for total rental and long-term commitments was $23.8, $22.1 and $21.3 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The Company has entered into long-term sales commitments and purchase agreements with several of its key suppliers, including its Members (See Note 7). The commitment contracts are for one- to three-year periods with some cost efficiency incentives. Because the pricing and supply fluctuates with the commodity market, a definitive dollar value cannot be determined.

In addition, the Company has purchase commitments of $54.9 mainly related to certain feedstock, utility and capital projects costs. The Company does not consider purchase orders to be firm commitments. If the Company chooses to cancel a purchase order, it may be obligated to reimburse the vendor for unrecoverable outlays incurred prior to cancellation under certain circumstances.

The Company is a party to various legal proceedings and claims incidental to the normal conduct of its business. Management believes that the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Pursuant to the contribution agreement, all preexisting environmental matters have been outlined for each site and any contingencies are the responsibility of Dow, per Section 4.10, and CPChem, per Section 5.10. All subsequent obligations will be the liability of the Company. No environmental reserve was recorded as of December 31, 2013, 2012, or 2011.

 

7. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company entered into various supply and purchase agreements with the Members and their affiliated companies. These agreements include sales and purchases of energy, raw materials and services. A summary of transactions for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 is as follows:

 

     2013      2012      2011  

Sales

   $ 255.1       $ 251.8       $ 255.8   

Purchases

     980.6         948.8         859.0   

Balances receivable and payable to the Members are included in the December 31, 2013 and 2012 consolidated balance sheets as related company receivables and payables.

 

8. INTEREST IN SILENT PARTNERSHIP

Upon formation of the Company, a Complementary Special Partnership Agreement (the “Silent Partnership”) was signed between a subsidiary of Dow and Americas Styrenics Industria E Comercio de Polistireno for the purpose of producing, marketing, and selling polystyrene from a polystyrene facility in Brazil.

 

F-87


Table of Contents

On December 28, 2010, the Company, Styron LLC, and CPChem entered into a series of agreements, which resulted in the sale of the facility to an unrelated third party and an agreement to liquidate the Silent Partnership.

During 2011, the Silent Partnership progressed toward liquidation and the Company recognized a gain of $0.2 on settlement of certain liabilities included in other expense, net. The Company collected and then distributed liquidation proceeds of $6.5 to CPChem in 2011.

******

 

F-88


Table of Contents

 

 

Trinseo S.A.

Ordinary Shares

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Deutsche Bank Securities

Citigroup

Morgan Stanley

Barclays

BofA Merrill Lynch

HSBC

Jefferies

Mizuho Securities

Scotiabank

SMBC Nikko

Wells Fargo Securities

 

 

Through and including                     , 2014 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts or commission. All amounts are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority filing fee.

 

SEC Registration fee

   $ 25,760   

FINRA filing fee

     35,000   

Stock Exchange Listing fee

     225,000   

Printing and engraving

     400,000   

Legal fees and expenses

     2,500,000   

Accounting fees and expenses

     400,000   

Transfer Agent and registrar fees

     30,000   

Miscellaneous

     2,284,240   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 5,900,000   
  

 

 

 

 

* To be completed by amendment.

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

According to Luxembourg case law, liability exemption clauses, in a contractual arrangement between a director and company or included in the articles of association of a company, are generally accepted as valid to the extent that they are: (a) voluntarily agreed without fraud; (b) not prohibited by specific legal provisions, legal principles, general interest or protection of certain creditors; and (c) not in contradiction with the purpose, or the other provisions, of the agreement. Because an arrangement between a company and a director to hold the director harmless against the financial consequences of a claim on the basis of a director’s personal liability for faults committed during the exercise of its mandate, offers similar protection as a D&O liability insurance policy, which insurances are generally admitted under Luxembourg law, it is generally accepted that indemnity agreements are allowed as well, provided that they do not aim to cover criminal charges.

The Articles of Association of Trinseo S.A. contain an undertaking for us to indemnify any manager or other officer of the company for any costs that may be incurred in connection with any legal proceedings against such officer in its capacity as officer of the company, except in case of fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard to his duties as director.

We expect to enter into indemnification agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide them, in general, with customary indemnification in connection with their service to us or on our behalf to the fullest extent permitted under Luxembourg law.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

Equity Securities

On May 8, 2012, we issued 2,215,500,000 ordinary shares to our Parent for aggregate consideration of $22,155,000.

On August 8, 2012, we issued 14,000,000,000 ordinary shares to our Parent for aggregate consideration of $140,000,000.

The issuances of the securities in the transactions described above were issued without registration in reliance on the exemptions afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 506 thereunder.

The foregoing share numbers do not reflect the 1-for              reverse split of our ordinary shares.

 

II-1


Table of Contents

Debt Securities

On January 29, 2013 we issued guarantees of the $1,325.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the “Senior Notes”) that were issued by our indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. and Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc. The Senior Notes were issued at a price of 100% of their face value. The proceeds were used to repay outstanding term loan indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses. The initial purchasers for the Senior Notes were Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Mizuho Securities USA Inc. and SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited. The aggregate amount of the initial purchasers’ discount on the Senior Notes was approximately $23.2 million.

The Senior Notes were offered and sold to the initial purchasers in reliance on the exemption afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder and were offered and resold by the initial purchasers to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to non-U.S. investors outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S of the Securities Act.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.    Description
  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement
  3.1    Form of Amended and Restated Articles of Association of Trinseo S.A.
  4.1    Form of Specimen Share Certificate of Trinseo S.A.
  4.2    Indenture, dated as of January 29, 2013, including Form of 8.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2019, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed September 30, 2013)
  4.3    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 12, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed September 30, 2013)
  4.4    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 10, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed September 30, 2013)
  4.5    Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 16, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed September 30, 2013)
  4.6    Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 3, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 6, 2013)

 

II-2


Table of Contents
Exhibit No.   Description
  4.7   Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the other Grantors party hereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, Wilmington Trust, National Association and each Additional Collateral Agent from time to time party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
  4.8**   Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding S.C.A.
  5.1+   Opinion of Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg S.à.r.l.
10.1   Credit Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2010, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.2   First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2011, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.3   Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2011, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.4   Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2012, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.5   Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 9, 2012, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.6   Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.7   Sixth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2013, among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Styron Italia S.R.L. and each Lender party (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 6, 2013)
10.8   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, among Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.), Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and Christopher D. Pappas, dated April 11, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.9   Employment Agreement, among Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.), Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and Curtis S. Shaw, dated July 1, 2010, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated August 18, 2010, and Amendment No. 2 dated February 14, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)

 

II-3


Table of Contents
Exhibit No.    Description
10.10    Employment Agreement, among Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.), Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and John A. Feenan, dated December 22, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.11    Employment Offer Letter, by and between Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.) and Marco Levi, dated September 22, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.12    First Amendment to the Employment Letter Agreement, dated as of January 17, 2014, by and between Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.) and Marco Levi (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on January 17, 2014)
10.13    Employment Agreement, among Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.), Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and Martin Pugh, dated March 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 14, 2014)
10.14    First Amendment to the Employment Agreement, dated January 17, 2014, by and between Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.) and Martin Pugh. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on January 17, 2014)
10.15    Form of Amended and Restated Executive Subscription and Securityholder’s Agreement, by and among Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA, Bain Capital Everest Manager S.à.r.l., the executive named therein and the other investors named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.16    Amended and Restated Executive Subscription and Securityholder’s Agreement, by and among Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA, Bain Capital Everest Manager S.à.r.l., Christopher D. Pappas and the other investors named therein, dated February 3, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.17    Investor Subscription and Shareholder Agreement by and among Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and the various investors named therein, dated June 17, 2010. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.18    Registration Rights Agreement, by and among Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and the investors named therein, dated June 17, 2010. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.19    Advisory Agreement, by and between Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Portfolio Company Advisors Limited, Styron Holding BC and Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.), dated June 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.20    Transaction Services Agreement, by and between Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.) and Bain Capital Partners, dated June 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)

 

II-4


Table of Contents
Exhibit No.    Description
10.21    Latex Joint Venture Option Agreement, among The Dow Chemical Company, Styron LLC and Styron Holding B.V., dated June 17, 2010, as amended by the Latex Joint Venture Option Agreement Amendment, dated August 9, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.22*    Second Amended and Restated Master Outsourcing Services Agreement, among The Dow Chemical Company and Styron LLC and Styron Holding B.V., dated June 1, 2013. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.23*    Contract of Sale, by and between Americas Styrenics LLC and The Dow Chemical Company, dated December 1, 2009, as amended by that certain Amendment to and Consent to Partial Assignment, dated April 1, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.24*    Styrene Baseload Sale and Purchase Agreement, between Dow Europe GmbH and Jubail Chevron Phillips Company, dated June 30, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.25*    Amended and Restated Ethylene Sales Contract (Europe), between Dow Europe GmbH and Styron Europe GmbH, dated June 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.26*    Amended and Restated Benzene Sales Contract (Europe), between Dow Europe GmbH and Styron Europe GmbH, dated June 17, 2010. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.27*    Amended and Restated Butadiene Sales Contract (Europe), between Dow Europe GmbH and Styron Europe GmbH, dated June 17, 2010. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.28*    Amended and Restated MOD5 Computerized Process Control Software Agreement, Licenses and Services, between Rofan Services Inc. and Styron LLC, dated as of June 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.29*    Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated MOD5 Computerized Process Control Software Agreement, Licenses and Services, between Rofan Services Inc. and Styron LLC, dated as of June 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.30*    Amended and Restated Styron License Agreement, among The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Global Technologies Inc. and Styron LLC, dated as of June 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)

 

II-5


Table of Contents
Exhibit No.   Description
10.31   Deed of Amendment, Restatement and Accession, dated May 30, 2013, by and among Styron Europe GmbH, Styron Deutschland Anlagengesellschaft mbH, Styron Netherlands B.V., Styron LLC, Trinseo U.S. Receivables Company SPV LLC, Styron Receivables Funding Limited, Styron Finance Luxembourg S.à r.l., Luxembourg, Zweigniederlassung Horgen, Regency Assets Limited, HSBC Bank plc, Styron Holding S.à.r.l, as parent and guarantor, TMF Administration Services Limited, as corporate administrator and registrar and the Law Debenture Trust Corporation plc, as Styron security trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.32**   Form of Restoration and Elective Deferral Plan
10.33**   Performance Award (PA) Plan
10.34   Form of 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.35   Trinseo S.A. Cash Incentive Plan
10.36**   Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers
21.1**   Subsidiaries of Trinseo S.A.
23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.3+   Consent of Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg S.à.r.l. (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
24.1**   Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page).
99.1**   Consent of Stephen F. Thomas
99.2**   Consent of Aurélien Vasseur

 

+ To be filed by amendment.
* Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request that was granted effective January 30, 2014. Omitted material for which confidential treatment has been requested has been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
** Previously filed.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules

All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.

Item 17. Undertakings

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-6


Table of Contents

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

II-7


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Berwyn, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 16 th day of May, 2014.

 

TRINSEO S.A.
By:  

/s/ Christopher D. Pappas

Name:   Christopher D. Pappas
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Christopher D. Pappas

  

Director, President and Chief Executive

Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

  May 16, 2014
Christopher D. Pappas     

/s/ John A. Feenan

  

Executive Vice President and Chief

Financial Officer (Principal Financial

Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

  May 16, 2014
John A. Feenan     

*

   Director   May 16, 2014
Brian W. Chu     

*

   Director   May 16, 2014
Seth A. Meisel     

*

   Director   May 16, 2014
Michel G. Plantevin     

*

   Director   May 16, 2014
Stephen M. Zide     

 

By:  

/s/ John A. Feenan

  Attorney-in-fact

 

II-8


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

  1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement
  3.1   Form of Amended and Restated Articles of Association of Trinseo S.A.
  4.1   Form of Specimen Share Certificate of Trinseo S.A.
  4.2   Indenture, dated as of January 29, 2013, including Form of 8.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2019, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed September 30, 2013)
  4.3   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 12, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed September 30, 2013)
  4.4   Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 10, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed September 30, 2013)
  4.5   Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 16, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed September 30, 2013)
  4.6   Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 3, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 6, 2013)
  4.7   Intercreditor and Collateral Agency Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the other Grantors party hereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, Wilmington Trust, National Association and each Additional Collateral Agent from time to time party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
  4.8**   Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding S.C.A.
  5.1+   Opinion of Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg S.à.r.l.
10.1   Credit Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2010, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.2   First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2011, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.3    Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2011, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.4    Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2012, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.5    Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 9, 2012, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.6    Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2013, by and among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., the Guarantors, the Lenders and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.7    Sixth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2013, among Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A., Styron Italia S.R.L. and each Lender party (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 6, 2013)
10.8    Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, among Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.), Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and Christopher D. Pappas, dated April 11, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.9    Employment Agreement, among Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.), Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and Curtis S. Shaw, dated July 1, 2010, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated August 18, 2010, and Amendment No. 2 dated February 14, 2012(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.10    Employment Agreement, among Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.), Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and John A. Feenan, dated December 22, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.11    Employment Offer Letter, by and between Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.) and Marco Levi, dated September 22, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.12    First Amendment to the Employment Letter Agreement, dated as of January 17, 2014, by and between Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.) and Marco Levi (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on January 17, 2014)
10.13    Employment Agreement, among Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.), Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and Martin Pugh, dated March 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 14, 2014)
10.14    First Amendment to the Employment Agreement, dated January 17, 2014, by and between Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.) and Martin Pugh. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on January 17, 2014)


