EX-99.1 2 q220248-kex991.htm EX-99.1 Document

Exhibit 99.1
picture2a.jpg




Celanese Corporation Reports Second Quarter Earnings


Dallas, August 1, 2024: Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global chemical and specialty materials company, today reported second quarter 2024 U.S. GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.42 and adjusted earnings per share of $2.38. The Company generated net sales of $2.7 billion in the quarter, an increase of 2 percent from the prior quarter, reflecting a sequential increase in volume of 4 percent and sequential decrease in pricing of 2 percent.
Celanese continued to focus on execution of its controllable action plan, including driving volume growth through the project pipeline model, lowering costs through reduction of capacity in high-cost locations, and improving business efficiency through the integration of the acquired Mobility & Materials (M&M) businesses into a single SAP ERP system. These actions were especially impactful during a quarter that presented significant external headwinds. Among these headwinds were a series of outages and curtailments from multiple suppliers that led to the Company's declaration of force majeure for acetic acid and VAM sold in the Western Hemisphere, as well as persistent poor demand conditions across many of the Company's end-markets. Against the backdrop of these headwinds, the results reflect meaningful realization of business improvements from the execution of the Company's action plans. Celanese reported second quarter operating profit of $250 million, adjusted EBIT of $451 million, and operating EBITDA of $632 million at margins of 9, 17, and 24 percent, respectively.
The difference between U.S. GAAP diluted earnings per share and adjusted earnings per share in the second quarter was primarily due to Certain Items totaling $102 million.1
"In the second quarter, we delivered a double-digit sequential expansion of adjusted EBIT in spite of some of the most severe external challenges we've faced in many years," said Lori Ryerkerk, chair and chief executive officer. "The prolonged weak demand environment we have continued to experience over the past several quarters was compounded by multiple supplier failures that led us to declare force majeure for acetic acid and VAM sold in the Western Hemisphere. In this environment, we stayed focused on delivering on our action plan, which resulted in the highest ever contribution from the Engineered Materials business in our history. This highlights the importance of our execution focus, and I thank our teams for their resilience and agility to achieve these results."

1 Mainly driven by shutdown-related costs and M&A-related costs
1


Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
2024
March 31,
2024
June 30,
2023
(unaudited)
(In $ millions, except per share data)
Net Sales
Engineered Materials1,467 1,378 1,585 
Acetyl Chain1,202 1,261 1,233 
Intersegment Eliminations(18)(28)(23)
Total2,651 2,611 2,795 
Operating Profit (Loss)
Engineered Materials138 89 158 
Acetyl Chain242 254 295 
Other Activities(130)(133)(118)
Total250 210 335 
Net Earnings (Loss)
153 124 221 
Adjusted EBIT(1)
Engineered Materials265 201 205 
Acetyl Chain277 296 332 
Other Activities(91)(90)(93)
Total451 407 444 
Equity Earnings and Dividend Income, Other Income (Expense)
Engineered Materials49 50 20 
Acetyl Chain33 36 32 
Operating EBITDA(1)
632 583 616 
Diluted EPS - continuing operations$1.42 $1.10 $2.00 
Diluted EPS - total$1.41 $1.10 $2.01 
Adjusted EPS(1)
$2.38 $2.08 $2.17 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities(91)(151)(163)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(489)(259)(447)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities292 101 762 
Free cash flow(1)
173 (40)611 
____________________________
(1)See "Non-US GAAP Financial Measures" below.
2


