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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from _____ to _____
Commission File Number: 1-37774
 AdvanSix Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
81-2525089
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

300 Kimball Drive, Suite 101, Parsippany, New Jersey
07054
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(973) 526-1800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading Symbol Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ASIX New York Stock Exchange


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý  No o 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ý  No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  ý
Accelerated filer  o
Non-accelerated filer  o
Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes    No ý

The Registrant had 28,004,331 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding at April 24, 2020.


ADVANSIX INC.
FORM 10-Q
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS


 
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited)
3
4
5
6
7
8
20
30
31
31
31
32
33
34
35





ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
ADVANSIX INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Sales $ 302,713    $ 314,895   
Costs, expenses and other:
Costs of goods sold 272,008    266,880   
Selling, general and administrative expenses 16,740    19,413   
Other non-operating expense (income), net 1,725    1,604   
Total costs, expenses and other 290,473    287,897   
Income before taxes 12,240    26,998   
Income tax expense 3,664    6,824   
Net income $ 8,576    $ 20,174   
Earnings per common share
Basic $ 0.31    $ 0.70   
Diluted $ 0.31    $ 0.68   
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic 27,942,486    28,820,603   
Diluted 28,050,955    29,786,957   
 

See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
3

ADVANSIX INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)


 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Net income $ 8,576    $ 20,174   
Foreign exchange translation adjustment (57)   (1)  
Cash-flow hedges (1,836)   (192)  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (1,893)   (193)  
Comprehensive income $ 6,683    $ 19,981   

See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
4

ADVANSIX INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)


March 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 30,754    $ 7,050   
Accounts and other receivables – net 113,302    104,613   
Inventories – net 158,066    171,710   
Taxes receivable 9,701    2,047   
Other current assets 4,641    5,117   
Total current assets 316,464    290,537   
Property, plant and equipment – net 766,355    755,881   
Operating lease right-of-use assets 127,501    135,985   
Goodwill 15,005    15,005   
Other assets 37,987    38,561   
Total assets $ 1,263,312    $ 1,235,969   
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 185,938    $ 205,911   
Accrued liabilities 31,311    28,114   
Operating lease liabilities – short-term 38,361    38,005   
Deferred income and customer advances 13,070    19,696   
Total current liabilities 268,680    291,726   
Deferred income taxes 120,663    110,071   
Operating lease liabilities – long-term 89,759    98,347   
Line of credit – long-term 337,000    297,000   
Postretirement benefit obligations 32,734    32,410   
Other liabilities 6,640    5,537   
Total liabilities 855,476    835,091   
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 10)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, par value $0.01; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 31,578,393 shares issued and 27,996,115 outstanding at March 31, 2020; 31,423,898 shares issued and 27,914,777 outstanding at December 31, 2019
316    314   
Preferred stock, par value $0.01; 50,000,000 shares authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
—    —   
Treasury stock at par (3,582,278 shares at March 31, 2020; 3,509,121 shares at December 31, 2019)
(36)   (35)  
Additional paid-in capital 181,158    180,884   
Retained earnings 237,742    229,166   
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (11,344)   (9,451)  
Total stockholders' equity 407,836    400,878   
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,263,312    $ 1,235,969   
See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
5

ADVANSIX INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 


Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 8,576    $ 20,174   
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 14,432    13,915   
Loss on disposal of assets 35    415   
Deferred income taxes 11,204    3,747   
Stock based compensation 1,198    2,762   
Accretion of deferred financing fees 130    107   
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables (8,746)   42,621   
Inventories 13,644    (3,416)  
Taxes receivable (7,654)   397   
Accounts payable (9,752)   (30,674)  
Accrued liabilities 2,912    (7,232)  
Deferred income and customer advances (6,626)   (1,862)  
Other assets and liabilities 366    1,122   
Net cash provided by operating activities 19,719    42,076   
Cash flows from investing activities:
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment (34,100)   (39,512)  
Other investing activities (385)   (587)  
Net cash used for investing activities (34,485)   (40,099)  
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings from line of credit 133,500    85,500   
Payments of line of credit (93,500)   (65,500)  
Payment of line of credit facility fees (425)   —   
Principal payments of finance leases (182)   (145)  
Purchase of treasury stock (925)   (23,853)  
Issuance of common stock   16   
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities 38,470    (3,982)  
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 23,704    (2,005)  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 7,050    9,808   
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period $ 30,754    $ 7,803   
Supplemental non-cash investing activities:
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable $ 11,553    $ 14,039   
Supplemental cash activities:
Cash paid for interest $ 730    $ 1,040   
Cash paid for income taxes $ 109    $ 21   
See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
6

ADVANSIX INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)


Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Treasury Stock Accumulated  Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Equity
Shares Amount
Balance at December 31, 2019 31,423,898    $ 314    $ 180,884    $ 229,166    $ (35)   $ (9,451)   $ 400,878   
Net Income —    —    —    8,576    —    —    8,576   
Comprehensive income
Foreign exchange translation adjustments —    —    —    —    —    (57)   (57)  
Cash-flow Hedges —    —    —    —    —    (1,836)   (1,836)  
Pension obligation adjustments —    —    —    —    —    —    —   
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax —    —    —    —    —    (1,893)   (1,893)  
Issuance of common stock 154,495      —    —    —    —     
Purchase of treasury stock (73,157 shares)
—    —    (924)   —    (1)   —    (925)  
Stock-based compensation —    —    1,198    —    —    —    1,198   
Balance at March 31, 2020 31,578,393    $ 316    $ 181,158    $ 237,742    $ (36)   $ (11,344)   $ 407,836   




Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Treasury Stock Accumulated  Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Equity
Shares Amount
Balance at December 31, 2018 30,555,715    $ 306    $ 234,699    $ 187,819    $ (12)   $ (2,474)   $ 420,338   
Net Income —    —    —    20,174    —    —    20,174   
Comprehensive income
Foreign exchange translation adjustments —    —    —    —    —    (1)   (1)  
Cash-flow Hedges —    —    —    —    —    (192)   (192)  
Pension obligation adjustments —    —    —    —    —    —    —   
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax —    —    —    —    —    (193)   (193)  
Issuance of common stock 22,497    —    16    —    —    —    16   
Purchase of treasury stock (793,754 shares)
—    —    (23,845)   —    (8)   —    (23,853)  
Stock-based compensation —    —    2,762    —    —    —    2,762   
Balance at March 31, 2019 30,578,212    $ 306    $ 213,632    $ 207,993    $ (20)   $ (2,667)   $ 419,244   









See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
7

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)




1. Organization, Operations and Basis of Presentation
 
Description of Business
 
AdvanSix Inc. (“AdvanSix”, the “Company”, "we" or "our") is an integrated manufacturer of Nylon 6, a polymer resin which is a synthetic material used by our customers to produce fibers, filaments, engineered plastics and films that, in turn, are used in such end-products as carpets, automotive and electronic components, sports apparel, food packaging and other industrial applications. As a result of our backward integration and the configuration of our manufacturing facilities, we also sell a variety of other products, all of which are produced as part of our integrated manufacturing value chain including caprolactam, ammonium sulfate fertilizers, acetone and other chemical intermediates.

COVID-19

In March 2020, the World Health Organization categorized the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") as a global pandemic with numerous countries around the world declaring national emergencies, including the United States. Since early 2020, COVID-19 has spread rapidly, with most countries and territories worldwide with confirmed cases. The spread has resulted in authorities implementing numerous measures to contain the virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and business shutdowns. The pandemic and these containment measures have had, and are expected to continue to have, a substantial negative impact on businesses around the world and on global, regional and national economies including disruptions to supply chains, reduced demand and production across most industries, declines and volatility within global financial markets and decreased workforces causing increased unemployment. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated our industry as "essential critical infrastructure" during the response to COVID-19 for both public health and safety as well as community well-being and we are executing our business continuity plans to maintain operations and meet customer demand. The Company continues to evaluate the potential impact of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), enacted on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act, and other government stimulus programs are intended to provide economic relief resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and includes, but is not limited to, provisions for taxes, employment related costs, deferral of pension payments and options for liquidity.

The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect estimates and assumptions made by management that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods presented. The Company considered the impact of COVID-19 on the assumptions and estimates used and determined that there were no material adverse impacts on the Company’s first quarter 2020 results of operations, however, it may have a material impact in the future on the Company's results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

Basis of Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the Company's financial position as of March 31, 2020, and its results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. The year-end Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data were derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The results of operations of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year.  These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the "2019 Form 10-K"). All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
 
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current period presentation.
 
It is our practice to establish actual quarterly closing dates using a predetermined fiscal calendar, which requires our businesses to close their books on a Saturday in order to minimize the potentially disruptive effects of quarterly closing on our business processes. Historically, the effects of this practice were generally not significant to reported results for any quarter and only existed within a reporting year. In the event that differences in actual closing dates are material to year-over-year comparisons
8

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)



of quarterly or year-to-date results, we will provide the appropriate disclosures. Our actual closing dates for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were March 28, 2020 and March 30, 2019, respectively.
 
Liabilities to creditors to whom we have issued checks that remained outstanding at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 aggregated $0.3 million and $1.7 million, respectively, and were included in Cash and cash equivalents and Accounts payable in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
On May 4, 2018, the Company announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized a share repurchase program of up to $75 million of the Company’s common stock. On February 22, 2019, the Company announced that the Board authorized a share repurchase program of up to an additional $75 million of the Company's common stock, which was in addition to the remaining capacity available under the May 2018 share repurchase program. Repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market, including through the use of trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The size and timing of these repurchases will depend on pricing, market and economic conditions, legal and contractual requirements and other factors. The share repurchase program has no expiration date and may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time. The par value of the shares repurchased is applied to Treasury stock and the excess of the purchase price over par value is applied to Additional paid-in capital.
As of March 31, 2020, the Company had repurchased 3,582,278 shares of common stock, including 492,516 shares withheld to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of awards, for an aggregate of $101.6 million at a weighted average market price of $28.36 per share. As of March 31, 2020, $59.6 million remained available for share repurchases under the current authorization. During the period April 1, 2020 through April 24, 2020, no additional shares were repurchased under the currently authorized repurchase program.

2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
The Company considers the applicability and impact of all Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). ASUs not discussed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments of ASU No. 2020-04 are effective for companies as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. An entity may elect to apply the amendments for contract modifications by Topic or Industry Subtopic as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, or prospectively from a date within an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, up to the date that the financial statements are available to be issued. The amendments in this update apply only to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform and provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The Company is evaluating the impact that the amendments of this standard would have on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

On December 18, 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The ASU removes the exception to the general principles in ASC 740, Income Taxes, associated with the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation, accounting for basis differences when there are ownership changes in foreign investments and interim-period income tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. In addition, the ASU improves the application of income tax related guidance and simplifies U.S. GAAP when accounting for franchise taxes that are partially based on income, transactions with government resulting in a step-up in tax basis goodwill, separate financial statements of legal entities not subject to tax, and enacted changes in tax laws in interim periods. Different transition approaches, retrospective, modified retrospective, or prospective, will apply to each income tax simplification provision. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption of the amendments in this update is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The Company is evaluating these changes and does not anticipate any material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments of ASU No. 2018-13 are effective for companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted ASU 2018-13 effective January 1, 2020, which did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

9

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)



In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates step 2, which measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill, from the goodwill impairment test. The amendments of ASU No. 2017-04 are effective for companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and requires a one-step impairment test in which an entity compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, if any. The Company adopted ASU 2017-04 effective January 1, 2020, which did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments of ASU No. 2016-13 are effective for companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and modify existing guidance related to the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, including trade and loan receivables. The new guidance requires impairments to be measured based on expected losses over the life of the asset rather than incurred losses. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 effective January 1, 2020, using a modified retrospective approach, which did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

3. Revenues

Revenue Recognition

We serve approximately 400 customers annually in more than 40 countries and across a wide variety of industries. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company's ten largest customers accounted for approximately 43% and 48% of total sales, respectively.
We typically sell to customers under master service agreements, with primarily one-year terms, or by purchase orders. We have historically experienced low customer turnover and have an average customer relationship of approximately 20 years. Our largest customer is Shaw Industries Group Inc. (“Shaw”), a significant consumer of caprolactam and Nylon 6 resin. We sell Nylon 6 resin and caprolactam to Shaw under a long-term agreement. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, our sales to Shaw were 17% and 22%, respectively, of our total sales.

Each of the Company’s product lines represented the following approximate percentage of total sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Nylon 26% 31%
Caprolactam 22% 20%
Ammonium Sulfate Fertilizers 23% 21%
Chemical Intermediates 29% 28%
100% 100%

The Company's revenues by geographic area for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
United States $ 230,443    $ 257,642   
International 72,270    57,253   
Total $ 302,713    $ 314,895   


10

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)



Deferred Income and Customer Advances
The Company defers revenues when cash payments are received in advance of our performance. Customer advances relate primarily to sales from the ammonium sulfate business. Below is a roll-forward of Deferred income and customer advances for the three months ended March 31, 2020:
Opening balance January 1, 2020 $ 19,696   
Additions to deferred revenues 678   
Less amounts recognized in revenues (7,304)  
Ending balance March 31, 2020 $ 13,070   
The Company expects to recognize as revenue the March 31, 2020 ending balance of Deferred income and customer advances within one year or less.