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.15    Form of Amended and Restated Executive Subscription and Securityholder’s Agreement, by and among Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA, Bain Capital Everest Manager S.à.r.l., the executive named therein and the other investors named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.16    Amended and Restated Executive Subscription and Securityholder’s Agreement, by and among Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA, Bain Capital Everest Manager S.à.r.l., Christopher D. Pappas and the other investors named therein, dated February 3, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.17    Investor Subscription and Shareholder Agreement by and among Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and the various investors named therein, dated June 17, 2010. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.18    Registration Rights Agreement, by and among Bain Capital Everest Manager Holding SCA and the investors named therein, dated June 17, 2010. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.19    Advisory Agreement, by and between Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Portfolio Company Advisors Limited, Styron Holding BC and Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.), dated June 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.20    Transaction Services Agreement, by and between Styron US Holding, Inc. (f/k/a Bain Capital Everest US Holding, Inc.) and Bain Capital Partners, dated June 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.21    Latex Joint Venture Option Agreement, among The Dow Chemical Company, Styron LLC and Styron Holding B.V., dated June 17, 2010, as amended by the Latex Joint Venture Option Agreement Amendment, dated August 9, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.22*    Second Amended and Restated Master Outsourcing Services Agreement, among The Dow Chemical Company and Styron LLC and Styron Holding B.V., dated June 1, 2013. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.23*    Contract of Sale, by and between Americas Styrenics LLC and The Dow Chemical Company, dated December 1, 2009, as amended by that certain Amendment to and Consent to Partial Assignment, dated April 1, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.24*    Styrene Baseload Sale and Purchase Agreement, between Dow Europe GmbH and Jubail Chevron Phillips Company, dated June 30, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.25*    Amended and Restated Ethylene Sales Contract (Europe), between Dow Europe GmbH and Styron Europe GmbH, dated June 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.26*   Amended and Restated Benzene Sales Contract (Europe), between Dow Europe GmbH and Styron Europe GmbH, dated June 17, 2010. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.27*   Amended and Restated Butadiene Sales Contract (Europe), between Dow Europe GmbH and Styron Europe GmbH, dated June 17, 2010. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.28*   Amended and Restated MOD5 Computerized Process Control Software Agreement, Licenses and Services, between Rofan Services Inc. and Styron LLC, dated as of June 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.29*   Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated MOD5 Computerized Process Control Software Agreement, Licenses and Services, between Rofan Services Inc. and Styron LLC, dated as of June 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.30*   Amended and Restated Styron License Agreement, among The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Global Technologies Inc. and Styron LLC, dated as of June 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, as amended on December 16, 2013)
10.31   Deed of Amendment, Restatement and Accession, dated May 30, 2013, by and among Styron Europe GmbH, Styron Deutschland Anlagengesellschaft mbH, Styron Netherlands B.V., Styron LLC, Trinseo U.S. Receivables Company SPV LLC, Styron Receivables Funding Limited, Styron Finance Luxembourg S.à r.l., Luxembourg, Zweigniederlassung Horgen, Regency Assets Limited, HSBC Bank plc, Styron Holding S.à.r.l, as parent and guarantor, TMF Administration Services Limited, as corporate administrator and registrar and the Law Debenture Trust Corporation plc, as Styron security trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Registration Statement filed on Form S-4, File No. 333-191460, filed on September 30, 2013)
10.32**   Form of Restoration and Elective Deferral Plan
10.33**   Performance Award (PA) Plan
10.34   Form of 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.35   Trinseo S.A. Cash Incentive Plan
10.36**   Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers
21.1**   Subsidiaries of Trinseo S.A.
23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.3+   Consent of Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg S.à.r.l. (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
24.1**   Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page).
99.1**   Consent of Stephen F. Thomas
99.2**   Consent of Aurélien Vasseur

 

+ To be filed by amendment.
* Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request that was granted effective January 30, 2014. Omitted material for which confidential treatment has been requested has been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
** Previously filed.

Exhibit 1.1

Trinseo S.A.

Ordinary Shares, Par Value $0.01

Underwriting Agreement

                    , 2014

Goldman, Sachs & Co.,

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.,

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.,

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC,

    As representatives of the several Underwriters (the “Representatives”)

        named in Schedule I hereto,

c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,

200 West Street,

New York, New York 10282-2198

c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.,

60 Wall Street, 36th Floor

New York, New York 10005

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.,

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York, 10013

c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC,

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Trinseo S.A., a public limited liability company (société anonyme) existing under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of                     ordinary shares (the “Firm Shares”) and, at the election of the Underwriters, up to additional ordinary shares (the “Optional Shares”) of ordinary shares, par value $0.01 per ordinary share (“Stock”), of the Company (the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 2 hereof being collectively called the “Shares”).


1. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that, except, as disclosed to the Underwriters in a letter dated May     , 2014:

(a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-194561) (the “Initial Registration Statement”) in respect of the Shares has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”); the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered to you, and, excluding exhibits thereto, to you for each of the other Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; the Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Shares that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined in Section 1(c) hereof) is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus”; such final prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; and any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Shares is hereinafter called an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”);

(b) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however ,

 

2


that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein;

(c) For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is                     [a.m.][p.m.] (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement. The Pricing Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule II(a) hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus and each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Prospectus as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein;

(d) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein;

(e) Except as described in the Pricing Prospectus, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, (ii) issued or granted any securities, other than securities issued to employees of the Company pursuant to employee benefit or compensation plans, (iii) incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or

 

3


contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business, (v) declared or paid any dividend on its capital stock, and (vi) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock, partnership or limited liability company interests, as applicable, or long-term debt, of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (other than the grant of options, restricted stock or other awards under the 2014 Omnibus Long Term Incentive Plan, as described in the Pricing Prospectus) or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(f) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all material real property owned by them and good and marketable title to all material personal property owned by them, in each case that is material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, free and clear of all material liens, encumbrances and defects, except such liens, encumbrances and defects as are described in the Pricing Prospectus. All assets held under lease by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(g) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized, is validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concepts exist in the jurisdiction of organization of the Company or such subsidiary) as a corporation or other business entity under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, properties or business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (such an effect, a “Material Adverse Effect”). The Company and its subsidiaries have all corporate power and authority necessary to own or hold their properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged;

(h) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth under the caption “Capitalization” in the Pricing Prospectus. The information set forth under the caption “Capitalization” in the Pricing Prospectus is true and correct in all material respects. All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. All

 

4


of the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (to the extent such concepts exist in the jurisdiction of organization of such subsidiary) and (except for directors’ qualifying shares for foreign subsidiaries and except as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except as may exist pursuant to the indenture, as supplemented, governing the 8.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 of Trinseo Materials Operating S.C.A. and Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., as described in the Pricing Prospectus, and such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims as would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(i) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the description of the Stock contained in the Prospectus;

(j) The Company has all requisite power to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

(k) The issue and sale of the Shares and the compliance by the Company with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except, with respect to clauses (i) and (iii), conflicts or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(l) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets is required for the issue and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the registration under the Act of the Shares and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters;

 

5


(m) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is in violation of its charter or by-laws (or equivalent organizational documents), (ii) is in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or other obligation contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject, or (iii) is in violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or its property or assets, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent any such conflict, breach, violation or default would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(n) The statements set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and Prospectus under the caption “Description of Share Capital”, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Stock, under the caption “Material United States Federal Income Tax and Luxembourg Tax Considerations”, and under the caption “Underwriting”, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair;

(o) Except as described in the Pricing Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. To the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened by governmental authorities or others;

(p) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

(q) At the time of filing the Initial Registration Statement the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined under Rule 405 under the Act;

(r) The consolidated and/or combined historical financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, as applicable, together with related notes and schedules as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus, present fairly in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the consolidated subsidiaries, at the indicated dates and for the indicated periods. Such financial statements and related schedules have been

 

6


prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise stated therein). The summary and selected consolidated financial data included in the Pricing Prospectus presents fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and such data has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein;

(s) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, whose report appears in the Registration Statement, Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, are independent registered public accounting firms with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act;

(t) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting designed to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Pricing Prospectus, as of the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company, there were no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls;

(u) Except as disclosed in the Pricing Prospectus, since the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company, (i) the Company has not been advised of or become aware of (A) any significant deficiencies in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, that would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the ability of Company or any of its subsidiaries to record, process, summarize and report financial data, or any material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting, and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of Company and each of its subsidiaries; and (ii) there have been no changes in Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that have materially adversely affected, or would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect, Company’s internal control over financial reporting;

 

7


(v) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective;

(w) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee or controlled affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; (iv) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom; or (v) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment; and the Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates, have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws.

(x) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(y) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or controlled affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States government, including the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), or any other governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity that, to the Company’s knowledge, intends to use such

 

8


proceeds, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the United States government, including OFAC, or any other sanctions administered or enforced by any other governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company (“Sanctions”) or any of its subsidiaries or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

(z) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have such permits, licenses, patents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of the appropriate U.S. federal, state or non-U.S. governmental or regulatory authorities (“Permits”) as are necessary under applicable law to own their properties and conduct their businesses in the manner described in the Pricing Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such Permits or has any reason to believe that any such Permits will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except for any of the foregoing that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(aa) The Company and its subsidiaries each own, possess, hold, license or otherwise have the right to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, copyrights, license rights and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) (“Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on their business in all material respects (“Company Intellectual Property”); (i) To the knowledge of the Company, no third party is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Company Intellectual Property; (ii) the Company Intellectual Property has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part; and (iii) there is no pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding (A) challenging the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ rights in or to, or the validity, enforceability or scope of, any Company Intellectual Property, or (B) alleging that the conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company has not received notice of, or is aware of any facts that would form a reasonable basis for, any such claim, action or proceeding; except, in the case of (i)-(iii), as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(bb) The Company and each of its subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance from insurers of recognized financial responsibility in such amounts and covering such risks as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries;

 

9


(cc) Except as described in the Pricing Prospectus, no labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened, in each case that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(dd) The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) is in compliance with all laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, foreign, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety, the environment, or natural resources, or to use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation, treatment, discharge, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (ii) has not received notice or otherwise have knowledge of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any actual or potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except in the case of clause (i) or (ii) as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ee) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, or have requested extensions thereof, and have paid all taxes due, and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except, in each case, as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ff) Each domestic pension plan and welfare plan established or maintained by the Company and/or its subsidiaries has complied in form and operation is in compliance with the currently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable laws, except where noncompliance would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred or reasonably expects to incur, any withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA, any liability under Section 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA or any other liability under Title IV of ERISA, or any liability under Section 4971 of the Code except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(gg) No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company, except as described in the Pricing Prospectus, or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

10


(hh) The statistical and market-related data included in the Pricing Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believe to be reliable in all material respects and such data are consistent with the sources from which they are derived;

(ii) The Company has not taken directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which would reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares; and

(jj) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Prospectus, as each may be amended or supplemented, there has not been any Material Adverse Effect, there has not been any material transaction entered into by the Company or its subsidiaries, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and transactions described in the Pricing Prospectus, as each may be amended or supplemented.

2. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, (a) the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price per share of $            , the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and (b) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional Shares as provided below, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price per share set forth in clause (a) of this Section 2, that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying such number of Optional Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares that all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder.

The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to Optional Shares, at the purchase price per share set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering sales of shares in excess of the number of Firm Shares, provided that the purchase price per Optional Share shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Optional Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares

 

11


may be exercised only by written notice from you to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement, setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by you but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless you and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.

3. Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Firm Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

4. (a) The Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in definitive form, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as each of the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Company shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to each of the Representatives through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to each of the Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance. The Company will cause the certificates representing the Shares to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) with respect thereto at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on             , 2014 or such other time and date as each of the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York time, on the date specified by each of the Representatives in the written notice given by each of the Representatives of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Optional Shares, or such other time and date as each of the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Shares is herein called the “First Time of Delivery”, such time and date for delivery of the Optional Shares, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the “Second Time of Delivery”, and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a “Time of Delivery”.

(b) The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 hereof, including the cross receipt for the Shares and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8(l) hereof, will be delivered at the offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166 (the “Closing Location”), and the Shares will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at such Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding such Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be

 

12


delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this Section 4, “New York Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:

(a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the last Time of Delivery which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to file promptly all material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Shares, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may reasonably request to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Shares, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

(c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue

 

13


of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, to notify you and upon your request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of the Shares at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

(d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than sixteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

(e)(1) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to, any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Shares, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase shares of Stock or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Stock or any such substantially similar securities, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing (other than filings on Form S-8 relating to the Company’s 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan) or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise (other than the Shares to be sold hereunder or issued pursuant to equity incentive plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date of this Agreement), without your prior written

 

14


consent; provided, however, that if (1) during the last 17 days of the initial Lock-Up Period, the Company releases earnings results or announces material news or a material event or (2) prior to the expiration of the initial Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 15-day period following the last day of the initial Lock-Up Period, then in each case the Lock-Up Period will be automatically extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of release of the earnings results or the announcement of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless each of the Representatives waives, in writing, such extension; the Company will provide each of the Representatives and each stockholder subject to the Lock-Up Period pursuant to the lockup letters described in Section 8(k) with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to an extension of the Lock-up Period;

(e)(2) If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, jointly agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 8(k) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provides the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Annex III hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver;

(f) [Intentionally Omitted].