Second Quarter Business Segment Overview
Acetyl Chain
The Acetyl Chain delivered second quarter net sales of $1.2 billion, a 5 percent decrease from the prior quarter. Volume decreased by 1 percent sequentially due to the effects of the force majeure, delayed timing of opportunistic spot sales, and muted seasonal improvements. Second quarter pricing across the Acetyl Chain decreased by 4 percent sequentially. The multiple supplier outages and curtailments had a significant impact on the ability of Celanese to produce at the Clear Lake site, the Company's lowest cost and lowest carbon footprint acetic acid unit. The second quarter total losses of Clear Lake acetic acid attributable to unplanned supplier disruptions was the highest in over 15 years. In the face of these headwinds, the Acetyl Chain worked to assure virtually all customer needs were met. The business delivered second quarter operating profit of $242 million, adjusted EBIT of $277 million, and operating EBITDA of $338 million at margins of 20, 23, and 28 percent, respectively. The Acetyl Chain has continued to exercise the unique optionality of the business model in the face of chronic low demand. The flexibility of the model allowed the business to expand volumes in downstream markets in Asia, despite poor demand conditions, by pivoting to alternate applications with available demand. The Acetyl Chain will continue to leverage this optionality to optimize outcomes through the extended demand trough.
Engineered Materials
Engineered Materials reported second quarter net sales of $1.5 billion, representing a sequential increase of 6 percent. Sequential growth was driven by a 7 percent increase in volume and stable pricing, partially offset by a small currency impact. The breadth of volume growth was widespread across the portfolio, with all 10 of the largest polymer families achieving sequential growth. This was further bolstered by a favorable mix, primarily in higher margin products and applications like Vamac® and medical implants, contributing to the overall volume increase and demonstrating the effectiveness of the project pipeline model. Engineered Materials delivered second quarter operating profit of $138 million, record adjusted EBIT of $265 million, and record operating EBITDA of $375 million. These figures represent margins of 9, 18, and 26 percent, respectively with sequential earnings improvements of 55, 32, and 24 percent. In addition to the volume growth, the sequential improvement in earnings was driven by incremental synergies and the realization of lower raw material costs. Synergy capture in the quarter included initial earnings contributions from previous initiatives such as the closure of nylon 6,6 polymerization in Uentrop, Germany. For the second consecutive quarter, these strategic actions have lifted the performance of the former M&M product portfolio to deliver the highest quarterly contribution since the acquisition.
Cash Flow and Tax
Celanese reported second quarter operating cash flow of $292 million and free cash flow of $173 million, which included cash capital expenditures of $105 million. Celanese returned $77 million in cash to shareholders via dividends in the quarter. The Company repaid a bond of approximately $500 million that matured in the second quarter as part of its deleveraging plan.


3


The effective U.S. GAAP income tax rate was an expense of 16 percent for the second quarter compared to a benefit of 2 percent for the same quarter in 2023. The effective income tax rate for the current year was higher compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to current year tax effects related to internal debt restructuring transactions, prior year non-recurring decreases in valuation allowances on U.S. foreign tax credit carryforwards due to changes in forecasted foreign sourced income and expenses during the carryforward period, and increased earnings in high-taxed jurisdictions related to improved economic conditions in the current year. The effective tax rate for adjusted earnings was 9 percent based on expected jurisdictional earnings mix for the full year and consideration of other non-recurring U.S. GAAP items.
Outlook
"We are encouraged to see the tangible realization of our value creation initiatives in our second quarter results, and we are confident that those benefits will continue through the year," said Lori Ryerkerk. "Given the continued lack of evidence of meaningful demand recovery and the increasing pricing pressure from this low demand environment, our focus will remain on what we can control to deliver a sustainable earnings lift for Celanese. We expect the third quarter will bring an easing of the effects of the force majeure, and further improvements to our business driven by our action plans. Because of our foundational value creation initiatives, I am confident we will continue to deliver improved earnings performance in the third quarter and through the remainder of the year."
The Company anticipates third quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.75 to $3.00. Furthermore, based on the effects of the second quarter force majeure and persistent demand challenges, the Company anticipates full year adjusted earnings per share of $10.25 to $10.75.
Reconciliations of forecasted non-GAAP measures such as adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBIT or free cash flow to the equivalent U.S. GAAP measures (diluted earnings per share, net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation and net cash provided by (used in) operations, respectively), are not available without unreasonable efforts because a forecast of Certain Items, such as mark-to-market pension gains/losses, and other items is not practical. For more information, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.
The Company's prepared remarks related to the second quarter will be posted on its website at investors.celanese.com under Financial Information/Financial Document Library on August 1, 2024. Information about Non-US GAAP measures is included in a Non-US GAAP Financial Measures and Supplemental Information document posted on our investor relations website under Financial Information/Non-GAAP Financial Measures. See also "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.
Contacts:
Investor RelationsMedia - U.S.Media - Europe
Bill CunninghamBrian BiancoPetra Czugler
Phone: +1 302 999 6410Phone: +1 972 443 4400Phone: +49 69 45009 1206
william.cunningham@celanese.commedia@celanese.competra.czugler@celanese.com
Celanese Corporation is a global leader in chemistry, producing specialty material solutions used across most major industries and consumer applications. Our businesses use our chemistry, technology and commercial expertise to create value for our customers, employees and shareholders. We support sustainability by responsibly managing the materials we create and growing our portfolio of sustainable products to meet customer and societal demand. We strive to make a positive impact in our communities and to foster inclusivity across our teams. Celanese Corporation is a Fortune 500 company that employs approximately 12,400 employees worldwide with 2023 net sales of $10.9 billion.