4. Earnings Per Share
 
The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share ("EPS") is based on Net income divided by the basic weighted average number of common shares and diluted weighted average number of common shares, respectively. The details of the basic and diluted EPS calculations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Basic
Net Income $ 8,576    $ 20,174   
Weighted average common shares outstanding 27,942,486    28,820,603   
EPS – Basic $ 0.31    $ 0.70   
Diluted
Dilutive effect of equity awards and other stock-based holdings 108,469    966,354   
Weighted average common shares outstanding 28,050,955    29,786,957   
EPS – Diluted $ 0.31    $ 0.68   

Diluted EPS is computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period plus the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents (which includes units allocated to the AdvanSix stock unit fund under the AdvanSix Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan) using the treasury stock method and the average market price of our common stock for the year.

The diluted EPS calculations exclude the effect of stock options when the options’ assumed proceeds exceed the average market price of the common shares during the period. The anti-dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding at the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:


Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Options and stock equivalents 935,402    330,823   

11

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)




5. Accounts and Other Receivables Net
March 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Accounts receivables $ 113,326    $ 105,275   
Other 1,838    1,661   
Total accounts and other receivables 115,164    106,936   
Less – allowance for doubtful accounts (1,862)   (2,323)  
Total accounts and other receivables – net $ 113,302    $ 104,613   

6. Inventories
March 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Raw materials $ 63,487    $ 63,644   
Work in progress 53,014    56,065   
Finished goods 50,993    58,527   
Spares and other 25,984    25,035   
193,478    203,271   
Reduction to LIFO cost basis (35,412)   (31,561)  
Total inventories – net $ 158,066    $ 171,710   

7. Postretirement Benefit Cost
 
The components of Net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s pension plan are as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Service cost $ 2,005    $ 1,714   
Interest cost 544    521   
Expected return on plan assets (524)   (334)  
Net periodic benefit cost $ 2,025    $ 1,901   

The Company made contributions to the defined benefit pension plan of $1.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company currently plans to make pension plan contributions during 2020 sufficient to satisfy pension funding requirements under the AdvanSix Retirement Earnings Plan in an aggregate amount of approximately $5 to $10 million and will continue to evaluate options afforded under the CARES Act with respect to the deferral of pension plan contributions for calendar year 2020. We anticipate making additional contributions in future years sufficient to satisfy pension funding requirements in those periods.

The pension plan assets are invested through a master trust fund. The strategic asset allocation for the trust fund is selected by the Company's Investment Committee reflecting the results of comprehensive asset and liability modeling. The Investment Committee establishes strategic asset allocation percentage targets and appropriate benchmarks for significant asset classes with the aim of achieving a prudent balance between return and risk.

8. Long-term Debt and Credit Agreement

At March 31, 2020, the Company assessed the amount recorded under the Revolving Credit Facility (defined below) and determined that such amounts approximate fair value. Since a floating rate interest is applied to all borrowings from our Revolving Credit Facility, the fair value of our debt closely approximates the carrying value and is therefore classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy.


12

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)



Credit Agreement

On September 30, 2016, in connection with the consummation of the Spin-Off, the Company as the borrower, entered into a Credit Agreement with Bank of America, as administrative agent (the “Original Credit Agreement”). The Original Credit Agreement consisted of a $270 million term loan (the “Original Term Loan”) and a $155 million revolving loan facility (the “Original Revolving Credit Facility”). The Original Revolving Credit Facility included a $25 million letter-of-credit sub-facility and a $20 million Swing-Line Loan sub-facility, issuances against which reduce the available capacity for borrowing.

On February 21, 2018 (the “First Amendment Date”), the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “First Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement among the Company, the guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (the Original Credit Agreement, after giving effect to the First Amendment, the “First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”).

As discussed above, the credit facilities under the Original Credit Agreement consisted of a senior secured term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $270 million, of which $267 million was outstanding just prior to entering into the First Amendment, and a senior secured revolving credit facility in a principal amount of $155 million. Pursuant to the First Amendment, (i) the term loan facility under the Original Credit Agreement was terminated and the entire outstanding balance of the term loan facility (the “Term Loan”) thereunder was paid in full and (ii) the maximum aggregate principal amount of the senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) was increased to $425 million.

On the First Amendment Date, the Company borrowed $242 million under the Revolving Credit Facility. The proceeds of such loans, as well as cash on hand, were used to repay the outstanding Term Loan under the Original Credit Agreement. The Revolving Credit Facility under the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement has a 5-year term with a scheduled maturity date of February 21, 2023. The First Amendment resulted in an increase in the Revolving Credit Facility to replace the Term Loan and provided increased borrowing flexibility and reduced overall borrowing costs with an approximate 50 basis point reduction in the interest rate spread.

The First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement permits the Company to utilize up to $40 million of the Revolving Credit Facility for the issuance of letters of credit and up to $40 million for swing line loans. The Company has the option to incur incremental term loans and/or increase the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount for all such incremental term loans and increases of the Revolving Credit Facility of up to the sum of (x) $175 million plus (y) an amount such that the Company’s Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (as defined in the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) would not be greater than 1.75 to 1.00, in each case, to the extent that any one or more lenders, whether or not currently party to the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, commits to be a lender for such amount. Borrowings under the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement bore interest at a rate equal to either the sum of a base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.50% or the sum of a Eurodollar rate plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.50%, with either such margin varying according to the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). The Company was also required to pay a commitment fee in respect of unused commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility, if any, at a rate ranging from 0.20% to 0.40% per annum depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio. The initial margin under the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was 0.75% for base rate loans and 1.75% for Eurodollar rate loans and the initial commitment fee rate was 0.25% per annum.

The First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contained customary covenants limiting the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to, among other things, pay cash dividends, incur debt or liens, redeem or repurchase stock of the Company, enter into transactions with affiliates, make investments, make capital expenditures, merge or consolidate with others or dispose of assets. The First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also contained financial covenants that required the Company to maintain a Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) of not less than 3.00 to 1.00 and to maintain a Consolidated Leverage Ratio of (i) 3.50 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2018, through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2019, (ii) 3.25 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2020, through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020, (iii) 3.00 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2021, through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021, and (iv) 2.75 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2022 and each fiscal quarter thereafter (subject to the Company’s option to elect a consolidated leverage ratio increase in connection with certain acquisitions). If the Company did not comply with the covenants in the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the lenders could have, subject to customary cure rights, required the immediate payment of all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company was compliant with all related covenants at December 31, 2019.

13

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)



On February 19, 2020, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 (the “Second Amendment”) to the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (after giving effect to the Second Amendment, the “Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”).

The Second Amendment amended the Consolidated Leverage Ratio financial covenant of the Credit Agreement and requires the Company to maintain a Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) of (i) 3.50 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020, (ii) 4.50 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020, (iii) 4.25 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2020, (iv) 3.50 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020, (v) 3.25 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2021 through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021, and (vi) 3.00 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2022 and each fiscal quarter thereafter (subject to the Company’s option to elect a consolidated leverage ratio increase in connection with certain acquisitions). The Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio financial covenant of the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was not changed and continues to require the Company to maintain a Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) of not less than 3.00 to 1.00. If the Company does not comply with the covenants in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the lenders may, subject to customary cure rights, require the immediate payment of all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Borrowings under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to either the sum of a base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.50% to 2.00% or the sum of a Eurodollar rate plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 3.00%, with either such margin varying according to the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee in respect of unused commitments under the credit facility, if any, at a rate ranging from 0.20% to 0.50% per annum depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio. The initial margin under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was 1.25% for base rate loans and 2.25% for Eurodollar rate loans and the applicable commitment fee rate was 0.35% per annum.

In addition, the Second Amendment also amended certain administrative provisions associated with the LIBOR Successor Rate (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement).

The obligations under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are secured by a pledge of assets and liens on substantially all of the assets of AdvanSix.

Since the start of 2020, the Company has since borrowed an incremental $133.5 million for working capital purposes under the Revolving Credit Facility and repaid $93.5 million to bring the balance under the Revolving Credit Facility to $337 million at March 31, 2020.

The Company had approximately $1.0 million of letter of credit agreements outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at March 31, 2020, as well as an immaterial amount associated with bilateral letters of credit outside the Revolving Credit Facility.

9. Leases

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in Operating lease right-of-use assets, Operating lease liabilities – short-term, and Operating lease liabilities – long-term in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Finance leases are included in Property, plant and equipment – net, Accounts payable, and Other liabilities in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. We use the implicit rate when readily determinable. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease pre-payments made and excludes lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease and, when it is reasonably certain that such an option will be exercised, it is included in the determination of the corresponding assets and liabilities. Short-term leases are not recognized on our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Lease expense for all operating lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. Additionally, for certain equipment leases, we apply a portfolio approach to effectively account for the operating lease ROU assets and liabilities.
14

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)



The Company has entered into agreements to lease transportation equipment, storage facilities, office space, dock access and other equipment. The leases have initial terms of up to 20 years with some containing renewal options subject to customary conditions.

The components of lease expense were as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
Finance lease cost:
     Amortization of right-of-use asset $ 181   
     Interest on lease liabilities 15   
     Total finance lease cost 196   
Operating lease cost 11,044   
Short-term lease cost 1,873   
Variable lease cost —   
Total lease cost $ 13,113   

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
     Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 10,958   
     Operating cash flows from finance leases 16   
     Financing cash flows from finance leases 182   
Non-cash information:
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
     Operating leases 1,048   
     Finance leases  

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:
15

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)



March 31,
2020
Operating Leases
Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 127,501   
Operating lease liabilities – short term 38,361   
Operating lease liabilities – long term 89,759   
     Total operating lease liabilities $ 128,120   
Finance Leases
Property, plant and equipment – gross $ 2,068   
Accumulated depreciation (842)  
     Property, plant and equipment – net $ 1,226   
Accounts payable 700   
Other liabilities 543   
     Total finance lease liabilities $ 1,243   
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term
     Operating leases 9.3 years
     Finance leases 2.0 years
Weighted Average Discount Rate
     Operating leases 5.77  %
     Finance leases 4.76  %

Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows:
Year Ending December 31, Operating Leases Finance Leases
2020 (remainder) $ 33,059    $ 562   
2021 32,932    528   
2022 22,814    195   
2023 13,335    11   
2024 11,468     
Thereafter 61,561    —   
Total lease payments 175,169    1,304   
Less imputed interest (47,049)   (61)  
Total $ 128,120    $ 1,243   

10. Commitments and Contingencies
 
The Company is subject to a number of lawsuits, investigations and disputes, some of which involve substantial amounts claimed, arising out of the conduct of the Company or other third-parties in the normal and ordinary course of business. A liability is recognized for any contingency that is probable of occurrence and reasonably estimable. The Company continually assesses the likelihood of adverse judgments or outcomes in these matters, as well as potential ranges of possible losses (taking into consideration any insurance recoveries), based on an analysis of each matter with the assistance of legal counsel and, if applicable, other experts.
 
Given the uncertainty inherent in such lawsuits, investigations and disputes, the Company does not believe it is possible to develop estimates of reasonably possible loss in excess of current accruals for these matters. Considering the Company’s past experience and existing accruals, the Company does not expect the outcome of these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations. Potential liabilities are subject to change due to new developments, changes in settlement strategy or the impact of evidentiary requirements, which could cause the Company to pay damage awards or settlements (or become subject to equitable remedies)
16

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)



that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, balance sheet and/or operating cash flows in the periods recognized or paid.

We assumed from Honeywell all health, safety and environmental (“HSE”) liabilities and compliance obligations related to the past and future operations of our current business, as well as all HSE liabilities associated with our three current manufacturing locations and the other locations used in our current operations, including any cleanup or other liabilities related to any contamination that may have occurred at such locations in the past. Honeywell retained all HSE liabilities related to former business locations or the operation of our former businesses. Although we have ongoing environmental remedial obligations at certain of our facilities, in the past three years, the associated remediation costs have not been material, and we do not expect our known remediation costs to have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.

11. Income Taxes

The CARES Act includes various modifications to current tax law and is intended to provide economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One provision included in the CARES Act allows for a five-year carryback of Federal net operating losses (NOLs) generated in tax years beginning in 2018, 2019 and 2020. At this point, the Company anticipates filing its 2019 federal income tax return with a net operating loss, on a tax basis, which now may be carried back to earlier years to request a refund of previously paid taxes. As such, we have recorded the estimated impact of the federal NOL carryback in the quarterly financial results, which includes an $8.0 million reclassification from Deferred income taxes to Taxes receivable. However, we have not yet filed our 2019 federal income tax return and continue to evaluate the impact of the CARES Act on our tax positions, which may result in a change to our estimate.