(g) During a period of three years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, to furnish to you copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to stockholders, and to deliver to you (i) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed; and (ii) such additional information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company as you may from time to time reasonably request (such financial statements to be on a consolidated basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are consolidated in reports furnished to its stockholders generally or to the Commission);

(h) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Pricing Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”;

(i) To use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”);

(j) To file with the Commission such information on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Act;

 

15


(k) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act; and

(l) Upon request of any Underwriter, to furnish, or cause to be furnished, to such Underwriter an electronic version of the Company’s trademarks, servicemarks and corporate logo for use on the website, if any, operated by such Underwriter for the purpose of facilitating the on-line offering of the Shares (the “License”); provided, however , that the License shall be used solely for the purpose described above, is granted without any fee and may not be assigned or transferred.

6. (a) The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of each of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and each of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a free writing prospectus; any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and each of the Representatives is listed on Schedule II(a) hereto;

(b) The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; and the Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions under Rule 433 under the Act to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show;

(c) The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

 

16


7. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers in connection with the distribution thereof; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents to be prepared by the Company in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares on the Exchange; (v) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Shares which fees disbursements of counsel will not exceed $30,000; (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to presentations or meetings undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering and sale of the Shares to prospective investors and the Underwriters’ sales forces, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged by the Company or by the Underwriters with the Company’s consent in connection with the road show presentations, travel, lodging and other expenses incurred by the officers of the Company and any such consultants provided , that the Company shall only be responsible for one-half of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 9 and 12 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

17


8. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Shares to be delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company herein are, at and as of such Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; all material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

(b) Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to you such written opinion or opinions (a form of each such opinion is attached as Annex II(a) hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request, including an opinion from NautaDutilh Avocats Luxembourg, to enable them to pass upon such matters;

(c) Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to you their written opinion and 10b-5 letter (forms of each such opinion and letter are attached as Annex II(b)(1) and Annex II(b)2 hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you;

(d) Loyens & Loeff Luxembourg S.à r.l. , Luxembourg counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to you their written opinion and 10b-5 letter (forms of each such opinion and letter are attached as Annex II(c)(1) and Annex II(c)(2) hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you;

 

18


(e) Curtis Shaw, General Counsel of the Company, shall have furnished to you his written opinion (a form of each such opinion is attached as Annex II(d) hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you;

(f) On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at each Time of Delivery, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to you a letter, in the case of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, or letters, in the case of Deloitte & Touche LLP, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect set forth in Annex I hereto (the executed copy of the letter delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as Annex I(a) hereto and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and as of each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex I(b) hereto);

(g) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Prospectus there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in your judgment so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus;

(h) On or after the Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities;

 

19


(i) On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the Exchange or on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”); (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the Exchange or on NASDAQ; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either United States Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

(j) The Shares to be sold at such Time of Delivery shall have been duly listed, subject to notice of issuance, on the Exchange;

(k) The Company shall have obtained and delivered to the Underwriters executed copies of an agreement from each stockholder, director and officer of the Company listed on Schedule III hereto, substantially to the effect set forth in Annex IV hereto;

(l) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement;

(m) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at such Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to you as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this Section and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request; and

(n) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company to the effect that (i) certain financial and operating data identified by you was prepared utilizing information derived from the appropriate financial, accounting and corporate records of the Company and subsidiaries, (ii) such information was accurate and correct in all material respects, and (iii) such information did not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make such statements in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.

 

20


9. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus), not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided , however , that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus) not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

 

21


(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages

 

22


or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

 

23


10. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Shares which it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Shares on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or the Company notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Shares.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement (or, with respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Optional Shares) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 7 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

24


11. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

12. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof; but, if for any other reason, any Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through you for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares not so delivered, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof.

13. In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you jointly or by each of the Representatives on behalf of you as the Representatives.

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the Representatives in care of Goldman, Sachs & Co., 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Registration Department, in care of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Equity Capital Markets – Syndicate Desk, fax number (212) 797-9344, with a copy to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, 36th Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: General Counsel, fax number (212) 797-4564, in care of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, Attention: General Counsel, fax number (212) 816-7912, and in care of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its

 

25


Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by you upon request; provided, however, that notices under subsection 5(e) shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the Representatives at Goldman, Sachs & Co., 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Control Room, at Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Equity Capital Markets – Syndicate Desk, fax number (212) 797-9344, with a copy to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, 36th Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: General Counsel, fax number (212) 797-4564, at Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, Attention: General Counsel, fax number (212) 816-7912, and at Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

In accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

14. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 9 and 11 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

15. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

16. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations

 

26


expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

17. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

18. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY MATTERS RELATED TO THIS TRANSACTION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. The Company agrees that any suit or proceeding arising in respect of this agreement or our engagement will be tried exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York or, if that court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, in any state court located in The City and County of New York and the Company agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of, and to venue in, such courts.

19. The Company and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

20. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

21. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company is authorized to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) provided to the Company relating to that treatment and structure, without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind. However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

 

27


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us seven counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

 

Very truly yours,

 

Trinseo S.A.

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


Accepted as of the date hereof:

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

On behalf of each of the Underwriters


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters

   Total
Number of
Firm
Shares to
be
Purchased
   Number of
Optional
Shares to
be
Purchased
if
Maximum
Option
Exercised

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

     

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

     

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     

Barclays Capital Inc.

     

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

     

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

     

Jefferies LLC

     

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

     

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

     

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     
  

 

  

 

Total

     
  

 

  

 

 


SCHEDULE II

 

  (a) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses:

 

  (b) Additional Documents Incorporated by Reference:

Exhibit 3.1

FORM OF ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF

TRINSEO S.A.

I. NAME – REGISTERED OFFICE – OBJECT – DURATION

 

1 Name

The name of the company is “Trinseo S.A.” (the Company ). The Company is a public limited liability company ( société anonyme ) governed by the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in particular the law of August 10, 1915, on commercial companies, as amended from time to time (the Company Law ), and these articles of association (the Articles ).

 

2 Registered office

 

2.1 The Company’s registered office is established in Luxembourg-Findel, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It may be transferred within that municipality by a resolution of the board of directors of the Company (the Board ). It may be transferred to any other location in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg by a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders of the Company (the General Meeting ), acting in accordance with the conditions prescribed for the amendment of the Articles.

 

2.2 Branches, subsidiaries or other offices may be established in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg or abroad by a resolution of the Board. If the Board determines that extraordinary political or military developments or events have occurred or are imminent, and that those developments or events may interfere with the normal activities of the Company at its registered office or the communication between that office and persons abroad, the registered office may be temporarily transferred abroad until such developments or events have completely ceased. Any such temporary measures do not affect the nationality of the Company, which, notwithstanding the temporary transfer of its registered office, will remain a Luxembourg incorporated company.

 

3 Corporate object

 

3.1

The Company’s object is the acquisition of participations, in Luxembourg or abroad, in any company or enterprise in any form whatsoever, and the management, development and sale of those participations. The Company may in particular acquire and sell, by subscription,


  purchase and exchange or in any other manner, any stock, shares and other participation securities, bonds, debentures, certificates of deposit and other debt instruments and, more generally, any securities and financial instruments issued by any public or private entity. It may participate in the creation, development, management and control of any company or enterprise. Further, it may invest in the acquisition and management of a portfolio of patents or other intellectual property rights of any nature or origin.

 

3.2 The Company may borrow in any form. The Company may issue notes, bonds and any kind of debt and equity securities. It may issue convertible funding instruments and warrants. The Company may lend funds, including, without limitation, the proceeds of any borrowings to its subsidiaries and affiliated companies. It may also give guarantees and pledge, transfer, encumber or otherwise create and grant security over some or all of its assets to guarantee its own obligations and those of any other company, subsidiary or affiliate, and, generally, for its own benefit and that of any other company or person. The Company may issue warrants or any other instrument which allows the holder of such instrument to subscribe for shares in the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company may not carry out any regulated financial sector activities without having obtained the requisite authorisation.

 

3.3 The Company may use any techniques, legal means and instruments to manage its investments efficiently and protect itself against credit risks, currency exchange exposure, interest rate risks and other risks.

 

3.4 The Company may carry out any commercial, financial or industrial operation and any transaction with respect to real estate or movable property, which directly or indirectly, favours or relates to its corporate object (including without limitation the performance of any kind of services to its subsidiaries).

 

4 Duration

 

4.1 The Company is formed for an unlimited period.

 

4.2 The Company shall not be dissolved by reason of the death, suspension of civil rights, incapacity, insolvency, bankruptcy or any similar event affecting one or more shareholders of the Company (each a Shareholder , and, together, the Shareholders ).


II. CAPITAL - SHARES

 

5 Issued share capital

 

5.1.1.1 The issued share capital is set at                     , represented by                      ordinary shares having a nominal par value of one Unites States Dollar cent (USD 0.01) each, all subscribed and fully paid-up (the Shares ).

 

5.2 The authorised share capital is set at five hundred million United States dollars (USD 500,000,000) represented by fifty billion (50,000,000,000) Shares.:

 

5.3 The issued share capital and the authorised share capital may be increased or decreased once or several times by a resolution of the General Meeting, acting in accordance with the conditions prescribed for the amendment of these Articles.

 

5.4 Subject to the provisions of the Company Law and these Articles, each Shareholder has a preferential subscription right in the event of the issuance of new Shares by the Company in return for contributions in cash. Such preferential subscription right shall be proportional to the fraction of the capital represented by the Shares held by each Shareholder in the relevant class of shares and each Shareholder shall be entitled to receive shares of the same class as is held by such Shareholder immediately prior to such issuance.

 

5.5 The Board is authorised, for a period of five (5) years from the date of publication of these Articles, and without prejudice to any renewals, to:

 

  (a) increase the issued share capital, in whole or in part and on one or more occasions, up to the authorised share capital by the issuance of Shares up to the limits for each class, with the rights as set out in these Articles, against payment in cash or in kind or against a contribution of share premium, account 115, distributable reserves or retained earnings;

 

  (b) determine the place and date of the issue (or any successive issue) and the terms and conditions of the subscription for the Shares;

 

  (c) determine the allocation of the subscription price for the Shares to the share capital, share premium and/or any other reserve account of the Company;

 

  (d) limit and/or withdraw the preferential subscription rights of existing Shareholders in case of an issuance of Shares, as the case may be; and

 

  (e) record each such share capital increase by way of a notarial deed and amend the register of Shares to reflect the amendment accordingly.


5.6 The Shareholders’ preferential subscription rights to any Shares may also be limited or cancelled by a resolution of the General Meeting adopted with the same majority and quorum as set out in Section 9.2.9 of these Articles.

 

5.7 Whenever the General Meeting or Board has effected a share capital increase pursuant to the foregoing provisions, Section 5.1 of these Articles shall be amended so as to reflect the increase.

 

6 Shares

 

6.1 The Shares are indivisible and the Company recognises only one (1) owner per share.

 

6.2 All Shares shall be identical in all respects and shall share rateably in the payment of dividends and in any distribution of assets which are allocated to such Shares in accordance with the payment allocation set out in Section 12 of these Articles.

 

6.3 A register of Shares (the Register ) shall be kept at the registered office and may be examined by any Shareholder on request.

 

6.4 Subject to Section 6.5, the Company shall consider the person in whose name Shares are recorded in the Register to be the owner of those Shares.

 

6.5 Where Shares are recorded in the Register on behalf of one or more persons (each a Beneficiary ) in the name of a securities settlement system or the operator of such a system or in the name of a professional depositary of securities or any other depositary or of a sub-depositary designated by one or more of such depositaries (each such systems, professionals or other depositaries or sub-depositories, a Depositary ), the Company (subject to it having received from the Depositary with whom those Shares are kept in account a confirmation of the identity of the Beneficiary and the Shares held on their behalf in required form) will:

 

  (a) permit the Beneficiary to exercise the rights attaching to those shares, including admission to and voting at General Meetings; and

 

  (b) consider the Beneficiary to be the owners of such shares and the relevant Depositary may only exercise the voting rights attaching to such shares if it and the Company have received instructions from the Beneficiary of the shares.

 

     The Board shall determine the requirements with regard to the form and content of the confirmation to be provided by the Depositary and the Company.

 

6.6 Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6.5, the Company shall make payments by way of dividends or otherwise to the Depositary recorded in the Register, or in accordance with the Depositary’s instructions. Any such payment(s) shall release the Company from any and all obligations in respect of such payment(s).


6.7 A share transfer shall be carried out by the entry in the Register of a declaration of transfer, duly signed and dated by either:

 

  (a) both the transferor and the transferee or their authorised representatives; or

 

  (b) any authorised representative of the Company,

 

     following a notification to, or acceptance by, the Company, in accordance with Section 1690 of the Luxembourg Civil Code, it being understood that when the Shares are recorded in the Register on behalf of Beneficiaries in the name of a Depository in accordance with Section 6.5 of these Articles, the transfer between Beneficiaries shall be made in accordance with the rules and regulations of the relevant Depository.