4


Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain "forward-looking statements," which include information concerning the Company's plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future revenues, cash flow, financial performance, synergies, capital expenditures, financing needs and other information that is not historical information. All forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and beliefs and various assumptions. There can be no assurance that the Company will realize these expectations or that these beliefs will prove correct. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: changes in general economic, business, political and regulatory conditions in the countries or regions in which we operate; the length and depth of product and industry business cycles, particularly in the automotive, electrical, textiles, electronics and construction industries; volatility or changes in the price and availability of raw materials and energy, particularly changes in the demand for, supply of, and market prices of ethylene, methanol, natural gas, carbon monoxide, wood pulp, hexamethylene diamine and fuel oil and the prices for electricity and other energy sources; the ability to pass increases in raw materials prices, logistics costs and other costs on to customers or otherwise improve margins through price increases; the possibility that we will not be able to timely or effectively continue to integrate the Mobility & Materials business (the "M&M Business") we acquired from DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (the "M&M Acquisition") in order to realize the anticipated benefits of the M&M Acquisition, including synergies and growth opportunities, whether as a result of difficulties arising from the operation of the M&M Business or other unanticipated delays, costs, inefficiencies or liabilities; increased commercial, legal or regulatory complexity of entering into, or expanding our exposure to, certain end markets and geographies; risks in the global economy and equity and credit markets and their potential impact on our ability to pay down debt in the future and/or refinance at suitable rates, in a timely manner, or at all; risks and costs associated with increased leverage from the M&M Acquisition, including increased interest expense and potential reduction of business and strategic flexibility; the ability to maintain plant utilization rates and to implement planned capacity additions, expansions and maintenance; the ability to reduce or maintain current levels of production costs and to improve productivity by implementing technological improvements to existing plants; increased price competition and the introduction of competing products by other companies; the ability to identify desirable potential acquisition or divestiture opportunities and to complete such transactions, including obtaining regulatory approvals, consistent with the Company's strategy; market acceptance of our products and technology; compliance and other costs and potential disruption or interruption of production or operations due to accidents, interruptions in sources of raw materials, transportation, logistics or supply chain disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, terrorism or political unrest, public health crises (including, but not limited to, the COVID-19 pandemic), or other unforeseen events or delays in construction or operation of facilities, including as a result of geopolitical conditions, the direct or indirect consequences of acts of war or conflict (such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict or the Israel-Hamas conflict) or terrorist incidents or as a result of weather, natural disasters, or other crises; the ability to obtain governmental approvals and to construct facilities on terms and schedules acceptable to the Company; changes in applicable tariffs, duties and trade agreements, tax rates or legislation throughout the world including, but not limited to, anti-dumping and countervailing duties, adjustments, changes in estimates or interpretations or the resolution of tax examinations or audits that may impact recorded or future tax impacts and potential regulatory and legislative tax developments in the United States and other jurisdictions; changes in the degree of intellectual property and other legal protection afforded to our products or technologies, or the theft of such intellectual property; potential liability for remedial actions and increased costs under existing or future environmental, health and safety regulations, including those relating to climate change or other sustainability matters; potential liability resulting from pending or future claims or litigation, including investigations or enforcement actions, or from changes in the laws, regulations or policies of governments or other governmental activities in the countries in which we operate; changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates; our level of indebtedness, which could diminish our ability to raise additional capital to fund operations or limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or the chemicals industry; tax rates and changes thereto; and various other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Presentation
This document presents the Company's two business segments, Engineered Materials and the Acetyl Chain.
Use of Non-US GAAP Financial Information
This release uses the following Non-US GAAP measures: adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBIT margin, operating EBITDA, operating EBITDA margin, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow. These measures are not recognized in accordance with US GAAP and should not be viewed as an alternative to US GAAP measures of performance or liquidity. The most directly comparable financial measure presented in accordance with US GAAP in our consolidated financial statements for adjusted EBIT and operating EBITDA is net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation; for adjusted EBIT margin is operating margin; for operating EBITDA margin is operating margin; for adjusted earnings per share is earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Celanese Corporation per common share-diluted; and for free cash flow is net cash provided by (used in) operations.
Definitions of Non-US GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBIT is a performance measure used by the Company and is defined by the Company as net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation, plus (earnings) loss from discontinued operations, less interest income, plus interest expense, plus refinancing expense and taxes, and further adjusted for Certain Items (refer to Table 8 of our Non-US GAAP Financial Measures and Supplemental Information document). We do not provide reconciliations for adjusted EBIT on a forward-looking basis (including those contained in this document) when we are unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing and amount of Certain Items, such as mark-to-market pension gains and losses, that have not yet occurred, are out of our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Adjusted EBIT margin is defined by the Company as adjusted EBIT divided by net sales.
Operating EBITDA is a performance measure used by the Company and is defined by the Company as net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation, plus (earnings) loss from discontinued operations, less interest income, plus interest expense, plus refinancing expense, taxes and depreciation and amortization, and further adjusted for Certain Items, which Certain Items include accelerated depreciation and amortization expense. Operating EBITDA is equal to adjusted EBIT plus depreciation and amortization. Operating EBITDA margin is defined by the Company as operating EBITDA divided by net sales.
5