The Company’s provision for income taxes in interim periods is computed by applying an estimated annual effective tax rate against Income before taxes for the period in addition to recording any tax effects of discrete items for the quarter. For interim reporting purposes, the Company recorded Income tax expense of $0.6 million as discrete items. The discrete items relate to tax deficiencies on vesting of equity compensation in the quarter and the expected loss of 2018 foreign-derived intangible income tax benefits resulting from the anticipated Federal NOL carryback under the CARES Act. The provision for income taxes was $3.7 million and $6.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

12. Fair Value Measurements

Financial and non-financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company acquired a royalty stream which has been treated as an asset acquisition. The purchase price of the royalty stream for $1.0 million approximated its fair value at December 31, 2018 and is considered a Level 3 asset. The fair value measurement is based on the expected future cash flows and, as there is no reason to believe that the asset is impaired, it is assumed that the valuation remains unchanged at March 31, 2020. In November 2018 and July 2019, the Company entered into two interest rate swap transactions related to its credit agreement. The fair value of the interest rate swaps at March 31, 2020 was a loss of approximately $4.2 million and is considered a Level 2 liability.

The pension plan assets are invested in collective investment trust funds. These investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share as a practical expedient. Investments valued using the net asset value method (NAV) (or its equivalent) practical expedient are excluded from the fair value hierarchy disclosure.

The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets also include Cash and cash equivalents, Accounts receivable and Accounts payable all of which are recorded at amounts which approximate fair value.

The Company also has assets that are required to be recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets are evaluated when certain triggering events occur (including a decrease in estimated future cash flows) that indicate the asset should be evaluated for impairment which could result in such assets being measured at fair value. Goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets must be evaluated at least annually. Our annual evaluation occurred on March 31, 2020 and we have concluded that an impairment for goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets did not occur.

17

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)




13. Derivative and Hedging Instruments

The specific credit and market, commodity price and interest rate risks to which the Company is exposed in connection with its ongoing business operations are described below. This discussion includes an explanation of the hedging instrument, interest rate swap agreements, used to manage the Company’s interest rate risk associated with a fixed and floating-rate borrowing.

For cash flow hedges, the entire change in the fair value of the hedging instrument included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness is recorded in Other comprehensive income. Those amounts are reclassified to earnings in the same income statement line item that is used to present the earnings effect of the hedged item when the hedged item affects earnings.

Credit and Market Risk – Financial instruments, including derivatives, expose the Company to counterparty credit risk for non-performance and to market risk related to changes in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company manages its exposure to counterparty credit risk through specific minimum credit standards, diversification of counterparties, and procedures to monitor concentrations of credit risk. The Company’s counterparties in derivative transactions are substantial investment and commercial banks with significant experience using such derivative instruments. The Company monitors the impact of market risk on the fair value and cash flows of its derivative and other financial instruments considering reasonably possible changes in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates and restricts the use of derivative financial instruments to hedging activities.

The Company continually monitors the creditworthiness of its customers to which it grants credit terms in the normal course of business. The terms and conditions of credit sales are designed to mitigate or eliminate concentrations of credit risk with any single customer. The Company did not have any customers accounting for a significant percentage of trade accounts receivable - net at March 31, 2020, or December 31, 2019. Allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated based upon the Company's estimate of expected credit losses over the life of exposure based upon both historical information as well as future expected losses.

Commodity Price Risk Management – The Company's exposure to market risk for commodity prices can result in changes in the cost of production. We primarily mitigate our exposure to commodity price risk by using long-term, formula-based price contracts with our suppliers and formula-based price agreements with customers. Our customer agreements provide for price adjustments based on relevant market indices and raw material prices and generally do not include take-or-pay terms. We may also enter into forward commodity contracts with third-parties designated as hedges of anticipated purchases of several commodities. Forward commodity contracts are marked-to-market, with the resulting gains and losses recognized in earnings, in the same category as the items being hedged, when the hedged transaction is recognized. At March 31, 2020 and 2019, we had no financial contracts related to forward commodity agreements.

Interest Rate Risk Management – The Company has entered into two interest rate swap agreements for a total notional amount of $100 million to exchange floating for fixed rate interest payments for our LIBOR-based borrowings. These interest rate swaps had a fair value of zero at inception and were effective November 30, 2018 and July 31, 2019 with respective maturity dates of November 30, 2021 and February 21, 2023. In accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) ASC 815, the Company designated the interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges of floating-rate borrowings. The interest rate swaps convert the Company’s interest rate payments on the first $100 million of variable-rate, 1-month LIBOR-based debt to a fixed interest rate. These interest rate swaps involve the receipt of floating rate amounts in exchange for fixed rate interest payments over the life of the interest rate swap without an exchange of the underlying principal amount.

Liability Derivatives
March 31, 2020 December 31, 2019
Balance Sheet Classification Fair Value Balance Sheet Classification Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815:
Interest Rate Contracts Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities (4,166) Accrued liabilities and Other liabilities (1,718)  
Total Derivatives $ (4,166)   $ (1,718)  
18

ADVANSIX INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts and as otherwise noted)




The following table summarizes adjustments related to cash flow hedge included in Cash-flow hedges, in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income:

March 31,
2020
Loss on derivative instruments included in Accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2019 $ (1,718)  
Fair value adjustment (2,448)  
Loss on derivative instruments included in Accumulated other comprehensive income at March 31, 2020 $ (4,166)  

At March 31, 2020, the Company expects to reclassify approximately $2.0 million of net losses on derivative instruments from Accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings during the next 12 months due to the payment of variable interest associated with the floating rate debt.

14. Restructuring

On May 2, 2019, the Company approved the closure of its Pottsville, Pennsylvania films plant as part of its broader strategic efforts to improve the Company’s competitive position in providing quality film products and services to its customers. The Company also announced a strategic alliance with Oben Holding Group S.A. (“Oben”), a third-party producer of films for the flexible packaging industry, leveraging the Company's sales channels and Nylon 6 supply with Oben's new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The Company ceased operations at the Pottsville, Pennsylvania plant in July 2019.

Restructuring costs consist of long-lived asset impairments, facility exit costs, employee separations and inventory write-downs. Facility exit costs include demolition, equipment relocation, contract terminations and project management costs. These costs are included in Costs of goods sold in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company recorded a restructuring charge of $11.0 million in 2019. As of March 31, 2020, all related restructuring liabilities have been paid.

The following table summarizes the components of restructuring activities and the remaining balances of accrued restructuring charges as of March 31, 2020:

Employee Separation Benefits Facility Exit Costs Total
Accrual balance at December 31, 2019 $ 127    $ 410    $ 537   
Charges —    —    —   
Cash payments (127)   (410)   (537)  
Accrual balance at March 31, 2020 $ —    $ —    $ —   

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, which we refer to as our “MD&A,” should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, as well as the MD&A section included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 21, 2020 (the “2019 Form 10-K”). Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors that can affect our performance in both near- and long-term, including those set forth in, and incorporated by reference in Item 1A of Part II of this Form 10-Q as such factors may be revised or supplemented in subsequent filings with the SEC, as well as those discussed in the section entitled “Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” below.
 
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q including, without limitation, statements in this MD&A regarding our financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). When used in this Form 10-Q, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “will,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict, which may cause the actual results or performance of the Company to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general economic and financial conditions in the U.S. and globally, including the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; the scope and duration of the pandemic and pace of recovery; governmental, business and individuals’ actions in response to the pandemic, including our business continuity and cash optimization plans that have and may be implemented; the impact of social and economic restrictions and other containment measures taken to combat virus transmission; the effect on our customers’ demand for our products and our suppliers’ ability to manufacture and deliver our raw materials, including implications of reduced refinery utilization in the U.S.; our ability to sell and provide our goods and services, including as a result of travel and other COVID-19-related restrictions; the ability of our customers to pay for our products; and any closures of our and our customers’ offices and facilities; risks associated with our indebtedness including compliance with financial and restrictive covenants, and our ability to access capital on reasonable terms or at all due to economic conditions resulting from COVID-19 or otherwise; the impact of scheduled turnarounds and significant unplanned downtime and interruptions of production or logistics operations as a result of mechanical issues or other unanticipated events such as fires, severe weather conditions, natural disasters and pandemics including the COVID-19 pandemic; price fluctuations and supply of raw materials; our operations and growth projects requiring substantial capital; growth rates and cyclicality of the industries we serve including global changes in supply and demand; failure to develop and commercialize new products or technologies; loss of significant customer relationships; adverse trade and tax policies; extensive environmental, health and safety laws that apply to our operations; hazards associated with chemical manufacturing, storage and transportation; litigation associated with chemical manufacturing and our business operations generally; inability to acquire and integrate businesses, assets, products or technologies; protection of our intellectual property and proprietary information; prolonged work stoppages as a result of labor difficulties or otherwise; cybersecurity and data privacy incidents; failure to maintain effective internal controls; disruptions in transportation and logistics; our inability to achieve some or all of the anticipated benefits of our spin-off including uncertainty regarding qualification for expected tax treatment; fluctuations in our stock price; and changes in laws or regulations applicable to our business. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors including those noted above and those detailed in Item 1A of Part I and elsewhere in our 2019 Form 10-K, Item 1A of Part II in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. We do not undertake to update or revise any of our forward-looking statements.

Business Overview
 
We produce and sell caprolactam as a commodity product and produce and sell our Nylon 6 resin as both a commoditized and differentiated resin product. Our results of operations are primarily driven by production volume and the spread between the sales prices of our products and the costs of the underlying raw materials built into market-based and value-based pricing
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models. The global prices for nylon resin typically track a spread over the price of caprolactam, which in turn tracks as a spread over benzene because the key feedstock materials for caprolactam, phenol or cyclohexane, are derived from benzene. This price spread has historically experienced cyclicality as a result of global changes in supply and demand. Generally, Nylon 6 resin prices track the cyclicality of caprolactam prices, although prices set above the spread are achievable when nylon resin manufacturers, like AdvanSix, formulate and produce differentiated nylon resin products. Our differentiated Nylon 6 products are typically valued at a higher level than commodity resin products.

We believe that Nylon 6 end-market growth will continue to generally track global GDP over the long-term. Applications such as engineering plastics and packaging have potential to grow at faster rates given certain macrotrends. Additionally, one of our strategies is to continue developing higher-value, differentiated Nylon 6 products, such as our co-polymer offerings, in current and new customer applications.

Our ammonium sulfate is used by customers as a fertilizer containing nitrogen and sulfur, two key crop nutrients. Global prices for ammonium sulfate fertilizer are influenced by several factors including the price of urea, which is the most widely used source of nitrogen-based fertilizer in the world. Other global factors driving ammonium sulfate fertilizer demand are general agriculture trends, including the price of crops. Our ammonium sulfate product is positioned with the added value proposition of sulfur nutrition to increase yields of key crops.

We produce ammonium sulfate fertilizer continuously throughout the year as part of our manufacturing process, but quarterly sales experience seasonality based on the timing and length of the growing seasons in North and South America. North America ammonium sulfate prices are typically strongest during second quarter fertilizer application and then typically decline seasonally with new season fill in the third quarter. Due to the ammonium sulfate fertilizer sales cycle, we occasionally build up higher inventory balances because our production is continuous and not tied to seasonal demand for fertilizers. Sales of most of our other products have generally been subject to minimal, or no, seasonality.

We also manufacture, market and sell a number of chemical intermediate products that are derived from the chemical processes within our integrated supply chain. Most significant is acetone, which is used by our customers in the production of adhesives, paints, coatings and solvents. Prices for acetone are influenced by its own supply and demand dynamics but can also be influenced by the underlying move in propylene input costs.

We seek to run our production facilities on a nearly continuous basis for maximum efficiency as several of our intermediate products are key feedstock materials for other products in our integrated manufacturing chain. While our integration, scale and range of product offerings make us one of the most efficient manufacturers in our industry, these attributes also expose us to increased risk associated with material disruptions at any one of our production facilities or logistics operations which could impact the overall manufacturing supply chain. Further, although we believe that our sources of supply for our raw materials, including cumene, natural gas and sulfur, are generally robust, it is difficult to predict the impact that shortages, increased costs and related supply chain logistics considerations may have in the future. In order to mitigate the risk of unplanned interruptions, we schedule several planned plant turnarounds each year to conduct routine and major maintenance across our facilities. We also utilize maintenance excellence and mechanical integrity programs, targeted buffer inventory of intermediate chemicals necessary for our manufacturing process, and co-producer swap arrangements, which are intended to mitigate the extent of any production losses as a result of planned and unplanned downtime; however, the mitigation of all or part of any such production impact cannot be assured.

Recent Developments

COVID-19

In March 2020, the World Health Organization categorized the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a global pandemic with numerous countries around the world declaring national emergencies, including the United States. Since early 2020, COVID-19 has spread rapidly, with most countries and territories worldwide with confirmed cases. The spread has resulted in authorities implementing numerous measures to contain the virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and business shutdowns. The pandemic and these containment measures have had, and are expected to continue to have, a substantial negative impact on businesses around the world and on global, regional and national economies including disruptions to supply chains, reduced demand and production sales across most industries, declines and volatility within global financial markets and decreased workforces causing increased unemployment. The continuously evolving responses to combat the pandemic, such as governmental restrictions on non-essential business and travel, have had an increasingly negative impact on the United States and global economy. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated our industry as "essential critical infrastructure" during the response to COVID-19 for both public health and safety as well as community well-being.
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The Company takes its obligation seriously to produce materials that support the broader population, all while maintaining a prioritized focus on the health and safety of its employees and the communities in which it operates and assuring the continuity of its business operations. As a global provider of products that are key inputs for our customers’ processes serving a variety of end-markets, a pandemic presents obstacles that can adversely affect our supply chain effectiveness and efficiencies, our manufacturing operations and customer demand for our products and, ultimately, our financial results. We believe we are well positioned to respond to and mitigate the potential impacts of the rapidly evolving market dynamics.