 

6.8 Any document recording the agreement between the transferor and the transferee, which is validly signed by both parties, may also be accepted by the Company as evidence of a share transfer.

 

6.9 The Company may repurchase its Shares within the limits set out in the Company Law and these Articles.

III. MANAGEMENT – REPRESENTATION

 

7 Board of directors

 

7.1 Composition of the board of directors

 

7.1.1 The Company shall be managed by the Board, which shall consist of a minimum of three (3) directors and a maximum of ten (10) directors, (each a Director and together, the Directors ).

 

7.1.2 The Directors need not be Shareholders.

 

7.1.3 The General Meeting shall appoint Directors and determine their number, remuneration and term of office. Directors cannot be appointed for a term of office exceeding three (3) years. Directors are eligible for re-appointment at the expiry of their term of office. There shall be staggered terms of office for Directors so that one third of the Directors shall be up for election each year or, if the total number of Directors does not evenly divide by thirds, the directors shall be divided as close to thirds as possible. The system for staggered terms of office shall be implemented for the first time by appointing Director(s) for an initial term of one (1) year, Director(s) for an initial term of two (2) years and Director(s) for an initial term of three years. Directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by a resolution of the General Meeting.


7.1.4 No legal entity shall be appointed as Director.

 

7.1.5 If the office of a Director becomes vacant, the other Directors, acting by a simple majority, shall fill the vacancy on a provisional basis until a new Director is appointed by the next General Meeting.

 

7.2 Powers of the board of directors

 

7.2.1 All powers not expressly reserved to the Shareholders by the Company Law or the Articles fall within the competence of the Board, which has full power to carry out and approve all acts and operations consistent with the Company’s corporate object.

 

7.2.2 The Board may delegate special or limited powers to one or more agents for specific matters. The Board may also establish, and delegate specific powers to, one or more committees.

 

7.2.3 The Board is authorised to delegate the day-to-day management, and the power to represent the Company in this respect, to one (1) or more Directors, officers, managers or other agents, whether Shareholders or not, acting either individually or jointly. If the day-to-day management is delegated to one or more Directors, the Board must report to the annual General Meeting any salary, fee and/or any other advantage granted to those Director(s) in connection with such delegation during the relevant financial year.

 

7.3 Procedure

 

7.3.1 The Board shall appoint from among its members a chairman (the Chairman ) and may choose to appoint choose a secretary (the Secretary ). The Secretary need not be a Director and will be responsible for keeping the minutes of the meetings of the Board and of General Meetings. The Chairman will remain Chairman of the Board after the term of his mandate as Director if his mandate as Director is renewed by the General Meeting.

 

7.3.2 The Board shall meet at the request of the Chairman, or any two (2) Directors jointly, at the date, time and place indicated in the notice, which shall, in principle, be in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

 

7.3.3 Written notice of any Board meeting shall be given to all Directors at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the date set for such meeting, except in the case of an emergency, in which case the nature of such circumstances shall be set out in the notice.


7.3.4 No written notice is required if all Directors are present or represented at the meeting and if they state to have been duly informed and to have full knowledge of the agenda of the meeting. If all Directors consent in writing to waive notice either before or after the meeting, written notice of a meeting shall not be required. Separate written notices shall not be required for meetings which are held at times and places indicated in a schedule previously adopted by a resolution of the Board.

 

7.3.5 A Director may grant to another Director a power of attorney in order to be represented at any Board meeting.

 

7.3.6 The Board may only validly deliberate and act if a majority of its members and the Chairman are present or represented. If this quorum is not reached, a second Board meeting shall be convened with the same agenda and such reconvened Board meeting may validly deliberate and act if a majority of its members are present or represented. Board resolutions shall be validly adopted by a majority of the votes of the Directors present or represented. The Chairman shall have a casting vote in the event of a tied vote. In circumstances in which the Chairman is conflicted or absent, a new chairman must be appointed for that specific meeting and shall have a casting vote in the event of a tied vote.

 

7.3.7 Board resolutions shall be recorded in minutes signed by the Chairman, by all Directors present or represented at the meeting, or by the secretary (if any).

 

7.3.8 Any Director may participate in any meeting of the Board by telephone or video conference, or by any other means of communication which allows all those taking part in the meeting to identify, hear and speak to each other. Participation by such means is deemed equivalent to participation in person at a duly convened and held meeting.

 

7.3.9 Circular resolutions signed by all Directors shall be valid and binding as if passed at a duly convened and held Board meeting, and shall bear the date of the last signature.

 

7.3.10 A Director who has a personal interest in a transaction which conflicts with the interests of the Company shall advise the Board accordingly and have the statement recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which such matter is discussed. The Director concerned shall not take part in the deliberations or vote concerning that matter. A special report on the relevant matter shall be submitted to the next General Meeting, before any other matter is put to the vote at that meeting. These provisions do not apply where the decision of the Board relates to transactions entered into under fair market conditions in the ordinary course of business.


7.4 Representation

The Company shall be bound towards third parties in all matters by:

 

  (a) the joint signature of any two Directors; or

 

  (b) the joint or single signature of any person(s) to whom the Board has delegated such authority vis-à-vis third parties.

 

8 Liability and indemnification of the Directors

 

8.1 To the broadest extent permitted by Luxembourg law, the Directors may not be held personally liable by reason of their office for any commitment or other act or omission they have validly made in the Company’s name, provided those commitments, acts or omissions comply with the Articles and the Company Law.

 

8.2 Subject to Section 8.3 of these Articles, the Company may, to the broadest extent permitted by Luxembourg law, indemnify any Director, as well as any former Director for any costs, fees and expenses, damages, judgments, or other amounts reasonably incurred by him or her in the defence or resolution (including a settlement) of any legal actions or proceedings, whether they be civil, criminal or administrative, to which he may be made a party by virtue of his former or current role as Director of the Company.

 

8.3 A former or current Director or member of the management board will not be indemnified in case of fraud.

 

8.4 The indemnification right set out in Section 8.2 of these Articles shall:

 

  (a) not be forfeited in the case of a settlement of any legal actions or proceedings, whether they be civil, criminal or administrative; and

 

  (b) inure to the benefit of the heirs and successors of the former or current member of the board of Directors without prejudice to any other indemnification rights that he may otherwise claim.

 

8.5 Subject to any procedures that may be implemented by the Board in the future, the expenses for the preparation and defence in any legal action or proceeding covered by this Section 8 shall be advanced by the Company, provided that the concerned former or current Director delivers an unsecured written commitment that all sums paid in advance will be reimbursed to the Company if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.


IV. GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

9 General Meeting of Shareholders

 

9.1 General

Resolutions of the Shareholders are adopted at a General Meeting.

 

9.2 Notice, quorum, convening notices, powers of attorney and voting rights

 

9.2.1 The Board, the Chairman and the Authorised Statutory Auditor (as defined in Section 11) may convene a General Meeting.

A General Meeting must be called upon written request of a group of Shareholders representing at least one-tenth (1/10) of the subscribed capital. The Shareholders shall indicate the agenda in their written request. The General Meeting shall be convened within one (1) month of such request.

One or more Shareholders, representing at least ten percent (10%) of the Company’s share capital may (a) request the addition of one (1) or several items on the agenda of any General Meeting and (b) draft resolutions for items in this respect. Such request including draft resolutions must:

 

  (a) be in writing and sent to the Company by post or electronic means to the address provided in the Convening Notice (as defined below) and be accompanied by a justification or draft resolution to be adopted in the General Meeting;

 

  (b) include the postal or electronic address at which the Company may acknowledge receipt of the requests; and

 

  (c) be received by the Company at least twenty-two (22) days before the date of the relevant General Meeting.

The Company shall acknowledge receipt of requests referred to above within forty-eight (48) hours from receipt. The Company shall prepare a revised agenda including such additional items on or before the fifteenth (15th) day before the date of the relevant General Meeting.

 

9.2.2 Convening notices for every General Meeting (each a Convening Notice ) shall be published at least thirty (30) days before the date of the General Meeting in:

 

  (a) the Official Gazette ( Mémorial ) and in a Luxembourg newspaper; and

 

  (b) in such media which may reasonably be expected to be relied upon for the effective dissemination of information to the public.


9.2.3 If the required quorum (if any) is not met on the date of the first convened General Meeting another meeting may be convened by publishing the Convening Notice in the Official Gazette, a Luxembourg newspaper and the EEA Publication seventeen (17) days prior to the date of the reconvened meeting provided that (a) the first General Meeting was properly convened; and (b) no new item has been added to the agenda.

 

9.2.4 The Convening Notice shall contain at least the following information:

 

  (a) a precise indication of the date and location of the General Meeting and its proposed agenda;

 

  (b) a clear and precise description of the procedures that Shareholders must follow in order to participate in and to cast their vote in the General Meeting, including information on:

 

  (i) the procedure for voting by proxy, notably the forms to be used to vote by proxy and the means by which the Company is prepared to accept electronic notification of appointment of proxy holders; and

 

  (ii) where applicable, the Record Date with an explanation of the manner in which Shareholders must register and a statement that only persons who are Shareholders at the Record Date shall have the right to participate and vote in the General Meeting;

 

9.2.5 For a continuous period from the date of publication of the Convening Notice of the General Meeting and including the date of the General Meeting, the Company must make available to its Shareholders on its website the following information:

 

  (a) the Convening Notice;

 

  (b) the total number of Shares and the voting rights as at the date of the Convening Notice including separate totals for each class of Shares when the Company’s issued capital is divided into two or more classes of shares;

 

  (c) the documents to be submitted to the General Meeting;

 

  (d) the draft resolutions of the General Meeting or where no such resolutions are proposed to be adopted, a comment from a Director for each item on the proposed agenda of the General Meeting. Any draft resolution(s) submitted by Shareholder(s) shall be added to the website as soon as possible after the Company has received them; and


  (e) where applicable, the forms to be used to vote by proxy and to vote by correspondence, unless such forms are sent directly to each Shareholder.

Where the forms referred to in item 5. above cannot be made available on the website for technical reasons, the Company shall indicate on its website how the forms can be obtained on paper. In this case the Company shall be required to send the forms by post and free of charge to every Shareholder who so requests.

 

9.2.6 The Convening Notice is sent to registered Shareholders, the Directors and the Authorised Statutory Auditors (as defined in Section 11) (the Addressees ) within the thirty (30) day or seventeen (17) day period, as applicable, referred to in Section 9.2.2 and Section 9.2.3 above. This communication shall be by letter to the Addressees, unless the Addressees (or any one of them) have/has expressly and in writing agreed to receive communication by other means, in which case such Addressee(s) may receive the convening notice by such other means of communication.

 

9.2.7 Each Share is entitled to one (1) vote.

 

9.2.8 Except as otherwise required by law or by the Articles, resolutions at a duly convened General Meeting will be passed by a simple majority of those present or represented and voting without any quorum requirement.

 

9.2.9 An extraordinary General Meeting may only amend the Articles if at least one-half of the share capital is represented and the agenda indicates the proposed amendments to the Articles, including the text of any proposed amendment to the Company’s object or form. If this quorum is not reached, a second General Meeting shall be convened by means of notices published in accordance with Section 9.2.2 of these Articles. Resolutions at the second General Meeting shall be valid regardless of the proportion of the share capital represented at that meeting. At both General Meetings, resolutions must be adopted by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast.

 

9.2.10 Any change in the nationality of the Company and any increase in a Shareholder’s commitment in the Company in excess of the par value of its Shares shall require the unanimous consent of the Shareholders and bondholders (if any).

 

9.2.11 Every Shareholder shall have the right to ask questions related to items on the agenda of the General Meeting. The Board shall answer questions put to it by Shareholders subject to measures which it may take to ensure the identification of Shareholders, the good order of General Meetings and their preparation and the protection of confidentiality and the Company’s business interests.


The Board may provide one overall answer to questions having the same content. Where the relevant information is available on the website of the Company in a question and answer format, the Board shall be deemed to have answered the questions asked by referring to the website.

 

9.2.12 Without prejudice to Section 9.2.4 (b)(ii), a Shareholder may act at any General Meeting by appointing any other natural or legal person who need not be a Shareholder as its proxy in writing whether in original, by telefax, or e-mail to which an electronic signature (which is valid under Luxembourg law) is affixed. Such proxy shall enjoy the same rights to speak and ask questions during the General Meeting as those to which the Shareholder thus represented would be entitled. A Shareholder acting as a proxy shall be entitled to vote the shares of the Shareholder he represents in addition to the vote of his own shares. All the proxies must be received by the Board before the relevant resolution is put to a vote. A person acting as proxy may represent more than one Shareholder.

 

9.2.13 The rights of a Shareholder to participate in a General Meeting and to vote in respect of any of his shares are not subject to any requirement that his shares be deposited with, or transferred to, or registered in the name of, another natural or legal person before the General Meeting.

 

9.2.14 The rights of a Shareholder to sell or otherwise transfer his shares during the period between the Record Date (as defined in Section 9.2.15) below and the General Meeting to which it applies are not subject to any restriction to which they are not subject at other times.