Adjusted earnings per share is a performance measure used by the Company and is defined by the Company as earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Celanese Corporation, adjusted for income tax (provision) benefit, Certain Items, and refinancing and related expenses, divided by the number of basic common shares and dilutive restricted stock units and stock options calculated using the treasury method. We do not provide reconciliations for adjusted earnings per share on a forward-looking basis (including those contained in this document) when we are unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing and amount of Certain Items, such as mark-to-market pension gains and losses, that have not yet occurred, are out of our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.
Note: The income tax expense (benefit) on Certain Items ("Non-GAAP adjustments") is determined using the applicable rates in the taxing jurisdictions in which the Non-GAAP adjustments occurred and includes both current and deferred income tax expense (benefit). The income tax rate used for adjusted earnings per share approximates the midpoint in a range of forecasted tax rates for the year. This range may include certain partial or full-year forecasted tax opportunities and related costs, where applicable, and specifically excludes changes in uncertain tax positions, discrete recognition of GAAP items on a quarterly basis, other pre-tax items adjusted out of our GAAP earnings for adjusted earnings per share purposes and changes in management's assessments regarding the ability to realize deferred tax assets for GAAP. In determining the adjusted earnings per share tax rate, we reflect the impact of foreign tax credits when utilized, or expected to be utilized, absent discrete events impacting the timing of foreign tax credit utilization. We analyze this rate quarterly and adjust it if there is a material change in the range of forecasted tax rates; an updated forecast would not necessarily result in a change to our tax rate used for adjusted earnings per share. The adjusted tax rate is an estimate and may differ from the actual tax rate used for GAAP reporting in any given reporting period. Table 3a of our Non-US GAAP Financial Measures and Supplemental Information document summarizes the reconciliation of our estimated GAAP effective tax rate to the adjusted tax rate. The estimated GAAP rate excludes discrete recognition of GAAP items due to our inability to forecast such items. As part of the year-end reconciliation, we will update the reconciliation of the GAAP effective tax rate to the adjusted tax rate for actual results.
Free cash flow is a liquidity measure used by the Company and is defined by the Company as net cash provided by (used in) operations, less capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment, and adjusted for contributions from or distributions to our noncontrolling interest joint ventures. We do not provide reconciliations for free cash flow on a forward-looking basis (including those contained in this document) when we are unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing and amount of items such as working capital changes, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, the impact and timing of potential acquisitions and divestitures, and other structural changes, that have not yet occurred, are out of our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.
Reconciliation of Non-US GAAP Financial Measures
Reconciliations of the Non-US GAAP financial measures used in this press release to the comparable US GAAP financial measure, together with information about the purposes and uses of Non-US GAAP financial measures, are included in our Non-US GAAP Financial Measures and Supplemental Information document filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on or about August 1, 2024 and also available on our website at investors.celanese.com under Financial Information/Financial Document Library.
Results Unaudited
The results in this document, together with the adjustments made to present the results on a comparable basis, have not been audited and are based on internal financial data furnished to management. Quarterly results should not be taken as an indication of the results of operations to be reported for any subsequent period or for the full fiscal year.
Supplemental Information
Additional information about our prior period performance is included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our Non-US GAAP Financial Measures and Supplemental Information document.
6