In the first quarter of 2020, the Company began executing its business continuity plans with dedicated teams chartered to proactively implement measures to mitigate COVID-19 impacts while continuing to operate all of its manufacturing facilities to meet customer demand. In connection with COVID-19, the Company took many actions to protect its employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders and surrounding communities including, but not limited to: (i) 100% thermal screening process at all manufacturing facilities with restrictions on non-essential visitors; (ii) telecommuting across all sites, where possible; (iii) prohibiting all non-essential domestic and international business travel; (iv) establishing social distancing while limiting the number of employees in control rooms, labs and meetings; and (v) maintaining policies and practices consistent with CDC and government guidelines, including upgraded personal protective equipment and face coverings at all manufacturing facilities. The Company has protocols in place including on-site medical personnel to actively monitor employees and contractors. In addition, the Company has trained a contingent workforce to operate the plants as part of its business continuity planning.

Operations at the Company’s manufacturing locations in Frankford, PA, Hopewell, VA and Chesterfield, VA continued to run at robust production rates through the first quarter 2020. We believe our competitive strengths are serving us well during this time including our vertically integrated asset base and global low-cost advantage as well as driving disciplined cost and cash management across the organization with further reductions of capital expenditures and discretionary spending. Moving into the second quarter of 2020, the Company is supporting safe and stable operations while continuing to serve its customers by adjusting output to changes in mix and demand. In addition, the previously scheduled second quarter 2020 planned plant turnaround was de-risked with a majority of the work shifted into the third quarter of 2020 in order to limit the number of contractors on site and ensure operational continuity in the current environment. From an industry perspective, global auto and building and construction demand reductions are expected to impact the nylon and chemical intermediates product lines in the near-term. Textile declines in Asia are also impacting nylon supply and demand conditions, while food packaging demand for nylon remains robust. Ammonium Sulfate and acetone demand have not been significantly impacted by COVID-19 to date. Ammonium Sulfate has continued to have steady demand into the domestic planting season, while North American acetone industry supply and demand has improved following affirmative final anti-dumping duties and robust demand into isopropyl alcohol (IPA), used for hand sanitizer and other disinfectants, methyl methacrylate (MMA), and other solvents. As a result of COVID-19, demand reduction for transportation fuels and resultant inventory builds have reduced refinery utilization rates, which the Company is monitoring as it relates to potential impacts on its supply chain and availability of key raw materials.

The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect estimates and assumptions made by management that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods presented. The Company considered the impact of COVID-19 on the assumptions and estimates used and determined that there were no material adverse impacts on the Company’s first quarter 2020 results of operations.

The situation surrounding COVID-19 remains fluid and unpredictable, and the potential for a material impact on the Company increases the longer the social and economic restrictions remain in place, which impact the overall level of consumer and business activity in the United States and globally. For this reason, the Company cannot reasonably estimate with any degree of certainty the future impact COVID-19 may have on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. For further information regarding the impact COVID-19 could have on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity, see below in the MD&A under “Liquidity and Capital Resources” and Part II, Item 1A - “Risk Factors.”

Credit Agreement

On February 19, 2020, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement to amend the consolidated leverage ratios in order to provide the Company with additional operating flexibility. For a discussion of Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement, please refer to "Note 8. Long-term Debt and Credit Agreement" to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Anti-Dumping Duty Petitions

On February 19, 2019, the Company announced that it filed anti-dumping duty petitions covering imports of acetone with the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) and U.S. Department of Commerce. The petitions allege that dumped acetone imports
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into the United States from Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain have caused material injury to the domestic industry. On April 4, 2019, the ITC voted to continue the anti-dumping duty investigations concerning imports of acetone from all such nations other than Saudi Arabia. During the third quarter of 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its preliminary affirmative determination regarding anti-dumping duties for Singapore, Spain, Belgium, South Africa and South Korea. During the fourth quarter of 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued final duties on acetone from Singapore and Spain, and the ITC issued final determination of material injury to the industry by reason of imports from Singapore and Spain. On February 7, 2020, the U.S Department of Commerce issued final duties on acetone from Belgium, South Africa and South Korea. The ITC completed its investigation process and issued final determination of material injury to the industry by reason of imports from Belgium, South Africa and South Korea on March 17, 2020. Duties are imposed for five years as of final determination.

2019 Operational Events

On June 24, 2019, the Company announced that it was assessing the potential business impact of the fire that occurred at Philadelphia Energy Solutions' (“PES”) refinery in Philadelphia. PES was one of multiple suppliers to the Company of cumene, a feedstock material used to produce phenol, acetone and other chemical intermediates. The PES disruption did not have a material impact on second quarter 2019 financial results. The Company incurred approximately $4 million and $6 million of unfavorable impact to pre-tax income in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, of 2019, including incremental raw material and logistics costs as well as a modest unfavorable impact from fixed cost absorption. As the PES refinery remains shutdown, the Company submitted a business interruption insurance claim and is assessing long-term optionality for cumene supply and logistics, while optimizing expected base feedstock and logistics cost increases as it realigns its supply chain into 2020. The Company anticipates an approximately $5 to $10 million unfavorable impact to pre-tax income in 2020, approximately flat to $5 million favorable compared to full-year 2019.

On May 2, 2019, the Company approved the closure of its Pottsville, Pennsylvania films plant as part of its broader strategic efforts to improve the Company’s competitive position in providing quality film products and services to its customers. The Company has also announced a strategic alliance with Oben Holdings Group S.A. (“Oben”), a third-party producer of films for the flexible packaging industry, leveraging the Company's sales channels and Nylon 6 resin supply with Oben's new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The Company ceased operations at the Pottsville, Pennsylvania plant in July 2019. We recognized a restructuring charge of $11 million during 2019 and do not expect to incur any additional restructuring charges related to the closure. See “Note 14. Restructuring” to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for further information.

On March 11, 2019, the Company announced that it declared force majeure on its phenol product line as a result of shortages and delivery delays of its key raw material, cumene. The Company's cumene deliveries were reduced due to weather related logistics disruptions in the Gulf Coast area and supplier operational constraints. As a result of this force majeure event, phenol production at the Company's Frankford, Pennsylvania facility and caprolactam production at its Hopewell, Virginia facility were reduced. The Company incurred an approximately $6.9 million unfavorable impact to pre-tax income in the first quarter of 2019, including the unfavorable impact of fixed cost absorption and incremental logistics costs. In addition, the Company incurred an approximately $1.4 million unfavorable impact to pre-tax income in the first quarter of 2019 and an approximately $2.3 million unfavorable impact to pre-tax income in the second quarter of 2019 due to lost sales. The Company is no longer on force majeure with phenol customers.

Results of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
 
Sales

Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Sales $ 302,713    $ 314,895   
% change compared with prior year period (3.9)%

The change in sales compared to the prior year period is attributable to the following:

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Three Months Ended
March 31, 2020
Volume 6.5%
Price (10.4)%
(3.9)%

Sales decreased in the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period by $12.2 million (approximately 4%) due primarily to lower sales prices (approximately 10%) driven by market-based pricing decreases (approximately 12% unfavorable impact) across our nylon, caprolactam and ammonium sulfate product lines, partially offset by formula-based pass-through pricing (approximately 1% favorable impact), following a net cost increase in benzene and propylene (inputs to cumene which is a key feedstock material for our products). Volume increased by approximately 7% due to higher standard ammonium sulfate exports and improved volume in chemical intermediates, particularly acetone and oximes.

Costs of Goods Sold
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Costs of goods sold $ 272,008    $ 266,880   
% change compared with prior year period 1.9%
Gross Margin percentage 10.1% 15.2%

Costs of goods sold increased in the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period by $5.1 million (approximately 2%) due primarily to (i) increased sales volumes as discussed above (approximately 6%) and (ii) the receipt of approximately $6.6 million of insurance proceeds in the prior year that did not repeat (approximately 2%). These increases were partially offset by (i) lower prices of raw materials, particularly sulfur and natural gas (approximately 4%) and (ii) improved operational performance, primarily lower spending due to productivity improvements from the installation of more efficient natural gas boilers and the closure of our operations in Pottsville, PA (approximately 2%).

Gross margin percentage decreased by approximately 5% in the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period due primarily to lower market-based pricing (approximately 10%) and insurance proceeds received in the prior year (approximately 2%) partially offset by the impact of formula-based pass-through pricing (approximately 4%) and improved operational performance (approximately 2%) as discussed above.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Selling, general and administrative expenses $ 16,740    $ 19,413   
Percent of sales 5.5% 6.2%

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $2.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior period due primarily to decreased stock-based compensation and IT costs.

Tax Expense

Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Tax expense $ 3,664    $ 6,824   
Effective tax rate 29.9% 25.3%

As noted in Note 11. "Income Taxes" to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part 1, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"), enacted on March 27, 2020, includes
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various modifications to current tax law and is intended to provide economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One provision included in the CARES Act allows for a five-year carryback of Federal net operating losses (NOLs) generated in tax years beginning in 2018, 2019 and 2020. At this point, the Company anticipates filing its 2019 federal corporate income tax return with a net operating loss, on a tax basis, which now may be carried back to earlier years to request a refund of previously paid taxes. As such, we have recorded the estimated impact of the federal NOL carryback in the quarterly financial results, which includes an $8.0 million reclassification from Deferred income taxes to Taxes receivable. However, we have not yet filed our 2019 federal income tax return and continue to evaluate the impact of the CARES Act on our tax positions, which may result in a change to our estimate.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was higher compared to the U.S. federal statutory rate, due primarily to state taxes, executive compensation deduction limitations, tax deficiencies on vesting of equity compensation in the quarter and the expected loss of 2018 foreign-derived intangible income tax benefits related to the anticipated Federal NOL carryback claim allowed under the CARES Act, offset partially by the research tax credit. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was higher compared to the U.S. federal statutory rate due primarily to state taxes and executive compensation deduction limitations offset partially by excess tax benefits related to vesting of restricted stock units and the research tax credit.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was higher than the prior year period due primarily to the decrease in the benefits from the vesting of equity compensation in the first quarter of 2020 compared to 2019 and the expected loss of the 2018 foreign-derived intangible income deduction as a result of the anticipated federal NOL carryback claim recorded as discrete items in 2020.

Net Income

Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Net income $ 8,576    $ 20,174   

As a result of the factors described above, Net income was $8.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to $20.2 million in the corresponding prior year period.

Non-GAAP Measures
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

The following tables set forth the non-GAAP financial measures of EBITDA and EBITDA Margin. EBITDA is defined as Net income before Interest, Income taxes and Depreciation and amortization. EBITDA Margin is equal to EBITDA divided by Sales. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information as they are used by the Company’s management to evaluate the Company’s operating performance, enhance a reader’s understanding of the financial performance of the Company, and facilitate a better comparison among fiscal periods and performance relative to its competitors, as the non-GAAP measures exclude items that are not considered core to the Company’s operations.

These non-GAAP results are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for the financial information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should be read only in conjunction with the comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures. The Company's non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other companies' non-GAAP measures.

The following is a reconciliation between the non-GAAP financial measures of EBITDA and EBITDA Margin to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure:

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Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Net income $ 8,576    $ 20,174   
Interest expense, net 1,959    1,107   
Income taxes 3,664    6,824   
Depreciation and amortization 14,432    13,915   
EBITDA (non-GAAP) $ 28,631    $ 42,020   
Sales $ 302,713    $ 314,895   
EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) 9.5% 13.3%

Liquidity and Capital Resources
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

Liquidity

We believe that cash balances and operating cash flows, together with available capacity under our credit agreement, will provide adequate funds to support our current short-term operating objectives as well as our longer-term strategic plans, subject to the risks and uncertainties outlined below, in our "Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" above, and in the risk factors previously disclosed in our 2019 Form 10-K, as updated in Part II, Item 1A below. Our principal source of liquidity is our cash flow generated from operating activities, which is expected to provide us with the ability to meet the majority of our short-term funding requirements. Our cash flows are affected by capital requirements and production volume, which may be materially impacted by unanticipated events such as unplanned downtime, material disruptions at our production facilities as well as the prices of our raw materials and general economic and industry trends. We utilize supply chain financing and trade receivables discount arrangements with third-party financial institutions which enhance liquidity and enable us to efficiently manage our working capital needs. In addition, we monitor the third-party depository institutions that hold our cash and cash equivalents. Our emphasis is primarily on the safety of principal and secondarily on maximizing yield on those funds. We diversify our cash and cash equivalents among counterparties to minimize exposure to any one of these entities.