 

9.2.15 The right of a Shareholder to participate in a General Meeting and exercise voting rights attached to its shares are determined by reference to the number of shares held by such Shareholder at midnight (00:00) on the day falling fourteen (14) days before the date of the General Meeting or such other day set by the Board and included in the Convening Notice (the Record Date ). Each Shareholder shall, on or before the Record Date, indicate to the Company its intention to participate at the General Meeting. The Company determines the manner in which this declaration is made. For each Shareholder who indicates his intention to participate in the General Meeting, the Company records his name or corporate denomination and address or registered office, the number of shares held by him on the Record Date and a description of the documents establishing the holding of shares on that date.

 

9.2.16 Proof of the qualification as a Shareholder may be subject only to such requirements as are necessary to ensure the identification of Shareholders and only to the extent that they are proportionate to achieving that objective.


9.2.17 If all the Shareholders are present or represented at a General Meeting, and consider themselves as being duly convened and informed of the agenda of the General Meeting, the General Meeting may be held without prior notice.

 

9.2.18 The Board may determine any other conditions that must be fulfilled by the Shareholders for them to take part in any General Meeting in person or in proxy.

 

9.2.19 Before commencing any deliberations, the Shareholders shall elect a chairman of the General Meeting. The chairman shall appoint a secretary and the Shareholders shall appoint a scrutineer. The chairman, the secretary and the scrutineer form the General Meeting’s bureau.

 

9.2.20 The minutes of the General Meeting will be signed by the members of the bureau of the General Meeting and by any Shareholder who wishes to do so.

 

9.2.21 However, in case decisions of the General Meeting have to be certified, copies or extracts for use in court or elsewhere, they must be signed by the Chairman or by any two Directors.

 

9.2.22 Within fifteen (15) days following the date of the General Meeting, the Company shall publish on its website the results of the votes passed at the General Meeting, including the number of shares for which votes have been validly cast and the proportion of capital represented by such validly cast votes, the total number of votes validly cast, the number of votes cast for and against each resolution and, where applicable, the number of abstentions.

 

9.3 Advance Notice of Nominations and Proposals of Business.

 

9.3.1 Nominations of persons for election to the Board and proposals for other business to be transacted by the Shareholders at an annual General Meeting may be made (i) pursuant to the Company’s notice with respect to such meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or (iii) by any Shareholder of record of the Company who (A) was a Shareholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice contemplated in Clause 9.3(b), (B) is entitled to vote at such meeting and (C) has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Clause 9.3. Subject to Clause 9.3(i) and except as otherwise required by law or these Articles, this clause 9.3. shall be the exclusive means for a Shareholder to make nominations or propose other business (other than nominations and proposals properly brought pursuant to applicable provisions of US federal law, including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended from time to time, the Act) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder) before an annual General Meeting.


9.3.2 Except as otherwise required by law, for nominations or proposals to be properly brought before an annual General Meeting by a Shareholder pursuant to this Clause 9.3(a), (i) the Shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company with the information contemplated by Clause 9.3(c) including, where applicable, delivery to the Company of timely and completed questionnaires as contemplated by Clause 9.3(c). The notice requirements of this Clause 9.3 shall be deemed satisfied by a Shareholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the Shareholder has notified the Company of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual General Meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Act and such Shareholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement prepared by the Company to solicit proxies for such annual General Meeting.

 

9.3.3

To be timely for purposes of Clause 9.3(b), a Shareholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company on a date (i) not later than the close of business on the 90 th  day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120 th  day prior to the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual General Meeting or (ii) if there was no annual General Meeting in the prior year or if the date of the current year’s annual General Meeting is more than 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual General Meeting, on or before 10 days after the day on which the date of the current year’s annual General Meeting is first disclosed in a public announcement. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual General Meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the delivery of such notice. Such notice from a Shareholder must state (i) as to each nominee that the Shareholder proposes for election or reelection as a director, (A) all information relating to such nominee that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominee as a director pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Act and such nominee’s written consent to serve as a director if elected, and (B) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary arrangements, agreements or understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationship, if any, between or concerning such Shareholder, any Shareholder Associated Person or any of their respective affiliates or associates, on the one hand, and the proposed nominee or any of his or her affiliates or associates, on the other hand; (ii) as to each proposal that the Shareholder seeks to bring before the meeting, a brief description of such proposal, the reasons for making the proposal at the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Articles of the Company, the language of the proposed amendment) and any material interest that the Shareholder has in the proposal; and (iii) (A) the name and address of the Shareholder giving the notice and Shareholder Associated Person, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (B) the class (and, if applicable, series) and number of shares the Company that are, directly or indirectly,


  owned beneficially or of record by the Shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person, (C) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class (or, if applicable, series) of shares of the Company or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class (or, if applicable, series) of shares of the Company, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of share capital of the Company or otherwise (each, a Derivative Instrument) directly or indirectly owned beneficially or of record by such Shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company of the Shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person (D) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person has a right to vote any securities of the Company, (E) any proportionate interest in shares of the Company or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such Shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person is a general partner or beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, an interest in a general partner, (F) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such Shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of the shares of the Company or Derivative Instruments, (G) any other information relating to such Shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, (H) a representation that the Shareholder is a holder of record of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (I) a certification as to whether or not the Shareholder and all Shareholder Associated Persons, have complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with the Shareholder’s and each Shareholder Associated Person’s acquisition of shares of shares or other securities of the Company and the Shareholder’s and each Shareholder Associated Person’s acts or omissions as a Shareholder (or beneficial owner of securities) of the Company, and (J) whether either the Shareholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the Company’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the Company’s voting shares reasonably believed by such Shareholder to be sufficient to elect such nominee or nominees or otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from Shareholders in support of such proposal or nomination.


For purposes of this Clause 9.3, a “Shareholder Associated Person” of any Shareholder means (i) any “affiliate” or “associate” (as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) of such Shareholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of any share or other securities of the Company owned of record or beneficially by such Shareholder, (iii) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with any such Shareholder Associated Person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, and (iv) any person acting in concert in respect of any matter involving the Company or its securities with either such Shareholder or any beneficial owner of any share or other securities of the Company owned of record or beneficially by such Shareholder.

In addition, in order for a nomination to be properly brought before an annual or extraordinary General Meeting by a Shareholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Clause 9.3(a), any nominee proposed by a Shareholder shall complete a questionnaire, in a form provided by the Company, and deliver a signed copy of such completed questionnaire to the Company within 10 days of the date that the Company makes available to the Shareholder seeking to make such nomination or such nominee the form of such questionnaire. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Company to determine the eligibility of the proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable Shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of the nominee. The information required to be included in a notice pursuant to this Clause 9.3(c) shall be provided as of the date of such notice and shall be supplemented by the Shareholder not later than 10 days after the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of the meeting to disclose any changes to such information as of the record date. The information required to be included in a notice pursuant to this Clause 9.3(c) shall not include any ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is directed to prepare and submit the notice required by this Clause 9.3(c) on behalf of a beneficial owner of the shares held of record by such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who is not otherwise affiliated or associated with such beneficial owner.

 

9.3.4 Subject to these Articles and applicable law, only persons nominated in accordance with procedures stated in this Clause 9.3 shall be eligible for election as and to serve as members of the Board and the only business that shall be conducted at an annual General Meeting is the business that has been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Clause 9.3. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any proposal has been made according to the procedures stated in this Clause 9.3 and, if any nomination or proposal does not comply with this Clause 9.3, unless otherwise required by law, the nomination or proposal shall be disregarded.


9.3.5 For purposes of this Clause 9.3, “public announcement” means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Act.

 

9.3.6 Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Clause 9.3, a Shareholder shall also comply with applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Clause 9.3. Nothing in this Clause 9.3 shall affect any rights, if any, of Shareholders to request inclusion of nominations or proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable provisions of federal law, including the Act.

 

9.3.7 Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Clause 9.3, unless otherwise required by law, if the Shareholder (or a qualified representative of the Shareholder) does not appear at the annual or extraordinary meeting of Shareholders of the Company to present a nomination or proposed business or does not provide the information required by Clause 9.3(c), including any required supplement thereto, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Company. For purposes of this Clause 9.3, to be considered a qualified representative of the Shareholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Shareholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such Shareholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such Shareholder to act for such Shareholder as proxy at the meeting of Shareholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of Shareholders.

 

9.3.8

Only such business shall be conducted at an extraordinary meeting of Shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at an extraordinary meeting of Shareholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any Shareholder of the Company who is a Shareholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Clause 9.3 is delivered to the Secretary of the Company, who is entitled to vote at the meeting upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Clause 9.3. In the event the Company calls an extraordinary meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such Shareholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Company’s notice of meeting, if the Shareholder’s notice required by paragraph (b) of this Clause 9.3 shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the


  Company not earlier than the close of business on the 120 th  day prior to such extraordinary meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th  day prior to such special meeting or the tenth 10 th  day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the extraordinary meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an extraordinary meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

9.3.9 All provisions of this Clause 9.3 are subject to, and nothing in this Clause 9.3 shall in any way limit the exercise, or the method or timing of the exercise of, the rights of any person granted by the Company to nominate directors, which rights may be exercised without compliance with the provisions of this Clause 9.3.

V. ANNUAL ACCOUNTS - ALLOCATION OF PROFITS - SUPERVISION

 

10 Financial year and approval of annual accounts

 

10.1 The financial year begins on the first (1st) of January of each year and ends on the thirty-first (31st) of December of each year.

 

10.2 Each year, the Board must prepare the balance sheet and profit and loss account, together with an inventory stating the value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, with an annex summarising the Company’s commitments and the debts owed by the officers, Directors.

 

10.3 One month before the annual General Meeting, the Board shall provide the Authorised Statutory Auditors (as defined in Section 11), with a report on, and documentary evidence of, the Company’s operations. The Authorised Statutory Auditors (as defined in Section 11) shall then prepare a report to the Shareholders in accordance with the law.

 

10.4 The annual General Meeting shall be held at the registered office of the Company or in any other place within the municipality of the registered office, as may be specified in the notice of the meeting, on the first Monday of June of each year at 2 p.m. or at such other date and time specified by the Board. If that day is a legal holiday in Luxembourg, the annual General Meeting shall be held on the following Business Day.

 

11 Auditors

 

11.1

The Company’s annual accounts and any consolidated financial statements as required to be prepared by law ( Accounts ) shall be drawn up in accordance with the applicable accounting standards and the law, and such Accounts shall be audited at least once in every year by an


  individual, partnership or company appointed as the réviseur d’entreprises agréé of the Company and taken from those members of the Institut des Réviseurs d’Entreprises of Luxembourg , that are authorised to perform audits by the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (the Authorised Statutory Auditor ).

 

11.2 The Authorised Statutory Auditor ( réviseur d’entreprises agréé ) shall be elected by the General Meeting for a term not exceeding six (6) years and shall be eligible for re-appointment.

 

12 Allocation of profits

 

12.1 Five per cent. (5%) of the Company’s annual net profits shall be allocated to the reserve required by law (the Legal Reserve ) until such requirements is no longer necessary. This requirement ceases to be compulsory when the Legal Reserve reaches an amount of ten per cent. (10%) of the Company’s issued share capital, but shall again be compulsory if the Legal Reserve falls below the amount of ten per cent. (10%) of the Company’s issued share capital.

 

12.2 The General Meeting shall determine the allocation of the remaining balance of the annual net profits. The General Meeting may decide on the payment of a dividend, to transfer the balance to a reserve account, or to carry it forward in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.

 

12.3 Interim dividends may be distributed, subject to the following conditions:

 

  (a) the Board must draw up interim accounts;

 

  (b) the interim accounts must show that sufficient profits and other reserves (including share premium) are available for distribution; it being understood that the amount to be distributed may not exceed the profits made since the end of the last financial year for which the annual accounts have been approved, if any, increased by profits carried forward and distributable reserves, and reduced by losses carried forward and sums to be allocated to the legal or a statutory reserve;

 

  (c) within two (2) months of the date of the interim accounts, the Board must resolve to distribute the interim dividends; and

 

  (d) the Authorised Statutory Auditor must prepare a report addressed to the Board which must verify whether the above conditions have been met.


VI. DISSOLUTION – LIQUIDATION

 

13 Dissolution - Liquidation

The Company may be dissolved at any time by a resolution of the General Meeting, acting in accordance with the conditions prescribed for the amendment of the Articles. The General Meeting shall appoint one or more liquidators, who need not be Shareholders, to carry out the liquidation, and shall determine their number, powers and remuneration. Unless otherwise decided by the General Meeting, the liquidators shall have full power to realise the Company’s assets and pay its liabilities.

VII. General PROVISION

 

14 General provision

 

14.1 Notices and communications may be made or waived and circular resolutions may be evidenced in writing, by fax, email or any other means of electronic communication.

 

14.2 Powers of attorney may be granted by any of the means described above. Powers of attorney in connection with Board meetings may also be granted by a Director, in accordance with such conditions as may be accepted by the Board.

 

14.3 Signatures may be in handwritten or electronic form, provided they fulfil all legal requirements for being deemed equivalent to handwritten signatures. Signatures of circular resolutions or resolutions adopted by telephone or video conference may appear on one original or several counterparts of the same document, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document.