Consolidated Statements of Operations - Unaudited
Three Months Ended
June 30,
2024
March 31,
2024
June 30,
2023
(In $ millions, except share and per share data)
Net sales2,651 2,611 2,795 
Cost of sales(2,010)(2,057)(2,109)
Gross profit641 554 686 
Selling, general and administrative expenses(255)(265)(274)
Amortization of intangible assets(38)(41)(42)
Research and development expenses(33)(34)(40)
Other (charges) gains, net(48)(14)(10)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net(9)11 15 
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net(8)(1)— 
Operating profit (loss)250 210 335 
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates51 55 23 
Non-operating pension and other postretirement employee benefit (expense) income(2)
Interest expense(174)(169)(182)
Interest income10 13 
Dividend income - equity investments31 34 31 
Other income (expense), net13 12 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax183 157 216 
Income tax (provision) benefit(29)(33)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations154 124 220 
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations(1)— — 
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations— — 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations(1)— 
Net earnings (loss)153 124 221 
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests(3)(1)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation155 121 220 
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation 
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations156 121 219 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations(1)— 
Net earnings (loss)155 121 220 
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic
Continuing operations1.43 1.11 2.01 
Discontinued operations(0.01)— 0.01 
Net earnings (loss) - basic1.42 1.11 2.02 
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted
Continuing operations1.42 1.10 2.00 
Discontinued operations(0.01)— 0.01 
Net earnings (loss) - diluted1.41 1.10 2.01 
Weighted average shares (in millions) 
Basic109.3 109.1 108.9 
Diluted109.5 109.5 109.3 
7


Consolidated Balance Sheets - Unaudited
As of
June 30,
2024
As of
December 31,
2023
(In $ millions)
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents1,185 1,805 
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates, net1,264 1,243 
Non-trade receivables, net662 541 
Inventories2,464 2,357 
Other assets329 272 
Total current assets5,904 6,218 
Investments in affiliates1,215 1,220 
Property, plant and equipment, net5,382 5,584 
Operating lease right-of-use assets381 422 
Deferred income taxes1,608 1,677 
Other assets579 524 
Goodwill6,899 6,977 
Intangible assets, net3,844 3,975 
Total assets25,812 26,597 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY  
Current Liabilities  
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates
1,977 1,383 
Trade payables - third party and affiliates1,538 1,510 
Other liabilities1,106 1,154 
Income taxes payable25 
Total current liabilities4,626 4,072 
Long-term debt, net of unamortized deferred financing costs11,058 12,301 
Deferred income taxes1,039 999 
Uncertain tax positions292 300 
Benefit obligations435 457 
Operating lease liabilities282 325 
Other liabilities471 591 
Commitments and Contingencies 
Shareholders' Equity 
Treasury stock, at cost(5,487)(5,488)
Additional paid-in capital394 394 
Retained earnings13,051 12,929 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net(792)(744)
Total Celanese Corporation shareholders' equity7,166 7,091 
Noncontrolling interests443 461 
Total equity7,609 7,552 
Total liabilities and equity25,812 26,597 
8