On a recurring basis, our primary future cash needs will be centered on operating activities, working capital, capital expenditures including high return growth and cost savings investments, share repurchases, employee benefit obligations, interest payments, strategic acquisitions and debt management. We believe that our future cash from operations, together with cash on hand and our access to credit and capital markets, will provide adequate resources to fund our expected operating and financing needs. Our ability to fund our capital needs, however, will depend on our ongoing ability to generate cash from operations and access to credit and capital markets, both of which are subject to the risk factors previously disclosed in our 2019 Form 10-K as updated in Part II, Item 1A below, as well as general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

As of the end of the first quarter of 2020, the Company had approximately $31 million of cash on hand with approximately $87 million of additional capacity available under the revolving credit facility. As a precautionary measure in the current environment, the Company is currently maintaining higher cash balances of approximately $75 million, which includes funds from draws in April under the Revolving Credit Facility for its working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. The Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio financial covenant of its credit facility allows it to net up to $75 million of cash with debt. The previously announced Second Amendment to the credit facility also provides leverage ratio covenant flexibility in 2020. In addition, the Company is evaluating liquidity potential under the credit facility’s uncommitted accordion feature. The Company continues to evaluate the potential impact of the CARES Act. The CARES Act is intended to provide economic relief resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and includes, but is not limited to, provisions for taxes, employment related costs, deferral of pension funding obligations and options for liquidity. In response to the current environment, the Company has taken several actions to improve liquidity and optimize cash flow in 2020. Capital expenditures are now expected to be $80 million to $90 million in 2020, which represents a reduction of $10 million from our previously announced estimate and a decrease of $60 to $70 million versus 2019, as we continue to assess opportunities to maximize free cash flow in light of current and anticipated economic conditions. The Company is also driving disciplined cost management across the organization including all discretionary spending. As a result of its actions, the Company is targeting an approximately $10 to $15 million full-year cost reduction versus the prior year. While it continues to evaluate benefits of the CARES Act, the Company
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anticipates approximately $8 million of cash tax savings in 2020 and an approximately $6 million cash benefit in 2020 from the deferral of social security taxes. For social security taxes that have been deferred, 50% will be due by December 31, 2021 with the remainder due by December 31, 2022.

We assumed from Honeywell all health, safety and environmental (“HSE”) liabilities and compliance obligations related to the past and future operations of our current business, as well as all HSE liabilities associated with our three current manufacturing locations and the other locations used in our current operations including any cleanup or other liabilities related to any contamination that may have occurred at such locations in the past. Honeywell retained all HSE liabilities related to former business locations or the operation of our former businesses. Although we have ongoing environmental remedial obligations at certain of our facilities, in the past three years, the associated remediation costs have not been material, and we do not expect our known remediation costs to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

We expect that our primary cash requirements for the remainder of 2020 will be to fund costs associated with ongoing operations, capital expenditures, and amounts related to other contractual obligations.

The Company made contributions to the defined benefit pension plan of $1.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company currently plans to make pension plan contributions during 2020 sufficient to satisfy pension funding requirements under the AdvanSix Retirement Earnings Plan in an aggregate amount of approximately $5 to $10 million but will continue to evaluate provisions of the CARES Act regarding deferral of pension funding obligations. We anticipate making additional contributions in future years sufficient to satisfy pension funding requirements in those periods.

On May 4, 2018, the Company announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized a share repurchase program of up to $75 million of the Company’s common stock. On February 22, 2019, the Company announced that the Board authorized a share repurchase program of up to an additional $75 million of the Company’s common stock, which was in addition to the remaining capacity available under the May 2018 share repurchase program. Repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market, including through the use of trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act. The size and timing of these repurchases will depend on pricing, market and economic conditions, legal and contractual requirements and other factors. The repurchase program has no expiration date and may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company had repurchased 3,582,278 shares of common stock including 492,516 shares withheld to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of equity awards, for an aggregate of $101.6 million at a weighted average market price of $28.36 per share. As of March 31, 2020, $59.6 million remained available for repurchase under the current authorization. During the period from April 1, 2020 through April 24, 2020, no additional shares were repurchased under the currently authorized repurchase program.

Credit Agreement
 
On February 21, 2018 (the “First Amendment Date”), the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “First Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement among the Company, the guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (the Original Credit Agreement, after giving effect to the First Amendment, the “First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”).

The credit facilities under the Original Credit Agreement consisted of a senior secured term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $270 million, of which $267 million was outstanding just prior to entering into the First Amendment, and a senior secured revolving credit facility in a principal amount of $155 million. Pursuant to the First Amendment, (i) the term loan facility under the Original Credit Agreement was terminated and the entire outstanding balance of the term loan facility (the “Term Loan”) thereunder was paid in full and (ii) the maximum aggregate principal amount of the senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) was increased to $425 million.

On the First Amendment Date, the Company borrowed $242 million under the Revolving Credit Facility. The proceeds of such loans, as well as cash on hand, were used to repay the outstanding Term Loan under the Original Credit Agreement. The Revolving Credit Facility under the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement has a 5-year term with a scheduled maturity date of February 21, 2023. The First Amendment resulted in an increase in the Revolving Credit Facility to replace the Term Loan and provided increased borrowing flexibility and reduced overall borrowing costs with an approximate 50 basis point reduction in the interest rate spread.

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The First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement permits the Company to utilize up to $40 million of the Revolving Credit Facility for the issuance of letters of credit and up to $40 million for swing line loans. The Company has the option to incur incremental term loans and/or increase the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount for all such incremental term loans and increases of the Revolving Credit Facility of up to the sum of (x) $175 million plus (y) an amount such that the Company’s Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (as defined in the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) would not be greater than 1.75 to 1.00, in each case, to the extent that any one or more lenders, whether or not currently party to the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, commits to be a lender for such amount. Borrowings under the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement bore interest at a rate equal to either the sum of a base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.50% or the sum of a Eurodollar rate plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.50%, with either such margin varying according to the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). The Company was also required to pay a commitment fee in respect of unused commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility, if any, at a rate ranging from 0.20% to 0.40% per annum depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio. The initial margin under the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was 0.75% for base rate loans and 1.75% for Eurodollar rate loans and the initial commitment fee rate was 0.25% per annum.

The First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contained customary covenants limiting the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to, among other things, pay cash dividends, incur debt or liens, redeem or repurchase stock of the Company, enter into transactions with affiliates, make investments, make capital expenditures, merge or consolidate with others or dispose of assets. The First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also contained financial covenants that required the Company to maintain a Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) of not less than 3.00 to 1.00 and to maintain a Consolidated Leverage Ratio of (i) 3.50 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2018, through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2019, (ii) 3.25 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2020, through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020, (iii) 3.00 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2021, through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021, and (iv) 2.75 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2022 and each fiscal quarter thereafter (subject to the Company’s option to elect a consolidated leverage ratio increase in connection with certain acquisitions). If the Company did not comply with the covenants in the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the lenders could have, subject to customary cure rights, required the immediate payment of all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company was compliant with all related covenants at December 31, 2019.

On February 19, 2020, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 (the “Second Amendment”) to the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (after giving effect to the Second Amendment, the “Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”).

The Second Amendment amended the Consolidated Leverage Ratio financial covenant of the Credit Agreement and requires the Company to maintain a Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) of (i) 3.50 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2020, (ii) 4.50 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020, (iii) 4.25 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2020, (iv) 3.50 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020, (v) 3.25 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2021 through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021, and (vi) 3.00 to 1.00 or less for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2022 and each fiscal quarter thereafter (subject to the Company’s option to elect a Consolidated Leverage Ratio increase in connection with certain acquisitions). The Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio financial covenant of the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was not changed and continues to require the Company to maintain a Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) of not less than 3.00 to 1.00. If the Company does not comply with the covenants in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the lenders may, subject to customary cure rights, require the immediate payment of all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Borrowings under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to either the sum of a base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.50% to 2.00% or the sum of a Eurodollar rate plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 3.00%, with either such margin varying according to the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee in respect of unused commitments under the credit facility, if any, at a rate ranging from 0.20% to 0.50% per annum depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio. The initial margin under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was 1.25% for base rate loans and 2.25% for Eurodollar rate loans and the applicable commitment fee rate was 0.35% per annum.

In addition, the Second Amendment also amended certain administrative provisions associated with the LIBOR Successor Rate (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement).

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The obligations under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are secured by a pledge of assets and liens on substantially all of the assets of AdvanSix.

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains customary covenants limiting the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to, among other things, pay cash dividends, incur debt or liens, redeem or repurchase stock of the Company, enter into transactions with affiliates, make investments, make capital expenditures, merge or consolidate with others or dispose of assets, as well as financial covenants that require the Company to maintain interest coverage and leverage ratios at levels specified in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. These covenants may limit how we conduct our business, and in the event of certain defaults, our repayment obligations may be accelerated. We were in compliance with all of our covenants at March 31, 2020.

The situation surrounding COVID-19 remains fluid and unpredictable, and the potential for a material impact on the Company increases the longer the social and economic restrictions remain in place, which impact the overall level of consumer and business activity in the United States and globally. For this reason, the Company cannot reasonably estimate with any degree of certainty the future impact COVID-19 may have on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, and liquidity. For further information regarding risk and the impact COVID-19 could have on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity, including our ability to comply with financial covenants in our credit facility and our access to, and cost of, capital, see Part II, Item 1A. "Risk Factors."

As of March 31, 2020, $87 million was available for use out of the total of $425 million under the Revolving Credit Facility.

As of December 31, 2019, we had a balance of $297 million under the Revolving Credit Facility. During the first three months of 2020, we borrowed an incremental net amount of $40 million to bring the balance under the Revolving Credit Facility to $337 million as of March 31, 2020. Going forward, we expect that Cash provided by operating activities will fund future interest payments on the Company's outstanding indebtedness.

Cash Flow Summary

Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020 2019
Cash provided by (used for):
Operating activities $ 19,719    $ 42,076   
Investing activities (34,485)   (40,099)  
Financing activities 38,470    (3,982)  
Net change in cash and cash equivalents $ 23,704    $ (2,005)  

Cash provided by operating activities decreased by $22.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 versus the prior year period due primarily to a $11.6 million decrease in net income, an $11.5 million unfavorable cash impact from working capital (comprised of Accounts receivables, Inventories, Accounts payable and Deferred income) for the three months ended March 31, 2020 versus a $6.7 million favorable cash impact from working capital in the prior year period, offset by a change in the timing of payments for Accrued liabilities of $10.1 million versus the same period in the prior year.

Cash used for investing activities decreased by $5.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 versus the prior year period due to a decrease in cash paid for capital expenditures.

Cash provided by financing activities increased by $42.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 versus the prior year period due primarily to net borrowings of $40.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to net borrowings of $20.0 million during the prior year period, offset by $0.9 million in cash outflows for share repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $23.9 million in cash outflows during the prior year period, both of which are described above.

Capital Expenditures
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
 
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Our operations are capital intensive, requiring ongoing investments that have consisted, and are expected to continue to consist, primarily of capital expenditures required to maintain and improve equipment reliability, expand production output, further improve mix, yield and cost position, and comply with environmental and safety regulations.

The following table summarizes ongoing and expansion capital expenditures:

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2020
Capital expenditures in Accounts payable at December 31, 2019
$ 21,594   
Purchases of property, plant and equipment 24,059   
Less: Capital expenditures in Accounts payable at March 31, 2020
(11,553)  
Cash paid for capital expenditures $ 34,100   

For 2020, we expect our total capital expenditures to be approximately $80 million to $90 million, which represents a reduction of $10 million from our previously announced estimate and a decrease of $60 to $70 million versus 2019, as we continue to assess opportunities to maximize free cash flow in light of current and anticipated economic conditions. Capital expenditures are deployed for various ongoing investments and initiatives to improve reliability, yield and quality, expand production capacity and comply with HSE regulations.

Critical Accounting Policies
 
The preparation of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP is based on the selection and application of accounting policies that require us to make significant estimates and assumptions about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. We consider these accounting policies to be critical to the understanding of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. For a full description of our critical accounting policies, refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our 2019 Form 10-K. While there have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies, or the methodologies or assumptions we apply under them, we continue to monitor such methodologies and assumptions.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
 
As of March 31, 2020, the Company did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any material changes in the commitments or contractual obligations detailed in the Company's 2019 Form 10-K. The Company has not guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities or entered into any options on non-financial assets.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
See “Note 2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements” to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I. Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
Our exposure to risk based on changes in interest rates relates primarily to our Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement bears interest at floating rates. For variable rate debt, interest rate changes generally do not affect the fair market value of such debt assuming all other factors remain constant but do impact future earnings and cash flows. Accordingly, we may be exposed to interest rate risk on borrowings under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.

The Company has entered into two interest rate swap agreements for a total notional amount of $100 million to exchange floating for fixed rate interest payments for our LIBOR-based borrowings.

These interest rate swaps had a fair value of zero at inception and were effective November 30, 2018 and July 31, 2019 with respective maturity dates of November 30, 2021 and February 21, 2023. These interest rate swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges and convert the Company’s interest rate payments on the first $100 million of variable-rate, 1-month LIBOR-based
30


debt to a fixed interest rate. As a result of these interest rate swaps, interest payments on approximately 30% of our total borrowings, as of March 31, 2020, have been swapped from floating rate to fixed rate for the life of the swaps, without an exchange of the underlying principal amount.