 

14.4 All matters not expressly governed by these Articles shall be determined in accordance with the applicable law and, subject to any non-waivable provisions of the law, with any agreement entered into by the Shareholders from time to time.

Exhibit 4.1

 

LOGO

ORDINARY SHARES
NUMBER
TSE-0001
ORDINARY SHARES
SHARES
TRINSEO TM
FORMED UNDER THE LAWS OF LUXEMBOURG
CUSIP L9340P 10 1
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
THIS CERTIFIES THAT
SPECIMEN
is the record holder of
FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE ORDINARY SHARES, $0.01 PAR VALUE PER SHARE, OF
Trinseo S.A.
transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate is not valid until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.
WITNESS the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized directors.
DATED:
DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR
COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
BY
Authorized Signature
TRINSEO S.A.
CORPORATE
SEAL
JUNE 3, 2010
LUXEMBOURG


The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM   -   as tenants in common    UNIF GIFT MIN ACT   -                      Custodian                   
TEN ENT   -   as tenants by the entireties          (Cust)                            (Minor)      
JT TEN   -   as joint tenants with right      under Uniform Gifts to Minors
    of survivorship and not as      Act                                                      
    tenants in common      (State)
       UNIF TRF MIN ACT   -              Custodian (until age           )
             (Cust)
                        under Uniform Transfers
             (Minor)
         to Minors Act                                    
         (State)                 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

For value received,                                                               hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER     
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE     
             

 

 

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Shares of the ordinary shares represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Attorney to transfer the said shares on the books of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:                                         

 

 

NOTICE:   THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE, IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT, OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

 

SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED:  

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.

 
 

 

LOGO

Exhibit 10.34

TRINSEO S.A.

2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1. DEFINED TERMS

Exhibit A , which is incorporated by reference, defines the terms used in the Plan and sets forth certain operational rules related to those terms.

 

2. PURPOSE

The Plan has been established to advance the interests of the Company by providing for the grant to Participants of Stock-based Awards.

 

3. ADMINISTRATION

The Administrator has discretionary authority, subject only to the express provisions of the Plan, to interpret the Plan; determine eligibility for and grant Awards; determine, modify or waive the terms and conditions of any Award; determine the form of settlement of Awards (whether in cash, shares of Stock or other property); prescribe forms, rules and procedures relating to the Plan; and otherwise do all things necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Plan. Determinations of the Administrator made under the Plan will be conclusive and will bind all parties.

 

4. LIMITS ON AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN

(a) Number of Shares . The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered in satisfaction of Awards under the Plan is                  shares. Up to the total number of shares available for Awards to employee Participants may be issued in satisfaction of ISOs, but nothing in this Section 4(a) will be construed as requiring that any, or any fixed number of, ISOs be awarded under the Plan. The limits set forth in this Section 4(a) shall be construed to comply with Section 422 of the Code. For purposes of this Section 4(a), the number of shares of Stock delivered in satisfaction of Awards will be determined net of shares of Stock withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price or purchase price (including any nominal value payable in respect of an Award) of the Award or in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements with respect to the Award and, for the avoidance of doubt, without including any shares of Stock underlying Awards settled in cash or that otherwise expire or become unexercisable without having been exercised or that are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest. To the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 422 and the regulations thereunder, and with other applicable legal requirements (including applicable stock exchange requirements), Stock issued under awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced or adjusted in connection with the acquisition shall not reduce the number of shares of Stock available for Awards under the Plan.

(b) Type of Shares . Stock delivered by the Company under the Plan may be newly issued Stock or treasury Stock acquired by the Company. No fractional shares of Stock will be delivered under the Plan.


(c) Individual Limits . The following additional limits will apply to Awards of the specified type granted, or in the case of Cash Awards, payable to any person in any calendar year:

(1) Stock Options:                  shares of Stock.

(2) SARs:                  shares of Stock.

(3) Awards other than Stock Options, SARs or Cash Awards:                 shares of Stock.

(4) Cash Awards: $        .

In applying the foregoing limits, (i) all Awards of the specified type granted to the same person in the same calendar year will be aggregated and made subject to one limit; (ii) the limits applicable to Stock Options and SARs refer to the number of shares of Stock subject to those Awards; (iii) the share limit under clause (3) refers to the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered, or the value of which could be paid in cash or other property, under an Award or Awards of the type specified in clause (3) assuming a maximum payout; and (iv) the dollar limit under clause (4) refers to the maximum dollar amount payable under an Award or Awards of the type specified in clause (4) assuming a maximum payout. The foregoing provisions will be construed in a manner consistent with Section 162(m), including, without limitation, where applicable, the rules under Section 162(m) pertaining to permissible deferrals of exempt awards.

 

5. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

The Administrator will select Participants from among key Employees and Directors of, and consultants and advisors to, the Company and its Affiliates who are in a position to contribute significantly to the success of the Company and its Affiliates. Eligibility for ISOs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are employees of the Company or of a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code. Eligibility for Stock Options other than ISOs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are providing direct services on the date of grant of the Stock Option to the Company or to a subsidiary of the Company that would be described in the first sentence of Treas. Regs. §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E).

 

6. RULES APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

 

  (a) All Awards .

(1) Award Provisions . The Administrator will determine the terms of all Awards, subject to the limitations provided herein. By accepting (or, under such rules as the Administrator may prescribe, being deemed to have accepted) an Award, the Participant will be deemed to have agreed to the terms of the Award and the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced or adjusted in connection with the acquisition may contain terms and conditions that are inconsistent with the terms and conditions specified herein, as determined by the Administrator.

 

2


(2) Term of Plan . No Awards may be made after ten years from the Date of Adoption, but previously granted Awards may continue beyond that date in accordance with their terms.

(3) Transferability . Neither ISOs nor, except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), other Awards may be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During a Participant’s lifetime, ISOs (and, except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), SARs and NSOs) may be exercised only by the Participant. The Administrator may permit the gratuitous transfer ( i.e. , transfer not for value) of Awards other than ISOs, subject to such limitations as the Administrator may impose.

(4) Vesting, etc . The Administrator will determine the time or times at which an Award will vest or become exercisable and the terms on which a Stock Option or SAR will remain exercisable. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Award, regardless of any adverse or potentially adverse tax or other consequences resulting from such acceleration. Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, however, the following rules will apply if a Participant’s Employment ceases:

(A) Immediately upon the cessation of the Participant’s Employment and except as provided in (B) and (C) below, each Stock Option and SAR that is then held by the Participant or by the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, will cease to be exercisable and will terminate and all other Awards that are then held by the Participant or by the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, to the extent not already vested will be forfeited.

(B) Subject to (C) and (D) below, all Stock Options and SARs held by the Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) a period of three months or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon immediately terminate.

(C) All Stock Options and SARs held by a Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment due to his or her death or by the Company due to his or her Permanent Disability, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) a period of twelve (12) months or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon immediately terminate.

(D) All Stock Options and SARs (whether or not exercisable) held by a Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment will immediately terminate upon such cessation of Employment if the termination is for Cause or occurs in circumstances that in the sole determination of the Administrator would have constituted grounds for the Participant’s Employment to be terminated for Cause.

 

3


(5) Additional Restrictions . The Administrator may cancel, rescind, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict any Award at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Award agreement and the Plan, or if the Participant breaches any agreement with the Company or its Affiliates with respect to non-competition, non-solicitation or confidentiality. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator may recover Awards made under the Plan and payments under or gain in respect of any Award in accordance with any applicable Company clawback or recoupment policy, as such policy may be amended and in effect from time to time, or as otherwise required by applicable law or applicable stock exchange listing standards, including, without limitation, Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(6) Taxes . The delivery, vesting and retention of Stock, cash or other property under an Award are conditioned upon full satisfaction by the Participant of all tax withholding requirements with respect to the Award. The Administrator will prescribe such rules for the withholding of taxes as it deems necessary. The Administrator may, but need not, hold back shares of Stock from an Award or permit a Participant to tender previously owned shares of Stock in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements (but not in excess of the minimum withholding required by law).

(7) Dividend Equivalents, Etc . The Administrator may provide, consistent with the requirements of the Articles, for the payment of amounts (on terms and subject to conditions established by the Administrator) in lieu of cash dividends or other cash distributions with respect to Stock subject to an Award whether or not the holder of such Award is otherwise entitled to share in the actual dividend or distribution in respect of such Award. Any entitlement to dividend equivalents or similar entitlements will be established and administered either consistent with an exemption from, or in compliance with, the requirements of Section 409A. Dividends or dividend equivalent amounts payable in respect of Awards that are subject to restrictions may be subject to such limits or restrictions as the Administrator may impose, consistent with the requirements of the Articles.

(8) Rights Limited . Nothing in the Plan will be construed as giving any person the right to continued employment or service with the Company or its Affiliates, or any rights as a stockholder except as to shares of Stock actually issued under the Plan. The loss of existing or potential profit in Awards will not constitute an element of damages in the event of a termination of Employment for any reason, even if the termination is in violation of an obligation of the Company or any Affiliate to the Participant.

(9) Section 162(m) . In the case of any Performance Award (other than a Stock Option or SAR) intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m), the Administrator will establish the applicable Performance Criterion or Criteria in writing no later than ninety (90) days after the commencement of the period of service to which the performance relates (or at such earlier time as is required to qualify the Award as performance-based under Section 162(m)) and, prior to the event or occurrence (grant, vesting or payment, as the case may be) that is conditioned on the attainment of such Performance Criterion

 

4


or Criteria, will certify whether it or they have been attained. The preceding sentence will not apply to an Award eligible (as determined by the Administrator) for exemption from the limitations of Section 162(m) by reason of the post-initial public offering transition relief in Section 1.162-27(f) of the Treasury Regulations.

(10) Coordination with Other Plans . Awards under the Plan may be granted in tandem with, or in satisfaction of or substitution for, other Awards under the Plan or awards made under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or its Affiliates. For example, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, awards under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or its Affiliates may be settled in Stock (including, without limitation, Unrestricted Stock) if the Administrator so determines, in which case the shares delivered will be treated as awarded under the Plan (and will reduce the number of shares thereafter available under the Plan in accordance with the rules set forth in Section 4). In any case where an award is made under another plan or program of the Company or its Affiliates and such award is intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m), and such award is settled by the delivery of Stock or another Award under the Plan, the applicable Section 162(m) limitations under both the other plan or program and under the Plan will be applied to the Plan as necessary (as determined by the Administrator) to preserve the availability of the Section 162(m) performance-based compensation exception with respect thereto.

(11) Section 409A . Each Award will contain such terms as the Administrator determines, and will be construed and administered, such that the Award either qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A or satisfies such requirements.

(12) Fair Market Value . In determining the fair market value of any share of Stock under the Plan, the Administrator will make the determination in good faith consistent with the rules of Section 422 and Section 409A, to the extent applicable.

 

  (b) Stock Options and SARs .

(1) Time And Manner Of Exercise . Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, no Stock Option or SAR will be deemed to have been exercised until the Administrator receives a notice of exercise (in form acceptable to the Administrator), which may be an electronic notice, signed (including electronic signature in form acceptable to the Administrator) by the appropriate person and accompanied by any payment required under the Award. A Stock Option or SAR exercised by any person other than the Participant will not be deemed to have been exercised until the Administrator has received such evidence as it may require that the person exercising the Award has the right to do so. The Administrator may impose conditions on the exercisability of Awards, including limitations on the time periods during which Awards may be exercised or settled.

(2) Exercise Price . The exercise price (or the base value from which appreciation is to be measured) of each Award requiring exercise will be no less than 100% (or in the case of an ISO granted to a ten-percent shareholder within the meaning of subsection (b)(6) of Section 422, 110%) of the fair market value of the Stock subject to the Award, determined as of the date of grant, or such higher amount as the Administrator may determine in

 

5


connection with the grant. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (which term shall include, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares) or as otherwise contemplated by Section 7 of the Plan, the terms of outstanding Stock Options or SARs, as applicable, may not be amended to reduce the exercise prices of such Stock Options or the base values from which appreciation under such SARs are to be measured other than in accordance with the stockholder approval requirements of the                 .

(3) Payment Of Exercise Price . Where the exercise of an Award is to be accompanied by payment, payment of the exercise price will be by cash or check acceptable to the Administrator or by such other legally permissible means, if any, as may be acceptable to the Administrator.

(4) Maximum Term . Stock Options and SARs will have a maximum term not to exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant (or five (5) years from the date of grant in the case of an ISO granted to a ten-percent shareholder described in Section 6(b)(2) above); provided, however, that, if a Participant still holding an outstanding but unexercised NSO or SAR ten (10) years from the date of grant (or, in the case of an NSO or SAR with a maximum term of less than ten (10) years, such maximum term) is prohibited by applicable law or a written policy of the Company applicable to similarly situated employees from engaging in any open-market sales of Stock, and if at such time the Stock is publicly traded (as determined by the Administrator), the maximum term of such Award will instead be deemed to expire on the thirtieth (30 th ) day following the date the Participant is no longer prohibited from engaging in such open market sales.

 

7. EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

(a) Mergers, etc . Except as otherwise provided in an Award agreement, the following provisions will apply in the event of a Covered Transaction:

(1) Assumption or Substitution . If the Covered Transaction is one in which there is an acquiring or surviving entity, the Administrator may (but, for the avoidance of doubt, need not) provide (i) for the assumption or continuation of some or all outstanding Awards or any portion thereof or (ii) for the grant of new awards in substitution therefor by the acquiror or survivor or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor.

(2) Cash-Out of Awards . Subject to Section 7(a)(5) below the Administrator may (but, for the avoidance of doubt, need not) provide for payment (a “cash-out”), with respect to some or all Awards or any portion thereof, equal in the case of each affected Award or portion thereof to the excess, if any, of (A) the fair market value of one share of Stock (as determined by the Administrator in its reasonable discretion) times the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award or such portion, over (B) the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, under the Award or such portion (in the case of an SAR, the aggregate base value above which appreciation is measured), in each case on such payment terms (which need not be the same as the terms of payment to holders of Stock) and other terms, and subject to such conditions, as the Administrator determines; it being understood that if the exercise or purchase price (or base value) of an Award is equal to or greater than the fair market value of one share of Stock, the Award may be cancelled with no payment due hereunder.

 

6


(3) Acceleration of Certain Awards . Subject to Section 7(a)(5) below, the Administrator may (but, for the avoidance of doubt, need not) provide that any Award requiring exercise will become exercisable, in full or in part and/or that the delivery of any shares of Stock remaining deliverable under any outstanding Award of Stock Units (including Restricted Stock Units and Performance Awards to the extent consisting of Stock Units) will be accelerated in full or in part, in each case on a basis that gives the holder of the Award a reasonable opportunity, as determined by the Administrator, following exercise of the Award or the delivery of the shares, as the case may be, to participate as a stockholder in the Covered Transaction.

(4) Termination of Awards Upon Consummation of Covered Transaction . Except as the Administrator may otherwise determine in any case, each Award will automatically terminate (and in the case of outstanding shares of Restricted Stock, will automatically be forfeited) upon consummation of the Covered Transaction, other than Awards assumed pursuant to Section 7(a)(1) above.

(5) Additional Limitations . Any share of Stock and any cash or other property delivered pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) or Section 7(a)(3) above with respect to an Award may, in the discretion of the Administrator, contain such restrictions, if any, as the Administrator deems appropriate to reflect any performance or other vesting conditions to which the Award was subject and that did not lapse (and were not satisfied) in connection with the Covered Transaction. For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, a cash-out under Section 7(a)(2) above or acceleration under Section 7(a)(3) above will not, in and of itself, be treated as the lapsing (or satisfaction) of a performance or other vesting condition. In the case of Restricted Stock that does not vest and is not forfeited in connection with the Covered Transaction, the Administrator may require that any amounts delivered, exchanged or otherwise paid in respect of such Stock in connection with the Covered Transaction be placed in escrow or otherwise made subject to such restrictions as the Administrator deems appropriate to carry out the intent of the Plan.

 

  (b) Changes in and Distributions With Respect to Stock .

(1) Basic Adjustment Provisions . In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares (including a reverse stock split), recapitalization or other change in the Company’s capital structure that constitutes an equity restructuring within the meaning of FASB ASC 718, the Administrator will make appropriate adjustments to the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, to the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered in satisfaction of ISOs under the Plan, and to the maximum share limits described in Section 4(c) and will also make appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of shares of stock or securities subject to Awards then outstanding or subsequently granted, any exercise or purchase prices (or base values) relating to Awards and any other provision of Awards affected by such change.

 

7


(2) Certain Other Adjustments . The Administrator may also make adjustments of the type described in Section 7(b)(1) above to take into account distributions to stockholders other than those provided for in Section 7(a) and 7(b)(1), or any other event, if the Administrator determines that adjustments are appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan, having due regard for the qualification of ISOs under Section 422, the requirements of Section 409A, and for the performance-based compensation rules of Section 162(m), where applicable.

(3) Continuing Application of Plan Terms . References in the Plan to shares of Stock will be construed to include any stock or securities resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 7.

 

8. LEGAL CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF STOCK

The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from shares of Stock previously delivered under the Plan until: (i) the Company is satisfied that all legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been addressed and resolved; (ii) if the outstanding Stock is at the time of delivery listed on any stock exchange or national market system, the shares to be delivered have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of issuance; and (iii) all conditions of the Award have been satisfied or waived. The Company may require, as a condition to exercise of the Award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company may consider appropriate to avoid violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state or non-U.S. securities law. Any Stock required to be issued to Participants under the Plan will be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator may deem appropriate, including book-entry registration or delivery of stock certificates. In the event that the Administrator determines that Stock certificates will be issued to Participants under the Plan, the Administrator may require that certificates evidencing Stock issued under the Plan bear an appropriate legend reflecting any restriction on transfer applicable to such Stock, and the Company may hold the certificates pending lapse of the applicable restrictions.

 

9. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

The Administrator may at any time or times amend the Plan or any outstanding Award for any purpose which may at the time be permitted by law, and may at any time terminate the Plan as to any future grants of Awards; provided, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, the Administrator may not, without the Participant’s consent, alter the terms of an Award so as to affect materially and adversely the Participant’s rights under the Award, unless the Administrator expressly reserved the right to do so at the time the Award was granted. Any amendments to the Plan will be conditioned upon stockholder approval only to the extent, if any, such approval is required by law (including the Code and applicable stock exchange requirements), as determined by the Administrator.

 

10. OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

The existence of the Plan or the grant of any Award will not in any way affect the Company’s right to award a person bonuses or other compensation in addition to Awards under the Plan.

 

8


11. MISCELLANEOUS

(a) Waiver of Jury Trial . By accepting an Award under the Plan, each Participant waives any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan and any Award, or under any amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection therewith, and agrees that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim will be tried before a court and not before a jury. By accepting an Award under the Plan, each Participant certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company would not, in the event of any action, proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, nothing herein is to be construed as limiting the ability of the Company and a Participant to agree to submit disputes arising under the terms of the Plan or any Award made hereunder to binding arbitration or as limiting the ability of the Company to require any eligible individual to agree to submit such disputes to binding arbitration as a condition of receiving an Award hereunder.

(b) Limitation of Liability . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Company, nor any Affiliate, nor the Administrator, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any Affiliate, or the Administrator, will be liable to any Participant or to the estate or beneficiary of any Participant or to any other holder of an Award by reason of any acceleration of income, or any additional tax (including any interest and penalties), asserted by reason of the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 or Section 409A or by reason of Section 4999 of the Code, or otherwise asserted with respect to the Award.

 

12. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUB-PLANS

The Administrator may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable blue sky, securities or tax laws of various jurisdictions. The Administrator will establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to the Plan setting forth (i) such limitations on the Administrator’s discretion under the Plan as it deems necessary or desirable and (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as it deems necessary or desirable. All supplements so established will be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement will apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction (as determined by the Administrator).

 

13. GOVERNING LAW

(a) Certain Requirements of Corporate Law . Awards will be granted and administered consistent with the requirements of applicable law of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg relating to the issuance of stock and the consideration to be received therefor, and with the applicable requirements of the stock exchanges or other trading systems on which the Stock is listed or entered for trading, in each case as determined by the Administrator.

(b) Other Matters . Except as otherwise provided by the express terms of an Award agreement, under a sub-plan described in Section 12 or as provided in Section 13(a) above, the provisions of the Plan and of Awards under the Plan and all claims or disputes arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award under the Plan or relating to the subject matter hereof or

 

9


thereof will be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic substantive laws of the State of Pennsylvania without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

(c) Jurisdiction . By accepting an Award, each Participant will be deemed to (a) have submitted irrevocably and unconditionally to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award; (b) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or an Award, except in the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania; and (c) waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion as a defense or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that the Plan or an Award or the subject matter thereof may not be enforced in or by such court.

 

10


EXHIBIT A

Definition of Terms

The following terms, when used in the Plan, will have the meanings and be subject to the provisions set forth below:

“Administrator”: The Compensation Committee, except that the Compensation Committee may delegate (i) to one or more of its members (or one or more other members of the Board (including the full Board)) such of its duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine; (ii) to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant Awards to the extent permitted by applicable law; and (iii) to such Employees or other persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it deems appropriate. In the event of any delegation described in the preceding sentence, the term “Administrator” will include the person or persons so delegated to the extent of such delegation.

“Affiliate”: Any corporation or other entity that stands in a relationship to the Company that would result in the Company and such corporation or other entity being treated as one employer under Section 414(b) and Section 414(c) of the Code, provided that, for purposes of determining treatment as a single employer under Section 414(b) and Section 414(c) of the Code, “50%” shall replace “80%” in the applicable stock ownership requirements under such sections of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

“Articles”: The articles of association of the Company.

“Award”: Any or a combination of the following:

(i) Stock Options.

(ii) SARs.

(iii) Restricted Stock.

(iv) Unrestricted Stock.

(v) Stock Units, including Restricted Stock Units.

(vi) Performance Awards.

(vii) Cash Awards.

(viii) Awards (other than Awards described in (i) through (vii) above) that are convertible into or otherwise based on Stock.

“Board”: The Board of Directors of the Company.

“Cash Award”: An Award denominated in cash.

 

11


“Cause”: In the case of any Participant who is party to an employment or severance-benefit agreement that contains a definition of “Cause,” the definition set forth in such agreement will apply with respect to such Participant under the Plan for so long as such agreement is in effect. In the case of any other Participant, “Cause” will mean, as determined by the Administrator in its reasonable judgment, (i) a substantial failure of the Participant to perform the Participant’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or subsidiaries or substantial negligence in the performance of such duties and responsibilities; (ii) the commission by the Participant of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Participant of theft, fraud, embezzlement, material breach of trust or any material act of dishonesty involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iv) a significant violation by the Participant of the code of conduct of the Company or its subsidiaries or of any material policy of the Company or its subsidiaries, or of any statutory or common law duty of loyalty to the Company or its subsidiaries; (v) material breach of any of the terms of the Plan or any Award made under the Plan, or of the terms of any other agreement between the Company or subsidiaries and the Participant; or (vi) other conduct by the Participant that could reasonably be expected to be harmful to the business, interests or reputation of the Company.

“Code”: The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as from time to time amended and in effect, or any successor statute as from time to time in effect.

“Compensation Committee”: The Compensation Committee of the Board.

“Company”: Trinseo S.A.

“Covered Transaction”: Any of (i) a consolidation, merger, or similar transaction or series of related transactions, including a sale or other disposition of stock, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or that results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company’s then outstanding common stock by a single person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert, (ii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Company’s assets, or (iii) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company. Where a Covered Transaction involves a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a merger described in clause (i) (as determined by the Administrator), the Covered Transaction will be deemed to have occurred upon consummation of the tender offer.

“Date of Adoption”: The earlier of the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders or adopted by the Board, as determined by the Compensation Committee.

“Director” : A member of the Board.

“Employee”: Any person who is employed by the Company or an Affiliate.

“Employment”: A Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company and its Affiliates. Employment will be deemed to continue, unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, so long as the Participant is employed by, or otherwise is providing services in a capacity described in Section 5 to the Company or an Affiliate. If a Participant’s employment or other service relationship is with an Affiliate and that entity ceases to be an Affiliate, the Participant’s Employment will be deemed to have terminated when the entity ceases to be an Affiliate unless the Participant transfers Employment to the Company or its

 

12


remaining Affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing and the definition of “Affiliate” above, in construing the provisions of any Award relating to the payment of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (subject to Section 409A) upon a termination or cessation of Employment, references to termination or cessation of employment, separation from service, retirement or similar or correlative terms will be construed to require a “separation from service” (as that term is defined in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations, after giving effect to the presumptions contained therein) from the Company and from all other corporations and trades or businesses, if any, that would be treated as a single “service recipient” with the Company under Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations. The Company may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining whether a “separation from service” has occurred. Any such written election will be deemed a part of the Plan.

“ISO”: A Stock Option intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422. Each Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan will be treated as providing by its terms that it is to be an NSO unless, as of the date of grant, it is expressly designated as an ISO.

“NSO”: A Stock Option that is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422.

“Participant”: A person who is granted an Award under the Plan.

“Performance Award”: An Award subject to Performance Criteria. The Administrator in its discretion may grant Performance Awards that are intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) and Performance Awards that are not intended so to qualify.

“Performance Criteria”: Specified criteria, other than the mere continuation of Employment or the mere passage of time, the satisfaction of which is a condition for the grant, exercisability, vesting or full enjoyment of an Award. For purposes of Awards that are intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m), a Performance Criterion will mean an objectively determinable measure or measures of performance relating to any or any combination of the following (measured either absolutely or by reference to an index or indices and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof): sales; revenues; assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization or equity expense, whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per share basis; return on equity, investment, capital, capital employed or assets; one or more operating ratios; operating income or profit, including on an after-tax basis; net income; borrowing levels, leverage ratios or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow; stock price; stockholder return; sales of particular products or services; customer acquisition or retention; acquisitions and divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures, strategic alliances, licenses or collaborations; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations; recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of debt or equity) or refinancings; manufacturing or process development; or environmental health and/or safety metrics. A Performance Criterion and any targets with respect thereto determined by the

 

13


Administrator need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss. To the extent consistent with the requirements for satisfying the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m), the Administrator may provide, by the deadline that otherwise applies to the establishment of the terms of any Award intended to qualify for such exception, that one or more of the Performance Criteria applicable to such Award will be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner to reflect events (for example, the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, mergers, acquisitions, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes, each as defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable Performance Criterion or Criteria.