A hedge effectiveness assessment was completed by comparing the critical terms of the hedged items with the hedging instruments, and also by reviewing the credit standing of the counterparties. As of March 31, 2020, it was determined that the critical terms continued to exactly match, and that the counterparties still had the ability to honor their obligations. As a result, the hedges continue to be deemed effective.

Based on current borrowing levels at March 31, 2020, net of the interest rate swap, a 25-basis point fluctuation in interest rates for the three months ended March 31, 2020 would have resulted in an increase or decrease to our interest expense of approximately $0.6 million.

See “Note 13. Derivative and Hedging Instruments” to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part I. Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, for a discussion relating to credit and market, commodity price and interest rate risk.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
 
Management recognizes that any disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. Because there are inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud have been, or will be, detected.
 
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, with the assistance of other members of our management, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based upon such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level as of March 31, 2020, the end of the period covered by this quarterly report.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management has not identified any change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2020 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, we are involved in litigation relating to claims arising outside of the ordinary course of our business operations. We are not a party to, and, to our knowledge, there are not threats of any claims or actions against us, the ultimate disposition of which would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or operating cash flows.

Environmental Matters Involving Potential Monetary Sanctions in Excess of $100,000

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) notified the Company in December 2016 that alleged violations, involving the enhanced leak detection and repair program and emission testing requirements, at the Company’s manufacturing facility in Hopewell, Virginia, in each case that were self-reported by the Company, may potentially subject the Company to stipulated penalties under the 2013 consent decree among the Company, the U.S. and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The
31


Company has discussed this matter with the EPA and negotiations to resolve it are ongoing. Although the outcome of the matter cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe that it will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or operating cash flows.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (“Virginia DEQ”) provided notice to the Company in April 2020 of a consent order to address certain alleged violations involving monitoring, recordkeeping, emissions bypass and other related requirements at the Company’s manufacturing facility in Hopewell, Virginia, in each case that were self-reported by the Company, may potentially subject the Company to certain specified penalties under the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law and applicable regulatory requirements. The Company has discussed the matter with the Virginia DEQ and negotiations to resolve it are ongoing. We do not believe that the resolution of this matter will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or operating cash flows.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Except as discussed below, there have been no material changes to our risk factors as previously disclosed in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s 2019 Form 10-K, which are hereby incorporated by reference. The risk described below, and the risks described in the Company’s 2019 Form 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to us or are currently deemed to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations in the future. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially impacted.

Our results of operations could be materially adversely impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the measures implemented to contain the spread of the virus.

The outbreak and continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting containment measures have created significant volatility, uncertainty and economic disruption globally. The extent of the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on our business depends on numerous evolving factors and future developments that cannot be accurately predicted at this time, including: the scope and duration of the pandemic and pace of recovery; governmental, business and individuals’ actions that have been and continue to be taken in response to the pandemic, including our business continuity and cash optimization plans that have and may be implemented; the impact of social and economic restrictions and other containment measures taken to combat virus transmission; the effect on our customers’ demand for our products and our suppliers’ ability to manufacture and deliver our raw materials, including implications of reduced refinery utilization in the U.S.; our ability to sell and provide our goods and services, including as a result of travel and other COVID-19-related restrictions; the ability of our customers to pay for our products; and any closures of our and our customers’ offices and facilities. Customers may also slow down decision-making, delay planned work or seek to terminate existing agreements.

Under difficult market conditions, there can be no assurance that access to credit or the capital markets would be available or sufficient, and as such, if needed, we may not be able to successfully obtain additional financing on reasonable terms or at all. Further, the difficult market conditions created by the pandemic may impact our ability to comply with financial covenants in our credit facility, increase our cost of capital or make additional capital, including the refinancing of our credit facility, more difficult or available only on terms less favorable to us. A sustained downturn may also result in the carrying value of our goodwill or other intangible assets exceeding their fair value, which may require us to recognize an impairment to those assets. A sustained downturn in the financial markets and asset values may have the effect of increasing our pension funding obligations in order to ensure that our qualified pension plans continue to be adequately funded, which may divert cash flow from other uses. The effects of the pandemic may also impact our financial reporting systems and internal control over financial reporting, including our ability to ensure information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Any of these events could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow, liquidity and/or stock price. The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as future pandemics or resurgences of COVID-19, could also cause or contribute to the other risk factors identified in our 2019 Form 10-K, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow, liquidity and/or stock price. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic may also affect our business, operations and financial results in a manner that is not presently known to us or that we currently do not consider to present significant risks to our operations.

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On May 4, 2018, the Company announced that the Board authorized a share repurchase program of up to $75 million of the Company’s common stock. On February 22, 2019, the Company announced that the Board authorized a share repurchase program of up to an additional $75 million of the Company's common stock, which authorization was in addition to the remaining capacity authorized under the May 2018 share repurchase program. Repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market, including through the use of trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act. The size and timing of these repurchases will depend on pricing, market and economic conditions, legal and contractual requirements and other factors. The share repurchase program has no expiration date and may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time.

The below table sets forth the repurchases of Company common stock, by month, for the quarter ended March 31, 2020:


ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased Average Price Paid per Share Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan
January 2020 —    $ —    —    $ 59,581,679   
February 2020 (1)   561    15.32    —    59,581,679   
March 2020 (1)   72,596    12.63    —    59,581,679   
Total 73,157    $ 12.65    —   

(1) All shares purchased were as a result of tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of equity awards.

During the period from April 1, 2020 through April 24, 2020, no additional shares were repurchased under the currently authorized repurchase program. On April 1, 2020, the Company withheld 7,031 shares covering tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of equity awards for an aggregate purchase amount of approximately $0.1 million, reducing the number of shares outstanding.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS 
Exhibit
Description
3.1   
3.2   
10.1   
10.2   
10.3   
10.4   
31.1   
31.2   
32.1   
32.2   
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document.
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and included in Exhibit 101)
† Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
34


SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
ADVANSIX INC.
Date: May 1, 2020
By:
/s/ Michael Preston
Michael Preston
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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Exhibit 10.2


February 24, 2020

Achilles B. Kintiroglou

Dear Achilles,

Congratulations! I am pleased to confirm the details of our proposed offer to you for the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of AdvanSix Inc. (the “Company”), located in Parsippany, New Jersey.

In connection with your new role, you will be entitled to the following compensation and benefits package:

Compensation

Your annual base salary will be $375,000. The Company conducts annual performance reviews and your performance rating, together with funding availability based on Company performance, will determine the amount of your annual salary increase, if any. It is anticipated that this role will be effective upon the retirement of John M. Quitmeyer on April 1, 2020. You will first be eligible for merit consideration in this role during the 2021 cycle.

Short Term Incentive Program (STIP)

This position is eligible for participation in the Short-Term Incentive Program (“STIP”) for executive officers as may be in effect from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions of the STIP. For full year 2020 (payable in March 2021), your initial target incentive compensation opportunity under the STIP will be 60% of your annual base salary. Your actual bonus may be more or less than your target bonus based on Company performance and your personal performance. The terms of any annual bonus program established under the STIP, including future target incentive compensation opportunities as a percentage of your annual base salary, are subject to the discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee.

Long Term Incentive (LTIP)

This position is eligible for participation in the Long-Term Incentive Program (“LTIP”) for executive officers, as may be in effect from time to time. For the 2020 grant cycle, your LTIP target award value will be $425,000. The terms of the LTIP and the size and mix of the 2020 LTIP award and any future LTIP awards are all subject to the discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee. The terms of all LTIP awards will be governed by the terms of the applicable stock plan and the applicable award agreements.

Executive Benefits

For your new role, your benefits will include four weeks of vacation, accrued as outlined in our paid time off policies, participation in our Executive Severance Policy and Deferred Compensation Plan, Executive Health Screening and Excess Liability Insurance coverage, in each case as provided to other executive officers of the Company. You will be eligible for employee benefits under the specific terms of these benefit plans.

Stock Ownership Guidelines for Company Officers

As an Executive Officer of the Company, you will be required to hold one year of your annual base salary in Company shares in accordance with the Company’s Stock Ownership Guidelines.


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Acceptance of Offer

Please indicate your acceptance of this offer by signing this letter in the space provided and returning it to me.

If you have any questions or need any further information about our offer, please contact me directly.

Congratulations,

/s/ Erin Kane
Erin Kane
President and Chief Executive Officer
AdvanSix Inc.


Read and Accepted:      

/s/ Achilles B. Kintiroglou 
February 24, 2020
Achilles B. Kintiroglou Date



All businesses experience changing conditions. We reserve the right to change work assignments, reporting relationships and staffing levels to meet business needs, and your employment is on an "at will" basis. This means that there is no guarantee of employment for any specific period, and either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time.

2

Exhibit 10.3


March 12, 2020

Jonathan Bellamy
AdvanSix Inc.
300 Kimball Drive, Suite 100
Parsippany, NJ 07054

Re: Employment Separation Agreement and Release

Mr. Bellamy,

This Employment Separation Agreement and Release ("Agreement") confirms our mutual understanding regarding your rights and benefits incident to your termination of employment with AdvanSix Inc., its predecessor companies, affiliates, subsidiaries and business units, past and present (“AdvanSix” or the “Company”). By signing this Agreement, you hereby acknowledge and agree that the benefits outlined in this letter are in full satisfaction of all rights to termination or severance-related benefits for which you may have been eligible or may claim to be eligible under any agreement or promise, whether written or oral, express or implied, or any Company-sponsored severance plan or program, including the Executive Severance Pay Plan of AdvanSix Inc. (“Executive Severance Plan”), and that you are not entitled to any termination or severance-related benefits except as provided in Section 2 below.

SECTION 1. Cessation of Employment Relationship.

(a) You will cease to serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer and as an officer of the Company, effective March 13, 2020 (“Separation Date”). Effective on the Separation Date, your employment with the Company will automatically terminate without the need for any further action by the Company, you or any other party.

(b) Effective as of the Separation Date, you hereby resign from all positions, offices and directorships with the Company.

SECTION 2. Payment Obligations.

(a) Payment for Accrued Salary, Benefits, Etc. Following the Separation Date, you will be entitled to receive from the Company a cash payment equal to any accrued and unpaid compensation for your period of employment through the Separation Date and will be paid any vested and accrued but not yet paid amounts due under the terms and conditions of the Company’s 401(k) Plan, the Deferred Compensation Plan, the Company’s Retirement Earnings Plan, and any other employee benefit plans in accordance with the terms of such plan and applicable law. You will also continue to participate in the health plans in which you currently participate through the end of the month in which the Separation Date occurs. Following the Separation Date, you may elect to continue medical, dental and vision plan coverage in accordance with the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act at your own expense.

(b) Severance. You and the Company agree that your separation from employment with the Company will be treated as a Covered Termination pursuant to the Executive Severance Plan, provided that your employment is not terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined in the Executive Severance Plan) prior to the Separation Date. Pursuant to the terms of the Executive Severance Plan, as a result of your Covered Termination, the Company will pay you a lump sum cash payment of $576,000 (an amount equal to one (1) times the sum of your annual rate of base salary in effect as of the day prior to the Separation Date, plus your target incentive opportunity under the AdvanSix annual incentive compensation plan covering 2019), payable within 30 days after the Separation Date, subject to Sections 3 and 5(f) below.

(c) Outplacement. Executive outplacement assistance is available to you through a vendor selected by the Company for up to six (6) months, ending September 20, 2020, subject to Sections 3 and 5(f) below.
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For the avoidance of doubt, effective as of the date of this Agreement, you are not entitled to: (i) any future Company long-term equity incentive awards; (ii) payment of any award under the AdvanSix Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan (“STIP”) for the 2020 plan year; or (iii) payment of any amounts in connection with vacation or paid time off. The payment of $100,440, representing payment of your award under the STIP for the 2019 plan year, will be paid on March 13, 2020. In accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreements, any unvested restricted stock unit awards, performance stock unit awards and stock option awards that you hold as of the Separation Date will be immediately forfeited effective as of the Separation Date, and any vested stock options that you hold as of the Separation Date will expire on March 13, 2021.

SECTION 3. Waiver and Release.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement will not become effective, and neither the Company nor you will have any rights or obligations under this Agreement, including the payments, benefits, vesting and other rights provided to you under Sections 2(b) and 2(c) of this Agreement, unless and until the Executive General Release attached as Exhibit B hereto and made a part hereof (the “Release”) becomes effective pursuant to its terms.

SECTION 4. Post-Employment Covenants.

(a) Non-Competition, Confidentiality, Cooperation, Other Covenants. You hereby acknowledge, agree to, and will satisfy in full each of your covenants, restrictions, obligations and agreements set forth in your Noncompete Agreement for Senior Executives, dated July 2, 2018 (“Noncompete Agreement”), your Employee Agreement Relating to Trade Secrets, Proprietary and Confidential Information, dated July 2, 2018 (“Trade Secrets Agreement”), and the equity award agreements between you and the Company evidencing your restricted stock unit, performance stock unit and stock option awards under the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan of AdvanSix Inc. and its Affiliates (“Grant Agreements”), all of which are hereby incorporated into this Agreement by reference as if fully set forth in this Agreement (“Post-Separation Covenants”). During the period in which Post-Separation Covenants are in effect, you may seek written consent from the Company’s CEO to assume a position with another company or entity that otherwise would be in violation of one or more of the Post-Separation Covenants, which written consent will be provided in the CEO’s sole and absolute discretion.