“Permanent Disability”: In the case of any Participant who is party to an employment or severance-benefit agreement that contains a definition of “Permanent Disability” (or similar term), the definition set forth in such agreement will apply with respect to such Participant under the Plan for so long as such agreement is in effect. In the case of any other Participant, “Permanent Disability” shall mean a disability that would entitle a Participant to long-term disability benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan to which the Participant participates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, in the case of any Award that is subject to Section 409A and is payable upon a Participant’s Permanent Disability, the Participant shall be treated as having a Permanent Disability only if the Participant’s condition also satisfies the definition of “disability” in Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(i)(4).

“Plan”: The Trinseo S.A. Omnibus Incentive Plan as from time to time amended and in effect.

“Restricted Stock”: Stock subject to restrictions requiring that it be redelivered or offered for sale to the Company if specified conditions are not satisfied.

“Restricted Stock Unit”: A Stock Unit that is, or as to which the delivery of Stock or cash in lieu of Stock is, subject to the satisfaction of specified performance or other vesting conditions.

“SAR”: A right entitling the holder upon exercise to receive an amount (payable in cash or in shares of Stock of equivalent value) equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of Stock subject to the right over the base value from which appreciation under the SAR is to be measured.

“Section 409A”: Section 409A of the Code.

“Section 422”: Section 422 of the Code.

“Section 162(m)”: Section 162(m) of the Code.

“Stock”: Common stock of the Company, par value                  per share.

“Stock Option”: An option entitling the holder to acquire shares of Stock upon payment of the exercise price.

 

14


“Stock Unit”: An unfunded and unsecured promise, denominated in shares of Stock, to deliver Stock or cash measured by the value of Stock in the future.

“Unrestricted Stock”: Stock not subject to any restrictions under the terms of the Award.

 

15

Exhibit 10.35

TRINSEO S.A.

CASH INCENTIVE PLAN

This Cash Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) has been established to advance the interests of Trinseo S.A. (the “Company”) by providing for the grant of Cash Incentive Awards to eligible employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, including Cash Incentive Awards intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exemption (“Exempt Cash Incentive Awards”) under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (Section 162(m) of the Code, together with the regulations thereunder, “Section 162(m)”), to the extent applicable.

I. ADMINISTRATION

The Plan will be administered by the Committee and its delegates (the Committee and its delegates, to the extent of such delegation, are referred to herein as the “Administrator”); provided , that all determinations and other actions of the Administrator required by the performance-based compensation provisions of Section 162(m) to be made or taken by a “compensation committee” (as defined in Section 162(m)) will be made or taken hereunder directly by the Committee, and all references to the Administrator herein are to be construed accordingly. For purposes of the Plan, “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, except that if any member of the Compensation Committee is not an “outside director” (as defined in Section 162(m)), “Committee” means a subcommittee of the Compensation Committee consisting solely of those Compensation Committee members who are “outside directors” as so defined.

The Administrator has the authority to interpret the Plan and Cash Incentive Awards, to determine eligibility for Cash Incentive Awards, to determine the terms of and the conditions applicable to any Cash Incentive Award, and generally to do all things necessary to administer the Plan. Any interpretation or decision by the Administrator with respect to the Plan or any Cash Incentive Award will be final and conclusive as to all parties.

II. ELIGIBILITY; PARTICIPANTS

Executive officers and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. The Committee will select, from among those eligible, the persons who will from time to time participate in the Plan (each, a “Participant”). Participation with respect to one Cash Incentive Award under the Plan will not entitle an individual to participate with respect to a subsequent Cash Incentive Award or Cash Incentive Awards, if any.

III. GRANT OF AWARDS

The term “Cash Incentive Award” as used in the Plan means an award opportunity that is payable in cash and is granted to a Participant with respect to a specified performance period (consisting of the Company’s fiscal year or such other period as the Administrator may determine, each a “Performance Period”). A Participant who is granted a Cash Incentive Award will be entitled to a payment, if any, under the Cash Incentive Award only if all conditions to payment have been satisfied in accordance with the Plan and the terms of the Cash Incentive


Award. By accepting (or, under such rules as the Committee may prescribe, being deemed to have accepted) a Cash Incentive Award, the Participant agrees (or will be deemed to have agreed) to the terms of the Cash Incentive Award and the Plan. For each Cash Incentive Award, the Administrator shall establish the following:

(a) the Performance Criteria (as defined in Section IV below) applicable to the Cash Incentive Award;

(b) the amount or amounts that will be payable (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section V) if the Performance Criteria are achieved; and

(c) such other terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate, subject in each case to the terms of the Plan.

For Exempt Cash Incentive Awards, (i) such terms shall be established by the Committee not later than (A) the ninetieth (90th) day after the beginning of the Performance Period, in the case of a Performance Period of 360 days or longer, or (B) the end of the period constituting the first quarter of the Performance Period, in the case of a Performance Period of less than 360 days, and (ii) once the Committee has established the terms of such Cash Incentive Award in accordance with the foregoing, it shall not thereafter adjust such terms, except to reduce payments, if any, under the Cash Incentive Award in accordance with Section V or as otherwise permitted in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m).

IV. PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

As used in the Plan, “Performance Criteria” means specified criteria, other than the mere continuation of employment or the mere passage of time, the satisfaction of which is a condition for the vesting, payment or full enjoyment of a Cash Incentive Award. A Performance Criterion and any targets with respect thereto determined by the Committee need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss, may consist of individual and/or Company-related goals and may be applied to a Participant or Participants on an individual basis or with respect to a business unit or division or the Company as a whole. For Exempt Cash Incentive Awards, a Performance Criterion will mean an objectively determinable measure or objectively determinable measures of performance relating to any or any combination of the following (measured either absolutely or by reference to an index or indices and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof): sales; revenues; assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization or equity expense, whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per share basis; return on equity, investment, capital, capital employed or assets; one or more operating ratios; operating income or profit, including on an after-tax basis; net income; borrowing levels, leverage ratios or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow; stock price; stockholder return; sales of particular products or services; customer acquisition or retention; acquisitions and divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures, strategic alliances, licenses or collaborations; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations; recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of debt or equity) or refinancings; manufacturing or process development; or environmental health and/or safety metrics. To the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m), the Committee may establish, by the deadline that otherwise applies to the establishment of the terms of an Exempt Cash Incentive Award, that, in the case of

 

2


any such Exempt Cash Incentive Award, one or more of the Performance Criteria applicable to such Cash Incentive Award will be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner to reflect events (for example, the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, mergers, acquisitions, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes, each as defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) occurring during the Performance Period that affect the applicable Performance Criterion or Criteria.

V. CERTIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE; AMOUNT PAYABLE UNDER AWARDS

As soon as practicable after the close of a Performance Period, the Administrator will determine whether and to what extent, if at all, the Performance Criterion or Criteria applicable to each Cash Incentive Award granted for the Performance Period have been satisfied and, in the case of Exempt Cash Incentive Awards, will take such steps as it determines to be sufficient to satisfy the certification requirement under Section 162(m) as to such performance results. The Administrator shall then determine the actual payment, if any, under each Cash Incentive Award. No amount may be paid under any Exempt Cash Incentive Award unless such certification requirement has been satisfied as set forth above, except as provided by the Administrator consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m). The Administrator may, in its sole and absolute discretion and with or without specifying its reasons for doing so, after determining the amount that would otherwise be payable under any Cash Incentive Award for a Performance Period, reduce (including to zero) the actual payment, if any, to be made under such Cash Incentive Award or, in the case of Cash Incentive Awards other than Exempt Cash Incentive Awards, otherwise adjust the amount payable under such Cash Incentive Award. The Administrator may exercise the discretion described in the immediately preceding sentence either in individual cases or in ways that affect more than one Participant. The actual payment under an Exempt Cash Incentive Award may be less than (but in no event more than) the amount indicated by the certified level of achievement under the Cash Incentive Award. The actual payment under a Cash Incentive Award other than an Exempt Cash Incentive Award may be more or less than the amount indicated by the level of achievement under the Cash Incentive Award. In each case, the Administrator’s discretionary determination, which may affect different Cash Incentive Awards differently, will be binding on all parties.

VI. PAYMENT UNDER AWARDS

Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator or as otherwise provided in this Section VI, all payments under the Plan will be made, if at all, not later than March 15 th of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Performance Period ends; provided, that the Administrator may authorize elective deferrals of any Cash Incentive Award payments in accordance with the deferral rules of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder (“Section 409A”). The Administrator may, but need not, provide that a Cash Incentive Award payment will not be made unless the Participant has remained employed with the Company and its subsidiaries through the date of payment. Any deferrals with respect to an Exempt Cash Incentive Award will be subject to adjustment for notional interest or other notional earnings on a basis, determined by the Administrator, that is consistent with qualification of the Cash Incentive Award as exempt performance-based compensation under Section 162(m). Cash Incentive Awards under the Plan are intended either to qualify for exemption from, or to comply with the requirements of, Section 409A.

 

3


VII. PAYMENT LIMITS

The maximum amount payable to any person in any fiscal year of the Company under Exempt Cash Incentive Awards will be $        , which limitation, with respect to any such Cash Incentive Awards for which payment is deferred in accordance with Section VI above, shall be applied without regard to such deferral.

VIII. TAX WITHHOLDING; LIMITATION ON LIABILITY

All payments under the Plan will be subject to reduction for applicable tax and other legally or contractually required withholdings.

Neither the Company nor any affiliate, nor the Administrator, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any affiliate, or the Administrator, will be liable for any adverse tax or other consequences to any Participant or to the estate or beneficiary of any Participant or to any other holder of a Cash Incentive Award that may arise or otherwise be asserted with respect to a Cash Incentive Award, including, but not limited to, by reason of the application of Section X below or any acceleration of income or any additional tax (including any interest and penalties) asserted by reason of the failure of a Cash Incentive Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A or by reason of Section 4999 of the Code.

IX. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

The Committee may amend the Plan at any time and from time to time; provided, however, that, with respect to Exempt Cash Incentive Awards, no amendment for which Section 162(m) would require shareholder approval in order to preserve the eligibility of such Cash Incentive Awards as exempt performance-based compensation shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m). Following the expiration of any post-initial public offering transition relief set forth in Section 1.162-27(f) of the Treasury regulations under Section 162(m), the material terms of the Plan, including the Performance Criteria set forth in Section IV, shall be subject to the re-approval of the shareholders of the Company every five years in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m). The Committee may at any time terminate the Plan.

X. MISCELLANEOUS

Cash Incentive Awards held by a Participant are subject to forfeiture, termination and rescission, and a Participant will be obligated to return to the Company payments received with respect to Cash Incentive Awards, in each case, to the extent provided by the Administrator in connection with (i) a breach by the Participant of a Cash Incentive Award agreement or the Plan, or any non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or similar covenant or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliates or (ii) an overpayment to the Participant of incentive compensation due to inaccurate financial data. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator may recover Cash Incentive Awards and payments under any Cash Incentive Award in accordance with any applicable Company clawback or recoupment policy, as such

 

4


policy may be amended and in effect from time to time, or as otherwise required by applicable law or applicable stock exchange listing standards, including, without limitation, Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Each Participant, by accepting a Cash Incentive Award pursuant to the Plan, agrees to return the full amount required under this Section X at such time and in such manner as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion, consistent with applicable law.

No person shall have any claim or right to be granted a Cash Incentive Award, nor shall the selection for participation in the Plan for any Performance Period be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or its affiliates for that Performance Period or for any other period. The loss of a Cash Incentive Award will not constitute an element of damages in the event of termination of employment for any reason, even if the termination is in violation of an obligation of the Company or any affiliate to the Participant.

In the case of any Exempt Cash Incentive Award, the Plan and such Cash Incentive Award will be construed and administered to the maximum extent permitted by law in a manner consistent with qualifying the Cash Incentive Award for the exemption for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan. Cash Incentive Awards will not be required to comply with the provisions of the Plan applicable to Exempt Cash Incentive Awards (including, without limitation, the composition of the Committee as set forth in Section I above) if and to the extent they are eligible (as determined by the Committee) for exemption from such limitations by reason of the transition relief set forth in Treas. Regs. § 1.162-27(f).

The Plan shall be effective upon adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Effective Date”) and shall supersede and replace the Company’s annual cash bonus program with respect to Cash Incentive Awards granted to eligible executive officers and employees for fiscal years beginning after the Effective Date.

 

5

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Trinseo S.A. of our report dated March 14, 2014 relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Trinseo S.A., which appears in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, PA 19103

May 16, 2014

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the use in this Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement No. 333-194561 of our report dated February 28, 2014, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Americas Styrenics LLC and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, appearing in the Prospectus, which is a part of such Registration Statement, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Prospectus.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Houston, Texas

May 16, 2014