You agree that the Post-Separation Covenants are fair and reasonable and are an essential element of the payments, rights and benefits provided to you as contemplated by this Agreement, and but for your agreement to comply with the Post-Separation Covenants, the Company would not provide such payments, rights and benefits to you. Section 4 of this Agreement shall in all respects be subject to Paragraph 9 of the Release.

(b) Confidential and Proprietary Information. You acknowledge that in connection with your employment, you have had access to information of a nature not generally disclosed to the public. You agree to keep confidential and not disclose to anyone, unless legally compelled to do so, confidential and proprietary information which includes but is not limited to all Company business and strategic plans, financial details, computer programs, manuals, contracts, current and prospective client and supplier lists, and developments owned, possessed or controlled by the Company, regardless of whether possessed or developed by you in the course of your employment (“Confidential and Proprietary Information”). Such Confidential and Proprietary Information may or may not be designated as confidential or proprietary and may be oral, written or electronic media. “Confidential and Proprietary Information” does not include information that (a) was already publicly known at the time of disclosure to you; (b) subsequently becomes publicly known other than through disclosure by you; or (c) is generally known within the industry. You understand that Confidential and Proprietary Information is owned and will continue to be owned solely by the Company. You agree that you have not and will not disclose, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any Confidential and Proprietary Information except as may be required to respond to a court order, subpoena, or other legal process. In the event you receive a court order, subpoena, or notice of other legal process requiring the disclosure of any information concerning the Company, including but not limited to Confidential and Proprietary Information, to the extent permitted by law, you will give the Company notice of such process within 48 hours of receipt, in order to provide the Company with the opportunity to seek the preclusion of the disclosure of such information. You acknowledge that you have complied and will continue to comply with this commitment,
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both as an employee and after the end of your employment. You also acknowledge your continuing obligations under the Company’s Code of Conduct.

(c) You hereby confirm that you are aware and have been advised that federal securities laws prohibit any person who has material non-public information about a company from purchasing or selling securities of such company or from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities, and you will continue to be subject to the Company’s quarterly blackout calendar and pre-clearance policy until the commencement of the second full trading day following the Company’s public release of financial results for Q1 2020.

(d) Without limitation of its rights at law or in equity, the Company reserves the right to suspend any payments to, vesting, benefits and other rights provided for under this Agreement if the Company has a commercially reasonable belief that you are in breach of any of your Post-Separation Covenants or Section 4 of this Agreement, or you are otherwise in breach of any representation, affirmation or acknowledgement made by you under this Agreement or the Release.

SECTION 5. Miscellaneous.

(a) Modifications. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in a writing signed by you and the Company. No term or condition of this Agreement will be deemed to have been waived except in writing by the party charged with such waiver. A waiver will operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver for the future or act as a waiver of anything other than that specifically waived.

(b) Governing Law. This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the State of New Jersey and its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement will be governed by the internal laws of the State of New Jersey without reference to its conflict of laws rules.

(c) Arbitration.
(i) Any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach of this Agreement which cannot be settled by mutual agreement of the parties hereto (other than with respect to the matters covered by Section 4 of this Agreement, for which the Company may, but shall not be required to, seek injunctive and/or other equitable relief in a judicial proceeding; in conjunction with the foregoing, you acknowledge that the damages resulting from any breach of any such matter or provision would be irreparable and agree that the Company has the right to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the issuance of a temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of any proceeding) will be finally settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (or if not applicable, the applicable state arbitration law) as follows: Any party who is aggrieved shall deliver a notice to the other party hereto setting forth the specific points in dispute. Any points remaining in dispute twenty (20) days after the giving of such notice may be submitted to arbitration in New Jersey, to the American Arbitration Association, before a single arbitrator appointed in accordance with the Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, modified only as expressly provided in this Agreement. After the aforesaid twenty (20) days, either party hereto, upon ten (10) days’ notice to the other, may so submit the points in dispute to arbitration. The arbitrator may enter a default decision against any party who fails to participate in the arbitration proceedings.

(ii) The decision of the arbitrator on the points in dispute will be final, unappealable and binding, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

(iii) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the arbitrator will be authorized to apportion his or her fees and expenses and the reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of any such party as the arbitrator deems appropriate. In the absence of any such apportionment, the fees and expenses of the arbitrator will be borne equally by each party, and each party will bear the fees and expenses of its own attorney.

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(iv) The parties hereto agree that this Section 5(c) has been included to rapidly and inexpensively resolve any disputes between them with respect to this Agreement, and that this Section 5(c) will be grounds for dismissal of any court action commenced by either party hereto with respect to this Agreement, other than court actions commenced by the Company with respect to any matter covered by Section 4 of this Agreement or any post-arbitration court actions seeking to enforce an arbitration award. In the event that any court determines that this arbitration procedure is not binding, or otherwise allows any litigation regarding a dispute, claim, or controversy covered by this Agreement to proceed, the parties hereto hereby waive any and all rights to a trial by jury in or with respect to such litigation.

(v) The parties will keep confidential, and will not disclose to any person, except to counsel, financial advisors or auditors for either of the parties and/or as may be required by law, the existence of the controversy hereunder, the referral of any such controversy to arbitration, or the status of resolution thereof. This Section 5(c) shall in all respects be subject to Paragraph 9 of the Release.


(d) Survival. Notwithstanding the execution and delivery by the parties of this Agreement, all of your obligations, covenants and restrictions under your Noncompete Agreement, your Trade Secrets Agreement, your Grant Agreements, any confidentiality agreement, any non-disclosure agreement, and the Company’s Code of Conduct will survive and continue in full force and effect. This Section 5(d) shall in all respects be subject to Paragraph 9 of the Release.

(e) Enforceability; Severability. It is the intention of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law. All provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. In the event any provision or restriction contained in this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, in whole or in part, such finding will in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. The parties hereto further agree that any such invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed modified so that it will be enforced to the greatest extent permissible under law, and to the extent that any court of competent jurisdiction determines any restrictions in this Agreement to be unenforceable in any respect, such court may limit this Agreement to render it enforceable in the light of the circumstances in which it was entered into and specifically enforce this Agreement to the fullest extent permissible.

(f) Withholding. All payments and benefits payable pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to reduction by all applicable withholding, social security and other federal, state and local taxes and deductions.

(g) Code Section 409A Compliance. It is intended that this Agreement and all rights hereunder comply with, or are exempt from, the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all regulations, guidance and other interpretive authority issued thereunder (“Code Section 409A”) and this Agreement will be construed and applied in a manner consistent with this intent. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that the reimbursement of any expenses or the provision of any in-kind benefits under this Agreement is subject to Code Section 409A, reimbursement of any such expense shall be made by no later than December 31 of the year following the calendar year in which such expense is incurred. Each and every payment under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event whatsoever shall the Company or any of its affiliates be liable for any tax, additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on the Executive pursuant to Code Section 409A or for any damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A.


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(h) Notices. All notices or other communications hereunder shall not be binding on either party hereto unless in writing, and delivered to the other party thereto at the following address:

If to the Company:

AdvanSix Inc.
300 Kimball Drive, Suite 100
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Attn: General Counsel

If to you:
Jonathan Bellamy

Notices shall be deemed duly delivered upon hand delivery at the above address, or one day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery company, or three days after deposit thereof in the United States mails, postage prepaid, certified or registered mail. Any party may change its address for notice by delivery of written notice thereof in the manner provided.

(i) Assignment. This Agreement is personal in nature to the Company and the rights and obligations of you under this Agreement will not be assigned or transferred by you. The Company may assign this Agreement to any successor to all or a portion of the business and/or assets of the Company, provided that the Company will require such successor to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.

(j) Jurisdiction. Subject to Section 5(c) of this Agreement, in any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of this Agreement, you hereby (a) irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal court located in the State of New Jersey or any of the state courts of the State of New Jersey; (b) waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which you may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum; and (c) agree that process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on you anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of such court, and, without limiting the foregoing, irrevocably agrees that service of process on such party, in the same manner as provided for notices in Section 5(h) of this Agreement, shall be deemed effective service of process on such party in any such suit, action or proceeding. You and Company agree to waive any right to a jury in connection with any judicial proceeding.

(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same document.

(l) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience of reference and will be given no effect in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

(m) Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Release to be executed and delivered by the Executive pursuant to Section 3 above) is entered into between you and the Company as of the date hereof and constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the parties hereto and, other than as set forth in Section 5(d) of this Agreement, supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, discussions, negotiations and undertakings, whether written or oral, concerning the subject matter hereof. All negotiations by the parties concerning the subject matter hereof are merged into this Agreement, and there are no representations, warranties, covenants, understandings or agreements, oral or otherwise, in relation thereto by the parties hereto other than those incorporated herein.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

ADVANSIX INC.
By: /s/ Erin N. Kane
Name: Erin N. Kane
Title: Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Jonathan Bellamy
Executive: Jonathan Bellamy


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EXHIBIT A

EXECUTIVE GENERAL RELEASE

I, Jonathan Bellamy (“I” or “Executive”), on behalf of myself and my heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, in consideration of my Employment Separation Agreement and General Release with AdvanSix Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), dated March 12, 2020 (the “Agreement”), to which this Executive General Release (this “Release”) is attached, do hereby knowingly and voluntarily release and forever discharge the Company, its predecessor companies, and each of its and their parent entities, affiliates and subsidiaries, and each of its and their past, present and future subsidiaries, affiliates, parent entities, divisions, joint ventures, directors, members, officers, executives, employees, agents, representatives, attorneys and stockholders, and any and all employee benefit plans maintained by any of the above entities and their respective plan administrators, committees, trustees and fiduciaries individually and in their representative capacities, and its and their respective predecessors, successors and assigns (both individually and in their representative capacities) (collectively, the “Released Parties” and each a “Released Party”), from any and all actions, causes of action, covenants, contracts, claims, cross-claims, counter-claims, charges, demands, suits, debts, controversies, losses and liabilities whatsoever, which I or my heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns ever had, now have or may have arising prior to or on the date upon which I execute this Release (“Claims”), including any Claims arising out of or relating in any way to my employment with the Company and any of the Released Parties and any of its or their affiliates through the date upon which I execute this Release or end my employment with the Company and its affiliates.

1. By signing this Release, I am providing a complete waiver of all Claims that may have arisen, whether known or unknown, up until and including the date upon which I execute this Release. This includes, but is not limited to Claims under or with respect to:

a.any and all matters arising out of my employment by the Company or any of the Released Parties through the date upon which I execute this Release and the cessation of said employment, and including, but not limited to, any alleged violation of the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), any claims for discrimination of any kind under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”) as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code, the Executive Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) (except for vested benefits which are not affected by this agreement), the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (“ADA”), the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”), the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), the Federal Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”), the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (“USERRA”); and

b.The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; Family Rights Act; Fair Employment and Housing Act; Statutory Provisions Regarding the Confidentiality of AIDS; Confidentiality of Medical Information Act; Parental Leave Law; Apprenticeship Program Bias Law; Equal Pay Law; Whistleblower Protection Law; Military Personnel Bias Law; Statutory Provisions Regarding Family and Medical Leave; Statutory Provisions Regarding Electronic Monitoring of Executives; The Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended; Obligations of Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Law; Political Activities of Executives Law; Domestic Violence Victim Employment Leave Law; Court Leave; the United States or New Jersey Constitutions; any Executive Order or other order derived from or based upon any federal regulations; and

c.The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination; The New Jersey Civil Rights Act; The New Jersey Family Leave Act; The New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law; The Millville Dallas Airmotive Plant Job Loss Notification Act; The New Jersey Conscientious Executive Protection Act; The New Jersey Equal Pay Law; The New Jersey Occupational Safety and Health Law; The New Jersey Smokers’ Rights Law; The New Jersey Genetic Privacy Act; The New Jersey Fair Credit Reporting Act; The New Jersey Statutory Provision Regarding Retaliation/Discrimination for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim; New Jersey laws regarding Political Activities of Executives, Lie Detector Tests, Jury Duty, Employment Protection, and Discrimination; and

d.any other federal, state or local civil or human rights law, or any other alleged violation of any local, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance, and/or public policy, implied or express contract, fraud, negligence, estoppel, defamation, infliction of emotional distress or other tort or common-law claim having any bearing whatsoever on the terms and conditions and/or cessation of my employment with the Company or any of the Released Parties, including, but not limited to, all
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claims for any compensation including salary, back wages, front pay, bonuses or awards, incentive compensation, performance-based grants or awards, severance pay, vacation pay, stock grants, stock unit grants, stock options, or any other form of equity award, fringe benefits, disability benefits, severance benefits, reinstatement, retroactive seniority, pension benefits, contributions to 401(k) plans, or any other form of economic loss; all claims for personal injury, including but not limited to physical injury, mental anguish, emotional distress, pain and suffering, embarrassment, humiliation, damage to name or reputation, interest, liquidated damages, compensatory, exemplary, and punitive damages; and all claims for costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees.

Executive further acknowledges that Executive later may discover facts different from or in addition to those Executive now knows or believes (or knows or believes upon execution of this Release) to be true regarding the matters released or described in this Release, and even so Executive agrees that the releases and agreements contained in this Release shall remain effective in all respects notwithstanding any later discovery of any different or additional facts.

Executive represents that Executive has made no assignment or transfer of any right or Claim released herein and further agrees that he is not aware of any such right or Claim.

This Release shall not, however, apply to any obligations of the Company under the terms and subject to the conditions expressly set forth in the Agreement (claims with respect thereto, collectively, “Excluded Claims”). Executive acknowledges and agrees that, except with respect to Excluded Claims, the Company and the Released Parties have fully satisfied any and all obligations whatsoever owed to Executive arising out of his employment with the Company or any of the Released Parties through the date upon which Executive executes this Release and the cessation of his employment with the Company or any of the Released Parties and that no further payments or benefits are owed to Executive by the Company or any of the Released Parties. This Paragraph 1 shall in all respects be subject to Paragraph 9 of this Release.

2. Executive understands and agrees that he would not receive the payments and benefits specified in Sections 2(b) and 2(c) of the Agreement, except for his execution of this Release and his satisfaction of his obligations contained in the Agreement and this Release, and that such consideration is greater than any amount to which he would otherwise be entitled. Nothing in this Release shall release or impair (x) any right that cannot be waived by private agreement under the law, including but not limited to, any claim for workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance benefits; (y) any vested rights under any pension or 401(k) plan; or (z) any right to enforce the Agreement or this Release.

3. As of the date upon which Executive executes this Release, which shall be no earlier than the Separation Date, as defined in the Agreement, Executive acknowledges that he does not have any current charge, complaint, grievance or other proceeding against the Company or any of the Released Parties pending before any local, state or federal agency regarding his employment or separation from employment. This Paragraph 3 shall in all respects be subject to Paragraph 9 of this Release.

4. The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive cannot waive his right to file a charge, testify, assist, or participate in any manner in an investigation, hearing, or proceeding under the federal civil rights laws or federal whistleblower laws. Therefore, notwithstanding the provisions set forth herein, nothing contained in the Agreement or this Release is intended to nor shall it prohibit Executive from filing a charge with, or providing information to, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), the National Labor Relations Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or any other federal, state or local agency or from participating or cooperating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by these or other governmental agencies, including providing documents or other information, or from exercising his rights under Section Seven of the National Labor Relations Act to engage in joint activity with other employees, to the extent required or permitted by law. By signing this Release, Executive is waiving rights to individual relief based on claims asserted in any such charge or complaint, or asserted by any third party on Executive’s behalf, except where such a waiver of individual relief is prohibited, and except for any right the Executive may have to receive a payment from any government agency, and not the Company or any Released Parties, for information provided to the government agency.

5. As of the date upon which Executive executes this Release, Executive affirms that he has not knowingly provided, either directly or indirectly, any information or assistance to any party who may be considering or is taking legal action against the Company or any of the Released Parties with the purpose of assisting such person in connection with such legal action. Executive understands that if this Agreement and Release were not signed, he would have the right to voluntarily provide information or assistance to any party who may be considering or is taking legal action against the Company or any of the Released Parties. Executive hereby waives that right and agrees that he will not provide any such assistance other than the assistance in an investigation or
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proceeding conducted by the EEOC or other federal, state or local agency, or pursuant to a valid subpoena or court order. This Paragraph 5 shall in all respects be subject to Paragraph 9 of this Release.


6. Executive agrees, in addition to obligations set forth in the Agreement, to cooperate with and make himself available to the Company or any of its successors (including any past or future subsidiary of the Company), Released Parties, or its or their General Counsel, as the Company may reasonably request, to assist in any matter, including giving truthful testimony in any litigation or potential litigation, over which Executive may have knowledge, information or expertise. Executive shall be reimbursed, to the extent permitted by law, any reasonable costs associated with such cooperation, provided those costs are pre-approved by the Company prior to Executive incurring them. Executive acknowledges that his agreement to this provision is a material inducement to the Company to enter into the Agreement and to pay the consideration described herein.

7. As of the date upon which Executive executes this Release, Executive acknowledges and confirms that he has returned all Company property to the Company including, but not limited to, all Company confidential and proprietary information in his possession, regardless of the format and no matter where maintained. Executive also certifies that all electronic files residing or maintained on any personal computer devices (thumb drives, tablets, personal computers or otherwise) will be returned and no copies retained. Executive also has returned his identification card, and computer hardware and software, all paper or computer based files, business documents, and/or other business records or office documents, as well as all copies thereof, credit and procurement cards, keys and any other Company supplies or equipment in his possession. In addition, as of the date upon which Executive executes this Release, Executive confirms that there are no business related expenses for which he will seek personal reimbursement and any amounts he owes to the Company have been paid. This Paragraph 7 shall in all respects be subject to Paragraph 9 of this Release.

8. Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event Executive has been reimbursed for business expenses which were in fact personal expenses, Executive shall promptly pay any such amounts within seven (7) days after any request by the Company and, in addition, the Company has the right and is hereby authorized to deduct the amount of any unpaid charge card or credit card bill from the severance payments or otherwise suspend payments or other benefits in an amount equal to such expenses without being in breach of the Agreement.

9. Except as otherwise set forth in Paragraph 4 of this Release and notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Release or in the Agreement, nothing contained in this Release or in the Agreement is intended to nor shall it limit or prohibit Executive, or waive any right on his part, to initiate or engage in communication with, respond to any inquiry from, otherwise provide information to or obtain any monetary recovery from, any federal or state regulatory, self-regulatory, or enforcement agency or authority, as provided for, protected under or warranted by applicable law, in all events without notice to or consent of the Company. Nothing in this Release or in the Agreement is intended to have the purpose or effect of concealing details relating to a claim of harassment, discrimination or retaliation. Executive understands that he will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for his disclosure of a trade secret that is made by Executive: (a) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) in a complaint or other document filed by the Executive in a lawsuit or other proceeding, on the condition that such filing is made under seal.

10. Executive agrees that neither the Agreement nor this Release, nor the furnishing of the consideration for this Release, shall be deemed or construed at any time for any purpose as an admission by the Company or any of the Released Parties of any liability or unlawful conduct of any kind, which the Company and Released Parties deny.

11. Executive acknowledges and agrees that all Released Parties are third-party beneficiaries of this Release and have the right to enforce this Release.

12. No amendment to or waiver of this Release or any of its terms will be binding unless consented to in writing by the Executive and an authorized representative of the Company. No waiver by any Released Party of a breach of any provision of this Release, or of compliance with any condition or provision of this Release to be performed by the Executive, will operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach with respect to any other Released Party or any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same time or any subsequent time. The failure of any Released Party to take any action by reason of any breach will not deprive any other Released Party of the right to take action at any time.

13. If any term or provision of this Release is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Release or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision of this Release is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, this Release shall be enforceable as closely as
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possible to its intent of providing the Released Parties with a full release of all legally releasable claims through the date upon which the Executive executes this Release.

14. Executive understands that he has twenty-one (21) calendar days within which to consider this Release before signing it. The twenty-one (21) calendar day period shall begin on March 12, 2020, the day after it is presented to Executive. After signing this Release, Executive may revoke his signature within seven (7) calendar days (“Revocation Period”). In order to revoke his signature, Executive must deliver written notification of that revocation marked “personal and confidential” to AdvanSix Inc., General Counsel, 300 Kimball Drive, Suite 100, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Notice of such revocation must be received within the Revocation Period. Executive understands that neither this Release nor the Agreement will become effective or enforceable until this Revocation Period has expired and there has been no revocation by Executive, and the other terms and conditions of this Release and the Agreement have been met by Executive to the Company’s satisfaction.

15. The Company’s obligations set forth in Sections 2(b) and 2(c) of the Agreement are expressly contingent upon Executive’s execution of this Release within twenty-one (21) days following March 12, 2020 and his non-revocation of his executed Release. If Executive does not execute this Release or if Executive revokes his executed Release, the Agreement and this Release shall remain in full force and effect, but neither the Company nor Executive shall have any rights or obligations under Sections 2(b) or 2(c) of the Agreement. Provided that Executive does not revoke his executed Release, the release shall become effective on the eighth (8th) calendar day after the date on which Executive executes the signature page of this Release.

EXECUTIVE HAS READ AND FULLY CONSIDERED THIS RELEASE, HE UNDERSTANDS IT AND KNOWS HE IS GIVING UP IMPORTANT RIGHTS, AND IS DESIROUS OF EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS RELEASE. EXECUTIVE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS DOCUMENT SETTLES, BARS AND WAIVES ANY AND ALL CLAIMS HE HAD OR MIGHT HAVE AGAINST THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES AND THEIR AFFILIATES; AND HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE IS NOT RELYING ON ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS, WRITTEN OR ORAL, NOT SET FORTH IN THIS RELEASE OR THE AGREEMENT. HAVING ELECTED TO EXECUTE THIS RELEASE, TO FULFILL THE PROMISES SET FORTH HEREIN AND IN THE AGREEMENT, AND TO RECEIVE THEREBY THE SUMS AND BENEFITS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT, EXECUTIVE FREELY AND KNOWINGLY, AND AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION, EXECUTES AND DELIVERS THIS RELEASE.

EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF HIS RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH HIS LEGAL COUNSEL PRIOR TO EXECUTING THIS RELEASE AND THE AGREEMENT.

IF THIS DOCUMENT IS RETURNED EARLIER THAN 21 DAYS, THEN EXECUTIVE ADDITIONALLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND WARRANTS THAT HE HAS VOLUNTARILY AND KNOWINGLY WAIVED THE 21-DAY REVIEW PERIOD, AND THIS DECISION TO ACCEPT A SHORTENED PERIOD OF TIME IS NOT INDUCED BY THE COMPANY THROUGH FRAUD, MISREPRESENTATION, A THREAT TO WITHDRAW OR ALTER THE OFFER PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE 21 DAYS, OR BY PROVIDING DIFFERENT TERMS TO EXECUTIVE IF HE SIGNS THIS RELEASE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF SUCH TIME PERIOD.

THEREFORE, the Executive voluntarily and knowingly executes this Release as of the date set forth below.

/s/ Jonathan Bellamy
Jonathan Bellamy

Date Signed: 3/19/20




10

Exhibit 10.4


April 1, 2020

John (Hans) Quitmeyer

Dear Hans,

This letter will confirm your temporary role of Special Counsel at AdvanSix Inc. (the “Company”), located in Parsippany, New Jersey, which is effective on April 2, coincident with your retirement as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. The scope of work in the Special Counsel role will be focused on business continuity planning, strategic counsel, and transition of your previous responsibilities.

OFFER DETAILS

Hours of Work
Your hours of work will be approximately 20 hours per week. The hours may fluctuate depending on the needs of the organization and the length of the engagement will be mutually agreed.

Compensation
Your annual base salary will be $272,750.00. Given this role is intended to be a short-term arrangement, there will be no annual performance reviews nor will you be eligible for merit increases or participation in the short-term and long-term incentive programs.

Executive Officer Status
Effective upon your retirement as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, you will no longer be an executive officer of the Company, but you will remain subject to the pre-clearance requirements of the Company’s insider trading policy.

Benefits
You will remain eligible for continuation of employee benefits under the specific terms of those benefit plans, except that you will no longer be eligible for any severance benefits.

All businesses experience changing conditions. We reserve the right to change work assignments, reporting relationships and staffing levels to meet business needs, and your employment is on an "at will" basis. This means that there is no guarantee of employment for any specific period, and either you or AdvanSix may terminate your employment at any time.


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Acceptance of Offer

Please indicate your acceptance of this offer by signing this letter in the space provided and returning it to Stephanie King at stephanie.king@advansix.com.

If you have any questions or need any further information about our offer, please contact me directly.


Congratulations,

/s/ Erin N. Kane
Erin N. Kane, CEO,
AdvanSix Inc.


Copy to: Stephanie King and Achilles Kintiroglou


Read and Accepted:

/s/ Hans Quitmeyer
Hans Quitmeyer

Date: April 1, 2020
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Exhibit 31.1
 
CERTIFICATIONS

I, Erin N. Kane, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of AdvanSix Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and



5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 1, 2020

/s/ Erin N. Kane
Erin N. Kane
President and Chief Executive Officer



Exhibit 31.2
 
CERTIFICATIONS

I, Michael Preston, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of AdvanSix Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and



5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 1, 2020

/s/ Michael Preston
Michael Preston
Chief Financial Officer



Exhibit 32.1
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Quarterly Report of AdvanSix Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of her knowledge:
 
1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
 
2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
Date:  May 1, 2020
 
/s/ Erin N. Kane
Erin N. Kane
President and Chief Executive Officer



Exhibit 32.2
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Quarterly Report of AdvanSix Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of his knowledge:
 
1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
 
2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
Date: May 1, 2020
 
/s/ Michael Preston
Michael Preston
Chief Financial Officer